And welcome to tonight's city council meeting for Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

I call this meeting to order.

We will have a moment of silence.

I just did want to say that tomorrow is the three-year anniversary of the building collapse at 324 Main Street.

So I think it's very appropriate for this moment of silence to remember all those that were impacted, in particular those that were injured in their families, uh those that lost their lives in their families.

So with that, a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Alderman Rickdown will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Please rise.

All right.

Brian, would you call the roll, please?

Pardon?

Here.

Fasca.

Here.

Following President Leanan.

Brother.

Rip here.

Newton here.

Bloom here.

Feed on Job Jen.

Here.

And Burklebert.

Here.

Nine present your honor.

Thank you, Brian.

And good evening.

Welcome to tonight's City Council meeting.

Those of you that are with us in the audience or watching at home or on a mobile device, we welcome you to this meeting.

We value your comments and opinions.

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

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

Again, we appreciate your engagement in city government and ask that your participation reflects our shared goals of making Davenport an even better place for everyone who works here, lives here, recreates here, whatever brings them to Davenport.

Thank you for being part of our meeting tonight.

Before we begin, just again a few reminders, anything that makes a noise, a cell phone or uh iPad or anything, please put those into silent mode.

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

When speaking, just 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'll have five minutes to do that if you want to use all of those that time.

Thank you.

Well, an older person move approval of the city council meeting minutes for May 13, 2026.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, same sign.

Minutes are approved.

Is there an update from the city administrator?

Thank you, Mayor and Council to the community.

Tonight is our CFO update.

We have actually entered uh the fourth quarter of our current fiscal year.

Uh CFO Boschurlach is going to approach the uh podium and uh provide that update.

And actually uh should do me a favor.

Uh there's been some uh you know, I don't know what kind of cover you know coverage uh there's been, but there's been some uh reporting about our bond sales that we have done this multiple times and um not pushing back on that, but just uh when it comes to telling a story, I'm extra sensitive about it being accurate, uh how we use uh taxpayer dollars.

Uh it's it's any correct information.

So maybe uh we're doing fun fact Friday uh two days early.

So if you would please.

Excellent.

Um so when it comes to the bond um sale question, we issue bonds once a year, right?

And what is the purpose of the issuance of our bonds?

The purpose of issuing bonds is to um fund our capital improvement program, right?

And we approve our capital improvement program once a year with the operating budget.

Um the operating budget alongside the capital improvement program is approved in April.

That is by state law, and then once that um budget is approved, then we can start the process of issuing bonds.

Um issuing bonds is actually almost a whole year process.

So we start issuing um resolutions and public hearings in June.

So next week on your agenda, you'll actually have an item that is um for issuing fiscal year 2027 bonds.

Okay, and those are we have to have that hearing, the public hearing and the resolution early on, so that we can start spending that money when July 1st hits, right?

Um without that resolution, we cannot spend that money, and we cannot pay ourselves back when we actually go through that bond sale process later on in the fiscal year.

Um in June, we do our first step, which is a public hearing and the resolution for issuing the bonds.

Then we go through a whole process of um getting ready for the actual bond sale.

So about December and January, we start preparing documents, one of which is our preliminary offering statement, and that particular document talks about our operations, our financial standings, as well as the management of the city.

Okay.

Once that document is completed, we will make appointments and meetings with our rating agencies, and those typically happen in March, and we get a rating from two rating agencies from SP as well as Moody's.

So once we receive those ratings, we are actually ready to go out into the market and sell bonds.

So we actually sell bonds in April, and we go to a typically we go to a competitive bid.

One time in my tenure with the city, we actually did something called the private placement.

So we actually we went and solicited banks to give us an offer, and it was timing during COVID, and we received better rights by doing a private placement than we would have under a competitive bid.

But typically, these bonds go out to a competitive bid in April, and that is the timing that you see, and you have a public hearing and an ordinance in April in order to adopt the sale of those bonds.

And then once that is adopted, there's actually a closing on those bonds.

And those that closing typically it's like a house closing.

That closing typically happens in May.

And once those bonds have closed, we receive all of the proceeds for the bonds.

So technically, it's a whole year process.

It starts in June and typically ends in May.

It is a very flexible timeline, and we can certainly maneuver the timeline as needed, depending on the markets.

And if needed, we can adjust it.

We definitely would work very closely with our financial advisors to make sure that we are selling bonds at the right time.

Okay.

Perfect.

So we just sell them once a year.

Okay.

So next we will go into the fiscal year 2026 CFO finance update, and this is the report as of April 30th.

Okay, so the first slide shows the major revenues for the city.

The city in April received its second large installment of property taxes.

So currently, when you're looking year-to-date budget versus actuals, we're up about $810,000.

We are still expected to receive around $6.3 million in property taxes by the end of this fiscal year.

So we'll receive another installment in May as well as in June.

And also receive a little bit in July that belongs in June.

Local option sales tax, road use tax, as well as hotel mobile tax, continue to output outperform our conservative conservative projections.

And combine these funding sources outperforming budget by about six million dollars.

Interest revenues remain constant since we only apply interest quarterly.

So we have already applied quarter one, two, and three, and we will not apply interest to the various funds until after the end of the fiscal year.

Some of which are development fees, building permits, and cable TV and franchise tax.

I do not see any concern about these revenue streamlines softening in fiscal year 2026, as key revenue streams are outperforming the year-to-date budget.

Those are definitely revenue sources that I am watching closely and kind of reviewing them and seeing if I actually have to make any adjustment for fiscal year 2027.

In total, the collection of major revenues are up performing year-to-day budget by about 11.3% to a tune of about 13.5 million dollars.

Any questions?

Okay, next slide.

We have general fund revenues.

So we have completed 10 months of the year and would have a benchmark and the collection rate of about 83%.

