Okay, good evening and welcome everyone.

I call the city council meeting for Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 to order.

At this time, we'll have a moment of silence for you to think about whatever it is you'd like to think about tonight thank you very much.

Um if you'd please all stand and join Alderman Reinhardt's enlightening us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you, Mr.

Krupp.

Be kind enough to call the roll tonight.

Ardon here.

Kelly McGinnis.

Here.

Breiner.

Present.

Grip.

Here.

Newton.

Here.

Lynch.

Here.

Ton here.

Job Jen.

Here.

And Burkholder.

Here.

Then present, Your Honor.

Thank you, sir.

Again, good evening and welcome everyone as we begin the meeting of the City Council.

I'd like to welcome everybody in attendance and anybody who's watching through any particular electronic device.

We respectfully welcome your comments and opinions, and please keep in mind that as you share your thoughts, you're sharing them with your fellow damporters and anybody throughout the region.

We're certainly happy you're participating in your city government, but ask your participation, please reflect the common desire we all share to make Davenport a better place.

For folks in here, uh I just ask kindly if you have a cell phone, if you'd put it on silence, simply it doesn't get in the way of anybody uh talking tonight.

Uh if you want to address the council on the discussion item agendas are at the end, uh please come to the podium.

The microphones above you.

Uh we'd love to know your name, order, address.

And if you're not from here, we'd love to know where you're from.

When you address the council, please address us as a body and not to any one individual.

We'll be respectful of you.

Please be respectful of us.

Thank you.

Will an alder person please move approval of the city council meeting middle for September 10th, 2025?

There's a motion and the second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Very good.

Any opposed?

Thank you.

City administrator Maxheimer, anything tonight.

Yes, Your Honor.

Uh, if I could, if you could indulge me for a moment.

This is my last meeting with the city council, so I'd like to um just take a moment to make a few comments here.

I'll try to keep it together.

Um, it's a very emotional issue for me.

But uh anyway, first of all, thank you.

I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to work with you and for you for this past year.

This is not how I expected to leave.

Um, but I've got some things I need to focus on, so um need to move along.

Uh second, to the mayor and the council.

Uh, I want to thank you for your commitment uh to this this job, this community, uh, what you do.

Uh I know the toll it takes on you.

I know uh I know the pressure that is on you to to act in the best interest for this community.

We haven't always agreed on every issue, uh, but I appreciate appreciate your professionalism and energy in considering the best path forward for the city.

All right, so third, um I have tried to position the city uh in the best possible position moving forward uh through this transition.

Um at least the best the best I know how.

Uh Tim Gleason, uh, who I who is on our agenda for this evening.

Um assuming you approve his appointment later on this agenda.

He's a top-notch individual, top-notch city manager.

He's highly respected in this profession.

Uh I have observed his achievements in this profession.

Um, have been um an admirer of his for years, and uh I think he's gonna do a fantastic job for this organization.

So um I think we're very fortunate to have somebody that caliber here stepping in here.

So fourth, um, I will say that to most of you uh we'll recognize the quality of the staff that you have here.

Uh the leadership team and the employees you have in Davenport, um, one of the finest I've ever worked with.

Um department heads are engaged, invested.

Uh they're committed to this community and organization.

Uh many are considered experts in their field, and uh I really think that uh it's in many ways we're kind of envied throughout uh the region, uh if not the the country uh the overall employee uh population here, um vast majority are in this business for the right reason.

And um I just asked you to please appreciate what you have.

So the last thing I would leave you with as you move forward.

This is not my statement.

I'm stealing this from somebody else, but I encourage you as a city council to act for the next next generation, not for the next election.

Um thank you again for the opportunity.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Will an alder person please move approval of the report of the committee of the whole for September 17, 2025?

Motion and a second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Very good.

We have three proclamations this evening, Fire Prevention Week, MetroCon NAACP Unit 4019 Day, and National Good Neighbor Day.

The first one is prior fire prevention week, and that will be read by Alderman Joktion.

Alderman Jokesham, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Whereas fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally.

And the city of Davenport is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting Davenport.

And whereas Fire Prevention Week is celebrated annually during the week in which October 9th falls and is the longest-running public health and safety observance on record.

And whereas, with the theme, charge into fire safety, lithium ion batteries in your home, the 2025 Fire Prevention Week campaign aims to educate people on the importance of buying, charging, and recycling lithium lithium ion batteries safely and whereas lithium ion batteries store a large amount of energy in a small space and in proper use, such as overcharging, using off-brand chargers without safety certification or exposing batteries to damage can result in fire or explosion and whereas the proper disposal and recycling of lithium ion batteries helps prevent environmental hazards and reduce fire risks in the home and community.

And whereas the Davenport Fire Department is dedicating the month of October to community outreach and encourages residents to understand the importance of using lithium-ion batteries safely and is designed and now therefore we mayor Mike Madsen and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim October 5th through 11th, 2025 as fire prevention week in Davenport and encourage all citizens of our community to join with millions of Americans in helping support the efforts and awareness of the fire excuse me fire safety and prevention.

The Davenport Sky Bridge will display the color red from October 6th to the 12th and recognition of fire prevention week.

