Good evening.

I call the city council meeting for Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 to order.

At this time, we will have a moment of silence or whatever's on your on your heart or on your mind.

Thank you.

Please stand and join Alderman Kelly as he leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Good evening.

As we begin this meeting of the City Council, I would like to welcome all of you in attendance, also those who are viewing the meeting on your computer or mobile service.

We respectfully welcome your comments and opinions.

Please keep in mind that you when you talk to council, you're also sharing your thoughts with fellow Davenporters and with viewers throughout the region as the city council meetings recorded and available online for viewing.

We are happy for you participating in your city government, and we ask that your participation reflect the common desire we all share to make Davenport an even greater place for all citizens.

For those in attendance and those watching at home, I thank you for joining us.

We all thank you for joining us.

And I I'm going to finish this and then we'll go to the roll call.

I apologize.

Thank you.

At this time, we will ask that you turn off or silence your cell phones and other electronic handheld devices just so they don't interfere with anyone who may be speaking.

You will have an opportunity to address the city council on items not on the agenda under the public with business portion of the meeting, which will occur toward the end of the meeting.

When addressing the council, I ask that you step to the podium and please come very close to the podium because that microphone is that green thing above you.

We won't we will not it will not be recorded if we don't get it there.

Um step to the podium, wait to be recognized, and speak to the council as a body and not to any single member.

You were asked to limit your remarks to no more than five minutes, and I would ask that everyone observe, and I know you all will, the common accepted roles of courtesy, decorum, dignity, and good taste.

Thank you.

And now, Mr.

Krupp, would you please call the role?

R Dunn here.

Kelly, Reiner, present.

Greg here.

McGinnis here, Newton, here.

Lynch, here, T Dunn, here.

Job Judd here.

And Burkholder.

Here.

Ten.

President.

Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you.

Will an Alderman make uh approval make a move to approve the minutes of the City Council for August 27th, 2025?

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

No opposed.

So that um that's the minutes are approved.

Um, is there a city administrator?

Nothing CBR.

Okay, thank you.

Will an alder person move approval of the reporter on the committee of the whole for September 3rd, 2025?

There's motion and a second.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, same sign.

That report is also approved.

We have one proclamation this evening, and that proclamation will be read by Alderwoman Jade Burkholder.

Alderwoman Burkholder.

Thank you.

The City of Davenport, Iowa proclamation, whereas 21,000 pregnancies in the United States end in stillbirth each year.

And whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual number of stillbirth exceeds the total deaths from the five leading causes of death among children aged zero to fourteen combined.

And whereas the CDC reports that expectant parents in certain age groups, geographic locations, and those carrying multiple space and increased risk of stillbirth, and whereas disparities in the birth outcomes persist with black native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, Hispanic and American Indian or Alaskan, Alaska Native families at high risk of losing a baby at to stillbirth.

And whereas stillbirth is a devastating loss with profound and lasting impacts on the families who endure it.

And whereas increased awareness and improved data collection will help us better understand why stillbirths occur and at such an alarming rate and identify solutions to prevent them.

And whereas proven prevention efforts already have the power to save thousands of babies each year, while continued innovation and stillbirth prevention offers hope to save even more families from this heartbreaking loss.

And whereas recognizing stillbirth prevention and awareness day is an opportunity to increase awareness, support evidence-based prevention efforts, promote research, encourage improved data collection, and greater understanding and provide support to those who have experienced stillbirth.

And now, therefore, we might Madsen Mayor and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim September 19th, 2025 as stillbirth, prevention and awareness day in Davenport to honor the tens of thousands of American families affected by stillbirth each year, raise awareness, and work together to prevent this tragedy from impacting other families.

Dated this 10th day of September 2025.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

To accept the proclamation.

Thank you very much.

To the mayor, council members, and neighbors, thank you for recognizing National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day.

September 19th is National Stillbirth Prevention Day.

According to the CDC, Count the Cakes and Healthy Birthday, every year in the United States, about 21,000 families will lose a baby to still birth.

Behind every statistic is a beloved baby and a grieving family.

Tonight we honor their stories and commit to prevention.

In my work with the Scott County Health Department, and as a community doula and someone who is a pre-clampsia survivor, I see what saves lives, keeping those early prenatal appointments, knowing your baby's movements, and being able to speak up the moment that something feels different.

To the families who carry loss, you are seen and loved.

To our providers and community partners, thank you for standing in the gap.

This proclamation turns pain into purpose and awareness into action.

Together, Davenport can make sure every parent feels supported and every baby is given every chance.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for that, ma'am.

Um, and we have a very special presentation this evening.

One of the wonderful things we get to do is swear in new members of the fire and police departments, and tonight we have one new police officer to swear in, and I will be meeting Chief Ladle at the podium.

Good evening, Mayor Pro Tem, City Council.

Um, it's always a privilege to stand before you on an occasion like this when we have the opportunity to welcome a new member of the Davenport Police Department family.

So tonight we're excited to introduce our newest officer who's recently graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and is beginning his journey in our field training program.

Uh, bringing new talent to our department is critical to our mission, and we couldn't do it without the ongoing support of City Council, human resources, and most importantly, our community.

Your investment and encouragement ensures that we can continue to recruit, train, and retain outstanding officers who are committed to public service.

So, with that, I'd like to share a little bit more about our newest uh officer, and we'll have Officer Aaron Morgan come on.

Officer Aaron Morgan was born in Fruitland, Iowa and moved to Davenport during elementary school.

He graduated from Davenport West School West School in 2022, and driven by a strong passion for public service.

Aaron has long aspired to become a police officer.

While at West High, he pursued his interest in engineering, taking several courses in the field as a part of his scap capstone project, he contributed to the design of a water filter safe filter to say that word filter filtration system intended to benefit a community in Kenya and experience that deepened his commitment to helping others.

So Aaron is proud to serve his community where he grew up and is excited to begin his journey as a Davenport Police Police Officer.

Um his mother Darcy will be pinning his badge and for Aaron, he's got a pretty big house today with his family.

So in addition to welcoming him to the city, we welcome his family as well here to the city.

Aye, thank you, name.

Hi, Aaron Morgan.

You follow them, clear.

But I will support the constitution of the nine.

And the constitution of Iowa.

And I will thankfully.

And impartially.

With the best of my ability.

Of the state, of the city Davenport.

County of Scott, State of Iowa.

As now we'll have to require all of all.

Now we have to have the police.

Continued support.

We appreciate everything you guys do.

And we'll continue to serve as well as can't put.

So I will pause for just a moment.

I know that we appreciate everybody here, but if your time is over or your where you're here is uh done, then you we're gonna give you time to let you leave.

You're welcome to stay if you'd like.

Okay.

I think we're I think everybody's gone.

Thank you.

All right.

