City Council - Regular Meeting

Alderperson Evans? Present. Hurt?

Here.

Barnes? Here. Swanson? Here. Parker?

Here.

Polis? Healy?

Here.

And Mayor Harris?

Present. Would everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance?

Alderman Poulos gave notice that he would not be physically present for the meeting tonight due to employment purposes and made a request to participate remotely. Under 5ILCS 120-7, attendance by means other than physical presence, Alderman Poulos may attend remotely, but we will need a motion allowing him to attend, followed by a second and a voice vote. So moved.

Second. There's a first and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? That's in item five.

Vote to approve the agenda.

Move to approve the agenda and amend it to remove item 9A. B.

Second.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

yes i would like to add to that to remove item a as well would that be in the same discussion there would be a motion to amend to remove items both b and a technically a motion to amend would take priority so first we would vote on alderman evan's motion to remove both b and a if that fails then we move to just remove item b which was parker's motion but was there a second No. Okay, so we need a second for Alderman Evans' motion first.

I'll second.

Okay, so now we move to you can discuss it or you can take the vote.

Is there any discussion on the matter?

So to clarify, this is to remove the ordinance establishing the downtown liquor control district and the purchase of the property on Fifth Avenue from the agenda, correct?

Yes, that would be this motion specifically.

Any discussion? Roll call, please.

Alder Prison Barnes? Yes. Swanson? No. Parker?

No.

Poulos?

Healy?

No.

Evans?

Yes.

And Hurt?

No.

Okay. So that motion failed, so we return to Alderman Parker's motion to approve the agenda with the removal of 9B.

I'll second that.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the roll.

Alderperson Barnes?

Yes.

Swanson? Yes. Parker?

Aye.

Healy? Aye. Evans?

Yes.

And Hurt?

Aye. Agenda item six. No, no, no. No, we need to still vote on five, right? No. Okay.

They approved the agenda with the removal of 9B.

All right, gotcha. Agenda item six.

Proclamation declaring the first full week of September as National Payroll Week.

Proclamation. Whereas, Payroll.org and its more than 2,000 members have launched a nationwide public awareness campaign that pays tribute to nearly 150 million people who worked in the United States and the payroll professionals who support the American system by paying wages, reporting worker earnings, and withholding federal employee taxes. And whereas, payroll professionals in Rock Island play a key role in maintaining the economic health of Rock Island, carrying out such diverse tasks as paying into the unemployment insurance system, providing information for child support enforcement, and carrying out tax withholding, reporting, and depositing. And whereas, Payroll departments collectively spend more than $2.7 trillion annually compiling with Murad federal state wage tax lawyer and whereas payroll professionals play an increasingly important role ensuring the economic security of American families by helping to identify non-custodial parents and making sure they comply with their child support mandates. And whereas payroll professionals have become increasingly proactive in educating both the business community and the public at large about payroll tax withholding systems. And whereas, payroll professionals meet regularly with federal and state tax officials to discuss both improving compliance with government procedures and how compliance can be achieved at less cost to both government and businesses. And now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Ashley Harris, Mayor of the City of Rock Island, give additional support to the efforts of the people who work in Rock Island and of the payroll professionals by proclaiming the first full week of September National Payroll Week in the City of Rock Island, dated this 24th day of August, 2026. Thank you.

I just want to say thank you for the reception of this on behalf of the Chicago chapter.

Proclamation declaring September 4th through September 6th, 2026 to be Central States Bowling Guild's tournament weekend.

Proclamation. Whereas the Quad Cities Wildcats Bowling Guide, Inc., has been a member of the Central States Bowling Guides, Inc., for 45 years. Whereas the Quad Cities Wildcats Bowling... Excuse me. Proclamation. Whereas the Quad Cities Wildcats Bowling Guild Inc. has been a member of the Central States Bowling Guild Inc. for 45 years, and whereas the Quad Cities Wildcats Bowling Guild Inc. is still going strong with membership of 45 bowlers, And whereas, the purpose of this corporation is to encourage academic excellence by awarding annual scholarships, promote bowling skills among today's youth residing in our geographical boundaries, promote interest in bowling as a recreation, and manage an annual bowling tournament. And whereas, there are seven guilds in this corporation which include Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, Kansas City, Missouri, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota, Quad Cities, and the St. Louis, Missouri area. And whereas, This year, the Quad Cities Wildcat Bowling Guild will have the honor of hosting the 59th Annual Central States Bowling Guild Tournament from September 4th through September 6th, 2026 at the Highland Park Bowling Center in Moline, Illinois. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Ashley Harris, Mayor of the City of Rock Island, do hereby proclaim Saturday and Sunday, September 5th and 6th, 2026, to be Central States Bowling Guild's Tournament Weekend. In the city of Rock Island, a weekend dedicated to breaking down social barriers to camaraderie and fellowship achieved through the recreational sports of bowling in the city of Rock Island for all residents of our community, dated August 24, 2026.

Proclamation declaring August 30th, 2026 is St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church Day.

You have to excuse me, folks. My eyes are straining a little. I should have brought my reading glasses tonight. Proclamation. Whereas, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church is celebrating its 175th anniversary. And whereas, the cornerstone was laid on August 34th, 1851 at 4th Avenue and 22nd Street in Rock Island. Wow. making St. Mary's the oldest Catholic church in Rock Island County. And whereas St. Mary's Church was the cradle of Catholicism in Western Illinois due to the menacing missionary efforts of its first pastor, Father John George Alleman, who established churches in many other communities, including Moline, Hampton, Owl Grove, Edgington, Keithburg, and Warsaw, in addition to visiting soldiers on Arsenal Island. And whereas St. Mary's was originally built to serve the German immigrants, it is now home to many African immigrants. And whereas St. Mary's is now a destination parish, drawing parishers from a multitude of communities in Illinois and Iowa. And whereas St. Mary's is known for its traditional values and reference for... ultra rich, excuse me, ultra rich. And whereas, St. Mary's will commemorate its 175th anniversary with a mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, August 30th, 2026, celebrated by the most reverend, Bishop Louis Tycho of the Diocese of Peoria. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Ashley Harris, Mayor of the City of Rock Island, do hereby declare Sunday, August 30th, 2026, as St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception Church Day. in the city of Rock Island and call upon all residents of Rock Island to congratulate and honor St. Mary's for its inaugural and faithful role in our city's history and wish them another 175 years of service of hearing witness to life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, dated this 24th day of August, 2026.

