“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives were not put in place to ensure lower-qualified minorities could get hired instead of more highly qualified white people. They were put in place to ensure lower qualified white people were not hired instead of more qualified minorities.”  - - Anon I believe that those who oppose DEI initiatives are simply not aware of what they actually are and what they accomplish. The quote above explains it very well. The bar is not being lowered. I...

Goals & Priorities as established August 26, 2024 The 2039 Dubuque Vision Statement Dubuque 2039 is a sustainable and resilient city, an inclusive and equitable community where ALL are welcome. Dubuque 2039 has preserved our Masterpiece on the Mississippi, has a strong, diverse economy and expanding connectivity. Our residents experience healthy living and active lifestyles; have choices of quality, affordable, livable neighborhoods; have an abundance of diverse, fun things to do; and...

Eagle Point and our Park System A number of citizens have expressed disappointment in the state of Eagle Point Park. A treasured location for all of us, Eagle Point Park is the victim of some deferred maintenance and short staffing. The City Council was persuaded by a citizen group to dramatically reduce or eliminate chemical use in the parks.  There is a noticeable difference in the mowed lawn areas because of this. Some areas cannot support turf without the chemical support and are...

I am unaware of any city’s governing body that is more transparent than ours. Beginning tn the late summer of each year the City Council meets in open session with a facilitator over three days to establish our goals and priorities for the coming fiscal year. It is a grueling process where many great ideas don’t float to the top and are discarded.  It is also a very gratifying process as we emerge with 10 high priorities for staff to focus their attention and resources on. Throughout th...

Several years ago it was becoming apparent that our sanitary sewer collection and processing system needed work to accommodate future growth. In 2013 The City undertook to rebuild the entire Water Resource and Recovery Center, also known as the sewage treatment facility. The plant was completely rebuilt on the footprint of the existing facility without losing a single day of operations. It was becoming obvious that the sewage collection system was nearing capacity, especially the catf...

The Caradco building is fully occupied. Novelty Iron Works is occupied and now leasing space. Dupaco has relocated their headquarters after completion of a top to bottom renovation and re-purposing of the Voices Building.  The Intermodal Facility and parking ramp are open and operating. The Jule as well as Trailways buses operate from this facility. Restaurants and bars are thriving in the district.

The City of Dubuque in partnership with East Central Intergovernmental Association and the Iowa DOT to implement the STREETS (Smart Traffic Routing with Efficient and Effective Traffic System) project. This innovative integrated system will provide real time redirection to vehicle navigation systems and will provide instant reprogramming of traffic signals to respond to changing conditions. This is the first project of its type and scope in the US. We were very pleased with the results of the "...

A large number of people in Dubuque live in poverty. Persons of color are more likely to be in poverty in Dubuque than in comparable cities. Once one is in poverty there are many barriers to become self-sufficient. The City is partnering with the Dubuque Dream Center, the Fountain of Youth, The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Northeast Iowa Community College and other entities to help those in poverty to find their way out. Our new Office of Shared Prosperity adds hope. We will...