Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting Summary – March 28, 2024

Note: The agenda and transcript in the source record are dated March 26, 2024, starting at 6:00 p.m.; this summary uses the supplied meeting date of March 28, 2024. The Committee-of-the-Whole (COW) heard public comments and reviewed agenda items before the City Council convened for formal action.

Consent Calendar

• The City Council approved the consent agenda by one motion, 8-0, including: minutes of the March 12, 2024 Committee-of-the-Whole, Council, and Executive Session meetings; appointments made at the COW meeting; a second-reading ordinance amending Chapter 32, Article II (Trees) to align with the Urban Forestry Management Plan; and resolutions 14.1 through 14.9. Those resolutions covered the Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice with MOSAIC Community Planning, the Regional Housing Needs Assessment with Points Consulting, an intergovernmental agreement with East Moline for temporary wastewater treatment plant operations and maintenance, a BNSF railway pipeline license for storm culvert access, the 38th Street Reconstruction contract with Walter D. Laud, Inc. for $758,356.27, the 7th Street Water Tank Coating contract with L.C. United Painting Co., Inc. for $194,000.00, and continued confidentiality for certain Executive Session minutes.
• The appointments approved as part of the consent process were Kate Jennings to the Moline Commission on Youth for a full 3-year term, listed on the agenda as expiring March 31, 2027, and Zaiga Thorson to the Public Art Commission to fill the unexpired term of Daniel Otten, expiring September 30, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A Garfield Senior Residence resident said the property owner has neglected the historic former school buildings and tenants, citing two years without regular janitor service before March, rents up to $875 in the 1901 building, residents without heat for almost two weeks during a storm after rooftop heater vents were not capped, and an elevator out for three weeks. He criticized the city's vetting of the management company.
• Claudia, a Venezuelan Mercado on Fifth vendor, speaking through an interpreter, expressed support for Mercado as a win-win for the Latino community and the city, saying it contributes additional sales tax revenue and tourism.
• Denise Sallas, a Garfield Senior Residence resident with mobility challenges, described about two months with no on-site managers or maintenance, filthy conditions, mice, seven deaths, and two residents who died after falling down stairs while the elevator was out. She asked the council who she should pay rent to and for help with oversight.
• Vicki Graves, Chair of the Moline Plan Commission, urged the council not to take final action on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) until the public has sufficient input. She said ADUs were the most contentious Plan Commission issue in the past decade, that the commission voted against adoption in 2022 after resident concerns, and that public hearings at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays are not accessible to many residents. She recommended informal discussions, city Facebook feedback, and neighborhood group outreach.
• Yolanda Cervantes, born and raised in Moline and representing Mercado on Fifth, requested that the 12th Street closure be accepted, citing the event's growth and economic impact.
• Maria Antiveros, granddaughter of Mercado founder Bob Antiveros, said the market has helped launch more than 60 new businesses since 2016, gave examples of vendors who expanded to full-time businesses, thanked the city for last year's 12th Street closure support, and asked for a long-term vision and city partnership for safe growth.
• Francis Williams, new executive director of Mercado on Fifth, thanked the city for last-minute help in 2023, emphasized that Fifth Avenue and 12th Street closures are important for safety and growth, and said she wants to continue the minority business incubator mission in collaboration with the city.
• Laura Mazo, a Costa Rican immigrant, pastor, and Mercado vendor, said the market serves not only Latinos but the whole community and asked the city to allow the street to remain open for growth.
• A first-generation Floricenta Neighborhood Association board member supported closing 12th Street, saying Mercado has grown from about five or six vendors, is a safe place for young people, and draws visitors from places such as Chicago and Wisconsin.

