Moline Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting - December 30, 2024

The Moline Committee-of-the-Whole met on December 30, 2024, according to the provided metadata, although the attached agenda is dated December 10, 2024. The meeting covered a proposed demolition-review ordinance for buildings 50 years or older, parking ramp assessments and maintenance funding, and a downtown parking management plan. Public comment focused on a proposed Gaza ceasefire resolution.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anthony Preeds, a member of the Quad Cities Democratic Socialists of America, expressed support for a City Council resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel. He cited more than 44,000 deaths in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and said a June poll found 51% of Americans support a complete arms embargo. He also noted that labor unions, including the UAW and air traffic controllers, have called for a ceasefire and arms embargo.
• Rachel, a concerned community member, expressed support for the ceasefire resolution drafted by the Quad Cities Democratic Socialists of America and said she was taking a stand against genocide, oppression, and apathy. She stated that taxes from the city had contributed over $600,000 annually to arms for Israel and urged an immediate permanent ceasefire and arms embargo.
• Ajini, a Quad Cities resident, supported a ceasefire resolution and cited estimates of 45,000 to 186,000 deaths in Gaza, including secondary-cause estimates, and said at least 902 entire family lines had been wiped out. She urged the Council to join other communities, including Iowa City, Havana, and Chicago, that have passed ceasefire resolutions.
• Amen, a Muslim Palestinian American who lived in the West Bank, described firsthand experiences and called the situation a genocide. He cited Jewish Voice for Peace and Bernie Sanders and said the Council should uphold American values by not allowing people to be killed without consequence.
• After public comment, one council member stated that the city generally does not enact proclamations or non-binding resolutions on issues outside its own jurisdiction and that constituent comments on federal issues are better directed to federal representatives.

Discussion: Chapter 8 "Demolition of Principal Structures 50 Years or Older"

• Chris Mathias, Director of Community and Economic Development, introduced a proposed Chapter 8 change that would allow demolition permits for principal structures 50 years or older to be reviewed and potentially delayed. The proposed process included a five-business-day initial review, a 30-day hold, and a possible 60-day extension, for up to roughly 90 days total. Emergency public-safety demolitions and economic hardship exemptions requested from the City Council were included.
• Mathias said the purpose is to research a building's historical significance, document it, and salvage historic architectural pieces. He stated staff would retain final decision authority, but he wanted the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) as a partner because staff could not do the work alone.
• HPC members Barb Sandberg and Chairman Dick Potter spoke in favor of the ordinance but opposed the staff-controlled version. They said the HPC's original recommendation gave the commission the review role, and the commission should at least be a formal part of the process. Potter said the HPC was unanimous in not favoring the staff version as written.
• Several council members said the 90-day or 97-day total hold was too long. Alderperson Schmidt proposed a maximum total of 50 days and urged a specific process for HPC involvement so it would not depend on current staff or commission members.
• Council discussion compared a code ordinance to a standalone policy. Staff agreed to prepare a policy version for comparison, but no final policy/ordinance decision was made.

Discussion: Parking Ramp Assessments for Centre Station, Heritage Place, and Midtowne

• David Dryer introduced the parking ramp assessment prepared by Shive Hattery. Tony Altenhofen of Shive Hattery presented findings from a roughly 170-page report covering structural, lighting, and roofing conditions, including chloride testing and post-tension tendon checks.
• Centre Station (approximately 321 spaces, built in 1996) is in fair structural condition, but high chloride contamination on levels 2 and 3 supports applying a waterproofing membrane within five years. Heritage Place (approximately 306 spaces, 34 years old) is generally in good condition but needs sealant repairs, coatings, and a waterproofing membrane. Midtowne (approximately 434 spaces, 19 years old) is in good condition; post-tension tendons showed no corrosion, and it needs a sealer rather than a membrane.
• Other findings included concrete cracking and spalling, expansion joint repairs, lighting/LED upgrades, and EPDM roofing expected to need replacement in five to ten years. A broken curved-glass skywalk panel at Midtowne is planned for replacement in the 2025 project.
• Altenhofen estimated that completing the identified work would cost about $5 million to $6 million over the next seven to eight years. Replacing one ramp would cost an estimated $16 million to $24 million, while regular maintenance of roughly $200,000 to $250,000 per facility per year could defer replacement. He recommended a capital improvement plan for ramp maintenance.
• Council members asked about ramp usage data, cost-sharing with partners such as MetroLINK, John Deere, and the arena, tariff effects on epoxies, membrane lifespan (roughly five to twelve years depending on traffic), and possible solar installations. Staff said there is no automated daily occupancy data and that tenant/agreement language would need review.

Discussion: Parking Management Plan

• David Dryer presented an overview describing roughly 45 acres of parking across downtown, 19 surface lots with approximately 1,290 spaces, and three city parking ramps with about 1,061 spaces. The average ramp age is about 27 years.
• He described inconsistent policies, expired leases, varying rates, equity concerns, and the lack of a comprehensive management plan. He stated 2024 parking revenue was approximately $323,560.90 year-to-date, including an $87,000 one-time payment from the arena for pandemic-era obligations, while garage expenditures were about $244,000. That revenue is not enough to fund the ramp repairs.
• The Midtowne ramp received about $332,000 in 2024 work, including expansion joint repairs, entrance islands, park/control equipment, the Shive Hattery assessment, and wayfinding signs. Approximately $301,485 in repairs is planned for 2025.
• Council discussion supported hiring a parking consultant, comparing peer cities, and public engagement. Staff estimated a consultant study would take six months to a year and would not be inexpensive. Council members also discussed right-sizing or selling some surface lots and not waiting for a consultant if near-term parking actions are needed.

Miscellaneous Business

• The Council discussed snow-alley clearing. Staff said alleys are not routinely plowed, but after significant snowfalls the city may respond to service calls where residents cannot get out, using smaller trucks. One council member noted some residents have paid privately for alley plowing for 15 years and asked whether any new city alley plowing would be regular or only for large snow events.
• Staff agreed to share previously requested water bill and parking plan enforcement documentation with all council members.

Key Outcomes

• No substantive motions or binding votes were taken; this was a committee-of-the-whole discussion.
• For the demolition ordinance, the Council informally signaled a 50-day maximum total hold and requested a policy draft with a defined HPC/staff partnership. The final ordinance/policy mechanism remains open.
• For parking ramps, staff will continue with the Shive Hattery recommendations, including a 2025 repair project, and will consider a capital improvement plan for ramp maintenance.
• For parking management, Council expressed general support for proceeding with a consultant-based parking management plan and public engagement, but no contract or formal action was approved.
• The Council took no action on the Gaza ceasefire resolution, and a council member said non-binding resolutions on external/federal matters are not the city's usual practice.