City of Moline Committee of the Whole/Council met Dec. 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
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) ~ electronically
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
Stephanie Murphy, City Clerk
Carol Barnes, Director of Finance
Janine A.H. Parr, Utility Billing & Customer Services Manager
David Dryer, Director of Engineering ~ electronically
Barry Dykhuizen, Assistant City Administrator
Darren Gault, Chief of Police
Eric Griffith, Director of Parks & Recreation ~electronically
Chris Mathias, Director of Community & Economic Development
Bryon Lear, Director of Library Services ~ electronically
Tony Loete, Director of Utilities
Leah Miller, Director of Human Resources
Steve Regenwether, Fire Chief
David Rowatt, Information Technology Manager
K.J. Whitley, Community Development Manager
OTHERS: Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel
Grace Kinnecut, Dispatch/Argus
Alexandra Elias, Renew Moline
John Davidshofer, Busch Construction
Mayor Rayapati called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Approval of Remote Electronic Attendance
Alderperson Finch, seconded by Alderperson O’Brien, moved to approve the remote electronic attendance of Alderperson Timion due to employment purposes. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
Oath of Office
Oath of Office for regular commissioned appointment of K9 Shiloh to the rank of Police Officer Canine, effective November 11, 2023.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Questions on the Agenda
Agenda Items
6.1 An Ordinance amending Chapter 25, “Planning And Development,” of The Moline Code Of Ordinances, Section 25-3101, “Composition; Appointment And Qualifications of Members; Mayor To Be Ex Officio Member,” To Reduce The Number Of Plan Commission Members. A motion was made by Alderperson Schmidt to approve. Seconded by Alderperson Castro. Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel, shared that the current number of board memberships on the Plan Commission is 11, noting the number is much greater than the number of members who sit on the Council. At this time, as members are leaving the Plan Commission, it is time to reduce the number of members to nine. It is more manageable, more in line with the number of council members, as well as other plan commissions. Mayor Rayapati shared that, as it sits now, the Ordinance requires 11 but two members have resigned in the recent past so the number is currently nine. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
6.2 A Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and attest to a Contract for Professional Services with PGAV Planners, LLC, to provide TIF consulting services to determine the feasibility of creating a TIF District in downtown Moline. A motion was made by Alderperson O’Brien to approve. Seconded by Alderperson Finch. Bob Vitas, City Administrator, shared that the City has been working with PGAV Planners as TIF consultants for the past 35 years. Approval is being requested so the City can move forward with the JC Penney TIF project. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
6.3 A Resolution providing for a feasibility study on the designation of a portion of the City of Moline as a redevelopment project area and to induce development interests within such area; and authorizing expenditures in the course of planning and redevelopment, prior to the redevelopment project area being established, that may be reimbursable from future TIF proceeds. Bob Vitas, City Administrator, shared that one of the first steps is the inducement resolution. This resolution allows the City to create billable time to come out of future TIF proceeds and then to establish the boundary area for the study that must be conducted in accordance with State law. Exhibit A identifies what the City refers to as TIF 15. Chris Mathias, Director of Community & Economic Development, stated that the City does have other projects that can hopefully can happen with this TIF. A motion was made by Alderperson O’Brien to approve. Seconded by Alderperson Macias. Discussion ensued. Alexandra Elias, Renew Moline, thanked the City for the time and the work put in by staff. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
6.4 A Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and attest to a Program Funding Agreement between the City of Moline and the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the City’s acceptance of a grant award for an amount not to exceed $1,000,000; and authorizing City staff to do all things necessary to execute all assurances and certifications to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR) Grant; and authorizing the Community & Economic Development Department to begin work upon execution of the Program Funding Agreement between the City of Moline and the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR) Grant, and to do all things necessary to implement said grant requirements. KJ Whitley, Community Development Manager, shared that there were over 60 applications for the aforementioned program with $29,000,000 total in the grant, but only a handful chosen for the grant. The City of Moline received $1,000,000. The goal is for the City to support 16-20 houses where the homeowner can receive up to $60,000 in a forgivable loan for three years. There were three homes in Moline on the waiting list in 2020 which the City was unable to address due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will be addressed at this time. This is a one year grant with a one year extension request available. The City can go up to 150% of the area median income. A motion was made by Alderperson O’Brien to approve. Seconded by Alderperson Macias. Discussion ensued. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, and O’Brien; nays: none.
6.5 A Resolution revising the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Childcare/Workforce Infrastructure Forgivable Loan Program Agreement. KJ Whitley, Community Development Manager, shared that in January 2022, the City provided an opportunity for childcare facilities to apply for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The Western Illinois University (WIU) Foundation was the last application received. At that time, they did not know where they would be located. They have now found a location within the building in Moline that formerly housed the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley. It will be bilingual childcare and there will be opportunities for second shift childcare for the children. The Western Illinois University (WIU) Foundation is working on getting their license through the State. Whitley stated giving them the funds up front would help them to get the supplies they need as well as their State license. Then, they would be shovel ready to open early in 2024. Discussion ensued. A motion was made by Alderperson Timion to approve. Seconded by Alderperson Finch. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and; nays: none.
Informational
7.1 Paid Leave for All Workers Act Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel, shared that the Paid Leave for All Workers Act becomes effective on January 1, 2024. This Act requires a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave for all full-time workers in the State of Illinois, with some exceptions, and one hour of time off for every 40 hours worked for part-time employees. With vacation, sick, and personal days are taken into account, the City currently provides anywhere from three to six times that amount of paid leave to its full-time employees. The Act also allows for counties and municipalities who already offer at least as much or more paid leave to adopt, by ordinance, the policies and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) which include the paid benefit time in lieu of implementing the Act. Counsel is recommending such for the City. The City would, by ordinance, secure the leave that is already offered. It can be changed at any time by increasing the paid leave. The City also maintains the flexibility to meet its operational needs, especially for police, fire, public works, and utilities, who often provide services which do not allow the use of on-demand time off. By adopting policies and CBAs by ordinance, flexibility can be retained to consider operational needs for all of the time off requested by employees without special documentation or notice. This relieves the burden of the administrative process of the City departments. Adopting this ordinance not only preserves what the City has already granted to employees, but, it also ensures that future Moline city councils cannot reduce the benefits below what the Act requires. The only issue that remains to be resolved is part-time employees. Currently, there are library pages and crossing guards who are part-time employees. They currently do not receive any paid time off. In order to be in compliance with the Act, by ordinance, the City would have to grant paid time off to those part-time employees. Legal counsel is suggesting four hours of paid time off annually. Kostopulos stated that four hours is equal to one week for crossing guards and one shift for library pages. That information is included within ordinance. This Act must be adopted and approved no later than the end of December 2023. Discussion ensued.
7.2 Monthly Utility Billing Janine A. H. Parr, Utility Billing & Customer Service Manager, joined with Carol Barnes, Director of Finance, and Tony Loete, Director of Utilities, presented a slideshow discussing the transition from quarterly to monthly utility billing (See Attachment Number 2). Customers will now receive 12 smaller bills instead of four large bills, beginning in January 2024. If Council approves, this item will appear at the December 12, 2023 meeting with amendments to the code. Parr shared how the City plans to communicate this change with customers. Discussion ensued.
Adjournment of the Committee-of-the-Whole and Council Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation
There was no invocation.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken with Mayor Rayapati, Alderpersons Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, Castro, and Schmidt present. Absent: None.
Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Committee-of-the-Whole, Council and Executive Session minutes of November 14, 2023, and Committee-of-the-Whole and Council meeting minutes of November 21, 2023.
Resolutions
13.1 1210-2023 A Resolution setting the annual meeting schedule for 2024; and authorizing City staff to do all things necessary to notify the media of the 2024 annual meeting schedule.
13.2 1211-2023 A Resolution authorizing the Traffic Operations Division to purchase Signal Equipment Upgrades, Tactics Central, for the amount of $105,439.00.
Omnibus Vote
Alderperson Schmidt, seconded by Alderperson Macias, moved to approve and adopt, by omnibus vote, these items. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
Non-Consent Agenda
Resolutions
15.1 1212-2023 A Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and attest to a Program Funding Agreement between the City of Moline and the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the City’s acceptance of a grant award for an amount not to exceed $1,000,000; and authorizing City staff to do all things necessary to execute all assurances and certifications to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR) Grant; and authorizing the Community & Economic Development Department to begin work upon execution of the Program Funding Agreement between the City of Moline and the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR) Grant, and to do all things necessary to implement said grant requirements.
Approved. Alderperson Razzaque, seconded by Alderperson Finch, moved to approve Council Bill 1212- 2023. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and; nays: none.
15.2 1213-2023 A Resolution authorizing the City Administrator to modify the non-union employee group benefit package to incorporate the changes as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto relating to wages and health insurance premiums.
Approved. Alderperson Finch, seconded by Alderperson Castro, moved to approve Council Bill 1213- 2023. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, and O’Brien; nays: none.