Um we now will it now is time for petitions and communications from council members, and I see um Alderman Wein Arts.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Um, just a quick reminder.

Uh, tomorrow is the eighth ward meeting uh at Red Hawk golf course, 6 to 7:30.

And the gentleman that is running unopposed in the eighth ward, Matt Lennon, will be there for any kind of questions you may have for him.

Um anybody that wants to show up, have a chance to meet the guy.

Thank you.

Bye.

Thank you.

Umton.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Uh Council's received several emails regarding status updates with civil rights.

I think it would be prudent that we have a joint session with the commission so that we um first get an update of where we're at, and then direction from the commission can be received of what needs to take place to move the matter forward.

So I would request a second in getting a joint session set between council, council and the commission.

Um, and I would request that that be set as soon as possible.

I mean, I know that council's given direction to the city to re and reaffirming the independence of the civil rights commission and of moving matters forward.

So I want to make sure that it's taken care of right away.

Alderman Alderman, do we need a motion and a second on this?

Do we can we do this when it's on the agenda?

I guess it would.

I mean, the it was requested um to have it, um, and a second was heard.

Um, I would say the and two seconds, yeah.

So I say it's not technically on the agenda, but the direction from it is clear.

Um, and so if you would like to do a voice vote, I this procedurally, there's not uh a pitfall here, I would say because it's just direction to staff of what to do.

Okay, okay, but it's that following you very good.

Okay.

Okay, all right.

Um, Alderman Kelly.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Alderman Newton, because that was definitely top on my list because I was gonna start with I hate that the country is in such a divide, and I'm not gonna speak on what happened, but we have that here in the city of Davenport.

So when and if you guys decide to get off your feelings, we can actually move forward and get some work done because I'm telling you, it's interesting that we have to ask you guys to do something that was a directive from the council, which we very rarely get to do.

And here we are asking you guys, do your job.

Just do your job.

We're not asking for anybody to move mountains.

We're not asking for anybody to dig a valley.

We're just asking you to do what we actually have you folks here to get paid to do.

So it's sad to me that we're still stuck on feelings because if you guys only know all the roadblocks that I have to say to get to my block party before I'm gonna, I'm not gonna give it to you, but it's just like do your job.

You guys want us to be aldermen and alder women and be out in the public and take the buck shots, but it's just as interesting to me that you guys, as employees, you can't take them.

And I'm tired of that.

The shit is getting ridiculous that you guys can be in a position that you guys can't hear, or you come up with an excuse when somebody gets in their feelings, and you guys know what I'm talking about because it's going on with me and the blocking of my block party that I still get to have.

Get off your feelings, do what you guys are paid to do.

And once again, October can't come soon enough for me because we keep talking about what we can do and what we're gonna do, but we're not doing it.

We're not.

We're not.

We're spinning our wheels, we're kicking cans, we're moving things down the road.

What are we moving things down the road for?

Because guess what?

After October is stuff that we still gonna have to work on.

It's still things that we're gonna have to do as a city of Davenport.

So they're not gonna go anywhere in the election.

So what seats may change, but it's not gonna go anywhere.

These are things that are still gonna have to get worked on.

So why are we spinning our wheels now when we could actually put some plans in motion and make things happen off my soapbox?

This Saturday, I have a block party open to the whole entire city.

I know it says the fifth ward, but this Saturday at the 13th from 4 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

I'll have different vendors and I'll have different food trucks and folks selling food and items that are from all around the city, some from Illinois.

They're just selling their wares because I want people to get see what the actual quad cities has to offer, not just the fifth ward.

I'm hosting another fifth ward because I'm the fifth ward alderman.

So I'm taking advantage of my area and my piece of town to spotlight folks.

So if you guys have nothing going on Saturday from four to nine and the JB parking lot from four to nine, there will be different vendors and different food trucks in the parking lot of JB across from uh KFC.

Thank you.

Alderman Burk Holder.

Thank you.

I just want to take a moment to recognize tomorrow is the 24th anniversary of 9-11.

Um I miss the community support for each other that we had on the 12th of that year.

Um let's take a moment to remember.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

And I just uh wanted to note that um the third ward meeting uh set for September will be Monday, September 15th at 6 30, right here in City Hall.

So anyone's welcome to come.

And that's again this Monday, September 15th at 6 30.

Thank you.

I don't see anyone else, so we'll move forward.

Um, our next area is an individual approval of items on the discussion agenda, and we have four items this evening.

Number one is a first consideration, it's the ordinance for case ORD 25-01 being the request to St.

Ambrose University to amend the campus land use plan bounded by Harrison Street, West Locust Street, Brown Street, and Lombard Street.

So is there any public with comment?

You have five minutes.

Please come forward and state your name and address or ward.

Thank you.

Hello.

Uh, my name is Christopher Waugh, and I am located on Locust at St.

Ambrose University.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem and City Council for this opportunity to return to address questions that surfaced last week at the committee out of the whole meeting.

Uh, first issue that came up was about water retention and stormwater plans.

Uh Laura Berkeley has sent the stormwater narrative from the IC submittal documents to council members.

In summary, the planned narrative includes four items.

One, uh storm stormwater detention will be handled on a project-by-project basis as proposed features are added to the campus.

Two, current plans call for either expansion of existing underground detention facilities or additional underground detention structures in the parking lots along the west side of the campus.

Stormwater plan for the new academic hall is to install a surface stormwater feature such as a bioswale in the green space just south of the building.

And all new projects will absolutely meet the requirements outlined in the city's stormwater ordinance, including water quality requirements and detention requirements.

Another question surfaced about what will the landscaping and fencing around the parking lots look like.

So page eight of the IC submittal provides examples of the existing perimeter fencing and signage.

And besides these pictures, we've provided additional pictures of the perimeter fencing along the locust street parking lot.

Laura Berkeley has those photos and will be submitting them to the council.

The intent of the IC submittal is for the new parking lots between Gaines Street and Brown Street to have similar perimeter fencing to these existing conditions.

And fencing adjacent to the parking lots will mimic the locust street edge conditions.

While fencing adjacent to green spaces will reflect other campus edge conditions.

And these standards sections were developed to meet the perimeter landscaping requirements of chapter 17 of the city code.

They include four items, perimeter location and width, shrubs and ground cover, trees, and alternative pedestrian wall options.

Interior parking lot landscaping will also meet the requirements outlined in chapter 17, which includes parking lot islands, which are required, island dimensions will uh be according to the the requirements, planting requirements, and then overall landscaping uh requirements of that parking lot.

The third of the fourth questions is what was the plan for the properties that are not in the IC zoning boundary?

St.

Ambrose currently owns 17 properties directly west of Brown Street.

Ambrose purchased homes as they went on the market, and many of those homes have been used for students or staff housing.

