City Council - Regular Meeting

Right. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call to order the February 11th, 2026 meeting of the Quad City Council. The first item of business is roll call which is done electronically why it takes so long but we are all present so I will be there forum. The next item on our agenda is the pledge of allegiance which is followed by silent reflection. Please to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next, we move on to the consent agenda. The consent agenda finalizes the proposed actions for the meeting. A January 28th, 2026 regular council minutes. B list of claims dated February 2nd, 2026. I see file claim Scott. Is there any discussion? See none. I'll enter a motion. Um

motion to approve. I'll second. No,

we'll do voice motion. We have a motion by Mr. Mullen, second by Mr. Heistler. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Next on our agenda is audience comments, agenda and non-aggenda items. The presiding officer will limit speaking times and non-aggenda items to one minute and items notice on the agenda to 5 minutes. Mission to speak. All right. We have two who would like to speak. First we have Laura Valier who would like to speak on bird city the bird city resolution on our agenda. Thank you. Speak this evening. Um I'm asking city council tonight to approve a resolution establishing May 1st and 2nd as world migratory birthday. Um as we celebrated here in Falac world migratory birthday celebrated May 9th but that's competition with lots of others. So we go one year early. There will be a photography program on April 28th at the Fond Lake Public Library. This Bob Hazy showing some of his many pictures he's taken of our spring migrants. He takes 50 to 60,000 a year, but we promise to limit it to an hour. So, it should be good. On May 1st and 2nd, we have bird walk starting in the evening of May 1st at Lakeside West, which is a change to our normal pattern walking to the boardwalk and the long way from the baker. Should be very good for migrants, waterfall, and um but of the wonderful spring migrants passing through or beginning to pass through at that time. Saturday morning we walk around Camelot Pond at 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. we have a guided walk through the green arboritum with birds sit at the north end from 11 to 1. Birds is something that once the birds come to you and the north end, we have a good chance of seeing king fisher fly up and down the

river and many migrants going through the trees as well as lost woodpeckers because they've got a lot of homes and cavities in that area. So why do we do this? The Bird City Network's core goals include creating birdfriendly communities, establishing welcoming habitats by promoting conservation, addressing threats to birds, and engaging citizens in bird protection efforts, promoting sustainable urban planning, encouraging the integration of bird friendly designs into urban development, and raising awareness about bird conservation, educating the public on the importance of bird preservation, world migratory bird day events and programs. First of all, I'd like to compliment our public works department. They have been very conscious of putting in lights that have covers on them to focus the light down and not up and some of the lighting is amber. So, you'll notice that many of those kinds of installations have been done in our parks and along our streets where they're redoing them and we're very appreciative of their consciousness to this bird habitat. Very important bird habitat um move. Then raising awareness about bird conservation. That's really a lot of what we do is to try to get people to plant native to encourage birds to add bird habitat in your yard because your yard was once a prairie or a woodland and now that is gone. But you can help the birds reestablish being in that bird habitat area by planting native trees, native flowers. And so a lot of what I do in current city community is to send out a newsletter um almost on a weekly basis encouraging that type of thing and we hope that that catching hold and creasing the birds in fondacle. Um we also have been and are often um the host to birds that um are are rare. We have a Harris sparrow which is unusual for this area at Lakeside West. It has been with us about a month. We had an Icelandic

double that flew through once about a month ago and there is a northern mocking tail, a northern mocking tail bird in Kansas, Florida at the moment. So city, you know, they're birds in life that are worth paying attention to because we get rare birds periodically. We also have ganzas as they sight ar this afternoon. They nest up along the tundra of the Arctic Circle. So they're on their way north and they're picking their open water spots, flying from one open water spot to another. We have a double today. Looking at photos is also a part of teaching bird or people about birds because birds and art go together. And so um when you see birds a lot in photographs, finally when you see one outdoors, you'll know what it is. And that makes it so much more fun to identify them. Stephen Thompson right now has an exhibit at Thelma and his show will be up until February 27th and he will be there to speak with anybody um about his craft on the 24th of February from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. That's his photography show at Thelma right now. And Delma is a free art exhibit. You can go anytime to be able to to see that. So all of us help birds by creating habitat in our own yards and we and adding a water element will improve that. And one last item that I would like to bring to your attention to help the habitat improvement for birds is please keep your cat indoors. It will be healthier and will spare many birds. It is estimated that every cat in the wild kills two birds each day. As taxpayers, we should care about those who have pets. Do you know that in 2025 we collected revenue as follows? 149 cat licenses totaling 1,590. Dog licenses were $10,422.19.

