Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Local Liquor Control Commission and City Council met Aug. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the commission and the council:

A meeting of the Local Liquor Control Commission immediately preceded this meeting.

Council Members present

Councilmember Jessica Bradshaw, Councilmember Jeff Doherty, Councilmember Lee Fronabarger, Councilmember Tom Grant, Councilmember Carolin Harvey, Councilmember Adam Loos, and Mayor John M Henry

Meeting called to order at 6:10 PM

5. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting 

Procedural: 5.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 5.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Dawn Roberts inquired about the change in requirements to participate in the remote meetings currently held on the GoToWebinar platform, noting her preference to utilize a different software that would allow increased citizen participation.

Procedural: 5.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Councilmember Loos asked to utilize a more functional software such as Zoom.

Councilmember Doherty apologized to those Park District Commissioners who did not share those views expressed in an op-ed in The Southern Illinoisan, which commentary Mr. Doherty remarked on during a previous meeting.

Councilmember Fronabarger noted that the Illinois Housing Development Authority is offering a rent assistance program and a homeowner relief program; he asked that this information be placed on the City’s website and social media pages.

Councilmember Doherty responded to Ms. Roberts' and Councilmember Loos' comments; he noted that virtual meetings are inherently challenging and that if this platform is unfriendly, it bears looking into.

Councilmember Bradshaw noted that this subject is scheduled for discussion later in the agenda. 

6. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Information, Procedural: 6.1 City Council Review of Sexual Harassment Policy

Diversity and Compliance Officer Alicia Jackson reviewed the updated requirements of the City's sexual harassment policy which training must be conducted for elected officials as well as Staff. She referenced the salient points but advised reviewing the document in full.

Information: 6.2 Staff Presentation of Status of 2020 Census Efforts

Development Services Director Chris Wallace presented an update on the 2020 Census progress, changes in policy, scheduled events that were cancelled due to COVID-19, as well as the importance of conducting and responding to the census.

Council inquired about sufficient workers to conduct the count, incentives for completing the census, including information on SIU's student communications, and students who have returned to the area.

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 7.1 Approval of Minutes from the Regular City Council Meeting and Public Hearing of July 14, 2020, and the Remote City Council Retreat Minutes of July 30, 2020

Resolution: Accept the minutes from the City Council meeting and Public Hearing of July 14, 2020, and the Remote City Council Retreat Minutes of July 30, 2020

Action (Consent): 7.2 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 06/30/2020 FY 2021 Warrant # WF 06/2020 in the amount of $136,729.42

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 06/30/2020 totaling $136,729.42

Action (Consent): 7.3 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 07/10/2020 for the FY 2021 Warrant 1385 in the Total Amount of $569,478.01

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 07/10/2020 totaling $569,478.01

Action (Consent): 7.4 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 07/24/2020 for the FY 2021 Warrant 1386 in the Total Amount of $869,156.43

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 07/24/2020 totaling $869,156.43

Action (Consent): 7.5 Award of Contract in the Amount of $26,189 to Ellis Excavating of Murphysboro, Illinois for the Removal of a Parking Lot and Building Foundation at 813 East Main Street

Action: 7.6 An Ordinance Approving and a Resolution Denying Brian Pattison's Request to Rezone Property Located at 1020 West Main Street from SB, Secondary Business and R-1- 8, Low Density Residential to PA, Professional Administrative Office

Pulled by T. Grant

Action (Consent): 7.7 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

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

It was noted that the funds for Item 7.5 would be reimbursed.

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

Motion by Lee Fronabarger, second by Carolin Harvey.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Action: 7.6 An Ordinance Approving and a Resolution Denying Brian Pattison's Request to Rezone Property Located at 1020 West Main Street from SB, Secondary Business and R-1- 8, Low Density Residential to PA, Professional Administrative Office

It was noted that the recommendation was a close call during the Planning Commission meeting.

MOTION: Adopt an Ordinance Approving the Rezoning of 1020 West Main Street from SB, Secondary Business and R-1-8, Low Density Residential to PA, Professional Administrative Office

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jessica Bradshaw, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, Adam Loos, John M Henry (Ordinance 2020-25; Exhibit D-08-11-2020)

8. General Business of the City Council

Discussion: 8.1 City Council Discussion of Proposed Lease of Kid's Korner Building to the Carbondale Park District

Items of concern were identified as an immediate need for a liability release or indemnification from the Park District; differences in the terms ‘maintenance’ versus ‘improvements’; the age of the building itself, and more particularly the HVAC system and roof; the operation continuing without having a lease in place; and the challenges with communication between the two entities.

Proposals suggested included a short-term monthly lease for $1,100 per month to provide time for the operation to relocate; sharing the costs for any repairs or improvements; a reduced lease amount of $500 and splitting the costs for repairs; and finding more productive ways to communicate.

Council discussed whether to continue communications through the Park District’s attorney or whether to reach out to the members and director; the appropriate length of a lease; whether there was a desire to close Kid’s Korner; whether the Park District, the City, or both entities should be responsible for repairs; the history of repairs at the location; the level of usage of the facility at this time; and challenges to them relocating which may delay their plan.

City Manager Williams advised on the City’s exposure without a lease or indemnification, the results of a Staff walk-through of the property, the counter-proposal from the Park District to the initial proposed lease, and the future use of the facility should the Park District relocate operations.

Comments from the Park District Executive Director Kathy Renfro in response to Council discussion were received. Katy Burns and John Huffman also commented on this item.

Action: 8.2 An Ordinance Amending Title 1, Chapter 2B Permitting Attendance by Electronic Means

The Ordinance was amended at the table to include language from Illinois Public Act 101-0640, as it relates to electronic attendance due to a public health disaster declaration.

MOTION: Approve an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 2B permitting attendance by electronic means, as amended which includes paragraph F and subparagraphs.

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jessica Bradshaw, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, Adam Loos, John M Henry (Ordinance 2020-26; Exhibit E-08-11-2020)

Discussion: 8.3 City Council Discussion of Various Matters Related to COVID-19

Councilmembers shared their individual preferences regarding holding in-person meetings versus online; utilizing Zoom to conduct future meetings; keeping facilities open or alternatives to doing so; possible actions with regard to restaurants and bars to mitigate the spread of COVID-19; investigating occupancy violations; and remarked that individuals following safety protocol would help in reducing the number of cases.

Action: 8.4 Approval of Draft Affirmative Action Plan and Policy for DBE and/or Workforce Participation Plan for the City of Carbondale and an Ordinance to Amend Title Seven, Chapter Six of the Carbondale Revised Code

Council noted the challenges in including public participation under the current pandemic; that improvements can be made following its adoption; thanks to staff for their efforts; a question about the 25% participation goal; an inquiry on how the City checks whether the firm meets the qualifications; an inquiry regarding the workforce participants listing from the City and the labor union's listing; if there is a mechanism to determine the effect of this plan;

Elius Reed's written comments were summarized in order to meet the 4-minute time limit on speaking. He is requesting that there be a meeting on this matter before its adoption.

MOTION: Approve the revised 2020 Affirmative Action Plan and Policy for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and/or Workforce Participation Plan for Contract Goals and adopt an ordinance amending Title Seven, Chapter Six.

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Jeff Doherty.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jessica Bradshaw, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, Adam Loos, John M Henry (Ordinance 2020-27; Exhibit F-08-11-2020)

9. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting 

Procedural: 9.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the public body, the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08112020-1208