Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - October 14, 2024

The Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council met on October 14, 2024, with all eight council members present. The agenda printed for the meeting carried a date of Tuesday, October 8, 2024, while the meeting data timestamp supplied for this summary is October 14, 2024; the summary follows the timestamp. The agenda listed a 6:00 p.m. start in Council Chambers, no remote electronic attendance was required, and the combined meeting included a proclamation, public comment, committee-of-the-whole recommendations, budget and status reports, consent and non-consent council items, and an executive session.

Proclamation

• Fire Chief presented a proclamation declaring October 6-12, 2024 as Fire Prevention Week, with the theme 'Smoke alarms: make them work for you.' The presentation cited that more than three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms, and that working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half. Mayor Rayapati read the proclamation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Danielle Pinkerton, a neighborhood resident, expressed concern about agenda items 7.9 and 7.10. She said traffic is already a safety issue and nearly doubling the number of residents on the dead-end area would create a significant problem; she added that most of her neighbors were not aware of the rezoning.
• Letters from Terry Verbeck and Patty Sunneau, both of 1827 13th Avenue, were read into the record. They requested denial or postponement of the comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning, citing concerns including incompatible zoning, street capacity and safety, parking restrictions, flooding and drainage along 13th Avenue, lack of traffic signals, the existing one-way street, noise, lighting, environmental impacts, the addition of 75 or more residents, alleged document inconsistencies and incorrect PINs, and no benefit to current residents.

Committee-of-the-Whole Actions

• 7.1 Día de los Muertos street closure: Staff recommended denial of the request to close 12th Street on November 2, 2024, saying public safety personnel did not believe anticipated crowd size warranted the closure, Fifth Avenue would already be closed, and 12th Street should remain open for access to River Drive. The motion to approve carried 5-4 on a roll call vote after one member voted aye with the understanding that costs would be recouped by the city.
• 7.2 Lighting on the Commons: Approved for the annual downtown event on November 23, 2024.
• 7.3 38th Street Reconstruction deed: Approved to accept a deed of dedication for street right-of-way and allow construction on CIP #1450 to proceed.
• 7.4 Toys for Tots lease: Approved the lease agreement and waiver of lease fees from October through December 2024 at BridgePoint 485, subject to security provisions because of past break-ins; staff said this is likely the last year of use.
• 7.5 Public art installation IGA: Approved the intergovernmental agreement with MetroLINK and Quad City Arts for consulting services for a public art installation at 1315 4th Avenue, allowing a call for artists and use of MetroLINK's $200,000 grant.
• 7.6 Sign cabinet licensing agreement: Approved the agreement with 5 & 15 Moline Apartments LLC for a sign cabinet on the existing awning at 501 15th Street overhanging public right-of-way.
• 7.7 2024 Byrne JAG MOU: Approved the joint grant application arrangement among Moline, Rock Island, and Rock Island County; police plan to use the funds to upgrade gas mask inventory.
• 7.8 Deputy Fire Chief appointment process: Approved an amendment to the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
• 7.9 Comprehensive Plan amendment: Approved the future land use change for 1809 14th Avenue and 1803 13th Avenue from low-density residential (1-6 units per acre) to medium-density residential (6-14 units per acre). Staff noted the agenda explanation did not correctly state the land-use change. Staff described five fourplexes totaling 20 affordable housing units owned by the Moline Housing Authority, funded by an IHDA grant, with a community building, community garden, and 45-space parking lot on approximately 2.24 acres. Staff said 13th Avenue drainage would be examined in FY25, and city engineering estimated the development would add 80-140 vehicle trips per day, which it did not consider excessive, so no traffic study was required. One alderperson said affordable housing is essential but resident concerns cannot be ignored and said resident emails had been forwarded to the City Administrator.
• 7.10 Planned Unit Development and rezoning: Approved the preliminary/final PUD plan and rezoning from R-2 to R-4 PUD for the same approximately 2.24-acre site (PINs 17-05-200-024 and 17-05-200-022). During discussion, a council member asked about missing sidewalks; staff said topography and a retaining wall made sidewalks difficult and that pedestrian connections would be addressed before building permit approval. Council members acknowledged residents' traffic and drainage concerns and asked that they continue to be addressed.
• 7.11 Compass Program ordinance: Approved amendments to Library Program Application and fee provisions for the City of Moline Compass Program.

Budget Amendments (Informational)

• Carol Barnes, Director of Finance, presented the first 2024 budget amendment, incorporating activity through August 31, 2024. It reduces the adopted fund balance by $6,336,000, primarily from carrying $11.5 million of unspent 2023 capital projects into 2024; the projected December 31, 2024 fund balance is $172,711,741. Amended revenues total $158 million, up $11.5 million, and amended expenditures total $162 million, up $17 million.
• Other reported changes: rental housing license revenue down $233,000; interest income up $884,000 due to higher rates; intergovernmental revenue up $4.3 million; a state property replacement tax overpayment clawback estimated at $3-3.5 million total with about $1.5 million in the current year; $800,000 to fill vacancies; and a transfer of $2 million from the 2023 general fund surplus into special revenue.
• Barnes also reported the first cannabis payment of $53,385 for July, with an expected average of about $45,000 per payment, and a new opioid settlement allocation totaling about $220,000 over 14-15 years, with nearly $70,000 expected in 2024. The formal amendment will be presented for approval on October 22.

Status and Information Report

• Bob Vitas, City Administrator, highlighted the October 2024 status report: HUD funds will purchase three electronic neighborhood communication signs; Riverside Pool had 18,844 visitors, a record; the O'Brien Park dedication was held; eight new Hach TU5 turbidimeters were installed at the North Slope water plant; a two-way water communication system is expected in about 100 days; a new community development software system will soon allow online permitting and licensing; and Metronet completed a gigabit fiber network with 125 miles of buried fiber and 60 miles on city telephone poles, representing $19 million in private investment at zero cost to taxpayers after competing proposals ranged from $10 million to $22 million.

Consent Agenda

• The consent agenda was approved 8-0: it included the September 24, 2024 minutes and three license ordinances increasing video gaming terminal and Class B tavern license counts at Rosy's Watering Hole, the former Casey's Tavern, and Rebitzer's Bar & Grill/Broken Saddle.

Non-Consent Agenda - Resolutions

• 16.1 2024 Edward Byrne JAG MOU: Approved 8-0.
• 16.2 Marine Toys for Tots lease and fee waiver: Approved 8-0.
• 16.3 FOP labor agreement for January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027: Approved 8-0.

Non-Consent Agenda - First Reading Ordinances

• 17.1 Curbside recycling carts and residential refuse collection fee: Advanced to second reading 8-0.
• 17.2 Water and sewer charges and collections: Advanced to second reading 8-0.
• 17.3 Water and sewer Section 34-4400: Advanced to second reading 8-0.
• 17.4 Sewerage rate system: Advanced to second reading 8-0.
• 17.5 Library Compass Program ordinance: Advanced to second reading 8-0; staff said the hard launch remains on track for November 1.

Miscellaneous Business

• The Mayor reported attending a preview of the Quad City Health Assessment, with the official report expected October 31, and noted an ARC letter about agency payments would be discussed during budget preparations.
• Alderperson Messias promoted the Friday ribbon cutting for Take Cover, a new tiki bar, and a Saturday courtyard event, and shared that a resident had thanked the council for its work.
• Alderpersons McNeil and Timion described East End neighborhood meetings they attended, including concerns and questions from residents and follow-up on a neighborhood group not being invited to the monthly meeting.
• Bob Vitas reported that the Cony Tower has been found structurally sound and can be retained as an observation deck; demolition of other building portions can proceed carefully. He said the traffic report on 19th Street and I-74 southbound off-ramp access is expected mid-to-late October. Ashley Allen was appointed community engagement manager, transitioning over the next 30 days.
• The Police Chief said Lieutenant Derek Colson attended the meeting as part of succession planning; lieutenants are required to observe at least one city council meeting.

Executive Session

• The council voted unanimously to convene an executive session for property acquisition under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5). No further open-session actions appear after that motion in the transcript.