Rock Island Today

Moline City Council met April 25.

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

Council Meeting: The City Council meeting came to order at 7:08 p.m. The Council met in regular session in

the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Pledge: The Council and audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Invocation: Alderman Turner gave an Invocation.

Roll Call: Roll call was taken with Mayor Raes, Aldermen Rodriguez, Parker, Zelnio, Turner, Schoonmaker,

Waldron and Acri present. Absent: Alderman Wendt.

Items on Consent:

Approval of Minutes

March Financial Report, Committee-of-the-Whole and Council meeting minutes of April 11, 2017, Special

Council meeting minutes of April 12, 2017, and Special Council meeting minutes of April 13, 2017.

Resolutions

1. Council Bill/Resolution 1069-2017

A Resolution accepting the actuarial valuation reports submitted by Lauterbach & Amen for the

contribution year ending December 31, 2016 for the City of Moline Police and Firefighters’ Pension

Funds.

2. Council Bill/Resolution 1070-2017

A Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement with GovHR USA, LLC

(“GovHR”) for a comprehensive classification and compensation study in the amount of $53,000.00.

Omnibus Vote: Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Zelnio, moved to approve and adopt, by omnibus

vote, these items. Motion carried on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Aldermen Rodriguez, Parker,

Zelnio, Turner, Schoonmaker, Waldron and Acri; nays: none.

Items Not on Consent:

First Reading Ordinances

3. Council Bill/General Ordinance 4014-2017

A Special Ordinance closing certain streets more particularly described herein to vehicular traffic and

authorizing the use of public right-of-way in conjunction with the Quad Cities Distance Classic Half

Marathon & 5K Races, sponsored by the Cornbelt Running Club, scheduled for Sunday, May 14, 2017.

4. Council Bill/General Ordinance 4015-2017

A Special Ordinance closing certain streets more particularly described herein to vehicular traffic; and

authorizing the use of public right-of-way in conjunction with the First Step Riverfront 5K, sponsored by

the Children’s Therapy Center of the QC, scheduled for Saturday, May 27, 2017.

Council, Staff and Citizen Comments:

Ray Forsythe, Planning & Development Director, shared that the RFP for the riverfront property next to the

Mills at Riverbend Commons was finished today. Mr. Forsythe and Maureen Riggs, City Attorney, reviewed

the RFP late this afternoon and had one minor change. It will be released, and Mr. Forsythe will send the

Council a copy. This property consists of approximately 10 acres of City-owned property for which the City

is looking for a project developer. Mr. Forsythe hopes to have the RFP posted first thing tomorrow.

Lori Wilson, Parks Recreation Director, shared that the Parks and Recreation Department will be celebrating

Arbor Day on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Greenhouse at Riverside Park. The City will be giving away 100

white oak trees, face painting and other things of that nature. The celebration will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00

p.m., at the Garden Center.

Kim Hankins, Public Safety Director, advised about the recent rise in vehicle thefts both in the Quad Cities

and in the surrounding rural areas. The problem is that people are leaving their keys in their vehicles. Chief

Hankins advised everyone to please tell people not to leave their keys in their vehicles.

Alderman Rodriguez expressed his appreciation to City staff and the Stephens Park Neighborhood

Association for the cleanup and lunch on Saturday, April 22, 2017. The City and 20-30 volunteers from the

Stephens Park Neighborhood Association cleaned up approximately 8-9 City blocks in that area. Alderman

Rodriguez also expressed his appreciation to the City staff that filled up approximately two dumps trucks.

Alderman Parker expressed his appreciation to Mayor Raes for his many years of service to the City. He also

expressed his appreciation to Alderman Zelnio for his years of service to the City.

Alderman Zelnio thanked the Council for allowing him the opportunity, two-and-a-half years ago, to fill in for

Alderman Brown. He has learned a great deal and will miss everyone. Alderman Zelnio takes with him a

number of great friendships and encouraged everyone to keep up the great work.

Alderman Acri shared that she has received some feedback recently concerning the Green Valley exit by

Menards. Alderman Acri made a motion to provide whatever resources City staff needs to expedite the

resolution to this ongoing traffic issue. She opined that the longer this issue exists, the worse repercussions

the City will have with tournaments and retail sales in that area. The motion was seconded by Alderman

Schoonmaker. Motion passed unanimously.

Alderman Waldron expressed his appreciation to Mayor Raes for his service and for the important decisions

he has made during his tenure with the City of Moline. Alderman Waldron also expressed his appreciation to

Alderman Zelnio and shared that he has learned a lot from him.

Scott Hinton, City Engineer, shared an update on the 44th Avenue matter. He shared that the City is still

working with IDOT in an attempt to extend the north/south, 60th/70th Street movement at John Deere Road.

Last weekend, when traffic backed up on 60th Street and 70th Street down 44th Avenue and down to Menards,

IDOT had personnel that came out and manually operated the traffic signals for awhile to get the traffic

flowing. IDOT has already tripled the amount of time to allow for the north/south traffic. The City attempted

to get them to further extend the time, and IDOT is not necessarily agreeable to do it. IDOT has made it clear

to City staff that they will not back up traffic down John Deere Road from 60th Street through the 53rd Street

intersection. This happened while they were out clearing traffic this past weekend. IDOT is not opposed to

working with the City, but they have made it clear that the priority goes to the John Deere Road traffic. The

problem at 60th and 70th Streets is that at one time, there were four northbound lanes on 70th Street and three

on 60th Street. At the present time, those seven lanes are reduced to two lanes. The City has placed signage

directing people out through the old Green Valley back route to 41st Street. The City has stopped the

westbound traffic on 44th Avenue, so you cannot get out via 60th Street. The City will continue to do some

more things. Sam’s Club and Menards are on board. However, the downside to that is that vehicles are now

driving through private property owned by Menards to get to 60th Street. As a result, Menards has now asked

City staff to install fencing to keep vehicles from driving through their grass and private property. The City is

going to install the fencing and will continue to work with IDOT to manage the problem, but Mr. Hinton does

not believe the problem will be completely resolved. There are simply too many vehicles that traverse the

area, and the area continues to be congested due to the reduction in traffic lanes. Alderman Acri suggested

experimenting with police-directed trafficking in those areas. Lori Wilson, Parks Recreation Director, added

that she has contacted all the tournament directors for the summer, and the soccer programs are doing the

same. The City has also sent out mapping to route them back to Veterans’ Parkway. There are also detour

signs at the baseball and soccer fields directing traffic out the back way.

Executive Session:

Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Zelnio, moved for Executive Session, for the purpose of discussion of

Pending, Probable or Imminent Litigation-5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11), and 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: Aldermen Rodriguez, Parker, Zelnio, Turner, Schoonmaker,

Waldron and Acri; nays: none.

City Council convened in Executive Session at 7:21 p.m.

Council reconvened in open session at 7:34 p.m.

On motion of Alderman Zelnio, seconded by Alderman Parker, Council adjourned at 7:34 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on May 2, 2017

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