Council weighs revised RiverWatch Place agreement amid contamination, floodplain and ethics concerns

Davenport City Council members debated a revised development agreement for the RiverWatch Place project on Jan. 8, 2025, after council leadership circulated proposed amendments requiring both lots in the subdivision to enroll in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources land recycling program, adding a recorded flood‑risk disclaimer, and dedicating a portion of hotel‑motel tax revenue to park maintenance.

The council heard about contamination and flood risks from multiple public commenters, received economic projections from city staff and a developer presentation that said the partners had invested millions of their own funds, and considered process questions after Alderwoman McGinnis invoked the council’s new code of conduct and asked for a formal determination whether prior paid consulting work for other projects created an appearance of conflict.

The amended agreement circulated to council would require both parcels (Lots 1 and 2 of the RiverWatch subdivision) to satisfactorily complete the Iowa DNR land recycling program; record a covenant disclaiming any city obligation to provide private flood protection and requiring the covenant run with the land; and allocate a scheduled share of hotel‑motel tax revenue from the property to park maintenance (25% for years 1–10 and 50% for years 11–15, with reporting requirements and a statement that the funds are intended to supplement, not replace, existing park maintenance funding).

Why it matters: The proposal would permit a multi‑building riverfront development on a site that…