The Rock Island City Council met in a special meeting with the Davenport City Council on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the River Center in Davenport. Present from Rock Island were Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert, presiding, and Aldermen Terry M. A. Brooks I, John E. Bauersfeld, Jr., Dan Rockwell, Evelyn "Evie" R. White and Ann Keefe. Alderman David R. Conroy was absent.

The purpose of the meeting was to hear a presentation by Hargreaves Associates, consultants based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This consultant group was hired by the cities of Davenport and Rock Island to come up with a plan to link the cities’ riverfronts. Prior to this meeting, initial presentations had been made to each of the City Council groups, and a steering committee with representatives from Iowa and Illinois was formed to work with Hargreaves Associates. Other public input meetings were held, and the plan presented at this meeting on May 12 encompassed that input as well as the work already done by the committee.

The concept plan uses four piers extended into the river from each bank and lighted fountains to connect the cities’ main streets. A water-taxi route was incorporated in to the plan also. The plans include boat docks, observation towers and downtown retail, office and commercial development as well as residential development on both sides of the river.

Mary Margaret Jones, senior principal for Hargreaves Associates, spoke to the group and, along with her associates, outlined the plan. She noted that it is unusual to be working with two cities in two states working on a single project. The plan is expected to cost approximately $125 million, and can take up to fifteen years to build. Ms. Jones stated that this will require both public and private money to complete the plan, noting that over $300 million in private investment is expected to spur the plan along. She identified several “icons” such as lighting, water taxis and fountains, which she indicated could be part of the first phase of the project. Emphasis in the plan was placed on being able to “touch” or to “view” the water on both sides of the river at several locations. Following the presentation, the meeting was opened for public input and questions. Several members of the audience from both Iowa and Illinois spoke briefly, commenting on the work already done in the planning process, encouraging them to continue, and asking questions. Some members of the audience had further suggestions that will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and possibly incorporated into the plan. Following further minor changes resulting from the public input, the final plan will be presented to the City Council in Rock Island and in Davenport sometime in June or July.

Following public input, the meeting ended at approximately 8:30 p.m. A motion made by Alderman White and seconded by Alderman Keefe to recess to Monday, May 17 at 5:00 p.m. CARRIED on a Voice vote.

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Jeanne F. Paggen, City Clerk