We work to maintain those homes and maintain any feedback for their condition if there are impressions that they are a nuisance to the neighbors or that the properties around that community.

There are no current plans to expand past the current institutional campus boundary that's browned brown to Lombard to Harrison to locust in the next 10 years.

This includes no plans to demolish any of the existing homes.

Justice is one of the four main values of St.

Ambrose courage, wisdom, justice, and service, which is why we've donated houses to nonprofit organizations to host low-income families, partnering with rejuvenate housing and humility homes, as well as our current collaboration with Tapestry Farms and World Relief to host a refugee family.

And then finally, the question surfaced about properties south of Locust Street.

St.

Ambrose currently owns 18 properties directly south of Locust Street, and there are no current plans for the development of these properties in the next 10 years.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Anyone else would like to speak tonight?

Will another person please move?

Oh, please come forward.

I'm sorry.

Name and address or word, please.

Yes, Chris Whatter Fifth Step into step into the podium, please, Chris.

The microphones up there.

Oh, Chris Wittered uh fifth ward.

Um, about St.

Ambrose.

I'm a resident in the area, and I'm always surprised and question what's going on over there.

Um, I don't know how thoroughly because I've been out of town.

You've investigated the need for more parking at St.

Ambrose, and if all those questions have been met.

Um population at the school has diminished.

There's more online classes, they own almost well all of the Brown Street on both sides, and now they're continuing to expand west.

And as you know, or at least my experience with the last time we went through this.

Many years ago, there's always a plan.

And in the past, it's been when they have parking lots, they turn into buildings and expansion without exception.

And the plan when Sister Joan was here, I believe, also, was they put up a street light there so people could cross from St.

Ambrose across Locust to the south side.

At one point, there was even talk of a bridge that would be going from St.

Ambrose to the south side.

And now they own 18 properties.

So I'm I'm a little confused as to why the plan, the first plan was changed to the second plan, and why we're even looking at a second plan.

So I just hope that you have um investigated and asked those questions.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else?

I don't want to rush this.

There's no all right.

So would um an alder person move the resolution?

Second.

We have a second.

All right.

Um, and any discussion with the council members and I see Alderman Rick Dunn.

Thank you.

For the gentleman from Ambrose.

Um are you planning on buying any more properties or are we are we done?

Because it just seems, you know, we've I've been around quite a while last time we were we weren't going to buy it, keep expanding all, but it looks to me like are we expanding more or what what's our what's the end game here?

Sure.

There's no current plan to expand in our current boundary.

Um there's no current plan to purchase additional properties.

In fact, we've sold a few properties that we did own west of uh Brown Street in the last three years.

Sure.

Thank you.

I'm sorry if you don't mind coming back up.

Um and I as you mentioned, um, you there are no current plans for development of the properties that you already own in the next 10 years.

Is there any specific reason for that?

And I I asked because I I used to live in that neighborhood on Fort Heathan Scott, and the wonder it would do to just reface all those properties, the value it could it could hold for that neighborhood would be immense, and it would be wonderful to see something like that.

Is there any reason that it's just not a conversation that's had?

I appreciate the question, and I think it might actually address our neighbors' question as well.

Um so the St.

Ambrose University submits a master plan about every 10 years to the city, and this plan includes possibilities of what we're thinking about, maybe hoping for.

Um we're looking forward, St.

Ambrose University is always looking ahead to what is the next opportunity.

We anchor that in what are the needs of our students, but we absolutely equally anchor that in what are the needs of our community, and we want to be a good neighbor.

Uh so the projects that are represented in this current master plan represent places that we may be able to go with those facilities.

Uh specifically, you know, anchored in the academic, uh, the new academic building that would house uh innovation and academic opportunity, the outdoor and the recreation spaces that would help students engage socially and just hold promote their holistic health.

Um so we don't even necessarily have plans to move on anything that's currently in the master plan because this is I'm talking about a vision, but that also includes finances, and so very often it will require donation, you know, donor uh support, uh, you know, tuition revenue, et cetera.

So um this master plan, the hope for it is to set us up so that if we can, if we do have an opportunity to move in any one of these directions, we'll be able to do so fairly swiftly.

Um so we certainly would be open to ideas from our from the community about how we might think about neighborhood reject rejuvenation and partner with that.

That's a really important interest for us.

Um I sit on the hilltop uh committee as well, and I'm thrilled to be a part of those conversations about how students can even enhance the hilltop uh community spaces.

So is that helpful?

Is that that is helpful, thank you.

And I I I certainly agree and believe in uh looking toward the future and innovation and and growth.

Um, but I I do hope you know hopefully in the near future we can come up with a creative solution to invest in the the assets that you currently already own, and um you know, preserving that neighborhood and revitalizing it.

And that is part of what we're doing with the partnerships that I mentioned in the QA as well.

Well, thank you.

Thank you.

Well Norman Newton Thank you.

I have another question.

Um we heard from one of the constituents regarding the enrollment.

Is it true that there's a decline in enrollment, or how would you describe the enrollment compared to what it is today to what it was when the last plan was enacted?

Sure.

So um enrollment across the country is going down.

Um you may or may not be aware there is uh since 2009 a birth decline in the United States, and so colleges across the country are experiencing are all experiencing that, and all of us are talking about it.

Um I will say this year our enrollment is actually up.

We have the largest first year class that we've had in a number of years, um, and our retention is up this year as well.

So we're on an upward swing, which is good.

Um, but overall the enrollment has gone down as has enrollment across the country.

Right, thank you.

Sure.

And I don't see anyone else.

I did have a question, I don't mean to keep dragging you through this, but um so the the houses that you will be taking down within your perimeter have people in them right now, correct?

Are there people living, students?

Students.

Okay.

So my question is you said you were not planning to purchase any more houses outside your area, but the area of my concern is not inside your area, it's adjacent.

Um you own all the almost all the houses along Brown to the West.

You own quite a few houses on locust.

You own some on on um uh on Harrison.

So my question to you is are you will the will the the university guarantee that they will not then purchase the houses on the other side of Brown?

Because right now you own all the ones on the east side, but then they're ones facing the next street.

So that's my question.

Can you answer that for us, please?

Uh it's a it's a great question.

I certainly wouldn't be in a position to make any guarantees in any direction, but what I can reiterate is that much of what the master planning process is is looking forward.

Um and it it very well could be in five years that some up that an opportunity surfaces for us that we had no way of knowing in 2025.

Um and so we would certainly engage with the city with our neighbors in a very thoughtful way, like we did this current master plan.

Uh you may recall that there was a uh originally a plan for a performing arts center.

Uh then when we took that to the neighbors, uh we received very strong feedback against that.

So you know what?

We removed it from the plan.

Um, and so that's how we work in these processes.

