And welcome to the city council meeting.

We are we've got some folks that are using technology, maybe not very well to remote in to our meeting tonight.

So we're working through those issues right now, so appreciate your patience.

And at this time, we'll have a moment of silence.

All right, thank you.

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

My pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under and invisible with liberty and justice for all.

All right, thank you.

Brian, would you please call the roll?

Can I have one second?

Alderman Hallway is trying to get in.

Sure.

You have some elevator music you can just see you guys.

I just want to test and see if you guys can hear me who are called in.

Okay, Alderman Group just said I can't hear anyone so it's not doing me much good.

Okay.

Sam, is there any reason I can't read the protocol and decorum before we call the roll?

Uh no, they they can't hear us, we can hear them.

Um we have quorum, so uh there's no reason you can't receive at the meeting.

Okay, but we still haven't called the role yet, though.

So I'm gonna I'm calling alderman group.

Okay.

I'm going to have him join via my phone as best we can there.

Okay.

Put him on speaker.

What are we doing about Alderman Holloway?

He's he did call in here.

Can you hear us?

Alderman Holloway, can you hear me?

Um go through that shot for uh for the other.

All right, well, let's call the roll.

R done here.

Here Holloway.

He is on.

Okay.

I'm gonna count him.

He is on.

Lean in, present.

Grip.

Here.

Newton.

Blunk.

Here.

T Dunn.

Present.

Job Jen?

Here.

And Burkholder.

Yeah.

Looks like I'm present, Your Honor.

All right, thank you.

And welcome to tonight's meeting.

Uh we appreciate everyone's participation in the city government.

Those of you that are here with us in person and those watching online or on a mobile device.

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 YouTube channel.

We appreciate your engagement in city government and ask that your participation reflects our shared goal of making Davenport an even better place for our residents for those that would uh work here or visit our community.

Um we're working to make it a better community for all.

So thank you for being part of tonight's meeting.

Uh before we begin, just a few reminders.

If you have a cell phone or an iPad or any kind of device that would make a noise, just silence it, please.

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

Uh and when speaking, please come to the podium, wait to be recognized by the mayor and address the council as a whole and not to any one individual.

And you will have five minutes to do that at the appropriate time.

So we appreciate your cooperation.

Well, an all-to-person move approval of the city council special meeting minutes for April 8th, 2026.

So move.

Second.

Motion and a second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any vote, same sign.

All right, those minutes are approved.

Is there an update from the city administrator?

Very brief uh comments, Mayor and Council.

Uh there will not be a CFO report this evening.

CFO uh Gurlock is out of town.

We will uh conduct the one that would have occurred tonight, first cycle of May, and then continue second cycle of May in May as uh normally scheduled.

The other thing that I will share is the city with uh flooding.

Uh it's minor flooding uh mitigation efforts at the city's taken many times, and uh anybody that's uh wanting to utilize some of the trails, they may want to check the website to see if those have been closed.

But that's uh the only update there.

All right.

Thank you for that.

Uh moving along, will an alder person move approval of the report on the committee of the whole for April 15th, 2026?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign?

That report is approved.

We have two appointments and three proclamations this evening.

The appointments are uh two reappointments to the riverfront improvement commission.

Uh one of those reappointments is Dan Darland from the fifth ward, and the second reappointment for that commission is Mary Proust from the sixth ward.

I would entertain a motion to approve these appointments.

So we move.

Second.

Second, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, same sign.

Those reappointments are approved.

Uh, we have three proclamations this evening.

The first will be read by Alderwoman Burkeholder, and it is in regard to foster care awareness month.

Thank you.

The City of Davenport, Iowa proclamation, whereas the City of Davenport, Iowa recognizes that nothing is more precious to our community than the growth and development of our children, and that every young person deserves a safe, loving, and stable home.

And whereas foster care plays a vital role in providing safe and nurturing environments for children and youth in need, and whereas foster kinship and adoptive families open their hearts and homes to children whose families are in crisis and play a vital role in helping children and families heal and reconnect, thereby launching young people into successful adulthood.

And whereas a strong network of community partners, including local nonprofits, volunteer mentors, educators, and government agencies help create a support system that uplifts youth in care and promotes long-term stability and well-being.

