Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Local Liquor Control Commission and City Council met Oct. 25.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Councilmembers present: 

Councilmember Tom Grant, Councilmember Adam Loos, Councilmember Ginger Rye Sanders, Councilmember Jeff Doherty, Councilmember Lee Fronabarger, and Mayor Pro Tempore Carolin Harvey

Commissioners absent: 

Mayor John M. Henry

Meeting called to order at 6:08 PM 

5. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 5.1 Roll Call 

Procedural: 5.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions 

The following citizens addressed the City Council during Citizens' Comments and Questions: Elius Reed, George Wallace, Sandy Litecky, Donald Monty, and James Cooper, Jr.

Procedural: 5.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations 

Councilmember Fronabarger announced the Early Voting dates at City Hall for the November Election.

Councilmember Rye Sanders announced a Celebration of Life Service for Carlton Smith at the Carbondale Middle School on Saturday.

6. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Discussion, Information, Reports: 6.1 Report on Tax Revenue Provided via Home Rule Status and FY23 Real Estate Tax Levy 

Finance Director Jeff Davis presented reports regarding Home Rule generated taxes, potential revenue losses, and possible outcomes should Home Rule be rescinded due to the November election referendum.

Council commented on other ways that citizens might measure the possible outcomes, particularly more specific or concrete terms, property taxes versus sales taxes, and concerns about the impact of the loss of Home Rule.

Donald Monty commented on the harm to the residents and organizations of Carbondale that the loss of Home Rule would cause.

Shannon Evans asked if there was a plan to increase population in order to maintain Home Rule authority.

Reports: 6.2 Presentation and Special Report on City-Funded Housing Programs 

Ashley Gibson from the Community Development Department presented information relating to the historical usage of housing programs and the efforts made by the City to increase available funding to incentivize owner-occupied home ownership, curb appeal, and single-family home conversion.

Council inquired about the number approved, why applications might be marked withdrawn, the program usage on the Northeast side, and both asked about and discussed marketing the programs.

Donald Monty suggested the City take proactive steps to make routinely release press releases about these and other programs. Justin Zurlinden shared his personal knowledge of the impacts of these programs in increasing home ownership and improving neighborhoods.

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council 

Action (Consent): 7.1 City Council Meeting Minutes from October 11, 2022 Resolution: Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting of October 11, 2022

Action (Consent): 7.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 10/14/2022 for the FY 2023 Warrant 1444 in the Total Amount of $820,773.78 

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 10/14/2022 totaling $820,773.78 (Exhibit A-10-25-2022) 

Action (Consent): 7.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 08/31/2022 FY 2023 Warrant # WF 08/2022 in the amount of $120,849.05 

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 08/31/2022 totaling $120,849.05 (Exhibit B-10-25-2022) 

Action (Consent): 7.4 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with HMG Engineers in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $162,920 for Engineering Services for Cedar Lake Shoreline and Gully Stabilization Phase 3 (CIP WS1503) Resolution: Approval of Agreement with HMG Engineers for Engineering Services for Cedar Lake Shoreline and Gully Stabilization Phase 3 in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $162,920 (Resolution 2022-R-50; Exhibit C-10-25-2022) 

Action (Consent): 7.5 Ordinance Adjusting the Motor Fuel Tax, Local Improvement, and Water & Sewer CIP Divisions Decreasing the FY 2023 Overall Budget by $3,532,328 and Approve Changes to the FY 2023 CIP 

Resolution: Approve an Ordinance decreasing the FY 2023 overall budget and approve changes to the FY 2023 CIP (Ordinance 2022-35; Exhibit D-10-25-2022)

Action (Consent): 7.6 Approve the Purchase of Body-Worn Cameras and Mobile Video Systems from Axon in the Amount of $1,199,099.10, the Cost will be Paid Out Over the Course of Five Years with FY23 Amount of $317,975.41 

Resolution: Approve the purchase of body worn cameras for officers and mobile video systems for police vehicles from Axon in the amount of $1,199,099.10.

Action (Consent): 7.7 Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Increase Support Services Division in the Amount of $60,000 for Additional City-Funded Housing Grants Resolution: The City Council is requested to adopt an Ordinance authorizing approval of a Budget Adjustment to increase the FY23 budget to provide additional funding of $60,000 to fund the Rental Home Conversion Program, the Downpayment Assistance Grant, and the Curb Appeal Program. (Ordinance 2022-36; Exhibit E-10-25-2022) 

Action (Consent): 7.8 Approval of Consent Agenda Items 

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

Donald Monty asked a question pertaining to agenda item 7.6 and whether the purchase was a statutory requirement.

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

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Carolin Harvey

8. General Business of the City Council 

Action: 8.1 An Ordinance Amending Title Four, Chapter Sixteen as it Relates to Regulating Vacant Buildings 

Council inquired about how the number of days was determined, what the average number of days a house may remain on the market, how this would affect properties listed for sale by owner, whether early voluntary registration would be permitted, and remarked on a mailer sent out in opposition to Home Rule.

Donald Monty asked if this was being exercised by Home Rule authority or if it was permitted by State statute. Justin Zurlinden noted that the average days on the market is 46 days.

MOTION: Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title Four, Chapter Sixteen as it relates to regulating vacant buildings.

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2022-37; Exhibit F-10-25-2022)

Action: 8.2 Ordinance to Approve, or a Resolution to Deny, the Rezoning of Property Located at 4175 Boskydell Road from AG, General Agriculture, District to an R-1-15, Low Density Residential, District 

Council remarked on rewriting the Zoning Code.

MOTION: Adopt an Ordinance Approving the Rezoning of Property Located at 4175 Boskydell Road from AG, General Agriculture, District to an R-1-15, Low Density Residential, District

Motion by Tom Grant, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2022-38; Exhibit G-10-25-2022) 

9. Executive Session

Action: 9.1 Enter into Executive Session to Discuss the Purchase or Lease of Real Property by the Public Body and the Setting of a Price for the Sale or Lease of Property Held by the Public Body 

Open Session recessed at 7:29 p.m.

MOTION: Enter into Executive Session to discuss the sale or lease of property by the public body and to set the price for the sale or lease of property currently owned by the public body as permitted by the Illinois Open Meeting Act 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) and (c)(6)

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Lee Fronabarger.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Carolin Harvey

Action: 9.2 Return to Open Session 

Returned to open session 7:59 p.m.

MOTION: Return to open session

Motion by Tom Grant, second by Lee Fronabarger.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Carolin Harvey

10. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 10.1 Adjourn meeting 

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m.

https://explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10252022-1785