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Davenport council postpones River Watch Place development after procedural dispute and heavy public comment
Summary
After extended public comment and debate over agenda procedure and proposed amendments, the Davenport City Council voted to postpone action on the River Watch Place development agreement with 227 LeClaire to Jan. 8, 2025. Council directed staff and corporate counsel to draft amendment language before the next vote.
The Davenport City Council on Dec. 11, 2024 voted to postpone consideration of a revised development agreement with 227 LeClaire for the River Watch Place hotel and mixed-use project until the first council cycle in January.
The motion to postpone, moved and seconded during the discussion agenda, passed by roll call with seven yeses, one no and one abstention. Councilors instructed staff and corporate counsel to work on proposed amendments and provide revised language before the next meeting.
The item generated a lengthy public-comment period and sharp debate among council members about procedure and public notice. Judith Lee, speaking during public comment, questioned how revisions were posted and whether the agenda had been altered on short notice, saying staff and council had "a failure of Davenport city government at the top" and urging stricter adherence to rules. Several other residents echoed concerns about agenda timing and transparency, while business owners and members of the Riverfront Improvement Commission urged the council to move forward with redevelopment that they said would bring visitors and revenue downtown.
An aldermember who identified themself as chair of the community/economic development committee defended routine meetings with developers and described how staff had identified an alternative to tax-increment financing. In remarks to council, that member said outreach to developers was part of the committee's role and denied any impropriety, calling for the body to "stop acting the way that we've been acting" and focus on the project.
Alderman Brick Dunn proposed three amendments for staff to consider: requiring both parcels be enrolled in the voluntary DNR land-recycling program, an acknowledgement that the city will not provide flood-protection measures that directly benefit the private property, and allocating the city’s share of hotel/motel revenues from the project to park maintenance as supplementary funds for the term of the agreement. Corporate counsel (Attorney Hough) advised that the amendments could be drafted and returned with the postponed item so the council and public could review them before a vote.
The council's decision follows internal procedural dispute earlier in the meeting over a disruption and subsequent appeal of the presiding officer’s removal decision; that appeal failed and the removal decision stood. The mayor or presiding officer determined no formal rule was violated with respect to abstentions beyond conflict-of-interest rules, and corporate counsel had earlier told the council there is no city policy restricting abstentions for reasons other than a conflict of interest.
The council will take up the River Watch Place item again on Jan. 8, 2025, with staff and corporate counsel expected to present the amended language for public review.
