And welcome to the city council meeting for Wednesday, January 8th, 2026.

And I call this meeting to order.

And before we do our moment of silence, our police chief did have uh a loss in his family late last week.

His wife passed away.

Um so he is dealing with a lot of grief, and his family is too.

So as we go into this moment of silence, uh, we would just ask that you keep the chief and his family uh in your thoughts and prayers.

So please a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Alderman Lena will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

All right, to the Republic from which standard, individual with our liberty and justice for all.

Well, the clerk, please call the roll.

Ardon, here Vasquez here.

Holloway, here.

Lean in.

Present Grip here.

Newton, here.

Blunk, here.

T Dunn, here, Job Jen, and Burkholder.

Here.

Ten present, Your Honor.

Thank you.

And good evening, and welcome to everyone tonight who's participating in this city council meeting.

Whether you're here in person or watching on a mobile device or a computer, we appreciate your participation in local government.

We value your comments and opinions.

Please remember that when you address the council, you are also sharing your thoughts with fellow Davenport residents and viewers throughout the region.

City Council meetings are live streamed and recorded for later viewing on the City of Davenport's YouTube channel.

We appreciate your engagement in city government and ask that your participation reflects our our shared goal of making Davenport an even better place for everyone.

Thank you for being part of tonight's meeting.

And before we we begin, just a couple of reminders.

Please silence or turn off any cell phones or anything that is electronic and can make a noise so as not to disrupt the meeting.

If you wish to speak on an item listed on the discussion agenda, you were encouraged to do so during the discussion portion on that item.

There will also be an opportunity to address the council during the public with business portion of the meeting later this evening.

When speaking, please come to the podium, wait to be recognized by the mayor or the committee chair, and address the council as a whole and not to any one individual.

And you have five minutes to do that.

And we are interested in hearing from you.

And we we definitely want to hear your comments, but we want to do so in a collaborative and positive fashion.

And so uh with that, would an Alder Person please approve the City Council meeting minutes from January 14th, 2026.

Oh no.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign.

Minutes are approved.

City Administrator Gleason, is there an update this evening?

Yes, Mayor.

There is uh three comments, uh, two quick ones, and then uh um, and then we'll have our first ever CFO finance uh update.

Uh but the first uh comment uh just with the weather that we've had the last uh couple of weeks.

Want to thank all of the uh city staff uh that provide city services uh out and about and then also uh any employees we've got trades, construction, you know, just any of those other employees uh on our community uh providing us services uh during this uh snap of uh extremely bitterly cold, dangerous uh weather that we've had.

The other item, uh the city, and I think most of the community uh is aware of this, and it's very well received, is Davenport U, the Citizens Academy.

We're taking applications, and the application period is through uh February 13th, and you can uh sign up and apply uh at the city's website or the city's web uh Facebook page.

Last item.

Uh and Basha, if you would uh work your way to the podium, uh some introductory remarks.

And and for those uh residents that are in attendance tonight, uh you're actually in for a special treat.

This is our uh first uh yeah, I mean that uh for our uh first CFO finance update.

Our CFO is Vasha Gerlock, she's been with the city for several years.

She's been in the CFO role for a couple of years now, and this is something that uh we have pledged uh to the community.

It's something that the mayor and the council wants, a very open and transparent conversation about the city's finances.

We are stewards of the taxpayer dollar, so this is completely separate to our budget conversations where we're full uh where we are uh working on uh and working towards uh our FY27 budget.

We're on a calendar year, or I'm sorry, not a calendar year, but a budget cycle of July 1st to June 30th.

Uh so this is separate to this.

This is a high-level monthly conversation about how the city is trending with our revenues, our expenses, and maybe other key topics uh that are of interest uh to the council and to the community.

So this is our first ever.

Yeah, we'll always be at the second cycle council meeting.

And I'm gonna turn the floor over to you, Basha.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So Basha Girlak, CFO, and like Tim said, this is our first um CFO finance update.

I greatly um appreciate the opportunity.

I think um transparency is great, and um this information is extremely important to you all to make sure that um you trust that we're watching city's finances and kind of looking at trends and things like that.

So this report is as of December 31st, 2025.

It's also going to be very similar to the report that we email out on a monthly basis, um, as well as it's also provided on our website.

So if you have any questions at any time, just stop me and hopefully I'll be able to answer them.

Okay, so the first um slide is actually reviewing all of our major revenues.

These are not by fund or anything like that, they're mostly by source of revenues.

So the first um revenue line item on there is property taxes.

As you all know, that property taxes um are the largest revenue source for the city.

Um, in fiscal year 2026, we had a budget of about 98 million dollars.

So far, we have received about 51.5 million dollars of the 98 million dollars budgeted.

When we look at our projections of budget compared to actual received, we're about 315 313,000 shy of our projections.

However, because the revenue source is so large, that amount is essentially insignificant to us, and hopefully we'll receive most of those delinquencies in June.

The next revenue source is local option sales tax.

Local option sales tax continues to outperform our budget.

We very conservatively conservatively budget this revenue source at 18 million dollars, and for the first five months, um the city received 9.6 million.

The current projected amount that we will receive in local option sales tax is 23 million dollars.

And something to keep in mind is most of the revenues that we receive from the state runs about a month behind.

So that is why you see five months opposed to a six month um revenue.

Road use tax is also exceeding budget projections, with the city receiving about $6.2 million in the first five months, and the budget amount is um conservatively budgeted at $13 million.

Um we anticipate receiving about $14 million in this revenue source.

Hotel Motel tax continues to meet expectations, and for the first five months, we received about 1.7 million.

Um higher interest rates continue to drive interest revenues higher than budgeted.

Um we are already reporting across all of our funds about 4.8 million dollars in interest revenue.

Fiscal year 2026 for the entire year, we've budgeted about $2 million.

Um so uh we have already more than double surpassed that budget.

But we continue to budget this revenue line very conservatively because that revenue source can hiccup at any time, depending on what the federal government does.

Um Finance continues to watch um a few revenue sources that have softened over the years.

One of those would be development fees.

These are revenues received from the RDA and year to date extras compared to budget, are about 22,000 dollars lower than anticipated.

Once again, something that we keep an eye on, especially as the Cedar Rapids Casino comes online um in December.

Um the ATE automated traffic enforcement fines, also known as red light and speeding camera fines.

Um revenues are also being closely monitored due to the legislation change in calendar year 2025.

Um we are not concerned about this revenue source just because for fiscal year 2026 budget, we lowered that budget from 1.1 million in 2025 to 600,000 in 2026, and um we are in line to meet the 600,000 dollar budget.

Um the city also, as you can see, receives commercial rollback funds, and as you can see, that line has zero budget.

We have eliminated that budget line several years ago, and this is monies that we receive from the state, and we will stop receiving these funds in fiscal year 2029.

So we have eliminated the reliance of those funds.

Okay, those are our major revenues.

Do we have any questions or moving right along?

Okay.

The next slide is specific to the general fund only.

So these are general fund revenues.

Once again, the major revenue source for the general fund are property taxes.

And this particular slide I didn't mention is actually based on the category of revenue and not by the source.

So taxes includes not only proper property taxes but also other various payment in lieu of tax revenues and things like that.

So far year to date, we collected about 25.9 million.

That's about 51.71% of the budget.

And the reason that percentage is so high is because some of our billings we only bill on July 1st for the entire year.

So that is why there's that huge percentage of collections.

Use of monies and property revenues are also outperforming budget.

And the reason is this is where our interest is recorded.

So we have already taken taken that into account and lowered that budget for fiscal year 2026.

As you can see, the general fund is trending in depositive, and we have collected about 57% of our revenues by December 31st.

Okay.

Um expenses just because they relate to the general fund.

Um trust and agency pays for employees' benefits that are funded by the general fund.

So I wanted to highlight those as well.

As you can see, there's some interdepartmental expenses, and those are high compared to budget, and that is because workmen's compensation costs are allocated at the very beginning of the year on July 1st, and they're allocated 100%.

Okay.

Next slide.

Um is our enterprise funds.

As you all know, enterprise funds are our business type funds.

So most of these should be self-sufficient, meaning they should be paying for at least their operating expenditures.

And that is great news because we can do projects for cash.