Currently, as you can see, we're about at 96.56.58% of collection rate for the overall overall budget in the general fund.

We see strong collection rates and intergovernmental use of many property, which is interest as well as fines and forfeiters categories.

So those categories are doing fairly well when compared to budget.

Once again, that's due to our conservative budgeting practices.

Any questions on that slide?

No.

Next, we'll review the general fund trust and agency expenses.

Once again, we're done with 10 months of the year, so we should be expecting to see this number at about 83%.

Both funds are doing fairly well.

Um, and we are at about 78.6% in the general fund when you compare budget to actual expenditures through April.

And in trust and agency, the fund is about at about 79.6%.

A lot of this lower amount is due to our once again conservative budgeting, since we do budget salaries at 100%, and we do not take vacancies into considerations when you we do our budget.

Um questions on that.

Okay.

Next, we have our enterprise funds.

Um, once again, um these funds are classified as business type activities.

They operate similarly to a business, and these funds are expected to be self-supporting by charging user fees.

Um, as you can see, all the funds are performing fairly well.

The sewer fund is um has a gain of about 7.8 million dollars, and that allows us to do our sewer projects with cash instead of borrowing um debt.

Our water pollution control plant does have a slight deficit.

However, that fund is designed to break even at the end of the year.

So when I do an update for the end of the year, that fund will be at zero dollars.

It will get costs allocated back to the sewer fund, or we will recoup some of the costs from our partners, um, the three other cities that partner with us for the water pollution control plant, like Betendore Riverendale and Panorama Park.

Um solid waste, clean water, parking, transit are all actually performing well throughout the year, and airport is actually has a positive variance as well.

And as you know, um we have restructured some of those funds in order to make them operationally um sustainable.

Um, and golf is actually performing well as well, and um that particular fund is obviously very cyclical, and we are in the season of golf.

So um we should continue to see that fund performing well until the end of the year.

Um, the other two funds that are not performing as well as we would like them to is the River Center as well as the River's Edge.

However, as I have mentioned this before, um staff is working diligently in order to create new revenue sources and um ensure that in the future these funds become um self-sustaining.

That's it.

Any questions?

All right, thank you, Boston.

We appreciate it.

Tim, anything else from you or nope?

Okay.

Uh moving along, will an older person move approval of the report on the committee of the whole for May 20, 2026?

So vote.

Second.

Second.

The motion and second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, same sign.

That report is approved.

This evening we have three proclamations.

The first will be read by Alder Woman Burkeholder and is building our communities week.

So I'll turn it over to Alder Woman Burkeholder.

Thank you.

The City of Davenport Iowa proclamation, whereas the building, our communities initiative is a partnership between John Deere and Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Des Moines, Waterloo, Dubuque, and the Quad Cities.

And whereas between 2021 and 2026, John Deere and its employees have contributed more than 6.46 million and over 28,000 volunteer hours to Iowa Habitat affiliates, including those serving the Illinois Quad City area.

And whereas in 2026, John Deere employees in the quad cities will contribute hundreds of volunteer hours through panel builds in Davenport and East Moline, off site home construction in Iowa and Illinois, restore revitalization in Davenport, restore donation drives, a new dealer partnership with Martin Equipment in Rock Island, and an enhanced financial support to advance affordable housing and strengthen our local communities.

And whereas a coordinated Blitz Week during which eight different John Deere quad city locations will host the habitat restore donation truck to facilitate employee donations will take place May 29th through June 5th, with additional community activities continuing throughout June and July.

And whereas John Deere and Habitat for Humanity hope to continue building and expanding this partnership in an effort to stabilize and strengthen their communities.

And now therefore, we Jason Gordon, Mayor, and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim May 29th through June 5th as building our community week in Davenport to recognize and celebrate the efforts by John Deere and Habitat for Humanity and to encourage other businesses and nonprofit organizations to pursue collect collaborative opportunities to strengthen our communities.

Dated this 27th day of May 2026.

I move the proclamation.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

And I do have Katie Schroeder from John Deere and Tom King from Habitat for Humanity.

To accept a few words.

So I'm Katie Schrader with John Deere.

I'm the community relations manager for the Quad Cities.

I am so happy to be here raising awareness about building our communities.

Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity in the Quad Cities is a strong one, and we are excited to be running this initiative with them.

This is about expanding access to homeownership in communities where John Deere employees work and live.

So on behalf of John Deere, I would like to sincerely thank Mayor Gordon and the Davenport and the entire Davenport City Council for allowing us to recognize this initiative.

Thank you.

Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities turned 33 last week, and we have built and dedicated 145 homes in the Iowa, Illinois Quad Cities, with just over 80 being in Davenport alone.

So we're happy the brands of habitat and John Deere certainly match, and so we are grateful for this proclamation today.

Alright, I've got two different ones.

I'll need you to just hold hold of your real quick.

One, two, three.

All right, hold that.

One, two, three.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thanks again to both of you for coming down for that.

We appreciate it.

Our second proclamation will be read by Alderman Grip and is National Mississippi River Day.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The proclamation reads, whereas the Mississippi River is one of our nation's most iconic and vital waterways, flowing approximately 2,350 miles from Minnesota to Louisiana and uniting 10 mainstream states and 32 tributary states within its watershed.

And whereas the Mississippi River has been deeply woven into the lives of indigenous peoples for thousands of years, sustaining communities through nourishment, travel, and trade, while also holding profound cultural, spiritual, and ancestral significance.

And whereas the Mississippi River serves as a critical source of drinking water for over 20 million Americans, a vital habitat for diverse fish and wildlife, and a powerful economic engine supporting commerce, agricultural tourism, and recreation.

And whereas the health of the Mississippi River is under threat from pollution, habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental stressors which impact the communities, economies, and ecosystems that rely on it.