Did this 24th day of September 2025?

I move the proclamation.

Second.

Have a motion of second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed same.

This proclamation has been approved and here to accept is our uh fire chief, uh, Chief Carlston.

Thank you very much.

One, two, three.

Thank you very much for helping us spread the message with some of the hazards related to lithium ion batteries.

Um, as was stated, fire prevention week is coming up at the Davport Fire Department to kick off fire prevention week this year on October 4th, we will have an open house at all of our fire stations from 9 in the morning till 10 30 that morning.

Um, one last reminder with it being fire prevention month, anyone that does not have a working smoke detector in their house, please contact the Davenport Fire Department.

If you qualify, we will get a free detector in your house as spoke detectors do safe lives.

Thank you very much for helping us share this message.

Thank you.

Next is MetroCon NAACP unit 4019 Day.

Um that will be read by Alderwoman Burkholder.

Alder Woman Burkholder, please.

Thank you.

City of Davenport, Iowa Proclamation, whereas the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP is the oldest civil rights organization in the United States and was created in 1990.

And whereas the NAACP has worked tires tirelessly to safeguard the voting rights of black voters, Latino voters, Asian American voters, Native American voters, as well as students and young people, seniors, working men and women, and immigrants of all colors.

And whereas the NAACP has committed to its goal of justice for all during the 62 years that have passed since the tragic assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers, the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi on June 12, 1963.

And whereas MetroCon NAACP Unit 419 of Davenport, Iowa, continues the historical and proactive tradition of justice for all citizens in the struggle of civil and political rights in the city of Davenport.

Through numerous community events, such as health fairs, criminal justice workshops, and the community resources fair, youth recognition dinner, youth scholarships, and the annual Freedom Fund Banquet and Image Awards scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025.

And whereas citizens of the United States of America, white and black, have joined together to ensure justice and equality for all citizens.

And whereas the City of Davenport commends MetroCom NAACP Unit 419, 4019 for its dedication to the struggle for the city and political rights of citizens of color.

And now therefore, we Mike Madsen and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim September 27, 2025 as MetroCom NAACP unit 4019 Day.

And Davenport and call upon all citizens of our great city to join together in congratulating the members of this organization for their dedication to bringing unity and justice to all residents of the community.

Dated this 24th day of September 2025.

I move the proclamation.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any any opposed?

And I have Michael Guster, President of the MetroCome NAACP unit.

419.

One, two, three.

I want to thank Mayor Madison and the City Council for this approximation.

Certainly it means a lot to the uh David Port NAACP.

We uh we'll have a uh Freedom Farm backward on certain and we invite all of you to come out.

We still have tickets, and if you choose to do so, feel free to give me a call.

But thank you very much for this proclamation.

Thank you.

And next is National Good Neighbor Day.

That will be read by Aldor McGuinness.

Alderwoman McGuinness, please.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Um, this is uh my great pleasure tonight, and to read this and to present it to the wonderful folks of Project Renewal, and I will ask you to come down after I've read it.

Um, whereas National Good Neighbor Day was created in 1971 by Becky Madson, a community businesswoman in Lakeside, Montana, to acknowledge and celebrate the importance of a good neighbor who collaborates and partners with our community to create a better place for all.

And in 1978, the first presidential proclamation recognizing National Good Neighbor Day was issued by President Jimmy Carter and urged people to build friendships, have concern for others, and create bonds that form strong neighborhoods and communities.

And whereas the Good Neighbor Project is designed to fit the individual needs of our community and bring Davenport neighborhoods together, and whereas, with 160 good neighbor project partners, the city of Davenport assists in enhancing communication and collaboration with citizens through partnerships with staff and the Davenport Police Department, and whereas the City of Davenport commends good neighbors who take pride in their property, socialize with those who live around them, and dedicate their time and talents to make their neighborhoods a safe, stable, and welcoming place to live.

And whereas, while it is a blessing to have a good neighbor, it is even a greater blessing to be a good neighbor.

And now, therefore, we mayor Mike Manson and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim September 28th, 2025 as National Good Neighbor Day in Davenport and encourage all citizens to acquaint themselves with their neighbors and be friendly, sociable, and exhibit kindness to everyone.

I move the proclamation.

All in favor?

Opposed?

Thank you.

And I will ask in the uh we have many people here from Project Renewal tonight.

I will ask uh Anne Shrekrath who will be accepting it, but I will ask you all to please come forward.

And if uh I don't know if our two if Allie is here tonight, and if uh Sergeant Harris, I would ask him to join me as well.

Thank you.

Please come, please come down and join us.

We'll have a crowd tonight, and you guys can be okay.

Thank you.

Hello.

Okay.

Are we doing all right?

What would you like to do?

All right, yeah.

We bring some.

Can y'all come up?

Anne, let me give you this.

And I'll let you speak after, but congratulations.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Okay.

Thank you.

Ann, would you like to say something, please?

Yes, I'm welcome to speak.

Thank you all very much.

This recognition is not just for Project Renewal, but for all our kids, families and volunteers, neighbors, and community partners who support each other.

They show up in our present.

The effort we all make at Project Renewal allows our kids to grow up with academic support, learning life skills, and access to opportunities for a successful future.

