Rock Island Today

City of East Moline Committee of the Whole met March 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Freeman called the meeting to order and directed City Clerk Arletta D. Holmes to call the roll. The following Aldermen were present: Larry Toppert, Gary Almblade, Nancy Mulcahey, Jayne O’Brien, Maria Tapia and Jose Rico. Absent: Frederic Kotoku. 7:10 p.m.

ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA

None.

12TH AVENUE STREET LIGHTING (Mr. Kammler – Engineering Director) As development has progressed along 12th Avenue, there is an increased need for street lights along the corridor between 1st Street and 7th Street. New developments including The Bend and The Rust Belt are drawing both vehicular and pedestrian traffic - both of which would be well-served with street lights. Staff approached MidAmerican Energy about street light installation in this area - the MEC proposal for wooden light poles, overhead electric, is attached.

Wooden poles with LED light fixtures would be installed by MEC along the south side of 12th Avenue (1st St - 7th St). MEC would own and maintain poles and lights; city would pay the standard street light rate as elsewhere around the city. Approximately 23 poles & fixtures, one (1) transformer, and 4,000' of overhead wire are proposed for this installation.

FINANCIAL:

This is a budgeted item.

Line Item#: 008-4300-622.2 Title: Street Lighting

Amount Budgeted: $0 Actual Cost: $16,508.49 (installation) Funding Sources: Street Lighting

Is this item is not a CIP.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve MidAmerican Energy proposal for 12th Avenue Street Light installation.

A motion was made by Alderman Rico, seconded by Alderman Toppert to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Tapia, Rico, Toppert, Almblade, Mulcahey and O’Brien. Motion carried.

GRAND IL TRAIL: PRE-CUTTING TREES (Mr. Kammler, Engineering Director) As part of the Grand Illinois Trail project the city is getting ready to undertake this year, it has come to our attention that trees along the new trail alignment require clearing must be cut down prior to April 1 to meet federal requirement for Indiana bat roosting. This is a threatened and endangered species on the Federal Register. IDOT has no flexibility with regard to the tree cutting prohibition 4/1 - 9/30 due to the Federal T&E. District 2 Project Implementation strongly suggested the city cut and drop trees larger than the 3" threshold prior to the April 1 cut-off. Most of the construction cannot proceed until after trees are cleared, so failure to drop now would push project start until Fall.

To meet this deadline and keep the project on-track, staff has marked all affected trees in the field and obtained quotes from two tree companies to perform the work. engaged a private tree company to simply cut and fell the the trees necessary. Toby Tree had an estimate of $25k; Jessie LeMaster gave an estimate of $15k. Some of the trees will need to be picked up and hauled off by Maintenance Services Department as they will be disturbing a neighboring property owner. All the cutting-up and removing the "felled" trees will be included in the Federal construction contract. We estimate East Moline share of the cutting cost will be $11-12k; Silvis' share $3-4k. Silvis has authorized their share of the work. EM staff has engaged LeMaster to perform the tree cutting, which is currently underway.

FINANCIAL:

This is not a budgeted item.

Line Item#: 021-4300-800.0 Title: NHR - Contingency

Amount Budgeted: N/A Actual Cost: $12,000.00 +/-

Departments: Engineering

RECOMMENDATION:

Ratify staff approval for the tree cutting work required.

A motion was made by Alderman O’Brien, seconded by Alderman Toppert to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Tapia, Rico, Toppert, Almblade, Mulcahey and O’Brien. Motion carried.

ENGINE BRAKING PROHIBITED ORDINANCE 9-2-46 (Captain Foltz – East Moline Police Department)

Due to issues identified in areas of the city regarding commercial vehicles "Engine Braking" which causes disruptive noise in residential areas, an ordinance prohibiting "Engine Braking" in certain parts of the city was researched. The main area of complaint is the residential areas leading into the industrial park in what is known as the Babcock Edition. After examining the area and complaints, it was determined a city ordinance prohibiting "Engine Braking" in certain areas of the city was necessary and reasonable. The attached "Engine Braking Prohibited Ordinance 9-2-46" along with added definition "Commercial Vehicle" under section 9-1-1 is recommended to add to the city ordinances to address this issue. Per the new ordinance and state law, signs would need to be posted in the areas where it is determined the ordinance would apply. Also attached are the Illinois Vehicle Code Statutes cited in the ordinance.

FINANCIAL:

This is not a budgeted item.

Actual Cost: No cost.

This is not a CIP

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve the addition of the new Engine Braking Prohibited Ordinance 9-2-46 along with the addition to the definitions in Section 9-1-1 for Commercial Vehicle.

A motion was made by Alderman Toppert, seconded by Alderman Rico to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Tapia, Rico, Toppert, Almblade, Mulcahey and O’Brien. Motion carried.

EXTENSION OF PROJECT NOW LEASE (Administrator Maxeiner) Project NOW has requested the renewal of their lease of the Florence Aldridge Community Center building located at 499 27th Street to continue housing the Head Start program. The existing lease expired August 31, 2020 although the lease contains an extension clause if written notice to terminate is not received by the City. Despite this extension clause, federal program auditors are requesting the approval of a new lease with specific lease dates.

The proposed draft lease has the same terms and responsibilities as the prior lease with rent to be set at $2,275 ($4.33 per square foot) for the 6,300 square foot space. There is no escalation or adjustment component on the rate in the proposed lease. Utilities, property taxes and minor maintenance (including snow removal of parking lot and lawn maintenance) remains the responsibility of the tenant. Larger maintenance items (such as HVAC, roof, and plumbing systems) will be the responsibility of the City.

FINANCIAL:

This is a budgeted item.

Line Item#: 510.340.6201.00 Title: Aldridge Center Rent

Amount Budgeted: $27,700.00

This is not a CIP.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends approval of the lease extension with Project NOW on the Florence Aldridge Center.

A motion was made by Alderman Almblade, seconded by Alderman Tapia to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Tapia, Rico, Toppert, Almblade, Mulcahey and O’Brien. Motion carried.

BUDGET AMENDMENTS – FY 2021 (Administrator Maxeiner / Ms. Whiting – Finance Director)

See attached memorandum.

RECOMMENDATION:

Forward the recommended amendments to the FY 2021 Budget to the City Council for approval on April 5, 2021.

A motion was made by Alderman Almblade, seconded by Alderman O’Brien to concur with the recommendation as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Tapia, Almblade, Mulcahey and O’Brien. Opposed: Rico and Toppert. Motion carried. 4 - 2

ADJOURMENT:

A motion was made by Alderman Almblade, seconded by Alderman O’Brien to adjourn the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Tapia, Rico, Toppert, Almblade, Mulcahey and O’Brien. Motion carried. Motion carried. 7:34 p.m.

https://www.eastmoline.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03152021-696