Like right now, we are doing a digester project, it's a 27 million dollar project, and the city of Davenport doesn't have to borrow any funds in order to complete that project because we have all of those funds available in cash.

So that's a um that's a great thing.

Um the Solid Waste Fund, the Clean Water Fund, as well as the sewer fund on here, the revenues only show four months of revenue.

So you see those deficits in some of those funds, but that's because of timing and um us being on the quarterly billing cycle, and it only shows four months of revenues, but it shows six months of expenses.

Okay.

Parking currently shows a deficit of about $50,000, and staff is currently looking at potential solutions to make the parking funds self-sustaining.

Umit is showing about a $730,000 deficit, and most of a lot of that deficit is due to grant timing.

We just not you have we haven't requested and received funds from the federal government for the transit fund.

And then River's Edge continues to struggle and has a current deficit of about $270,000.

But staff continues to work with outside partners to find ways to increase current revenues and adding additional revenue sources.

So we're working on that fund too to make it self-sustaining.

Then the last fund I'd like to highlight is the River Center Fund is currently showing a loss of $1 million.

However, staff has dedicated many hours to get the fund and budget of and budgeted subsidy of $650,000.

And then I will let Tim say a few words about that.

This is an area of concern and staff have uh dedicated quite a bit of time and a conversation with the operating company Venue Works.

And there is a recent personnel change, uh, some personnel changes uh that we think are gonna be uh steps in the right direction uh as we evaluate uh this long-standing relationship, but one that actually is uh you know up for uh uh I guess reevaluating uh summer this year.

So more to come on this, but it definitely uh is an area that uh we're looking at concerned about and uh taking steps to improve this and try to reduce the uh deficit.

It's an important part of our community that uh we want to uh maintain the services, but we know we have to do better.

Okay.

So next, I thought I'd give you uh a quick update on ARPA.

As you all know, uh, after COVID, the federal government um came up with the ARPA plan, and the city received about 40.9 million dollars.

Um, those funds needed to be obligated by December 2024, which we complied with.

And now the next deadline that we have is we have to spend all of our funds by December 31st of 2026.

Currently, we have of the 40.9 million dollars, we currently have about 4.2 million dollars of unspent funds.

Um the two major projects that we were still spending monies on is um the Duck Creek Sewer extension, there's about 2.6 million dollars left of unspent, as well as the multimodal note SARC path, there's about $900,000 unspent there.

Okay.

And next, this is a really small slide.

Um next, we have the long-awaited property tax reform, um proposal comparisons.

So this is a very high-level comparison of all the proposals that have been presented by the state legislation, and I'll just review a couple things.

Um, this is definitely a work in progress.

Um, all the legislators presented their bills, and they're going back probably the next two and three weeks using this as work time to see if they can come to a consensus.

So the high-level review of the proposed legislation is the one thing that they can probably all agree on is that we are going to get a two percent cap on property tax growth.

Okay, so that is one thing that it seems like that's definitely coming.

Um the hope we have is that they will allow us to capture all of new growth, so development and things like that.

We hope to gain that growth so that we can continue to grow.

Um so just a quick review of the governor's bill.

Um they would like to, the governor would like to freeze property taxes on seniors over the age of 65 and with homes that have an assessed value of less than 350,000.

Um should also like to move assessments from a two-year cycle to a three-year cycle and current governments to consolidate.

Um, I applaud the current the um our region and local governments because I believe that we do a pretty good job consolidating services.

We have already consolidated EMS.

We have our water pollution control plant that is a 28 agreement.

We also have the 911 center that's consolidated, so I think we do a pretty good job with that.

And um, there's also an allocation of about 10 million dollars towards that purpose of consolidation in this particular um bill.

The other item that is in this bill is also um limiting TIFFs as well as limiting of what it can be used on, but as well as in the time frame to 20 years.

Quick note on the House bill.

Um, the House bill um proposes a $25,000 property tax exemption, as well as also emphasizes shared services.

So that seems to be a theme as well is making sure that we're sharing services and spending um that money wisely.

The Senate also has a partial exemption for residential values, as well as a relief for senior property taxes after their homes are paid off.

So that's just a brief quick overview of the Iowa property tax reform.

And any questions.

Any questions from council?

Thank you so much, Basha.

And I, you know, can we put that slide back up real quick, the last one there?

Um, just we've got uh a large audience, so I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.

Um right now, as it currently stands, and there'll be some you know negotiation that takes place, but the House bill is the only bill that uh allows us to capture new growth.

So if we you know we get some new economic development, um have another development similar to like a Fair Oaks Foods or an Amazon, we can capture that growth.

Um the other two uh proposals right now do not allow us to do that.

And I mean, this has the potential and probably will be the most consequential piece of legislation that Des Moines has passed relative to municipalities and school districts in uh 20 plus years, I would say, maybe a little longer than that.

So and for us, I think as a city, I think I think Boscha did a good job of showing um how responsible and prudent we've been financially, and I say we a lot of this was before I got here.

So credit to some of the members of council who have been here for a while.

Um, you know, we have healthy reserve funds, we've we've been smart with our fund balances.

Um we take care of our employees.

Um, but you know, most things in our lives aren't gonna go up just by two percent every year, right?

I mean, we've got some bargaining units we need to negotiate with, and uh all that's to say that um this is a good opportunity to reach out to your legislature and tell them to um uh uh be sure to be thoughtful about how restrictive you want to be to municipalities, particularly cities like Davenport and Cedar Rapids and Des Moines and Iowa City and Cedar Falls, some of the places in the state that are actually seeing some population growth versus other parts of the state that uh aren't seeing such growth.

Um we we are an asset and a benefit to the state of Iowa, and so um I think that would be a good message to communicate to our our legislative body uh in the next couple of weeks because the the legislature does want to get a bill done pretty quickly and and not wait till the end of session like they did last year and then not be able to get something accomplished.

So if there ever was a time to reach out and advocate on behalf of your cities, because I think if uh particularly if they don't allow us to capture growth, um we're gonna have to make some tough decisions over the next couple of few years, I think.

And um obviously police and fire are a big chunk of that, and and they do a great job, and we support the heck out of them.

So keep that in mind as you talk with your state legislators.

All right, seeing no one else from council, thanks again, Basha, for that presentation and Tim.

Uh moving on on our agenda.

Well, Alder Person move approval of the report on committee of the whole for January 21st, 2026.

So move.

Second.

All in favor?

Any opposed.

That is approved.

All right.

We have one presentation tonight.

Uh, and before I get to that, I you know, we are talking about law enforcement and uh this particular uh um story that we're going to recount here, I think is a good example of just uh our our police force as a whole, right?

Um they are nationally accredited by Calelia.

It's the highest standard there is for accreditation.

It's awfully difficult to obtain it in the first place, and it's also equally difficult to maintain that accreditation as time goes on, because you have to continually show that you're meeting that standard.

I think a culture's been created in our police force, they're community-minded, they're focused on serving all people and doing what's in the best interest of not only the citizens of Davenport, but in this case, um, a stranger to this police officer who needed help.

So, with that, um, we have the honor of recognizing Davenport Police Officer Riley McIntyre, three and a half-year veteran of the department who currently serves as a detective on our special victims unit for an extraordinary act of compassion performed while off duty at a Bears game November 9th.

When a nearby fan went into cardiac arrest, Officer McIntyre reacted immediately, relying on his training without hesitation.

He performed CPR alongside another bystander working together to sustain the individual unit uh or sorry, uh, sustain the individual until medical personnel could arrive.

Because of their quick and decisive actions, that fan is alive today.

Uh Officer McIntyre's response is a powerful reminder that public service doesn't end when the uniform comes off.

His dedication to protecting others on duty and off is truly exceptional.

So I'd like to invite our community to join me in thanking Officer McIntyre for his quick thinking, professionalism, an unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of others.

And uh Riley, I'll meet you up at the podium and give you this recognition.

And if you want to say a few words, you can, but you certainly don't have to.

So I'm not okay.

Okay, petitions and communications from council members.

Alderman Leon.

Yesterday I had a privilege to attend a press conference at the Eastern Iowa Community College Blong Center, where it was announced that Davenport will serve as the host city for Iowa's first Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education Chapter or FAME for short.

