Rock Island City Council met December 11.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
1.Call to Order
Mayor Thoms called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Mike Thoms, Alderman Dave Geenen, Alderman Ivory D. Clark, Alderman Virgil J. Mayberry, Alderman James Spurgetis, Alderman Stephen L. Tollenaer, and Alderman Dylan Parker
Alderman Joshua Schipp arrived at 6:46 p.m.
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Randy Tweet, City Attorney Dave Morrison, City Clerk Judith Gilbert, and other City staff
3. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Thoms led in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Moment of Silence
Mayor Thoms asked for a moment of silence.
5. Minutes of the December 4, 2017 meeting.
Motion:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve the Minutes as printed; Alderman Clark seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
6. Update Rock Island by Mayor Thoms
STEAM-Azing After School Projects – On Wednesday, December 13, 2017 the 30/31 Library branch will hold a free after school project geared towards art this time. From 3:30 p.m. to 4:30
STEAM-Azing After School Projects – On Wednesday, December 13, 2017 the 30/31 Library branch will hold a free after school project geared towards art this time. From 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. kids and their families can become artists and enjoy some quality time this holiday season. 30/31 branch is located at 3059 30th Street in Rock Island.
Storm Water Management Program – There will be an informational meeting held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the Police Community Room. This meeting will discuss steps Rock Island takes specifically to comply with the MS4 permit; a water management program comprised of best practices. This will give the public an opportunity to learn about the impact of storm water discharge on local waterways and the steps we all can take to reduce contamination of storm water. Meeting is from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 1212 5th Avenue in Rock Island.
Science of Star Wars – Join us ‘in a galaxy far, far away’ to celebrate the science of Star Wars with fun projects for all ages on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Get ready for the next episode with experiments and activities that show how the movie predicted real life technologies. From 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the downtown library, located at 401 19th Street, the event is free. Snacks will be provided.
Snow Routes - As we enter the winter season, please note that parking is not allowed on designated snow routes when two or more inches of snow has fallen until the snow has been removed. Snow routes are marked by street signage. Vehicles in violation of this ordinance will receive a $35 parking ticket. Vehicles that remain in violation will be towed. In the event of snow, major emphasis is placed on primary streets and hills with secondary priority give to school areas. Residential streets are cleared when the primary and secondary streets are completed.
7. Mayor Thoms will close the regular meeting and open a Public Hearing regarding the Calendar Year 2018 Budget.
Mayor Thoms closed the regular meeting at 6:49 p.m. and opened a Public Hearing regarding the Calendar Year 2018 Budget.
Mayor Thoms asked if anyone wished to comment on the CY 2018 Budget. There was no public comment.
Mayor Thoms closed the Public Hearing at 6:50 p.m. and reconvened the regular meeting.
8. Tax Abatement Resolutions
Motion:
Alderman Clark moved to adopt the Resolutions a through q as recommended; Alderman Parker seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
a. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $49,058.33, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Hydropower fund to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, series 2008C.
b.Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $80,130.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Tax Increment Financing fund to pay principal and interest on Taxable General Obligation Bonds, series 2009C.
c. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $572,706.26, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Water fund and Wastewater fund to pay principal and interest on Taxable General Obligation Bonds, series 2010A BABs.
d. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $109,450.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Debt Service, Gaming and Water funds to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2010B.
e. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $229,525.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Debt Service fund and Sewer fund to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2011A.
f.Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $316,387.52, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Debt Service, Gaming, Sunset Marina and Water funds to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2012A.
g. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $740,818.76, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Debt Service fund and Gaming to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2013A.
h. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $115,920.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Gaming fund to pay principal and interest on Taxable General Obligation Bonds, series 2013B.
i. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $667,512.50, such funds to be provided from revenues of Gaming to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2014A.
j. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $501,463.50, such funds to be provided from revenues of Tax Increment Financing and Sales Tax to pay principal and interest on Taxable General Obligation Bonds, series 2014B.
k. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $542,712.50, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Debt Service and Gaming funds to pay principal and interest on Taxable General Obligation Bonds, series 2015A.
l. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $752,200.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Debt Service, Gaming and Sewer funds to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Refunding Bonds, series 2015B.
m. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $255,050.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Gaming fund to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2016A.
n. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $82,468.76, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Tax Increment Financing fund to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2016C.
o. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $501,281.26, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Tax Increment Financing fund to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2016C.
p. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $501,281.26, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Hydroplant, Parks and Gaming funds to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2017A.
q. Resolution authorizing Tax Abatement in the amount of $582,700.00, such funds to be provided from revenues of the Tax Increment Financing funds to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds, series 2017B.
9. Claims
a. Report from the Human Resources Department regarding payment in the amount of $18,230.37 to Dave Morrison of Rock Island, IL for legal services rendered for the period of October 24, 2017 through November 20, 2017.
b. Report from the Human Resources Department regarding payment in the amount of $18,800.50 to Broadspire of Atlanta, GA for Workers' Compensation claim.
c. Report from the Human Resources Department regarding payment in the amount of $5,500.00 to Broadspire of Atlanta, GA for Workers' Compensation claim.
d. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of $559,252.00 to General Constructors Inc. of Bettendorf, IA for the 007 Outfall Relocation Project for services provided from November 1, 2017 through November 30, 2017.
Motion:
Alderman Clark moved to accept the reports and authorize payments for Claims items a through d as recommended; Alderman Mayberry seconded.
Alderman Parker asked to amend the motion to break out Claims item d separately; to first vote on Claims items a through c; Alderman Schipp seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
Motion:
Alderman Schipp moved to accept the report and authorize payment for Claims item d as recommended; Alderman Geenen seconded.
Due to his new employment, Alderman Parker said he must abstain on Claims item d.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, and Schipp. Nay: None. Abstain: Parker. Absent: None.
10. Claims for the week of December 1 through December 7 in the amount of $950,824.98 and payroll for the weeks of November 20 through December 3 in the amount of $1,462,436.90.
Motion:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to allow the claims and payroll; Alderman Tollenaer seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
11. Report from the Information Technology Department regarding the purchase of GIS Software licenses from ESRI of Redlands, CA in the amount of $6,300.00.
Motion:
Alderman Schipp moved to approve the purchase as recommended; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
Vote:
12. Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding bids for the demolition of three residential properties, recommending the bid be awarded to Valley Construction of Rock Island, IL in the amount of $61,821.64.
Motion:
Alderman Clark moved to award the bid as recommended and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents; Alderman Schipp seconded.
Alderman Mayberry requested the addresses of the properties. Community and Economic Development Director Chandler Poole read the addresses: 1339 12th Street, 409 21st Street, and 1019 13th Avenue.
Alderman Parker said he will be abstaining from this vote too.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, and Schipp. Nay: None. Abstain: Parker. Absent: None.
13. Report from the Finance Department regarding an Ordinance for the levy, assessment, and collection of property taxes for the City of Rock Island for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and ending December 31, 2018. (First Reading)
Motion:
Alderman Schipp moved to consider the ordinance as recommended; Alderman Clark seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 5-2-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Spurgetis, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: Mayberry and Tollenaer. Absent: None.
14. Report from the Finance Department regarding a Special Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4, Article VIII, Sec. 4-175 through Sec. 4-182, Sec. 4-183, and Sec. 4-186 as it relates to residential rental property.
Motion:
Alderman Tollenaer moved to suspend the rules, and pass the ordinance; Alderman Schipp seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
15. Report from the Finance Department regarding an Ordinance adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and ending December 31, 2018. (First Reading)
Motion:
Alderman Schipp moved to consider the ordinance as recommended; Alderman Clark seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 5-2-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Spurgetis, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: Mayberry and Tollenaer. Absent: None.
16. Report from the Finance Department recommending an increase in the local gas tax rate of $0.01 from $0.02 to $0.03 per gallon of motor fuel.
