The Rock Island City Council met in Study Session at 5:00 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of Rock Island City Hall. Present were Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert, presiding, and Aldermen David A. Conroy, Dennis E. Pauley, Evelyn "Evie" R. White, Joy Murphy. Absent were Aldermen Terry M. A. Brooks I, Daniel Rockwell, and Charles O. Austin III. Staff present included City Manager John C. Phillips, Public Works Director/Assistant to the City Manager Bob Hawes and Community and Economic Development Director Greg Champagne.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
City Manager John Phillips introduced Trent Lehman and Bob Schmidt of The Ferguson Group, the City’s new legislative consulting service. Mr. Phillips advised that meetings were held all day between City department heads and The Ferguson Group representatives to discuss the possibilities, the City’s needs, and the numerous opportunities for the City to apply for Federal funding. Mr. Phillips noted that we have top priorities and high priorities from the City’s 2005-2006 goal setting list and from those priorities we need to establish the most urgent issues in need of Federal funds, as the resources are not unlimited.
Trent Lehman has been with The Ferguson Group for 6-1/2 years and prior to that he worked on Capitol Hill. Bob Schmidt has been with The Ferguson Group since June 2005 and prior to that he worked with a Washington lobbying firm, as well as being on the staff of the House Appropriation Committee for 15 years and with the CORE of Engineers for 13 years.
Mr. Lehman stated that The Ferguson Group has been in existence for more than 20 years and is the largest firm in Washington, D.C. to handle municipal governments, having approximately 150 municipal governments as clients, constituting 92% of their business. He further added that they have municipal government clients in 22-24 states, which allows them exposure to many different congressional districts and programs and plans for funding opportunities.
Mr. Lehman outlined the process of the program for the City and the steps The Ferguson Group will take in this process. As a result of the meetings held today, The Ferguson Group has a “laundry list” of the City’s needs and wants and will review this list with their DC staff. They will present the City with their opinion of appropriate funding categories that the City can qualify under, as well as the requirements and stipulations of these categories. The City Council will have to decide the order in which to proceed with the process. The Ferguson Group will then prepare all the paperwork required for the various funding applications. Mr. Lehman advised that they will provide this initial information within the next few weeks and will present it via conference call at an upcoming Study Session.
Alderman White inquired as to whether this funding would include replacing City water lines as well as the costly stormwater project. Mr. Lehman discussed the City’s staggering cost of this project and advised that The Ferguson Group would find as many fronts as possible for funding these projects.
Alderman Pauley inquired as to whether it would be beneficial to tackle the unfunded mandates themselves. Mr. Lehman advised that cities alone cannot take on things of this nature and magnitude by themselves, that larger organizational voices are needed for this and that the approach the City is taking by applying for Federal funds on needed projects is the route to take.
Mayor Schwiebert reiterated that our laundry list is quite extensive and needs to be compared to the top priorities and then five or six key items should be addressed with The Ferguson Group advising the City of all possibilities available for Federal funding, the viability of those funds and seeing what is available for lower priority items as well. Mr. Lehman advised that this would be accomplished in several weeks and all information and recommendations will be provided for the City to choose the next plan of action.
Mr. Schmidt advised that we are at a good starting point as this is the beginning of the Federal fiscal year 2007 process and that the Senate Subcommittees will have an end date sometime in the Spring. Mr. Lehman did advise; however, that it would be 1 to 1-1/2 years before the City would see any real money for these projects being applied for now. He also advised that this process becomes easier with time.
Mayor Schwiebert advised that this process will improve the flow of information between the Local and Federal levels. He also inquired as to what The Ferguson Group’s expectation of Council members is. Mr. Lehman advised that Council members and staff should be prepared to go to Washington at least once a year, if not more, and that the timing of these trips is of the utmost importance for the effectiveness of the City’s requests. He advised that Council members need to know their stuff and be well informed when making presentations in Washington, and it is The Ferguson Group’s duty to provide that background and information. Mayor Schwiebert and Mr. Lehman both concurred that Congress wants to see and meet City staff and elected officials.
