Commission reviews Union Station lease requests and tenant rates; Visit Quad Cities renewal on consent agenda

A city staff member presented a tenant renewal proposal for a small Union Station office and summarized current lease rates and workgroup negotiations with other tenants. The tenant — described in the meeting as a leadership and business coaching service — occupies 311 square feet and has requested another one‑year renewal at the current rate of $378 per month plus $50 per month for utilities.

Staff reported that the tenant’s current monthly rent translates to roughly $1.22 per square foot per month (about $14 per square foot per year) and that utilities were added in the most recent renewal. A staff member recommended a modest 3% increase for the tenant, citing several tenants who pay lower or higher per‑square‑foot rates depending on space size and nonprofit status. The staff member said they would verify whether the tenant also pays property tax and would email the commission additional financial details.

Workgroup and longer‑term leases: Commission members summarized a recent workgroup conversation with a tenant organization that has asked for a longer‑term lease. Commissioners said the tenant had difficulty articulating a long‑range plan that would justify capital investment without a longer lease; the commission agreed to coach the tenant on developing a narrative showing the public value and intended capital investments to support any request for an extended term.

Other lease items: Staff said Visit Quad Cities’ three‑year lease had been finalized and was on the city council consent agenda for the next meeting. Staff also said marketing for a vacant freight house space is ongoing and that there have been several showings.

Ending: Staff said they would verify the tenant’s lease history and property‑tax contributions, circulate the year‑one CIP project list to the commission, and continue helping tenant groups prepare proposal narratives for council review.