Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - August 19, 2026
Moline Committee-of-the-Whole and City Council Meeting - August 19, 2026
The Moline City Council held a combined Committee-of-the-Whole and regular City Council meeting on August 19, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting included an oath of office, board appointments, presentations on agency funding requests and the city's first Environmental Resiliency Plan, proclamations, and multiple legislative actions. The council approved video gaming terminal licenses, a contract amendment for the new Central Fire Station, and a grant application for softball complex improvements, among other items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Committee-of-the-Whole, Council, and Executive Session minutes of July 30, 2026, and August 4, 2026, were approved.
- Omnibus Approval: The following items were approved en bloc:
- Second reading ordinances amending alcoholic liquor, garbage/trash, and water/sewer codes.
- Resolutions authorizing an IDOT interchange agreement (I-74/IL-5), a Motor Fuel Tax road overlay on River Drive (34th to 41st Street), the Moline High School Homecoming Parade (September 18, 2026), a $1,000 grant to Sprint the Miss event (September 19, 2026), disposal of surplus city vehicle, authorization for the Public Art Commission to seek grants, and a $98,000 engineering task order for Water Treatment Plant traveling screens.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Quad City Storm (Rick Edgar): Requested city funding to cover police costs for hockey games (28 regular season games plus potential playoff games) for three years, noting a new five-year ownership extension. Council discussed that similar support was provided for Mercado.
- Third Place QC (Christy Adamson): Described the daytime community center serving 100–130 people daily (90% unhoused) from across the Quad Cities. Requested continued city support, noting Moline relied on the center during the winter shelter season. The organization aims to relocate to a larger Rock Island facility while preserving its intimate model.
- Project Now (Ron Lund): Reported on rental/utility assistance: 35 households enrolled in the Level Up program (stipend), $168,000 spent; 67 households served (exceeding the 57 projection), with 86% of funding expended. Requested an increase to $315,000 annually for FY27–29 and doubling intern hours due to rising demand, particularly from the Tyson plant closure.
- Renew Moline (Alexandra Elias): Highlighted past achievements (public art plan, riverfront work, public market study) and a state grant of $500,000 for Allouez properties. Continued partnership with the city was requested.
- Intern Presentation (Bryan Viyegbe, listed as Bob Turner Intern): Presented his summer work, including an interactive map connecting local government resources to teens (part of ICMA's 'Locating Local Government' project). Note: The agenda listed the intern as Bryan Viyegbe, while the transcript refers to Brian Feekbit—a discrepancy in spelling.
Discussion Items
- Video Gaming Terminal Licenses (Items 10.1 & 10.2): Two ordinances were approved to increase the number of licensed video gaming establishments: one for Pour Bros Craft Taproom (4 terminals) and one for Sins Tavern (6 terminals). Both establishments are Class B liquor license holders.
- Central Fire Station Professional Services Agreement (Item 10.3): Approved Amendment No. 3 with FGM Architects for Phase 2 design, bidding, and construction administration at 8.5% of project cost. Design is ~40% complete; bidding anticipated winter 2026, construction start spring 2027.
- Environmental Resiliency Plan Presentation: Dawn Temple and Blue Strike Environmental presented a comprehensive plan developed over five years. Key elements include:
- Greenhouse gas inventory: 75% of community emissions from stationary energy (electricity, natural gas); 23% from transportation. City operations emissions were 8,564 metric tons CO2e (1.6% of community total).
- Community engagement prioritized nature-based solutions (tree planting, green infrastructure), infrastructure improvements, energy cost concerns, stormwater/flood resilience, and incentives.
- Five focus areas: Energy & Buildings, Transportation & Mobility, Resource Management, Resilience & Adaptation, and Innovative Community. Strategies include establishing resiliency hubs (first at new fire station), e-bike feasibility study, urban forestry management, and creating a sustainability staff position.
- Implementation roadmap includes cost estimates, lead departments, and a tracking tool. Council discussed prioritizing short-term resilience actions (e.g., power outage mitigation) alongside long-term goals.
- Council Questions on Agency Funding Requests: Several line items in the payment request were debated, including a $10,000 increase for the Youth Commission (data requested), a request from Junior Achievement (interpreted as an ongoing membership vs. one-time founding commitment), and a reference to the YMCA's Sprint the Miss event to a special committee.
Key Outcomes
- Oath of Office: Levi Schilling sworn in as Firefighter/Paramedic (effective July 14, 2025).
- Board Appointments: Adria Johnson appointed to Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (3-year term to May 2029); Catherine Tillberg appointed to Public Art Commission (unexpired term to September 30, 2026).
- Proclamation: Mayor Rayapati proclaimed Moline as 'Moline the Entrepreneurial,' joining a national nonpartisan campaign.
- Approved Resolutions (Non-Consent):
- 22.1: Application for $600,000 IDNR OSLAD grant to improve ADA accessibility and safety at Milt Hand Softball Complex (new playground, sidewalks, shade structures, trail, educational signage). Passed 8-0.
- 22.2: Accepted resignation of City Administrator Bogdan Vitas Jr., effective August 14, 2026. Passed 8-0.
- 22.3: Appointed Barry Dykhuizen as Interim City Administrator with temporary compensation. Passed 8-0.
- Advanced to Second Reading (First Reading Ordinances):
- 23.1: Ordinance increasing Class B Incidental Tobacco Dealer licenses for MK Oil & Real Estate Inc. (dba MK Mart). Passed 8-0.
- 23.2: Ordinance adding all-way stop at 54th Street and 11th Avenue B. Passed 8-0.
- Council concluded with public comment (none) and adjourned to executive session.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening everyone. I'll call our committee of the whole to order here in Council Chambers at 6 p.m. Roll call, please. Present. Mastias. Present. Mazak. I Tim. Present. Finch. Present McNeil. Present. Castro. Schmidt. Present. All right. We move to public comment. Do we have any public sir? One electronically. Are they signed in, Mr. Rowler? Okay, we'll see if they come available at the next public comment. So we'll start with the oath of office. For regular commissioned appointment as firefighter paramedic to Levi Schilling, effective July 14th, 2025. Thank you, Your Honor. It's my privilege tonight to introduce firefighter Levi Schilling. Levi is originally from Geneseo and is a 2011 graduate of Geneseo High School, where he participated in both football and track. Shortly after high school, he enlisted in the United States Army. During his military service, he successfully completed some very demanding U.S. Army Ranger training and went on to serve as a rifleman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Air Army Air Force Base in Georgia. After serving our country, Levi was hired as a firefighter by the city of Moline on August 18th, 2023. And from very early on, his leadership abilities were quite evident. In fact, among his fellow uh recruit class, which was extremely large. We we hired I think eleven others with him. Uh Levi became affectionately known as the dad of the group uh at the Academy. I think that says quite a bit about the role he naturally assumed among his peers and the respect they had for him. Levi's laughing up here. Levi brings to the Moline Fire Department not only the skills and knowledge he has gained through his fire and EMS training, but also the leadership, discipline, teamwork, and commitment to service developed throughout his military career. Most importantly, and Levi would tell you this, it's most important to him. Levi is joined here tonight by the people who have supported him throughout his journey. His wife Amanda, their three daughters, Evelyn, Julia, and Paulina, and their son Levi, along with his mother-in-law Julie. Levi, we're proud to have you as a member of the Mowling Fire Department. And although this recognition maybe have taken a little bit longer than we would we'd have liked, we're very pleased to finally have the opportunity to formally recognize you in your service to our committee. Thank you very much. Hi. Mayor, would you like to join us at the podium? Yes, thanks for joining us. This is for you. If you would please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I leave my shilling.
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