Um I I really would have no way of being able to forecast it, and I certainly wouldn't be qualified to or uh to you know to be able to make any guarantees in any one direction.

Could I ask you to get an answer to that question and bring someone to talk to that?

Because the the issue becomes not just the area that you that the institution wants to be in, it's when and this is happening right now.

Um, not I'm not saying with your institution, where uh an institution sets boundaries and then properties and it's homes and in these cases are purchased and suddenly they're gone and they're outside the area.

So I think that's part of what I'm hearing.

It's certainly my concern, and I'm not gonna try to channel my uh fellow alder folks here, but I'm hearing that from them as well.

If the people that are living in the houses right now are now they need a place to live, and the ones along adjacent are now full.

If Ambrose continues to purchase them, then five, ten years from now, it's like, well, here's another block gone.

And that's a real that's a real concern.

So I would ask that perhaps you could get some, and I'm not asking you to answer not, you could get some direction, or have someone who come and could speak to that because that's this is what I'm hearing.

And I do want to thank you for all of the uh work you're doing with not for profits and for individuals in terms of um turning these properties back over for other use.

I appreciate that as well.

You're welcome.

It is an honor to do it.

And Mayor Prote McGinnis, just to make sure I'm understanding correctly, you would like me to come back to answer to be ready to answer the question, are we able to commit to no future property purchases?

That's that's correct.

Along out of your boundaries, yes.

I'm not saying I'm not asking you to commit to that as part of this.

I'm asking for some sense because you the boundaries don't matter.

I mean, uh they they don't boundaries don't seem to matter often in these cases.

So where are these people going to go who are living in the houses right now that are on that are going to be taken down as part of this project?

So that's one question.

Where will they go and live?

You're talking about in the future if houses are purchased by the university.

Correct.

I'm that's my concern outside because you will take them the all the ones down that are in your perimeter.

The the issue is will it continue to expand?

That's the concern.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay, I'll be right back.

So if you could maybe get me a little more of an answer, I'd appreciate it.

Well do.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right.

I see no one else.

Um will the uh will an older person please move the resolution?

All in favor?

Oh, I so we have to call the roll.

So let's call the roll, please.

Jobin?

Yeah.

R done?

Yes.

Lynch?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Kelly.

I'm sorry.

Kelly.

Oh, sorry.

Yeah.

McGuinness?

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

And Reinhardt.

Yes.

10.

Yes, is Mayor Pro Temper.

Thank you.

And that ordinance moves to second consideration.

Next I am on the agenda is a resolution approving a five-year lease with B Z Holdings Incorporated, doing business as boozy's bar and grill at the freight house and authorizing staff to proceed with soliciting beds as necessary for repairs and improvements to the property.

Is there any public with comment?

Seeing no one.

Well, Nalderman, please move the resolution.

Motion and a second, any discussion?

I see no discussion.

No, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

So we all got sent that um information of the rentals and the oversights.

I still am stuck on who besides you legal and besides Director Berger.

Is there somebody that's actually going to be overseeing this so that we don't fall back into the trap that I asked about originally?

So I mean, because you guys have a lot on your plate, so it just doesn't make sense that it's just a couple folks that overlook something because uh that was a lot that was overlooked.

So I I want to make sure you're talking maybe more of like a property management position or role responsibility within someone's position, is what you're asking.

Yes.

Okay.

Um those conversations are ongoing about how to effectuate that currently.

Um it is in consultation with the kind of staff member that works with RIC generally to oversee that.

Um, and so um we can update the council when that is the firm plan of who's going to do that from a property management standpoint.

Again, the considerations here are our budget budgetary in nature, right?

Adding an FTE or or or not to just do this kind of role.

So that's the conversations that have been had and and will be ongoing to make sure this doesn't happen again.

But that process we sent, make sure that we're getting that direct link from finance about any arrearages that occur so that legal can if no one else has brought that up, legal can bring it up once they've received that.

And the the board is there council folks on the board for you mean like the 10 of you, uh no, there these are commissioners uh that are, I believe, appoint each each ward and or each elected appoint one of the commissioners to the board.

So that's that's kind of their purview.

Um so doesn't mean that you can't speak with the commissioners about these properties, but that is kind of their their purview.

Okay.

Well, thank you.

I I'm just looking for uh more insight instead of us getting uh shock at the end of you know what I mean, because it's it's interesting that what can pass through this the hands, and then there's interesting what will not, because then I go back to are we doing our jobs?

So I really would like while I'm here to keep an eye on that.

I don't know how I get to, and my colleagues get to keep an eye on something like that without more um what's what's the word I'm looking for of us interreacting, and I don't feel like I feel comfortable approaching the commissioners because I don't want to sway anybody, I just want the information.

Does that make sense?

Right.

Uh so what I think I'm hearing, and I will circle with Doug tomorrow to talk about maybe a process for uh a notification to council at large at a certain point within our current process if we feel that the direction is not something that legal would advise we continue down.

Okay, thank you.

All right, seeing no one else, uh Brian, please call the roll in the resolution R Dunn, yes.

McGinnis?

Yes, Grip, yes, Kelly Lynch, yes, T Dunn, yes, Reinhardt, yes, Newton, yes, Job Jin, yes, and Burkholder, yes.

And yes, Mayor Pro Tem.

The resolution's adopted.

We move to number three, which is a resolution ratifying the emergency purchase of demolition services for 314 Gane Street from Valley Construction of Rock Island, Illinois, in the amount of 231,300.

Is there any public with comment?

Name and word, please.

Hello, my name is David Ezra Siddhartha, and I live in Euroward, Marion.

Iowa Code 364.2.1 reads quote a power of a city is vested in the city council.

Close quote.

That's it.

The power of the city of Davenport is in the city council.

It's not in the mayor, it's not in the city administrator, it's not in the city attorney, and it absolutely is not in the city staff.

I don't know how many times I have stood before you right here and repeated that over and over and over, and you still don't get it.

City staff has run over city council so many times there should be permanent tire tracks on your back.

And every time city staff did it, they broke the law.

City staff did not have the legal authority to tell Valley Construction to demolish 314 Gain Street, and that they would be paid 231,0300.

It doesn't matter if the building should have been demolished or not.

City staff does not have the legal authority to enter into a contract with Valley Construction and then ask City Council for approval.

It doesn't work that way.

It's not legal.

There is no legal difference with what city staff did here and what city staff did when they gave Corey Spiegel 1.6 million dollars.

It's the exact same thing.

City staff gave away public money without bothering to go through the legalities of first getting a city council vote.

Don't get me wrong.

If they had asked first, I'm sure city council would rubber stamp anything that city staff wants.

That's how you guys work.

You guys have been walked over so much, you are like hostages with Stockholm syndrome.

But what city staff has once again done is blatantly illegal.

And City Council will probably let them get away with it again.

