Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Jan. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Council Members present

Councilman Adam Loos, Councilwoman Jessica Bradshaw, Councilman Jeff Doherty, Councilman Lee Fronabarger, Councilman Tom Grant, and Mayor John M Henry

Council Members absent

Councilwoman Carolin Harvey

Meeting called to order at 6:01 PM

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting 

Procedural: 1.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 1.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Sandy Litecky thanked the City, the City Arborist, and the forestry crew for the new trees on Walnut Street, and thanked MES Staff for placing holiday lights on the light poles in the Arbor District.

Nick Smaligo announced a One Book, One City project in Carbondale where public readings and discussion on "Uninhabitable Earth" will occur community-wide.

Procedural: 1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations Councilman Fronabarger recognized Italian Village for 60 years of business in Carbondale.

Mayor Henry proclaimed January 16, 2020, as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Day in Carbondale and encouraged citizens to recognize the event.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 3.1 Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes from December 10, 2019 Resolution: Approve the meeting minutes from the regular City Council meeting of December 10, 2019

Action (Consent): 3.2 Acceptance of Approved Meeting Minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees

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

Action (Consent): 3.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 11/30/2019 FY 2020 Warrant # WF 11/2019 in the amount of $153,175.84 

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 11/30/2019 totaling $153,175.84 (Exhibit A-01-14-2020)

Action (Consent): 3.4 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 12/13/2019 for the FY 2020 Warrant 1370 in the Total Amount of $1,740,596.19

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 12/13/2019 totaling $1,740,596.19 (Exhibit B-01-14-2020)

Action (Consent): 3.5 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 12/23/2019 for the FY 2020 Warrant 1371 in the Total Amount of $1,809,674.86

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 12/23/2019 totaling $1,809,674.86 (Exhibit C-01-14-2020)

Action (Consent): 3.6 An Ordinance Amending the Effective Date of the Collection of the Municipal Cannabis Retailers' Occupation Tax in Title Seven Chapter Fourteen Resolution: Adopt an Ordinance amending the Effective Date for the Collection of a Municipal Cannabis Retailers' Occupation Tax and Directing a Certified Ordinance be filed with the Illinois Department of Revenue (Ordinance 2020-01; Exhibit D-01-14-2020)

Action (Consent): 3.7 Ordinance Entering into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Contract with the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association

Resolution: Approve an ordinance entering into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Contract with the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association (Ordinance 2020-02; Exhibit E-01- 14-2020)

Action: 3.8 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Economic Development Tax Increment Financing Agreement with Lawrence Millard for a Redevelopment Project at 219 West Main Street

Pulled by A. Loos

Action (Consent): 3.9 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 Adam Loos, second by Lee Fronabarger.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Adam Loos, Jessica Bradshaw, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, John M Henry

Action: 3.8 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Economic Development Tax Increment Financing Agreement with Lawrence Millard for a Redevelopment Project at 219 West Main Street

There were Council questions regarding the purchaser’s plans for the building, if there would be demolition, the costs outlined in the exhibit, and what options were available to amend the TIF agreement. Nathan Colombo commented on affordable facilities for start-up businesses.

MOTION: Deny the resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an economic development tax increment financing agreement with Lawrence Millard for a redevelopment project at 219 West Main Street

Motion by Adam Loos, second NONE.

MOTION: Approve the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an economic development tax increment financing agreement with Lawrence Millard for a redevelopment project at 219 West Main Street

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Lee Fronabarger.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries 

Yea: Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, John M Henry  

Nay: Adam Loos, Jessica Bradshaw (Resolution 2020-R-01; Exhibit F-01-14-2020)

4. General Business of the City Council

Action: 4.1 Review of Community Investment Program (CIP) Checklist Items for Proposed New Projects

Council members remarked on certain projects, requested information from IDOT, asked to solicit more feedback from the public in the future, and offered suggestions to audience members.

Nathan Colombo raised retiree communities and child care needs as concerns. Elius Reed asked that revitalization of the Eurma C. Hayes Center be discussed. Don Monty explained that the subject of retirement housing on campus had been considered in the past, a study was conducted, but couldn't demonstrate the economic feasibility at the time.

Discussion: 4.2 Discussion Regarding Proposed Parking Permits for Downtown Employees and Carbondale Residents

Council comments and questions included individual preferences regarding whether or not to keep free parking and/or free employee parking passes; alternatives to the two proposed parking permits for employees and residents; alternatives to the proposed prices for the proposed parking permits; changes to the current parking prices; who should be responsible for procuring downtown employee parking passes and keeping track of them; leases for parking spaces near businesses; issues which may present a challenge to the proposals; whether it would be possible to pay fees online; remarks about whether there is free parking; comparisons to other municipalities; placing plug-in stations; the downtown Special Service Area tax; the impact of free parking on businesses near Evolve; and limiting the free parking to lots not experiencing a high impact.

Citizens speaking in favor of returning to free parking and/or free parking passes for downtown employees included Meghan Cole, Nick Smaligo, Leah Maciell, Nathan Colombo, Devarshi Iris, Rachel Cristaudo, and John Shekaidis.

Action, Discussion: 4.3 Review and Approval of a New Liquor Classification System to Take Effect Upon Completion of Liquor Code Rewrite at a Date Yet Undetermined

City Council members indicated their approval of the proposed classification system, identified other areas within the liquor code where changes should be considered, inquired about adult use and liquor licenses, the temporary modification of age limit, and farmers' markets. There was a discussion regarding whether to lower, raise, or maintain the current restaurant minimum percentage requirement.

Action: 4.4 Ordinance Amending Title 20 Chapter One Creating a New Section Fourteen which Establishes a Public Comment Period

A request to utilize language consistent with recent Title One amendments was raised.

MOTION: Approve an ordinance amending Title 20 Chapter One creating a new section Fourteen which establishes a public comment period, amending the supermajority definition to match the recent Title One amendment.

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Tom Grant. (Ordinance 2020-03; Exhibit G-01-14-2020)

5. Executive Session

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

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01142020-1126