Riverbend FAME establishes a structured two-year earn and learn onboarding, an education model designed to prepare individuals for high demand high school careers, critical to the region's economic vitality.

Programs like FAME reflect exactly what we know works.

Learning by doing, building skills that matter, and preparing people for meaningful careers.

I would like to say thank you to our businesses and industry partners for your leadership to Groquad Cities for bringing this model to our region and to Eastern Iowa Community Colleges for your continued commitment to providing high quality workforce-based training for our community.

I just want to thank the mayor for the assignment.

I enjoyed my time there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Lena.

Thank you for attending too.

I appreciate that.

Alderman Holloway.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I would like to invite members of the Seventh Ward to a ward meeting on Monday, February 9th at 5 30 at the number three fire station.

It'd be a great time to get to meet more of the constituents and let you know what's going on in your city.

Thank you, Alderman Holloway.

Seeing no other communications from council, we will move on to the individual approval of items on our discussion agenda.

Number one is first consideration ordinance amending chapter 3.20 entitled Sales and Service Tax of the Municipal Cold Code of Davenport, Iowa, by admitting Section 3.20.020 and repealing Section 3.20.030 to align with Iowa Code.

Is there anyone from the public that wishes to comment on this item?

Anyone from council?

Seeing and hearing no one, would the clerk please call the roll?

Your Honor, somebody needs to move and second that.

That's a good point.

Is there a second?

All right.

Now would the clerk please call the roll.

Newton?

Yes.

R Dunn?

Yes.

Blum?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Lean in?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

And Job Jim.

Yes.

10.

Yes, is your honor?

That was Brian's little way of reminding me if I would stick to the script.

I wouldn't have messed that.

So okay, on to item number two, which is a resolution awarding a contract for the urban homestead program rehabilitation project at 310 South Hancock Avenue to clock design and development of Betendorf, Iowa for an amount not to exceed 343,680.

Anyone from the public on this item?

Is there anyone from council?

Oh, I'm sorry.

That's okay.

Shale Shagna third word.

And I do appreciate the follow-up I got from city staff on this this week.

The big question I had was that it was strictly the build-out or the renovation costs, and none of the costs in the total amount seems to cover any of the items that will actually go into the building.

Of how much is being spent.

The other thing is when they actually then start putting things inside of the building, inside of the home.

None of that is in this total.

Um, like there's doors, but I didn't see like cabinets, I didn't see uh the refrigerator or any of the appliances.

So just to make sure you're all aware, if you weren't, the program is good.

I understand why the program works, but I'm not positive that is our total cost or investment, and so I'm not positive because I did not get the opportunity to follow up with city staff where the that money comes from to put in the appliances because those aren't cheap.

Um, and all the things that you put into a house to make it a home for someone can move in, because you're gonna list it.

I heard around 175.

The other homes in the neighborhood run around 120, 125.

So again, I understand the incentive for the people, the incentive for the city, but I'm I'm not positing it.

I positive I understand that this is the total amount, and then where does the money come from for those other things over the 300,000 and some odd?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else from the public on this item?

All right, seeing and hearing no one, uh anyone from council?

Uh is there's a motion to move this item.

Second.

All right, Brian, would you please call a roll?

Blunt.

Yes.

Basquez?

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Job Jen?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

R Dunn?

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

And Lenin.

Yes.

10 yeses, Your Honor.

All right.

Item number three is a resolution awarding a contract for the Urban Homestead Program Rehabilitation Project at 2210 West 4th Street to Clark Design and Development of Betendorf, Iowa, for an amount not to exceed 310,850.

Anyone from the public on this item.

All right, seeing and hearing no one, anyone from council.

All right, is there a motion to second?

All right.

Brian, would you please call a roll?

Burkholder?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

R Done?

Yes.

Lean in?

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

Job Jen?

Yes.

Blunk?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

And Greg.

Yes.

10 yeses, Your Honor.

All right, thank you.

Item number four is resolution rescinding resolution 2025-517, which reallocated a portion of local sales and service tax revenue designated for capital improvements to park operations and directing at administration of local options sales and service tax revenue consistent with state law.

Is there anyone from the public on this item?

Cheryl Shagna, third word.

Someone asked me where my sign was tonight.

And I said if I had brought a sign, it would be about bad advice from attorneys.

Some of you may remember that I had a sign here about two years ago, and it had an attorney, corporate counsel that wanted a bonus.

And what they had given us was bad advice.

They gave you bad advice that affected us and the taxpayers.

So I feel like what has happened here, especially when someone refers to a ruling from 1984 as ancient, you got bad advice.

I don't know how to remedy that except for to rescind it.

And um you guys got to do your homework.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Anyone else from the public on this item?

All right, seeing and hearing no one, anyone from city council.

Well, all the person please move the resolution.

So mote.

Brian, could you call a roll, please?

Who seconded that?

I'm sorry.

Down there.

Thank you so much.

Rip.

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

Bergholder?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

T Done?

Yes.

Blung?

Yes.

R done.

Yes.

Lean in.

Yes.

And joke.

Yes.

10 yeses, Your Honor.

All right.

Thank you.

Item number nine is items on our consent agenda.

And I have been asked to recommend pulling item number 16 off of the consent agenda for some discussion.

I don't recall.

So under our rules, um, an item may be removed from the consent agenda only to ask a question, offer comment, or to make a motion to postpone as a as to the procedural.

If someone would like to do that for those purposes, is simply a request to the presiding officer who can then grant said request.

Okay.

For those limited purposes.

Okay.

Yep.

So if there is an if the individual council person has requested that, it is in the presiding officer's discretion to grant it.

Okay, well, then I would pull item number 16 off of the consent agenda.

To yes, so to allow for discussion on question, offer a comment, or correct.

Yes.

Okay.

All those things.

Thank you.

Uh and with that, I see Alder Woman Newton.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you for allowing this.

Um real quick for my colleagues.

Um, as council indicated, an item that is on the consent agenda can only be pulled for brief discussion, and then it either goes back unless unless it is postponed.

Postpone would require a motion um to essentially postpone it to another meeting.

Um cycle would mean next meeting.

There is another mechanism to where we can amend such, but it would require a suspension of the rules um of council.

So the reason I asked for this to be pulled, and I appreciate the mayor giving me that opportunity.

Uh this agenda item deals with our issue papers.

Our issue papers are what uh positions we take with the state on proposed legislation.

That came on to the consent agenda last week um without any comment, honestly from council and myself included, because I wasn't aware of a particular bill that was sitting at the House or one of the House subcommittees that I think is of great concern for the city.

Such bill is House file 2041.

Essentially, it would mandate that officers shall cooperate with federal immigration and customs enforcement.

I believe that it is necessary that the state understands where we stand as a city.

The whole purpose of our issue papers is to let the state know where the city of Davenport stands on various issues.

Now, upon information and belief, such as not currently moving forward.

I have heard that there may be a similar version in a Senate file.

Um, but nonetheless, I think that as a city, we should stake it take a strong position of where the city of Davenport stands.

From my perspective, such law, if passed, will subvert local control from municipalities and can have other in unintended consequences for our police department and for our community.

Davenport Police Department is committed to transparency, professionalism, and more importantly, community focused policing.

The core mission is to protect and care for the well-being of our community.

I think that should continue.

Our department has worked tirelessly over the years to gain our public's trust.

Um it has engaged even in community uh meetings where it meets with community stakeholders and Bentorf PD and Scott County as well, uh, just to continue that trust and building that it has done with our community.

Um and any bill that takes that away and undermines it and essentially could take that away.

The council has been provided with what has been labeled issue paper 2605 uh via email.

It would be my recommendation that such be passed by amendment and that we suspend the rules uh prior to making any amendment, whether it's that motion or a motion to postpone.

I was going to yield the floor to see if any of my colleagues have any comments to make.

Um, but I do think that we should take a position and then I would um ask Council Huff just to make the council aware that the issue paper 2605 has in fact been reviewed by legal our city administration and our police department, just so that my colleagues are aware um that it's I'm not necessarily running rogue, although I may do that from time to time.

And we do have uh a couple of folks that would like to speak.

So Alderman Jokin.

Thank you.

Um just you know, I have no issue with the position paper, and you know, any time we can you know assert our um ability to maintain local control um and not have Des Moines hamstring us all for it.

