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Record of Proceedings

Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - June 20, 2025

Committee of the Whole & Council — Friday, June 20, 2025
BodyMoline, Illinois
SessionCommittee of the Whole & Council
DateFriday, June 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:39:42

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Good evening, everyone.

0:03

I'll call our committee of the whole to order here at 6 p.m.

0:06

in council chambers.

0:08

Roll call, please.

0:09

Alder Person Murphy.

0:10

Present.

0:11

Messias?

0:12

Present.

0:12

Rosat.

0:13

President.

0:13

Time?

0:14

President.

0:14

Finch, present.

0:15

McNeil.

0:16

Present.

0:17

Castro, present.

0:18

Schmidt.

0:19

Present.

0:20

Chief, is there any public comment?

0:22

Oh, sorry, we have no remote electronic attendance this evening.

0:24

But is there any public comment?

0:26

Yes, Sean Johnson Jr.

0:28

Okay.

0:28

Come on up to the microphone.

0:30

You have three minutes.

0:39

Yes, you're all set.

0:41

Okay.

0:42

My name is Sean, and my actress is 482847 Avenue.

0:47

And uh I also um gonna be a I'm also gonna start a lead called Rockata County Basketball Association, but that's not important.

0:55

But what's for you is also my what is important is my safety, you know, subsafe you know, safety is between you know cyclings and pedestrians.

1:05

So um so I've been noticed there's like a couple of interchange around Moline that might be it that meant might be a a walk sign, you know.

1:16

Well, you know, the way they press the button, and you know the machine's gonna talk like Averador Desserties.

1:23

Walk start perche.

1:25

You know.

1:27

But I also do have some suggestions, because I know he did recently make a bike pad not far not too far from City Hall.

1:35

Um my suggestion is you know, if you if there's a possibility y'all can like install like a trapping signal for cyclists, you know, instead of like you know, just traditional green green like circle or green arrow, they can like have like a trapezo but has a bike symbol, like somewhere that Chicago or Waterloo uh have.

1:57

And um I think that's I think that's other comments or suggested that um that's that that I think that's all the comments that I have for you, and also it's my honor to talk with the actual mayor.

2:10

It's like my third mayor that I actually talked to.

2:12

All right.

2:12

So yeah.

2:13

Great.

2:14

And yeah, that's it.

2:15

Thank you very much for sharing that.

2:17

No problem.

2:18

Anyone else?

2:22

Okay.

2:23

We move to our oaths of office.

2:25

Uh the oath of office for promotional appointment to the rank of sergeant to Adam Lorenz, effective June 1, 2025.

2:33

Chief.

2:34

Thank you, Your Honor.

2:35

I'm actually gonna have both uh Adam Lorenz and Joe Ward on board, and uh there's a bunch of officers out in the hallway that wanna witness their promotion, so you feel like you guys feel free to come on in, but I guess he can here.

2:50

So I appreciate the time, Your Honor.

2:52

This is always uh a very enjoyable uh moment for me to highlight the success of our uh staff in the Molean Police Department.

2:59

Uh tonight it's a certainly a distinct honor and privilege to stand before you to recognize these two outstanding police officers, Adam Lorenz and Joe Ward, as we asked the mayor to promote them both to the uh esteemed rank of police sergeant with the Moline Police Department.

3:14

Uh this is an exciting and unique situation.

3:16

Adam Lorenz and Joe Ward have been partners for the last five years in our special investigative group.

3:22

Most recently they were both the two detectives assigned to the gun unit.

3:26

Uh and in the next few minutes, you will hear about the extraordinary work that these two have done for the city of Moline.

3:32

I'll start with Adam Lorenz.

3:34

Adam began his service uh within our police department on September 19, 2016.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████15%
Public Safety████████████12%
Procedural█████████9%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Budget████████8%
Economic Development█████5%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - June 20, 2025

Note: The official agenda for this meeting was dated Tuesday, June 17, 2025, but the instruction provided specifies June 20, 2025 as the meeting date. This summary uses the specified date.

The Moline Committee-of-the-Whole (COTW) and City Council convened on June 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included oaths of office for two police sergeants, presentations on the Riverfront Master Plan, agency funding, and the Path Forward opioid settlement program, followed by numerous legislative actions. All votes were unanimous except where noted.

