City Council - Regular Meeting

Roll call, please. I'm sorry. Alder person Evans present. Hurt here. Barnes Swanson here. Parker here. Pulis here. Haley here. and Mayor Harris. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nation.

Thank you. Agenda item five. Vote to approve the agenda. Second.

First and a second. Any discussion? Okay. I would ask for a motion to amend the agenda for item 15B, please. I move to amend the agenda removing.

Second. There's been a first and second. Is there any discussion? All in favor? All opposed? Thank you. Okay, back to the uh original motion. Yes, agenda item five, please.

Oh, excuse me. Is there any other any other discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. Hi. Hi. He Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson.

Hi. Agenda item six, public comment. Okay. First and only name, Mr. Hi. Sure. Press the button. Press. Ah. All right. Got me there. All right. Uh, good afternoon. Uh, thank you all for having me. My name is Ty Sher. I'm uh the vice president of the Rock Island Grand Prix event for an event on Labor Day weekend that you guys have been gracious enough to have let us do for 30 straight events now. Um here tonight also with me is our president Roger Ruth Hart in the back here. Um here tonight because our events on the agenda uh for the just the permit approval that we would seek to to have the event on Labor Day. Um just you know wanted to take a moment to um just give you a couple background points about the event and you know many of you are familiar with it I'm sure but um maybe new to some of you as well. Um, so first off, u I'm local to the area. I've been a resident of the Quad Cities my whole life and, uh, went to Augustana, so I think a lot of Rock Island have been a part of our event, um, for about the last 25 years. I I, uh, was five years old in 1992 when it was the first event, but unfortunately wasn't uh, old enough to be a part of of organizing the event. Roger here has been been with it since day one. Um myself uh had the opportunity to help uh our team of the volunteers uh organize the event for the last 25 years. Um but the city is really key to our event. You know, we we appreciate the uh involvement you guys do to help us have the event each year, especially this year. Um Tom and the

economic development team. um Jack from the the Downtown Alliance have been key to giving us some some direction and feedback uh to help us uh understand, you know, the changing needs of of what we're doing. Um you know, as you guys might imagine, shutting down the streets for Labor Day weekend each year, I'm sure you guys have heard at times some challenges that it creates. Um we we definitely um you know once you've been doing something for as long as we have uh we definitely want to be um um a proponent of the the city and the businesses and residents of downtown. I'm sure at times we're a disruption and we understand that. And I think the main message I hope you get out of my comments tonight is that we really want to work with the residents, the downtown businesses and the city to do anything we can to make it less of a burden for them. And um you know, I listen into your guys' meetings each month and you guys are met with a lot of challenges, but we think our event has the opportunity to be to continue to be a bright spot for Rock Island. Um you guys have heard some of the struggles you guys have dealt with with um un unhoused people here in the last several months and see the the the strides you guys have made. I think this should be something that you guys take pride in as a city and we take pride in as as it's our event, but we want Rock Island to be proud of it, too. it's been around for a long time and and um you know kind of the next couple points I want to finish on here are really just about letting you guys understand some of the economic impact and also some of the prestige the event has that um you know Rock Island should really take credit for. Um, you know, our event's been fortunate to have its 30th event this past year in 2025. And we've housed the event itself in, you know, in the racing world, which kind of, you know, the cart racing that we do here in Rock Island is kind of a foundational level. It's like the little league baseball of the the major leagues being like NASCAR and F1. Um, it's the little league baseball of that of that uh ladder cycle. And um when I think

about what what we've done here in Rock Island over the last, you know, several decades, the procedure of this event is kind of in this level of of racing, it's equivalent to the ND500 or Daytona 500. It's the Super Bowl of of events for this type of uh uh of equipment. So, you know, you guys have that right here in our backyard just a few blocks away. And it's definitely something that Rock Island should should be proud of. We've housed, you know, numerous NASCAR drivers, current indie drivers, F1 drivers. A lot of their team members have raced here. We've even had the u uh one of the actors from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air race in the event in the past. So, there's been a lot of celebrity involvement and and attendance here um in Rock Island. You know, on the economic side, you we we estimate um economic impact to the Rock Island area of about $2 million per year. um our friends at the Visit Quad Cities do some tracking to keep keep that accurate for us. So roughly, you know, over the course of the event, that's about $45 million of economic impact. So again, um we're we're here to just to let put a face to the name. You know, we're on the agenda to get approval and appreciate your guys' help and help we've seen from the city to date and other other downtown businesses are are definitely critical to us. So look forward to um any input you guys have for us, anything we can do better or should consider. We're definitely uh uh here to to be engaged. So thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Agenda item seven, update Rock Island. Update Rock Island. Rock Island Arsenal Lecture Series. Learn more about our nation's history at the Rock Island Public Library this Wednesday, March 11th, at 2 p.m. This year's lecture series focuses on American independence from the colonial era to the writing of the Constitution. This month is this month the topic is the French and Indian War and its importance to the future of the United States. All lectures in this series are presented at the downtown library branch by a member of the Army Sustainment Command Office of the Historian. Get your green on. The annual St. Patrick's Society parade is this Saturday, March 14th. It's the only bystate St. Patrick's Day parade in the nation. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of 4th Avenue and 23rd Street, downtown Rock Island. Following the parade, head over to Arts Alley for the Shamrock Showcase featuring pop-up shops from the Blue Collar Bagels, Flattery's Irish Candy Company, painted dragonface painting, and more. From authentic Irish fair and festival drinks to specials to live music, hands-on crafts and leprechaun photo ops, participating businesses downtown are offering unique ways to celebrate the holiday beyond the parade route. Free tax assistance. With help from volunteers from United Way of the Quad Cities, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is offering free tax services until April 4th on the following days: Tuesday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The services are walk-in only and are on a first come, first serve basis with limited spots available. For more information or questions about the program, please call their office directly at 563355-4310.

