Nov 06, 2023 City Council Meeting

[I.  Call to Order]

[00:00:05]

CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COUNCILMAN COLE HERE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? HERE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL.

PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN HORN.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN KUHL.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF, PRESENT SIX PRESENT.

WHEN ABSENT, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO PROVIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WORSHIP STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INDIVISIBLE WITH CLERGY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[II.  Appearance of Citizens]

EACH CITIZEN SPEAKING WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE APPEARANCE OF UP TO THREE MINUTES.

NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY COUNCIL OR CITY STAFF MEMBERS.

CITIZENS ARE TO GIVE THEIR DOCUMENTS, IF ANY, TO THE POLICE OFFICER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL WHEN THE MAYOR DETERMINES THAT ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY HAVE DONE SO.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND KEY STAFF MAY MAKE COMMENTS.

DOES ANYONE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

I, UH, WE NEED YOUR NAME FIRST.

OH, OH OH.

OKAY.

DANIEL RAY PICK.

UH, I'VE, I'VE GIVEN MY IDEA TWICE TODAY.

I, I SPOKE WITH, UH, GEORGE AT THE BRASS HORN AND I SPOKE WITH, UH, PRESIDENT OF MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY AND HE WAS VERY ENCOURAGING ME OF TALKING WITH, UH, SOME PROFESSORS.

AND, UH, WHEN I'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE RAZZLE DAZZLE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP PARADE.

UM, BUT I, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF TOASTMASTERS AND I WAS TOLD THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO INTRODUC INTRODUCE YOU THAT DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF INTRODUCING YOU, YOU SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

SO THIS, THIS WILL TAKE 30 SECONDS AND THEN I'LL GET TO THE PICTURE THAT I HANDED TO YOU.

WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU THIS MORNING, MY FRIEND, EVEN IF IT FALLS YOUR LOCK TO BE A STREET SWEEPER, LORD, OUT IN SWEEP STREETS LIKE MICHAELANGELO PAINTED PEOPLE PICTURE SWEEP STREETS LIKE CANDLE AND BEETHOVEN COMPOSED MUSIC, SWEEP STREETS LIKE SHAKESPEARE, WROTE POETRY, SWEEP STREETS SO WELL THAT ALL THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL HAVE TO PAUSE AND SAY HE'LL LIVE THE GREAT STREET SWEEPER WHO SWEPT HIS JOB WINS.

THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO.

I WANNA DO A BETTER JOB OF STREET SWEEPING.

AND I HAVE THIS CONCEPT CALLED RAZZLE-DAZZLE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP PARADE.

I GAVE THE, UH, COUNCIL PEOPLE AND, AND THE CITY MANAGER A PICTURE OF A PROBLEM.

I WISH THERE WAS A BETTER PICTURE, UH, ALONGSIDE, UH, MILLIKEN.

THIS WE'RE, WE'RE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SO MANY MORE STUDENTS THERE, BUT THERE, THERE'S A PARCEL OF RAILROAD PROPERTY THAT LOOKS HORRENDOUS.

AND IF WE HAD MORE IDEAS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHAT CAN BE, BUT WHAT PEOPLE WISH IT COULD BE.

THERE, THERE ARE WAYS OF GIVING PROMPTS, JUST A FEW WORDS OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPUTER.

AND IT BRINGS YOU UP A PICTURE OF WHAT COULD BE.

WE NEED MORE PICTURES OF WHAT COULD BE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT NEEDS TO COME FROM NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE, NOT JUST EXPERTS, NOT JUST ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND THEY'RE, I CALL IT RAZZLE DAZZLE BECAUSE I, THERE WAS THINGS ABOUT DECATUR CELEBRATION, THE RAZZLE DAZZLE PARADE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I, I WOULD LOVE TO BE WELCOME BACK WHEN I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A, A PROPER PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL TONIGHT, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS RUTH HIBBERT ANDERSON, AND I'M THE BOARD CHAIR FOR HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER.

FOR 67 YEARS, HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY AS THE LARGEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER AGENCY PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES TO MACON, DEWITT, AND T COUNTIES.

WE SERVE OVER 7,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR WITH A WORKFORCE OF OVER 350 EMPLOYEES AT 11

[00:05:01]

HERITAGE SERVES EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL STATUS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, NO INSURANCE OR ABILITY TO PAY.

NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY.

WE SERVE ANYONE ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE EACH YEAR, IMPACTING ALL OF US DIRECTLY OR AS SOMEONE WE KNOW IN OUR FAMILY.

OUR SOCIAL CIRCLES, OUR COLLEAGUES, REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER, RACE, OR SOCIO SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, WE KNOW THAT ONE IN FOUR AND NEARLY ONE IN FIVE 17% OF OUR YOUTH EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

50% OF ALL LIFETIME MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS BEGIN BEFORE THE AGE OF 14.

AND 75% START BEFORE THE AGE OF 24.

9.2 MILLION PEOPLE, 12 AND OLDER MISUSED OPIOIDS IN THE PAST YEAR.

AND 47% OF YOUNG PEOPLE USING ILLEGAL DRUG, USING AN ILLEGAL DRUG BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THESE STATISTICS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS, THEY'RE REAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOU, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SIBLINGS, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, YOUR AUNTS AND UNCLES.

PEOPLE IMPACTED MY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE LOOK LIKE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND PEOPLE WATCHING THIS MEETING.

OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CRISIS.

AND IN PARTICULAR, THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR YOUTH NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY.

HERITAGE HAS OUTGROWN ITS CURRENT LOCATION, AND WE ARE EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR A LARGER LOCATION THAT CAN MEET THE GROWTH NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AT THIS TIME, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE REGARDING A RELOCATION.

MY MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH, IS THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE AND HERITAGE IS HERE TO HELP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS EMILY GRANT.

I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER.

