City of Moline Committee of the Whole met Nov. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the Committee:
PRESENT: Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati (Chair)
Alderman Scott Williams (Ward 1)
Alderman Alvaro Macias (Ward 2)
Alderman Mike Wendt (Ward 3)
Alderman Matt Timion (Ward 4)
Alderman Sam Moyer (Ward 5)
Alderman Pat O’Brien (Ward 6)
Alderman Mike Waldron (Ward 7)
Alderman James Patrick Schmidt (Alderman At-Large)
ABSENT: None.
STAFF: Bob Vitas, City Administrator
Janine Hollembaek Parr, City Clerk
Joe Kuhlenbeck, Interim Public Works Director -electronically
Leah Miller, Human Resources Director
Eric Griffith, Parks Recreation Director
David Rowatt, Information Technology Manager
Bryon Lear, Library Director
Andrew Raya, Police Lieutenant
Jeff Snyder, Fire Chief
Carol Barnes, Finance Director
Tony Loete, Director of Utilities
K.J. Whitley, Community Development Program Manager
OTHERS: Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel
Don Welvaert, Park Board
Alexandra Elias, Renew Moline
Mayor Rayapati called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Mayor’s Board Appointments
Mayor’s appointment of Samantha Gange to the Plan Commission to fill the unexpired term of Dan McNeil to expire June 30, 2027.
Public Comment
Residents Elaine Kaple, Amanda Augsburger and Sandra Reich each emailed comments in support of the Riverside Pool project.
Questions on the Agenda
There were no questions.
Agenda Items
1. Adoption of a Pension Obligation Bond Policy. Carol Barnes, Finance Director, explained that in conjunction with the issuance of the City’s general obligation bonds to fund a portion of the unfunded liability of the City’s Police and Firefighters’ Pension Funds, staff is recommending adoption of the Pension Obligation Bond Policy which identifies the premises for issuance of POB’s, as well as the risks and advantages of such. Additionally, the policy outlines procedures to follow to reduce any risk associated with issuance of POB’s. This policy is recommended by Speer Financial, which advises that other Illinois municipalities have adopted similar POB policies and that adoption of the policy will be viewed favorably in the Moody’s review call of November 4th. A motion was made by Alderman Wendt to approve. Seconded by Alderman O’Brien. There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Other. Bob Vitas, City Administrator, shared that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Mayor Raes in 2016 with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for landscape improvements along the Interstate 74 corridor, just south of the Mississippi River to just south of 27th Street. IDOT now asks that Mayor Rayapati sign a subsequent Letter of Understanding, bringing the agreement up to date with no material changes. Alderman Waldron, seconded by Alderman O’Brien, moved to approve. There was discussion. Alderman Wendt explained that in 2016, the MOU was brought to the City Council by the City Engineer, for approval and they did not have the opportunity to review the document. Alderman Wendt moved to table until the next meeting pending review of all documents. Seconded by Alderman Moyer. Motion failed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Aldermen Schmidt, Macias, Wendt and Moyer; nays: Aldermen Waldron, Williams, Timion, O’Brien and Mayor Rayapati. Discussion had. Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel, explained that the Letter of Understanding does not obligate us to anything more than we are already bound to, and if not signed, the City is not freed from the original MOU. At 6:30 p.m., Alderman Schmidt, seconded by Alderman Moyer, moved to recess to allow the Council time to read the documents. Motion passed unanimously. On motion of Alderman O’Brien, seconded by Alderman Schmidt, the City Council reconvened at 6:45 p.m. There was discussion. City Administrator Bob Vitas explained that IDOT is aware that the City has plans for this area and they are amicable and open to dialogue. Staff is on top of the matter. The original motion to approve the Mayor’s signing of the Letter of Understanding with the caveat that staff will continue to dialogue with IDOT staff, passed unanimously.