Thank you. Agenda item eight, a report from the parks and recreation department and clerk's office regarding a highway resolution for the closure of First Avenue between 17th and 20th Streets on Friday, July 3rd, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. along with a rain date of Friday, July 4th, 2026 for the annual Red, White, and Boom fireworks display and concert at Schwebert Riverfront Park. Move to adopt the resolution. Second. There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Key. I. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Barnes or Barn Swanson. I. Agenda item B.

Report from the public works department regarding a revised motor fuel tax resolution for Bolts Rockalt in the amount of 190,578.58.

There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the role. Alder person Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Healey. I. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item C. An ordinance amending chapter 16 article 2 section 16-37 adjustment of water utility charges of the code of ordinances. Second reading. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Aler Parker, I. Pulis, hi. Healey. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson.

Hi. Agenda item B. An ordinance approving the 2026 amendment to remove parcels from the North 11 Street Tiff redevelopment project area. Second reading. Motion to pass the ordinance. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. All the person Parker. I. Pulis. I. Healey. I. Evans. Yes. Kurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item E. An ordinance approving the tax increment financing redevelopment plan and project for the North Ruck Island Port District. Tiff. Second reading. Motion to pass the ordinance. Second.

There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Healey. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item F. An ordinance designating the North Rock Island Port District to have second reading. Motion to pass the ordinance. Second. I have a first and second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder. Person. Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Haley. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item G, an ordinance adopting tax increment financing for the North Rock Island Port District to have second reading. Motion to pass the ordinance. Second.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. I Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item H. An ordinance providing for the purchase of real estate at 10:31 10th Avenue. Second reading. Motion to pass the ordinance. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person. Parker. Hi. Pulis. I. Haley. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item I.

An ordinance amending chapter 13 article 3 section 13-55 of the code and ordinances to update the standards for the installation replacement of water service line. Second reading. Motion to pass the ordinance. There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. All the person Parker. Hi. Pulis. I. Healey. I. Evans. Yes. Kurt. Hi. And Swanson.

I agree. an ordinance authorizing a loan agreement to borrow funds from the water pollution control loan program for the Southwest treatment plant influent pumping station replacement project in the amount of $4.5 million. Second reading motion to pass your ordinance. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Parker, I. Evans, yes. Kurt, hi. And Swanson, I. Agenda item K. An ordinance amending chapter 6, article two of the code of ordinances to adopt the 2021 international fire code. Second reading.

Motion to pass the ordinance. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the role. Alder Parker. I. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item nine. A report from the economic development department regarding a development agreement which we're agreeing first reading to approve the agreement authorize the city manager to execute the documents attorney modifications consider suspend the ordinance. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

Yeah, I just want to reiterate to the public and staff that while I'm in a motion to approve this development agreement, it's my understanding that we are still deliberating an incentive polic been a subject that's been brought up the past several months related to a number of development agreements that we've approved that have been questioned or say by the public. Um this is a very small project and I presume any sort of policy that we pass will have a threshold. I don't think we're going to want a policy that affects every single project that we approve. So this is small probably would not be within the scope of policy anyway but I remain committed to ing policy for development agreements moving forward.

Thank you. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. Alison Parker, I Evans, yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item B. Report for the community development department regarding an ordinance amendment establishing permit extension procedures. First reading. Motion to consider the ordinance. I have a first and second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. He I. Evans. Yes. Kurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item C.

Report from the community development department regarding an ordinance amendment establishing a fixed annual rental registration date. First read. Motion to consider or second. It's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Uh, I'm I'm licensed. My business is licensed by this process. Do I need to recuse myself? Yes, you should. Recuse myself from this vote. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Pulis. I. Evans, yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item D.

Report from the community development department regarding an ordinance providing for a change in zoning at the Sunset South site from C2 to I1. First reading. Motion to deny the change in zoning from C2 to I1 and concern the ordinance. Motion to refer the ordinance backing commission for further. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Yes. Go ahead, Randy.

Um, can I have uh Tom come up and I got a couple questions. So, just so that everyone is aware, I was made aware today that I asked the question about Is there, you know, we've talked about what this would be used for and potential and you know, this property is owned by two different entities and not the city. And the grant that is that you're trying to obtain is $150,000 federal grant which would cover site survey cost. Would that be correct?

Yes.

