[I. Call to Order]
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CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY COUNCILMAN HORN PRESENT.
ABSENT, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE, MR. FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE,
[II. Appearance of Citizens]
WE BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH THE APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS.OUR POLICY RELATIVE TO APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS IS AS FOLLOWS.
A 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD IS PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS TO APPEAR AND EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
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 CITIZENS IN ORDER 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 COME FORWARD.
SIR, YOU NEED TO GIVE US YOUR NAME, BUT WE DON'T NEED AN ADDRESS.
MY NAME'S TOM SHEETS AND I, MYSELF, MY WIFE AND A FRIEND OF MINE ARE TRYING TO OPEN A NEW LOCAL, A NEW SMALL BUSINESS NAMED STICKS ON 36 OUT ON ROUTE 36 NEXT TO THE CHEVROLET MUSEUM.
UM, I'M HERE TO JUST KIND OF DISCUSS THE, UH, NEW BUSINESS.
NUMBER FOUR, ORDINANCE MENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 52, ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR.
UM, THIS IS REALLY KIND OF PUTTING A BIG THORN IN OUR SIDES BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO START ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH OF OUR PERSONAL ASSETS AND EVERYTHING TIED INTO IT.
AND THEN WE'VE, WE GET THIS NEWS THAT THERE'S THIS, UH, MORATORIUM AND THEN IT COULD BE LONGER.
AND ALL OF THIS, I'VE TALKED WITH, YOU KNOW, MY LOCAL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW OF THE NAME.
SHE'S OUR LOCAL APA CENTRAL REPRESENTATIVE.
SHE REPRESENTS CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
SHE USED TO HAVE A BIG TOURNAMENT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR AT STARSHIP BILLIARDS, AND IT WOULD FILL DECATUR.
THERE WAS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS THING, AND SHE MOVED THAT TO DELANO WHENEVER IT BURNT DOWN.
I HAVE SECURED THAT I CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE BACK.
UM, I WILL BE ABLE TO BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR THE POOL COMMUNITY THAT IT'S HUGE HERE IN MACON COUNTY.
IF YOU, IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, BUT, UM, AND WE WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO GET OUR RESTAURANT OPEN AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, SO, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE IT WITHOUT THE GAMING IN THE BEGINNING IF WE HAVE TO, BUT THE SOONER THAT WE CAN GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF, THE BETTER OFF WE'RE ALL GONNA BE.
MY NAME IS KEN HENDRICKSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT ST.
TERESA COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS OPPOSING THE RELOCATION OF HERITAGE TO THE NORTHGATE PLAZA HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR TAKING SUCH A STANCE.
I FEEL THEY HAVE UNJUSTLY BEEN CALLED OUT FOR PROMOTING THE STIGMATIZATION OF CLIENTS AND PEOPLE THAT WORK AT HERITAGE.
I'VE HEARD OR READ NOTHING IN THEIR LETTERS OTHER THAN SHOWING APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR THE CHALLENGING WORK PERFORMED BY THE MANY PROFESSIONALS INSIDE THE WALLS OF HERITAGE.
THEY'RE REMARKABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING GOD'S WORK.
IT'S WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING WHEN THOSE FEW CLIENTS THAT LOITER DAILY COULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
IF HERITAGE RELOCATES AT A NORTHGATE SITE, I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER ENTITLED, WHAT SHOULD JESUS SAY OR DO? BY RESPONSE, JESUS WOULD TELL US TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.
NO ONE OTHER THAN THE DEVELOPER, AND MAYBE A FEW HERITAGE EMPLOYEES HAVE TOLD ME NORTHGATE IS A GREAT PLACE TO PUT THE HERITAGE FACILITY.
ON THE CONTRARY, I'M HEARING IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET OUTTA DOWNTOWN, BUT WHY PUT IT NEXT TO A SCHOOL? PROBATION OFFICERS AND SOME CURRENT THERAPISTS AT HERITAGE HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT PUTTING IT NEXT TO A SCHOOL IS A VERY BAD IDEA.
I'VE HEARD THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT SEEN ANY PLANS.
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I SAW RENDERINGS, SKETCHES, INCLUDING SHUTDOWN, VAN BUREN GREEN SPACE, AND THE TALK OF REROUTING BUS ROUTES.I WAS TOLD BY THE DEVELOPER THAT THIS WOULD BE A $42 MILLION PROJECT.
THAT'S A BIG PROJECT TO KEEP THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE DARK.
IF HERITAGE IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING OTHER SITES AND WE ARE NOT CONVINCED THEY ARE, WE ASK FOR TRANSPARENCY.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS POTENTIAL SITES AROUND DECATUR, NOT NEAR SCHOOLS.
I HEAR NOTHING HAS COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
HOW MANY LETTERS, EMAILS, TELEPHONE CALLS, DISCUSSIONS DO YOU NEED? YOU ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
FINALLY, PLEASE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF HIS ISSUE.
SAFETY OF KIDS AND TEACHERS AND THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL OR ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A RESOLUTION STATING THAT IF HERITAGE DECIDES TO MOVE NEXT TO ANY SCHOOL, ALL FURTHER PERMITS AND PLAN DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE DENIED.
PASSING A RESOLUTION NOW WILL ALSO HELP THE DEVELOPER, SO THERE'S NOT MORE MONEY AND TIME SPENT ON THIS RELOCATION.
MY NAME IS CARMEN ALLEN AND I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER FOR 48 YEARS.
THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN AT ST.
THERESA IN THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT OUR CONCERNS AS A FACULTY REGARDING THE POTENTIAL MOVE OF THE HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER NEXT TO OUR SCHOOL.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, EDUCATE, EDUCATING THE YOUTH TODAY COMES WITH SO MANY MORE CHALLENGES THAN WHEN WE WENT TO SCHOOL.
THE CONSTANT DISTRACTIONS CREATED BY MOBILE DEVICES.
THE PRESSURES PROMPTED BY SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE DEMANDS FOR COMPETITIVE NATURE OF GETTING INTO THEIR DESIRED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE PUT MUCH ANXIETY IN OUR YOUNG YOUTH.
THEN YOU THROW ON TOP OF THAT THE NEWS COVERAGE OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND THE COMPLETE DISCONNECT NATURE OF CO YEARS.
AND YOU REALLY SEE THE TOIL THAT IT HAS TAKEN ON OUR STUDENTS' ABILITY TO LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD OF SCHOOL LOCKDOWNS RERUN DRILLS IN OUR SCHOOL EVERY YEAR TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE PREPARED SHOULD THE NEED ARISE TO GO INTO A DEFENSE MODE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WHILE NECESSARY.
THESE PRACTICE LOCKDOWNS ARE VERY DISRUPTIVE TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ADD ANOTHER POINT OF DESTRUCTION FOR DISTRACTION FOR OUR STUDENTS.
BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL EMERGENCY CALLS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER AND THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES DUE TO THE HERITAGE PATIENTS.
IF HERITAGE WERE NEXT DOOR TO ST.
THERESA, MANY OF THESE SAME EMERGENCY CALLS WOULD REQUIRE OUR ADMINISTRATION TO PLACE OUR SCHOOL UNDER A LOCKDOWN.
IN, IN DOING SO, THIS WOULD CAUSE MANY DISTRACTIONS IN PRACTICING THAT LOCKDOWN.
AND IT MOVES TO A CONSTANT REAL THREAT IN THE MINDS OF OUR STUDENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATION, AND PARENTS.
I BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT HERITAGE IS DOING TO HELP ITS PATIENTS FOR A BETTER PATH FORWARD TO OUR FRUITFUL AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT CENTER.
GIVE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FACULTY JUST ONE MORE THING TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO SAYING SAFE.
MY STUDENTS WANT TO LEARN, AND MY STUDENTS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO OVERCOME THAT MANY DISTRACTIONS TO GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION.
PLEASE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE, MAKING THESE PLANS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO FIND A BETTER LOCATION THAT WILL SERVE THE MANY NEEDY PATIENTS AT HERITAGE AND TO ALSO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
I'M A CONCERNED PARENT OF A RECENT GRADUATE AND A CURRENT STUDENT AT ST.
I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB AS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF DECATUR AND TO STOP THE MOVE OF HERITAGE TO THE FORMER NORTH NORTHGATE SHOPPING CENTER.
I'M HERE BECAUSE MY MOST IMPORTANT JOB IS THAT OF A PARENT,
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AND MY FIRST CONCERN AS A PARENT WILL ALWAYS BE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF MY CHILDREN.THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION THAT THE ST.
TERESA COMMUNITY IS STIGMATIZING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES BY BEING AN OPPOSITION TO THE MOVE OF HERITAGE BEHAVIORAL CENTER NEXT TO OUR SCHOOL.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PARENTS AND THEY ARE ALL IN SUPPORT OF WHAT HERITAGE OFFERS TO ITS PATIENTS.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THEM TO GROW AND TO SERVE EVEN MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR EFFORTS IS A COMPLETE MISREPRESENTATION.
THE WORK THAT HERITAGE DOES FOR ITS CLIENTS WITHIN ITS FACILITY IS ADMIRABLE.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CLIENTS LEAVE THEIR BUILDING HERITAGE WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THEIR CLIENTS ONCE THEY LEAVE THEIR WALLS.
THE DEVELOPER WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PLACING HERITAGE NEXT TO ST.
THERESA SHOULD A PROBLEM OCCUR IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ANY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE, IT FALLS UPON THE PERSON WHO IS DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.
THAT PERSON WHO IS SEEKING HELP EITHER BY CHOICE OR BY COURT ORDER, THE PERSON WHO IS PLACED IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SUCH SITUATIONS.
THIS IS THE ONLY POINT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IN THIS SITUATION.
WE HAVE NO OTHER ACTION AVAILABLE TO US OTHER THAN TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS TO THOSE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE NOT THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER WHOSE PRIMARY CONCERN IS TO MAKE A DOLLAR.
WE ARE NOT HERITAGE WHOSE PRIMARY CONCERN IS TO TREAT THOSE THAT DESPERATELY NEED THEIR SERVICES.
WE ARE PARENTS DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND TO KEEP THEM SAFE FROM POTENTIAL THREATS.
THE EASY THING WOULD BE FOR YOU TO ALL SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING.
IT TAKES COURAGE FOR YOU AS THE CITY COUNCIL TO SPEAK UP AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
IT TAKES COURAGE FOR YOU TO RECOMMEND A SAFER LOCATION FOR THIS FACILITY, A LOCATION THAT IS NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BUSINESSES LIKE THE CURRENT LOCATION.
AND, UM, THIS HAS CAUSED MANY ISSUES AND POLICE INTERVENTION, CERTAINLY NOT A LOCATION THAT IS NEAR A SCHOOL.
I AM URGING YOU AS THE LEADERS OF DECATUR TO DO THE RIGHT THING, NOT THE EASY THING.
MY NAME IS ED FLYNN AND I REPRESENT ST.
THERESA IN REGARDS TO THE MATTERS THAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD.
UM, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES.
IF NOT, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS' INDICATOR.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE STUDENTS AT ST.
THE HERITAGE BOARD COMMENTS BEFORE YOU AT YOUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMPLAINED THAT ST.
THERESA IS STIGMATIZING THE HERITAGE CLIENTS.
THERE'S NOTHING FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THESE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.
THEY RESPECT THE WORK THAT HERITAGE IS DOING, BUT NOBODY'S SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE ST.
THERESA STUDENTS, FACULTY, OR THE VISITORS TO ST.
SO WHO'S GONNA PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THESE ST.
TERESA STUDENTS? I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT IT SHOULD BE YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL.
THE, UM, IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THROUGH MY FOUR YEAR REQUEST, THERE HAVE BEEN 105 CALLS FOR SERVICE BY THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE HERITAGE FACILITY.
AND THESE CALLS FOR SERVICE RANGE FROM ASSAULT AND BATTERY THEFT, UNLAWFUL USE OF A WEAPON AND CRIMINAL SEXUAL OFFENSES.
AND THE ILLINOIS CRIMINAL CODE PROHIBITS A, UH, SEX OFFENDER FROM BEING WITHIN 500 FEET OF THE SCHOOL'S PROPERTY.
THE HERITAGE LOCATION IS 150 FEET, THE PROPOSED LOCATION 150 FEET FROM THE ST.
SO I, I RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND THAT HERITAGE ISN'T TREATING THESE CLIENTS FOR THEIR SEX OFFENSES, BUT THEY'RE TREATING THEM FOR DRUG OR ALCOHOL OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
THERE ARE 425 REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS IN MACON COUNTY ALONE.
