I would like to call the city council meeting for Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 to order.

And we'll let my colleagues sit down.

Thank you.

And then we'll have we will have our moment of silence.

So a moment of silence, please, before we get started.

All right, thank you.

Please rise as Alderman Holloway Holloway will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Under God with liberty and justice for all.

And Brian, would you call the role again, please?

Holloway, President Lean, Rosen, Griff, here.

Newton, here, Blunk, here.

T Dunn.

Here, Job Dun here.

And Burkula.

Here.

And presenting owner.

All right, thank you, Brian.

Well, and good evening and welcome to everyone to tonight's city council meeting.

Um, for those of you here in the audience or watching um online or on a mobile device, we appreciate appreciate your participation local governments.

We value your comments and opinions, and please remember that when you do address counsel, you all 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.

Uh and again, we appreciate your engagement in city government and ask that your participation reflects our shared goal of making Davenport an even better place for everyone who lives here, works here, recreates here, whatever reason they're in our city.

Thank you for being part of tonight's meeting.

Uh before we can just again a few housekeeper reminders, silence any devices that would make a noise so they don't disrupt the meeting or any of our um equipment.

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

Uh and when speaking, please come to the podium, wait to be recognized by the mayor and address the city council as a whole and not to any one particular individual, and you will have five minutes to make those remarks.

Uh thank you.

Would an alder uh person move approval of the city council meeting minutes for March 11th, 2026?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign?

All right, that is item is approved.

I am going to um exercise a little privilege of the council, if I may.

So um we have uh a couple of updates this evening, uh, but we also have two proclamations and two students we're going to recognize.

So uh I'd like to move them up in the agenda so that we can do those proclamations, recognize you, and if you want to lead, you can.

If you want to stay and watch your city government in action, please do.

Uh but it is a nice day outside, so I don't want to take that away from anyone.

So uh we have to suspend our rules and reorder our agenda to do that.

So I would entertain a motion to suspend our rules.

Um I think I'd probably do that first, right?

So move.

So motion, second.

Uh is that a voice vote or a roll call?

Roll call to suspend the rules.

Bathka?

Yes.

Tunnel?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

R Dunn?

Yes.

Newton, yes.

Blunt?

Yes.

Job Jen?

Yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

Lean in and Griff.

Yes.

And your honor.

All right.

Now that our um rules are suspended, I would make a motion to move the two proclamations and the two student recognition up right before the city administrative update on our agenda.

So moved.

Second.

All right, we'll do another roll call, I believe.

Sorry, Job Jen?

Yes.

Blung?

Yes.

Lenin?

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Newton.

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Burkholder.

Yes.

Basketh?

Yes.

Yes.

And R Dunn.

Yes.

And yes, is your honor?

All right.

So we've reorganized our agenda just slightly.

So I will go to what is item number B on page three, I think.

We have two proclamations.

So the first one's going to be read by Alderman Blank, and it's for child abuse prevention.

So I'll turn it over to you, Alden Blunk.

Whereas Davenport's youth are one of our community's greatest assets, and ensuring that every child is raised in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment is a shared obligation.

And whereas child abuse can be prevented, and it is vital that we as a community support parents and caregivers, as research shows that those who have support from family, friends, neighbors, and their communities are more likely to provide safe and healthy homes free of abuse and neglect.

And whereas too many of our nation's children are exposed to extreme and sustained stress, such as child abuse and neglect, which can be devastating to a child's development.

And whereas too many of our nation's children are exposed to extreme and sustained stress, such as child abuse and neglect, which can be devastating to a child's development, and whereas we lay the foundation for children's later growth and development when the entire community takes responsibility for creating healthy environments in which to raise our children, and whereas the children in our community who have fallen victim to maltreatment deserve high quality, evidence-based services delivered by committed and well-supported professionals, and whereas child abuse prevention programs succeed because of community partnerships created among families, social service agencies, schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies, faith-based organizations, and other child serving agencies.

And now, therefore, we, Jason Gordon, mayor of the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim March 29th through April 4th, 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Week in Davenport, and call upon all citizens, businesses, and social institutions to support our community's children by helping to ensure they grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing environments where their physical, emotional, and developmental needs are met.

Dated this 25th day of March 2026.

Proclaiming this child abuse prevention week.

I move the proclamation.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All right, that proclamation is approved.

I think Alderman Block will meet the appropriate person at the diocese.

Yeah, that would be uh Jeff Slavora.

On matter on behalf of every child, formerly the child abuse council.

Gio will tell you where to stand.

All right, right there's your perfect.

Ready?

Three.

A little bit to say about our agency.

I'm Jessica Vera Matter.

As I was introduced, I'm the director of the All Archids Network at Every Child.

And the mission of every child, as said in the proclamation, is to lead community effort to eliminate child disease and neglect by strengthening children and families through treatment, education, and prevention.

So we do this through our programs that range from therapy for young children who have experienced trauma, doula, and home visiting services to offer caregiver support and education to working with our judicial system with our child protection center and our court-appointed special advocate volunteer program and to provide community education, training, and collaboration with our families, our schools, and our local agencies.

We believe that this holistic approach gives us the best opportunity for every child in our community to have the safe and nurturing childhood they deserve.

We would like to thank the Quad City community for over 45 years of support of our agency and for the city of Davenport for raising awareness through their proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Week.

If you would like to learn more about Every Child and about our programs or our upcoming events for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and how you can support our mission if you feel drawn to it, please check out our website at WWW for every child.org.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for being here to accept that proclamation.

Our second proclamation will be read by Alderman Leenan, and it's in celebration of National Community Development Week.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

The proclamation states whereas the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented the community development block grant or C D BG program in 1974 to allocate annual funding and flexibility to local communities to provide safe and affordable housing as well as suitable living environments and economic opportunities to working families, and whereas the home investment partnership home program implemented in 1990 also provides funding to local communities to create safe affordable housing opportunities and whereas the City of Davenport recognizes that the CDBG and the home funded programs and projects are successful because of the partnerships and collaboration with residents, businesses, and compute community organizations, and whereas over the past five years, our community has received more than nine million in CDBG funds and four million in home funds, supporting a variety of projects and initiatives such as rental and down payment assistance, infrastructure improvements, and housing rehabilitation directly benefiting our citizens and neighborhoods, and now therefore we Jason Gordon, Mayor, and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim April 6th through the 10th, 2026 as National Community Development Week in Davenport supporting these two valuable programs that have made tremendous contributions to the vitality.

And now therefore, we Jason Gordon, Mayor, and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim April 6th through the 10th, 2026 as National Community Development Week in Davenport supporting these two valuable programs that have made tremendous contributions to the vitality, viability of our housing stock, public services, and overall economic vitality.