Okay. My problem is I was just made aware today that there's a match that's going to be required from the city and approximately 20% and I this is the first I have heard of this and speaking with other council people it's the first day I've heard of this and I felt like that's it potentially could be a $30,000 like ask of the city to for the match. I personally wish this information would have been kind of outlined long ago and I feel like we've been down this road before with other issues and so a little bit disappointed in the fact that just finding out about this today. So for that reason this is why I'm voting I just want to clarify that that's correct right the reasoning we would recommend whether we're going to get or not really because it's part of making a site more somebody come in I want to buy this site

while I I understand what you're saying to me that property the first the the people that would benefit from that because if that land were to sell by either Langden or the other uh company since it's their property they would get the benefit of the land sale but would the city recoup their potentially $30,000 that was given as far as a grant match? I mean, I know it's $30,000, but you know, we're we're in a tight budget. I know these things have come up before, and I get a little bit frustrated. We're just now finding out about this today. And so, I get it. I understand site readiness and all that, but I don't know how my colleagues feel about that. I mean, I guess I would like to hear from you guys during this discussion.

Do we have any money budgeted for these types of grant matches? staff would point out that the council just did approve the new port district tiff. These sites are entirely within that tiff. $30,000 ported from say the north 11th street tiff into this tiff could be used as that match. That would be the maximum required. So we do not know at this time the total amount of a grant that could potentially be secured. Nor do we know the true scope of work and the associated cost. So $30,000 would be the maximum conceivable match, but even if that was the case, that would be easy to cover. I'm going to make a motion. I was confused by your I'm going to make a motion to amend your motion. I was confused by it. It sounded like you both denied the motion and referred it back to the Planning and Zoning Commission. I'd like to amend your motion by removing the denial of the motion and just letting it be referred back to the planning and zoning commission. We're not having two actions. We're just having the one kicking it back to the planning and zoning commission.

Yes. I wish that would have been separated out anyway. So, it was kind of confusing even for me to read that. So, that was confusing for me to read that as well. So, I'm okay with that. So, is that a second, Randy? Yes. Okay. So, okay. Can we speak on that or not?

Thank you. So, I guess in kicking that back, would there be a way to look at potentially down the line if the property was sold, the city recouping any monies that were spent from the sale of that? Because we're giving them the up to the match of $30,000. But if they sell it in eight years, could you put a provision in the sale that that would be recouped or had to return to the city? Is that possible? I believe that's reasonable. Is that fair?

It is, but the endgame for the city is to really see the property develop. I mean, if you had a building worth recruit 30,000 right away, plus all the jobs. I mean, that's a payout for the city. That's why we would invest $30,000 to potentially get millions of dollars worth of building development on the property, you know, potentially hundreds of jobs. That's the end of the city. Sure. Sure. The private property owners benefit, but we don't property for the most part. I mean, private property owners all

uh that, you know, that that absolutely makes sense. I think uh I think one of the main issues here is the fact that Randy are are just now information and I do applaud that he does want to take his time uh making this decision with all available information to come. So thank you. The reason we haven't provided more information about the grant because this action item really about the grant other than a piece that needs to be done for the grant later. I mean accepting the grant funding things later. So there will be a item on an upcoming city council agenda approving applying for the grant which would include our match. Is that correct? Well, there be council action required to approve the Sure.

Yeah. I mean, I I just want some action to all the person hurts point. I want some upcoming action. I think Todd, you make a good point that there's two issues going on here. There's the zoning and then there's the grant that we're applying for. as long as applying for the grant or the match from the city would be coming forward in a separate item for the city council. Are we okay with approving the zoning or do we just want to not, you know, kick this back to the planning and zoning commission for now and sort this out later?

And I don't think we have to approve applying for the grant, but yes, 100% when we get the grant, find out what it is. I think it needs to go back to council on approving the match for whatever that amount is at that point. Seeing if there's any it would have to because it's over the the threshold anyways for that commitment. So yeah, that would be a separate item in the future. This is just on the zoning. Any more discussion?

Well, my question remains. We're voting tonight on zoning. We're not voting on approving the local match. The motion is to kick the zoning decision back to the planning and zoning commission. Is that what we wanted to do tonight or do we want to approve the zoning change knowing that the money is a separate issue that we're voting on later? I'm fine with this. So I I agree we need site ready properties. I understand that. I mean I guess I would have liked potentially $30,000 as well. I have no clue. So, you know, that's more of the frustrating part. I don't know what the planning commission in that zoning. So, I guess I personally would be in favor of pushing this through and getting the zoning tightened up. That's where I would stand. Well, I I defer to all the person hurt. Uh it was your your concern originally and I don't want to go against that. I was just asking to clarify.

I'm okay with I'm okay with approving the zoning. I not okay with the way the way the other's written out and and and the the the amendments that we're asking for for planning and zoning with with the criteria of the city getting our money back. Is that something that needs to be sent back to them or that can be decided later as well?

No. So if alter person is okay with approving the zoning knowing that we're going to vote later on on funing the application. I will withdraw my amendment motion because we should change the original motion to approving the zoning change. Okay, then I'll withdraw my second and then we're just going to now make an amended. We're just going to make a motion. Okay, back on the original. have to go back.