I guess my thought on the matter would be unless time is that crucial that it can't wait two weeks, I would prefer to postpone, let it go through a cycle.

Um, have it a committee of the whole and then have a next next council meeting versus uh suspending the rules and amendmenting tonight.

Just um just gonna wear out that.

So thank you.

Thank you, Alderman.

Alderman are done.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I just want to say thank you.

Very well written, and I'm glad you're taking the lead on this.

I just want to be clear.

I I will support this, but I'm when we go to vote or whatever we're gonna do, we'll make sure the council's because we've got new members, you know, of what we're actually doing, if we're gonna table it or you know what I mean.

That makes sense.

Understood.

Because it could be could sometimes it gets a little confusing.

Yeah, and I would just say I uh I would say 99% of the time I would echo Alderman Jokson's perspective that I you know I'm not uh uh historically when I was an alderman at large, I was not a particularly big fan of suspending the rules unless there was an absolutely you know, bona fide legitimate reason that have been communicated by staff to us as to why to do it.

In this case, I would um ask my colleagues to consider that the speed at which the House and Senate are going about property tax reform.

Not that I think our position paper is gonna, you know, open their eyes or anything to what they're going to do, but um the speed at which they're going in Des Moines.

Uh I mean, I think a subcommittee has already been scheduled and maybe has happened on this bill or is happening tomorrow.

I can't remember, but uh uh I think in the House.

And so because of that, I think if we were to wait the full two weeks, so two weeks from today at the next council meeting.

I think um property tax reform could be pretty well wrapped up or pretty close to wrapped up.

So I think the sooner we can get this to Des Moines the better, whether that means to tonight or maybe wait till next week at the committee of the whole, I guess I would defer to council on what they're more comfortable with doing.

I'd be willing with either one.

Um, but I just wanted to communicate that perspective.

Uh Alderman are done.

Thank you.

Then let's get it done.

Okay.

Uh Alder Woman Burkholder.

I absolutely agree.

Let's get this done.

Okay.

So Alder Woman Newton.

I it also I I appreciate the support because I think you're clapping for the right reasons, but generally speaking, our code of conduct and rules, um, please refrain from clapping if you if you can.

So um, in light of that, and I completely um agree with your comments, Mayor, in terms of the urgency of that matter.

Um, I would then motion to suspend the rules.

So I can so we have a motion and a second to suspend the rules.

I would guess that needs a voice vote.

Needs a voice vote.

Uh roll call.

It needs sorry, yeah.

It needs a roll call vote and a three-fourths majority of pass.

Okay.

So uh Brian, please call the roll on suspension of the rules.

Newton, yes.

Jokin?

Yes.

Lean in?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Blunk.

Yes.

R done.

Yes.

T done.

Yes.

Burkholder.

Yes.

And Holliday.

Yes.

Okay, Your Honor.

Now the rules have been suspended.

All woman Newton.

Thank you, Mayor.

I would motion to amend uh the agenda, specifically item 16 to include issue paper 26-05, Davenport Police Response Priorities.

Uh does the clerk want me to read the entire?

I know he has a copy.

Do you want me to read the entire thing out loud or just provide you the copy?

It you we don't need to read it out loud as long as the copy that is been provided to all of council as is with the clerk.

However, so that the community knows, I don't know that this has been fully put out as our position paper like the others have.

It may be in best form to read the entire thing so that the community understands what that position paper is.

Perfect.

I have no issue reading that.

Statement of issue and background.

The Davenport Police Department, DPD, serves as a cornerstone of public safety in the quad cities, earning a strong and honorable reputation across Iowa and among peer agencies.

With a commitment to transparency, professionalism, and community focused policing.

DPD continues to build trust with residents while offering meaningful career paths for those who want to serve.

The mission of the Davenport Police Department is to protect and care for the well-being of our community while providing excellence in police service.

The Davenport Police Department is committed to the values of integrity, fairness, competency, and professionalism through the positive and meaningful police citizen interactions and partnerships.

These interactions and partnerships preserve the peace and safety of our community, making Davenport a desirable place to live.

The Davenport Police Department has an authorized strength of 167 sworn employees and 24 civilian employees.

The department handles over 94,000 calls for service annually.

Current staffing is at 150 sworn.

Requested actions.

Local police departments exist to protect the safety and well-being of their communities by enforcing criminal laws.

The Davenport Police Department takes great pride in strong collaborative relationships that it has built over many years with our local, state, and federal partners and agencies.

Given the current staffing and resource shortages, the Davenport Police Department, our focus remains on preventing crime, responding to emergency and invest the emergencies, and investigating serious offenses.

I move to amend.

All right.

So yeah, roll call on the approval of the amendment, simple majority vote.

Okay.

Roll call, please.

Alderman Newton, I do not have a copy of that.

If you could please send it to me.

R Done?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

Lenin?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Jopchen.

Yes.

Blunk.

Yes.

And Newton.

Yes.

And yes, is your honor?

All right.

Thank you for that.

And thanks everyone for your work on that.

Yeah, so uh now I believe I need to put this back on consent.

Yes.

And I can just, I think I can just do that, right?

So this item will now be back on the consent agenda.

Correct.

And now I need as amended.

Motion to approve a consent a second.

Second.

All right.

A roll call on consent agenda.

T done?

Yes.

R done.

Yes.

Newton.

Yes.

Grip.

Yes.

Jokin?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

Lean in.

Yes.

Burkholder.

Yes.

Holloway.

Yes.

And Blunt.

Yes.

And yes, is your honor.

All right.

Thank you.

Thanks.

And thanks, staff for helping me navigate that.

I appreciate it.

Next area is other ordinances, resolutions, and motions, and there are none this evening.

And so we are now on to the public with business.

Again, just a reminder, five minutes.

You're welcome to, we'd like to know where you're from.

And if you're not from Davenport, tell us where you're from.

Um and you know, just follow our rules of decorum and civility, but we welcome your comments now.

So hello, I am Loxy Hopkins.

I have moved from the sixth ward to the third ward.

Um I wanted to say first, I didn't get an opportunity to greet all of you as new council members.

I will definitely be meeting with each of you individually when you have a moment.

Um I just want to thank Alderman Newton for her courage in um presenting this.

Maybe this is better.

Thank you.

Um I had a whole long thing that I was going to say, talking about our police department, the professionalism.

Um we do not need anyone else other than our police department to protect anybody.

You know, our police department can well take care of murderers, rapists, and drug dealers and gag members.

We do not need anyone else in our community doing it.

And we certainly, after the years that the police department has spent just trying to build relationships and welcoming the whole community.

They are never should be in a position where they're asked to work with someone by videos alone that we've seen the violence and the non-professionalism in the community.

I especially want to thank everyone in the community that cared enough and loves all of the people in this community enough to show up here tonight.

So thank you very much.

Thank you, especially, Alderman Newton.

You guys are great.

Thank you.

Thank you, Loxie.

My name is Judith Lee's second ward, and you may not know, but there's about another 30 or 40 people out in the lobby for this reason.

And you have made me so proud tonight for what you've done and the courage to do it and to do it quickly.

Thank you very much.

And thank you.

Um I would also um like to ask you.

I sent an email asking that the budget book, the draft budget book for 2027 be put up on the website.

Um that we can come to the meeting, but we don't have any information, and normally you folks are just talking about uh using a PowerPoint.

If the public could get the draft budget book so we can look at it and ask our or make comments to our elected representatives, that would be super helpful.

I was told today that they never put it up until it's been approved by you, which is next spring, and that's not useful for your constituents at all.

So I'm asking you if you would ask to get the budget book for 2027 up on the website so that we can follow along and make comments to our aldermen, not at the meetings, I understand, but um outside of the meetings, that would be really helpful.

Um I had on here the new legislation agenda.

I don't have to do that.

Um, one thing you may not know, but the the left turn from Third to River Drive, where we've had a couple of accidents.

We have an old sign still up there, one of the white signs with the black with the arrows that shows there's two lanes turning left, and apparently there's only one.

So you might want to take a look at that and see if that sign needs to come down because it really does indicate that there's two lanes, and two lanes means somebody's hitting somebody up there, apparently.

Um the other thing is I understand because I got a cold call that Metronet, and some of you know it, some of you don't.

