City Council Study Session

Regular Meeting

Rock Island, IL · March 24, 2025

Minutes

CITY OF ROCK ISLAND CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3rd Floor, 1528 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 3/24/2025 - Minutes 1. Call to Order Mayor Thoms called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. and welcomed everyone. 2. Roll Call Mayor Thoms asked City Clerk Samantha Gange to call the roll. Present: Alderpresons Randy Hurt, Randy Tweet, Jenni Swanson, Dylan Parker, Mark Poulos, Bill Healy and Mayor Mike Thoms. Absent: Alderperson Moses Robinson. Staff: City Manager Todd Thompson, Attorney Leslie Day, City Clerk Samantha Gange, and other City Staff. 3. Public Comment No one was signed up to speak. 4. Presentations a. Strategic Housing Plan Sarah Dott with PGAV Planners provided an overview of the presentation and discussed the project goals and key findings. She mentioned the project was data-informed and included strategies and recommendations for the next 10 years. She discussed the key findings that included: the City's architectural character and natural environment is not fully realized; it is important that the City intervenes earlier with deteriorating properties; and the Northeast Rock Island has the potential to offer increased walkability and bikeability. Another key finding included exploring alternatives to the code requirement of fire sprinkler systems in new residential builds as Rock Island is the only City in the region that requires this system. She said the City will need to explore if there are other ways in which a similar level of fire safety can be achieved through fire - resistant building materials, etc. Ms. Dott discussed other key findings, which included the need to improve trust between residents and City staff through engagement, increased transparency of City projects, programs and processes, and sharing of clear and consistent information with residents. She suggested updates to the City website, clearer documentation of processes, and checklists of required documentation to help everyone better navigate the process. Ms. Dott said the study revealed that there is an immense shortage of housing opportunities for older residents and individuals with disabilities. There is also a need for off-campus housing for Augustana College students. 1 She discussed the final key finding, noting there is a significant amount of rent-restricted and subsidized affordable housing in Rock Island and there is some concern regarding the over-concentration of poverty. Next, Ms. Dott discussed the strategy roadmap, which is to be used as a guide with the next steps to take for each of the key findings and recommendations. The strategic roadmap is divided into three categories: strategies for existing housing stock, strategies for new housing development, and strategies for shaping the City's narrative. She remarked on the specific strategies for existing housing stock, which included continuing to move from reactive to proactive code enforcement, cross-departmental data collection and monitoring and stepping up support for maintenance and rehabilitation of homes. The specific strategies for new housing development include ten specific priority sites targeted for new development, the development of a clear annexation policy, updated polices and procedures to make developing housing easier and stepping up support for local partners aligned with the City's housing goals. Furthermore, Ms. Dott discussed the strategies for shaping the City's narrative. The primary focus should be updating the website, making residents and developers aware of resources and improving the perception of Rock Island through coordinated marketing and promotion. Ms. Dott provided a map of priority sites and discussed level one and level two priority sites. Three primary areas were identified for consideration for future annexation and the City must create an annexation policy to serve as a guide when considering annexations in the future. The policy will assist in the evaluation of the financial impact and inform decision-making. Ms. Dott discussed the important considerations that City leaders will need to undertake to proactively promote the sites. She said the City must think more strategically about messaging and communications as the image of Rock Island is key to demonstrating that the City is an approachable partner for progress. She discussed the next steps, which included approval of the plan from the Planning and Zoning Commission, followed by City Council for approval at the April 14, 2025, meeting. Ms. Dott clarified that the plan includes having mixed-use development, which includes buildings with commercial or retail on the first floor and residential housing on the top floors. Alderman Parker remarked on the recent re-branding of the downtown by the Rock Island Downtown Alliance (RIDA) and said they would be an excellent partner to learn from and collaborate with on re-branding the City. 5. Adjourn a. Motion: Motion to adjourn. VV Voice vote is needed. MOTION: Alderperson Poulos moved to adjourn the Study Session; Alderperson Parker seconded. 2 VOTE: Motion PASSED on a 6-0-1 voice vote. Aye: Poulos, Healy, Hurt, Tweet, Swanson, Parker. Nay: None. Absent: Robinson. The meeting concluded at 5:54 p.m. [MIN_SIGNATURES] 3