Yes, I'm gonna have to do the second first. I have to remove the second. Then I'll remove my first. So then we'll just start first. Yeah. Now can we have an original agenda item D? Yeah. Okay. So now make a motion to approve the change in zoning from C2 to I1 and consider the ordinance. I second that. I have a first and second. Is there any discussion? Good good discussion team. Thank you.

Roll call, please. All the person. Parker, I Keely, hi. Evans, yes. Kurt, hi. And Swanson, I. Agenda item E, report from the public works department regarding an Illinois state revolving loan program loan authorization ordinance for the Mil Street anorobic digesttor rehabilitation project motion to consider the ordinance. Second, there's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Yeah, go ahead.

Yeah, I think we need to make an amendment on the dollar amount. I think it's stated as 13 million and we need to make an amendment up to 15. I'll second person. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Could we have um Mike Bartell's explain what happened here just so that everyone?

Yeah. So when we got some information from our consultant who's doing the design this morning, um I was in the meeting with them and it did not the original project cost has increased due to inflation. We were originally working towards this project since 2021. Um we're now in 2026 obviously and this project will not be completed until 2029. So we need to account for that inflation. It also did not include the project contingency. So we've added in the project contingency. Hopefully we don't have any cost overruns on the project, but generally there is some. Um, and then it also includes construction management for the consultant to oversee the construction during the construction process. So that's that's really the reason for the increase in two and a half million.

Thanks. Appreciate the clarification. Thank you, sir. Any more discussion? Um, I just would like to make a statement because we steadly have all this development going on in our area. I want to see us be able to move to to have some of the people that live in those areas get some of these projects get on some of these projects. We got several projects going on in the city right now and as I drive through I'm not seeing the balance and I would just like to see more. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. So vote on the uh amendment. Uh aler person I Evans. Yes. Kurt.

Hi. And Swanson. Hi.

Okay. So, should I ask for discussion on that? Yep. So, we did the we approved the amendment. Now, you guys have to actually approve the underlying motion to approve in the ordinance itself. Okay. We'll just say uh agenda item.

Okay. Okay. So, is there any discussion on that? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. I Evans. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. We got through that. Okay. Agenda item F. Report from the fire department regarding an ordinance amending chapter 8, article 2, division 3 of the code of ordinances regulating fire alarm systems and false alarms. First street. Motion to consider the ordinance. removal of residential properties. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Yeah. Can we have

wherever you're at? Yeah. So, my question is is um I totally understand the false alarms and alarm systems with businesses. My concern is with residences and I'm sure there's not a ton of residences that have alarms, but sometimes like carbon monoxide will cause an alarm to go off and if people are looking and don't see a physical fire, they may think that there's nothing going on, but we all know that that could be deadly. So, that's the only reason I would like to res there's no issue with that. The main concern is the commercial alarms.

Thank you. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. All person. Parker, I Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And sponsson. Hi. Agenda item 10. Consent agenda items A through E. Consent agenda items A through B. I would like to remove item 10 as a separate motion.

I'll second all the person's first motion like to make an amendment to item 10 to a second. There's been a first and second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Haley. Hi. Evans. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. I just need a motion. A C D and E. Okay.

So, is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person. Parker. I. Pulis. I. Healey. I. Evans. Yes. Hurt. and Swanson. Hi. Agenda item 10 B. Purchase card claims for the period of December 27, 2025 through January 26, 2026 in the amount of $67,732.89. Motion to approve item 10. Second. There's been a first and second. Is there any discussion?

Yes. Um, I guess I'll direct us to finance. Nothing. Other than the fact as I'm looking through the purchase card report, it seems that the department numbers don't match up with things that are Let's I'll bring up one example and I call you out. Um, Alder Person Evans, which according to the number, it's department 111. However, there was a there was a thing to the fire department and it was under 111 and I And I know there's some purchase card things under the mayor that were under department 100 and there is no 100. Is this uh something that's and I don't know there could be more. I don't know. Those those just stuck out. I'm just kind of wondering is this uh something in the transition of

that's exactly what it is. This was the last period that we were using the gems numbers which was the system that we had before this. We hadn't been importing the purchase cards into Tyler using the Tyler chart of accounts. We've been importing it using the GEMS chart of accounts. And there was a little miscommunication between some of the departments. So, some of the departments coded their purchase card charges as gems and some coded them as Tyler. So, you see both on there, but it should have been Tyler or I'm sorry, it should have been gems. And the cover sheet that you have is for gems. But moving forward, this was the this is the last statement that that'll happen for everything from here forward will be Tyler. So you will see the new there shouldn't be any con confusion.

Okay. So these ones I say such as Alderman and Evans that'll be corrected on his so that he's has more funds available. That is correct. We'll be we converted them from Tyler to Jim's in order to okay to do the backend work. So yes, he it'll be charged to the appropriate account. Okay. Anyway, that's all I have. Thank you. And uh that that that department 100 will be will be correct too, right? Ah that was a joke people. Okay. Um okay. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. Chris Parker. I Evans. Yes. Hi. And Swanson.

Hi. Agenda item 11. Plans A and B. Motion to allow claims A and B. 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. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Penulis. I. Evans, yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item C. Claim C and D. Motion to allow claims C and D.