AND TO PUT HERITAGE ACROSS THE STREET FROM ST.
TERESA IS A DISSERVICE TO THOSE STUDENTS.
ONE CITY OFFICIAL HAS SAID TO ME, DO YOU THINK THERE'S REALLY GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IF HERITAGE IS LOCATED AT NORTHGATE MALL? THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE.
THERE JUST HAS TO BE ONE PROBLEM.
AND IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY REFUSING TO PUT, ALLOW HERITAGE TO LOCATE AT NORTHGATE MALL.
THE, UM, I KNOW THAT YOUR CITY MANAGER HAS ADVISED THAT THERE'S NOTHING BEFORE YOU, SO THERE'S NOTHING FOR YOU TO, UH, ACT UPON.
THE REAL QUESTION IS WHEN IS THERE GOING TO BE SOMETHING BEFORE YOU? AND I'M TOLD THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S TAKEN THE POSITION THAT ZONING IS NOT NECESSARY.
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AND I'VE READ YOUR ZONING CODE.AND THE ZONING SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THAT A MEDICAL FACILITY IS ACCEPTABLE IN B2 EXCEPT IF THE MEDICAL FACILITY HAS OVERNIGHT PATIENTS THAT ARE NOT THERE FOR CONSULTATION OR EMERGENCY MATTERS, THESE OVERNIGHT PATIENTS HERITAGE HAS 36 BEDS.
THESE OVERNIGHT PATIENTS ARE THERE FOR TREATMENT.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL STEP UP, ADDRESS THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE HERITAGE CLIENTS.
THE HERITAGE CLIENTS AND THE ST.
HI, UM, MY NAME IS COLLEEN DAVIS AND I WORK FOR A GAMING COMPANY.
UM, AND SO I'M HERE REPRESENTING ONE OF THE MY CLIENTS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
AND IT'S JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, IN REGARD TO SIX MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS A MORATORIUM PUT ON IT AND WE APPLIED WITH THE GAMING BOARD FOR THIS LOCATION.
IT'S A BRAND NEW LOCATION FOR GAMING.
WELL NOW, UM, JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTROL WHEN THE GAMING BOARD SEES PEOPLE.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN, UM, APPROVED IN OCTOBER.
THERE WAS NO MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
AND SO HE WON'T GET APPROVED UNTIL DECEMBER.
AND AT THAT POINT HE WOULD BE TOO LATE, UH, TO TRY AND APPLY WITH GAMING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ONE GRANDFATHERING OR MEASURES IN, I KNOW CURRENTLY THERE ARE THREE APPLICATIONS IN THE GAMING BOARD.
BUT, UM, JUST WONDERED IF THERE WOULD BE ANYTHING TO, UM, ASSIST THOSE PEOPLE WHO STARTED LONG BEFORE THE MORATORIUM JUST BECAUSE OF THE IBS TIMELINE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OF WHEN THEY WOULD BE APPROVED.
AND THEN TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL, WILL THERE BE A TIME WHERE GAMING CAN COME, UM, THAT THERE'LL BE NEW APPLICATIONS TO BE AVAILABLE.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE OPEN FOR A YEAR, BUT LIKE THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE EARLIER, WILL THAT EVER BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED? I DIDN'T.
I'VE READ THROUGH ALL THE THINGS AND I DIDN'T SEE WHERE THAT WAS ADDRESSED.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, A FRIEND JUST TEXTED ME AND THERE'S NO VOLUME ON IF YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE, SO JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION THAT.
WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT AWAY.
ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT WITH OR WITHOUT AUDIO? WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT FIXED.
YEAH, MY COLLEAGUE WAS JUST UP EARLIER TALKING ABOUT, UH, COULD WE GET YOUR NAME PLEASE? OH, BRIAN HOT.
MY COLLEAGUE WAS JUST UP EARLIER TALKING ABOUT A POOL HALL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN UP AND HOW GREAT THAT WOULD BE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AS CENTRAL ILLINOIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST POPULATIONS FOR POOL PLAYERS AND ALL THE UNITED STATES.
UM, AND HAVING THE GAMING SHUT DOWN IS, WOULD BE A HINDRANCE TO OUR BUSINESS, WHEREAS THE POOL TABLES THEMSELVES DON'T MAKE A TON OF MONEY OR, YOU KNOW, KNOW, LIKE QUARTERS PER GAME AND STUFF.
BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP US BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN FOR THE FIRST YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH LIKE BUSINESSES HAVING A HARD TIME FOR THE FIRST YEAR.
SO BEING SHUT DOWN AND NOT HAVING GAMING FOR THE FIRST YEAR WOULD BE PRETTY HARD FOR SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO JUST WONDERING, MAYBE IF WE COULD COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT WAY TO YEAH.
HELP OUT BUSINESSES LIKE THAT.
ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL TONIGHT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'M, WE NEED YOUR LAST NAME TOO.
I'M FROM, UH, SHELL GAS STATION ON WOOD AND JASPER.
WE ARE FACING A LOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE HOMELESS ON THAT JUNCTION.
AND ANY NUMBER OF TIMES WE'VE CALLED THE, UH, POLICE 9 1 1, EVERYBODY, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
ONE OF THEM LITERALLY SLEEPS ON THE FOOTPATH LIKE 24 7.
HE'S OVER THERE AND THERE'S SO MANY TIMES THEY'VE COME IN, THEY JUST PICK HIM UP, TAKE HIM AFTER TWO HOURS.
AND IF WE TRY TO CHASE THEM OUT FROM THERE, THEY TRY TO THREATEN US.
WE'VE GOT VIDEOS, EVERYTHING OF THEM, BUT STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
SO CAN CITY COUNCIL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? THAT WAS OUR MAIN CONCERN.
MARK ALLEN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR CRAFTING A COMPROMISE SOLUTION, ALLOWING LINDY LUS TO CONTINUE AN OPERATION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO URGE YOU TO MINIMIZE THE IMPENDING PROPERTY TAX INCREASED TO AS LITTLE AS
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POSSIBLE.WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN AND I SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE WANT GOOD STREETS, WE WANT LIGHTS, WE WANT BETTER SCHOOLS.
WE WANT TEACHERS, WE WANT SECURITY IN SCHOOLS.
HOW IS THAT GONNA BE WITHOUT MONEY COMING FROM TAXES? SO WE SHOULD FOCUS ON NOT HOW MUCH THE TAXES IS, LIKE 5%, 3%, OR 7%.
IT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WHAT DO WE NEED? WE NEED BETTERMENT.
WE HAVE TO HIRE THE STANDARDS.
IF THE KIDS AREN'T DOING THAT GREAT, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE TAXES.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T SAY, OH MY GOD, 1%, 2%.
IT'S, WE CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE RIGHT EDUCATION, WELL THEN WHAT'S THIS GONNA TURN TO BE? ALL DRUGS, CANNABIS, STREET, DRUGS, CRIMES, AND WHATEVER.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS TO REMEMBER THAT THE TAXES MIGHT SOUND LIKE, OH MY GOD, WE GOTTA PAY TAXES.
THE TAXES IS TO HELP TO BETTER MAKE STREETS, MAKE HIGHWAYS, PUT SIGNS, PUT STREET LIGHTS, PUT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO POSE ANYBODY OR CHALLENGE ANYBODY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE DO NEED IT.
AND SO I ASK YOU, YOU DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO HELP TO GET THE COST DONE, TO RAISE THE TAXES IF YOU HAVE TO.
WE, PEOPLE LIKE ME, DON'T COMPLAIN.
AND THEN ALSO, I WANTED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, AND I WANTED YOU TO FOCUS EVERYBODY REAL CLOSE ABOUT WHAT I'M GONNA SAY RIGHT NOW.
DO YOU REMEMBER TINA Z AISA? I KNOW I'M REPEATING THIS AGAIN.
TINA Z AISA, THEY CLAIMED SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND NAMED CLIFFORD WALKER.
THEY DID AN AUTOPSY ON HER, ON HER BODY.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THE CLIFFORD WALKERS SHOW PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HE'S, UM, I DID HER, I I DID HER.
AND THEN THEY HAD TO GO AND, YOU KNOW, DO AN AUTOPSY TO SEE IF SHE WAS A VIRGIN OR NOT.
WELL, I'M SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE THE HAMAS PAID PEOPLE LIKE CLIFFORD WALKER TO, TO MAKE AN EXCUSE SO THAT THEY CAN K KILL HER AND HONOR KILL HER WHEN SHE TURNED TERRORISTS IN.
SO GO BACK AND DO FACIAL RECOGNITION ON CLIFFORD WALKER, AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND EVEN THE CONNECTION WITH THE THOMAS' THOMAS OF WENDY'S RESTAURANT, OR EXCUSE ME, WENDY'S WHEN DIE IS WHEN THEY DIES RESTAURANT.
MAYBE SHE WAS LURED TO W WORK IN THAT PLACE FOR A PARTICULAR REASON.
AND I'M, AND I'M JUST CONNECTING THIS TO THE WAR THAT'S GOING ON WITH HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST GROUP.
YOU ALL BE SAFE AND HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING, AND THANK YOU.
JIM, DO WE HAVE AUDIO AGAIN OR? OH, THERE'S A, WE'VE GOT AUDIO
UM, DR. HORN, WE'LL GET TO YOU SHORTLY.
WE STILL HAVE, UM, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE SPEAKING, BUT I WILL, I WILL REMEMBER THAT WE WILL HAVE COUNCIL RESPONSE.
MANY CITIZENS DON'T KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO, OR MAYBE IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, THE CITY GOT INTO THE HEALTHCARE BUSINESS WHEN YOU STARTED A, A CLINIC FOR, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES.
UH, NEXT YEAR THAT CLINIC IS BUDGETED FOR OVER $800,000.
THAT CLINIC WAS SOLD AS A COST SAVINGS.
BUT IF THAT WERE TRUE, THEN EVERY BUSINESS, THE SIZE OF THE CITY WOULD START THEIR OWN CLINIC.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY BUSINESSES DOING THAT.
UH, SO THOSE, THOSE SAVINGS ARE CERTAINLY DOUBTFUL.
UH, PERHAPS THE MOST TROUBLING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE CITY OPERATING A CLINIC CANNIBALIZES THE BUSINESS OF LOCAL HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.
AND WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, THERE.
WE NEED OUR LOCAL CLINICS AND HOSPITALS NEED AS MUCH BUSINESS AS THEY CAN GET.
NOW, THE CITY'S PLANNING TO DO THE SAME THING WITH TAXI SERVICES.
WE HEARD LAST WEEK THE CITY'S PLAN TO ENTER THAT BUSINESS.
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES NEED, UH, REVENUE FROM, UH, UH, UBER DRIVERS, FOR EXAMPLE, DEPEND ON REVENUE FROM, UH, RIDES.
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VERY, UM, UNFORTUNATE IF THE CITY DECIDED TO COMPETE IN THIS ARENA AS WELL.AND OF COURSE, ALL THESE NEW BUSINESSES THAT AREN'T CORE TO THE CITY ARE, UH, ONLY DRIVING, UH, GREATER AND GREATER TAX BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS, WHICH WE DON'T NEED.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL? I'M STILL IN OWEN.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I POSTED A POST ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, UH, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WITH A LINK TO THE BUDGET.
I'M GUESSING VERY FEW OF MY 4,000 FRIENDS, MANY OF WHICH ARE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR, WENT THROUGH THE 200 PLUS PAGES AS CAREFULLY AS I DID.
BUT SEVERAL DID TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO START EMAILING BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE CONCERNS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DID RESPOND TO THEM.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I CONSTANTLY HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T EMAIL, THEY DON'T COME HERE, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD.
UM, I TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM, YOU GUYS HEAR ME, WHETHER YOU ANSWER ME OR NOT, I GET THAT YOU GET A LOT OF EMAILS.
I GET THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A 250 PAGE BUDGET, BUT I DID WANT TO REITERATE THAT.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT WHENEVER YOU DO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION.
AND ACTUALLY, THE CITIZENS ARE THE TOP OF THE ORGANIZATION AS PAGE 11, MR. WRIGHTON PUT IN YOUR BUDGET.
UM, I TONIGHT WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO HOLD THE TAXES AT 3% WITH NO CUTS TO POLICE, FIRE, STREETS, WATER, SEWER, AND ESSENTIALLY ANY, UM, NECESSARY SERVICES.
I'VE SEEN THIS DONE BY MY MENTOR IN LIFE, MARY ANDERSON TWICE.
HE MADE THE REQUEST AND IT WAS HONORED AND IT WAS FIGURED OUT.
