[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-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],{"_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",6271860,"mediaKeyId","3028490-cc2cb8a2dfaad69cb7676efb1c8474ad","parentId",3028490,"title","Residents, scientists urge Rock Island council to pause Milan Bottoms development over eagles, endangered turtles and wetlands","audioSeconds",837,"startMs",709000,"endMs",1546000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028490-cc2cb8a2dfaad69cb7676efb1c8474ad&start=709&end=1546","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028490-cc2cb8a2dfaad69cb7676efb1c8474ad/thumbnail_709000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6271860/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Residents-scientists-urge-Rock-Island-council-to-pause-Milan-Bottoms-development-over-eagles-endangered-turtles-and-wetlands","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271860-c67966d75244fe40ab6703c27664a76f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188413&Signature=CbjsW3FmMZeisb3XfRZ81HxI1m3RAg9iua3vVDlTZzD59DjwSZJMlOa9EOpkew5O8207feaXL-g3YQdLn-8ttKskde-ApNPXI3UUG78SRXPIkXjuE7zGn2aob7xEQzq6rSTWJWvbGWdghtwegXOhXE-AClT5ew4zceW66FPOyT5I5SbTejkfJLlzd30fYArYTXZKhzGczyt2MZegRZEurzjceBbaZ~dy6Du~ZzggBBjLp2m~OA5wubXYxkp3wPwcUiSvP-EN8yIPJ4fy8EH3fPNCiiczI-SGyA11h8Ek8D188d5JFHWP2E1b6QFBNOQIRJ7FD83B7RC8-jKOQn50EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Rock Island, IL","date","2025-04-17T00:36:12.56Z","article","Dozens of residents, scientists and tribal representatives told the Rock Island City Council that a proposed development near the Milan Bottoms would harm wildlife and wetlands, and asked the council to delay approvals until more field surveys and permitting are completed.

The comments came as the council approved setting a public hearing date for proposed amendments to the Parkway I-280 casino tax-increment financing (TIF) redevelopment plan and debated a right-of-entry agreement that would allow a developer to access the property for due diligence. City staff and the city attorney said wetland conservation can be an allowable TIF expenditure, but councilors tabled a separate motion about site fencing and asked the developer for more information.

Why this matters: The area under discussion is cited by multiple speakers as an important riverine wetland and, they say, the site of a documented communal bald-eagle night roost and nesting habitat for state-listed and federally recognized species. Speakers including wildlife scientists and local residents said the environmental review available to the council is incomplete and that site access or fencing before formal permitting would risk habitat disturbance.

Scientists and local experts who addressed the council said the project’s environmental assessment relied on desktop sources rather than field surveys. Kelly McKay, a wildlife biologist from Hampton, said the assessment “never mention[ed] the word Bald Eagles” and warned that mitigation proposals the city and developer offered would be insufficient. “Those mitigations do not work,” McKay said, citing post‑construction shifts in eagle use downstream after another riverside project opened.

Madeline Markazich, who has worked on regional amphibian and herpetology field surveys, told the council that species such as Blanding’s turtles and several bat species depend on the bottoms’ current light and nesting conditions. “More scientific work needs to be done,” she said, and she said the available consultant materials appear to have been prepared using remote, desktop methods rather than comprehensive on‑site surveys.

Attorney Jared Logan told the council that approving fences or other site control measures before required permits and field studies would risk unlawful harm to endangered species. “If approved, NTI and its fat cat partners will have started their degradation of the wetlands without even laying a single brick,” Logan said, urging the council not to grant actions that would preempt environmental review.

Several speakers urged the council to move potential uses—truck stop, cannabis dispensary, boardwalks, bike paths—to alternative sites outside the bottoms. Justin Booker, who grew up in Rock Island, said the combination of a truck stop and a dispensary adjacent to wetlands and a highway raises public‑safety and pollution concerns.

City staff and legal counsel responded in public discussion that wetlands and certain park or conservation improvements can fall within allowable TIF uses under Illinois law, and that the current step before the council was to set a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Parkway I‑280 TIF plan. City attorney Miles (identified at the meeting as the city attorney) said, “You can wetlands can be included in TIF districts, and improvements can be made in those under other categories of use” and that park‑type work has been funded in other communities.

