Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - July 8, 2026

The Moline City Council met in Committee-of-the-Whole and then in regular City Council session on July 8, 2026. The Committee-of-the-Whole portion included police officer oaths, board appointments, commendations and life-saving awards, plus review of 14 agenda items. The City Council then took formal action; all City Council roll-call votes were 8-0. Agenda materials were dated July 7, 2026, but the date used for this summary is July 8, 2026.

Committee-of-the-Whole: Oaths, Appointments, and Awards

• Oaths of Office: Mayor administered oaths to Treyvon Lee and Alec Michna (effective July 2, 2026) and Gerald Ruddell III (effective June 30, 2026) as regular commissioned police officers after completion of probation. Chief Gault introduced each officer.
• Board appointments: Mayor appointed Gilbert Peña to the Keep Moline Beautiful Commission for the unexpired term ending November 30, 2026, and Tom Lahl to the Revolving Loan Fund Committee for a five-year term ending June 30, 2031.
• Commendation: Chief Gault presented a Letter of Commendation to Sergeant Tyler McLaughlin for off-duty actions that helped detain a stabbing suspect at ORA Orthopedics in Silvis on April 13, 2026.
• Life Saving Awards: Officer Kyle Yeater received two Life Saving Awards for a February 18, 2026 carbon monoxide rescue where indoor CO levels exceeded 800 ppm, and for an April 3, 2026 cardiac arrest response where he performed CPR.

Committee-of-the-Whole Agenda Items

• Axon AI translation: Approved a $145,889.10 five-year contract with Axon Enterprise for AI Assistant software adding real-time translation to body-worn and in-car cameras. Chief Gault said the 60-day free trial tested 8 of 60-plus languages with World Relief and real field deployments, that funding came from Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity replacement grant/trust funds with no taxpayer cost, and that placing the item on the council agenda secured a 10 percent discount saving $16,209. Council discussion covered battery life, the internal large language model, no internet connection, court certification, and privacy. The motion passed.
• Major Crash Assistance Team: Approved an intergovernmental agreement among local law enforcement agencies to regionalize crash reconstruction. Chief Gault noted Moline handles about 1,500 crashes per year, including about seven serious crashes, and that certified reconstruction requires 400 hours of training and equipment costing about $33,000 per year. The motion passed.
• Sidewalk projects: Approved Langman Construction contracts for Project #1539, 2026 CDBG Sidewalk Improvement Project I for $199,896.25, and Project #1540, 2026 CDBG Sidewalk Improvement Project II for $178,450. Alderperson Timian clarified these were separate from the $530,000 CIP sidewalk budget, making combined sidewalk investment more than $800,000. Both motions passed.
• Asphalt maintenance change order: Approved Change Order No. 1 and Final with Valley Construction for $15,907.53 for the 2026 MFT Asphalt Maintenance Program, adding two sites that had post-winter pavement failures near the new Starbucks off 19th Avenue. The motion passed.
• Public Art grant: Authorized the Moline Public Art Commission to apply to the Illinois Arts Council for a Creative Project Grant of up to $12,000 for projects in the Public Art Place Making Plan. Staff said the city is seeking more funding for the commission and may explore pre-authorization for future grants. The motion passed.
• Scout Capital Group: Approved an Economic Incentive Agreement for 3620 38th Avenue providing a $595,000 sales tax rebate to the buyer over a period not to exceed seven years, paid 80 percent to the buyer and 20 percent to the city, with staff estimating the rebate would be met in about three and a half to four years. The motion passed.
• Catfish Charlie's and Marquis Harbor Marina: Approved a special ordinance with Pretasky Roach Properties to terminate the amended lease at 4801 River Drive, convey marina improvements as satisfaction of outstanding debt, and sell the restaurant lot for $350,000 payable upon subsequent sale, secured by a mortgage and promissory note. The motion passed.
• River Drive right-of-way vacation: Approved an ordinance to vacate certain public rights-of-way along River Drive due to building encroachment by Catfish Charlie's. The encroachment area was identified as 524 square feet. The motion passed.
• Special events and block parties: Approved a $2,500 grant from the Special Events Fund for the 13th Annual Fall Belgian Festival on September 20, 2026. Also approved block parties for the Old Morgan Park neighborhood on September 26 with Gary Francque, the Karstens/City Line Neighborhood Group on September 12 with Lori McKenzie, and the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House Porch Party on September 20 with Susan Anderson. All motions passed.
• Colona sewer study: Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Colona to jointly retain Strand Associates for a feasibility study of Colona joining the Rock River Valley Regional Sewer System, estimated at $75,500 and split equally. Staff and Strand's Troy Stinson said the study would also identify possible upgrades needed at Moline's Cole Creek Pump Station and interceptors. Alderperson Schmidt said he supports offering regional service but not any governance structure that would remove local control. The motion passed.

