Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Aug. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Councilmembers present

Councilmember Clare Killman, Councilmember Adam Loos, Councilmember Nancy Maxwell, Councilmember Ginger Rye Sanders, Councilmember Jeff Doherty, Councilmember LaCaje Hill, and Mayor Carolin Harvey

Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 1.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 1.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Citizens addressing the City Council included Donald Monty, James Cooper, Jr., Erin Ashley, Sandy Litecky, Nick Weshinskey, Doug Sherry, and Elius Reed.

Procedural: 1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations Councilmember Rye-Sanders announced Thursday, August 10, Women for Change, pastors, and churches will pray around the schools for nonviolence during the school year.

Councilmember Doherty responded to Mr. Reed's question, asked about and commented on the usage and coordination of users of Jaycee Field at Evergreen Park, and acknowledged the passing of former City employee Cleveland Matthews.

Councilmember Loos acknowledged the passing of Greg Hinde, a founding member of the State Company and concurred with Councilmember Doherty's remarks relating to the use of Jaycee Field.

Councilmember Killman also concurred with Councilmember Doherty's remarks regarding Jaycee Field.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Glenn Poshard presented information about a fundraising campaign for the Varsity Center for the Arts. Mr. Poshard is serving as Chair of the campaign and highlighted the progress and goals of the campaign. Council requested additional details relating to specific line items in the proposed budget and indicated their receptiveness to the request.

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 3.1 Minutes from the Regular City Council Meeting of July 25, 2023 Resolution: Approve the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of July 25, 2023

Action (Consent): 3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 07/21/2023 for the FY 2024 Warrant 1464 in the Total Amount of $2,190,954.43

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 07/21/2023 totaling $2,190,954.43 (Exhibit A-08-08-2023)

Action (Consent): 3.3 Acceptance of Approved Meeting Minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees Resolution: Accept the approved meeting minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees and place them on file.

Action (Consent): 3.4 Resolution Dedicating $386,824 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds to Pay for the Partial and Full-Depth Patching on North Washington Street From Oak Street to the Intersection of North Marion Street Resolution: Approve a Resolution Dedicating $386,824 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds to Pay for the Partial and Full-Depth Patching on North Washington Street From Oak Street to the Intersection of North Marion Street (Resolution 2023-R-58; Exhibit B-08-08-2023)

Action, Action (Consent): 3.5 Resolution Dedicating $571,183.50 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds to Pay for the Resurfacing of Pinewood Drive Resolution: Approve a Resolution Dedicating $571,183.50 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds to Pay for resurfacing of Pinewood Drive (Resolution 2023-R-59; Exhibit C-08-08-2023)

Action (Consent): 3.6 Accept the Carbondale Public Library's Illinois Public Library Annual Report for 2023 Resolution: Accept and place on file the 2023 Annual Public Library Report for the Carbondale Public Library

Action (Consent): 3.7 Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Support Services Division for Costs Related to the 2023 Carbondale Halloween Celebration Resolution: Approve An Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Support Services Division for Costs Related to the 2023 Carbondale Halloween Celebration (Ordinance 2023-29; Exhibit D-08-08-2023)

Action (Consent): 3.8 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Southern Illinois Historic Preservation of Murphysboro, Illinois to Perform a Survey of Historic and Architecturally Significant Properties within the Northeast Quadrant of Carbondale, Illinois

Resolution: Approve a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Southern Illinois Historic Preservation of Murphysboro, Illinois to Perform a Survey of Historic and Architecturally Significant Properties Within the Northeast Quadrant of Carbondale, Illinois (Resolution 2023-R-60; Exhibit E-08-08-2023)

Action: 3.9 Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Increase the TIF District #2 Division for Costs Related to the 2023 Downtown Mural Project Resolution: Approve An Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment to Increase the TIF District #2 Division for Costs Related to the 2023 Downtown Mural Project (Ordinance 2023-30; Exhibit F-08-08-2023)

Action (Consent): 3.10 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

Resolution: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration Agenda Item 3.4 – there was a question about whether action could occur without a Resolution.

Agenda Item 3.0 – there was a question about the costs for the mural project and about the Eurma C. Hayes mural in particular.

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

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Clare Killman.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Carolin Harvey

4. General Business of the City Council

Action: 4.1 Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Carbondale Park District for a City-wide Parks Master Plan

This item was pulled from the agenda without discussion.

Discussion: 4.2 Ordinance Approving a Text Amendment to Title 15 of the Carbondale Revised Code Relative to Murals and the Size, Placement, and Lighting of Signs

Council comments and questions included: support for the proposed language; question about regulation for flashing signs; inquired about the impetus for allowing/permitting flash signs; additional details about defining "slow" versus "fast" flashing signs; discussion which was had at the Planning meeting; personal preferences for certain types of signs; remarks about the fine line between art versus advertisement;

Donald Monty suggested that the Varsity may be legally nonconforming, expressed concern about total wattage for Varsity signage, gave an example of how the mural language could be circumvented, and expressed additional concerns about the unrestricted height of architectural signs.

Sandy Litecky, as a Planning Commission member, responded to questions regarding concerns about architectural signs as it relates to total square footage.

Connor Sullivan spoke in favor of allowing murals and flashing signs.

MOTION: Approve An Ordinance Approving a Text Amendment to Title 15 of the Carbondale Revised Code Relative to Murals and the Size, Placement, and Lighting of Signs

Motion by Clare Killman, second by Jeff Doherty.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2023-31; Exhibit G-08-08-2023)

5. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 5.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was declared adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/coc/Board.nsf/files/CUKP2V628EFF/$file/Regular%20City%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes%208%20August%202023.pdf