On the agenda: Rock Island Minutes — data center (Sep 10)

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ROCK ISLAND
MINUTES

CITY ROCK ISLAND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
September 10, 2026

6:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Gabaldo opened the regular meeting of the Rock Island City Council on
Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 6:00p

2. ROLL CALL
a. Niko Gabaldo, Mayor
b. Carmen Andonaegui, Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember
c. Scott Riseley, Councilmember
d. Brad Hampton, Councilmember
e. Jordan Conley, Councilmember
f. Francisco Contreras, Councilmember
Staff in Attendance
g. Tara Whaley, Clerk/Treasurer
h. Sonia Gonzalez, Deputy Clerk
i. Grace Jordan, Economic Development
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
a. Consideration of a motion to approve the Agenda of September 10, 2026

Motion by CM Andonaegui made a motion to approve and CM Contreras seconded
the motion. Motion carried 5/0

5. CONSENT AGENDA

STATEMENT: “Consideration of a motion to approve the Consent Agenda of
September 10, 2026 as presented.”

a. Consideration of a motion to approve the August 13, 2026 Regular City Council
Meeting Minutes.

Motion by CM Contreras made a motion to approve and CM Conely seconded
the motion. Motion carried 5/0

b. Consideration of a motion to approve the September 2026 bills as presented in
the amount of $ 367,172.33

Motion by CM Andonaegui made a motion to approve and CM Conley seconded
the motion. Motion carried 5/0

c. Consideration of a motion to approve the August 2026 payroll and benefits as
presented in the amount of $ 61,676.78

Motion by CM Conley made a motion to approve and CM Andonaegui seconded
the motion. Motion carried 5/0

6. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS

a. Opportunity for brief comments to the City Council about items not on the Agenda
for a Public Hearing.

NOTE TO PUBLIC: “Public Comment” must relate to City business only. Each speaker
will be given two minutes to speak. This is a one-way opportunity to comment to the full
City Council. It is not to “Questions and Answers” session for the Mayor, the
Council, or individual Councilmembers. The City most likely will not respond directly at
the meeting, but may ask staff to research and report back on an issue. Speakers must
show respect to the forum and its elected officials. Speech and actions that lead to any
disruption will not be tolerated. When called upon, please state your name, address, and
if you are a resident of Rock Island for the record.

*Douglas County Sheriff Caille spoke briefly about the patrol staffing — 5 deputies
on each shift, it is the most the county has ever had. Shared that the DCSO will
be launching a new ‘all encompassing’ app, should be live by the end of
September 2026.

7. PRESENTATION / UPDATE

EJ Municipal — Eric Jensen spoke (via Zoom) regarding draft Comp Plan being
almost complete — finalizing mapping and edits; should be delivered in 10-12 days
and sent to the state the 60-day review period. EJM will be in attendance for the
council meetings in October, November and December. Addressed there will be an
open house style community meeting on October 21, 2026, from approximately 4:30-
6:30p. It will be a ‘drop-in/drop-by’ for the citizens to review the mapping, make
comment and ask questions. Plan for the Comp Plan to be adopted by the council at
the December regular meeting to meet the state deadline of December 31, 2026.
Addressed that data centers are a ‘hot topic’ for communities within the state. Will
be looking for feedback regarding data centers in the long range (20+ years) comp
planning for the city.

8. PUBLIC HEARING

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a. Public Hearing regarding Ordinance 26-235 — Amend RIMC 8.16 - Fireworks and
setting an effective date was opened at 6:13p; Public Hearing closed at 6:27p

Motion made by CM Hampton to approve Ordinance 26-235 - Amend RIMC 8.16;
seconded by CM Contreras. Motion carried 4/1 - CM Hampton opposed

Public comments were given from:

*Rebecca Black - written statement submitted, read by the clerk —- same
statement provided for the August 13, 2026 regular meeting; is overall is in favor
of fireworks; used this topic as a ‘teachable moment for her children; trusts the
council will make the best decision for the community.