The session ended with The Ferguson Group preparing a list to provide to Council and once reviewed, a conference call will be held at an upcoming study session meeting for any questions and decisions to proceed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman Murphy to recess to Executive Session on a matter of Property Acquisition CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None. The meeting was recessed at 6:15 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Schwiebert reconvened the regular session at 6:33 p.m. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded by Alderman Conroy to adjourn the meeting CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
___________________________________
Cynthia A. Neiggemann, Acting City Clerk
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 David A. Conroy, Dennis E. Pauley, Evelyn "Evie" R. White, and Joy Murphy. Absent were Aldermen Terry M. A. Brooks I, Daniel Rockwell and Charles O. Austin III.
INTRODUCTORY PROCEEDINGS
Mayor Schwiebert called the meeting to order and lead in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. Mayor Schwiebert gave the Invocation. A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman Conroy to approve the Minutes of the meeting of December 19, 2005 as printed CARRIED on a Voice vote.
PRESENTATIONS
Agenda Item #6
STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS/JANUARY 2006
Mayor Schwiebert gave the State of the City Address as follows:
As has been customary over
the years that I have been privileged to serve as Mayor, I've looked forward to
the opportunity at the beginning of each year to review the State of our City
of Rock Island. For reasons that I will
go into today, I am pleased to report that the State of our City is sound.
The Year in Review
1. Economic Development. As in past years, I would like to begin with
a review of some of the economic development progress made during the past
year.
Economic development is more
than a catch word or slogan. It is the
engine by which we create opportunities for people to better their lives
through new or preserved jobs and circumstances. In the process, we strengthen
our community and give families the chance to experience the American dream.
Progress in this area may be
noted in several different sections of the City:
On the east side of
town, McLaughlin Body Company has nearly completed a $10 million enhancement to
portions of the Quad City Industrial Center, where they will be operating a 300,000
square foot paint operation. In
addition, planning is moving forward at this site, redesignated as
"Columbia Park", in contemplation of residential and commercial
development, as well as compatible industrial use, like McLaughlin's operation,
in years to come. Development of the
Sylvan Slough Natural Area represents an important first step in these plans.
On the west side of
the city in the Sunset Business Park, the former McMillan/Bloedell
building was sold to Pak Source, which is now operating a new warehouse
there.
In a combination of downtown
and southwest area progress, one of the most important developments last
year was the clearing of some final hurdles in the relocation of the Casino
Rock Island from our downtown riverfront to the intersection of I-280 and
the Rock Island Parkway. Final
legislative authorization - shepherded through by State Representative Pat
Verschoore and State Senator Mike Jacobs - then, in August, approval for the
relocation by the Gaming Board, have now set the stage for this project to
relocate off our Mississippi riverfront to a more convenient site at a key
gateway to our southwest area. This
will both open up the downtown for new, more appropriate riverfront development
and should serve as a catalyst for further development projects in our
southwest area.
Also in the southwest part of our
City, Thermo King opened a 27,000 square foot service facility and Steel
Warehouse announced plans for a 40,000 square foot expansion to its
existing 80,000 square foot steel processing plant.
Finally in the area of
economic development, a key event last year was preventing the Rock Island
Arsenal from being shuttered in the latest round of BRAC military base
closings. Through close cooperation
with our congressional delegation - on both sides of the political aisle and
from both Illinois and Iowa - as well as some very hard work on the part of a
whole team of folks locally, we saved about five-sixths of the Arsenal jobs and
prevented this area's second largest employer from being shut down. Not only is the Arsenal an enormous boon to
the Quad Cities economy - with $32 million in direct federal spending with the
new Defense Appropriations Bill - but it is also vital to our nation's defense;
as the Arsenal represents a critical insurance policy for the military and our
nation in a troubled world. In
addition, through the latest BRAC process, we gained the headquarters of the First
Army, which will be relocating from Atlanta, Georgia, to the Rock Island
Arsenal. This will give us our first
three-star general at the Arsenal, add several other general officers, and
bring approximately 300 more military personnel to the Quad Cities. As the First Army's responsibilities
increase in years to come, this presents a growing opportunity for new
employment and activity on Arsenal Island.
2. A second area of major achievement I'd like to talk
about today concerns progress in housing. Our population has been fairly static over the last decade and a
half, after significant losses in the 1980s.
As a result, the City Council has put a major effort in trying to
attract more residents and quality housing to the City of Rock Island. These efforts are bearing fruit; again, in a
variety of locations.