But we spent $48,799.93 on animal control services. Let's license our pets and help reduce the taxpayer funds going to capture the sprays and protect the birds that come through our neighborhood. It makes it more friendly. By ordinance, any cat that is up on your property must be on a leash. So, if you remember that, all bird lovers would appreciate that very much and so would the pest. So I hope that you will put April 1st or May 1st and 2nd on your calendar for bird walks and also April 28th to come out and see Bob's photography of birds and art. Thank you very much the secretary. I hope you will approve resolution today for bird city. Thank you so much. Next we have David Oair maybe. Um sorry I'm not sure to read the writing here. wishes to seek out ordinance number 3824, but I don't I don't see him anymore.

Oh, he didn't actually want to speak, but he did.

So, he did share some information about the or otherwise. All right, with that I have no other audience comments. So we will move on to our action items. Action item A is a change of agent for class B intoxicating liquor license and class B fermented malt license entity isma center for arts inc agent name Paul business off center for the arts business address 50 street and introduction by our speaker. Thank you, President R. This is the standard agent change for the for the state of center for the arts class B liquor license. Background checks were done on the proposed agent and city staff recommends approval. Thank you. Are there any questions from seeing none? Okay. So, I have a motion by Mr. German and a second by Mr. Um, is there any discussion? Seeing none go into and that passes with six present and missing just so item B is a class A intoxicating liquor and class A granted v license entity OM oil LLC patient name Ginger Hotel doing business at speed truck. Business

address is 351 Avenue. Advisory alcohol license recommendation is to approve. And again, our introduction is by our speed this afternoon. Thank you again. Follow purchasing the convenience store at 351 Avenue. The proposed business plan is to keep everything the same. Background checks were done on the officers and proposed agent of incorporation, city staff, and licensed committee guard.

Thank you. Are there any questions for this? Seeing none, I will motion. We have a motion by Mr. and a second by Mr. Godrey. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please vote. And that passes with six in favor and currently speaking. Item C is resolution number 9221. A resolution authorizing the grant of a utility easement to all energy across lands owned by the city of wildlife. Our introduction is by our public works director. You president um so this is an ement for energy related to the RNG project uh removal for that. um as I think we talked about um during CIP and other things that uh this is a big project for the wastewater treatment plant and um this is one of the things that energy needs to be able to take the transfer of the gas and put it back into their system. So it's a very um sustainable project and um we really uh want to support this. Um there's a lot of construction going on out there already uh by there. But um certainly I would recommend approval and if there's any questions I'd be happy to answer.

Right. Thank you so much. Are there any questions for Mr. Reese? See none I will motion motion by Mr. Schler and second by Mr. Heisler. Is there any discussion? Seeing none item that passes unanimously. Thank you. Item D is resolution number 9222. A resolution making appointment and reappoint to the administrative appeals board for construction of fire city management.

Good evening everyone. Two people tonight for nominations. One is Deb Daw for a reappoint. She's the alternate for the administrative appeals board. And then a new nomination to fill an open seat is Jim Thomas. We all got to know Jim when he had a problem in his neighborhood. saw him at a number of these meetings and then he got he got interested in how things operate. So he submitted an application and I'd like to nominate for this position. Okay. Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Seeing none I motion a motion by Mr. Heistler and second by Mr. Zimmerman. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please vote. And that passes unanimously. Item E is resolution number 9223, a resolution cancelling the city council meeting for February 25th, 2026. Introduction is by city attorney's office. Thank you to um have nothing come forth from any um parking traffic cancel. There's nothing coming forth from the plane commission. Nothing from the alcohol license game. So there's no nothing coming to council. So there truthfully there's just nothing that we have to have a meeting for. So we're recommending you cancel it. You want to be respectful of your time. because it makes sense to really thank you. Are there any questions for Miss Hoffman? See none, I like anything motion motion by Mr. Godfrey and a second by Mr. Schler. Is there any discussion? I just say we also like to be respectful

of city staff's time. So, we appreciate you bringing this forward. Um, and I have Mr. answer those. Thanks, M. Just just a question. Um, and maybe you guys can just provide some context. Um, I don't remember, but it's is it kind of normal at this time of year to have lighter agendas and and potentially a cancellation in January, February? I guess I don't typically run around the calendar. I mean it it is lighter this time it's the holidays and you so there's always kind of a stuff coming through the hopper and it kind of slows down takes a little bit for

and I'm assuming with the cancellation of some of those committee meetings they'll get back on the rescheduled meetings and we'll have things from those from those committees in potentially March. Correct. Thank you very much. That's all my questions. Thank you. Those are good questions. All right. See no other discussion, uh, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Item F is resolution number 9224, a resolution declaring May 9th, 2026 as world migatory birthday. Introductions by director of public works, Mr.

Thank you again. Yeah. So, as uh Laura has always done a great job at um laying out what the activities are and what this um resolution is all about. I don't know that I need to add a whole lot to that other than to emphasize that uh the events are on May 1st and 2nd. Um as she discussed and um you know, we'll get some some notice out about that. Um just to put it on people's radar when it comes up. But I do want to commend her and her group for um bringing this forward year after year and putting the efforts. Um I do get her emails about the birds and the watching and the photos and it's it's pretty amazing what we have here in Final. So uh as a city I think this is very worthwhile of supporting. Um it takes a little bit of staff time to fill out the application and and send it in, but it's it's definitely worth it for for our city and being able to uh put us on the map as a city. So uh with that, I'd recommend approval and we have to answer.

Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. Dler and a second by Mr. determined. Is there any discussion? I just like to quick echo ME. Thank you, Miss for all the work that you do. Um I've had in the past opportunity to attend some of the events that are part of the world migratory birthday and it's just excellent addition to our community to celebrate these creatures that we often just kind of take for granted are around, but there's some really really cool things that we can learn and see. Um and it's great to take some time to appreciate them. Looks like we also have something from this hearing.

I just want to say thank you also and thank you to Laurier for, you know, all we do with um with the wash. It's I mean it's amazing that we have these opportunities to go on tours and things in the different areas of the city. Um I've been on those too and I really enjoy with that. I have not seen any other discussion so we will vote and that passes unanimously. Item G is res is ordinance number 3823, an ordinance reszoning 467 Walker Street, SPL 1517532 36400 from C2 general commercial district to R1 single family district and our interactions by our city attorney Hoffman.

Thank you again. Um they see that we can see this is too small for me to tell you which one it but you can see so that C2 but there is actually residential all around it and it is currently a vacant lot. Um, it had been I think there's a picture of what used to be there.

Yeah, it was it was a small building. There it was there. It was that. And as you can see, there's like residential next on the other side of it. And that So, um it makes more sense if they make sure we ask you. Are there any questions for Miss Hoffman? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. Schistler and a second by Mr. Heistler. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, please proceed to vote. And that passes unanimously. Item H is ordinance number 3824, an ordinance amending chapter 356 to create a license requirement for the sale of CBD THC beverages via introduction by our C.

Thank you again. Um, this is the same thing that I brought to you months ago. Yes, a month ago. And we've gotten I've gotten one phone call on it. Um, so it's it's the same thing that I brought to you before, but I did add in that we will amend the fee schedule to add the the fee for the permit and then added in um there's a section that covers all permits. you know what permits are required and added this as an additional required permit. So those two changes were made but otherwise it's the same kind of stuff before again to deal with the gap in um current law regarding um hemp products that can the THC um rates that are um have a a mind altering effect and all this does is prevent those being served to miners. Thank you. Uh Mr.

First of all, thank you for I I just want to start off with the first thing. I I am in support I mean I in support regulating the these products and keeping them away from people that that should not be using them. But I spent the better I spent the better part of last Friday. I all day last Friday in Madison a couple and they right now SB there's two bills right now and they don't have any they don't have any from what I was reading we're going to have to bring this back again to update this ordinance again when they change their mind when and they give us the leeway on whatever how they're going. We're going to have to re redo this again.

