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!