In the downtown, the Sala
Flats apartments were completed and all 33 units have been leased. Voss Loft apartments, located in the
former Voss warehouse, will soon generate 35 more units of mixed income housing
on the east side of downtown through a collaboration of the Rock Island Housing
Authority, City, and Economic Growth Corporation. And other upper floor downtown units - 12 units total at
scattered sites to date - have been undertaken by individual property owners to
draw more residential population to our downtown. Thus the downtown is gradually becoming a neighborhood, as
well as a great place to work and to have fun.
Between the rivers, Chippiannock
Trails and College Hills are two outstanding new condominium/villa
subdivisions undertaken by experienced, high quality private-sector developers
with some assistance from the City.
Chippianock Trails, off of 17th Street, and College Hills, just west of
the Augustana College campus on 30th Street, will provide a range of fine
market rate housing for a total of 108 families who choose to call Rock Island
home.
Also between the rivers,
this last year witnessed the demolition of Valley Homes by the Rock
Island Housing Authority. This project was fraught with problems almost from
its start 35 years ago. Now, on the
cleared site, the Housing Authority plans to build 25 units of mixed affordable
and market rate housing, with the area renamed as Creekwood Park.
Likewise between the rivers,
the City Council recently approved City donation of the small, underutilized
Jaycee's Park on our west side to Habitat for Humanity. Here Habitat will construct seven
homes for new homeowners - the largest concentration of housing at a single
site Habitat has ever undertaken in the Quad Cities.
The Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation,
under the skillful leadership of Brian Hollenback and with broad public and
private sector backing, recently celebrated assisting over 272 families
with buying homes in Rock Island. These
efforts represent over $42 million in new investment for housing in our
community.
Habitat, the Rock Island Economic
Growth Corporation, private-sector developers, and our City Community Economic
Development Department, are collectively creating wonderful new home ownership
opportunities for many new people. This
is vital to community-building, as home ownership not only allows people
to experience one of the key aspects of the American Dream; but for cities, it
provides a critical component to building and strengthening neighborhoods.
3. Another major area of development during the last year
concerned transportation.
Transportation is, after all, how we get to and from work, how we get
products to market, and how our economy moves.
Two major developments are particularly worth noting last year: First, the Centennial Bridge
was finally turned over to the States of Illinois and Iowa for their future
joint operation. This bridge - now
arguably the best maintained and most attractive in the area - offers handsome
gateways to both Rock Island and Davenport.
Its condition and frequent use as the icon or symbol of our area, give
silent tribute to a job well done by City leaders and our former Centennial
Bridge Commission and staff over the last 65 years.
In addition, the widening of Blackhawk
Road, west to Black Hawk State Historic Site and the completion of the West
Rock River bridge over the next year will allow for much improved traffic
flow on our City's south side. This
improved flow will benefit travel both along the Blackhawk Road corridor and to
our southwest area. We look forward to
more retail and commercial opportunities, as well as more residential
development, in Rock Island from these transportation improvements.
4. Finally in terms of looking back at the year just
ended, I would like to mention a few quality of life issues. Long the crossroads of America - beginning
with the site of the very first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River -
during the last year Rock Island once again became a crossing point; this time
of The American Discovery Trails - the major east/west bike and hike
trail across America - and the Mississippi River Trail - a trail
paralleling the "Father of Waters" running north and south. This new crossroads will be a boon to
tourism as well as a great new recreational opportunity for those of us who call
the Quad Cities home.
Also during the last year
the City's efforts in the arts won us the prestigious President Arts
Award from the Illinois Arts Association.
This award, for which we were graciously nominated by Quad City Arts,
was given to Rock Island in the large city category, with a competition that
saw us prevailing over some 21 other communities, many of them in the Chicago
metro region. It recognizes our City's
efforts to promote the arts, as an important part of our quality of life. Also, an historic preservation video
featuring the City of Rock Island won an award at the Three CMA Convention in
August of 2005. This video focuses on
the importance of historic structures as part of the fabric of our life in Rock
Island.
Meanwhile, our Public
Works Department was hard at work last year. Plans for implementing a new automated solid waste collection
system beginning next month; institution of a voluntary water service repair
program; and expansion of our popular rain garden program all moved forward. The rain garden program gained statewide
recognition as a recent cover story in the Illinois Municipal League
magazine.