3. Other. At its October 23, 2021 meeting, the City Council approved the emergency repair of the Riverside mausoleum roof from the 2021 contingency fund. Eric Griffith, Park and Recreation Director, explained that staff reached out to 5 contractors and has received two bids for the repair. The lowest and most responsive and responsible bid was from Economy Roofing for the amount of $116,200. A motion was made by Alderman Wendt to approve. Seconded by Alderman Schmidt. Motion passed unanimously.
Alderman Wendt made a motion to move the Project Prioritization discussion ahead of the Budget Wrap-up discussion. Seconded by Alderman Moyer. Motion failed with Alderman Wendt voting aye.
Work Session
2022 Budget Wrap-up. Carol Barnes, Finance Director, reviewed 2021 Fund Equities for Final Amendments. Discussion had. Barnes reviewed 2022: (1) Fund Equities, with ALL Council changes to date, including the reduced property tax levy of $15,953,842. (Fund Equities EXCLUDE any draw down of reserves for the Pool Project and leave in the EXISTING RAN’s from Water & WPC to help fund TIF#7); (2) 2022 Internal Service Cash Flows; (3) 2022 Enterprise Fund Cash Flows, leaving in existing RAN’s from Water & WPC to help fund
TIF #7; and requested a final decision on:
A. Establishing the bonding level for Riverside Pool, in combination with any draw down of reserves, with the following options:
∙ Projected Pool Bond run, utilizing $1 million in cash reserves from General Fund, (drops projected True Interest Cost from 2.35 percent down to 2.28 percent, keeps annual Principal & Interest payment of approximately $445,000, and reduces term down to 17 years);
∙ Projected Pool Bond Run, utilizing $3.5 million cash reserves from General Fund. (drops projected True Interest Cost from 2.35 percent down to 2.12 percent, drops annual Principal & Interest payment down from $445,000 to $285,000, and reduces the term down to 15 years).
There was discussion. Alderman Waldron, seconded by Alderman O’Brien, moved to establish the Riverside Pool bond run, utilizing $3.5 million cash reserves from the General Fund. (drops projected True Interest Cost from 2.35 percent down to 2.12 percent, drops annual Principal & Interest payment down from $445,000 to $285,000, and reduces the term down to 15 years). There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Deciding whether or not to reverse RAN’s for TIF #7 currently paid by Water & WPC, and move them to Advances from General Fund instead, $1,797,453
Alderman Wendt, seconded by Alderman Timion, moved to take no action and keep the RAN’s for TIF #7, currently paid by Water & WPC. Motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Alderman Schmidt to amend the 2021 Budget as presented. Seconded by Alderman Moyer. There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Alderman Schmidt to proceed with adopting the 2022 Budget as presented with final changes. Seconded by Alderman Moyer. Alderman Wendt moved to amend to match the tax levy to that of 2021, so that it remains unchanged and level. Seconded by Alderman Waldron. Discussion had. Alderman Schmidt, seconded by Alderman Timion, moved to call the question. Motion passed with Alderman Williams voting nay. Motion to amend failed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Aldermen Waldron, Williams and Wendt; nays: Aldermen Schmidt, Macias, Timion, Moyer and O’Brien. The original motion passed unanimously.
Staff explained that we are ahead of the budget schedule and recommended that the November 30, 2021, regular COW and Council meetings be cancelled. Alderman Moyer moved to approve the recommendation to cancel. Seconded by Alderman Macias. There was discussion. Motion failed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Aldermen Moyer and O’Brien; nays: Aldermen Waldron, Schmidt, Williams, Macias, Wendt and Timion.
Project Prioritization and Funding Allocation Discussion. Bob Vitas, City Administrator, introduced the attached list of additional capital projects, by (2022-2024 Strategic Plan) Pillar and Category. There was discussion. Vitas suggested that Special Topics Roundtable discussions take place monthly beginning 2022. Council prioritized additional capital projects to be addressed during those discussions: (1) Projects that generate funds (e.g. Collector Center); (2) 1-74 redevelopment area; (3) Streets; (4) Arsenal viaduct bridge.
Public Comment
View recorded meetings at http://www.moline.il.us/CivicMedia?CID=9
The meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7526
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