Council adopts 2026–2029 strategic plan but removes phrase 'regional approach' from water‑supply goal

The Moline City Council adopted the city’s strategic plan for fiscal years 2026–2029 on Sept. 9 after amending Goal 1.2(a) to remove the phrase “regional approach to.” The change narrows the goal to “investigate supplying water to other local governments,” a wording some councilmembers said better reflects staff’s intent to explore wholesale sales rather than creation of a regional authority.

Staff described the intent as pursuing opportunities to sell excess water capacity to neighboring jurisdictions at wholesale rates, citing prior sales to the city of Silvis and past interest from the village of Milan. “Rather than simply creating the authority, we will continue perhaps to explore alternatives … selling water to them at a wholesale rate,” staff said, noting the city’s inventory of water and past regional conversations. Some councilmembers worried that the original “regional approach” language could be interpreted as a commitment to forming a regional water authority and that such an authority could reduce local control.

Councilmember Christian Schmidt moved to remove the words “regional approach to” from Goal 1.2(a); the motion was seconded and passed. The strategic plan resolution otherwise passed by voice vote. Staff said adoption will lead to a work plan and quarterly action reports linking the strategic plan to the annual operating and capital budgets.

Discussion also included measures for housing and population targets; staff and council agreed that counting units (number of housing units) is a preferable metric to fixed population targets because of census variances. The adopted strategic plan therefore keeps goals and objectives flexible and directs staff to produce measurable work plans for implementation and reporting.