The Rock Island City Council met in regular session at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Rock Island City Hall. Present were Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert, presiding, and Aldermen Terry M. A. Brooks I, Dennis E. Pauley, Daniel Rockwell, Margie Mejia-Caraballo, and Joy Murphy. City Manager John Phillips was also present.
Alderman David Conroy arrived at 6:55 p.m. Alderman Charles O. Austin III was absent.
Mayor Schwiebert called the meeting to order and lead in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. Alderwoman Murphy gave the Invocation.
Agenda Item #5
Minutes
of the Meeting of December 18, 2006
A motion was made by Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo seconded by Alderwoman Murphy to approve the Minutes of the meeting of December 18, 2006 as written. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Agenda Item #6
Mayor Schwiebert gave his annual State of the City Address, the contents of which follow:
It is good to be able to report to you in this 17th Annual State of the City speech that the state of our City is strong. While always faced with challenges and opportunities for improvement, we in Rock Island have moved steadily forward on a variety of fronts. And, with the strong spirit of civic responsibility that characterizes many of our citizens, we are facing these challenges and striving to realize our opportunities.
As in past years, I’d like to begin by a review of several “brick and mortar” projects over the last year, then review some other notable achievements of 2006; finally, concluding with some observations and thoughts on the years ahead.
Beginning in one of the oldest parts of our city, our west side last year saw the completion of a 45,000 square foot, $3.2 million addition to the Norcross plant in Sunset Business Park. This expansion preserves 370 manufacturing jobs there and adds another 6, with the prospects for future consolidation and expansion in Rock Island. Also on our west side, KJWW Engineering announced plans for development of a 16,000 square foot
headquarters campus off Sixth Street and 29th Avenue, to accommodate its growing professional staff and client base. In our southwest area, Steel Processing Center completed a 40,000 square foot expansion last June. This 50 percent increase in plant size is part of this venture’s dramatic growth in Rock Island from 8 to 60 employees over the last ten years.
On the east side, in Columbia Park, McLaughlin Body Company brought 30 employees to its $10 million renovated facility at the Quad City Industrial Center. Overall site work at Columbia Park includes demolition and site preparation for new residential and commercial development. Also near this riverfront location, we’ve nearly completed the new “Sylvan Slough Natural Area” adjacent to our border with Moline.
On Augie’s campus, the college completed a
beautiful new $15 million, 220-room residence hall. The College also announced building plans to accommodate a
projected increase of ten percent in student enrollment. The entering freshmen class this Fall
already brought Augustana close to realizing this expansion goal.
Meanwhile downtown, the City completed installation of a WiFi network to allow high-speed wireless communication at a variety of locations. As we move to become more tech friendly and to build Rock Island’s brand as a high tech, sustainable community; this high-speed internet capability represents an important step for the downtown heart of our city. Likewise downtown, the City commissioned two new permanent outdoor murals as part of our community public arts emphasis: one portrays important historical figures associated with Rock Island; the other commemorates the first ever Mississippi River bridge crossing built here 150 years ago.
We also completed the Voss Brothers Apartments downtown. This retrofit of old warehouse space into 35 striking contemporary apartments, quickly filled with new tenants. Part of a joint project between the City, the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation, and the Rock Island Housing Authority; Voss Brothers Apartments adds to the growing population living downtown. Likewise, the Norman Luxury Apartments, completed last year, and preparation for building eight artist condominiums dubbed “DuMarché on Third;” represent additional steps in drawing creative, successful people to live downtown. In total, over 200 dwelling units have been completed downtown over the last eight years and occupancy is strong.
Meanwhile, the single largest development in the City continues to move forward, though not quite as quickly as hoped. Now estimated to run over $150 million in new investment, the new Casino Rock Island ran into some unexpected delays late last year. However, site preparation is now underway with construction slated to start early this Spring. Located at the intersection of I-280 and the Rock Island Parkway, the new Casino complex, encompassing over 260,000 square feet of developed space, promises to become the premiere gaming facility in the Quad Cities region.