I have a first and second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. He. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item E. Report from the community development and informationational technology departments regarding the purchase of Blue Beam software in the amount of $1,199. Motion to approve the purchase. Second. There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder Parker. I. Pulis. Hi. Haley. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item 12.

A report from the fire department regarding a bid from Builder Sales and Service Company for the Central House Mandor replacement systems in the amount of $31,400. Second. It's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. All the person Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Haley. I. Evans. Yes. Kurt. Hi. And Swanson. I. Agenda item B.

Report from the police department regarding bids for police uniforms and equipment. Recommending the bid be awarded to uniform den. second. There's been a first and a second. Is there any discussion?

I would uh I would like to say something on that one. I know uh I know that we have a local, you know, downtown business that also specializes in uh in this type of business. And you know, I was I was hoping that, you know, in the future, I I I I I know we can't course bids, but at the same time, I wish there was a way that we could develop the little guy to at least be competitive with bids. I don't know what that looks like, but I'm sure between economic development with all the different programs we have, I'm sure there's tools in our tool box to address that. Um, our local business here, you know, they've been they've been fighting. They've been sticking in the downtown area for a long time. And I don't know if I should be saying this or not, but I wish that they would have been able to get this contract. I I I'm just going to go on record with saying that. So, in the future, um, like I said, we just we just need to make sure do our best to make sure that the little person has the chance to be a little bit more competitive. And that's all I have on there. Any more discussion?

I just want to add to that. I know we did end up retrying to give them an opportunity and I do understand that it was kind of a strain to meet the need, but I'm like the mayor. I would like to see a lot of that still stay in. We have people who um pay in Rock Island uh have been in the business in this area because they've been in that down there what since 83 84 and I just really wanted to see them get that contract. But I do understand the strain that they was under and I do agree with the mayor. I would love to have seen other opportunities to help them get that contract. Especially also they're in my ward as well.

They're in all our wars there in downtown Rock Island. Well, you know, you know what I mean? You know what I mean? Absolutely. All the the the quality on this wouldn't be an issue. It just comes about, you know, just a competitive price. So, yeah, but but the quality is is nothing to question. Any more discussion? It can't be 22% different. I mean that's that's the thing you know I understand it's five or 10% 22%

and and you know and and like I said you know it it gives us it gives us something to reach for um um um ensure businesses uh can can operate better or can be more competitive. So, like I said, you know, things like that that that's that's well within our re reach and we we're somewhat obligated to help businesses of Rock Island to achieve that. Any more discussion?

I would encourage my colleagues on city council as we move into our strategic planning process to identify an updated procurement policy for the city of Rock Island as potentially a goal. I share everyone's thoughts here. spoken with the finance department about this a little bit. They've obviously been very busy with the Tyler transition and everything else going in finance and so we need to be mindful not to task them with more things to do. However, uh procurement as a whole, government procurement is something that we should think through. It's not only local preference and to what extent is it 5%, is it 20% etc. But also other policy goals that this council may have like prioritizing the same price environmentally friendly products over not environmentally friendly products. So I think that this is something that maybe we can all work together in our upcoming strategic planning process of prioritizing a procurement policy. Um there's a lot of Amazon purchases that we approve every single month that our staff are making which again price is fine but perhaps those purchases could be made could be made at Eminem or Andy Hardware for example. So something for us to consider moving forward.

We are working on updating the purching policy and a travel policy. And whether or not you want to have a local preference included in that is certainly something that can be talked about at that time. We we do, you know, if there is added value to going local, we take that into account, but as indicated, you know, a big gap is hard to close. Well, uh, staff council, we have our work cut out for us. You know, it's more we can do to help our businesses here be competitive. So, we have our work cut out for we have a what do you say 20% gap? Well, we got a 20% gap that we need to work on over there. Miles and Tom and and the rest of the crew. Okay. Any more discussion?

Roll call, please. Person Parker. I Healey I Evans yes I and Swanson I agenda item C report from the public works department regarding bids for an automated gate at the utilities maintenance division recommending the bid be awarded to Fence Poria Poria Illinois in the amount of $25,290 motion to award the bid is recommended and authorized the city manager to execute contract subject to minor attorney modifications I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. Hi. Pulis. Hi. Healey. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi.

And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item D. Report from the public works department regarding bids for an asphalt trench paver recommending the bid be awarded to Alta Equipment Company South Elgen, Illinois in the amount of $16,340. Motion to award the bid as recommended and authorize the city manager to execute the contract subject to minor attorney modification. I have a first and second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder person Parker. I Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi.

Agenda item E. Report from the human resources department regarding a contract with Mercy Win Genesis for on-site medical services. Motion to allow staff to negotiate a contract as recommended and authorize the city manager to execute the document subject to minor attorney modifications. Second. There's been a first and second. Is there any discussion? Clerk, please call the RO. All the person Parker, I Evans, yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item F, report from the information technology department regarding a contract with Metroet for phone services.

Motion to wave the formal RFP process outlined in the city's purchasing policy and authorize the city manager to execute contract subject to minor attorney modifications. I have a first and second. Is there any discussion? What is this? Just literally popped into my head. What is the status of MetroNet's coverage for the entire city? This has been an issue for a couple of years or a couple years back. There were concerns that Metro's promise to provide coverage for all residences in the city was not panning out. What is the do we know what the situation is?