This time.

Just vote no.

Just vote no.

Just vote no.

It's that simple.

Tell city staff that you are taking back your legal responsibilities.

Tell city staff that you are done following them off a cliff into one lawsuit after another.

When city staff on their own decided to withhold the spiegel demand letter from me, from Sarah Watson, and from the media for 300 days, they put you in legal jeopardy.

Those of you, you know who you are.

You're gonna be doing depositions in five days.

I am suing you and you, not city staff.

You are legally responsible for those public records.

Not city staff.

City staff makes promises, and you guys get to cash the checks.

You guys get the legal responsibility.

And from what I understand, you guys don't even know what my lawsuit's about.

If you lose, the judge will ban you from ever holding public office again.

Just vote no.

Let's see what happens.

But before you vote, we have a small problem.

There's a member of the city council who has been paid by Mr.

Lycandro and cannot vote on this resolution without violating Iowa Code 68B.2A conflict of interest.

Iowa Code 68B.2A.2B is short and explicit.

68B.2A.2B states that quote, official action or official duty includes but is not limited to participating in any vote, and that quote, any person who serves or is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state shall not engage in any outside employment or activity, which is in conflict with a person's official duties and responsibilities.

Now this city council member is now claiming in local paper that she did not, that she had volunteered her services and did not take any money from Mr.

Lycandra.

However, we have the receipts.

July 18th issue, 2020 issue of Quant City Times clearly states Lycandro has hired you know whoard board alderman.

Therefore, she must recuse herself.

She cannot vote.

This is just an example of a contact.

Sir, your time is up.

It's a time is up.

And you know it.

This is your warning.

Your time is up, sir.

Please sit down.

You are a lame duck.

A point of order has been called.

Please sit down, sir.

I would suggest a recess at this time to address this.

I'm sorry, folks.

We will recess for five minutes and we'll be back.

And we will come back to this point.

Thank you.

To come out of recess, I'm sorry.

Okay, all in favor?

Aye.

Okay, we'll go forward.

Name and more to address, please.

Judith Lee.

Second word.

I'm very concerned that the council has been set up by quote, the department director, the finance director, and the city administrator, unquote, from the letter to Mr.

Lacondro.

City Administrator will be gone in two and a half weeks, with a demand that council ratify the cost of demolition of the building for a cost of nearly a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money.

They claim the building posed a significant public risk, quote.

I do question that the city did not somehow have the time between Tuesday, August 19th, 2025, when Jamie LeCondro was notified by the fire marshal and the chief building inspector that quote, immediate action is required to address this issue and ensure the safety of the public.

The August 19th letter doesn't say who will take the action.

Could LaCondro have paid for demolition of his own property that was a public health and safety problem rather than the city.

Apparently, the city department director, the finance director, and the city administrator determined that they had the authority to override the authority of the leaders of the city, the city council, in approving spending 230,003 of taxpayer money without a public vote.

The facts are clear.

City management and staff knew that the building was a public hazard on at least Tuesday, August 19th, when they identified when they notified Mr.

Lacondro and possibly earlier, which was the day before the committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday, August 20th.

Demolition was initiated nearly a week later on Tuesday, August 26th, and completed the next day.

City management and staff had plenty of time over a week to call an emergency public meeting of council to review and approve an expenditure of nearly a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money for demolition of a public hazard, compliant with the Iowa open meetings law.

City management and staff could also have put it on the committee of the whole agenda on August 20th, with 24 hours of public notice, with a suspension of the rules, also compliant with the Iowa public meetings law.

The city and council are currently being sued for doing the same thing in probable violation of the open meetings law for the ratification of the payments to three employees.

The decision has not even been issued on this case, and regardless of the outcome, it will be appealed to higher levels of court, at least to the Supreme Court.

I repeat, I am very concerned that city management and staff have put council in a very tenuous legal position when it was and is entirely unnecessary.

Council must stop management and staff from usurping your authority, as I believe they have in this case.

He could have advised against it and called an emergency meeting, but it must not involve usurpation of council authority, and or put council in the position of taking action that is a probable violation of the state Iowa open meeting law.

This is just another black eye for the city of Davenport.

And count and staff and the city administrator knew better and had plenty of time.

The facts are clear.

Thank you.

Mr.

Come Ford.

Yeah, Paul Bosquez didn't have third ward.

I don't have their facts.

I agree with them totally.

So I'm going to come in a different angle.

I've talked a lot of people.

Everybody is concerned about the waste of tax dollars and the loss of authority that you people are supposed to have.

I've heard it everywhere.

People are angry, people are watching it.

They don't know the entire school.

But if you people are supposed to make that decision, then why did they do it?

And 230,000, there's a lot of people hurting.

And you give you give away tax money because it's not your money.

They give away tax money, it's not their money, and then the grief comes back on you people.

It's that dang council.

I hear it everywhere.

You know what you would think somebody would say enough.

I've said that before.

Many have said that before.

If you are the guys supposed to take control, then take it.

And that means if you put your foot down, you put your foot down.

It's one less argument, less grief you're taking.

And I've always said, I've said all along, 10 heads are better than one.

If you all sit down and work together and decide a course of action, you're not leaving it to somebody who's either here or gone already or going to leave the grief on you people as they walk away.

So, yes, these people are correct.

Mistakes were made, a lot of them.

And also asked last week, who's gonna pay?

If Davenport ends up paying us, all of us.

Are they gonna get any money back?

Are you doing absolutely anything to make sure it does not happen again?

Or are you gonna wait until the same thing happens and then here you are again?

I've said many times fight a battle once, and I just don't understand why that's so hard to understand.

Next Cheryl Shagna, third ward, and some of the reasons I heard last week for why they went ahead without council approval had to do with safety first.

And I'm not gonna lie, hearing that actually made me angry, made me feel anger because there was three men buried in a building across the street.

And if safety was such a priority, first of all, it wouldn't have happened, and secondly, they wouldn't have been so quick to want to demo the building when they were under the rubble.

So when someone throws out safety first, I feel like it is a buzz phrase that is supposed to get people on board that you're legit when in fact I don't believe you're legit.

Um I want to know did this go out on bid?

If there was a week, was there a time, or is it just you know, did they throw out a number and it was an emergency, so they said, yeah, 231,000, it looks like it'll take three days.

I don't know.

Um, but I have to question that.

And were there other people called?

I have driven by since and looked at the work that has been done, and it just seems odd the timing of all of this as work is seems to be uh being evaluated, or the property where the old YMCA crossed the street and uh across that on uh I think West Third also seems to have some work going on.

So the timing of all of it is uh as my youngest would say, sush.

Thank you.

See no one else we'll move forward.

I'm gonna take a point of privilege um and um repeat what I said last week, um, which was uh, and I said it at the dais last week.