I mean, depending on what

depends on which way they go. So, we're going to have to do this. Can So, in that would would it be wise for us to just slow down with this a little bit and wait for them to give us the the what their decision going to be or do we have to just go ahead and do this? in that right now this could be served for minors here and in fact I believe it is so I really do not think that's a good thing and I really think we should have passed something and there's no guarantee the legislator will do anything and I I mean if they do something great we will amend this to reflect you know whatever the change in law is but I don't think we should I guess a retail person in that industry. I I can can I mean can it happen? Absolutely. But I I I do know from personal experience is that most of our a lot of our people that are selling the CB products are not legally I mean they're not selling those to they're not. I don't disagree with you

and and that's that's from me being in that industry and I know for a fact that we we are we are we make sure that we are not putting those products in. Can it happen? Absolutely it can. But I think I mean like I said I'm not trying to say we don't need it. We don't need it. But it'll be I'm thank you. Thank you though. Mr. Mullen.

Yes. Uh thank you for all the work you've done on this. Um you know I I originally asked for this because there is this loophole for kids. Um, I agree that the um like the bait industry um they're very uh they're very careful about what's legal, what's not. I I don't believe they're they're selling to kids. What I'm more worried about with this is like the gas stations and you know um I mean they sell these products at bars but kids aren't in bars. you know, I'm really more worried about um these being available like in convenience stores and things like that. And yes, we are probably going to have to modify this bill to harmonize it with either federal or state legislation, but this loophole's been open for a long time and they don't seem to be doing anything on it. the the ordinance the way it's it's written doesn't have a lot of teeth and that you know part of the reason for that is that look there's no penalty until we tell you about the law. I mean so you kind of get a freebie. Um, I think it just I think it just sends a message to people that hey look this is not this is not okay and not that we have a big problem with that that I'm aware of but you know hopefully some people will think and not just order it into their convenience store with all the other portions of things they sell. So uh anyway, I'm in support of this. Thank you very much for your work.

Thank you Mr.

Thank you remarks tonight remarks and Mr. W said there's some tech problems with the ordinance example. How can consumes a non- intoxicating licensed beverage gets behind the wheel and is pulled over by an OWI? How can they be held accountable when the city itself is labeled their drink as non intoxicated? Is there would there be some benefit to having more people look at this and deal if they some type of problem with the verge? There's nothing in the ordinance that affects the law. It it will have no effect.

Thank you for work on this. Um my question is because working on a piece that's like as mentioned probably just Can you just kind of walk us through if if this passes this evening what how the adjustment process would work and and how that it would typically because obviously this isn't the first time we've had to amend the ordinance because of what the state or the federal government's done. So can you kind of just walk us through how that process works?

Sure. It I mean it would be like every time we amend the ordinance. So I bring back the proposed amendment saying we're changing it because the legislature passed the law or the federal government passed the law and they explained it and then the next meeting after that you know appar Um, I I do like the idea of this. Um, I I feel like we're probably going to have to be doing some changes to this because in the future um because the language and it just it's open to some misinformation. Yeah. But I I do like the idea. Thank you. Miss um thank you president. I was support this but just we passed ordinances all the time. So we passed this. What what happened is every gas station and convenience stored or how do we actually enforce it?

Right. Right. Well I mean they all have liquid licenses. So anybody that has a rental license when they get that renewal, you know, we go through a whole process for that, we will alert them to this as well. So anywhere if we know anybody that is, you know, basically we'll let them know about it. No, I mean it is published which I mean I'm telling you I got to hear the people they're going to tell me. So, so it does get published and that is under the law that is there notice.

Um, but we did put right in the ordinance that you're not going to get a ticket if you weren't aware of it. So, if you didn't weren't aware of it, you missed it. Um, if if we're doing compliance or there's a complaint and then please come in. If this is the first heard of it, they're just going to warn. That's all I have. Thank you, Mr.

I just wanted to say thank you guys for doing this, but it it is it is needed because this loophole has been there for quite some time. So, I didn't want to come off as quite some time. And I appreciate the perspective that you shared those students. I mean, you know, um,

yeah, I I I just wanted to, uh, clarify one thing. Uh, when you talk about non not intoxicating beverage license, that's just the mechanism. Correct. We're not saying anything about the product. So as opposed to trying to put it under a liquor license which is highly regulated, this is a way to get that in there without interfering with that much more stringent law.

Thank you. I'm not seeing any other discussion. So with that, I will entertain a motion. We have a motion by Mr. and second by Mr. Gentlemen. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, please proceed. And that passes with six. Yes. And Mr. With that, we do not have any input items on our agenda. So we will entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to second.

Motion by Mr. Zimmerman, second by Mr. Pisler. This is not able to see the vote. That passes unanimously. We are