I'M READING THIS ON BEHALF OF MARY GARRISON, OUR CEO AND PRESIDENT, WHO IS UNABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.

HERITAGE HAS FACED SIGMA SINCE 1956 WHEN OUR SERVICES BEGAN AND SADLY STILL FACES IT TODAY.

IN FACT, STIGMATIZATION OF THOSE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS MAY BE AT ITS WORSE AS A RESULT OF THE CURRENT STIGMA CAMPAIGN TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS PERPETRATING STIGMA BY FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUAL FEARS, SPREADING FALSE AND INFLAMMATORY INFORMATION THAT HARMS OUR CLIENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND OUR ORGANIZATION.

CREATING FEAR ABOUT THE WORK HERITAGE DOES TO SUPPORT AND SERVE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OURSELVES.

THOSE WE LOVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE MUST DO BETTER TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT FIRST STOPS WITH ENDING, STARTS WITH ENDING STIGMA FOR GOOD.

PARDON ME.

STIGMA IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BARRIER INDIVIDUALS FACE WITH ACCESS TO CARE.

STIGMA KEEPS PEOPLE IN ISOLATION, IN FEAR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IN CRISIS, WE MUST DO BETTER.

NEARLY ONE IN THREE ADULTS HAD EITHER A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR A MENTAL ILLNESS.

IN THE PAST YEAR AND NEARLY 50% OF YOUNG ADULTS AGE 18 TO 25 HAD EITHER A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR A MENTAL HEALTH ILL ILLNESS.

HERITAGE HAS A ROBUST ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR ADULTS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CONCERNS, INCLUDING OUTPATIENT, INDIVIDUAL GROUP, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES.

WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS IN DECATUR, MOUNT ZION, AND CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS HELPING OUR YOUTH WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

HERITAGE RECENTLY PURCHASED A BUILDING IN CLINTON AND SOON WILL BE INCREASING SERVICES TO OUR NEW LOCATION THAT SITS NEXT TO A HIGH SCHOOL AND A JUNIOR HIGH EXPANSION OF OUR ENTIRE AGENCY SERVICES ALLOWS US TO IMPACT THOSE AND IMPACT THE LIVES OF THOSE WE SERVE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL HERITAGE'S VIEWS IS THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING OUR YOUTH, ARE DESERVING OF RECEIVING SERVICES WHERE THEY ARE MOST ACCESSIBLE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS STIGMA FREE HERITAGE PRIDES ITSELF ON MEETING OUR CLIENTS WHERE THEY ARE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES TO COME, AND WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO END STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE.

THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MARY E. GARRISON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

[00:10:02]

I AM MOST DISHEARTENED BY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ST.

TERESA AND THEIR STIGMATIZING STANCE ON A POTENTIAL MOVE BY HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER.

ST.

TERESA'S ST.

THERESA'S LETTERS TO THE EDITOR HAVE DESCRIBED HERITAGE CLIENTS IN A STIGMATIZING WAY AS PEOPLE WHO QUOTE, POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AND ARE UNABLE TO CONTROL THEIR EMOTIONS OR ACTIONS.

IMPLYING HERITAGE C CLIENTS ARE TO BE FEARED, DISDAINED, MARGINALIZED, AND SHUNNED, RATHER THAN SERVED AND TREATED WITH COMPASSION.

THIS STIGMATIZING CHARACTERIZATION IS CAUSING HARM TO THOSE AMONG US WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES.

STIGMA OCCURS WHEN PEOPLE UNFAIRLY AND NEGATIVELY STEREOTYPE OTHERS.

STIGMA CREATES FEAR AND HARMS AND HINDERS RECOVERY.

THE FACTS ARE THAT MOST PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE NOT DANGEROUS.

THEY ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF CRIMES THAN PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES.

HERITAGE OPERATES WITH THE CONVICTION THAT ALL PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHAT, HAVE VALUE AND WORTH, AND THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY SERVICES.

ST.

THERESA'S MESSAGE IMPLIES THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE AFRAID OF OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE RECOVERY SERVICES THERE REGRETFULLY, THE DAMAGE HAS LIKELY ALREADY BEEN DONE FOR MANY WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE FELT COMFORTABLE SEEKING SERVICES AT HERITAGE ST.

THERESA HAS BLOCKED A PATHWAY TO RECOVERY FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BY PORTRAYING HERITAGES AS A HERITAGE, AS A PLACE TO BE FEARED AND AVOIDED.

WHAT ST.

TERESA SEEMS TO BE MISSING IS THAT THEY ARE TEACHING THEIR COMMUNITY TO HIDE THE MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS THAT EXIST IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

I CARE A LOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN VISITED BY THIS MOST DEVASTATING ILLNESS.

MY FAMILY'S MEMBER IS DOING WELL THANKS TO THE HERITAGE STAFF AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND COMPASSION.

BECAUSE OF MY ADVOCACY IN THIS ARENA, SEVERAL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ASKED TO MEET WITH ME ONE-ON-ONE IN MY HOME TO SHARE THEIR SUFFERING BECAUSE OF A LOVED ONE'S DIAGNOSIS OF A MENTAL ILLNESS, THEY ALMOST ALWAYS ASK THAT I NOT SHARE THEIR STORY BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESSES.

STIGMA IS A BARRIER TO TREATMENT.

AND HEALTHY FAMILIES HERITAGE BELIEVES THAT WITH TREATMENT CARE, AND I'M SORRY MA'AM, BUT YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

I'M SORRY.

PEOPLE CAN REACH A LEVEL OF RECOVERY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL AT THIS TIME, MY NAME IS JIM TAYLOR.

I'M UP IN HERE ASKING THIS COUNCILMAN AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR AND EVERYBODY TO JOIN ME.

