[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",6189736,"mediaKeyId","5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f","parentId",5055158,"title","Council approves update to citizen participation plan; adds clear triggers for substantial amendments","audioSeconds",121,"startMs",2975000,"endMs",3096000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f&start=2975&end=3096","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f/thumbnail_2975000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189736/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Council-approves-update-to-citizen-participation-plan-adds-clear-triggers-for-substantial-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189736-abcc17ac00168b855ea22152959bfd8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=FN-TU2tqPK8QOq6VvaZKkjSPI6L-Chyb7rTwbZcYztsuDN4LrBsnx2Mhu2On0rfZ8hGyTNzBGt7QgXITPF-GW-Esq5e4YAwCyGyggMeeGEguyUI0NYn0k10MOIf66q6OHpuhmlXFFVJRmSNfslcQphXnR3Lb5OkM0Ssc8~NKBcKyEXtVm6QaDaR6dHuqtH7J1AFdvD6qesvFfHHyivyCxmq37Ss7Wmp1DW4a6HnBu55m2W2AhaiY~R9AlOdWZaOd4i-ASRGSEwFFokLYNyWUZv8i5OJWboSh23FJKMB52f2BgDv2BttqmDF0bf64kBmdINySVAbZWJuNxj0kNIfDOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Rock Island, IL","date","2025-06-24T12:45:05Z","article","The Rock Island City Council approved an update to the city's citizen participation plan used for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning and annual action plans.

Miles, community development staff, summarized the changes as \"two things primarily\": a cleanup for clarity and the inclusion of a clearer definition of what constitutes a \"substantial amendment.\" He told the council that three circumstances would trigger a substantial amendment and require renewed public engagement: a 20% change in the overall budget structure, the introduction of a significant new project not previously in the plan, or the receipt of a special emergency allocation of funds (Miles cited the city’s prior handling of CDBG‑CV coronavirus funds as an example).

Councilmembers encouraged the Community Development Department to meet with the West End revitalization group, which is piloting participatory budgeting, so the city could learn from that engagement and potentially incorporate best practices within the statutory public‑engagement framework required for consolidated planning.

The council voted to approve the updated citizen participation plan. Staff noted the plan can be amended at any time, and they will consider closer coordination with the West End revitalization team as the city prepares its five‑year consolidated plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Rock Island City Council approved an updated citizen participation plan that clarifies when the city must treat changes to CDBG plans as \"substantial amendments\" requiring renewed public engagement.","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},6189741,"Council approves sale of Lot 2 of Solomon site to Centric Credit Union; councilor questions prior residential plans",102,2589000,2691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f&start=2589&end=2691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f/thumbnail_2589000.jpg","/articles/6189741/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Council-approves-sale-of-Lot-2-of-Solomon-site-to-Centric-Credit-Union-councilor-questions-prior-residential-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189741-91ce5962db09afa1b144c0f8359425a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=IsWb5pLFVLoDe43xnF4mfv63~qIFMrb85TZhL9akqGX~6esWw5AC9aUI47mWehIJuAgzZ3xw6TwpuyAMj2Ih0k5MUgmlxXJ1czQ-MwcDDwldY4q35TycbcpoqmP5qDPgrH0aW3BwU~VzvZDKYIOW1m1bFuigLxPWpWs6IMC0CANkpNNgp9jwmG-3HXYmkVsaRKCi95-a2EqRvjp~DFpz40E-Yn34QGWjtI7vd22V7adc0hVsqH5T4cLHPbZUz~zKbbuCqrAnl~kBPfe3bbeUegejrJiMvrRaoT7M-fUcD9WP-x3u1NFGYZCoWQXSkzVVNTt~nU5vQK3UPFWzA7~egg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rock Island City Council voted to approve the sale of Lot 2 of the Solomon site to Centric Credit Union and authorized the city manager to execute the documents.

During discussion a councilmember asked whether the sale nullified an earlier understanding that the area would include residential housing under the \"Solomon\" name. A staff member responded that the earlier King Solomon building was on a separate parcel to the north and that the parcel now under contract is to the south; staff also noted that a residential proposal for the two‑block area had been proposed in past years but that development did not proceed.

Council moved and passed the ordinance approving the sale; the clerk recorded \"aye\" votes from the councilmembers present. The sale authorizes Centric Credit Union to acquire Lot 2; the council did not alter other parts of the two‑block area or action previously taken on other parcels.","The council authorized sale of Lot 2 of the Solomon site to Centric Credit Union. A councilmember raised that a prior agreement hoped for residential use; staff clarified the parcel under contract is not the same parcel as the historic Solomon building and prior residential proposals did not proceed.",{"_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},6189746,"Wildlife biologist warns Milam Bottoms development would harm eagles, endangered species",295,1744000,2039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f&start=1744&end=2039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f/thumbnail_1744000.jpg","/articles/6189746/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Wildlife-biologist-warns-Milam-Bottoms-development-would-harm-eagles-endangered-species","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189746-dde06375c75abdeefd87224f98d83000/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=CzXxO60WBMcvWsCX7WrCYVA57RdZO7SDWv14JMGH~Ze5FLumDt4mjEzBPTksZum1fBSlPo3Hi9hXtOXNvuccnxBUFj5xdzq~vEkveYM5NQrAfS9~l3cG9hJ0DVtEVkPfCuvkE4q6UnkHmiKLbfYFtI-XxJHhfG5VXrhQwZNu-iM2huBPapO43jKlB8HysZnC1lKyOTdaNqIVT2r93Mro77~whdY6k69ogRhnT8jaINfKdN3My0njO6Pax1HEvitSYGOnqmv3S2pXUiMPw5fHDqLLV4XBbxDwBf3qDOCgXRVh9f5p8SlZ7xJzGEYHzmnJQxikhfSdC2bZ2aMaz-2CCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A wildlife biologist told the Rock Island City Council during public comment that proposed development tied to a tax‑increment financing (TIF) proposal and supporting commercial uses would harm Milam Bottoms’ wildlife, including a large wintering bald eagle roost and several state and federally listed species.