We're grateful for your recognition.

And this this is a reminder how strong we are when we all work together.

A quote I read recently from Walt Disney was you can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people or our neighbors to make a dream a reality.

Mayor, if I might add, this is uh last year was this group's 50th anniversary working in a very challenged neighborhood, and as you can see, they show up and they did tonight again.

Thank you for the time.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

Very good.

We'll move to petition communications.

I just want to take a moment and uh say thank you to Mr.

Maximer um for your time uh with us.

Um your dedication and commitment uh to the city has been extraordinary.

I appreciate the way you do business.

I appreciate uh the the efforts um in in many different realms, and I'm very sorry and sad to see you go.

And I wish you and your family uh the best.

Thank you.

I see Alderman Rick Dunn.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Doug, I want to say thank you as well.

Um I've been in your office many times with many different issues, and you never said we can't do that.

You've always said how do we fix it?

So I you know you've only been here a short time, but you were the right fit at the right time.

So I just want to thank you and wish you all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

For those of you who know the song by Chris Brown, I have to say deuces.

So um I have to ask again, normal.

The findings of the investigation.

Nobody in the city wonders the money that they spent on me.

Nobody is just me that wants to know.

Okay.

Um a lighter note, I'll have a ward meeting tomorrow at West Lombard.

The hairdressers 235, one of my constituents is nice enough to open up her home to me and the public.

It's a one of those big beautiful houses by Vanderbilt Park.

If you don't have anything going on, that's from 530 to 7.

And that's at West 235 Lombard tomorrow evening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman McGinnis.

Yeah, I just wanted to uh say thanks again to Project Renewal.

They are a fantastic neighborhood organization.

If you don't know about them, stop by Warren Street and get to know them.

I'm sure they would welcome you.

And I did uh Mr.

Maxiner or Doug, I wanted to call you Mr.

Max Honor tonight.

Um I wanted to just to thank you also for your time with us.

Um you have um had a steady hand um during times of uncertainty, and you stepped into that certainly.

Um you have had witnessed from you very thoughtful leadership as we're faced challenges and opportunities in the city, and your very calm demeanor um in sometimes stormy weather is been really appreciated.

I have really really enjoyed working with you.

I certainly wish you all the very best going forward.

So it's been a pleasure to work with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Very good.

We'll move to the Mayor.

Oh, I'm sorry, Alderman Grip.

Thank you.

Yep.

I just wanted to echo uh the sentiments uh to Doug.

Uh Doug, you came in at uh the very difficult time uh when the city really needed steady leadership, and that's exactly what you provided.

Um I I think you did an excellent job, especially um providing uh good job of leadership uh to our staff, and uh you were you were a good choice, and uh I'm I'm just sad that it doesn't last longer.

Um, but I I do want to wish you the best and and thank you uh for your time with the city adaptive.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Very good.

We'll move to the uh couple items on the discussion agenda.

The first one is a second consideration of an ordinance for case ORD 25-01 being the request of St.

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

Is there any public with comment?

I have a question.

If I want to pull something off the agenda, okay, Mr.

Kelly.

Um this is the first discussion.

I understand that.

Okay, when we get you talking about consent, yes.

Okay, when we get to consent, I'll I'll acknowledge you.

This is discussion.

All right, is there any public with comment?

Okay, will another person please move consideration of the ordinance?

So move second motion and second.

Any discussion from council folks very good, Mr.

Krupp, please call the roll right?

Yes, Grip?

Yeah, Lynch, yes, Burkholder, yes, T Dunn, yes, Newton, yes, Job Jin?

Yes, R done, yes, Kelly, yes, and McGuinness, yes.

10 yeses, your honor.

Very good.

That moves to third consideration.

The next one uh is a resolution approving employee leasing agreement with MGT impact solutions.

Uh formerly Governor Tempts appointing Tim Gleason, no relation to Nicole Gleason as interim city administrator for a term of six months, expiring May 3rd, 2026, with an option to renew the agreement for additional time if necessary.

Okay, well, an older person move the resolution.

So moved, second, motion and a second.

Any discussion with council folks?

I alder woman Newton.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to take a quick moment to thank uh Mr.

Gleason for taking the time to come down early uh and meet with myself and Alderman Kelly.

I know council was provided the opportunity to meet via Zoom uh with him, but the two time slots that were provided did not work at the time for me.

So I do appreciate him taking the extra step to come down here to allow me the opportunity to ask him some questions and meet with him prior to today's vote.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Kelly.

Thank you as well, Mr.

Gleason.

I do appreciate that.

I love the conversation.

And next time, you know, I'll make try to make myself readily available to anything while you're in the position, but it just didn't work out, and I really appreciated today's conversation as well.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Okay, I'll just say thank you for uh taking this on and appreciate your time and uh dedication to coming to help support us in our transition.

Okay, Mr.

Krupp, any other discussion?

Mr.

Krupp, please call the role on this resolution.

McGuinness?

Yes, Job Jen?

Yes.

Reinart?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Kelly?

Yes.

Newton.

Yes.

Grip.

Yes.

R done.

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

And Lynch.

Yes.

And yes, is your honor?