Whereas protecting and restoring the Mississippi River requires collaboration among states, agencies, organizations, individuals, and communities to advance sustainable and regenerative conservation practices, restore wetlands and floodplains, and reduce agricultural and urban runoff to improve water quality.

And whereas one Mississippi and its network of 78 organizations and 20,000 river citizens invite everyone to take action, whether through conservation efforts, advocacy, or simply enjoying the river and building community, especially during the one Mississippi's river days of action, June 1st through the 15th, when people across the region come together to restore, celebrate, and advocate for a healthier river.

And now, therefore, we, Jason Gordon, Mayor, and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim June 2nd, 2026 as National Mississippi River Day in Davenport and urge everyone to celebrate, protect, and restore the Mississippi River and its watershed by participating in events, signing up as one Mississippi River citizens and taking action to safeguard this invaluable resource for generations to come.

Dated this 27th day of May 2026.

I move the proclamation.

Second.

There's a motion in a second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Are there any opposed?

The proclamation has passed.

And I have Reagan Baker, member of the Clean Advisory Council.

Please meet me at the lectern.

And we'll let you say a few words.

Thank you for your advocacy for the Mississippi.

Appreciate it.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Good evening, City Council.

I really appreciate you allowing me to be here today.

Again, Reagan Baker on behalf of the Clean River Advisory Council.

Really appreciate you all taking this into consideration and also recognizing that our Mississippi River is our greatest natural resource.

So it's very important for all of us to take part in that as we are a part of a Quad City region, but I appreciate you all as Davenport being able to support us in this initiative.

So thank you and have a great night.

All right, thank you for receiving the proclamation.

Our third proclamation will be read by Alderman Mark Holloway and is uh pertains to National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

So Alderman Holloway.

Thank you, Mayor.

The proclamation reads whereas every day in the United States, nearly 130 lives are lost to gun violence, and more than 200 individuals are shot and wounded, contributing to an average of over 19,000 gun homicides each year.

And whereas people in the United States are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries.

And whereas cities across the nation, including in Davenport, are working to end this senseless violence with evidence-based solutions.

And whereas support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand in hand with the responsibility to keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger to themselves or others.

And whereas local leaders, including mayors, city councils, and law enforcement, in collaboration with violence intervention programs and community partners, are uniquely positioned to understand their communities and implement effective strategies to keep residents safe.

And whereas the need for gun violence present prevention is more urgent than ever as communities across the country continue to experience the devastating impact of gun-related incidents.

And now, therefore, we, Jason Gordon, Mayor, and the City Council of Davenport, Iowa, do hereby proclaim June 5th, 2026 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Davenport and encourage all citizens to join efforts to reduce gun violence, support local prevention initiatives, honor those laws to sinsless acts, and reaffirm our shared commitment to protecting lives and ensuring a safer community for all.

Dated this 27th day of May 2026.

Jason Gordon, mayor, um I would like to move the motion.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion has been the proclamation has been passed.

And we have Connie Gowan here from welcome lead for the Kwasities chapter of mom's demand action.

Maybe at the poll down.

One more.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Thank you very much.

Hello.

I'm Connie Gowan.

I am the welcome lead for the Quad Cities chapter of Mom's Demand Action.

And we would like to thank you for this proclamation for Gun Violence Awareness Day.

It is what kicks off we care or we wear orange weekend.

It is always the first Friday and June.

And we wear orange because it's bright and it's visible.

And it means don't shoot.

We wear orange to remember victims, support survivors, and to demand a safer future for our community.

And we appreciate you helping with that with this proclamation.

We table at events to fight through action, awareness, and education.

And what we ask of you is on June 5th, you wear orange with us.

Talk to people about gun violence and wear orange weekend.

Wear your orange and recommit to ending gun violence.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thanks again to for all those that came down to receive uh proclamations.

We really appreciate your participation.

We do have one additional presentation this evening, and it's to recognize the latest graduates and cohort uh to complete the Davenport U Citizens Academy.

Uh so these uh residents uh thank you first of all for investing your time uh in participating in Davenport U again this year.

This is the tenth year of this program, um, which I think is just a great uh a narrative to be telling.

Uh through their time in Davenport U, participants got a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of their local governments.

Um that includes our finance department, the civil rights department, public works, parks and rec, community and economic development, the fire department, the police department, human resources, IT, the library, as well as our uh Scott County Emergency Communications Center and Medic.

So hopefully they learned a whole heck of a lot.

Uh we hope these participants will continue their civic engagement by taking advantage of other opportunities offered to them through the city, and I'll go a little bit further to say I think uh the request that we have of you is now that you've gone through this program, you are some of our best advocates uh uh to to communicate accurately what cities have to do and how complex what cities do.

Um so I think number one, if you can be advocates for us when you hear things in the community, you know now how we finance things now, our public works department works.

Um secondly, I think you should consider uh serving on a board or commission.

We always have a need to fill uh spots on our commissions and our boards throughout the city.

Um and third, I'd say tell your friends, your family, your co-workers, members of your church to sign up for the next 11th class of database next year, so that we have another active and engaged class of citizens who will uh then learn and go out and become advocates like you all will.

So with that, I'm gonna meet Hannah at the podium, and we are going to deliver some certificates.

Okay.

I think what we'll do is I'll read your name, we'll give you the certificate, I think we'll take a picture of those, and then we're all gonna hang around and then do one big picture in front of the city council when these are all been distributed.

So our first graduate is Kiera Presson.

Sierra, I'm sorry.

Ready, one, two, three.

Don't go far, right?

Uh Matthew Golden.

Thank you.

Ready, one, two, three.

All right, there.

Lori Garrett.

Congratulations.

Thanks for participating.

She holds it.

Ready, one, two, three.

All right.

Uh Ellen Harris.

We got a couple of photos for posted on the same time.

All right.

Ready, one, two, three.