We invited Metronet into Davenport to create a um uh some competition for internet.

They have been bought by T Mobile, and um there has been a franchise fee when we invited um Metronet to come in, they have been paying between half a million and nearly a million dollars in franchise fees to the city, and I believe that has disappeared in this budget.

Um, and I think if we're going to continue that, it's including the Comcast.

Council voted to allow Comcast to come in without a franchise fee.

And you had the franchise fee up.

I was outside watching, so it was still there as of last year, but I believe it's not here now.

Uh, just one of the things to look into.

But again, I I really request that the budget book be made public so that we can all look at it as you folks discuss it.

And I mean, a lot of you ran on transparency.

That is one of the most important things you can do is how we we can see how you propose to spend our money.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, anyone else from the public?

I see a couple of folks up.

Um, Mary Maher, um, Davenport.

Um, I've heard that there are going to be budget workshops that the public can attend, and I'd like to know when those are.

Sure.

Um we could probably do that if you we have an area here when we kind of can make some last final comments from up here, and I'll have the city administrator remind the public of those dates and times.

Thank you.

Sir I am Leylon Bachman from Sixth Ward.

Uh, and yesterday was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and I would just like us as a community to have pull a moment of silence, not only for the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, but the disabled, the LGBTQ, the people of color, and immigrants communities that were targeted by the Nazis.

Sure.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Hi, my name is Joni Demmer.

I'm a resident of Davenport, Ward 6, and a member of the immigration coalition of the Quad Cities.

It was exactly eight months ago today, uh, that we came to this very chamber.

We presented you with a proclamation that you unanimously voted for, signed by Mayor Matson at the time.

That proclamation was a formal celebration of immigrants and refugees in our community.

Our hope was to raise awareness about their contributions to the economics and businesses in our area, food, music, culture.

We listened to the proclamation be read.

We took photos right here with the mayor, and we felt pretty good.

The City of Davenport website welcomes people.

It says we are a large, diverse, urban quad city member.

We are historic and full of opportunity.

We anticipated some of the things that are going on today in our world.

That's why we wrote that resolution was to celebrate immigrants and refugees in our community.

We anticipated that we would be where we are today.

Fighting for immigrants in our city, fighting for them in our state, fighting for them in our country.

Our coalition anticipated immigrants and refugees would be attacked, taken from their homes, separated from their families, and locked up in detention centers.

Eight months ago, that was the easy day thing that we celebrated.

What you did today was the hard day.

Sadly, I'm worried that there will be harder days ahead for us as a city, for us as a state, and for us as a community.

I hope that we stand with our brothers and sisters from all over the world, and that Davenport can really be a leader in the state in saying that we will watch over our own.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for your cooperation, audience.

I appreciate that.

Yes, ma'am.

Hi there, I'm Tracy Feis.

I'm in the fifth ward.

Um, I've never been to a city council meeting.

This is my first time.

So I I wanted to get up and say that tonight, because of Alderman Newton, you all stand on the right side of history.

And we have a president and an administration that is telling us that the sky is green and the grass is blue.

It is not.

And what you did tonight reaffirms that I'm not crazy, and that the people standing behind me are not crazy, that we can see the brutality and the cruelty with our own eyes.

We can see it.

And I want you to know that what you did tonight has restored my faith and given me hope.

And hope is a really powerful thing.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks for coming tonight.

Hello, Mayor.

Council members.

My name is Steve Scranton.

I am from across the river.

I prefer to say we are joined by a river.

Um I am a community activist, and I am also a member of the Quad City Immigrant Coalition.

I was here the night of the proclamation, and it was a wonderful thing to partake in.

I did bring a sign.

You did not bring a sign.

This here, um, I am from the state of Illinois, and the state of Illinois has the Trust Act.

It does not allow law enforcement to be able to join with federal agencies against their own citizens, and I'm very proud of that.

And everybody on this council and the mayor are beloved by me for the action that you took here today because of the atrocities that we are all witnessing.

This here is a copyrighted image.

I have permission, hold top and bottom, that I have permission to be able to print and distribute by Laylo Alcarez from Los Angeles, California, the first blue occupied city.

I'm gonna turn it around so the members here can see.

This here, thank you.

This here is um a way to be able to get the message out, and there are people that are activated right now that are on quick response networks that are going to assist our community and our immigrants if that becomes necessary.

So what you did today is on the best level of humanity.

I thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Hello, my name is uh Shoshiana White.

I live in the first ward, have for about 20 years, and I want to say for the first time, I am so proud to live in this city.

I have felt down since this last weekend.

Monday was really rough for me, right?

To go to work, try to act normal, and how do you do that?

And uh I felt alone, and I don't know.

Because I live in a city that uh stands for what I stand for, and uh all these people stand with me, you guys stand with me, and uh, and thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Good evening.

Good evening.

David Anderson, fourth ward.

Um I don't consider myself particularly devout, but I would like to read three really quick Bible passages, if sure.

Don't mind.

Leviticus 1934.

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.

For ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Matthew 2540.

And the king shall answer and say unto them, verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I very much appreciate the mission statement of the Davenport Police Department to protect and care for the well-being of our community.

And I am glad that this council intends to keep them from violating two of the commandments as ICE has proven that they are very willing to do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I hope that we do not need to try to give that more teeth in the future.

Good evening.

Hi, my name is Amanda Irwin.

I'm in Jade Burkholder's uh ward.

Um, and first uh Alder Person Newton, that was a beautiful, absolutely so crystal clear.

Really, you must have spent a ton of time on that document.

It was truly a really beautiful, well written document.

Um my only concern is that my feelings are stronger than that.

Um I'm so glad that you read it and that we could all hear it together as as one group.

Um, but they're gonna get it, right?

They're gonna understand where we stand on this issue.

Like they're not gonna, they're not gonna misunderstand, right?

Like, I there wasn't an explicit statement that Davenport police will absolutely not be participating in ICE enforcement.

And I was hoping for something that was a little stronger or more explicit like that.

We all in this room get it, so now that I'm hearing everybody be like, yay, I'm like, okay, I'm overreacting.

Everybody's gonna get it.

Um I don't know how to finish.

I'm just gonna exit, but thank you very much.

Thank you, thank you, and City Council, thank you for your flexibility and willingness to respond to the community.

Clearly, we all have really strong feelings about this issue.

Um, and I cannot tell you how much, as a new uh resident of Davenport, how encouraging it is to know that my city council is extremely, extremely uh responsive to the will of the people and representative of the will of the people, and I can't say that about every town in the Quad Cities, especially right now.

So thank you very, very much.

Thank you.

All right, good evening.

Um, my name is James.

I'm here on behalf of the Quad Cities Democratic Socialists of America.

Uh first uh like to applaud you for taking the steps towards helping protect our communities.

Um as the news continues to come in from Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, now Minneapolis, it's become very clear that communities such as ours need to prepare for the possibility that federal government will one day choose to target the vulnerable populations in our own backyard.

I'm here today to speak to the city council and plead that you plead with you that you develop a plan to protect those people in our communities who might be targeted by such federal agencies, like ICE.

ICE agents are currently operating with a direct license to racially profile and an apparent license to kill.

Uh, this is a grave failure of federal accountability and a continuation of a trajectory in which black, brown immigrants, and other racialized communities bear the barrel of the gun of militarized policy.

So far, there have been 26 deaths that we know about caused by ICE agents during these sweeps and drag nets in the last year.

It bears repeating that these are the deaths that we know about.

In 2023, a federal oversight agency found that ICE agents do not thoroughly document use of force incidences, which means that if we allow this agency to operate unobstructed in our community, that our neighbors, siblings, and loved ones and peers would be subjected to unwarranted state violence because of the unchecked authority given to them on some half thought out, nearly illegitimate agency tasked with enforcing the whims of white supremacist regime.

The deaths that have been so far are the predictable outcome of an agency built on secrecy, violence, and immunity.

ICE has demonstrated repeatedly that it cannot be reformed.

The agency's very function depends on the dehumanization and disposability of migrant lives.

An institution that hides shootings, withholds death reports, denies medical care, and operates beyond the meet the meaningful public oversight, has no public, has no claim to public safety or lawful authority.

The continued existence of ICE is an ongoing threat to our communities, our families, and our collective humanity.