I um while I worked on this building um and received no compensation um for it for any work I ever did on this building, it was done as a volunteer.

Um this was an important building, and that was my contribution uh to trying to save it.

Um, but having said that, I have never voted on anything to do with this building when it was before this council, and I'm not gonna change that tonight, so I will not be disc be engaged in any discussion or any voting.

Um so I am abstaining from voting as I said I would last week.

So thank you.

Does it is there any alderman who for discussion?

I see no discussion.

All right.

Um will an all wouldn't all of them please move the resolution.

Oh, I'm sorry.

So what could wouldn't all remove the resolution?

I'm sorry.

Second?

All right, any discussion okay from council.

I'll mnewton.

Thank you, Member President.

I have some questions.

I think last week one of my colleagues mentioned that um the individual that owns this property is currently working with the city on other properties.

Is there merit to such?

I'm not aware of any current applications for assistance on any properties.

He did uh inquire about assistance or incentives uh within the last six months on a property.

He did not follow through on that application, but uh that that inquiry was made, yes.

And then can uh council provide me an explanation of the steps the city will take to recuperate the the funds, the 231,000 dollars, so when the matter is ratified.

Uh so by stat so by ordinance, uh we have the ability to lien the property for that amount.

We will obviously do that.

Um we are also exploring the legal viability of being able to go after him personally or through his LLC.

Um recover based on his the value of other assets.

So uh our statute does not particularly ordinate uh authorize that particular method, however, doesn't prescribe that other methods of recovery are not viable.

So we're still it we're exploring that and we'll seek to do what we can under the law to recover this beyond just leaning the property.

And then last question I heard from constituents um comments regarding the timeline of events.

If someone could provide me the timeline and whether or not there's any vote validity to the knowledge of the property being of issue on August 19th, prior to the August 20th meeting.

Um, I would essentially just need a timeline of the events and including the notification to council.

I would be glad to do that.

Uh on the 18th.

Um, let's see, met with uh the city attorney, um Rich Oswald for neighborhood services.

Um Morris, fire marshal, uh Jake, uh Rolf from uh again the building official.

Uh we met from about three to five p.m.

that day on the 18th to do discuss this.

Uh put a uh game plan in in order at that point on the 19th, a letter was sent to the owner declaring a public hazard.

Uh the we got a response from the owner on the on the 20th via email and issue emergency PO was issued to Valley on that date.

Uh on the 22nd uh of August, we notified the city council uh via email of the action taken, and then I believe on the 26th, the fencing went up and uh the contractor mobilized to demolish that structure.

And is there a reason council didn't receive notification either on the 19th when the letter went out to the owner or on the 20th when the PO was put in place for the demolition there was not uh not a specific reason to we intended to uh notify the council that week, which is what we did.

Okay.

I think um from my perspective, the issue before us, if we would have had a special meeting, I would certainly voted in favor because at the end of the day, always better safe than sorry.

I understand it's taxpayer dollars, but the last thing the city needs is another building falling down.

I think everyone would agree with that.

In terms of notifications, and obviously the city also does not need any any more lawsuits.

So obviously, we have a bill to value that needs to be paid for the work that's been completed.

But I do think that going forward, it's important that council receive notification in standard of when now when it becomes of knowledge to the city, whether regardless of where we're at with staff, I think notification and timeliness is key for council.

Um, whether or not a special meeting would have been said or could have been said, I mean, we can go back back and forth with that, but at least having proper notification when it when the city becomes when that becomes knowledge to the city, I think is important.

I mean, the timeline is important in the minute the city knows, and it especially a decisions being made, a simple email to council, making counsel aware of this is where we're at, I think is also important going forward from my perspective.

My colleagues can issue their opinions, agree or disagree, but that's just kind of where I stand.

Thank you.

Oh Kelly.

Thank you so much.

I just would like to say, yes, Auditor Newton, that it's important.

I'm I'm with the safety of everything, period.

But it's just like once again, I don't want to get on my soapbox and say you want us to do, because at the end of the day, what does it look like?

This comes from the council as opposed to it actually was a directive from the city employees, which that's cool.

You guys have to do your job.

You did your job in that instance, but we weren't alerted.

So it's funny to me what we can get alerted on, and then things that we don't get alerted on.

So I don't want to uh piggyback Dr.

Sidron, but you know, you have to look at some of those points.

When you hit a whole bunch of those branches, we hit a whole bunch of those branches that don't make any sense.

So I am definitely with all the warm and Newton that the information does need to be disseminated before, not necessarily before, sorry.

Let me take that because safety is a concern, and we have had to be not local news, not national news.

We have been worldwide news on being educated when a building collapsed.

They all have to go.

Well get rid of everybody because something that we don't know, we didn't know.

So I hear you as a voter, you know, and I I'm not talking about, but it's just interesting to me what folks will come in this room and talk about, and then what folks won't come in this room and say anything about.

So it's just what's the one accord?

How do we get on the one accord?

How do we get the information that we need?

How do we serve the city the best that we can if we don't know what's actually going on?

Does that make any sense?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I I said this last week that you know the time frame, the letter was sent on the 19th.

Um maybe council or I shouldn't say not maybe, council should have been um pulled into a vote, a special meeting, so that we could approve this and not have to come back after the fact.

Um I mean, there's four days that something could have gone out.

Um did it need to come down right away.

Obviously, we've got I'm not gonna question the fire marshal or the building and chief building officer.

Um I've been in that building many years ago, and it was a wreck then.

Um but for for this to come back after everything said and done, asking for council's permission uh to to spend this money.

I think we should have done it a little better.

And when we knew that this was the the direction that we had to go to demolish it, they should have come to council before it was said and done.

Thank you.

Seeing no one else, Brian, please um call the roll in the resolution.

I know you've already stated this, but for the official record, McGuinness.

Um, I'm um abstaining from voting.

Ryan Arts.

Yes, T Dunn?

Yes, Kelly, no.

R Dunn?

Yes, Lynch.

Oh, I didn't know she left.

I'm so sorry.

Uh Job June.

Yes.

Newton, yes.

Grip.

Yes.

And Burke Holder.

No.

Okay.

One, two, three, four, five.

Six yeses, two no's and one abstention.

Mayor Pro Tem.

So that's that resolution does pass.

All right, number four.

Motion approving a special occurrence permit for Daniel Fuentes to allow a mobile food unit to operate on public property located in front of 1407 West Fourth Street.

Is there any public with comment?

Cheryl Shagnak, third war.

And I do keep coming up on this one because I do feel like it's a public safety issue on West Fourth, where there are where they want to put this.

Um, three lanes of traffic, and just concerned of um what could happen with people on the street.

Um a thought I had was what if the city opened up a place where food trucks could operate on a regular basis, and all of us knew that they were there, and we could go get our food truck fixed in one place on the west end would be fantastic.