Very good.

Mr.

Gleason's approved.

Uh the resolution uh is adopted, and we wish you the best.

The next is a motion for approval of all items on the consent agenda.

And Mr.

Kelly, Alderman Kelly, sorry.

Uh, would you you want to uh I wanted to pull number 11?

I've had a lot of calls, emails, and text messages with questions.

Tons of questions.

So you'd like to pull off to make a discussion point.

Yeah, no.

Pull it off, table it.

Okay.

So you're pulling it off to make a motion to table.

Yes, sir.

Okay, is that a motion?

That's a motion.

Number 11.

The number 11.

Is there a second?

There is not a second.

Okay.

We'll put it back on.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

That's why I asked if there's a second.

Very good.

There's a second.

Okay.

There's a motion second to table number 11.

Um, there's no discussion on table.

So Mr.

Krupp, please call the roll on tabling number 11.

If we can step back, uh Alderman Kelly, did you um mean to table us to a date in the future of certain like next cycle to just because all the questions that I've I'm getting, I want clarifications as well because they make sense.

So, yeah, I don't not an indefinite, it's a one cycle.

And about yes.

Okay, all right.

So um so your motion then is to be understood as for what to table for one cycle.

Yes.

Alderwarmon Burkholder is still willing to second with that clarification.

Okay.

Please call the world to table for one cycle.

Number 11.

Uh Reiner.

Yes.

Grip.

No.

Lynch.

Yes.

Burkeholder?

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

Kelly?

Yes.

Rdan?

Yes.

Job Jen?

No.

McGuinness?

No.

And T Done.

Yes.

Uh seven yeses and three no's, Your Honor.

Okay.

Number 11's uh tabled for one second.

Anything else, Mr.

Kelly?

Okay, very good.

Okay.

Um will someone make a motion and a second to approve all items on consent.

So move.

Second.

Okay.

Mr.

Krupp, please call for all the other items on consent.

Norman Lynch wasn't was that you.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Lynch.

Yes.

Reiner.

Yes.

Greg.

Yeah.

Burke Holder.

Yes.

Kelly.

Yes.

McGuinness.

Yes.

Jove June.

Yes.

R done.

Yes.

T Dunn.

Yes.

And Newton.

Yes.

10 yeses, Your Honor.

Very good.

Consents approved.

Um, the next area is other ordinances, resolution motions.

There are none for tonight.

The next area is there any public of business other than what was discussed on the agenda.

If there are, name order, address.

Um love to know where you're from.

Um you have five minutes, please.

Please.

Good evening.

My name is Ryan Koff.

I live on Brady Street in Davenport, so nice to see you all today.

I'm also the founder of Iowa Solar.

I'm sure you've heard a little bit about solar lately.

I want to address the council on a matter that I think affects everyone, even when you don't think about it.

Uh and I'd like to start with a little context.

When natural gas, methane, is burned, it releases nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, and other dangerous particulates.

These elements are linked to childhood asthma and lifelong health problems.

We as a society have come to accept this as the cost of having warm buildings, cell phones, television, you know, electricity.

But there is an alternative.

Solar power is cheap and contains no hazardous materials.

I've seen misinformation saying otherwise, but they're made of aluminum and glass.

Even the actual solar generating cell, the little black thing on the panels, that's made of safe silicon.

This room is made of silicon.

It's in drywall, concrete, bricks, and masonry.

It's in all your phones.

This city has enacted a moratorium on ground mounted solar in the city, and I encourage the council to let that moratorium expire even if the appropriate ordinances aren't quite finished at that time.

I want to emphasize that this moratorium originated from a solar panel installation that already violated local codes and ordinances.

It was in the view triangle of an intersection, it was not set back properly, and it was not built to the required specs.

I think working on a comprehensive solar ordinance is great, and I laud the city for doing so.

But it is important to remember that the tax credits for installing solar expire at the end of this year.

In a recent version of a zoning ordinance that I've seen, I saw some challenges and successes.

Some of the language in that ordinance would make solar pretty unfeasible in this area, especially ground solar, which I think is sad considering the benefits.

But solar panels don't even need to be obtrusive.

We install ground-mounted solar systems that are less than four feet high.

You can easily hide these behind planters, decorative fencing, hedges, etc.

I would also like to propose community solar as an option for our community.

On tonight's consent agenda, I I believe I saw that there were properties to be bought in floodplains and torn down, I assume.

I've identified some parcels where I think that's already happened around 505 East 32nd Street that say on or near a floodplain that would be difficult to build on anything else that are already owned by the city that would make a great place for this low-to-the-ground community solar concept, powering local businesses and residents.

I would love to see the city empower this kind of initiative and project.

I am not being hyperbolic.

When I ask you to remember, every time we make installing solar a little harder, we are giving more kids asthma and more adults lifelong breathing problems.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

And some of those who aren't.

This body has failed to enforce its own laws.

It's failed to hold those accountable within its ranks and staff who break them.

That failure does more than offend our sense of fairness.

It undermines the very rule of law on which a democratic government rests.

Euripides warned us through Theosis that not is more hostile to a city than a despot.

Where he is, there are personal laws common to all.

