Minutes_City Council Proceedings 03.23.26 Copyrighted
April 6, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of March 16 and 23, 2026; Airport
Commission of Janauary 27 and February 23, 2026; Arts and
Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission of January 27 and
February 24, 2026; Building Code Advisory and Appeals
Board of October 30, 2025; Cable TV Commission of
February 17, 2026; Community Development Advisory
Commission of January 21, 2026; Historic Preservation
Commission of February 19, 2026; Human Rights
Commission of February 10, 2026; Library Board of Trustees
Update of February 26, 2026; Parks and Recreation Advisory
Commission of February 10, 2026; Zoning Advisory
Commission of March 4, 2026; Proof of Publication for City
Council Proceedings of March 2 and 16, 2026; Proof of
Publication for Expenditure Reports presented at the March 2
and 16, 2026 City Council meetings.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 3 16 26 City Council Minutes
2. 3 23 26 City Council Minutes - 6 pm Meeting
3. 3 23 26 City Council Minutes -630 pm Meeting
4. Airport Commission Minutes of January 27 2026
5. Airport Commission Minutes of February 23 2026
6. Arts Commission Minutes 1.27.26
7. Arts Commission Minutes 2.24.26
8. Building Code Advisory and Appeals Board Minutes
9. Cable TV Commission Meeting Minutes
10. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
11. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
12. Human Rights Commission Minutes
13. Parks and Recreating Advisory Commission Minutes
14. Library Board of Trustees Council Update
15. Proof- City Council Proceedings of March 2, 2026
16. Proof- Expenditure Reports from March 2 meeting
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17. Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes
18. Proof- City Council Proceedings of March 16, 2026
19. Proof- Expenditure Reports from March 16, 2026 meeting
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:00 p.m. on March 23, 2026, in the second-
floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6t" Street.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Leyendecker (attended virtually), Resnick, Roussell,
Sprank, Staver, Wethal; City Manager Van Milligen, City Attorney Brumwell.
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called for the
purpose of conducting such business that may properly come before the City Council.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Approving a First Amendment to Development Agreement between the City of Dubuque, lowa
and Gronen Development, Inc.: Motion by Roussell to receive and file the documents and adopt
Resolution No. 96-26 Approving A First Amendment To Development Agreement By And Between
The City Of Dubuque And Gronen Development, Inc. Seconded by Wethal. Will Gronen, 955
Washington St., Unit 323, spoke on behalf of Kilbourne Group and Gronen Development, Inc.,
summarizing the mixed-use project at 5th and Main Streets and noting the groups' availability to
answer questions. Motion carried 7-0.
ACTION ITEM
2. Approval of Plat of Survey (Vacation) of a portion of West 6th Street Right of Way to be known
as City Lot 61 B, in the City of Dubuque, lowa for Vacating Petition (Agreement Between City of
Dubuque and Gronen Development, Inc. for the Mixed-use Building Project at the Corner of West 5th
and Main Streets): Motion by Wethal to receive and file the documents and adopt Resolution No. 97-
26 Approving The Plat Of Survey For Proposed Vacated Street Right Of Way In Part Of City Lot 62A,
In The City Of Dubuque, lowa. Seconded by Resnick. Motion carried 7-0.
ITEM SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Setting a Public Hearing - Petition to Vacate a Portion of West 6th Street Right of Way to be
known as City Lot 61 B, in the City of Dubuque, lowa for Vacating Petition (Agreement Between City
of Dubuque and Gronen Development, Inc. for the Mixed-use Building Project at the Corner of West
5th and Main Streets): Motion by Wethal to receive and file the documents and adopt Resolution No.
98-26 Intent To Vacate A Portion Of City Lot 62A, In The City Of Dubuque, lowa, Being A Part Of The
West 6th Street Right Of Way, To Be Known As Lot 61 B, In The City Of Dubuque, lowa, therefore
setting a public hearing for a meeting to commence at 6:30 p.m. on April 6, 2026 in the Historic
Federal Building. Seconded by Sprank. Motion carried 7-0.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. BreitFelder, CMC
City Clerk
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on March 23, 2026, in the second-
floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6t" Street.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Leyendecker (attended virtually), Resnick, Roussell,
Sprank, Staver, Wethal; City Manager Van Milligen, City Attorney Brumwell.
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called for the
purpose of holding a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Property Tax Rate.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 Amount of Proposed Property Tax Rate and Dollars and
the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and Fiscal Policy Guidelines: Motion by Roussell to receive and file the
documents and adopt Resolution No. 99-26 Approving the Maximum Property Tax Dollars Requested
for Fiscal Year July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027. Seconded by Wethal. Leonard Dress, 541 Groveland PI.;
Clark Schloz, 2925 Burlington St.; Kathy Sorenson, 2613 Jackson St.; Rob McDonald, 3399 Eagle
Point Dr.; and Roger Welbes, 165 W 24t" St., provided input on the proposed tax rate. Breitfelder
stated that written input was received by Chris Luchsinger, 716 Peru Rd.; Mary Sand, 880 Goethe St.;
and Rob McDonald, 3399 Eagle Point Dr. Brumwell reviewed the options in her memo to Council for
how the Council can hold improvement packages for separate discussion during departmental budget
meetings. Brumwell advised that if the Council wishes to review held items at every meeting, the topic
should be included as a standing agenda item. Council agreed that no final action will be taken on
any held improvement packages until the April 28 public hearing on the budget, though discussion in
the interim may provide direction to staff. Council Members concurred on using the second option
listed in Brumwell's memo for their budget meeting process. Per that option, if a single Council
Member requests that an item be held for separate discussion, an informal poll will be taken. If a
majority support holding the item, it will be set aside for discussion. Brumwell noted she will revise her
memo to Council to focus solely on this option and include it with each budget meeting agenda. Chief
Financial Officer Jennifer Larson and Van Milligen addressed questions regarding the general fund
reserve and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Van Milligen clarified that although the City's tax rate is
uniform for all homeowners, differing assessed values may lead to inequitable tax impacts. Roussell
proposed adding a discussion on the potential use of cash reserves to fund certain City services to
the standing agenda item for budget items held for separate discussion. An informal poll showed
support from a majority of Council Members for including this topic. Council Members also discussed
the maximum property tax rate and the implications of the goal-setting process on the budget. Motion
carried 4-3 with Staver, Resnick, and Leyendecker voting nay.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. BreitFelder, CMC
City Clerk
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