[I. Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY COUNCILMAN HORN? PRESENT.
COUNCILMAN KUHL? PRESENT? COUNCILMAN COLT.
AND BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I UH, NEED TO CALL FOR A MOTION FOR CHUCK KUHL TO PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY DUE TO EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.
NOW I NEED TO CALL FOR A MOTION FOR COUNCILWOMAN LISA GREGORY, TO PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY DUE TO EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES, AND WE HOPE TO CONNECT HER SOON.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE.
NOW IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[II. Proclamations and Recognitions]
WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION TONIGHT IF WE COULD HAVE LAURA DEAN COME TO THE PODIUM PLEASE.WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVOLVES THE USE OF FORCE, FRAUD OR COERCION FOR THE PURPOSE OF LABOR AND OR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, BUT CERTAIN POPULATIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK, INCLUDING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ABUSE, VIOLENCE, POVERTY, UNSTABLE LIVING CONDITIONS, SOCIAL DISCONNECTION OR DISCRIMINATION.
AND WHEREAS THESE CRIMES OFTEN REMAIN HIDDEN IN DECATUR, MACON COUNTY, THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE VICTIMS ARE SILENCED OR RELUCTANT TO SEEK SUPPORT OUT OF FEAR, SHAME, LACK OF TRUST, AND OTHER BARRIERS.
AND WHEREAS PEOPLE CAN BE TRAFFICKED IN PERSON AND ONLINE IN INDUSTRIES SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, DOMESTIC WORK, CONSTRUCTION, AGRICULTURE, AND FACTORIES, AND BY STRANGERS OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS, PARTNERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAN BE PREVENTED BY BUILDING INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESILIENCE, REDUCING SOCIAL INEQUITIES, AND ADDRESSING THE CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EXPLOITATION.
AND WHEREAS WE RESOLVE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON EVERY DARK CORNER WHERE HUMAN TRAFFICKING STILL THREATENS THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF OTHERS AND UPHOLD THE NOTION THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL.
AND WHEREAS WE CALL ON ALL DECATUR, CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT THEY CAN PLAY IN ENDING ALL FORMS OF ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION LIKE HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND URGE EVERYONE TO JOIN IN OBSERVING THIS MONTH, LISTEN TO SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, LEARNING MORE ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING TO TACKLE ITS ROOT CAUSES.
AND IF YOU WOULD BRING THAT PROCLAMATION UP, I'D BE HAPPY TO SIGN IT.
AND THEN I THINK THE CLERK IS GONNA NEED YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AS WELL.
AND THE REST OF THIS IS NOW THEREFORE, I, JULIE MORE WOLF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS DUE HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY, 2024 AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF ENDING ALL FORMS OF MODERN SLAVERY AND PREVENTING ALL FORMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING DONE THIS DAY AT CITY HALL ON THE 16TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024.
AND WE DO HAVE COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY PARTICIPATING WITH US NOW.
UM, OUR NEXT ITEM IS APPEARANCE
[III. Appearance of Citizens]
OF CITIZENS.UM, PUBLIC 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 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.
WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE REQUEST TO SPEAK, UM, BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THE REQUEST CAME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
UM, JOHN MURRAY AND BRITTANY MAGE.
UM, IF YOU ARE BOTH HERE, I DIDN'T
[00:05:01]
KNOW IF YOU WERE GONNA SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM OR IF YOU JUST WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM, YOU COULD SPEAK NOW.
AND ON THAT ITEM, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ITEM THAT WOULD BE.
YES, I DIDN'T WANNA SPEAK NOW.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP THEN.
AND WE DO HAVE A CLOCK WITH A COUNTDOWN, SO.
MY NAME IS BRITTANY C*M AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, A SITUATION THAT HAPPENED WITH MY BASEMENT.
IT WAS FLOODED WITH SEWAGE WATER AND, UM, I HAVE PROOF THAT THE CITY WAS AT FAULT.
I WENT AND PICKED UP THE PAPER FROM THE FOREMAN OUT AT THE PUBLIC WORKS OVER THERE ON JASPER STREET STATING THAT THE CITY WAS AT FAULT.
BUT I STILL RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL OF DENYING THE PAYMENTS.
AND I'M TRYING TO SEE LIKE, WHY IS THAT, WHY SHOULD I BE PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, THAT THE CITY ACTUALLY TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR.
I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE AND JUST FOR THE CLEANUP PROCESS IS 17,000.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE ITEMS THAT WERE LOST.
THAT WAS MY SON'S BEDROOM DOWN THERE, WHICH HAS NOW CREATED, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR HOME IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
HE'S LOST ITEMS AS WELL AS DOWN THERE.
SO I'M TRYING TO SEE IS THERE ANY OTHER RESOURCES, GRANTS THAT'S WILLING TO PAY FOR THIS? AND HOW DO I, HOW, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FROM HERE? WHY AM WHY DO I HAVE TO BE PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, THAT THE CITY TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR, WHICH I HAVE THE PAPER HERE, MR. RIGHT? FIRST OF ALL, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, I'M SORRY FOR THE LOSS THAT YOU SUFFERED.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BUT, UH, THESE THINGS DO HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME AND WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR EXAMINING THEM AND WITH OUR RISK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND OUR INSURANCE PROCESSES TO, TO PROCESS THESE REQUESTS.
LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS IN PARTICULAR, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO TALK WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WHO'S, UH, IN THE SECOND ROW BACK OR WITH ME AFTER THE MEETING OR SOME OTHER TIME, WE'D BE HAPPY TO CARRY THIS FORWARD.
IS MR. JOHN MARIE HERE? ALRIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? IF SO, PLEASE COME BEFORE THE PODIUM.
I WAS, UH, THIS IS BRETT ROBERTSON.
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT, UH, YOU GUYS, I THINK HAVE JUST REVIEWED AND, AND PUBLISHED.
AND, UH, I DOWNLOADED IT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE LIGHTS DIMMED AND 489 PAGES CAME DOWN AND I DID FIND IT.
IT'S BETWEEN PAGE 1 24 AND 1 54.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, UH, YOU GUYS PUT A LOT OF GOOD WORK INTO THIS PLAN.
THIS IS A, THIS IS, I'M GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE COME OUT WITH THIS PLAN.
UH, UM, UH, I DO THINK THAT IT, IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, THERE, UH, YOU SHOULD HIGHLIGHT IT.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO EXTRACT THAT AND PUT IT OUT IN A DOCUMENT THAT WOULD BE EASILY COMMUNICATED, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GONNA AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH ASPECTS OF IT.
BUT, UH, THE MAIN VALUE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, RIGHT, IS TO GET IT OUT THERE AND GET PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THE DIRECTION THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CITY IN.
UH, SO I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
UM, I WANNA READ SOME EXCERPTS FROM IT.
PRIORITY GOAL NUMBER ONE ON COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION.
NUMBER ONE IS DEMOLISH, WHATEVER MUST BE DEMOLISHED 'CAUSE IT CAN'T BE SALVAGED.
NUMBER TWO IS REPAIR AND REHABILITATE.
WHATEVER STRUCTURES CAN REASONABLY BE SALVAGED.
SO WE USE MORE AGGRESSIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND FOREST, A LEVERAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE URBAN CORE WITH SELECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CATALYST PROJECTS.
THEY'RE LARGE AND VISIBLE ENOUGH TO SPUR ADJACENT IMPROVEMENT.
SO WHAT I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THEN IS A PORTFOLIO OF ACTIVITIES, A BUNCH OF DEMOLITIONS, SOME REHABILITATION PROJECTS WHERE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE AGREE THAT THAT'S A, THAT COULD REASONABLY BE SALVAGED.
YOU KNOW, A LIST OF CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND THEN SOME BIG PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
[00:10:02]
SO I'M, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN.
ON DECEMBER THE 27TH, I WAS LURED INTO A GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THERE, BUT I WAS LURED TO GO INTO THIS GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
WHEN I EXITED THE BUILDING, THE BUS COMPANY HAD PAID SOMEONE AND THERE WERE POLITICIANS INVOLVED TO HIT ME, ATTEMPT TO HIT ME AND THEN PUSH ME TO GET ME KILLED ON PERSHING ROAD BY REGIONS BANK.
BETWEEN REGIONS BANK AND THE CAR WASH ACROSS NEARBY WHERE KROGER'S IS, THE BUS COMPANY RELATIVES, THE PERSON WAS RELATED TO THE, TO KAMARIA PERRY.
THE PERSON WAS RELATED TO JUSTIN SLAUGHTER.
THE PERSON WAS RELATED TO THE SMITH FAMILY, INCLUDING ERIC SMITH OVER AT ORLANDO POLICE CHIEF, ALSO MARK SMITH WITH CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY SERVICES, ALSO, UM, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE, AKIEL SMITH.
NOW I JUST WENT TO GO GET MYSELF SOME FOOD.
HE CAME WITH A POT AND HE WANTED TO HIT ME AND HE WANTED TO PRETEND HE'S MY BOYFRIEND.
AND THEN HE WANTED TO HIT ME SEVERAL TIMES AND HE WANTED TO GRAB ME SO THAT I CAN BE PUSHED TO THE STREET.
