Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Nov. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

City Council Members present

Councilwoman Carolin Harvey, Councilman Navreet Kang, Councilman Adam Loos, Councilwoman Jessica Bradshaw, Councilman Jeff Doherty, Councilman Tom Grant, and Mayor John M Henry

Meeting called to order at 6:03 PM

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting Procedural: 1.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 1.2 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations Councilwoman Harvey announced Zeta Amicae’s annual Friends and Family community dinner on Friday, November 9, at Victory Dream Center.

Councilman Kang thanked those involved in the successful Halloween celebration and noted that he and City Manager Williams had an opportunity to partake in a fire training session on Saturday.

Mayor Henry announced the Veterans Day service will be held on Sunday at Veterans Plaza. Procedural: 1.3 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Sarah Heyer issued a challenge to citizens to try to avoid single-use plastics on November 15 which is America Recycles Day.

Margaret Nesbitt made inquiries and comments regarding the rescheduling of the Special Use Permit hearing.

Barry Spehn asked Councilman Loos to resign; Councilman Loos declined.

Jerrold Hennrich presented a recommendation from the Human Relations Commission regarding Brightfields Special Use Permit.

Nick Smaligo requested clarification about the reason behind cancelling the last City Council meeting and about the Mayor’s comments relating to such cancellation.

Diamante Jackson advised the Council as they cast their votes, there is an upcoming election.

Rodney Cavitt commented on the toll creosote takes on health.

Rodney Morris asked if Council was aware of recent EPA testing at the site.

Henry Bell III asked why people believe the government and the EPA.

Will Porter commented on solar energy.

2. General Business of the City Council

Action: 2.1 A Resolution Approving and a Resolution Denying Brightfields Development LLC's Request for a Special Use Permit to Develop a Solar Array on Property Located at 1555 North Marion Street

Dan Voss gave a presentation on Brightfields' Special Use Permit request.

Councilmembers shared their personal viewpoints about the merits of the application and the proposed use.

Citizens who spoke in opposition to the permit are listed below and issues that they raised centered around the continued remediation of the property, listening to the neighborhoods, declining the funds from Brightfields, remarks in response to comments from the Council and Brightfields, involvement of community in the decision-making process, the role of the City Council, zoning laws in Carbondale, the influence of possible funds from the project, questions regarding statements made by Brightfields, and concerns about the EPA data.

Speakers in opposition to the request included Rodney Morris, Ed Dorsey, Marilyn Tipton, Jerrold Hennrich, Melissa McCutcheon, Darryl Cox, Brian Klubek, Dr. Anna Jackson,

There were no speakers in favor of the request for the Special Use Permit

MOTION: Adopt a Resolution Denying Brightfields Development LLC's Request for a Special Use Permit to Develop a Solar Array on Property Located at 1555 North Marion Street

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Carolin Harvey.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Carolin Harvey, Navreet Kang, Adam Loos, Jessica Bradshaw, Jeff Doherty, Tom Grant, John M Henry (Exhibit A-11-05-2018; Resolution 2018-R-40)

MOTION: Move the previous question

Motion by Jessica Bradshaw, second by Tom Grant.

Motion Carries

Yea: Carolin Harvey, Navreet Kang, Jessica Bradshaw, Jeff Doherty, Tom Grant, John M Henry Nay: Adam Loos

Councilwoman Harvey encouraged citizens to run for Council.

Councilman Loos noted that rezoning the property in question could address citizen concerns.

There were follow-up comments from members of the public following the vote.

3. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting Procedural: 3.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the public body, the meeting was declared adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

http://explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11052018-661