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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2024 04-April From the City of RIVERDALE, Iowa www.riverdaleia.org | 110 Manor Drive | (563) 355-2511 | deputyclerk@riverdaleia.org | April 2024 1– Yard Waste Pickup Begins RFD Training, 7p 2– Public Hearing: Proposed Property Tax Levy Rate, 6p 6– Bulky/Citywide Cleanup 8– RFD Training, 7p 9– Public Hearing: Conduit Bonding, 7p Council Meeting, 7p 11– Sewer-Utilities Review Committee Meeting, 5p 15– RFD Training, 7p 22– Happy Earth Day RFD Training, 7p 23– Public Hearing: Budget Adoption, 7p **tentative Council Meeting, 7p 29– RFD Training, 7p *All events at City Hall unless stated **4/23 Hearing pending Council approval Operation Station: A Message from Riverdale’s Public Works Department The City of Riverdale now has a Mowing Exemption Permit! This permit covers Mow-Less May, as well as adding pollinator and/or prairie areas to your yard. Download your copy and apply today! The document can be found on our website, riverdaleia.org (or by scanning the QR code.) Next, click on “Documents”, then click “Forms & Permits”, then on “PERMIT APPLICATION: Mowing Exemption.” There is no cost for this permit. Please call our office with any questions at 563-355-2511. Ralph A. Parry Dec 28, 1932—Feb 11, 2024 Former resident and long-time Riverdale firefighter, Ralph Parry, recently passed away. The City of Riverdale, specifically the Riverdale Fire Department, would like to thank the family of Mr. Parry for choosing us as a beneficiary for memorial donations. We need you for our Low-to-moderate Income (LMI) Committee! Who: 4 Riverdale residents and 1 Riverdale business owner What: Low-to-Moderate Income Ad Hoc Committee When: Once per month until the Committee meets its goals Where: City Hall, 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa Why: To research low-to-moderate income program options and make recommendations to City Council How: Contact Stephanie Harvey, Chair, at sharvey@riverdaleia.org Reminder: There is an increase in sewer rates with the April bill. Our current sewer rate ordinance can be found at riverdaleia.org or by scanning the QR code: Do you have a green thumb? Looking to volunteer? Scott Community College is looking for volunteers to help in their gardens. The Belmont campus has 4 gardens that they maintain: vegetable, herbs, wildflowers, and native plants. Some examples of the help needed are: garden prep, planting, watering, maintaining, and harvesting. Help with all, some, or just one of their needs. An orientation meeting will be scheduled in April. Please reach out to Marie to join their volunteer list: marie_gleason@hotmail.com. Riverdale is currently raising money to be used toward our 75th Anniversary Celebration! Donate anywhere from $1 to $150+ to help us reach our goal! Stop by City Hall to donate! Does anyone remember the tradition of May Day Baskets? A May Day Basket is typically a handmade item (usually made out of paper) that is filled with flowers or sweets. The basket is then placed anonymously at the door of your neighbor on May 1. The history of this tradition is a little murky but one thing is clear: Everyone loves receiving a May Day Basket! Please come to City Hall on Wednesday, May 1st for a treat from your City Hall Staff. We would love to see this tradition “spring” back to life in Riverdale! Marilyn & Jimmy Plata If you live in Woods Estates, this month’s couple is most likely not a stranger to you. They are the unofficial welcoming committee of their neighborhood (appointed by myself-Sabryna), frequent visitors of City Hall, and an all around nice family! Marilyn was so kind to volunteer to be in the newsletter and answer some questions for me! Riverdale, please “Get to Know Your Neighbors:” Marilyn and Jimmy Plata. How long have you lived in Riverdale? Almost 2 years. What is your favorite thing about Riverdale so far? The people. Everyone has been super friendly and welcoming. Since day one, we were made to feel at home and everyone we've interacted with has made us feel super welcome. Where did you grow up? Jimmy grew up in Westmont, IL, and joined the Army when he was 18 (pre 9/11). Since then, he has moved to multiple states and deployed in support of three combat tours to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. I grew up in Berwyn, IL, about 20 mins from Jimmy. We actually met at a Cubs game in Chicago! Coming from a big city like Chicago, the change was huge, but the people here have made it an easier