Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Aug. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Councilmembers present:

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

Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m.

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

1.1 Roll Call

1.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Citizens addressing the City Council during Citizens’ Comments included James Cooper, Jr., Patricia Powell Preston, Justin Morton, and Elius Reed.

1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Councilmember Loos gave his views on obtaining control of the power lines in Carbondale through eminent domain.

Councilmember Rye-Sanders acknowledged Mr. Abdul Haqq for his work with providing summer jobs to the youth in the community.

City Manager Gary Williams announced the 150th Sesquicentennial Anniversary celebration to be held at the Carbondale Civic Center on August 23.

Councilmember Nancy Maxwell offered a suggestion to move the funding from the now closed Boys and Girls Club to The Warming Center. She also announced a community gun violence meeting on August 31st to be held at 309 East Jackson Street.

Councilmember Hill announced that the Victory Dream Center has continued their Wednesday night youth meetings.

1.4 Proclamation for National Payroll Week

Mayor Harvey proclaimed September 3 - 9, 2023, as National Payroll Week.

Following the reading of the proclamation, Mayor Harvey asked Kathryn Carpenter from the Center for English as a Second Language at SIU to introduce a group of Japanese students in attendance who are visiting through their 4-week Cultural Immersion Program.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

2.1 Discussion on Project and Material Bidding Process

Purchasing/Risk Management Specialist, Christie Green and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, Sharonda Cawthon gave a thorough presentation on the City of Carbondale’s project and material bidding processes including the DBE and minority workforce program and its processes. Questions and comments from Council as well as meeting attendees were addressed by City Staff.

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

3.1 City Council Meeting Minutes from August 8, 2023

Resolution: Approve the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of August 8, 2023.

3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 08/04/2023 for the FY 2024 Warrant 1465 in the Total Amount of $1,363,343.81

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 08/04/2023 totaling $1,363,343.81. (Exhibit A 08-22-2023)

3.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 06/30/2023 FY 2024 Warrant # WF 06/2023 in the amount of $186,345.30

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 06/30/2023 totaling $186,345.30. (Exhibit B 08-22-2023)

3.4 Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Resolution: Council is requested to concur with Mayor Harvey's recommended appointments to Boards and Commissions.

Councilmember Hill asked newly appointed board member of the Human Relations Commission, Jacob Bowers, and newly appointed board member of the Planning Commission, John Shukites to introduce themselves.

3.5 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.

3.6 Approve the 2024 Calendar of City Council Meetings

Resolution: Approve the calendar of regular City Council meetings for 2024.

3.7 Resolution Adopting the Updated Jackson County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan

Resolution: Approve a Resolution Adopting the Updated Jackson County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. (Resolution 2023-R-60; Exhibit C 08-22-2023)

Mary O’Hara gave comments and expressed her concerns on certain aspects of the multi-hazard mitigation plan.

3.8 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Master Agreement

Resolution: Approve a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Master Agreement. (Resolution 2023-R-61; Exhibit D 08-22-2023)

3.9 Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of an Award from the Department of Energy's "Energizing Rural Communities American Made Challenge" in the Amount of $100,000 and Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Support Services FY2024 Budget in the Amount of $100,000

Resolution: Accept Award from the Department of Energy's Energizing Rural Communities American Made Challenge in the amount of $100,000 and Approve a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Support Services FY2024 Budget in the Amount of $100,000. (Ordinance 2023-32; Exhibit E 08-22-2023)

3.10 Award of Contract for CIP Project ST2402 - Pinewood Drive Resurfacing to Samron Midwest Contracting of Murphysboro, Illinois in the Amount of $409,364.50

Resolution: Award of Contract for CIP Project ST2402 - Pinewood Drive Resurfacing to Samron Midwest Contracting of Murphysboro, Illinois in the Amount of $409,364.50.

3.11 Award of Contract for CIP Project ST2404 - North Washington Street Rehabilitation from E. Oak Street to Fisher Street to Samron Midwest Contracting of Murphysboro, Illinois in the Amount of $394,505

Resolution: Award of Contract for CIP Project ST2404 - North Washington Street Rehabilitation from E. Oak Street to Fisher Street to Samron Midwest Contracting of Murphysboro, Illinois in the Amount of $394,505

3.12 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with RJN Group in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $92,884 for Engineering Services for Material Service Line Inventory

Resolution: Approval of an Agreement with RJN Group in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $92,884 for Engineering Services for Material Service Line Inventory. (Resolution 2023-R-62; Exhibit F 08-22-2023)

3.13 Award of Purchase of a Commercial Zero Turn Riding Mower to H&R Agripower of Benton, IL in the amount of $18,855 and Declare a 2009 Grasshopper as Surplus to be Used for Trade-In

Resolution: Award the Purchase of a Commercial Zero Turn Riding Mower to H&R Agripower of Benton, IL in the amount of $18,855 and Declare a 2009 Grasshopper as Surplus to be Used for Trade-In. (Resolution 2023-R-63; Exhibit G 08-22-2023)

Councilmember Rye-Sanders asked why the bid is being awarded to a business in Benton rather than a local Carbondale business. City Staff addressed her question.

3.14 Ordinance Amending Title One, Chapter Five of the Carbondale Revised Code Addressing the Issues of Waste and Abuse

Resolution: Adopt an Ordinance amending Title One, Chapter Five of the Carbondale Revised Code to address the issues of waste and abuse. (Ordinance 2023-33; Exhibit H 08-22-2023)

3.15 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 Jeff Doherty, second by Clare Killman.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

A brief recess observed from 7:38 to 7:46 p.m.

4. General Business of the City Council

4.1 Resolution Approving the Use of American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Grant $225,000 to the Varsity Center for the Arts for Theater Restoration

Members of Council expressed their views on the history of the Varsity Theatre and its negative impact on the African American community during the Civil Rights Era in Carbondale. SIU alumnus and civil rights activist, Dick Gregory, will be featured in the Varsity Center of the Arts in the near future because of his drive to integrate the Varsity Theatre. Some felt that his name should be put in or on the building in some form or fashion to memorialize him and his activism. Council agreed that some kind of recognition would be appropriate for Mr. Gregory and his work as well as other local activists during that time. Nathan Columbo and Billy Robbins, members of the Varsity Center for the Arts board, were present to address questions and comments from Council and to give their thoughts on the subject. It was suggested that Mr. Columbo and Mr. Robbins forward the concerns of the Council to the other members of the board for serious consideration. Questions and/or comments from audience members included Elius Reed and Patricia Powell Preston.

MOTION: Approve a resolution granting up to $225,000 in ARPA funds to the Varsity Center for the Arts.

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Jeff Doherty.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Nay: Ginger Rye Sanders

(Resolution 2023-R-64; Exhibit I 08-22-2023)

4.2 Ordinance Approving a Map Amendment Designating Various Commercially Zoned Properties in the Retail Revitalization Overlay District

No action at this time; the consensus of City Council is to bring this item back at a future meeting.

4.3 Discussion and Directive from the City Council to either Maintain or Eliminate Licensing of Taxi and TNC Drivers at the Local Level

After a very brief discussion, City Council directed Staff to move forward with eliminating taxi and TNC driver’s licensing. Corey Scales of Quality Cab Service stood in agreement to eliminate the licensing.

5. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

5.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/coc/Board.nsf/files/CV8RRD6E2CB8/$file/2023-08-22%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf