City of Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and Council Meeting - June 19, 2024
City of Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and Council Meeting - June 19, 2024
Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting actually occurred on June 4, 2024, but the required date for this summary is June 19, 2024.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. It included a Committee-of-the-Whole session and a regular City Council session. Key actions included approval of several contracts, special event resolutions, and the first reading of an ordinance addressing lead service line replacement. Public comment raised concerns about noise from a local business and allegations of wrongful termination and misconduct within the city's Parks and Recreation department.
Board Appointments
- Mayor’s appointment of Silas Inskeep to the Special Service Area #5 Board (unexpired term ending January 1, 2025).
- Mayor’s appointment of John Huber to the Special Service Area #5 Board (term ending January 1, 2026).
- Mayor’s appointment of Annette LeZotte to the Historic Preservation Commission (term ending April 30, 2027). All appointments were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mike McDermott: Expressed concerns about a bar at 4154 that operates until 3:00 AM with an unsupervised outdoor area, causing noise disturbances. Requested the city consider earlier closing times or requiring patrons to go inside after midnight. Praised the city’s other projects.
- Janice Ward and Kinley McConnell: Spoke on behalf of Jared Gonzalez, a former city employee who they allege was wrongfully terminated in August 2023 for “socializing” without due process (no verbal/written warnings). They stated an arbitration has been delayed for nearly a year due to the union president not submitting paperwork on time. Kinley McConnell also raised allegations of misconduct by other employees (Graham Jewel, Jay Canson, Sarah Mark), including racist remarks, appearing drunk at work, and an alleged affair, claiming these were documented. They urged the city to investigate.
Committee-of-the-Whole Agenda Items
- 7.1 Resolution authorizing a $2,000 grant to Renew Moline from the Special Events Fund for two “Chillin’ in the Courtyard” events on August 10 and September 14, 2024, to reactivate the Historic Block Courtyard. Approved unanimously.
- 7.2 Resolution approving a special event (Gabe’s Gift Memorial 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run) on September 7, 2024, sponsored by Tudi’s Tribe, with street closures. Approved unanimously.
- 7.3 Resolution approving a special event (Porch Party) on September 15, 2024, sponsored by Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, with street closures. Approved unanimously.
- 7.4 Resolution approving a special event (TBK Quad Cities Marathon setup and 1-mile post-party) on September 20-21, 2024, sponsored by Quad Cities Running Club, with street closures and some event relocation to Bass Street Landing. Approved unanimously.
- 7.5 Resolution authorizing a contract with Miller Trucking and Excavating Company for Project #1453, 2024 Trenchless Water Main Project, for $473,627.80. The project replaces a troublesome water main in the 3400-3500 block of 50th Street. Staff noted the project is over the original $250,000 budget but reserves are sufficient. Approved unanimously.
- 7.6 Resolution authorizing a contract with McCarthy Improvement Company for Project #1451, 48th Street Reconstruction, for $1,066,539.20. The reconstruction of approximately 1,180 feet of street includes new concrete pavement and underground utilities. The bid came in $328,461 under the $1.395 million estimate. Alderperson Rosak thanked City Engineer David Dreyer for responsiveness. Approved unanimously.
- 7.7 Resolution authorizing a School Police Liaison Officers Agreement between the City of Moline and Moline-Coal Valley School District #40 for four officers in the 2024-2025 school year. Police Chief noted the annual agreement updates cost-sharing based on actual officer costs. Approved unanimously.
Informational Reports
- 8.1 June 2024 Status & Information Report (presented by Assistant City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen): Highlights included the launch of “Moline U,” an enhanced employee orientation program, and the opening of the city pool. Alderperson Finch noted the city’s lowest levy rate in 30 years and inquired about follow-up on rental licensing compliance (approximately 1,240 non-compliant properties).
- 8.2 Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCP) Grant Submittal (presented by Grants Manager Dawn): The city is applying for approximately $11.5 million in federal DCP funds (no local match required, only soft costs) to redeck the 16th Street Viaduct Bridge (overpass) connecting to Rock Island Arsenal. The project is considered defense-critical infrastructure. Preliminary design and environmental documentation are complete; construction is estimated at 16 months starting July 2025. The application deadline is June 17, 2024. Staff noted high confidence due to consultant input. No vote was taken.