On the housing front, outside downtown, development moves forward with construction of beautiful new homes in Chippiannock Trails, where 34 houses will be built; College Hills Condominiums, with space for 74 villas and condominiums; and, in the Southwest area, in the Highland Place and Fox Trail subdivisions.
Fortunately, Rock Island possesses one of the best
ranges of housing options in the Quad Cities at all prices and parts of
town. We possess historic older
neighborhoods and newly built areas; family housing and housing for single or
empty nesters; and a good range of upper, mid, and affordable housing
throughout the city at competitive prices.
And Rock Island offers a range of financing tools for homebuyers
unavailable elsewhere aimed to attract new residents to Rock Island. With competitive interest rates and a
variety of homebuyer incentives, we should be better insulated than most cities
to deal with any softening in the housing market in the days ahead. In keeping
with this, we continue to see our home values rise, with a projected average
increase of about 4.4 percent per home from 2006 to 2007.
In terms of retail, this has been a concern and priority of the City Council for a long time. Because of our challenging, hilly geography and lack of well-situated, flat, undeveloped areas for big box retail; we’ve encountered particular difficulty getting major retailers to locate here.
However, during the last year we saw breakthroughs on a number of fronts. The new Hy-Vee store on 18th Avenue—much discussed two years ago and delayed because of problems with one adjacent property owner—is now back on track for construction this Spring. Several other sites along 18th Avenue have also been developed with new stores during the last year. We have seen interest from a major global chain in opening a store on 11th Street – long a corridor where we’ve worked to generate more retail activity.
The City is encouraging retail on Blackhawk Road, where prospects will improve with completion this year of road widening from 24th to 38th Street. To better set the stage for additional retail in our Southwest area, last year the City completed purchase from the Illinois Department of Transportation of property off Andalusia Road and the Rock Island Parkway. Construction of the new Casino nearby is expected to draw more stores to our southwest part of town.
As to City operations, we completed a $200,000 facelift of the main Library downtown last year and replaced its near century-old boiler. This and our two branch libraries continue to see ever-expanding use by Quad- Citians. Improvements at Highland Springs and Saukie golf courses by the Parks and Recreation Department heightened play there; and the Whitewater Junction Aquatic Facility had another excellent year. Our Fire Department worked with Rock Island Arsenal to complete a regional fire training facility there. And Public Works successfully implemented a new, safer, and more efficient automated solid waste pickup system; while continuing its aggressive schedule of road replacement. Finally in the area of brick and mortar improvements, the long planned, West Rock River Bridge, with its somewhat convoluted ramp system, moved towards completion in 2006. Although the design of the bridge is not to our liking, the State Department of Transportation insisted on this design as a condition of financing construction. I expect the roadway configuration will be a temporary annoyance; but human capacity for adaptation will soon adjust to it. More importantly, the bridge will provide a much needed link to spur development in our southwest area—Rock Island’s place for expansion. It will also clear the way for better use of land off Black Hawk Road between 24th and the eastern city line. Last year brought a number of nice awards to the City and its citizens. For the 19th consecutive year, the City won a Distinguished Budget Presentation award. For 24 of the last 26 years we’ve also won recognition for the our audit procedures. Kudos for these awards—among the most in the entire region—go to all City departments; but especially to Finance, which oversees these processes. The “Rock Solid Rock Island” marketing campaign, sponsored by the City and Renaissance Rock Island, garnered national recognition as a winner of a “Savvy” award for community marketing. Our Rain Garden program, developed by Public Works, obtained one of only five State “Urban Innovation in Illinois” awards last year. And the City was honored to be presented by the Illinois National Guard with a Minuteman Award for our adopting of the 123rd Artillery Battalion during its deployment in Iraq. Finally, Rock Island High School seniors for the second year in a row, had more National Merit Scholars than any of the other Illinois Quad City area high schools.
