Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island City Council met Aug. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order

Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 6:46 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 proclaiming September 1-7, 2025, National Payroll Week.

Mayor Harris read the proclamation and his declaration.

b. Presentation of the 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards.

Community Engagement Manager Sarah Hayden welcomed everyone and shared background information on the annual Citizen of the Year Awards. Ms. Hayden announced the winners of each category: Kathy Lelonek for Individual, Jeremiah Evans for Youth, Jarrin Williams for Education, Jack Cullen for Professional, David Sebben for Artist/Creator, Tammy Mendoza for City Employee, Marshall E. Glover, Jr. for Veteran, WVIK, Quad Cities NPR for Organization, Church or Non-Profit, and Huckleberry's Pizza & Calzones for Business. Plaques were presented and photos were taken.

Labor Day Parade Committee Chairwoman Mary Chappell announced that Tammy Mendoza had been selected to serve as the grand marshal for the 41st annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade. Ms. Mendoza was present to accept a plaque. A photo was taken.

6. Public Comment

Steve Scranton, Dr. Dwight Ford, Kele Jack-Jones, Dwight Ford, Sr., Kelle Larned, James Blue, Tom Bowman, and Bruce Peterson spoke about homelessness and the proposed moratorium on the agenda.

7. Update Rock Island

Soul of the City

Soul of the City is this Saturday, August 30th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Franklin Field, 1251 9th Street. This outdoor community celebration brings together the MLK Center, Rock Island Parks and Recreation, the West End Rib Fest, the Community Caring Conference, and the Rock Island County NAACP. The event highlights our neighborhoods, families and cultures with live entertainment, kids’ activities, a parade and the Rib Fest competition.

The 41st Annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade is Monday, September 1st at 9:30 a.m. starting at the corner of 18th Avenue and 33rd Street. This year’s theme is Rockin’ the Arts. Come enjoy Rock Island’s four-decade long tradition of marching bands, festive floats, live bands and community groups.

Rock Island Grand Prix

The 30th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, will feature 20 races on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, August 30th and 31st. Admission is free to this family event. Racing takes place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

8. Passage of Ordinances

a. Report from Administration regarding amendments to Chapter 2 Administration, Article II, Sec. 2- 32. Meetings - Regular to the Rock Island Code of Ordinances. (First Reading)

Motion: Motion to consider, suspend the rules and pass the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Hurt moved to consider, suspend the rules, and pass the ordinance; Alderperson Evans seconded.

DISCUSSION:

City Manager Thompson explained that the City Council would transition to one regular meeting that would begin at 5:45 p.m., starting with presentations. The change would establish a single, predictable schedule.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

b. Report from Administration regarding a resolution for a moratorium on all new boarding houses, congregate living facilities, detoxification facilities, food pantries, emergency shelters, halfway houses, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and transitional housing expiring November 24, 2025.

Motion: Motion to adopt the resolution.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to amend the resolution, with the moratorium expiring on October 13, 2025; Alderperson Parker seconded.

DISCUSSION:

Alderperson Poulos explained that the moratorium would affect new facilities not currently in operation and would not affect existing facilities. Alderperson Swanson added that they were close to finalizing their recommendation, allowing for an earlier expiration date. City Manager Thompson said staff have been working carefully to not impact existing users.

Mayor Harris called on a member of the audience to ask a question about the moratorium. Alderperson Parker reiterated that the moratorium only affected providers that have not opened, and those providers could not open until the moratorium is lifted.

VOTE:

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

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to call the question; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 6-1-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Swanson.

Nay: Barnes.

Absent: None.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to adopt the resolution; Alderperson Healy seconded.

DISCUSSION:

City Manager Thompson clarified that the moratorium affected new businesses, but the future ordinance would impact new and existing providers.

Mayor Harris called on a member of the audience to ask a question about the upcoming ordinance. Community Development Director Miles Brainard replied that further discussion was needed regarding the proposed language of the upcoming ordinance.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 6-1-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Swanson.

Nay: Barnes.

Absent: None.

c. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding a highway resolution for the closure of 5th Avenue (US Highway 67) on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the annual City Open House.