Can't let Sonic Peter get off.

All right. All right. Okay, ready everybody?

One, two, three, look at us.

Well, thank you so much for this proclamation. We are very proud of our church. Church is really old, and the parish is old, but we are spiritually young. So we hope that we will do many good things with God's grace and his blessings, and also with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen. God bless you. Thank you.

D, proclamation declaring the month of September to be library card sign up month.

proclamation. Whereas, libraries are foundational to education, imagination, and opportunity, offering everything from early literacy programs to digital tools that support lifelong learning and personal growth. And whereas, libraries welcome all people, serving in inclusive and accessible community hubs that connect individuals across cultures, generations, and experiences. And whereas, libraries curate collections and design programs that reflect the diversity of the populations they serve, ensuring an equitable access to information, technology, and culture for all. And whereas, libraries help individuals navigate life's challenges by providing trusted information, digital access, job search support, and connections to essential services. And whereas, libraries contribute to thriving local economies by equipping job seekers, entrepreneurs, students, and creators with tools and trainings to succeed. And whereas, in times of both crisis and calm, libraries and their staff remain steadfast in supporting and strengthening our communities. And whereas, library resources help households save money, reduce waste, and make sustainable choices, all through the simple power of shared public good. And whereas, a library card offers a front row seat to everything the library offers, from books and technology to lifelong learning and imagination. And, whereas, libraries, librarians, and library workers across the country are joining together to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month under the theme, A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Ashley Harris, Mayor of the City of Rock Island, do hereby declare September 2026 as Library Card Sign-Up Month. in the city of Rock Island and encourage all residents to be sharp and sign up for a library card. Dated this 24th day of August, 2026. Thank you.

All right, another library proclamation, another standing room only. Council chambers. It's the greatest place. I say that every time I get up here, but it truly is. And Library Card Sign-Up Month, we are over 18,000 library cardholders strong, which is over almost half of our population now. We've gone up just every year 4% and 5% with library cardholders. so if you're in here and you don't have one you are really missing out so turn to the person sitting next to you and say what am i missing and they'll probably fill you in because there's just so much you can do at the library so thank you so much for giving this this this month and we hope to see you soon presentation of the 2026 citizen of the year awards

All right.