THE DECATUR BUS COMPANY WAS INVOLVED IN IT.
NOW WE GOT A PROBLEM EVER SINCE FROM JAN, JANUARY 6TH, 2021.
THEN JULY 8TH AND NINTH, THEN I GET THREATS.
THEN THEY HAVE PEOPLE TO BOTHER ME.
THEN THEY HAVE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW ME WHERE I EVEN GROCERY SHOP.
THEY EVEN WAIT FOR ME WHEN I GO TO THE BUS STOP.
NOW, SEVERAL TIMES PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO TRY TO KILL ME AT THE BUS STOP.
AND IT IS THE DECATUR BUS COMPANY.
WE GOT A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY DISTURBED MY PEACE AT HOME.
THEY USE FIREWORKS, THEY PAY BAD POLICE.
SOME, THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE POLICE.
THEY'VE BEEN HAVING THE POLICE BOTHER ME ALL BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
AND EVEN JANUARY 6TH, 2021, I DIDN'T, I'M THE ONE WHO GOT HURT IN THE BUS.
I'M THE ONE WHO GOT HURT IN THE BUS.
NOW I WANT THE POLICE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I WANT THE DECATUR COM BUS COMPANY TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I'VE BEEN TRYING AND TRYING AND I'VE BEEN NICE ABOUT IT.
BUT PEOPLE JUST DO THINGS FOR HARASSMENT FOR LURING PURPOSES.
THEY USE GRENADES BY THE HOUSE.
THEY'VE USED, THEY'VE, THEY'VE DAMAGED.
THEY PUT SO MUCH DAMAGES ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRES.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY SHOOT GUNS EVEN ON SATURDAY NIGHT, UM, 5:49 PM I'M IN THE BATHTUB AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY SET OFF A GRENADE.
THEN AT FIVE 50 THEY SHOT, UM, WEAPONS TWICE, THEN AT 10 44 WEAPONS, THEN AT 10:47 PM WEAPONS, GUNS RIGHT BY THE HOUSE.
WHEN IS THIS GONNA STOP? PLEASE HELP ME, PLEASE.
MR. ED CULP AND MR. DENNIS COOPER, IF YOU CAN TALK TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL AND JOHN MURRAY, YOU ARE NOT HERE, CORRECT? LAST CALL.
ALRIGHT, WELL, WE WILL MOVE ON
[IV. Approval of Minutes]
TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.OH, DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY RESPONSE? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 18TH, 2023.
[1. Resolution Authorizing a Redevelopment Agreement with Robinson Outdoor Advertising for Off-Premise Sign - 1910 Mt. Zion Road]
UNFINISHED BUSINESS TONIGHT.ITEM ONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ROBINSON OUTDOOR ADVERTISING FOR OFF-PREMISE SIGN 1910 MOUNT ZION ROAD.
WE NEED A MOTION TO TAKE, UH, THIS FROM THE, REMOVE THIS FROM TAKE IT FROM THE TABLE.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE JUST MOVE INTO THAT ITEM NOW? NOW WE NEED A, A MOTION, MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU REQUESTED THAT THESE ITEMS BE SEPARATED SO YOU COULD VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY, UM, AT WHICH, UH, ROBINSON OUTDOOR
[00:15:01]
ADVERTISING WAS FINE WITH.AND WE'VE, UH, CRAFTED THE, UH, PAPERWORK IN SEPARATE FORM PER YOUR REQUEST.
REPRESENTATIVES OF, UH, ROBINSON OUTDOOR ADVERTISING ARE HERE THIS EVENING.
IN CASE YOU HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED.
WE HAVE AUGMENTED THE INFORMATION FROM LAST TIME TO INCLUDE, UH, SOME ADDIT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC BENEFIT, UH, AS WELL AS SOME TRAFFIC INFORMATION.
UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT BOTH OF THESE PROCEED.
UH, DOES THE FOLKS FROM ROBINSON HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WANNA ADD? I, I DON'T BELIEVE SO, SIR.
I, I THINK I ADDRESSED EVERYBODY VERY GOOD.
WE WOULD, FOR THE RECORD, WOULD YOU TELL US WHO YOU ARE? AGAIN, I KNOW YOU WERE HERE BEFORE, BUT WE'LL NEED YOU TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE ITEM? THE FIRST ONE, WHICH WOULD BE ON, UH, MOUNT ZION ROAD.
MR. CULP, THE PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED, UH, IS THIS GONNA BE, IS IT AT AN ANGLE FOR ALL DIRECTIONS TO SEE, OR IS THIS MAINLY NORTH OR SOUTH OR EAST OR WEST OR HOW, HOW'S THAT SET UP? IT'S SHAPED LIKE A V UH, THE CITY HAS A, A REQUIREMENT THAT THAT'S A 30 DEGREE ANGLE OR LESS.
ONE FACING, UH, BOTH THE MARYLAND SIDE AND ONE FACING THE MOUNT ZION SIDE.
SO IT'S A V IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND PICTURE, YOU KIND OF SEE, UH, THAT GREEN TRIANGLE IS THE DEPICTION OF THE ORIENTATION OF THE TWO FACES.
THE SECOND THANK YOU, OR EXCUSE ME, THE THIRD PICTURE IN YOUR PACKET.
AND WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS, AS I KNOW THEY'VE OFFERED FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT UP, WHETHER IT'S AN ALERT OR THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OR AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR, SAY, HIRING DECATUR POLICE OFFICERS.
WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST ANYBODY CAN PUT SOMETHING UP? RIGHT.
THAT, THAT BENEFIT IS PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
AND SO THEY'VE OFFERED TWO PARTS TO IT.
ONE, THEY WOULD RUN PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THEY ARE CONNECTED AND THE CITY REQUIRES THEM TO BE CONNECTED TO THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
UH, AND SO THAT WOULD BE ONE PROCESS.
THE OTHER ONE THEY'VE ALSO OFFERED TO THE CITY IS TO ADVERTISE LESS TIMELY, UH, ADVERTISEMENTS.
SO IF THE CITY'S RUNNING A PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE DID DURING COVID, WE RAN A LOT OF INFORMATIONAL THINGS IN VARIOUS PLACES.
UH, AND IF WE WANTED TO ADVERTISE COMMUNITY EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT ON ANY AVAILABLE, UH, UH, UH, BILLBOARDS THAT THEY HAVE, I DECATUR AND EVEN EVEN BEYOND DECATUR.
AND YOU'RE CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE KIND OF A TRAFFIC HAZARD IN SOME WAY, LIKE A DISTRACTION BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT AREA IS PRETTY CONGESTED AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON, ON THAT CORNER.
THIS PARTICULAR SIGN IS ON A STATE HIGHWAY.
THE STATE HAS ALREADY PERMITTED THIS LOCATION SHOULD THE CITY ALSO PERMIT IT.
UM, AND THE, THE CITY HAS PRETTY TIGHT PARAMETERS AS FAR AS HOW FREQUENTLY, UH, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARDS CHANGE.
UH, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A DISTRACTION.
UH, UH, ONE, THEY'RE ELEVATED HIGH ENOUGH THAT THEY SHOULD NOT, UH, UH, BE A DISTRACTION FOR DRIVERS WHEN THEY'RE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, A QUARTER MILE AWAY, UH, MUCH FURTHER, FURTHER OUT.
UH, UH, BY THE TIME THEY GET UP CLOSER TO THE SIGN, THEY'RE ALREADY OVER THEIR HEAD AND THEY CAN'T SEE 'EM ABOVE THEIR, THEIR, THE TOP OF THEIR WINDSHIELD, IF I CAN SAY IT THAT WAY.
UM, BUT THE CITY DOES REGULATE AND CONTROL THE COLORS, HOW QUICKLY THAT MESSAGE CHANGES, THINGS LIKE THAT TO MINIMIZE ANY TYPE OF DISTRACTION.
UM, MR. MCDANIEL, UM, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS OTHER THAN WE'RE LEADING, UH, UH, GONNA CREATE A PROBLEM.
I, I THINK IT SHOULD ONLY BE SIGN, IT SHOULD ONLY HAVE TO DO WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT OR EMERGENCY.
WHEN YOU OPEN IT UP TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WE, WE DECIDE, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO YOUR, ALLOW YOURS, YOU'RE GONNA CREATE A PROBLEM.
WE'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST.
I STRONGLY URGE THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE TO CHANGE AMENDMENT OR I THINK THEY CAN HAVE POLICIES DONE BY STAFF.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, MR. CULP? HAVE WE TALKED TO THE, ANY BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE OUT THERE? IT'S A PRETTY CONGESTED AREA.
THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
AND EVEN FROM THE DISTANCES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ONE DIRECTION IS 1 21, ALDI DRIVE THE OTHER DIRECTION.
SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS, EVEN FROM A DISTANCE TO READ IT.
HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE, SUCH AS JIMMY JOHN'S, MAYBE HICKORY POINT BANK, UH, RURAL KING EVEN? I MEAN, HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU GOT ANY INPUT FROM THE STAFF THERE? RIGHT.
RURAL KING IS THE ONE DRIVING THE SIGN.
