Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island City Council met May 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order

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

2. Roll Call

Mayor Harris asked Deputy Clerk Amanda Torres to call the roll.

Present: Alderpersons Glen Evans, Randy Hurt, Linda Barnes, Jenni Swanson, Dylan Parker, Mark Poulos, Bill Healy and Mayor Ashley Harris.

Absent: None.

Staff: City Manager Todd Thompson, Attorney Leslie Day, Deputy Clerk Amanda Torres, and other City Staff.

3. Pledge of Allegiance

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

4. Moment of Silence

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

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

a. Proclamation declaring May as Historic Preservation Month.

Deputy Clerk Torres read the proclamation. Mayor Harris read his declaration. Diane Oestreich and Alan Carman of the Rock Island Preservation Society were present to accept the proclamation. A photo was taken. Ms. Oestrich said a few words.

b. Proclamation declaring June 2, 2025 as National Mississippi River Day.

Mayor Harris read the proclamation and his declaration. Nina Struss of the Prairie Rivers Network was present to accept the proclamation. A photo was taken. Ms. Struss said a few words.

c. Proclamation declaring June 6, 2025 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Mayor Harris read the proclamation and his declaration. Robin McConnell of Moms Demand Action was present to accept the proclamation. A photo was taken. Ms. Struss said a few words.

6. Public Comment

Mayor Harris asked if anyone in the public wished to speak.

Executive Director of the Rock Island Downtown Alliance Jack Cullen spoke about the Farmers' Market's new location and upcoming activities in the downtown area.

Travis Morrison spoke about the proposed partial street vacation of 20th Avenue.

7. Update Rock Island

Get Read to Swim!

Whitewater Junction will open for the 2025 season on Saturday, May 24th. Grab your swimsuit and head out Memorial Day weekend with your family or friends to Whitewater Junction. Splash down the water slides, relax on a lounge chair by the pool, or enjoy one of the many water features. Whitewater Junction is a zero depth to nine-foot-deep pool featuring four water slides, a tot slide, splash features and fun for the whole family.

Memorial Day schedules

Garbage, yard waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day throughout the week of the Memorial Day holiday, and City of Rock Island offices will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th.

‘Click It or Ticket’: Buckle up Memorial Day and every day

The Rock Island Police Department is reminding drivers to buckle up as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign. This high-visibility seat belt enforcement initiative runs from May 16th to May 27th, coinciding with the Memorial Day holiday. A key focus of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is nighttime enforcement, as Illinois crash data indicates higher rates of unrestrained fatalities at night.

Attention Fourth Ward Residents

Fourth Ward Alderwoman Jenni Swanson is holding a town hall meeting on Tuesday, June 3rd at 6 p.m. at Watts Midtown Library, 2715 30th Street, Rock Island. Mayor Ashley Harris will be present to help answer questions from residents of the Fourth Ward.

8. Passage of Ordinances and Resolutions

a. Report from the Public Works Department regarding the Sewer Use Ordinance Local Limit updates. (Second Reading)

Motion: Motion to pass the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Evans moved to pass the ordinance; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

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

9. Ordinances (First Readings)

a. Report from the Community Development Department regarding a partial street vacation of 20th Avenue east of 46th Street. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to approve the vacation and consider the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to approve the vacation and consider the ordinance; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

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

b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a rate increase for residential refuse and yard waste service. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to approve the yard waste service rate increase and consider the amendment to the refuse rate ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Barnes moved to postpone the item until the first meeting in August for additional consideration and recommendations provided by staff; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

VOTE:

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

c. Report from the Legal Department regarding changes to the Street Fee Ordinance. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to consider the amendments to the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to consider the amendments to the ordinance; Alderperson Hurt seconded.

VOTE:

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

d. Report from Administration regarding amendments to Article XVIII Sale/Possession of Tobacco Products. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to consider the amendments to the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Hurt moved to consider the amendments to the ordinance; Alderperson Barnes seconded.

VOTE:

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

10. 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. Report from the City Clerk's office regarding a request from Teairra Wells to close 14 1/2 Street between 9th & 10th Avenues on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a graduation block party.

b. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding a request from QC Farmers' Market to close 2nd Avenue between 18th & 19th Streets every Saturday between May 31 through October 25, 2025 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. for the Farmers' Market.

c. Report from the Public Works Department requesting authorization for RACOM Corporation, Moline, Illinois, in the amount of $10,067.90 to install siren and light upfitting equipment on the Fire Department's Unit 8939.

d. Minutes from the May 12, 2025 Study Session and City Council meeting.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to approve Consent Agenda items a through d; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

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

11. Claims/Purchases

a. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment to Valley Construction Co., Rock Island, Illinois, in the amount of $10,147.69 for an emergency water main repair at 18th Street and 1st Avenue.

Motion: Motion to approve the claim.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Poulos moved to approve the claim; Alderperson Healy 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: Hurt, Barnes, Swanson, Poulos, Healy, Evans. Nay: None. Absent: None.

12. Appointments to Boards/Commissions/Committees

a. Report from the Mayor's office regarding the appointment of Mayor Pro Tem.

Motion: Motion to elect Alderperson ____________ as Mayor Pro Tem through May 2026.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to elect Alderperson Poulos as Mayor Pro Tem through May 2026; Alderperson Hurt seconded.

Alderperson Poulos recused himself from the vote due to being the nominated Mayor Pro Tem.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 6-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Hurt, Barnes, Swanson, Parker, Healy, Evans. Nay: None. Absent: None.

b. Report from the Mayor's office regarding appointments to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Board.

Motion: Motion to approve the appointments as recommended.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to approve the appointments as recommended; Alderperson Barnes seconded. Alderperson Evans recused himself due to being one of the recommended appointees.

VOTE:

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

13. Events/Misc Requests

a. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding requests from The Broadway to close 3rd Avenue between 21st & 22nd Streets, close 22nd Street between 4th Avenue & the alley north of 3rd Avenue, and close the alley between 22nd & 21st Streets and 3rd & 4th Avenues for a bike & car show on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and a request for the outdoor consumption of alcohol in the fenced-in area in the adjacent parking lot.

Motion: Motion to approve the requests as recommended; subject to complying with all liquor license regulations and subject to being shut down early if complaints are received.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve the requests as recommended; subject to complying with all liquor license regulations and subject to being shut down early if complaints are received; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

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

14. Other Business/New Business

Alderperson Poulos announced that the Backwater Gamblers are starting their season Memorial Day weekend. There will be free water ski shows every Sunday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. through September.

15. 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 shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

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

VV Voice vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Poulos moved to enter Closed Session for the exception cited; Alderperson Parker seconded. VOTE:

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

The City Council entered Closed Session at 7:16 p.m.

16. Adjourn

a. Motion: Motion to adjourn to June 9, 2025.

VV Voice vote is needed.

After reconvening the regular meeting, Deputy Clerk Torres called the roll. All Council members and Mayor Harris were present.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to adjourn; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

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

The meeting concluded at 8:13 p.m.

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