CORRECTION: The initial release of this information on Sept. 26 inadvertently omitted a top priority: Street Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program. That section of the original release is included below and the omitted priority is highlighted. We apologize for the mistake.

City Council Completes Annual Goal-Setting Sessions

SEPT. 30, 2025

The Dubuque City Council completed its annual goal-setting sessions on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.  Over the course of three evening sessions, City Council members affirmed the 15-year vision statement and mission statement and identified eight five-year goals for the city.  They also identified top and high priorities for a 2025-2026 policy agenda as well as in-progress projects and capital projects for 2025-2026.

Policy Agenda

Policy agenda items are issues that need direction or a policy decision or a major funding decision by the City Council, or issues that need City Council leadership in the community or with other governmental bodies.  The policy agenda is divided into top priorities and high priorities.

2025 – 2027 Top Priorities (in alphabetical order):

• Commercial Air Service Future Strategy and Action Plan to Sustain and Expand
• Comprehensive Fire Station Location and Facilities Study
• Fire Department Staffing Increases
• Police Department: Full Staffing and Hiring
• Sanitary Sewer Investments and Implementation
  • Catfish Creek Sanitary Sewer Project
  • Cedar Street Lift Station and Force Main
  • Chaplain Schmitt Island Sanitary Sewer
  • Cooper Place/Maiden Lane Project
  • Grove Terrace Project
  • Harvard Street Project
  • Hempstead Street Project
  • Sanitary Sewer Force Main Stabilization Project
  • Sanitary Sewer Consent Decree Compliance
  • Terminal Street Lift Station and Force Main
• Sports Complex Development
• Stormwater Management Investments and Implementation:
  • 17th and Elm Street Stormwater Project
  • 17th and Locust Street Stormwater Project
  • Bee Branch Gate & Pump Station Project
  • Detention Ponds Maintenance
  • Individual Neighborhood Investments
  • Kaufmann Avenue Storm Sewer Improvements
• Street Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program

2025 – 2027 High Priorities (in alphabetical order):

• Continued Implementation of Central Avenue Revitalization Plan
• Downtown Master Plan Update
• Dubuque Law Enforcement Center (DLEC) Short-Term Facility Enhancements and Future Plan
• East-West Corridor/Roundabouts Projects
• Next Phases of Chaplain Schmitt Island Development
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan Adoption and Implementation
• Water Resource and Recovery Center Facility and Process Improvements and Odor Reduction

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MEDIA CONTACT
Mayor Brad Cavanagh
bcavanagh@cityofdubuque.org