UH, UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE KNOW IS ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS ALSO WANT A SIMILAR BILLBOARD.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY THE CITY REALLY SHOULD ONLY PERMIT, IN MY OPINION, ONE, UH, NOT MULTIPLE.
UM, BUT IF WE GO AND TALK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, MOST OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS SAY, YEAH, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT ON OUR PROPERTY.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THIS LOCATION BECAUSE IT IS CLOSEST CONFORMANCE TO THE CITY
[00:20:01]
CODE.UH, CITY CODE REQUIRES A 750 FOOT SEPARATION.
UH, THIS ONE, THE CITY IS ESSENTIALLY VARY VARYING FROM THAT, LESS THAN A HUNDRED FEET.
UH, UH, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MCDONALD'S FOR AN EXAMPLE, IS ONE THAT INDICATED THAT THEY'D LOVE TO HAVE A BILLBOARD.
THEY'D LOVE TO GENERATE, UH, MORE REVENUE FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
UM, BUT THAT WOULD BE A MUCH CLOSER, UH, UH, LOCATION TO THE, TO THE OTHER SIGN.
AND THAT WOULD BE A MORE SIGNIFICANT VARIANCES, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THIS ONE.
THEY WERE ALSO THE FIRST ONE TO MAKE THIS REQUEST, UH, UH, LAST YEAR AS WELL.
SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IF WE WOULD TURN THIS DOWN, IT COULD STILL POP UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IT JUST, WE WOULDN'T HAVE AS MUCH CONTROL OR NOT THE, ANY, ANY, ANY LOCATION ALONG THAT CORRIDOR IS LIKELY TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, IF, IF, JUST BECAUSE THE, THE, THAT PARTICULAR CORRIDOR DOES HAVE SOME, UH, SOME INCONVENIENCES FOR BILLBOARDS.
AS YOU GO FURTHER SOUTH, IT BECOMES LESS DESIRABLE, UH, FROM 36.
WHAT WHAT IS ATTRACTIVE ABOUT THIS LOCATION IS, IS THAT, UH, YOU HAVE GOOD VISIBILITY FROM, FROM A NUMBER OF, OF STREETS.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, AS YOU MOVE FURTHER SOUTH ON THE MOUNT ZION CORRIDOR, AMEREN HAS HIGH RISE POWER LINES.
UH, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT BILLBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE SET PRETTY FAR BACK OFF OF THE ROAD.
UH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, REALLY TURNS OFF THE, UH, THE INTEREST TO THE, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN, IN ONE OF THESE BILLBOARDS.
MR. MCDANIEL, THE RETAILERS CAN ADVERTISE ON THAT BILLBOARD, RIGHT? CORRECT.
THAT'S, THAT SOLVES THAT PROBLEM AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY WANT THE EXTRA MONEY, BUT IF THEY ADVERTISE, THEY'LL GET MORE CUSTOMERS, MAYBE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY'RE SIGNED, THEY HAVE A BIG SIGN LIKE THE, THE MCDONALD'S, YOU KNOW, HAS ALREADY GOT A SIGN.
SO JUST ADVERTISE ON THAT SO WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH CLUTTER.
UH, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY OR MR. KUHL WHO ARE REMOTE? NO.
I'M, I'M REALLY TORN ON, ON BOTH OF THESE.
UM, AND, UH, I'LL MAKE MY DECISION WHEN I MAKE THE VOTE HERE.
BUT, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND ALL THE POSITIVES.
IT JUST ADDS MORE CLUTTER IN MY OPINION.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TUSSLING WITH.
SO I'LL MAKE MY DECISION WHEN THE VOTE COMES, BUT IT'S NOT AN EASY ONE.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE.
[2. Resolution Authorizing a Redevelopment Agreement with Robinson Outdoor Advertising for Off-Premise Sign - 1321 N. Oakland]
NOW TO THE SECOND BILLBOARD.ISSUE RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ROBINSON OUTDOOR ADVERTISING FOR OFF-PREM SIGN 1321 NORTH OAKLAND.
WE NEED A MOTION TO TAKE THE ITEM FROM THE TABLE.
UH, DID YOU WANNA TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE LIKE YOU DID THE OTHER ONE? THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID.
OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO THE RESOLUTION.
I READ THE RESOLUTION THEN ASKED FOR THE MOTION TO TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE.
NOW WE NEED A MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION NEW PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
UM, THIS ONE, UH, IS SIMILAR BUT ALSO VERY DIFFERENT.
UH, IT, IT, UH, ALSO FROM ROBINSON OUTDOOR ADVERTISING WITH A SIMILAR SIGN.
WELL, HOW, HOW THIS ONE IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THAT YOU JUST ACTED ON, IS THAT THE COMPENSATION, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, OR CONSIDERATION TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF THE CITY, UH, ISN'T JUST HOW IT CAN BE USED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE, THE, UH, THE DEVELOPER PROPOSES THE TRANSFER OF THIS TRIANGLE OF LAND.
UH, ABOUT, WHAT? ABOUT SIX TENTHS OF AN ACRE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? POINT SIX TWO ACRES.
UH, THAT THE, UM, THEY'RE AT THAT, THAT TRIANGLE WHERE WE'RE 48 AND, AND OAKLAND AND WEST GRAND ALL ARE THERE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT USED TO BE A COMMERCIAL LOCATION.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING AREAS HAVE CHANGED AND IT'S PROBABLY, IT'S AT HIGHEST AND BEST USE IS GREEN SPACE OR SOME KIND OF PARK OR, OR ART OR SOME KIND OF OTHER PUBLIC USE, WHICH SEEMED NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE CATALYST PROJECT ACROSS THE STREET AND A LITTLE BIT TO THE EAST IN THE, IN THE WHOLE GARFIELD SECTION FROM, UH, FROM OAKLAND TO REALLY TO VAN D**E, THE CATALYST PROJECT FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, AND, UH, AND SO THAT'S HOW WE PRESENTED IT, UH, LAST TIME AND TRY TO, UM, MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER THIS TIME.
ULTIMATELY THOUGH, IT ALSO RESTS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL IF YOU WANNA TAKE THAT OBLIGATION AND, UH, UH, AND TAKE ON THAT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
AND I HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH THAT AREA A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE THIS THIS FIRST CAME UP.
'CAUSE I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY HAD SOME MAJOR RESERVATIONS.
[00:25:01]
IT IS MOSTLY COMMERCIAL IN THAT AREA, A BLOCK AWAY.IT'S MORE RESIDENTIAL, BUT EVEN THE LITTLE HOUSES ARE MOSTLY BUSINESS RELATED AS WELL.
SO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL FOR COMMENTS.
AS I SAID BEFORE, NOT OVERLY CRAZY ABOUT IT, BUT IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS PAST A COMMERCIAL AREA AND STILL IS.
AND WE DO GET CONTROL OF THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, WITH THE AGREEMENT.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, DID YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS? YOU KNOW, I'M STILL CONFLICTED ABOUT PUTTING THAT THERE.
UM, I DON'T REALLY AGREE THAT IT'S A CATALYST PROJECT, SO, UM, AT THIS TIME I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT.
I THINK MR. WRIGHTON MEANT THE, UM, OTHER PROJECT IS THE MORE CATALYST PROJECT, NOT THE, NOT THE CORNER.
THAT THAT SMALL TRIANGLE DOESN'T CONSTITUTE A CATALYST PROJECT.
BUT FURTHER TO THE EAST, THE, THE GARFIELD SCHOOL PROJECT, THE, THE REST OF THE PROPERTY THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS, THE GARFIELD PARK PROJECT, ALL THOSE TOGETHER IS, IS THE CATALYST PROJECT THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S JUST IN THE SAME PROXIMITY.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OH, MISS MR. KUHL? YEAH.
NOW I CAN SEE THE LITTLE HAND YOU RAISED TOO.
UH, I JUST FEEL A LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS.
I, I JUST FEEL LIKE THE SIGN FITS IN BETTER AT THE FIRST LOCATION.
THIS ONE, TO ME JUST SEEMS LIKE IT OVERWHELMS THE LOCATION A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS ONE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A, A CHALLENGING, UM, DECISION FOR ME, BUT, UH, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, UM, UH, HAVE SWAYED ME TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UM, AN INFORMAL POLL OF INDIVIDUALS I TALKED TO SEEMED TO BE NEUTRAL TO NEGATIVE.
UH, NO ONE WAS PARTICULARLY, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE EXTREMELY UPSET BY THE IDEA.
UM, SECOND, THE CLEARANCE RATE BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE BASE OF THE SIGN IS GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY 32 FEET, WHICH IS PLENTY OF, UH, SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SEE THROUGH IT.
UM, WHICH I THINK IS, IS IMPORTANT.
UM, THIRDLY, RIGHT NOW, UM, THE COST OF THE SITE, IF AN ENTITY WERE TO BUY IT WOULD BE $175,000.
WE'RE GETTING THAT PARCEL OF LAND AND IT IS ZONED COMMERCIAL.
AND SO IN THEORY, AN ENTITY THAT, UM, UH, WANTED TO BUILD THERE COULD BUILD THERE.