Not a substantial change to it. I'll tell you that their current position is consistent with the agreement we have with The agreement that we have wasn't did exclude certain areas in town and they would say they're obligated to provide service in those areas when they have interest from x number of customers in that area. So I think that's the real way to try to motivate them to expand it is by showing interest from residents.

I don't necessarily feel comfortable rewarding them with a contract with city hall when they can't, you know, provide services for all of our residents.

Yeah. I wouldn't stress that that's the agreement city made with they shouldn't have made it this bad. They should have whole city. Well, you know, uh the decisions that the city made that were bad. You know, um that has everything I'm not going to say has nothing to do with us right now, but has everything to do with us right now. And if that was bad, we have the power to make corrections. I do want to beg a question. The metro metro, what am I saying? Metro what? Metroet, they also made agreement with neighboring cities. How are they doing with their coverage of their whole city? Is Molen and East Molen are they all covered with Metro?

I'm not certain. I I do know that their agreement requires them to provide to the whole city and this is for the the underground fibers. Am I correct? The underground fibers. So, what they're saying is our residents would have to call and request that before they before they come to just just only in certain places in my island. I'm not good with that either. I none of them. Yeah, there's been I I recall the previous first world alder person expressed frustration that he had a number of residents who had signed up and yet Metroet still was not running the infrastructure.

Still not running and and and and you know you know we we we can somewhat hold Metroet accountable but Now, that's not Metro's fault. They're going off of what we agreed to. And that's what I'm really disappointed in right now. I'm really disappointed, but but we can make it right right now. So, I agree with you. Well, I'm not entirely sure that we can make it right right now, but we could at least What is the timeliness of this? Is this something that we need to approve now or could we pause on approving this and potentially use this as leverage to reopen negotiations with Metro?

We've taken a risk. We uh with current phone lines that we depend on. I can't explain the technical aspects of it, but later in this year we're not going to have that phone service anymore. Yeah. And if you want to go with one of these other people, I mean we distribute the What's

I think our best bet is to go ahead and approve this and bring Metroet in with our phone services here and then reopen negotiations with Metro Metronet because now we're giving them more business and reopen those negotiations to provide coverage. I believe at the time when we were talking about it, there was a lot of interest from residents in having metronet. Metronet's policy was I think they needed five or Yeah. to of people to sign up for it to make it worth their while to put it in. And at the time in certain areas of the city, there were people who were not interested in signing up for because services aren't free. You have to sign up for them. It's a monthly bill. So, I mean it was if people wanted it, they had they were getting it, but if they didn't have a percentage of people who wanted it and were willing to pay for it, then it didn't go in. And that becomes the problem is if you want to have citywide coverage of it, who pays for it? Does the city pay for it? Because if the residents aren't willing to pay for it and they don't want it, then there's a cost there that somebody has to pay.

I'm in going over what you said. I did talk to when Moses was the previous alderman. I I do know their district manager and talked to him. It was about 70%. And I believe the figure he gave me was only 17% of the people down on the first ward actually even applied for it. So he said they had gone door to door and said would you commit and I believe the number that Murphy gave me was 17%. Well, I know I know with the cost of the other provider is so high now that the option opens up the door and we've got people that are struggling to pay their bills. And from looking at the discount between them and that is it opens it up and makes it more accountable for everyone. And I just know that there is a concern and there should be it should be available across the city. I want it down at the Stern Center. I I just look I do not have it's not not even an option and I'm in downtown. So,

but I think it's worth a discussion because I believe this hit right around CO because I voted on it when and I've only been on for six years. So I think it was around CO where everybody was concerned about prices and budgets and all of that and I agree the other providers have increased significantly. So it may be a time to revisit our contract with Metro and see you know can we reopen it? Can we renegotiate it? And there's probably a higher percentage of people who want it now. Sure.

Yeah. They had indicated I think the email from Rob said a 70% price increase about and it is considerably lower than other places that we got proposals from. So I just wanted to make sure that everyone had seen those emails from Rob about that situation. Resist service and that's how they're going to judge whether or not they are the other thing is they were just bought out. So, Metro was bought out by T-Mo. So,

yes. So, that is something we should we should look at you know because it is but down the line could well maybe T-Mobile help change. Yeah. Um one thing one thing I will say is you know this is on topic but you know it spreads to everything. We do not want to be in a position ever with any item to where we have to do it

to where we have no choice in the matter and and and the world can see that. You know, um I I I I go back to, you know, what Randy Her one of his concerns were about just finding out about information the day of. We want to be we want to get better. I I I don't know if I'm talking to us or staff or all of us, but we need to get better in that regard. We don't want to be put in the position to where we have to do anything that reminds everybody up here. That's all I have.

