Moline City Council Committee-of-the-Whole and Regular Meeting - July 23, 2025

The Moline City Council met on July 23, 2025, in a combined Committee-of-the-Whole and Regular Council session. The meeting featured presentations from community organizations, approval of numerous resolutions and ordinances, and discussion of the city's strategic goals. Key actions included authorizing major infrastructure projects, adopting the Moline River Front + Centre Plan, and approving a five-year Consolidated Plan for CDBG funding.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the public comment periods.

Presentations

• Moline Parks and Recreation Youth Advisory Board Certificate of Appreciation: Eric Griffith and Nathan Berthoud presented a certificate to the Youth Advisory Board, recognizing their contributions including the Frost and Fire Festival, a pickleball tournament, and the creation of a Parks and Rec TikTok account. The board was formed to engage youth in programming.
• Payments to Agencies: Three organizations presented funding requests for fiscal year 2026:
  • Renew Moline (Alex Elias): Highlighted activities including the public market study, River Edge Redevelopment Zone application, support for a 52-unit affordable housing concept downtown, and downtown initiatives such as the eAtlas adventure and VIBE Map. Renew Moline manages the Moline Centre and Moline Community Development Corporation (MCDC), focusing on affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.
  • Project Now – Level Up Program (Robert Ford, Ron Lund, Kathy Jordan): Presented the Level Up program, which provides financial assistance to households in poverty. In the past year, Part A (monthly stipend of $400 max $4,800) served 31 households (37 adults, 55 children); Part B (emergency $2,000) served 22 households (26 adults, 31 children). Total households assisted: 57. Project Now requested $264,000 for the next year, including $168,000 for Part A, $60,000 for Part B, $12,000 for an intern, and $24,000 for administration. The program also leveraged an additional $932,000 from other state/federal programs for Moline residents. Speakers emphasized the program's success in moving families toward self-sufficiency, citing examples of a 62-year-old woman who became a substitute nurse.
  • Quad City Open Network (QCon) (Cecilia Bailey): Made a first-time request for $298,048 over three years to pilot a social worker program at the Moline Public Library. The social worker would connect residents to services, manage cases, and support housing initiatives. QCon highlighted a similar successful program in Davenport where a social worker served 8,040 families in three years. The program would be a neutral starting point for residents seeking help. Aldermen questioned whether the city should employ the social worker directly; staff responded that outsourcing to a social service agency provides better oversight.

Discussion Items

• 7.1 Engineering Services for 38th Avenue Improvements: Approved a $142,000 contract with IMEG Corp. for design of a sanitary sewer lift station and force main to support the Texas Roadhouse project.
• 7.2 Alley Reconstruction Change Order: Approved final change order with Collins Concrete for $3,806.45 for 2025 alley reconstruction.
• 7.3 Speed Limit Reduction: Approved reducing speed limits on 50th and 51st Avenues to 20 mph from 60th Street east to Green Valley Park, based on resident complaints and traffic engineering committee recommendation.
• 7.4 Parking Prohibition Amendment: Adjusted parking restrictions on 9th Street to accommodate a business, reducing the no-parking zone and adding time-limited parking (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) for a 30-foot segment.
• 7.5 South Slope Wastewater Treatment Facility: Approved Amendment No. 1 with Strand Associates, Inc. for $8,946,900 for design, bidding, and construction services for the South Slope Water Reclamation Facility modifications. The project, now estimated at $114 million in construction costs, is funded through a 40-year low-interest loan from EPA.
• 7.6 CDBG Consolidated Plan and 2025 Action Plan: Approved the 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funding. The plan prioritizes housing, infrastructure, quality of life, and economic development. A revised summary was provided to council; the plan itself is 240+ pages.
• 7.7 Land Lease Amendment with GTP Acquisition Partners: Approved first amendment to extend the lease for city-owned property at 1520 41st Street (formerly 4213 16th Avenue).
• 7.8 Dolan Commons Development Agreement Amendment: Approved second amendment to the development and economic incentive agreement with Dolan Commons, LLC. Key changes: Phase II commercial building reduced to minimum 1,000 sq ft (target 2,000) with electric vehicle charging stations; Phase III housing restored with 10 townhome rental units by 2027. Incentive ratios changed from 100% to 85% developer/15% city for sales tax and property tax rebates, with a 2041 end date. Failure to complete Phase III by Dec. 31, 2027, cancels all incentives.
• 7.9 Prohibition of Dual Class B and Class C Liquor Licenses: Approved ordinance prohibiting a single entity from holding both a Class B (tavern) and Class C (packaged sales only) license, based on past enforcement issues with gambling devices.
• 7.10 Facade Material Appeal for City Services Center: Approved an appeal to allow fiber cement siding (HardieBoard) on the north and east facades of 1830 6th Avenue, replacing wood siding. The Planning Commission had denied the design adjustment; staff argued the material meets code intent and is cost-effective. The city plans to amend the form-based code to allow such materials for existing buildings.
• 7.11 E-Citation Intergovernmental Agreement: Approved agreement to implement an electronic citation (eCitation) system countywide, funded by Rock Island County Circuit Clerk and ETSB with no cost to the city.
• 7.12 Public Safety Drone Partnership with School District: Approved MOU to install a drone docking station at Moline High School, part of the city's drone program. The agreement will also go to the School Board on July 28, with final council approval expected August 5.
• 7.13 FTTP Development Agreement with Comcast: Approved agreement for Comcast to provide fiber network services to commercial customers in Moline, modeled after the Metronet agreement.
• 7.14 Moline River Front + Centre Plan Adoption: Approved ordinance to adopt the Moline River Front + Centre Plan as an appendix to the Comprehensive Plan. The plan, developed over several years, guides redevelopment of the riverfront and downtown areas.
• 8.1 Strategic Plan Dashboard FY25 Q2: City Administrator Bob Vitas reported that 40% of 47 goals are complete, ~45% on track, 4% behind, and 10.6% not started. Notable items: comprehensive plan RFP received 14 responses; comprehensive rezoning on hold pending comprehensive plan; food security program paused due to lack of vendor interest.
• 8.2 2026-2029 Strategic Goals and Objectives: Council reviewed a draft of the new strategic plan, organized under four pillars: Infrastructure, Housing, Economy, and Quality of Place. Aldermen provided feedback, including:
  • Alderperson McNeil suggested replacing vague verbs like "explore" with measurable outcomes.
  • Alderperson Castro requested workforce readiness be added to the economy pillar and consistency in language around environmental resiliency vs. climate action plan.
  • Alderperson Schmidt expressed strong opposition to the goal "Evaluate creation of a regional water authority," citing concerns about loss of local control. He also recommended adding explicit mention of homelessness.
  • Multiple aldermen urged refining the mission statement from three statements to one.

Key Outcomes

• All 14 Committee-of-the-Whole agenda items (7.1–7.14) were approved by unanimous voice votes.
• Council consent agenda (minutes, second reading ordinances, resolutions 16.1–17.9) approved unanimously on roll call (6-0).
• Non-consent items:
  • 19.1 (CDBG funding) approved 6-0.
  • 19.2 (Sidewalk improvements contract with Walter D. Laud, Inc. for $146,099.50) approved 6-0.
  • 20.1 (Zoning map amendment for 1212 and 1230 6th Avenue) advanced to second reading on a 6-0 vote.
• Council entered executive session for property acquisition discussion.
• Next steps: The strategic plan action plan will be developed by November 18, 2025, for adoption alongside the budget.