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City Council Goal #3
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GOAL #3: REVITALIZATION OF STRATEGIC LOCATIONS
OBJECTIVES:
• Increase / expand retail businesses and sales tax revenues
• Work in partnership with neighborhoods, businesses, community organizations, institutions
• Increase private sector investment
• Create a vibrant Downtown – a destination for residents and the region
• Develop Columbia Park
• Enhance College Hill District
ACTION STEPS:
| ACTION STEP 1: Support Partnership with Library and YMCA (Seven Votes) 30/31 library will be closing, but a library presence is still important there. The partnership with the YMCA and Library needs to be supported and it needs to move forward. | |
| LEAD: Library Support: |
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| Status:
Response from Contributors Council expected by the end of July 2019. - Response from the Contributors Council received late July. Before they will make a determination, they would like to see a completed feasibility study and a firm offer for acquiring the building. COMPLETED Submit CY2020 CIP Request for this project to the Finance Department by July 25, 2019. COMPLETED • Resubmit Contributors Council packet with the feasibility study results/building offer by October 3, 2019. (If we are unable to meet this aggressive deadline the timeline will be pushed back to their next meeting, which is in January 2020). • Present information about the project/answer questions at the October 28, 2019, City Council Study Session if the feasibility study is complete and indicates positive results. • Prepare for the sale of the 30/31 Library: - Real Estate Appraisal – Done. - Working with Legal on the process for selling the property (currently underway). - RFP for Mobile Library released in late July. Bid opening is August 7, 2019. - Investigate placing material return boxes at businesses in the central part of the City (currently underway). - Last date the 30/31 Library open to the public – Saturday, December 14, 2019. • If the feasibility study comes back positive, Launch a Capital Campaign in the Summer of 2020: - Commission a “Campaign Cabinet” - Leadership Gift Phase • Fall 2020: - Major Gifts Phase • Once 80% of funds are secured, begin design and construction. (Date TBD) • Spring/Winter 2021: - Special Gift Phase - Community Gift Phase |
| ACTION STEP 2: Allow Short term Rentals (Six Votes)
Airbnb should be allowed. They should have to register and have a permit. They should have to pay hotel / motel tax and be subject to the same rules as a bed and breakfast. |
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| LEAD: CED
Support: |
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| Status:
August 2019 – CED Staff will present at Study Session • Rewrite City ordinance • Review Hotel / Motel ordinance and taxes • Review of Hotel / Motel taxes paid by all entities in Rock Island • Revenue stream – yes / no? (tax / permit fee) • Inspection – yes / no? • Where allowed – authorized / permitted use September 2019 – Ordinance to City Council |
| ACTION STEP 3: Manage Vacant and Partially Vacant Buildings (Five Votes) Catalog vacant and partially vacant buildings and reach out to landlords to improve them and reduce rents to make them accessible to businesses. Any that cannot be repaired, must be demolished to make way for new buildings. | |
| LEAD: CED
Support: |
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| Status:
Create clear definition of “Vacant” building vs. “Unoccupied” building • Is the building being actively marketed? • Research what other communities do • Legal standing / challenges August 2019 - Discussion with private vendor that provides this service January 2020 - Study Session with recommendations for 2020 program initiatives . |
| ACTION STEP 4: College Hill Redevelopment / Business Development and 30th Street and 14th Avenue (Five Votes) | |
| LEAD: CED
Support: |
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| Status: • Staff can explore what interest exists amongst business owners to re-establish the business association • Explore potential combination of College Hill and Hilltop Business Association • CED will continue to engage and survey businesses to better understand the challenges and opportunities that exist • January 2020 – Study Session update |
| ACTION STEP 5: Execute Downtown Plan (Five Votes)
Continue implementation with timeline identified and downtown streetscape standards included. . |
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| LEAD: CED
Support: PW, Parks, CM, DARI, Downtown Businesses |
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| Status:
• November 2019 – CED staff will present at Study Session on upcoming efforts for 2020 and 2019 accomplishments • Quarterly updates to Council • November, 2020 – CED staff will present to Study Session on upcoming efforts for 2021 and 2020 accomplishments |
| ACTION STEP 6: 11th Street - Short Term Goals (Four Votes)
11th Street vacant lot – what can be done right now to make it usable and to get people to come here? A farmers market, a food truck / tent? Something temporary that will bring people to Rock Island until a permanent solution can be found. |
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| LEAD: CED
Support: PW, Parks |
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| Status:
• Staff is open-minded on short-term solutions for the space. The difficulty lies in costs / benefits of investing in these events. CED staff will continue to market the property to developers • October 2019 – Study Session by CED and PW |
| ACTION STEP 7: 11th Street Improvements (Four Votes)
11th Street Infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks and retaining walls. |
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| LEAD: PW
Support: CED |
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| Status:
Previous Improvements to 11th Street: The sidewalk on the west side of 11th Street from 25th Avenue to 42nd Avenue was replaced previously and is ADA accessible with the exception of the Watchtower property frontage. This was omitted during the sidewalk project due to discussions on development. Current Improvements: Existing street light repairs on 11th Street will be completed by November of 2019 from 25th Avenue to 46th Avenue. 87 street lights will be upgraded to LED and new wiring and conduit installed to each street light. Future Actions: October 2019 Study Session • Improvements on east side of 11th Street and what the City is responsible for due to 11th Street corridor being a state route and state right of way • Maintenance agreement between the City and IDOT for 11th Street corridor and what is included in the maintenance agreement • Improvements to sidewalk on east side and retaining wall improvements and costs. • PPC 11/DARI update |
| ACTION STEP 8: 11th Street Business Development Corridor (Three Votes) | |
| LEAD: CED
Support: PW |
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| Status:
• February, 2020 – Staff / NPC11 / DARI will give a presentation on 2019 accomplishments on plann2020 efforts in regard to the 11th Street business corridor • November 2020 – Staff will give a presentation on the 2020 accomplishments in regard to the 11th Street business corridor and plans for 2021 |
| ACTION STEP 9: Adopt Massage Parlor Ordinance (Three Votes) Ordinance should be adopted. While we may not have them here, we do not want them to locate here. Being proactive is better than reactive. It sends a message about the quality of our town. Require license and certification. |
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| LEAD: CED
Support: Legal |
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| Status:
October 2019 –Study Session • Establish business permit for massage establishments - Research what other communities are doing - Communicate with the State of Illinois Regulatory Board to understand we are in line with their requirements - Fees – yes / no? November 2019 – Ordinance presented to Council for approval |
| ACTION STEP 10: Enforce / Create Rental Ordinances. (Two votes)
Ordinances regarding rental property and landlords need to be enacted and enforced. If a landlord doesn’t maintain the property, then they should be fined. We need to work with the landlords to monitor rental rates so that they are not excessive. Absentee landlords should not be permitted. If we cannot contact you, then you should not be permitted to rent. |
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| LEAD: CED
Support: |
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| Status:
November 2019 – CED Staff will present at Study Session • Review of Crime Free Ordinances and Rental Registration programs of other communities • Legal review of ordinance changes Mxay 2020 – New programs in effect |