City Council Consent Agenda
- Approved meeting minutes of May 21, 2024.
- Approved board appointments made at Committee-of-the-Whole.
- Approved ordinances 14.1 through 14.5 (parking restrictions, all-way stop, comprehensive plan amendment, zoning map amendment).
- Approved resolutions 15.1 through 15.3 (Keep Moline Beautiful Commission meeting schedule, sign licensing agreement with Trixie Rox Designs LLC, parking lease agreement with MIMG LXX LeClaire, LLC including waiver of fees from April 2020 through March 2023). All consent items passed by unanimous vote (7-0).
Non-Consent Agenda Resolutions
- 17.1 (same as 7.5): Contract with Miller Trucking and Excavating Company for $473,627.80. Roll call vote: 7-0.
- 17.2 (same as 7.6): Contract with McCarthy Improvement Company for $1,066,539.20. Roll call vote: 7-0.
- 17.3 Resolution for Joint Funding Agreement for Motor Fuel Tax Section 14-00267-00-BT, Mississippi River Trail, for $373,440, and appropriating the city’s local match. The project will construct a shared-use path. Alderperson Timm thanked engineering for the long-awaited project. Roll call vote: 7-0.
First Reading Ordinance
- 18.1 Ordinance amending Chapter 34 (Water and Sewers) to address service line replacement responsibility under the Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. Alderperson Schmidt commended staff for planning and securing state/federal funding (including approximately $2.3 million in principal forgiveness from EPA state revolving loan funds) to avoid burdening residents with high costs. Advanced to second reading by unanimous vote (7-0).
Key Outcomes
- All appointments, resolutions, and ordinances presented for a vote passed unanimously (7-0).
- The DCP grant application is to be submitted by June 17, 2024; no council vote was required.
- Public comments regarding Jared Gonzalez’s termination and misconduct allegations were noted; council did not respond per protocol, but follow-up communication was offered.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening everyone. I'll call this meeting to order at 6 o'clock here in Council Chambers. There's no remote electronic attendance needed, so roll call, please. Alder Person Murphy. Mastias. Present. Rosak. Present. Timion. Present. Finch. President McNeil. Present. Castro. President Schmidt. Present. All right. First item of business are board appointments. The first our mayor's appointment of Silas Inski to the special service area number five. Board to fill the unexpired term of Mitch Gurink expiring January 1, 2025, as well as the mayor's appointment of John Huber to the special service area number five board for a two-year term expiring January 1, 2026. And the mayor's appointment of Annette Lazat to the Historic Preservation Commission for a full three-year term expiring April 30th, 2027. Any questions? Just a short reminder that those appointments from the special service area, they come through Kirk Marski with Mowling Center. And he runs all that, and that's how it gets to meet you. Okay. All right. Public comment this evening. Okay. I moved by McDermott. And I'm uh I came down here last fall, I think it was. Anyway, we have a persistent problem. I have a building down by O'Keefe's bar down with a 4154. And um it's uh I moved out of it this uh last fall, and um I could mainly because of the the noise uh problem that we have it's uh yeah it'll keep open until three o'clock in the morning. They have a kind of an outdoor area that they kind of corral uh uh off the street and people all they're open until three in the morning. People go out there's unsupervised and they kind of can bring their own food boxes, they can make you know they've got to bring their own food, it's just kind of um supervised. Uh there's nobody uh nobody's like box card and chicken. Uh I uh my one suggest I mean the three o'clock limit, I don't know. I hope we can go away. Uh I feel I was talking to the chief maybe like midnight they could make a thing where they at least have to go inside and not be outside, and there's like I say the it's kind of uninhibited. So um I think the city is doing such an awesome job of doing so many nice projects in the town. I'm honestly complimentary. Please do awesome job. Um, but I would just like to kind of kind of try to consider some kind of a new possibility on it because if we want urban living, uh we've got it kind of cleaned. Thank you. Thank you. And um, I forgot I had a come on up, come on up. Whoever's speaking. I forgot to read before Mr. McDermott spoke, and uh Chief, are you on the clock? Yeah, all right.
openpublica.com