Minutes_Human Rights Commission 03.10.26 Copyrighted
May 4, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: Civil Service from 2-17-26; Resilient Community Advisory
Commission from 2-5-26; Community Development Advisory
Commission from 3-18-26 and 3-24-26; Investment and Cash
Management Oversight Advisory Commission; Human Rights
Commission 3-10-26; Zoning Advisory Commission from 11-
5-25; Zoning Board of Adjustment from 2-26-26
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 26 02 17 Civil Service Minutes
2. 26-02-05 RCAC Minutes
3. CD Approved Minutes 3.18.26
4. CD Approved Minutes 03.24.2026
5. March 10, 2026 OHRC Minutes
6. Minutes ZAC 11-5-25 Approved
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Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
HUMAN RIGHTS COMM/SS/ON MEETING MINUTES
March 10, 2026
DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
TIME: 4:30 PM
LOCATION: Multicultural Family Center, 1157 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001
The meeting was called to order at 4:33 pm.
Commissioners Present: Michaela Freiburger, Traci Phillipson, David Heiar, Rick
Baumhover, DeLano Cain Watson, Erin Beatty, Courtney Engevold
Commissioners Excused: Nikki Nutter
Commissioners Absent: Juan Montgomery
Staff Present: Ann Marie Jannette, Human Rights Specialist; Jason Lehman, Interim Chief
of Human Rights
Commissioners Erin Beatty and Courtney Engevold were sworn in.
A motion was made by Freiburger to nominate Heiar for Chair of the commission, seconded
by Phillipson, all in favor. Cain Watson nominated himself for Vice Chair of the commission,
there was no second. Freiburger nominated Phillipson for Vice Chair, seconded by Beatty,
all in favor.
Approval of Meetinq Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes as submitted from the February 10, 2026, meeting. Motioned
by Freiburger, seconded by Phillipson, all in favor.
Public Input
Matt Zanger thanked the commissioners and welcomed the new members. Heiar thanked
Zanger for his service on the commission.
Reports
Caseload Report
• Complaints filed — number of complaints that were signed during the month
o February amount: 1
• Active investigations — investigations that are currently active but in various stages
(active, administrative review, initiated, on hold, etc.)
o February amount: 16
• Incidents in mediation —complaints currently in mediation
o February amount: 0
• Incidents in full hearing — complaints in full hearing process
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o February amount: 0
• Inquiries —calls/inquiries that don't result in an official complaint being filed (including
outreach events)
o February amount: 14
• Complaints closed during the month —signed complaints that were closed during the
month (doesn't include inquiries or complaints that were never filed)
o February amount: 3
• Total inquiries and complaints FY26 —signed complaints filed in FY26
o February amount: 94
Director's Report
Lehman reported that new flyers on Civil Rights have been completed. Work will continue
on specific flyers for housing rights, employment rights, and the other protected classes, as
well as translated flyers.
Chairperson's Report
Nothing to report.
Old Business:
Update on the hiring of a new OHR Director: Interviews will occur next week for three
applicants. The job posting will remain up until the position has been filled.
Calendar discussion: Heiar requested that Jannette prepare a calendar of important due
dates for the commission to be aware of. These dates include when commission goals are
due and when legislative priorities are due among other prominent dates.
List of partnerships: Heiar requested each commissioner is to review the list and identify
which group or organization they already have a relationship with and which they will focus
on.
New Business:
Discussion and vote on the possibility of changing the date/time of ineetings: Baumhover
proposed changing the start time to 4 pm. However, this was deemed to not be feasible by
several members of the commission. Baumhover also suggested moving the meetings to
Monday evening instead of Tuesday evening. It was requested that Jannette reach out to
the three members who were not in attendance (Nutter, Montgomery, and Cain Watson) for
their opinion on moving the meeting night. The topic is to be put on the April agenda for
further discussion.
lowa Legislature: lowa House File 2541which bans local governments from enacting
ordinances or other laws that provide civil right protections that has different categories of
unfair or discriminatory practices than the lowa Civil Rights Act, was passed and signed by
Governor Reynolds. The letter from the February Commission meeting regarding the
commission's opposition to lowa HF2041, which would require the police to comply with
whatever ICE requested, was not put on the agenda for City Council. The decision to not
include it on the agenda was made by Mayor Brad Cavanagh.
Cracker Barrel: The next Cracker Barrel takes place April 4 at 9:30 at the Diamond Jo.
Upcominq Outreach Events
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None.
Upcominq Cultural Events
None.
Reflections and Updates
Heiar requested that Lehman or City Attorney Crenna Brumwell provide training on Civil
Rights laws and the Commission handbook. It was decided that the training would take
place during the regularly scheduled commission meeting on April 14.
Freiburger reported that the recipients of the Community Support and Empowerment Grant
were the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Oh Happy Play, Opening Doors, and
Centrally Rooted
Heiar reported on the success of the recent Black History event at the First Baptist Church.
Adiournment:
Motion to adjourn by Freiburger, seconded by Baumhover. All in favor. The meeting ended
at 5:53 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 4:30
p.m., at the Multicultural Family Center.
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Minutes approved as submitted: `�
Minutes approved as corrected:
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