[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6269462,"mediaKeyId","3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f","parentId",3042793,"title","Residents urge action on grocery tax, child-care supports and vape retail placement during public comment","audioSeconds",2843,"startMs",41000,"endMs",2884000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f&start=41&end=2884","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f/thumbnail_41000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269462/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Residents-urge-action-on-grocery-tax-child-care-supports-and-vape-retail-placement-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269462-90d6f9265e0e298871902ace09647ac6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201664&Signature=lHde6SmFrvtq1k03F0X2diQ8xwLp~XZ9q97yIlYlxQ-FEhdtMQIWDSHG8pLyma32iHwTxNDTSuTJyPAjHkCwzRCYwCta1FbtY0PdAVDZBCGIAhmmZNDidQglmkkYqFCirzXfXS4r9Pm8FYzHLjEBSfkBjNrFfYiUldJOoaudCCCgK3-fLmgt9Fa1eOFF5gIM9sUT54eE5Ww10~s00HZaj~bDBdipLNRTNYzklwVVMQcswYH4ebk9eiGcgpgGeMoFH-RdvxtPkEfT-I0EZOeeW9hwTN-WuVMGijbHEyM1uhiuvEyFP-toHA5nWZd5b0jZ8Pneh07CbrYNDr~pBqSMlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Moline, IL","date","2025-04-17T21:29:08.313Z","article","Three members of the public addressed the council on separate issues during the public-comment period.

Arthur Boddenbender, who identified himself as the operator of Katie's Import Foods on Seventh Street, criticized the city's handling of publicity for an impending grocery tax and called the levy \"a regressive tax.\" \"Number 1: taxing food. In my opinion, is a regressive tax,\" he said. Boddenbender said he learned about the council discussion only a day or two before the meeting through his alderperson and that the timing did not give merchants or residents sufficient notice.

Representatives from Birth to 5 Illinois, Emily Cummings and Heather Anderson, told council the region struggles with affordable and available child care. \"People can't go to work if they don't have child care, right,\" Cummings said, and described long wait lists and the high cost of care. She said Birth to 5 Illinois is pursuing three priorities in the region: optimizing the early-childhood workforce, streamlining service coordination (including establishing a crisis nursery), and expanding mental and behavioral-health supports for both families and early-care staff.

A Moline homeowner, Jacqueline Dooley, urged council to consider limits on vape and specialty tobacco retailers near schools and recommended rules to space outlets at least a half-mile to one mile apart and to keep them at least one mile from educational facilities. She clarified she was not opposed to general tobacco sales at gas stations or grocery stores but wanted to restrict standalone vape/specialty shops and outdoor congregation by customers.

Why it matters: The comments touch on local policies that affect household budgets (grocery tax), public health and workforce stability (child care), and youth access to vaping products (retail spacing). Council members did not take action on these public comments during the meeting; comments were recorded for council consideration.

Ending: Council thanked each speaker; staff and councilors noted the items for follow-up or reference in upcoming discussions, including the grocery-tax outreach noted by the mayor and staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Moline City Council Meeting March 18, 2025.","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, a Moline grocery business owner criticized the forthcoming grocery tax as regressive and urged more public notice; Birth to 5 Illinois staff described child-care shortages and the need for crisis nursery and workforce supports; a homeowner urged buffer zones and spacing for vape/tobacco retailers near schools.","taxTitle","Moline City , Rock Island, Illinois","taxId",53268,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269467,"Votes at a glance: March 18 Moline Council authorizes contracts, permits and appointments",2078,1069000,3147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f&start=1069&end=3147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","/articles/6269467/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-March-18-Moline-Council-authorizes-contracts-permits-and-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269467-661d51bfc22cc20ad490a496a4fbf62b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201664&Signature=kUM-noF7NTnWfPNoWKrU7TnCOD1Q5mmgG2jlGeQOjJ4aQdp1lpQdUKfFFnEJyFUnKfzN9-T0lZU4hbvKD-0KOIkqTI5kzLPZbKk0dZEUQ8u~y2T3wPIA38e1q3iRwQjOM9FvaeRqDAtIYzWNY7g16YZgetubL2mlnYvv6Nm1312mopuIHoNRRItY2pgNvlJ5gXg1Bg9U4eDq~otuHO5GEfH4dTiSlrroZmYGxgs8YXZSdqhqbs4f1PZSDu1MytU8uyoFh~SfTjFSOq3H7LhJhUMHr48hdXMgdvaAbSisDg8vVgxuZn1HNFu709JBOZBWdmrQV9npDP0lmNezMfASBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Moline City Council on March 18 approved a slate of mostly noncontroversial items including contracts for utility and street work, a small special-event grant, commission appointments and two ordinance advances.