AND LET'S TAKE THE WABASH CROSSING AND PUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLES IN THERE FOR THE WINTER AND PUT SOMEBODY TO MANAGE, MAYBE PUT TWO TO AN APARTMENT UNITS ONLY GOT BY 20% OCCUPIED, 15 TO 20% AND PEOPLE'S OUT ON THE STREET.

IT REALLY HURT ME WHEN I SEE A LADY GOING DOWN THE STREET WITH HER LITTLE BABY AND A STROLLER AND THE BABY WANT TO GO HOME AND AIN'T GOT NO HOME TO GO TO.

YOU GO TO THE RESTAURANTS WHERE I GO QUITE OFTEN EARLY IN THE MORNING, YOU SEE SOME OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE SITTING IN THERE TRYING TO STAY WARM AND EAT.

THE STATE GAVE THAT WABASH CRASHING.

WA WABASH CROSSING MADE A DOLLAR THIS YEAR FOR IMPROVING.

THEY HAVEN'T DONE ONE THING TO THAT.

I WROTE THERE TODAY AND LOOKED AT EVERY UNIT AND THERE'S NOT NOTHING BEEN DONE, PERIOD.

SO, JOHN, ME, AND LET'S PUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLES IN THERE FOR THIS WINTER AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO LET THE PEOPLE THAT OWNS THAT KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST GONNA USE THAT UNIT FOR TAX PURPOSES ONLY.

THEY DON'T WANT NOBODY IN IT, THEY JUST WANT IT EMPTY SO THEY CAN CLAIM IT ON THEIR TAXES.

SO LET'S GET ALL THE HOMELESS PEOPLES OFF THE STREET FOR THIS WINTER.

PUT 'EM IN WABASH CROSSING RIGHT THERE BY AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG PLACE WHERE IF THEY NEED TREATMENT, THEY COULD WALK RIGHT OVER THERE AND GET TREATMENT.

WE COULD GIVE 'EM A FREE BUS TICKET TO RIDE AROUND TOWN AND LOOK FOR JOBS AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT OVER THESE, UH, UNITS THAT TAKES CARE OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.

THEY COULD WORK WITH 'EM FOR THE WINTER AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T GET

[00:15:01]

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE NO HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE STREETS OF DEC.

I WORK WITH YOU IF Y'ALL WORK WITH ME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOHAN.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

JUST WANTED TO REMIND ALL OF YOU ABOUT TINA ZAA.

DO YOU REMEMBER HER? HOW SHE TOLD EVERYBODY THERE ARE TERRORISTS? WELL WATCH TV NOW.

ALL YOU SEE ARE THE TERRORISTS.

SHE WAS MENTIONING ABOUT NOW THE, THE SCENARIO WHERE THEY HAD JOSEPH ZBA KILL THE BABY AND STAY AND ALMOST KILL THE MOTHER.

SEE JOSEPH ZBA IS RELATED FORENSICALLY TO TINA ZENA'S MOTHER WHO HELD HER DOWN TO DIE AND HER EX-HUSBAND WANTED HER DEAD.

HANNAN SHAHEEN, HER EX-HUSBAND WANTED HER DEAD AND HE WANTED HER HIS SON DEAD JUST FOR REVENGE.

THIS IS HOW THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT CHILDREN.

OH, NOW THEY THEY WANNA TURN AROUND AND SAY HATE CRIMES.

ISRAEL DID IT.

IT'S NOT ISRAEL.

AND THEN WHY DO THEY SAY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTING? WHAT'S THE PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTING FOR WHEN IT'S THE PALESTINIAN TERRORIST WHO ATTACKED ISRAELIS AND WHO STOLE THE KIDS AND THE HOSTAGES AND DON'T WANNA RETURN THEM.

IT'S, THEY SHOULD NOT PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST.

THEY NEED, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER CALMLY AND WORK TOGETHER AND CATCHING OR CONVINCING THE TERRORISTS TO TURN IN ALL THE HOSTAGES.

AND IF THEY DO, WE PROMISE TO KEEP AND THEN TURN AND THEN HAVE A TERRORIST TURN THEMSELVES IN.

WE PROMISE IF THE TERRORISTS TURN THEMSELVES IN, THAT THEY WILL NOT BE TORTURED AND THEY WILL NOT BE DEAD.

NOW AS FOR RASHIDA , SHE SAYS JOE BIDEN, HE WANTS, UM, GENOCIDE FOR THE PALESTINIANS.

SHE'S LYING ABOUT THAT.

SHE'S TOTALLY LYING ABOUT THAT.

SHE WANTS TO HAVE PALESTINIANS DU CATASTROPHE AND DU RIOTING ALL OVER AMERICA, ESPECIALLY AFTER TOMORROW.

IF SHE COULD, SHE WOULD.

AND THEN THEY WANNA SAY, OH, BUT AMERICANS AND JOE BIDEN IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE.

NO, IT WAS HER PLAN, HAVING THE KID HAVING JOSEPH UBA SHOOT THE KID AND THE MOTHER, I MEAN, STAB THE, THE KID AND THE MOTHER.

IT WAS HER PLAN THAT THEY HAD.

OH, UM, TWO DAYS AGO ON THE FOURTH, THERE WAS TWO FIRES IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

ONE PERSON WAS LEFT DEAD OR PROBABLY KILLED BEFORE THE FIRE FIRE HAPPENED.

THAT WAS AROUND THE AREA WHERE ZUMA'S PEOPLE AND THEN HER EX-HUSBAND'S PEOPLE ARE HERE IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

THEY MADE THE FIRES.

THOSE ARAB CONNECTED PEOPLE, THEY PAY PEOPLE, THEY'LL PAY WHITES, THEY'LL PAY, BUT PAY BLACKS.

AND THEY'LL SAY, WELL, IT'S NOT US.

OH, YES IT IS.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AGAIN.

REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME.