Kelly McCam, identified in the record as a wildlife biologist, told the council, \"Milam Bottoms is quite simply the most biologically rich and important wildlife habitat remaining in the Quad City area.\" McCam said the site hosts what she described as the largest communal night roost for bald eagles documented in the Lower 48 states and warned that disturbances from the proposed development would reduce eagle wintering and survival in the region.

McCam criticized a developer‑funded ecological study by Terracon, saying it surveyed for only 23 days and in only two wetlands and therefore understates wildlife presence. She told the council she recently observed two state‑endangered Blanding’s turtles near the proposed development site and reported observations this year of a black‑crowned night heron and a federally endangered whooping crane.

She also said she has faced harassment and legal threats while documenting species at the site and quoted an online reply she attributed to developer Matt Stern: \"you can pay for your needed results. Step up, bro. Get some skin on the game, and you can fix some results.\" McCam said that statement, if accurate, would undermine confidence in the Terracon study.

McCam’s comments were made during the council’s public‑comment period; the council did not take formal action on the matters she raised during the meeting. The council’s subsequent agenda items included separate votes on redevelopment and zoning measures for other parts of the city.","A wildlife biologist told the Rock Island council that proposed TIF‑supported development at Milam Bottoms threatens a major bald eagle night roost and multiple state and federal threatened or endangered species; the remarks included claims about the developer-funded survey and recent species sightings.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":79,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189751,"Rock Island council approves River Edge redevelopment zone; state review to follow",432,2157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f&start=2157&end=2589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055158-e8dad966ea00130f56185eb94b31aa3f/thumbnail_2157000.jpg","/articles/6189751/Rock-Island/Rock-Island/Illinois/Rock-Island-council-approves-River-Edge-redevelopment-zone-state-review-to-follow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189751-25466b4336d6d4ed40c232b88017cf4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=c3-628a9vGjABJhrFYsB5bfDNVjk~eI6IxcEwyH6YTsOU0vOw3OwmiaRcKDNybrdvbH~vfUOtF3MTW-2tF8ruDml9dHHyUnBCA6T-GHQWoZeDtXdI-U6AsMLHglFeG1XPFoIWyC8B1RT7maWr-aBkJC6DCYr0DhAoUidubf8sRqRR8ddf23jekBWPzk4-MopPluMuzgf66YGuaQ4SXmBkJLslbnYueWYoFd0zNCAcxgSas7ELhF29UKkgkbwYh~NShgTT2RreqNuqYKvrUP6kEMM1SSgTuQahZ5oUpcD1ARP6dYhJbRFWL4u5EjD4sKh16-TZ9e~hyV8QnR5e1P7zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rock Island City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance designating the River Edge Redevelopment Zone and authorized staff to submit the application to the State for review.

The designation, approved after a public hearing, launches a state review process staff said can take up to 180 days. Miles, a community development staff member, told the council: \"Short answer is yes with a caveat\" when asked whether residential single‑family homes could use the zone’s incentives.

The council hearing included questions about who could use the zone. Miles said the redevelopment zone application is written broadly to allow a wide variety of uses and noted that while single‑family properties could receive assistance—examples cited included exemption from sales tax on building materials—there remain enrollment paperwork and costs that households would need to weigh. He told the council, \"Once the application is submitted to the state, they have a hundred and eighty days to review that application, ask us questions, go back and forth on the details before they finally approve the River's Edge redevelopment zone.\"

City officials emphasized the scale of the proposal. Staff described the city's aim to seek a large zone footprint (up to the statutory maximum) so benefits could be spread across multiple parts of Rock Island, including downtown and areas along the Rock River. During the meeting an alderman commended staff for including riverfront areas in the application.

The council moved to \"consider suspend the rules and pass the ordinance,\" and the clerk recorded unanimous \"aye\" votes from the councilmembers present.

The council’s action authorizes staff to submit the application to the state; the ordinance’s final status depends on the state review and any follow‑up questions the state may pose. If the state approves the application, projects within the approved boundary could become eligible for the zone’s incentives once the applicant and any participating property complete required enrollment steps.","The Rock Island City Council adopted an ordinance creating the River Edge Redevelopment Zone and authorized staff to submit the application to the state. Staff said the zone is written broadly so single-family homeowners could participate; the state has up to 180 days to review the application.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves update to citizen participation plan; adds clear triggers for substantial amendments

Council approves sale of Lot 2 of Solomon site to Centric Credit Union; councilor questions prior residential plans

Wildlife biologist warns Milam Bottoms development would harm eagles, endangered species

Rock Island council approves River Edge redevelopment zone; state review to follow