Moline Committee-of-the-Whole & City Council Meeting - April 26, 2024
Moline Committee-of-the-Whole & City Council Meeting - April 26, 2024
The Moline City Council met in a joint Committee-of-the-Whole and regular Council session on April 26, 2024, to consider a wide range of items including awards, public comments, and several ordinances and resolutions. Notable actions included the approval of a $2.13 million ladder truck purchase, a $2.8 million redevelopment agreement for the former JCPenney building, and the advancement of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance to second reading. A proposed amendment to alcohol sales regulations was tabled to May 7.
Presentations & Awards
- Life Saving Award: Sergeant Tyler McLaughlin and Officer Tyler Lewis-Bresnahan were recognized for using a tourniquet to save a crash victim's life on March 9, 2024. The driver suffered severe blood loss and was airlifted to another hospital.
- Neighbor of the Month: Commercial award to G's Gourmet Popcorn (John Gnatovich) and residential award to Oswaldo Ojeda Vargas for property improvements.
- Water Ambassador Award: The city received Gold Level designation from the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association for public education efforts.
- Water Art Contest Winner: Emory Powell's artwork was chosen as the citywide winner; her piece will be featured in the Consumer Confidence Report and displayed at the water plant.
Proclamation
- Drinking Water Week: Mayor proclaimed May 5–11, 2024, as Drinking Water Week in Moline, emphasizing public health, fire protection, and economic benefits of safe water.
Public Comments & Testimony
- ADU Opposition: A speaker (identified as a former Plan Commission member) opposed Accessory Dwelling Units, citing concerns about commercial use (barbershops, accounting offices) in residential zones, parking issues, and lack of citizen vote.
- ADU Support: Multiple speakers expressed support for ADUs, highlighting affordability (average one-bedroom rent $832, up 21% from prior year), multi-generational living, aging-in-place, and minimal visual impact on neighborhoods.
- Pickleball Grant Support: Marcy Fosdick, Quad City Pickleball Club tournament director, requested $5,000 grant, noting the 2023 tournament brought $94,000 in economic impact, and the club donates to local nonprofits.
Consent Agenda
- Approved minutes from April 9 and April 16, 2024 meetings, and appointments.
- Approved resolutions: towing services agreement with Quad City Towing, Inc., and easement encroachment license for a retaining wall at 6109 34th Avenue A Court.
Discussion Items
- Equipment Sharing Agreement: Approved resolution authorizing police chief to execute a joint equipment agreement with Rock Island for a high-tech biometrics investigative tool. The motion passed unanimously.
- Aerial Ladder Truck: Approved purchase of one 100-foot mid-mount aerial tower ladder from Sutphen Corporation for $2,131,799 using a Sourcewell cooperative contract. The purchase was accelerated to avoid a 6% price increase effective May 1. The truck has a 3–4 year build time, and the current ladder truck is now used only for confirmed structure fires. Motion passed unanimously.
- Mercado on Fifth Grant: Approved $20,000 from Special Events Fund for the 2024 season (May–September), same amount as prior years. Motion passed unanimously.
- Pickleball Club Grant: Approved $5,000 from Special Events Fund for the Quad Cities Classic Pickleball Tournament. Motion passed unanimously.
- Property Sale: Approved sale of city-owned property at 1719 5th Avenue to Peter McDermott for $25,000, to be used as a play area for a planned daycare by Western Illinois University in the JCPenney building redevelopment. Motion passed unanimously.
- Redevelopment Agreement (JCPenney Building): Approved an ordinance authorizing a redevelopment and economic incentive agreement with Renew Moline Properties and Bush Construction to convert the vacant JCPenney building into 32 market-rate apartments, with ground-floor commercial space (4,000 sq ft) for a Western Illinois University daycare. City will provide $2.8 million in gap funding from the 2024 budget, to be repaid via TIF 15 (Fifth Avenue TIF). The project includes 11 studios ($950/month), 19 one-bedrooms ($1,200–$1,300), and 2 two-bedrooms ($1,500). City will lease 60 parking spaces at $35/month. Motion passed unanimously.
- Outdoor Cafe Insurance Amendment: Approved ordinance removing an unnecessary endorsement for outdoor cafes with alcohol (housekeeping item). Motion passed unanimously.
- River Drive Streetscaping: Approved engineering contract with Hutchison Engineering for Phase I design of streetscape improvements from 12th to 19th Street, not to exceed $174,093. The project addresses a 31-year-old streetscape that is deteriorating and will complement arena-related agreements. Motion passed unanimously.
- Sealcoat Ditch Restoration: Approved contract with Porter Brothers Construction for $128,289 for the annual sealcoat ditch restoration program. Motion passed unanimously.
- Alcohol Sales Ordinance Amendment: Proposed ordinance would allow Class A (restaurant) licensees to sell packaged beer and wine only (Option 5), with restrictions to prevent becoming a liquor store. Discussion raised questions about including spirits and reporting mechanisms. Alderman Castro moved to table to the next regular meeting (May 7) to address concerns. Motion to table passed 7–1 (Ayes: Masias, Rosak, Finch, McNeil, Castro, Schmidt, Murphy; Nay: Timion).