Oaths of Office

  • Adam Lorenz was promoted to Sergeant (effective June 1, 2025). Chief Darren Gault highlighted Lorenz's achievements: over nine years of service, involvement in hundreds of felony cases, seizure of $130,000 in illicit funds, 10 ounces of cocaine, and more than a dozen firearms, and participation in five homicide investigations in the past year.
  • Joseph Ward was promoted to Sergeant (effective June 15, 2025). Ward's record includes over 300 firearm-related investigations, leading to the seizure of over $100,000 in drug proceeds and multiple firearms in 2024, and facilitating arrests in a double homicide investigation. Since 2019, the special investigative group has seized 1,195 unlawfully possessed firearms plus 305 from buybacks (total 1,500) and over $6,982,572 in street value of narcotics.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sean Johnson Jr. requested enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety, including bike-specific traffic signals like those in Chicago or Waterloo.
  • Chris Martin opposed allowing Class 3 e-bikes (28 mph) on trails, citing safety risks to pedestrians and high liability. He urged council to walk the trails to experience the danger.
  • A third speaker echoed concerns about e-bike speeds and suggested that fast e-bikes should stay on streets.

Presentations

7.1 Moline Riverfront & Centre Plan Update

  • Brett Weidl (MKSK) presented the 99% complete master plan, developed over two years with extensive community engagement. Key priorities: embracing the river, sharing stories, strengthening connections, cultivating community, and creating a catalyst. The vision includes a Great River Park with overlooks, an outdoor amphitheater, play gardens, interactive fountain, festival streets, environmental hubs, and repurposing the Bridgepoint and Spiegel buildings. Proposed development: 300 residential units and a 45–60 key boutique hotel. Flood mitigation strategies elevate development areas; wetlands were highlighted as a resilient feature. Discussion covered the Fourth Avenue underpass (connecting east side), tower reuse (massing concerns), amphitheater noise, and flood-level adequacy. Council expressed broad support.

7.2 Payments to Agencies 2025–2028

  • City Administrator Bob Vitas outlined funding recommendations for three agencies. Proposed 2026 contributions: Visit Quad Cities (25% of hotel tax revenue, estimated $400,000), Grow Quad Cities (Quad Cities Chamber) at $80,234 per multi-year agreement, and Humility Homes at $44,444 for a homeless outreach position. Total agency requests for 2026 are ~$1.4 million; staff recommends ~$1.3 million. Alderperson Timian suggested revisiting the public art CIP tax, and Alderperson Castro requested a presentation from Humility Homes.

7.3 Path Forward Program – Opioid Settlement Funds

  • Chief Darren Gault and Jess Anderson (CED) presented the Path Forward program, using ~$80,000 in one-time opioid settlement funds. The program provides direct financial assistance (up to $5,000 per person over 180 days) to Moline residents enrolled in Drug Court or recovery programs for wraparound services (rent, transportation, child care, education). Payments are made directly to vendors; no cash is given to participants. The program aligns with the Level Up initiative. Council questions focused on eligibility, W9 requirements, and outreach. Council requested the program be brought back for formal adoption at the next meeting.

Discussion Items

Historic Preservation Commission Demolition Ordinance Update

  • Chris Mathias presented staff’s preference for a policy rather than an ordinance, allowing staff to consult the HPC before major demolitions. The proposed ordinance would impose a 30-day pause (with potential 60-day extension) on demolitions of structures 50 years or older. Council members expressed concerns about the 90-day maximum delay and favored a shorter 30-day pause. Alderperson Schmidt and Timian supported involving HPC in review but with staff retaining ultimate authority. No formal action was taken; staff will refine options.

Consent Calendar (Approved en bloc)

  • 17.1 Approval of minutes of June 3, 2025, and appointments made during COTW.
  • 18.1 Parking prohibition change on 36th Street (corrected action to Approval).
  • 19.1 Surplus declaration and sale of 3620 38th Avenue to Scout Capital Group.
  • 19.2 Special event: Morgan Park 4th of July Parade (July 4, 2025).
  • 19.3 Special event: Moline High School Homecoming Parade (September 19, 2025).
  • 19.4 Special event: Butterworth Center Porch Party (September 21, 2025).
  • 19.5 Multijurisdictional Law Enforcement Agreement.