IF THE HOSTAGES ARE RETURNED AND IF THE TERRORISTS TUR TURN THEMSELVES IN, WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT THE TERRORISTS AND THE LEADERS WILL NOT BE KILLED NOR TORTURER.

AND YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MS. MOAN.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? LAST CALL.

[III.  Approval of Minutes]

MOVING ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 16TH, 2023.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES.

NO NAYS.

AND I APOLOGIZE.

DID ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO MAKE ANY, UH, RESPONSE TO ANY OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT? DR. HORN, YOU USUALLY, YOU USUALLY REMIND ME BEFORE I MOVE ON.

I JUST WANNA SAY ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'VE BEEN A COLLEGE PROFESSOR FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS NOW, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAN I DO TODAY.

AND ACCORDING TO ONE STUDY, GREATER THAN 10% OF WOMEN UNDER THE AGE OF 25 REPORTED THAT EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES WAS A BAD MENTAL HEALTH DAY.

LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ALSO INCREASES THE RISK OF DRUG ADDICTION AND SUICIDE.

SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH

[00:20:01]

AND IF THE NATIONAL STATISTICS APPLY TO DECATUR, THERE ARE OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY THAT ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.

ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.

MOVING NOW TO NEW

[1.  Resolution Authorizing Agreement with BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois for Administration of the City Group Health Benefit Plan for Calendar Year 2024]

MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHT MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CITY SPENDS ANNUALLY IN EXCESS OF $10 MILLION TO PROVIDE GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE TO OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS TO SOME OF OUR RETIREES.

AND SO BECAUSE IT'S, IT OCCUPIES SUCH A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR BUDGET, WE SHOP IT PRETTY EFFECTIVELY AND, UH, AND, AND TRY TO MAINTAIN COST CONTROLS WHILE STILL PROVIDING A QUALITY, UH, HEALTHCARE PROGRAM FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

THE, THE, UM, IT HAS LOTS OF DIFFERENT PIECES.

ONE IS THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACT WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

ANOTHER COMPONENT IS, IS OUR EXCESS INSURANCE WE BUY FOR, FOR LARGE CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS SINCE WE'RE SELF-INSURED.

AND OF COURSE THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE IS ACTUALLY PAYING CLAIMS. I'M PLEASED TO REPORT, UH, THROUGH THE WORK OF, UH, RUBY JAMES, OUR CFO AND JENNIFER MCKOWSKI, OUR RISK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, THAT, UH, THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR PORTION OF IT IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN.

UH, THE, UH, THE CLAIMS PORTION IS, IS UP, UM, AS ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PORTIONS OF THE EXPENSE.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU THAT ALTHOUGH THIS REALLY GOES BEYOND THE, THE TPA AGREEMENT THAT'S, THAT'S BEFORE YOU, THAT AT A TIME WHEN INFLATION IS DRIVING MEDICAL COSTS FOR MANY GROUPS, UH, WELL OVER 20% INCREASES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

OURS IS GONNA BE JUST BELOW 3%.

UH, AND THAT'S IN PART BECAUSE OF, OF THIS, UH, VIGOROUS MANAGEMENT.

AND I WOULD SAY ALSO BECAUSE OF, OF THE EMPLOYEE CLINIC.

BUT THE ONLY ITEM THAT YOU HAVE IS JUST THIS, THIS THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACT.

AND THE PRICE ON THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE MANAGER? SAME.

NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES, NO NAYS.

[2.  Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 41.3 Downtown Parks]

ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 41.3 DOWNTOWN PARKS MOTION THAT THE ORDINANCE DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO, YOU ADOPTED, UH, THIS REVISION TO CHAPTER 41.3 OF THE CITY CODE THAT PROHIBITED OVERNIGHT USE OF OUR TWO CITY PARKS.

WE ONLY HAVE TWO SMALL PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PARKS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR ARE OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE DECATUR PARK DISTRICT, WHICH HAS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS HAD AN OVERNIGHT USE PROHIBITION AS, AS WELL, UNLESS THEY HAVE SPECIAL PERMISSION OTHERWISE.

UM, IT WAS, UH, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY THAT WENT, WENT INTO IT, AND SO THE COUNCIL ASKED A LITTLE OVER A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO THAT WE HAVE A SUNSET CLAUSE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO REVISIT IT BEFORE DECIDING IF IT SHOULD CONTINUE.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT MAKES NO CHANGES IN ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE EXCEPT TO DELETE THE SUNSET CLAUSE.

THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THAT IT DOES.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT BASED ON THE, THE, UH, RESPONSES I'VE HAD FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE, FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, FROM THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, THAT THEY HAVE FELT THAT SINCE, UH, THE SIGNAGE WAS POSTED IN BOTH OF THE, OF THE PARKS, UH, THAT, UH, THE WHILE VANDALISM CAN STILL HAPPENS, UH, THAT THE INCIDENTS OF PROBLEMS HAS GONE DOWN MARKEDLY.

AND THAT, UH, THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY REALLY, WHAT I WOULD CALL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WHICH I THINK IS THE MAIN THING THAT COUNCIL WAS LOOKING FOR.

WHEN, WHEN YOU ESTABLISHED THE SUNSET, WAS THERE, WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT OR, OR THAT MIGHT HAPPEN? UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO REVISIT IT IN, IN A YEAR.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN.

AND SO I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE.

DROPPING THE SUNSET PROVISION COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? MR. MCDANIEL? UM, PAST ACTION ON THE, BY FORMER COUNSEL, UH, WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND AFTER READING THE POLICE CHIEF'S, UH, DATA AND THE INFORMATION, IT'S, IT'S CAUSING LESS PROB WE'RE HAVING LESS PROBLEMS IN PART.

AND THAT WAS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF, OF THE, UH, CURFEW.

OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? DR. HORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WHILE CITY PARKS ARE FOR EVERYONE, IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT PEOPLE LIVING CLOSEST TO A PARK GET THE MOST BENEFIT.