Dated this 25th day of March 2026, signed by Jason Gordon, Mayor Davenport, and Brian Krupp, Deputy City Clerk, and I'm going to present it now to Bruce Berger, Director of Community and Economic Development.

Oh, thank you, thank you.

Oh, yeah.

I move this to the proclamation.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

The proclamation is approved.

Thank you.

This is my first one.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um on behalf of all the agencies and all the people that implement CBG programs and across the country.

This is going on this week, uh, the week of uh first week of April.

Um we appreciate it.

It means I mean there's thousands of families, thousands of households over the years.

Um we use it for housing rehab and all kinds of activities that and economic development.

So it's really it's really important, and I would just quick sidebar note, but on on elsewhere on your agenda, you have I think it's seven or eight new appointees where you're reappointing and appointing the citizens advisory committee.

So that's the group that actually reviews the C D G part of those funds.

So it's it's a great role that they serve to.

So thank you very much.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, Bruce.

All right, now we have a couple of exciting presentations to recognize some outstanding youth in our community that excelled recently at the uh state championship wrestling tournament.

So the first, I'm gonna read both of these kind of bios and their um their successes, and then we'll meet them up at the podium if the coaches are here.

I now understand for the boys, Lieutenant Sonny Alvarez is the coach.

If he's here and wants to meet us at the podium, he can, and then for the girls, Coach Barlo McGee, if she is here also.

You can we'd love to have you be uh part.

Thank you.

My apologies.

Um like to have you be a part of uh those photos when we get to that.

So, first is Maximus Purdy.

He's a sophomore assumption high school.

He was the 2025 class 2A 175 pound fourth place state finisher during the 2025-26 season, he compiled an impressive 35 and three record with 29 victories by fall or technical fall.

Maximus capped off this remarkable season by becoming the 2026 class two-way 190-pound state champion.

Uh, in addition to his high school successes, Maximus also achieved national recognition in 2025 as the USA Wrestling Folk Style National 16 and under 175 pound champion, and the USA Wrestling uh Brian Keck Memorial uh preseason nationals ninth through 10th grade 190 pound champion.

So that's Maximus.

The whole year applause, and we'll uh read a little bit about Greta.

Greta Bruce is a senior at Assumption High School.

She was a 2023 state qualifier and 2024 state runner up.

During the 2025-2026 season, Greta achieved an incredible 44 and O record, including 42 wins by fall or technical fall.

And the other two matches were victories by 10 points.

Greta capped off her remarkable high school career with a hundred and seventeen and nine overall record and earned the title of 2026 Class 1A 155 pound state champion.

In addition to her high school success, Greta also achieved national recognition in 2025 as the USA Wrestling Folk Style Nationals 145 pound fourth place finisher, the USA Wrestling High School Showcase 140 pound third place finisher, and the USA Wrestling Marine Corps National 145 pound third place finisher, and is among the top 10 in national rankings for high school 145 pound wrestlers.

In addition, she was one of three finalists for the Miss Dan Gable Wrestler of the Year Award in the Class 1A uh designation.

Uh Greta does plan to continue wrestling in college, uh which doesn't surprise me.

And I will now meet Maximus and Greta and if coaches want to come up to you, we'll meet at the podium and give you these recognitions.

Congratulations.

You're probably born with us a lot.

My apologies.

So let's uh tell Gio where you want to stand here.

Just like this.

Okay.

All right, ready?

One, two, three.

All right.

Another round of the block in the back.

I'll shake my hand again.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Now we are back on our agenda in the original location, which leads us to a city administrator update.

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

Second cycle, so we have a CFO report that will be after a FOIA presentation by our city clerk.

This is an opportunity for us to tell our story that we've talked about, and uh are taking uh advantage of uh this space on the agenda to uh do that.

Uh FOIA's freedom of information acts are something that uh a lot of people have had questions about, uh, want to understand, uh, want to see uh, you know, and I don't say this in a negative way, but the impacts there are to uh cities, and I'm going to start and uh finish this uh you know, I guess comment after uh our city clerk uh Brian Krupp uh makes his presentation.

You know that the transparency on uh government documents uh is critical, and that's something that we support and believe in uh 100%.

Uh but this is also an opportunity for us to tell our story and uh share something that seems to be uh a little bit of a uh uh you know, a little bit of something uh fumbling over my words, and I apologize for that, but just something that truly is not understood uh that much, but you hear a lot about is what I was trying to say.

Apologize for that.

Brian, I'm gonna turn it over to you.

Thank you, Tim, and thank you, uh Mayor and Council.

Um, this is something that uh affects my work day every day.

So I kind of wanted to give you guys an overview of open records law and then kind of touch base on how we process FOIA requests or um open records.

I'm gonna use those interchangeably, um, as well as some updates we made to our administrative policy covering um examination and copying of records.

So, as the newly elected officials know and the returning ones, um, what is a public record?

I know the newly electeds recently took the IPIP training, um, and the ones who have been on council are encouraged to take it as well.

But a public record is uh a public record request is a request, a formal request from a member of the public to access government records.

In Iowa, this falls under Chapter 22 Open Records, which guarantees the public rights to examine and copy most records held by government bodies.

Anyone can make a request, and the law does not require the requester to provide a reason, and we cannot ask for a reason.

Uh transparency is the default, as Tim mentioned.

Um that's something that we believe in.

Um what counts as a public record?

I mean, basically anything held, created, or used in city business.

Um, that's emails and text messages, that's agendas, um, minutes, memos, budgets, contracts, payroll records, and so much more.

Could be here all day if I named everything.

So a lot of these records though are publicly available on the website.

All of the agendas are published on the website, including the minutes, our recorded meetings are out there.

Um we also have a building permit inquiry system.

People can go check an address and see what permits have been issued for that property.

There are exemptions to chapter 22 confidential records.

Um those include personal personably personally identifiable information.

That's going to be social security numbers, medical records, um, email addresses, stuff like that.

Uh most stuff in a personnel file is confidential.

There are certain things that we can release, basic employment information, which is going to be dates of employment, the employer, educational institutions, and degrees earned, and then that's about it.

Also, if the individual resigned in lieu of termination, and then attorney client communications, those are also confidential, security related and critical infrastructure information.

There is a whole list in 22.7 of confidential records.

These are just a few examples.

No council members or the mayor have access to the system.

We have an online portal called just FOIA.

The requester just submits it through that.

It comes to me, a confirmation of is sent to them once I receive it.

It's assigned to the appropriate departments to provide responsive records.

We have the main departments are within that system, and then there's certain people assigned to that department.

And then a completion email is sent on how to retrieve their records after it's completed.

They have a special number that they're assigned as well as a security key.

And I will note that the police department has their own form for requests.