For the lives already lost and for those still at risk, we must be unequivocal.

ICE is a violent and illegitimate agency, and it must be obstructed by our officials, resisted by the people, and ultimately abolished for the good of our future.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You guys are doing great with that, by the way.

Hi, Cassandra Irwin.

I am also in the fourth ward, and I'd like to have a quick side note.

Uh Amanda Irwin is my sister.

She moved here to work specifically with Project Now in their homeless services.

So don't let her fool you.

She's great.

I just wanted to say real quick, thank you very much for number one, the very clear explanation.

A lot of the jargon gets lost on most lay people, and your explanation was incredibly clear, and we thank you for that.

That being said, I do encourage the city council to take a more serious approach and a more thoughtful approach.

Because as great as that was, and as encouraged as I am, it's not quite enough.

We need to have a strategic plan going forward as to what the city will do if ICE does come here.

I think the people in the city really want to know what the city has planned for what will happen and who the police will be protecting.

Because as we've seen in Minneapolis, there are unfortunately, although they've made statements that they won't cooperate, they have been.

And they've been yanking protesters, uh, injuring protesters that aren't even technically protesters.

They're just existing in their neighborhoods and reacting to the situation.

Um so I would encourage you to have or to propose.

I don't know how it works, obviously.

I'm just a regular person.

Um, but come up with a policy that has some teeth, please.

Uh, I think our vulnerable members of our community would really appreciate it.

And so would I, so thanks.

Uh, I'm also gonna beat your ears about homelessness at a later point, so thanks.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Thank you all for being here today, and thank you for hearing public comments as well.

My name is Cassie Owens, and I'm originally from around the Iowa City area, and I would encourage this statement to take a serious approach as many other people have before me.

I do echo those statements.

And as a pharmacy technician at Mercy One here in Davenport, I've seen the strength of our community and diversity, and what concerns me the most is the statement that only the police can protect us.

That has not been true in the past for people of color and migrant communities, unfortunately.

And I do applaud Alderwoman Newton for bringing this to our attention and bringing this forward.

But it is also ICU nurses like Alyx Pritty who have supported our communities, have supported the communities of Minnesota, and those people are people that are also in danger.

And I just would like to see more of a plan because this is not enough.

Um we need to see more action, and particularly in Iowa City, I have seen more legislature propose to actively do something about ICE and have a safety plan to make our community actually safe.

So I just I urge you to consider the safety of our community and not just the safety of the police officers, because this is the most important to keep especially medical professionals safe in our community to intervene when needed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Hi.

Brendan O'Brien, third award.

And I just want to echo everything that people have said.

Thanking you all for taking this step, but I also want to say we need more steps.

As a few people have said behind me.

This isn't enough.

The last few years, city council and the city of Davenport has been mirrored in controversy over the lack of accountability, passing blame to other entities, and I'm asking you to not do that again.

To take these further steps.

And I want to ask a very specific question.

You can ask it, you can show by a show of hands.

How many of you know the name of the officers who killed Alex Predi?

So typically we we just listen here, we don't respond.

Either verbally or in any way, so be happy to talk to you afterwards.

Sure.

Or any of these folks would too, I'm sure.

I'll I'll just uh go forward by saying that information is not public knowledge because these agents are operating with a mask.

And that shows a blatant lack of accountability, and uh that's something that you as city council can do.

You can pass legislation that requires uh all law enforcement in the city to uh operate without masks, have badge numbers clear.

That is a small measure that would go a long way to showing that you care about the safety of the people of Davenport.

And again, I want to thank you for taking this step because it is a big one, and it was there was a sense of urgency to it, but we've seen community after community get uh caught in the crosshairs, and uh people here need to know that their city has their back.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Name is Eric Johnson Fist Ward.

Um I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you've done.

I agree wholeheartedly with many of the comments that have been played before me.

But one thing that has not come up that I really would like to hear is what your limitations are.

Uh you have only so much you can do uh when it comes against uh ice.

We need to understand what your limitations are, so we, the people can fill in the voids and take care of things from there.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Hello.

Uh Daniel Salazar, a member of the human race.

I just have something I want to read to you.

What are you?

That's what I'm always asked for some reason.

Whether I'm from home or the place I thought was home.

What are you?

No, no, I know you're American, but what are you?

No, no, I know you're Mexican, but what are you?

In my hesitation, I'm given what I am.

I'm told I am Hispanic, Mexican, Mexican American, Latino, Chicano, Tano, no criminal.

What am I?

I am my grandfather who left his homeland to come to America, lived alone, and worked to make enough money to bring Abuelita to America.

Who gave the descendants the room to dream, to make way for dreamers like me.

I am my grandfather who, through broken English and a third grade education, became a welder, electrician, builder, mechanic, rancher, and minor.

Shame arriva nuclear.

I am my grandmother who took the wheel of a sedan and drove my mom to school when no one else would.

Who learned to balance a checkbook while also balancing being a mother.

I am my grandmother who always had warm tortillas and a capecito ready for anyone who dare walk through the threshold.

Who gave me the gift of our mother tongue and heritage through cuisine?

Siempre arriba nunca.

I am my mother who held steadfast under the pressures of being the first to be born with an American passport, who translated doctor's notes, legal documents, and life to her parents before she could call herself a woman.

I'm my mother who crawled into the unknown of a higher education so I could walk to my first, who continue to read doctors' notes and legal documents so I can call myself a kid.

I am my father who poke sugar beets and cotton for his summer vacation, who split hamburgers, five ways to feed the family, and was raised by the inner city streets instead of a father.

I am my father who chose who chose the high road over the streets, who buys me burger complete with fries and a drink on the way home from school.

Shampear nunca va.

I am me.

I am the product of generations of change, adaptation, and perseverance.

I am my father's child, my grandmother's grandson, my uncle's nephew, my great grandmother's dream for the great grandchild, she would never know.

I'm everything my ancestors were and were not able to be.

I'm from a people who never stay sagged.

I am them and they are me, always up, never in Bah.

All I ask for you today is to not look at me or the people in our community as Democrat, as Republican, as Mexican or something else, but as people.

So whatever you decide to do, do it because not of your political affiliation, but because we're all here for that same reason.

We're all here to serve the people.

And I want my grandma to be able to walk down the street and not be worried about what might happen to her.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Uh my name's Mark Smith.

I grew up in Davenport.

I now live in Batonorp.

I was a district court judge for 26 years before that.

I was a prosecutor.

Before that, I was a defense attorney.

I work with your department.

Um they're a group of honorable people.

Um the reason I'm up here today is because I'm fully retired and I can play politics.

Before that, I could not.

The I just like to, if this law is passed, I just want you to put yourself in a position of a police officer.

You're supposed to aid a person that's had 47 days of training.

Uh, you see that person do a warrantless entry into home.

What do you do?

You don't have the protection of a federal agent.

You see peaceful protesters being assaulted by pepper spray or some other chemical or sometimes physical assault.

Having done nothing, having obeyed uh the orders to stay out of the street.

What do you do?

As a police officer, you see a citizen who walking down the street, being accosted by ice, asked for papers.

They don't have papers, they're thrown into a van.

What do you do as a police officer?

You don't have the protection of uh the ice agents.

And lastly, if you see guns drawn against uh your citizens without cause, what do you do?

Do you draw your gun, protect the citizen, or put yourself at risk by placing yourself between the ice agent and the citizen.

Those are the dilemmas that your officers are gonna face if they pass this law.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Go ahead, sir.

David Anderson, again.

I'm the lesser elderly disabled board five.

To me, ICE is the second highest issue in my world.

I've experienced witness both of illegal, unconstitutional and immoral behavior to myself and others, including the disabled, the black, the less fortunate, including severe incidents of physical, emotional, and to be personal sexual harassment repeatedly by law enforcement, up to the sheriff in Illinois.

I proached at the students poke out for five years.

I now have a debt on my forehead.

I said that many a time.

It costed about 200,000, I would say, of taxpayer money to beat up an old cripple.

And back then, as always, I live in the future, I've been doing this my whole life.

I said, this is gonna get worse.

If you allow this, it's gonna get worse.

I spoke out to every single person I could find, the newspapers, uh, Democrats were put, you name it, I tried.