Motion:
Alderman Parker moved to approve the increase in the local gas tax as recommended and refer to the City Attorney for an ordinance; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
Alderman Mayberry asked Finance Director Stephanie Masson what would be the impact on the property tax increase if the gas tax was raised an additional one or two cents. Ms. Masson replied the gas tax is currently two cents per gallon; they are proposing it be raised to three cents per gallon which should generate revenues of $120,000 per penny increase. She stated that raising the gas tax further would result in only a 1% reduction in the property tax levy increase; the impact would be reduced by fifty cents per month. So the homeowner of a $100,000 home would pay only $4.37 per month in increased property taxes versus the proposed $4.87.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
17. Report from the Fire Department recommending an increase in fees for ambulance emergency services.
Motion:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve the ambulance rate increases as recommended and refer to the City Attorney for an ordinance; Alderman Tollenaer seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
18. Report from the Public Works Department regarding an amendment to the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article VI, Division 7, Sec. 2-289 as it relates to the meeting date of the Sunset Marina Boaters Advisory Committee.
Motion:
Alderman Tollenaer moved to approve the amendment to the Code of Ordinances as recommended and refer to the City Attorney for an ordinance; Alderman Mayberry seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
19. Report from the Public Works Department recommending an increase of 3% in the waste water rates for 2018.
Motion:
Alderman Parker moved to approve the waste water rate increase as recommended and refer to the City Attorney for an ordinance; Alderman Geenen seconded.
Alderman Tollenaer commented that the City has had federally mandated expenses for the Waste Water and Wet Weather Treatment Systems and the Outfall for cleaner water downstream, but it has been a huge cost to everyone.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
20. Report from the Public Works Department recommending an increase in the refuse service rates of $1 per month from $10 per month to $11 per month.
Motion:
Alderman Clark moved to approve the refuse rate increase as recommended and refer to the City Attorney for an ordinance; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
21. Report from the Mayor regarding an appointment to the Liquor Control Commission.
Motion:
Alderman Tollenaer moved to approve the appointment as recommended; Alderman Schipp seconded.
Mayor Thoms announced the appointment was Blaine McCoy.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
22. Other Business
Dave Arnold, resident of Moline, said he owns seven properties in Rock Island, five rental properties and two flips. People are moving to Iowa. The state, county, and the city do not have their acts together. People can't stand these increases.
Alderman Spurgetis commented that it has been a difficult process going through the budget; raising property taxes is the last thing they want to do. He said they are doing the best they can with the cards they have been dealt.
Alderman Geenen welcomed Jay Pierce, WVIK General Manager, and his wife to the 7th Ward. Mr. Pierce recently bought a home and they are happy to be in Rock Island which he announced on social media.
Alderman Mayberry said people are not leaving Rock Island to go to Davenport. The Davenport schools lost 10% of their students. He has talked to 47 residents regarding the tax issue. Alderman Mayberry said it is mostly retirees who are leaving the state.
Alderman Schipp said it was not easy tonight voting on all of the increases. He commended Mayor Thoms for the great interview he did on Channel 4 explaining the budget situation. The City has been building up debt. Alderman Schipp took offense to the Quad City Times editorial. They tend to focus on the negative in Rock Island and did not bother to address the history that led to the current situation. The City has had to build expensive infrastructure for waste water and for drinking water. Only a total of three people came to Council to speak about the tax increase.
Mayor Thoms stated the City is in sound financial state; the goal is to keep it there. The City has 90 days worth of cash on hand and the City is financially stable. The City must be cautious not to get into problems in the future. Mayor Thoms said he appreciates everyone's help. He stated the City must tighten its belt for the next several years to come; this is not a one year fix. Expenses must be controlled and reduced where possible for several years. They will continue to work diligently throughout 2018.
23. Motion to Adjourn
Motion:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to adjourn to 6:45 p.m., Monday, December 18, 2017; Alderman Clark seconded.
Vote:
Motion passed on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Geenen, Clark, Mayberry, Spurgetis, Tollenaer, Parker, and Schipp. Nay: None. Absent: None.
The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
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