Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Nov. 24.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Council Members present

Councilmember Lee Fronabarger, Councilmember Tom Grant, Councilmember Adam Loos, Councilmember Jessica Bradshaw, Councilmember Jeff Doherty, and Mayor Pro Tem Carolin Harvey

Council Members absent

Mayor John M. Henry

A Local Liquor Control Commission meeting preceded the City Council meeting.

Meeting called to order at 6:58 PM

5. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

5.1 Roll Call

5.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Citizen comments from Walter Witkewiz of PK’s Bar regarding to-go beer and liquor, Thomas Esposito concerning speeding on West Hill Avenue, and Tyrone Taliq Montgomery about eliminating all Carbondale specific taxes until the pandemic has ended.

5.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Members of Council wished everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

6. Public Hearings and Special Reports

6.1 Continued Discussion of General Fund Major Sources of Revenue for FY 2021

A review of revenue earned for Fiscal Year 2021 was presented at the last meeting held on November 10, 2020. Following that meeting, another month of revenue was reported for August. Finance Director Jeff Davis presented the updated figures to include the month of August to the Council. The presentation included earnings from the 2.5% Home Rule Sales Tax, the 1.0% Sales Tax, hotel/motel tax, Food and Beverage Tax, and the Package Liquor Tax.

City Council members commented on the upward trend in food & beverage, packaged liquor and sales taxes, the possibility of decreasing numbers during the winter months, re-thinking ways to do business in the near future with recent COVID spikes, how the City as an organization is dealing with revenue shortfalls and cutting expenditures, cannabis sales tax inquires, and taking these concerns into consideration when preparing for next fiscal year’s budget.

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 7.1 Minutes from the Regular City Council Meeting of November 10, 2020

Resolution: Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting of November 10, 2020

Action (Consent): 7.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 11/13/2020 for the FY 2021 Warrant 1394 in the Total Amount of $1,783,954.69

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 11/13/2020 totaling $1,783,954.69 (Exhibit A-11-24-2020)

Action (Consent): 7.3 Resolution Dedicating $550,000 in Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds to Pay for a Portion of the Sunset Drive Bridge Replacement (ST1302) Project

Resolution: Approve a Resolution Dedicating $550,000 in Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds to pay for a Portion of the Sunset Drive Bridge Replacement (ST1302) Project (Resolution 2020-R-75; Exhibit B-11-24-2020)

Action (Consent): 7.4 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 Lee Fronabarger, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

8. General Business of the City Council

8.1 City Council Discussion of FY21 Community Agency Funding Requests

Council discussion of community agency funding requests involved Carbondale Main Street, Carbondale Community Arts, and Carbondale Tourism. The need for these services at this point in time has been minimal, therefore talks of reducing their funds is being considered. It was clarified during the discussion that the intent is not to eliminate the funds, but to reduce them in a time when they’re not in high demand. Comments from Council included the importance of these agencies to the community and businesses, keeping the City of Carbondale relevant so it will continue to be a destination once the pandemic has ended, how Carbondale Main Street has been a great asset to local businesses in their efforts to stay open, and how COVID has affected many agencies now and how it will affect them in the future.

With this being a discussion item, no action was taken at this time. However, the overall consensus of Council was to take action at the next meeting to reduce the community agency funds for Carbondale Main Street to $10,000, Carbondale Community Arts to $7,500, and Carbondale Tourism to $7,500. It was stated that this item can come back for discussion and/or review in late January or early February regarding the remaining funds with updated financial information.

Several comments were read in support of the continued funding for Carbondale Main Street. Supporters included Doug McDonald of Phoenix Cycles, Jennifer Pellow of Town Square Market, Walter Witkewiz of PK’s Bar, Sally Carter of Hangar 9, Laura Harbaugh of Harbaugh’s Café, Elizabeth Strusz of E. Claire Beauty & Wellness, and Jennifer Rollinson, Rachel Cristaudo, Leah Maciell, and Nicholas Stewart of Cristaudo’s.

9. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

9.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the public body, the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:06 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11242020-1257