Rock Island City Council met Nov. 23.
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 Deputy Clerk Josh Adams to call the roll. Present: Mayor Mike Thoms and Alderman Mark Poulos.
Alderman Randy Hurt, 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.
Staff: City Manager Randy Tweet, Deputy Clerk Josh Adams, and other City staff.
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 November 9, 2020 City Council meeting
MOTION:
Alderman Hurt moved to approve the minutes as printed; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
8. Update Rock Island by Mayor Thoms
R.I. City Council Approves Nearly $300,000 in Additional Grant Funding for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 - The Rock Island City Council approved $292,000 from the second round of the Small Business Emergency Response Grant. This allocation comes on top of $250,000 that was allocated earlier this year. The program is designed to stabilize businesses directly impacted by COVID-19. Businesses that have been impacted by mandated closures, reduced revenues, and customer traffic, and those that have made necessary modifications to their business to accommodate social distancing measures will be eligible to apply. The allotments for a single business are $2,500 to $10,000. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, rent/mortgage, utilities, monthly business obligations (equipment leases, insurance, etc.), payroll, and expenses related to modifications to meet to COVID-19 guidelines. All expenses should be those that prevent, prepare for, or respond to COVID-19. All expenses must have been incurred between April 1 and December 30, 2020. Priority will be given to private, for-profit businesses with a physical location in a commercial building in Rock Island and those that have employees on their payroll. Grants for non-profit agencies are funded under a different allocation. The grant application can be accessed through the Forward portal beginning November 13th at https://forward.livestories.com/login. The application can also be accessed at https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/rockislandil/participant/Login. Questions from businesses regarding eligibility should be directed to Rock Island Economic Development team members Tarah Sipes at (309) 732-2923 or sipes.tarah@rigov.org or Stacey McIntosh at (309) 732-1186 or smcintosh@rockislandforward.com.
Holiday Refuse, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection Schedule - During the week of the Thanksgiving holiday, refuse will be on schedule Monday through Wednesday, the rest of the week will be one day late. Recycling will be on schedule Tuesday and Wednesday, the rest of the week, one day late. Yard Waste will be on its normal collection schedule. The Drop-Off Center located at Millennium Waste, 13606 Knoxville Road, Milan will be open on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 noon. City of Rock Island offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th.
The ‘Winter Nights Winter Lights’ Exhibit – The outdoor gardens at the Quad City Botanical Center will be in winter bloom with over 130,000 glowing lights. Showcasing their largest light display yet, new areas of the outdoor gardens will be lit, including the Children’s Garden. Explore the lawns, pond and pocket gardens of the outdoor light exhibit. Open every night including Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the night of New Year’s Day. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tickets must be purchased online for timed entrance every 30 minutes. Admission is $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for Youth and Free for children under 2. A small processing fee will be added to all tickets. All events have limited capacity and are subject to change based on state mandates governing public health.
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. 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 other than leaves. The bags furnished by the City are at no cost at the following locations:
Public Works Department
Martin Luther King Center
South Rock Island Township Office
Rock Island Township Assessor’s Off
Rock Island Township Assessor’s Office Highland Springs Golf Course
Saukie Golf Course
9. Proclamation declaring Saturday, November 28th, 2020 as Small Business Saturday in the City of Rock Island, Illinois
Deputy Clerk Josh Adams read the proclamation. Mayor Thoms read his declaration.
10. Mayor Thoms will close the regular meeting and open a Truth in Taxation Public Hearing for discussion on a proposed property tax increase for the City of Rock Island for 2020.
Mayor Thoms closed the regular meeting and opened the Public Hearing. No residents volunteered to speak.
Mayor Thoms closed the Public Hearing and reopened the regular meeting.
11. Claims
a. Report from the Human Resources Department regarding payment in the amount of $572,366.00 to USI/IPMG for the renewal of the consolidated liability insurance program
b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of $21,390.22 to McClintock Trucking & Excavating Inc. of Silvis, IL for services provided at 1002 83rd Avenue West, 4301 25th Avenue, and 606 34th Street as part of the Sewer Lateral Repair Program
MOTION:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to allow Claims Items A and B; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
12. Claims for the week of October 30, 2020 through November 5, 2020 in the amount of $465,321.45; for the week of November 6, 2020 through November 12, 2020 in the amount of $582,038.76 and payroll for the weeks of November 2, 2020 through November 15, 2020 in the amount of $1,534,389.38.