You're on the committee, so you have to . Okay, here we go. Hello and welcome to the 2026 Rock Island Citizen of the Year Awards. I'm Sarah Hayden, Community Engagement Manager for the City. This is my favorite meeting of the year, by the way. Each year, people in the community have an opportunity to nominate those who have made selfless contributions of service to the City of Rock Island and its residents. I have to tell you, we had a record number of nominations this year at 64. I was really impressed. So thank you to everybody who's here tonight, because you nominated somebody. And thank you to those out there who took the time to fill out these nomination forms. We got really beautiful, detailed nominations. And you really made the committee's job hard in deciding who the winners would be, which is a good problem to have. So as you can imagine, it was very competitive and it did take the committee several hours through several hours of spirited debate and discussion to choose this year's winners. Nine categories are recognized. Individual, youth, business, education, professional, artist or creator, veteran, city employee, and organization. church, or non-profit. The awards were founded in 1987 as a way to recognize those individuals and organizations that make a positive difference in the Rock Island community. This year marks the 39th annual awards. Winners were chosen by the Citizen of the Year Committee, which is composed of last year's winners, Mayor Ashley Harris, Alderman Mark Poulos, Alderman Bill Healy, myself, and Labor Day Parade Committee Chairwoman Mary Chappell, who is standing at the back of the room. First, I would like to recognize last year's Citizen of the Year winners by asking them to stand. We have several here tonight. Can you please stand if you were Citizen of the Year last year? We've got... This year's winners will also be honored in the Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 7th. At the end of this award ceremony, we will announce the Labor Day Parade Grand Marshal. And the Citizen of the Year winners might be surprised to learn that it is going to be one of you. And nobody knows but the committee. So this is a surprise. It is tradition that the overall Citizen of the Year is chosen to lead the parade. So let's get started. Please hold your applause until the winner comes forward to accept their award and after I read the introduction of them. And then after the Grand Marshal is announced, we will take a group photo of all the winners together. Sound good? All right, let's get going. The 2026 Citizen of the Year Award for Individual goes to longtime community volunteer Gary Rowe. It only takes one nomination to get someone on the list, but Gary received five excellent nominations from completely different people in the community. Gary is executive director of the Rock Island Community Foundation, executive director of the Rauch Family Foundations, and a long-time community advocate and volunteer. He's often called the guru of philanthropy. I don't know if you knew that, but that was in one of your nominations. Gary has spent decades serving the community, working in nonprofit organizations, fundraising for local organizations, serving on nonprofit boards, and the Rock Island School Board. He's been a longtime member of Rock Island Rotary and served on the WVIK Community Advisory Committee. In addition, he has been active with the Illinois Quad Cities chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, helping to mentor and train nonprofit fundraisers in the Quad Cities for decades. Gary's professional accomplishments speak for themselves. With nearly 40 years of nonprofit leadership, he has dedicated his career to strengthening organizations, building partnerships, and improving the lives of countless people throughout the community. Gary's legacy is not simply measured by successful campaigns, grants awarded, or organizations strengthened. It is measured by the people he has mentored, the relationships he has cultivated, and the culture of generosity he has helped build throughout Rock Island. His influence reaches far beyond any single organization because he has spent a lifetime bringing people together for the common good. Rock Island is stronger because Gary Rowe has chosen to dedicate his career and his heart to this community. Please welcome the Individual Citizen of the Year, Gary Rowe. This year's winner in the youth category for Citizen of the Year goes to Kyla Nephew. Where are you Kyla? Here you are. Just 17 years old, Kyla is already a published writer, poet, model, and activist. She is a homeschooled high school senior living in Rock Island. Kyla is active in her voice media and using her writing and poetry to address racial justice, equality, and self-worth. She received a Youth Expression Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for a poem about Dr. King's dream and modern racial inequality. She has also appeared on the Love Girls podcast and in other local media where she helps to bring the experiences and ideas of Rock Island youth to a wider audience. She leads through her creativity, her compassion, her willingness to learn, and the effort that she puts into everything she does. Kyla's contribution to Rock Island cannot be measured by one award, article, or appearance. Her impact is in the way she consistently shows up, tells important stories, challenges injustice, and reminds us to see the promise in Rock Island's West End and its young people. Please welcome our Youth Citizen of the Year winner, Kyla Nephew. This year's Education Award goes to Jadeem Wilson, Principal of Ridgewood Elementary School. Jadim is in his 16th year with the Rock Island Milan School District. He began in 2009 as a science teacher at Washington Junior High School, then taught science and technology at Edison Junior High School. In 2013, he was promoted to dean of students at Rock Island High School, and then served as assistant principal at Rock Island Academy. He has been principal of Ridgewood Elementary School since 2023. Jadim is recognized for leading with strength and empathy while creating a school culture where every student and staff member feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. He is a mentor in every sense of the word, investing time in developing teachers, encouraging professional growth, and fostering an environment built on trust, collaboration, and respect. His open door leadership style ensures that everyone knows they have someone who will listen, offer guidance, and provide encouragement. What truly distinguishes him is his willingness to go above and beyond the responsibilities of his role, whether spending extra hours supporting school events, coaching, attending extracurricular activities, writing kids' books, playing at recess, or simply being present for students and staff. He demonstrates an unwavering dedication to the success and well-being of the entire school community. His visibility and involvement show that leadership is above service and about service, not position. His leadership has created a positive school climate where students are encouraged to grow, teachers are empowered to innovate, and families know their children are supported by someone who truly cares. the impact of his leadership is evident not only in the success of the school but also in the confidence morale and sense of belonging felt throughout the building please welcome our citizen of the year winner this year for education principal jadeem wilson This year's winner of the Professional category is DeAndre Robinson, Operations Manager for the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. One of the nominations for DeAndre is from Alderman Dylan Parker, so I'm just going to read it because I couldn't have written it any better myself. Thank you, Dylan. Since the launch of the Downtown Alliance in 2023, DeAndre's hands-on leadership directly impacts the cleanliness, safety, and welcoming atmosphere of downtown Rock Island every single day. DeAndre bridges the gap between downtown revitalization efforts and real boots on the ground support for the district. drawing on his deep background in community outreach and street-level case management, Having previously served as a mobile street outreach coordinator with Christian Care, DeAndre brings a rare combination of practical expertise and profound empathy to his role. In his daily work, DeAndre manages the Downtown Alliance's cleaning ambassadors and on-street operations. He leads daily maintenance efforts, graffiti removal, trash mitigation, and physical district improvements while keeping a steady pulse on the needs of downtown property owners, small business owners, and visitors. Crucially, DeAndre approaches district management holistically. Rather than treating downtown safety and cleanliness as purely administrative tasks, he conducts proactive, compassionate outreach to members of Rock Island's unhoused and vulnerable populations. His ability to build trust across diverse groups from local merchants to individuals experiencing housing insecurity ensures that downtown Rock Island's commercial core remains clean, safe, and dignified for everyone who lives, works, or visits there. Whether facilitating logistical support for downtown events, activating spaces like Arts Alley, or maintaining daily operations, DeAndre embodies the highest standard of professional public service. Let's hear it for our Citizen of the Year winner for the Professional category, DeAndre Robinson. The Citizen of the Year Award for Best Business goes to Icon's Martini Bar in the iconic event venue, owner Dave Phillips. Unfortunately, Dave couldn't be with us tonight. I believe he's on a flight right now back from Arizona. So we will miss him, but I do want to read a few words about him so that it goes on the public record and that we can publicly acknowledge him. For more than two decades, Icons has been a steady presence in downtown Rock Island. Dave is known for his generosity and community service, offering his event space to nonprofits for fundraisers or meetings. He donates gift baskets for every event and also holds fundraisers of his own. His witty sense of humor keeps people entertained, and his generosity keeps people coming back. He gives back to the community and truly cares about his patrons, his business, and the community. I do want to say that I feel like there was a campaign this year to get icons an award. Right, Kelly Fisher? Because we received 10 nominations for either Dave Phillips or icons in various categories. I mean, it only takes one nomination to win, but it was an overwhelming response. And I mean, how could we not? And obviously, he'd never won it, and it was long overdue. we will i will give dave his award or perhaps jack can give him his award but he will get his award this week okay moving on the citizen of the year award for artist or creator is presented to dennis hitchcock owner and president of circa 21 dinner playhouse Circa 21 opened on June 11th, 1977, and will enter its 50th anniversary season in November this year at its location, the historic Fort Theatre in downtown Rock Island, which is amazing. Talk about an anchor business in Rock Island, 50 years, that's incredible. Through Denny's creative vision and talent as a producer, he has worked hard to bring award-winning shows to Rock Island. Circa 21 is recognized nationally as one of the gold standards in the dinner theater industry, and it holds the distinction of being the longest operating dinner theater in the country with its original owner as still at its helm. That's remarkable. Over the last 50 years, Circa 21 has been an entertainment anchor for downtown Rock Island, employing thousands of people over the years and entertaining nearly three million guests from all over the world. Countless studies have shown how important a thriving arts community is to the success of any downtown, and Circa 21 has been part of that in Rock Island for five decades. Denny is still working more than 40 hours a week doing what he loves. He was recently recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dinner Theater Association, which represents dinner theaters across the United States. Denny's commitment is seen in his passion and success as he leads Circa 21, inspiring artists, actors, and countless audiences, all while giving back to the community. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome this year's Citizen of the Year for Artist and Creator, Denny Hitchcock. This year's winner of the veteran category is Joe Layden. Where are you, Joe? Right in front. Joe is an Air Force veteran and outreach specialist for the Quad Cities Veteran Affairs Center. Okay, Joe joined the Air Force in 1995 after graduating from Rock Island High School. During his time in the military, he served eight tours in the Middle East in roles including NCOIC weapons loading and maintenance, squadron lead crew chief, and superintendent of the maintenance operations center. After 20 years of active and dedicated service, Joe retired from the Air Force in 2015. He went on to volunteer on the Aviano Air Force Base in Italy, serving as the 31st Fighter Wing's booster club president, 31st Fighter Wing key spouse. In 2018, he taught for the DoD school system at the Yokota Air Base in Japan as a full-time substitute teacher for the ROTC program. In 2022, he was handpicked for an agency transfer to Veterans Affairs to be the outreach coordinator for the Quad Cities Vet Center. As outreach specialist, he provides services for military installations and transitional assistance program briefings to personnel transitioning from active duty to civilian life. Joe has dedicated his post-military career to helping veterans and uniformed personnel access care and benefits. Thank you for your service, Joe. Please welcome our Citizen of the Year for Veteran, Joe Layden. okay this year's citizen of the year award for city employee goes to christia lashore facility and events supervisor of the martin luther king jr community center christia has been with the king center for 25 years she was nominated by mlk center director jerry jones who wrote such a beautiful nomination i'm just going to read that one too as a lifelong rock island resident christia has a deep personal commitment to the community she serves throughout her career at the martin luther king jr community center she has successfully managed workforce development and youth programs demonstrating outstanding leadership and a genuine passion for helping residents thrive She later stepped into the role of facility and event supervisor, where she has continued to excel while representing the city with professionalism, compassion, and pride. Christia has been instrumental in the success of the King Center's signature events, including the annual Thanksgiving dinner, Soul of the City, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service. These events require months of planning, no doubt, coordination, and leadership. And under her guidance, they have become cherished community traditions that bring together thousands of residents, volunteers, and community partners while showcasing the very best of Rock Island. One of Christia's greatest strengths is her ability to build lasting relationships. She has cultivated strong partnerships with businesses, churches, nonprofits, and civic organizations and fellow city employees. She creates collaborations that expand the city's ability to serve residents. She is equally respected by her colleagues who value her dependability, positive attitude, and her willingness to support others. Although much of her work happens behind the scenes, Christia's impact is felt throughout the community. Her leadership strengthens connections, inspires volunteerism, and creates opportunities for people from all backgrounds to come together in service and in celebration. She continues to excel while representing the city with professionalism, compassion, and pride. Let's hear it. Please welcome our Citizen of the Year winner for City Employee, Christy LaShore.