Well, we're not in the position where we have to do something. We can approve the contract with Google phone tonight as opposed to Metro. We got other bids other than Metro. Metroet is simply the cheapest and the cheapest bid is not always the responsible or best bid. Uh the reality I mean the truth is yes. Metroet will say that their uh investment decisions with respect to laying infrastructure is governed by customer interest. But that's not the case in our neighboring communities. That's not the case in Molen. Molen negotiated with them and said, "No, you need to run infrastructure throughout this entire city so that all residents are eligible." We several years ago prioritized expediency. I remember I was up here. This was when fiber internet was rolling out across the Quad Cities and we said we want to be the first community in the Illinois Quad Cities with fiber internet connectivity for our residents. So we prioritized getting the deal with Metroet done quicker than our neighbors so that fiber internet came to Rock Island first trying to promote Rock Island as being a fiber community. Right. The tradeoff was that in order to get that expediency we didn't negotiate the entire city. Our neighbor Molen took the opposite tract where they said we don't care if we're not the first community that has fiber internet. We want to make sure that the entire community is covered. It's just a matter of what your priorities are. I'm not going to make a value judgment as to who made the right decision or who made the wrong decision. However, here we are tonight. We need to reopen our agreement with Metronet to get the same treatment that Molen residents get. we lose our leverage, whatever leverage we have with Metroet by approving this contract. Now, this is a $57,000 contract. That's a drop in the bucket for T-Mobile's revenue. I'm not entirely sure how much

leverage we really have in trying to use this contract with city hall to force Metro to agree to infrastructure throughout the entire city so everybody has access. But it's the leverage that we've got and I am more comfortable tonight seeing as how we have to choose a phone provider with going with the second low bidder to tell Metro that you need to come back and renegotiate with the city and maybe in five years when our agreement with Google phone if we approve them tonight expires maybe we'll go back to using Metroet for our phone service but not until we have an agreement from them that they will cover the entire city. That is what I'm proposing. I respect everyone else's opinion, but that's how I see it tonight.

I feel if you don't approve this with Metro, this gives you leverage with Metroet. We are we are giving you business, we expect to have, you know, we want to reopen the contract. I think if you go ahead and deny this and go with Google, I mean, you know, we were just having a big conversation about bids. You know, go ahead and reorganize our bids to give favoritism to our friends and neighbors. But that's not the way to do it. Um, but I do think if we if we deny this, then you can forget about an agreement with Metro because if I were Metronet, I would say, "Sorry, Rock Island, I'm not interested in talking to you. You go ahead and talk to Google and see what they'll get for you." So, I think that, you know, if you want to play a game of chess, you can go ahead and play a game of chess, but in the meantime, let's make sure that our city services that we have phones and that we have phones for a cost that we can afford instead of this this game that we always play with bids and friends and all that stuff. So, my I'm my motion stands and I will not amend or withdraw.

I think you can open a challenge as well. You're not going to award something to the low bidder when the difference is 60 grand based on based on what I can certainly be an issue.

I do think you should. was a huge huge failure from the getgo on this especially I would say probably ward one was affected the most and shouldn't be about who signs up you should make those services available if it's like you know like Parker said it up where if you want it fine it's there it shouldn't be about really about numbers you know numbers are only a moment of time so I do agree with partner early in the game when they rolling this out I'm sure there much more about later.

Is there any more discussion? Does everyone know where we are? It's the motion to wave the RFP process and to authorize the city manager execute the contract. Everyone know where we are. Okay. Roll call, please. Alder Parker. No. Pulis. Hi. Hely. I. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. Swanson. Hi. Agenda item 13. Budget adjustments A through C.

Motion to approve budget adjustments A through C. Second. I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Other person. Parker. Hi. Hi. Hi. Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agend item 14. report from the human resources department regarding the reclassification of the building official move to approve the salary grade recommendation

first and a second. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Alder prison Parker. I hi Evans. Yes. Hurt. Hi. And Swanson. Hi. Agenda item 15A. Report from the clerk's department regarding request from the Rock Island Grand Prix to hold their 31st annual go-kart street race on Saturday, September 5th, 2026 through Sunday, September 6, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day to approve the event.

I have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? It's my understanding that the city in partnership with the Grand Prix and the Rock Island Downtown Alliance is in combination with this event bringing in events professional to appraise the event and not only this event but give us feedback. I know there's been interest from the public and members of the council on events programming for the city of Rock Island, downtown Rock Island. A lot of people contact me talking about making my weekend. Uh, can I get confirmation that that will be part of this event this year? I I don't want to approve this event without some confirmation that professional is going to be included to talk about events programming and this event. How do we expand it and improve moving forward?

There's been discussion of that but no commitment. So I would I would hate to say promise you that that certainly the intent to bring something back in that regard later. I rec I mean for the most part wasn't it a business owner or business owners that usually always and we just kind of kicked some money in and if I recall that's kind of how it was basically factory on that are you talking about the grand prix or events like yaya making

events like yaya that you were bringing what you'd like to see.

