Rock Island Today

City of Moline Committee of the Whole met October 16. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:

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)  late

Alderman Mike Waldron (Ward 7)

Alderman Sonia Berg (Alderman At-Large)  late

Absent: None.

Staff: Doug Maxeiner, City Administrator

Maureen Riggs, City Attorney

Amy Saunders, Deputy City Clerk

Alison Fleming, Human Resources Manager

Lori Wilson, Parks Recreation Director

Don Goff, Information Technology Manager

Bryon Lear, Library Director

David Gass, Interim Chief of Police

Jeff Snyder, Fire Chief

Scott Hinton, City Engineer

Kathy Carr, Finance Director

Jeff Anderson, City Planner

J.D. Schulte, Public Works Director

Rodd Schick, Municipal Services General Manager

Tony Loete, Utility Services Manager

K. J. Whitley, Community Development Program Manager

Tara Osborne, Grant & Project Accountant

Dave Mallum, Fleet Manager

Sarah Mark, Fleet Administrative Assistant

Arnold McCollom, WPC Operations Technician

Keith Verbeke, Finance Manager

Others: Lora Adams

Ron Miller, Resident

Gerold Shelton, The Dispatch

Members of the Press

Mayor Acri called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Aldermen Schoonmaker and Berg joined the meeting at 6:01 p.m.

Mayor’s Board Appointments

Mayor’s appointment of Lora Adams to the Moline Centre Main Street Commission and SSA #6 Board, effective October 16, 2018 and expiring June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2021 respectively. A motion was made by Alderman Parker to approve. Seconded by Alderman Wendt. Motion passed unanimously.

Questions on the Agenda

There were no questions.

2019 Budget Work Session #1

Opening Comments

Doug Maxeiner, City Administrator, shared that he is hoping to get through the General Fund portion of the budget this evening. Administrator Maxeiner provided copies of his Cover Memorandum on the 2019 Proposed Budget to the City Council and Department Heads and reviewed it with them. (See attached Memorandum). Administrator Maxeiner fielded questions from the Council concerning said Memorandum.

Alderman Wendt made a motion to direct staff to come back next week with multiple options as to how the City can reduce expenses so that the property tax rate is not increased next year. Seconded by Alderman Parker. Motion carried with Aldermen Potter and Turner voting nay.

Alderman Rodriguez mentioned that in the future, it would be nice to see the current balances of each account in the proposed budget.

Aldermen Parker, Potter and Schoonmaker mentioned how the I-74 Bridge work and the closing of several big box stores have negatively affected sales tax revenues. Administrator Maxeiner mentioned that we have had other businesses that have opened in some of the empty spaces.

Discussion and Consideration of the Proposed 2019 Budget

Council and City staff reviewed pages 1-108 of the expenditures portion of the proposed 2019 budget.

Alderman Waldron inquired about the status of goal setting. Administrator Maxeiner said he will wrap up goal setting this year. He plans to do goal setting every two years. Alderman Waldron proposed goal setting before next year’s budget season.

The following chart itemizes the Council’s suggested changes to the budget:

Item                                   Revenue       Expenditure      Net Balance   Notes

                                                                                            Position

Reduce Property Tax to

Keep Rate the Same       ($395,609)                                ($395,609)     Also look at zero increase in

                                                                                                                    levy

Mayor Kiwanis Dues                                      ($560)        ($395,049)

Seasonal Salaries                                      ($10,000)       ($385,049)

Legislative Budget                                      ($10,000)       ($375,049)

Share

Executive/Planning

Secretary                                                   ($61,329)        ($313,720)

Sam’s Club                                                     ($505)        ($313,215)

Façade                                                         $35,000        ($348,215)

Why Moline Marketing                               ($25,000)        ($323,215)

Comp Plan                                                ($200,000)       ($123,215)

Streetscaping                                               $15,000        ($138,215)

Park A&E for Rec

Facility                                                        ($50,000)          ($88,215)

Per Mayor Acri, a five-minute recess was taken at 7:42 p.m.

The Committee-of-the-Whole meeting reconvened at 7:49 p.m.

During the course of discussion, some additional items were addressed:

      1. Alderman Parker inquired about providing electricity for special events. Council directed staff to look into pedestal/receptacle boxes. Per Lori Wilson, the funds would have come from tourism fund. Administrator Maxeiner said he presented on this topic earlier this year. He will refresh the information and bring it back to Council in the future.

      2. Alderman Berg suggested increasing the Touch-A-Truck budget. Per J. D. Schulte, Public Works Director, some funds were added to this line item in the 2018 budget, and said funds were used to purchase T-shirts to better identify City staff. He also mentioned there were 1,400+ attendees in 2018. The Parks Department promoted this event via social media.

      3. Alderman Wendt asked Administrator Maxeiner to come back next week with information concerning whether the building official can also handle the land development manager duties.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

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