Moline COW/Council Meeting Summary - December 13, 2023

The meeting included a Committee-of-the-Whole session and regular City Council meeting on December 13, 2023. Key topics included recognition of retiring social workers, presentation of the Stormwater Master Plan, amendments to development and intergovernmental agreements, introduction of accessory dwelling unit regulations, and updates on special event and utility policies. All votes were unanimous (7-0). The meeting opened with a moment of silence for Alderman Pat O'Brien, who passed away over the weekend.

Consent Calendar

• Approved remote electronic attendance for Alderperson Macias due to personal illness.
• Appointed Kirk Marske to the Public Art Commission for a two-year term expiring September 30, 2025.
• Approved Consent Agenda items: appointments made during Committee-of-the-Whole and Resolution 14.1 (revised ARPA Childcare/Workforce Infrastructure Forgivable Loan Program Agreement with Western Illinois University Foundation).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during either the COW or Council portions.

Discussion Items

• Recognition of Outstanding Achievement for the Center for Youth and Family Solutions (CYFS): Police Chief presented Outstanding Achievement Awards to Tony Riordan (COO, retiring after 46 years) and Nicole Sodawasser (Social Worker, retiring after 26 years) for their work co-locating social workers in the Moline Police Department. Statistics: Since August 2020, 4,144 cases referred; in the past 12 months, social workers completed 132+ ride-along shifts, 962 hours, and handled over 200 incidents. An additional 683 social worker hours were spent on Moline cases and 112 hours in schools.
• Stormwater Master Plan: Scott DeSplinter (Crawford, Murphy & Tilly) presented findings. The stormwater system includes 119 miles of storm sewers, 4,600 catch basins, and 7 pump stations, with a 2023 replacement value of $297 million. Annual cost of ownership is $4.17 million ($2.97 million depreciation + $1.2 million O&M). Current revenue is $2 million. Recommendations included proactive asset management (assess entire system within 15 years), updates to ordinances (use of Bulletin 75 rainfall data, green infrastructure), and annual capital spending of $200,000 for rehabilitation, $200,000 for roadway drainage, and $200,000 for specific projects. Alderperson Timion raised concerns about burdens on commercial properties due to impervious surfaces; discussion on permit fee differences and the city's recent rate structure changes that allow commercial properties to be charged only for impervious surface.
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Alderpersons Timion and Macias introduced a draft ordinance to allow ADUs with regulations (e.g., owner-occupancy, rental registration enforcement via new rental housing inspection program). They noted ADUs already exist throughout the city and the goal is to legalize and regulate them. Council referred the draft to the Plan Commission for review. Alderperson Castro requested that short-term rentals (Airbnb) be prohibited in the ADU ordinance; Alderperson Timion agreed to include a minimum 30-day lease requirement.
• Quad City Civic Center Amusement Tax Amendment: City Administrator Vitas explained the proposed amendment to the 1990 Intergovernmental Agreement. The current 5% amusement tax would be repealed; a 3% tax would remain and be kept by the city for downtown capital improvements (target $500,000 annually for 10 years), while 2% would be remitted to the Civic Center for sports team support. The Civic Center would true-up any shortfall from its $9 million operating reserve, provided it maintains a $5 million reserve. Financially, the arena is performing well. Council approved the resolution.
• Illinois Domus, LLC Development Agreement (Fourth Amendment): City staff explained that the original minimum property tax value was never achieved; the amendment removes that minimum, maintains a 90/10 TIF split (city/developer), allows developer to receive TIF payments until the earlier of maximum payment or June 7, 2039 (TIF termination), and the developer agrees not to appeal assessments. The project (22 townhomes at 1300-1326 6th Avenue) is complete. Approved at COW and advanced to second reading.
• Special Events Policy (8.1 – Informational): Assistant City Administrator Dykhuizen presented a proposed repeal of Special Ordinance 1080-2023 and a new policy. Legal concerns were raised about content-based funding decisions; staff recommended developing content-neutral criteria focused on public purpose (e.g., tourism, education). Council consensus was to have staff work with the committee to create such criteria.
• Utility Customers Outside City Limits (8.2 – Informational): Director Loete proposed code changes to align water and sewer connection requirements, provide incentives (reduced rates) for non-contiguous customers who sign pre-annexation agreements, and increase rates to 300% of inside-city rates (state maximum). The changes will be brought back as a first reading ordinance in January 2024.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously approved all consent items (appointments and Resolution 14.1).
• Unanimously approved non-consent second reading ordinances: lowering speed limit on 35th Avenue to 20 mph, adding parking prohibition on 29th Street, and adopting paid leave benefits for all workers.
• Unanimously approved non-consent resolutions: authorizing TIF consulting services with PGAV Planners and a feasibility study for a downtown TIF district.
• Advanced first reading ordinances to second reading: reducing Plan Commission member count, adjusting utility billing references (two ordinances), and the fourth amendment to the Domus development agreement.
• Referred the Accessory Dwelling Unit draft ordinance to the Plan Commission.
• Directed staff to develop content-neutral criteria for the special event funding policy.
• Directed staff to bring back the outside utility customer code changes in January.
• Council members expressed condolences for Alderman Pat O'Brien and recognized the 70th anniversary of the Moline Second Alarmers.