It is worth noting that
during the last year CNN Money ranked Rock Island among the top ten most
affordable communities in America where one's paycheck goes the furthest.
And the City maintained A-1
bond rating from Moody's Investor Services, an affirmation of the sound
management practices followed by the City of Rock Island.
All of these recognitions and
awards demonstrate aspects of the outstanding quality of life we enjoy
here in Rock Island that others outside our immediate area recognize. During the last year, community marketing
efforts, ably directed by Jennifer Fowler, have promoted this fine quality of
life to those within our area through high profile ads in area newspapers and
other media.
Goals and Challenges of the Year Ahead
Turning to the year ahead,
we have a number of issues facing us - some old and some new.
One of the first things that
we look forward to is successfully integrating and utilizing the transportation
improvements that will become available as a result of the completion of the West
Rock River bridge and Blackhawk Road. Given the design of the West Rock River bridge in Rock Island,
the approaches are not as straightforward as many of us would have liked. However, I'm confident the public will adapt
to these design challenges; and the benefit we will realize through improved
traffic flow to our southwest area will serve as a major catalyst for development
of this area in Rock Island's expansion.
In addition, the widening of Blackhawk Road west to Black Hawk State
Historic Site will allow for the traffic to move in a more efficient manner
than is presently the case. We look
forward to working with developers along Blackhawk Road in creating new retail,
commercial, and residential opportunities along this corridor. Naturally, these improvements all anticipate
retaining and protecting Black Hawk State Historic Site as the priceless
and unique jewel it is in our City's midst.
A second challenge will be
to deal with the costly and growing unfunded mandates being sent our way
by the federal and state governments.
Undoubtedly the largest of these mandates is a $66 million-plus mandate
to modify of our combined sewer overflow system being forced on us by
the U. S. E. P. A. The cost and
magnitude of required changes fly in the face of what the Illinois E. P. A.
thought necessary; and seem like an instance of federal overkill for limited
environmental benefit. Nonetheless,
this is a process we are being compelled to undertake; and we must seek to
minimize the burden on our utility users while working with our federal and
state legislators to seek some relief through financial assistance to pay the
huge cost of the proposed mandate. As
it stands, our ratepayers could face a 104 percent increase in their
sewer rates over the next nine years to fund the changes. We will work hard to minimize these
increases.
Other mandates, including increasing costs of
pensions, as well as health insurance, utility, and other expenses, all make
operating local government and holding the line on rate and tax increases ever
more challenging. Nonetheless, we are
continuing to do our best. As a result,
although City utility rates are expected to increase, our City Council recently
approved a modest decrease in property tax rates in the proposed
budget for 2006 - 2007 submitted by our staff.
This is made possible largely through the rising value of properties
throughout Rock Island that comes from economic development and tight financial
management.
Work on our riverfront
will be another challenge for the year to come. We are now meeting with our friends in Davenport in the RiverVision
process to develop joint projects between the two sides of the river, including
renewal of ferry boat service between our two downtowns after a four decade
interruption. With the relocation of
the Casino Rock Island off our riverfront and the proposed move of the gaming
boat upstream in Davenport, sites for landing a ferry boat will once again
become available. We're working with
MetroLink and our Congressmen and Senators to make this a reality. Other exciting projects could include
lighting Lock and Dam 15, as well as possible installation of a fountain or
other lighted features in the river. In
Rock Island, we will work collaboratively with Modern Woodman to develop a
green space in the area east of their headquarters; and we need to make some decisions
as to the future of the former Rock Island Armory.
RiverVision is nothing short of an
effort to make downtowns Rock Island and Davenport the urban heart of
the Quad City region. Such a
revitalized urban center can have terrific benefit to the entire Quad Cities,
as it can serve as a center of culture to attract people to our area - not only
tourists, but also young professionals and others interested in living in a
community with a strong and vital metropolitan center possessing a rich cultural
life.
Concluding on a more
personal note, this last year reminds us of the inevitability of change. As we've seen transitions on our City
Council and personnel in recent years, last year my good friend and one of our
real urban visionaries, Dan Carmody, took a new position in Fort Wayne,
Indiana. His departure leaves a gap in
our leadership team; yet, as he would be first to point out, it also creates
opportunities for a new perspective.
Change is inevitable and is often a truly healthy thing: it forces us to grow and to think and act
anew in striving to create a better and more just community and world. To be sure, it can be challenging. Yet, as we have so often seen, challenge
and opportunity are really reverse sides of the same coin.
And so, as I have said so
many times before, we in Rock Island - with a combination of energy, vision,
and pluck in the face of adversity - will take the challenges we are
given and turn them into opportunities.
May we together continue to move
forward with a strong and steadfast faith.
Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert
PROCLAMATIONS
Agenda Item #7
JANUARY 16 MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. DAY
Mayor Schwiebert read a proclamation declaring January 16 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the City of Rock Island.
RESOLUTIONS
Agenda Item #8
ICMA-RC 457 PLAN
The Acting City Clerk read a resolution adopting the ICMA-RC 457 plan to permit loans in accordance with 457 plans guidelines. A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman Murphy to adopt the resolution as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
CLAIMS
Agenda Item #9
A motion made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman White to accept the following reports and authorize payments as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
a. Statement from the City Attorney in the amount of $7,895.10 for legal services during the month of December.
b. Report from the Personnel Department recommending payment to Califf and Harper in the amount of $4,980.16 for legal services for the month of November.
c. Report from General Administration recommending payment to Lyle Sumek in the amount of $12,319.85 for Council Goal Setting Session in September 2005.
d. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Centennial Contractor in the amount of $46,309.80 for the 2005 Utility Patching Program.
e. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Gardner, Carton and Douglas in the amount of $5,634.47 for professional services.
f. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Missman Stanley and Associates in the amount of $4,086.00 for the 85th Avenue West Reconstruction.
g. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to C. H. Langman & Son, Inc. in the amount o $283,912.86 for the 15th Street Resurfacing from 15th Avenue to 7th Avenue.
h. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to McCarthy Improvement Company in the amount of $12,786.52 for the 17th Street Resurfacing.
i. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Missman Stanley and Associates in the amount of $3,808.50 for the 85th Avenue West Reconstruction.
j. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Triad Engineering in the amount of $2,685.00 for the Raw Water Intake Study.
k. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Triad Engineering in the amount of $4,386.00 for professional services.
l. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Tri City Electric in the amount of $214,003.27 for the Fiber Optic cable Phase 2 project.
m. Report from the Public Works Department recommending payment to Brandt Construction in the amount of $10,209.79 for a manhole installation at 1003 25 Street.
Agenda Item #10
The Acting City Clerk read the claims for the weeks of
December 16 through January 5 in the amount of $1,139,126.03. A motion made by Alderman Pauley and
seconded by Alderman White allow the claims CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Conroy, Pauley, White, and
Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #11
DECEMBER 5 THROUGH JANUARY 1
The Acting City Clerk read the Payroll for the weeks of December 5 through December 18 in the amount of $1,043,919.98 and for the weeks of December 19 through January 1 in the amount of $1,042,695.56. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded by Alderman Murphy to allow the payroll CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #12
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Public Works Department regarding the emergency purchase of a re-manufactured Alison transmission from Interstate Power Systems in the amount of $6,097.84 for the refuse packer. A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman Murphy to approve the emergency purchase as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #13
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Public Works Department regarding the joint purchase of sign posts and materials, recommending the bids be awarded to the low bidders as listed, in the total amount of $29,719.13. A motion was made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman Murphy to award the bids as recommended and authorize purchase CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #14
The Acting City Clerk
read a report from the Public Works Department regarding bids for the
Shadybrook Lift Station replacement, recommending the bid of Valley
Construction in the amount of $184,400.00.
A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman Conroy to
award the bid as recommended and authorize the City Manager to execute the
contract documents CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #15
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the
Public Works Department regarding payment in the amount of $3,910.86 for an
annual maintenance agreement for Water Meter Services handheld computers. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded
by Alderman Murphy to approve the agreement and authorize payment as
recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote.
AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #16
The Acting City Clerk
read a report from the Information Technology Services Department regarding
payment to DLT Solutions in the amount of $6,768.00 for the AutoDesk Annual
Subscription Maintenance licenses. A
motion made by Alderman Murphy and seconded by Alderman White to approve the
maintenance agreement and authorize payment as recommended CARRIED on a Roll
Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy,
Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #17
CLASS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE/ACTIVE NETWORK, INC.