And whereas the City of Davenport acknowledges the essential work of these individuals and organizations and encourages more residents to become to become involved, whether by fostering advocating or supporting families in their community.

And now therefore, we Jason Gordon Mayor and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim May 2026 as foster care awareness month in Davenport and urge residents to recognize the significance of foster care and honor the individuals and organizations committed to improving the lives of children and youth in foster care.

Dated this 22nd day of April 2026.

I move the proclamation.

Second all in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

And I do have Liz Estelo on behalf of Four Oaks foster care and adoption.

I'll meet you at the plugin.

We don't have to.

This might be a good one.

Hi, my name is Liz, and I work for four or something at foster care recruiter on coordinator.

We support license and training of all of the foster adopted and kinchet families for um all 99 counties in Iowa.

Um we are in great need of foster homes here, especially in Scott County.

Um this is our big busiest county, so thank you for bringing awareness to this.

We support our foster families that are already doing the hard work.

Um, I encourage all of you to visit Iowa Foster and Adoption.org to learn more if you can open your um house to a foster um or adopted children.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Our second proclamation is Compost Awareness Week, and it'll be read by Alden and Rick Dunn.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The City of Davenport Iowa proclamation reads.

Whereas the Composting Council Research and Education Foundation, along with other countries has declared the first full week of May as the annual international compost awareness week.

And whereas recognizing the benefits and values of composting, the City of Davenport demonstrated stewardship and leadership by constructing and making operational the Davenport Compost Compost Facility in 1995.

And whereas leaves, grass, tree trimmings, and wastewater biosolids account for nearly 30% of our community's waste stream.

And whereas converting organic waste into a beneficial product known as compost, the city can extend the life of our local landfills and provide access to nutrient rich 100% natural soil amendment products to our community.

And whereas composting is a way of returning organic resources to the soil, reducing erosion and non-point sources of water pollution, conserving water, reducing climate impacts by improving suggestion and carbon and soils, and its proven method of decreasing erosion and dependence on chemical fertilizers.

And whereas the city of Davenport celebrates the Davenport Compost Facility Soil Conservation Stewards, property owners, landscapers, farmers, recyclers, public works composters, gardeners, and plant growers everywhere in their efforts to improve local soils and waterways using the compost and compost products.

And now therefore, we Jason Gordon, mayor and city of Davenport Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim May 3rd through May 9th, 2026 as compost awareness week in Davenport and recognize the contributions the city and residents make daily to support a sustainable community dated this 22nd day of April 2026.

And I move the proclamation.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed same sign.

And we have Robert Bartelson, the supervisor from Compost, is here to accept this work.

Well, um, I guess on behalf of the uh compost facility and our employees down there, I just want to say thank you for your longtime support and this proclamation.

Um, we appreciate that every time a compost item comes on the agenda that you guys give us your support and uh give us the resources to continue our mission.

Um as Rick said, we divert about 30% of the organics that used to go into landfill and you know create a usable product out of that.

And uh you know, we just celebrated 30 years of operation last year, and you don't reach a milestone like that without the support of your council and the residents at large.

So we appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

And our third proclamation this evening is Arbor Day, and it will be read by Alderman Jobjen.

Whereas in 1872, J.

Sterling Morton proposed that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees, and whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife.

And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products.

And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community.

And whereas trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal, and whereas Davenport has observed each Arbor Day for 46 consecutive years by planting trees, and now, therefore, we Jason Gordon, mayor, and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day in Davenport and encourage all citizens to celebrate this day by supporting efforts to protect our trees and woodlands as well as planting trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of both present and future generations, stated this 22nd day of April 2026.

I move the proclamation.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed, same sign.

It's been um accepted here to accept is Nicole Gleason, our public works director.

Um, just I wanted to thank you for this.

It does help us um support getting drink uh grants to plant trees, and additionally, we do host an annual event to clean up a park and plant trees in a park in this year, it'll be at e-mice, and that event is this Saturday if anyone's interested in signing up online.

So thank you so much.

All right, we have a presentation this evening, um, kind of a special recognition uh recognition for some heroes.