*Lois Northwind - written statement submitted, read by the clerk — would request
the council to ban firework sales and discharge; if the council will be allowing the
sale of fireworks, would only want them sold to the residents of Rock Island

* Jana Myers - written statement submitted, read by the clerk — would request the
council to ban firework sales and discharge during the summer/4" of July

*Anna Munsey-Riseley — opposed to the sale and discharge of fireworks over the
4" of July holiday

*Jeff Waterbury — stated the fireworks stand itself is not the issue, the bigger
problem is beyond the city; would like to see a larger push from law enforcement
for enforcing the current state laws — more teeth in punishment

*Ray Pearson — would like to see the council ban the sale and discharge of
fireworks; spoke of the years he has lived in Rock Island and the number of fires
he has had to extinguish that were from fireworks; would like to see more
enforcement

“Brian Rebor — would like to see the council ban the sale and discharge of
fireworks during the 4" of July holiday but would like to see fireworks still allowed
during the new year’s celebration

*Fire Marshall Kurt Blanchard — addressed the legal versus illegal fireworks,
enforcement and penalties once/if a fire is started and the concerns of the
trends/prolonged conditions of hot and extremely dry summers in the area. He
also reiterated that if the council amends the ordinance to ban the sale and
discharge of fireworks for the 4" of July holiday, the city will have to understand
that things would not change until the holiday in 2028.

*CM Conley — was appreciative of the public/community input on the matter

*CM Andonaegui — was concerned about enforcement

Motion made by CM Hampton to approve Ordinance 26-235 - Amend RIMC 8.16;
seconded by CM Contreras. Motion carried 4/1 - CM Hampton opposed

b. Public Hearing regarding Resolution 26-218 - Adoption of 6-year Transportation
Improvement Plan (TIP) and setting an effective date and was opened at 6:39p;
Public Hearing closed at 6:40p

No public comments were given

Motion made by CM Andonaegui to approve to approve Resolution 26-218 to
adopt the 6-year TIP; seconded by CM Conley Motion carried 4/1 - CM Hampton
opposed

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9. MOTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

a. Consideration of a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the new 10-year
contract with Waste Management

Tyler Mackay with Waste Management spoke on the upcoming changes in the
services offered to the citizens — curbside recycling, online ordering for bulk
waste and changes to the annual dump day for the citizens

Motion by CM Contreras made a motion to approve and CM Conley seconded
the motion. Motion carried 4/1 - CM Hampton opposed

b. Consideration of a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the contract with Grette
and Associates for shoreline consulting services for the Saunders Trail project

Grace Jordan spoke on the requirements for permitting and completing the
Saunders Trail project

Motion by CM Contreras made a motion to approve and CM Riseley seconded
the motion. Motion carried 4/1 - CM Hampton opposed

c. Consideration of a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a 3-year contract with
GovPilot for permitting and code enforcement software

Grace Jordan spoke on the functionality of the permitting and code enforcement
software. Also discussed the conversations that were had with those she
contacted that are using the software.

Motion by CM Conley made a motion to approve and CM Andonaegui seconded
the motion. Motion carried 5/0

10. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

a. City Clerk/Treasurer’s Report (Tara)
Notified that the new website for the city went live today (09.10.26) and
encouraged people to visit the site. Also briefly mentioned that the budget
planning process was beginning.

b. Economic Development Report (Grace)
Reiterated the date and proposed time for the open house for the comp plan;
touched on the major code updates/revisions that are needed; the need to
update the fee schedule; the need do a utility rate study and increasing the rates;

touched on developers transferring their water rights to the city and a potential
developer agreement to facilitate the transfer of water rights

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11.

12.

13.

MAYOR & COUNCIL REPORTS
a. Mayor Report

Announced that Wyatt Long attended training in Yakima and made good
contacts/networked with other Public Works Directors

b. Councilmembers
*CM Hampton — touched on the work he is doing with the search and rescue with
the fires in the northern part of the area
*CM Andonaegui — mentioned the items in the Hazard Mitigation Plan and the
city’s ability to have communications with the local EM via the emergency radio
system that was established by CM Hampton

FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS

NOTE TO COUNCIL: Items to be added to the next City Council Regular Meeting should be
requested here.

Potential new developer agreement for transferring water rights

ADJOURN

The Council adjourned the Regular Meeting at 7:09p.

ATTEST:

Tara ley Clerk/Treasurer
City/of Roc\(sland

APPROVED:

Niko Gabaldo, Mayor
City of Rock Island

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