Yes.

I got ashes right in the middle.

Oh, she wasn't looking.

All right, now look at me once again.

Hang on, because my ashes have run out. Now what will that show? There we go. Thank you. Thank you, guys.

And finally, this year's winner in the nonprofit category is Pam's Place and its founder, Pamela Seals. Through her nonprofit, Pam's Place, Pam has created a welcoming environment where people can access resources, mentorship, educational opportunities, and community support. She has built meaningful partnerships and brings people together through programs and events that strengthen families and neighborhoods. Her dedication to uplifting children, families, and underserved residents has made a lasting impact throughout the city. One of her signature community initiatives is the annual Back to School Carnival and Giveaway. We've all seen this. It's amazing. Each year, Pam and her team provide local students and families with school supplies, backpacks, food, entertainment, and valuable community resources, helping children begin the school year with confidence, while easing the financial burdens on parents. This event has become a highly anticipated tradition that reflects her heart for serving others and investing in the next generation. Pam's leadership extends far beyond hosting events. She is a compassionate advocate who works tirelessly to ensure that individuals and families feel supported, encouraged, and empowered. Her dedication to community service, her passion for helping others, and her ability to bring people together has made Pam's Place a trusted and valued resource in Rock Island. Pam's unwavering commitment to uplifting children, families, and underserved residents has made and will continue to make a lasting impact throughout the city. Let's hear it. Give it up for our Citizen of the Year winner for non-profit Pam's Place, Pamela Seals. Now I'd like to call up Mary Chappell. She's our Labor Day Parade Committee Chairwoman, and she will announce what we've been waiting for this year's Parade Grand Marshal. And Mayor Harris will present the award.

Okay, good. Good evening, everyone. I'm excited to be here on behalf of the Labor Day Parade Advisory Board members. We just had our second to the last meeting, and I can tell you that the 42nd annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade is coming together nicely. The theme, celebrating 250 years of American history, kind of ambitious, but we're excited about all the school-age kids that are really embracing the theme and some of the other fun stuff. So we hope to see you there. But one thing we need is a Grand Marshal to lead this parade, and I'm excited to share tonight that the Grand Marshal for the 42nd Annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade is Gary Rowe.

Yeah, right there. Okay. All right. Ready? Look at me.

Why don't you stand in the middle? Wait, let me just skip over this. Okay. You stand in the middle, Gary. I feel like you're always worried about everybody else.

Okay.

All right, everybody look at me, and then the families.

Once you really look at me, hold your words up a little higher. Smile. Okay, now the families.

Mayor Harris asked me if I'd like to say a few words, and if you know me, you know that I always will. I just want to say we get the kind of community we deserve. Okay, that's all right.

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

Okay. So Mayor Harris asked me if I'd like to say a few words, and those of you who know me think yes. He always has words to say. I believe very strongly that we get the kind of community we deserve. Tonight we have a whole lot of people who have done a whole lot for our community. And I am humbled and proud to be a part of that. I think Rock Island is a great place to live. to nurture families, to educate your children, to give everybody a chance. Our diversity is a strength and we learn from it and we grow from it. And I'm humbled and proud to be a part of it. Thank you so much.

All right, that was great.

Agenda item seven, public comment.

No!

Asphal, Tawani? Arsifale? Tarani? Yes. Yes, come on up, sir.

Hey, we're all gathered here today because we heard of the barring of the time for liquor sales. And I just want to say a couple things. I wasn't prepared to speak, but The liquor is the only way that we are currently paying our bills now, because now with the city ordinance of the beer being restricted to three to two cans, that sale has already dropped. A lot of the stuff that we sell for a couple of dollars, we're not making anything but a couple of cents on the dollar. So the liquor is the one thing that we rely on to pay our bills. going forward you know so now I understand that you know not everyone understands how a business runs but for us that's like our home if anything happens to our house a leak for example the first thing we do is we go and we find the first person to fix that leak because we don't want anything happening to our families now our businesses have issues all the time and we have to be there around the clock 24 seven to be there for our business. So we don't work a regular nine to five. I haven't even been home yet today. I've been out since 9 a.m. and this was the last minute meeting. I just heard that this is happening today. Right, so I'm here, and we're all here to support our businesses, to make sure that moving forward, we can at least support not only our home as a business, but our actual home for our families. And now that our liquor sales are gonna go down from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., that's 12 hours that we're not gonna have that sale. Now moving forward, that's gonna cripple our business. Moving forward, I don't think a lot of people are going to be able to afford not only having a business, but even our basic needs at our house. That's honestly all I have right now. But I really hope that you guys can rethink or find another way to do what you guys are trying to do. Thank you. Thank you.

