Moline City Council & Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting – October 1, 2025
Moline City Council & Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting – October 1, 2025
Note: The agenda and transcript from the meeting indicate the meeting was held on September 23, 2025, but the provided date for this summary is October 1, 2025. This summary uses the given date but acknowledges the discrepancy.
The meeting began at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall, 619 16th Street, Moline. It included a Committee-of-the-Whole session with presentations and discussion of agenda items, followed by the City Council meeting where ordinances, resolutions, and first readings were voted on. No public comments were made during either session.
Presentations
- City of Moline Environmental Resiliency Plan Update (Dawn Temple, Management Analyst; Rich Swanson, Blue Strike): The team presented the kickoff of the plan, which aims to guide the city in preparing for future environmental challenges. Phase 1 (data collection) is complete, including a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for 2024. Key findings: 98% of emissions come from the community, with residential electricity, commercial electricity, and residential natural gas as top sources. Municipal operations account for 2%, led by grid electricity for buildings and streetlights. Phase 2 (engagement) will include surveys, focus groups, and advisory committee input. Phase 3 (strategy) will produce an actionable, fundable plan with a funding roadmap. The final plan is expected by June 2026. Council members asked about integration with the city's comprehensive plan (due November 2026), regional air quality impacts, and the plan's scope (includes flood resiliency, not just emissions). The timeline suggests potential budget impacts in 2027 or 2028.
- GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Award (Carol A. Barnes, Director of Finance): The city received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the fourth consecutive year, and special recognition for strategic goals for the second year. The award reflects adherence to high standards for policy, financial planning, operations, and communication.
Committee-of-the-Whole Agenda Items (All Approved Unanimously)
- 7.1 All-Way Stop Intersection: Added 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue (north and south branches) as an all-way stop, based on a resident request, for consistency and line-of-sight issues.
- 7.2 30-Minute Parking Restriction: Created one 30-minute parking stall at 1518 15th Street (10 AM–6 PM, Tue–Sat) for customer pickup, replacing a request for two 15-minute stalls to avoid hardship for other businesses.
- 7.3 Tobacco Retail Grant (Police Department): Authorized acceptance of $8,427 from IL Dept. of Human Services for retail education and enforcement (compliance checks by underage individuals).
- 7.4 Opioid Litigation Participation: Authorized the Mayor to execute settlement documents for additional opioid manufacturers (deadline October 8, 2025).
- 7.5 Block Party Policy: Formalized a policy effective January 1, 2026, with a 90-day application timeline for review by the special events committee and public safety.
- 7.6 Día de los Muertos Celebration (Nov 1, 2025): Approved street closure for the event sponsored by Mercado on 5th, Inc. (no parade this year).
- 7.7 MIRR Bike Path Phase II: Authorized a joint funding agreement ($1,111,719.75 local match from Motor Fuel Tax) and a letter of understanding ($640,000 state participation for traffic signals). Construction begins January 2026.
- 7.8 OSLAD Grant Application – Milt Hand Softball Complex: Authorized applying for $600,000 from IDNR for ADA improvements, playground replacement, shade structures, and conversion of sand volleyball courts to a multi-use flex field. City will contribute ~$46,000 in staff time; no match required. Grant deadline September 30, 2025.
- 7.9 Cannabis Fund Assistance: Approved $200,000 from cannabis funds for one-time financial assistance (Oct 1–Dec 31, 2025) for eligible residents, including $150,000 for urgent rental/utility assistance and $50,000 for Project Now Level B emergency grants ($400–$2,000). Existing funds were exhausted; need persists.
Informational Items
- 8.1 Annual Outside City Limits Utility Customers List: No changes from last year.
- 8.2 2026 Budget Work Session: Director Barnes presented several items for discussion (no decisions):
- Homeless Prevention Programs: Overview of existing programs (CDBG, Moline Urgent Rental, Level Up, etc.), totaling $865,000 in 2026, with $3.4 million over 2025–2028. Future proposals include an RFP for outreach services and a potential brick-and-mortar shelter (Uplift Shelter) or shared housing at the White House property.
- Payments to Agencies: Proposed 2026 total of $1,553,570, including $50,000 for Uplift Shelter, $150,000 for Moline Urgent Rental, and $315,000 for Project Now (increase of $50,000). Not recommending funding for Humility Homes (due to lack of data) and Quad City Open Network (under review).
- Cannabis Fund: Annual revenue ~$680,000. Proposed budget includes $150,000 for urgent rental, $315,000 for Level Up, and $215,000 transfer to CIP. Ending balance projected ~$200,000 annually; staff recommends keeping that as seed money rather than repaying general fund.
- Public Art Program: $555,800 in projects 2025–2028, with $400,000 for the Leading Light project (matched by Metrolink). Discussion on reforming the ordinance for funding collection.
- Opioid Settlements: First settlement yields ~$174,000 over years; two more settlements pending.
- Special Events Fund: Proposed $60,000 for 2026, plus $100,000 for America 250 celebration (one-time, potentially from council contingency). Some council members suggested using unallocated $575,000 from prior year.
- Rental Housing Program: Breakeven through 2028 with no fee increase; 73% A properties, 25% B, 2% C. Inspectors may expand to code enforcement like yard maintenance.
- Land Bank: Pivoting to a 1099 model after staff resignation; $10,000 commitment from CED budget.
- New Positions: Three proposed: (1) Economic Development Assistant (support Chris Parr) – $206,000 for 2026, (2) Traffic Operations Coordinator (engineering) – one person currently handles 100+ signals, (3) Motor Equipment Operator (parks) – offset by contract savings. Not recommending custodian or library position yet.
