Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met April 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Council Members present

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

Meeting called to order at 6:02 PM

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

Procedural: 1.2 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Councilman Grant provided the City Council with an update for Founders Park and the Founders Park Committee, noting the involvement of the City Forester and Carbondale Garden Study Club in the plans for an annual Arbor Day planting, the relocation of a City-owned flag pole, and plans to hold a flag retirement ceremony.

Councilman Loos commented on the April 2 Advisory Question results, noted that there is a new Park Board, made a suggestion to hold all future City and Park meetings in the public and that a joint meeting in July would be appropriate, offered suggestions for a future intergovernmental agreement, and preparing a strategic plan for the parks.

Mayor Henry proclaimed the week of April 23 - 27 as Carbondale Food and Fashion Week and encouraged citizens to learn about the programs offered at SIU.

Procedural: 1.3 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Sandy Litecky of Keep Carbondale Beautiful noted the annual spring clean-up on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at Turley Park. She remarked that the Rotary Club will weigh the litter collected.

Rodney Moore asked that the City Council to request the US EPA to host a meeting in Carbondale to provide further explanation about upcoming remediation activities at the former Koppers site.

Beau Henson requested and received assurances that trees cut down on Washington Street near WDBX would be replanted.

Megan Byers expressed safety concerns about speeding and texting while driving on Morningside Drive. She would like to see something done to make the neighborhood safer.

Lee Fronabarger concurred with Ms. Beyers' statements, noting he would like to see the results of a speed study, and shared a traffic calming measure implemented by Waterloo.

Barry Spehn commented that in his experience speed bumps don't work.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Public Hearing: 2.1 Public Hearing on the Proposed FY 2020 City Budget The public hearing was called to order at 6:22 p.m.

Citizens commenting on the 2020 Budget follow:

Nick Smaligo remarked on the size of the Police Department and cost for Police protection relative to the size of the population, the changes in the calls for service from 2007 to 2017. He proposed to "right size" the department and utilize the resulting savings differently.

Retha Daugherty expressed concerns about mosquito spraying in the City and fluoride being added to the water. She asked the City Council to consider new solutions.

The public hearing closed at 6:30 p.m.

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 3.1 Approval of Minutes from the Carbondale City Council Meeting of March 26, 2019

Resolution: Approve the Carbondale City Council meeting minutes from March 26, 2019

Action (Consent): 3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 03/22/2019 for the FY 2019 Warrant 1351 in the Total Amount of $937,972.06

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 03/22/2019 totaling $937,972.06

Action (Consent): 3.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 01/31/2019 FY 2019 Warrant # WF 01/2019 in the amount of $110,929.90

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 01/31/2019 totaling $110,929.90

Action (Consent): 3.4 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 02/28/2019 FY 2019 Warrant # WF 02/2019 in the amount of $146,985.28

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 02/28/2019 totaling $146,985.28

Action: 3.5 Appointment to Boards and Commissions Council is requested to concur with the Mayor's recommended appointment to Boards and Commissions

Pulled by N. Kang

Action (Consent): 3.6 Resolution Approving J.D. Ramsey's Request, on behalf of Kingdom Call Ministries, for a Special Permit for a Revival Tent at 1410 North Illinois Avenue from May 26 through September 1, 2019

Resolution: Adopt a Resolution approving J.D. Ramsey's request, on behalf of Kingdom Call Ministries, for a special permit for a revival tent at 1410 North Illinois Avenue from May 26 through September 1, 2019

Action (Consent): 3.7 Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment Establishing the FY 2019 Police Department Contingency Account

Resolution: Approve an Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment establishing the Police Department's Division Contingency Account for FY 2019 in the amount of $52,674

Action (Consent): 3.8 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

Resolution: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration

MOTION: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration

Motion by Carolin Harvey, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Action: 3.5 Appointment to Boards and Commissions

The Council inquired as to why the student’s address wasn't provided.

MOTION: Concur with the Mayor's recommended appointment to Boards and Commissions

Motion by Navreet Kang, second by Carolin Harvey.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

4. General Business of the City Council

Discussion: 4.1 Review and Discussion of the Proposed FY 2020 Budget and Five Year Community Investment Program

City Council comments, questions, and concerns included an inquiry about the increase in revenue for court fines and fees, whether there would be additional tickets written for litter, a comment regarding a reduction in salary line in the police budget, remarks that $2.6 million of the budget for the police department is for pensions mandated by the State, an inquiry about proposed parking changes and the impact on the budget, compliments on the increase in planting of trees in Carbondale, compliments to Staff in putting the budget together, and the lack of capital outlay in the general fund demonstrates the state of the budget general.

Several Councilmembers responded to comments and questions from the public pertaining to the police department and the budgeting process.

Citizens who commented on or expressed concerns about the reduction in the size of the Police

Department and their budget, and changes to the current policing methods included Nick Smaligo, Retha Daugherty, Dawn Roberts, Connor Sullivan, Gary Allsworth, and Tricia Belts.

Citizens who expressed support for the current policing methods included Sandy Litecky and Bruce Payne.

Citizens who commented upon and expressed concerns about the placement of No Parking signs in the Northeast neighborhood included Marilyn Tipton, Margaret Nesbitt, and Deborah Woods.

Charlie Howe inquired about how Murphysboro has all new police vehicles.

Beau Henson asked if it was possible to keep the police from his home or property unless he were to call them, the metrics for the Carbondale daytime population calculation, and whether a payroll tax had been considered.

Carmella Cesario asked why she should stay in Carbondale if it is so dangerous.

Molly Howard thanked Councilman Loos for his response and criticized Mayor Henry for his.

Brandon Beachum made inquiries about when the Council received the budget and started discussion regarding it.

5. Executive Session

None

6. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting Procedural: 6.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the public body, the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04092019-836