Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island City Council met Sept. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order

Mayor Thoms called the meeting to order at 6:46 p.m. and welcomed everyone.

2. Roll Call

Mayor Thoms asked City Clerk Samantha Gange to call the roll.

Present: Alderpersons Moses Robinson, Randy Hurt, Kevin Maynard, Jenni Swanson, Dylan Parker, Mark Poulos, Bill Healy and Mayor Mike Thoms.

Absent: None.

Staff: City Manager Todd Thompson, Attorney Allison Wright, City Clerk Samantha Gange, and other City Staff.

3. Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Thoms led in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

4. Moment of Silence

Mayor Thoms requested a moment of silence. A moment of silence was observed.

5. Public Comment

Nobody was signed up to speak during public comment.

6. Awards and Honor Presentations, Officer Swearing in Ceremony, and Proclamations

a. Proclamation declaring September 15 through October 15, 2024, Hispanic Heritage Month.

Clerk Gange read the proclamation. Mayor Thoms read his declaration. Louisa Ewert with the Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber said a few words about Hispanic Heritage Month. A photo was taken with Mayor Thoms.

b. Proclamation declaring September 22-28, 2024 Banned Books Week.

Clerk Gange read the proclamation. Mayor Thoms read his declaration. Library Director Angela Campbell said a few words about banned books week. A photo was taken with Mayor Thoms.

7. Update Rock Island

Thursday Night Groove continues in Schwiebert Riverfront Park

Come enjoy free music by local favorite, the Crooked Cactus Band this Thursday, September 12. Rock Island Park concessions and Bent River Brewery open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and get ready to have some fun.

Stock up on fresh produce, baked goods and flowers

Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon is the QC Farmers Market at Schwiebert Riverfront Park. Take advantage of peak harvest season and find some fantastic fresh produce, all grown by our farmers in and around the Quad Cities.

Revive Fall Market Fest

The Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department will host Revive Fall Market Fest, where unique vendors come together for a one-of-a-kind shopping event this Sunday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Schwiebert Riverfront Park.

Browse handcrafted items such as candles, soaps, clothing accessories, home décor, jewelry, vintage goods, baked goods, photography and more. Enjoy concessions from the Rock Island Parks Department, Cool Beanz Coffee truck, a beer garden by Bent River Brewing Company and live music from Kevin Horton and Eva Kendall.

Help Rock Island celebrate a big anniversary

The 50th Anniversary of the Southwest Library Branch and Fire Station will be held Wednesday, September 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come to 9010 Ridgewood Road and enjoy cake, refreshments, activities, tours, a library scavenger hunt and firefighter story time.

Mayor Thoms gave his condolences to former Second Ward Alderman Virgil Mayberry's family on his recent passing. He said Virgil was an advocate for Rock Island and also served on the Rock Island County Board and will be missed.

8. Consent Agenda

All items under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted by a single motion and subsequent roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless an Alderperson so requests, in which case, the item will be moved from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.

a. Minutes from the August 26, 2024 Study Session and City Council Meeting.

b. Minutes from the August 26, 2024 Closed Session.

c. Claims for the week of July 19 through July 25, 2024, in the amount of $720,080.76; for the week of July 26 through August 1, 2024, in the amount of $825,258.64; and payroll for the weeks of August 5 through August 18, 2024, in the amount of $1,902,687.30.

d. International City/County Management Association (ICMA) claims for the weeks of July 13 through July 26, 2024, in the amount of $33,585.93.

e. ACH Payments for the month of July 2024, in the amount of $1,801,045.82.

f. Purchase Card Claims for the period of June 27, 2024 through July 26, 2024 in the amount of $78,163.36.

g. Report from the City Clerk's office regarding a request from First Baptist Church for sound amplification on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for an outdoor movie event.

Motion: Motion to approve Consent Agenda items a through g.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to approve consent agenda items a through g; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

9. Claims/Purchases

a. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of $60,700.80 to McClintock Trucking and Excavating, Silvis, Illinois, for the Water Service and Sewer Lateral Repair Contract.

Motion: Motion to allow the claim.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Robinson moved to allow the claim; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

Alderperson Parker recused himself from the vote due to the nature of his employment.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 6-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

b. Report from the Police Department regarding the purchase of a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) program from Unmanned Vehicle Technologies, LLC in the amount of $53,071.18 (ARPA restricted funds).

Motion: Motion to allow the claim.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Poulos moved to allow the claim; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

DISCUSSION:

Police Chief McCloud clarified that there were a total of three drones to be purchased.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 6-1-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Poulos, Healy. Nay: Parker. Absent: None.

c. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a repair to the pump at the Franciscan Storage/Treatment Basin by Electric Pump, Des Moines, Iowa, in the amount of $32,178.

