Moline Committee-of-the-Whole Special Meeting: 2026-2028 Capital Improvement Plan - July 18, 2025

The Moline City Council Committee-of-the-Whole held a special meeting on Friday, July 18, 2025, to review the proposed 2026-2028 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Finance Director Carol Barnes, Engineering Director David Dryer, Parks and Recreation Director Eric Griffith, and Assistant Utilities Director Charly Brown presented a four-year project and funding outlook covering streets, sidewalks, water, wastewater, stormwater, parks, and major facilities. No formal CIP votes were taken; council approved remote attendance, and staff was directed to prepare authorizing resolutions for future consideration. The agenda packet is dated July 15, 2025, while the supplied meeting date used in this summary is July 18, 2025.

Procedural Actions

• Council approved remote electronic attendance for Alderperson Castro; motion by Alderperson Finch, second by Alderperson Timmy, approved by roll call.

CIP Financial Overview

• Carol Barnes said the city begins CIP review in July so engineering can start design and bidding before the new year. Proposed capital totals are $66.5M in 2025, $86M in 2026, potentially about $100M in 2027, and a more normal level in 2028. The 2025 total includes almost $18M for South Slope and $11.5M for the Arsenal Bridge.
• Funding sources include home-rule sales tax ($17M), gas/electric utility tax ($8.5M), motor fuel tax ($8M), federal grants ($25.5M), state loan funds ($120M for South Slope and more than $17.5M for utility services), utility-fee-funded WPC/water/stormwater projects ($25M), WPC reserves ($13M), franchise fees ($7M), and various grants.
• The regular CIP fund would total $34M over four years; the motor fuel tax fund would spend $36.8M over four years and end 2028 with a balance of $482,000, within policy.
• Water rates are projected at about 2% annual increases. WPC rates are projected at 6% for each of the next three years, down from 9% increases in prior years; estimated monthly bill impacts are about $2.66, $2.83, and $2.95. Stormwater rates are projected at 2% after the 30% increase in 2024, with more than $1M per year now available for stormwater capital projects.
• The all-in South Slope project cost, including engineering, construction, 10% contingency, and construction-period interest, is $132.8M, funded largely by a $120M low-interest loan. Construction is projected at about $30M per year in 2026, 2027, and 2028, with the first conventional loan payment in 2029.

Streets and Sidewalks

• David Dryer reported the city maintains 245 miles of streets. Average pavement condition index is 59, rated as fair, with 88% of arterials in good/excellent condition, 56% of residential streets, and 39% of alleys in marginal condition.
• Programmed street projects include work on 19th Avenue, 15th Street, 16th Street, 34th Street, 41st Street/Moline Forge, 17th Street, and multiple local streets; 2026 includes Morgan Park combined phases, and 2027 includes the 53rd Street intersection and the river drive streetscape using ITEP funds.
• Sidewalk condition ratings found 196 miles in categories 3 and 4 and 41.8 miles in categories 1 and 2. Staff estimate sidewalk replacement costs about $12 per square foot, meaning roughly three miles of sidewalk for $1M before retaining walls, ADA ramps, and driveway approach work. $530,000 is programmed for trip hazards and other sidewalk projects, plus $50,000 for ADA improvements.
• The $2M quiet-zone project has FRA approval and railroad design is progressing. Staff also presented bridge aesthetic treatments for I-74 at John Deere Road and at Avenue of the Cities.

Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Utilities

• Charly Brown said the 1933 water plant is being reviewed by an outside engineer to prioritize work over the next 15-20 years. Current projects include Neptune gateway collectors, which are now reading 5,000 of the city's 17,000 meters remotely, plus cybersecurity/SCADA upgrades.
• A PFAS treatment project using powdered activated carbon is planned for 2027. Staff reported PFAS levels around 3.7-3.8 against the current 4.0 standard and said PFAS litigation could bring the city about $2 billion over 12-15 years, with a first $300,000 payment expected this year.
• Lead service line work is accelerating: the city has $5M in forgivable and $3M in zero-interest state loan funds for 2026, with about 390 replacements this year and roughly 800 next year. Of the city's 5,000 lead lines, about 1,200 will be removed under current funding at a net cost of about $3M repaid over four years. Staff will revisit the replacement schedule after the EPA finalizes its lead/copper rule, expected around October.
• Since October 2024, the city has taken financial responsibility for homeowner-side lead lines when a leak requires replacement. Staff will proactively contact an estimated 30-40 households that paid for their own replacements and process receipt-based reimbursements.
• Wastewater projects include continuing South Slope construction, IEPA-mandated phosphorus removal at North Slope ($1.5M project, bids opened), a future South Slope diffuser study, and smoke testing to identify broken sanitary sewers.
• Stormwater projects include a portable diesel generator, an additional pump at the 16th Street station, and a large drainage improvement near 49th/53rd streets and the park building, including flood mapping and pumping improvements.

Parks and Recreation

• Eric Griffith reviewed the 2024 park master plan, which assumes about $1M per year in capital projects focused on maintaining existing facilities. The Moline Little League playground is expected to finish in mid-to-late August; Riverside Park parking lot asphalt overlay will begin next month; and metal picnic table/bench replacements are continuing.
• Proposed work includes playground installations, $50,000 in Green Valley dog park upgrades, Riverside Cemetery road paving, shade structures, sidewalk replacements, and smaller-park improvements. Staff is requesting a $600,000 grant with a 10% city match for Green Valley improvements, including accessible shade structures, a playground for ages 2-5, and converting an underused volleyball field to turf.
• Several council members objected to using special CIP fund transfers ($100,000 in 2025 and $400,000, $200,000, and $150,000 in later years) to fill the park capital funding gap, arguing the special CIP fund was intended for large, one-time projects such as the fire station and riverfront, not routine park funding.

Special CIP, Major Facilities, and Riverfront

• The 10-year special CIP program includes $22M for increased infrastructure, rising from $1M in 2025 to $2M in 2026-2028 and $3M in later years, plus riverfront development, the central fire station, city hall renovations, and parking projects.
• Staff has applied for a $6.5M federal grant for riverfront design, engineering, pre-environmental work, and cost-benefit analysis, and plans to apply in January 2026 for a $24M federal grant for riverfront infrastructure. If grants are not awarded, projects would need alternative revenue or scaling.
• The central fire station land purchase cost $1.27M; construction is projected at $27M in 2027. Estimated bond costs are about 4.18% over 20 years or 4.6% over 30 years, with potential issuance in summer 2027.
• City hall renovation estimates range from $10M to $17M, including HVAC and physical infrastructure dating to the 1950s. Staff will return in August with more detail. Several council members pressed for an overall facilities master plan and questioned the size of the city hall expenditure; others urged keeping the special CIP focused on major projects and the riverfront. The mayor said the facilities problems were inherited by the current council.
• Parking ramp maintenance planning is estimated at $2.3M, with additional demolition/study items to be considered.

Key Outcomes

• No formal action was taken on the CIP projects. Staff will prepare authorizing resolutions for August council consideration, with construction-dollar approvals expected in November.
• Council will review utility fee increases at the August roundtable; the final CIP financial presentation is expected in October.
• Administration will return in August with city hall renovation details and a facilities planning discussion.
• Staff will revisit lead service line replacement timing after the EPA rule is finalized around October 2025.
• No public comment was offered, no executive session was held, and the meeting adjourned by motion.