QC Mayors: Collaboration is the key to success

“We have to be about zero stagnation and zero isolation.” That was the word from Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati Friday morning as she touted the merits of progress and collaboration between the communities that comprise the Quad Cities. Those were some of the main themes tackled Friday, Feb. 21,  during the Quad Cities Mayors’ Breakfast […]

“We have to be about zero stagnation and zero isolation.” That was the word from Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati Friday morning as she touted the merits of progress and collaboration between the communities that comprise the Quad Cities. Those were some of the main themes tackled Friday, Feb. 21,  during the Quad Cities Mayors’ Breakfast held at the Rhythm City Casino, Davenport. The event, which attracted about 150 business and community leaders, is part of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Legislative Event Series.

The breakfast meeting, held as a question-and-answer format, featured Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher, Davenport Mayor ​Mike Matson, East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman, Moline Mayor Rayapati and Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms. The event largely focused on economic development questions and comments, and gave the mayors a chance to outline some of the success stories and projects taking place in their communities.  Many of those successes are driven by constant and ongoing collaborative efforts between the cities, the city leaders said. For instance, Mr. Matson said that it’s vital that the Quad Cities is “seen as a region of over 500,000” people when mayors and other local representatives are meeting with federal officials to get help on crime-fighting efforts or to land grants for economic projects. Ms. Rayapati added that collaboration also is vital to Moline. That’s because in Illinois, it’s sometimes tough for Moline alone to be seen as an economic driver because there are other nearby communities that are larger and perhaps have more clout. “We are one Quad Cities. What is good for one is good for all,” Mr. Freeman added. “We are together and work together all the time,” said Mr. Gallagher, adding that city mayors and officials routinely meet a dozen or more times a month to work on issues. Some of those requiring collaboration include: improving radio communications efforts so all area police departments are in contact with one another; helping attract businesses to the region; and working with Rock Island Arsenal officials in efforts to keep jobs on Arsenal Island particularly in these uncertain times with the federal government.  “We want to make sure those jobs stay around here,” said Mr. Thoms.

For the most part, the mayors did not address the ongoing tensions and changes happening at the federal level of government. However, Ms. Rayapati told the crowd that “what happens in D.C. does impact us here” when talking about federal funding for local projects. Some of the other issues discussed included:

• Bettendorf: Mr. Gallagher invited people to attend his State of the City address on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Waterfront Convention Center in downtown Bettendorf. The doors open at 11 a.m. Some of the city’s goals include: remain a financially sound city that provides quality city services; have orderly growth and quality development; support riverfront/downtown development to create a destination for living, working, and entertainment; grow current businesses and attract new businesses; be a premier place to live in the Quad Cities. He added that Bettendorf continues to grow with projects on the riverfront and more development in the TBK Bank Sports Complex area. That area has attracted 8 million visitors in the past seven years. “We have great projects on the horizon (near the TBK Bank Sports Complex.) … That will continue to be a destination for visitors,” he added.
• Davenport: Mr. Matson told the crowd he is particularly proud that Davenport was recently named as one of the top places to live in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. He also touted the city's continued work to improve streets and sewers. “People used to say to me ‘Mike, fix the streets.’ Now they say they can’t get around because of all the street barriers. … I will take that,” the mayor said. Mr. Matson said that another success story is Davenport getting the new Fair Oaks Foods plant, a $134 million food manufacturing plant at 2951 Enterprise Way that is expected to add 247 jobs. He added that Fair Oaks officials looked at 125 sites across the country before agreeing to build in Davenport. One of the main reasons the city landed the project is because it had the infrastructure in place for the project. “If infrastructure is not there or (company officials) don’t see it will be there soon, they will move on,” Mr. Matson said.
• East Moline: Mr. Freeman said the city continues to move forward by attracting new businesses and new projects. One of the main projects is the Greater Downtown East Moline Revitalization Project. The nearly $30 million project’s goal is to make improvements to downtown East Moline so the city is more walkable, bike-friendly and beautiful. The project – which could start construction this year and be complete in 2027 – will include new landscaping, more outdoor event space, improved railroad crossings and much more. Also, voters will decide soon if East Moline will be governed by “Home Rule” that will allow the city leaders to use local solutions to local issues and problems. The question of whether or not to adopt “Home Rule” will be on the ballot in East Moline on Tuesday, April 1. Go here for more information on the issue. If passed, East Moline would have the ability to enact local solutions for local challenges. Specifically, home rule municipalities have greater authority over local finances along with wider policy-making decisions over building, zoning, housing, sanitation, nuisance abatement, civil disturbance, and certain criminal offenses.
• Moline: Ms. Rayapati said Moline continues to make good strides in attracting businesses and making infrastructure improvements. For example, the city recently completed 11 miles of roadwork and street repavement. Also, she said Moline is in talks to “reimagine” uses for SouthPark Mall. One of the other big projects in the works is plans to redevelop the Moline riverfront. That new Moline riverfront plan focuses on creating a new riverfront area that attracts visitors and offers many amenities to the area bordered by the Mississippi River on the north, Seventh Avenue on the south, 23th Street on the east and 18th Street on the west. A secondary area expands the area east to Moline’s 25th Street.
• Rock Island: Mr. Thoms said work moves forward on the city’s $9 million plan to rebuild parts of downtown Rock Island that will hopefully spur economic development, attract more businesses and more customers, and transform downtown. Some of the goals include: reconstruction and streetscaping of four downtown blocks; decorative lighting and landscaping; two large-scale murals in Arts Alley; 10 new outdoor patio areas at existing restaurants; conversion of the parking lot at 2nd Avenue and 18th Street into greenspace for recreation and special events; and installation of a mini-roundabout at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 18th Street. The project could be done by this summer, the mayor said.

The chamber’s legislative series’ sponsors include: AM General; Arconic; Constellation Energy, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, and The Associated General Contractors of the Quad Cities. The event sponsor is Mediacom Business. Location sponsor was Rhythm City Casino Resort. After Friday’s breakfast meeting, several in the audience said they liked what they heard from the mayors. “There’s a lot of forward thinking here today … I think it’s been great,” said Tom Bowman, CEO of Community Health Care. He added, though, that he would have liked to have heard more comments on efforts to redevelop existing areas of the Quad Cities that need help, instead of just hearing about new projects and new construction. The next  Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Legislative Event Series event will be the Iowa Mid-Session Forum, scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday, March 28, at the Rogalski Center at St. Ambrose University, Davenport.