AND THAT COULD BE A TYPE OF ENTITY THAT WE DON'T WANT FOR, UM, THAT PARTICULAR, UH, COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, A BILLBOARD IS PROBABLY A, A FAIRLY BENIGN TYPE OF, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN THAT PROPERTY.
AND AGAIN, WITH A 32 FOOT CLEARANCE RATE, UM, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DO A LOT WITHOUT IT BEING DISTRACTING.
COUNCILMAN COOPER, JUST ONE QUICK POINT.
UM, BASED ON THE AREA THAT THIS WAS GOING INTO AND THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT THE CITY, WE LIKE TO WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE, I THINK THIS IS THE PRIME LOCATION FOR WITHIN THE CITY TO HAVE A BILLBOARD UP TO GET SOME OF THE SPREAD OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON, GETTING SPREAD TO, UH, OUR CITIZENS WHO, UH, MANY OF 'EM DON'T HAVE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ONLINE OR, OR GET INFORMATION THAT'S COMING OUT THROUGH THE PAPERS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
I THINK THIS IS THE PRIME USE OF THAT SITUATIONS TO HELP US SPREAD THE, THE WORD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, COUNCILMAN MCG GREGORY? YES, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, THANK MY COLLEAGUES.
I HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO SAY AND, UM, I CAN SUPPORT THIS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
[1. Treasurer's Financial Report]
TO NEW BUSINESS.WE BEGIN WITH THE TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT.
MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THE, UH, TREASURER'S REPORT IS BEFORE YOU AND, UH, THE TREASURER CFO IS HERE.
IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, LEMME JUST SAY VERY BRIEFLY THAT, UM, UH, THE BALANCES HAVE COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE AS WAS MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING, WE DO MAKE SOME YEAR END ADJUSTMENTS FOR, UH, FOR RESERVES FOR CAPITAL.
UM, AND, UH, UH, AND I BELIEVE THAT
[00:30:01]
IT'S, IT'S ALSO STARTING TO TREND THE WAY WE HAD EXPECTED.REVENUES ARE A LITTLE BIT DOWN FROM WHAT WE HAD EXPECTED.
UM, AND SO WE'RE STARTING INTO THAT, THAT PERIOD.
BUT, UH, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS BESIDES THE ONES THAT ARE RELATED TO YEAR END, PLEASE LET RUBY OR I KNOW ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FINANCIAL REPORT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM TWO
[2. Resolution Authorizing a TIF Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of Decatur and County Line Plaza, LLC]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TIFF REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND COUNTY LINE PLAZA, LLC.MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
I GUESS WE'LL GO TO MR. KIN EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE, UH, SHOPPING CENTER OUT AT MOUNT ZION ROAD, JUST SOUTH OF THE JIMMY JOHN'S LOCATION FOR THE, FOR THE BILLBOARD THAT WAS JUST CONSIDERED.
AND SO THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO PORTIONS TO THAT SHOPPING CENTER, UH, IF I CAN SAY IT THAT WAY.
THERE IS THE RURAL KING PORTION.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY THERE WAS AN OUT PARCEL BUILT IN FRONT OF THE RURAL KING, WHICH HAS JIMMY JOHN'S AT AND T, UH, UH, AND I BELIEVE A VIDEO GAMING PARLOR.
UH, THOSE WERE ALL THE RURAL KING AS WELL AS THE OUT PARCEL, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
THERE WERE ALL A DIRECT RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UH, UH, THAT WAS DONE THROUGH THIS SAME TIFF THAT WAS WITH A DIFFERENT DEVELOPER.
AND SO WHAT'S WHAT'S, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT IS A, UH, BASICALLY A, AN OPPORTUNITY UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO INCENTIVIZE THE, THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THAT SHOPPING CENTER TO BASICALLY MODERNIZE IT AND DO THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE NORTHERN HALF OF THAT SHOPPING CENTER.
AND SO, UH, LES COHEN IS HERE AS WELL AS HIS ATTORNEY, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND CERTAINLY I CAN BRING HIM UP FOR ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
UH, BUT THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE, OF THE, UH, SHOPPING CENTER HAS STRUGGLED.
UH, THAT IS THE ORIGINAL SHOPPING CENTER ON THE MOUNT ZION CORRIDOR GOING BACK TO THE 1980S.
UH, UH, AND IT STILL LOOKS IN MANY WAYS, LIKE THE 1980S.
AND SO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ESSENTIALLY, UH, WOULD PROVIDE REAL ESTATE AND SALES TAX AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX INCREMENT.
AND SO ANY NEW, UH, REVENUES THAT ARE PRODUCED IN THOSE THREE AREAS, UH, WOULD POTENTIALLY GO BACK TO REIMBURSE THE, THE DEVELOPER TO MODERNIZE THAT SHOPPING CENTER.
UH, THINGS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, COMMITTED TO DO IN, UH, AND THERE ARE, UH, SITE PLANS AND RENDERINGS AND ALL THAT IN THE PACKET.
UH, BUT CERTAINLY THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD WORK TOWARDS IS THE CREATION OF OUT PARCELS.
YOU SEE THAT BEING DONE ALREADY WITH THE TAKE FIVE, THE SEVEN BREW, UH, THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE.
UH, THERE IS A STARBUCKS UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT IS NEARING, UH, NEARING COMPLETION.
UH, THERE WAS INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAT, THAT HAD TO GO IN IN ORDER TO ALLOW ALL OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
UH, THEY HAD TO MOVE THE ENTIRE, UH, SHOPPING CENTER MONUMENT SIGN THAT, UH, UH, LABELS ALL OF THE TENANTS WITHIN THE SHOPPING CENTER THAT HAD TO BE RELOCATED AS PART OF THOSE OUT PARCEL UH, DEVELOPMENTS.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, WHAT THE CITY'S REAL DESIRE THERE IS TO PUT AN ENTIRE NEW FACADE ON THAT SHOPPING CENTER, UH, UH, TO, TO MAKE IT, UH, MORE, UH, WALKABLE, UH, UH, HIGHER WALKABILITY, MORE VISUALLY PLEASING, UH, UH, AND, AND HIGHER PERCEIVED, UH, UH, VALUE.
UH, WHICH WILL IN, IN TURN FOR THE DEVELOPER, UH, YOU KNOW, SHOULD DRIVE UP RENTS, UH, UH, ULTIMATELY ATTRACT BETTER, UH, BETTER STORES, BETTER TENANTS, UH, WHICH WILL IN TURN BENEFIT THE CITY THROUGH INCREASE IN SALE, UH, REAL ESTATE TAXES, SALES TAX, ET CETERA.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UH, THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL, MR. MCDANIEL? I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS OTHER THAN BEING A CONSUMER THAT GOES TO EAT RESTAURANT AND SHOPS THERE.
I THINK IN THE MEMO IT SAID THEY'RE GOING TO RECONFIGURE THE, UH, PARKING.
THAT'S A REAL MESS OUT THERE NOW.
AND IT'S, IT'S ALMOST DANGEROUS, ALMOST LITERALLY, UH, OF EVEN GOING OUT THERE ANYMORE AND PARK BECAUSE IT'S SO, IT'S SO TIGHT.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO RECONFIGURE THAT WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT WALKABILITY.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? DR. HORN? MR. SETH? UH, JUST TO CONFIRM, THERE WOULD BE NO NET REDUCTION IN THE REVENUE THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY RECEIVES FROM THAT TIFF.
THIS IS A, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE THE IDEAL REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WHERE IT'S PAY FOR PERFORMANCE.
THE CITY IS NOT COMMITTING ANY REVENUE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THE, THE ONLY REVENUES THAT WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS DEVELOPER ARE THOSE MONIES THAT ARE GENERATED THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT.
SO AS THE REAL ESTATE TAXES GO UP, BECAUSE THEY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE, TO THE PROPERTY, THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT PORTION.
SAME THING ON SALES TAX, SAME THING ON THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAXES GENERATED FROM THOSE BUSINESSES.
AND SO, FOR AN EXAMPLE, THE STARBUCKS IS LIKELY TO GOING TO GENERATE SALES TAX AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX.
THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY, UH, CAPTURE SOME OF THAT NEW REVENUE AND ULTIMATELY BE ABLE TO REINVEST IT INTO THE PARKING LOT, INTO THE FACADE, UH, INTO THE LANDSCAPING, UH, AND THE OTHER
[00:35:01]
THINGS THAT THEY'VE ARTICULATED IN THE, IN THE BUDGET IN THE PACKET.AND COULD YOU JUST, UH, REMIND ME WHEN THE TIFF EXPIRES? THIS TIFF EXPIRES IN THE FALL OF 2029.
UH, AND SO THAT'S WHEN THE SALES TAX AND THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX REIMBURSEMENTS WOULD END TO THE DEVELOPER.
THE REAL ESTATE TAXES THEY WOULD GET THROUGH 2030 BECAUSE REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE PAID IN ARREARS.
AND SO THEY WOULD GET THE 2029 REAL ESTATE TAXES PAID IN 2030.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.
[3. Resolution Authorizing Amendment to InnovaFeed Development Agreement]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO IN NOVA FEE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
THE, THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A, AN AMENDMENT TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE NOVA FEED.
