Dubuque City Council Special Meeting | August 18, 2026 (LIVE)

The City of Dubuque held a special City Council meeting on August 18, 2026, primarily focused on the procurement process for selecting a firm to assist with the recruitment of a new city manager. Council members discussed the approach to evaluating proposals received in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP), including the use of a scoring rubric provided by the Human Resources department. They emphasized the importance of criteria such as relevant city manager placements, outreach to the public administration talent pool, and regional experience, particularly within the Midwest. The council debated whether to involve the full council or a subcommittee in the evaluation process and agreed on scheduling multiple meetings to thoroughly review and score the proposals. They also considered the recruitment timeline, aiming for sufficient overlap with the outgoing city manager's departure in late May 2027. The meeting concluded with a motion to proceed with the outlined evaluation process, which passed unanimously.