OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - August 8, 2025

Committee of the Whole & Council — Friday, August 8, 2025
BodyMoline, Illinois
SessionCommittee of the Whole & Council
DateFriday, August 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:11:34

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening, everyone.

0:02

I'll call our meeting to order here in Chambers at 6 p.m.

0:07

Roll call, please.

0:08

Honor Person Murphy.

0:09

Present.

0:09

Masias.

0:10

President.

0:11

Rosak.

0:12

Timmy and President.

0:13

Bench.

0:13

President McNeil.

0:14

Present.

0:15

Castro.

0:15

President Schmidt.

0:18

All right.

0:19

I don't believe we have remote electronic attendance.

0:21

Do we have public comment, Chief?

0:23

Oh yeah, Francis Williams.

0:27

Got three minutes.

0:29

Thank you.

0:30

Good evening, Mayor, Administrator, City Council members.

0:33

I'm Francis Williams, the executive director of Mercava on 5th.

0:37

I wanted to take this opportunity.

0:38

I know we're on the agenda to speak about some items, but I wanted to take an opportunity to come and formally thank everybody at the city for an incredible season that we're having at Mercado and for your flexibility.

0:50

You know, we've had some changes and challenges that we've had to adjust to, and you guys have been very um accommodating, and I want to acknowledge that.

0:57

So tonight acknowledged as part of that.

1:00

I also wanted to share some highlights of our season.

1:02

We've had um an incredible experience continuing some very um key events like Lucha Libre, um, which a Centra Credit Union sponsors, so we're very grateful for that, as well as Sabor de Marcado, which is a food competition which was very successful.

1:17

Bob, I saw you there even though I didn't get a chance to say hello.

1:22

It's true.

1:23

We heard that from a lot of people.

1:24

Um it's been a beautiful, beautiful year, some great highlights, but that said it's not without its challenges.

1:30

Um I've been doing some data analysis, and our attendance is significantly lower over compared to last year.

1:37

We're down about 37%, and a lot of that has to do with um a lot of fear in our Hispanic community right now.

1:44

So I just, if you weren't already aware, I wanted to bring that to your awareness and let you know that we are seeing that affecting our attendance numbers at Mercado on 5th.

1:53

Um so we are going to be making some some updates, doing some rollbacks, looking at you know how do we um make efficiencies and create um you know better cost cutting with what we're doing.

2:04

Um, and that's normal, like we usually see a slowdown of the second half of the season, anyways.

2:08

Um but that said, we're still very committed to being able to put on our night markets, um, continue to show off the beauty of the quad cities and particularly Moline and what we're doing.

2:16

And I also wanted to acknowledge that we've been partnering in other ways, particularly with the Moline Police Department.

2:21

We just last night finished a five-week uh Citizens Academy or police academy that was given in all Spanish, which was incredible, and the feedback um I'm gonna be documenting and sharing uh in a letter to the chief of of police so that um he has that and my hope is that we can continue that programming and hopefully write some grants to continue to support that work because it is really important.

2:43

And people left feeling much more relieved and relaxed with the people that they met from the police department.

2:49

So I'm very happy with that out those outcomes.

2:51

Um given that the climate that we are in and the challenges that we are having this season, um I also wanted to formally uh ask that we not have a closure of 12th Street for September 12th.

3:02

Um it is a huge Mexican Independence Day celebration, um, but we're gonna be utilizing our North Lot to expand that space because we don't anticipate large numbers for that particular night.

3:14

So um we can you know I'll send an email to Macy to document that later, but um just wanted to share that formally and again um thank you for all your support and we're gonna continue to be here now more than ever for our community and celebrating all that is beautiful about our Hispanic culture here in the Quad Cities.

3:32

Thank you very much.

3:33

Uh just a quick question for council, then because in the agreement that's on the agenda, it does include that item.

3:42

It does not think I'm sorry, is it about the closure of 12th?

3:48

Yeah, yeah.

3:49

Is it part of what's in here?

3:51

I feel like I'm recalling that it's in there, and do we need to amend it or do we just pass it as is, and then they're not gonna close it even if they had the permission to close it.

4:01

I see a thumbs up from Chief.

4:02

Yes, let me just take a look at it real quick.

4:04

I don't believe that it's it was in there, so the explanation.

4:08

Yeah.

4:09

So council's recommendation would be then we just pass it as is, and they just won't close it, and that'll be communicated.

4:16

Got it.

4:16

Thank you very much.

4:18

So uh there's uh uh meeting.