So for purposes of this presentation, I'm mostly going to focus on the ones that come through city administration.

I will mention a few things about TD though.

So there's two kinds of requests that we receive in my mind.

Examples of routine requests are I'd like a list of building permits issued for the month of October or the month of April.

Open or active code violations for specific property, copies of CO COs, which are certificates of occupancy, phase one environmental site assessments.

We get these quite a bit.

Usually when it comes to like a real estate transaction, they're looking at prior uses of a property to see if it was a like a gas station or a laundromat to see if there were any maybe hazardous chemicals that might have been on the property.

Those come through routinely, and those are as I said, very routine and don't take much time to process.

Then we have what I call what we refer to as resource demanding requests.

So one was provide all emails and text messages that is sent, received by him.

I didn't list, but it was a manager-level employee for the last 16 months of his employment.

I will note that the email search resulted in 4,000 emails.

We have to go through every single email.

While an email search seems straightforward, we have to uh abide by the law of chapter 22, and we cannot release confidential information.

So that's why every email, every record has to be reviewed.

Another one we got was any and all communications for a specific elected official from January 1, 2021 to present.

This was submitted mid-2025, so we're talking four and a half years worth of emails that resulted in 80,300 emails that came back.

We did receive a few requests for that.

And while that might sound routine, as staff looked into this, um we determined that this report originated in 2006, so that's two decades ago, and was filed at the Scott County Courthouse.

Um so we have no way of knowing if the city was ever in possession of that record.

Um I mean, that was 20 years ago.

Both the people who are in the departments that would have possibly had that are no longer here, and so we did make every reasonable attempt to locate that record.

We were unable to, and also we believe that the um retention period for that had expired already.

So this is just an overview of the last um six calendar years, the number of requests that we've received.

Um you can read those for yourself if you'd like.

Um, the trend is going up.

Um, however, last year it did go down a little bit.

I did note the police department last year received 263 requests, but it should be noted that they have when fully staffed 11 people who process their requests.

Right now they have 10 employees.

And then this year so far, as of 5 p.m.

today, I have received 175 requests.

We're not even through March yet.

And PD has received 694.

This leads into the updates to the administrative policy 5.1, which covers examination and copying of public records.

I'm just going to highlight some of the key updates.

And that's not a proper means to submit a FOIA request.

So Iowa code section 22.3 allows a municipality to assess actual costs for producing a record.

Regarding staff time, we do not bill for anything less than 30 minutes.

So the update also clarifies that this is applied per designee assigned to a request.

So if there is four departments assigned a request to provide records, that's 30 minutes for each department that they will get without having to pay for us to compile those records.

Number three, completion of requests.

So this adds language to the admin policy that once a request is complete, there will be no further communication through just FOIA about the request.

Just FOIA is not a means to communicate back and forth.

That is a means to request records and for us to provide records.

A municipality's duty is to provide records, and we are under no legal obligation to continue communicating with the requester once that request is complete.

They have means they can send an email to staff, they can reach out to staff.

I know staff is very willing to answer questions if they have them.

I think the attorneys in the room will know what an interrogatory is.

Recently we had a request that was completed with all responsive documents, and then a follow-up email was sent claiming that it was incomplete.

I actually provided a response and said that it was complete, that there was no records pertaining to something else, and then we continued to receive more follow-up emails.

And then for retention of public records requests.

So right now our system is holding almost seven years' worth of requests, and per our agreement with just FOIA, we only have so much space in the cloud, I guess you would say.

So this adds a retention period for that of two years, and the state doesn't provide any guidance to municipalities on how long they should keep a record of FOIA requests because essentially you're providing records already that have a retention period.

So we're just providing a copy of those records, and staff should be following the retention period for the corresponding documents.

That is good.

I have a woman new.

Can you go back a couple slides where you have the numbers of requests and more?

There we go.

Okay.

So let's say uh 2025 is complete and there was 547 requests.

Was that 547 requesters?

So that is how many requests came in.

I should have mentioned that we receive requests that aren't meant for us.

Um I actually get some for Damborg, Florida.

And I actually have to go in and physically like touch every single request though.

They have to all be processed.

That is not 547 like unique requesters.

That's just how many requests came in.

And do we have the data on how many going back for let's say 2025, how many requesters were involved?

I don't have it handy, but I can I can get it.

I would be curious to know what what that data is.

Um obviously the requests are coming from the broad public or if it's just a few individuals making requests.

Um similarly, with each request, do we have we I just want for clarification when you say 547 requests, is there requests for like the example you showed before, like all emails from this person from this period, or is there more within a single request?

So I I want to understand what you consider a request.

So I mean that's a good point.

I would consider a request.

I mean it could include six parts to the request, but the system numbers them just singly, right?

So PRR1 could have five different things they're looking for, but it to me that's one request.

We go back a slide where you showed me that.

I want to make sure I understand it.

Okay.

So arguably if that was all in one, that would be considered one request and you're counting it as one of the 547.

Yes.

Although then it there's you're telling me there's 4,000 emails and 80,000 on another one.

Is that correct?

Yep.

Okay.

And I mean those top two, I'll be honest, were just part of a request.

This is that was just part of a request.

They were also asking for other records in that request.

But that's counted as one of the 547.

That's correct, yeah.

Okay.

Um are we tracking the time it takes to fulfill these requests by each and every department in totality?

Um that is something that we are going to start really sticking to.

Um I mean, I I can give you an estimate of how much time I've spent.

Okay.

I think as elected, that's something that we would want added.

Um, especially, and are we charging for all of this?

That is something that now that we are updating that um fee schedule is I think something that we're really going to start providing estimates.

That's another thing we have to do.

We have to provide an estimate before we can actually start the work.

We can't do all the work and then surprise them at the end and say, hey, here's your bill.

So that's something that with this uh updated policy.

I'm going to talk to our main um designees or um custodians in the system and let them know like you please provide me an estimate before you begin working.

That's been an issue in the past.

People will do the three hours of work and then they won't tell me till the end.

Okay.

Well, I mean, I think I I don't know about you, but one can speculate it's gonna take a long time to go through 4,000 emails, for example.

So obviously that's a lot.

So and it's taking up staff time, so I would want to know about that.

Um is our legal department involved in the review of these types of requests, especially when it comes to attorney client privilege.

Um, so I'll let Sam chime in.

Um, but so yeah, I'll so um the legal department gets involved uh with these only when their requests for records that are in our office, right?

So if you're requesting invoices for attorney bills or agreements uh that I may haven't executed with outside council, things like that, we get involved there.

Uh we but the code actually restricts lawyer uh usage to um two types of of things, right?

Review for confidentiality, uh which includes uh even though it attorney client privilege is different than confidentiality designation, that's the same, they're considered the same.

Um for redaction.