SO I DO KNOW THAT IT COULD BE DONE.
IT'S ALSO BEEN DONE WITH OTHER FORMER MAYOR AS WELL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO THROUGH, LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY CUT.
NOT MEANING ELIMINATED, BUT CUT ANYTHING THAT YOU POSSIBLY COULD.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT I APPRECIATE WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS OF CITY STAFF, THAT'S PART OF YOUR JOB.
AND SO I THINK THE MORE THAT WE DO, THE BETTER IT'S FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL? OKAY.
WITH THAT, I WILL GO TO COUNCILMAN DR. DAVID HORN, WHO JOINS US REMOTELY, UH, FOR ANY KIND OF COUNCIL RESPONSE.
AND THEN WE'LL ASK THAT OF ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL.
CURRENTLY, THE UNITED STATES FACES A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR YOUTH.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, ONE IN FIVE YOUTH MAY BE SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.
AND SO TO OUR STUDENTS, GETTING HELP MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE AND PLACES THAT YOU GET SERVICES FROM, OUR SAFE PLACES YOU ARE NOT HARMED.
RECEIVING TREATMENT, TREATMENT HELPS SAVE YOUR LIFE.
WHEN I WAS AN UNDERGRAD, UM, THERE WAS A HANGING OF ONE OF MY FRIENDS FOUR ROOMS DOWN FOR ME.
AND THAT MOMENT HAS TOUCHED ME FOR THE 30 YEARS SINCE IT HAPPENED.
AND I KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO TO, TO HELP THEM.
AND SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING WITH STUDENTS THAT HAVE, UH, LIVE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR HAVE, UM, SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.
IF WE CREATE BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO CARE, IF WE MAKE ARGUMENTS THAT GETTING TREATMENT IS UNSAFE, IT CAN THREATEN PUBLIC HEALTH, IT CAN THREATEN THE
[00:30:01]
LIVES OF OUR YOUTH.AND SO AGAIN, TO THE STUDENTS GETTING HELP MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE, AND THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE 24 7.
DOES ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL WISH TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT, MR. LP? WELL, TONIGHT WE HEARD FROM ST.
T'S STAFF, ACTUALLY THE ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, AND EVEN A PARENT.
THERE'S NO DENYING THE VALUE OF BOTH HERITAGE AND ST.
BUT THEIR CONCERNS ARE OUR CONCERNS.
AND I BELIEVE IT HITS ON EVERYTHING, HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA AS A DISCUSSION ITEM, JUST SO WE CAN GET OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND IT AND FIND OUT WHO KNOWS WHAT.
AND MAYBE WE CAN GET MORE CURRENT INFORMATION FROM ALL SIDES.
I BELIEVE IT DEFINITELY, UH, IS WORTH A DISCUSSION.
I SECOND THAT MAYOR, MADAM CLERK.
DO WE NEED TO CALL THE ROLE ON THAT OR, UM, MAYOR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE? YEAH.
UH, SO IN THE PAST, UH, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MS. MORLAND.
IN THE PAST, I HAVE RECUSED MYSELF FROM VOTES INVOLVING HERITAGE AND INVOLVING, UM, UH, AND INVOLVING MILLIKEN.
UM, BUT THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
UM, AND SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO GIVE, UH, SOME THOUGHTS TO THAT.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE SOME SENSE FROM, UH, COUNCILMAN CULP AS TO WHAT SPECIFICALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL ZONING? UH, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY? UM, WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT MR. COLE? WELL, I DO WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE ZONING DEFINITIONS, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TONIGHT.
AND THEN IF IT, OR WILL IT COME TO US? AND SECOND, I KNOW CITY STAFF WAS INVOLVED WITH THESE TALKS AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY KNEW THEN AND WHAT THEY KNOW NOW.
I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY PLANS ASSOCIATED WITH HERITAGE.
SO WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WITH ZONING IF WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PLANS OF HERITAGE ARE? WELL, I BELIEVE YOU ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION.
UM, HOWEVER, IF WE WANNA OPEN THIS BOX NOW, THAT WOULD BE A DISCUSSION.
UH, BUT I DO WANNA KNOW WHAT HAS OCCURRED AND WHAT IS THERE, IS THERE ANY FUTURE TALKS? HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER MEETINGS? UH, WE JUST NEED SOMETHING MORE UP, UP TO DATE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO STAKE THEIR NIGHTS AND COME HERE AND TALK TO US THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW FROM BOTH HALVES.
SO, UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
UM, UM, I FULLY RESPECT OUR CITY MANAGER AND I'VE LISTENED TO HIS VIEWPOINT.
UH, I'VE KNOWN, UH, MR. FLYNN MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I RESPECT HIS VIEWPOINT, AND I'M HEARING IT FROM BOTH SIDES.
AND, UM, I, I NEED CLARIFICATION TOO, WHAT WE CAN DO HERE.
I DON'T SUPPORT, UH, HERITAGE GOING OUT BY ST.
TERESA, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO? I, I DON'T KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
THIS SIDE SAYS THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO.
SO I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT IS THERE OR IS THERE NOT? AND WE DO NEED ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER DR. HORN WOULD, UH, NEED TO RECUSE HIMSELF.
I ALSO HAVE A CONFLICT IN THIS MATTER, MS. MORLAND.
MY OPINION IS IF YOU'RE RECUSED ON PART OF IT, YOU'RE RECUSED ON ALL OF IT.
IF YOU'VE GOT A CONFLICT ON ONE ON PART, YOU'VE GOT A CONFLICT ON ALL OF IT.
UM, FOR MEMBERS, THE MAYOR ON ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA, CAN'T VOTE TONIGHT, YOU COULD GET A CONSENSUS.
BUT THE MAYOR, UNDER YOUR POLICIES, THE MAYOR CAN PLACE SET THINGS ON THE, UH, AGENDA.
CITY MANAGER CAN, OR FOUR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THERE'S NO, I'VE GOT, UH, IS NO TECHNICAL.
THERE IS NO, UM, THERE IS NO PETITION.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN ASKED TO VOTE ON, UM, TO DO.
SO PROSPECTIVELY I THINK IS, UM, UH, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ACT ON.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST GENERAL DISCUSSIONS OF THE WHAT IFS.
THAT'S A DECISION FOR THE COUNCIL.
BUT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DISCUSSED, MR. FOR YOU TO DECIDE ON MR. KEEL.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S PRECISELY WHY
[00:35:01]
I NEED TO KNOW WHY OUR COUNSEL TELLS US THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ACT ON.NOW, SHE HAS SAID THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID THAT.
THE OTHER SIDES TELL ME WE DO HAVE SOMETHING TO ACT ON.
I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO I NEED SOMEBODY TO TELL ME, DO WE HAVE SOMETHING TO ACT ON OR DO WE NOT HAVE SOMETHING TO ACT ON? AS FAR AS I'M, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING FROM HERITAGE REQUESTING, UM, ANY ACTION OTHER THAN THERE WAS APPARENTLY DISCUSSION WITH MEMBERS, UM, OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OR THE SCHOOL BOARD.
BUT THE CITY, AS FAR AS I KNOW, HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED WITH ANYTHING, UM, THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO AFFIRMATIVELY.
AND TO CLARIFY, A GROUP OF CITIZENS CANNOT PRESENT A ZONING CHANGE ON PROPERTY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, IF THAT'S THE ISSUE.
SO, UM, MR. SORRY, MR. COOPER.
MY POSITION IS WE, I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS, EMAILS, LETTERS, PRO AND CON.
UM, I DON'T SEE IT AN ISSUE TO DISCUSS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE HAS NOTHING, NOTHING HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR US TO LOOK AT AND REVIEW AND TO DISCUSS.
THERE'S NO WAY I CAN MAKE A DECISION TO SAY I'M FOR IT OR I'M AGAINST IT WHEN WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY, ANYTHING FROM, UM, THE DEVELOPER OR ANYTHING FROM, UH, HERITAGE.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S IRRELEVANT TO SAY WE, IT'S TO DISCUSS BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY NOTHING FOR US TO DISCUSS BASED ON THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT I SEE IN OUR POSITION AS COUNCIL MEN AND WOMEN.
SO I, I THINK IT'S A, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY HAS CONCERNS.
EVERYBODY WANTS, UH, I'M SURE WANTS SAFETY.
I HAVE, I HAVE KIDS, NOT KIDS IN SCHOOL ANYMORE, BUT I DO HAVE GRANDKIDS IN THE LOCAL SCHOOLS HERE IN DECATUR.
UM, AND, AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY SAFETY IS GONNA BE AN ISSUE NO MATTER WHAT BECOMES BEFORE ME PERSONALLY.
BUT I DON'T SEE US RIGHT NOW AS A, AS A COUNCIL HAVING ANYTHING THAT TO DISCUSS, UM, THOSE WHO HAVE OBJECTIONS TO IT.
THOSE ARE FOR, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO, TO VOICE THOSE, AND I KNOW WE WILL, I DECIDE, NO, I'LL SPEAK FOR ME WHEN IT GETS, IF ANYTHING GETS TO BEFORE THIS COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION ON EVERYTHING THAT I RECEIVED WILL BE TAKEN UNDER CONSIDERATION AND WILL, AND WE'LL MAKE A BEST DECISION FOR OUR CITY OF DECATUR.
BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, UH, COUNCILMAN COPE TO PUT ON TO DISCUSS.
UH, WE CAN PUT IT ON AGENDA, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TO DISCUSS ON THE AGENDA ABOUT IT.
WELL, THEN LET'S BACK IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
CAN WE GET SOME DEFINITIONS FOR THIS PROPERTY AND WHAT THE ZONING IS AND WHAT EXACTLY THAT, THAT ZONING DEFINITION MIGHT BE? UM, PART OF THE, PART OF THE REASON WHY, UH, IT'S, IT'S, AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT, UH, THERE'S NOTHING TO ACT ON, AS COUNCILMAN COOPER SAID, IS BECAUSE WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S, IT'S OUR OPINION THAT THERE IS NO ZONING, UH, CHANGE NECESSARY BASED ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE ZONING AND WHAT WE UNDERSTAND HERITAGE DOES, UH, A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON THAT REALLY AWAITS THE SUBMITTAL OF INFORMATION.
UH, I MEAN, ONCE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO, THEN WE CAN MAKE A DEFINITIVE DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ZONING IS REQUIRED BASED ON NEARLY NO INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE PROJECT, I DON'T THINK IT'S REQUIRED.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE SPECIFIC PLANS, MAPS, DRAWINGS, DETAILS, APPLICATIONS, UH, WE, WE CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY.
AND I THINK THAT IT, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE COUNCIL TO INTERPRET SOMETHING, UH, TO APPLY SOME LANGUAGE, UH, IN THE CODE TO SOMETHING THAT WE, THAT HASN'T BEEN SUBMITTED YET.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE A POINT OF REFERENCE IN WHICH TO EVALUATE IT.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MET WITH THESE FOLKS, THE PLANNER OR THE PROVIDER? UM, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT I MET WITH WHO THE DEVELOPER OR THE CLIENT? UM, I HAD, UH, A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH, UM, WITH, UH, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR DEVELOPER AHEAD OF TIME.
UH, IT WAS VERY CONCEPTUAL AS I'VE, AS I'VE SAID.
UM, AND, UM, MR. HENDRICKSON SAYS THAT THEY'VE SEEN, UH, DETAILED PLANS.
UH, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CITY.
AND SO THAT IT, SO, SO, SO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK THAT, THAT, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION IS, UH, IS A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL MEETING THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS OR NOT? IS A GOOD QUESTION, BUT WE CAN'T ANSWER IT.
I WOULD ARGUE UNTIL WE HAVE SUBMITTALS THAT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED TODAY.
DR. HORN HAS A QUESTION, COMMENT DR. HORN? WELL, I WOULD SIMPLY ECHO, UH, COUNCILMAN COOPER
[00:40:01]
AND CITY MANAGER WRIGHT'S COMMENTS HERE, WHICH IS THERE ARE NO PLANS TO REVIEW AT THIS TIME.AND I WOULD, UM, UH, REMIND MY GOOD COLLEAGUES OF THE ILLINOIS HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, FAIR HOUSING DIVISION, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND THOSE THAT HAVE MENTAL DISABILITIES IS A CLASS FOR WHICH, UM, THIS LAW APPLIES.
AND WHAT IS BEING ASKED HERE IS FOR US TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE FOR WHICH NO FORMAL PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, UH, TO THE CITY.
