Request of Approval CY2026 Civil Service Alternative Process for Police and Fire HiringCity of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 6.
Copyrighted
January 5, 2026
ITEM TITLE: Request of Approval CY2026 Civil Service Alternative
Process for Police and Fire Hiring
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council adopt the change
to forego the Civil Service Approval process as allowed under
Iowa Code 400.12A and again authorize the creation of a
police officer hiring eligibility list of up to 40 police officer
candidates and a firefighter eligibility list of up to 40 firefighter
candidates which is outside the Civil Service Commission
approval.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo Request CY2026 Civil Service Alternative Process for Police and Fire
Hiring
3. Iowa Code 400.12A
Page 108 of 567
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Request of Approval CY2026 Civil Service Alternative Process for Police
and Fire Hiring
DATE: December 30, 2025
Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen and Fire Chief Amy Scheller are recommending City
Council adopt the change to forego the Civil Service Approval process as allowed under
Iowa Code 400.12A and again authorize the creation of a police officer hiring eligibility
list of up to 40 police officer candidates and a firefighter eligibility list of up to 40
firefighter candidates which is outside the Civil Service Commission approval. This
approval will be from the time of adoption until January 4, 2027.
In August 2025, the City Council adopted an alternative process for establishing an
eligibility list, allowing the Police Department, Fire Department, and the City to conduct
testing in real time without having the mere formality of the Civil Service Commission
voting on the testing procedure which is already outlined in state code. By allowing the
alternative process, the hiring process has been significantly expedited and has allowed
for flexibility with candidates as far as testing and getting them job offers. Per Iowa
Code 400.12A, the City Council must vote annually to maintain this alternative process.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Page 109 of 567
Dubuque
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TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Request of Approval CY2026 Civil Service Alternative Process for Police
and Fire Hiring
DATE: December 9, 2025
Introduction:
The Police and Fire Departments are requesting City Council approval to create the
2026 calendar year alternative Civil Service process to establish the hiring lists as
allowed in Iowa Code 400.12A.
Background/Discussion:
In August 2025, the City Council adopted an alternative process for establishing an
eligibility list, allowing the Police Department, Fire Department, and the City to conduct
testing in real time without having the mere formality of the Civil Service Commission
voting on the testing procedure which is already outlined in state code. By allowing the
alternative process, the hiring process has been significantly expedited and has allowed
for flexibility with candidates as far as testing and getting them job offers.
Per Iowa Code 400.12A, the City Council must vote annually to maintain this alternative
process. To simplify the process in 2025 and because of an already established list, we
asked for the list to only be valid until January 5, 2026. If approved by the City Council
the list will be maintained on a calendar year basis, with the next request for approval
coming in January 2027. Should the list reach 40 candidates prior to the expiration and
the list is exhausted (either through job offers or the viability of candidates), the Police
and/or Fire Chief may request the City Council to vacate that list and create a new list
with the same expiration.
Page 110 of 567
Nothing in this proposal precludes any Federal, State, or City laws, ordinances or
procedures for standardized hiring. The Police Department, Fire Department, and the
City are committed to fair procedures that are documented and defensible to ensure
compliance with public employment standards. This proposal only applies to the new
hire process and not to promotional processes.
Adrienne Breitfelder (City Clerk), Shelley Stickfort (Chief Human Resources Officer),
and Crenna Brumwell (City Attorney) have been part of this discussion in the past and
are in agreement with the proposed process pending City Council approval.
Recommendation:
I am recommending that the City Council adopt the change to forego the Civil Service
Approval process as allowed under Iowa Code 400.12A and again authorize the
creation of a police officer hiring eligibility list of up to 40 police officer candidates and a
firefighter eligibility list of up to 40 firefighter candidates which is outside the Civil
Service Commission approval. This approval will be from the time of adoption until
January 4, 2027, when the City Council will be presented with the request to establish
the 2027 list.
cc: Crenna Brumwell
Adrienne Breitfelder
Shelley Stickfort
Page 111 of 567
CIVIL SERVICE, §400.12A
400.12A Hiring practices — suspension — reinstatement.
1. A city council, by majority vote, may suspend the practices specified in subsection 2 that
are generally required pursuant to this chapter for the hiring of an employee of a department
governed by civil service. A suspension shall not be in effect for more than one year, but a city
council may immediately vote to implement a new suspension of the required practices upon
the expiration of the prior suspension. Upon the expiration of a suspension, hiring practices
required under this chapter shall be immediately reinstated for the applicable positions. A city
council, by majority vote, may reinstate hiring practices suspended pursuant to this section
prior to the expiration of the suspension. A subsequent vote to suspend required hiring
practices, even if the vote occurs prior to the original expiration date of the prior suspension,
shall be considered a vote for a new suspension.
2. The provisions of section 400.11, subsection 1, paragraph "a", may be suspended as
provided in subsection 1.
3. a. This section does not relieve an employee of a department governed by civil service
from the requirements to complete all examinations and tests applicable to those persons for
positions subject to the provisions of this chapter.
b. This section shall not be construed to preclude an employee of a department governed
by civil service from accessing rights, benefits, or privileges provided outside of this chapter.
2024 Acts, ch 1014, §2
NEW section
Wed Nov 20 21:55:13 2024 Iowa Code 2025, Section 400.12Oa e1) 12 of 567