Mayor Buol's Pre-Meeting Statement and Emergency Declaration Proclamation Update• Pledge of Allegiance.
I would now like to begin our meeting with a moment of
silence in recognition of the pain and grief that is being
experienced by George Floyd’s family… and also by
communities of color across the country who are
witnessing racial injustice, yet again.
• Thank you.
• The events unfolding around the country are not just a
response to the tragedy of George Floyd’s death at the
hands of law enforcement in Minneapolis.
• That murder is, sadly, the latest in a long list of injustices
experienced daily by people of color around the United
States.
• We, in Dubuque, like so many others around the country,
are struggling with emotions and trying to determine the
way forward to best advance racial equity and reduce
racial disparities here and around our nation.
• First, we acknowledge that incidents of police brutality and
other acts of oppression and harm that occur hundreds or
even thousands of miles away have local impacts.
• Those incidents, while not representative of the majority of
individual law enforcement officers, do create mistrust…
fear…and anger among our local community.
• We also know that we are not perfect. We want to remind
our residents that the City of Dubuque takes police
misconduct seriously, and that we have a forum for
complaints against the Dubuque Police Department.
• This forum, facilitated by the Community-Police Relations
Committee, exists through a memorandum of
understanding between the City of Dubuque and the
Dubuque Branch of the N double A CP and includes
community members of diverse backgrounds as well as
representatives of the City’s Human Rights Commission,
Police Department, and Dubuque Police Protective
Association.
• Anyone…anyone… with concerns can contact the Human
Rights Department at 563-589-4190 for more information or
for support in filing a complaint.
• As mayor and on behalf of my city council colleagues, I
want all Dubuque residents…most particularly our black
and brown residents… to know that we hear you…we see
you…and we care about each of you.
• We recognize that you face challenges on a daily basis in
our community that most of us do not realize or even
understand…but we must listen and seek to understand if
we are to create an environment of mutual respect and
trust.
• This is the crux of the “Black Lives Matter” movement – it
is not that anyone denies that all lives matter… it is that for
too long Black lives have not experienced the same care
for their lives that many of us take for granted every day.
• I also want to acknowledge the peaceful protests and
rallies that have occurred in Dubuque in recent days.
• The conduct of those groups and involvement of local law
enforcement has been exemplary and shows how engaged
residents can come together both peacefully and
powerfully in a time of extreme pain, crisis, and anger…
and effectively make their voices heard.
• The Dubuque City Council made the conscious decision to
include the word “equity” in the City’s Vision and Mission
Statements…
• And we are committed to continued dialogue and action,
we are committed to acknowledging, to listening and
responding to our community members thoughts on what
our community needs to heal…what it needs to meet the
needs facing our families…and finally, to develop the best
ways to work together to create the long-term actions that
will benefit the Dubuque community.
• We also are committed to continuing the actions underway
to disrupt racism and to promote equity and inclusion in
our community.
• These include continued support of partnerships and
initiatives like Inclusive Dubuque…
• the Dubuque Poverty Reduction Strategy…
• supporting the work of City Departments to engage the
community and create equity plans specific to the services
each department offers…
• supporting the Chief’s Forum as a location where people
can engage directly with the Police Chief…
• supporting the City Clerk’s efforts to broaden the
accessibility of public meetings…
• and continuing the City’s emphasis on intercultural
competency training for all City employees, which has
been in place for 10 years.
• The City Council also recognizes and invites the varying
perspectives of residents in order to make equitable and
inclusive decisions.
• We encourage community members of color to reach out
to us as council members. For people interested in a more
direct role within government, please consider applying for
work with the City of Dubuque, or to serve on a City Board
or Commission, or to run for elected office.
• The City of Dubuque will continue to pursue our Vision to
make Dubuque a “sustainable and resilient city and an
inclusive and equitable community.”
• We will support the Dubuque Police Department’s Mission
to enhance community livability by providing equitable
community service and protection through integrity,
compassion, and competence.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional focus to
longstanding health-related and other disparities faced by
minorities in cities across the nation.
• There remain widespread reports of higher rates of COVID-
19 hospitalizations, deaths, and positive cases based on
race and ethnicity.
• These disparities are highlighting longstanding socio-
economic, environmental, and other factors that are
present in our community and most others.
• We must all commit ourselves to acknowledging and
responding to the challenges facing our community, state,
and nation.
• At this time, I want to share a message from our Dubuque
Chief of Police Mark Dalsing – citizens may have read his
message in the local newspaper or on social
media…however, I believe it bears repeating:
• Quote: “Normally when things happen at the national level
– especially those involving police – I put on my
analytical, investigator’s hat and say, “let’s wait until all
the facts are in,” or, “let’s not jump to conclusions,”
knowing that there are many facets and nuances to
investigations.
• A couple of days ago I saw a video that shook me to my
core and doesn’t require any additional information.
• I don’t need to know what other video is out there.
• I don’t need to know what prompted the encounter.
• I don’t need to know what happened in the moments
before the video started.
• I don’t need to know the personal history of anyone in the
video.
• Everything I need to know is in the video. A man – George
Floyd – was not treated like a human being and lost his
life.
• Another man recklessly took that life with apparent
indifference. The second man wore a uniform.
• I don’t know how officers are trained in all parts of the
country or what verbiage is in their oath of office…but 30
years’ experience tells me the second man disregarded his
training and violated his oath of office.
• I don’t need to know all the contributing details of that
event in Minneapolis.
• All I need to hear is that members of my community are
afraid.
• That my black friends say, “I’m afraid to let my children
leave the house.” That people in Dubuque fear the police.