Motion: Motion to allow the claim.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to allow the claim; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

10. Contracts/Agreements

a. Report from Administration regarding a Contribution Agreement with the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau d/b/a Visit Quad Cities.

Motion: Motion to approve the agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the document.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Maynard moved to approve the agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the document; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

DISCUSSION:

Alderperson Parker asked about an annual work plan, similar to the agreements we have with our other partners, such as DARI. Alderperson Robinson expressed concerns about not having specific measures in place to determine how Visit Quad Cities is achieving the goals of the agreement. Joan Kranovich, Vice President of Visit Quad Cities, explained the various services that are provided, which included attracting national conferences and meetings; event group tours; bid and recruiting major events; drive brand promotion including paid media; among several others. She said they are a regional destination management organization for all the Quad Cities and do not have the staff nor resources to host events on behalf of cities, but assist with marketing and event plans. She noted that most tourists don't realize the boundaries between cities.

Alderperson Parker mentioned that Rock Island has deep cultural and heritage assets and that it didn't appear Visit Quad Cities had worked towards highlighting these assets. Ms. Kranovich mentioned the cultural tourism assets they have launched, including the QC Arts Trail with several sculptures and murals in Rock Island.

Alderperson Robinson requested data points from Visit Quad Cities moving forward. Ms. Kranvoich responded affirmatively and added she would work with Jack Cullen of Rock Island Downtown Alliance with data as well as provide other data they gather consistently and the economic impact report.

Mayor Thoms noted that the funding for Visit Quad Cities comes from a portion of the hotel/motel taxes and all the other cities have signed the agreement. He explained that Visit Quad Cities markets and promotes Rock Island.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Rock Island Arsenal for fire extinguisher maintenance.

Motion: Motion to approve the contract and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Hurt moved to approve the contract and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

c. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a Joint Funding Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the 30th Street Resurfacing Project between 9th & 18th Avenue.

Motion: Motion to approve the agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the documents.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Poulos moved to approve the agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the documents; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

d. Report from the Community Development Department regarding a Service Agreement with Moran Economic Development in the amount of $34,000 for the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Plan.

Motion: Motion to approve the agreement, subject to minor attorney modifications, and authorize the City Manager to execute the documents.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve the agreement, subject to minor attorney modifications, and authorize the City Manager ; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

11. Events/Misc Requests

a. Report from the City Clerk's office regarding a request from Augustana College to use sound amplification on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a campus block party.

b. Report from the Fire Department regarding a request from the Rock Island Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 26, to utilize the intersection of 30th Street and 18th Avenue for their annual Muscular Dystrophy Association "Fill the Boot" fundraising campaign from Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6, 2024.

Motion: Motion to approve requests a and b as recommended.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Maynard moved to approve requests a and b as recommended; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

12. Rock Island Port Authority

a. Motion: Motion to close the regular City Council meeting and convene the Rock Island Regional Port District meeting.

VV Voice vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to close the regular City Council meeting and convene the Rock Island Regional Port District; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

b. Other Business/New Business

Assistant to the City Manager and Economic Development Director Tom Flaherty announced that the City has been awarded a $368,000 planning grant that will go towards developing a master plan for the port. A request for proposals (RFP) will be issued for a consultant to develop the plan, but the timeframe is uncertain at this time.

Community Development Director Miles Brainard explained that the timing of when the RFP is issued is unknown because they need to submit additional papwork to the state.

c. Motion: Motion to exit the Rock Island Regional Port Authority and reconvene the regular City Council meeting.

VV Voice vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to exit the Rock Island Regional Port Authority and reconvene the regular City Council meeting; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

13. Other Business/New Business

Alderperson Swanson asked about the dredging at Sunset Marina and whether it was mechanical or hydraulic. Public Works Director Mike Bartels responded that it was mechanical as the location is better suited for this type of dredging.

14. Closed Session.

a. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives.

Motion: Motion to enter Closed Session for the exceptions cited.

VV Voice vote is needed.

Mayor Thoms announced that the Closed Session was no longer needed.

15. Adjourn

a. Motion to Adjourn to September 23, 2024.

Motion: Motion to adjourn.

VV Voice Vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to adjourn the meeting; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Robinson, Hurt, Maynard, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy. Nay: None. Absent: None.

The meeting concluded at 7:33 p.m.

https://www.rigov.org/301/Agenda-Minutes