The Rock Island City Council met in reconvened session on Friday, September 24 at 12:00 Noon for the beginning of the annual Goal Setting Session. The meeting was held at the Southwest Library in Rock Island. Present were Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert and Alderman Terry M. A. Brooks I, David R. Conroy, John E. Bauersfeld, Jr., Daniel Rockwell, Evelyn “Evie” R. White, Ann L. Keefe and Charles “Chuck” O. Austin. Also present were City Manager John C. Phillips and Lyle Sumek of Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc. who acted as the group leader for the session.

Mr. Sumek lead the group in several steps, with the primary mission being to define the action steps to be addressed by staff during the coming year in order to attain goals set by Council. First, the group looked at the Top Ten Achievements for 2003 – 1) Southwest Residential Development; 2) Rental Housing Inspection Program; 3) Casino Rock Island Relocation and Annexation; 4) River Vision Plan; 5) Bridge Completion with Landscaping; 6) Infill Housing Projects; 7) New Grocery Stores; 8) Balanced Budget; 9) Street Improvements; and 10) Brand and Marketing Plan. The Council members these achievements, and identified the value of each success to the community. They also reviewed and discussed the successes identified by each of the Department Managers earlier.

Following this discussion, each of the Council identified and discussed major challenges as seen by them for the coming year. The list of major challenges included a decrease in Federal and State Funds and Services, the increase in health care costs, street enhancement, retention and housing of staff, community beautification, boundary expansion, branding strategy implementation, the budget conflict of resources vs. escalating costs, meeting needs of older neighborhoods with rehabilitations housing and infrastructure, retail tax dollars and increasing the city’s tax base, among others.

Alderman Austin left the meeting at 4:00 p.m. for a prior commitment.

Following discussion of each of these by the Council, they followed up with ideas for the Agenda 2004. These Agenda 2004 Ideas included the River Vision Plan – actions for Rock Island, the Buxton Study and Action steps, Solid Waste Services Study and Action, Containment of the Health Insurance Costs, Armory Direction, King Center Expansion, Strengthening of Neighborhood Associations, and an increase in the Downtown TIF – Policy Direction and Management Succession. Many other ideas were discussed also at this time.

A motion made by Alderman Keefe and seconded by Alderman White to recess the meeting to Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. CARRIED on a Roll Call vote. AYES: Aldermen Brooks, Conroy, Bauersfeld, Rockwell, White and Keefe. NAYS: None.

The meeting was recessed at 5:30 p.m.,

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Jeanne F. Paggen, City Clerk