OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Davenport City Council Meeting – June 11, 2026

City Council — Thursday, June 11, 2026
BodyDavenport, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, June 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 56:27

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening.

0:01

I would like to call the city council meeting for Wednesday, June 8th, uh June 10th to order.

0:06

At this time, we will have a moment of silence.

0:15

Thank you.

0:16

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

0:29

Under God.

0:31

Liberty and Justice for all.

0:36

Thank you.

0:37

Brian, could you call the roll, please?

0:40

R done.

0:41

Vasquez.

0:42

Here.

0:42

Holloway.

0:42

Present.

0:43

Lean in.

0:44

Present.

0:44

Grip.

0:45

Here.

0:45

Newton.

0:47

Blunk.

0:48

Here.

0:48

T Dunn.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Job Jen.

0:50

Here.

0:50

And Burkholder.

0:51

Here.

0:51

Nine present, Your Honor.

0:52

Thank you.

0:53

And good evening.

0:53

I'd like to welcome everyone here tonight for our city council meeting.

0:57

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

1:01

We value your comments and opinions and welcome your participation in your local government.

1:06

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

1:28

Thank you for being a part of tonight's meeting.

1:30

Before we again uh begin, just a few reminders, please silence or turn off any cell phones or devices that would uh make any kind of disruptive noise.

1:38

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

1:46

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.

1:53

And you will have five minutes to do so.

1:55

So again, thank you for your participation.

1:58

Well, an alderman move approval of the city council meeting minutes for May 27th, 2026.

2:04

So moved.

2:05

All in favor say aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:07

Any opposed, same sign.

2:09

Those minutes are approved.

2:10

Uh Tim, is there a city administer update this evening?

2:14

Yes, sir.

2:14

There is.

2:15

Uh Mayor and Council.

2:17

Uh this is uh first cycle.

2:19

So we have uh employee recognition, and then uh we do have a uh educational uh presentation uh after that.

2:28

There's been a lot going on this week, uh, and I'm not gonna comment all that, uh all those different uh items, uh, but it's been a uh busy week for the city.

2:37

I'm sure uh council will uh comment some of those.

2:41

Uh employee recognition.

2:43

We have uh welcome to the city, new hires, Kamara Buckles is library social worker, Mason is a mechanic with the city, and Daniel is uh new cons custodian with the city.

2:56

Moving up, so these are promotions.

2:59

Uh Dylan uh was promoted to sewer heavy equipment operator.

3:03

Brandon was promoted to street maintenance worker, and Steven uh promoted to Packer Driver Loader.

3:13

Also moving up, uh, we have Clint that uh was promoted to uh senior maintenance specialist, and uh Trevor was promoted from uh patrol officer to uh corporal for the uh for the police department.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████22%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Safety███████████11%
Racial Equity███████████11%
Pending Litigation██████████10%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Technology and Innovation████████8%
Cannabis Regulation████4%
Disability Rights███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Davenport City Council Meeting – June 11, 2026

The Davenport City Council met on June 11, 2026, for a regular meeting. The council approved a zoning ordinance for solar farms and freestanding solar panels, tabled a landscaping contract, approved a multi-year agreement with the Humane Society for animal services, and heard public comments on past city attorney conduct and ADA sidewalk deficiencies.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the council meeting minutes of May 27, 2026 (unanimous voice vote).
  • Approved the report of the Committee of the Whole from June 3, 2026 (unanimous voice vote).
  • Approved the reappointment of Carlton Wills to the Scott County Public Safety Authority, new appointment of Kathleen Townsley to the Design Review Board, and new appointment of Noah Trudsdale to the Civil Rights Commission (unanimous voice vote).
  • Accepted a proclamation declaring June 2026 as National Immigrant Heritage Month and June 20, 2026 as World Refugee Day, read by Alderman Holloway. Members of the Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities accepted the proclamation.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Cheryl Shagna, 3rd ward: Read a letter from the Iowa Attorney Disciplinary Board regarding former city attorney Thomas Warner. The board found that Warner exceeded his authority by communicating with only a subset of council members about employee settlements over $50,000, leading to settlements later deemed unauthorized and void. She stated this contributed to additional litigation.
  • Scott McConnell, Bettendorf (founder of Quad Cities Advocates): Addressed the absence of sidewalk infrastructure at the intersection of North Marquette Street and West Kimberley Road near Mid-City High School, calling it a hazard and a violation of federal ADA law. He noted that the school opened in 2014 after $11 million in renovations but lacks accessible pedestrian routes. He stated he filed a Title II ADA grievance with the city on May 28, 2026, and a formal civil rights complaint with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights. He noted that the city’s ADA grievance policy requires a 15-day response window, expiring on June 13, 2026, and asked the mayor and city administrator to direct public works to coordinate with the school district.

Discussion Items

  • Third consideration of Ordinance ORD 25-02 – Solar farms and freestanding solar panels: The council adopted amended language regulating solar farms as a principal use and freestanding solar panels as an accessory use. Alderman Grip noted the ordinance was a year in development and balanced solar development with land protection. Alderman Vasquez suggested preferring carport solar on existing land but supported the compromise. There is no size limit on solar farms; larger installations may fall under Iowa Utility Board jurisdiction. Roll call vote: 9-0 in favor.
  • Resolution for landscaping contract renewal with Delft Landscape: The resolution would have approved a one‑year renewal at $104,200. Alderman Burkholder moved to table for one cycle due to additional information needed. The motion to table passed 8-1 (Alderman Grip opposed).
  • Resolution for animal protection and shelter services with the Humane Society of Scott County: Approved an agreement for up to one year of animal protection services at $20,000 per month and up to three years of animal shelter services at $80,000 per month. Roll call vote: 9-0.
  • Motion for beer/liquor license – Stomp Box Brewing: After suspending the rules, the council approved a temporary outdoor area license for Stomp Box Brewing (210 East River Drive, Ward 3) for June 20–21, 2026, as a Class C liquor on‑premises license. The delay was due to a city clerical error. Roll call vote: 9-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance ORD 25-02 (solar regulations) passed 9-0.
  • Landscaping contract tabled for one cycle (8-1).
  • Humane Society animal services agreement approved 9-0.
  • Suspension of rules and approval of Stomp Box Brewing liquor license both passed 9-0.
  • The city administrator noted he would follow up on the ADA sidewalk issue raised in public comments.
  • Ward meetings announced: Ward 3 on June 15, Ward 1 on June 11, Ward 5 on June 29.

Additional Information

  • The city administrator presented employee recognition for new hires, promotions, and a city spotlight on Alderman Blunk and John Cena.
  • Development and Neighborhood Services Director Rich Oswald presented an overview of code enforcement, noting over 7,000 complaints per year (2,700 grass complaints), 6 code inspectors covering 42,000 parcels, and 18,000 rental units. New initiatives include a tenant education class in partnership with the Quad City Tenant Alliance and Iowa Legal Aid, expanded code officer attendance at Good Neighbor meetings, and weekend enforcement.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I would like to call the city council meeting for Wednesday, June 8th, uh June 10th to order. At this time, we will have a moment of silence. Thank you. Please rise as Alderman Holloway will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God. Liberty and Justice for all. Thank you. Brian, could you call the roll, please? R done. Vasquez. Here. Holloway. Present. Lean in. Present. Grip. Here. Newton. Blunk. Here. T Dunn. Here. Job Jen. Here. And Burkholder. Here. Nine present, Your Honor. Thank you. And good evening. I'd like to welcome everyone here tonight for our city council meeting. Those of you that are here with us in person or those watching online on a mobile device. We value your comments and opinions and welcome your participation in your local government. Please remember that when you address the council, you are also sharing your thoughts with fellow Davenport residents and viewers throughout the region. Thank you for being a part of tonight's meeting. Before we again uh begin, just a few reminders, please silence or turn off any cell phones or devices that would uh make any kind of disruptive noise. Uh there will be an opportunity to address the city council during the public with business portion of the meeting later in the uh in the evening. 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 so. So again, thank you for your participation. Well, an alderman move approval of the city council meeting minutes for May 27th, 2026. So moved. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, same sign. Those minutes are approved. Uh Tim, is there a city administer update this evening? Yes, sir. There is. Uh Mayor and Council.

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