Wetland Task Force

Regular Meeting

Rock Island, IL · November 12, 2025

Minutes

Wetland Task Force Meeting Minutes Executive Conference Room, City Hall, 3rd Floor 1528 3rd Avenue November 12, 2025 8:30 AM Task Force Members Present Nina Struss Mike Thoms Missy Gasiorowski Hannah Alexander Tim Pressly Jon Duyvejonck Task Force Members Absent Ald. Randy Hurt Mayor Ashley Harris Kathy Wine Staff Present Tom Flaherty Tanner Osing Miles Brainard Guests Lorraine Foelske, INDR/INPC Call to Order and Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am. Update on Land & Water Reserve process Foelske provided updates on the LWR process, noting that Angella Moorehouse will serve as her backup during her maternity leave beginning in January 2026. She noted that she plans to prepare a draft management plan and proposal prior to her leave. Updates on prior action items Staff reported progress on finalizing job specifications and advancing the RFP for boundary survey work. Staff also discussed developing a webpage for the project, including a potential form for public questions. Other Business The Task Force discussed next steps for community engagement. Additional discussion included the possibility of organizing a litter clean-up event in the project area. The group also discussed continued coordination with Augustana, including plans to present a draft Memorandum of Agreement to City Council and to include Augustana representatives in future Task Force meetings. Public Comment -1- No members of the public were present to comment. Adjournment The meeting adjourned by consensus. Minutes submitted by Tanner Osing. -2-

Agenda

Wetland Task Force Meeting Agenda - 10.12.2025 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM @ RI City Hall Wetland Task Force Members and Key Roles Attended meeting ● Ashley Harris - RI Mayor ● Miles Brainard - RI Community Economic Development ● Thomas Flaherty - Assistant to RI City Manager & Economic Development Director ● Todd Thompson - RI City Manager ● Sarah Hayden - RI Community Engagement Manager ● Randy Hurt - RI Second Ward Council Member ● Tanner Osing - Planning & Zoning ● Missy Gasiorowski - General contractor with Hodge construction with the development ● Hannah Alexander - NTI Representative ● Mike Thoms - Resident ● Nina Struss - River Health & Resiliency Organizer with Prairie Rivers Network ● Tim Pressly - Land owner ● Jon Duyvejonck - Retired Wildlife Biologist (USFWS), Sierra Club ● Kathy Wine - Executive Director at River Action ● Lorraine Foelske - IDNR/INPC Timeline ● Fall/Winter 2025: a. City information: historical, utility, boundary work, deeds/title work b. Ecological information from other groups c. City/Task Force proposal for what is desired for the L&WR in terms of public uses d. Important Dates: ■ October 15 - Task Force & Augustana & Upper Mississippi River Center ■ November 12 - Task Force & INPC (Lorraine) ■ December 10 - Task Force & INPC (Lorraine) ■ January 7, 2026 - Task Force & INPC (Lorraine) ● Spring/Summer 2026: a. Proposal & Management plan writing process begins b. Recommended ecological assessments c. Finalize easement design d. Finalize recreation/hunting plans e. Important Dates: ■ Feb-April 2026 - Community engagement opportunity ■ June 2026 - L&WR Designation Progress Review to the City Council. ● Fall/Winter 2026: a. Finalize Proposal and Management Plan b. Obtain signatures on documents c. Important Dates: ■ Thanksgiving 2026 - Deadline for draft to INPC of Management Plan & Proposal ■ September 2026 - Management Plan & Proposal to City Council for Discussion/Approval ● January 2027: a. Present final proposal to the commissioners at the INPC meeting. b. Once approved - sign installation and activation of management plan c. Important Dates: ■ TBD - INPC Presentation for L&WR Designation Agenda A. Land & Water Reserve Process Updates - Lorraine B. Updates on 10.1 Meeting Action Items: a. City of Rock Island: i. Finalize list of job specifications for the RFP to to Lorraine by 10/8/2025 ii. Create a designated email for questions regarding the wetlands/L&WR process. iii. Discuss/brainstorm community engagement next steps (Tanner/Todd/Miles/Tom/Mayor/Sarah) iv. Remove Task Force meetings from calendars in 2025 for the following dates: October 29, November 26, December 24. Add Task Force meeting for January 7, 2026. b. INPC: (Lorraine) i. Work with City for boundary survey RFP process ii. Management Plan & Proposal c. Task Force: i. Connect Lorraine with USACE lead forester (Jon) ii. Provide feedback to the TF regarding landowner questions/concerns as needed (Tim) iii. Create a list of local orgs/people to invite to a future community engagement event that will be constructive to the conversation. (Nina/Jon/Kathy/Tim) C. Updates from 10.15 & 11.6 Meetings: a. City of Rock Island: i. Debrief potential Augustana partnership at next Meeting (November 12) ii. Develop a draft scope of work for Augustana in collaboration with INPC b. Augustana: i. Provide a draft Memorandum of Agreement for City/Task Force/INPC to review by next meeting (November 12) c. INPC: i. Develop a draft scope of work for Augustana in collaboration with City (if approved at TF meeting on November 12) d. Task Force: i. Provide final answer to agreement of partnership with Augustana by early December D. Other Updates E. Next Steps F. Next Meeting: December 10 - Task Force & INPC