Carbondale Reporter

Carbondale City Council met Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Here are the minutes as provided by Carbondale:

Regular City Council Meeting November 15, 2016 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)

Generated by Jennifer R Sorrell on Wednesday, November 16, 2016

City Council Members present

Councilwoman Jessica Bradshaw, Councilman Lee Fronabarger, Councilman Tom Grant, Councilwoman

Carolin Harvey, Councilman Navreet Kang, Councilman Adam Loos, Mayor John M Henry

Meeting called to order at 7:02 PM

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 1.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 1.2 General Announcements and Proclamations

Mayor Henry read a statement which addressed recent unrest in the country following the national election. He assured the citizens that the City does not condone behavior which threatens others and encouraged respect of one another.

Mayor Henry proclaimed Friday, December 2, 2016, as Milton L. McDaniel, Sr. day in the City of Carbondale and encouraged citizens to respectfully celebrate the accomplishments of this true son of Carbondale. Mr. McDaniel expressed his pride in being a Carbondale native and shared with the audience details about his accomplishments.

Oaths of Office were administered to Travis Young, as Carbondale Firefighter, and Benjamin Schultz, as Carbondale Peace Officer.

Councilwoman Harvey invited citizens to a free community dinner on Thursday, November 17, at the Eurma C. Hayes Center and she announced that Santa in the Park will be held December 5 - 8, 2016, on a rotating schedule at each Carbondale park.

Councilwoman Bradshaw announced the Carbondale Community Farmers' Market will be located at the Carbondale Community High School for the autumn/winter season.

Councilman Kang announced that the SIU robotics team swept the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering robotics competition on November 2, in Orlando, Florida.

City Manager Williams announced the return of the synthetic ice rink in the Downtown beginning December 3 to January 3 in the center parking lot of Town Square.

Procedural: 1.3 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Rodney Morris, 521 East Knight Street, asked for the resolution of a flooding issue due to debris clogging ditches in his neighborhood.

Pepper Holder, 410 E. James and Thelma Walker Avenue, remarked on the need for elections utilizing a district versus at-large system to ensure representation from each neighborhood.

Darrell Dunham expressed his support for requiring city residency for public employees. He then inquired about the current residency of City employees.

Herman Williams added his comments to Mr. Morris' regarding flooding issues near his rental property.

Procedural, Reports: 1.4 Public Hearings and Special Reports

Cinnamon Smith, Director of Tourism, provided a brief overview of the Carbondale Eclipse website and an update on the Eclipse Committee's progress.

Information: 1.5 Acceptance of the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2017

Mayor Henry presented Finance Director Jeff Davis the distinguished budget award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2017.

2. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 2.1 Approval of the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from November 1, 2016

Resolution: Approve the meeting minutes from the November 1, 2016 City Council meeting Action (Consent): 2.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 10/24/2016 FY 2017 Warrant 1286 in the amount of $1,641,199.62

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 10/24/2016 totaling $1,641,199.62 (Exhibit A-11-15-2016)

Action (Consent): 2.3 Acceptance of Approved Meeting Minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees

Resolution: Accept the approved meeting minutes from the Boards, Commissions, and Committees and place them on file

Action (Consent): 2.4 Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment Establishing FY 2017 Police Department Contingency Account

Resolution: The City Council is requested to approve an Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment

establishing the Police Department's Division Contingency Account for FY17 in the amount of $108,500.

(Ordinance 2016-60; Exhibit B-11-15-2016)

Action (Consent): 2.5 Approval of Consent Agenda Items 2.1 - 2.4.

Resolution: Approve items 2.1 - 2.5

MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda items 2.1 - 2.4.

Motion by Navreet Kang, second by Jessica Bradshaw.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jessica Bradshaw, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, Navreet Kang, Adam Loos, John M Henry

3. General Business of the City Council

Action: 3.1 Award of Contract for the East Side Entryway Monument (SP0901) to Samron Midwest Contracting in the Amount of $68,355 and Approval of a Budget Adjustment of $48,000

Council members expressed their support for or opposition to this item. Rodney Morris stated that this money could be spent on improvements in the Northeast side. Nathan Columbo, 229 Hunt Road, linked the monument to the identity of southern Illinois with the university. A letter from Jerry Forth in opposition to the item was read into the record.

Public Works Director Sean Henry responded to inquiries regarding costs of constructing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.