transition. Everyone is always so friendly and willing to help. Have you been to any Riverdale events? If so, which is your favorite? We have attended a couple events, like the Volunteer Recognition Banquet and our nephews and niece attended the Easter Egg Hunt last year. We've also attended some neighborhood get-togethers and celebrations like Diwali; it's phenomenal the community we've built here. I do have to say it's amazing how many events the city hosts for the community. They really do care for Riverdale and its residents. Last year, we hosted a Cinco De Mayo party for everyone in Woods Estates. We had such an amazing time meeting everyone that attended, both kids and adults. We are so grateful for everyone who showed up. Would you like to share anything about your family? Jimmy and I are married, going into 2 years. We have a goldendoodle named Khloe, she loves humans and is the friendliest dog ever. Do you have any hobbies? We enjoy traveling to warm and sunny places, especially during winter months. During football season, we like catching live football games at different stadiums. Last year, we were able to visit Lambeau Field, Caesars Superdome, AT&T Stadium, Lumen Field, and of course our favorite: Soldier Field. Go BEARS! I enjoy baking and shopping, and I've discovered quite a lot of new pastimes since moving from the big city. What is your current job and how long have you been doing that? Jimmy has been working as an HR Supervisor at the Rock Island Arsenal for 3 years as a civilian. He supervises Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians. He previously served on active duty for 20 years and retired from service. I worked in car sales for many years, and loved it, but took a pause after the move. Any hidden gems in the QCA that you would like to share (restaurants, parks, shops, activities, etc)? Jimmy and I enjoy going to The Quarry; it’s a nice friendly bar, and in the summer you can find us there with Khloe. Molly’s Cupcakes in Bettendorf is also a nice hidden gem; the cupcakes are delicious! The Martini Shake Off is a great charity event! We attended this year for the first time with friends. We had a blast to say the least! La Finca in Davenport has phenomenal tasting Mexican food. Marilyn and Jimmy: Thank you for being in the newsletter! Riverdale is lucky to have you here! Bulky/Citywide Cleanup is Saturday, April 6th Doing a little Spring cleaning? Take advantage of citywide cleanup! Republic will take appliances and tires on April 6th only! Yard Waste Pick-Up Season Begins April 1 • Yard waste removal is one of the services paid for by property taxes! You do not need any yard waste stickers or additional payment. • Yard waste is defined as grass, leaves, flowers, stalks, stems, trimmings, branches, and tree trunks that come from a Riverdale residence. • Anything less than 2 feet in length and less than 2 inches in diameter needs to be in paper bags (or containers). Bags cannot weigh more than 50 lbs each. • Tree branches/brush need to be cut into max of 5’ sections and weigh no more than 50 lbs. Things to Remember:  Yard waste must be at the curb by 7a on Mondays (or the scheduled pickup day should it be different).  Make sure grass clippings and yard waste, that find their way to city streets, are blown back into your yard.  Don’t leave the above mentioned in the street or sweep it into storm drains. Keeping yard waste out of our sewers improves the quality of our stormwater and doesn’t clog up our stormwater system! Unacceptable Materials: • Household hazardous materials, including paint. These items can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Materials Facility: 5640 Carey Ave., Davenport, IA. • E-Waste / Electronics. These can be dropped off at the Electronics Recovery Center: 5650 Carey Ave., Davenport, IA. • Construction debris including drywall, lumber, decking, fencing • Shingles of any kind. Shingles can be taken to the Scott County Landfill for a fee of $25/ton. • Yard waste Please call City Hall (563-355-2511) if you have any questions on accepted items. *All items must be bagged or boxed, they will not take loose trash. *Nothing excessively large or heavy as all items are manually lifted into the truck. *Items need to be at the curb by 7a.  It is illegal to dump, sweep, rake, or blow grass clippings and yard waste into drains, ditches, and streets.  Clogged storm drains cause flooding.  Grass clippings contribute to sediment buildup in our waterways.  