Rock Island Today

Moline City Council met September 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

Present: Mayor Stephanie Acri (Chair)

Alderman Quentin Rodriguez (Ward 1)

Alderman David Parker, Jr. (Ward 2)

Alderman Mike Wendt (Ward 3)

Alderman Richard “Dick” Potter (Ward 4)

Alderman Lori Turner (Ward 5)

Alderman Kevin Schoonmaker (Ward 6)

Alderman Mike Waldron (Ward 7)

Alderman Sonia Berg (Alderman At-Large)

Absent: None.

Staff: Doug Maxeiner, City Administrator

Maureen Riggs, City Attorney

Amy Saunders, Deputy City Clerk

Ray Forsythe, Planning & Development Director

Lori Wilson, Parks Recreation Director

Don Goff, Network/Database Administrator

John Hitchcock, Interim Chief of Police

Jeff Snyder, Interim Fire Chief

Scott Hinton, City Engineer

Kathy Carr, Finance Director

Jeff Anderson, City Planner

J.D. Schulte, Public Works Director

Tony Loete, Utilities General Manager

Others: Gerold Shelton, The Dispatch

Various Members of the Press

~ Alderman Kevin Schoonmaker was absent during roll call and joined the meeting at 5:31 p.m. ~

Informational

2018 Capital Improvement Program. Scott Hinton, City Engineer, gave an update concerning the missing sidewalks prioritization list that Jeff Anderson, City Planner, presented in 2016. Alderman Wendt reviewed the top 15 sidewalks and suggested reassessing them. After some discussion, Doug Maxeiner, City Administrator, suggested starting on sidewalk project priority Nos. 10 and 11, since those are high priorities for both Council and staff. Then, staff may go through the rest of the sidewalk projects and re-prioritize them accordingly. Per Mayor Acri, staff may update Council on the sidewalk progress via the Friday Administrative Briefings. Alderman Wendt made a motion to complete sidewalk project priority Nos. 10 and 11 of the missing sidewalks prioritization list this fall. Seconded by Alderman Parker. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Hinton presented the proposed 2018 Capital Improvement Program projects. See attached handouts provided to Council by Mr. Hinton.

Alderman Potter made a motion to direct staff to include sidewalk rehabilitation for asphalt reconstruction projects for Capital Improvement Projects in the future. Seconded by Alderman Schoonmaker. Motion passed unanimously.

Council discussed the possibility of working towards a goal of repairing/replacing six (6) miles of roads per year in the future. Alderman Wendt made a motion that in the next budget cycle, to add an additional mile of road per year, up to six (6) miles, and review financing bond options, as part of the increase, with the intent that over four (4) years, the City gets to the additional miles. Seconded by Alderman Parker. Motion carried with Alderman Potter voting nay.

Alderman Parker mentioned the possibility of purchasing a grinder to smooth out sidewalks as an alternative to replacement. Mr. Hinton said that he would look into the cost of purchasing one. He said they are popular in the college towns. Alderman Wendt mentioned the possibility of a joint purchase of a grinder with other neighboring cities.

Mayor Acri inquired as to whether the City has submitted a request for grant funds to the Bi-State Regional Commission for bike trails. Jeff Anderson recalled that the former City Administrator decided not to submit an application to the Bi-State Regional Commission due to the costs involved in administering the program. Mayor Acri believes that $15,000,000 in funds are available for the next cycle period for which they are accepting applications until the end of the month. Mayor Acri directed staff to investigate this matter.

Alderman Schoonmaker mentioned a section of the North Shore Drive bike trail that needs repaired/replaced. This bike trail is well used.

Alderman Wendt asked for clarification concerning past Council direction regarding bike areas within the City (areas with sharrows). After some discussion, Mayor Acri directed Amy Saunders, Deputy City Clerk, to locate and distribute the Moline Bikeways Plan to Council and staff. Mayor Acri also directed staff to look into the application with Bi-State to see if the City can clean up some of the access points. Alderman Schoonmaker expressed his interest in looking into bike signage and bike trail markings.

Public Comment:

There was no public comment.

On motion of Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Wendt, Council adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4256