Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting Summary – October 24, 2024

The Moline City Council held a combined Committee-of-the-Whole and regular City Council meeting on October 24, 2024. The meeting included presentations, a proclamation, public comments, discussion and votes on multiple agenda items, and a detailed budget preview for FY2025-2027. All council members were present except for a few who were absent for work purposes. All votes were recorded with six members present.

Consent Calendar

• Meeting Minutes: Approved the Committee-of-the-Whole, Council, and Executive Session minutes from October 8, 2024.
• Ordinances (Second Reading): Approved amendments to Chapters 15 (garbage and trash), 34 (water and sewers, including charges, general provisions, sewerage rate system), and 16 (libraries – Compass Program fees).
• Resolutions: Approved the special event application for Lighting on the Commons (November 23, 2024); accepted a Deed of Dedication for 38th Street reconstruction right-of-way; approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with MetroLINK and Quad City Arts for public art consulting at 1315 4th Avenue; approved a Licensing Agreement with 5 & 15 Moline Apartments LLC for an awning sign at 501 15th Street; and approved an amendment to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners rules for appointing a Deputy Fire Chief.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Carolis (Rural Commercial) introduced David Briquette (owner, No More Butts Vapor Lounge). Briquette expressed interest in opening a second location in Moline and requested an increase in the city’s tobacco license cap. He described his business model as focused on helping adults over 21 transition from smoking cigarettes to vaping, noting that his store does not sell other paraphernalia like Kratom. He cited regulatory challenges in Iowa limiting product availability.
• No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Neighbor of the Month Awards (4.1): Presented by K.J. Whitley. Commercial award to Take Cover Tiki Club (1401 5th Avenue); residential award to Bluewood Investments LLC (3805 10th Avenue). Owners of Take Cover spoke about their investment in downtown Moline and appreciation for city support.
• Proclamation (5.1): Mayor Rayapati proclaimed October 22, 2024 as “Jerry Butts and John Slover Day” in recognition of the 35th anniversary of Renew Moline Inc. The founders were credited with catalyzing over $400 million in downtown redevelopment.
• Tobacco License Cap Increase (8.3): Council debated a request to increase the number of tobacco licenses to allow No More Butts Vapor Lounge to open on John Deere Highway. Council members Schmidt, Messias, and others expressed reservations about health impacts and oversaturation. The Mayor noted her responsibility for health, safety, and welfare. The applicant clarified his business’s harm-reduction approach but acknowledged it remains a vape supply source. The motion to approve failed unanimously (0–6).
• Property Purchase (8.1 and 18.2): Authorized a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Jose Estrada for 3727 4th Avenue ($18,000). The property previously housed a windmill destroyed by tornadoes. Closing tentatively set for October 30, 2024.
• Loading Zone (8.2): Added a loading zone on 7th Street (east side, 65 feet south of 4th Avenue Place, 40 feet) for specified hours, requested by a university for daycare operations.
• Intergovernmental Support Agreement (8.4): Authorized an agreement with Rock Island Arsenal for industrial stormwater compliance monitoring. Moline will collect and process stormwater samples for the Arsenal, without assuming permit responsibility.
• Renew Moline Administrative Services Agreement (8.5): Approved a $151,000 FY2025 allocation for the Moline Centre Program, formalizing existing practices.
• Lighting on the Commons Grant (8.6): Approved a $12,000 grant from the Special Events Fund to reduce SSA6’s financial obligation for the November 23, 2024 event.
• Honorary Street Designation (8.7): Approved honorary street signs honoring former mayors Daniel and Stillman Wheelock, who donated land for the library.
• HUD Substantial Amendment 6 (8.8 and 18.3): Approved reallocation of CARES Act funds for food vouchers to be distributed at City Hall on November 23, 2024, and later dates. The program serves underserved residents and uses about $63,000 remaining in funds.
• Strategic Plan Dashboard (9.1): City Administrator Vitas reported that of 40 strategic goals (FY24-26), 38 are on track, 7 are completed (including Riverside Pool improvements, stormwater policy, code enforcement update, parks master plan, police investigative group, downtown parklets evaluation, and communications plan). Zero goals are behind schedule; two are on hold.
• Budget Presentation (9.2): Finance Director Barnes presented the administration’s recommended FY2025-2027 budget:
  • Total FY2025 budget: $168.5 million (balanced).
  • 417 authorized positions (no new personnel); $51 million for salaries/benefits (6.5% increase).
  • Property tax levy increase: $496,000 (3.04%), resulting in levy rate of $1.71564 per $100 EAV—lowest in over 20 years.
  • Average residential property tax increase: $21 per year ($1.75 per month).
  • Combined with utility fee increases, average monthly impact: $8.56 ($102.72 annually).
  • Capital projects account for $59.5 million (largest expenditure); 10-year special CIP fund totals $81 million.
  • Key challenges: State clawback of $3.5 million in personal property replacement taxes; health insurance renewal up 18.3% (net 7.2% after laser); parking ramp repairs estimated at $2–$4 million; elimination of state grocery tax effective 2026 (estimated $1 million loss).
  • Council contingency: $400,000 (less than 1% of operating budget).
  • All major funds are within the city’s fund balance policy (20–25% of operating expenses).
• First Reading Ordinances (19.1 and 19.2): Advanced to second reading - amendment to the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use map and a Preliminary/Final PUD and rezoning for an approximately 2.24-acre site at 1809 14th Avenue and 1803 13th Avenue (Moline Housing Authority).

Key Outcomes

• Tobacco License Cap Increase: Motion failed (0–6). The council chose not to raise the cap.
• All Other Committee-of-the-Whole and Council Agenda Items: Approved unanimously (6–0) as noted.
• Withdrawal of Item 18.1: The Día de los Muertos parade organizers withdrew the request to close 12th Street; only the previously approved closure of 5th Avenue will proceed.
• Budget Next Steps: A comprehensive budget workshop is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Moline Public Library (breakfast 7:30 AM, meeting starts at 8:00 AM). Council will address outstanding issues and set the property tax levy.