Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Jan. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Council Members present

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

Council Members absent

Mayor John M. Henry

Meeting called to order at 6:26 PM

5. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 5.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 5.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Citizens who addressed the City Council during Citizen Comments included Nathan Colombo, Jesus Ponce de Leon, Scott Davis, Raymond Ivy, Sandy Litecky, James Cooper, Jr., Elius Reed, and Melvin Holder.

Procedural: 5.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Councilmember Grant, in response to citizens’ comments, noted that there had been an Ordinance prohibiting firing guns in city limits for many years for good reason.

Councilmember Loos indicated that there were issues with Channel 16 audio. Further, Mr. Loos refuted certain comments made during the Gun Violence forum that occurred the prior weekend.

Councilmember Fronabarger stated he would like to see some kind of events planned for the City’s incorporation sesquicentennial.

Councilmember Doherty asked the City Manager to review plans for street repairs, which topic had been raised in citizens’ comments. Councilmember Grant remarked on the work currently occurring.

Councilmember Rye-Sanders wished citizens a happy New Year, asked Mr. Lenzini to update Council about Washington Street, commented on looking into Mr. Holder's concerns, and increasing community policing and an on premises officers at Eurma C. Hayes Center.

City Manager Williams announced a City Council meeting date change from January 24 to January 31.

6. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Action, Information: 6.1 Review and Acceptance of the FY 2022 Audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Other Supplemental Financial Reports

City Finance Director introduced Mark Dallas of Kerber, Eck, and Braeckel, and Amber Leslie who oversaw the City's audit; Mr. Dallas presented materials and highlights regarding the audit results. Council inquired about whether any issues were discovered, ARPA funds, and auditor recommendations.

MOTION: Accept and place on file the audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022.

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 7.1 City Council Meeting Minutes from December 13, 2022 Resolution: Approve the minutes from the Regular City Council meeting of December 13, 2022.

Action (Consent): 7.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 12/09/2022 for the FY 2023 Warrant 1448 in the Total Amount of $3,590,576.65

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 12/09/2022 totaling $3,590,576.65 (Exhibit A-01-10-2023)

Action (Consent): 7.3 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 12/23/2022 for the FY 2023 Warrant 1449 in the Total Amount of $1,582,818.34

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 12/23/2022 totaling $1,582,818.34 (Exhibit B-01-10-2023)

Action (Consent): 7.4 Ordinance for a Budget Adjustment to Provide Budgetary Funds for the Purchase of Automatic License Plate Reader Cameras

Resolution: Approve an Ordinance for a Budget Adjustment to Provide Budgetary Funds for the Purchase of ALPR Cameras (Ordinance 2023-01; Exhibit C-01-10-2023)

Action (Consent): 7.5 Award the Purchase of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Phone System to Professional Communications Systems and Approve an Ordinance Increasing the Information Systems Budget by $7,045 Resolution: Award a contract in the amount of $84,430 to Professional Communications Systems for a VOIP phone system. Approve an ordinance increasing the General Fund-Information Systems Division budget 7,045 for the VOIP phone system (Ordinance 2023-02; Exhibit D-01-10-2023)

Action (Consent): 7.6 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 Tom Grant, second by Lee Fronabarger.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

8. General Business of the City Council

Action: 8.1 Ordinance Amending Title 14-4-2 of the Carbondale Revised Code as it Relates to Disorderly Conduct

Citizens expressing their support for or opposition to the Ordinance included Brian Westbrook, Scott Davis, Leigh Stevens, Doreen Hees, Regina Hart, James Price, Gerald Dunn, Dawn Adams, Isaac Ludington, and Nancy Maxwell. City Attorney Snyder responded to questions raised by citizen commenters.

Council discussion included responses to remarks and arguments made during citizens' remarks, and noted their individual support or opposition to the Ordinance.

MOTION: Approve an ordinance amending CRC 14-4-2 as it relates to disorderly conduct, as amended.

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2023-03; Exhibit E-01-10-2023)

Action: 8.2 Ordinance Approving and a Resolution Denying the Designation of Attucks High School at 410 East Main Street as a Landmark District on the Carbondale Register of Historic Places

Councilmembers noted an error on the Staff report, inquired about the impact of designation with regard to maintenance and remodeling, expressed concern about the impact of adopting such Ordinance as it might affect the ability to modify the building, and asked if it would be possible to remove the building from the local registry once the ordinance was adopted.

Justin Zurlinden, who serves on the Preservation Commission, noted that this property is in an area of town that is under-designated and that there is a need to identify other properties in the building.

MOTION: Adopt an Ordinance designating Attucks High School at 410 East Main Street as a Landmark District on the Carbondale Register of Historic Places.

Motion by Ginger Rye Sanders, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2023-04; Exhibit F-01-10-2023)

Action, Discussion, Information: 8.3 Presentation to Council by Affordable Gas & Electric, and Council Discussion in Regards to Municipal Electric Aggregation Action on this item was postponed

Action: 8.4 Ordinance Amending Title Two of the Carbondale Revised Code as it Relates to Penalties for the Late Remittance of City-Instituted Taxes

Council asked about allowing businesses time to come up with funds, how many notices a license holder be given before a suspension, and what leniency can be given.

Donald Monty stated that two months was too long and he would only give one.

MOTION: Adopt an Ordinance amending Title Two of the Carbondale Revised Code as it relates to establishing a penalty for failing to remit City-instituted taxes

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2023-05; Exhibit G-01-10-2023)

Action: 8.5 Review of Community Investment Program (CIP) Checklist Items for Proposed New Projects

Council comments and questions included ownership of parking lots at205 North Illinois Avenue; giving consideration to assess the feasibility of the suggestion to establish a commercial boulevard from Giant City Road to Reed Station Road; utilizing the sidewalk program to fill-in gaps on south side of East Oak Street from Illinois Avenue to the railroad tracks; concern about keeping streets as narrow as possible with regard to the Smith Street widening CIP project; opposition to pouring more concrete if the gas station at Turley Park is demolished; requested an update on the previously requested pedestrian island on Highway 13 near Walgreens and Turley Park; East Jackson Street improvements east of Washington Street; requested an update on the grant application extending Jackson to Lewis Lane; and looking into returning smaller neighborhood streets to brick.

Donald Monty concern about sizeable area of extension of Giant City Road would be in flood plain.

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 9:03 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01102023-1877