- EPA Administrative Order on Consent: Approved resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an order with the U.S. EPA under the Clean Water Act for industrial pretreatment compliance. The order requires additional testing for specific chemicals at one industrial discharger; no adverse impact to treatment works was found. Motion passed unanimously.
- Strategic Plan Dashboard: Informational presentation on the 2024–2026 Strategic Plan Q1 report: 42 of 47 goals on track, 2 completed, 1 on hold (municipal code rewrite). The dashboard has been shared with other cities.
First Reading Ordinances (Advanced to Second Reading)
- Deere-Wiman Historic Landmark: Designating 817 11th Avenue as a local historic landmark. Approved 8–0.
- Main Street Commission Repeal: Repealing the Moline Centre Main Street Commission and updating related code sections. Approved 8–0.
- Utility Billing Adjustment: Amending code to reflect monthly billing transition. Approved 8–0.
- Redevelopment Agreement (same as #9.6): Advanced to second reading. Approved 8–0.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Zoning text amendments to allow ADUs in R-2 districts, subject to owner-occupancy, one per lot, size limit (1,000 sq ft), no short-term rentals, and parking replacement if garage is converted. Plan Commission recommended approval 7–0. Council advanced to second reading with a vote of 7–1 (Ayes: Masias, Rosak, Timion, Finch, McNeil, Castro, Schmidt; Nay: Murphy).
Key Outcomes
- All resolutions on consent and most non-consent items passed unanimously.
- Ladder truck purchase approved unanimously ($2,131,799).
- Mercado on Fifth grant ($20,000) approved unanimously.
- Pickleball tournament grant ($5,000) approved unanimously.
- Property sale for daycare ($25,000) approved unanimously.
- JCPenney redevelopment agreement (2.8 million gap funding) approved unanimously.
- River Drive streetscaping engineering ($174,093) approved unanimously.
- Sealcoat ditch restoration ($128,289) approved unanimously.
- Alcohol ordinance amendment tabled to May 7 by a 7–1 vote.
- EPA Consent Order approved unanimously.
- ADU ordinance advanced to second reading with a 7–1 vote.
- Deere-Wiman landmark, Main Street Commission repeal, and utility billing adjustments all advanced unanimously.
- Staff-directed traffic safety reminders and pancake breakfast invitation noted.
- Miscellaneous: Approval of Phase 2 Morgan Park pathway TASA funds (federal 80% grant) announced; ward meeting dates set.
Meeting Transcript
We do not have electronic attendance tonight, so we will move to roll call, please. Honor President Murphy. Present. Masias. Present. Rosak. President. Timion. Present. Finch. President McNeil. President. Castro. President Schmidt. Present. All right. We have one board appointment tonight. Mayor's appointment of Nina Little to the Mulline Commission on Youth to fill the unexpired term of Sarah Cross to expire March 31, 2025. Any questions? Okay, so we'll start with our presentations. Presentation of life saving award to Sergeant Tyler McLaughlin and Officer Tyler Lewis Bresnahan. Chief Call. Thank you, Mayor. The officers come forward. Appreciate you giving me an opportunity to recognize two very fine officers for some heroic deeds. On March 9th, 2024, at 612 p.m., the Mulane Police Department received a 911 call of a traffic crash. Officers discovered that a 1999 Chevy S10 had gone off the road in the 2700 block of 6th Avenue, flipped over and crashed, but was able to continue driving to the 200 block of 43rd Street. Officer Lewis Bresnahan and Sergeant McLaughlin arrived and observed a damaged truck parked in the roadway with blood all over the truck and the ground. The driver was laying on the ground just outside the driver's side door and covered in bright red blood. He was barely conscious and unable to communicate. The passenger was kneeling down over the driver screaming for help. Officer Lewis Bresnahan began to administer first aid. Police found the driver's left arm badly injured. The flesh from the driver's arm from the middle of the bicep to just below the elbow was gone, exposing bone and tendons. Sergeant McLaughlin quickly took out his tourniquet and handed it to Officer Lewis Bresnahan, who was now kneeling down on the driver's left side. He instructed Officer Lewis Bresnahan to put the tourniquet on and assisted in manipulating it around the driver's arm. Officer Lewis Bresnahan finished securing the tourniquet high and tight on the driver's arm, which ultimately stopped the bleeding before Moline fire arrived on scene. Officer Lewis Bresnahan then assisted Moline fire with loading the driver up on the gurney. The driver was still in critical condition and was transported to the hospital. It was later learned that during the crash the vehicle rolled onto the driver's side. The driver's left arm was out of the window and became pinned in the between the vehicle and the pavement, and his arm was dragged along the pavement with the vehicle on top of it for approximately 30 feet. While at the hospital, the driver had lost so much blood that the veins in his upper extremities collapsed. The phlebotomist had to take medical blood drop from his foot. The hospital staff loved the tourniquet that Officer Lewis Bresnahan had fixed on while the driver went through all of the testing. During this hospital staff was replenishing the driver's blood, and he was now conscious and alert. The driver ultimately had to be airlifted to another hospital. Officer Lewis Bresnahan and Sergeant McLaughlin showed tremendous courage and training throughout the incident. Their actions and ability to stay calm and work together through an extremely chaotic and stressful situation are admirable. The driver was already unconscious when the police arrived, indicating that it has sustained significant blood loss. A human can perish from arterial blood loss in as little as three to five minutes.
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