AND SO I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT IF IN FACT, WE WERE TO HAVE SUCH A DISCUSSION, UM, AND THAT DISCUSSION RESULTED IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE DISCRIMINATION IN A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, UM, THIS COULD PUT LIABILITY UPON THE CITY.
ANY OTHER COMMENT AT THIS TIME? BECAUSE AS IT STANDS, WE DO NOT HAVE FOUR MEMBERS ASKING FOR THIS TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
I WOULD BE RE RECUSED AS WOULD DAVID, PER THE CITY ATTORNEYS AND CITY MANAGER.
YOU DON'T FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO PUT ON THE AGENDA AT THIS TIME? COUNCILMAN KOPPEL? LET ME CLARIFY.
I'M NOT TAKING A POSITION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON, ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
I'M, I GUESS I'M TAKING A POSITION ON A PROCESS.
UM, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT, THAT SOME MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, INITIATIVE OR SOME OTHER PROJECT HAS GOT PLANS THAT ARE CONCEPTUAL.
AND I THINK THAT THE CITY SHOULDN'T COMMENT OR, OR, OR MAKE A LEGAL DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT IS AND ISN'T REQUIRED UNTIL WE HAVE SOME PLANS.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE HAVE USED FOR SOME TIME.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT IT PROTECTS, UH, ALL THE PARTIES.
IT, IT, IT KEEPS DECISIONS FROM BEING MADE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL MISINFORMATION, UH, WHEN IT CAN'T BE CHECKED AGAINST WHAT THE ACTUAL PLANS AND DOCUMENTS ARE.
SO, UH, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, HONOR THE PROCESS.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT I'M GONNA GO ON RECORD SAYING THAT GOVERNMENT IS FAMOUS FOR KNEE JERK REACTIONS TO ISSUES, TO PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US A CHANCE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE.
AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING THAT AT LEAST FINDING OUT MORE OR INQUIRING MORE.
AND I DON'T CARE WHAT SCHOOL IT'S NEXT TO OR WHAT IT'S PLANNING TO GO TO, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A BAD, BAD PLAN.
UM, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T COME OUT AND SAY THAT ALREADY.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THESE RENDERINGS, BUT IF THEY ARE SHOWING RENDERINGS TO STAFF ALREADY, I WOULD SAY THERE'S SOME OFFICIAL STEPS BEING TAKEN.
SO THAT'S MY OFFICIAL STANCE AT THIS POINT.
MR. KEEL, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU, MR. WRIGHTON TO MAYBE ENGAGE THIS COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT MORE IF YOU CAN.
UH, UH, I'VE BEEN INUNDATED AS EVERYONE HERE HAS WITH EMAILS, LETTERS, PHONE CALLS, NOT EVERYTHING YOU CAN COMMUNICATE.
I DON'T, BY THE WAY, I DON'T NEED ANY MORE EMAILS.
AND, UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO, UM, COMMUNICATE MORE WITH THIS COMMUNITY, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THE AGENDA? SEE NONE.
[III. Approval of Minutes]
CAN WE MOVE TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6TH, 2023, CITY COUNCIL MEETING? I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.SIX AYES, NO NAYS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS TONIGHT? NONE.
MOVING TO NEW BUSINESS, UH, THE TREASURER'S
[1. Treasurer's Financial Report]
FINANCIAL REPORT, MR. WRIGHT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE, UM, UH, CITY COUNCIL AGENDA DID NOT INCLUDE A TREASURER'S REPORT DURING, UH, UH, IN OCTOBER FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER BECAUSE OUR FINANCIAL STAFF WAS, UH, UP TO THEIR EYEBALLS IN PREPARING YOUR BUDGET.AND, UH, SO THE TREASURER'S REPORT BEFORE YOU INCORPORATES SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, I THINK THAT YOU'LL FIND, UH, BOTH IN THE GENERALIZED SUMMARIES AS WELL AS IN THE DETAIL THAT, UH, THAT THE TREASURER'S REPORT TRACKS MANY OF THE TRENDS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN OUR BUDGET MEETINGS.
UH, BOTH WHERE REVENUES ARE PERFORMING AND WHERE THEY ARE ARE UNDERPERFORMING, UH, THROUGHOUT, I THINK YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT WE HAVE EXERCISED
[00:45:01]
CAUTION AND EXPENDITURES, UM, AND ANTICIPATE OF SOME OF THESE ANTICIPATION OF SOME OF THESE FLATTENING, UH, SO THAT THE, UH, FUND BALANCES STAY, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE ASKED THEM TO BE.UM, SO I THINK THAT IT'S PERFORMING AS WE EXPECTED.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, UH, RUBY AND I CAN HELP ANSWER THEM.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? MR. MCDANIEL? UH, AGAIN, LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, UH, CITY MANAGER, YOU'VE SAID THAT THEIR SALES TAX ARE KIND OF FLAT, AND I'M HEARING FROM ALL EXPERTS ALL OVER ON, UH, THE CHRISTMAS SEASON COMING.
AND I THINK SALES TAXES WILL PROBABLY BE EVEN LOWER BECAUSE, UH, SO MANY AMERICANS HAVE MAXED OUT THEIR, UH, CREDIT CARDS AND THAT, SO, UM, YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
SO YEAH, WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS.
I, I HAVE FOUND, I, I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.
I HAVE FOUND THAT, UH, ECONOMISTS PROJECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS SPENDING ARE NOTORIOUSLY UNRELIABLE.
UM, UH, BUT, UH, BUT I THINK THAT IT, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE RIGHT, I THINK THAT IT SHOULD STILL COUNSEL CAUTION AS WE PROCEED WITH THE BUDGET.
AND, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING THEM, WE MOVE ON TO ITEM
[2. Resolution Estimating Amounts Necessary to be Raised by the 2023 Tax Levy 5% Increase]
TWO.RESOLUTION ESTIMATING AMOUNTS NECESSARY TO BE RAISED BY THE 2023 TAX LEVY.
5% INCREASE MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
UM, AS WE'RE WELL AWARE, WE SPENT A LOT OF HOURS TOGETHER LAST WEEK DISCUSSING THE BUDGET, AND THE CITY MANAGER, UM, AND STAFF CAME UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A 7% TAX LEVY, UM, INCREASE.
UM, COUNCIL HAD SOME SERIOUS HEARTBURN OVER THAT.
WE ASKED, UH, STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS FOR US, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, UH, ONE BEING A 5% INCREASE, ONE BEING A 3% INCREASE.
SO JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, IF WE GO WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE YOU ON ITEM TWO, WE WOULD THEN DROP ITEM THREE.
IF WE DECIDE TO DO DROP ITEM TWO, WE WOULD MOVE TO ITEM THREE, UM, AS AN OFFICIAL MOVE.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, UNLESS MR. WRIGHTON OR RUBY, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS OR SOMETHING, I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE ON COUNCIL WHO IS PASSIONATELY OR VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE 7% AS PROPOSED BY STAFF.
SO I THINK THAT ONE'S PRETTY MUCH OFF THE TABLE, PAT.
UM, IF THE COUNCIL WOULD, UH, BEAR WITH ME, I'D LIKE TO, UH, READ, UH, UH, A, UH, WRITTEN STATEMENT.
UM, AS THIS COUNCIL DECIDES THIS EVENING ON WHAT TO SET THE CITY'S, UH, DECATUR'S ANNUAL TAX LEVY, UH, I HOPE EVERYONE WILL REALLY CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF PAST COUNCIL'S ACTIONS AND KEEPING THE TAX LEVY RATE TOO LOW FOR MANY YEARS, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE CITY TO NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH PROPERTY TAX, UH, REVENUE TO PROPERLY FUND THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING THE CITY'S ANNUAL PENSION AND DEBT, ET CETERA OBLIGATIONS, WHICH IN TURN REQUIRED THE CITY TO TAKE REVENUES FROM OTHER CITY FUNDS, WHICH SHORTCHANGED, UH, CITY DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONAL FUNDS.
AS THE CITY MANAGER POINTED OUT IN A RECENT MEMO TO ALL OF US, UH, WHEN THE COUNCIL WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO A 7% TAX RATE, OVER $1.9 MILLION OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN VARIOUS CITY, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AT THE COUNCIL'S RECENT CITY BUDGET MEETING, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY STATED, AND I PARA OFRA, UH, HER STATEMENT, IF THE COUNCIL AGREES TO SEVEN, 7% RATE, THAT MONEY WILL JUST BE SPENT.
I AGREE THAT THE FEDERAL, AT FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS, THAT THIS IS A SCENARIO THAT HAPPENS GIVEN THOUGH, UH, THOSE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, MORE TAX REVENUES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL JUST SPEND THE FUNDS ON NEW UNNECESSARY PROJECTS OR COME UP WITH NEW MONEY GIVEAWAYS, WHICH IS WHY THE COUNTRY HAS AT OVER $33 TRILLION IN NATIONAL DEBT AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AS A PREDICTED BUDGET DEFICIT OF 2.3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING WITH OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL.
IT HAS BEEN SHOWN BY THE ACTIONS OF OUR CITY STAFFS OVER THE YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL THAT STAFFS HAVE BEEN VERY DILIGENT AND RESPONSIBLE IN KEEPING CITY EXPENSES DOWN.
AND I GIVE THEM KUDOS FOR THEIR WORK IN DOING THAT.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING RECENTLY TO A VARIETY OF ILLINOIS NEWS OUTLETS AS I HAVE, YOU'LL HAVE ALSO HAVE HEARD THIS PHRASE.
OFTEN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS GOING OVER THE FINANCIAL, UH, CLIFF.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THAT HAS MAJOR COMP IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR AND OTHER ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL TAXPAYERS.
[00:50:01]
THIS COUNCIL AND FUTURE COUNCILS MUST BE DILIGENT IN PLANNING AHEAD FOR POSSIBLE LOSS OF REDUCED AMOUNTS OF NORMAL STATE FUNDS THAT THE CITY NORMALLY RECEIVES.THE STATE HAS BEEN USING FEDERAL COVID FUNDS, IT HAS RECEIVED A FUND REOCCURRING STATE EXPENSES, WHICH IS AGAINST FEDERAL RULES.
AND NOW THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE RUNNING OUT, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL LOOK FOR WAYS TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FUND EXISTING AND NEW STATE PROJECTS BY COMBINATION OF RAISING NEW FEES, TAXES ON CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES, AND SHORT, SHORT CHANGING MUNICIPALITIES LIKE DECATUR OF STATE FUNDS DUE TO THEM, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH REPLACEMENT TAX FUNDS, ET CETERA.
NO ONE ON THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO OVERBURDEN LOCAL TAX TAXPAYERS, INCLUDING MYSELF WITH HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES TO FUND OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, IF NOT REALLY NEED, IF NOT REALLY NEEDED.
BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WILL BE ON THE COUNCIL FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TELL LOCAL TAXPAYERS IN THE COMING YEARS THAT SINCE THE COUNCIL DIDN'T START RAISING PROPERTY TAXES GRADUALLY EACH YEAR, AND I STRESS AS NEEDED, PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WILL BE HIT WITH SUBSTANTIAL HIGHER PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IN THE COMING YEARS TO FUND THE COST FOR BASIC CITY SERVICES THAT CITIZENS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES EXPECT FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE FUNDING OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL DEBT, UH, UH, AND PENSION OBLIGATIONS.
THIS IS WHY TO TONIGHT, I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE, UH, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE RESPONSIBLE DECISION AND VOTE TO RAISE THE CITY'S TAX LEVY TO 5%.
MY DECISION IS BASED ON MY COMPROMISE NOT TO VOTE FOR THE ORIGINAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO RAISE THE RATE TO 7%.
AND I HOPE SOME OF YOU WILL JOIN ME IN, UH, TAKING ON THIS RESPONSIBLE ACTION.
AND I DO WANNA CLARIFY, I, UH, WE ARE NOT SETTING THE TAX LEVY TONIGHT.
WE'LL BE VOTING ON IT IN NOVEMBER AT THE SECOND MEETING.
SO WE, BUT WE DO NEED TO GIVE DIRECTION, CORRECT MADAM COUNSEL.
IT'LL COME UP I THE SECOND MEETING IN DECEMBER FOR THE ACTUAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
YOU JUST HAVE TO SET AN ESTIMATE, UM, AT LEAST 20 DAYS PRIOR, AND THAT'S ALL THIS DOES.
AND I WILL GET TO DR. HORN IN JUST A MOMENT.
I WANNA SEE IF, UH, THERE'S COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY TREASURER BEFORE, UH, COUNCIL WEIGHS IN.
I MEAN, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER LATELY, MAYOR.