AND SO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ARE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF DOWNTOWN PARKS RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN MUCH OF DOWNTOWN DECATUR LIVE IN ONE OF THE REGION'S POROUS CENSUS TRACT.

FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN CENSUS TRACK ARE IN THE 99TH PERCENTILE NATIONALLY FOR LOW

[00:25:01]

GREEN SPACES, EVEN SMALL ONES SUCH AS CENTRAL PARK AND PRESTON JACKSON PARK, HAVE MANY HEALTH BENEFITS, INCLUDING DECREASED INCIDENCES OF DIABETES.

THUS, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEIR GREEN SPACES AT THE TIMES THAT THEIR SCHEDULE ALLOWS THEM TO BE ENJOYED.

WE SHOULD NOT BE PROHIBITING THEM, UH, FROM ENJOYING THE PARKS AT CERTAIN HOURS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE CITY HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY QUANTIFIABLE DATA THAT THIS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? NAY.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

FIVE AYES ONE NAY.

[3.  Resolution Accepting the Proposal and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for Professional Services for Phase II Schematic Design of the Transit Campus Master Plan with Richard L. Bowen & Associates, Inc.]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU'VE SEEN THIS PROJECT BEFORE AND WE HAVE A DIAGRAM OF IT IN YOUR COUNCIL PACKET MATERIAL PLUS IT'S UP ON THE DISPLAY VIDEOS AS WELL.

UM, YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE AS WELL ON YOUR AGENDA.

YOU, WE, WE EXECUTED AN AGREEMENT WITH A, WITH A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, A CONSULTANT, AND NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE DETAILED DRAWINGS.

AND, UH, I'M, I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, ALMOST ALL OF THIS IS FUNDED BY STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SITE PROPOSALS AND WHAT THE SERVICES ARE FROM THE ENGINEER, UH, LACEY IS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? LACEY, IT'S AN EXCITING PROJECT, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON MOVING FORWARD.

ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? I THINK COUNCILMAN HORNE HAD A QUESTION.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAVE BIGGER .

UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

MM-HMM.

IS THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT COMING FROM EITHER FEDERAL OR STATE RESOURCES? THAT, AND BY THIS PROJECT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN DESIGN.

YES.

THE MASTER PLAN DID COME FROM 100% FEDERAL SOURCES.

DO WE HAVE A MATCH IN THIS, THIS, UM, FOR PHASE TWO SCHEMATIC DESIGN? YES, IT IS COMING OUT OF OUR LNO DOLLARS AND, UM, WE PLEDGED 20% MATCH, WHICH WE MATCHED WITH IDOT MONEY.

SO TECHNICALLY IT IS 100% GRANT FUNDED.

BEST WAY TO DO IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES

[4.  Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Crime Prevention Surveillance Trailer for the Decatur Police Department]

ITEM FOUR RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A CRIME PREVENTION SURVEILLANCE TRAILER FOR THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT MOTION.

THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR COUNCIL, AT YOUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, YOU SAID, DON'T JUST BUY ONE, BUY TWO.

AND, UH, AND SO WE HAD TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF FINAGLING WITH THE, UH, THE FUNDS THAT ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTION OF THE DORIS TURNER GRANT.

UH, AND IN THE PROCESS, UH, UM, CHIEF BRANDELL AND HIS TEAM FOUND A WAY TO MAKE IT EVEN LESS, I THINK THROUGH, THROUGH A DISCOUNT FROM MULTIPLE PURCHASE ITEMS. SO, UH, IT IS BACK TO YOU AS REQUESTED.

SO CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SHOW UP, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU MORE STUFF.

YEAH, I CAN'T EVEN, UH, PUT WORDS TO THAT ONE.

SO, UM, I WILL SAY THOUGH, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GETTING THIS TRAILER, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WANTING MORE THAN ONE.

SPRINGFIELD I BELIEVE HAS SIX, AND BLOOMINGTON HAS THREE.

UM, HOWEVER, AND, AND TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH FUNDS AND, UH, ENSURE THAT WE WOULD USE IT, UM, I JUST WAS TRYING, WE WERE TRYING TO BE SMART, SO I WE'RE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL.

WE KNOW WE'LL USE MORE THAN ONE, SO, UM, I'M GLAD THAT, UH, WE'RE AT THIS POINT.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

AYE.

SIX AYES

[5.  Resolution Authorizing a Five Year Lease Agreement Extension Between the City of Decatur and Flock Safety for LPR Cameras in the City Neighborhoods and Adjacent Thoroughfares]

ITEM FIVE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A FIVE-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT EXTENSION BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND FLOCK SAFETY FOR LPR CAMERAS IN THE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND ADJACENT THOROUGHFARES.

MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND CHIEF OR TO THE MANAGER, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, THE FLOCK CAMERAS, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN A CHIEF COMPONENT, NOT THE ONLY ONE, UH, COMPONENT OF OUR TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY TO GETTING MORE, UH, MORE ARRESTS.

RECENTLY, THE, LIKE LOCAL TV STATIONS SAID, ARE OUR CITIZENS GETTING THEIR THEIR DOLLARS FOR THESE SORTS OF THINGS IN, IN CRIME REDUCTION? AND I CERTAINLY

[00:30:01]

AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, ALTHOUGH THE, THE CHIEF CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE DIRECTLY THAN I CAN, IS THAT THIS EQUIPMENT HAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED ARRESTS AND DIRECTLY AFFECTED, UH, FELONY, UH, UM, VIOLENT CASE CLOSURES.

THE, UM, THE CITY HAS, UH, 101 OF THESE UNITS.

AND DEPENDING ON HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS MOVING FORWARD, WE, WE MAY ASK YOU AT A FUTURE TIME FOR, FOR MORE CAMERAS.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR THAT.