Key roll-call outcomes included:

- Tri City Electric Company of Iowa: Council approved a resolution to authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement for electric-service improvements at the Moline water treatment plant (agenda item 8.1). Staff recommended approval; the motion passed on voice/roll call (vote recorded as \"aye\"). Amount as read in the public packet was not specified on the record during the meeting discussion.

- McCarthy Improvement Company, Change Order No. 1 (final): Council approved a $33,730.90 change order for the Eighth Street reconstruction project (agenda item 8.2). Motion passed by voice vote.

- Porter Brothers Construction Inc.: Council authorized a contract for the 2025 asphalt maintenance program (agenda item 8.3) and approved spending up to the budgeted amount for initial work; staff said the bid was well below budget. Motion passed.

- Quad Cities Distance Classic: Council approved a special-event permit and a $500 grant from the special-events fund to the Corn Belt Running Club for an event scheduled 05/11/2025, and authorized related street closures (agenda item 8.4). Motion passed.

- Appointments: The mayor's reappointments and appointment to local commissions (Moline Commission on Youth; Keep Moline Beautiful Commission) were presented and approved during the meeting and included in the consent agenda.

- First-reading ordinance advances: The council advanced two ordinances to second reading — a parking restriction (one-hour parking at 1721 Fifth Avenue) and an increase in the number of licensed video-gaming establishments at a named business (agenda items 19.1 and 19.2). Both measures advanced by motion and roll-call vote.

What it means: The package keeps several infrastructure and community events on track. Staff emphasized the Porter Brothers bid came in below budget and that change orders and additional expenditures will be presented as change orders for council approval where required.

Votes and records: Most items passed unanimously with recorded \"aye\" votes from the eight members present. Where a specific dollar amount was unclear on the record for a particular resolution, the minutes or staff packet should be consulted for the official figure.

Ending: Council closed its Committee of the Whole session and moved into the regular council meeting to conclude the night's business.","Council approved several consent and committee items including utility and road contracts, a special-event grant, commission appointments, and two first-reading ordinance advances. Most measures passed unanimously.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269471,"Council amends code to formalize agenda order, remote attendance; reinserts public comment at start",518,1242000,1760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f&start=1242&end=1760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f/thumbnail_1242000.jpg","/articles/6269471/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Council-amends-code-to-formalize-agenda-order-remote-attendance-reinserts-public-comment-at-start","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269471-a9782894a247d973f3f9b9f1347f8bd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201665&Signature=gwReK9lBcWOIZJc~T3HfV4N3yniQT10FPTbZtl~IsVT8kB2XSEOzw~m8~3jJpy2J~PZhFbzHxR3jUut4PkJiXRz99SY8XMiKqjgyVzhQxP6A8lFeqWgmwJSqizFvHnc4S4mc2uTU9UI5go6BJjBT7q2WJCavouJlxd399Ui4yWd~Tai5FKvtcr1NKpNAVrP2fvw9-awE5NyxAh5dvJhGEP3ByRDQmBsWK6BqFjVxwfY20~lBx79YKAjpuJmY~Vt8TyBF7C5aqLRvjKIRVjQ2QAfMbAqvnMtNVMG006thWhjF9exS0NYInZu7-my1Ddn-RnFe6A8LlomRK54-zZF-gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Moline City Council moved to amend the municipal code to match how agendas have been prepared in practice, add explicit language allowing remote electronic attendance, and clarify placement of public comment.

City attorney Mr. Atkins explained staff found inconsistencies between two sections of the code governing commissions and the order of business. \"We opted for eliminating the project coordinator position since there had never actually been such a position,\" Atkins said, describing a cleanup of ordinance language to reflect practice. On the order-of-business ordinance, Atkins said the package aligns the ordinance with how agendas have been prepared and adds remote electronic attendance for both Committee of the Whole and council meetings so authorization would not be illegal in certain circumstances.

Councilmember Schmidt proposed and won an amendment to reinsert public comment near the start of the meeting: \"I'd like to make a motion to amend this change to reinsert public comment after the establishment of quorum,\" he said; he later restated to place it \"after remote electronic attendance if necessary and before consent agenda.\" The amendment passed on voice vote and the ordinance was adopted as amended after further council discussion about how public comment should appear on round-table or single-meeting evenings.

Why it matters: The ordinance change cleans up inconsistent language and explicitly authorizes remote electronic attendance for both meeting types the city runs. Council members stressed the prominence of public comment; Schmidt said public comment \"needs to be at the start of every meeting without exception,\" while others noted flexibility is required on nights with only a single council meeting.