Excess nutrients, caused by yard waste reaching creeks, streams, and rivers, cause algae growth. Too much algae in the water causes many problems including fish kills, toxin production, and strong odors, among other issues. The Mayor’s Corner – April 2024 4/8 – Total Eclipse 4/7-4/13 – QC Restaurant Week (A great opportunity to support the Duck Creek Pancake House!) 4/14 – 3p to 5p – Mayor’s Monthly Town Hall at City Hall (meeting ends when everyone has questions answered, after 2 hours, or after 15 minutes without attendees) 4/15 – 12p to 2p– Mayor’s office hours. Must register for an appt using the link below. Need a separate time? Book an appointment here: https://calendly.com/heddlesten/ Hoppy Day! Thanks to the Halseys for an awesome egg hunt! They hid 16 special golden tickets from the mayor to get kids engaged in our City. Later this year we will have 6 mayors-for-the- day, 3 ribbon cutters, 2 leading a council meeting in the pledge of allegiance, and 4 kids went home with books on mayors or civic duty! Spring Floods? Since last month, the flood risks have fortunately reduced even further than what was shared last month: https://www.weather.gov/dvn/2024_springfloodoutlook Some key details for the Rock Island gage: Risk of minor flooding - ~<20% chance (normal ~60%) Risk of moderate flooding - ~<10% chance (normal ~50%) Risk of major flooding - ~<5% chance (normal ~25%) Remember – it takes 30 days to get flood insurance and there’s still a risk of flooding no matter what. Details: https://www.floodsmart.gov/ Have something to celebrate? Did you know you can request a mayoral proclamation to cele- brate great accomplishments? We’ve celebrated milestone birthdays, state championships, Eagle Scout awards, business anniversaries, and other special days related to residents, businesses, and organizations in our community. Email me at mayor@riverdaleia.org to request yours today! March Top 10 List: • Recommended conduit bonding for St. Joan of Arc school move forward IF the City is paid a fee equal to the last conduit bonding request • Hired Dorsey & Whitney to review all bonding documents on the City’s behalf at the developer’s expense • Established a mowing exemption permit process to allow for native prairie, monarch habitat, etc. • Appointed Earl Sichterman to the Sewer/Utilities Review Committee (and held a meeting in March) • Finalized an ordinance updating who approves licenses and permits • Finalized ordinances regarding Mayoral appointments and publication of minutes • Set the public hearing for FY25 property taxes • Engaged WIU And Anna Thomas to curate our history for the 75th Anniversary and establish some museum quality displays for City Hall • Established a meal per diem policy for employee travel • Authorized payment for the final sewer inspection in our system! (we’ll do it again someday) Finances March has been very focused on finances, I wanted to share a couple items that might be of interest. • Conduit Bonding – While Iowa Code (IAC) 358C.16 limits our borrowing capacity to 5% of the value of our taxable property, conduit bonding through IAC 419 allows for non profits within 8 miles of our community to use up to $10M of bonding capacity (actually beyond our allowable amount) to get municipal rates for bonds saving them immense amounts of interest payments. • It’s budget season! We have crafted a budget that grows by around 3% (you should’ve received something in the mail about this) and is about $200,000 less in expenses than income. • While the 2020 census pegged us at 379, we thought our population was much greater and we know many homes and new families have arrived since. Unfortunately, the cost of a new, mid-decade census was nearly $200k! That means we will lose out on all those state and federal funds for another 6 years. A reminder to do your census in the future! Mayor’s Monthly Question! Each month, one resident who fills out our monthly question will be entered to win brunch with the mayor at Duck Creek Pancake House! Please return this section of the newsletter to City Hall or submit the online form to have an entry and let your voice be heard! Do you subscribe to either the North Scott Press or the Quad City Times? Do you read the City’s legal notices published in the newspaper? Did you know the City is transitioning from publishing in the Times to publishing in the Press over the next month? What are your thoughts on this? Wondering how you can give back to your community? I’m always looking for residents to serve on our boards and commissions! Please reach out to mayor@riverdaleia.org if you’re interested!