NOW, WHAT, WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS A FIVE YEAR LEASE INSTEAD OF THE TWO YEAR ONE THAT, THAT WE HAD.

UH, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT WE HAVE IT FUNDED WITH ARP THROUGH 24 AND 25, BUT FOR FISCAL YEARS, 26, 27, 28, IT IS NOT.

UH, AND SO THAT'LL BE AN ISSUE FOR STRATEGIC BUDGETING FOR THOSE YEARS.

UH, AND THAT'S WHY IT, UM, THIS AND SEVERAL OTHER MATTERS ARE ONES THAT THAT, THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR NEW REVENUES TO APPLY THEM FOR.

BUT, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD ADD MY ENDORSEMENT TO WHAT THE CHIEF WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE TH THIS HAS BEEN.

AND EVEN SO, I, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THOSE THREE OUT YEARS, I RECOMMEND THAT WE PROCEED WITH THIS MULTI-YEAR LEASE BECAUSE WE GET A FINANCIAL DISCOUNT AND A CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS FOR DOING SO.

AND ALONG WITH THAT, WE ALSO GET TECHNICAL UPGRADES AS THEY, AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES ALONG THE WAY.

YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S VERY LONG, BUT IT'S QUITE A WHILE.

AND I MEAN, TE TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING CONSTANTLY, UH, IN THIS KIND OF SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT AND WE'LL, AND OUR CONTRACT ALLOWS US TO BENEFIT FROM THAT AND NOT JUST HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY FROZEN FOR A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

CHIEF.

SO, UM, I WAS ASKED ABOUT ENG ENTERING INTO A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY JUST, JUST BECAUSE IT'S TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT? IT CHANGES.

UM, I WILL SAY, UM, IN, IN, IN 20, NEARLY 27 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE AND SIMPLEST PIECES OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE, WE HAVE IN, IN, UH, POLICING TODAY.

UH, THERE'S A TIDAL WAVE OF THIS PRODUCT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF, UH, DEPARTMENTS ADOPTING IT EVERY DAY.

WE GET MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT WE ARE NOW CONNECTED WITH AND WE CONNECT CRIMES NOT JUST HERE IN DECATUR, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAD A, UH, UH, MULTI-STATE THEFT RING THAT WE HAD SOLVED USING FLOCK.

AND IT WASN'T OUR FLOCK SYSTEM THAT DID IT, IT WAS SOMEBODY IN IOWA, BUT THEY LINKED TO OUR CASES.

WE HERE IN DECATUR HAVE SOLVED EVERYTHING FROM HIT AND RUN CRASHES TO THEFT TO HOMICIDE BY THE USE OF OUR FLOCK CAMERAS.

UM, AT THIS CURRENT POINT, UH, WE ARE THE LARGEST, UM, CUSTOMER OF FLOCK IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CAMERAS WE HAVE.

SPRINGFIELD IS CLOSE BEHIND US.

UM, I SEE THIS PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY, AGAIN, IT'S SIMPLE, BUT IT'S JUST THE S THE SYSTEM THAT THEY'VE PUT IN PLACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE IT.

UM, FOR AS LONG AS VEHICLES, UH, HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE, VEHICLES HAVE BEEN USED IN FURTHERANCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND NOTHING THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE CARS, CARS ARE GONNA BE USED AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF TRACK THOSE CARS THROUGH, THROUGH, UH, THE USE OF THE CAMERAS, IT'LL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE OUR INVESTIGATIVE EFFECTIVENESS.

THIS, UM, FIVE YEAR DEAL LOCKS IN THE RATE, UM, FOR EACH CAMERA FOR THAT FIVE YEARS.

WHEREAS IF WE DON'T DO THAT, IT'LL INCREASE 5%, A MINIMUM OF 5% A YEAR.

SO ROUGHLY WE WOULD SAVE, UH, UH, $65,000 OR SO.

YEAR ONE I'VE ASKED IT TO BE APPROVED UP TO 250,000.

HOWEVER, IT WILL BE LESS THAN THAT BECAUSE WE WILL GET ABOUT A SIX MONTH CREDIT FROM WHAT WE'VE PAID FROM JULY OF 23 THROUGH JULY OF 24.

UH, 'CAUSE WE WILL HAVE TO PAY THE FIRST INSTALLMENT IN JANUARY AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD MAKE THE PAYMENTS.

UM, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I SEE, I SEE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES UMPTEEN TIMES A DAY AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THAT IS REMARKABLE IN MY OPINION.

SO I, I STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONTINUE IT, UH, TO INVEST IN THIS PRODUCT.

AND WHEN I PRESENT MY BUDGET NEXT, NEXT WEEK, ONE OF MY FOUR PILLARS OF SUCCESS IS TECHNOLOGY.

SO THIS IS, UH, CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS I'M ASKING FOR.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? MR. COOPER? UH, JUST A QUESTION, UM, CHIEF, UM, IS THERE ANY, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS IN THE CONTRACT, BUT IF, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE LANGUAGE? SAY, I KNOW TECHNOLOGY CHANGES ALL THE TIME AND I KNOW LIKE IN OUR, ESPECIALLY WITH LIKE IN THE IT DIVISION, SOMETHING IS WORKING TODAY, YOU'RE PAYING FOR, AND THEN TWO YEARS FROM NOW IT CHANGES AND YOU GOTTA BASICALLY SPIN OUT FUNDS TO TO, TO MODERNIZE IT TO THE, THE MOST CURRENT MM-HMM.

IS, IS THIS, DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING WITH THE FLOCK CAMERAS? AND IF SO, IS IT BUILT IN THE CONTRACT OR NOT BUILT IN OR MAYBE THREE YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT'S WE GOT TODAY IS WORKING FINE AND OKAY, BUT NOW IT'S OUTDATED THREE YEARS FROM NOW AND WE'RE GONNA BE PAYING A LOT MORE THAN THE 250,000.

SO IN OUR CONTRACT, IF THEY UPGRADE

[00:35:01]

THAT'S PART OF OUR CONTRACT.

SO IF THE CAMERAS, UH, AND THE TECHNOLOGY USED WITHIN THE CAMERAS IS UPDATED, WHICH I EXPECT IT TO BE, HONESTLY WITHIN FIVE YEARS, THEN THEY COME AND THEY REPLACE ALL THE CAMERAS AND THE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN IT.

OTHER QUESTIONS? SAY NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

AYE.

SIX AYES,

[6.  Resolution Accepting the Bid Price from Oak Brothers Tree Care & Removal, LLC for Tree Removal In Various Locations]

ITEM SIX.

RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID PRICE FROM OAK BROTHERS TREE CARE AND REMOVAL LLC FOR TREE REMOVAL IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

MOTION THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON.

UM, UM, I'M GONNA ASK MR. NEWELL TO HELP ME WITH THIS, BUT BASICALLY WE HAVE A TREE REMOVAL TEAM, UH, YEAR ROUND, BUT SOME OF THESE ARE SO BIG OR SO DANGEROUS OR IN, OR IN CRITICAL LOCATIONS THAT WE CONTRACT THEM OUT AND WE DO THAT ONCE A YEAR.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE.

MR. NEWELL, DO YOU HAVE FASCINATING THINGS TO ADD TO THAT? NOTHING FURTHER, NO.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL FROM THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN COL? AYE.

COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES, NO NAYS.

[7.  Ordinance Amending City Code, Chapter 38, Stormwater Ordinance]

MOTION THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SO MOVED.

SECOND, MR. NEWELL OR MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, I KNOW THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHEN IT RAINS HARD, YOU'LL SOMETIMES GET CALLS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT FLOODING THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IN THEIR STREET OR IN THEIR BACKYARDS.

UM, AND IT'S PARTLY BECAUSE WE WANNA DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS BETTER THAT THIS, UH, THIS PROPOSAL IS BEING MADE TO YOU THIS EVENING.

UM, NINE YEARS AGO YOU CREATED A STORMWATER UTILITY.

UH, AND AT THE TIME THE, UH, THE FEE WAS NOT AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTED.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN ADJUSTED SINCE IT WAS ADOPTED, UH, NINE YEARS AGO.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COMMIT AS MANY RESOURCES TO FIXING STORM WATER AND LOCALIZED FLOODING PROBLEMS, UH, THAT WE HAVE REALLY ALL OVER THE CITY.

AND THESE HAPPEN FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

IN SOME CASES, MAYBE A LANDOWNER HAS, UH, HAS FILLED IN A DITCH OR MAYBE THE DEVELOPER DECADES AGO, UH, DEVELOPED A LOT THAT REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OR, OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR STORMWATER RETENTION.

UH, THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

UM, AND IN FACT, A MAJORITY OF THE CHANNELS, IN FACT, A VAST MAJORITY OF THE DRAINAGE CHANNELS AROUND THE CITY ARE NOT EVEN OWNED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR IN MANY CASES.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN EASEMENT.

AND SO THAT'S PLACED US A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO HAS, SO HAS THE FUNDING NOW I AM VERY MUCH AWARE THAT THE, THAT THE COUNCIL IS DESIROUS TO KIND OF GO SLOW AND GO SOFT ON, ON FEE CHANGES, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR NINE YEARS.

AND IT'S WHY THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE STORMWATER HERE ARE STILL BELOW WHAT, UH, OTHER, UH, HOME RURAL CITIES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS ARE DOING.

AND I RECOMMEND THAT WE PHASE IT IN OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS SO IT DOESN'T AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS, UH, TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME.

UM, SO, BUT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE, IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT MR. NEWELL HAS PREPARED THE, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STORMWATER WORK THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO.

THANKFULLY, WE, ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A STORMWATER PROJECT.

BUT OFTENTIMES WE'RE LIMITED TO THESE FAIRLY SMALLER ONES WHERE WE'RE, IN THIS CASE THREE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE'RE CLEARING OUT DITCHES OR SWALES, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED OUT FOR THEM TO DRAIN PROPERLY.

UH, BUT WE'RE REALLY NOT ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS THAT, UH, THAT A MORE ROBUST FUNDING WOULD ENABLE US TO DO.

SO IT'S MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE PROCEED IN THIS WAY.

THE FUNDING, EXCUSE ME, THE FEES ARE, ARE BASED ON RUNOFF.

THE, THE MORE RUNOFF, ESPECIALLY FROM COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES, THE MORE RUNOFF THEY HAVE FROM IMPERVIOUS SERVICES, THE MORE THAT THEY PAY, WHICH MAKES, WHICH SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE AND IT'S WHAT MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES DO AS WELL.

THE MORE YOU PUSH INTO THE STORMWATER SYSTEM, THE MORE YOU SHOULD PAY, THE LESS YOU SHOULD PAY IF YOU HAVE PERVIOUS SURFACES OR, OR RETAIN SOME OF THAT WATER ON SITE.

AND OUR ORDINANCE DOES THAT.

UH, I THINK THAT THERE'S PERHAPS MORE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE, BUT, BUT THE ISSUE TONIGHT IS JUST TO GRADUALLY MOVE THE FEES UP SO THAT WE CAN DO, UM, MORE STORMWATER PROJECTS ALL OVER THE CITY.

MATT, MR. WRIGHTON OR MR. NEWELL, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA? WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY LARGE, UH, BUSINESSES THAT HAVE A LOT OF SURFACE, UM, AND I'M SURE THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE NOT HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA OF, 'CAUSE IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.