Public Comments and Testimony

• Louis Gita, a Moline resident of more than 25 years at 2911 25th Avenue, addressed the Council about a sewer backup that caused more than $30,000 in damages. He said he originally estimated about $10,000 in uninsured damages and received a $5,000 city stipend, but actual uninsured damages exceeded $20,000. He asked the Council to meet him halfway and provide $10,000 in settlement.

Consent Calendar

• The City Council approved the consent agenda by omnibus vote, 8-0, including the June 23, 2026 Committee-of-the-Whole, Council, and Executive Session minutes; appointments made at the Committee-of-the-Whole; second-reading ordinances 17.1 through 17.7; and resolutions 18.1 through 18.3.
• Second-reading ordinances included reducing minimum required parking for residential land uses; annexing 4200 29th Street and 1523 36th Avenue; adding a school speed limit on University Drive from 1,800 feet west of Thirty-fourth Street to Thirty-fourth Street; amending parking prohibitions on Forty-second Street; correcting a parking time heading from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; and authorizing taxable general obligation bonds for the RiverStation Building at 1601 River Drive.
• Consent resolutions included an Independent Contractor Agreement with Bush Construction Company for New Central Fire Station Construction Manager at Risk services for $909,328; property tax abatement intergovernmental agreements under the Moline River Edge Redevelopment Zone; and MKSK Work Authorization #05a for the Moline Riverfront demolition package in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

City Council Non-Consent and First Reading Items

• Item 20.1, the Axon AI Assistant resolution, was approved 8-0.
• Item 20.2, the Langman CDBG Sidewalk Project I contract for $199,896.25, was approved 8-0.
• Item 20.3, the Langman CDBG Sidewalk Project II contract for $178,450, was approved 8-0.
• Item 20.4, the Scout Capital economic incentive agreement, was approved 8-0.
• Item 21.1, the Catfish Charlie's and Marquis Harbor Marina special ordinance, was advanced to second reading 8-0.
• Item 21.2, the River Drive right-of-way vacation ordinance, was advanced to second reading 8-0.

Other Business

• The Mayor thanked staff and partners for the July 4th 250 celebration and reported that Moline's fireworks were among the few local displays that launched successfully.
• The Mayor reported continued progress on the Rock Island County homelessness response, with the next meeting on July 16, and a conversation scheduled in late July with Clutch about a broader regional response.
• Alderperson Finch announced a library comprehensive plan meeting the following Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and encouraged public attendance.
• The Council voted 8-0 to convene in Executive Session for personnel matters and pending litigation under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).

Key Outcomes

• All Committee-of-the-Whole agenda items received favorable recommendations and were later approved or advanced by the City Council.
• All formal City Council roll-call votes during the regular meeting were 8-0.
• The City approved the Axon AI translation contract at $145,889.10, with the 10 percent discount saving $16,209.
• The City awarded Langman Construction sidewalk contracts totaling $378,346.25 for the two CDBG projects.
• The City approved the Scout Capital sales tax rebate agreement for up to $595,000 over seven years.
• The Catfish Charlie's agreement and River Drive right-of-way vacation moved to second reading.
• The Colona sewer feasibility study is expected to begin in August and be completed by December.