City of Moline City Council Met May 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Council Meeting: The City Council meeting came to order at 4:09 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: Mayor Rayapati gave an Invocation.
Roll Call: Roll call was taken with Mayor Rayapati, Aldermen Williams, Macias, Wendt, Timion, Moyer, O’Brien, Waldron and Schmidt present. Absent: None.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Work Session
Strategic Planning – led by Marty Vanags, Interim City Administrator.
Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati’s opening remarks included discussion and distribution of operational guideposts to be used to positively affect the joint mission to better the City of Moline.
∙ Focus on Communication – our goal should be to close gaps in communication, follow chains of command and make sure all appropriate parties have the information they need to do their jobs well.
∙ Follow established processes for governing units – using IML resources and all other government regulations (i.e. OMA and FOIA). We will strive to make sure work is done according to processes that have been vetted as effective for organizational function.
∙ Don’t point fingers, point to solutions – from time to time there may be errors made on the part of elected officials and/or staff. We will strive to gather information from which to make informed decisions that create solutions and help us avoid getting mired in finger pointing or blame games. This will allow all parties to take responsibility for their actions in a productive manner prior to and post any situation that needs corrective action.
Vanags recommended a 4-phased strategic planning process:
∙ City Council creates Foundational Core Values and Major Transformative Purposes
o May 19, 2021 Work Session
o Draft Document made public on May 26, 2021
Phase II
∙ Stakeholder Input Period; City receives input from City Residents
o City Staff provides input
o May 26 – June 23, 2021 (can be shortened)
Phase III
∙ Final Core Values and MTP finalized by July 13, 2021
o Measurable Goals and Objectives created by professional City staff by July 13, 2021
o Key Performance Indicators created by staff by July 13, 2021
Phase IV
∙ Goals, Objectives and KPI’s are approved and adopted by Council, July 13, 2021
Foundation Core Values
Brainstorming discussion:
∙ Collaboration – we are a community that values collaboration: City-Residents; City-Partners; City Neighboring Governments
∙ Service – we are a city whose success is measured by how well we serve and engage the community
∙ Innovation – we are a city that leads with adaptability and resiliency
∙ Easy Access to Customer Service
∙ Inclusiveness/Welcoming
∙ Stewardship/Fiscally Responsible
∙ Excellence
*Staff will write conceptual statement about each.
Major Transformative Purpose
Pillars
∙ The Built Environment
o Form based code – stewardship, innovative (adopted by year-end)
o Tiny homes, micro units and adu– innovative, economy (adopted by year-end)
o It should not be difficult to invest in Moline (developing, expanding, permitting)
∙ A Safe Place
o Grow your own city concept (working with Chief of Police)
o Personal relationships within the City provide vision for what can be
o Enhanced recruitment of police
o Support and expansion of social services project
o Promoting better mental health services in the City/region
∙ The Economy
o New riverfront park
o Jobs-disposable income-spending-creation of a quality community-high quality jobs
o Reinvest in our public-private partnerships
▪ support RENEW at higher level
o Staffing – right sizing our self
o Engineering one year ahead
o Creating an environment that is conducive to growth
▪ locally created businesses – cowork spaces, remote work
▪ utilize revolving loan funds
∙ The Quality of Place
o Amenities (e.g. green space) in every neighborhood
o Naturally occurring affordable housing
o Land bank opportunities
o Minimum parking
o Environmental refugees
o Stephen’s Park – potential site of mini-pitch facility
o Need to evaluate park facilities to be sure they are first in class (e.g. pool)
∙ The Infrastructure
o Quality of sidewalks
o Red water sites
o Lead piping
o Broadband
o Bike path
o Outlets for electric cars
o Delegating authority to issue our own permits (engineering)
o Solar panels
*Council will fill in Goals/Objectives worksheets and return to City Administrator
Carol Barnes, Finance Director, discussed:
∙ Financial Outlook – in a good position
o Amended Budget: net $2.3 million to the good over all funds
o Ending year with $6.5 million in excess of reserves
∙ ARP funds
o The City will receive $20 million
o Guidelines are stringent - the process takes expertise
▪ Barnes recommends contracting expert
▪ Highlights of ARP guidelines, including eligible/ineligible uses were reviewed
o Have until December 31, 2024 to use funds
o Methodical plan must be developed to ensure sustainability
▪ First, qualify funds
▪ Assess eligible revenue shortfalls (2019 as base year + 4.1%)
▪ Identify qualifying expenditures (i.e. small business loans, TaxSlayer request/tourism, broadband, red water/lead pipes)
▪ 3-year budget, backfilling with ARP funds
o Potential for getting great things done
∙ Bring small business loan program, which was tabled on 5/11/21, back to Council on 5/25/21.
∙ Need to have a press release by Friday that City is working toward a broadband solution. There must be a process in order to accept the service.
Alderman Wendt, seconded by Alderman Williams moved to develop a statement of principal that any broadband service to the City must include all areas of the City. Motion passed with Alderman Waldron voting nay.
∙ Council directed staff to develop an RFP for consulting services to identify broadband service options, including a municipal alternative.
∙ Council wishes to investigate qualified use of ARP funds for city-wide parklets.
∙ Geoff Manis, Moline Centre Main Street Manager, is developing parklet standards.
∙ It was suggested that most of the qualified ARP funds be put toward infrastructure, with assurance that the projects will be complete by December 31, 2024.
∙ ARP projects should be prioritized and a framework built.
∙ Creation of a Parks endowment fund was suggested.
Miscellaneous Business
Privatized versus in-house leaf and snow removal services were discussed. Staff will prepare reports for Council by the end of July, 2021. Council would also like staff to investigate what neighboring communities are doing and provide that information as well.
Corporation Counsel will provide roles and responsibilities training on June 2, 2021.
On motion of Alderman Wendt, Seconded by Alderman O’Brien, Council adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7108
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