Moline council votes to waive Compass ID card fees to expand access

The Moline City Council voted April 8 to remove the nominal fee for the city’s Compass ID card, a library-affiliated identification program the city established to reduce barriers to services.

The ordinance amendment to Chapter 16 of the Moline Code of Ordinances eliminates a charge staff described as a possible barrier to uptake. Mr. Lear, who addressed the council during the item, said the city budgeted about $3,750 in revenue from the card but that actual sales have not matched expectations. “We feel that the nominal charge… may be a hindrance,” Mr. Lear said, and recommended dispensing with the fee to encourage residents to secure cards in Moline.

Several council members supported the change on equity grounds and asked staff to coordinate outreach. Alderperson Macias said the ID was designed to help people who lack standard documentation and that the fee could unintentionally bar low-income families. “I'm glad that we're going this route,” Macias said. Alderperson Timmian described recent outreach from Humility Homes about helping residents who are exiting homelessness obtain identification and urged proactive coordination with nonprofits.

Council directed staff to undertake outreach to organizations such as Humility Homes and Project NOW so the Compass ID can reach residents who would benefit from it. The motion to approve the ordinance passed unanimously.

What the change does and does not do The action removes the local fee for the Compass ID card; it does not change state or federal identification requirements for other services. Staff noted the city had budgeted modest revenue from the fee and will adjust revenue expectations.

Next steps Library staff and assigned city staff will follow up with nonprofit partners and report back on outreach plans and distribution strategies.