Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met May 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Councilmembers present

Councilmembers Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, 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 Jane Otte, Marcella Woodson, James Cooper, Jr., Dean Amley, Tish Turl, Deborah Woods, Anastasia Moroz, Adam Turl, Ebru Bodur, Issac Wilson, and Macklen Makhloghi.

Procedural: 1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations Councilmember Doherty inquired about any discussions with and contract enforcement mechanisms with VeoRide Scooters. He stated that he hoped additional teeth would be built into the subsequent contract.

Councilmember Loos asked about the assessment of fines for parking the scooters improperly. Further, he provided information about degrees of protected speech in different forums, as well as the Illinois Open Meetings Act and the rules adopted by the City Council. He suggested revisiting the rules and relevancy to ensure that they are clear.

Councilmember Maxwell noted the number of conflicts currently, proposed a peace resolution for all wars, and noted a correction to remarks from Marcella Woodson.

Councilmember Rye-Sanders concurred with Councilmember Maxwell and apologized to the Muslim community. She announced Women For Change’s Big Event on June 8, having a theme of "We Say No to Gun Violence."

Councilmember Killman recognized D. Gorton and Jane Adams for recognition and an award from Airbnb for the “Pool House” short-term rental. She commented on division here and globally, finding pathways to partnership, and expressed concern about speech restrictions as well as rhetoric.

Councilmember Hill agreed with Councilmember Maxwell's resolution recommendation. He then recognized the artist who painted the mural at the Eurma C. Hayes Center and announced the upcoming community fun day in late June.

Procedural: 1.4 Proclamations for Gun Violence Prevention Month, National Preservation Month

Mayor Harvey proclaimed June 2024 as Gun Violence Prevention Month in the city of Carbondale and encouraged citizens to participate in discussions, forums, and meetings that focus on gun violence prevention.

Mayor Harvey proclaimed May 2024 as National Preservation Month and called upon people to join their fellow citizens across the United States in recognizing and participating in this special observance.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Information: 2.1 Historic Preservation Award Presentation

Historic Preservation awards were presented to and recognized Parker and Chloe Wilkinson, owners of 206 South Poplar Street, who have been selected as winners in the "restoration" category for a residential property; Justin and Emily Zurlinden with Grayson Investments, owners of 302 North Poplar Street, who have been selected as winners in the "restoration" category for a residential category; Rolf and Pamela Schilling, who have been selected as winners in the "preservation" category for an agricultural structure located at 615 South Tower Road; and Claire Hughes, owner of the The Little Resource Center located at 801 East Walnut Street, who has been selected as a winner in the "adaptive reuse" category for a commercial building.

Information: 2.2 Presentation of the Wastewater Treatment Optimization Master Plan

Tony Harrison, Director of Utilities, and Christy Crites of Crawford Murphy and Tilly, presented information regarding the findings of USEPA compliance and optimization studies, and two additional study requirements, Nutrient Assessment Reduction Planning and Phosphorus Removal Feasibility studies, as it relates to adopting an overall wastewater treatment optimization master plan.

Council asked about the various recommendations, specifics about the options outlined, discussion about the costs depending on the various options identified, questioned the phosphorous levels at each plant, requested additional details and itemization of costs, and asked about the impact of declining population on the overall waste load.

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 3.1 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from May 14, 2024 Resolution: Approve the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of May 14, 2024

Action (Consent): 3.2 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): 3.3 Reappointments to Boards and Commissions

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

Action (Consent): 3.4 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Engagement Letter with Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel for the City's FY 2024 Audit

Resolution: Adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Engagement Letters with Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel for FY 2024 audit services (Resolution 2024-R-37; Exhibit A-05-28-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.5 Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with TWM, Inc. in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $70,000 for Engineering Services for FY 2025 Water Main Replacements (CIP WS9202, WS1303, WS1806) Resolution: Approval of an Agreement with TWM, Inc. in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $70,000 for Engineering Services for FY 2025 Water Main Replacements (CIP WS9202, WS1303, WS1806) (Resolution 2024-R-38; Exhibit B-05-28-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.6 A Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Enter an Agreement with Placer.ai in the amount of $32,812 for Access to Location Intelligence and Foot Traffic Data Software

Resolution: Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Enter an Agreement with Placer.ai in the amount of $32,812 for Access to Their Location Intelligence and Foot Traffic Data Software (Resolution 2024-R-39; Exhibit C-05-28-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.7 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

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

Agenda Item 3.5 – Council noted the waterlines identified for replacement Agenda Item 3.6 – Council requested additional information about the use of or collection of personal data and asked how the information may be utilized for economic development. Connor Sullivan asked if it would result in gathering more data that isn't already collected, what protections are in place to ensure it cannot be used for unintended purposes, and asked about Placer.ai's track record with cybersecurity.

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

Motion by LaCaje Hill, second by Clare Killman.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

4. General Business of the City Council

Action: 4.1 A Resolution Authorizing Staff to Initiate a Text Amendment to Reduce the Minimum Square Footage Requirement of a Primary Structure in an R-1-5, Low Density Residential, District

Council noted that this was a good first step.

Justin Zurlinden asked if there was a specific number for square footage identified for reduction and noted support for the proposal and creating additional infill.

Jessica Allee, Planning Commission member, responded to Mr. Zurlinden's question

MOTION: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Staff to Initiate a Text Amendment to Reduce the Minimum Square Footage Requirement of a Primary Structure in an R-1-5, Low Density Residential, District.

Motion by Adam Loos, second by LaCaje Hill.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Carolin Harvey (Resolution 2024-R-40; Exhibit D-05-28-2024)

Action: 4.2 Approval of Selection of Comprehensive Plan Consultant and Authorization to Enter into Contract Negotiations

Concern about the scope of work in the draft, suggested including interviewing Councilmembers early on, the appointment of steering committee members by Mayor and approval by council, concern about identified priority of goals, noting it is Council’s role to draft such a policy, asked that the contract should identify the personnel assigned to the project, particularly the project manager, and thanked staff for postponing action on this to allow additional review time.

MOTION: Approve Planning NEXT as the consultant for the Comprehensive Plan update and direct staff to negotiate a contract for future City Council approval

Motion by LaCaje Hill, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Action: 4.3 Resolution Adopting the Wastewater Treatment Optimization Master Plan and a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly, Inc. in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $200,000.00 for Engineering Services for the NWWWTP Effluent Forcemain Installation (CIP WW2501)

MOTION: Postpone 4.3 to a future meeting

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

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 8:31 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05282024-2270