Agenda

Packet

City Council Study Session Agenda March 24, 2025 - 5:30 PM City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3rd Floor, 1528 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL Click Here to Watch Live 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comment 4. Presentations a. Strategic Housing Plan 5. Adjourn a. Motion: Motion to adjourn. VV Voice vote is needed. This agenda may be obtained in accessible formats by qualified persons with a disability by making appropriate arrangements from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, by contacting the City Clerk's Office at (309) 732-2010 or visiting in person at: 1528 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201. Page 1 of 28 Strategic Housing Plan City Council Presentation Rock Island, Illinois March 24, 2025 Page 2 of 28 Agenda • Project Goals • Plan Structure • Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap & Strategies • Priority Sites and Possible Annexation Areas • Important Considerations • Next Steps • Questions Page 3 of 28 Project Goals • Help elected officials, city staff, developers, and community members better understand existing conditions, housing needs, and market dynamics. • Serve as a data-informed blueprint for housing development and housing priorities in Rock Island for the next 10 years. • Provide implementation strategies and recommendations to inform decision making. Page 4 of 28 Plan Structure • Introductory and Contextual Information • Introduction • Project Context • Data Analysis and Research • Resident and Employee Demographics and Trends • Housing Inventory • Housing Market & Affordability • Local Housing Incentives and Financing Programs • Key Findings and Next Steps • Summary of Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap • Priority Sites and Annexation Areas • Implementation Matrix Page 5 of 28 Agenda • Project Goals • Plan Structure • Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap & Strategies • Priority Sites and Possible Annexation Areas • Important Considerations • Next Steps • Questions Page 6 of 28 Key Findings • The potential offered by the City’s architectural character and natural environment is not fully realized. • It has become important for the City to intervene earlier with deteriorating properties to avoid losing housing stock and to improve neighborhood stability and conditions. • Northeast Rock Island’s robust street grid offers the potential for increased walkability and bikeability with investments in the sidewalk network and cycling infrastructure. These investments could increase the appeal of these neighborhoods allowing them to better compete with neighborhoods in Davenport and Bettendorf. Page 7 of 28 Key Findings • The City’s choice not to amend the requirement within the International Residential Code for fire sprinkler systems in all new one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes was an intentional effort to continue to further building and life safety. However, the requirement does add to the expense of new home construction and require ongoing maintenance by the homeowner. The City will need to explore if there are other ways in which a similar level of fire safety in homes can be achieved that could be incorporated into the building code as an alternative to a sprinkler system. Financial incentives to cover these added up-front costs should also be considered. Page 8 of 28 Key Findings • Efforts to improve trust between residents and City Staff should be prioritized through engagement with residents, increased transparency of City projects, programs, and processes, and the sharing of clear and consistent information with residents. • While many of the City’s requirements regarding permitting and zoning are comparable to those of nearby communities, there is a perception that internal administrative processes, unclear requirements, and inconsistency across staff members and departments make it difficult to develop in the Rock Island. Updates to the City website, clearer documentation outlining different processes, and checklists of all required documentation can help everyone to better navigate the processes and improve efficiency. Page 9 of 28 Key Findings • There is an immense shortage of housing opportunities for older residents (65+) and individuals with disabilities. Introducing additional senior housing could free up some housing stock that is currently occupied by aging homeowners who would prefer to downsize to reduce the burden of home maintenance without leaving the community. • Each year, there are approximately 400 to 500 Augustana College students in need of off-campus housing. Currently, these students primarily occupy inexpensive rental properties within walking distance of the College, some of which may be in poor condition, and most sit vacant during the summer months. Page 10 of 28 Key Findings • There is a significant amount of rent-restricted and subsidized affordable housing in Rock Island, and there is some concern regarding the over-concentration of poverty. Recent efforts to prioritize housing developments that are smaller-scale, mixed-income, and/or strategically-located have begun to address this. RIHA and CHP are important partners for the City to continue to work with on future subsidized affordable housing projects. Page 11 of 28 Agenda • Project Goals • Plan Structure • Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap & Strategies • Priority Sites and Possible Annexation Areas • Important Considerations • Next Steps • Questions Page 12 of 28 Strategic Roadmap • Intended to be a guide to the implementation of recommended strategies that can begin to address the housing challenges identified through the planning process. • Narrative in Strategic Roadmap section along with Implementation Matrix in following section. The Strategic Roadmap is divided into three categories: 1. Strategies for Existing Housing Stock 2. Strategies for New Housing Development 3. Strategies for Shaping the City’s Narrative Page 13 of 28 Strategies for Existing Housing Stock General Overview: • One of the City’s largest assets when it comes to housing is Primary Focus: its existing housing stock. However, without sufficient maintenance and upkeep, these properties can also become • Continuing to move from a liability. reactive to proactive code enforcement • The City’s building codes, code enforcement and nuisance • Using cross-departmental policies, and