City of Moline Committee of the Whole/Council met June 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee-of-the-Whole Call to Order
PRESENT: Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati (Chair)
Alderperson Debbie Murphy (Ward 1)
Alderperson Alvaro Macias (Ward 2)
Alderperson Abdur Razzaque (Ward 3)
Alderperson Matt Timion (Ward 4)
Alderperson Jessica Finch (Ward 5)
Alderperson Pat O’Brien (Ward 6)
Alderperson Anna Castro (Ward 7)
Alderperson James Patrick Schmidt (Alderperson At-Large)
ABSENT: None.
STAFF: Bob Vitas, City Administrator
Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist/Deputy City Clerk
Carol Barnes, Finance Director
David Dryer, Director of Engineering
Barry Dykhuizen, Assistant City Administrator
Darren Gault, Chief of Police
Eric Griffith, Parks Recreation Director
Jennifer Bizarri, Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development
Tony Loete, Director of Utilities
Leah Miller, Human Resources Director
Steve Regenwether, Fire Chief
David Rowatt, Information Technology Manager
OTHERS: Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel
Three Students
Mayor Rayapati called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Council Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
There was no invocation.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken with Mayor Rayapati, Alderpersons Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, Castro and Schmidt present. Absent: None.
Questions on the Agenda
None.
Public Comment
None.
Roundtable Discussion
8.1 2024 Capital Improvement Plan Discussion
Carol Barnes, Director of Finance, presented the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance, for fiscal years 2022-2026, for the Capital Improvement Projects Fund, Motor Fuel Tax Fund, Moline Improvements Fund and ARPA Fund (277). (See attached Exhibit A.) The City is targeted to have the ARPA funds spent by the end of 2025.
Ms. Barnes also presented the Parks & Recreation Projected Budget, as well as the Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the Water, WPC and Stormwater Funds. (See attached Exhibit A.) Water’s last fee increase was in 2014. WPC’s last fee increase was in 2018, and there are plans to increase WPC’s fees 9% in 2024, 9% in 2025 and 2% in 2026. The Stormwater Fund’s last increase was in 2005, before the increase that was implemented earlier this year.
David Dryer, Director of Engineering, presented the Engineering Department’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2024-2026. (See attached Exhibit B.)
Eric Griffith, Director of Parks & Recreation, presented the Parks & Recreation Department’s projects for 2023-2026. (See attached Exhibit C.) The 2026 projects have not been approved. Mr. Griffith mentioned that the OSLAD Grant is one of the largest grants in Illinois. Maximum OSLAD grant awards to any one project for approved development/construction projects is $600,000. Eric is in favor of turf infields at the Green Valley Softball Complex due to flooding issues in the area. He proposed having the City fund the project with the Parks & Recreation Department refunding the City each year. He wants to continue to attract local, regional and national tournaments, so the Green Valley Softball Complex remains a relevant and competitive outdoor sports venue. He also presented information about the Riverside Tennis Courts and the I-74 Skate Park/Pump Track. (See attached Exhibit C.)
Tony Loete, Director of Utilities, presented the Water Distribution System, Sanitary Sewers and Storm Sewers projects for 2024-2026. (See attached Exhibit C.) He mentioned that the 7th Street Tank Coating is at Stephens Park. The logo on the tank is older. Ideas for a new logo on the tower may be submitted to City Administrator Bob Vitas. Mr. Loete also mentioned that the main challenge for sanitary sewers is leakage into the sanitary sewer system.
After Mr. Loete’s presentation, City staff fielded questions from the City Council concerning the presentations. There was discussion about the various projects outlined for 2024-2026. Mayor Rayapati mentioned the possibility of trucking water to the Chicagoland area due to drought conditions. Tony Loete confirmed that the City is producing 6,000,000 gallons a day, so the City still has a lot of water in reserve. He also mentioned that the Water Department had an initiative involving the bubblers, but the opportunity evaporated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was mentioned that the City used to do special assessments for alley projects until approximately the year 2000. Since then, the City has covered alley maintenance expenses.
Carol Barnes, Director of Finance, presented the Capital Improvement Projects Lists for 2023-2026. She also reviewed the restricted and unrestricted ARPA fund changes. (See attached Exhibit D.) There was discussion concerning the various changes.
David Dryer, Director of Engineering, shared that the City has been working with a consultant team concerning redecking for the pedestrian bridge to the Arsenal. The Arsenal asked the City to wait a year, because the Arsenal has a project ready in Rock Island that is shovel ready. The City will continue to pursue this redecking project.
David Dryer, Director of Engineering, presented potential, additional projects for 2024-2026 with $3,000,000 in increased funds. (See attached Exhibit E.) These plans include 14 additional projects covering an additional 2.7 miles of road. There was some discussion concerning these additional projects.
Bob Vitas, City Administrator, presented a list of the Competing Budget Pressures in 2024-2026. (See attached Exhibit F.) He opined that in some respects, the list is prioritized. However, this will ultimately be decided by the City Council. Mr. Vitas mentioned that the futsal courts, as well as the ADA-required improvements are missing from this list.
Mayor Rayapati mentioned that she signed up to be a part of the Mayor’s Institute on City Design in Tampa, Florida, scheduled for November 8-10, 2023. There is no cost to the City.
Mayor Rayapati stated that the City Council will ask for a plan and a budget and will expect said plans to happen each year. There will be multiple meetings in October 2023 where all of the items discussed tonight will be decided. The City Council may submit questions to City staff concerning these matters between now and the meetings in October 2023.
Miscellaneous Business
Mayor Rayapati shared that she received a notice concerning the Lakeshore Recycling/TIF #7 hearings scheduled for the last week of June 2023. Said hearings begin on June 27, 2023. She asked all alderpersons to email her by the end of this week to advise which dates they are available to attend these hearings. She wants to ensure there is a quorum available each day. David Silverman from Ancel Glink will represent the City. Remote attendance will be available, but the remote attendee must be on camera per the Open Meetings Act. Mayor Rayapati and Alderperson Murphy confirmed that they will be at each hearing.
Public Comment
None.
Executive Session:
Alderperson Murphy, seconded by Alderperson Timion, moved for Executive Session, for the purpose of discussion of Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or Dismissal of Specific Employees-5 ILCS 120/2(C)(1). Motion carried on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, Castro, Schmidt, Murphy and Macias; nays: none.
City Council convened in Executive Session at 8:25 p.m.
Council reconvened in open session at 9:03 p.m.
Adjournment of City Council
Upon motion of Alderperson Timion, seconded by Alderperson O’Brien, the Council meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9088
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