UM, DETERMINING THE RIGHT LEVY IS SOMETHING OF, UH, SOMETHING LIKE SHOOTING AT A MOVING TARGET.
UM, THE MOVING TARGET ARE CHANGES IN THE EQUALIZED ASSESSED VALUATION THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR DOES NOT CONTROL.
THIS IS A FUNCTION, UH, BY THE STATE AND BY THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS BY THE TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENTS THAT UPDATE THE, THE VALUES OF PROPERTIES.
AND, UH, AS, UH, MS. JAMES MENTIONED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, THE EQUALIZED ASSESSED VALUE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR IS JUST UNDER 12%, ROUGHLY.
UH, THEY'RE STILL FINALIZING IT.
UM, AND, UH, AND SADLY THERE ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE SAID, WELL, WE WON'T CHANGE THE RATE.
WE'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST ONLY INCREASE IT BY, BY THAT AMOUNT.
WELL, THAT'S, I DON'T THINK THAT'S RESPONSIBLE, UH, USE OF YOUR TAXATION POWERS.
AND THAT WAS NEVER SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE CONSIDERED TO SAY AS SOME GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALREADY SAID, WELL, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE LEVY, BUT, BUT WE'RE GONNA APPLY THE SAME LEVY TO A MUCH HIGHER VALUE IN, IN THE EAVS.
AND SO THESE, THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, FOUR TO 3%, AND THE 5% OPTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ASKED FOR AT THE LAST MEETING ARE STILL ESTIMATES BASED ON SOME GOOD INFORMATION.
BUT WE'RE NOT CERTAIN THAT THEY'RE, THAT, THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE THE FINAL INFORMATION AFTER THE, AFTER THE COUNTY FINALIZES THIS, UH, THIS PROCESS.
UM, I THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD TO, UH, COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL'S COMMENTS IS THAT, UM, THE BUDGET, UH, ASSERTED A POSITION THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATE AND WE HAVE MORE DEMANDS FOR SERVICE.
AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIVE AND ABLE TO, UH, FUND THINGS THAT OFTENTIMES COME UP, UH, UH, WITHOUT ANTICIPATION AND WITHOUT BEING INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, IS TO HAVE A STRONG GENERAL FUND, NOT ONLY IN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS, BUT ALSO IN THE DIVERSITY OF THE REVENUE SOURCES.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE IN THE USE OF IT.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, IF YOU PICK 3% OR YOU PICK 5%, THAT IS NOT GONNA TAKE THE CITY OF DECATUR OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF THAT COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL DESCRIBED.
AND HE HASN'T SUGGESTED THAT, UM, THE, THE, UM, THE ONE, UH, CORRECTION I WANTED TO MAKE TO WHAT HE SAID IS THAT THE 1.9 MILLION IN LIST OF POTENTIAL, UH, UH, CUTS I MENTIONED, ISN'T THAT WE HAVE TO CUT ALL OF THOSE.
IT WAS SIMPLY A LIST THAT, UH, THAT MYSELF AND SOME OF OUR KEY STAFF, UH, LOOKED AT AND SAID, SPREADING IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT SO THAT THE, UH, SO THAT THE, THAT THE
[00:55:01]
REDUCTION DOESN'T FALL DISPROPORTIONATELY ON ANY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.THIS SEEMED LIKE, UH, AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO TO, TO DO SO.
AND COMING UP WITH 1.9, I BELIEVED I ANTICIPATED, UH, DIFFERENT DECISIONS THAT YOU MAY MAKE WITH REGARD TO 3% OR, OR 5% AS WELL AS SOME OTHER REVENUES.
UH, AND TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR FOR SOME OF, OF THE AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT MAKE SOME REDUCTIONS, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE SHOULD BE THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX LEVY, UH, WE WILL ADAPT TO IT.
AND THERE'S NOT GONNA BE REDUCTIONS IN SERVICE.
YES, IT'LL MEAN THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER.
WE WON'T HAVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AND, AND WE COULD NOT BE IN AS GOOD A POSITION IN THE FUTURE.
BUT LET ME JUST STAY AS CLEARLY AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE NOT GONNA COME TO AN END, UH, IN PART BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISIONS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR RESOURCES, UH, UH, IN IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS GOING FORWARD, AND WE WILL DO, THIS IS YOUR BUDGET.
YES, I'VE MADE A RECOMMENDATION, BUT THIS IS YOUR BUDGET AND, AND STAFF WILL IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU WANT.
DR. HORN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR COMMENTS.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR CITY THAT ARE EITHER MORTGAGE, DISTRESSED OR RENT DISTRESSED.
THIS YEAR, THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO RAISE WATER RATES, 6% SEWER RATES, 5% INCREASE STORM WATER FEES, AND WILL SOON BE RAISING GARBAGE COLLECTION FEES.
ALL OF THESE INCREASES ONLY SERVE TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
MACON COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOME LOANS UNDERWATER OF ANY COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES.
17.6% OF HOME LOANS IN MACON COUNTY ARE UNDERWATER.
FAMILIES ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK OF AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, WHICH IN TURN THREATENS THE ABILITY OF FAMILIES TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
I WOULD ALSO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IN APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO GO FROM A 45 DAY CASH RESERVE TO A 90 DAY CASH RESERVE.
AND OUR GENERAL FUND NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION MORE THAN THE 90 DAY RESERVE THAT WE SET.
IT'S TIME FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND THAT MEANS ADOPTING A CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAX THAT ACCOUNTS ONLY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, PROPERTY ANNEXATIONS AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS THE 3% RATE THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED.
SO DR. HORNE, I'M TAKING THAT AS YOU ARE OPPOSED TO THE 5%, BUT YOU WOULD ACCEPT THE 3%, CORRECT? YES.
OPEN IT UP TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, JACK.
SO I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH COUNCILMAN HORNE ON THIS.
UM, OUR 90 DAYS WE'RE AT 103 DAYS.
NOW MY, WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS IT'S 250,000 A DAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT IS AN ACCURATE FIGURE OF OPERATING THE IN THE CITY? THAT'S APPROXIMATELY, YES.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE, I DIDN'T GET TO 4 MILLION, I'M NOT SURE HOW HE GOT TO 4 MILLION, BUT I GOT, UH, $3.2 MILLION ABOVE THE 90 DAYS.
SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS PROPOSAL, IF YOU DID 7%, UH, THE INCREASE APPEARS TO BE JUST OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, IS THAT CORRECT? IF YOU DID 7% OVER LAST YEAR'S LEVY? YES.
SO YOU COULD ALMOST MAKE A CASE.
WE DON'T NEED TO RAISE TAXES AT ALL.
I'M NOT SAYING TO DO THAT, BUT YOU COULD MAKE A CASE FOR THAT.
IF WE HAVE $3 MILLION OVER OUR RAINY DAY FUND AND YOU'RE ASKING A 7% INCREASE, WOULD GIVE US 1 MILLION.
I THINK THE TREASURER HAS SOMETHING TO JUST CLARIFY.
YEAH, I'M SURE IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING THOUGH.
I MEAN, I'M, I'M MORE IN LINE WITH THE 3%.
IF I COULD POINT OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THERE ARE STILL SOME TRANSFERS TO BE MADE AND STILL MONEY TO BE SPENT, UM, ON EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE'RE GOING TO END THE YEAR AT 90 DAYS.
SO, UH, WITH CAUTION AS, UH, THE CITY MANAGER HAS POINTED OUT, WE DON'T SPEND EVERYTHING UPFRONT.
WE ALWAYS, UM, HOLD OFF BECAUSE ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN REVENUES MAY NOT COME IN.
WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT WOULD WE DO IF WE DIDN'T GET THE LAST, UH, AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE EXPECTED TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR? SO WE ALWAYS ARE CAUTIOUS, WAIT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, AND, AND ONCE WE KNOW WE HAVE ALL THE REVENUES WE EXPECTED, WE JUST GOT IN, UH, THE TAXES THIS MONTH, THE LAST OF THE TAXES, UH, TO BE COLLECTED, UH, FOR THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, WE ALWAYS ARE, ARE CAREFUL AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WILL END THE YEAR AT 90 DAYS CASH.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE AHEAD THROUGHOUT THE, THE YEAR, WHICH WE SHOULD
[01:00:01]
BE.UH, AND WE WAIT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR TO SPEND THE LAST OF IT, UH, MAKE THE TRANSFERS THAT WE SHOULD FOR EQUIPMENT AND MAKE THE LAST PURCHASES AT THE END OF THE YEAR IN THE LAST QUARTER, UH, THE LAST HALF OF THE YEAR, REALLY.
SO IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, UH, WE'RE WELL AHEAD IN CASH, WE HOLD IT, LET THE YEAR GO BY, AND THEN TOWARDS THE END WE WILL MAKE THE LAST PURCHASES OF CAPITAL THAT WE SHOULD BE MAKING, MAKING SURE WE GET ALL THE REVENUE THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND THAT, THAT DEFINITELY ENDS RIGHT AT 90 DAYS.
WELL, COULD IT BE AT 92 DAYS? OKAY.
YES, BUT IT, YOU'RE TELL ME IT'S NOT GONNA BE A HUNDRED, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A HUNDRED DAYS.
AND ONE OTHER WRENCH, COUNCILMAN THAT CAN GET THROWN AT US IS THE LEGISLATURE IS ON A DIFFERENT FISCAL YEAR THAN WE ARE.
SO A FEW YEARS AGO, OUT OF NOWHERE, WE STARTED GETTING CHARGED A 2% ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
THEY CUT BACK ON, UM, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTED TAX THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING TO US.
SO WE HAD A HOLE IN OUR BUDGET THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT, THAT THREW US FOR A LOOP MIDWAY THROUGH OUR YEAR.
SO THERE ARE ALWAYS THE THINGS THAT CAN COME UP.
NOW, I'M HAPPY WHEN WE HAVE 90 DAYS IN THE BANK, WHICH, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, BE A LOT OVER THAT.
BUT THERE IS REASON TO HANG ON TO A LITTLE MONEY.
WELL, I VOTED FOR 90 DAYS AND I BELIEVE IN 90 DAYS, BUT I NEEDED THE EXPLANATION OF WHY WE'RE AT A HUNDRED.
WE'VE BEEN AHEAD THE WHOLE YEAR.
AND WE HAVE, UH, ONE MONTH TO GO.
OTHER COMMENTS? UH, PAT, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, WE, YOU SHOULD NEVER TOUCH OUR EMERGENCY, UH, FUND.
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN HAS BEEN MENTIONED AND THAT, SO WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND WISE, ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN THIS NEXT YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THE STATE, I MEAN, THESE ARE THESE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON ABOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS GOING CLOSE TO THE CLIFF OR GOING OVER.
AND WHEN THAT COVID MONEY ENDS AND THEY'RE USING THAT, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE USING THAT FOR ONGOING EXPENSES.
WELL, ONCE THAT MONEY ENDS, THEY'RE GONNA BE COMING KNOCKING ON THE DOOR FOR, FOR CITIZENS, TAXPAYERS, AND CITIES.
THEY'VE ALREADY CUT US SO MUCH IN THAT.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, THINK AHEAD AND, AND MAYBE BE RESPONSIBLE AND BE READY TO TAKE ON ANY, ANYTHING THAT THE STATE THROWS US OR ANY OTHER MAJOR EXPENSES THAT HIT DECATUR.
AND I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE WE ARE INCHING BACK UP WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTED TAX.
SO WE WE'RE MOVING BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WELL, YEAH, BUT IT'S ONLY A LITTLE OVER 6% AND IT WAS 20.
MR. CULP, I'M MORE IN FAVOR WITH, UH, THE 3% BY COUNCILMAN K AND COUNCILMAN HORNE.
UH, WE HAVE ENOUGH FAMILIES GETTING BY AND I KNOW WE'RE JUST A SMALL PART IN THIS PIE, BUT WE NEED TO DO OUR PART AND WE'RE SITTING WELL, AND 3% WOULD HELP OUT THE AVERAGE FAMILY RIGHT NOW.
UM, I'M ALSO AT THE 3% WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND PRIOR TO, UH, RESEARCHING THIS BEFORE THE MEETING, UM, AS EVERYBODY'S ALREADY SAYING NOT TO BE REPETITIVE.
BUT, UH, OUR PE OUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE PAYS A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF THEIR, OUT OF THEIR HOMES WITHOUT A LOT OF MONEY COMING INTO HOMES.
