City of Rock Island City Council met Oct. 26.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1. Call to Order
Mayor Thoms called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.
2. This meeting will be conducted by audio and video conference without a physically present quorum of the Rock Island City Council due to the disaster declaration issued by Governor Pritzker.
3. Roll Call
Mayor Thoms asked Interim City Clerk Linda Mohr to call the roll. Present: Mayor Mike Thoms and Alderman Mark Poulos.
Alderman James Spurgetis, Alderwoman Jenni Swanson, Alderman Dylan Parker, and Alderman Dave Geenen were present via remote connection in accordance with Governor Pritzker's Executive Order.
Absent: Alderman Ivory D. Clark and Alderman Randy Hurt.
4. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Thoms led in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
5. Moment of Silence
Mayor Thoms asked for a moment of silence. A moment of silence was observed.
6. Public Comment
Mayor Thoms asked if anyone in the public wished to speak. No residents volunteered to speak.
7. Minutes from the October 8th, 2020 City Council Special Meeting and the October 12th, 2020 City Council Meeting.
Ms. Mohr said two small changes were made to the October 8, 2020 minutes after the agenda was posted. She added that these changes corrected the spelling of two names of people who spoke during the meeting, and did not change the content of the minutes themselves.
MOTION:
Alderman Poulos moved to approve the minutes as printed with corrections; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
8. Update Rock Island by Mayor Thoms
Halloween - Halloween hours in the City of Rock Island have been set for Saturday, October 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Remember to social distance, wearing masks, and being safe for both for COVID-19 and traffic. Mayor Thoms said he looked forward to having kids out for the holiday.
Leaf Collection Program - The City of Rock Island is providing leaf collection for its residential refuse customers now through Friday, December 4, 2020. Customers must place the leaves in approved paper yard-waste bags. Customers may provide their own approved paper yard waste bags, or use bags provided by the City. The bags must be placed at the normal refuse collection location on the regular refuse collection day. A separate truck will collect the leaf bags. The bags may not contain anything but leaves. The bags furnished by the City are provided at no cost at the following locations: Public Works Department on Mill Street, the Martin Luther King Center, the South Rock Island Township Office, the Rock Island Township Assessor's Office, Highland Springs Golf Course, and Saukie Golf Course. Call the Public Works Department at (309) 732- 2200 with any questions.
Mayor Thoms encouraged people to not forget to vote.
9. A Special Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of the property located at 721 14th Street, Rock Island, Parcel Number RI-754, Pin: 0735309006 - Second Reading
MOTION:
Alderman Poulos moved to pass the ordinance; Alderman Parker seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
10. Claims
a. Report from the Information Technology Department regarding payment to Promevo, LLC of Burlington, KY for GoogleG-Suite usage during CY 2020 for the total amount of $41,732.20
b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment to Midland Davis Corporation, Moline, IL in the amount of $15,400.00 for the emergency disposal of storm cleanup debris from the August Derecho wind storm
c. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment to McClintock Trucking and Excavating Inc., Silvis, IL for the Water Service Repair Program, Project 2526 for services provided at 3155 37th Street for $319.85; 4034 35th Street for $612.64; and 2031 36th Street for $420.46; for a total payment due of $1,352.95
MOTION:
Alderman Parker moved to approve Claims A through C as recommended; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
11. Claims for the week of October 2nd through October 8th, 2020 in the amount of $1,345,672.85; for the week of October 9th through October 15th, 2020 in the amount of $363,545.42; for the week of October 16th through October 22nd 2020 in the amount of $339,073.42 and payroll for the weeks of October 5th through October 18th, 2020 in the amount of $1,497,354.94.
MOTION:
Alderwoman Swanson moved to allow the claims and payroll; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
12. Report from the Police Department regarding the bid for the towing contract for 2021, recommending the bid be awarded to Quad City Towing Inc., Rock Island, IL at a total unit cost of $1620.00.
MOTION:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve the bid as recommended and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
13. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding a request from Thomas Spann to rezone two adjacent properties, 319 11th Street and 1109 4th Avenue from R- 6 (multi-family residence) to B-3 (community business) to accommodate construction of an 8,000 sq ft commercial building on those sites
MOTION:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve the rezoning as recommended and consider the ordinance; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
Mark Schwiebert came to the front on behalf of Thomas Spann. He said he was there to answer any questions Council may have had. He said the lot has been vacant for a long time along 11th Street. He said Mr. Spann is a native of Rock Island, has a business in Eldridge, Iowa, and is expanding his extermination and pest control business to the City. He said Mr. Spann hopes to have a bakery installed in one of the other four units in the building. He thanked Council for their time.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
14. Report from the Finance Department regarding a proposed Self-Storage Facility Accommodations Tax effective January 1, 2021 - First Reading
MOTION:
Alderman Geenen moved to consider the ordinance as recommended, subject to minor attorney modifications; Alderman Parker seconded.
