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Record of Proceedings

Davenport City Council Meeting: September 25, 2025

City Council — Thursday, September 25, 2025
BodyDavenport, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, September 25, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:03:23

Original source
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0:01

Okay, good evening and welcome everyone.

0:03

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

0:08

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.

0:22

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

0:44

Thank you, Mr.

0:45

Krupp.

0:45

Be kind enough to call the roll tonight.

0:47

Ardon here.

0:48

Kelly McGinnis.

0:50

Here.

0:50

Breiner.

0:51

Present.

0:52

Grip.

0:53

Here.

0:54

Newton.

0:55

Here.

0:55

Lynch.

0:56

Here.

0:56

Ton here.

0:57

Job Jen.

0:58

Here.

0:58

And Burkholder.

0:59

Here.

0:59

Then present, Your Honor.

1:00

Thank you, sir.

1:01

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

1:04

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

1:09

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.

1:17

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.

1:25

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.

1:33

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

1:40

The microphones above you.

1:41

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

1:43

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

1:46

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

1:51

We'll be respectful of you.

1:52

Please be respectful of us.

1:55

Thank you.

1:56

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

2:03

There's a motion and the second.

2:04

All in favor.

2:05

Aye.

2:07

Very good.

2:08

Any opposed?

2:09

Thank you.

2:10

City administrator Maxheimer, anything tonight.

2:13

Yes, Your Honor.

2:14

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

2:16

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.

2:23

I'll try to keep it together.

2:24

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

2:27

But uh anyway, first of all, thank you.

2:29

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

2:34

This is not how I expected to leave.

2:36

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

2:42

Uh second, to the mayor and the council.

2:44

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

2:50

Uh I know the toll it takes on you.

2:53

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

3:00

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.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement██████████████████18%
Procedural████████████████16%
Public Safety███████████████15%
Government Accountability██████████10%
Personnel Matters█████████9%
Homelessness████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Racial Equity█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Davenport City Council Meeting: September 25, 2025

The Davenport City Council convened on September 25, 2025, to address routine approvals, proclamations, discussion items, and public comments. The meeting included emotional farewell remarks from outgoing City Administrator Doug Maxheimer, approved an ordinance update for St. Ambrose University's campus plan, and appointed Tim Gleason as interim city administrator. A consent agenda item was tabled for one cycle following public questions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the September 10, 2025 city council meeting.
  • Approved the report of the Committee of the Whole for September 17, 2025.
  • Adopted three proclamations: Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11, 2025), MetroCom NAACP Unit 4019 Day (September 27, 2025), and National Good Neighbor Day (September 28, 2025).
  • Item #11 (regarding the Total Wellness Center) was pulled by Alderman Kelly due to numerous public questions. After a motion to table it for one cycle was seconded, the council voted 7-3 to table the item.
  • The remaining consent items were approved unanimously (10-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ryan Koff (Brady Street resident, founder of Iowa Solar) urged the council to let the moratorium on ground-mounted solar expire, noting health impacts of natural gas and the expiration of solar tax credits at year-end. He proposed community solar on city-owned floodplain lots.
  • Cheryl Shagna (Third Ward) criticized the council for failing to enforce laws, accused staff of acting without authority, and warned of democratic erosion. She referenced historical and legal principles, including the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871.
  • Kiana (employee of Golden Mart on 2nd Street) thanked the council for improved conditions for the homeless near her workplace. She requested permission to hold a "Vote for Tote" community event at a park before elections and sought to connect shelter staff with Alderman Kelly regarding winter overflow.
  • Ron Swaider (Davenport) expressed frustration with the council's transparency and decision-making, citing the 324 Main Street issue and trust in elected officials. He called for honesty and noted that community members are "waking up."
  • Paul Vasquez (Third Ward) described widespread anger among residents about taxes, housing issues, and loss of benefits. He urged the council to face problems, admit mistakes, and make corrections.
  • Susan Meenan (Seventh Ward) thanked Alderman Kelly for tabling the Total Wellness Center agenda item (this comment was noted but redirected as off-topic for the public comment period).
  • Grady Atkins (Sixth Ward, superintendent of Coromdale Academy) thanked the council for their hard work and presented thank-you letters.
  • Unnamed speaker (Seventh Ward) expressed dismay that an alderman's repeated requests for answers had gone unanswered. She shared a personal experience of her information being shared without consent and demanded accountability.
  • Jim Contois (Third Ward resident, candidate for alderman) addressed an incident involving his son during homecoming pranks. He described threats of gun violence and criticized a mayoral candidate for alleged doxing and political exploitation.
  • Dewane Simons (Third Ward) raised concerns about overgrown grass on vacant lots, homelessness, traffic speeds, and narrow streets. He commended recent improvements on Rockingham Road and Hickory Grove Road.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance ORD 25-01 (St. Ambrose University Campus Land Use Plan) : Second consideration of an ordinance to amend the campus plan bounded by Harrison Street, West Locust Street, Brown Street, and Lombard Street. No public comment was offered. The council voted unanimously (10-0) to approve the ordinance, moving it to third consideration.
  • Resolution for Employee Leasing Agreement with MGT Impact Solutions: Approved a six-month interim city administrator appointment for Tim Gleason, expiring May 3, 2026, with an option to renew. Several council members thanked Gleason for meeting with them; the resolution passed 10-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance ORD 25-01 passed second consideration unanimously (10-0) and advanced to third consideration.
  • Interim City Administrator Tim Gleason was appointed via resolution, effective immediately through May 3, 2026.
  • Consent Agenda Item #11 was tabled for one cycle (7-3) after Alderman Kelly raised questions; the remaining consent items were approved 10-0.
  • Mayor and councilmembers offered public thanks and farewell to outgoing City Administrator Doug Maxheimer, praising his steady leadership during a difficult transition.
  • The next meeting date was not announced, but the usual Wednesday schedule was implied.

Meeting Transcript

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.

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