Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island City Council met Nov. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order

Mayor Thoms called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. and welcomed everyone.

2. Roll Call

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

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

Absent: Alderperson Randy Hurt.

Staff: City Manager Todd Thompson, Attorney Leslie Day, 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 for public comment.

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

a. Proclamation honoring Augustana Symphonic Band Sesquicentennial Anniversary.

Clerk Gange read the proclamation. Mayor Thoms read his declaration.

b. Proclamation declaring November as Epilepsy Awareness Month.

Clerk Gange read the proclamation. Mayor Thoms read his declaration. Members of the organization said a few words. A picture was taken with Mayor Thoms.

7. Update Rock Island

Thanksgiving Meals

The Martin Luther King Center will host its 35th Annual Thanksgiving Meal giveaway on November 22nd, 23rd and 24th. All are welcome! Volunteers are needed to help with this year's event. To sign up and for more information visit www.mlkcenter.org/events.

Holiday Gift Giveaway

The MLK Center is also looking for volunteers to help with gift wrapping and gift distribution for its 48th

Annual Children's Holiday Gifts, to sign up please www.mlkcenter.org/volunteer-gifts

Rock Island Public Library Frieze Lecture Series

The final lecture of the “Democracy in America” series is this Thursday, November 14th at 2 p.m. Learn about "Abraham Lincoln and a House Divided” from Dr. Lendol Calder, professor of history at Augustana College. The lecture is open to the public and free of charge at the downtown branch of the Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th Street.

Opening of Arts Alley

The official opening of Arts Alley takes place on Wednesday, November 20th from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a tree lighting, caroling by the Rock Island High School Chamber Choir and the unveiling of stunning murals, vendor stalls, and more. New this year is the Arts Alley Holiday Market, open on weekends. You’ll be able to shop unique items from local vendors. After the tree lighting in Arts Alley, the community is invited to head next door to The Urban Reserve for “An Elevated Unveiling” of the luxury rooftop event space that will feature a special selection of food and beverages.

Finally, the City of Rock Island would like to acknowledge Veteran’s Day and thank the men and women who have served our country. If anyone is present who has served in the armed forces, please stand for recognition.

8. Passage of Ordinances and Resolutions

a. Report from the Public Works Department regarding the IL Route 5 (Blackhawk Road/46 AV) IDOT Local Agency Agreement/Resolution.

Motion: Motion to approve the Local Agency Agreement and Resolution and authorize the Mayor to execute the documents.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

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

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding the amended Motor Fuel Tax Resolution appropriating $413,760 of Motor Fuel Tax funds for Street Maintenance in 2024.

Motion: Motion to adopt the amended Motor Fuel Tax Resolution.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Robinson moved to adopt the amended Motor Fuel Tax Resolution; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

9. 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 October 28, 2024 Study Session and City Council meeting.

b. Claims for the week of September 13 through September 19, 2024, in the amount of $598,298.80; for the week of September 20 through September 26, 2024, in the amount of $507,506.29.

c. Payroll for the weeks of September 30 through October 13, 2024 in the amount of $1,818,496.70; Payroll for the weeks of October 14 through October 27, 2024 in the amount of $1,807,979.26.

d. International City/County Management Association (ICMA) claims for the weeks of September 7 through September 20, 2024 in the amount of $31,177.69.

e. ACH Payments for the month of September 2024 in the amount of $922,266.01.

f. Purchase Card Claims for the period of August 27, 2024 through September 26, 2024 in the amount of $122,178.72.

g. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a change order and final payment in the amount of $426,421.75 to Porter Brothers Construction, Inc., Rock Falls, Illinois, for the 2024 Asphalt Street Milling and Patching Program.

h. Report from the Public Works Department regarding uplifting repairs in the amount of $10,604.90 from RACOM Corporation, Moline, Illinois, for the emergency lights, siren and radio equipment for the Fire Department's 2024 Ford F150.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

DISCUSSION:

Alderperson Parker requested that item g be removed from the consent agenda. Clerk Gange clarified that a motion was not needed to remove an item, and she would add item g under claims and purchases.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to approve consent agenda items a through f and h; Alderperson Robinson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

10. Claims/Purchases

a. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of $26,603.93 to McClintock Trucking and Excavating, Inc. Silvis, Illinois, for an emergency water main repair at 17th Street and 31st Avenue.

b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of $27,402.47 to Miller Trucking and Excavating, Silvis, Illinois, for an emergency water main repair at 7th Street and 15th Avenue.

Motion: Motion to allow claims a and b.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to allow claim items a and b and g from the consent agenda; Alderperson Healy seconded.

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

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 4-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

c. Report from the Public Works Department regarding purchases in the amount of $51,020.90 to 3E Electrical Engineering and Equipment Company and $93,870 to Davenport Electric Contract Company for the Federal Building Streetlights and Underground Electrical Improvements using ARPA funds (restricted).

Motion: Motion to allow both claims.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Robinson moved to allow the claims; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

11. Contracts/Agreements

a. Report from the Public Works Department requesting approval to award a bid to Sterling Commercial Roofing, Sterling, Illinois, for the Sunset Marina office roof replacement in the amount of $29,900.