Well, let me be clear. I don't want to see you on making my weekend come back. It is not 1993 anymore. I'm sorry to report to everybody, but you know, it's 2026. Let's be contemporary, right? And that's sort of the point of bringing in a professional who understands events, right? And what are events, what are municipalities doing about events in 2026? Uh to answer your specific question, yes, historically, uh those events were by private individuals like the owner of Dary Factory or if you go far enough back the district 501c6 organization which no longer exists. Um and yes, historically the city chipped in uh several tens of thousands of dollars into getting those events organized. Again, the reason that I want an events professional to come in here is that we're not making sure that if we do contribute to an event, we're getting I hate we're doing it in the best way possible, right? So, there's a reason that the district 501c6 organization no longer exists. It's because that model was very vulnerable to things like the weather and they spent a lot of money putting up an event and one thunderstorm that weekend destroyed the finances. So much so that the organization dissolved and their debts was taken up by DAR. that happened a number of years ago when the 501c6 organization went away. So again, the point that I'm making here tonight is that we need some professional guidance on what is the best way to do events programming in the city of Rock Island. There's obviously an appetite for it, but the way that we did it before may not be the best way to do it and it may not be contemporary to what people want with respect to events moving forward. Specific to this item, I just want to make sure because This event continues to be a subject of

conversation for council, for the downtown community. It is a welcomed addition to our community and we appreciate the long-standing partnership that you've had that we've had with the Grand Prix, but there's also a desire to expand and improve the situation. So, I just want to make sure that we're not kicking the can, that we're going to bring in somebody with some experience, some insight, what are other communities doing to give us some feedback on how we can improve. Certainly the intent and you know details will be worked out later but the equipment to make it a significant effort to assess the way it operates bring in all stakeholders make improvements certainly true um I got a statement um I've talked to some of the businesses that are in encaptured in the uh Grand Prix when you tell me that there's concerns about people tailgating or cooking. Some of those businesses, that's a way that they make money. And when you're telling me that there are people coming in and actually cooking on the facilities or on the grounds, that's taking away from those businesses, too. And so, I want to make sure that that's understood when we're talking about this being down here, closing off most of those businesses for that time.

That's the very tension that I'm describing. And I know that represent Grand have worked hard at trying to partner with the downtown business community, give them opportunities. It's it's tension. It exists. And again, that's why I think we need a third party to come in. We've been trying to figure this out for a long time. We need a neutral third party to come in and say, "Okay, this is the best way to address it." I would like to say that I've heard concerns with uh downtown businesses as well. And last summer when I heard those concerns, a portion of it was due to the downtown construction. You know, that's where their frustrations had come from. And when we look at the city of Black Island, we I you know, for for the record, I am in support full of support of the grand group of that event. I think I think you know just just the capability of a city that can transform into a racetrack is magnificent and and for the businesses who that does affect for that weekend that that is just a the cost of doing business in beautiful downtown Rock Island. When you and and I I'll say it like this when you look at New York City when you look at uh the Labor Day parade or the the Macy parade, that whole area is shut down and and none of those businesses would ever complain because like I said, it's seasonal and it's a great event. So, I think I think I think uh I think that event will be actually good for the downtown businesses. You know, we we don't have a construction zone anymore. So, from that businesses can actually grow instead of being hindered. That's just my opinion. you know, we put a face, we put a face to the organization. They have been, you know, in conversation with the businesses. We they look like willing

partners. They want to continue to be in Rock Island to expand this. So, you know, we welcome all uh we welcome all avenues to addressing the issues and I and I'm speaking to you guys directly. So, you know, thank thank you for like I said, allowing this opportunity to have this. I want to thank you for that. Any more discussion? Roll call, please. All the person Parker, hi. Pulis, hi. Haley, I Evans, yes. Kurt, hi. And Swanson, hi. Okay. Agenda item 16 authority.

Motion to close the regular city council meeting. Convene the Rock Island Regional Port. I have a first and a second. All in favor say I.

All opposed. Okay. Thank you, Mayor and Council. I just wanted to remind the elected officials that the port plan will conclude later on this spring. Uh the plan is already proving useful, helping staff realize the significance and the unique uniqueness of the transportation system within the city of Rock Island. Quad City lacks industrial rail served sites. Therefore, staff's been focusing on site development along the interstate Iowa interstate rail lines. We know we threw a lot at you last weekend. Please never hesitate to ask Miles Reed any questions. Thank you. Thank you. Is that all we got?

Motion to exit the Rock Island Regional Port Authority and reconvene the regular city council meeting. First and second. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. Agenda item 17. Does anyone have any new business?

I do. I have had um several calls in my ward regarding trees and I talked with um public works and they're going to put something together for one of the upcoming meetings to talk about trees, leak bags and all of that. But I do want to remind residents that when it comes to trees, the city owns some trees in the rightway and the city uses city funds and your tax dollars to maintain those trees. We take care of the trees. We remove dead and deceased trees. Those are our trees. We own them. Trees that are on your property, our residential trees. They are your responsibility to maintain, to trim, if they're dead. It is your responsibility to remove them. It is not the city's responsibility to remove trees on residential property. So, I just want I told a couple of my residents that I would bring this up. So, If you own the tree, it is your responsibility to take care of it. If the city owns the tree, it's the city's responsibility to take care of it. So, um hopefully in one of the next couple meetings, you know, as the weather's getting nicer, I know people are out in their yard doing things, but um tree ownership seems to be a big issue in Work right now. So, I just wanted to make that clear.

Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, agenda item 18

close session 5 ILCS120-2C5 the purpose purchase of lease or lease of real property for the use of public body including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired and five ILCS120-2 C11 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 shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

I have a first and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose.