Rock Island Today

City of Moline Committee of the Whole/Council met Aug. 20.

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 Daniel McNeil (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

Chris Mathias, Director of Community & Economic Development

Jennifer Bizarri, Assistant Director of Community & Economic Development

K.J. Whitley, Community Development Manager

Chris Parr, Economic Development Manager

Tony Loete, Director of Utilities

Denver Schmitt, Director of Public Works

Leah Madsen, Director of Human Resources

Darren Gault, Chief of Police

Steve Regenwether, Fire Chief

David Rowatt, Information Technology Manager

OTHERS: Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel

Rochelle Carlin-Krueger, Moline Community Development Corporation

Alexandra Elias, Renew Moline

Grace Kinnicutt, Dispatch/Argus

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

Pledge of Allegiance

Invocation

There was no invocation

Roll Call

Roll call was taken with Mayor Rayapati, Alderpersons Murphy, Macias, Razzaque, Timion, Finch, McNeil, Castro, and Schmidt present. Absent: None.

Questions on the Agenda

There were no questions on the agenda.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Discussion

8.1 Housing Projects and Strategies (Christopher Parr, Economic Development Manager & Chris Mathias, Director of Community and Economic Development). Chris Mathias, Director of Community and Economic Development, discussed proposed projects including the former JCPenney building, the former Dispatch building, and 20 affordable units by the Moline Housing Authority. Mathias also discussed the Rental Housing Inspections Program and Accessory Dwelling Units. Christopher Parr, Economic Development Manager, discussed the proposed project of the Riverfront and Centre Plan which includes about 14 acres on the riverfront. K.J. Whitley, Community Development Manager, shared that there are six categories within the community development programs and described what each of those categories does to help the community (See Attachment 1).

Mathias then shared information about the Bluffs at Case Creek Residential Subdivision which is located on the west corner of the City of Moline at Knoxville Road. The property is owned by the City of Moline. The site has water and the Village of Milan has a pump station nearby. Mathias pointed that this development is a partnership with Milan. Phase I is half Milan, half Moline and Phase II is Moline. Bob Vitas, City Administrator, shared that the City is considering using green technologies for development.

If the Council is interested in pursuing this development, the City would find a developer to cultivate an agreement between the City of Moline and the Village of Milan. Milan would provide the sanitary services and Moline would provide the water. Mathias stated that each council member has a map of the Indian Hills Addition (see Attachment 3). Discussion held.

8.2 Sale of Municipal Water Surplus (Tony Loete, Director of Utilities). Tony Loete, Director of Utilities, shared information regarding the permitted production capacity of 12 million gallons per day at the water treatment plan. In the last five years or so, the maximum number of gallons that the City has needed to produce in a single day is 7.6 million gallons per day. Because the treatment plan is able to produce 12 million gallons in a day and it has been modernized in the last 20 years, the City could market the excess water if there are parties interested in taking advantage of that. Before that could be done, the City would need to take into consideration what water might want to be set aside for potential use in the future.

Loete stated that as the City starts to grow up the bluff on the south side of the airport, the water system can support those areas. The further south the water goes, the existing pressure zone will not have enough pressure to get the water out. The City acquired some water tankage around 2018 from Rock Island County which is currently being stored on property with a long-term land lease. At this time, the City does not have an interconnection with Milan. The City water system does have two lines that go under the Rock River.

Silvis has recently expressed an interest to go beyond what they are purchasing currently. They have indicated they will talk to an engineer about what it would take to do so. The Village of Milan has expressed an interest in wholesale water supply. Loete stated it would be mutually beneficial for the City of Moline and the Village of Milan to seek out an emergency interconnection.

Loete also shared some information about Colona. While the City of Moline is operating the treatment plant in Colona, they are undergoing a feasibility study. Their engineer is evaluating what options they have long-term. Loete shared information discussing retail versus wholesale, and discussion was held. Loete then shared information regarding Moline’s water capacity and the matrix for what the City of Moline is doing with neighboring communities from a utilities standpoint (See Attachment 2).

Public Comment

Kenlee McConaghy remarked that she believes her brother, Jared Gonzalez, a former City employee, was wrongfully terminated.

Miscellaneous Business

Mayor Rayapati shared material titled Parks: The Hidden Economic Engine of Cities (See Attachment 4). The author of the article is Trust for Public Land. Mayor shared that they are very heavily involved with the Mayor’s Innovation Project. Mayor shared the document to inform the Council of the research of other cities.

Alderperson Timion thanked the Public Works department. He had a few residents reach out about a deteriorating road. Timion reported that the road was repaired in record time. Timion also shared that there was a ribbon cutting for the new McDonald’s located near Target and Kohl’s in southwest Moline. Timion thanked the Plan Commission and the Community and Economic Development Department for facilitating the ribbon cutting. Timion also visited the recently reopened VIP Cinemas and encouraged everyone to visit.

Darren Gault, Chief of Police, reported the past two days the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has been visiting conducting a detective function assessment in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Project Safe Neighborhoods. Gault shared that he voluntarily enrolled the Moline Police Department in this evaluation with DOJ. There were two individuals present interviewing the staff in the

Criminal Investigation Division. They reviewed cases, processes, and policies. Gault reported they were impressed with the Moline Police Department and found the School Resource Officer program to be very unique. Gault will receive a report from the visit.

K.J. Whitley, Community Development Manager, presented an update on the housing needs assessment study and the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. There was a consultant on-site for a few days. They have reached out to a number of people where they are going to have a one-on-ones or group settings to gather more input. They will gather information and wrap up the study and analysis and return in mid-November or the beginning of December with a summary of the report.

Barry Dykhuizen, Assistant City Administrator, shared that Metronet, a high-speed fiber internet service provider, will be completing their work in the City of Moline by the end of October. Dykhuizen stated that since Metronet broke ground, David Dryer, Director of Engineering, and his team has had multiple meetings with them. Dryer was tasked with managing resident concerns with the Metronet crew. Dykhuizen commended Dryer and Darrel Preston, Construction Manager, for their work during this time.

Executive Session:

Alderperson Murphy, seconded by Alderperson Castro, moved for Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of 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: Alderpersons Timion, Finch, McNeil, Castro, Schmidt, Murphy, Macias and Razzaque; nays: none.

City Council convened in Executive Session at 7:35 p.m.

Council reconvened in open session at 7:53 p.m.

Adjournment of City Council

Upon motion of Alderperson Schmidt, seconded by Alderperson Macias, the Council meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on August 27, 2024. View recorded meetings at http://www.moline.il.us/remotecouncil

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