Thanks.

Anyone else?

Second.

All right, any discussion from council.

Uh or Calder.

Did we ever have the conversation with the owner about times, days, times?

We've had several discussions about times.

He's only going to be operating within the hours that are approved.

He's not working there overnight.

Uh, and then I think he's still uh I think he's fluid on the days he's gonna operate.

Is that correct, Brian?

Yeah.

Okay, so it's gonna be seven days a week from 11 a.m.

to 9 p.m.

So it's for Monday through Friday, 11 to 9.

But I actually did reach out to him, and he does not plan to do every Monday through Friday, 11 to 9.

So it might be Monday, four to nine, no Tuesday, Wednesday six to nine.

You know, it's not gonna be all five days for the whole time period.

Okay, thank you.

You're welcome.

Um and if I could um Mr.

Huff, I had asked last week, and you had sent a note just to bring everybody up to speed.

I had asked about any kind of amendment, and you had said that with in our ordinance, we probably could not bring amendment to pull back, but that within our regulations, we have um a number of steps we could take.

Could you kind of go through those again for counsel tonight?

And the other question I had for you is could those things that are in a or could a copy of our ordinance be attached to his lease?

Is that possible?

So certainly we can uh provide that to him with the the permit.

Um and he's already aware of it.

The uh kind of levers that the city can pull on this um really boil down to uh and I to address some of the concerns that that have been stated.

Um can he just park it there from 11 to 9, even if he's not making food, and and therefore basically just park a food truck that's non-operational.

So our our ordinance seems to does indicate that that's not allowable.

Uh ordinance uh indicates that when you are not operating, you are not supposed to have the food truck in the public right-of-way.

So if there are reports that the truck is being is sitting within the zone, not operating, then the city will take enforcement actions uh that we have municipal infractions, uh potentially pulling the permit uh and things like that.

All of those are available to the city, and and certainly we can work through those uh if violations start to come in.

So and again, this is a one-year permit, correct?

Yes, okay.

So all right, thank you.

Um I see no one else, so Brian, would you please call the roll in the motion?

Yes.

Job Jen?

Yes.

Brein Arts?

Yes.

R Dunn?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Kelly?

Yes.

McGuinness?

Yes.

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

And Newton.

Yes.

Nine yeses, Mayor Pro Tim.

Thank you very much.

Now we come to the uh consent agenda.

And is there a motion for approval of all items on the consent agenda?

Uh Brian, please call a roll on the consent agenda.

McGuinness?

Yes.

Job Jin?

Yes.

R Done?

Yes.

T Done.

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

Kelly?

Yes.

Reinhardt?

Yes.

And Newton.

Yes.

Nine yeses, Mayor Pro Tem.

So that also passes.

And we'll move on to our next area is other ordinances, resolutions, and motions.

And we have none this evening, I believe.

Is that correct?

So then we move to any public with business.

If there is public with business, step to the podium, your name and more, uh, address our ward, and you'll have five minutes.

This is on any business that was not discussed tonight.

New business.

Well, my name is Keanu.

I work at the Golden Mart.

And um, I have a couple of concerns.

One, I've already been dealing with the menal.

Uh two, I called the police today, first shift at 11.26 for a guy.

Um, they never showed up.

He said outside angry for a minute, then came in, decided to take him a pop, throw the straw wrapper on the floor, walk past me as if he does not have to pay.

And that was I called the police at 1126.

It was 11 45 when the incident happened.

They still have never showed up.

Um, first shift, I'm really still having problems with.

They don't come like second shift.

Um, I understand, you know, that you know, they have other concerns or whatever, but it's a prime shame that it's a lot of mental people out here.

See, I'm no longer even fighting for the homeless.

I'm coming because mental people need help.

These landlords and people are worried about properties.

Well, can we spend some money on getting some help for these mental people?

You know, like we put our lives in danger.

Today was the first time that I didn't bring my knife or my stun gun to work.

Kind of wish I did.

That's why I kept my mouth shut when the police never showed up.

But at the end of the day, it's like it's beginning to be real serious, all in the bottom part of Davenport.

You know, everywhere else in Davenport is pretty much good, but the West End and all down second, third, and fourth is beginning to be a shame.

And I'm gonna come here every Wednesday, I guess, and talk about some medicine or some help for the mental people because it's not just the homeless that I'm going for.

These people really need help.

They are a threat to society when they're not on their medicines.

You know, the customers, I have customers, which, you know, the only Ottoman that came and even understood what some of the customers are going through when they come into the store, is Otterman Kelly.

I hate to put them on blast, but he came to my job, you know, on several occasions, investigated what I was saying.

I kind of came in here mad, angry.

I don't know how to stress myself when I get very mad, but you know, it's like this is a problem.

And before we can worry about properties and stuff that people knew they was going in to get and buy and stuff, let's worry about the homeless in the middle first.

Let's worry about some medicine for these people.

If we can't house them, then can we help them where we don't have to worry about putting our lives in danger as coming to our jobs in Davenport?

And I understand y'all not gonna address any of this, you know, because just what y'all do, but there's more things I would like to talk to you because I understand you're gonna care and actually gonna come and see what I'm talking about because I get stressed when I'm trying to explain things, and no one is coming to investigate, and first shift police are ridiculous, but even though second shift is very good, I give them standing ovation with the sheriff that be in the back of this room.

His crew comes ready to do their job.

First shift, they still have not even showed up yet.

Tomorrow I will have my knife and stun gun back at my job for my protection because I owe out and ask nicely before I even call the police for people to move.

Some of them are very angry, vicious, mad.

So I'll hurry up and go back in, call 911.

I expect 911 to come and do their job.

I understand they're putting their lives online because it just took five of them to handle one guy not too long ago.

Now, little old me with one person and health issues trying to fight for my job is not gonna get there.

I no longer look at my boss as my boss.

I look at him as family now.

So therefore, I'm yes, I'm gonna come in every week and speak on this.

But we really do need, as Davenport need to do something with mental and homeless and helping.

If they can't get housed, why not give them medicine there so they can be on the streets and be able to understand when the police or someone tells them to leave to leave willingly, not forcefully.

That's all I ask for.

I'll be back Wednesday.

Thank you.

Next.

Beautifully, second ward.

As I sit with the public and I read the materials on the back of the agenda items, which is where I got the August 19th date.

Um, and then you folks ask questions, and then you folks get answers.

But those answers aren't provided to us in the public.

They're not put in the background information for the next meeting.

They're not brought up.

They just say, well, we provided you with this information, and we sit here as members of the public.

Oh, yeah.

We are we're interested in this as well.

My question to you would you please, as counsel, as the leaders of this city, whenever staff gets you additional information related to an agenda item.