But when the laws are written down, rich and poor alike have justice.

The Athenians understood law is not a decoration.

It is the common bond that makes equality possible.

Yet here laws are written and then ignored.

Resolutions are issued and then ignored.

Misconduct occurs and then it's excused.

Staff act without authority, face no consequences.

This is not merely negligence.

It is the quiet replacement of law with arbitrary power exercised by those without authority to unilaterally take such actions.

Once law is replaced with arbitrariness, democracy collapses.

Government, if it is to remain legitimate, must operate within a framework of the law.

Governmental actors, whether council members, staff, city administrators, must exercise power within a framework of legally established means and public norms, not in an arbitrary or purely discretionary manner.

The moment power is exercised outside of that framework, it ceases to be democratic authority and it becomes tyranny.

We will be having elections soon.

The reason we elect our elected officials is because we are choosing who we like to be our voices, and those are the people who we hold accountable for government decision making.

It has driven people away from our democracy.

People look at councils like this one and they see hypocrisy.

They see impunity and they conclude that participation is meaningless.

That is why our verdict turnout is so low.

Not because people don't care, but because they no longer believe that their voices matter against entrenched lawlessness.

Disengagement is not apathy, it is despair.

Let me remind you that that very behavior is the kind of coordinated intimidation and retaliation that criminal gangs are prosecuted for under RICO statutes.

In fact, the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 is still the law of the land and is designed precisely to hold individuals and their conspirators accountable when they band together to deprive people of their rights.

When you weaponize your positions to shield misconduct, you place yourselves in the company of those this nation once recognized as domestic terrorists.

Dr.

Martin Luther King, writing from the Birmingham jail, reminded us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

He warned us that justice too long delayed is justice denied, and that freedom is never going to be given by the oppressor, but it must be demanded by the oppressed.

His words echo across time into this chamber today.

If you deny justice here, you imperil justice everywhere.

If you delay accountability here, you deny it altogether.

And if citizens must demand their freedom from you, it's because you failed to govern as free men and women should, bound by law, not by appetite.

They will remember that local government has the most direct, measurable impact on our daily lives.

It impacts our neighborhoods, our safety, our children's futures.

And they will know that they have the power to eradicate the corruption that exists here.

Democracy is not revived in the abstract halls of power, but in local assemblies where citizens demand accountability.

Without accountability, your rules are not law at all.

They are theater, words on paper, without force.

What you permit through silence is worse than lawlessness.

It is selective law, where the weak are bound and the powerful are exempt.

That is the hallmark of despotism.

The Athenians required their citizens to swear an oath to uphold the laws and resist anyone who sought to destroy them.

They knew that laws must bind everyone, not only the governed but the governors.

Plato and Aristotle, through though critics of democracy, concluded that the only rule of law, that only the rule of law prevents appetite and ambition from consuming the city.

Your refusal to enforce your own laws invites exactly that concern.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Good evening.

My name is Kiana.

I work at the Golden Mart down off Fourth, I mean 2nd Street in Davenport.

I'm here.

Well, I'll just say thank you, because my um little property getting a little better.

Well, not my property, but my boss probably getting a little better out there with the homeless.

So I say thank you for that.

But I have a couple other concerns I'd like to bring up.

One, I don't know how I'll go about doing this, but I would like to have a little um, it's gonna be called my theme is called vote vote for taupe.

I'm gonna buy it out of my own pocket.

I like to have one of these parks before the seventh, just give away hot dogs, chips with um a can of pot and a few of the Ottoman names in it.

No, maybe a little music, but no violence, no alcohol, no none of that.

It's just gonna be called vote for tote right before um voting.

And then also another thing I would like to bring up is um there's a lady who's over the shelter, and you know, a lot of people don't even know about these meetings, but I'm I'm getting it out there, you know, when the times and stuff be different.

But um, her name is Yolanda Greaves.

She's work with the shelters and she do a lot for the community.

And you know, I'm trying to get her in here to talk to um Otterman Kelly about the overflow with the homelesses for the winner and stuff.

Um there is people willing to volunteer and help.

It's just things that people don't know about, so you know, with that being said, that's another thing I'd like to bring up.

And um basically that's all my concerns, but how do I go about having my own little vote for tote?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Cheryl Shagna, third word, and I am on the letter N.

Last week I was on the letter M, and I spoke about moral apathy.

What I left off was that the core of moral apathy are three words.

Three words that actually pain me to say, um, because they're not in my nature, but I was gonna say them tonight.

I don't care.

If those words are directed towards you, they're really hard words to hear.

And I want to let you know that the public feels like they hear those words over and over and over from the people in this building, the people that are responsible for making decisions, the people that choose to neglect areas and buildings.

Who are those people?

Often those people are called narcissists.

The letter N.

Did you know that narcissism is actually a personality disorder that's in the DSM manual?

It is diagnosable.

You can recognize a narcissist a few different ways.

They dismiss, they distract, they manipulate behavior, they use it to control others, they dismiss, they devalue, and by doing so, they refuse to take accountability.

I think I just heard a really good talk about accountability and lack of accountability and the differences between the two.

A narcissist has trouble accepting responsibility for their actions, the impact of their actions, and they do this to avoid accountability.