4:27

Come on up.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Community Engagement████████████████████20%
Public Safety████████████12%
Zoning And Land Use███████████11%
Homelessness█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Affordable Housing████4%
Environmental Protection███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - August 8, 2025

Note: The meeting agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on August 5, 2025, but the provided date is August 8, 2025. This summary uses the provided date. The meeting combined the Committee-of-the-Whole (COW) and regular City Council sessions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Francis Williams, Executive Director of Mercado on 5th, thanked the city for a successful season but reported that attendance is down 37% compared to last year, attributing it to fear in the Hispanic community. He requested that 12th Street not be closed for the September 12 Mexican Independence Day celebration, as they plan to use the North Lot instead. He also highlighted a five-week Spanish-language Citizens Academy with the Moline Police Department.
  • Dave Harrell, President/CEO of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, thanked the city for partnership in the Great Race event on June 22, 2025, and presented a welcome sign and framed photo.
  • Sam Moyer (Moline resident and Plan Commissioner, submitted via email) expressed support for the small lot ordinance (item 8.13), stating it aligns with housing production priorities.
  • Craig Logan, Vice Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission (submitted via email), expressed support for the small lot ordinance, noting it will allow diverse housing options without unnecessary regulatory burdens.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council approved the Consent Agenda, including: Special COW minutes of July 15, 2025; COW, Council, and Executive Session minutes of July 22, 2025; appointments made at COW on August 5, 2025; and items 17.1 through 18.8 (which included second reading ordinances and a series of resolutions for engineering services, alley reconstruction change order, wastewater treatment facility amendment, land lease amendment, zoning appeal, school-city drone partnership, fiber network development agreement, and police MOU with YWCA). Enacted by one motion with a roll call of 6-0.

Discussion Items

Board Appointments

  • Reese Tuinstra appointed to Park and Recreation Board (term to May 31, 2028).
  • Leslie Stange-Crotty and Diane Fox reappointed to Moline Housing Authority (five-year terms to July 31, 2030).

Recognition

  • Vicki Graves recognized for six years of service on the Plan Commission (2019-2025).

Committee-of-the-Whole Action Items (8.1–8.15)

  • 8.1: Approved the amended 2025 Capital Improvement Plan and 2026-2028 CIP. Motion passed unanimously.
  • 8.2: Authorized notice of intent to award Leander Construction, Inc. for North Slope Wastewater Treatment Plant Chemical Phosphorous Removal Improvements ($1,539,000). Passed unanimously.
  • 8.3: Authorized MOU with YWCA of the Quad Cities for ThePlace2B Transitional Living Program to assist homeless/exploited youth. Police Chief described the program, which currently serves 75 youth, with expectation to serve an additional 75 through the partnership. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.4: Authorized joint funding agreement and local match for Safe Routes to School project at Lincoln-Irving Elementary School ($276,420.60). Passed unanimously.
  • 8.5: Approved licensing agreement for 2025 Mercado on Fifth season (May 23–Oct 3, with Oct 10 rain date), including street closures. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.6: Approved special event for Gabe’s Gift Memorial 5K (Sept 6, 2025) with street closures. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.7: Approved special event for St. Mary’s Parish Carnival (Sept 21, 2025) with street closures. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.8: Approved ordinance amending zoning code to allow commercial principal and accessory solar energy systems on agriculturally zoned land. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.9: Approved ordinance to increase number of video gaming terminal establishments for Casey’s Tavern (new owner Jeremy Webb). Passed unanimously.
  • 8.10: Approved ordinance to increase number for Dew Drop Inn (new owner Jessica Bernauer). Passed unanimously.
  • 8.11: Authorized Amendment No. 2 to professional services agreement with FGM Architects for New Central Fire Station 50% schematic design ($51,900). Passed unanimously.
  • 8.12: Authorized assignment of development agreement among City, S.J. Russell, Dial Point phases, and Sabra Health Care Holdings III. City Attorney clarified the city is only consenting to the assignment, not changing its position. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.13: Approved ordinance amending R2 zoning to reduce minimum lot size requirements (from 6,000 sq ft general allowance). Co-sponsored by Aldermen Timion and McNeil. The ordinance establishes clear standards for smaller lots, reduces parking from 2 to 1 space, and relaxes setbacks. Public comments supported it. The council chose to proceed with a public hearing at the next City Council meeting rather than referring to Plan Commission. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.14: Authorized agreement with Public Safety Training Foundation for use of their facilities by the police SWAT team for advanced training in September 2025. Passed unanimously.
  • 8.15: Ordinance rescinding redevelopment agreement with Bush Construction for the JCPenney building project (originally 32 units, reduced due to historic preservation issues). The city’s $2.8 million commitment will remain in the General Fund. Passed unanimously.

Informational Item

  • City Administrator Bob Vitas gave the August 2025 Status & Information Report, including updates on comprehensive plan RFP (14 responses, shortlisted to 7), 16th Street Arsenal Bridge deck reconstruction project (September launch, $11M grant), and lead line replacement project.