Steve, what's his business location?

Sir, what's the location of your business?

Corner View, 2400 Seventh Avenue. Anything else?

Thank you. Yeah, thanks. Okay. Agenda item eight, update Rock Island. Update Rock Island. Thursday Night Groove kicks continues this Thursday, August 27th at Shwe Riverfront Park with Fair Warning. Jam out to the very best in Arena Rock with a big stage experience featuring crowd favorites from Bon Jovi, Journey, Van Halen, and more. The high-energy show will have you singing and dancing. Food will be provided by Main Event Catering and craft beer from Bent River Brewing Company starting at 6 p.m. Come early, stay late, and kick off the Thursday night groove series with us. Soul of the City. The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will host Soul of the City on Saturday, September 5th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Franklin Field in Rock Island. This free, family-friendly community festival is expected to bring thousands of people together for a full day of fun, entertainment, activities, and community connections. The day begins with Soul of the City Parade at 10 a.m., traveling from Francis Willard Elementary School to Franklin Field. Festival activities include live entertainment featuring the return of the Fantastic Five, the annual RIV Festival, food and merchant vendors, nonprofit and community resource booths, family activities, and more. The event continues a tradition that began as Family Fun Day in the 70s. and has grown into one of Rock Island's largest free community celebrations. Soul of the City is free and open to everyone. Rock Island Labor Day Parade. The 42nd Rock Island Labor Day Parade kicks off Monday, September 7th at 9.30 a.m. at the corner of 18th Avenue and 33rd Street. Enjoy floats, live bands, and festive entries celebrating this year's theme of marching through 250 years of American history. Thank you.

right agenda item nine a report from administration regarding an ordinance submitting section 3-9b of the rock island code of ordinances establishing a downtown liquor control district first reading move to consider and amend the ordinance to also exclude bars second

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

Yeah, I have a discussion. We're excluding the borrowers, which is a problem for me as well. I really don't like the way this ordinance actually is done. I think that it puts regulations on businesses in the city of Rock Island. I do understand the issues and the concerns about what's going on in the downtown area. But I also know that this also affects my ward as well. And it's creating some issues for the business owners that also I represent. And I have some serious concerns. I would really prefer, as I tried to do in the beginning, is to table this for more discussion due to the fact that I still see that there are some areas that need to be discussed. And I don't think that they've all been brought up to the fullest to actually carry this tonight.

Are you making a motion to postpone it to a certain time? Alderman Evans?

I would actually like to postpone it at least for 30 days. It doesn't go on effect until 27th, so we do have time. I just don't want to make a rush decision until we've got all the language in order, as well as be able to get a conversation with the business owners that this is affecting.

Okay, so you want to postpone it to the second meeting in September?

Yes, that's fine.

Is there a second for that?

Second.

There's a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

I don't think that further discussion is necessary. I think we all understand the consequences of what we're considering tonight. Like the conversations we've had years before that many of us were at this table for, sometimes we make unpopular decisions for the betterment of the entire community and There are plenty of stakeholders in downtown and Broadway and Greenbush of which I've been in communication with that strongly support this. You're never gonna have a policy that is unanimously supported by everybody, but overwhelmingly they are in support of restricting the sale of alcohol around downtown and in the neighborhoods around downtown because of chronic nuisance issues taking place in our community. I think we all understand that. We can disagree on the policy and that's fine, but we don't need any more time to discuss this.

I still believe that when you tell me that we can allow the bars to participate and then you tell the convenience stores that they can't, that that's a problem. We really should make sure that we have an understanding or a clear guideline for this. Because if we're selling licenses, we need to make sure that as we're selling those licenses, we're not prohibiting anyone from being able to benefit based on the licenses that they're paying. And it's not changing the break what the bars are paying versus what the convenience stores are paying to do the same thing, sell the liquor.

So, I guess my thought on it is, you know, I understand that there may be particular problems and those particular problems should be addressed by, you know, to those individual businesses rather, you know, than creating an ordinance that impacts other businesses. So my concern is that, you know, a possible unfairness, inequitable or biased treatment could be seen So another question is how many businesses are currently impacted by this ordinance? Just one. Just one?

The current ordinance only impacts one business. This ordinance, if it were to take effect, would affect four additional businesses. For a total of five. For a total of five.

Hold up. Give me one second.

The liquor licenses. So it would be primarily affecting class A, B, and C. And it looks like we have, if it were to go uniformly across the city, is that what you're asking, Alderman Barnes? Yes. We currently have, with A, B, and C, 27 liquor licenses.

So again, I'm looking at this from a fairness perspective. So to me, this would... be unfair to those individual businesses that would be impacted.

They had a study to actually justify each one of the concerns that we are actually locking this all up into one. I think that we should have that before we look to pass this ordinance. I think that also those businesses that are subject to be affected should also be notified, other than some of these people just were found out today when a camera got through on their face asking them about it. So even though we're discussing that there has been a lot of discussion about this, has it been discussed with the people that we're also looking to make these decisions about? So that's why I'm asking for this to be table for those reasons that we can actually give fair and respect to the people who pay for licenses in the city of rock.

That's fair I agree we should have some time to discuss but that's why I made the motion to consider and not suspend the rules and pass it this is a significant piece of public policy people should be aware It will come back up for another vote if it passes tonight.