We did this a few months ago also.

We had a Davenport police officer who uh also acted in a very similar fashion to save a life.

Uh, we had a couple of firefighters uh do a similar thing recently uh when they were off duty.

Um and so I'm just gonna read kind of the account of what they did and then probably ask Chief if he has anything else he wants to add, and then we'll make some uh proclamations or I guess recognitions, sorry, um, up at the podium after I get through this.

So uh on February 22nd, Lieutenant Michael Putnam and his wife Caitlin were at the Bittner YMCA working out.

Lieutenant Putnam, along with his off-duty members from the Moline and Rock Island Fire Departments and bystanders responded to a medical emergency involving a sudden cardiac arrest on the track.

CPR was immediately initiated, and AED was quickly retrieved, and 911 was contacted without delay.

While Caitlin went uh to wait for medic to help direct them, Lieutenant Putnam took turns performing CPR in between the use of the AED.

Upon arrival of the EMS, the transition of care was smooth with responders assisting in patient care, equipment setup, and patient packaging.

Following advanced intervention, the patient began to pulse and organized cardiac activity before being transported.

This event highlights the importance of rapid bystander action, coordinated teamwork, and the critical role of CPR and AEDs available in public spaces.

On March 17th, firefighter Carl Kyle Nichols, while on vacation in Florida, was alerted to an unresponsive 12-year-old at the bottom of a pool.

Kyle's brother Dustin quickly dove into the water, brought her to the surface, and began CPR.

Kyle assisted with CPR until the child began to respond.

911 was called, and the child was placed in recovery position while awaiting EMS.

When emergency responders arrived, care was transferred efficiently with clear communication of the situation.

Kyle and Dustin were later advised by the manager that the child would be released in a few days.

This incident is a powerful reminder that quick response, basic life-saving skills, and willingness to act can make all of the difference.

Both of these situations and moments show something uh else important for public safety professionals, particularly those in Davenport, because I'm biased.

Uh that instinct to help never uh to help never really turn off.

It's who they are, if they're on duty or not.

And in these situations, alongside others in the community, they stepped forward, work together, and save lives.

That's the kind of community we strive to be in tonight.

We're proud to recognize it.

And so I'll now I'll ask Chief Van Der Weyer to meet me at the podum along with Lieutenant uh Lieutenant Putnam, Firefighter Nichols, and his brother Dustin Nichols, uh, and I'll meet you at the podium.

Thank you very much for your life.

Thank you very much for your heroic actions.

Thank you, sir.

Get a photo.

Three.

So feel free to uh say a few things.

Someone should say something.

I'll just say something real quick.

Um thanks guys for good review.

I don't want to talk too much because it's about them, but I also want to point out the fact that even though we're recognizing those two, this entire department does this on a daily basis for this community, and they do it because they love the community, and they're well trained and we're highly effective in what we do.

And I appreciate you taking the time to recognize the efforts of their off-duty actions, but this does occur on a daily basis here in our community as well.

So uh appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thanks again, and thanks to all of your your colleagues that came to to support you.

We appreciate you being here.

Uh moving along on our agenda, are there any petitions and communications from council members this evening?

Uh we'll start with all Alderman Vasquez.

Thank you, Ms.

Mayor.

Yeah, I want to talk just a second about uh some upcoming plans and stuff, and I think how the long-term effects could affect you know Davenport for a long time.

We're talking about developing north and northwest Davenport, which is a good thing.

Development's always good.

But we have a lot of open empty areas in the first and third ward and other places.

That the these areas are going to be more neglected than they have been for a long time.

I feel that a lot of the problems that we have is development has been focused on primarily a couple areas, and a lot, a lot of the wards and other businesses slip away, slipped away.

So we have to actively promote the entire city, including our older wards, or again, when new development starts, we're gonna slip from bad to worse.

It's just my thoughts.

And I know a lot of people are trying, and I support that.

I'll do everything I can to help, but it's just something to keep in mind.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Alderman Vasquez.

Uh Alderman Lenin.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I looked at the calendar with no meeting next week.

I better start announcing my ward meeting before it sneaks up on me.