Council Non-Consent Items (approved by roll call)

  • 18.8: MOU with YWCA (moved from consent) – Passed 6-0.
  • 20.1: Second Amendment to Development and Economic Incentive Agreement with Dolan Commons, LLC – Passed 6-0.
  • 20.2: Rock Island County E-Citation Intergovernmental Agreement (including Moline, East Moline, Silvis, Rock Island, Coal Valley, Milan) – Passed 6-0.
  • 20.3: Assignment of Development Agreement (same as 8.12) – Passed 6-0.
  • 20.4: Approval of Executive Session minutes release/retention and destruction of recordings – Passed 6-0.
  • 20.5: Contract with Otto Baum Company for 2025 Midtowne Parking Ramp Repairs ($218,965) – Passed 6-0.
  • 20.6: Contract with Langman Construction for 2025 Stormwater Project, 34th Street Drainage Improvements ($142,950) – Passed 6-0.

Council First Reading Ordinances (advanced to second reading)

  • 21.1: Reduce speed limit on 50th/51st Avenues to 20 mph – Passed 6-0.
  • 21.2: Amend parking restrictions on 9th Street – Passed 6-0.
  • 21.3: Prohibit Class C (packaged sales) liquor licensees from holding Class B (tavern) licenses – Passed 6-0.
  • 21.4: Adopt Moline River Front + Centre Plan as Appendix R to Comprehensive Plan – Passed 6-0.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (6-0) where recorded.
  • The small lot zoning amendment (8.13) will proceed to a public hearing at the August 26 City Council meeting.
  • The redevelopment agreement for the JCPenney building was rescinded, freeing up $2.8 million in General Fund.
  • The Level Up Level B program (food assistance) exhausted its $60,000 allocation; staff directed to explore other options.
  • A sister city visit from Osbach, Germany, is scheduled for April 27-29, 2026.
  • An executive session was approved for discussion of personnel.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I'll call our meeting to order here in Chambers at 6 p.m. Roll call, please. Honor Person Murphy. Present. Masias. President. Rosak. Timmy and President. Bench. President McNeil. Present. Castro. President Schmidt. All right. I don't believe we have remote electronic attendance. Do we have public comment, Chief? Oh yeah, Francis Williams. Got three minutes. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, Administrator, City Council members. I'm Francis Williams, the executive director of Mercava on 5th. I wanted to take this opportunity. I know we're on the agenda to speak about some items, but I wanted to take an opportunity to come and formally thank everybody at the city for an incredible season that we're having at Mercado and for your flexibility. You know, we've had some changes and challenges that we've had to adjust to, and you guys have been very um accommodating, and I want to acknowledge that. So tonight acknowledged as part of that. I also wanted to share some highlights of our season. We've had um an incredible experience continuing some very um key events like Lucha Libre, um, which a Centra Credit Union sponsors, so we're very grateful for that, as well as Sabor de Marcado, which is a food competition which was very successful. Bob, I saw you there even though I didn't get a chance to say hello. It's true. We heard that from a lot of people. Um it's been a beautiful, beautiful year, some great highlights, but that said it's not without its challenges. Um I've been doing some data analysis, and our attendance is significantly lower over compared to last year. We're down about 37%, and a lot of that has to do with um a lot of fear in our Hispanic community right now. So I just, if you weren't already aware, I wanted to bring that to your awareness and let you know that we are seeing that affecting our attendance numbers at Mercado on 5th. Um so we are going to be making some some updates, doing some rollbacks, looking at you know how do we um make efficiencies and create um you know better cost cutting with what we're doing. Um, and that's normal, like we usually see a slowdown of the second half of the season, anyways. Um but that said, we're still very committed to being able to put on our night markets, um, continue to show off the beauty of the quad cities and particularly Moline and what we're doing. And I also wanted to acknowledge that we've been partnering in other ways, particularly with the Moline Police Department. We just last night finished a five-week uh Citizens Academy or police academy that was given in all Spanish, which was incredible, and the feedback um I'm gonna be documenting and sharing uh in a letter to the chief of of police so that um he has that and my hope is that we can continue that programming and hopefully write some grants to continue to support that work because it is really important. And people left feeling much more relieved and relaxed with the people that they met from the police department. So I'm very happy with that out those outcomes. Um given that the climate that we are in and the challenges that we are having this season, um I also wanted to formally uh ask that we not have a closure of 12th Street for September 12th. Um it is a huge Mexican Independence Day celebration, um, but we're gonna be utilizing our North Lot to expand that space because we don't anticipate large numbers for that particular night. So um we can you know I'll send an email to Macy to document that later, but um just wanted to share that formally and again um thank you for all your support and we're gonna continue to be here now more than ever for our community and celebrating all that is beautiful about our Hispanic culture here in the Quad Cities. Thank you very much. Uh just a quick question for council, then because in the agreement that's on the agenda, it does include that item. It does not think I'm sorry, is it about the closure of 12th? Yeah, yeah. Is it part of what's in here?

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