Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati delivers her State of the City Address at Vibrant Arena at The Mark on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. CREDIT KENDA BURROWS
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati in her State of the City Address today celebrated a year of balanced vision, growth and investment that she said is helping improve city services and infrastructure as well as setting the stage for a brighter future. During the well-attended Feb. 26 event at the downtown Vibrant Arena at The Mark, […]
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati in her State of the City Address today celebrated a year of balanced vision, growth and investment that she said is helping improve city services and infrastructure as well as setting the stage for a brighter future.During the well-attended Feb. 26 event at the downtown Vibrant Arena at The Mark, the mayor also highlighted conservative fiscal policies that helped reduce Moline’s property tax rate to its lowest level in 34 years, make aggressive infrastructure improvements and create plans for riverfront redevelopment expected to be delivered by MKSK planners in July. “With our finances in order and programs that benefit residents and businesses in process, we can really start to see a vision of Moline coming into focus that is hopeful, energized, capitalizing on success, and poised for increased growth and development,” Ms. Rayapati said.“Some might call this vision a dream,” she added. “I am proud to say that in Moline, we do dare to dream of a future that is brighter than we ever thought possible.”She also celebrated city staff, members of boards and commission and especially the members of the city council, half of whom are new this year. “Without their attention to emails and phone calls, and diligence in examining contracts and legislation, we would not be able to serve our community well,” Ms. Rayapati added.Moline City Council members wear t-shirts that say “Housed Communities are Happy Communities” during the 2024 State of the City Address. CREDIT KENDA BURROWSThe mayor said her city also is “heavily engaged in trying to balance the economic development potential of the Quad Cities with regional economic realities.” Future developments in the works include expansion of 125-year-old Parr Instrument Co. and a large-scale solar energy project that will provide the city with the energy it needs to serve residents.Meeting local housing needs remains a top priority and to reinforce its importance the mayor pointed out council members in the audience who were sporting T-shirts that read “Housed Communities are Happy Communities.” To help make that happen, Ms. Rayapati said the city is adding positions in its rental housing inspection program, establishing a comprehensive housing program, expanding local code enforcement efforts, rehabilitating existing homes and exploring zoning updates.Moline also is partnering with such groups as Renew Moline, Bush Construction and the Moline Housing Authority to build new residential units. Current projects in the pipeline are expected to add 126 units, she said.
Stopping revolving door
In the past year, the city filled all vacant director positions and recruited high-level police personnel, Ms. Rayapati said. There is still more to do, however, in filling fire and rescue posts, she added. In addition, she said, the city is recruiting for an in-house law director, a human resources manager and an economic development manager. The overall goal continues to be to stop a revolving door of top talent that has challenged Moline in the past. In addition, Ms. Rayapati said, “The significant time spent reorganizing and retooling the organization is allowing for another needed balance to be struck – that of how we facilitate opportunity for businesses and for our residents.”That includes creating a one-stop shop for permits and other business transactions. The city also switched to monthly utility billing which, the mayor said, “allows our residents to more accurately manage their household budgets.”New tax increment financing (TIF) districts also were created last year to boost Moline’s “development goals on a large scale,” the mayor added. The city also closed under-performing TIFs including at South Park Mall “and look forward to working further with the mall owners to take a zombie mall and transform it into a benefit rather than a burden,” Ms. Rayapti said.QC leaders gather to hear Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati's 2024 State of the City Address on. Feb. 26, 2024. CREDIT KENDA BURROWSMoline also has launched small business stabilization and expansion programs and is looking to add more small business incentives in the future.At the same time, the city kept taxes low and the mayor credited Moline’s history of conservative budgeting and stable revenue streams for the city’s record growth in the third straight year.In fact, that stability allowed Moline to prepare a detailed three-year balanced budget as well as for the first time ever creating a 10-year Special Capital Projects Fund that will help the city “secure a portion of the bright future that lies ahead,” Ms. Rayapati said.
'Exciting redevelopment'
That future includes “the exciting redevelopment of the riverfront and downtown as well as a new Central Fire Station building,” the mayor said.Moline’s 10-year capital plan also allows the city to plan for future capital improvement projects. This year, for example, Moline will invest $5.1 million from the city’s infrastructure needs and its riverfront and downtown work. Essential to the health of those capital improvement investments is an amusement tax sharing agreement with the Illinois Quad Cities Civic Center Authority, which operates the arena where Ms. Rayapati delivered her address. That agreement had not existed in 30 years. It upped the city’s per-ticket share at Vibrant at the Mark from 3% to 5% per ticket. Also key to redevelopment funding is a 1.5% Natural Gas and Electric Franchise Fee enacted in fiscal year 2024.Such efforts allow the city to continue to fund “lean operating budgets and aggressive capital improvements,” Ms. Rayapati said. They also have allowed the city to reduce its tax levy rate from $1.8475 per $100 equalized assessed value last year to $1.77725. “We are proud of this accomplishment and how it transforms our primary budget goals for 2024,” the mayor added. Those goals include:
Increased funding to improve roads and avoid deferred maintenance.
A 100% fee-driven Rental Housing Inspection Program.
Updated and funded Class and Compensation Plan to keep the city staffed.
Regular review of enterprise fund fee structure, some of which had not been adjusted for nearly 20 years. “We will not keep kicking the can down the road,” she said.
The mayor added: “With guardrails such as these in place, and effective use of growth and just over $6.4 million in grant funds, we’ve completed 9.9 miles of pavement resurfacing and reconstruction among installation of thousands of feet of water, sewer, storm sewer, sidewalk replacement and multi-use paths.”And, she added, thanks to the the city’s diversified revenue streams and a “generous allocation of American Rescue Plan dollars for 2024,” a $5.3 million investment will result in Arsenal Bridge redecking, fixing the Illinois Highway 92 corridor stormwater flooding, funding new bikeways and multimodal plans, and addressing water infrastructure including lead line removal.Thanks to the city’s multi-year strategic plan, she said, residents also will see the grand reopening of Riverside Riverside, a recreational path from the west end to Sylvan Island, formalization of Good Gatherings Sunday community dinners and the exploration of programs or policies to help reduce food insecurity in Moline.