And now that it's here, and other people are getting harassed.

I say, I fought this issue.

I fought this issue with everything I had, it cost me everything.

I'm a shell of what I used to be.

I have such severe PTSD, my joints don't work from the abuse I suffered from.

Um, if anyone would like to know what it's like to wake up in a uh solitary confinement cell, and remember that the last thing you know, you were tortured until you passed out and stripped naked, and then spent five days in solitary confinement with no rights or anything.

That was me.

I might act stupid, I might look stupid, but it's because of the abuse.

And I stated the future would come and other people would suffer this.

I would like to say that Pastor Jay, who is valid in Florida was the one person that cared in this entire time.

And now I would like to go back to my little skinny world of nothingness, and none of it really matters.

Thank you, sir.

Hi, good evening.

I really was not planning on speaking at all.

This is not really my forte.

Um, but first, thanks for having us.

Thanks for staying out on a really cold night.

Everybody's got families um to go home to.

But I just wanted to say uh I work with immigrants and refugees on both sides of the river.

I am from Iowa, very proudly, although I'm now living in Rock Island.

But um this morning, as I was just kind of thinking about all of this, I'm really encouraged to hear um kind of the stance that Davenport is taking.

Um I just I guess I just want to encourage you to keep taking that stance and keep being brave because I really don't think it's gonna get better.

I think if we try to assume Minneapolis is a big city, right?

It's huge, and what's happening there probably wouldn't look like that here.

I don't think that that's a very good assumption at all.

So that's really all I want to say.

Just please um keep doing difficult work.

Uh keep making unpopular decisions, and I think like that is kind of what's gonna keep us safe right now.

I don't think that it would be wise to assume it will never look like that in the quad cities.

I don't think it would be wise to assume it would never get to that point because I don't think any of us really thought this would get to this point anywhere.

So that's all I have.

Thank you for what you're doing.

Thank you for doing hard work.

Um for allowing all of us to come and participate in democracy.

Oh, one last point.

Um another thought I've had recently is that like this is pretty much the only forum I feel safe to do something like this.

I would not feel safe protesting in anywhere right now.

Um I think that that is a sign of a crack in democracy.

Like the right to assemble is in the constitution, and right now, a setting like this is pretty much the only place that I personally would feel safe to speak out.

I would not feel safe attending a rally of any kind.

So I don't know.

I guess please just keep that in mind.

I think there's a crack in democracy when um when we can't fully participate.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And just uh I should have said this at the beginning.

I think you need to state your name first.

Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Laura Sower.

Thank you, Laura.

Yeah, thank you.

Appreciate that.

Yes, sir.

My name is uh Gavin Gasma.

I'm a homeowner in the third ward.

I'm uh deeply concerned that there's gonna be a nice agent who comes to Davenport, kills someone, kidnap someone, something like that, and gets away with it.

Uh, our police is responsible for detaining them if they do such a thing.

Uh pursuing them, charging them.

I don't know exactly how that works.

But that's that's their responsibility, and they need to know that.

Thank you.

Hello, Adam Peters, Smith Ward.

I just want to reiterate what Laura said.

Um, thank you.

But we do need to be looking towards the future at what could happen here in the Quad Cities.

Um this community is not going anywhere.

We are going to be listening, we're going to be watching, and we're gonna going to be looking for your leadership.

So getting ahead of that now is probably the best option.

But thank you for everything that you have done tonight.

But this community isn't going anywhere, so we are gonna be the eyes and ears.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

My name is Saira Mayan, and I thank you for what you have done.

But I want to do the more.

I want you to be accountable.

I have a bl a blinding place and take action.

Because when my 19-year-old tells me that he doesn't feel safe in his home.

Home breaks my heart because there's nothing I can do to put.

So I urge you to take action.

Because he's not just my son, but how many kids and young adults are feeling this way.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council and everyone here.

My name is Claire Russian.

I had no intention of speaking, whatever.

This is also not my forte.

My adrenaline is You just would say for the record your word or address for where you where you're from.

I'm from Vettendorf.

I'm not from Daphne.

That's fine.

No, go ahead.

I have almost no words to describe the emotions I have pounding and screaming in my head when I saw the footage of Alex Predy and Renee Good.

And when I was told by a friend, hey, there's this protest happening at City Hall.

Anyone want to go?

I was the first one to jump on that.

I'm like, let's go.

Nothing like this has ever happened in my lifetime.

I am a young adult in my 20s.

I have graduated from university as of May.

I can't even get employment almost anywhere because everything is just a mess, and that's a whole other thing that I won't bring up today because today is about the possibility of one of my favorite movie franchise, Star Wars, which is awesome.

Uh that fear of the empire becoming a very real thing in the original movies.

The stormtroopers are everywhere.

They're absolutely everywhere.

And if you've seen enough of the movies, you will have seen that they say that they need to bring a new order of peace to the galaxy.

What the fuck is that?

What piece is armed soldiers going up to civilians and saying, let's see some identification, you're out past curfew.

Am I gonna have to watch my I didn't think I was gonna cry?

Um but that's how terrified I am.

I'm so scared that I'm gonna have to go to my job and to my work and interact with all of these amazing people with the thought of I could be asked, where's your citizenship?

Are you even a real citizen?

Am I gonna have to take a passport with me to work?

Is my license yes, my license that's not been updated since I was 16, and I probably should update it because while I still kind of look the same, I probably should update it to an adult version.

Um yeah, these people get it.

Um my crew neck that I am currently currently wearing, it's while it is a panda and it's the WWF, the World Wildlife Fund, World Wildlife Um is dedicated to bringing awareness to all of the endangered animals that are on our earth, and the back was blank, but I would like to turn around and show you it says uh worldwide family.

Isn't that what we are?

Isn't that what you are?

It doesn't matter like where we come from and like who who we are in the man that read, I don't know if it was a poem or anything, but like that is we shouldn't need labels to say we are American citizens, we belong to the US, we belong to so many nationalities, languages, like cultures.

Shouldn't we just be able to live together?

Like, think of your favorite movies and think of all the villains that are in those movies, and they will say that they are doing everything that the heroes are also doing, but it's all for the wrong reasons.

They will go to no lengths to achieve what they deem is peace.

What is peace?

I hope all I'm counting.

I don't know how many of you are up there, and I'm not gonna count because I don't really know.

Um looks about maybe 10.

Thank you.

Um I hope that however this goes out, all of you will be able to sleep through the night, knowing that you are protecting everyone who is in the lobby, and I hope there's still people in the lobby watching this, and everyone that's here and maybe listening that you will have protected these people, and I have no idea the morals or the ethics of everything that is happening, but I really hope that you'll do what is best for this community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yes, sir.

I'll make it quick.

Hi there, I'm Jonah Higginsbaugh.

I'm Jonah Higginbotham from Davenports.

Um just wanted to say real fast that in 1953, my grandmother immigrated here from Mexico.

She's been here most of her life.

Um she's worked as hard as anyone I can think of to be as proud of as proud of being an American citizen as you or I could ever be.

Um I have great-grandparents who immigrated from Poland.

I have friends who are from Ecuador.

I have friends who are from all over the country and all over the world.

If uh ICE agent came up and took my grandmother right now, she would not know where she's going.

She would not know why she was taken, and she wouldn't understand why she's being taken from basically the only home that she can remember now in her advanced age.

And I see on the television and on the news and on social media every single day, people just like my grandparents, just like my friends, being taken and snapped to the ground and told that they don't belong here.

I want to know that while I'm living here, people just like my grandmother are going to be protected.

And honestly, I don't really have all that much faith in our police.

Just I've been doing the protesting thing my entire life.

I am Alex Pritties years age.

I'm 38.

So since I was 20, I've been protesting police violence, brutality, inequality, all that sort of thing, and I've seen this stuff coming, and I don't know if I trust yet.

Show me that I can trust that we can keep our citizens safe.

Because otherwise, I cannot live in Iowa.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Oh my voice cracked.

Hi, my name is Brian.

I'm from Davenport.

And I want to say that people are scared.

I'm scared.

And they say you shouldn't be scared because you're a citizen.

And to them I say you haven't been profiled.

You haven't heard people call you racial slurs.

If my neighbors aren't safe, we are not safe.

I ask for a more firm stance against ice.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I apologize.