Alderman Spurgetis said many ideas have been generated for new revenue, but they were pre- COVID times without those complications. He said businesses are struggling, and he questioned whether this should be considered at this time, or perhaps postponed until a more appropriate time. Mayor Thoms said the City also needs ways to create revenue, and other cities are considering it for new revenue.
Alderman Parker asked if the City had already considered this as part of the 2021 budget considerations. Finance Director Stephanie Masson said it was included for potential revenue as a placeholder in next year's budget. Mayor Thoms said Iowa currently has this as a sales tax at over 6%, as they tax all services. Alderman Poulos said this only affects those who are utilizing or purchasing these storage units, and not a good percentage of the City's businesses or residents. Mayor Thoms confirmed that it affects those renting the units, and corrected himself by saying the Iowa tax is over 5% and not 6%.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 4-1-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: Spurgetis. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
15. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment reflecting use of budgeted and unspent gaming funds allocated in CY 2019, increasing the Community and Economic Development Fund (Fund 207) expenditures for CY 2020 by $45,000.00
MOTION:
Alderman Poulos moved to approve the budget adjustment as recommended; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
16. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding the sale of City owned real estate described as 1013 8th Avenue, Parcel 092271-A, Pin 0734441011 to LaShanta Williams for $10.00 plus closing costs - First Reading
MOTION:
Alderman Parker moved to approve the sale as recommended, authorize the City Manager to execute the sale agreement; and consider the ordinance; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
17. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding the sale of City owned real estate described as 614 12th Street, Parcel 097647, Pin 0734452001 to Masco and Leticia Taliafero for $898.50 plus closing costs - First Reading
MOTION:
Alderwoman Swanson moved to approve the sale as recommended, authorize the City Manager to execute the sale agreement; and consider the ordinance; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
18. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a request from Mike Bickle, T. Steele Construction, to connect into the City's water supply and sanitary sewer system at 1305 10th Avenue W, Milan, IL
MOTION:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve the request as recommended and authorize City staff to coordinate the construction, inspection, and connections to the City's water and sewer systems; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
19. Report from the Traffic and Engineering Committee regarding a request to remove the handicapped parking space in front of 2960 12th Street
This was a first reading of the ordinance.
MOTION:
Alderman Geenen moved to approve the request as recommended and consider the ordinance; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
20. Report from the Traffic and Engineering Committee regarding a request to ban parking in the 26th Avenue Court cul-de-sac
This was a first reading of the ordinance.
MOTION:
Alderwoman Swanson moved to approve the request as recommended and consider the ordinance; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
21. Report from the Mayor's Office regarding the appointment of Tamra Holmes and reappointment of Daniel Mount to the Electrical Code Board of Appeals and the appointment of Rick Miers and reappointments of Kevin Koski and Robert Schroeder to the Stormwater Board of Appeals
MOTION:
Alderman Poulos moved to approve the appointments and reappointments as recommended; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
Alderman Poulos asked which Robert Schroeder was up for reappointment, Junior or Senior. Ms. Mohr replied Senior.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
22. Other Business
Alderman Poulos said a parent called him about Halloween, and whether or not changes would be made if the Governor applies mitigated measures to this area due to the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence. He said the public should be aware of any changes, and asked Mayor Thoms to make an announcement if that is the case. Mayor Thoms said if there are any changes, an announcement will be made.
Mayor Thoms said his daughter attempted to log in to the meeting and wish him a happy birthday in the chat. He said she was unsuccessful, but said he would say it publicly for her. He thanked everyone who gave him birthday wishes. He congratulated Lieutenant Rich Landi of the Rock Island Police Department for his promotion to Deputy Chief of Police. He thanked recent retirees within the City as well.
23. Motion to Adjourn
MOTION:
Alderman Parker moved to adjourn; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote. Aye: Geenen, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, and Poulos. Nay: None. Absent: Clark and Hurt.
The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
https://www.rigov.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10262020-649
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