Adding these accomplishments to the City’s recent recognition as the first Preserve America community in Illinois or Iowa, and our citation by Money Magazine as one of the best value cities in the nation; Rock Island continues to build on a tradition of being an award-winning, innovative community with a great quality of life for living, working, and playing. The basis for many of these awards – a commitment to good, progressive, and responsible government, leads to a few thoughts I’d like to share about the importance of good citizenship – and Rock Island’s tradition in this area. For as long as I have been Mayor, Rock Island has had among the most Boards and Commissions of any of the Quad Cities. These civic bodies provide the opportunity for literally hundreds of our citizens to lend a hand to everything from hearing zoning appeals, to reviewing water standards, to planning for economic development, to considering historic site designation for appropriate buildings. Those who serve on our over 40 City Boards or Commissions represent literally hundreds of years of collective wisdom and experience lent to the process of enriching our community.
The depth of talent of our City is, I think, reflected by the fact that in 2006 we saw one of our own, Roald Tweet, awarded by the Illinois Humanities Council with the third Studs Terkel “Heroes of the Humanities” Award given Rock Island residents in the last six years—more than any other city in the area, and a reflection of the quantity and quality of talent in our midst.
I’ve often said Rock Island has the cultural assets of a big city with the convenience, friendliness, and affordability of a medium-sized town. We possess a long and colorful history, a remarkable diversity of ethnicity and religions, great academic resources both public and private, and a cultural diversity—from Quad City Arts, to professional ballet, to dinner theater, to Genesius Guild, to the downtown “District”—that cities many times our size could envy.
Having said all this about our accomplishments and potential, we face many challenges in the days ahead. The cost of unfunded federal and state mandates, mentioned in past State of the City addresses, continues to plague us. Rising health care costs, utilities, and other expenses facing urban America, vex us here as well.
Yet, over the past 16 years, despite rising costs, we’ve managed to maintain high quality services while reducing our tax rate every year but one, in which the State legislature changed exemption formulas to force a rate increase. This is a record of which our City Council can be proud and which we must work to maintain to make our city even more competitive in attracting new residents and businesses.
Principles of sound financial management, coupled with a vision of what we hope to be and a willingness to put resources behind that vision, will help us meet our potential.
A particular area I am keen on encouraging our City to pursue in the days ahead is promoting Rock Island as a city that supports advanced technology and sustainability. Advanced technology—the use of state of the art computer and other equipment to design and operate more efficiently—have made ours “the information age.” We need to embrace this in Rock Island as a big part of our future. Sustainable technology, which looks to create better ways to increase energy independence and reduce waste using non-depletable resources, will be vital to the well being of our children and future generations.
In this spirit, last year, I convened a group of Rock Island businesses presently involved in these areas to create an Advanced Technology and Sustainability Consortium. This Consortium aims both to project Rock Island’s image as a tech friendly and sustainable community to outsiders; and to help member businesses network and grow. From the Consortium, we’ve already targeted a downtown building—the McKesson Building on First Avenue—as a pilot project; and our City Council recently authorized creation of a new permanent Sustainability Design Assessment Team to assist new or expanding businesses in incorporating sustainable principles into their buildings or operations.
These measures will make Rock Island an even more attractive location for young, talented people—a need that will grow as the Baby Boomers approach retirement. Such measures also better assure we’re providing future generations the same kind of responsible legacy that prior generations of Americans left to us. In facing the future, perhaps the most important quality we require will be the willingness of citizens to contribute. The strength of a democracy is directly connected with the willingness of its citizens to get involved.
I’ve been privileged to read quite a bit of history and do a fair amount of travel over the years. I’ve constantly been impressed by the vast accomplishments of the Roman Empire. Everywhere you travel in Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East, it seems you encounter another remnant of Rome. Yet this once great world power crumbled and fell.