The Acting City Clerk
read a report from the Information Technology Services Department regarding
payment to Active Network, Inc. in the amount of $17,679.56 for the Class
Program Management Annual Maintenance for the Park and Recreation Software. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded
by Alderman Conroy to approve the maintenance agreement and authorize payment
as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote.
AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda
Item #18
CHANGE ORDERS/QUAD CITY INDUSTRIAL CENTER
The Acting City Clerk
read a report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding
Change Orders for the contract for the demolition and salvage of buildings at
the Quad City Industrial Center in the amount of $13,146.30. A motion made by Alderman Conroy and
seconded by Alderman White to approve the change orders as recommended CARRIED
on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen
Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy.
NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #19
The Acting City Clerk
read a report from the Community and Economic Development Department requesting
that the City Council agree to be the sponsoring entity for the 2006 Scenic
Byways Grant Application in support of the Quad City Botanical Center. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded
by Alderman Murphy to agree to be the sponsoring entity for the grant
application as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and
Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #20
FINAL PLAN/PLAT
AMENDMENT/CREEK FRONT VILLAS 8516 14TH STREET
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Community and Economic Development Department regarding a Final Plan/Plat Amendment to the Planned Unit development for Creek Front Villas Project at 8516 14th Street West. A motion made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman Murphy to approve the final site plan/plat amendment subject to stipulations stated CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #21
ONE-WAY STREET/27TH
STREET BETWEEN 21 AND 22-1/2 AVENUE
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Traffic Engineering Committee regarding a request from Jessica Gibbs for a one-way street at 27th Street between 21st and 22 ˝ Avenues. A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman Murphy to deny the request as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #22
BOULEVARD PARKING/3024 8TH
STREET
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Traffic Engineering Committee regarding a request from Salvador Romero to allow boulevard parking in the graveled portion of the boulevard along the west side of 8th Street. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded by Alderman Conroy to deny the request as recommended CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #23
BOULEVARD PARKING/438 4TH
STREET
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Traffic Engineering Committee regarding a request from Larry Woodward of the J. L. Watts Company for boulevard parking, recommending that boulevard parking be allowed on the west side of 4th Street and the north side of 5th Avenue adjacent to the Watts property as long as it meets driveway standards and is completed by June 1, 2006. A motion made by Alderman Pauley and seconded by Alderman White to allow the boulevard parking as recommended with stipulations stated and refer to the City Attorney for an Ordinance CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
Agenda Item #24
The Acting City Clerk read a report from the Acting City Clerk regarding the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be held March 18, 2006 beginning at 11:15 a.m., and a Resolution authorizing the use of a portion of 15th Street from 2nd Avenue to the Centennial Bridge. A motion made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman Murphy to adopt the Resolution and approve the event CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
City Manager John Phillips requested that Public Works Director Bob Hawes discuss the City’s new Automated Refuse Collection Program. Mr. Hawes advised that 1,000 new refuse carts were delivered today and delivery will continue throughout the month of January. The program will start Monday, February 6, 2006. He advised that all residents should have received postcards notifying them that these carts will be delivered and the day of the week of their garbage collection. Each cart delivered will have a refuse brochure attached to the inside of the cart explaining the rules for the new system. He advised that these carts belong to the City and will be maintained by the City. Also, once all carts have been delivered, if the resident finds that they need a different size cart, they may switch it out at no charge. A news release will be issued in February or March notifying residents when to put out old, used cans for pickup. Mr. Hawes commended Phil Scott for loaning a portion of one of his buildings to allow additional space for City employees to assemble the refuse carts. Mr. Hawes advised that this program is designed to reduce workplace injuries, provide uniformity to refuse collection and have a more pleasant impact on neighborhoods and the Rock Island Community. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Public Works Department at (309) 732-2200.
Mayor Schwiebert commended the Public Works Department and Mr. Hawes and his staff for the outstanding job they have done in the undertaking and implementation this large City project.
OTHER BUSINESS
No one signed up speak on other issues, and Council members had no other business to discuss.
RECESS
A motion made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman Murphy to recess to Monday, January 16, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Conroy, Pauley, White, and Murphy. NAYS: None.
The meeting was recessed at 7:20 p.m.
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Cynthia A. Neiggemann, Acting City Clerk