- Property Tax Discussion: Data shows city’s levy rate dropped 17% over 10 years; city accounts for 20% of total tax bill (schools 60%). Staff recommends keeping levy rate flat (capturing 100% of growth) for 2026, which would be a small increase. Some council members expressed concern about capturing 100% and suggested keeping below the truth-in-taxation threshold.
- Franchise Fee: Already passed resolution; notification to MidAmerican needed. Options discussed: freeze at 3% or skip a year. Staff noted MidAmerican has a rate case before ICC, which may affect future adjustments.
City Council Meeting (Approvals)
- Consent Agenda (Minutes and Appointments, Second Reading Ordinances, Resolutions): Approved unanimously (8-0).
- Non-Consent Agenda – Second Reading Ordinances:
- 19.1 (Increase Class C Head Shop Licenses for Yabba Dabbas): Approved 6-2 (Rosak and McNeil nay).
- 19.2 (Increase Class B Incidental Tobacco Dealer Licenses for Yabba Dabbas): Approved 6-2 (McNeil nay, Rosak nay).
- Non-Consent Agenda – Resolutions:
- 20.1 (RCG 30th Anniversary Block Party, Sept 25, 2025): Approved 7-0 (Murphy recused).
- 20.2 (2026-2029 Strategic Plan Goals): Approved 8-0.
- 20.3 (Tobacco Retail Grant): Approved 8-0.
- 20.4 (Opioid Litigation): Approved 8-0.
- 20.5 (MIRR Bike Path Phase II): Approved 8-0.
- 20.6 (OSLAD Grant Application): Approved 8-0.
- 20.7 (Cannabis Fund Assistance): Approved 8-0.
- First Reading Ordinances (Advanced to Second Reading):
- 21.1 (Park alcohol sales by not-for-profits): Approved 8-0.
- 21.2 (Zoning text amendment for building design flexibility in Moline Centre): Approved 8-0.
- 21.3 (Garbage and recycling fee changes): Approved 8-0.
- 21.4, 21.5, 21.6 (Water and sewer rate and charge amendments): Approved 8-0.
- Miscellaneous Business: Mayor announced travel for Hunt Institute; council member reported on League of Municipalities conference; thanks to engineering for street lights on 19th Street.
- Executive Session: Motion to convene for collective negotiating matters (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)) – approved 8-0.
Key Outcomes
- All 7 committee-of-the-whole items were approved unanimously.
- All consent agenda items approved.
- Non-consent ordinances 19.1 and 19.2 passed with two dissenting votes; all other non-consent items passed unanimously.
- All first reading ordinances advanced to second reading.
- Budget discussions will continue at the Saturday work session in October; council will provide direction on property tax capture, franchise fee implementation, and new positions.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'll call our meeting order here in Council Chambers at 6 p.m. Roll call, please. Honor Person Murphy from Messias. President. Rosak. President. Time. President. Finch, President McNail. Present. Castro Schmidt. Present. All right. We do not have remote electronic attendance necessary today. Is there public comment, Chief? Okay, thank you. So we'll start with the presentations. Ms. Temple, City of Moline Environmental Resiliency Plan Update. Okay, good evening, Mayor and Council. Tonight. Mark's the kickoff of the Speaker 2. That's not a good start. That's a fumble. Environmental resiliency plan, uh, which will guide us in preparing for future environmental challenges and building a stronger, more sustainable community. We've already completed the data collection phase, and now we're moving into the next stage of the process focused on planning and engagement. We're pleased to have our consultant team from Blue Strike Environmental joining us remotely this evening. With us are Anna Bugankova, Rich Swanson, and Brittany Mahoney, who together bring extensive experience and resiliency planning and community engagement. They'll be walking us through the process, timeline, and opportunities for input. And tonight's presentation is really just about starting the conversation and getting your feedback and input. So now I'll turn it over to Rich to get us started. Great. Thank you so much, Don. Hopefully everybody can hear me, and uh really a pleasure to be with you all this evening. Uh and it's uh you know, I've been a real joy to be working with Don, Denver, Jennifer, and their whole team there in Moline. And this is a pleasure to be, it's a pleasure to be able to join with you all uh in presenting this environmental resiliency plan. So uh we do have some slides that I am gonna us ask Anna to show here on the screen, and so we're gonna walk through those slides uh for this particular presentation. Um so as mentioned, this is an introductory uh this is an introductory presentation on the Moline Environmental Resiliency Plan. My name is Rich Swanson, and we are uh representing Blue Strike, a consultancy that's been hired by the City of Moline to work this process uh for developing this particular plan. Uh just real briefly, our meeting agenda is very simple. Uh, so we can give you a brief orientation here. We're gonna give you an introduction to our team, give you a short project overview, uh, talk a little bit about the approach that we're gonna take and the deliverables that will be submitted to the city, and then we'll have some time at the end for uh questions and answers. So we look forward to that. Um if we go to the next slide, uh this is our team, and just for the sake of time, I think I'll just introduce everybody, and then uh those who are presenting uh can do so, having had an introduction. Uh as mentioned, my name is Rich Swanson. I'm the director of the energy and climate team here at Blue Strike. Uh my background is in energy and energy economics. Uh I've been with Blue Strike for about five years, uh, doing a lot of these types of sort of sustainability, resiliency, uh, and energy planning work. I'm joined by Anna Bugankova.
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