I'm very nervous.

Um I just want to say just that.

Say your name for us too.

Oh, my name is Alex C from I'm from Davenport.

Okay, thank you.

Um just look around us and look at the world and see what's going on on the TV and or wherever you get your sources from and see that innocent people are being gunned down in the street by their own government that it's supposed to protect us and be there for our protection are the ones that are hurting and killing us.

Um I just want to be able to know that everybody, uh, whether it's here anywhere in Iowa or the United States, uh, is safe and does not have to worry about being treated like a criminal when most of the people that are part of these things are not.

They're good people just like you and me.

And their mothers, wives, sons, and daughters, and treating them like monsters is it's not okay, and it's not what America is.

And I know that the people that are good will stand up.

We know right from wrong, and I believe that what you guys have done here tonight, and the people behind me and across the US, we all stand up and do what we need to do to make sure everything's right, everything will get better.

Excellent.

Thank you for that, sir.

Okay, anyone else from the public?

Hi.

My name is Gina Brenser.

I'm a nurse.

I'm a mentor of the LGPTQ community.

We've lost two people in our community in the last two weeks, and we are broken.

It's so hard to go to work and work all day and care for people and work with immigrants and take care of immigrants and watch what's going on in Minneapolis.

I can plan on talking.

But it's so hard to go to work each day.

And for you guys to have made this decision.

I came here after working all day because we feel so strongly about it.

And I want to thank you, Aston, for what you've done.

And for all of you for the 10 agreed votes on it.

Because we as nurses, we work police officers occasionally.

We see them.

They bring people in, they help us, and we appreciate and we respect them.

But if it comes down to them ice, then they're not gonna be the police will not be part of our community anymore.

They will be them.

We do not want that.

I don't want to see people get hurt in our community.

But if we don't support the immigrants that are here, who are we?

We're all immigrants on stolen land.

They can't just keep doing this to people.

And I just want to thank you for taking the steps that you have, but we do need to have a plan too.

Because we're Americans and we don't take this shit.

And my grandparents and my I was a poker dealer for 20 years when the president riverboat opened.

I dealt to veterans.

World War II veterans, Korean veterans, Vietnam War veterans.

And if they saw what was going on now, those guys that I respected and loved so much, they're rolling over their in their grave.

And we need to do to carry on what they did for us, what they did for all of us here in our entire country.

And we have to stand up to what is going on right now.

Because it's we have to.

It's our turn to stand up.

We have to be the new greatest generation, and we don't want to be, but we have to be.

Thank you.

Anyone else this evening?

Okay, hearing and seeing no one.

I do want to take a little uh privilege, Tim.

We did have someone ask about the dates of uh our budget meetings.

If you could just for the public sake, let us know what those are.

Yes, Mayor.

Uh the uh FY27 budget workshops uh are scheduled for 8 30 this Saturday, right here in the council chambers, and then a second one, 3 45 p.m.

on uh Tuesday the third, and that's gonna be in the community room over at the uh police department, and then we're back here the following Saturday on uh February 7th at 8 30, right here in the council chambers.

So we have three uh budget workshops that are scheduled this Saturday, 8 30 here, Tuesday uh the third at the uh community room, the police department back here the following Saturday, 8 30 in the morning, right here in the council chambers.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Tim.

Uh and then last here is the uh kind of final any final comments from council members or mayor, and we do have a few, so I'll start with Alderman Lenin.

Yeah, based on the comments tonight from uh the citizens of Davenport, I I would ask the police department to probably develop a strategic plan in the event that uh this realistic situation could rear its ugly head, and obviously you're the experts on public safety, and we would rely heavily on the police department.

But if it does happen, we do want to be prepared for it and how we're gonna respond.

So a strategic plan, standard operating procedure, maybe something like that's already in place for something like this.

Although this is probably you know, new ground we're discovering here.

So I think it's well worth our time to come up with a plan that uh could deal with this, and then uh we don't want to get caught on unprepared for something like this.

And then, real quickly, uh Ms.

uh mayor, uh you sent me an email, I owe you response, and I'm gonna talk to you in person if you can hang out after the meeting.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Uh Alderman Vasquez.

Okay, first off, thank you for everybody.

I am a firm believer in our constitution.

Okay, and I hope ultimately it prevails.

It has to.

And I want to thank each and every person that came up here to speak their peace, because that's how we'll keep it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Vasque Vasquez.

Alder Woman Newton.

Thank you, Mayor.

I too wanted to thank the public for coming out tonight to show support for their neighbors.

I think the message was loud and clear, and I think your neighbors, especially those that cannot come out or are afraid to come out, are going to hear that message.

Uh, secondly, I appreciate the feedback that was provided tonight.

I can tell you that so long as I sit here, ensuring the community is safe, the entire community will remain one of my priorities.

And as an immigrant, I came here to do the job that some Americans don't want to do.

Uphold the Constitution, ensure the rule of law, and when government needs checks and balances, be one hell of a check.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Jubjan.

Yeah, I just uh also want to extend my thanks to those who came out and spoke.

Also, thanks for the improvisation of following the mayor's direction and and uh you know and celebrating your actions.

Um I just want to say for those who are sticklers to the rules, um, you know, in the future, please don't use tonight as an example of calling us hypocritical for when we actually stick to the to the letter of our rules.

Um tonight, we kind of did more of a kind of following the intent of the rules as things kind of got a little wonky, and people were making some comments about uh agenda items and all that, but you know, letting that that go.

So just note that for the future, please.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Alderman.

Alderman Blunk.

I too want to thank everyone for coming tonight.

Uh I represent the fifth floor, and I want to thank the people who called me or emailed me the last few days, and I'm I'm pretty sure they're all happy tonight.

They were all in support of what we did tonight.

And I thank you.

And uh, I know we have a lot of work to do, but I think we're off to a nice start.

All right, thank you.

Alder Woman Burkholder.

I want to thank everyone for coming.

Um hearing everybody's voice is um very humbling.

Um, thank you, Lexi, for the jazz hands.

Um that's fabulous.

Anyway, thank you for everybody that came out.

All right, thank you.

Uh Alderman Holloway.

Thank you again for your participation.

This is true democracy in action.

And I um I'm humbled as well to see everyone out.

We as a council, I I would work with my colleagues for us to come up with a plan to keep us safe.

And this it's going to take some time, it's gonna take some hard conversations, but I am also a big believer in the constitution, a big believer in following the law, and we will do our best to make sure that all the people who we serve are protected to the best of our ability.

Thank you.

Uh Alderman Ardunn.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I just want to take a moment to thank Alder Woman Newton and and our staff.

I don't think people realize that you know this bill came out late last week.

And she was on the phone most of the weekend in here.

We were in here.

She was in here Monday morning working with staff to get this done.

So I just want to say thank you for all your hard work on this.

Thank you.

And I guess just last um, yes, Jeff's hands.

Um as soon as I found out about this bill as well over the weekend, I immediately went.

I you know, I used to work for our chamber of commerce and was the public affairs guy, so I was in Des Moines and Springfield a lot, advocating for various pieces of legislation.

So my head immediately went to uh who who's running this bill and who can I talk to get an idea of what's gonna happen with this bill.

And of course, Representative Vondren is the chair of public safety in the House of Represent or the House in the General Assembly, and so I had multiple conversations with him uh on Sunday and into Monday, and um he he did say this bill is not leaving his committee, it's not going to go anywhere, uh which is encouraging, obviously, from a legislative perspective, but I do think it was also a testament to this council and to staff uh Scott Van de Woostein runs our government affairs and did a great job, but uh to you know, in a very quick period of time to just make sure we're on record.

I don't think this piece of legislation is going anywhere, but uh it also matters that we um I think be um make a statement about it, uh, regardless of the fact that it's maybe not likely to see the light of day.

So again, thanks for everyone that showed up tonight.

Thanks for the camaraderie uh and kind of the understanding of the rules and and um 99% of the time following those rules.

We we really appreciate it.

And hopefully, you know, moving forward when we have tough topics like that, uh there'll there will be more that come forward, whether they're local issues or some of these more challenging issues at a net national level.

I hope tonight might be a model of what those meetings can look like.

So appreciate everyone's participation, and I think with that I can entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All right, we're adjourned.