Moline City Council/Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Summary – October 11, 2023
Moline City Council/Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Summary – October 11, 2023
The Moline City Council and Committee-of-the-Whole met at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 619 16th Street, Moline, Illinois. The printed agenda packet carries the date Tuesday, October 10, 2023, while the meeting metadata provided for this summary identifies the date as October 11, 2023; this summary uses the metadata date. No remote electronic attendance was announced. The meeting opened with committee presentations, a proclamation, public comment, committee action items, and an informational report, followed by a formal council meeting.
Presentations
- Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance (RIADA) funding: Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce CEO LaDrina Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer Brian Irby, and Senior Vice President Julie Forsyth presented. They described the Chamber's regional economic development work, five targeted industries, 79 new project opportunities in the past fiscal year, four successful projects, and outreach to existing Moline businesses. Wilson said the Rock Island Arsenal is the region's second-largest employer, with about 6,500 employees, approximately 6,000 civilians, and more than 400 Moline employees at the Arsenal. The Chamber requested increased municipal support for RIADA, stating Moline's current investment is $17,400 and the requested future increase is about $8,700.
- Winter Emergency Shelter: Ashley Velez, Executive Director of Humility Homes and Services, and Leslie Kilganen, Director of the Quad Cities Housing Council, requested $20,000 from Moline for the winter emergency shelter. They said the shelter operates year-round with physical shelter in Davenport from December 1 through April 15, and that about 550 individuals and families in the Quad Cities are unsheltered or in shelter at any given time. They cited a loss of 6,645 affordable housing units over the last 10 years, high rent burdens (50–60% of Quad Citizens spending 70–90% of income on rent), and a reduction in the shelter population from 400 to 171 people. Of the 171, 93 are considered high barrier. Velez noted Moline previously funded the shelter at $3,500 and $5,000 in the last two years, and said if the shelter cannot open, the no-turn-away policy for people brought by Moline police would stop on December 1. Kilganen called for sustained support across the affordable housing continuum and faster rehabilitation of vacant or poorly maintained units.
During discussion, Alderman Timian asked about single-room occupancy housing, and Velez said such units can rent for $200–$300/month and exist at Humility. Alderman O'Brien asked about national corporate buyers of single-family homes; Velez said they work more with small landlords than large property companies. The mayor noted the city's strategic plan update identifies infrastructure and housing as priorities and that Moline has passed a rental housing licensure program.
Proclamation
- Chief Steve Regenwether requested a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week, October 8–14, 2023. The agenda originally said “Fire Safety Week,” but the mayor noted a scrivener’s error and read the proclamation as “National Fire Prevention Week.”
Public Comments & Testimony
- A local food-truck owner and business operator gave public comment, saying she previously spoke in favor of a food truck project on 53rd Street. She reported a racist comment directed at her on a live stream, saying Jasmine Lee told her she would be “shucking and jiving,” and described an incident in which a city official asked about her Sandra Bland shirt, saying, “Is that the colored girl that got killed?” She said she no longer feels comfortable opening her food truck, that she has no ties to the community, that her income stops as a result, and that she feels she was used to help build someone else’s business before being mistreated. She expressed frustration that racism still occurs in 2023 and said the community needs education at home and in schools.
Multiple council members and the mayor responded in support, condemning the incident and acknowledging that they had heard her. The mayor, Aldermen Timian, Finch, Castro, and others offered support and contact information, with the mayor saying the council is committed to bringing the community together.
Committee-of-the-Whole Action Items
- 7.1 Surplus John Deere Motor Grader: A resolution declaring a 2005 John Deere Motor Grader (serial # DW672DX596790) surplus and authorizing disposal by sealed bid, auction, negotiation, or other legal process was approved. Alderman Schmidt thanked staff for right-sizing the fleet.
- 7.2 AT&T Site License Amendment: A resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute the Seventh Amendment to the Site License Agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC for AT&T equipment at the 17th Avenue elevated water tank was approved. The amendment relates to installation of a backup generator. Alderman Timian asked about the revenue stream, and staff said the agreement adds $200 per month.