A key factor in causing this decline was that the people of Rome lost pride in their citizenship. Lulled by the spectacle of gladiator battles and survival games, and dependant on a few to make the decisions and sacrifices needed for preserving the many; the Empire gradually decayed from within. In our own country, we can see obvious parallels today.
Yet the genius of America lies both in the unique diversity of our population, and in our eagerness to embrace the gifts which diversity brings, to create a union greater than the sum of its parts. Ours is not a nation of aristocrats and snobs; it is a nation of sturdy broad shoulders applied to the task of building a land of opportunity for all. Ours is not a land of inherited privilege or those wielding imperial power; rather it is a land where, as Thomas Jefferson so simply put it when leaving the presidency, he was being promoted to the highest office of all: that of citizen. Such pride of citizenship is too often forgotten today. I’m truly proud and grateful to say that in Rock Island, it remains strong. In service on our many boards and commissions; in the volunteer work of those at our hospitals, museums and schools; in the can-do spirit that daily takes difficult situations and turns them around, we see strong citizenship at work in Rock Island every day.
May we always dedicate ourselves here, and across our land, to keeping vibrant the flame of civic pride within each of us and within our neighbors.
In doing this, and in setting our eyes realistically at the goals discussed here today, our future and the promise we leave behind for our children will be bright.
Thank you.
Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert
January 2007
Agenda Item #7
Presentation of 2006 Commercial
Beautification and Holiday Lights Awards
Beautification Commission Member Bob Towler and Mayor Schwiebert along with Trish Taylor, Website/Grant Coordinator presented the 21st Annual Holiday Lighting Awards to three residential, and three commercial winners. First Place residential winners were Darrell and Nancy Bush of 2411 38th Street. Second Place winner was Mark Russell of 1443 42nd Street. And, Third place winners were David and Diane Coon of 3907 29th Street, and Carl and Leslie Anderson of 3339 30th Street. Commercial winners were Nico Grocery and Tire of 1024 11th Avenue, which won First Place. Second Place winner was Cassini Marble of 1500 4th Avenue, and Third Place winner was Horst-Zimmerman of 1702 5th Avenue. They then presented the 2006 Commercial Beautification Awards. The Rotary Trophy winner went to Augustana College (Swanson Dormitory) of 639 38th Street. The Mayor’s Award went to Friendship Manor of 1209 21st Street. The Beautification Commission Award went to Church Of Peace of 1114 12th Street, and the City Council Award went to Acapulco Café of 422 24th Street. There were also fourteen businesses awarded with Honorable Mention Certificates.
Agenda Item #8
Proclamation declaring
January 15th, 2007 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Mayor Schwiebert called the Council’s attention to the proclamation and noted that there would be a celebration on January 15th, 2007 at t 10:30 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Center.
Agenda # 9
Special Ordinance
establishing a Sustainable Development Advisory Team.
Alderman Pauley moved and Alderman Conroy seconded to consider, suspend the rules, and pass the ordinance granting the establishment of a Sustainable Development Advisory Team. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Agenda # 10
Special Ordinance amending a
Zoning District from R-3 district (one and two family residence) and I-1 (light
industrial) district to Planned Unit Development (PUD) district.
It was moved by Alderman Pauley, seconded by Alderwoman Murphy, to consider, suspend the rules, and pass the ordinance to amend a zoning district from R-3 district (one and two family residence) and I-1 (light industrial) district to Planned Unit Development (PUD) district. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 11
Special Ordinance establishing
a four-way stop intersection at 45th Street and 20th
Avenue.
Alderman Rockwell moved and Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo seconded to consider, suspend the rules, and pass the ordinance granting the establishment of a four-way stop intersection at 45th Street and 20th Avenue. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 12
Special Ordinance
establishing two handicapped parking spaces in front of the residence located
at 219 21st Street.