Christopher Meyer.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Gary Ward.

All right.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Thank you.

Navy France.

Run the camera.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Kyle Gott.

Congratulations.

Ready?

Three.

Beth.

That's it, right?

Ready, one, two, three.

And Brian Newswander.

Go ahead and take your first.

Ready?

One, two, three.

All right.

Thank you.

And Alex Engel.

That was thank you.

Yeah.

Ready, one, two, three?

Perfect.

And Andy Rodriguez.

Thank you.

Of course.

All right.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

So I'll go back behind and we'll take a couple of photos with everyone.

We did like two months of being together.

Everyone move this way.

Yeah.

Now do them dance.

Okay.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Hold it.

One, two, three.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Thanks again to all of you for participating.

And then for you.

All right.

Moving right along.

Are there any petitions or communications from council?

Alderman Basquez?

Yeah.

I have a few things I want to talk about here briefly.

Um I have said before about how I think it's very important that we continue to try to promote the West End.

The corridors, and there's a lot of open places down there where we need business.

We need development.

Maybe we need fresh eyes, fresh ideas.

And entrepreneurs, excuse me, investors.

But what I want to say is maybe everybody pitch in.

Send ideas.

What does Davenport not have that we could use?

You know, where do you go to visit that there's something missing?

You know, I I would just say help help us come up with ideas on on things that we can do to improve Davenport.

Okay.

Next, in driving here.

It's not something that I always I always notice.

You know, please drive carefully.

I'm coming here, traffic zipping around.

Everybody's trying to beat that light.

To everybody, please be careful.

Just a split second of trying to get in a hurry, and something can go horribly, horribly wrong that we can't take back.

It's just something to think about.

That you know, we all we all drive, we have someone we love driving or care about.

Let's be careful.

It it's worth it.

Don't get in a hurry.

And lastly, um, yes, tomorrow is the anniversary of 324 Main Street.

So I would like to put a motion or proposal, whatever it would take forward, that we take a look at the former building site and put a park there.

Something peaceful, trees, a bench.

I don't know how to approach that, but I think it's something that we need to do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Alderman Lenin.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Our next eighth ward meeting will be next Thursday, not tomorrow, but next Thursday, eight days from now, on June 4th at 6 p.m.

at Red Hawk Golf Course, our special guest will be City Engineer Brian Shad, who will be talking about traffic call me measures.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

All right.

Anyone Alderman Jobson?

Um just simple.

Um I will be having the next uh six ward meeting on June 11th, which is a Thursday, a little uh untraditional from my normal schedule.

I'll make a couple more announcements, but just getting that out there now since it varies from the usual usual schedule of the second Tuesday.

So thank you.

All right, anyone else from this side?

Anyone else?

Okay, moving right along.

Uh our first item on a first item on the discussion agenda is a I'll read it and then ask for some guidance from our corporate council as the first consideration of ordinance for case REZ 26-04 being the request of Pickett Properties LLC to rezone picket properties first edition from AG Agricultural District to R1 single family residential district.

I believe this petitioner has withdrawn his request, and so uh I would ask Sam for some guidance into how to uh reflect that in our action this evening.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh yes, the petitioner has uh communicated with staff, and I think some of you that is wish to withdraw this action at this time.

The most appropriate procedural uh method would be to for a motion to delete the item from the agenda.

Um we just need to be voted on as any other item, but a motion to delete is what's appropriate for this item.

All right, so motion to delete item number one?

Second.

So motion and a second, is it a roll call or a voice vote?

It would be roll call.

Okay, let's do a roll call on uh the motion and second to delete this item.

Blunk, yes.

Lean in Vasquez?

Yes, Job Jen?

Yes, Berkholder, yes.

Newton, yes.

T Dunn.

Oh, sorry, he's opposite R done, yes, Holloway, yes, and Grip.

Yes.

All right, item number two as a resolution approving a downtown services agreement with the downtown Danport Partnership for the provision of downtown garbage removal, parking ramp cleaning, parking pot uh pocket park maintenance, if we need to say, and skybridge cleaning services.

Anyone from the public with a comment on this item.

Maybe you get that light fixed.

Oh, my name is Dale Gilma, I live in the sixth ward.

Um I hold in my hand a copy of the 16-page contract.

I'm sure you've all read it, but just in case you haven't, um let me highlight just a few of the details.

The DDP is offering the city of Davenport the following.

They will empty the public waste receptacles that are provided by the city into a dumpster, also supplied by the city.

They will clean and maintain the cleanliness of the three downtown parking ramps.

They will clean the sky bridge glass up to eight feet if needed, and clean the elevators if needed.

And curb line snow removal with equipment provided, fueled, and maintained by the city of Davenport.

They're willing to do all of the above for the low, low price of only 282,000 per year.

That's more than a 10% increase over last year.

This is all for labor.

How many city employees received a more than 10% increase in our wages?

Let me give you a quick breakdown of just one instance where some of this money is going.

$82,000 to pick up the trash.

I'm assuming they, the DDP, will provide the gator and one laborer at a charge to the city of $24 an hour, a supervisor, or probably just a helper, at the charge to the city of up to $34 per hour, and an equipment charge to the city of only six dollars per hour for the use of the gator.

So the two guys in a gator picking up the trash could cost the city a mere $64 an hour.

And then a possible overtime charge of 20%, and now you're looking at almost $77 an hour.

But wait, there's more.

They're going to clean and maintain the cleanliness of the three parking ramps.

That's another hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

That's only $333 per day.

$333 a day to maintain the cleanliness of three parking ramps.

Boy, what a bargain.

They're gonna clean the windows of the Skybridge up to eight feet if needed, and also clean the elevator if needed, and that's another 40,000 dollars.

They're gonna clean the two small pocket parks as needed or if needed for another $20,000.

Now I I'm not sure, but isn't one of those Bechtel Park Pocket Park?

And does the city even own that park?

I don't think we do.

And finally, curb line snow removal using city supplied fueled and maintained equipment for only $20,000.

Why do things like this only appear on the agenda just six weeks before they take effect?

That leaves all of you between a rock and a hard place to pass this agreement.

Now I have an idea.

You can amend the agreement to last only six months and send it out for bids.

At the end of the six months, if the DDP is a little bitter, they get the job.

Sounds fair to me.

I have two requests.

First, please split these five jobs into five individual bids.

And second, please make sure I get a copy of the bids.

Thank you.

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

All right, seeing and hearing no one or an older person move the resolution.

So moved.

Second.

All right.

Is there any discussion from council members?

Honorable.

I would like to this resolution to be for one year and send this out for bid.

Okay.

Um I I did want to bring Nicole up.

Can I go ahead and can I move forward with that and then still bring her up or do I need to take action on so far there's just what I use a motion to amend?

There's it's not been seconded yet.

Okay.

Um so until it's seconded, the floor is you should ask for a second if there's a second.

Okay.

Um if there isn't one, then we can proceed another comments.

Okay.

Do you mind if I just have Nicole answer a few questions and I come back to you to make that amendment?

That's fine.

Okay.

Nicole, I just I my apologies, I wasn't here last week, and thanks to Alderman Dunn for running the meeting.

Um, can you talk a little bit?

I uh I know you provided some information based on questions from last Tuesday, but I think you've done some work on what like what the equivalent work would cost the city, both from a full-time FTE perspective and a part-time.

Could you speak to that just a little bit?

Sure.

So it just at a very high level, all of the numbers you see in the proposed agreements are maximums.

Um, one of the ones that was specifically called out is the curb line snow removal.

Um, what the purpose of the curb line snow removal was um as you recall when we have several small back-to-back snow events, traditionally we have sent our full crews down to physically remove the snow from the downtown.

Um, this curbline snow removal during the smaller events has actually eliminated the need for several downtown pickups and saved a significant amount of money for the city.

Um so again, all of these are in up to value.

So to this point over the last six years of the contract, we've never achieved that maximum.

We essentially built in the growth of a three-year contract.

Um the DDP is actually paying the employees between 16 and 18 dollars an hour using a temp agency.

Um, if we were to do this ourselves on a part-time basis, um, assuming we could get the staff and do it, um, it would be around $160,000 per year, but that doesn't include um the additional equipment and things like that.

It also assumes the same 10 hours a week of management, which we would need to determine if we could absorb that into current staff or if we'd actually have to add another staff for that.

Um, if we did it with full-time workers, it would be 280,000 a year.

Again, that would be no equipment, um, no overtime, um, no flexible staffing.

So when we outsource some of these things, the benefits are the flexible staffing, um, the ability for outside contractors to kind of staff differently, they are able to complement the work they do for us with some of their own work, such as the flower maintenance, thereby they can have full-time employees that that they're worrying about the benefits and things, but we get the benefit of that stability of employment.

So when we were doing the ramp cleaning ourselves back in 2019, um, we were we were funded for five part-time employees, and I would say we felt like it was a really good day when we had three.

Um, just the volume of turnover we had in those positions because they weren't full-time was pretty significant.

Um, and that was some of the genesis of this coming about in the first place.

So you mentioned the fact that there it's not really an on-call, but it's like the kind of contract that the maximum dollar mounts identified and then we're billed um as work is performed.

Yep, and they use a software to track GPS where their employees are, um, and we review all that data every few months um and they're willing to share it at any time we request.

And am I understanding correctly that previously we've never reached the correct ceiling on these?

Correct.

Okay.

Um I think that's all I had.

Oh, you also mentioned, I think, too, that um nuisance complaints or um complaints about the condition of the parking ramps has dropped off dramatically since this partnership was created.

Correct.

Like I said, we were just having such a hard time getting part-time staff consistently that um once we got that more consistent number of hours per week of cleaning, we have seen improvement.

They're very responsive directly to the parking customers and users because that's really where they're located.

So they're able to have a much more consistent presence, not getting pulled off into other work like other city employees generally would.

Yeah.

Thank you very much.

I have a question.

Oh my sure, go ahead.

Um, was this ever put out for bid to any other any other company?

So back when it started in 2019, um, it was actually a collaboration and purchasing at the time saw it more of like a 28E because city funds were going to an SSMID, which is also um tax dollars, so that's why it had never been put out to a bid, but staff is happy to do that if that's the direction.

Should it have been?

Uh no, because it uh so a 2080 is like an intergovernmental agreement, and since really it's one government entity taxing going to another taxing entity, it was viewed as a 2080.

Okay.

Yeah.

So sorry.

I the last thing I just want to say on about this is I um I I always think it's a good idea to test the waters if you've had a you know a particular contract with an entity for some period of time and you've never um sort of shop that around to see if there might be a better opportunity out there.

I I certainly don't poo-poo that as an idea.

I certainly don't think a solution is from my own opinion, city staff versus some other entity, whether it's the downtown Denver partnership or some other private entity that might be willing to uh take on this work.

I think you know another benefit is that these folks are already in the areas of town working um doing the work for the DDP that they're already these assets are already in their downtown in the downtown that they're watering flowers and picking up garbage and all of the other things.

So it it it certainly lends itself to efficiencies, I think for those folks are already there.

So again, I'm um I'm open to what council decides about um you know maybe approving this, but for a certain period of time and getting some bids on it.

Um but I I do think the partnership's good and I I I have a pretty strong feeling that the downtown Danport partnership would probably still um if if anyone else bids would probably be the lowest bidder, but that's just my two cents.

So um kind of coming back into the order of things.

I know we did we still have some all the persons with comment, we'll do that, maybe and then come back to you, Alderman Brook Holder, Alder Woman Newton.

Thank you.

I did have a question regarding one of the points brought up by the constituent.

Are the parks owned by the city of Davenport?

So I would have to the I want to say for sure the K Square one was, and then the Lady Germania property is.

I I would need to dig back into the Bechtel Park one.

It's been so long, and I I honestly haven't been as close to that one.

We may have had an agreement with them that we would maintain it when they installed it, but I would need to look back into that.

I I can't give you an answer on that right now.

Okay, thank you.

I'm wondering that.

Yeah, and then I'm didn't realize Alderwoman Burke Holder, I didn't take that as a motion because she didn't say she moved, and it was like I want to, so I took it as she's giving council a heads up so that we could have discussion, but I would certainly when she's ready entertain a second to her motion.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yep, you bet uh Alderman Job J.

Thank you.

Um Director Gleason, you gave some numbers, and I'm before I get to my question.

Um I'm under the guise of you know, I think it's better that we contract it out versus doing this all in the house, right?

I think that's better.

You had mentioned some numbers for what it would take to staff it like what it would be cost to the city.

Yeah, were those all salaries?

Was that just salary?

That includes benefits, including retirement.

Yeah, the 280,000 for full-time, I think um Boscha staff ran that for me.

Um that did include those types of things, but again, it is step three, so kind of um they would still grow to a step 12.

So that would just be kind of the baseline entry, and then it would obviously grow as a union contract employee would.

And then my other question is is so if we've been conducting ourselves under a 28E agreement, if we said, okay, you know, we're gonna we're gonna amend this, we're gonna 2088 for a year, um, go out to bid, see what we get next year.

How does that work say we get no bids, right?

Or say we get these high bids, right?

And DDP isn't one of them.

How does that then work out?

Do we say, oh, hey, um, sorry for sorry for saying you're no good and we don't want you to be, we don't need partners with you anymore.

Uh you want to come back to the table and help us out again?

I think how does that work?

Can we go from 28E to taking it out for bid, and then if that doesn't work, come back to a 2080?

I think in light of the partnership, I think they would bid um because it has been they've been very collaborative, so I I would foresee them participating if we put it out to bid.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Um is this a 280 agreement?

So when you have a 2080 agreement, when branded partnership set it up initially, that's why he said we didn't have to bid it.

So if you'd like to do that.

Like we have with Bettendorf with this treatment plan and stuff like that.

We just when when Brandon originally set up the agreement, that's he he honestly did it.

So if you need I can go back and do more research on that if you'd like.

But that that was kind of when we discussed it.

It's an agreement, probably not a 28E.

Correct, but the reason we didn't have to bid it is because it being government funds to government funds.

Yeah.

So I just for my personal.

Like a quasi 20, yeah.

Just curious, yeah.

Why wouldn't we send it out for bid?

All right, Alderman Grip.

Uh here's why I would not send it out for bid.

Um, name one other bid that the city's done that it's bid for X number of dollars, and then they charge you for less than that bid.

I think this would be the only one.

So uh the resident read about up to 280,000 dollars last year, that total was actually 199,000.

So they they're actually billing us for actual work done, uh, which they track meticulously.

No other bidder does that.

We don't have that.

If if we bid this out for 280,266 and 33 cents, a bidder would spend every penny of that.

What you have here is a partnership with the downtown partnership trying to control your costs, which they have reduced their costs almost every year, they're down under two hundred thousand uh dollars, and you only pay for exactly what you get.

If you bid this out, you're going to bid it out at a total amount, and they're gonna take every nickel of that.

And then the other downside is if you've got an issue in any of those places, you have one operations person to call right now.

If you bid that out to five different companies, now you've got five different belly buttons to push if you've got a problem.

Again, it's a partnership.

Uh it's not it's not necessarily about uh going out and getting uh different bidders, it's about they have a stake in what happens in these places because they're within the downtown, and the city of Davenport has a need for our facilities to be cleaned to have the trash picked up, etc.

etc.

And they do it and they do it better than anybody you're going to get as a bidder, and they continue to drive prices down.

I think that's all my problems.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Is there any other comments from council?

All right, Alderman Lena.

I appreciate Alderman Group's points.

I guess my uh to me, we wouldn't be doing our fiduciary responsibility if we didn't put it out the bid.

Doesn't mean we can't continue the relationship, but we're just saying a year, and then uh maybe you don't get any more bidders.

I'm assuming we can still have a partnership with them after the year.

Uh but I just I just don't know that we're not we got a job to do and uh just giving it out.

I just think it's it sharpens everybody's pencil and we make sure we're getting the best price possible.

So uh that's where I'm at.

I guess just a quick question kind of to some of the comments that you've communicated and then made could could a future RFQ be structured in a way that it that the request is that you structure it as a as a ceiling that not to exceed.

Yeah, I would I would foresee us using our current contract structure um kind of with the same billing cadence and and uh like but it would just obviously open-ended, not putting numbers in there, but for equipment um management fees, all of those things.

Okay, yep.

All right, anyone else, any other comments?

Okay, elder woman broke holder?

I would like to make a motion to amend this contract from three years to one year and send it out for bid thereafter.

Second.

All right, uh motion and second.

It's been seconded, so now it's a discussion on the amendment.

So okay.

So is there any discussion on the amendment that all the women work holders made?

Can we make it uh one year would would two optional years, like an additional optional year to kind of keep it similar if we put out the B it and we don't get the bid is we already have something in place for the DDP to take up that optional year?

Is that fair?

So I think the question is could the amendment be although it's been seconded, but I think the request is could you do a one year with two-year optional renewals in the event that if auto woman furholder is willing to make a friendly amendment to her own motion, then yes, it can be done that way.

If not, then we would need to vote on the motion currently on the floor, and then a subsequent motion could be made at that point if we want to further amend.

Okay.

I I don't have any okay.

Okay, so I think what we have on the floor now is the amendment that's been seconded to amend it to one year.

One year with uh direction staff to put together an RFQ at a future date.

Yeah.

Any other comments on the amendment?

Uh so I would ask for a roll call on that.

Vaska?

Yes.

Grip?

No.

R done?

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

Holloway?

No.

Blunk?

No.

Burkholder?

Yes.

Lean in?

Yes.

And Jobton?

Yes.

Six yeses and three no's, Your Honor.

All right.

Okay, so it's been amended, so we're back on the resolution.

Um I don't think we need any other comments on that.

So then we need a roll call on the resolution as amended.

Uh so there, so is there any discussion on the resolution now amended?

So if there's any other amendments that want to be made at this point, this would be the time.

If there are not, then it would be moved to seeing and hearing no one.

So we're back on the resolution, so a vote on the resolution is amended.

Lenin?

Yes.

R done?

Yes.

Grip?

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Vasquez?

Yes.

Newton?

Yes.

Blunk?

Yes.

Joven?

Yes.

And Burkholder.

Yes.

Then yes, is your honor?

All right.

That is approved.

Next up is our consent agenda.

Um we do have an item that needs to be pulled off and uh because I believe that event is no longer happening.

So again, uh a little direction from Sam is requested.

Um directing executive two spots for the the same for the same event.

One is a uh street closure, the other one is a noise variant.

Uh so item if you look at item number four, uh, the first item underneath that QC pride quad cities uh unity pride uh parade.

Um that item, and then if you go to item 14, the second item under the PC Pride quad city community pride parade downtown.

Uh they have asked that those um be withdrawn, however, for our rules.

Umce they're on the consent agenda, the proper action to take would be for someone to request that those be uh removed from the consent agenda for the if you wish to have them taken off the agenda all the other be to request they come off the consent agenda for consideration of a motion motion to postpone indefinitely so uh and you just need to specify those two items.

Okay.

Uh looking at you, maybe all the jokes in a third committee chair.

So then I make a request that we move um the QC pride item under number four, and the QC pride item under number 14 from the consent agenda so that we can have further discussion and take action.

All right, and again, the only action the only action available is a motion to postpone indefinitely otherwise discussions had and it goes back on the consent agenda for our reason.

So moved as mentioned for our corporation council.

Okay.

Okay, is that we got a second from Alder Woman Newton?

Um we roll call?

Yes.

Okay, let's roll call, please.

Just trying to take these notes, all right.

Umder, yes, our done, yes, Vaska, yes, grip, yes, and holloway.

Yes.

Nine yeses, your honor.

All right, so these items are now off of the consent agenda.

So now we need a motion to table it definitely so moved.

No, no, no.

That was voted on.

We voted on the motion to postpone indefinitely.

Okay, so we're back on the consent agenda.

Those items are off.

Yes.

Okay.

So now we need a motion to approve the consent agenda.

So moved.

Second.

All right.

Roll call, please on the consent agenda.

Rip.

Yes.

Lean in?

Yes.

Firk holder?

Yes.

Basca?

Yes.

Newton.

Yes.

Holloway?

Yes.

Yes.

Slung?

Yes.

And joke.

Yes.

And yes, honor.

All right.

This is any other ordinances, resolutions, and motions, and we don't have any this evening.

Is there any other public with business?

Dale Gilmore 6th Ward.

I know the rules.

Um Peoria, Illinois.

It's about the size of Dab and Port give or take 10,000 people.

Do you know who picks up?

You know, you do you know who picks up the trash in Peoria, Illinois?

It's not the city of Peoria.

It's Peoria Disposal Company.

It goes out for bids every year.

Thank you for amending that.

I appreciate it.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else from the public?

Cheryl Shagna, third word.

And there's an event coming up this Friday, the 28th, downtown in the Harrison parking garage.

I don't think when it went through the agenda, you all were really aware of what was on the agenda and what is planned.

Part of the contest is a two-stroke contest.

Two stroke contest and or an outlaw street contest doesn't happen very often.

They're kind of rare to the point that there are literally no rules.

They are made up by the people that hold the events for the most part.

So what is happening in the garage is an event where they are selling parking spots for $50 on the top floor.

If I want to come in as the public, I have to pay five dollars to come in.

They also, yes, they will have food trucks and they are someone managed to get a dram insurance where you've got alcohol being uh served also through an alcohol truck.

The way it's going to be set up, people will be bringing in their cars.

There will be spectators, the expectators especially will be up on that top floor.

Human nature, there will be some BYOB happening, I'm quite sure.

So I do have to question if and when an accident does happen, and this parking garage is as crammed as they expect it, because this is going to be the sickest event of the season.

Feature your car on the top floor next to all the action at the parking ramp party at the Quad Cities Night Meet.

Only the sickest builds will be approved for top level access.

If you've not been to one of these events, they are really cool.

When they do it in Cedar Rapids, they do it at Hawkeye Downs, which is built for cars.

When they do it in Des Moines, they do it at an outside plaza.

A place like the uh the fairgrounds or Centennial Park, but when they come to Davenport, they do it in the downtown parking garage, because Davaport just makes brilliant decisions about things like that.

Did you know that the parking garage is not designed for the vibrations and the respect that it is designed to withhold the average uh weight of about an 8,000 pound of 8,000 pounds it per stall with the average car weighing about four to five thousand pounds?

The parking garage is designed to hold four and a half.

I'm gonna I've got it here, hold on.

Four and a half pounds per square foot.

So you add the vibrations, you add the spectators, you add the cars, you add the fact they're doing this two-stroke contest, which involves flames and fire.

If you've never experienced one of them, if you would allow me to, they sound something like this.

For four hours this Friday.

Happens to be flames will be shooting out.

I'm sure there'll be children there, as well as adults, and we're combining alcohol.

So I'm doing a little bit of a chicken little up here, saying it passed through.

I believe it passed for the noise variants.

I believe it passed for the ability to get them in there, but I don't believe they truly explained to the council exactly what they were bringing into the parking garage.

So if in fact there is a liability involved, you are now aware of it.

Um police and fires should be ready, they should be prepared.

Thank you for saying something about 324 Maine, recognizing the third year anniversary of this.

Thank you for putting out the barricades, keeping people out of that site, so it can be the sacred and hollow ground that it has become these last three years.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else from the public?

Just reminded uh state your name, ward or address.

William Pampern, citizen of Davport, Iowa.

As you know, and you stated before, May 28th is a three-year anniversary of 324 Maine.

That tragedy, we lost three Davport citizens and maimed one, plus many people lost their possessions, basically their life.

Oh, because one of the city departments couldn't do their job properly, or failed to the inspections, failed to keep the people safe in the buildings.

Now it's in court.

Davor's gonna end up paying eventually.

Brings up some questions.

Does the city of Davenport have a protocol on buildings that are structurally insufficient?

And why didn't we follow it if we did have one?

When was the last time it was reviewed or updated?

I'll give you an example right now.

This is all under the building inspection.

Northwest corner of Force and Pine Street, right here in the West End.

It's three years now.

Three years ago when the 324 collapsed, they went around and inspected all the buildings.

All right.

That building on the three at uh fourth and pine, it's a brick building.

They found uh structural deficiencies, large cracks, crumbling stone, and bricks.

City went out, put up the barricades, the plat the orange plastic barrels, and tape to block off for a barrier to keep the public from going in there.

And they put tag the building as uh condemned, do not enter all around the front of the building and the side of the building.

They didn't do it in the back of the building.

There are two houses basically 20 feet from each side of that building that are occupied, and some have children in it.

They blocked off all of Pine Street, all the way over to the east curb.

You couldn't get through there.

Then over a period of time, the barricade started moving in.

All of a sudden we had half of Pine Street one lane you could drive up a little more time later on, and it was moved over to the curb.

The barrels.

Okay, and then all the all the uh tags, all the uh condemned tags, were either faded, blown off by the weather, or removed.

So the building is not even marked anymore.

There wasn't even a building permit.

The occupants of the building claim that they were done, they were trying to get financing to revamp the building.

All right, so the city had delayed or postponed the demolition of the building.

Over time, later on, the barricades disappeared.

There weren't any barricades down there, and there's still no tags on the building or building permit.

So they decide to come in and replace on the intersection of Fourth and Pine.

The construction companies put their equipment, part their equipment, next to the building, and some of their supplies and so forth working around a danger zone, not even knowing it because all the barricades, all the tags on a building are gone.

Working around a danger zone, not even knowing it, because all the barricades, all the tags on a building, are gone.

I believe they were what last year when they did the fourth in the intersection there.

City come back.

They decide, okay, well, we're gonna revamp 4th Street from Pine Street up to Telegraph.

They did again.

The construction companies put their equipment, park their equipment, and employees parked their vehicles next to that building.

All right, thank you, sir.

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

Hi, Joyce Miller, third ward.

Uh what the gentleman was just talking about.

I noticed tonight on my way when I was leaving the home.

That they have fourth and pine now.

Uh they have chain leg fence up there, and there's a big sign there that says road closed.

Okay.

I didn't put on the last Thursday.

Is there anyone else from the public this evening?

Nothing.

And well, I just wanted to thank staff and leadership for having such a great program like Davenport U.

Um, I I think that the community feels disconnected with local government.

Um they're quick to complain, criticize online, and assume that nothing's being done, but the program showed me personally that real people are showing up every day and working very hard to move the city forward, and I'm very grateful to have been part of it.

So I just want to say thank you.

Name and ward for the rank.

Andy and ward five.

Thank you very much for that.

Appreciate that.

Anyone else from the public?

Oh my gosh.

Hello, Kyle Carter, fifth ward, and uh executive director of downtown partnership.

Just wanted to uh invite you all to our annual meeting, which is taking place on June 24th.

Uh we'll be able to walk through the whole scope of of what our nonprofit really provides uh for this community and for downtown.

And it's uh it's a whirlwind tour in about 45 minutes.

Uh but you always learn a lot, and uh I love doing it every year and look forward to that.

I hope you guys uh you'll each get a letter in the mail inviting you here soon.

Uh also working uh with city administrator to do uh a more brief version of that for you here in this building, hopefully next month as well.

Uh but just wanted to make sure that was on your radar and uh from clean and safe to economic development to all of the festivals and infrastructure that uh DDP does.

Um, it'll be a a really good opportunity to catch up on that and uh hope you guys can make it and uh appreciate it.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Anyone else from the public this evening?

All right, seeing and hearing no one else.

Are there any final comments from anyone on council?

Alder Movescas?

Yeah, uh, in reference to the uh parking lot activity, um I would assume with police and fire present if something looks like it's getting out of hand on the safe that they would act immediately to protect the citizens and dabport polls.

All right, anyone else?

All right, seeing and hearing no one, will the alder person move to go into executive session to discuss strategy with council and matters involving litigation pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.51C.

So moved.

Second.

All right, then just a quick note the motion has been moved and seconded to go into executive session.

Uh before we call the roll, it's just a reminder that we will go into executive session and we will not return to the council chamber.

We've all returned directly from our executive session.

So with that, Brian, can you call the roll?

Lean in?

Yes.

All the way, yes, grip, yes, Joe Jen?

Yes.

Newton, yes, Burkholder, yes, Vasquez, yes, yes.

Well, yes, and Ardon.

Yes.

Nine yeses, your honor.

All right, thank you.

We're adjourned.