2 21 06 Minutes this meeting
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
OFFICIAL
City Council, Special Session, February 21, 2006
Council met in Special Session at 6:30 P.M. in the Library Auditorium
Present: Mayor Buol, Council Members Braig, Cline, Connors, Jones, Lynch, Michalski, City
Manager Van Milligen
Mayor Buol read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called for the
purpose of discussing various City departmental budgets and conducting a public hearing on the
CDBG Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Action Plan.
The budgets for the following City departments were discussed: Economic Development
Department, Parking Division, Transit Division, Planning Services Department, and Housing and
Community Development Department.
Economic Development Department: Michalski reminded staff and Council that the City needs
the Des Moines initiative as much as the Washington, DC initiative. Connors requested an
ongoing update on the Community Marketing program.
Transit Division: Discussion centered on the paratransit (mini-bus) operation and the need for
additional property tax support. The main reasons for the increase relate to personnel, diesel
fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. Options recommended to address the Transit shortfall
include implementing a fare increase, development of a policy for no-shows and late
cancellations, reviewing the various contracts for mini-bus service, reviewing the eligibility of
current ridership, developing a better process for bus repairs/maintenance and additional
property tax support.
Sarah Davidson, 125 West 9th Street, spoke of the importance of the paratransit service and
that making the numbers balance should not be the number one priority. She stated that in her
opinion neither the mini-bus nor fixed route operations were being run properly. She also spoke
of the number of times mini-bus service is requested and denied. Michalski commented that the
transit operation needed to be addressed more often than just during the budget process.
Parking Division: Michalski requested a breakout of the number of handicapped parking
spaces by type - street meters, parking lots, and parking ramps. Jones requested that the use
of credit cards/ATM cards be looked at for the parking ramps.
Planning Services Department: Michalski requested that in addition to the many groups
identified to participate in the Comprehensive Bluffs Plan, that the BVM Sisters be included.
Charles Winterwood, Chairperson of the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission, spoke in
support of funding the Comprehensive Bluffs Plan study.
Housing and Community Development Department: Staff explained how the reduction in
Community Development Block Grant funds would be covered. A public hearing was held on the
Fiscal Year 2007 (Program Year 2006) Community Development Block Grant Annual Action
Plan.
Chris Olson, 1090 Grove Terrace, spoke of the importance of the Community Development
Block Grant Program and urged the City Council to continue to communicate this to area
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legislators. Michalski commented she was glad to see that the Neighborhood Recreation
program and Senior Center budgets were not recommended for cuts.
Upon motion the public hearing was closed. The remainder of the Housing and Community
Development Department budget was then presented.
Beverly Berna, Dubuque County Extension Office, congratulated the City Council on the
various partnerships that have been developed and spoke of working with the Housing and
Community Development Department on neighborhood initiatives and the Multi-Cultural Center.
There being no further business, upon motion meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
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L/j~anne F. Schneider, CMC
City Clerk
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