It was moved by Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, seconded by Alderwoman Murphy, to consider, suspend the rules, and pass the ordinance establishing two handicapped parking spaces in front of the residence located at 219 21st Street. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 13
CLAIMS
It was moved by Alderman Rockwell, seconded by Alderwoman Murphy, to accept the following reports and authorize payments as recommended. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
a. Report from the Personnel Department regarding payment in the amount of
$5,674.40 to Califf and Harper, P.C. for Legal Services rendered for the month of
November 2006.
b. Report from the Personnel Department regarding payment in the amount of
$6,560.70 to Konecky, Koenig, Kutsunis and Weng for legal services rendered for
December 2006.
c. Report from the Information Technology Services Department regarding payment
in the amount of $6,704.00 to DLT Solutions, Inc. for annual support and
maintenance.
d. Report from the Public Works Department regarding final payment in the amount
of $14,853.16 to Davenport Electric Contract Company for Fiber Optic Cable.
(001)
e. Report from the Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of
$17,006.00 to State of Illinois Treasurer for Blackhawk Road Widening Project
from 24th Street to 38th Street. (002)
f. Report from Public Works Department regarding final payment in the amount of
$27,487.27 to Centennial Contractors for the 2006 Utility Patching Program. (003)
g. Report from Public Works Department regarding final payment in the amount of
$29,483.89 to General Constructors, Inc. for Water Distribution Facility
Renovations. (004)
h. Report from General Administration regarding payment in the amount of $8,900.20
to Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc. for October 2006 Goal Setting Session services.
Item # 14
Claims for the weeks of December 15, 2006 through January 4, 2007 in the amount of $954,025.34.
Alderman Conroy moved and Alderman Rockwell seconded to allow the claims. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 15
Payroll for the weeks of
December 4 through December 17 in the amount of $1,030,015.73.
Payroll for the weeks of
December 18 through December 31 in the amount of $1,024,905.49.
It was moved by Alderman Rockwell, seconded by Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo to allow the payroll. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 16
Report from the Public Works Department regarding the purchase of one Ford Explorer from Landmark Ford in the amount of $22,600.00. (007)
Alderman Rockwell moved and Alderwoman Murphy seconded to approve the purchase of one Ford Explorer van as recommended and refer to the City Attorney for an ordinance declaring the current Chevy van as surplus and allowing disposal of the van. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 17
Report from the Public Works Department regarding a State bid for purchase of 3,500 tons of Rock Salt at $43.86 per ton from North American Salt Company totaling $153,510.00. (377)
It was moved by
Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo seconded by Alderwoman Murphy, to approve the
purchase of 3,500 tons of Rock Salt as recommended. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting
Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell,
Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 18
Report from the Public Works
Department regarding a State bid for purchase of 14,000 gallons of Liquid
Calcium Chloride at $.57 per gallon from Gasaway Maintenance Company totaling
$7,980.00. (378)
It was moved by
Alderwoman Murphy seconded by Alderman Rockwell, to approve the purchase of
14,000 gallons of Liquid Calcium Chloride as recommended. The motion carried by
the following Aye and No vote: those
voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman
Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No,
none.
Item # 19
Report from Community and
Economic Development Department regarding an Agreement with Berge Plating Works
to purchase property located at 617 25th Avenue for business
expansion.
Alderman Conroy moved and
Alderman Pauley seconded to approve the agreement and authorize the City Manager
to execute the agreement. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote:
those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley,
Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those
voting No, none.
Item # 20
Report from the Public Works
Department requesting authorization for Black and Veatch to proceed with Phase
I of the Hydropower Plant Evaluation.
Alderwoman Murphy moved
and Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo seconded to approve authorization for Black and
Veatch to proceed with Phase I and authorize the City Manager to execute the
contract documents. The motion carried
by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks,
Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman
Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 21
Report from General Administration requesting forgiveness of payments from the Quad City Botanical Center in the amount of $56,304.00 for FY 2006 and 2007 as a contribution to the Children’s Garden project.
Alderman Conroy moved and
Alderman Rockwell seconded to approve the request as recommended. The motion
carried by the following Aye and No vote:
those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley,
Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those
voting No, none.