Growing up, I had I'm gonna age myself again.

I had two shows I really like to watch.

I dream of Jeannie and Bewitched.

The sad thing about those shows is they normalized gaslighting, they desensitized one of the tools a narcissist used.

Was convinced he was losing his mind and bewitched, it was Mrs.

Kravitz across the street, who was every other day thinking she must be nuts or crazy, because people who did things denied their actions, dismissed, deflected, distract, and left that individual thinking they are crazy.

How many people, after walking up here, walk away feeling like they are crazy because of the looks they get or the responses they do not get.

And all of these things raises raise concerns with me.

Another tool a narcissist likes to use, and I've seen it too much up here is fear.

If you don't do it now, it's gonna be worse later.

You gotta do it now.

It'll be worse if you don't do it later with no proof.

We've all seen it.

Another way a narcissist controls is controlling information, and then you can't make a good decision if you don't have all the information.

Another way a narcissist controls is confusion.

How many times do we hear and hear?

I don't have a I don't understand.

You need to tell me more.

And retaliation.

I've experienced retaliation since I've started coming in here and start talking.

I refer to them as goons that came on the property from public works and started destroying what they did not need to destroy.

Especially when you go down the road and all she gotta do look down the road.

Ignore, neglected.

The lady that comes in and talks at the meetings.

Let's go and just use that poll that's got that 10-foot extension and extend it off public property onto the private property.

Harassment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Ron Swaider.

Davenport, Low Grove, and now I'll tell him one.

You know, I I've come to so many meetings, the one-way vote of wood paint and signage.

And I'm watching them put up all these brand new sets of lights on a boat that shouldn't have happened because the Alderman lived downtown.

He shouldn't have voted, but that made it five to five.

You know, that's what we refer to as trust in our aldermen at large, our other aldermen, the mayor, the city.

We want a little honesty.

We want transparency that you can see through, not that we have to sue for it.

And I'm saddened.

I am truly saddened as a member of this community that even he can't get results, let alone us.

We come here to speak, not to run our mouth.

We come here to let you know.

The people have spoken at the last presidential election, and they're waking up, and they're waking up here too.

Many more are running, and I thank them all, and I thank the ones that are running again.

But remember one thing.

We are the community that elects you not to be ignored, not to be eh, or not have death stares at them because they stand up here and talk and they're well, let's say not happy with what I'm saying.

But I haven't lied here, but I'm sick and 324 main.

What over three years now?

What's going on?

We're still dragging it on, you know.

Other things in the city still dragging it on.

You know, I'm I'm finally seeing some results on some of these brick buildings getting repaired, and I thank for that.

But it took three deaths.

It took on the city that spilled its own blood of its community.

I I sit here and I pray.

I had a son that decided he'd rather live in Longrope than Davenport.

That saddened me.

You know, my granddaughters.

I grew up here.

I've spent over 60 years here.

And I've spoken for many years since my son got killed.

That's what started me down here.

Change.

Have I made a difference sometimes?

Yes, sometimes more.

Probably not.

But I will speak for the people to hear your vote matters.

Get out there and vote.

Elect who you want in this council.

Period.

Who you want as your mayor, you know.

I'm very thankful we have a new city administrator.

And I hope he does as well as our previous one.

And I thank you, sir, very much as a citizen of Davenport for what you've done over this past short time.

And to the new one, good luck.

Because people have spoken and people are tired.

And I'm one of them.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Yes, uh Paul Vasquez, third ward saver Davenport.

Well, as you know, I'm moving around talking to as many people in the ward as I can.

Okay.

And there's been a lot of discussions all the way around about problems, about paying attention.

Some of them start at the top, some of them start right here.

Some start and fail at the top, some start and fail here.

Okay.

But I'll talk to anybody that'll take the time to talk to me.

Sometimes I go blocks and blocks, and sometimes I'm out two or three hours, and I only get a couple blocks, and I think other people here know that.

I'll invest the time.

But here in our city, even what I'm hearing surprises me.

Everybody is pissed.

Everybody knows what's going on in Washington and knows what's going on here to one extent or another enough to make a judgment.

Okay, they're angry.

Maybe they don't come down here all of them.

Maybe they're not that vocal, but they're angry.

All of them.

Okay.

They're angry about taxes.

They're angry about the expenses in their life and just trying to live.

Everything's going up in their world, even if they don't do anything else.

I have run into the people, the trickle down from the top.

I run into people who have lost WIC, who have lost food stamps, who've lost energy assistance, who've lost their health insurance, who've lost VA benefits, who are being told they need to reapply, who are hungry, and who are afraid.

And they're also battling housing issues all over the ward.

People that you wouldn't think it was occurring in their houses.

Many and many of these people tell me the same thing.

You know, you can talk to principal.

Don't tell anybody that's me or where specifically it is, because they're afraid of repercussions.

I've talked here before about repercussions and about being afraid.

To me, that's my design to me.

And we know who's designing it.

So in talking to these people, okay.

I'm running.

Why do you run?

Why did you people run?

Sir, we're not talking about campaign stuff, please.

Thank you.

I have a question.

Can I ask why you ran?

I don't need an answer.