- 7.3 TIF No. 8 SouthPark Mall Dissolution: An ordinance dissolving the SouthPark Mall Redevelopment Project Area special tax allocation fund was approved. City Administrator Bob Vitas said the city spent about two years working with the mall owners, but the property value fell below the TIF baseline and no tax increments were being generated.
- 7.4 TIF No. 9 Route 6/150 Dissolution: An ordinance dissolving the Route 6/150 Redevelopment Project Area special tax allocation fund was approved. Vitas said the TIF never performed, floodplain changes made the property difficult to develop, and a small commercial parcel did not warrant a TIF.
- 7.5 Mercado Navideño Special Event: A resolution approving the Mercado on Fifth Mercado Navideño event on Friday, November 10, 2023, with specified street closures, was approved. Staff said they will work with Mercado on parking, access, and security improvements for the 2024 season.
- 7.6 Lighting on the Commons Special Event: A resolution approving the annual Lighting on the Commons event on Saturday, November 18, 2023, with a River Drive closure, was approved. Alderman Schmidt disclosed a relationship with the John Deere Pavilion in advertising and stated he had been advised it is not a conflict of interest.
Informational Report
- City Administrator Bob Vitas presented the October Status & Information Report. Highlights included the launch of the Quad Cities Land Bank Authority website, the Strong Communities Program grant, an asphalt overlay project on Avenue of the Cities between 34th and 41st Streets, and the hiring of a management analyst and grant coordinator. Alderman Messias asked about the Morgan Park Multi-Use Path environmental review; staff said review is completed but they are waiting on IDOT, and they will provide a timeline.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent agenda by one motion with a roll call vote of 8–0: council meeting minutes of September 19, 2023 and Committee-of-the-Whole, Council, and Executive Session minutes of September 26, 2023; a special event resolution for Mercado on Fifth’s Día de los Muertos Parade After-Party on Saturday, October 28, 2023; a temporary sidewalk construction variance for 2500 53rd Street; a resolution authorizing a Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) grant application for $757,285.46 for Phase II of the Morgan Park Multi-Use Path project; and a Motor Fuel Tax resolution authorizing $310,000.00 for I-74 shared cost construction with the Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation.
Non-Consent Agenda
- 16.1 Food Truck Zoning Amendments: An ordinance amending zoning definitions and tables to regulate food trucks/motorized food vendors was approved 8–0.
- 16.2 Residential Refuse Collection Fee: An ordinance repealing and replacing Section 15-2200 was approved, but only after Alderman Schmidt offered an amendment to reinsert the curbside recycling cart fee language. The amendment established a $3.69 per month curbside recycling fee for single-family residences, a combined $10.79 refuse collection fee plus $3.69 recycling fee totaling $14.48 per month, added to utility bills, applied after stormwater fees and before water/sewer charges. The amendment was approved 8–0, and the amended ordinance was approved 8–0. Staff said the “quarterly” utility bill language will be updated later when the city moves to monthly billing.
- 16.3 Water and Sewers “In General”: An ordinance repealing and replacing Section 34-4400 was approved 8–0.
- 16.4 Sewerage Rate System: An ordinance repealing and replacing Section 34-3200 was approved 8–0.
- 17.1 AFSCME Local 1132 Agreement: A resolution approving contract changes with AFSCME Local 1132 for the January 1, 2023–December 31, 2025 contract term was approved 8–0. Council members highlighted the inclusion of paid parental leave and thanked the negotiating parties.
- 17.2 UMR Administrative Services Agreement: A resolution approving a three-year agreement with UMR, Inc., beginning January 1, 2024, for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, flexible spending, and pharmacy benefit management administrative services was approved 8–0.
- 18.1 Detention System Criteria First Reading: An ordinance amending Chapter 34, Section 34-4203 by adding subsection (c)(3) was advanced to second reading by an 8–0 vote.
Key Outcomes
- All recorded roll-call votes were 8–0 in favor.