MOTION: Award a Contract for the East Side Entryway Monument (SP0901) to Samron Midwest Contracting in the Amount of $68,355 and Approve a Budget Adjustment of $48,000. (Ordinance 2016- 61; Exhibit C-11-15-2016)

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, Adam Loos, John M Henry

Nay: Jessica Bradshaw, Lee Fronabarger, Navreet Kang

Action: 3.2 Review of 2016 Proposed Tax Levy, Truth in Taxation Act Determination and Public Library Board's Tax Levy Requirements

Council thanked staff for their hard work and extended thanks to the Carbondale Public Library.

MOTION: City Council directed staff to submit a Tax Levy Ordinance for the December 6, 2016 City Council meeting containing the recommended Tax Levy and Tax Levy Abatements that will result in a net 2016 Tax Levy in the amount of $2,067,238 for General Government and Library purposes.

Motion by Tom Grant, second by Carolin Harvey.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jessica Bradshaw, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, Navreet Kang, Adam Loos, John M Henry

Action: 3.3 Review of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Checklist Items for Proposed New Projects

Council recommendations for additional Capital Improvement Program items included mid-block crosswalks, repairs to the sanitary sewer system and infiltration, and establishing an underpass on the northern side of town.

Public Works Director Sean Henry noted that there are two CIP sewer projects in the book currently in progress which cover the entire City. He then explained concerns with noncompliance in crosswalks and the false sense of security they may give pedestrians, particularly when they are placed mid-block. Mr. Henry responded to inquiries about smoothing railroad crossings at Grand Avenue and Jackson and Oak Streets, as well as a question about utilizing a countdown for traffic regulation devices.

Donald Monty, 418 Giant City Road, remarked on a longstanding CIP to place a sidewalk on East Main Street; noted that there were once marked crosswalks on College Street and Dorthella which have not been repainted; indicated his agreement with providing motorists warnings about crosswalks; suggested a comprehensive program to address the maintenance of private and public ditches; and commented on the history where the City explored the possibility of an underpass on the northern side of town.

Susan Pimental, Roosevelt Road, recommended the inclusion of rumble strips by University Hall. Regular City Council Meeting – November 15, 2016

Action: 3.4 Discussion of Sound Devices and General Noise Restrictions

James Karayiannis, 1000 North Oakland, noted that his establishment had half of the live entertainment it usually has, yet complaints have increased. He commented regarding the legitimacy of certain complaints, noted that he did not raise an objection to the limitation to weekend nights only, and indicated that the complaints are limited to only one or two beer gardens. He commented that liquor licenses were a privilege, not a right, that licenses should not be issued to those who were not responsible in running their establishment, nor should the Police Department need to direct their attention to monitoring noise levels with decibel meters. Mr. Karayiannis responded to inquiries about the last date of a live bands in the beer garden.

Sandy Litecky, 603 West Walnut Street, suggested a minimum age requirement to hold a liquor license. Susan Pimental, 79 Roosevelt Road, shared her experiences with noise issues audible from her home. She noted that the music causing the issue was not live music and asked the Council to either deal with this establishment or make adjustments to the Ordinance.

Donald Monty, 418 Giant City Road, commented on how this issue has been handled over the years, noted that this is a difficult matter to deal with, and suggested that a sound level be established and investigated upon complaint.

Councilmembers responded to the inquiries seeking direction which were posed in the background of the item. Recommendations from the City Council included mounting permanent decibel meters which constantly stream data to a single monitoring location; inclusion of such noise in a nuisance law; maintaining the exemption for beer gardens, but requiring the entertainment end at an earlier time; utilizing dampening devices or plantings to absorb the sound; vacating liquor licenses which fail to operate cooperatively; noting the authority of the Commission to impose requirements on beer gardens or outdoor café areas; amending section 2-4-5.F to remove the word “live” from consideration of issuance or renewal of licenses; placement of a decibel meter on the police station; clarifying the language in section 2-4-10.E to clearly indicate the start and end time each day for the beer garden exemption to be in effect; and a request to receive a comprehensive listing of beer garden complaints.

4. Council Comments for the City Council

Information: 4.1 An opportunity for City Council members to offer general comments

Councilman Fronabarger asked the Finance Director Jeff Davis to provide alternate projections for the five-year budget.

Councilman Loos commented on the anxiety and fear of some citizens following the election. He read a

personal statement in response to the general election results.

Councilwoman Bradshaw indicated her agreement with Councilman Loos’ statement, recommended revisiting the Compassionate City Program, and suggesting passing a resolution indicating an intention not to comply with deportation.

Councilman Loos expressed his support for Councilwoman Bradshaw’s suggestions. He commented on the significance of the safety pin on his lapel and encouraged others to follow suit.

5. Executive Session

None

6. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

The Carbondale City Council adjourned at 10:04 p.m.