Motion: Motion to adopt the resolution.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Evans moved to adopt the resolution; Alderperson Parker seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

d. A special ordinance approving a redevelopment agreement between the City of Rock Island and SAL Community Services. (Second Reading)

Motion: Motion to pass the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Barnes moved to pass the ordinance; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

e. A special ordinance establishing a handicapped parking space at 2027 34th Street. (Second Reading)

Motion: Motion to pass the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Swanson moved to pass the ordinance; Alderperson Barnes seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

f. A special ordinance establishing a handicapped parking space at 619 44th Street. (Second Reading)

Motion: Motion to pass the ordinance.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to pass the ordinance; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

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. Claims for the week of July 25 through July 31 in the amount of $2,192,937.89; claims for the week of August 1 through August 7 in the amount of $1,629,951.04; claims for the week of August 8 through August 14 in the amount of $983,285.03; and payroll for the weeks of July 21, 2025 through August 3, 2025 in the amount of $1,959,462.57.

b. ACH Report for the month of July 2025 in the amount of $2,075,512.45.

c. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding a request from St. George Greek Orthodox Church to use sound amplification on Friday, September 5, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for their annual Our Big Fat Greek Festival.

d. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding a request from Rock Island High School to hold their annual Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

e. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding a request from Sue Swords to close the alley between 16th & 17th Avenues and 21st & 22nd Streets on Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. for an annual neighborhood gathering.

f. Report from the City Clerk's Office regarding a request from the Rock Island Public Library Foundation to use sound amplification and to close Arts Alley on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for a fundraising event; a request to waive the sound amplification permit fee; and a request for the outdoor consumption of alcohol in Arts Alley.

g. Minutes from the August 11, 2025 Closed Session.

h. Minutes from the August 11, 2025 Study Session and City Council meeting.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

Consent agenda item g was removed and placed on the regular agenda.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to approve consent agenda items a through f and h; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve consent agenda item g; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

10. Claims/Purchases

a. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment to J.C. Dillon, Inc. Peoria, Illinois, for a Sewer Lateral Repair Program repair at 2419 45th Street in the amount of $11,201.39.

b. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment to Langman Construction, Rock Island, Illinois, for the Sunset Marina dredge pit sediment removal in the amount of $180,842.20.

Motion: Motion to allow claims a and b.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Hurt moved to allow claims a and b; Alderperson Poulos 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: Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

11. Contracts/Agreements

a. Report from Administration regarding a proposal with Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies to provide strategic planning services.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to approve the agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the document; Alderperson Poulos seconded.

VOTE:

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

b. Report from the Finance Department regarding an annual agreement with Fifth Assets, Inc. d/b/a DebtBook for the lease and subscription module in the amount of $14,000.

Motion: Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the lease and subscription management service renewal agreement, subject to minor attorney modifications.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Barnes moved to approve the agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the lease and subscription management service renewal agreement, subject to minor attorney modifications; Alderperson Swanson seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

c. Report from the Fire Department regarding a five-year service agreement with Honeywell International, Inc. and RACOM for the Fire Station Alerting System in the amount of $62,970.20.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Healy moved to approve the service agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the document; Alderperson Evans seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

d. Report from the Public Works Department and F3 Marina regarding the Sunset Marina apartment lease agreement.

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

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Hurt moved to approve the lease agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the document; Alderperson Healy seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

12. Department Reports

a. Report from the City Clerk’s Office regarding a request from Kaur Kulwinder for a Class A Tobacco (Incidental) License, which would require increasing the license cap from 36 to 37 (current ordinance cap is 30).

Motion: Motion whether or not to approve the request and grant the additional Class A Tobacco License.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Hurt moved to not approve the request and not grant the additional Class A tobacco license; Alderperson Barnes seconded.

DISCUSSION:

Alderperson Barnes said there are two licensed businesses in the same area, and the Class A licenses are already 20% over the cap. Alderperson Swanson explained they were over the cap as the existing licenses had been grandfathered in when the cap was set.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

13. Budget/Finance Items

a. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the MLK Activity Fund (900) in the amount of $66,738.44.

b. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the MLK Center Fund (435) in the amount of $225,000.

c. Report from the Finance Department regarding a budget adjustment to the Sunset Marina Fund (520) in the amount of $1,410,000.

Motion: Motion to approve budget adjustments a through c.

RC Roll Call vote is needed.

MOTION:

Alderperson Evans moved to approve budget adjustments a through c; Alderperson Hurt seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

14. Other Business/New Business

Alderperson Parker congratulated the Citizen of the Year Award recipients.

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 must be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

Motion: Motion to enter 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: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

The Council entered Closed Session at 8:18 p.m.

16. Adjourn

a. Motion to Adjourn to September 8, 2025.

Motion: Motion to adjourn.

VV Voice vote is needed.

Upon entering back into the regular City Council meeting, Deputy Clerk Torres called the roll. Mayor Harris and all seven council members were present.

MOTION:

Alderperson Parker moved to adjourn; Alderperson Evans seconded.

VOTE:

Motion PASSED on a 7-0-0 voice vote. Aye: Parker, Poulos, Healy, Evans, Hurt, Barnes, Swanson.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

The City Council meeting concluded at 8:48 p.m.

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