So the next eighth ward meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th at 6 p.m.

at the library on Eastern Avenue.

Our special guest will be Mary Mary Egger with Iowa American Water.

She's going to talk about lead service line replacement and other initiatives.

So please show up.

Thank you.

I think that's the extent of the Alderman Blunk.

Um concerning a postponement.

Uh we were shooting to have a meeting tomorrow evening here at public meeting uh concerning the River Street realignment in McClellan and River Drive, but we're pushing that back into May, and as soon as we know the date of that, we will be announcing that.

That was it.

Oh, that was it?

Okay.

I thought you were pausing for the technical.

Alderman Holloway said in the chat he has something to say.

So it's okay.

Well, let's go to him now.

Hello, Mayor.

Um, want to let you all know that we will have a seventh ward meeting on Monday, May 11th, at the number three fire station.

Um we will have uh the fire chief and the um the acting director of the police department would be our guest for that evening.

All right, thank you, Alderman Holloway.

Anyone else?

Alderman Blunk.

I was gonna say speaking of ward meetings, the next ward meeting for the fifth ward is Monday, May 18th at the Grilled Cheese Bar in the village of East Davenport.

All right, anyone else from council?

Alderman Dunn.

I just want to remind folks that tomorrow is the first coffee with the cop from eight o'clock to nine o'clock at Tommy's Cafe.

So you can get out and enjoy it.

You'll have a lot of nice conversations with a lot of different individuals from the police department.

Thank you.

Good reminder.

All right, seeing and hearing no one else, we will move on.

Uh we do not have any items on the discussion agenda this evening, so we'll move on to a motion for approval of all items on the consent agenda.

Uh roll call, please.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

Blunt?

Yes.

Holloway.

Yes.

Newton, Lenin.

Yes.

Grip?

Grip, do you want to unmute yourself?

Berkholder?

Yes.

Joke?

Yes.

And Ardon?

Yes.

Well, I mean.

We've got Griff.

He said yes in the chat.

Okay.

We'll take that.

So your honor.

Okay.

Thank you.

Next is other ordinances, resolutions, and motions, and we have one this evening, but first we need to suspend the rules to do so.

So I would entertain a motion for suspension of the rules.

So moved.

Okay.

All right.

Motion has been called on rule suspension, and we need a roll call on that.

Yes.

T Dunn?

Yes.

Blunt?

Yes.

R Dunn?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Burkeholder?

Yes.

Jokin?

Yes.

Newton.

Yes.

Lenin.

Yes.

And Grip.

Nine yeses, Your Honor.

Okay.

So the rules have been suspended.

Uh the resolution we are considering reads resolution approving street, lane, and public ground closure request on the listed date and times for outdoor events.

Davenport Community School District, Matt Conference Track Meet, Bray Street Stadium, 3603 North Brady Street, 3 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 7th, 2026.

Closure is East 36th Street from Brady Street to west of 705 East 36th Street in Ward 7.

Is there any public with the comment on this particular item?

All right.

Seeing and hearing no one.

Well, an alder person move the resolution.

So moved?

Thank you.

Is there any discussion from council members on this item?

Alderman Jobjen.

Yeah, just in the past, uh, you know, I know we've taken a little stance on you know trying to avoid suspending the rules for kind of late additions.

Uh this appeared to be something that kind of the fifth Wednesday um got uh those organizing this meet.

Um is something where closing that street is pretty pertinent for safety as as kids are getting unloaded and loaded from buses, so I might be speaking more than I need to, but nope, it's just a little background information on that.

So that's it.

Thank you.

Background's always good.

Anyone else from council?

All right, Brian, would you please call the roll on this resolution?

Newton?

Yes, lean in, yes, all away.

Yes, T Dunn?

Yes, Burkholder, yes, Grick?

R Dunn?

Yes, Job Jin?

Yes.

Blunk, yes, and Basquez?

Yes.

And yes, Your Honor.

All right, thank you.

Um is there any public with business this evening?

Anyone that would want to address council?

All right, seeing and hearing no one.

Any final comments from council members or the mayor?

All right.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

So all in favor say aye.

All right, we are adjourned.