Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - August 7, 2024

The agenda and transcript supplied with this record are dated Tuesday, July 23, 2024, while the meeting date specified for this summary is August 7, 2024. The meeting combined a Committee-of-the-Whole (COW) work session and a regular City Council meeting in Moline City Hall Council Chambers. The COW reviewed a public art work plan and budget, several public works agreements, and two contract items; the City Council then approved consent items, non-consent resolutions, and advanced three ordinances. Alderperson Rosak was approved for remote attendance due to personal illness and disability, but after intermittent connectivity problems he left the meeting, so later votes were recorded as 6-0.

Consent Calendar

• At the COW, the Mayor's reappointment of Rodo Abad to the Citizens Advisory Council on Urban Planning (CACUP) for a full 3-year term expiring July 31, 2027, was presented with no questions; it was included in the later City Council consent agenda.
• The City Council approved the consent agenda 6-0, including the Committee-of-the-Whole, Council, and Executive Session minutes of July 9, 2024; appointments made at the COW on July 23, 2024; and Resolution 15.1 approving APG-Neuros' quotation for the sole-source repair and re-installation of two high-speed turbo blowers at the North Slope Wastewater Treatment Plant for $53,625.00.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Ray's, representing the Belgian Fest Committee, supported agenda item 8.5 and asked the Council to approve the $2,400 Special Events Fund grant for the 11th Annual Fall Belgian Festival.
• Lucy Van Heck, a Moline Public Art Commission member and Metrolink project administrator, supported increased public art funding. She highlighted the commission's mural at the Analog Arcade Building and sculpture walk, and described the Leading Light project at the Q train station at Fourth Avenue as a proposed $400,000 project with Metrolink committing $200,000. She called it potentially the largest public art investment in Quad Cities history and said it would greet train arrivals to Moline and support economic development.
• Alexandra Elias, representing Renew Moline, expressed the organization's support for the public art commission and program. She distributed funding pages from the public art plan, noted Renew Moline's role in creating the plan with Moline Foundation funding, urged more interactive art, and cautioned that the City must protect and maintain public art investments.

Discussion Items

• Public Art Commission FY2024/2025/2026 Work Plan and Budget (Chris Mathias, Director of Community & Economic Development): The commission was founded in 2021. Current 2024 projects include the rotating sculpture program on Fifth Avenue and Coney Court and a mural at the Bass Street Landing restroom. The fund balance was about $209,000, projected to reach about $221,000 after commitments. The public art plan identifies seven high-priority projects; the largest under consideration is Leading Light at the Q/Kew Parkway area, estimated at $250,000-$400,000 and budgeted at $400,000. A $200,000 Metrolink grant would reduce the City's share to $200,000. The current annual allocation is $75,000, which is not fully aligned with the plan's funding model. If Leading Light and the rotating sculpture program proceed, there would be no remaining capacity in 2025 for an art maintenance program or a "Greetings from Moline" mural unless additional funds are found.
• Council feedback on public art: Alderperson Finch asked whether Leading Light would mean forgoing art maintenance and other projects; Mathias said rotating sculptures could continue but maintenance and murals would be deferred. Alderperson Castro supported the goal of an interactive landmark but stressed that an art maintenance program is essential, and Alderperson Schmidt voiced support for pursuing the larger project with the matching grant while acknowledging budget pressures. Staff said the discussion will continue in budget season.
• 2024-2026 Strategic Action Plan Dashboard FY24 Q2 Report (Bob Vitas, City Administrator): At the fiscal year midpoint, 47 goals had been established; 39 were on track, 5 were completed, 1 was behind schedule, and 2 were on hold. Completed goals included launching the Riverside Park pool improvement project, updating the code enforcement ordinance, updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and completing the overall communications plan; a community engagement manager position had been posted. Council members complimented staff on the sidewalk inventory approach and noted the comprehensive plan RFP will be issued in a few months.

Committee-of-the-Whole Actions

• Item 8.1: Approved 7-0 a Local Public Agency Engineering Services Agreement for MFT Section 24-00297-00-ES, Phase I Engineering for the 16th Avenue and 15th Street Intersection Reconstruction/Carbon Reduction Project, for $218,750.00. Staff described the project as a roundabout and redevelopment effort in an underdeveloped area, with St. Mary's potentially providing property on the southwest corner.
• Item 8.2: Approved 7-0 a Licensing Agreement with MHSL Owner LLC for protective barriers encroaching on a 2-foot by 22-foot area of alley right-of-way at 1001 16th Street, renewing an arrangement dating to 2005.
• Item 8.3: Approved 7-0 acceptance of 3 Deeds of Dedication for street right-of-way and 1 Permanent Easement for Public Pedestrian Way for CIP #1450, 38th Street Reconstruction from 32nd to 35th Avenue, with one property owner still not providing an easement.
• Item 8.4: Approved 7-0 an ordinance authorizing vacation of part of a public alley in Block 2 of "East Moline" and part of 50th Street south of 2nd Avenue for a stormwater detention basin associated with the Par Instrument project/TIF redevelopment.
• Item 8.5: Approved 7-0 a $2,400.00 grant from the Special Events Fund to the 11th Annual Fall Belgian Festival, to be held September 15, 2024.
• Item 8.6: Approved 6-0 the City of Moline Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Staff described it as the first completed EOP for Moline, with training scheduled for July 30 and a crisis communications plan included. Alderperson Rosak, approved for remote attendance earlier, was not visible/available for this vote and later left the meeting.
• Item 8.7: Continued to August 13, 2024, by a 6-0 vote. The proposed $314,000.00 City Hall controlled entry contract with Bill Bruce Builders, Inc. was pulled from action after Alderperson Schmidt raised concerns that the bid package lacked responsible bidder ordinance certifications. The continuance allows staff to verify compliance.
• Item 8.8: Continued to August 13, 2024, by a 6-0 vote for the same reasons as item 8.7, covering the $269,000.00 Public Works controlled entry contract with Bill Bruce Builders, Inc.

City Council Consent Agenda

• The omnibus consent vote was approved 6-0, enacting the minutes, appointments, and Resolution 15.1 described under Consent Calendar.

City Council Non-Consent Resolutions

• Item 17.1: Approved 6-0 a Proposal for Services with IMEG Corporation for Phase II Engineering for the 16th Street Viaduct Bridge Deck Replacement, not to exceed $800,000.00. Staff noted a DCP grant award announcement is expected within three weeks.
• Item 17.2: Approved 6-0 Change Order No. 1 with Langman Construction, Inc. for Project #1370, 16th Street and Avenue of the Cities Intersection Reconfiguration, for $144,181.80.
• Item 17.3: Approved 6-0 the same 38th Street Reconstruction deeds/easement acceptance as item 8.3.
• Item 17.4: Approved 6-0 a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Patricia A. Jacobs for 215 50th Street, Moline, for $100,000.00.
• Item 17.5: Approved 6-0 a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Countryman Hardscape & Landscape, LLC for 204 49th Street, Moline, for $25,000.00.
• Item 17.6: Approved 6-0 declaring four lots comprising the parking lot at 309 12th Street, 315 12th Street, 1101 4th Avenue, and 1121 4th Avenue surplus and authorizing conveyance to Moline Promenade Investors, LLC. Council members described it as a long, multi-year effort that positions the city for redevelopment.
• Item 17.7: Approved 6-0 adopting the City of Moline 401a Money Purchase Plan as the complete Cycle 3 restatement, effective September 26, 2024, and appointing Nationwide Trust Company, FSB as trustee.
• Item 17.8: Approved 6-0 adopting the City of Moline 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust as a complete restatement, effective September 26, 2024, and appointing Nationwide Trust Company, FSB as trustee.

First Reading Ordinances

• Item 18.1: Advanced to second reading 6-0 the ordinance vacation of certain public rights-of-way for flood mitigation purposes (same subject as COW item 8.4).
• Item 18.2: Advanced to second reading 6-0 the ordinance approving the Termination of Collateral Assignment and an Amendment to the Redevelopment Agreement among the City, 5 & 15 Moline Apartments, LLC, and Blackhawk Bank & Trust (Chase Bank Building).
• Item 18.3: Advanced to second reading 6-0 an ordinance approving a Preliminary/Final Development Plan for a Planned Unit Development and rezoning from B-3 to B-3-PUD for an approximately 11.85-acre tract commonly known as 4902-5000 Avenue of the Cities (PIN 17-02-300-008). The agenda lists 11.85 acres; the oral reading in the transcript said approximately 11.5 acres.

Miscellaneous Business and Reports

• Mayor's updates: She is working with the police chief on downtown code compliance in her role as liquor commissioner; met with Tilford Flowers, the new chair of the Police and Fire Commissioners, about recruitment and professional development; and encouraged awareness of layoffs at one of the city's largest employers and their impact on food banks.
• City Administrator Vitas reported on an IDOT meeting in Dixon, Illinois. He said IDOT is considering opening a Quad Cities office. He also discussed waterfront redevelopment access issues: the City is acquiring property north of River Drive, but access control along River Drive is a federal highway issue requiring Federal Highway Administration involvement. Staff will prepare a request, seek Congressman Sorensen's support, and continue discussions with IDOT. The City has put a purchase of a southern property at the base of the bridge on hold until access is resolved.
• Police Chief announcements: Coffee with a Cop will be July 26, 8-10 a.m., at Sunny's Coffee Shop near the airport; the Quad Cities pickleball tournament registration is due August 2; and National Night Out will be held at River Bend Park in East Moline because there is no City Council meeting August 6.

Key Outcomes

• COW approved items 8.1-8.6 and continued items 8.7-8.8 to August 13, 2024.
• City Council approved the consent agenda and all non-consent resolutions 17.1-17.8 by 6-0 votes.
• City Council advanced ordinances 18.1-18.3 to second reading by 6-0 votes.
• No executive session was held; the meeting adjourned on a motion by Alderperson Castro, seconded by Alderperson Finch.