Rock Island City Council Study Sessions met February 12.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Present: Mayor Mike Thoms, Alderman Virgil J. Mayberry, Alderman James Spurgetis, Alderman Stephen L. Tollenaer, Alderman Dylan Parker, and Alderman Ivory D. Clark
Absent: Alderman Joshua Schipp and Alderman Dave Geenen
Staff: City Manager Randy Tweet, City Clerk Judith Gilbert, and other City staff City Attorney Dave Morrison arrived at 6:30 p.m.
Rock Island Public Library: Presentation Of 2017 Annual Report
Rock Island Public Library Director Angela Campbell gave a presentation of the library's 2017 Annual Report as required by state statute. She will be submitting the written report to the City Manager and the City Clerk by the end of the month. The report is organized by a series of questions. Ms. Campbell stated the financial numbers are not final numbers; they are pre-audit numbers.
Revenues were $2,444,669 and expenditures were $2,486,545. The library had a deficit budget and they will use reserves to make up the deficit. Ms. Campbell reported they are still owed $38,000 from the State of Illinois. There were 177,761 books and periodicals available and 262,551 were circulated. Their total circulation is closer to 400,000 if electronic materials, DVDs, etc. are included. There was no personal property acquired by legacy, gift, purchase or otherwise.
The Rock Island Library maintains numerous partnerships throughout the year extending their services into the community. Some of their partnerships include: Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the Parks and Recreation Department, Spring Forward Learning Center, HeadStart, Community Health Care Clinic, Rock Island-Milan School District, and many more. Ms. Campbell said their summer enrichment program with Spring Forward Learning Center was one of their largest programs and the children in that program had a 99% retention reading rate.
The library is required to make a statement of fund requirements for the ensuing year for the inclusion in the Appropriation of the Corporate Authorities and the amount of money necessary to levy. To meet the Standards for Public Libraries, the Rock Island Public Library Board of Trustees voted that local property tax revenue of at least $2,151,602 is necessary for CY 2019. This represents a 4.9% increase. The library maintains a 90 day reserve fund per the City's Financial Policy. There are no outstanding liabilities.
Ms. Campbell showed pictures of the many library programs offered during 2017. Hug-A-Book is a program where free books are distributed to children five years and under. This program is offered several times a year and is funded by the Library Foundation. The Winter Reading Kick- Off was held at the QC Botanical Center. The library's first Interactive Movie Night featuring the original Willy Wonka movie was held and was their largest event of the year. A wide variety of educational and hands-on programs (such as crafts and sewing) are sponsored throughout the
Off was held at the QC Botanical Center. The library's first Interactive Movie Night featuring the original Willy Wonka movie was held and was their largest event of the year. A wide variety of educational and hands-on programs (such as crafts and sewing) are sponsored throughout the year by the Rock Island Public Library.
Ms. Campbell presented statistical comparisons for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017 for patron contacts, patron counts, total circulation (all materials), registered borrowers, reference questions, and program attendance. Patron contacts requires staff contact and the numbers are up. Patron count is down, but library hours have been cut and the 30/31 Library was closed for over a month for electrical repairs. Circulation numbers are up. The number of active users or registered borrowers is the same. Reference questions are down with people having more access to the Internet. Program attendance is up. The library had 20,000 attendees for both in- house and off-site programs.
Ms. Campbell presented the value of the services provided by the library broken out in several categories. The value is calculated by a Library Value Calculator provided by the American Library Association and other institutions. The monthly library value is $709,736, totaling a yearly library value of $8,516,832. The actual library budget is $2,486,545. Ms. Campbell said that for every $1 the library spent, library users received at least $3.43 in benefits. The numbers do not include everything the library does.
The library staff are working on strategic planning for 2019-2022. They have held three community sessions with more planned sessions with partner organizations. The focus of these sessions is what residents want from the City, not the library. The library will then try to figure out how to meet those needs through the library. The library is also continuing its work on the long-range plan with the foundation. They will be introducing new literacy initiatives and expanding the Hug-A-Book program for ages 5 to 8 years old (Rocket into Reading). The library will continue to build partnerships with organizations that have like missions. Ms. Campbell thanked Council for their support.