property registration requirements all strive to ensure residential buildings in Rock Island are safe and data collection and habitable. monitoring to prevent deterioration • However, each of these policies requires ongoing • Stepping up support for enforcement and monitoring, regular updates to ensure effectiveness, and resources for residents and property maintenance and owners. rehabilitation of homes Page 14 of 28 Strategies for New Housing Development General Overview: • New residential development can occur in Primary Focus: essentially three different scenarios: infill • Ten specific priority sites development, larger-site residential development, targeted for new development and the annexation of land for future • The development of a clear development or recently developed land. annexation policy • To encourage new housing development and • Updating policies and overcome the current state of stagnant residential procedures to make developing development, the City must prioritize and focus its housing easier efforts. • Stepping up support for local partners aligned with the City’s housing goals Page 15 of 28 Strategies for Shaping the City’s Narrative General Overview: • Among residents, there is a great sense of pride in the City, the school district, and the neighborhoods. However, among non-residents, Primary Focus: there seems to be a general perception that Rock • Updating the City website Island may not be the community of choice within • Making residents and the Quad Cities. developers aware of resources, • Moving forward, the City will have to work to programs, and priority sites change the way in which it is viewed both • Improving the perception of individually and relative to its peers through Rock Island through positive and proactive marketing efforts. coordinated marketing and promotion Page 16 of 28 Agenda • Project Goals • Plan Structure • Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap & Strategies • Priority Sites and Possible Annexation Areas • Important Considerations • Next Steps • Questions Page 17 of 28 Priority Sites • 10 Priority Sites identified for new housing development • These Priority Sites have undergone a preliminary review of feasibility for development. • Further efforts by the City with regards to these sites should include: • Collect and review past engineering or environmental reports for the sites • Investigate existing infrastructure on and around sites and make improvements whenever possible to improve development feasibility • Proactively re-zone sites whenever possible • Make efforts to obtain site control of any remaining parcels • Leverage TIF, Enterprise Zone, Rivers Edge Redevelopment Area, and other incentives to support new development • Approaching developers for proposals Page 18 of 28 Priority Sites Level One Priority Site: sites that are, or are very close to, development ready Level Two Priority Site: sites that have additional barriers to development that will require more action by the City or an interested developer While these sites are intended to be a focus for the City, this list should not be used to discourage residential development on other sites. Most notably, it will be crucial for the City to continue to explore opportunities to incentivize infill development on vacant lots throughout the City. Page 19 of 28 Possible Annexation Areas • Three primary areas identified for consideration for future annexation • The City must create an annexation policy that can serve as a guiding document when considering annexations in the future, assisting in the evaluation of financial impact and feasibility and informing decision-making. • The City should not rush to annex new property but instead take care to understand the possible impact of annexation on the City’s expenses and revenue streams. • Once the City has created an annexation policy and determined sites for residential annexation and development, the City should focus on investing in infrastructure improvements and/or expansions that would benefit these sites and improve development feasibility. Page 20 of 28 Possible Annexation Areas • Three primary areas identified for consideration for future annexation • The City must create an annexation policy that can serve as a guiding document when considering annexations in the future, assisting in the evaluation of financial impact and feasibility and informing decision- making. These Annexation Areas should be considered general guides for the City’s future growth rather than definitive areas that will be annexed in the future. It is possible that portions of these areas may never be annexed while others may be annexed gradually over time. Page 21 of 28 Agenda • Project Goals • Plan Structure • Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap & Strategies • Priority Sites and Possible Annexation Areas • Important Considerations • Next Steps • Questions Page 22 of 28 Important Considerations If residential development is truly a high priority for the City, leaders must put as much emphasis on residential development as they would on commercial and industrial projects. That means using tools like TIF, Enterprise Zone and other incentives to support residential development. This is a significant change in policy and mindset. Page 23 of 28 Important Considerations The City needs to proactively promote residential development on their priority sites by reaching out to developers and partner organizations. This should include informal discussions with interested parties as well as issuing formal requests for proposals by developers. Page 24 of 28 Important Considerations To gradually shift perceptions of Rock Island as a community of choice, the City must think more strategically about messaging and communications. These messages need to be crafted thoughtfully and projected in a way that builds the image of Rock Island as an approachable partner for progress. This will require time, effort, and financial resources but will pay off, especially as the City begins to accomplish the other goals in the plan. Page 25 of 28 Agenda • Project Goals • Plan Structure • Key Findings • Strategic Roadmap & Strategies • Priority Sites and Possible Annexation Areas • Important Considerations • Next Steps • Questions Page 26 of 28 Next Steps Recommending Vote on Plan by Planning and Zoning Commission on April 7 Vote on Plan Adoption by City Council on April 14 Page 27 of 28 Any Questions? Page 28 of 28