UH, ESSENTIALLY, UH, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE A SIMPLE, UH, AMENDMENT.
UH, THE REALLY IS NOT A LOT OF OF MODIFICATIONS HERE.
THE BIGGEST, UH, REQUEST IN THIS AMENDMENT IS, IS ESSENTIALLY PROVIDING THEM WITH A TIME EXTENSION.
INITIALLY WHEN RE UH, WHEN THE INOVA FEED, UH, CAME THE FIRST INOVA FEED REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THEY COMMITTED TO DOING PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT IN WITHIN FOUR YEARS, UH, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT THEY NEED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE, UH, DECEMBER OF 2024.
UH, THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WILL NOT GET TO THAT PHASE ONE, UH, BY 2024, THEY HAVE BUILT WHAT THEY CALL PHASE ZERO, WHICH IS REALLY THEIR PILOT PLANT.
UH, IT WAS A $10 MILLION FACILITY, UH, TO WHERE THEY WILL, UH, START TO ACCLIMATE THE BUGS TO THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS WEATHER CONDITIONS.
UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY NEED ADDITIONAL TIME TO BUILD THEIR PHASE ONE, UH, PORTION OF THEIR PROJECT.
UH, THEIR, UH, PHASE ONE PROJECT INITIALLY, UH, THEY HAD COMMITTED TO SPENDING $50 MILLION TOWARDS THAT PHASE ONE, UH, THAT COST HAS NOW GONE, UH, NORTH OF A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
AND SO THEIR INVESTMENT AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY HAS, UH, HAS CONTINUED TO GROW, UH, WHICH I THINK IS, IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY IN RETURN.
UH, THEY JUST NEED MORE TIME TO DO THAT.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER MINOR, UH, MODIFICATIONS ALSO INCLUDED IN THERE, SUCH AS A MORE REALISTIC OR A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF WATER ALLOCATION THAT THE CITY HAD COMMITTED TO PROVIDING TO THEM, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED THE, UH, THE WATER COMMITMENT THAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY ASKED THE CITY FOR.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE A SUMMARY OF THE, OF THE MODIFICATIONS BEING PROPOSED HERE.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE.
[4. Motion Adopting 2023-2025 Strategic Plan]
ADOPTING THE 2023 TO 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN.MR. WRIGHTON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, YOU CONDUCTED A RETREAT, UH, LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING EVERY OTHER YEAR BACK IN AUGUST.
IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET, UM, ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION BACK FROM THE FACILITATOR.
UH, HER, HER, HER REPORT WAS VERY COMPLETE.
UH, WHAT WE DIDN'T DO DURING THE RETREAT BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS WAS JUST DECIDE, OKAY, WHICH OF THE ITEMS IN THE 2123 REPORT, UH, SHOULD FALL OFF, REMAIN, BE MODIFIED IN SOME WAY? AND SO, UH, THAT WAS A TASK AND UNDERTAKEN AT STAFF LEVEL, AND THEN I DISTRIBUTED IT TO YOU.
UM, AND, UH, AND SO IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT THIS DOCUMENT, I, FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK THAT I GOT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS DOCUMENT IS READY FOR APPROVAL IN MOTION FORM.
ONE OF THE KEY ASPECTS THAT, UH, THAT COUNCIL HAD ASKED ABOUT AND WHICH WAS DISCUSSED AT THE RETREAT IN AUGUST, WAS, IN ADDITION TO THE, UH, TO THE RESTATEMENT AND UPDATING OF THE SIX PRIORITY GOALS, IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, A DOCUMENT THAT ALSO IS A WAY OF TRACKING SPECIFIC AND MEASURABLE PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES THAT TIE TO NR RELATED TO THE, UH, THE, THE GOALS IN YOUR, IN YOUR RETREAT.
AND SO I'VE ATTACHED WHAT IS REALLY A STARTING POINT FOR THAT.
IT, IT HASN'T BEEN POPULATED WITH ALL THE DATA YET.
UM, AND, UH, IT'LL, IT'LL, IT WILL REMAIN A WORK IN PROGRESS.
UH, AND OUR STAFF HAS WORK TO TRY TO MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS DAUNTING, MORE PICTURES EASIER TO READ.
UH, SO THAT ONCE, ONCE THE THE DATA IS POPULATED MORE COMPLETELY, THAT IN ADDITION TO PUTTING THE, UM, THE STRATEGIC PLAN ON THE WEBSITE RIGHT AWAY AFTER YOU APPROVE IT, THAT THIS OTH OTHER DOCUMENT WILL, ONCE IT'S, UH, UM, ONCE ALL THE DATA IS ADDED TO IT WILL ALSO BE SOMETHING WE CAN PUT ON THE WEBSITE.
BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT PROGRESS ON SPECIFIC ASPECTS AND PROJECTS RELATED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S, IT REMAINS A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST APPROVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN PORTION
[00:40:01]
OF IT THIS EVENING.COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL OR QUESTIONS? SAME.
COUNCILMAN MC? COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.
[5. Ordinance Rezoning Property from R-1 Single Family Residence District to M-1 Intense Commercial/Light Industrial District – Property Located Adjacent and Just West of 1001 N Brush College Rd]
REZONING PROPERTY FROM R ONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO M1 INTENSE COMMERCIAL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT PROPERTY LOCATED ADJACENT AND JUST WEST OF 1001 NORTH BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD.MOTION THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SO MOVED HEARING COUNSEL SECOND.
HEARING COUNSEL, ALTHOUGH THIS ITEM IS ON BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD PROJECT.
WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON, UM, THE A DM SCIENCE AND RESEARCH CENTER, WHATEVER THE NAME OF IT IS NOW, THEY USED TO CALL IT RANDALL.
UH, BEHIND IT IS A LARGE TRACT OF IRREGULARLY SHAPED LAND THAT'S ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
AND A DM HAS ASKED THAT IT BE REZONED TO HAVE THE SAME ZONING THAT THE, THAT THE RESEARCH CENTER HAS.
UH, AND THAT'S, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS REQUEST IS, SO THAT THEY CAN DO SOLAR ON THAT PARCEL THAT IS TO THE WEST OF THEIR FACILITY.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL FOR MR. WRIGHTON? DR. HORN? DR. HORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
JUST TO COMMENT, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE A DM, UH, FOR THEIR DECISION TO, UH, PUT UP FIVE MEGAWATTS A WORTH OF SOLAR ARRAYS.
UM, THERE'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO GENERATE RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND I WOULD JUST, UH, REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR OWNS SEVERAL HUNDRED ACRES OF LAND AND, UM, SOLAR ENERGY IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFITABLE WAYS TO USE, UH, LAND AND CAN MEET OUR ENERGY NEEDS.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.
[6. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Hoerr Construction, Inc. for the 2024 Lead Water Service Line Daylighting Project, City Project 2023-20]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH W***E CONSTRUCTION, INC.FOR THE 2024 LEAD WATER SERVICE LINE, DAYLIGHTING PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH 20.
THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON OR MR. NEWELL? MR. NEWELL, IT'S ALL YOURS.
UH, MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THIS IS, UH, A DAYLIGHTING PROJECT.
AS YOU, AS WE'VE TALKED BEFORE, I BELIEVE ABOUT OUR LEAD SERVICE ISSUE THAT, UH, THE CITY NEEDS TO, UH, TO ADDRESS.
SO THIS WOULD BE GOING OUT TO, UH, RESIDENCES AND, AND DIGGING UP ESSENTIALLY WITH THE HYDRO EXCAVATING, THE, THE MAIN, SO THEY CAN DETERMINE WHAT THE MATERIAL IS.
'CAUSE WE'VE FOUND THAT OUR, OUR, OUR INVENTORY IS NOT INCREDIBLY ACCURATE.
WE'RE FINDING ABOUT 50% ACCURATE ON THE CITY SIDE AND ABOUT, UH, 75% ACCURATE ON THE PUBLIC'S, ON THE PRIVATE SIDE.
SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET OUR, OUR INVENTORY BETTER UPDATED THROUGH, UH, THROUGH THESE, THIS TYPE OF A, OF A PROJECT.
THIS WAS, UH, VERY COMPETITIVELY BID.
THE HAIR CONSTRUCTION WAS THE LOW BIDDER.
WE WORKED WITH HAIR, UH, ON SEVERAL PROJECTS.
THEY, UH, THEY HAVE MET, UH, OUR MINORITY GOALS.
THIS ONE IS NOT, THEY DO NOT HAVE SUBCONTRACTORS SINCE THEY WILL JUST HAVE A, A SMALL CREW DOING, DOING THE WORK.
BUT THEY HAVE MET OUR, UH, MINORITY GOALS IN THE PAST FOR, UH, MINORITY HOURS, WORKED ON THE PROJECTS.
GOOD TO HEAR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? DR. HORN? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LEAD LINES IN DECATUR COULD BE A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT THAT DESERVES MORE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THAN, UH, CURRENT FUNDING.
WE ARE ALLOCATING TO ADDRESS IT, BUT I WANNA STRESS IT COULD BE BECAUSE, UM, WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY DATA THAT INDICATES THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERIENCING LEAD POISONING IN OUR CITY.
THIS, THIS QUESTION IS FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY STAFF THAT MIGHT HAVE, UH, ANY INFORMATION.
DO WE, DO WE KNOW OF ANY DR. HORNE THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN RAISED THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE A NAUSEUM? BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM.
WE JUST KNOW THAT THERE ARE LEAD PIPES, PARTICULARLY IN THE OLDER PART OF TOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP.
BUT I'VE HAD THE SAME QUESTION MYSELF.
YOU KNOW, IS THERE TESTING THAT'S GOING ON? ARE WE SEEING IT IN SCHOOL KIDS? I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T THINK WE KNOW STATEWIDE.
IT, IT, IT, UM, WHAT THE MAYOR SAYS IS
[00:45:01]
TRUE.AND, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE MANDATE OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATE WE HAVE HERE FOR LEAD SERVICE LINE ABATEMENT, UH, IS, IS DIFFERENTIAL TO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S TESTED.
I MEAN, THE MANDATE IS THAT WE HAVE TO REMOVE THEM WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THE, THE LEAD INSIDE THE LINE IS INTERACTING WITH WATER IN SUCH A WAY THAT LEAD COMES OUT.
AND THE FRUSTRATING PART IS EVEN WE FIX THAT, WE, WE DON'T HAVE RESPONSIBILITY OR THE ABILITY TO TEST INSIDE THE HOME.
SO WE COULD FIX IT UP TO THE HOUSE OR UP TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL, AND THEY COULD STILL HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. SO IT, IT, IT'S A PROBLEM AND WE DON'T HAVE DATA.
YEAH, I, I I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, IF THERE'S AGENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, MACON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO TEST LEAD LEVELS, UM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL INFORMATION JUST SO THAT WE HAD A, A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE IMPACT IS.
BUT, UM, ONE, ONE THING MR. NEWELL TO CONSIDER IS, I KNOW THAT, UM, OUR CHIEF DATA OFFICER IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH GISI KNOW THAT, UM, YOU CAN MAP ROAD CONDITION INDEXES FOR THE CITY.
I KNOW YOU CAN MAP, UM, NUMBER OF VEHICLES PER DAY.
UH, YOU MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER ANOTHER LAYER, WHICH IS, UM, NUMBER OF LEAD LINES THAT ARE ON A PARTICULAR ROAD.
AND WHEN YOU ARE DETERMINING WHAT ROADS TO, TO REPAIR FOR A PARTICULAR YEAR, AND YOU HAVE TWO ROADS THAT HAVE SIMILAR CONDITION INDEXES, THEY HAVE, UM, SIMILAR NUMBER OF VEHICLES, BUT ONE HAS A MORE GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF LEAD LINES THAN ANOTHER, MAYBE WE CAN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT PRIORITIZING THAT ROAD THAT HAS GREATER LEAD LINES SO THAT WE CAN ACCELERATE THE PROCESS.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER OF LEAD LINES, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S OVER 5,000 POTENTIAL LEAD LINES IN THE CITY OVER OVER SIX, OVER 6,000.
AND SO THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LONG, LONG TIME.
THEY'VE GOT A REAL MESS WITH THEIR LINES OVER 6,000.
WE THINK
WHAT WE DISCOVERED OUT IN THE JOHNS HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IS IT WAS A LOT FEWER THAN WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE AND THAT WE CONTRACTED FOR.
YOU'VE ALREADY, UH, I MEAN THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
UM, BUT, UH, THE CITY HAS ALREADY REALLY GOTTEN AHEAD OF THIS FOR, UH, A LITTLE WAYS BECAUSE WE, WE TRY TO REPLACE THESE BEFORE WE DO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
UH, WE CERTAINLY DID THAT IN JOHNS HILL.
WE, WE DO IT IN SOME OTHER AREAS AS WELL.
LAST YEAR YOU ADOPTED A NEW CITY COUNCIL POLICY THAT PROVIDED FOR COST SHARING WITH, WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO REPLACE SOME OF THESE LEAD, LEAD SERVICE LINES AS WELL.
BUT THE, THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE, THE TABLE THIS EVENING IS REALLY JUST ABOUT GETTING BETTER DATA.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE.
[7. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Duke's Root Control, Inc. for Multi-Year Sanitary Sewer Herbicide Root Control Project, City Project 2023-31]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH DUKE'S ROOT CONTROL, INC.FOR MULTI-YEAR SANITARY SEWER HERBICIDE ROOT CONTROL PROJECT PROJECT 2023 DASH 31 MOTION, THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. NEWELL, THIS IS PROJECT FOR, UH, UH, ROOTS FROM THE CITY SEWERS, DUKE'S ROOT CONTROL.
THEY ARE, THEY WERE THE ONLY BIDDER.
UH, THEY'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST FOR THE PAST, UH, FEW ITERATIONS.
WE DO IT ON A THREE YEAR CONTRACT.
THEY DO A THIRD OF THE CITY EVERY YEAR.
AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY, UH, PUTS A, A HERBICIDE, UH, THROUGH THE SEWER LINES TO KILL THE, THE ROOTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN THE LINES.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL? I JUST SAY GLAD WE'RE GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM ON THIS.
MR. NEWELL, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS CONTRACTOR HAS PERFORMED WELL ON, ON, UH, MBE IN THE PAST? THEY HAVE, UH, FOR THE, OF COURSE, THEY, THEY JUST COME IN WITH, WITH A TWO MAN CREW ON THIS.
SO THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IN THE PAST, THEY, THEY STRUGGLED A BIT DURING THE COVID RUN LAST YEAR OR TWO, THREE YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, UH, BUT DID, UH, DID END UP GETTING 14%, UH, OF THEIR MINORITY HOURS, WHICH WE REQUIRE 18.
SO THEY, THEY MISSED IT JUST CAME IN SHORT OF THAT.
BUT WE FELT THAT, THAT THEY WORKED VERY HARD TO, UH, TO MEET THAT GOAL.
UH, SO THEY, THEY HAVE, UH, THEY HAVE SHOWED, UH, UH, SHOWED US THAT THEY ARE INTENDING ON MEETING THAT GOAL.
[00:50:01]
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE.[8. Resolution Approving the Purchase of Faster Asset Solutions Cloud Based Fleet Management Software]
APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF FASTER ASSET SOLUTIONS CLOUD-BASED FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.MOTION, THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
MR. NEWELL? IS IT THE MR. NEWELL SHOW? UH, SURE.
THE, UH, THIS IS THE, UH, THE FASTER SOFTWARE IS WHAT, UH, WE USE TO RUN OUR, OUR, OUR, UH, FLEET OPERATIONS.
AND, UH, AS, AS IT'S PRETTY WELL OUTLINED IN THE MEMO, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL, JUST MR. MCDANIEL, SINCE YOU'VE USED THIS BEFORE, HOW MUCH OF INCREASE IN THE COST FOR IT OVER PAST YEARS DO YOU THINK? JUST ESTIMATE A PERCENTAGE.
I'D SAY OVER PAST YEARS IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY DOUBLED IN THE, IN THE COST THAT, OKAY.
THAT WE SPEND FOR LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SCENE NONE.
[9. Resolution Approving the Purchase and Installation of Two (2) Emergency Warning Sirens]
APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWO EMERGENCY WARNING SIRENS.MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. RIGHTON OR MR. NEWELL, MAYOR AND COUNSEL? UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO STAY UP TO DATE, UH, AND TO CYCLE THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS AS, AS IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
WE, EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS WE DO DO SOME OTHERS.
AND, UH, UH, WE INCLUDED THIS IN THE BUDGET.
THE NUMBERS ARE, ARE GOOD NUMBERS, UH, IN TERMS OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE JUST TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, A POINT THAT MATT AND I RAISE IN THE SECOND PAGE OF THE TRANSMITTAL MEMO.
AND THAT IS ABOUT WE ARE REACHING THE POINT IN PUBLIC, UH, EMERGENCY EVENT IN, UH, COMMUNICATION.
WHERE THERE'S OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE, ARE, ARE SAYING, SHOULD WE BE USING THIS FRANKLY 20TH CENTURY TECHNOLOGY OR SHOULD WE BE TRANSITIONING TO, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER MULTIPLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH CITIZENS DURING, UH, TIMES OF EMERGENCY, WHETHER IT'S WEATHER RELATED OR A, OR, OR A TRAINED DERAILMENT OR SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT ITEM OR SOMETHING ELSE WHERE WE HAVE TO PROVIDE, UH, INFORMATION TO CITIZENS EXTREMELY FAST IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, SO WE HAVEN'T DONE A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH.
THE REALLY, THE, THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU WANT TO EVEN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS? UM, AS I SAID IN THE MEMO, I THINK THAT BEF LATER IN THIS CENTURY, AT LEAST MOST CITIES WILL MAKE THIS TRANSITION.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT 2024 IS THE TIME TO DO IT IN INDICATOR.
AND THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY A CITY COUNCIL QUESTION.
