Commission discusses upcoming council review of contested demolition/alteration appeal; may send representative

Commission members discussed a continuation of an appeal related to a property whose preservation status and permit history were under review and which will be considered again by the Davenport City Council.

Commission staff said counsel had been directed to seek a compromise with the homeowners and to work with the city's legal team. Chairman Hesteti reported he attended the council hearing the prior week and that the homeowners, the city attorney and council discussed possible accommodations. The commission noted both supporters and opponents of the homeowners spoke at the earlier hearing.

The commission discussed whether a member should attend the council meeting the following evening (the meeting was scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.). No formal motion was recorded; commissioners volunteered that the vice chair or another member could attend if available. The commission identified three outcomes the council could choose: back the commission's decision, overrule the commission, or table the matter to allow more time for compromise.

Separately in communications earlier in the meeting staff reported that the Johnson School owner or proposer had withdrawn plans to use that building because of time and budget constraints; staff also reminded commissioners about the Preserve Iowa Summit in Muscatine, June 5–7, and the certified local government roundtable on Saturday, June 7.

No additional formal action on the appeal was taken by the commission at the April 8 meeting; staff and legal counsel continue to pursue a negotiated resolution ahead of the council's consideration.