Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Oct. 8.

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 PM

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 Dawn Roberts, Terry Hickey, Jan Phillips, Marcella Woodson, James Cooper, Jr., Adam Ware, and Abdelhameed Nawwar.

1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Councilmember Loos recalled from a previous meeting that a few downtown business owners expressed their concerns about the climate of the area during the evening hours. At the time there was unanimous interest on the subject from members of Council and he would like to see this topic placed on the agenda whether for discussion and/or policy proposal to deal with said issues

Councilmember Hill asked everyone to support the Good Samaritan by either donating monetarily or purchasing trays and utensils as they are low in supplies.

Councilmember Killman commended the SIU Police for stepping in to shut down an anti-trans event that was to be held on SIU campus.

Councilmembers Hill, Killman, Rye-Sanders, and Maxwell all expressed their thanks for the presentation and recognition during citizens’ comments for those members of Council who were in support of the peace resolution.

1.4 Proclamations for National APEX Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Mayor Harvey proclaimed October 9, 2024 as National APEX Day and urged all residents to acknowledge the important role APEX Accelerators play in supporting small businesses and helping them navigate opportunities within the government contracting space.

Mayor Harvey proclaimed the month of October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and encouraged all citizens to learn more about domestic violence prevention, support survivors, and join in efforts to end domestic violence in our community.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

2.1 Feedback and Recommendations from the Carbondale Business Community Based on Input Provided to the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce

William Lo of the Chamber of Commerce presented to Council the steps to maintain the history, culture, and potential of the business community. The Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Illinois Business Development Center emailed surveys to local business owners to gather information on ways to improve the business environment in Carbondale. The response was from local businesses was encouraging and several roundtable discussions were held with local business owners as well as the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee and the Business Attraction and Retention Subcommittee. Ideas and concerns from those discussions include safety, food & beverage taxes, streamlining processes, promotions, stronger communication, signage, parking, and more collaboration between the City and SIU for events and festivals.

Comments and concerns from Council included developing a marketing plan, a potential revolving loan fund to aid in the start up of potential new businesses, the wayfinding plan from previous years, increasing collaboration, and addressing the lack of diversity and inclusion on the committees and subcommittees as well as the involvement in this process.

The Food and Beverage Tax was reiterated during the Council Comments of this item and it was suggested that the topic be placed on the agenda of a subsequent meeting for further detailed discussion.

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

3.1 City Council Meeting Minutes from September 24, 2024

Resolution: Approve the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of September 24, 2024

3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 09/27/2024 for the FY 2025 Warrant 1495 in the Total Amount of $3,054,227.34

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 09/27/2024 totaling $3,054,227.34 (Exhibit A 10-08-2024)

3.3 Approval of Wells Fargo Warrant for the Period Ending 08/31/2024 FY 2025 Warrant # WF 08/2024 in the amount of $157,104.51

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 08/31/2024 totaling $157,104.51 (Exhibit B 10-08-2024)

3.4 Reappointment to Boards and Commissions

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

3.5 Acceptance of Judicial Deed for Former Carbondale High School and Quit Claim Deed from the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois for the Former Gymnasium on Springer Street Resolution: Accept the Deeds for the former High School and the Gymnasium

3.6 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

MOTION: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration Motion by Adam Loos, second by Clare Killman.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

4. General Business of the City Council

4.1 Ordinance Adopting the 2018 International Code Council Model Codes

Questions and comments from Council included the effects this will have on the cost of building, will any unexpected demands or surprises arise for current property or business owners with adopting this code, why the 2018 code was chosen instead of 2021 or 2024, which version of the code are other municipalities are using, and will this effect insurance. Questions were addressed by Community Development Manager John Lenzini.

MOTION: Approve an ordinance adopting the 2018 International Code Council Model Codes Motion by Clare Killman, second by Nancy Maxwell.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

(Ordinance 2024-35; Exhibit C 10-08-2024)

4.2 Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of an Award from the Department of Energy's "Energizing Rural Communities American Made Challenge" Phase 2 in the Amount of $200,000 and Approving a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Support Services FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $200,000

Clarification was given to Council by Finance Director Jeff Davis as to why the $200,000 was split between two different funds. It was explained that half will be will be issued from one fund to the Village of Dowell while the other half will be placed in a division contingency until it is decided how those funds will be used.

MOTION: Accept Award from the Department of Energy's Energizing Rural Communities American Made Challenge Phase 2 in the Amount of $200,000 and Approve a Budget Adjustment to Increase the Support Services FY2025 Budget in the Amount of $200,000

Motion by Clare Killman, second by Nancy Maxwell.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

(Ordinance 2024-36; Exhibit D 10-08-2024)

4.3 Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Enter Into an Agreement with Pleiades Strategy for Communication Services to Support the Energy Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Proposal

This item was brought before Council at the meeting held on September 10, 2024, however Council voted in favor of postponing action until now to allow Staff time to get more detailed and specific in the language of the proposal and to address some questions and comments that were expressed. Some members of Council felt that there are local consulting groups or firms that are capable of performing within this scope of work, but was not considered in this case. Questions regarding the cost, whether it is grant funded, how this consulting group was chosen, and the reasons why the standard bidding process was not used were also addressed.

Citizens addressing Council and City Staff regarding this topic were Sarah Dobie, Anastasia Moroz, Barbara McKasson, William Lo, and Jane Cogie.

MOTION: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Enter Into an Agreement with Pleiades Strategy for Communication Services to Support the Energy Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Proposal

Motion by Clare Killman, second by Ginger Rye Sanders.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

(Resolution 2024-R-64; Exhibit E 10-08-2024)

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 8:05 p.m.

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10082024-2369