MOTION:
Alderwoman Swanson moved to allow the claims and payroll; Alderman Hurt seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
13. ACH Payments for the Month of October, 2020 in the amount of $9,123,821.25
MOTION:
Alderman Parker moved to approve the ACH payments; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
14. Purchase Card Claims for the period of September 29, 2020 through October 26, 2020 in the amount of $55,980.53
MOTION:
Alderman Poulos moved to approve the purchase card claims; Alderman Hurt seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
15. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding the sale of City- owned real estate described as 916 7th Avenue, Parcel 092276, Pin 091360100 to Christopher Rice for $842.50 plus closing costs (First Reading)
MOTION:
Alderman Geenen moved to approve the sale as recommended, authorize the City Manager to execute the sale agreement, and consider the Ordinance; Alderman Parker seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
16. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding the sale of City owned real estate described as 922 7th Avenue, Parcel 092277, Pin 0734440002 to The Jackson Group for $842.50 plus closing costs (First Reading)
MOTION:
Alderman Hurt moved to approve the sale, authorize the City Manager to execute the sale agreement, and consider the Ordinance; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
17. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding an amendment to the existing approved Special Use Permit at 3204 27th Avenue allowing The Jackson Group to add private business offices and a storage area for their rental property business on the first floor of the main structure (First Reading)
MOTION:
Alderwoman Swanson moved to consider the Ordinance; Alderman Parker seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
18. Report from the Finance Department regarding adjustments to the CY 2020 budget, inreasing the General Fund (101) expenditures, the Library Fund (251), the Water Fund (501), the Wastewater Fund (506) and the Parks and Recreation fund (555) for the Johnson Control Inc. project (6458)
MOTION:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve the budget adjustments as recommended; Alderman Hurt seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
19. Report from the Finance Department regarding adjustments to the CY 2020 budget, increasing the MLK ILDHS (906) revenues by $61,948.00 and the MLK Activity Fund (901) by $26,000
MOTION:
Alderman Parker moved to approve the budget adjustment as recommended; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
20. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a request from the Rock Island River Terminal Corporation to utilize the Foreign Trade Zone designation at the City-leased property at 700 Mill Street
MOTION:
Alderman Poulos moved to approve the request as recommended and direct the City Attorney to prepare the attestation letter; Alderman Spurgetis seconded.
Mayor Thoms said this was a great designation. Alderman Poulos. Public Works Director Mike Bartels came up to speak and introduced representatives Tom Streight and Doug Weber from the Rock Island River Terminal Corporation, who joined via remote connection. Mr. Streight said this will be a definite benefit to their customers for any future issues that may arise, and appreciated the consideration.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
21. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding a split-zoned property located in Southwest Rock Island along Turkey Hollow Road, known as Parcel 11358- 3, for which a subdivision dividing the property into two lots is proposed
MOTION:
Alderman Hurt moved to approve the final plat to resolve the split-zoned situation and create two separate lots for development meeting Subdivision Ordinance requirements; Alderman Poulos seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
22. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding an amendment to the CDBG Optional Relocation Assistance Policy
MOTION:
Alderman Geenen moved to approve the CDBG Optional Relocation Assistance Policy; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
23. Report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding a reimbursement to Gorman and Company, Oregon, WI, as part of an overall incentive package not to exceed $11,000 for a Phase II Environmental Assessment at the Solomon Townhomes project
MOTION:
Alderman Spurgetis moved to approve reimbursement of the cost of Phase II Environmental Assessment for the Solomon Site in an amount not to exceed $11,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute the attached memorandum of understanding; Alderman Hurt seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
24. Report from the Mayor's Office regarding the appointment of Brandy VandeWalle to the Arts Advisory Commission to complete a vacated term to expire June, 2021
MOTION:
Alderwoman Swanson moved to approve the appointment as recommended; Alderman Hurt seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
25. Other Business
Alderman Poulos gave congratulations to Jerry Jones, Director of the Martin Luther King Center and volunteers for the work put forth at the Thanksgiving dinner event. He said it was a unique situation and Mr. Jones did a phenomenal job coordinating the event. Mayor Thoms said the event served over 3,000 meals.
26. Motion to Adjourn
MOTION:
Alderman Parker moved to adjourn to Monday, December 14th, 2020; Alderwoman Swanson seconded.
VOTE:
Motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Spurgetis, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, and Geenen. Nay: None. Absent: Clark.
The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
https://www.rigov.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11232020-664
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