Alderman Spurgetis asked about statistics comparisons. Ms. Campbell said statistics can be compared from year to year and for the same period; for example, June 2016 to June 2017. The data is included in the monthly packet she sends out to Council. Mayor Thoms asked how the calculation is figured. Ms. Campbell explained how the Library Association comes up with an algorithm to calculate the data. Ms. Campbell said she uses staff hours to calculate the value of their programs.
Rock Island Police Department: Car Owner Responsibility Assignment (CORA)
Rock Island Police Chief Jeff VenHuizen and Lt. Richard Landi, Office of Professional Standards, presented information on the Car Owner Responsibility Assignment or CORA program. It was first enacted in 1996 by Police Chief Scott and was intended to reduce criminal activity and nuisance behavior and improve the quality of life for Rock Island residents. In the 1990s, the City faced dramatic problems such as gangs, drugs, and guns; CORA was one response to deal with these problems. They also conducted a survey of residents and found that complaints were about things in the neighborhood such as loud speakers in vans and cars. When the CORA ordinance was adopted, eleven (11) violations were declared to be public nuisances. These specific charges would trigger CORA. Some of the offenses were sound amplification, tinted windows, truancy, minor in possession of alcohol, curfew, possession of cannabis or a controlled substance, illegal possession or use of a firearm, and criminal gang activity.
In 2004, Chief Dove amended CORA by adding additional offenses of driving with no valid, suspended or revoked license and DUI. In 2012, Chief Harris added fleeing and eluding police to CORA. A problem affecting all police departments was the danger of pursuing fleeing vehicles for minor offenses. The Rock Island Police Department has a restrictive policy on chases. This
suspended or revoked license and DUI. In 2012, Chief Harris added fleeing and eluding police to CORA. A problem affecting all police departments was the danger of pursuing fleeing vehicles for minor offenses. The Rock Island Police Department has a restrictive policy on chases. This problem of fleeing and eluding continues today. CORA is based on the concept that when vehicles are used to violate the law, the vehicles are public nuisances. The registered owner of the vehicle is held accountable for the vehicle's misuse. Prior to CORA, citations were issued only to the driver with very little consequences.
Lt. Landi explained that something leads to an arrest, either a traffic stop or an investigation. After an arrest, a public nuisance is declared and triggers CORA. The civil proceedings are initiated. The car is towed and impounded for a specific time frame and for a specific fine depending on the severity of the offense. The owner of the vehicle is notified. The car owner can demand a Probable Cause Hearing within 48 hours. Owners have the option to bond out their impounded car which is prepaying the fine and the cost of impoundment (tow and storage) for the offense. When the Administration Hearing is held for the citation(s) and the car has been bonded out, if found not guilty, the fees paid are reimbursed. If found guilty, the bond and fine are forfeited. Payment arrangements can be made. A slide detailing the bonds and fines for specific violations was shown.
Alderman Spurgetis asked where the money goes from the CORA program. The CORA program is administered by MUNICES through Bi-State Regional Commission. Money is returned to the City's General Fund; it does not go into Police Department accounts. The City pays Bi-State its share of the administration costs for MUNICES. Other local municipalities use the MUNICES program too. Alderman Mayberry asked about the tow and storage fees. Those fees are based on the annual towing contract. Alderman Tollenaer also had questions about the tow and storage fees. Lt. Landi responded that without knowing specific cases, he could not address their questions. The Police Department does their best to notify the owner of the vehicle as soon as possible. The charge is $50 to tow the vehicle and there is a $15 per day storage fee under CORA. Lt. Landi asked Council to refer all calls from constituents to the Police Department. Discussion continued regarding the fees. Alderman Mayberry had complaints about the towing service at Arsenal Courts (Century Woods). They have a private property towing contract. There are other businesses that also have private towing contracts for their parking lots.
