City staff and an engineering consultant told the Moline City Council that assessments of three downtown parking garages found widespread maintenance needs and recommended a multi‑year capital improvement program to preserve the structures.

Tony Hoffman, an engineer with the consultant hired to assess the facilities, told the council the review of Center Station, Heritage Place and Midtown Square identified concrete cracking and spalling, sealant and coating failures, and chloride contamination in some decks. “We estimate that $200,000 to $250,000 per year per facility would go a long way to bringing maintenance up to speed,” Hoffman said, and he cautioned that full replacement of a parking facility could cost “in the range of $16 to $24 million per facility.”

The consultant’s findings singled out Center Station as the facility with the highest chloride contamination — especially on levels two and three — and recommended applying a waterproofing membrane within the next five years to stop ongoing corrosion. Midtown, the consultant said, showed less chloride contamination and could be treated with a sealer rather than a full membrane. Roof membrane (EPDM) replacements and targeted masonry and flashing repairs were noted at multiple sites; several lighting upgrades to LED were also recommended.

City staff said the consultant produced a detailed, photo‑rich report with a cost opinion and a proposed multi‑year schedule of projects. One estimate presented to council members showed roughly $5–6 million in identified repairs over the next seven to eight years if the city elected to complete all recommended items in that window; staff said a more modest annual maintenance budget would lengthen the work plan.

Council members asked about funding and partnerships. Staff noted that Center Station hosts a mix of lessees — including long‑term leases with private and public partners such as John Deere and MetroLink, and a connection to the arena — and several councilors asked whether those users could share repair costs or help pursue grant funding. Staff said parking lease terms and maintenance responsibilities vary by facility, and some agreements go back decades.

Councilors also asked about warranties and material price risk. Hoffman said waterproofing membranes typically carry a five‑year material warranty and one‑year workmanship warranty; he added that high traffic ramps may require recoating every five to seven years, while less‑used ramps may see 10–12 years between recoats. Council discussion also touched on potential solar installations on ramp roofs as a revenue generator and shade provider; staff said such projects require assessing remaining structural life before adding panel loads and might be eligible for grant funding.

Staff’s recommendation to the council was to implement a capital improvement plan for ramp maintenance, prioritize projects for 2025 and budget for regular annual maintenance. No formal funding decision or vote was taken; staff said they would program near‑term projects for the coming year and return with budget recommendations.