ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The City of Rock Island is looking to change rules for businesses that want to sell alcohol and ease requirements for the Police Community Relations Commission.
Liquor code changes
The city stopped issuing new liquor licenses in March 2023 to look at changing the liquor code. The pause lasts until March 2024.
On Monday, Jan. 8, the city council considered replacing the requirement for a new business to get signatures from neighboring property owners in order to receive a license. Instead, the city would send notice letters to neighbors with ways to file objections. The council also looked at new license types for outdoor events.
"If we're talking about like a craft brewery festival, they have those in Moline, they have them in Davenport, they have them in Bettendorf. We don't have a lot of those here. We are allowing and welcoming all these different events we could be doing," city attorney Leslie Day said.
However, the council is also looking at higher fees for places that sell 'packaged' alcohol, such as in cases or six-packs.
The council is expected to vote on any changes within the end of January or February.
Police Commission
The Rock Island Police Community Relations Commission was created in 2021 to improve relationships between the police department and the public. It hasn't had a meeting since April 2023 due to lack of membership.
Leaders say current requirements, such as having enough members from certain age ranges or professions, are too tough to meet. The council is looking to ease those rules so meetings can resume.
"You know, there's a lot of immigrants and refugees in town these days. Some of them come from countries that they don't trust the law enforcement, they don't trust people in uniform. So we need to continue to break that barrier down and let them know, it's a little different here," Mayor Mike Thoms said.
The council is expected to vote on the changes in early February.
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