Minutes_Civil Service Commission 08.13.25Copyrighted
February 2, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of January 20, 2026; Civil Service
Commission of August 13 and October 8, 2025; Community
Development Advisory Commission of November 19, 2025;
Historic Preservation Commission of December 18, 2025;
Housing Commission of July 22, 2025; Human Rights
Commission of December 9, 2025; Park and Recreation
Commission of November 18 and December 10, 2025;
Zoning Board of Adjustment of December 18, 2025; Proof of
Publication on City Council Proceedings of January 5, 2026;
Proof of Publication For Expenditure Reports presented at
the January 5, 2026 City Council meeting.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1 20 26 City Council Minutes
2. Civil Service Minutes 8/13/25
3. Civil Service Minutes 10/8/25
4. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
5. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
6. Housing Commission Meeting Minutes
7. Human Rights Commission Minutes
8. Parks and Recreating Advisory Commission Minutes —November
9. Parks and Recreating Advisory Commission Minutes —December
10. Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes
11. Proof —City Council Proceedings 1.5.26
12. Proof Expenditure Reports from 1.5.26 Meeting
Page 48 of 865
MINUTES
Government Body: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Date: August 13, 2025
Time: 4:15 PM
Place of Meeting: City Hall - Conference Room A, 50 W 13t" St.
Present: Commissioners Carla Heathcote, Miquel Jackson, and Scott Crabill
Also present: Police Chief Jeremy Jensen, Police Captain Scott Baxter, Chief of Human
Resources Shelley Stickfort, Fire Chief Amy Scheller, Deput Fire Chief Kevin Esser, Talent
Acquisition Manager Kristen Dietz.
Commissioner Heathcote called the meeting to order at 4:16 p.m.
1. Approval of minutes from the June 11, 2025 meeting. Motion by Crabill to approve the
minutes as submitted. Seconded by Jackson. Motion carried 3-0.
2. Fire and Police Department Reports. Chief Scheller reported on promotions within the
department, new utility vehicles, and the successful outcomes of the leadership test. Chief
Jensen stated that the police department aims to align its leadership test with the fire
department's and indicated that related police department topics would be covered in the
subsequent agenda items.
3. Request to exhaust the current Firefighter/Paramedic EMT Certified List. Motion by
Jackson to exhaust the current Firefighter/Paramedic EMT Certified List. Seconded by
Crabill. Chief Scheller confirmed the department is currently staffed appropriately. Motion
carried 3-0.
4. Certify the list for the position of Police Officer. Motion by Jackson to certify the list for the
position of Police Officer. Seconded by Heathcote. Chief Jensen stated that although
many individuals applied for the position, few appeared for the entrance examination. He
also noted that while artificial intelligence (AI) may play a role in officers' duties in the
future, officers will still be required to swear to every report they submit, thereby validating
the information. In response to a question about the precision policing center, Jensen
stated that it has received positive feedback from officers and has been instrumental in
solving several major crimes. Motion carried 3-0.
5. Request to review and approve the Police Department Promotional Testing Process and
testing dates for the positions of Corporal, Lieutenant, Captain and Assistant Chief.
Motion by Jackson to review and approve the Police Department Promotional Testing
Process and testing dates of November 6-7 and November 10-14, 2025, for the positions
of Corporal, Lieutenant, Captain and Assistant Chief. Seconded by Crabill. Chief Jensen
stated that officers must have at least four years of service in the department before
becoming eligible to test for a promotional position and outlined the other position -specific
eligibility requirements. He added that commissioners may observe any part of the
process. Motion carried 3-0.
6. Proposed Changes to Civil Service Hiring Practices for Police and Fire Department New
Hires. Chief Jensen stated that he intends to recommend to the City Manager that the
City Council suspend current civil service hiring practices for police officer and firefighter
Page 57 of 865
positions, as authorized under Iowa Code §400.12A, to expedite the hiring process.
Instead of the commission approving examination dates, proctoring examinations, and
certifying lists for new police and fire department hires, the departments would oversee
these tasks without commission action. The Civil Service Commissioners expressed
support for the recommendation, acknowledging the challenges the departments face in
recruiting candidates and supporting efforts to remove barriers, and requested updates
on hiring efforts. Chief Jensen confirmed that the departments will share those updates
with the commission.
7. Update on Additional Civil Service Commissioners. City Clerk Breitfelder confirmed that
the City Council previously adopted an ordinance that increased the number of Civil
Service Commissioners from three to five. Breitfelder stated that the mayor will announce
his selection of the two additional applicants to the commission at the August 18 meeting.
The names of the selected individuals will be published in the Telegraph Herald, and the
City Council will vote on the selections at their October 6 meeting, so the commission
should have two new members by its October meeting.
8. Adjournment. Motion by Crabill to adjourn at 5:07 p.m. Seconded by Heathcote. Motion
carried 3-0.
Submitted by Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CIVIC, City Clerk
Page 58 of 865