300 Main Street, Suite 200, Dubuque, IA 52001
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Local
The City of Dubuque held their rescheduled conversation with the Five Flags Center to determine next steps. Council members voiced varying levels of support for the project and for the need to hold a referendum. Council requested updated cost estimates for the project and could set a referendum date as early as March or April. You can watch the work session via the linked title.
The City of Dubuque will begin its 2023 budget hearing process this week, with a conversation around tax rates and setting a maximum rate for the year. Over the course of March, the City will then hold a series of hearings relating to departmental budgets, all of which can be attended by members of the public. You can find a link to this week’s hearing via the linked title.
State
HF2379 & SF2172 – Addressing the Three-Tier Alcohol System
In our 2022 Legislative Agenda, we called for changes to the three-tier alcohol system to increase efficiencies for restaurants and reduce the regulatory burden in the hospitality industry. This bill would address discrepancies in the three-tier alcohol system by allowing restaurants to purchase liquor, wine, and beer either from a retail establishment such as a grocery store, or order directly from the alcoholic beverages division. After the past two years, it is time that the legislature step up and address these unnecessary burdens on our small business owners.
HSB688 & SF2213 – Addressing Liability and Standards for Third Party Delivery Services
The pandemic taught us many things, including how to use apps like Grub Hub and Uber Eats, allowing restaurants to keep staff employed and the revenue coming in during difficult months. However, this also exposed some issues associated with these apps – namely a lack in clarity over liability and standards for drivers. Consider, if an order is placed that includes alcoholic beverages, and they arrive with the products and hand it over to an 18-year-old, who is liable? Right now, the restaurant rather than the driver or app company would be at risk. This bill would ensure that liability is clearly defined and shared, so as long as restaurants follow the appropriate steps, they can mitigate risk from such situations. You can read the bill through the linked title.
Iowa’s Water & Land Legacy – The Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund
The tax debate continues in Des Moines, and a major part of that discussion is whether or not to include the Iowa Land and Water Legacy proposal, which was approved via a statewide referendum years ago, in a final tax package. The Chamber has advocated for its inclusion as it has the potential to support future economic development and workforce efforts across the state and region. Please take action to support this effort by following the linked title.
Federal
Economic Development & Infrastructure Conversation
The Chamber is working to schedule a conversation with our federal staffers and local leaders to continue to promote programs that support economic development at the local level, and fight for future funding to support infrastructure projects that impact Dubuque residents & business.