Alderman Clark asked what amount of cannabis triggers a ticket. Chief VenHuizen replied a city ordinance citation is still an arrest. The amount of cannabis doesn't matter; possession of cannabis is illegal and a violation of law. The Police Department must follow state law for truancy and cannabis possession. Alderman Clark would like that reviewed. The Chief emphasized possession of cannabis in any amount is illegal in the state of Illinois. Alderman Clark discussed car owners getting punished for family members having cannabis in the vehicle. City Manager Randy Tweet said the Chief can review the matter. Alderman Parker said cannabis possession under 10 grams should be removed as an offense. Mr. Tweet told Council to send him what they want reviewed.
Lt. Landi explained the CORA ordinance was modeled after ordinances in Chicago and the surrounding communities. Locally, East Moline also has an active CORA ordinance. Moline does not enforce CORA because they don't have civilian employees on the back-side to support the program. Lt. Landi explained that there is a lot of back-end tracking and records management for CORA. Lt. Landi said CORA gives the Police Department an advantage to find other illegal activity. After the vehicle is seized, they do a search and will often find illegal drugs, guns, and other contraband. This leads to crime reduction through this ordinance. Chief VenHuizen emphasized that CORA is a very effective tool for controlling crime; it often leads to the discovery of more serious crimes and public safety issues.
Alderman Parker asked about the impounding of vehicles through CORA. Lt. Landi explained that CORA is triggered from the original charge. The Police Department inventories the vehicle, and that is when they may find a gun, etc. The Chief said there are exceptions to the vehicle search exclusion. He said CORA is another tool that affords the Police Department an
that CORA is triggered from the original charge. The Police Department inventories the vehicle, and that is when they may find a gun, etc. The Chief said there are exceptions to the vehicle search exclusion. He said CORA is another tool that affords the Police Department an opportunity that if they stop a vehicle and if CORA is triggered, before the vehicle is towed, the Police Department must do an inventory of the vehicle and its condition. Discussion continued about stopping vehicles and conducting searches during traffic stops and under CORA and state statutes when vehicles can be impounded.
Slides were presented of crime statistics under CORA from 2006 through 2017. The trend in crime is downward. Lt. Landi said CORA changes behavior; owners are more cautious about lending out their vehicle. There were 943 CORA cases in 2017 with only three cases brought to the Chief's attention from Council members. Alderman Tollenaer asked about truancy and curfew. Chief VenHuizen responded that nothing good happens after curfew for minors driving around and that truancy is a large issue in Rock Island. Additional statistics of CORA enforcement by categories of offenses were presented.
In response to a question from Alderman Parker, the Chief said the mere possession of a firearm is not a CORA related offense, it is the aggravated discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. There was further discussion about what circumstances might lead to a vehicle being pulled over and subsequent violations and tracking that data.
The Police Department is making the following recommendations for CORA: that CORA should remain in effect; to expand the tow jurisdiction for vehicles that flee; and increase the bond or fees by $25.00. With the current towing contract, the towing expenses have increased. The CORA Ordinance specifically spells out the bond and fees. The bond amount needs to match the actual cost of the tow and storage fees. The Police Department is not recommending a processing fee for releasing the vehicles. East Moline charges an administrative release fee of $100. The Police Department just wants the tow rates to be adjusted at this time.
Alderman Parker asked what percentage of vehicles bond out. Chief VenHuizen replied that in 2017, 23% of vehicles were taken out via bond. There is close to 100% retrieval of vehicles, but only the owner can retrieve the vehicle from impound. Lt. Landi stated they must also notify any lienholders when the vehicle is impounded. After 15 days if the vehicle isn't claimed, the lienholders come in and pay the fees to claim the vehicle.
Alderman Spurgetis left at 6:37 p.m.
Alderman Parker spoke about the case that happened when Alderman Parker did a ride-along with the Police Department. He said programs should not keep people in poverty or unnecessarily punish people. Chief VenHuizen said you have to look at the behavior that led to the situation; there must be responsibility on the part of car owners and drivers. He said they are trying to deter risky behavior. The statistics show the effect of the deterrence factor. Discussion continued. Lt Landi said the Hearing Officer takes into account the circumstances in each case.
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