Item # 22
Report from the Personnel Department regarding Educational Reimbursement policy changes.
It was moved by Alderman
Rockwell seconded by Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, to approve the request as
recommended. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting
Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell,
Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 23
Report from the Public Works Department regarding the
Maximus Service Alignment Study.
Alderman Conroy moved and
Alderman Brooks seconded to approve the recommendations of the study, direct
the staff to implement the recommendations, and report the status of the
implementation to the City Council and Park Board in one year. The motion
carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman
Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo,
and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 24
Report from Community and Economic Development Department requesting a contribution to the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau in amount of $1,500.00 for support of a destination audit and review.
It was moved by
Alderwoman Murphy and seconded by Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo to approve the request as recommended. The motion
carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman
Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman
Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 25
Report from Community and Economic Development Department requesting a Roof Standard Payment Loan at 1117 19-1/2 Avenue in the amount of $5,500.00.
Alderwoman
Mejia-Caraballo moved and Alderwoman Murphy seconded to approve the request for
a Roof Standard Payment Loan at 1117 19-1/2 Avenue as recommended. The motion
carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman
Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman
Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
Item # 26
Items from the City Manager’s Memorandum Packet
City Manager John Phillips brought to the
Council’s attention a letter that was sent to the Alter Company concerning the
Mill Street Sewage Treatment Plant Expansion. City Manager Phillips noted that
there would be a neighborhood meeting on Thursday, January 18th,
2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center to discuss the preliminary
plans and to answer questions about the upcoming work scheduled for the Mill
Street Sewage Treatment Expansion.
City Manager Phillips mentioned the letter sent by Lead Program Manager Mel Piff
on the weekly lead grant update.
City Manager John Phillips brought to the Council’s attention a Quad City Times article congratulating the City for consolidating Public Works and Parks Department services. Phillips also noted an article written by Chuck Oestreich commending the City on its bicycle lane-striping program.
Phillips stated that Roger Ruthhart from the Rock Island Grand Prix made a request for the neighboring Cities of Davenport and Rock Island to sponsor the Quad City Venetian Lighted Boat Parade. Mr. Ruthhart declared in his letter to the City that the Venetian Lighted Boat Parade has not been held in three years because of the high cost of insurance. Mr. Ruthhart is asking that both Cities to cover the insurance bill of $3,000.00 per year. This would be a commitment of $1,500.00 from each City to achieve this.
City Manager Phillips discussed the Covenant Amendment, which the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency holds to the Rock Island Armory. City Manger Phillips stated that the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is willing to modify the preservation covenant for the armory. They will amend the covenant to remove reference to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and apply preservation to only four exterior walls of the building. Phillips also noted that this would allow the City to pursue alternative development schemes which may include preservation of the entire structure or could consider a development which could allow a broader use of the building as more of an amphitheater space or a modified outdoor programming area.
Item # 27
Larry Hunter of 1213 15th Street expressed his appreciation to the Rock Island Police Department and the City in the apprehension of the perpetrator for the January 1, 2007 Homicide of Lashaune Wright. Mr. Hunter also expressed to the community his concerns for non-violence.
Item # 28
Executive Session
A motion was made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman Brooks to recess to Executive Session on a matter of Personnel. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none.
The meeting was recessed at 8:00 p.m.
Item # 29
Alderman Conroy moved and Alderman Rockwell seconded to reconvene the regular meeting at 8:02 p.m. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Alderwoman Murphy; those voting No, none. It was then moved by Alderman Brooks, and seconded by Alderwoman Conroy to recess to Monday, January 15th at 5:00 p.m. The motion carried by the following Aye and No vote: those voting Aye being Alderman Brooks, Alderman Conroy, Alderman Pauley, Alderman Rockwell, Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo, and Murphy; those voting No, none.
The meeting was recessed at 8:05 p.m.
___________________________________
Aleisha L. Patchin City Clerk