• Do not try to dilute Mr. Floyd’s death by pointing to the
subsequent unrest of the last couple of nights.
• They are separate and distinct.
• Let’s focus on the fact that there is still a lot to fix in
society, and that includes things that need to be fixed in
law enforcement.
• As the Chief of Police of the Dubuque Police Department, I
will do whatever is within my scope and control to be part
of the solution. End Quote.
At this time, I would invite my council colleagues to offer any
comments they wish to share. Please ask to be recognized.
Thank you all. Kevin…
-----AT END OF MEETING
• In conclusion tonight, I’d like to leave us with this recent
comment made by former President Obama …
• “It falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station –
including the majority of men and women in law
enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the
right way, every day…to work together to create a “new
normal” in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal
treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts.”
• Thank you everyone.
• Stay well; stay safe; wear masks in public and please
remember to social distance.
• The meeting is adjourned.
Copyrighted
June 1, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Mayor Emergency Declaration Proclamation Update
SUMMARY: Mayor Buol will provide an update to his Emergency
Declaration Proclamation of April 6, 2020.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Mayor Buol's Emergency Declaration Proclamation
Amendment #4
Type
Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
PRO CC l AMA'
ON
WHEREAS, one of the greatest responsibilities of any elected official is the
protection of the electorate served and the protection of the greater public health and
safety; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 poses a serious and potentially deadly threat to the public
and the public health as the Federal Center for Disease Control ("CDC") has noted that
serious illness occurs in 16% of cases with older people and people of all ages with severe
chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes or those
who are immunocompromised, seeming to be at a higher risk of developing serious
COVID-19 illness and noting that the World Health Organization has determined COVID-
19 to be a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Public Health ("IDPH") has issued
recommendations for behavior modification to flatten the curve of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, a high rate of infection has been shown to overwhelm medical
systems throughout the world and numerous governmental entities and epidemiologists
have stated that community spread in the United States poses the same risk of
overwhelming American medical systems; and
WHEREAS, the Governor has issued numerous State of Public Health Disaster
Emergency orders; and
WHEREAS, in order to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in the City of Dubuque and
protect employees of the organization, it is necessary to maintain and extend several
mitigation measures; and
WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 372.14(2) and the City of Dubuque Code of
Ordinances 7-3-1 grant the Mayor powers in circumstances when public danger or
emergency exists to take extraordinary steps to protect the public health and safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING AND OTHER
VALID EMERGENT CONCERNS, I, ROY D. BUOL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING:
I hereby determine that a state of emergency or public danger exists and continues. Any
permits or permissions previously granted for events on public property or public rights -
of -way through July 6, 2020, are hereby rescinded and any amounts paid for such permits
shall be refunded upon request. I hereby issue a moratorium on the issuance of special
event permits, solicitor's licenses, and permits/permissions for events on public property
or public rights -of -way through at least July 6, 2020.
I further strongly encourage all citizens to comply with the closures, modification of
operations, and recommendations issued by Governor Kim Reynolds.
I hereby authorize the City Council, City Boards, and City Commissions to make
accommodations allowing for remote attendance and participation in regularly scheduled
meetings by members of each body, staff, and the public.
I hereby suspend any requirements within the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances which
mandate or require physical meeting locations and physical notifications or mailings and
hereby authorize electronic and virtual meetings and electronic notifications; this includes
but is not limited to notices required by Title 16 of the city code.
I hereby authorize the City Manager to evaluate the suspension of fees within the control
of the City of Dubuque to support restaurants and bars due to the significant financial and
operational impacts they are experiencing due to DOVID-19 and encourage creative
thinking to provide assistance to other struggling businesses related to regulatory
requirements under the City's control.
I hereby extend the closure of City facilities to the public through July 6, 2020; however,
this closure does not apply to:
• Bunker Hill Golf Course
• Miller Riverview Park & Campground
• Port of Dubuque Marina Docks
• City parks.
While City parks are open to the public, playground equipment in city parks and swimming
pools shall remain closed. The reopening of playground equipment in city parks and
swimming pools continues to be evaluated.
City staff working in facilities closed to the public, or working remotely, shall work to
provide services to the public electronically, by phone, by mail, and when possible, by
appointment as well as access to information and the ability to participate in meetings by
alternative means.
I hereby determine and direct the City Manager to evaluate the ongoing operations of the
city organization and adjust operations, accordingly, including the authority to reopen or
further restrict access to city facilities.
Per City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances section 7-3-1 , the public is advised that the
violation of a mayoral proclamation of emergency or of any subsidiary proclamation
thereto evidencing the exercise of emergency powers or of any rule or order issued
pursuant thereto by the mayor or city manager of any order issued pursuant thereto by
any peace officer or of any directive issued by designated emergency management or
emergency services personnel pursuant thereto shall constitute a violation of that section
and shall bel be punishable as a misdemeanor as provided by Title 1, Chapter 4 of the
city code.
I further determine and direct the Police Chief to enforce the provisions of the Governor's
proclamation and this proclamation.
This Proclamation of emergency and public danger is part of an ongoing response of the
City of Dubuque to an ever -changing situation to protect public health and safety. This
proclamation may be modified or superseded with more restrictive proclamations at any
time as circumstances warrant. Please be aware these decisions have been made based
upon the information available today. You can find the most recent information about the
City's response to COVID-19 at www.cityofdubuque.orq.
PROCLAIMED THIS 1ST DAY OF JUNE 2020 BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME
BY THE CODE OF IOWA AND THE CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the City of Dubuque to
be affixed this 1st day of June 2020.
Roy D.Alol, Mayor
Attest:
Kevin . Firnstahl, CMC, City Clerk