Rock Island Today

City of Moline Committee of the Whole/Council met Oct. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Committee-of-the-Whole Call to Order

PRESENT: Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati (Chair)

Alderperson Debbie Murphy (Ward 1)

Alderperson Alvaro Macias (Ward 2)

Alderperson Abdur Razzaque (Ward 3)

Alderperson Matt Timion (Ward 4)

Alderperson Jessica Finch (Ward 5)

Alderperson Pat O’Brien (Ward 6)

Alderperson Anna Castro (Ward 7)

Alderperson James Patrick Schmidt (Alderperson At-Large)

ABSENT: None

STAFF: Bob Vitas, City Administrator

Barry Dykhuizen, Assistant City Administrator

Stephanie Murphy, City Clerk

Carol Barnes, Director of Finance

Drake Daley, Building Official

David Dryer, Director of Engineering

Eric Griffith, Director of Parks & Recreation

Chris Mathias, Director of Community and Economic Development

Bryon Lear, Library Director

Tony Loete, Director of Utilities

Leah Miller, Director of Human Resources

Todd Noe, Deputy Chief of Police

Steve Regenwether, Fire Chief

David Rowatt, Information Technology Manager

Rodd Schick, Municipal Services General Manager

OTHERS: None

Mayor Rayapati called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Committee-of-the-Whole.

Council Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Invocation

Alderperson Murphy gave an invocation.

Roll Call

Roll call was taken with Mayor Rayapati, Alderpersons Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, Castro, and Schmidt present.

Absent: None.

Public Comment

None.

Questions on the Agenda

None.

Agenda

8.1 Strategic Plan Update (Bob Vitas, City Administrator)

Bob Vitas, City Administrator presented an overview of Strategic Plan. No changes are being made to the mission or vision. Vitas sited the City’s mission and core values. Vitas handed out the Community Survey from August-October, 2023, and referred to the third pillar, The Economy, noting that the economy is growing and has improved dramatically.

• Infrastructure

o It is important to note that under Item 1.3, “Walkable and Accessible Community”, the City of Moline is listed as a location for a downtown railroad quiet zone. The downtown railroad quiet zone is created to provide relief to residents, business owners, and visitors from train horns.

o Listed under Item 1.5, “Flexible Codes & Innovative Tools”, is “Initiatives Underway”. One of the three bullets listed is “Update a Comprehensive Plan”. Vitas stated that a Comprehensive Plan has not been completed since 2001. This item will be completed after the Riverfront Master Plan is completed. Discussion ensued.

o Mayor Rayapati stated that Council has talked about roadways as a primary item to address. She requested the aforementioned item be more explicitly listed in the Infrastructure pillar, specifically noting that the City is working to fund and execute what is necessary to implement the Pavement Conditions Index (PCI). There was consensus from the Council to proceed with this.

o Mayor Rayapati then shared with Council that there is a resident very interested in the City of Moline becoming a “bee” city/pollinator city. This means an advisory council would be established and the project would be funded outside of the City. This new initiative, listed under Item 1.6, currently states “Explore Partnerships for Potential Prairie Parks”. Mayor Rayapati would like it to state “Explore Potential Pollinator Gardens”. Discussion ensued.

• Quality of Place

o Under Item 2.2, Mayor Rayapati suggested moving “Evaluate and Implement Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Programming” to Item 2.3, “Effective & Efficient Municipal Services”. Mayor Rayapati stated that the City has to be clear about the fact that the DEI programming is for City of Moline employees. Discussion ensued.

• The Economy

o Vitas noted TIF 8 and TIF 9 will be closed by the end of 2023.

o The new initiative listed under Item 3.1 is “Establish Overall Economic Development Policy”. Vitas stated this item is actually being re-established. This item will be formally adopted and approved by Council. After discussion, it was decided to change the new initiatives item title from “Establish Overall Economic Development Policy” to “Small Business Economic Development Incentives”. There was consensus from the Council to change the item name as mentioned.

o Alderperson Castro asked for clarification on what the City is referring to regarding the new initiative under Item 3.1, “Establish an Environmental Strategy”. Vitas will check his notes and let Council know. Tony Loete, Director of Utilities, shared there is an obligation of the City to develop an energy efficiency and conservation strategy as a condition of some grant funds.

Mayor Rayapati noted the clarity of a sustainability plan is better. Mayor Rayapati shared with Council that the updated Strategic Plan will be brought to Council for approval in November.

8.2 Administrator’s Recommendation on 2024-2026 Budgets (Bob Vitas, City Administrator & Carol Barnes, Finance Director)

Carol Barnes, Finance Director, shared with Council that there is a balanced budget for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Barnes presented an overview of the budget in preparation of the next Council meeting scheduled for Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Moline Public Library. Barnes noted that overall, the 2024-2026 budget is very conservative. The budget timeline was reviewed. A Special Capital Projects Fund has been created and it will be discussed in detail at the October 21 meeting. Barnes referenced Page four (4) of the agenda, pointing out that there are gold stars. Under the month of September, there are two gold stars. One is for “Adopted new ‘Level Up’ program and “review and approved asphalt program and improvement”. Mayor Rayapati stated that the in-house asphalt program and equipment was not approved but rather brought to the Council with an informational presentation. Another item to note is on Page 5, “Special Capital Projects Fund – 10 year plan upwards of $82M”, it should be “…$800,000”, not $800M as listed. There is also an amusement tax for 5% listed. It was noted that this 5% will be on top of the 5% the Vibrant Arena charges. Barnes continued reviewing the budget highlights. In total there is $145,158,648 in gross revenues and $116,156,195 in net revenues. At the end of 2022, the City ended the year with a significant fund balance. In the year 2023, the City was made aware that the State of Illinois over allocated the corporate income tax to every single city in Illinois. The City of Moline will use the excess funds over the next three years to help balance the budget. Barnes also shared that at this time, the City is still waiting on the first allocation of the cannabis funds. Barnes shared that in 2024, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will have 77% of funds expended, and in 2025, all of the ARPA funds will be expended. At this time, the budget does not include the funds from Lakeshore Recycling System (LRS). Vitas shared that when LRS receives their occupancy permit, the minimum property tax guarantee goes into effect. Rayapati reminded council the meeting is at the Moline Public Library on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.

Miscellaneous Business

Mayor Rayapati shared that Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 4:30 p.m., there will be a ribbon cutting for mural project for the Moline Public Art Commission and Quad City Arts. The celebration will take place at 1405 5th Avenue. The mural is located on the outside wall of Analog Pizza and Arcade.

Adjournment of City Council

Upon motion of Alderperson Schmidt, seconded by Alderperson Finch, the City Council meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on October 24, 2023. View recorded meetings at http://www.moline.il.us/remoteCity Council

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9453