city of davenport, iowa city administrator the community Nestled in the heart of America along the mighty Mississippi River, Davenport, Iowa, is a bustling, vibrant community of more than 100,000 people. Located halfway between Chicago and Des Moines in Scott County, with easy access to I-80 and I-74, Davenport covers 65 square miles, is the third largest city in Iowa, the largest of the Quad Cities with a regional population of roughly 385,000 people, and has been declared “The Most Livable Small City in America.” The community boasts a thriving downtown and business-friendly environment, with a focus on development and revitalization. Residents enjoy the endless array of recreational and leisure activities Davenport affords them and take pride in the city’s rich history, traditions, and culture. Established on May 14, 1836, by US Army interpreter Antoine LeClaire, Davenport was named after Colonel George Davenport, a veteran of the War of 1812, and was the site of the signing of the Black Hawk Treaty. The City was incorporated in 1839. Its convenient location on the Mississippi River made it a center for commerce. Davenport's ties to the military remain strong and the city was was recognized in 2015 by G.I. Magazine as a Top 5 Military community. Presently, there are over 15,000 veterans residing in Davenport and Scott County. Today, Davenport is the economic engine of the bi- state Quad Cities area and is a premier place to build or expand a business. With over 37 million people living within a 300-mile radius, Davenport’s central location provides businesses with a strong network of customers and suppliers as well as easy access to the river, major thoroughfares, and excellent public transportation. Additionally, the cost of doing business in the Quad Cities is among the lowest in the country, with a workforce that surpasses national averages in quality, stability, and productivity. The city was ranked the 16th best metro area for high-tech employment growth between 2006 and 2011. The Davenport Now program provides rebates on future taxes for new construction and improvements to existing properties. The program was developed to stimulate growth within the community and has generated more than $207 million in private investment. For these reasons, businesses thrive in Davenport. Major area employers include Rock Island Arsenal, Deere & Company, Genesis Health System, Hy-Vee Food Stores, Trinity Regional Health System, Tyson Fresh Meats, Alcoa Inc., Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer, and the HNI Corporation. Situated along a gorgeous and unique portion of the Mississippi River where the water flows east to west, downtown Davenport is the city’s heart and soul. According to Smart Growth America, Davenport has one of the top 10 fastest-growing downtown populations for mid- sized metro areas. The community’s unique character, history, and future reside in this urban core and it is a hub for entertainment, business, art and culture, shopping, and civic service. With this American landmark as the City’s “front porch,” the river provides the perfect backdrop for riverfront parks and outdoor activities. the community, continued The City invested $77 million in its downtown from 2013-2015. There are $80 million in projects currently under construction, including the City Square project, and more than $145 million slated for the future. Recent developments include the Union Arcade Building, Market Lofts, and Halligan Coffee Building. The Harborview project, a $30 million renovation of nine separate warehouses just east of downtown Davenport, is under construction and two mixed-income housing projects, 501 Brady and Lafayette Square, will begin construction this year. There are currently over 1,200 residential units with additional units in the construction and planning phases. The City is committed to preserving and revitalizing its historic Mississippi riverfront and, in recent years, has enhanced the area with new amenities, including a spray park, active recreation corridor, skate park, and walking and biking trails. One of the riverfront’s main attractions is Modern Woodmen Park, home of the QC River Bandits and voted “Best Minor League Ballpark” by USA Today readers and 10 Best in the 2013 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards. As the City’s award-winning RiverVision Plan continues to unfold, there will be more exciting developments along the riverfront in future years. Cultural and recreational activities play a vital role in the lives of Davenport citizens and there is plenty to do in the community whether you are a visitor or year-round resident. The City has an extensive parks and recreation system, with approximately 2,200 acres of park land, and offers a broad range of programs and facilities, from golf courses, tennis courts, and cricket, rugby, baseball, and soccer fields, to botanical gardens, aquatic centers, hiking, walking, biking, and equestrian trails, and a nature preserve. Other attractions include a professional theatre, the Quad Cities Symphony, historic riverboat cruises and gaming, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, the Quad City Air Show, the world famous Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, and Bix 7 Race. The City is home to the River Center/Adler Theatre, Putnam Museum of History and Natural Sciences, a 50-year old children’s theatre program, and one of the largest art institutions in the state of Iowa, the Figge Art Museum, which has an awe- inspiring collection of paintings and prints by American Regionalist Grant Wood. The Davenport Public Library serves as a resource center for residents and provides access to a large collection of print, digital, and audiovisual materials, as well as a variety of programming for the whole family. The Davenport Public School District serves almost 16,000 students in grades pre-K through 12. The district includes four high schools, four intermediate schools, two K-9 schools, 17 elementary schools, the Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities, Keystone Academy, a network of early childhood learning centers, one athletic stadium, an operations center, and an achievement services center. For those seeking higher education opportunities, Davenport is home to St. Ambrose University, Palmer Chiropractic College (one of the best of its kind in the country), and Kaplan University. Scott Community College and Brown Mackie College are in nearby Bettendorf, and Western Illinois University and Black Hawk College are a short commute away. The median income in Davenport is $45,034 and the average home value is $125,200. governance & organization Davenport operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of the Mayor and 10 City Council Members. The Mayor and two City Council Members are elected at-large and eight Council Members are elected from wards, with all members serving two year terms. The Mayor and City Council set municipal policies and appoint a City Administrator who is responsible for the overall operations of the organization. The Civil Rights Commission Director and Library Director are appointed by respective oversight boards but are considered part of the senior leadership team. The FY2016 budget is $201 million, including a $40.8 million Capital Improvement Plan. The City employs 772 full-time employees, 111 part-time employees, and more than 70 seasonal employees. Roughly 85% of City employees are unionized, under six different collective bargaining units. The City of Davenport has Nationally Accredited Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Library Departments. leadership & innovation city motto As the professional manager of the City’s daily operations, the City Administrator carries out policies and goals set and established by the Mayor and City Council, directs and “Great City, Great Life” coordinates the work of all City Departments, and keeps the Mayor and City Council informed of the condition and needs of the City. The City Administrator prepares and administers the annual budget and ensures that policies and fiscal provisions are upheld. Reporting directly to the City Administrator are the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Chief Information vision statement Officer, Human Resources Director, Parks and Recreation Director, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Community Planning and Economic Development Director, Enhancing the quality of Communications Director, and Assistant City Administrator. life in our community As the City moves forward, Davenport’s next City Administrator will face the following issues Providing the best and challenges: possible services Regional Collaboration and Networking: through open • Davenport and the surrounding communities have recently embraced the “Quad Cities” communication and collaborative approach to market the area and explore means in which services, programs, mutual support and opportunities can be leveraged cooperatively. The Chambers of Commerce have merged throughout the area (on both sides of the Mississippi River so that they now include Becoming a team of Iowa and Illinois). Davenport’s new Mayor Frank Klipsch and the governing body have also embraced the collaborative approach and endorses the same for the City organization. diverse and highly skilled employees who recognize • The transit system is presently managed by a private firm, but City employees make up the entire each other as the City’s staff. Discussions are currently in process regarding merging with one or more other transit providers in the Quad Cities area to provide enhanced regional service at potentially