Non-Consent Agenda
First Reading Ordinances
16.1 An Ordinance amending CHAPTER 20, “MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC,” of the Moline Code of Ordinances, Appendix 35, “ALTERED SPEED LIMITS,” by reducing the speed limit along 35th Avenue to 20 miles per hour (mph) from 13th Street east to 36th Avenue.
Advanced. Alderperson Finch, seconded by Alderperson O’Brien, moved to advance Item #16.1 to second reading. A motion was made by Alderperson Razzaque to reduce the speed limit to 20 miles per hour along 35th Street, 33rd Street, and 32nd Street. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Bob Vitas, City Administrator, referred Alderperson Razzaque to the Traffic Engineering Committee where he can voice his concerns. The original motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
16.2 An Ordinance amending CHAPTER 20, “MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC,” of the Moline Code of Ordinances, Appendix 10 thereof, “PARKING PROHIBITED AT ANY TIME,” by adding Twenty-ninth Street, on the east side, beginning 592 feet North from the point of intersection of the NE corner right of way lines of Avenue of the Cities and 29th Street extending north 59 feet.
Advanced. Alderperson Schmidt, seconded by Alderperson O’Brien, moved to advance Item #16.2 to second reading. Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, and O’Brien; nays: none.
16.3 An Ordinance adopting paid leave benefits for all workers.
Advanced. Alderperson Macias, seconded by Alderperson Schmidt, moved to advance Item #16.3 to second reading. Per earlier discussion at the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on December 5, 2023, Alderperson Castro stated that she believes library pages should receive more paid time off than crossing guards due to differences in hours worked. Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel, recommended a motion be made to amend the ordinance, requiring that all part-time employees receive one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, mirroring the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Discussion ensued. A motion was made by Alderperson Schmidt, seconded by Alderperson Castro, to amend the ordinance for its return to Council for second reading, so that it includes an accrual minimum for all employees that matches the Act, as opposed to a half day, which is currently listed as the minimum. Discussion ensued. The motion to amend passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, and O’Brien; nays: none. The motion as amended passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, and O’Brien; nays: none.
Miscellaneous Business
Mayor Rayapati shared that she attended a Bi-State Regional Commission meeting. The City is working to try to get more recyclable, biodegradable supplies into City buildings through a purchasing agreement the City has with Bi-State.
Alderperson Macias stated last week Council members attended the Quad City Chamber economic forecast. The speaker, who is a forecaster in economics, stated one of the greatest factors affecting individuals in the workplace is childcare. Macias thanked Mayor and staff for their work with Western Illinois University Foundation.
Alderperson O’Brien stated he will be absent for the December 12, 2023 meeting.
Bob Vitas, City Administrator, reported an update on the High Speed Railway Commission. The Commission has now had a quorum on two of the last three scheduled meetings. Bylaws were adopted and they will begin working with Quandel Consultants, who were brought on by the State, to work with the Commission to begin preparing the studies and everything else that will be require submission to the legislature within 12 months. The City of Moline will be a feeder on to the high speed rail at some juncture. The spine of the high speed rail is designed to go literally from Chicago, Illinois directly to St. Louis, Missouri. As far as the local train station, work is being completely separately between Vitas, the lobbyist, Mayor Rayapati, and Mr. Nelson with MetroLink.
Chris Mathias shared the Plan Commission has been interested in a rezoning on John Deere Road to move it from office to commercial space. Rather than have 83 neighbors come to a Plan Commission meeting, there will be a meeting in two weeks in the City Hall Committee-of-the Whole conference room to which the 83 neighbors were invited.
Janine A.H. Parr, Utility Billing & Customer Services Manager, stated as the City moves through this transition, if there are any council members who receive questions from residents, she will help answer those questions. Parr also shared she is proud of the finance department and the meter reader staff at how collaboratively they have worked together through this transition.
Public Comment
There was no additional public comment.
Executive Session
Alderperson Murphy, seconded by Alderperson Schmidt, moved for Executive Session, for the purpose of discussion of Collective Negotiating Matters-5 ILCS 120/2(C)(2), Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or Dismissal of Specific Employees-5 ILCS 120/2(C)(1), and Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or Dismissal of Specific Employees- 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(1). Motion carried on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Motion passed on roll call with the following vote: ayes: Alderpersons Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, O’Brien, and Macias; nays: none.
City Council convened in Executive Session at 7:21 p.m.
Council reconvened in open session at 8:24 p.m.
Adjournment of City Council
Upon motion of Alderperson Murphy, seconded by Alderperson Schmidt the Council meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9594
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