Discussion Items

• Rock Salt Agreement: Public Works Director Denver Schmitt said the city annually joins the state's rock salt procurement. Staff requested 4,000 tons for the 2024/2025 winter season, obligating the city to purchase a minimum of 3,200 tons and allowing up to 4,800 tons; both salt domes are full. COW endorsed the item.
• Non-Discrimination and LEP Plan: Staff said the policy, complaint procedure, reasonable accommodation process, and Limited English Proficiency plan are required for the city to remain eligible for certain federal funds. COW endorsed the item.
• Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Rules: Chief Darren Gault said the revised 2024 rules were developed over about five months and change recruitment to a continuous testing model. He noted the department has six vacancies and only one eligible candidate, so the change is intended to remove barriers and speed hiring. A minimum oral interview score was also added for promotions. COW endorsed the item.
• Quad Cities Distance Classic: Approved as a special event for Sunday, May 12, 2024, sponsored by the Cornbelt Running Club, with a $500 grant from the Special Events Fund and closure of 17th Street.
• Worldwide Food Truck Tours: Approved as a first-time event for Saturday, July 20, 2024, sponsored by One Event at A Time, with about 20 food trucks and selected parking lot closures. Organizer Jeff Grant said event proceeds can be directed to local community needs; council members asked about local reinvestment.
• Walk to End Alzheimer's: Approved for Saturday, September 14, 2024 (the agenda date; the transcript says September 24), sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, with a $450 grant and a westbound River Drive lane closure between 1st and 12th streets from 5:30 a.m. to noon.
• Ambulance Billing Agreement: The fire department recommended continuing with Professional Billing Services of Illinois, Inc., at a commission of four percent. The department received three RFP responses; the company has been used since 1993 and reduced its commission from six percent to four percent in the last RFP. Based on about $2.7 million collected in 2023, the cost difference versus lower commission proposals is about $4,000. COW endorsed the item.
• 2024–2026 Action Plan Dashboard: City Administrator Bob Vitas presented the comprehensive report, which tracks 47 goals through 47 action plans aligned with the adopted strategic plan. Highlights included food security, social infrastructure, the growing rental housing inspection program, a new fire station, and the pool project. The bathhouse is 65 percent complete and the pool is scheduled to open in May; Bettendorf's pool is expected to be closed, so a busy season is anticipated.
• ILETSB Recruitment and Retention Grant: Chief Gault announced an $84,000 Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board grant. It provides up to $1,000 per officer as a fringe benefit for childcare, housing, student loan debt, medical expenses, or moving expenses for new officers moving to Moline, at no cost to the city. The city is reviewing tax and payroll implications with its auditor.
• Mercado on Fifth 2024 Event Schedule: Staff presented a proposed plan for 17 Mercado events from late May through September. Fifth Avenue would be closed for all 17 events, and 12th Street would be closed for nine larger events. Staff recommended a semi-permanent Fifth Avenue closure from May 24 through August 17 and a partial closure from August 17 through September 27 to reduce setup labor and accommodate Boys & Girls Club and MetroLink. Traffic engineering reviewed an all-way stop at 12th and Fifth, but estimated it would add about $15,000 per year in Vibrant Arena police costs; a traffic signal would cost $350,000 and was not supported. Staff recommended pedestrian flashers for $15,000 one-time, citing up to a 47 percent crash reduction. The city has ordered $188,000 in portable bollard barriers; portable crash-rated gates cost about $56,000 each. Maria Antiveros said the nine 12th Street closures were a starting point and that Mercado would prefer a closure every week. Council members discussed safety, liability, road maintenance tradeoffs, and the event's economic benefit, noting opening-night attendance of about 9,000 compared with Vibrant Arena capacity of 12,000. Council consensus was to accept the staff recommendation for nine 12th Street closures in 2024 and to develop a longer-term plan and MOU rather than a three-year agreement immediately.

Key Outcomes

• The COW endorsed the appointments and all 6.1–6.7 agenda items; formal City Council votes followed for items 16.1 and 16.2.
• The City Council approved the consent agenda 8-0.
• The City Council approved non-consent resolutions 16.1 (rock salt agreement), 16.2 (non-discrimination and LEP policies), and 16.3 (Avenue of the Cities and 41st Street Pedestrian Improvements contract with Centennial Contractors of the Quad Cities, Inc. for $181,779.20), each by an 8-0 roll-call vote.
• The City Council advanced first-reading Ordinance 17.1, extending the parking prohibition on the east side of 41st Street from 4th Avenue south from 50 feet to 138 feet, to second reading by an 8-0 vote.
• The City Council authorized an executive session for discussion of property acquisition under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) by an 8-0 vote.
• For Mercado on Fifth, the council gave consensus direction to proceed with nine 12th Street closures for the 2024 season and to bring back a longer-term plan and MOU; no formal roll-call vote was taken on this directional item.