Would you please direct them to put that in the background information of the next agenda?

And then mark that there is new information in the background so that we know to go look for it.

That would be extremely helpful for us in the public.

Because I know you get it emails all the time, maps, all sorts of things that we are not privy to, and there's no way to be privy to it unless we do a FOIA.

And FOIA can be at least 20 days.

And by then the agenda item is long gone.

If there's a change to the agenda, we'll see revised on a certain date, usually 24 hours before the meeting, but it's never made clear what has been changed on the agenda.

We just know something has been changed, and then we have to make comparisons to try to figure out what it is.

So that's two things I'm asking counsel to direct staff to help with transparency so that the public has the same information you do as it relates to agenda items, unless it's attorney client privilege.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yeah, Paul Bosque is the more Davenport.

Um I've been getting around, okay, talking to people.

And as you know, everything's high.

Expenses are high, you know, and they just keep going up.

The top level cuts funding, it drives everything up.

There's a lot going on there, squeezing everybody in this city.

And I'm hearing it a lot of places I go.

Some of it we can't control.

Okay, wish we could, but we can't.

Others we can.

And one of them, one of the places I think that you people can act is in the taxes that the city assesses.

Okay.

So take a look at it, because I've been asked about that.

Our taxes, our taxes, our taxes.

Okay.

Let's take a look at that.

And I'm not a big person on statistics, but this is the closest I can draw, okay?

Based on data from the Iowa Tax Relief, the U.S.

Census Bureau, the Federal Reserve Board or Bank of Minneapolis, the Iowa Department of Management, and the ITR Foundation on the Davenport tax rates themselves, given the population decline and the inflation rates calculated calculated into it, Davenport has a reasonable tax rate of 30.5%.

However, we can do better.

State tax levy rates per 1,000 dollars.

Statewide average is 12.65918.

Davenport is 16.61509.

Davenport property tax revenue has increased from 68.9 million dollars in 2016 to 84.8 million dollars in 2024.

15.6% of Davenport residents are at or below the national poverty rate.

And of the 15 large city tax rates in Iowa, only two are higher.

Okay.

The primary driver of the city budget are you people.

You know, you decide what goes on theoretically, it's in your control.

Okay.

You're the stewards of our money.

And in order to keep that down, you stop the waste, okay.

And some of it, wow, look at the lawsuits.

You don't even have those final figures yet.

So you people need to take charge, reduce the taxes, or hold the line.

You know, you really need to take control because I'm telling you, a lot of people are hurting.

And no, we can't control everything, but there are some things you can to help them.

That's what you're supposed to do.

That's what you're here for.

Also, last Wednesday I talked about three renters in Davenport that were afraid to tell their landlords about problems that they had.

Okay.

People should not live in fear.

And if you know it, it's your job to take action to stop that.

I firmly believe that.

Nobody should be in this city afraid to live for whatever the reason is.

Okay.

And I want to say there's good landlords and responsible property owners all the way around.

And unfortunately, it's like the police.

A lot of good cops do their duty every day.

You hear about the bad ones.

And the same thing goes with the with landlords and with some properties.

Okay.

So I talked about strengthening the rules.

Remember?

We can write stricter rules.

The abatement thing is not enough.

So I talked about trying to provide random inspections unannounced.

That makes landlords or property owners, they don't know when they're gonna come, and they don't know when they're gonna be inspected.

So hopefully it pro it promotes them to keep on top of everything.

Okay.

Now, at the closing, somebody made a comment in passing that you were following state law.

I understand that.

So I thought about it, and I used to work with regs where there were overlapping regulations, and you had to go with the strictest.

So I did a little research.

Article 2, section two of the home rule provisions of the Iowa State Constitution, the Iowa Constitution amendments provide that you can write stricter laws, so you can't enact inspections more than once a year or once once every two years.

You can you can write the regulations to protect the people and not the property.

That's what you need to do.

That's your job to protect the people.

Okay, and in closing, was I right?

I wondered about it.

Well, according to the attorney general's office in Des Moines, I was right.

You can do it if you choose to do it.

So you have two options.

Next Cheryl Shagner, third word.

I'm going to spend a little more time talking about the letter L and legal liability.

Umas anybody really calculated how much the legal department has cost the city of Davenport taxpayers since 2023.

The former legal department subverted the processes when they asked for the settlements to be ratified by the council after the fact, and that cost taxpayers 1.9 million dollars.

On top of that, we have FOIA requests that aren't filled regarding that.

And then we have people who get sued, and then those people sue the city back because they don't fill FOIA requests.

And I see that we have actually a company that we pay, and yet we seem to have a problem filling our FOIA requests.

And I mentioned last week that there are cities that actually contract their legal department, their lawyers for a set amount.

And I don't think that's a bad idea.

And probably getting paid for experience versus learning on the job.

And I also have to question when the CA started out and was saying the timeline when Alderwoman Burkeholter was uh asking about that, and he issued a PO.

I think I have on the 26th, something like that.

Um, and I'm just not positive per Iowa code, he can do that.

That's even legal if a purchase order is considered a contract because they cannot issue a contract without counsel per Iowa code.

So I just have questions that have to do with legal.

Um and then when I hear talking about things being uh the can being kicked down the hall till after the election, it's even more disturbing.

How much money is it costing us to keep kicking cans down the hall?

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Dale Gilmar, I live in the sixth ward.

I want to talk about one of my favorite subjects, Modern Woodman Stadium.

Um, the the River Banners did not make the playoffs, so there won't be any more games for the rest of this year.

So the next the next game will be the whole first home game of 2026.

Now, a few years ago, there was uh some high winds and it damaged some gondolas.

Right now, the weather's great.

Let's get the gondolas down, and then another thing I think we should do is unplug our steer uh our our Ferris wheel.

You know, it is our wheel, we pay the utilities, we unplug it, we contact Mid-American Energy, and we say do not wire this up until 24 hours before the first home game of 2026.

Sounds like a deal to me.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Seeing no one, um are there any final comments from council members?

And I'll take you as I as people ring in.

Don't see anyone that wants to speak tonight.

Um so now would an alderman please um make a motion to go into executive session to discuss a real estate transaction pursuant to Iowa code section 21.51 J.

So moved.

All in favor?

Aye.

Uh a motion has been made to and moved and seconded to go into executive session before I have Mr.

Mr.

Krupp call the roll.

Um, I will let the council will adjourn the meeting after the executive session and will not return to the council chambers.

Brian, please call the roll.

Jobton?

Yes, Reinar?

Yes, Kelly, yes, Newton.

Yes, holder, yes.

R done McGuinness, yes, T Dunn.

Yes, and Greg.

Yes, then yes, as Mayor Purp.

So we're we are adjourned and two.

We're going into executive session, and we will not return to the chamber tonight.

Thank you.