02 03 22 City Council Proceedings Official_Special1
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on February 3, 2022, in
the second-floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6 th Street.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Farber, Jones, Resnick, Roussell,
Sprank; City Manager Van Milligen, City Attorney Brumwell (attended via phone).
Vacancy: Ward 4
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council
called for the purpose of setting the public hearing to establish the Maximum Property
Tax Dollars for Fiscal Year 2023.
ITEMS SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Set Public Hearing for Resolution Establishing Maximum Property Tax Dollars
for Fiscal Year 2023: Motion by Jones to receive and file the documents, adopt the
resolution, set the public hearing for February 16, 2022, and listen to the
presentations. Seconded by Sprank. City Assessor Troy Patzner and City Manager
Mike Van Milligen respectively made presentations and responded to questions from
the City Council. City Council discussed the challenges of establishing the maximum
property tax rate prior to the budget hearing process, per statutory requirements, and
deliberated over preferences for a property tax rate increase. City Council discussed
the possibility of setting a higher property tax rate increase than the City Manager’s
recommendation, since State Code permits them to decrease the rate during the
budget hearing process. Responding to a question from the City Council, Director of
Finance and Budget Jenny Larson stated that a property tax rate increase of 2% or
greater from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal Year 2023 requires a unanimous vote per
State Code, while any increase less than 2% requires a simple majority vote. Ms.
Larson confirmed that any changes in the proposed property tax rate would change
the public notice. Responding to a question, City Attorney Brumwell confirmed that the
City Council must first vote on the maximum property tax rate before adopting the
resolution, since the resolution directs city staff to publish the public notice, which will
specify the maximum property tax rate. Motion by Sprank to set the maximum
property tax rate to $11.7169 per thousand dollars assessed value. Responding to a
question from the City Council on what a 2% increase from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal
Year 2023 would equate to, Ms. Larson confirmed that a 2% increase results in a
property tax rate of $9.8088147 per thousand dollars assessed value. Council
Member Sprank amended the motion to set the maximum property tax rate at
$9.8088147 per thousand dollars assessed value. Seconded by Farber. City Council
discussed how the established property tax rate may impact public perception of a
potential referendum on the Five Flags Civic Center. City Attorney Brumwell
2
confirmed that the vote on the motion must be unanimous because the proposed rate
increase is a 2% increase. Motion failed 5-1 with Resnick voting nay.
Motion by Sprank to set the maximum property tax dollars rate at $9.78477 per
thousand dollars assessed value. Seconded by Farber. Motion carried 5-1 with
Resnick voting nay.
City Council then returned to the previous motion by Jones and seconded by Sprank
to receive and file the documents, adopt Resolution No. 34-22 Setting a public hearing
on the Fiscal Year 2023 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for the affected tax levy total,
and setting the public hearing for February 16, 2022. Motion carried 6-0.
RESOLUTION NO. 34-22
SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 MAXIMUM PROPERTY
TAX DOLLARS FOR THE AFFECTED TAX LEVY TOTAL
Whereas, pursuant to State of Iowa SF634, the City of Dubuque is required to hold a
public hearing to consider the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 city maximum property tax
dollars for the affected levy total; and
Whereas, the notice of hearing must be published not less than 10 days and not more
than 20 days prior to the date of the hearing; and
Whereas, at said hearing, the City Council is required to pass a resolution adopting the
fiscal year maximum property tax dollars for the affected levy total.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA THAT:
Section 1. The Dubuque City Council will conduct a public hearing on February 16,
2022 at 6:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 350 W 6th St. and virtually.
Section 2. The Director of Finance and Budget is hereby directed to prepare a
Resolution of Maximum Property Tax Dollars for the Affected Tax Levy Total with the
required information pursuant to SF634.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to publish the notice of public hearing
pursuant to SF634.
Passed, adopted, and approved this 3rd day of February 2022.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at
8:48 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder
City Clerk