Key Outcomes

  • 9.1 (21.1) South Slope Water Reclamation Facility: Resolution authorizing Notice of Intent to Award to IHC Construction Companies for $113,862,000. The city secured a $120 million loan from IHDA at 1.9% interest, saving over $15 million in interest compared to general obligation bonds. Project will be awarded July 8. Passed unanimously.
  • 9.2 Sidewalk variance – 7330 47th Street (Lakeshore Recycling): Temporary delay in sidewalk construction approved unanimously.
  • 9.3 Sidewalk variance – 4101 41st Street (McLaughlin Motors): Temporary delay approved unanimously; staff noted lack of existing pedestrian network.
  • 9.4 (22.1) Tobacco dealer license increase: Ordinance to add a Class B license for Rising Sun Mart LLC passed first reading unanimously; advanced to second reading.
  • 9.5 E-bikes on trails: Ordinance amending Chapter 23 to allow all classes of non-gas powered e-bikes on city trails passed unanimously. Park Board recommended 6-0. The city will install trail etiquette signs.
  • 9.6 Crime Free Residential Rental Program repeal: Division 4 repealed unanimously. Chief cited legal concerns, DOJ guidance, and the success of the rental housing inspection program (1,800 properties licensed).
  • 9.7 Purchasing policy cleanup: Repealed outdated Appendix 1 of Chapter 27 unanimously.
  • 9.8 Surplus property declaration: Six vacant properties declared surplus and transferred to Quad Cities Land Bank Authority for disposition. Passed unanimously.
  • 9.9 Sign permit notice reduction: Ordinance reducing notice period from 180 days to 60 or 90 days depending on circumstances. Passed unanimously.
  • 9.10 Strong Communities Program amendment: First Amendment to extend termination date by one year approved unanimously.
  • 9.11 (21.2) Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP2): Resolution to accept IHDA funding for program years 2025–2027, contingent on IHDA Board approval June 20, 2025. Approved unanimously.
  • 21.3 Sealcoat ditch restoration: Contract with Stichter Construction for $119,259.45 approved unanimously.
  • 21.4 MFT resurfacing: Supplemental resolution for milling and resurfacing on 12th Avenue and 16th Street for $117,947.05 approved unanimously.
  • Executive Session: Council voted unanimously to convene executive session for personnel and property acquisition matters.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I'll call our committee of the whole to order here at 6 p.m. in council chambers. Roll call, please. Alder Person Murphy. Present. Messias? Present. Rosat. President. Time? President. Finch, present. McNeil. Present. Castro, present. Schmidt. Present. Chief, is there any public comment? Oh, sorry, we have no remote electronic attendance this evening. But is there any public comment? Yes, Sean Johnson Jr. Okay. Come on up to the microphone. You have three minutes. Yes, you're all set. Okay. My name is Sean, and my actress is 482847 Avenue. And uh I also um gonna be a I'm also gonna start a lead called Rockata County Basketball Association, but that's not important. But what's for you is also my what is important is my safety, you know, subsafe you know, safety is between you know cyclings and pedestrians. So um so I've been noticed there's like a couple of interchange around Moline that might be it that meant might be a a walk sign, you know. Well, you know, the way they press the button, and you know the machine's gonna talk like Averador Desserties. Walk start perche. You know. But I also do have some suggestions, because I know he did recently make a bike pad not far not too far from City Hall. Um my suggestion is you know, if you if there's a possibility y'all can like install like a trapping signal for cyclists, you know, instead of like you know, just traditional green green like circle or green arrow, they can like have like a trapezo but has a bike symbol, like somewhere that Chicago or Waterloo uh have. And um I think that's I think that's other comments or suggested that um that's that that I think that's all the comments that I have for you, and also it's my honor to talk with the actual mayor. It's like my third mayor that I actually talked to. All right. So yeah. Great. And yeah, that's it. Thank you very much for sharing that. No problem. Anyone else? Okay. We move to our oaths of office. Uh the oath of office for promotional appointment to the rank of sergeant to Adam Lorenz, effective June 1, 2025. Chief. Thank you, Your Honor.

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