Remarks by Dan McNeil
26 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
So I don't know what MCDC their overall annual budget is, but I know it's modest. I mean, beyond this 50,000, it could be 70 or 80,000. And I've always felt that the challenge there to have real results coming out of, you know, MCDC, it's just, it's tough with staff and limited resources. So what I'm hearing maybe is that with an additional contribution to renew, maybe renew can do some of those things that at least I hope that MCDC could do before around housing. Is that fair?
That I would be in full support of. I just think the MCDC has been challenged and we can't, or I don't want to keep pouring more of our budget into such a modest program that's challenged to get results with its small budget. New speaker thank you.
I was just following up on your point there with the board or how the board has perceived itself. So we have many non-profits in this area where, staff and board of progressive fundraisers. That's never been the case. And it's, I think the idea behind that has been we can only do so much. And so they become reliant on our contribution to match whatever else they have. That just doesn't seem like a winning recipe moving forward.
Can I just, as it relates to GROW, can I just make a comment? And I think Alderman Person Schmidt has brought this up before about what's happening for Moline. I don't know if they report to staff, but I'd be grateful to have a report on the impact for the city of Moline. I just want to give an example. The report's all very general, but the first bullet I read is how they led an expansion for a business in Iowa that left Illinois. and a whole subsequent list of bullets that we researched this and explored that. So I think, and I apologize if I'm wrong, but I think it was you all, the person…
And I don't know because of this report. That's all. I just want to know if they're reporting to our staff or what's happening. Got it.
Can I comment on that? And then also the few previous like river action and others.
There's a question. I know Carol, when you opened, you said we invited funded partners. Do we invite funded partners, council that then just decline to come and report? I'm grateful when they do, is what I'm saying. Are they all, do we reach out to all of them to come and report?
That's what I recall. I'd like to hear from the youth commission as well. And they're at 20,000, the same as we did here from third place. So that maybe in the future.
I see why not. I mean, over the course of the year, it doesn't have to be, I mean, just update us on what they're doing.
You just remind me how it worked last year. Did our operator have state funding? So that was part of the budget. That's not, that wouldn't be the case with a prospective partner this year.
Yeah. So when we talk about that 400,000, we all pitched in, but.
Yeah. But we don't have an operator and wait this year that has
That's not like we did last year, to be part of this formula. Okay.
Or we could be a good regional partner and give another city a turn for three years and we can always come back. It's an option.
I would say if time allows for council to go on a tour, just ask staff and sit in what is city hall and see how that works. And if you see that value.
Well, I just want to preface, you know, whoever, however, this is administered, this is challenging work. It's very hard.
I've seen the stories, but I also think it would be fair at least From my perspective, when we get the next report, for me, if it was a cumulative look at what we've invested, like the very first sentence in that report says, Moline's investment of X has resulted in Y citizens leveling up. And then go on to explain all of those stories we've learned about how they've leveled up. because I just think that's a fair look. I'm hearing people say, well, the original intention was, or it's still the intention. That's what we want to see that our citizens are leveling up. So I think that's okay to…
Oh, just because a couple ideas got thrown out about where we might save. When you bring up that position, the more I read about it, I am excited about it. I look to increasing the youth commission and I wonder if those distributing all those smaller grants would have as much impact what we can do with that library outreach position and our continued investment in the library. So just food for thought.
So just comment about all non-profits is they understand they have event expenses. Some of those event expenses are going to include the police. Can we transition with Mercado I don't know, back to them paying us so just everybody pays us? I mean, maybe not this year, but... So no one asked for in-kind?
Nothing wrong. Yes, I'd like to congratulate all the persons for being honored as a leader under 40 by the Quad city business center.
how much active listening you did with the community, whether it was a comprehensive planned public meeting or the walk audit. I very much enjoyed the walk audit. I know we have residents here tonight that joined us as well. I hope that as we continue to look at the East End that staff will also kind of continue that momentum that you've built in reaching out to our residents as they look at this project and those plans. And then my question for staff would be, is there an opportunity in the near future to share Melania's project with residents?
Can we provide feedback? My feedback would be yes to upgrades, but design can be decided at a later time, right? Or are we looking to... Takes time. I thought it was very slow. Are we looking to vote on one of these designs?
Gotcha. I like the waves as well. If you're asking for my vote, those two fences I do not like. I like the previous slide. This one? Alderperson Schmidt there, yes. That's my preference if we're voting.
I just want to thank Milena for all of your work on the project, but specifically how much active listening you did with the community, whether it was a comprehensive plan public meeting or the walk audit. I very much enjoyed the walk audit. I know we have residents here tonight that joined us as well. I hope that as we continue to look at the east end that staff will also Kind of continue that momentum that you've built in reaching out to our residents as they look at this project and those plans. And then my question for staff would be, is there an opportunity in the near future to share…
IDOT is very slow. Are we looking to vote on one of these designs?