UM, SO I, AND I THINK OUR CITY, I THINK WE TAX AND WE, WE HAVE FEES AND WE HAVE FINES TO ME, MORE THAN ANY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UH, I THINK WE CAN ALWAYS CAN LOOK AT REDUCING THINGS BECAUSE I THINK OUR, OUR, WE JUST ARE OVERBURDENED PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY A LOT OF BUSINESSES, UH, DON'T COME TO DECATUR BECAUSE WE ARE SO HIGH IN TAXES AND FEES IN, IN OUR CITY.
SO I WOULD BE WILLING TO LIVE WITH 3%, UH, AT THIS TIME AND SEE WHERE WE GO.
AND NEXT YEAR WE'LL RE-LOOK AT IT AGAIN.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, AS MY COUNT, I'VE GOT FOUR PEOPLE WITH 3%.
I WAS IN BETWEEN, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THREE PERCENT'S THE WAY TO GO.
SO WE NEED TO CALL THE QUESTION ON THE 5% RESOLUTION, DEFEAT THAT IF YOU WANT TO, AND THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
SO PLEASE, UNLESS THERE'S ANOTHER COMMENT, CALL THE QUESTION.
THIS IS, YOU WANT KILL IT? NO.
[3. Resolution Estimating Amounts Necessary to be Raised by the 2023 Tax Levy 3% Increase]
ITEM, MOVING ON THEN, IS RESOLUTION ESTIMATING AMOUNTS NECESSARY TO BE RAISED BY THE 2023 TAX LEVY.I'M SORRY, DID I SCREW THAT UP AND NOPE, IT'S ONE, ONE EYE.
[01:05:01]
SO NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM THREE THAT I JUST READ.DO WE NEED FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ARE WE READY TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM? I JUST, ONE COMMENT AGAIN, AS I'VE MENTIONED, MANY TIMES, IT'S BETTER TO, IF WE HAVE TO RAISE A LITTLE BIT, DO IT NOW AND NOT HIT IN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO, DOUBLE THE RATE, AND THEN THAT'S REALLY GONNA CAUSE PROBLEMS. I JUST LIKE TO COMMENT THAT, AND I'M, I'M RESPECTFULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING, BUT WE'RE RAISING ALL THESE OTHER RATES TOO ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE BESIDES THIS WITH THE GARBAGE COMING UP, SO ON AND THE WALL, SO ON.
EVERYTHING'S BEEN RAISED, AND, UH, MAYBE THOSE WON'T BE RAISED NEXT YEAR.
I, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES TAXING THE SAME PEOPLE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AGAIN, I'M, I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT'S NOT WORKING.
WELL, YEAH, YOU'RE RETIRED NOW.
YEAH, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT, THAT, THAT COUNCILS IN THE PAST, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, HAVE NOT DONE THE RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THEN WHEN THEY HIT HIT THE FEES OR THE TAXES, THEY GO UP SUBSTANTIALLY IN THAT.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT ANY MORE PROPERTY TAX.
I MEAN, IT'S A BURDEN, BUT IT'S A BURDEN.
YOU OWN A HOME, YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH IT.
BUT I JUST DON'T WANT, FOR US, THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE COUNCIL FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND RAISE CAN, UH, MR. COOPER, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, PAT.
UH, I DON'T CON TOTALLY CONCUR, BUT I THINK THE ISSUE IS IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN TAXES WHERE THEY ARE AND HOPEFULLY LOWER 'EM AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE'VE GOT TO FIND NEW REVENUE.
AND, UH, IT IS UP TO OUR CITY MANAGER TO FIND A NEW REVENUE STREAM THAT'S GONNA BRING IN MONEY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
EXCEPT WE KEEP TELLING HIM NO.
SO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
MR. WRIGHTON, ARE YOU GOOD OR CAN WE CALL THE QUESTION MAYOR? I, I FEEL LIKE I WANNA MAKE ONE SHORT COMMENT.
A SHORT COMMENT, AND WE STAFF WILL IMPLEMENT WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DIRECTS.
BUT IN THE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER FEES, UH, THAT HAVE HAD TO BE IN INCREASED.
I WANT TO GIVE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT THAN MAYBE IT HAS RECEIVED.
THE CITY INCREASED, UH, UH, WATER AND SEWER BY FIVE AND 6% RESPECTIVELY.
IN BOTH CASES, IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN WHAT THE ACTUAL COST INCREASE TO THE CITY WAS.
UH, YES, THE CITY AUTHORIZED AN INCREASE IN THE, UH, STORMWATER FEES AFTER NINE YEARS OF DOING NOTHING, STILL SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN WHAT THE ACTUAL COSTS WERE.
UM, AND WHETHER YOU'RE AT FIVE OR SEVEN OR 3% ON THE PROPERTY TAXES, IT'S STILL WELL BELOW THE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS OF, OF, OF PERSONNEL COSTS AND, AND, AND PENSION AND CAPITAL COSTS THAT, THAT ARE, THAT ARE ALWAYS ON THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, AND, AND THE GARBAGE FEE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S PAID TO THE PRIVATE HAULERS, NOT TO THE CITY, UM, WHAT WE'VE WHAT'LL COME TO YOU IS LESS THAN WHAT THE HAULERS ASKED FOR BECAUSE THE CITY INTERVENED AND SAID, NO, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR COSTS ARE GOING UP, BUT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO, TO SOFTEN THIS, WE NEED TO REDUCE IT.
AND ON ALL OF THESE FEES, YES, IT'S GOING UP BECAUSE THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL POLICIES HAVE CAUSED INFLATION TO GO OUT OF CONTROL.
AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME RELIEF.
BUT IN ALL THESE CASES, WE'VE, WE'VE MODIFIED IT, WE'VE BROUGHT IT DOWN, WE'VE SOFTENED IT IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO YES, THOSE ARE HAPPENING, BUT PLEASE KNOW BEHIND THE SCENES THAT STAFF IS WORKING TO MAKE THOSE INCREASES AS, AS, AS LITTLE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN BE.
LET'S CALL THE QUESTION, COUNCILMAN KUHL.
[4. Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 52 Alcoholic Liquor]
ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 52, ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR.MOTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. WRIGHT MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UH, THIS ITEM IS A COMPANION ITEM TO THE RESOLUTION THAT FOLLOWS IT AT ITEM FIVE.
AND SO I'LL EXPLAIN THAT AND YOU NEED TO ACT ON THEM SEPARATELY, BUT THEY REALLY ARE PART AND PARCEL OF THE SAME POLICY DECISION.
THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU IS WITH ONLY A FEW EXCEPTIONS, THE SAME ORDINANCE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO YOU THE LAST TIME.
THIS WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA IN OCTOBER, UM, UH, AND, UH, AND PROVIDES FOR THE, THE ONE YEAR, UM, OPERATION OF BUSINESS BEFORE YOU CAN HAVE VIDEO GAMING.
WHAT YOU MENTIONED ON THE 16TH.
WE, WE, WE IMPLEMENTED, UH, WHAT YOU WANTED WAS THAT THOSE A ONLY A ESTABLISHMENTS THAT, ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS AND RECORDS PROVIDED TO US BY THE GAMING COMMISSION AND THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, THAT THEIR REVENUES FROM GAMING EXCEEDED THE 60% THRESHOLD THAT'S ESTABLISHED BY THE ORDINANCE, FOUR OF THEM.
UM, AND SO YOU WANTED US TO GO TO THOSE FOR
[01:10:01]
AND ASK EACH OF THEM, DO THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR A, THEIR A LICENSE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S STILL TRANSFERABLE.UM, BUT, UH, AND A AND A LOWER FEE COST.
BUT THEY HAVE TO MEET THE, THE, THE 40 60 REQUIREMENT.
THEY HAVE TO, NO, MORE THAN 60% CAN COME FROM VIDEO GAMING, WHICH MEANS THE FLIP SIDE OF THE SAME COIN.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 40% FROM SOME OTHER REVENUE SOURCE.
UM, AND, UH, AND SO WE WENT TO THOSE FOUR, AND SOMEWHAT TO MY SURPRISE, THREE OF THEM SAID, NO, WE WANNA STAY.
A'S SO ONLY ONE OF THEM HAS ELECTED TO BECOME AP.
SO THE ORDINANCE IS THE SAME EXCEPT THAT.
AND, AND THEN WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THAT ADDITIONAL P AND THEN THE ORDINANCE PER YOUR INSTRUCTION TAKES AWAY ONE A SO THAT THE, THE NUMBER OF A'S GOES DOWN BY ONE, THE NUMBER OF P'S GOES UP BY ONE.
AND THAT'S ACCOMPLISHED BY PASSING BOTH THE ORDINANCE AND THE RESOLUTION THAT FOLLOWS IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, MAYOR, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, ARE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I THINK THERE'S SOME FOLKS IN THE ROOM THAT ASK QUESTIONS DURING THE APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE APPROPRIATE TO TRY TO GIVE SOME RESPONSE TO THAT, UM, WHEN YOU WERE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT UNDER THE AGENDA.
IT IS CORRECT, ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NAMES AND WOULDN'T, AND PROBABLY BE NOT APPROPRIATE TO MENTION THEM ANYWAY, UM, BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL'S FIRST MORATORIUM, WHICH YOU PASSED IN JANUARY, AND THEN YOU RENEWED IT AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER, UH, TO GO TILL THE END OF DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
UM, THE UNDERSTANDING WAS AT THE VERY FIRST MORATORIUM IS THAT THOSE WHO HAD FILED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, AND WE WERE PRETTY LIBERAL ABOUT THAT, IF THEY'D EVEN GIVEN US AN EMAIL OF SOME INDICATION THAT THEY WERE, THAT THEY HAD ENTERED THE PROCESS FOR GETTING, UH, VIDEO GAMING, THEN WE, WE HONORED THAT AS, AS BEING GRANDFATHERED EXACTLY HOW MANY THEY ARE AND WHO THEY ARE.
I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SO SURE, BUT IF THEY WERE IN THE, IF THEY WERE IN THE PIPELINE, IF YOU WILL, THEN, THEN THAT WAS GONNA BE HONORED.
SO I HOPE HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS THAT, THAT QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE GENTLEMEN WHO ARE HOPING TO OPEN A NEW BUSINESS, I THINK THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, YOU MAY WANT TO, IN FACT, I REQUEST MAYBE THAT IF YOU PASS CHAPTER 52 THAT YOU DIRECT STAFF IN THE MONTHS AHEAD TO MAYBE COME UP WITH, UH, AND BRING AND RETURN TO YOU FOR ACTION, SOME MORE SPECIFIC CRITERIA UNDER WHICH, AND BY WHICH YOU MIGHT DECIDE, OKAY, SOMEBODY HAS ESTABLISHED A BUSINESS, THEY'VE OPERATED IN GOOD FAITH FOR A YEAR TO PROVE THEMSELVES THAT THEY DON'T, THAT, THAT, THAT THEY AREN'T REALLY GONNA BE A, A GAMING PARLOR IN DISGUISE.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR GRANTING THEM VIDEO GAMING AS AN A OR, OR WHATEVER THEIR, THEIR LICENSE CATEGORY IS SO THAT YOU'RE NOT LEFT SORT OF DEALING WITH THEM ON A ONE-OFF, UH, BASIS ON WHATEVER CRITERIA MIGHT BE, UH, AT, AT THE TIME THAT THAT CASE COMES UP, SO THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH THEM CONSISTENTLY AND, AND FAIRLY, UM, I GUESS AGAIN, THAT'S NOT IN THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU DIRECT US TO DO, SO THAT AS YOU RECEIVE THOSE REQUESTS IN THE FUTURE, THEY'RE MADE CONSISTENTLY.
WELL, AND GIVEN HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN DEBATING THIS, AND IT CAME TO COUNCIL ALMOST A YEAR AGO.
PRIOR TO THAT, I THINK PAT, WE HAD MEETINGS GOING PROBABLY SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE THAT PAT HAS LIQUOR COMMISSIONER.
UM, BUT, UH, SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WE ARE GONNA NEED SOME RULES AND, BUT THOSE NEED TO BE PUT TOGETHER PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS INVESTING AND, AND HOLDING AND, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE'RE GONNA MAYBE CHANGE THE RULES ON 'EM.
I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR, AND WHATEVER CRITERIA YOU ADOPT WILL PROVIDE THAT.
OKAY, MR. CULP, UH, I'M SORRY.
LEMME GO TO MR. CULP THEN I'LL GET TO DR. HORN.
UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME LANGUAGE.
'CAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, AND I IS AFTER THE ONE YEAR IS A AUTOMATIC, AND THEN AGAIN, ARE WE GETTING AWAY FROM THE SPIRIT OF REDUCING OUR NUMBERS? I MEAN, I COULD SEE MAYBE LOOKING AT THAT IF THERE'S ONE AVAILABLE, BUT IF THERE'S NOT ONE AVAILABLE, THEN IT'S NOT SO AUTOMATIC.
SO I, I GUESS THE MORE CLEAR LANGUAGE WOULD BE, UH, SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY HAVE DR. HORN.
MAYOR DECATUR HAS A GAMBLING PROBLEM.
BETWEEN OCTOBER OF 2022 AND SEPTEMBER OF 2023, CITIZENS LOST $47.7 MILLION AT 96 ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE PER CAPITA GAMBLING LOSS OF $690 PER RESIDENT IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.
AND IT'S ESTIMATED THAT CITIZENS SPEND THE REELS OF SLOT MACHINES 1.1 MILLION TIMES A DAY.
RESIDENTS HAVE SPOKEN LOUDLY AND CLEARLY ON THIS ISSUE, IT'S
[01:15:01]
TIME TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS.THE CITY SURVEY, UH, FOUND THAT 85% OF RESPONDENTS WANT FEWER GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS, AND THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE DOES NOT DO THIS.
IN FACT, WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW, UH, POTENTIAL NEW ESTABLISHMENTS MIGHT BE FORMED AND THEREFORE NEW GAMBLING LICENSE, UM, ISSUED.
SO THE ELEVATED NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS IN DECATUR IS GOING TO CONTINUE, AND THE COUNCIL IN ITS NEXT VOTE MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GAMBLING PARLORS, WHICH FOR MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING AS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AREAS.
THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT, UH, FOR 40% OF REVENUE IN TAVERNS BEING DERIVED FROM SERVICES OTHER THAN GAMBLING AND SUPPORT FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GAMBLING PARLORS DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS THE VIEWS OF RESIDENTS.
76% OF RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT ISSUE GAMBLING LICENSES TO ESTABLISHMENTS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN WITHOUT IT.
CITIZENS ARE CLEARLY RECOGNIZING THAT GAMBLING NEGATIVELY IMPACTS RESIDENTS.
IT REDUCES THE PERCEPTION OF THE CITY AND EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF GAMBLING PARLORS MAY FURTHER EXACERBATE THESE NEGATIVE IMPACTS, WHICH INCLUDE ADDICTION, BANKRUPTCY, AND CRIME.
AND SO, WHILE THIS ORDINANCE PERHAPS HAS SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CURRENT SITUATION, THE REALITY IS IT REALLY IS NOT ADDRESSING THE SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS THAT CITIZENS HAVE.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL ON THIS ORDINANCE? PAT? I WAS JUST GONNA SAY ON THE GENERAL, UH, UH, ORDINANCE, THERE WERE A LOT OF LOOPHOLES THAT, THAT HAD BEEN IN THE, UH, UH, IN THE, UH, SORRY, BRAIN DEAD HERE IN OUR ORDINANCE.
AND I THINK WE'VE CLOSED THOSE UP AS FAR AS NOT GETTING INTO THE OTHER ABOUT THE VIDEO GAMING AND THAT.
SO, UH, UH, WE'VE, THE STAFF, UH, AND THE MAYOR AND, UH, AND I, WE'VE TRIED TO CLOSE THOSE UP.
SO WE, WE HAVE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES THAT TRY TO GO THROUGH THE LOOPHOLES.
SO THIS, THIS WILL CLOSE SOME OF THOSE, WHICH IS WHAT'S NEEDED.
AND IT WAS A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN I EVER EXPECTED IT WAS GONNA BE.
CHUCK, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON THIS FOR SO LONG BECAUSE IT WAS A, AN ORDEAL TO SAY THE LEAST.
AND I JUST, UH, I DIDN'T SEE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT I CAN TELL THERE WAS A LOT.
SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR IS COUNCIL READY TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE VOTE? CALL A QUESTION, PLEASE.
[5. Resolution Authorizing the City of Decatur Liquor Control Commissioner to Allow Certain License Holders to Convert a Class A License to a Class P License]
AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF DECATUR LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSIONER TO ALLOW CERTAIN LICENSE HOLDERS TO CONVERT A CLASS A LICENSE TO A CLASS P LICENSE.MOTIONS, THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION NEEDED MR. MANAGER? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE.
[6. Resolution for Second Transit Management and Operations Agreement Amendment with MV Transportation, Inc.]
FOR SECOND TRANSIT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS AGREEMENT AMENDMENT WITH MV TRANSPORTATION INC.MOTION THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON OR MR. KINSON MAY COUNSEL, UM, THE, UH, THE LARGEST OR PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANT, UH, REVISION WITH THIS.
I MEAN, WE, WE HAVE MADE OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE MV CONTRACT.
WE WILL MAKE MORE OF THEM AS, AS WE MOVE AHEAD WITH OTHER TRANSIT OPERATIONS.
BUT THE PRINCIPLE ONE HERE HAS TO DO WITH TRANSFERRING AS, AS WE MENTIONED IN DETAIL AT THE BUDGET HEARINGS, TRANSFERRING, UM, FLEET MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE, SORRY, PERSONNEL FROM, UH, UM, MV TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
UH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER CHANGES IN THIS THAT I'D LIKE, UH, AND I THINK WE'VE TALKED THROUGH THAT ENOUGH.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'D LIKE JOHN TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER, UH, PERHAPS, UM, LESS HIGHLIGHTED, UH, FEATURES OF THE AMENDMENT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, AS SCOTT SAID, THIS IS THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
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A TURNKEY CONTRACT WITH MV AS A TRANSIT PROVIDER, THE FIRST AMENDMENT ESSENTIALLY REMOVED THE CITY FACILITIES OUT OF THAT CONTRACT AND, AND BROUGHT THOSE INTO UNDER THE CITY'S CONTROL.AND THIS, AS SCOTT MENTIONED, DOES SIMILAR THING FOR THE VEHICLES THEMSELF.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BUSES AND THE ROLLING STOCK THAT THE CITY, UH, OWNS, UH, IS, IS, IS GETTING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE, AND IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST THAT WE MANAGE THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THOSE, UH, OF THAT EQUIPMENT, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS LITTLE, UH, INCENTIVE FOR THE PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TO DO.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SECOND AMENDMENT IS TO MAKE SUNDAY SERVICE A REGULAR DAY OF THE WEEK SERVICE.
AND SO OVER A YEAR AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, PILOTED THIS PROGRAM OF RUNNING SUNDAY SERVICE.
WE'VE GOTTEN VERY, UH, POSITIVE RIDERSHIP AND FEEDBACK ON THAT SERVICE, AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE IT A SEVEN DAY A WEEK, UH, PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE.
THIS AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW THAT.
UH, WHEREAS IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN, UH, ESSENTIALLY STAFFED THROUGH OVERTIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.
THIS WILL MAKE IT A REGULAR DAY OF THE WEEK THAT MAKES, UH, DECATUR PUBLIC TRANSIT, A SEVEN DAY, UH, UH, WEEK SERVICE.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE SUNDAY SERVICE, SO KUDOS TO, UH, THE STAFF AND, AND EVERYBODY AT TRANSIT.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MAYOR, I'M JUST, I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE THIS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I PUSHED THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT IT, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE GETTING TO WORK, UH, YOU KNOW, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY.
[7. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Christy-Foltz, Inc. for the Municipal Services Corridor Addition Project, City Project 2023-07A]
ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH CHRISTIE FOLTZ, INC.FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES CORRIDOR.
ADDITION PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH OH SEVEN.
A MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. KINSA, THAT YOU TAKEN THIS ONE? YES, MA'AM.
LEMME GIVE SOME CONTEXT AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM.
UM, BE SURE TO LEAVE HIM SOMETHING TO SAY.
UM, THE, UM, IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED $3 MILLION IN SHORT TERM DEBT TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS AT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER, MSC AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THERE WERE FIVE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT WORK.
THE ROOF AT THE LIBRARY, THE RETAINING WALLS, AND SOME OTHER GROUNDWORK AT, AT THE LIBRARY.
THE CHILLER AT THE LIBRARY TO ADD A, A, A CORRIDOR TO, TO PROPERLY CONNECT THE MSC BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET TO ONE END TO THE OTHER, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH BATHROOMS AND, AND TO FIX THE ROOF AT THE MSC.
THOSE FIVE ELEMENTS, FOUR OF THEM ARE ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT AS THE NEXT FOUR ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA.
UH, THE CHILLER IS STILL, UH, SORT OF ON A SEPARATE TRACK AND IS, AND IS BEING BID SEPARATELY.
UH, THE FOUR THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE, ARE GOOD BIDS AND, UH, JOHN'S GONNA TALK MORE MORE ABOUT THEM.
AND THEY ARE LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD EXPECTED IN OUR, IN OUR, IN OUR TRACKING BELOW BUDGET.
SO GIVE US SOME MORE DETAILS OF, I YOU SHOULD HAVE LET HIM TALK ABOUT WALKING THROUGH THE BATHROOMS. BUT MR. KINSA, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AS SCOTT SAID, THIS IS A PART OF A $3 MILLION, UH, IMPROVEMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, BUDGETED FOR LAST YEAR.
AS SCOTT MENTIONED, THAT THESE, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T DO ENGINEERS ESTIMATES FOR THESE PROJECTS, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE GENERALLY COMING IN UNDER WHAT WE EXPECTED.
AND WE BELIEVE ALL THE WORK WILL BE COMPLETED AS WELL AS THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
UH, WELL BELOW THE $3 MILLION THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR.
AND THAT DOESN'T, UH, HAPPEN VERY OFTEN RIGHT NOW WITH INFLATION.
AND SO, UH, AS SCOTT SAID, THESE ARE GOOD PRICES.
WE HAD MULTIPLE BIDDERS ON ALL FOUR OF THESE PROJECTS EXCEPT FOR ONE OF 'EM, UH, WHICH WAS THE, THE ADDITION.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S, IT'S A VERY SMALL ADDITION AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR.
IT'S REALLY A HALLWAY CORRIDOR, UH, CONNECTING THE TWO HALVES OF THE FACILITY THAT CURRENTLY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BATHROOMS TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE OTHER.
UM, AND SO ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WILL, UH, UH, COMPLY WITH THE MBE GOALS, UH, BOTH THE 10%, UH, CONTRACT, UH, UH, SUBCONTRACTING WORK EITHER THROUGH THE SUPPLIERS OR AS SUBCONTRACTORS, AS WELL AS TO, UH, COMPLY WITH THE 18% OF TOTAL HOURS WORKED BY MINORITY WORKERS.
AND SO, UH, FOR THIS FIRST PROJECT, CHRISTIE FOLTZ WAS THE, UH, WAS THE LOW BIDDER FOR THE CORRIDOR PROJECT.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT I INDICATED WAS THE, UH, ONLY PROJECT THAT WE RECEIVED, A SINGLE BID FOR JOHN THE GRO.
SO, YEAH, JOHN, IS IT CORRECT THAT, UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL ASKED US TO EVALUATE SOLAR ON BOTH OF THE BUILDINGS, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MSC ROOF WON'T SUPPORT THE SOLAR AND SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THAT, BUT WE ARE PROCEEDING WITH, WITH THE, UH, THE NECESSARY STRUCTURES TO HAVE SOLAR ON THE LIBRARY.
THE, THE MSC FACILITY WHEN IT WAS BUILT, THE, IT WAS A, A STANDALONE
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BUILDING.WHEN THEY DESIGNED STEEL TRUSSES ON A BUILDING LIKE THAT, THEY DON'T, UH, BUILD IT WITH THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.
SINCE THIS IS SIMPLY A RE-ROOF OVER THE PROJECT, UH, THE CAPACITY IS NOT THERE IN THE STRUCTURE TO ESSENTIALLY PUT SOLAR ON IT.
WE ARE JUST ADDING ONE MORE LAYER ON THE TOP OF IT THAT WILL SEAL IT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
UH, BUT AS SCOTT INDICATED ON THE LIBRARY, UH, THAT BUILDING BEING A CONCRETE, UH, ROOF BUILDING, UH, ONCE WE PUT THE, THE RUBBER MEMBRANE ON THE TOP OF IT, WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DO THE SOLAR PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER OR THE DEPUTY MANAGER? SEEN NONE.
COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.
[8. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Top Quality Roofing for the Municipal Services Roof Rehabilitation Project, City Project 2023-07B]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH TOP QUALITY ROOFING FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES ROOF REHABILITATION PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH OH SEVEN B.MOTION THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
MR. SETH, ANYTHING TO ADD? THE ONLY THING I'LL ADD IS THAT THIS WILL CHANGE A LITTLE BIT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MSC FACILITY.