- The council approved the consent agenda, zoning and utility fee ordinances, AFSCME labor contract changes, UMR administrative services, and the first reading of detention-system criteria.
- The Committee-of-the-Whole approved surplus disposal, the AT&T site license amendment, dissolution of TIF No. 8 and TIF No. 9, and special event applications for Mercado Navideño and Lighting on the Commons.
- Council members directed staff to provide a timeline for the Morgan Park Multi-Use Path project and committed to working with the public commenter and community on racial equity concerns.
- At the end of the meeting, the council voted unanimously to enter executive session for discussion of personnel (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)) and property acquisition (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'll call this committee of the whole meeting to order here in Council Chambers at 6 p.m. There's no remote electronic attendance, though we are very happy to see you back. All the Ren Razak. Thank you. Okay. We will start then with the presentation, item 3.1, Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance funding. Folks from the chamber. Good evening. Good evening. Make sure all the technology is working. Okay, great. If it's not, blame me. It's probably easier here. My name is Ladrina Wilson and I serve as a CEO for the Quad City Chamber of Commerce. I have with me my colleagues Brian Irby, who is our chief strategy officer as well as Julie Forsyth, who is our senior vice president for economic, excuse me, for business and economic growth. Brian is here mostly in the capacity as our executive director of the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance reports to Brian, and so wanted to make sure that he was present and aware of this conversation today, and also our executive director is in DC doing his work, so he couldn't be here. But Julie and I will give you a brief overview of our relationship with the chamber and the city of Moline, and then more specifically Riata. We had a chance to connect with Bob in advance of the meeting and realize it's been a couple of years, even though there's new faces. It's been a couple years since we've been out to talk collectively about the work of the Quad City Chamber. So we're just going to do a brief overview and then talk more specifically around the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance. So the Chamber is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a prosperous region, a regional economy where all can thrive. I emphasize the all in that statement. We are not for some people, we are for the benefit of all the Quad citizens here in this region. And so we are taking deliberate efforts through our talent and inclusion work to make sure that we capitalize on the all in that. Simply put, our job is to try to help businesses be better businesses. That's the best way I can break down what I do as I continue to try to explain to my nine-year-old who keeps asking me now, what do you do again? So we are in the business of helping other businesses become better businesses. Do our advocacy work and our programs and services that we offer. What we do, we have our pillars here in front of you. So we are about business and economic development and growth. We'll talk just briefly a little bit about that. And the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance really does fit into this particular pillar of our work, especially if you look at it from the perspective of business retention, even though it is a governmental agency. We have our talent attraction and development line of work where we are actively working with our colleges and universities, our K-12 partners, as well as some of our region's largest employers to create attractive opportunities for people to consider the quad cities to call their home where they can live, work, and play. Which leads me to our placemaking efforts. Our place making and place management usually sounds like all the fun stuff the bells and the whistles, the events, the programs, the activities, the place activation that you may be familiar with. But it really is part of our overall approach, which is centered on creating the place where people can choose to work, but also have a great quality of life at the same time. So you will see the economic development space that if you are trying to attract businesses, they are going to want to quickly know what you have here to offer for them. And that is what our place making and place management work uh entails. And we currently have partnerships across the region. And then, of course, our strong chamber pillar is goes across everything that we do, our governmental advocacy work that we do on behalf of our businesses, making sure that we have a business-friendly climate here for the businesses that exist here, but also those that are considering moving here. We have our sales and marketing team, our finance and administration, and of course, our foundations that do take in philanthropic dollars to allow us to do some of our work. We have our business and economic growth team. I'm gonna have Julie just give a few remarks here about her work and her team, and then I will jump back into the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance. Thank you, Ladrina. Well, uh thank you everybody. It's great to be here tonight. I uh have been with the Quad Cities Chamber since 2013 for uh so for 10 years in various capacities. I'm happy to be leading our business and economic growth team or economic development efforts, and I've also been a resident of Moline since 2005, so happy to be presenting in my home community. Um why don't you just give you an update on on what we do in economic development?
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