I MEAN, AS A HOMEOWNER I'M GONNA PAY A COUPLE DOLLARS MORE A MONTH, BUT IF I HAD A LOT OF LAND AND NO RETENTION POND OR, UM, A LOT OF GREEN SPACE, I MEAN, IS THIS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT TOMORROW WE'RE ALL GONNA GET A CALL FROM BIG BUSINESS SAYING, WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO US? CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING? IT'S NOT QUITE DOUBLE.

IT'S WHAT, 60% OR SOMETHING? SO IT'S ABOUT 75%.

[00:40:02]

SO IF YOU'RE, UM, I DON'T HAVE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHAT SOMEBODY LIKE A WALMART SHOPPING CENTER WOULD, WOULD BE PAYING, BUT YOU WOULD, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A 75% INCREASE OF THAT MS. GREGORY, BUT DOES THIS ALSO APPLY TO OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES? YES, IT DOES.

AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS AS WELL.

CORRECT.

IF, IF THEY GET A WATER SEWER BILL, THEN THERE'S ALREADY A STORM UTILITY CHARGE ON IT AS WELL.

AND SO THEY WOULD BE AFFECTED IN THE SAME, IN THE SAME WAY.

WELL, IT, IT FROM A PERCENTAGE RATE INCREASE, IT IS FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL, BUT IT'S, IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL NUMBER NOW FOR WELL, BUT THAT'S FOR, FOR RESIDENTIAL.

I AGREE.

BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF CONCRETE AROUND A LOT OF OUR MAJOR INDUSTRIES HERE AND THAT IT MIGHT BE HITTING THEM.

THAT'S, THAT SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE PAT.

UM, SINCE I'VE WATCHED, UH, AND BEEN IN THIS CHAMBER FOR YEARS AND YEARS WATCHING COUNCILMEN, UH, COUNCIL, UH, MEETINGS, NO ONE WANTS TO SEE FEES AND THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY POOR OVER THE YEARS AND I HAVE MORE CITIZENS SAY, WHY DON'T YOU GRADUALLY, IF IT NEEDS TO GO UP, DO IT GRADUALLY INSTEAD OF THESE BIG INCREASES.

SO, UH, I'M FOR THIS AND THEN LET'S, IF WE NEED TO INCREASE, LET'S DO IT.

SO IT DOESN'T HIT THE, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS OR THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL, UH, UH, HOMEOWNERS BIG INCREASES ALL AT ONE TIME.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE AIRED.

WE DID NOT BUILD INTO THIS ANY INCREASE.

IT WAS JUST, IT WAS A, JUST A NEW FEE THAT WE HIT HOMEOWNERS WITH.

BUT I MEAN, SOME OF THESE COULD BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

YEAH, WELL LOOK AT, LOOK AT WHAT WE DID WITH THE WATER RATES.

I REMEMBER COUNCILMAN, UH, UM, PAT LEGLER FOR YEARS SAID, WE'RE NOT COVERING OUR WATER COSTS.

WE WAITED AND THEN WHEN WE DO IT, WE DID, WE IT JACKED IT UP EXTREMELY, ALMOST DOUBLE.

SO LET'S DO IT GRADUALLY.

IF IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, LET'S DO IT GRADUALLY.

UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY COUPLE YEARS, WHATEVER IT TAKES, INSTEAD OF WAITING NINE YEARS.

'CAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE TIRED OF HAVING THEIR AREAS FLOODED AND WE, YOU KNOW, THEY PAY TAXES.

LET'S GET THIS DONE.

I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE COMMENT ABOUT GRADUALNESS FROM, FROM PAT, THAT, UM, THIS ORDINANCE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE FOR AUTOMATIC TWO POINT A HALF PERCENT THAT YOU HAVE IN WATER AND SEWER, AND WE PROPOSE TO ADD THAT, BUT ONLY IN 2026 AFTER THE THESE OTHER INCREASES ARE IN PLACE AND THAT IT WOULD BE HANDLED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY WE DO WATER AND SEWER NOW.

AND THAT IS, IT'S 2.5% OR WHATEVER THE CPI IS, BUT IF IT HITS 5% OR GREATER THAN IT HAS TO COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOU TO APPROVE IT, UH, IN THE SAME WAY THAT WATER AND SEWER DOES.

OTHER COMMENTS? DR. HORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

EVEN THOUGH DECATUR'S POPULATION HAS DECLINED SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT DECADES AND IS NOW LESS THAN 70,000, THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS AND SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

AND SO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, UH, INCREASES IN TAXES AND FEES SUCH AS, UH, SEWER AND WATER.

AND NOW, UM, UM, STORM, UH, SEWER, THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE BECAUSE WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR TAX BASE.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, I WANTED TO THANK, UM, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE COST FOR NEARBY CITIES AND, UM, HOW OUR FEES TWO YEARS FROM NOW WILL COMPARE WITH WHAT THE CURRENT FEES IN THESE OTHER CITIES ARE NOW.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE RESIDENTIAL RATES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE RATES THAT NEARBY CITIES ARE CHARGING NOW.

BUT OUR RATES FOR OUR INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES, UH, OUR NON-RESIDENTIAL ENTITIES ARE STILL GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN OTHER AREAS.

AND AS A REMINDER, WE STILL HAVE OVER OR APPROXIMATELY $25 MILLION IN STORMWATER PROJECTS AND IN OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WE'RE GONNA BE PROPOSING TO SPEND $407,000.

SO EVEN WITH TWO YEARS OF INCREASES, UM, I, I DON'T EVEN THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COVER 10% OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. NEWELL? ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD? NOTHING ADDITIONAL.

CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.

COUNCILMAN COLT.

AYE.

[00:45:01]

COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AYE.

SIX, NO NAYS.

[8.  Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with A&R Mechanical Services, Inc. dba A&R Services, Inc. for the 2023 Storm Drainage Improvement Project, City Project 2023-30]

DBAA AND R SERVICES, INC.

FOR THE 2023 STORM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH THREE ZERO.