So when documents need to be redacted, uh I would say generally though what we try to do uh Brian in my office is when redactions need to be made, if they're not for attorney client privilege, if they're for PII or something that's easily identifiable, um Brian actually does those redactions and and that actually keeps costs down because you know our our former policy and now our current policy, uh Brian's rate is is much lower in some respects than you know me spending six hours or one of my attorneys in my office spending six hours.

So we try to make sure that when we're doing the work we're doing it efficiently and and keeping costs down where we can.

Um but those are really the two main areas, and then any time a fulfiller has a question about hey, I've got this record, I really don't know.

Is there an exception to this?

I have a question, I think it's maybe confidential.

We will weigh in that time is usually not billed.

That is just a consultation, right?

They they'll come, they'll ask, hey, is there provision is this a public record or not?

Uh a lot of times this comes up with HR files, right?

There's a you know that's there's highly sensitive information in there, so consulting on those uh usually is the line share where we do that consulting.

But again, land records or community development records are another place where proprietary information from a corporation may be involved, things like that.

Uh we work uh we work to consult on those.

So that's that's where legal tends to be involved.

Well, I like definitely want follow up on what those breakdowns are.

I think at least for let's say 24 and and 25.

And that's just unique requesters, right?

Like the number of yeah, absolutely.

And I I would want that, and it can be presented at another meeting, obviously keeping in line with transparency so my constituents know what's going on.

I want to make sure that information is provided, and in my opinion, time should always be tracked.

I mean, if the council thinks otherwise, I mean they can certainly say that, but obviously when you're telling me some of these are 4,000 or 80,000, that's significant, and I think we should be tracking that.

Thank you, absolutely.

Thank you.

Alderman Dunn.

I'm just curious how much of your time is spent on four years.

Um, I will say at least since the week before Christmas, 75% of my time.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else from council on this topic?

I just had a with regard to the new or updated um kind of fee processing um system, if you want to call it a system.

So will we be like particularly for those that we know are going to be time sucks, right?

In terms of the amount of time and the number of people.

Are we gonna be or maybe we're doing it now?

Are we providing sort of rough estimates in advance?

Yes.

Yep.

We're doing an hour, we're gonna start doing that.

We we do it now.

Okay.

Um I think playing catch-up, we haven't been, but um, I think going forward with this new um policy, we will be more um apt to do it.

I think so.

I think some of the challenges here just for council's awareness, and I'll use uh maybe the number three bullet here is a good example.

Um as Brian said, that's that document could be 20 years old, right?

Um first we ask around does anybody know anything about this document?

When that all comes back, no, okay.

Where could this document be?

Which departments could it live in, right?

So you see that just for this request, trying to estimate the time it's gonna take here when it's a shot in the dark can be difficult, right?

So staff may spend 30 minutes an hour to even try and put the estimate together, and sometimes that has been the problem to of why people just or why staff have you know just gone ahead and done the work, right?

Sometimes it's the estimate you don't really know how to give an estimate because you don't know what getting into until you're in it.

Um but we've been working on hey, use that 30 minutes of of I tentatively call it a grace period, see what you can go through and then estimate from there, right?

Um that's that's that's kind of what we try and do.

We also want to be cost conscious, right?

Like the the point of the fee is to recoup costs, it's not to be a barrier for records.

Um so we try to always estimate it on the conservative side, right?

Um, but we also don't want to under underquote either, right?

I mean, nobody wants to receive a quote, and then hey, it just doubled when you try and actually get the record.

So we try to be conservative but also realistic, and uh especially on the larger requests.

Okay.

I guess additionally, uh mayor and council, um the policy that was in place, it was several years old.

So this is not unique to uh our open records policy.

A number of our policies need to be reviewed and updated.

This one has been uh again, truly uh taking the opportunity here when we're talking about FOIA again, it's uh it's a topic that's misunderstood, or maybe uh people want to understand a little bit better.

So took this opportunity to tell our story.

But if we go down the path, and that was not the intention of this, or if we go down the path of uh abuses, this is a delicate conversation that many state capitals are dealing with and trying to give their local municipalities direction where they there is a strong belief, you know, as there should be in transparency of government documents, but at the same time, maybe you can't describe it, but you know abuse when you see it, and and you do have those common people that might be uh you know the one or two or the half dozen in a community.

And and you do have those common people that might be uh, you know, the one or two or the half dozen in a community.

So it's an issue that's not unique to Davenport, it's not unique to the state, you know, all the communities in Iowa.

This is playing out across the uh United States.

Very much a topic for clerks, for the attorneys, and also for the uh city manager uh professions out there.

Brian did an excellent job.

This was uh a couple of months in the works, and uh to your point, Alderwoman uh Newton about tracking time.

That's exactly what we're doing on this topic and others, because while the police department has 10 or 11 when they're fully staffed, I'm gonna I'm gonna actually estimate that his time over the last couple of months or the time that I've been here is is over 75 percent.

A lot of early mornings, a lot of late nights.

And if I'm gonna come before council and say I need additional staff to support this effort, which I need to have numbers.

I need to be on firm ground as I'm asking for more potentially, and I think that day is coming.

But thank you.

Uh Alderman Lehman.

I'll go to you Alderman.

Coming from the construction world, rather than giving a quote, can you do it not to exceed amount?

It's going to cost you X amount of dollars per hour.

And tell me what you want to go to, and when we get there, we'll call you and see if you want to dig any deeper or not.

So the spending an hour on a quote.

So what makes that difficult is um the code lays out, and then the ILAN uh public information board is also giving guidance on this, right?

So the the code actually states you can't charge for anything that's you can't charge for anything that's not an actual cost, right?

Right.

So I can't just put a flat fee on something saying, hey, every email is gonna cost you three cents.

I can't do that.

I have to actually do what attorneys do.

And so I know I understand what you're saying with not to exceed amount.

They talk a man hours, though.

I'm not talking per email, I'm talking, hey, an hour costs you this.

So we we already put out in our policy how much well our updated policy is is basically the rack rate of having an employee.

So uh Brian's salary divided by an hour.

That's that's what you get.

Okay.

Um, if it's some and and so that's kind of how we do it.

Not to exceed can be done, but um the other part is the reason we like the quote, and and this is what's IPIV is given as guidance, is a deposit, having the individual put a deposit down before the work begins because what they have found is that requests are made, quotes are given, work's done, and now at the end of the road, the work's done, ready to be delivered, and there's no payment of the quoted amount.

And then the only recourse that's been given is not to provide the records.

And so the quote is trying to help that process of um having understanding and helping the requester understand, okay.

I asked for three years, maybe I just want to start with two months and go from there and see what two months gives me.

And so that's what they're that that that's really kind of how IP's tried to uh guide cities and requesters in in that process, is help give them a quote and then help them uh answer questions they may have on scoping, right?

Like, hey, you know, this estimate is coming up with 80,000 documents, maybe if you restricted it to a month, it's down to you know, 500 or something of that nature.

So uh I I like the idea, I'll explore that, and I can even ask a question with iPivis to how that could function.

Um it's I don't think it's outside the realm, we just have to be careful of like actual cost and how that's done.

Has the updated feast given deposit been made available or motiving made available to the public?

It is went into effect today, it will be made, it is made available to the public on the city's website.

It's city admin policy 5.1.

Yes, uh, and it is there.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions from council?

I I have one.

I know it went back six years, this start of the decade.

Do we have anything prior to that?

Like the previous four years here.

Well, did that take a lot of time to so before we um switched to just FOIA, it was a form that came in through the website.

That form was PDF'd, it was saved out on a share drive, it was emailed out to the departments that were um needed to fulfill that request.

They dumped them into a folder on the share drive, and they were emailed with a very archaic system, and I think once we launched just FOIA, that folder was deleted off the common drive.

previous four years here that take a lot of time to so before we um switched to just FOIA it was a form that came in through the website that form was PDF it was saved out on the share drive it was emailed out to the departments that were um needed to fulfill that request they dumped them into a folder on the share drive and they were emailed with a very archaic system and I think once we launched just FOIA that folder was deleted off the common drive so I don't have access to that anymore all right well yeah the only other just I guess common I have our thought is you know depending on if you're in the public or private sector or what profession you're in you know attorneys engineers architects live in a billable non-buildable world chargeable non-chargeable world right so anything that's non-chargeable is it's work that's important don't get me wrong it's what you have to do right you have to submit your time sheet you've got uh you know all those I guess uh day-to-day type tasks that you aren't actually getting paid to do with you know you're not getting paid by a client to do those things you have to do um you know obviously the chargeable bucket is the more important bucket in that space um because that's how your company is making money I know the government's different than that the government is not in the business of making money but as I think about the work plan that Tim and staff are going to bring to us based on our eight hour um team building uh uh goal setting session from uh a few weeks ago to me I look at that as the chargeable work right I mean for for staff that that's what we're saying uh is our priority if we want you to go execute on so um again we have to follow state law and I think we should go a step above that and be you know maybe take a couple of extra steps to be even more transparent and more responsive uh in in how we handle FOIA um but I think also just being transparent about where these requests are coming from what they're actually asking for uh is I think important for the public to know so that's just my two cents on that.

Um are we are we done on this one everyone okay thank you Brian very much for your presentation uh Tim I think we're going for finance director I do uh and then real quick um I wanted to let the community know that uh tomorrow night there's a uh special meeting uh in these council chambers at five o'clock not five thirty uh this council requested a month ago a uh conversation with the uh Humane Society of Scott County and uh that uh meeting is going to be again tomorrow here at five o'clock next item and the last item mayor uh CFO finance update uh again going back a couple of months ago ahead uh a couple of months ago we started this uh truly has been well received uh Asha Gerlock our uh CO does an amazing job I'm hearing quite a few comments uh out in the community about uh the appreciation about how transparent we are as stewards of the taxpayer dollars uh we had uh budget workshops related to the FY27 budget a lot of information was put out and then monthly uh in the uh second cycle we're talking at a high level if council wants to drill down a little bit deeper but at the very least at a high level every single month we're gonna talk about how we're trending with revenues expenses and then if there's other topics uh that'll be adding and this has been well received so thank you.

Good evening Flash underlack CFO um here to present the 2026 CFO finance update as of February 28 2026.

So the first slide um that we have um outlines our major revenues that we have um and property taxes are at the top of that revenue line and um right now we are in line with expectations um the difference between budget and the actual is less than one percent that variance across all funds is about 464 thousand dollars so on a um pretty large budget that's not very um significant and it's within tolerance um of the budget local option sales tax road use tax and hotel motel tax revenues continue continue to outperform um the budgeted numbers and between those three sources of revenues we are about four million we have collected about four million dollars more than what we have anticipated so far um once again we can talk about interest allocation interest continues to outperform however so far we only have allocated two quarters worth of interest and um the third quarter is going to be allocated at the beginning of next month but that online item continues to outperform budget as well um speed camera fines and business property tax credits are in line with expectations and there are several smaller um revenue lines that are not within the variance of budget and and those would be developing fees have a small variance of um four percent building permits are down close to eight percent when compared to budget um and we're hoping with warmer weather some of um the building permits will pick up and they will rebound cable TV franchise tax is lower to anticipate about 43 percent um and this is due to as um to households going to streaming I know probably a lot of you went to streaming in the way from cable so um the expectation is that um that particular revenue line item will continue to go downward and we're just gonna have to um realign that budget line item

And we're hoping with warmer weather, some of the building permits will pick up and they will rebound.

Cable TV franchise tax is lowered anticipated about 43%.

And this is due to as due to households going to streaming.

I know probably a lot of you went to streaming and away from cable.

So the expectation is that that particular revenue line item will continue to go downward, and we're just gonna have to um realign that budget line item.

Um gambling profit revenues have a small variance of about three thousand dollars for for the fiscal year, so that's not very significant overall.

The year to date actual major revenue collected versus year to date revenues budgeted, have a positive variance of about $8.7 million.

So I think this shows our conservative budgeting when it comes to revenues.

Okay, next slide.

Um, this slide depicts shows the general fund revenues, and they are shown by type.

Um the expected level of collection so far for the year should be about 67%, so that's about eight months out of the year out of the 12 months.

Um taxes are a major source of revenue for the general fund.

So far, we have collected 54% of taxes.

Um, the majority of property taxes are remitted from the county to the city in October and April.

So this particular lever revenue line items should stabilize when we receive the allocation in April.

Um, the rest of the revenue totals are in line with expectations, and once again the use of money and property continues to outperform, and that is where our interest revenue is recorded.

Okay.

Next, we have the general fund and trust and agency expenses.

Um on this slide, we should be done with about 67% of the year.

The general fund has a total expenditures of about 64.4%, so we were lower than expected.

Once again, that just shows our conservative budgeting.

Um we continue to talk about conservative budgeting, and that is budgeting 100% of salaries and not budgeting for vacancies that we have throughout the year.

Um then also the trust and agency fund has spent about 65.3 percent of its um of its budget, and once again that's in line with the estimated 67 percent.

Um the line items that are high on both funds are the inner departmental expenditures, and that is to one-time allocations of workmen's comp charges to each fund at the beginning of the year in July.

Okay.

Next, we have enterprise funds, enterprise funds are classified by their business type activities, and our charge fees to recoup operational costs.

So we'll go through kind of line by line of each fund.

The sewer water pollution control plant, clean water airport, and golf funds are what we call operationally self-sustaining, meaning they cover their operational costs with the revenues that they collect.

Um, solid waste shows a loss on this particular slide.

However, it's also self-sustaining, um, it's showing a loss due to the timing of revenues.

Um, so we're about two months back when it comes to accrual accounting and um accruing that revenue back.

But um, by the end of the year, we will show a gain on that particular fund.

Parking fund is showing an operational loss of about $30,000.

However, the good um that loss has decreased by about $14,000 from the same time in fiscal year 2025.

So we're trending in the right direction in that particular fund.

Our transit fund also shows a loss, however, we are expecting a million dollars and grant revenues to be received here in the next couple days, as well as about 1.8 million dollars in property tax revenues.

So that should that variance that loss of 1.7 million dollars should be significantly less.

Um the River Center Fund shows a loss of about 1.1 million dollars.

We continue to work with our management company venue works in order to make operational changes and hopefully lower that subsidy of what we had to do last year.

So we continue to work with venue works to minimize that loss.

The Rivers Edge Fund is showing some promise as well.

When compared with we are comparing revenues to the same time last year to this year, we had an additional 40,000 in revenue this year.

So it's showing some promise.

But at the end of the year, it's very likely they will also have an additional subsidy from another funding source.

Okay.

Next, I like to review our bond ratings.

As the mayor mentioned, um, I believe it was last week.

Um staff and elected officials met with the rating agencies, Moody's as well as SNP Global earlier this month, and both end agencies reaffirmed the city's bond rating, and SB Global reaffirmed a double A rating and Moody's reaffirmed a 082 rating.

Um both agencies assigned a stable outlook to the city's bond rating.

Um SB Global noted that the venture management framework remains credit strength, um, and they believe the city's budgeting practices result in positive outcomes.

So they really like our conservative budgeting practices.

Um they continue to rave about that.

Um they also highlighted the city's active economic development efforts as a strength, allowing for robust employment as well as a um as well as a tax-based growth.

So and then Moody's highlighted the city's strong financial management and also recognize the city city's efforts and transparency.

So transparency is extremely important to the rating agencies.

Um, and we're actually really pleased with the city's introduction of the monthly CFO finance update.

So any questions from anyone?

Council?

All that we go to?

Thank you.

Um maybe I guess statement as well, but um back to the enterprise funds.

I guess this is a question, and I've asked this of our city administrator for the River Center and the River's Edge.

Are we able ever able to go out and get like a global sponsorship?

So, like in Cedar Rapids is the old five five seasons, it's now what um whatever powerhouse can we have the utility.

Can we have the IMAG Adler Theater or the I'm just throwing these out being just something of that?

Is that something that is legal?

And if so, are there ways in which we can look for those opportunities to maybe bridge those deficits?

That's an internal conversation as we speak.

And uh look to uh find a way very soon, and it'll be uh a conversation with council.

Love the idea.

Anyone else from council?

I don't have a question.

I'm just I hope I'm gonna say what a lot of people are thinking.

I appreciate everything you do, and I appreciate these monthly reports, but I there's no way I'm gonna see it from here.

So and I know we're in between audio visual, but in the future, if we could see better than that uh that'd be awesome.

Thank you.

They used to have them on the monitors now.

We don't I know we're in between, but I appreciate everything you do.

Thank you.

You put a lot of work into it.

I appreciate that.

I think just to piggybang on that, I assume we put this up on our website.

But let's put that up.

Okay, yeah, for that reason.

I'll go on the new.

Thank you.

Um, just going back to the Moody's and SP slide.

Um, I know Moody's actually made a mention of our efforts around transparency, but actually both companies, just for the public's awareness, um, were very impressed.

Not every city does that.

As a matter of fact, this is a unique thing where a city is putting their financials out there publicly and doing a presentation on it monthly.

So to our CFO, she's doing a great job in keeping our the city in a good financial position, and to our administrator, this was one of the best ideas.

So I think it's it's great, it's a good step in the right direction.

And uh, contrary to what some would like to say, the city is actually in a really good financial position, um, not just based on the ratings, but just in terms of cash flow and where it's uh where it's at, and it's because of its conservative conservative budgeting practices that the city employs and has.

Obviously, that's not the same conversation you would have had about 10 years ago, um, but the city is doing great.

Um, and in talking about finances, I did see some chatter about the bonds that the city is you know looking to take out, and I think what the public doesn't understand is how quickly the city actually pays those.

They just see that and they're like, oh, there's more bonds, and it's you know, doom and whore, but actually no, the city is paying that.

And I don't know if you want to make a quick mention of that.

That was another thing that both Moody's and SP noted at in the presentations of how quickly those are paid off.

We are taking them out and they're getting paid right away.

So that's also something that the city should be very proud of.

That puts us in a good financial position, and if you want to mention something on that.

Um, so typically we um issue bonds, they are 15-year bonds.

Um, we do not issue bonds for any longer than that.

They're only 15-year bonds.

Um, and fiscal year 2025 will issue to about 28 million dollars worth of bonds.

7 million dollars of that is being paid off June 1st.

Um, so that's a large portion of those particular bonds.

Um, and fiscal year 2026, the bond issue that we're going to be selling on April 8th.

Um, we are scheduled to pay off over 10 million dollars of that bond issue in year one, which is June 1st of 2027.

So that's a really accelerated rate that brings that on interest rate over the 15 years that those bonds are issued.

Um, something also to keep in mind.

Um individuals, I would love to fund our capital improvement projects via cash.

I think that's probably what everybody would like to do, issuing bonds is necessary because that is the way that the state law is um is written.

Is that in order to use our debt service levy and in order to use our debt service money, we actually have to issue bonds in order to use those funds.

So I think that's important to keep in mind as well.

Thank you for that for their explanation.

Nothing further, Mayor.

Thank you.

All right, seeing no one else, thank you, Bosh, for that presentation.

Uh back on our agenda.

Well, an older person move approval of the report on the committee of the whole for March 18, 2026.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign.

That report is approved.

Uh we have 20 appointments this evening uh to various commissions.

Um looks like uh four different commissions.

So I will read all the appointments uh and then ask for a motion to approve those.

So starting with the citizens advisory committee, uh, we have that's the most this evening.

So uh first we have Tushar Patel, he's a reappointment by the mayor.

Joseph Obalteen, he's a reappointment by the mayor.

Adela Rasso is a reappointment by the mayor.

Uh and Robert Stone is a new appointment by the mayor.

Michael Gibson is a new appointment by the mayor.

Paula Arnold is a reappointment by Alderman at large grip.

Reagan Johnson is a reappointment by Alderman at Large Newton.

Alder Woman at large Newton, my apologies.

Joyce Miller, new appointment, first ward.

Chad Kiefer reappointment, second ward.

Cheryl Shag uh Shagana is a new appointment, third ward.

Michael Levis is a new appointment, fourth ward.

Andy Rodriguez is a new appointment in the fifth ward.

Dale Gilmore is a reappointment in the sixth ward.

Daniel Westmoreland is a new appointment in the seventh ward, and Jody Walker is a new appointment in the eighth ward.

Under Civil Service Commission, we have one reappointment and one new appointment.

That's Cynthia Lee is a reappointment.

Alexis Ledlig is a new appointment.

On the design and review board, we have one new appointment.

That's Olivia Warren.

On uh, and then last plan and zoning commission, we have two reappointments.

That's Aaron Dunlop, and that's Erica Thomas.

Is there a motion to approve these appointments?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign.

All right, those appointments are approved.

Uh let's see, I've got to skip forward now.

Uh, we're at petitions of communications from council members and mayor.

Is there anyone from council that has any topics?

Alderman Vestors.

Yes.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

I want to extend congratulations to Davenport Central Show choir central singers.

They won the fame national grand championship competition.

It was held in Florida this March 12th through 15th.

Central also won the best vocals, best choreography, best band, and best crew awards.

This is an example of how the children can excel when they're given the dedication and support they need.

And that is a truly prestigious award.

Um great job.

Well done, Central.

Thank you, Alderman Best, because my nephew's part of that group, so I was pretty excited about that.

So I think we should do something for them later today.

So uh anyone else from council?

Uh Alderman Dunn.

Yeah, I just want to let everybody know.

Um I'll be hosting a uh second war meeting on April 2nd, uh right here in Council Chambers from 6 p.m.

to 7 p.m.

And attending will be Tim Gleason, City Administrator, engineering Brian Shad and Capital Improvements, Clay Merritt.

Hall are welcome.

Hope to see you there.

Alderman Blunt.

Uh the next ward meeting I'm gonna have is tomorrow evening.

And it was scheduled prior to the announcement for the joints with the joint system with the Humane Society of Scott County, and it's gonna be held at Celebrities 1600 Harrison Street.

And it's gonna be held at Celebrities at 1600 Harrison Street.

Tomorrow evening from five until six, and among our guests will be Becca Niles from the Parks and Rec department to talk about summer jobs, perhaps.

And then uh Sergeant Andrew Harris is going to be there as well to touch on the Good Neighbor Project.

And I want to thank uh Connie Constance and Lonnie Westerfield for being our host tomorrow night.

So it's gonna be tomorrow evening from five until six at Celebrities on Harrison Street.

Thank you.

Um I'll like to invite everyone to the seventh ward meeting.

It'll be on Monday, April 14th at the fire station number three at 5 30 p.m.

So that's Monday, April 14th at 5 30.

Awesome.

And then I just wanted to thank staff uh for the weekend community egg hunt at Vandevere Park.

Uh I was able to take my grandkids there.

It was a beautiful day, and um uh tons of tons of kids were there.

Um it was a great event.

Uh Sergeant Harris was there, like he's everywhere, and uh of course he was there.

Uh we had uh Pocket or one of our um police dogs, which was a big hit.

So I just want to thank staff for a great event on Saturday.

So seeing and hearing no one else from council.

Uh we don't have any items on our discussion agenda this evening.

Uh is there a motion to approve all items on the consent agenda?

Don't move second.

All right.

Um roll call, please on the consent agenda.

All right, yes.

Burkholder?

Yes.

Newton, yes.

Yes.

R done, yes.

T done, yes, basket, yes.

Clunk, yes.

And jumped in.

Yes.

Yes, in the order.

All right.

We are at uh the public with business this evening.

Is there anyone from the public that wishes to address counsel?

We step forward and fix our name, address, or ward.

Beautifully second ward.

Tell tell me what's working and what isn't here, please.

For microphones.

I'm okay.

Okay.

Um March 7th, 18 days ago, I submitted a complaint to the Council Ethics Board and the entire city council regarding what I believe was a highly inappropriate behavior of an alderman and lack of response from council that occurred during the committee of the whole meeting on March 4th.

I have not received even an acknowledgement of that complaint from the board or from council.

After making remarks fully compliant with the rules of decorum on an agenda item that criticized a city official and requested some specific actions within your party, and alderman, I believe, raised his voice.

He publicly called me a childish name.

He made the mo the paper at a boy.

He was rude and disrespectful and used belligerent body language against a constituent.

No one on council or the mayor did anything to correct this unacceptable behavior, actions, or words.

You were silent.

Neither the mayor nor anyone on council addressed comments made after mine by a member of the public that were totally irrelevant to the agenda item and were intended to publicly criticize me.

Again, you were silent.

I requested the council provide the rationale for the raise for corporation council, but instead, without discussion, council placed it on consent.

Silence.

Cricket.

The next week, I observed an alderman speak rudely loudly and aggressively to our colleague on council about an issue related to my previous comments, with words and behavior that appeared to me to be bullying and mocking of another alderman.

Once again, council and mayor were silent.

In my March 7th complaint, I simply requested that council and the offending aldermen apologize for their public words and behavior against a constituent, exercising her first amendment rights, and in compliance with the rules of decorum.

And for council's lack of response at the time.

Total and thundering silence.

You, the council, are the leaders of this city.

From what I have observed and experienced recently, God help.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else from the public this evening that would wish to address council?

Good evening.

Evening.

Nate Trenneger, fourth ward, I live in the uh Warren and 17th area.

So I know I maybe shared a couple emails with uh Alderman Burkholder about this.

Trust me, I'm not mad at you.

Um, and I know some city staff have been uh copied on this, but I think I'm at about the fourth or fifth rung of escalation, and here I am.

Um so a couple of years ago, a not-for-profit, and I won't name them as I don't want to drag them through the mud here, uh, purchased a duplex immediately behind us across our alley.

Um, they use this, I believe, to house at at-risk individuals who are either victims of domestic violence or otherwise in the process of being evicted.

I think that's a very worthwhile endeavor, and I certainly want that we needed in Davenport in the quad cities.

Uh last year, last summer there were some changes in tenancy at the property.

New tenants were not putting their garbage or otherwise, not putting out the garbage or otherwise, you know, overfilling the bins.

Um, this was August.

I attempted to contact the not-for-profit several times about this, just as a friendly, hey, you know, talk to your tenants, ask them to put the garbage up.

Nothing, not a peep, phone calls, voicemails, nothing.

The only method uh I was ever able to get a response was via mess book uh message on their Facebook page.

Uh this led to them stating that the maintenance folks would be by every week to set the garbage up.

This was in August of last year again.

Since then, there have been countless continued issues with garbage overflowing and the garbage not being set out.

This has included boxes with unbagged garbage, diapers, food waste just sitting out in the alley.

Imagine old 90s CRT big monitor box just sitting out in the alley full of diapers.

This either gets blown around, it gets hit by cars, picked up by animals, you name it, causes it to spread into the alley into our in our neighbor's yard.

So I called neighborhood services.

I was told to submit a request through C click fix, did that several times for several weeks.

Called the city back through the fall and the winter, and as the issue kept repeating itself.

I was told to keep submitting because the city needed to have a certain number of incidents before they could issue a notice or declare a nuisance.

I continued to submit these, even took another stab at contact the not-for-profit this winter, trying to get them to do something about nothing.

I copied Alderman Woman Burkholder, who did follow up with me, uh, who copied neighborhood services and the city administrator on an email to anyone I could find the contact for with the not-for-profit.

This was in February, and until the day when the garbage was picked up on a normal pickup day, guess what?

Overflowing garbage and food waste all over the alley.

I'm sorry to have to bother you with something so trivial.

Um, but I understand for a commercially or privately owned rental home that you go down this path of escalation with reports and nuisances.

But this is a essentially a homeless shelter owned by a not-for-profit.

I would simply ask to that someone in city staff, just think outside the box, take five minutes, pick up the phone call.

Someone who would respond to a contact from the city about this.

Um that's really what I'm asking.

Again, uh sorry to waste your time with something that's so trivial, but I spent all day Saturday with 90, 70, 80 degree weather um picking up garbage.

And frankly, we're just getting a little sick then.

So thank you.

Thank you.

We appreciate your comments.

Is there anyone else from the public this evening?

Uh okay.

Hello, Todd Herk, Downport Native, third board residents.

563 349 0947.

I just want to say that I'm very proud to have you guys as my city council.

Uh I feel like we're in good hands, and I'm looking for positive change for the future.

I feel like for the first time in a long time that I can actually bring things to you guys, and you know, you'll tell me straight up.

There's funding problems, so you can't do everything, but uh, you know, I'm retired now, so I have I don't have to do anything.

I don't have to be here.

Uh so I'm just trying to spread joy and uh help people and uh help make Davenport a better place.

Uh I'm working to start an organization, it's uh it's it's a nonprofit thing.

I don't want anybody to make money except for like I want to pay people to pick up garbage.

We're gonna have a shortage of uh summer jobs in this community.

It's not like it was when we were kids.

Uh like you couldn't corn day tassel and all that stuff.

It's the world's different, and also kids don't want to work like we did.

So I want to get people to pick up garbage and not pay them a whole lot of money, but just do that.

And just do nice things.

I think the city council has to listen to people come up here and moan and cry and just cause trouble for political purposes, really.

And they're backed by national PACs.

I know this because I've I've had to deal with it.

And I am also proud of our assistant city clerk.

And to hear that he has to spend 70, he is a busy man, busy man.

And to hear that he has to spend 75% of his time dealing with uh requests, and I know they're just from a few people that are just causing trouble.

It just bothers me so much.

Several years ago, about 20 years ago, I was picking up uh I was pulling weeds.

It was a hundred degrees outside summer.

I was in my land.

I was pulling weeds out of somebody's uh concrete driveway driveway to help them uh you know, not have to spend so much money to get their property fixed.

And I'm thinking to myself, why am I doing this?

I'm wasting my time.

This person probably wouldn't even care.

And something crashed in my head.

I think it's God, but whatever.

It doesn't, no good deed is a good deed if you expect anything in return, even a thank you.

For so many years, I've been going around this town picking up garbage, uh, removing from public uh city parks, the streams, the neighborhoods, the central city.

Come by the next day, there's garbage there.

You know that's gonna happen.

So I just want to come up here and tell you that I am proud of you, and I am glad to live in my hometown downport Iowa that I love.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else from the public this evening?

Sure.

Hello, how are you doing?

Good evening.

Um, I would like to start with uh my name's Chelsea Plaster.

Um, I'm an independent journalist as well as a resident of the fourth ward.

Um, I just have a few things I would like to say, so just bear with me.

Um for the figgy million in the physical uh mismanagement.

Um it is a matter of public record that million-dollar bequest intended for mute uh municipal infrastructure was diverted to the Figgy Art Museum.

While this council tells fourth ward residents that their alleys will remain in deferred maintenance without a 50 percent without a 50% out-of-pocket ransom, the city has simultaneously failed to provide the line item audit of those missing victor bequest funds.

The public deserves to know why luxury art investments are prioritized over the literal foundation of our neighborhoods.

Um other matter is there have been uh formal admissions from ward leadership that future changes in job positions are imminent due to mounting legal liabilities.

It is clear to the taxpaying public that the city attorney's office has become a financial black hole characterized by a pattern of ignored complaints that result in costly lawsuits.

We are putting this council on notice.

The public will not accept safety levies or property tax increases that are secretly earmarked for severance packages or hush money to clean up administrative incompetence another one, sorry.

The 14th Amendment guarantees that no person shall be deprived of property without due process, without due process law.

Yet this administration continues to issue nuisance labels and infrastructure assessments without providing citizens a meaningful opportunity to be heard or a transparent appeal process that isn't a black hole of silence.

When the city attorney ignores citizen complaints, they aren't just being shrewd, they are being systematically violated, violating the due process rights of Davenport residents.

A city that refuses to answer its people is a city that has abandoned the rule of law.

We are also deeply concerned about the esfoliation of evidence occurring within the city departments, whether it is the documented delays in body camera footage or the missing financial trails for a bequest like the Victor Fund, the international or night uh or negligent destruction of withholding a public record is a direct interference with the administration of justice in court of law.

This creates a negative interference.

It means the law assumes you are hiding something because the truth would be damaging.

We are putting this council on notice the public is tracking is tracking every lost file and every delayed request as the uh deliberate act of evidence foliation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else this evening dress uh the council all right seeing hearing else from the public we have yeah we have uh last comments from the council alderman done can we have somebody follow up with the gentleman from the board board thank you any other final comments this evening from council alderwoman newton thank you addressing some of the comments made tonight um in regards to a complaint made on an elected official the code of conduct committee did work to get together um and unfortunately due to schedule decide anything on that as a matter of fact when it came before the council the council unanimously voted that down if I remember correctly on the vote in terms of we weren't going to agree to anything other than what was in that written will and we left it up to the probate co co uh probate court and we have not heard anything back from that but at no given time did the council say it's okay for this one million dollar bequest to go to the Figgy that is not a decision the city of Davenport nor this council made thank you.

All right thank you any other final comments from council before we adjourn seeing no one is there a motion to adjourn so move all that we say aye all right we are adjourned.

Thank you