Council action and next steps: The council voted to set a public hearing for the proposed Parkway I‑280 TIF amendments (agenda item 8E). Separately, staff presented a right‑of‑entry agreement (agenda item 12A) that would permit a developer to enter the site for environmental and site investigations; councilors debated a proposed amendment to remove language allowing fencing and voted to table the right‑of‑entry discussion to the council’s April 28 meeting so the city can obtain clearer detail from the developer about the scope of site security requested.

What councilors and staff said about evidence and process: Several commenters and some councilors asked for field surveys, species inventories and clear information on what the developer would physically do during due diligence (equipment, borings, fencing or gating). Staff said the right‑of‑entry, as drafted, would not authorize construction and is intended for site investigations and to address safety and liability during those studies. Councilors asked the developer and staff to specify precisely what “securing the site” would require before allowing fencing or gate installations.

Ending: The council’s April action set a public hearing on the TIF amendments while holding further action on developer access and site control for at least two weeks. Several public commenters said they will pursue administrative or legal avenues, and one speaker said petition and litigation activity was being prepared if approvals proceed without further field study and permitting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents, scientists and tribal representatives told the Rock Island City Council that a proposed development near the Milan Bottoms would harm wildlife and wetlands, and asked the council to delay approvals until more field surveys and permitting are completed.","taxTitle","Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois","taxId",53963,"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},6271851,"Votes at a glance: Rock Island council actions, April meeting",1696,2369000,4065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028490-cc2cb8a2dfaad69cb7676efb1c8474ad&start=2369&end=4065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028490-cc2cb8a2dfaad69cb7676efb1c8474ad/thumbnail_2369000.jpg","/articles/6271851/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Rock-Island-council-actions-April-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271851-514de018cdcec78364d9724f0ab9812c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188413&Signature=NKLmzJi2H0nAswr85OnEum-zJfJldQJleqh9kJTJeT9fyGmsokBOAk-sGsE-lgvceznzFSZSFXClNSaAaHvJIv~YTa6yZqqqdSyU0Vik8QkOuL~kgp9c~kfOAksINSpXUtTBbuv5VeuAyf7t0j26Rl2OsadC3ndJ5VVVP5NlnAsujL-qPMChmwtU6-K2GGnX5Y3ofnDnRPeS9kkD8TEmJxdyNih4yRJJiNGp8XIJY1UNbHJ4CM~xAKiyWnT-Qz64LjVi83rm9JMDKY~cKiTA6Yc6hLq~-VB7LTc0fzCGPzymNHTp1zlwfTXUkBKPk4gwRQ6mH4RUdFm5WSXWKPYBHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Here is a concise summary of formal actions and outcomes recorded at the Rock Island City Council meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Municipal grocery retailers occupational tax (Agenda 8A): Motion to retain the local 1% municipal grocery occupational tax passed on roll call (yes: Hertz, Tweed/Tweets, Swanson, Pulis, Healy; no: Alderson Robinson, Parker). Staff said the revenue supports the general fund.

- Liquor ordinance amendments (Agenda 8B): Council voted on a package of proposed changes to chapter 3 (liquor control) and related sections. The council approved several sections (including a temporary mayor‑pro‑tem deputy local liquor commissioner provision) and voted to table section 3‑1 (cap/exemption language implementation) to the first July meeting for further consideration.

- Conduct at council meetings / public participation ordinance (Agenda 8C): An amendment to remove restrictive language about public expression was discussed; council moved to table the item to the first July meeting.

- Horse‑drawn carriage regulation repeal (Agenda 8D): Council approved repealing chapter 8, article 12 governing horse‑drawn carriages; event permits will continue to capture carriage use.

- Parkway I‑280 TIF amendments public hearing (Agenda 8E): Council approved setting a public hearing date for proposed amendments to the Parkway I‑280 casino TIF redevelopment plan. (See full article on environmental/public comment.)

- Multiple property sales and authorizations (Agenda 8F–V, consent items): Council approved a batch of ordinance actions to authorize property sales and related agreements; staff said reduced pricing and closing costs have increased interest from adjacent homeowners.

- Collection fees and costs ordinance (Agenda 8W): Council approved adding a new municipal code section to allow collection fees to be passed to debtors in some circumstances; staff said the measure will let the city retain a larger share of recovered arrears while using a collection firm.

- Consent agenda (Items 10 a–u): Passed by voice/roll call as presented.