This is what I think.

You know, as I look back at the last several years, I don't understand why there's so many problems at all levels.

You people did not run to benefit any one group.

Okay.

You didn't run to be part of a building collapse, let alone the loss of life.

Okay.

You didn't run to claim immunity for problems that you should have dealt with or somebody was paid to deal with.

You didn't run to walk away leaving millions of dollars, unknown millions in debt to the taxpayers.

So what are you gonna do about it?

Okay, to me, your job is to make our city and the people better.

To me, should I whatever, okay?

I want to turn around and walk away from a job, and I want to know I succeeded, and things are better for people.

I've never walked into a situation and failed somewhat miserably.

I know there's good people out here.

I know there's people that are hurting.

So whatever the next council is, however, it shakes out, you've got problems.

And I've said that before, and others have said that.

You solve them by facing them, admitting mistakes, and making corrections.

Those you just some of you are just gonna leave and and and talk about maybe good parts of it.

Yes, there were good parts, I'm sure.

But they can't be good parts that only benefited one part of the city or our world.

We can pick anything that's easy to solve.

Anything, anywhere, anybody.

You gotta take it all on.

You gotta make it better.

You gotta communicate.

You gotta reach out to those people that are afraid.

I've talked to all of them.

I've given them as many resource outlets as I can.

I take papers, I talk to them.

Thank you.

You gotta work on it.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Uh Susan Meenan on in the seventh ward.

I just wanted to thank um Alderman Kelly for tabling this resolution regarding the Total Wellness Center.

Man, we don't talk about agenda items that have already been discussed.

This is a time this is for other items, please.

Okay.

That's all I had.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All right.

Next, please.

Grady Atkins, sixth ward.

I just wanted to come today and thank everyone for your hard work that you do uh for the city of Davenport.

And uh I'm the superintendent of Coromdale Academy, and I have thank you letters for all of your hard work for each of you, sealed in an envelope.

I can give the these Mr.

Crow.

We we did Coron Dave Canum on the consent agenda, so thank you.

This is this is just thanking you.

Um not for that specifically.

Next, please.

Um seventh ward.

Um I just want to come up here and address that it sadens me that we have an order man that sits up here and has asked several times for answers that magically have not been answered.

So I want to share my own personal experience.

Um, just a little over two years ago, I was contacted by a lawyer in Des Moines, Iowa.

Obviously, they got my information somehow, because the incident that happened happened in this very building.

I have asked Mr.

Huff and Mr.

Max, whatever his name is, I don't care, he's leaving.

Several times.

Why was my information gave out?

Why was I reached to out on Facebook when my number was I was in running for election then, so he can't my number was public, so it could have been called, but instead they rushed out to me on Facebook.

So uh what I'm trying to say is that bothers me still.

So I wonder how he feels.

He sits in front of y'all's faces, and he still haven't even got the answer that he wants or that he needs.

And I still don't even have my answers after I asked, because I know magically they didn't get my information.

Y'all guys had to pay them, so I should be able to know how they got my information, my name, anything.

So these two people over here are useless because I I still haven't even got my answers, and I don't even work for y'all.

So this gentleman right here, before either one of you exit out the door, if y'all can give him a little piece and let him get his have his answers.

Even if it's just as you're walking out the door with your boxes, that would be great.

I mean, I I don't understand how come it's so hard to get answers as citizens or even as a city council member.

It shouldn't be hard.

It's like pulling teeth.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Next, please.

Good evening.

Uh, my name is Jim Contois, and I'm a resident of Davenport's third board.

Some of you may be aware of an incident involving my youngest son that recently gained considerable attention on social media.

My son was among 36 seniors at Davenport Central High School who participated in what they called war week as part of homecoming celebrations.

In my days, such pranks were unannounced and involved nothing more than toilet paper.

Now I've learned it's consensual, organized within group chats, and includes items like maple syrup, beans, and bacon.

Included in this group was a girl that consented to participate in these shenanigans and allowed her to be and allowed her home to be on this list.

My son, along with three other students, did indeed hit her home last Saturday night.

I do not condone this behavior as a property owner.

I too would be upset.

My ex-wife and I, as parents have made this clear to our son.

The mother contacted me the following morning.

I appreciated her reaching out, and I gave her my apologies.

I assured my son, along with one of the other boys that there would be that they would clean up and take responsibility for their actions.

That afternoon, accompanied by my ex-wife, my son and his friend arrived at their home with cleaning supplies and a shop back.

Upon arrival, they were met by her husband, who is the girl's stepfather.

He was hostile from the onset and did not welcome their help.

During their brief exchange, he threw down his work clothes and told him that they were lucky he did not catch them because my son, quote, would have been on the wrong end of a shotgun.

At that point, my ex-wife, shaken by the interaction, told the boys to return to the car and they left.

The following day, the mother posted a video of my son on the Whistle Davenport Facebook page and added her commentary.

However, she failed to mention her daughter's involvement, my son's efforts to make amends or her or her husband's threatening behavior.

It sparked a wave of vitriol that focused on my current campaign to become an alderman for Davenport's third ward to join this council.

Sir staying Frank from Cape and stuff.

I understand, I understand.

