Moline City Council Committee of the Whole and Regular Meeting - October 14, 2026

The Moline City Council met on 2026-10-14, calling the committee of the whole to order at 6 p.m. in council chambers, then later convening the regular council meeting. All council members were present and no remote electronic attendance was reported. No agenda or minutes were provided, so this summary is drawn only from the transcript.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Stoner thanked the city and police department for pausing the Flock camera program, asked that the pause become a permanent non-renewal, and asked that no different brand of camera replace it later.
• Tom Keith, a Seventh Ward resident, opposed facial recognition and automated license plate reader technology, citing reporting on Clearview AI and Axon surveillance/body cameras, and asked the city to use its powers to stop such technology.
• An emailed comment opposed 'Flock cameras' as government overreach and requested their removal and no replacement vendor.
• A resident/tenant at 501 27th Street, Moline, emailed because she could not attend; she described moving in on June 12, 2026, problems starting within about 14 days, more than 100 attempts to get help, and disputes being treated as civil rather than criminal. She proposed that the community create a neutral ombudsman/mediation resource so conflicts can be resolved before escalating to police, eviction, or courts. She also reported being asked whether she wanted to purchase opioids.
• Joe Stays, a Davenport soccer referee, alleged cocaine sales at a Moline bar and at soccer fields, an alleged illegal traffic stop, and retaliation that cost him refereeing jobs; he asked the mayor and police chief to review and asked to address the Moline school board.

Oath of Office and Proclamations

• Greg Piles, formerly WPC treatment operations manager, was sworn in as Director of Utilities effective September 1, 2026.
• The council proclaimed September 29, 2026 as Hunger Action Day for the River Bend Food Bank, which serves 23 counties, works with more than 400 hunger-relief partners, and reports one in seven people and one in five children in the region experiencing food insecurity.
• The council proclaimed October 4-10, 2026 as Fire Prevention Week, with the theme 'Charge into Fire Safety' on safe lithium-ion battery charging.

Presentations

Pavement Management Study (ICC IMS)

• ICC IMS assessed all 230 miles of Moline streets. The network average Pavement Condition Index is 60 out of 100, and 20% of the network is in 'backlog' (PCI at or below 40). Comparable agencies in the region typically range from 60-65 PCI and 9-15% backlog.
• Five-year budget modeling showed that the current average budget of $7.9 million per year would keep PCI and backlog roughly unchanged; larger improvements would require more funding. Staff noted the PCI would rise to 63 if alleys were excluded and 70 if residential streets were also excluded.
• Council discussion covered variable treatment costs, an assumed 3% annual inflation rate, the city's asphalt paver program not being included in the contracted budget figures, and a public online PCI lookup map to be posted once the report is finalized.

East End Neighborhood Plan

• Just City Mayoral Fellow Melena and city staff presented the East End Neighborhood Plan, developed with residents and business owners through workshops, interviews, a walk audit, and comprehensive plan meetings.
• Recommendations included better activating O'Brien Park, using underutilized riverfront parcels, reimagining the I-92 corridor, zoning for more mixed use, sidewalk and crossing improvements, neighborhood identity projects, design guidelines, and daylighting a currently buried waterway for flood relief and heat reduction.
• Staff planned to present the plan at the neighborhood meeting on October 22, 2026.

Committee of the Whole Actions

• Approved a supplemental Motor Fuel Tax resolution for 48th Street/48th Street Place from Woodrow Wilson Middle School to the YMCA in the amount of $78,268.84.
• Approved a $104,735.70 contract with Langman Construction Inc. for the 2026 ditch restoration projects.
• Approved an intergovernmental MOU for the 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant; Moline's portion would be $17,549.10 to renew the Urban SDK data software subscription.
• Approved increases in liquor, video gaming, and tobacco-related licenses for Lotus Lounge and MK Mart (items 9.4-9.6).
• Amended the tobacco/vending machine ordinance rewrite to create a separate Class D license with its own cap, then tabled the entire ordinance to October 13, 2026. A prior motion to table failed 3-4.
• Approved acceptance of an expected $50,000 distribution from the Dorothy J. Cron revocable trust for the Moline Fire Department.
• Approved a special event application for the October 10, 2026 bags tournament (sponsor name appears in the transcript as both 'Swift Yard Club' and 'Spithioid Club'), with street/alley closures and outdoor liquor service.
• Approved the November 21, 2026 Lighting on the Commons special event and related street closures.
• Approved vacation/conveyance of a 20-foot by 139.07-foot public right-of-way (about 2,781 square feet) to the school district for $4,700.
• Approved the Crawford Murphy & Tilly Inc. riverfront design services agreement for $787,000, plus $16,500 in expenses and $35,000 in grant support, for a total not to exceed $838,500.

Avenue of the Cities / I-74 Bridge Aesthetics Discussion

• Council discussed IDOT's 2029 deck replacement for the Avenue of the Cities bridge over I-74, which will include 10-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides. Upgraded 'City of Moline' parapet form liners were estimated at about $100,000 and upgraded ornamental fencing at $76,500; $200,000 is budgeted in the 2029 CIP.
• Council direction generally favored the fencing upgrade and a wave/river aesthetic tied to existing I-74 elements, but no formal vote was taken.

Consent Calendar

• The regular council consent agenda, including September 1, 2026 minutes and items 18.1-19.5, was approved 7-0.

Regular Council Meeting - Non-Consent and First Readings

• Non-consent resolutions for the bags tournament special event and the Crawford Murphy & Tilly riverfront design contract were both approved 7-0.
• Three first-reading ordinances were advanced to second reading 7-0: the Staff Traffic Engineering Committee Council Review ordinance, the Central Craft video gaming terminal licensee increase, and the MK Brokerage/MK Mart Class B incidental tobacco dealer license increase.

Staff and Mayor Updates

• Retiring Library Director Brian Lear was recognized for service since 1994; he introduced new Library Director Jennifer Christensen, who began the previous day.
• The police chief said he had paused the Flock automated license plate reader program after research and deliberation, citing public trust and a National Policing Institute poll showing about 54% of U.S. adults opposed the technology and 38% of those opponents rated their police departments very highly. He described the pause as 'not a rejection' of ALPR's value. No council vote was taken on the pause.
• The chief also detailed logistics for the upcoming Moline High School parade and a major country concert downtown coinciding with the Quad City Marathon, including traffic maps, LED boards, and parking messaging.
• The mayor noted continuing work on emergency shelter planning with the county.

Key Outcomes

• Most committee-of-the-whole items passed without dissent; regular council consent and non-consent items passed 7-0.
• The tobacco/vending machine ordinance was amended to add a Class D license cap and tabled to October 13, 2026.
• Council directed staff toward upgraded, aesthetic bridge treatments, with design details to be refined later.
• The Flock camera pause was not a council action; council members publicly thanked the police chief for the announcement.