- Emergency payment for water main repair (Item 11A): Council approved payment to Layman Construction for an emergency repair at 2100 and Sixth Avenue; a council member recused because of employment conflict.

- Right‑of‑entry agreement (Item 12A): Council discussed and later tabled the developer right‑of‑entry to April 28 to obtain detail on requested site fencing/security; staff said the agreement, as drafted, does not authorize construction and is for due‑diligence access.

- Several economic development items (Items 12B–12G): Council approved letters of intent and consultant/lease agreements, including a letter of intent to sell 2001 and 2016 Fifth Avenue (12B) and a 2‑year collections services professional services agreement (12G).

- Public works and parks items (12H, 13A, 13B): Council approved a vegetation control contract extension (12H), adopted the regional analysis of fair housing choice impediments (13A), and adopted the Rock Island Strategic Housing Plan (13B).

- Event closures and permits (Item 14): Council approved multiple street closures and event permits, including the Red, White and Boom fireworks/park event with listed rain and flood contingency dates.

- Closed session (Item 17): Council voted to enter closed session for pending and probable litigation and personnel matters; closed session was held with subsequent return to open meeting.

Ending: Several items passed by clear majority; a small number of items (notably the right‑of‑entry/fencing question and some liquor ordinance timing) were tabled for more information or delayed implementation. The council directed staff to publish hearing notices, gather more detailed developer information and return with recommended language or additional documentation at upcoming meetings.","Summary of ordinances, agreements and resolutions the Rock Island City Council voted on, including TIF hearing, municipal tax continuation, several property sales, leases and contract approvals. Items requiring follow-up or additional hearings are noted.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":79,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":82,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271856,"Rock Island council votes to retain 1% municipal grocery tax as state repeal approaches",108,2477000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028490-cc2cb8a2dfaad69cb7676efb1c8474ad&start=2369&end=2477","/articles/6271856/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Rock-Island-council-votes-to-retain-1-municipal-grocery-tax-as-state-repeal-approaches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271856-15f7239f3c68fdd26cf08c422f49cc79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188413&Signature=o5mRtBgQ~eN8FDTzwt73Zn2jJVI9h~x-IGqF7BMpdO2Yegw-BzxI-fiLyryNaqjq0mwZKTU63YCPGoLN9pzUceTtik276U8ycfaHJsUFC9NuC5jJnykXQ0eROlECUgGUHSfvfCK4G-sO3icbOdPqekHgFyENtvxEY-h2Oa-UL3pJQLi2jeEiAVl4lULA6WJn9BsMJMiAdXFabYAjXBj7ahViin8SEzP-XPPgUG7089i4NIEsRoqzkGsqUmACftyOKv5qLKcPt0zCeDeIITVz4ExzuJ-pqYsvT5athU0KXChE5M9WCMbwQk4MHXEENp1-wbhnEWnz27tm0L6Jz6xFnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rock Island City Council voted to continue a 1% municipal grocery retailers occupational tax that the state has moved to repeal, preserving a revenue stream that city staff said contributes roughly $1 million a year to the general fund.

City staff described the vote as a continuity measure: the tax is not a new levy, the presenter said, but rather a local option to keep the 1% portion that would otherwise be removed by the state-level change. City staff member K. Todd told the council that the revenue goes to the general fund and supports core city services, including police, fire and public works.

Council debate highlighted equity concerns. One councilor said the tax is regressive because it applies to groceries and therefore affects all households, and stated they would not support it. Other council members said most neighboring municipalities are taking the same step and that the measure merely preserves existing local revenue.

Roll call: The ordinance (first reading and moved on consent) passed on roll call. The transcript shows Alderson Robinson and Alderman Parker voting no; Hertz, Tweed/Tweets, Swanson, Pulis and Healy voting yes. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Ending: With the vote to retain the local rate, the city will continue receiving an estimated 1% municipal grocery occupational tax to support general operations while state law changes. Staff said funds will continue to be directed to the general fund.","Councilors voted to continue the city's 1% municipal grocery retailers occupational tax after staff said the state-level repeal requires local action to retain the revenue for the general fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents, scientists urge Rock Island council to pause Milan Bottoms development over eagles, endangered turtles and wetlands

Votes at a glance: Rock Island council actions, April meeting

Rock Island council votes to retain 1% municipal grocery tax as state repeal approaches