AND I, I REALIZE THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A CERTAIN, UH, COMFORT I THINK THAT, THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN HAVING THESE WARNING SIRENS, UH, SORT OF TO REMIND THEM IF NOTHING ELSE, TO GET ON THEIR PHONE AND FIND OUT THE DETAILS OF WHATEVER THE, THE EMERGENCY IS.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE LAID OUT THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I, THIS IS ONE I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE INVESTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW THAT WEREN'T AVAILABLE PREVIOUSLY, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SOMETIMES THIS STUFF FAILS AND IT FAILED LAST SUMMER WHEN WE HAD THAT MAJOR EVENT FOR MANY OF OUR CITIZENS, THEY HAD NOTHING.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CELL PHONE SERVICE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE EVEN THE ABILITY TO TEXT.
AND I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY, NO, WE'RE GONNA GO WITH NEWER TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYBODY.
I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE READY FOR THAT.
AND THE, THE DECISION WE WOULD MAKE IF WE SAID NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THIS ANYMORE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ENDS UP DYING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SIGNAL.
I JUST, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE THERE YET, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I'VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAVE SO MUCH THAT WE DIDN'T USE TO HAVE, BUT OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, PAT.
UM, I THINK I BROUGHT THIS UP SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND DISCUSSION.
MAYBE IT WAS DURING THE BUDGET TIME, BUT I'VE HAD SEVERAL CITIZENS ASK ME RECENTLY, LET'S SAY THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, THEY DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENT SIGNALS, UH, WHI WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IS IT
SO AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE, UH, IMPORTANT FOR US.
UH, AND THE COUNTY, THEY GET IT OUT.
AT LEAST PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION WOULD KNOW, YOU KNOW, THREE BLASTS IS THIS, YOU KNOW, NUCLEAR ATTACK OR WHATEVER.
WELL, I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
I DON'T WANNA KNOW WHAT THAT SIGNAL IS AND THINK IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE TOO LATE.
GRASSHOPPER THINGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL YOUNG.
SO, UH, MR. WRIGHT AND I WAS BORN IN THE 20TH CENTURY, AND SO I'M OKAY WITH 20TH CENTURY THINGS.
UM, BUT, UM, MY MORE FORMAL COMMENT IS THAT, UM, I, I PERSONALLY FIND THEM USEFUL.
[00:55:01]
MY CELL PHONE AND I HEAR THE SIRENS AND THEN I CAN GO TO MY CELL PHONE OR A TV TO SEE WHAT REASON THE SIRENS MIGHT BE, UM, MAKING NOISE.BUT, UM, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, UH, MY VIEW IS THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR TO, UH, SEE HOW THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT THE NEED FOR SIRENS.
AND I FEEL THAT WOULD BE VERY GOOD, UH, DATA FOR US.
AND IF THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SIRENS THAT'S VIABLE, UM, WHAT THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT THAT.
MR. MCDANIEL, I WILL ADD WHEN THE SIRENS GO OFF, PUBLIC DOES GO OUT IN THE YARD TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, WHICH BLOWS MY NOSE.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? MR. UH, MR. COOPER? UM, I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO EMERGENCY WARNING SIRENS HERE.
DO WE HAVE NEXT YEAR, DO WE HAVE TWO MORE WE NEED TO DO, OR 3, 4, 5? WHERE, WHERE ARE WE AT AS GETTING THESE TWO? HOW IS THAT GONNA CORRECT OUR, OUR MAJOR ISSUE? I BELIEVE THAT, UH, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE, WE SUGGESTED THERE WAS AN OPTION TO DO 10.
I SHOULD HAVE GOT CHIEF BRANDELL TO COME UP HERE AND, AND DO THE PITCH FOR YOU
BUT THE, UH, BUT THE, UH, UH, WE FELT THAT BUDGET WISE IT WAS PRUDENT TO DO TOO.
SO WE'VE GOT REALLY, UH, SEVERAL MORE YEARS OF ITERATIONS OF TWO.
AND THE BIG EXPENSE IS THE SYSTEM THAT'S THE NEXT ITEM, CORRECT? CORRECT.
OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, MAYOR? YES.
WHICH ONE? UH, COUNCILMAN KEHL? YEP.
I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND, BUT I I HEARD YOU.
WELL, I HAD IT UP AND THEN, ANYWAY, UM, I AGREE WITH ABOUT EVERYTHING I HEARD FROM EVERY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD WHAT COUNCILMAN HORNE, UH, STATED.
THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME TYPE OF POLLING OR, OR SOMETHING FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
I GUESS I WAS GONNA ASK THE CITY MANAGER OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT DID, UM, REMOVE THESE, WHAT WAS, HOW DID THEY DECIDE TO DO THAT? WAS THERE SOME TYPE OF INPUT FROM THEIR PUBLIC? DO YOU KNOW? I, I DON'T, I I DID SOME QUICK RESEARCH TO FIND OUT COMMUNITIES THAT HAD MADE THE CHANGE.
I DID NOT ASK, UM, OR INQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THEY DID.
THAT'D BE WORTH FOLLOWING UP ON THAT MR. NEWELL.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE BEFORE I WOULD EVER WANNA STOP BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS THAT ON YOUR HANDS, THAT'S FOR SURE.
SO, AND MR. NEWELL, THE SYSTEM, I, I MEAN THESE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REPLACE SIRENS, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT IS THE NEXT ITEM.
HOW LONG IS THAT GOOD FOR? IS IT A FIVE YEAR, 10 YEAR, 20 YEAR SYSTEM? IT, IT SHOULD UH, UH, BE THE LIFE OF THE SIREN.
I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY, SO IT'LL BE 20 PLUS YEARS.
OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT A CURVE WE CAN BREAK INTO.
[10. Resolution Approving the Purchase and Installation of a Siren Activation and Monitoring System]
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A SIREN ACTIVATION AND MONITORING SYSTEM.MOTION RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
MR. NEWELL, ANYTHING ELSE? ANY ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL FROM COUNSEL? SEE NONE.
[11. 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 LISTED UNDER THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MR. CULP? ITEM K, MR. MCDANIEL? ITEM C, DR. HORN.E MR. COOPER, M HOW ABOUT ANY, UH, FROM MR. GREGORY OR MR. KUHL? OKAY.
THE REST, REST OF US ARE OKAY.
UH, MADAM CLERK, JUST ONE SECOND HERE.
ITEM A, ORDINANCE, ANNEXING TERRITORY 22 0 6 LILAC DRIVE.
ITEM B, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY NINE 90 EAST TOW HILL ROAD.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CASH RENT, FARM LEASE WITH CRAIG HILL FOR TWO DEWITT COUNTY FARMS. ITEM F RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID OF DUNN COMPANY FOR THE PURCHASE OF OUS PAVEMENT MATERIALS.
ITEM G RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID OF BILLMAN LOGISTICS LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF CRUSHED STONE.
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID OF ENERGY CULVERT COMPANY LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF CORRUGATED STEEL PIPE.
[01:00:01]
ACCEPTING THE BID OF VCNA, PRAIRIE LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF PORTLAND.CEMENT CONCRETE ITEM J RESOLUTION APPROVING REAPPOINTMENTS CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING BOARD OF APPEALS.
ITEM L RECEIVING AND FILING OF MINUTES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ITEM N RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH JRH SERVICES FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 6 25 WEST CENTER STREET.
I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
[C. Resolution Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Decatur Illinois and County of Macon Regarding Ann L. Schneider and Associates LLC]
ITEM C RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND COUNTY OF MACON REGARDING ANN L. SCHNEIDER AND ASSOCIATES LLC.MOTION AT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
UH, THE VERBIAGE ON THE RESOLUTION.
IF I WAS AN ATTORNEY FOR THE, UH, COUNTY AND I GOT MAD AT THE, UH, CITY, IT SAYS, UH, THE COUNTY OF MACON WHEREBY THEY MAY SHARE SERVICES, UH, SHARE SERVICES AND EXPENSES.
UM, WHAT IF THEY DECIDE NOT TO SHARE THE EXPENSES? I'M JUST, IT'S JUST A MINOR THING, BUT I JUST CAUGHT THAT THE AGREEMENT OBLIGATES THEM TO, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE AGREEING TO.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM? CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.
[E. Resolution Authorizing Crop Share Farm Lease with Steve Bell for Oakley Sediment Basin Exterior]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CROP SHARE FARM LEASE WITH STEVE BELL FOR OAKLEY SEDIMENT BASIN.EXTERIOR MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
I WOULD JUST MENTION IN REGARDS TO THIS FARM LEASE, THAT THERE WERE 31 TILLABLE ACRES AROUND THE OAKLEY SED BASIN THAT WERE GOING TO BE FARMED.
AND LAST YEAR'S REVENUE WAS $210 TOTAL.
AND, UM, FOR $210 ON 31 ACRES, I FEEL THAT THERE'S OTHER LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR SHOULD EXPLORE AND SO I'D EN ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE OUR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT TEAM TO LOOK INTO ALTERNATIVE USES OF THOSE 31 TILLABLE ACRES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR OR FOR NEXT? FOR, FOR, WELL FOR THIS 20 20 25 SOMETHING ELSE.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? CALL THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, WAS THAT AN AYE? COUNCILWOMAN? AYE.
[K. Resolution Authorizing Amendment to the Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Agreement]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO THE DECATUR AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU AGREEMENT.MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. COLT, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE, UH, FOR A DIRECT TIE TO THE COMMISSION VISITORS BUREAU.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.
[M. Resolution Authorizing Action Regarding Unsafe Structures]
M RESOLUTION AUTHOR AUTHORIZING ACTION REGARDING UNSAFE STRUCTURES.MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. COOPER, THIS ONE WAS YOURS? YES, MAYOR, I'LL BE RES UH, RESTRAINED FROM WHAT? VOTING ON THIS DUE TO ONE OF THE, UH, PARTIALS IS OWNED BY MY AUNT T SO I'M GONNA TAIN FROM IT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
[VII. Other Business]
BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL TO COME BEFORE THE BODY TONIGHT? MR. MCDANIEL? I WAS JUST, UH, REVIEWING THE, UH, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, REPORT IN A YEAR ON, ON, UH, THEIR ACTIVITIES.UH, AND I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE DATA THAT THEY, THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.
[01:05:01]
AND, UH, WHETHER IT'S, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, PATROL ACTIVITIES, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, I MEAN, AS FAR AS WHAT, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY KEEP BUSY.UM, ALSO TICKETING SPEEDERS AND THAT, SO I'M VERY IMPRESSED, UH, WITH WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UM, OFFER MY THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MEL VERDE, WILKINS AND THE METRO DECATUR BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR PUTTING ON OUTSTANDING EVENTS, UH, CELEBRATING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, UM, OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND.
THEY PICKED THE BALL UP, DID A GREAT JOB.
I WAS SO SORRY THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE DUE TO SOME FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, BUT I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL THINGS.
SO OUR, OUR THANKS TO THE METRO BLACK CHAMBER AND MR. Q? YES.
UM, I HAD, UH, JUST A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
W WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THESE W ASSIST? WE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE, BUT, UM, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE CRYING FOR HELP, FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO SAY IT WHEN I LOOK AT THAT FIRE REPORT AND, UM, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU AND THE FIRE CHIEF NEED TO GET TOGETHER.
DO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF STUDY SESSION? WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THESE LIFT ASSISTS? IN FACT, I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS, COUNCILMAN KUHL WITH THE, UH, FIRE CHIEF TO DEVELOP A LIFT ASSIST ORDINANCE THAT I THINK IS COMPATIBLE WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION HAS BEEN.
AND I'M TENTATIVELY PLANNING TO BRING IT TO YOU, TO YOUR, UH, TABLE IN FEBRUARY, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE TWO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY.
GREAT, THANK YOU DR. HORN TO, UH, FURTHER COUNCILMAN KOLS, UM, CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, LAST YEAR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A RECORD NUMBER OF ALARMS, 14,073.
AND IN FOUR YEARS, THE NUMBER OF, UM, CALLS FOR SERVICE HAS INCREASED 28%.
AND, UM, IN THE REPORT I WANTED TO READ ONE OF THE QUOTES FROM THAT REPORT.
IN THE FUTURE, THE CITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL NEED TO DECIDE WHAT ALARMS THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND.
THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO DECATUR, BUT 9 1 1 HAS BECOME A SYSTEM FOR NON-EMERGENCY NEEDS AS WELL AS EMERGENCY NEEDS.
THIS CALL VOLUME CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS THE FIREFIGHTERS.
THE ANSWER TO THESE ISSUES WILL LIKELY INVOLVE MORE INPUT THAN THE CITY AND DEPARTMENT ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS.
SO I, I AGREE THAT LYFT ASSIST IS ONE COMPONENT OF THIS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING FACED AS IT PERTAINS TO 9 1 1 CALLS RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WHILE I'M, I WOULD WELCOME A LIFT ASSIST DISCUSSION, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A, A LARGER SCALE DISCUSSION OR STUDY SESSION ON THIS ISSUE.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY HAS HER HAND UP.
IS THAT PERTAINING TO THIS DISCUSSION? COUNCILWOMAN, GO AHEAD.
YES, MAYOR, THIS IS AN ISSUE REALLY THAT I WANNA SAY FOR MINIMALLY THREE TO FOUR YEARS WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, AND I THINK ORIGINALLY THE, UM, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH C-I-R-D-C TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF CATEGORIZATION THAT OCCURRED FOR 9 1 1 CALLS SO THAT, UM, EVERY VEHICLE IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS UNITS WOULD NOT HAVE TO ROLL TO SAVE, WEAR AND TEAR ON THAT.
AND SO I GUESS I'M SOMEWHAT CONFUSED OR IN WONDERMENT ABOUT WHY WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR.
I WILL SAY THAT IT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN WHAT IT APPEARS ON THE SURFACE WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AN ALGORITHM.
UM, BUT THERE IS THE COMPLICATING FACTOR OF THAT IS THE TIME THAT YOU LOSE IN GOING THROUGH THOSE ALGORITHMS. THAT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH BY THE TIME THEY GET THERE.
SO, UM, BETTER TO CALL THEM, HEAD THEM OUT AND, AND TURN THEM AROUND.
I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT WE DO NEED TO LOOK FOR A SOLUTION BETWEEN, UM, C-I-R-D-C AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ET CETERA, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT'S ROUGH.
UH, ALL OF YOU ARE THAT THIS HAS TAKEN A, A LONG, LONG TIME.
IT IS ALSO TRUE, AS ONE OF YOU SAID THAT THE, UH, THE RESPONSES ARE, ARE SEGREGATED OR FILTERED INTO ONE OF FIVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, A, B, CDE, UM, AND, UH, ONE OF THE PROMISES OF THIS NEW SOFTWARE THAT C-I-R-D-C IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALL, OF
[01:10:01]
INSTALLING A PROCESS THAT'S GONNA TAKE 18 MONTHS THAT THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IS SUPPOSED TO ENABLE US TO DIFFERENTIATE MORE EFFECTIVELY BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CALLS.OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, THE, THE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CALLS ARE, ARE NOT FIRE CALLS, THEY ARE EMS CALLS AND OTHER SORTS OF, OF, OF STRANGE EMERGENCIES UN UNRELATED TO, TO FIRE RESPONSE IN PART BECAUSE NOT JUST INDICATORS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE ARE OVERUSING AND EVEN UP USING A 9 1 1 ALMOST AS AS AN INQUIRY SERVICE OR EVEN AS A TRANSPORT SERVICE.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT THE REASON THIS HAS BEEN DELAYED IS BECAUSE MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE SOFTWARE, UH, UPGRADE AT C-I-R-D-C.
ONCE WE HAVE, UH, THAT INSTALL, I THINK IT'LL BE EASIER TO PINPOINT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. UH, LIKE, LIKE LIFT ASSIST IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH WE CAN PINPOINT SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE HARDER TO PINPOINT WITHOUT THAT DATA.
COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAYS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CAN BE A CONSIDERATION IN THOSE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS, UM, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, UH, CALLS THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED AS ABUSIVE TO THE SYSTEM, FOR EXAMPLE, I STEPPED IN MY TOE AND I NEED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY THEN TO ATTACH TO THAT CALL A BILL? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THAT, UM, WOULD PROBABLY BRING ABOUT A WHOLE OTHER RANGE OF ISSUES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DISCUSSED.
SO OTHER ITEMS. MR. MCDANIEL? ONE OF THE ISSUES, LET, LET'S SAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVERYONE KNOWS 9 1 1 THAT'S EASIER TO REMEMBER, BUT LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A NON-EMERGENCY, I HAVE TO STOP NOW.
I DID PLUG IT INTO MY, MY CELL PHONE I WILL USE THAT FOR, AND I'VE DONE THAT QUITE A FEW TIMES HERE RECENTLY WHEN I'VE SEEN THINGS, UH, THAT NEED TO BE, UH, POINTED OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT AGAIN, IS THERE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S GONNA GO FOR THE EASIEST WAY.
9 1 1 IS EASY AND UH, WE HAVE THESE OTHER NUMBERS FOR NON-EMERGENCIES OR, OR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, SO YOU MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT THAT AND SENDING OUT, AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SENT OUT IN THE BILL THAT THEY COULD, UH, MAGNETIC ON A, ON THEIR, UM, REFRIGERATOR.
THESE ARE THE NUMBERS TO CALL OTHER BUSINESS.
MR. COOPER JUST WANTED TO DIT ONE THING MAYOR TO SAID REGARDING THE, UM, MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, AGAIN, I WANNA SAY AGAIN, HATS OFF TO, UM, THE METRO DECATUR BLACK CHAMBER COMMERCE AND AS WILKINSON, HER GROUP AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE CITY FOR, UM, LOOKING AT THAT AND DECIDING TO TURN IT OVER TO THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, UH, WITH A NEW GROUP HANDLING IT THIS YEAR.
AND AS YOU SAID, I THINK IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND GREAT PARTICIPATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT INCREASING ON NEXT YEAR.
[VIII. Recess to Closed Executive Session]
NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE NEED A MOTION TO RECESS TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION.SECOND 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.
COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL? AYE.
COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.
WE ARE ADJOURNED TO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REMOTE ZOOMERS, YOU'LL NEED TO LOG INTO THE SECOND SESSION IN YOUR, UH, CALENDAR FOR THAT SESSION.