Duties
The City of Rock Island's Beautification Commission serves to recognize and promote the beautification of residential and commercial properties throughout Rock Island. The Commission organizes several activities each year. These activities include:

• Yard of the Month
  
• Tell on Your Neighbor
  
• Commercial Beautification Awards
  
• Holiday Lighting Contest
  
• Long Term Commercial Maintenance Award
  
  

Yard of the Month – Monthly, May through September

Each month throughout the spring and summer, Commissioners nominate and vote for the best looking yard in the City of Rock Island. A monthly certificate is presented to the homeowner voted to have the most creative landscaping and aesthetically pleasing yards. The winner of the award is presented with a large blue ribbon sign to display in their yard for the remainder of the month, and is also photographed by the Rock Island Argus.

"Tell on Your Neighbor" Contest – Annually, 2nd Monday in July

This contest encourages residents of the City to “tell on their neighbor” by nominating the yards in their neighborhood that they find to be the most appealing or the most improved. Nomination forms are printed in the Rock Island Argus newspaper and may also be picked up at City Hall. Nominations can also be made by phone by calling 732-2900. Click here to read about the 2009 Winners. "The next Tell On Your Neighbor nomination process will open in June of 2010."

The Commission will tour each of these properties on a bus tour on the 2nd Monday in July, at which time they rank each yard. The Mayor and the Beautification Commission present the winners of this contest with certificates during an August City Council meeting.

Commercial Beautification Awards - Annually

Nominees for the Commercial Beautification Awards are compiled by reviewing building permits and façade improvement program projects completed between October 1st and September 31st of each given year. Awards are given to recognize the top two properties in each of two categories: Improved Commercial Properties and New Commercial Properties. The Commission selects the award recipients by scoring each property in a number of areas such as: landscaping, design, exterior remodeling, etc.

The awards presented include a Rotary Trophy for the top scoring property among both categories, the Beautification Commission Award, the Mayor’s Award, and the City Council Beautification Award. These trophies and plaques have been rotating through the community since 1980, and are presented to the winners by the Mayor and the Beautification Commission during a January City Council meeting.

Holiday Lighting Contest – Annually, December

The Beautification Commission has held the annual Holiday Lighting Contest since the late 1980s. Nominations are taken from the public through nomination forms published in the Argus newspaper and also by phone. The Commission views the nominated displays during a bus tour that is held on the 2nd or 3rd Monday in December. The top three winners in the residential and commercial categories are recognized. The Mayor and the Beautification Commission present certificates to the winners during a January City Council meeting.

If you have comments or questions about the Beautification Commission, contact the Planning and Redevelopment Division at 732-2900. For a detailed listing of other city boards and commissions, click here.

Number of Appointed Members
Fifteen

Term
Four years.

Public Meetings
Regular meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of each month (except January thru March) at 6:30 p.m. The Beautification Commission regulary meets in the CED Conference Room on the second floor of Rock Island City Hall, 1528 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois. You may access a listing of meeting agendas and minutes.

All appointed members are Rock Island residents. Anyone interested in becoming a member should contact the staff person below.

Staff
Secretary to the Commission: Trisha Griffin, Grant & Website Coordinator
City of Rock Island
E-Mail: planning@rigov.org
Phone: (309) 732-2900
Address: 1528 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201-8678