Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met July 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Members 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 6:05 PM

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 1.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 1.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Individuals addressing the City Council included Dianah McGreehan, Cole Blanford, James Cooper, Jr., Macklen Makhloghi, Garrett Ellingsworth, Adam Ashby, Jason Bischoff, Jonathan Caraker, and Luke Herron-Titus.

Procedural: 1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations Councilmember Loos remarked on free speech, behavior at City Council meetings, and hate speech.

Councilmember Killman commented on communication during meetings leading to alienation between the public and the Council and remarked on Carbondale’s long history of permitting extensive public discourse.

Councilmember Rye Sanders apologized for City Staff feeling unsupported and for the public in attendance feeling unsupported.

Mayor Harvey announced the CommuniTEA social hour on Saturday at the Civic Center. 2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 3.1 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from June 25, 2024 Resolution: Approve the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of June 25, 2024

Action (Consent): 3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 06/07/2024 for the FY 2024 and FY 2025 Warrant 1487 in the Total Amount of $2,476,952.09 - Corrected Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 06/07/2024 totaling $2,476,952.09 – Corrected (Exhibit A-07-09-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.3 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 06/21/2024 for the FY 2025 Warrant 1488 in the Total Amount of $1,584,275.05

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 06/21/2024 totaling $1,584,275.05 (Exhibit B-07-09-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.4 Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of a Grant from the Delta Regional Authority in the Amount of $150,000 and Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Local Improvement FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $150,000 Resolution: Accept Award from the Delta Regional Authority in the Amount of $150,000 and Approve a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Local Improvement FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $150,000 (Ordinance 2024-18; Exhibit C-07-09-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.5 Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a DCEO Grant in the Amount of $2,000,000 and Obligating Matching Funds in the Amount of $666,667 for Phase 2 of the Events and Entertainment Plaza

Resolution: Approve resolution authorizing the submission of a DCEO Grant in the amount of $2,000,000 and obligating matching funds in the amount of $666,667 for Phase 2 of the Events and Entertainment Plaza (Resolution 2024-R-47; Exhibit D-07-09-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.6 Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of the Department of Energy's Communities LEAP Award Cohort 2 in the Amount of $50,000 and Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Community Development FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $50,000

Resolution: Accept Award from the Department of Energy's Communities LEAP Award Cohort 2 in the Amount of $50,000 and Approve a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Community Development FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $50,000 (Ordinance 2024-19; Exhibit E-07-09- 2024)

Action (Consent): 3.7 Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of a Grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the Amount of $135,607.55 and Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Community Development FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $135,608

Resolution: Adopt the Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of a Grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the Amount of $135,607.55 and Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Community Development FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $135,608 (Ordinance 2024-20; Exhibit F-07-09-2024)

Action: 3.8 A Resolution Calling for the Peaceful Resolution to Conflict Pulled by A. Loos

Action (Consent): 3.9 An Ordinance Adopting a Labor Agreement Between the City of Carbondale, Illinois and Teamsters Local Union No. 50 Affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Resolution: Adopt an Ordinance adopting a labor agreement between the City of Carbondale and Teamsters Local Union No. 50 (Ordinance 2024-21; Exhibit H-07-09-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.10 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

Resolution: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration Agenda Item 3.8 - There was an inquiry about the wording of the Resolution title

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

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Clare Killman.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

Action: 3.8 A Resolution Calling for the Peaceful Resolution to Conflict This item was pulled in order for the background to be read.

Councilmembers provided an explanation for their intended vote and noted reasons for being in support of or in opposition to the Resolution. The Resolution was read into the record.

Public Comments: Macklen Makhlogi, Adam Ashby, Abdelhameed Nawwar, Susan Pearlman, Crawford Wilson, Emily Caminiti, Dawn Roberts, Timothy Page, and Jason Bischoff.

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

Motion by Ginger Rye Sanders, second by Nancy Maxwell.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Clare Killman, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, LaCaje Hill

Nay: Adam Loos

Present: Jeff Doherty

Abstain: Carolin Harvey

(Resolution 2024-R-48; Exhibit G-07-09-2024)

4. General Business of the City Council

Action, Discussion: 4.1 Discussion and Adoption of Ordinance Amending Title Five Chapter Five Section Twenty of the Carbondale Revised Code Relating to Community Oriented Event Permits

Council indicated a desire to wait and get more input from the community, noted support for the amendment to eliminate the fiction of Main Street obtaining permits for others, noted that the Community Oriented Event permit has been a part of the Code for years, remarked that the amendments were minor, asked about the fee for the permit, and inquired about a situation involving an ice cream truck.

MOTION: Adopt an Ordinance amending Title Five, Chapter Five, Section Twenty of the Code to allow for-profit businesses to hold a community-oriented event permit

Motion by Clare Killman, second by LaCaje Hill.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Carolin Harvey (Ordinance 2024-22; Exhibit I-07-09-2024)

Discussion: 4.2 City Council Discussion Regarding Municipal Electricity Aggregation Council questions and comments included a need for more training on the electricity aggregation program, noted that residents have expressed confusion about the options available, suggested improving PR about the process, expressed a desire to eliminate the program, noted that while this may be a good idea, the confusion it elicits suggests that canceling the contract would be best, remarked on the opt-out process, noted that there are triggering events to end the contract, suggested utilizing an opt-in process instead of opt-out, recalled that this process originally began with a referendum approved by voters, commented that there is not guaranteed lowest price for a commodity, suggested renegotiating the contract, asked why Egyptian Electric was not eligible for energy aggregation, asked about the term of the contract and if the city could exit the contract, and encouraged increased outreach notifying residents about door-to-door solicitors not being from Homefield Energy.

Yolanda Dean noted that it was a confusing process and explained how door-to-door solicitors are automatically switching residents when their light bills are shown to them.

Sandy Litecky inquired if the city can leave the contract, and, if so, what is required.

Julia McQueen expressed concern about the impact of door-to-door solicitors on the elderly or disabled.

Jordan Haarmann, Affordable Gas & Electric representative, gave an explanation of the process, commented on solicitors, described the establishment of the energy rate schedule, indicated that they could provide better information and education on the program, commented on the development of the SIAP Solar legal entity and solar field, and responded to Council comments and questions.

5. Executive Session

Action: 5.1 Enter into Executive Session to Discuss Pending or Imminent Litigation

MOTION: Enter Into Executive Session to Discuss Pending or Imminent Litigation as Permitted by the Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Clare Killman.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Carolin Harvey Open session recessed at 8:23 p.m.

Action: 5.2 Return to Open Session

MOTION: Return to Open Session

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Nancy Maxwell.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Carolin Harvey Open Session Resumed at 9:16 p.m.

Following the return to open session, Mayor Harvey announced there will be a special City Council meeting on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

6. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 6.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was declared adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07092024-2307