Dubuque City Council Special Meeting | August 18, 2026

The City of Dubuque held a special City Council meeting on August 18, 2026, focused on the procurement process for selecting a recruitment firm to assist with the city manager executive recruitment. Council members discussed the approach to reviewing RFP submissions, including whether to involve the full council or a subcommittee in the evaluation process. They emphasized the importance of using a standardized scoring matrix to fairly assess proposals based on criteria such as relevant experience, process clarity, and regional familiarity. The council also considered scheduling multiple meetings to thoroughly review proposals and potentially interview top-ranked firms. The meeting concluded with a motion to receive and file the RFP submissions and proceed with the outlined evaluation process, which was unanimously approved. The discussion highlighted the council's intent to ensure transparency, equity, and efficiency in selecting the recruitment service provider within the timeline constraints related to the current city manager's retirement.