Motion: Motion to award the bid as recommended.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Robinson moved to award the bid as recommended; Alderperson Swanson seconded. 

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

b. Report from the Community Development Department Regarding a Contract with Moran Economic Development for Tax Incriment Financing and Business Development District Services in the amount of $40,000.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

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

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

12. Budget/Finance Items

a. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the MLK Activity Fund (901) in the amount of $9,400.

b. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the MLK Activity Fund (901) in the amount of $10,000.

c. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the MLK Activity Fund (901) in the amount of $40,000.

d. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the MLK Activity Fund (901) in the amount of $35,000.

e. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the CORI Building Amortization Fund (603) in the amount of $50,000.

Motion: Motion to approve budget adjustments a through e.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve budget adjustments a through e; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

f. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget transfer from the General Fund (101) to the General Fund Excess sub-account (102) in the amount of $3,042,749.88.

Motion: Motion to approve the budget transfer as recommended.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to approve the budget transfer as recommended; Alderperson Parker seconded. 

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

13. Department Reports

a. Report from the Community Development Department regarding approval of an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Program Manual regarding conflicts of interest.

Motion: Motion to approve the amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Program Manual.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to approve the amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Program Manual; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

b. Report from the Community Development Department regarding amendments to the Housing Rehabilitation Program Policies and Procedures.

Motion: Motion to approve the amendments as recommended.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Robinson moved to approve the amendments as recommended; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

c. Report from the Community Development Department regarding the creation of the Urban Homestead Program.

Motion: Motion to approve The Urban Homestead Program's Policy and Procedures. RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve the Urban Homestead Program's policy and procedures; Alderperson Robinson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

d. Report from the Finance Department regarding approval of the Municipal Compliance Reports for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2023 for the Police Pension Fund and the Fire Pension Fund.

Motion: Motion to approve the Municipal Compliance Reports for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2023.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve the Municipal Compliance Reports for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

e. Report from the Mayor regarding the appointment of Randy Tweet as Third Ward Alderperson through April 2025.

Motion: Motion to approve the appointment as recommended.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to approve the appointment as recommended; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

14. Traffic Engineering Requests

a. Report from the Traffic Engineering Committee regarding a request from Modern Woodman of America to place five of their parking lots under City ordinance (Section 9-42) control. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to consider the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve consider, suspend the rules and pass the ordinance; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

b. Report from the Traffic Engineering Committee regarding a request from Karen Marshall to install a handicapped parking space in front of the business at 539 20th Street. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to consider the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to consider, suspend the rules and pass the ordinance; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

c. Report from the Traffic Engineering Committee regarding a request from the YWCA to install two handicapped parking spaces on 17th Street in front of the YWCA. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to consider the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve consider, suspend the rules and pass the ordinance; Alderperson Robinson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

15. Events/Misc Requests

a. Report from the Fire Department regarding a request from John Norris of Uncle Norm's Fireworks for pyrotechnic display permits for fireworks to be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center.

Motion: Motion to approve the requests as recommended; temporarily waive Chapter 10, Article 1, Sec. 10-9(a) of the Code of Ordinances to allow for the issuance of the pyrotechnic display permits; and authorize the Fire Marshal to issue the permits.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Poulos moved to approve the requests as recommended, temporarily waive Chapter 10, Article 1, Sec. 10-9(a) of the Code of Ordinances to allow for the issuance of pyrotechnic display permits; and authorize the Fire Marshal to issue the permits; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 roll call vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

16. 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 Port Regional Port District meeting; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 voice vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

b. Other Business/New Business

Economic Development Director Flaherty updated Council members on the status of the grant. He said they are working with Public Works staff on which roads in the port district could be incorporated into the grant request.

Mayor Thoms reported on his trip to Boston to attend the National Port Authority annual meeting.

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 Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 voice vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

17. Other Business/New Business

Alderperson Robinson thanked everyone who participated in the trunk-or-treat. He said it was a wonderful event with close to 400 kids attending.

Mayor Thoms remarked that the next City Council meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held at the newly renovated City Hall. He said the administration team has moved back into the renovated first floor offices.

Clerk Gange commented that a re-dedication ceremony would be scheduled sometime early in December depending on completion of construction.

18. Closed Session

a. 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding must be recorded and entered in the minutes of the closed meeting.

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.

MOTION:

Alderperson Poulos moved to enter Closed Session for the exceptions cited; Alderperson Robinson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 voice vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

The City Council entered the Closed Session at 7:11 p.m.

19. Adjourn

a. Motion: Motion to Adjourn to November 25, 2024

VV Voice vote is needed.

Upon re-entering the regular City Council meeting, Clerk Gange called the roll. Alderpersons Robinson, Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy and Mayor Thoms were presnt. Alderpson Hurt was absent.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to Adjourn; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 5-0-1 voice vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Healy, Robinson. Nay: None. Absent: Hurt.

The meeting concluded at 7:33 p.m.

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