Much of this rhetoric slid off my back because the caliber of people contributed to the post was obviously low.

However, on the mother's personal Facebook page, she duplicated the post.

The conversation between her friends and her husband created much of this, repeated much of this trash talk.

However, in that post, there were two comments from her friends that were especially concerning.

One, one man wrote, quote, well, when the bullet catches him, we shall see.

Parents will care when their teenager is bleeding out.

Number two, even more shocking.

Her friend who is currently campaigning to be the next mayor of Davenport, openly questioned the legitimacy of my residency and asked where my family lives.

She knows that I live in the third ward.

The specific detail of her postulation indicated that she was aware this question was previously addressed and resolved in a hearing presided by Mayor Madson, Alderman Dunn, and deputy clerk, uh, deputy city clerk Propp.

Her disingenuous comments not only acted as provocation, but also veered dangerously close to doxing my family.

Especially given the ongoing conversation involved men making threats of gun violence to my son.

Unhinged individuals fueled by this candidate are being used as tools for her political gain.

Blending politics with the children of politicians is reckless, and I do not feel anyone who is willing to utilize these tactics is suitable to lead to heaven.

Stay away from the campaign stuff.

I do not believe these actions reflect the morality of the community.

I hope everybody has a good night.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Anyone else?

Next, please.

Hi, I'm Dewane Simons, third ward.

Just want to talk about how you drove around the city.

You looked at all the empty lots.

Who cuts the grass?

They're terrible.

I mean, they're right in the heart of our city, too.

When there's people come into our city, who cuts the grass?

I mean, it's, you know, I gotta keep my business grass up.

I gotta keep my house up.

But who cuts the grass of these places?

Or who gets the letters that says they gotta cut the grass?

There's many empty lots, empty places, empty things.

The grass is six feet high, seems like.

I don't understand it.

And then, you know, I don't understand, really, because that makes our city look worse than what some places already are.

I know not everybody's perfect.

We all work, we all got jobs.

We all don't have time to cut the grass every week.

You know?

But who cuts the grass of the empty lots in Davenport?

You know, is there a team that they have out there that cuts the grass and sends the property owners a bill?

Because it looks terrible.

I mean, have you ever drove by?

You go down Locust Street, you go down River Drive, you go all kind of places, and the grass is terrible.

You know?

I mean, I was out there in 100 degrees, cutting my grass because I know it's the rules.

You know.

Um, let's see, what else?

Let's see.

Um, tent city's gone, but the people's not down my block, down my alley.

They were out there scrapping stuff the other day in the middle of the alley again.

The tents are gone, but the people in.

If you can't get rid of the homeless, you can't get rid of the problem.

So homeless is a very bad problem in this city.

It's everywhere.

I was just driving here tonight.

Looked over, bandit building, four people sitting on the porch.

You know, they're they're they're everywhere.

And how do we how do we saw help solve the problem?

I don't know what to do.

Called, called, called, call, call, call.

That's all we can do.

You know, if you you can get rid of the stuff, but if you can't get rid of the red of the problem, you'll never get rid of the the whole situation.

The cops were down my alley for an hour and a half a week ago.

Great.

I'm glad to see someone's trying to take some action.

But they didn't do anything.

They left them an hour and a half and everybody was still there.

You know, I don't understand how they have nothing in their hands that they can do something to make solve the problem.

So I don't have to drive home through it every day or maybe not get around or get a flat tire because they're out there scrapping in the middle of the alley.

You know, but and and you guys see how people drive in this city?

I mean, it's a hundred miles an hour everywhere.

I don't know.

I don't know when the last time I seen a cop pull somebody over.

I mean, they fly.

It's like everywhere.

Or you're afraid that you're gonna run through a red light, someone's gonna wipe, take you out.

The speed is ridiculous in this town.

You got Central Park that's so narrow right there by Marquette Street.

If they should have, I loved how you guys did Hickory Grove Road, that was great.

Made it three lanes so you had more wideness so you can get through better.

But Central Park and Marquette, it you could I could almost get out and touch the guy's car next to me.

That's so narrow.

You know, Division Street, there's parts of that where the school zones are.

They're so narrow there too.

Why can't we make three-way streets like we did Hickory Grove?

That was a brilliant idea, whoever thought of that.

I mean, I I just don't get it, where you know it's so narrow, and you feel like you're just gonna run into the guy next to you.

But people are driving in this town a hundred miles an hour, and there's nothing stopping it.

You know, I'm driving 3540, and I think sometimes I'm doing too fast.

So, and there's just a couple issues in the city that I see when I drive around and look around, you know, and I just want to address it.

I seen some good action on Rockingham Road this week.

I appreciate that.

Whoever helped get that all together, you know.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Any any last comments from all our folks?

Laura McGuinness.

Yes, uh to the I'm sorry, I missed the I missed your name, ma'am.

Um in seven ward.

So the thing that you wanted to talk about, we don't talk about things that are on the agenda, but it should be coming up.

Is this in the next cycle?

So it should come up for discussion next Wednesday and then voted on the following Wednesday, just so that you're clear on that and you are welcome to come.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Uh is there a motion to adjourn?

Motion second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Have a good weekend.