I will say that. The one business that's currently affected by this ordinance now 2nd Avenue downtown Rock Island. They have been under restrictions since 2019. 2019 that is over 7 years, depending on the month you're looking at. Now, when we heard that young man speak on the importance of sales, the importance of profit for a viable business and to support a family, Second Avenue Downtown, they have been hindered in that regard for seven years now. for the original purpose of that were for nuisances, were for people loitering, people doing a whole lot of negative things outside of his establishment. We used to have a bench to where you can just sit down out there. Since then, the bench has been removed. Since then, we have spent tirelessly an amount of money, an amount of energy in uplifting and fixing up the downtown. A lot of these original issues that brought on this restriction for that business, a lot of those, we as a city, especially as a downtown, we have outgrown. We're bigger than that now. It was it was some discussions had some months ago. In particularly with the 7th Avenue in allowing them to have liquor sales at the same time as every other every other convenience store in the Quad cities excuse me in Rock Island. During that discussion instead of I feel instead of doing one business right it's been elected to do a lot of other businesses wrong and I don't agree with that. When you look at, when you think about not being able to sell liquor until 5 p.m., when you think about that as a city, when you think about that as an individual place, Saturdays and Sundays roll around, and I'm just gonna say it like this because we all can relate whether you drink or not. When Saturdays and Sundays roll around, when the football games come on at 11 o'clock, when the NFL games come on at 11 or 12, During the week when people get off work at 2.30, 3.30, any responsible individual is entitled to go pick up a beer, go pick up an alcoholic drink if they so choose. But that particular place, whether you get off at or trying to run a healthy business here, we're talking about those people. I think that restriction is excessive. I think it's backbreaking to a business. also with with with with them being the only ones everyone can imagine how much business how much revenue they are losing and this is something that they stuck with us that convenience store with them being the only place in rock island under them constrictions they didn't cry they didn't fight they stuck with us they stuck with that downtown Just as long and just as well as every other business that suffered every other business that went through trying times when we were putting Rock Island downtown under construction. When you look at expanding this to for other businesses in this area in this immediate area here. we heard we heard a few convenience store owners but let me go deeper than that what i feel this will do create a bigger desert a bigger desert already here in rock island a bigger desert you know when when if if we restrict them until 5 p.m not only will that undermine the the process and even the amount of fees that go with the liquor license if we're restricting them for half the time are we going to drop the prices to 50 i don't think so it undermines a lot of things in a lot of different ways I want to reiterate that I feel that I know that downtown and Rock Island, we have outgrown these type of restrictions. We don't want to drive those businesses away. We don't want to create a situation to where if those businesses leave, maybe let's just say beer and alcohol is the majority of what they sell. But if they go away, then what that also creates is the convenience items that they sell. They're gone too. We'll have buildings sitting empty and it will create a bigger desert in Rock Island. And I do not want to see that at all. That's all I'll say for now. But does anybody else have anything, any more discussion? Roll call, please.

Just to clarify, we are voting on Alderman Evans' motion to postpone to the second meeting of September. Alderperson Barnes.

Yes. Swanson? No. Parker?

No.

Poulos? No. Healy?

No.

Evans? Yes.

And Hurt?

No.

Okay, now we move to the underlying motion, which is the motion to consider the ordinance with the amendment to also exclude bars and taverns.

Oh, any more discussion on that?

Well, the only thing I want to say is this is a first reading, so it will come back to a second reading the first meeting we have in September. So whatever is voted on today is not a done deal. There's still, is it two weeks or three weeks? I can't remember how many weeks are in a month. But anyhow, it will come back the 14th of September. Yeah, three weeks. Yeah, for a second vote.

I just still feel that dealing with this part here, of this food bar attack, creates a discrepancy and it's all set right there for the city. And I strongly urge us not to

Well, I think the big difference with that is you don't take your drink to go at a bar. You consume it there, and therefore the bar owner has control over the patrons that are there and can stop if they feel that somebody is being over-served, whereas if a convenience store, you don't have that. People come in and buy it and leave with it.

I still reiterate, as the mayor just stated, We have residents that live within the areas of these convenience stores, and I think it's a disservice to them to tell them that they have to wait until 5 in the evening to purchase liquor. I'm not a liquor drinker. I don't consume it. But still, there's one right, and I still believe that we are stepping on thin water as we are making this decision at this time.

I'll just reiterate, every single resident, not even of downtown, every single resident of Broadway and Greenbush, with whom I have spoken about this restriction, that are the very people that you're talking about, that would be impacted by not being able to purchase alcohol, have supported it.

And I do respect that that's your part of your award, but I also advocate for all concerns on my side of this award.

yeah I don't think you know this this what what the purpose of what this ordinance is trying to protect the purpose of what it's trying to do I think that the city of Rock Island I don't think we're that fragile I think we're more mature. I think we can handle purchasing a beer before 5 PM. I absolutely believe that.

And I guess, Mayor, I do agree with you, but I do see, I've worked down here, I'm here almost every day. Friday I saw a gentleman, 7.30 in the morning with three 24-ounce old Milwaukee Best ices in a bag. Now, I know I have seen that person. They are an unhoused individual, and they're walking around with that at 7.30 in the morning. I personally have an issue with that.

Can we say that you know that he purchased that in the downtown area?

No, he didn't. Because he can't. Yeah, he didn't.

Yeah, I would be willing to bet. I saw where he was walking from.

I still disagree with the fact that we're still trying to enter and kind of like this is on us.

and my family is invested in the downtown and I don't like having needles in my parking lot and I don't like having those beer cans in my bushes I I have to have pay someone or I clean it up every single solitary morning that I come in there I have a front set of bushes and there's beer cans. And I pay for that.

But still, once again, we have to work differently and work smarter for overall citizens of Rock Island. And I think right now the decisions and the choices that we're making is an overreach when it comes to being business friendly and saying that we want to take the burden off the residents based on the taxes as we're adding more stipulations to the people that are generating that taxes.

And we have businesses that are paying those taxes that want this. Can we call a vote?

Yeah, may I make a motion to call the question?

All right, we have a motion to call to question. Is there a second?

Second.

Okay, that motion is not debatable, and it's immediately called for a vote, so we can proceed on that vote. This would end debate and move to the underlying vote.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Alderperson Barnes?

Is this the final or just the end?

Just the call to question to see if we should end debate and move on to the other vote.

Not really. I think people know.

Swanson? End debate, yes.

Yes.

Parker?

Aye.

Polis? Aye. Healy?

Aye.

And Hurt?

Aye.

Hurt, Evans, sorry.

Ari? I still say no.

Okay, so now that we have ended debate, we move on immediately to the underlying vote, which is to consider the ordinance with the amendment excluding taverns and bars. We'll do a roll call now. Alderperson Barnes?

