Davenport council approves amendment to Saint Ambrose campus land-use plan

Davenport City Council approved the third consideration of Ordinance ORD 25-01 on Oct. 8, adopting an amendment to Saint Ambrose University—s campus land-use plan for the area bounded by Harrison Street, West Locust Street, Brown Street and Lombard Street.

The change passed on a roll call vote of eight in favor, one opposed and one abstention. Alderman Kelly voted no; Alderman Burkholder abstained, saying she was a recent former employee of Saint Ambrose and therefore had a conflict of interest.

Saint Ambrose representatives told the council they had held neighborhood meetings associated with the proposal and made changes based on neighbor feedback. Courtney Berg, chief financial officer at Saint Ambrose University, and Christopher Waugh, vice president for student engagement and dean of students, described ongoing campus-community efforts including participation in the Good Neighbor Project, annual neighborhood cleanups and eliminating a disruptive student "house crawl" event. "We strive to be good neighbors in Davenport and in the Quad Cities writ large," Waugh said.

Waugh and Berg also told the council the university contributes to the local economy; Waugh cited a university estimate that 60% of its health-care graduates work in the Quad Cities and that the university produced "$270,000,000 economic impact" in the region last year. Those figures were presented by university representatives as part of their remarks to the council.

Several council members expressed support for the plan. Alderman Gripp said the 10-year plan advances both the institution and the city and noted a commitment from university leadership to hold meetings next year about nearby properties outside the master-plan area. "I look forward to strengthening our relationship in the new year," Gripp said.

Alderman Kelly said she remained unconvinced that the university—s actions have consistently been good for surrounding neighborhoods. "I guess I'm gonna be that wet sock," Kelly said, asking the university and council to consider past neighborhood impacts reported in local media and by constituents, particularly complaints about parking and student behavior.

Alderman Burkholder explained her abstention: "I am a recent former employee of Saint Ambrose. . . I feel that I have to abstain from this vote." The abstention was recorded during the roll call.

The ordinance move to third consideration was made and seconded on the council record; the motion's named mover and seconder were not specified in the meeting transcript. The city clerk conducted a roll call that produced eight yes votes, one no and the single abstention that left the ordinance approved.

The council also approved several consent items and two appointments earlier in the meeting, but council discussion and votes on those items were brief or routine and were recorded separately in the meeting minutes.

Council members and Saint Ambrose representatives indicated they plan additional neighborhood meetings and further communication; no other formal amendments to the ordinance were recorded at the Oct. 8 session.