Next steps: The amended ordinance will be reflected in future agendas and staff said the change reduces confusion when preparing agenda packets. Council asked staff to consider further edits if needed for round-table meetings.

Ending: The council approved the ordinance amendment as amended to reinsert public comment at the start and to permit remote electronic attendance on both meeting types.","Council approved an ordinance change to align the written agenda with practice, add explicit authority for remote electronic attendance and amended the ordinance to reinsert public comment after roll call and before consent items.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269475,"Moline approves three property purchases to advance new central fire station project",606,1973000,2579000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f&start=1973&end=2579","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042793-efaa04c8f4929aff1f9a05d2079b479f/thumbnail_1973000.jpg","/articles/6269475/Moline-City/Rock-Island/Illinois/Moline-approves-three-property-purchases-to-advance-new-central-fire-station-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269475-7eba87e8c2f2cff3537069cf043d652e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201665&Signature=eijlHN4HSeno39ztZiYEOKTYi~Z95CDFpjLFZ-1K~nGCl6Tt9KN9JcqPH7H8SKEDcOAKwEEhlkCLwkPvcGcMkqvd-~E46Qxk56yosrrP8zjVonNdaw9jCT3MdV61dl1fU-amQ~jAj3Kz8G~D1Jr19~Nl4PJwfe9yrNEYev7uNiku594REbXhkjIW-OKSCrJ7DwoQ-LVGdCCiVO6xfibPYGacqzsK98pij~4rOkNppehztfEVyaiso6zlhjsV-at5cNVHBE5kLzOT2EmmhOcdaNcGm0y5vlolqi3n9x9GiYggTI6YXDpQUF8z15hqQ1RfqTSm65rFGTqsnl3C4pI1nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Moline City Council voted unanimously to authorize three property purchases the city says are needed to develop a replacement central fire station.

City staff told council the existing central fire station, built in 1972 and later modified, requires extensive repairs and that a study had identified the Seventh Street/Sixteenth Avenue area as the preferred replacement neighborhood. \"The study did reveal at that time that the building required at that time anywhere between 8 to $9,000,000 worth of repair,\" City staff member Mr. Vitas told council, citing failing HVAC systems and recent water damage near city IT equipment.

The purchases approved were: a contract with Metropolitan Towers LLC for 1500 and 1508 Seventh Street for $705,500; a purchase of an unimproved parcel near Seventh Street and Sixteenth Avenue from 833 Sixteenth Avenue IL Owner LLC for $48,000; and a purchase from Hybrid Medical Group LLC for 1410 Seventh Street for $460,000. Council moved each resolution by roll call; those measures carried with recorded \"aye\" votes from the eight members present.

Why it matters: Staff said the city will spend about a year on architecture, engineering and design after acquisitions close and that the financing schedule was planned so the new debt would replace retiring general-fund debt, avoiding a property-tax increase. Mr. Vitas said FGMA (the city's selected architect) will return to work with a project working group once properties are secured.

Council discussion and context: Several council members emphasized the project's long history and operational need. Alderman Timmian noted the council had discussed replacing the central station for years and praised the staff's fiscal planning. Alderman Castro and Alderman Schmidt said renovating the existing station would have been a short-term fix and that a new location should improve response times and coverage. \"The ability to secure a site that's going to give us better response times and better coverage is ... going to save people's lives,\" Schmidt said.

The council and staff described site-selection work that considered a Butterworth Park area and an alternate park parcel before settling on the Seventh/Sixteenth corridor because of subsurface and access constraints at other sites. Staff said the design process will consider a one- or two-story building and that the project schedule aligns with previously budgeted debt capacity in 2026–27.

Next steps: Staff said closings were expected in April and that the city would return with design-team work and a more detailed timeline once property acquisitions are final. No tax increase was proposed tied to the project; staff said debt timing would keep property-tax impact neutral.

Ending: With the purchases authorized, the city will move into the design phase of a multi-year capital project to replace the central fire station.","Council approved three purchase-and-sale agreements totaling $753,500 to acquire sites near Seventh Street as the city moves forward with planning and design for a replacement central fire station, a multi-year project budgeted so new debt will replace retiring debt without raising property taxes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge action on grocery tax, child-care supports and vape retail placement during public comment

Votes at a glance: March 18 Moline Council authorizes contracts, permits and appointments

Council amends code to formalize agenda order, remote attendance; reinserts public comment at start

Moline approves three property purchases to advance new central fire station project