Is this the final one? This is the final one. Okay. So I'm going to say no, and I hope in two weeks there will be a lot of discussions and amendments that will be fair to everyone, because that is my concern. Is this fair to everyone?

Alder Prison Swanson?

Aye.

Parker?

Aye.

Poulos? No. Healy?

Aye.

Evans?

No.

And Hurt?

Aye.

Yeah. Let me see where we are. 9C. We took B. We pulled B, correct?

Yep.

All right.

Agenda item C. Report from the clerk's office regarding a highway resolution for the closure of 5th Avenue, US Highway 67 on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the annual city open house.

Resolution?

second i have a first and a second is there any discussion roll call please alder prison barnes yes swanson aye parker aye pulis keely aye evans yes and hurt aye agenda item 10 consent agenda items a through e motion to approve consent agenda items a through e second there's been a first and a second is there any discussion Roll call, please.

Alderperson Barnes.

Aye. Swanson. Aye. Parker.

Aye.

Poulos. Aye. Healy.

Aye.

Evans.

Yes. And Hurt. Aye. Agenda item 11.

Claims A and B.

Motion to allow claims A and B.

Second.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please.

Alderson Barnes. Aye. Swanson. Aye. Parker.

Aye.

Poulos. Aye. Keeley.

Aye.

Evans.

Yes.

And Hurt.

Aye.

Agenda item C. Report from the Public Works Department regarding a payment to JC Dillon, Peoria, Illinois for the water service repair program, sewer lateral repair program, and lead service repairs in the amount of $187,694.11. Motion to allow the claim.

Second.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Due to the nature of my employment, I need to recuse myself from this vote.

Roll call, please.

Alder Prison Barnes. Aye. Swanson. Aye. Poulos. Aye. Healy. Aye. Evans. Yes. And Hurt.

Aye. Agenda item E. Purchases D and E. Oh, excuse me.

D. Excuse me.

Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

Yes, I have questions on D as far as the lease and purchase of the equipment. So what is the, so these are all 2021 vehicles. What's the anticipated useful life of these vehicles?

That would vary based on the vehicle. So there's 12 GM 2021 GMC Sierras. So those are the ones in my bearings here sitting out in the parking lot that the inspections team largely uses. And there's a Four F-350s, those are public works. There's a 350 command that I believe belongs to fire. Then we have a bucket truck, and then there's a Ford Explorer. So it would vary wildly. You're going to get a longer lifespan out of the F-150s as they're just driving around town, whereas the F-350s, they're getting driven a lot harder, filling piles and that sort of thing. But I would say all of these, you should be able to get another seven years out of them.

Any more discussion? Roll call, please.

Alderperson Barnes? Aye. Swanson? Aye. Parker? Aye. Poulos?

Aye. Healy? Aye.

Evans? Yes. And Hurt?

Aye. Agenda item 12.

A, report from the Community Development Department regarding a demolition contract with Coopman Trucking and Excavating for multiple property demolitions and site preparation at 900 Block of 11th Street.

Motion to approve the contract and authorize the city manager to execute the document subject to minor attorney modifications.

Second.

There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

Due to the nature of my employment, I need to recuse myself from this vote.

Roll call, please.

Alderperson Barnes.

Aye. Swanson. Aye. Poulos. Aye. Healy.

Aye.

Evans.

Yes.

And Hurt.

Aye. Agenda item B.

Report from the Public Works Department requesting authorization to enter into an intergovernmental service agreement with Rock Island Milan School District for Fleet Maintenance Services.

Motion to approve the agreement and authorize the city manager to execute the documents subject to minor attorney modifications.

Second.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? I have a question. compared to our agreement with the arsenal what does this what does this look like financially who's you know who's on which side of the straw with us in the school district with this so we approach we approach the school district about partnering for this they currently purchase fuel from us so the way

where this is structured, it's going to be kind of like a la carte. The way the school district operates currently is when they have needs for their fleet, they take it to an assortment of local dealerships that the advantage for them is our rates are more affordable to them, and also they're not driving as far with both of us obviously being located in Rock Island. So the way we approach this is we want to enter kind of a trial period to give them the flexibility to bring things to us, and as that progresses, we anticipate they'll bring us more. But we're going to start with some very simple things like, Mostly just preventive maintenance, oil changes, those sorts of things. And then they have mowers and other odds and ends. So as that service picks up, we will adjust things accordingly on our end. But the hope would be eventually to take on their entire fleet and probably build an extra position into our budget. But we're starting off small and build into that.

So that would increase our volume, and it'll cut down on their expenses, on their fees?

That's correct. Win-win. It's a huge win-win.

Win-win.

They'll save money. Our garage, which is an internal service farm, would make money. So it's just a win across the board.

All right. Good deal. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any more discussion? Clerk, please call the roll.

Alderperson Barnes? Aye. Swanson? Aye. Parker?

Aye.

Gullis? Aye.

Aye.

Healy?

Aye.

Evans? Yes. And Hurt?

Aye.

Agenda item C. Report from the Public Works Department requesting authorization for CDM Smith, Chicago, Illinois to evaluate the city's raw water pumping station and the potential implementation of PFAS treatment in the amount not to exceed $98,600.

Motion to approve the contract and authorize city manager to execute the document subject to minor attorney modifications.

Second.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please.

Alderperson Barnes. Aye. Swanson. Aye. Parker.

Aye.

Poulos. Aye. Healy. Aye. Evans. Yes.

And Hurt. Aye. Agenda item 13.

Budget adjustments A and B.

Motion to approve budget adjustments A and B. Second.

Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call please.

Alderperson Barnes. Aye.

Swanson. Aye. Parker.

Aye.

Bulis.

Aye. Healy. Aye. Evans. Yes. And Hurt.

Aye. Leslie. One second. Okay, agenda item 14. Other business, no business. Mr. Rodney, would you like to come up and say a few words?

Yes.

All right.

