Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Local Liquor Control Commission and City Council met April 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Councilmembers present

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

Councilmembers absent

Councilmember Ginger Rye-Sanders

Meeting called to order at 6:09 PM

5. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 5.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 5.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Speakers addressing the City Council included James Cooper, Jr. and Laurel Toussaint.

Procedural: 5.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations Councilmember Maxwell expressed gratitude for community support following the death of her grandson.

Procedural: 5.4 A Proclamation for Earth Day 2025

Mayor Harvey proclaimed April 22, 2025, as Earth Day in the City of Carbondale and encouraged the residents to commemorate the day by attending community events and by acting collaboratively to promote a more sustainable and resilient future for Carbondale.

Procedural: 5.5 Proclamation for Arbor Day

Mayor Harvey proclaimed Friday, April 25, 2025, as Arbor Day in the City of Carbondale and urged citizens to join in the observance by appreciating trees and promoting the planting of trees that will beautify and improve our environment.

6. Public Hearings and Special Reports

Reports: 6.1 Summary of Findings | Carbondale Parks & Recreation Plant Inventory

Christopher David Benda presented a summary of the plant inventory and tree census report, which was the result of the survey of ten city-owned sites. There were 640 total species identified, including the State Champion Winged Elm tree at the reservoir. He shared some recommendations for going forward and the removal of invasive plants.

Council inquired about where to purchase locate native plants.

7. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 7.1 City Council Meeting Minutes from April 8, 2025 Resolution: Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting of April 8, 2025

Action (Consent): 7.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 04/11/2025 for the FY 2025 Warrant 1509 in the Total Amount of $1,296,938.53

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 04/11/2025 totaling $1,296,938.53 (Exhibit A-04-22-2025)

Action (Consent): 7.3 Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the FY 2026 Program for Maintenance of Streets and Alleys

Resolution: Approve a Resolution for Maintenance of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code for appropriating $527,060 in Motor Fuel Tax Funds pending review and approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation (Resolution 2025-R-22; Exhibit B-04-22-2025)

Action (Consent): 7.4 A Resolution to Adopt the Mayors' Monarch Pledge Resolution: Move to Adopt the Mayors' Monarch Pledge (Resolution 2025-R-23; Exhibit C-04- 22-2025)

Action (Consent): 7.5 Appointment and Reappointments to Boards and Commissions Resolution: Council is requested to concur with Mayor Harvey's recommended appointment and reappointments to Boards and Commissions

Action (Consent): 7.6 Resolution Approving the Carbondale, Illinois - Northeast Quadrant Building Survey 2023-2024

Resolution: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Carbondale, Illinois - Northeast Quadrant Building Survey 2023-2024 (Resolution 2025-R-24; Exhibit D-04-22-2025)

Action (Consent): 7.7 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Engineering Agreement with Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc. (TWM) of Swansea, IL in the Amount of $177,395 for the Design of the Oak Street Rehabilitation (ST2601) Resolution: Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Engineering Agreement with Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc. (TWM) of Swansea, IL in the Amount of $177,395 for the Design of the Oak Street rehabilitation (ST2601) (Resolution 2025-R-25; Exhibit E-04-22- 2025)

Action (Consent): 7.8 Resolution Proclaiming the Results of the Consolidated Election Held Within the City of Carbondale on the 1st Day of April, 2025

Resolution: Adopt a Resolution proclaiming the results of the Consolidated Election held within the City of Carbondale on April 1, 2025 (Resolution 2025-R-26; Exhibit F-04-22-2025)

Action (Consent): 7.9 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

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

Joan Davis expressed support for agenda item 7.4 and thanked Council for supporting the Sustainability Commission.

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

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Jeff Doherty.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

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

8. General Business of the City Council

Action: 8.1 Ordinance Adopting the Operating Budget for the City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Public Library for FY 2026 and an Ordinance Adopting a Pay Plan for Non Bargaining Unit Employees for FY 2026

MOTION:

1. Approve an Ordinance for the City of Carbondale and Carbondale Public Library Annual Operating Budget in the amount of $80,106,999 for the Fiscal Year 2026, which includes the period from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, except for the Community Agency Funding for the organizations: Little Resource Center, Women for Change, and Carbondale United, to be considered separately.

2. Approve an Ordinance adopting the pay plan for non-bargaining unit employees with a pay increase for FY 2026, which includes the period from May 1, 2025, and ends April 30, 2026.

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by LaCaje Hill.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Carolin Harvey (Ordinances 2025-08 and -09; Exhibits G- and H-04-22-2025)

MOTION: Funding for Little Resource Center as presented in the Budget document

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Nancy Maxwell.

Motion Carries

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

MOTION: Funding for Women for Change as presented in the Budget document

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by LaCaje Hill.

Motion Carries

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

MOTION: Funding for Carbondale United as presented in the Budget document

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by LaCaje Hill.

Motion Carries

Yea: Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Carolin Harvey

Nay: Adam Loos

Abstain: Nancy Maxwell

Action: 8.2 Resolution Approving the Five-Year Community Investment Program for Fiscal Years 2026 through 2030

Council commended staff, finance, city manager, and all other departments for putting together the budget and the five-year CIP.

Pheral Lamb Fine presented a copy of the Arbor District’s goals for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan revision, itemized some of those projects, encouraged flexibility in plans, and revisiting recommendations as needed.

MOTION: Adopt a Resolution approving the Five-Year Community Investment Program for Fiscal Years 2026 through 2030 in the amount of $49,638,671.

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by LaCaje Hill.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Jeff Doherty, LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Carolin Harvey (Resolution 2025-R-27; Exhibit I-04-22-2025)

9. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 9.1 Adjourn meeting

There being no further business to come before the Carbondale City Council, the meeting was declared adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/coc/Board.nsf/files/DFZSPD73A059/$file/Regular%20City%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes%20%2022%20April%202025.pdf