Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - September 16, 2025

The Moline City Council held a combined Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council meeting on September 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting covered a wide range of items including the approval of a new strategic plan, amendments to park alcohol regulations, tobacco license increases for a local business, a contract for a comprehensive plan update, and several special event permits. Key votes were taken on both the committee and council agendas.

Oath of Office & Presentation

• Oath of Office: Tanner Gillespie was sworn in as a regular commissioned police officer, effective September 3, 2025. He is a lateral transfer from Columbia, Missouri, and a 12-year veteran of the Illinois National Guard.
• Presentation: Barbara "Barb" Sandberg was recognized for decades of service to the community, including her work on historic preservation and the Moline Preservation Society. She received the Key to the City.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: Committee-of-the-Whole meeting minutes (August 19, 2025), Council and Executive Session minutes (August 26, 2025), and appointments made on September 9, 2025.
• Second Reading Ordinances (all approved): Zoning amendments for solar energy systems; video gaming terminal increases for Casey's Tavern and Dew Drop Inn; R-2 district zoning text amendments; rescission of Ordinance 3015-2024 and partial termination of a redevelopment agreement.
• Resolutions (all approved): Engineering agreement for River Drive Streetscaping Phase II ($301,400); grant to Sprint the Miss event ($1,000); grant to Walk to End Alzheimer's ($500) and street closure; intergovernmental agreement with MetroLINK for EV charging station; licensing agreement with CBI Bank & Trust for underground electrical line.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• 9.1 – Park Alcohol Ordinance (Nonprofits): Ordinance to allow not-for-profits to sell, possess, and consume alcohol in city parks (excluding Green Valley) with a special use permit from the Park Board. An amendment was added to explicitly exclude the Riverside (Riverslide) pool area. The motion as amended passed unanimously.
• 9.2 – Rouse Consulting Group Block Party: Approved street closures for the RCG 30th Anniversary Block Party on September 25, 2025. City Administrator Bob Vitas recused himself due to a client relationship.
• 9.3 – SWAG Grant Application: Authorized application for $42,985 from Rock Island County Waste Management Agency for solid waste management and recycling activities. Approved.
• 9.4 – IDOT Mowing/Maintenance Agreement: 10-year intergovernmental agreement for mowing and maintaining state right-of-way, reimbursed quarterly. Approved.
• 9.5 – Lighting on the Commons Event: Approved special event application for November 22, 2025, including street closures and public property use. Approved.
• 9.7 & 9.8 – Tobacco License Increases (Yabba Dabbas): Two ordinances to increase the number of Class C (head shop) and Class B (incidental tobacco dealer) licenses for AAA Retailers LLC d/b/a Yabba Dabbas. Extensive discussion about the concentration of smoke shops in the 4300–4400 blocks of Avenue of the Cities, and a prior misclassification of the business. The council voted to approve both licenses, with one nay in committee (9.7) and two nays in committee (9.8). On first reading at the council meeting, 22.2 passed 7-1 (McNeil nay) and 22.3 passed 7-1 (McNeil nay).
• 9.9 – Zoning Text Amendment (Non-Conforming Buildings): Amended Moline Centre form-based code to allow more design flexibility for non-conforming buildings, redirecting design review to standard zoning code. Approved unanimously.
• 9.10 – Comprehensive Plan Update Contract: Authorized a contract with Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) for $1,150,000 to develop the Moline Comprehensive Plan Update over 13–14 months. The contract includes a multimodal transportation component. Approved unanimously.
• 9.11 – Bent River Brewing Licensing Agreement: Approved a licensing agreement for alcohol sales during the RCG Block Party. Vitas recused himself.
• 9.12 – 2026–2029 Strategic Plan: Approved the strategic plan goals and objectives after an amendment to remove the words "regional approach" from Goal 1.2A (investigate supplying water to other local governments). Alderperson Schmidt moved the amendment, expressing concern that "regional approach" could imply ceding control. The amendment passed, and the plan as amended was approved unanimously.

Informational Items

• 10.1 – Status Report (Bob Vitas): Noted progress on the comprehensive plan update, Central Fire Station design, playground installation at Moline Little League, and the upcoming groundbreaking for the South Slope reconstruction project ($113 million).
• 10.2 – Artisan Zoning & Maker District (Chris Mathias): Staff presented a concept for an artisan/maker district, focusing on the Old Town area. The idea originated from a mayor's conference and was discussed with the Plan Commission. Staff will conduct a building inventory and outreach to property owners. Council expressed support for targeting Old Town rather than downtown.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • 9.1 (Park Alcohol Ordinance) – Amended and passed unanimously.
  • 9.7 (Class C Head Shop License) – Passed 7-1 (one nay in committee; on first reading 22.2 passed 7-1, McNeil nay).
  • 9.8 (Class B Tobacco License) – Passed 7-1 (two nays in committee; on first reading 22.3 passed 7-1, McNeil nay).
  • 9.12 (Strategic Plan) – Amended and passed unanimously.
• All other items on the committee and council agendas were approved either unanimously or with minimal opposition.
• Next Steps: Staff will begin developing a work plan for the strategic plan and will proceed with outreach for the Old Town artisan district. The comprehensive plan update will commence immediately. The South Slope reconstruction groundbreaking is scheduled for the following week.