I want to talk about the general story that y'all have issues with. That young lady right there said that— Speak into the mic, please, sir. The young lady right there, Miss Jip, how do you say it? Swanson. She said that you can't take liquor outside of bar. That's not true. Liquor license, people that pertain with bar, they have the ability to sell to go packs. So that's not true. My problem is, is when y'all make ordinances and we try to follow them, be legitimate honest people and y'all allow and I'm gonna say y'all because you sit back and you hear a word and you tell we're gonna shut that down are we gonna do this are we gonna do that instead of coming out seeing for yourselves the business that I have access to, I have quite a few properties in the Quad Cities that I have access to on every side of town. I don't know, I don't understand. How do you judge or justify? I write checks to Rock Island all the time. Not small checks, neither. I just had a lady, a man come survey my property, talking about a dead tree that's been there for 10 years, and I bought this property two years ago, and they wanna make me cut it down? How is Public Works gonna make me do that?

Because the man told me Public Works sent him.

I don't understand that, that's my property. And then I bought the problem, but it's been there 10 years before I got there. But you're gonna make me cut it down now? I don't think so. But you have to think about others. I understand what you're saying. I own a house right across, on Leaven Street. It's an African lady that's homeless. I have to escort her off of my porch all the time for drinking beer. I'm a Christian, I don't drink. But the Bible tells me if they old enough, it becomes their responsibility. Y'all make me sell two beers. Y'all make me sell 6.5% of alcohol. But either way you go from my convenience store, I get cussed out. I got it on video. Rodney don't know what he's talking about. That ain't the city ordinance. I came down here and got the city ordinance the other day to hang on the wall so they can read what the city ordinance is. I've lost $700 worth of business a day. I couldn't be them guys. They can't sell. I called to find. Because I employ people. I try to give them jobs so they don't do crazy stuff. I think that's why, what's that store right down, Phillips 66, right off of Centennial, windows are broke out. That's the new hangout now for the homeless people. If y'all get up at five or six o'clock in the morning, you'll see it. They just had a broke out window. What do y'all think it's gonna do? We just lost 3,000 jobs. When people hit poverty, they want to drink because they want to drink their problems away. That's all I have to say. Y'all really need to reconsider it. I would really appreciate it. And I have a lot of great things that I want to do with the community of Rock Island. But the way it's looking now, I'd rather go do business with my island.

Thank you. Thank you for your time, sir, and for your comments. Next time. Next time, sir. I'm sorry. I'll get you next time. I'm sorry. Okay. Anything else?

Yeah, I've got something. So this Friday down at Schwiebert Park, there's a band called Pettyville. It's a Tom Petty tribute band, and there's going to be an opening act, Eva Kendall, down at Schwiebert this weekend. So if anybody's listening, they're a great band. Doors open at 5 p.m. The concert starts at 6, and I think beverages by Bent River, and there'll be some food. So anyway, I just want to put a plug in for that. It's going to be a great event. So if anybody's looking for something to do on Friday night.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr. Mayor. Yes. Due to the fact that they have sat here all night, can I at least release two minutes to this young man?

Go ahead. Go ahead.

Hello, everybody.

My name is Charanjit Singh, and I own 2403 Seventh Avenue, Riverside. I bought this building when it's empty for many years. And I upgrade the building, bring to the city code, open the business. Many years, I put many efforts to start making money. Now, I'm making money, I send my son into college. He's in a medical school. You guys, a few years back, told me to close midnight. I closed midnight. If you guys tell me to now not sell beer and liquor or not open the store to 5 PM, then I have to tell my son to drop the college and come back home. Because I put my entire life efforts there to build the business and send that child to the good school. And now, if I can't afford to send him, I have to bring back him home. If we fix the problem to close the store, I think we close the store if city happy with that. If we have less crime to closing my store and I work with the city. But since 2008, I'm in that corner. I want to ask, does the crime go down or the crime goes up? If it goes up, I'll close it. If it goes down, then we have to think something else or some different way to run this business. That's my question. Thank you.

Thank you for your time, sir, and for your patience. Thank you.

And then I would like to ask the lady in the back who has had her hand raised to speak too. Okay.

Oh, I didn't know you wanted to speak, ma'am. Come on up, please. Had no idea. I apologize.

All right, I'm here tonight as a resident directly impacted by the businesses located within the proposed Liquor Control District. I live on Seventh Avenue, where many of these businesses are located. Also a member of the Broadway Historic Board. From my home, I regularly witness individuals purchasing alcohol from businesses in this area, consuming it nearby, and then discarding bottles, cans, and other containers on our sidewalks, in the Broadway Historic Park next to my home, and also in my front yard. For those of us who live here, these impacts are not hypothetical. We see them and deal with them firsthand. The litter and debris negatively affect the appearance and quality of life in our neighborhood and undermine the significant time, effort, and money that have been invested in cleaning up and beautifying our downtown and surrounding areas. Some are paid for with TIF tax dollars, and some in Broadway are spent with volunteer hours. I believe the proposed Liquor Control District is a reasonable tool to address these ongoing problems. It's not about being against local businesses or responsible alcohol sales. It's about recognizing that certain alcohol sales can have consequences for the surrounding area and residents. neighborhood and people who live there. Residents deserve to be able to enjoy our sidewalks, parks, neighborhoods, and our own front yards without continually dealing with discarded alcohol containers and the impacts of public consumption. For these reasons, as a resident who lives directly within the affected area and experiences these issues firsthand, I strongly support the proposed Liquor Control District. I believe it's an important step towards protecting the improvements that we've made downtown and creating a cleaner, safer and more welcoming community for residents, visitors and responsible businesses alike. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your time and your comments, ma'am. Thank you.

On a different note, yesterday we had a fundraiser in the downtown. It was the Cancer Can Kiss My Ass Car Show. Repeat that. Yeah, I know. I know. Hey, I didn't make it, man. I didn't make it. But actually, it was the largest turnout that they've had. We had 160 cars. There was a wonderful time. They were from six states. So just wanted to say they don't have the final total on what they raised, but they were expecting to beat last year. So it was a great time had by all in the downtown. So thank you, guys.

Thank you, Bill. I would also like to talk about the polyrhythm. This weekend was very nice, very well attended. I was glad I had time to get over there in the midst of my schedule. It seems like our schedules are just getting bombarded right now. But I think that Ms. Guy and her team did a great job.

Anything else? All right. Agenda item 15. Should we? Oh, you got it.

Closed session 5ILCS120-2C11 litigation when an action against affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal. Or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding must be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.