06 28 23 City Council Proceedings Official_SpecialCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:00 p.m. on June 28, 2023, in
the second-floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th Street.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Farber, Jones, Resnick, Roussell,
Sprank, 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 a work session to receive an update on Schmitt
Island Development.
WORK SESSION
Schmitt Island Development
Alex Dixon, Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) President and CEO; Stacy Kansky,
DRA Chief Commercial Officer; Kathy Buhr, DRA Director of Strategic Philanthropy and
Schmitt Island Development; Ryan Peterson of RDG Planning & Design; Mike Jansen
of Strand Associates; and Chris Brewer of AECOM made a presentation on the Schmitt
Island Development Update. The presenters responded to questions from the City
Council following the presentation. Regarding next steps, Mr. Dixon stated that specific
loan agreements concerning debt issuance will need City Council approval and will be
presented at a future City Council meeting. Mr. Dixon also stated that understanding
the City Council’s priorities on the island’s development will help the DRA prioritize
projects. Mr. Dixon further stated that the DRA needs the City Council’s assistance in
relaying resident input on preferred projects for the island. City Manager Van Milligen
highlighted the City Council’s recent history with Schmitt Island, stating that the City
Council adopted the Chaplain Schmitt Island Master Plan in 2014. City Manager Van
Milligen detailed how the various proposed projects on the island fulfill the city’s goal of
being an equitable community of choice. City Manager Van Milligen advised that the
City Council should prioritize Schmitt Island Development at their annual goal setting
session in August and determine the next steps over the following year. City Council
Members discussed the need for the island to attract families and for residents to
consider what projects they would like on the island and relay that input to City Council.
City Council Members also encouraged developers to contact Mr. Dixon, City Manager
Van Milligen, or Rick Dickinson, President and CEO of Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation regarding potential development projects on the island.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned
at 8:04 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk