Dubuque City Council Work Sessions and Meeting | April 20, 2026

The City of Dubuque held a City Council work session and regular meeting on April 20, 2026, focusing on economic mobility initiatives, community development, and budget planning for fiscal year 2027. Key procurement-related discussions included approval of multiple development agreements for downtown housing and commercial projects, awarding grants such as the downtown housing incentive grant ($80,000) and downtown rehabilitation grant (up to $35,000), and authorizing easements for the Holy Family Catholic Schools campus improvement project. The council also set public hearings for various infrastructure projects including storm sewer reconstruction, street overlay, pavement marking, and concrete banding and crack sealing, with contract awards and bid approvals discussed. A significant budget item was the setting of the fiscal year 2027 city budget with no increase in the city tax rate, reflecting updated revenue projections from the Dubuque Racing Association. The council approved a $650,000 property acquisition for the East-West Corridor Capacity Improvement Project and authorized submission of a FEMA grant application for flood mitigation, involving a local match of $3 million. Additionally, the council approved funding recommendations for the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program totaling $14,625. Policy discussions included administrative overhead cost allocation in enterprise funds, with a commitment to review comparative practices in other Iowa cities. The meeting concluded with a closed session on pending litigation and real estate matters.