The Rock Island City Council met in reconvened session at 1:00 p.m. for the first day of the annual Goal Setting Session. at the Southwest Library in Southwest Rock Island. Present were Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert, and Aldermen Terry M. A. Brooks I, David A. Conroy, Dan Rockwell, Evelyn R. White, Joy Murphy and Charles O. Austin III. Alderman Dennis Pauley was absent. Staff present included City Manager John C. Phillips. Also present was Lyle Sumek, Group Facilitator of Sumek and Associates.

Mr. Sumek and Council reviewed some of the successes identified by staff members as well as Council members during earlier telephone interviews. He discussed some of he ‘Realities” identified by staff and Council, such as the fact that Rock Island is basically a “homegrown” community. One of the successes identified was Housing Development, referring to both the upper end housing to lower end subsidized housing opportunities. The financial condition of the budget was identified as a success with the improvement of gaming revenue, the food and beverage tax revenue, improved collections, a stabilized health fund and E-Park. Among numerous other successes identified were the BRAC results, riverfront development such as the River Vision process, legislation approval for the Casino to move, and the 20^th Street overlook of the River.

Following the discussion on the successes, Council was asked to look toward the future. Each Council member was asked to identify four focus items and five actions that they feel need to be done. Some of the focus items were infrastructure, housing and retail. Actions included use of gaming revenue beyond the existing use, marketing of our city and schools, blight and suggestions for addressing it, implementation of the River Vision work done by Hendricks, payment plan for the infrastructure improvements, and doing more thing jointly with the other Quad Cities.

Alderman Brooks left the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Council continued discussion on the focus items and realities identified by staff and Council members. A motion made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderman Rockwell to recess to Saturday, September 10 at 8:00 a.m. CARRIED on a Voice vote.

The meeting was recessed at 6:05 p.m.

_______________________________
Jeanne F. Paggen, City Clerk