City of Moline City Council met Jan. 7.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Council Meeting: The City Council meeting came to order at 6:22 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 Parker gave an Invocation.
Roll Call: Roll call was taken with Mayor Acri, Aldermen Williams, Parker, Wendt, Potter, Moyer, Schoonmaker, Waldron and Berg present. Absent: None.
Items on Consent:
Approval of Minutes
Committee-of-the-Whole and Council meeting minutes of December 17, 2019, and appointments made during Committee-of-the-Whole on January 7, 2020.
Second Reading Ordinances
1. Council Bill/General Ordinance 3044-2019
An Ordinance granting MidAmerican Energy Company, its successors and assigns, the right and non- exclusive franchise to acquire, construct, erect, maintain and operate in the City of Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, an electric system, and to furnish and sell electric energy to the City of Moline and its inhabitants for a period of twenty-five (25) years.
2. Council Bill/General Ordinance 3045-2019
An Ordinance granting MidAmerican Energy Company, its successors and assigns, the right and non- exclusive franchise to acquire, construct, erect, maintain and operate in the City of Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, a natural gas system, and to furnish and sell natural gas to the City of Moline and its inhabitants for a period of twenty-five (25) years.
3. Council Bill/Special Ordinance 4017-2019
A Special Ordinance requesting the County Clerk to not extend 2019 taxes for payment of all principal and interest on City of Moline General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds.
Resolutions
4. Council Bill/Resolution 1001-2020
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Licensing Agreements for 2020 permit approved applications for use of public right-of-way or City-owned property.
5. Council Bill/Resolution 1002-2020
A Resolution authorizing the IT Manager to accept and execute a quote for purchase of a Datrium DVX Hyperconvergence system with cloud DR from Mindsight Inc. at a price of $206,778.69; and authorizing the IT Manager and staff to do all things necessary to complete the system purchase and implementation.
Omnibus Vote: Alderman Parker, seconded by Alderman Wendt, moved to approve and adopt, by omnibus vote, these items. Motion carried on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Aldermen Williams, Parker, Wendt, Potter, Moyer, Schoonmaker, Waldron and Berg; nays: none.
Items Not on Consent: First Reading Ordinances
6. Council Bill/General Ordinance 3001-2020
An Ordinance amending CHAPTER 34, “WATER AND SEWERS,” of the Moline Code of Ordinances, Section 34-2139, “WASTE OF WATER,” pertaining to the City’s sewer use ordinance, by amending its current text to subsection (a) and enacting one new subsection (b).
Council, Staff and Citizen Comments:
Mayor Acri provided an update on the City’s transparency efforts, explaining that Finance Director Carol Barnes and her team have successfully updated LiveStories information and will be formally rolling that out to the community next week. Also next week, Information Technology Manager Don Goff will be testing the City’s new equipment for broadcasting Council meetings. Broadcasting will begin on January 14, 2020.
Chief Darren Gault recognized that 2019 was a tough year, with 134 deaths of law enforcement officers nationwide. He suggested thanking officers on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, January 9, 2020.
Executive Session:
Alderman Berg, seconded by Alderman Wendt, moved for Executive Session, for the purpose of discussion of Pending, Probable or Imminent Litigation-5 ILCS 120/2(C)(11), Collective Negotiating Matters-5 ILCS 120/2(C)(2), 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 Williams, Parker, Wendt, Potter, Moyer, Schoonmaker, Waldron and Berg; nays: none.
City Council convened in Executive Session at 6:30 p.m.
Council reconvened in open session at 9:26 p.m.
Mayor Acri explained that there is legislation, for which the Quad Cities Chamber is advocating, to create a regional funding authority with the goal to achieve a ten-year, 1% sales tax through referendum for special projects. Mayor Acri shared that she is not feeling comfortable with it. There is some looseness with the language and how the referendum would be established, and she recommends tightening that up. Mayor Acri explained that there would be an appointee for each Moline, East Moline, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County. She noted that the tax rate is much lower in the participating Iowa communities, and expressed concern that this additional tax would flip Moline up over a 10% rate. Mayor Acri requested feedback from Council. There was discussion. It was noted that the most correct approach may to be ask what the problem is that we are trying to solve, and what is the best method to solve it? The consensus of Council was to not support the referendum.
Mayor Acri adjourned the regular Council meeting at 9:34 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on January 14, 2020.
https://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6032