RIGHT NOW IT HAS A STEEL ROOF.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TO PUT APVC LINER ON THE TOP OF THAT STEEL ROOF.
UH, WE WILL PUT BACK RIBBING SO THAT IT LOOKS, UH, UH, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO WHAT IT IS NOW, UM, BUT IT WILL CHANGE THE NATURE OF THAT BUILDING.
BUT THIS IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WE HAVE FOUND TO DO IT SHORT OF A FULL REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE MORE THAN DOUBLE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE.
COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.
[9. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Advanced Commercial Roofing for the Decatur Public Library Roof Replacement Project, City Project 2023-26A]
ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH ADVANCED COMMERCIAL ROOFING FOR THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH 26.A MOTION TO RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
MR. KEN, ANY ETH ANYTHING EXCITING HERE? THE ONLY THING I'LL ADD, MAYOR, IS THIS ONE HAS A 20% CONTINGENCY INCLUDED VERSUS THE OTHER ONES.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE ONCE THEY REMOVE THE ROOF, THEY WILL ALSO REPLACE AND THE CONTRACT ALLOWS FOR THEM TO REPLACE ANY OF THE INSULATION THAT WAS, UH, GOT WET AND DAMAGED, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE BEST R-VALUE WE CAN FOR THAT FACILITY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE.
[10. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Christy-Foltz, Inc. for the Decatur Public Library Landscaping Wall Replacement Project, City Project 2023-26C]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH CHRISTIE FOLTZ, INC.FOR THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY LANDSCAPING WALL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH 26 C.
MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. KINSA? THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY HERE, MAYORS, IS THAT, AS SCOTT SAID, THESE ARE MORE THAN LANDSCAPING WALLS.
THESE, THESE WALLS ARE STRUCTURAL AND, AND DO HOLD BACK, UH, SIGNIFICANT GRADES AROUND THE LIBRARY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT? SEE? OH, MR. COOPER, HE GOT FLASHED THAT JACKET A LITTLE HIGHER.
JUST WANNA MAKE ONE, UH, COMMENT SINCE I, I'VE MADE COMMENTS BEFORE IN THE PAST ON CONTRACTS TRACTORS WITH PROBLEMS. I WANT TO THANK ALL FOUR OF THESE LAST ONES WITH MEETING THE, UM, MINORITY REQUIREMENTS.
UM, AND I WANT THE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SAY MINORITY REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S FEMALE HISPANICS OR AFRICAN AMERICANS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MINORITY REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THOSE GROUPS TO HOPEFULLY GET SOME BUSINESS IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS.
SO I'M PRE PLEASED TO SEE THAT THESE LAST FOUR CONTRACTS ALL HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WILL MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
[11. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Kinney Contractors, Inc. for the William Street Railroad Crossing Closure Project, City Project 2022-37, Section No. 22-00237-00-IC]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH KENNY CONTRACTORS INC.FOR THE WILLIAMS STREET RAILROAD CROSSING CLOSURE PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2022 DASH 37.
SECTION NUMBER 22 DASH 0 2 3 7 0 IC.
MOTION, THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SO, UH, JIM IS JUST ADVANCED THE SLIDES.
UM, THIS IS AT FIVE POINTS BASICALLY, AND THAT SECTION OF WILLIAMS STREET THAT IS EAST OF, UH, OF THE FIVE POINTS INTERSECTION, YOU'VE ACTED ON THIS TWICE ALREADY IN THE FORM OF ICC AGREEMENTS, UM, AND AN AGREEMENT WITH THE RAILROAD ON HOW TO PROCEED.
AND SO NOW WE'RE READY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THIS.
UM, THE, AS THE, AS THE MAP AND THE ILLUSTRATION THAT WE'RE IN THE PACKET SHOW, THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC LANE STAYS IN PLACE, BUT IT GOES UP
[01:30:01]
TO 22ND STREET WHERE YOU CAN ONLY TURN RIGHT AND GO NORTH.UM, THE, THE EASTBOUND LANE IS WHAT'S TAKEN OUTTA SERVICE FROM, UH, THE FIVE POINTS INTERSECTION TO THE, THE TURN INTO THE NEAREST, UH, BUSINESS THERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WILLIAMS STREET.
AND THIS WILL ELIMINATE THAT, THAT RAILROAD CROSSING.
THE FUNDING FOR THIS IS FULLY PAID FOR BY THE ICC, UH, WHICH IN ADDITION TO FUNDING THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ALSO PROVIDED A $40,000 INCENTIVE JUST TO CLOSE THE RAILROAD CROSSING.
DID YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR DID HE TAKE YOUR THUNDER TOO? HE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
YEAH, HE HAD TO STAY LATE AND EVERYTHING.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT FROM COUNCIL? THANK YOU FOR STAYING.
[12. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Culy Contracting LLC for 2023 Manhole Rehabilitation Project, City Project 2023-14]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH QE CONTRACTING LLC FOR 2023 MANHOLE REHABILITATION PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH 14.NOW I'M NOT GONNA LET MOTION THE RESOLUTION OH, SORRY.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROJECT, UH, WE PUT OUT THROUGH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO, TO GO OUT AND SPRAY WHAT'S CALLED GUNITE.
IT'S CONCRETE LINER ON THE INSIDE OF MANHOLE AND, AND THAT WILL HELP BRING NEW STRUCTURAL VALUE AND EXTEND THE LIFE.
UH, THIS PROJECT FOCUSES IN THE URBAN CORE, WHERE THEY'RE MOSTLY BRICK AGING MANHOLES AND, AND IT'S JUST, JUST GOOD MAINTENANCE TO CATCH 'EM BEFORE THEY FAIL.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT SCENE? NONE.
[13. Consent Calendar: Items on the Consent Agenda/Calendar are matters requiring City Council approval or acceptance, but which are routine and recurring in nature, are not controversial, are matters of limited discretion, and about which little or no discussion is anticipated. However, staff’s assessment of what should be included on the Consent Agenda/Calendar can be in error. For this reason, any Consent Agenda/Calendar item can be removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar by any member of the governing body, for any reason, without the need for concurrence by any other governing body member. Items removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar will be discussed and voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda/Calendar.]
WISH TO REMOVE ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR TO, UH, TO CONSIDER SEPARATELY? MR. COOPER? THANK YOU FOR THAT.ITEM NUMBER F, ITEM F WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
ITEM A, ORDINANCE ANNEXING, TERRITORY 2225 LILAC DRIVE.
ITEM B, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 27 15 SOUTHLAND ROAD, ITEM C, ORDINANCE, ANNEXING TERRITORY 30 23 TEMPE DRIVE, ITEM D, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 30 33.
TEMPE DRIVE, ITEM E RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACTION REGARDING UNSAFE STRUCTURES.
I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
[F. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Steve's Trucking for the Demolition of Vacant Building at 570 W. William St]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH STEVE'S TRUCKING FOR THE DEMOLITION OF VACANT BUILDING AT FIVE 70 WEST WILLIAMS STREET.MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
IS THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT OR NOT, BUT I'M GONNA BRING IT UP.
MY, MY QUESTION WAS, UM, I NOTICED WE HAD THREE BIDDERS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UM, AND, UM, TWO OTHER BIDDINGS SHOWED PLUMBING COSTS.
THE BIDDER THAT'S GETTING IT, GETTING IT DID NOT SHOW ANY PLUMBING COSTS.
AND THEN ONE OF THE OTH OTHER BIDDERS SHOWED THAT, UM, THERE'S ASBESTOS COST AND ASBESTOS ON THE TWO OTHERS THAT DIDN'T GET IT.
SO, AND THE ONE WHO'S GETTING IT DIDN'T SHOW ANY ASBESTOS COST.
SO, UH, MY QUESTION IS, IF THE BUILDING HAS ASBESTOS OR THE PLUMBING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THEN WHY DIDN'T THE BIDDER THAT WE AWARDED THE TWO NOT ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES WITHIN THE BID? RIGHT.
SO SOME, SOME CONTRACTORS, PURPO, EXCUSE ME, SOME CONTRACTORS PREFER TO JUST GIVE THE CITY A LUMP SUM.
AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THAT STEVE'S TRUCKING HAS DONE IN, IN THE CASE OF THIS BID.
EVEN WHEN YOU, UH, INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE FOR PLUMBING AND ASBESTOS, UH, THERE, HIS BID IS FAR LOWER THAN THE NEXT TWO, UH, BIDDERS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, OR, OR PERHAPS TO, TO YOUR POINT ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
UH, NORMALLY ASBESTOS ABATEMENT IS PART OF THE, OF THE CITY'S PROCESS IN ALL DEMOLITIONS, EXCEPT FOR THIS IS A UNIQUE ONE.
UH, THIS WAS, THIS IS THE MULTI-STORY, OR EXCUSE ME, TWO STORY EIGHT UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING ON MONROE ON THE INTERSECTION OF MONROE AND WILLIAMS STREET.
UH, THAT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO ABATE THE ASBESTOS.
AND SO IT WILL BE DONE AS A WET DEMOLITION.
SOME CONTRACTORS HAVE, UH, A, A MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THAT THAN OTHERS.
AND SO THE WAY THIS ONE WILL BE DONE IS AS A, AS A WET DEMOLITION.
AND THE COST OF THE PLUMBING DISCONNECT, UH, UH, WILL BE, WILL BE DONE, BUT IT'LL
[01:35:01]
BE INCLUDED IN THAT LUMP SUM, UH, BID.AND, AND THE CITY STAFF WILL INSPECT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE CORRECTLY.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.
[VI. Other Business]
HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BODY TONIGHT? I I HAVE A QUESTION JUST BECAUSE IT CAME TO MY MIND.UM, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PARKING LOT? SOLAR PROJECT? WE, WE VOTE ON SO MANY THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I CAN'T KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE, I THINK THE EASIEST WAY I'D SUM IT UP IS SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS, RIGHT? UM, BUT MORE REALISTICALLY, IT DID RUN INTO ONE HURDLE.
WE RAN INTO A HURDLE WITH AMEREN INITIALLY, UH, THAT PUT THE PROJECT ON PAUSE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, UH, MAYBE EVEN SIX WEEKS.
UH, BUT REALISTICALLY WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW, OUR CONTRACT CALLS FOR THAT PROJECT TO BE, UH, PRODUCING POWER AND OPERATIONAL BY JULY OF 2024.
UH, EVERY INDICATIONS ARE THAT THEY ARE STILL ON THAT SAME TIMELINE.
UH, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ESSENTIALLY ORDER THE STEEL, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR THE STEEL.
THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEE PROGRESS.
UH, THE MOST RECENT THING YOU MIGHT'VE SEEN WAS THE SOIL BORINGS IN THE PARKING LOT.
AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LOT OF SPRAY PAINT, UH, AROUND THE, UH, UH, PARKING LOT WAS TO, TO, TO ESTABLISH THE DEPTHS OF HOW THOSE, HOW DEEP THE PIERS HAD TO BE, UH, SO THEY COULD DESIGN AND ORDER THE STEEL.
MOST OF THE SOLAR PANELS HAVE ALREADY, UH, COME IN.
UH, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN MOVED HERE TO DECATUR YET.
THEY'RE BEING HELD AT THE CONTRACTOR'S FACILITY IN PEORIA.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE THOSE, UH, ESSENTIALLY BY YEAR END TO START COMING OVER TO DECATUR AND, AND THEY WILL SHOULD START CONSTRUCTION, UH, PROBABLY EARLY IN THE SPRING.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
AND HERE I THOUGHT THEY WERE DRILLING FOR OIL THAT WOULD SOLVE OUR BUDGET ISSUES.
UH, I JUST WANT TO WISH HER ONE HAPPY HOLIDAY, UH, THANKSGIVING COMING UP AND, UM, JUST ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY AND BE SAFE AND WATCH OUT FOR THE OTHER GUY.
AND, UH, HOPE EVERYBODY GET TO THEIR DESTINATIONS IF THEY'RE GOING ANYWHERE AND BACK SAFELY AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAY AND TRY NOT TO OVEREAT.
[VII. Recess to Closed Executive Session]
UH, WE NEED TO RECESS TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION, RECESS TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO OPEN MEETINGS ACT SECTION TWO C ONE, THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY.SECTION TWO C FIVE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR USE OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
AND SECTION TWO C SIX, SETTING OF A PRICE FOR SALE OR LEASE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE PUBLIC BODY.
COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.
WE ARE ADJOURNED TO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION.