[00:00:01]
HOLD THAT[I. Call to Order]
CALL.CAN WE FIX THAT? CAN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUDIO? YEAH, THERE IT IS.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES SEEM TO BE SOLVED.
ALRIGHT, UH, BEFORE WE DO THE, UH, PLEDGE, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR COUNCILMAN CHUCK K TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY THROUGH ELECTRONIC ATTENDANTS.
COUNCILMAN GREGORY? MAYOR, I CAN'T HEAR ANYONE.
UM, WE ARE HAVING SOME TROUBLE WITH COUNCILMAN KUHL WHO CANNOT HEAR AUDIO, SO IF WE COULD PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND SEE IF WE COULD GET THAT FIXED.
COUNCILMAN, CAN YOU HEAR ANYTHING YET? YES.
NOW, IF YOU WOULD ALL JOIN STAND ADJOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
OUS DAYS ONE NATION LIKE GOD INVIS WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[II. Appearance of Citizens]
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 MEMBERS.
CITIZENS ARE ASKED TO GIVE THEIR DOCUMENTS, IF ANY, TO THE POLICE OFFICER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL.
WHEN THE MAYOR DETERMINES THAT ALL PER PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY HAVE DONE SO.
MEMBERS OF THE DEC OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND KEY STAFF MAY MAKE COMMENTS AND IF YOU HAVE, UM, ASKED TO SPEAK DURING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO SPEAK DURING THAT AGENDA ITEM AS WELL AS DURING THIS TIME.
SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
MY NAME IS LUKE MCKENZIE AND I'M SPEAKING ON THE CITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY RAISING PROPERTY TAXES NOT ONLY THIS PAST YEAR, BUT POTENTIALLY RAISING THEM ANOTHER 7% IN THE YEAR OF 25.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE CORPORATE CITY LIMITS FOR 13 YEARS.
THE PAST FOUR, ALMOST FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED AT MY CURRENT RESIDENCE.
THE PROPERTY TAXES HAVE GONE UP $2,400.
IF THE ESTIMATED TAX BILL I RECEIVED IS CORRECT, THEN I'LL BE PAYING OVER $5,000 A YEAR IN JUST PROPERTY TAXES.
THAT WOULD BE 3000 MORE THAN WHAT I PAID IN THE FIRST YEAR LIVING THERE.
I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE PAYING MORE THAN WE ARE.
WE EVEN BUDGETED FOR TAXES TO INCREASE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE.
BUT $3,000 MORE A YEAR IS RIDICULOUS.
MACON COUNTY IS IN THE TOP 10 FOR THE HIGHEST EFFECTIVE PROPERTY TAX RATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
ANOTHER 7% ON TOP OF WHAT I'M CURRENTLY PAYING WOULD MAKE MY PROPERTY TAX BILL CLOSE TO $5,400.
THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT TO SOME OF YOU, BUT FOR THE MIDDLE WORKING CLASS, IT IS.
WHEN BROKEN DOWN MONTHLY, MY PROPERTY TAX BILL WILL COST ME ALMOST THE SAME AS MY MORTGAGE.
WE LIVE IN A MODERATE SIZED HOME ON JUST UNDER AN ACRE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND TAXES GOING UP A SMALL AMOUNT EACH YEAR.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHERE AND HOW THEY ARE ALLOCATED.
THE AMOUNT MY TAXES AND MANY OTHERS HAVE GONE UP IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IS ABSURD AND EGREGIOUS.
WHAT INCENTIVE IS THERE FOR OTHERS AND MYSELF TO CONTINUE PAYING THESE TAXES? THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL ARE PUTTING THE BURDEN OF DEBT ON THE BACKS OF THE TAX PAYING CITIZENS.
WHY IS THE ANSWER FOR BUDGET SHORTFALLS? OH, LET'S JUST INCREASE TAXES INSTEAD, WHAT SOME OF YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE OR NEWEST NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE.
I CANNOT SEEM TO COMPREHEND WHY WE HAVE TOWNS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CITY BRINGING IN CANNABIS DISPENSARIES AND THE CITY COUNCIL WON'T EVEN BRING IT TO THE TABLE.
I RECENTLY SAW THE 7% TAX INCREASE THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO IMPLEMENT WOULD BRING $1.1 MILLION IN A YEAR'S TIME.
THE CANNABIS CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN FORSYTH WILL HAVE AN ESTIMATED REVENUE OF $560,000 IN ONE YEAR.
IT'S ESTIMATED TO BRING HALF OF WHAT THE 7% TAX INCREASE WILL BRING,
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AND IN TURN, IT IS NOT PUTTING A LARGER TAX BURDEN ON ITS CITIZENS.IT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE A SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR YEARS TO COME AND CREATE JOBS.
THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL HAS PUT SUCH A BURDEN, NOT ONLY ON ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT OTHER FAMILIES AS WELL.
WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES AFFECTED BY THIS.
THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL HAVE BASICALLY TAXED ME AND MY FAMILY OUT OF OUR HOUSE.
WE LOVE WHERE WE LIVE AND WE LOVE OUR HOUSE, BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NO END IN SIGHT TO RAISING TAXES.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO KEEP PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY IF THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT THEM? I KNOW THE COUNCIL IS POTENTIALLY VOTING ON RAISING THE TAXES THIS EVENING.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS CITY.
SOME PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE BARELY GETTING BY AND NOW YOU WANNA MAKE IT EVEN HARDER ON THEM.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO BRING NEW PEOPLE AND NEW BUSINESSES IN THE CITY? HOW DO YOU INTEND TO RETAIN PEOPLE EVEN WHEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR TAXES JUST CONTINUE TO INCREASE? UNFORTUNATELY, I'M SORRY, WE'RE ACTIVELY YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
I'M TO SOMEWHERE TO MOVE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THAT'S ALL.
SO I'M SORRY YOUR TIME IS AMEN.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING.
UM, I'M ANN OWENS AND I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, THE TAX INCREASE DURING THE BUDGET.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA RELAY TWO STORIES THAT I HAD NO IDEA WERE GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY AND I THINK THEY'RE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW.
SO IT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.
MY PHONE RING A NUMBER I DIDN'T KNOW, BUT I ANSWER.
LADY GOT MY NUMBER OUT THE DECATUR TRIBUNE.
SHE HAD NO IDEA OF WHO SHE WAS CALLING EXCEPT THAT SHE KNEW MY NUMBER WAS IN THERE TWICE FOR TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS.
YOU DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY, DO YOU? NO, I DO NOT, MA'AM.
SO SHE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME HOW CONCERNED SHE IS ABOUT LOSING HER HOME.
WHY IS SHE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF A TAX INCREASE.
SO THIS WAS KIND OF LIKE OUT IN LEFT FIELD.
THE LADY TALKED FOR 20 MINUTES AND SHE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT SHE, I ENCOURAGED HER TO COME HERE TONIGHT.
OFFERED TO TAKE HER TO DINNER TO GET HER TO COME HERE WITH ME.
SHE WON'T, SHE WON'T BECAUSE SHE THINKS THAT NOBODY LISTENS TO HER.
I'M PRETTY PATIENT WITH PEOPLE, SO I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT IN MY LIFE.
SO THEN THIS AFTERNOON AT 3 27, I GET ANOTHER ANONYMOUS NUMBER PHONE CALL AND IT'S ANOTHER LADY.
SO SHE'S CALLING BECAUSE SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT HER HOME.
SHE'S BEEN, ACCORDING TO HER REBUFFED BY THE CITY, I CALMED HER DOWN.
SHE WAS SOBBING AT ONE POINT AND I CALMED HER DOWN TO HEAR WHAT THE STORY WAS.
MANAGED TO GET ENOUGH INFORMATION TO FIND OUT WHO AT THE CITY SHE COULD CALL TO TALK TO.
SO I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW OUR REGULAR PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY HURTING AS YOU JUST HEARD THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M VERY SERIOUS THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLANE AS WELL AS CITY STEP.
AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER MY OFFER TO DO TOURS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS NEXT YEAR.
I'M TELLING YOU, A MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS FEEL LIKE THEY ONLY HEAR BACK FROM ONE OR TWO OF YOU.
I END UP BEING A SPOKESPERSON, WHICH IS NOT MY ROLE IN LIFE, NOT A ROLE THAT I ENJOY, BUT I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND I'M WILLING TO FIGHT FOR IT.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE, UH, PUT UP A SIGN FOR JERRY PILL ON KING AND MARTIN LUTHER KING.
NONE OF MY FRIENDS FROM THE COUNCIL AND NONE OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOWED UP TO, TO WELCOME HIM FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I THINK HE'S DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THIS COMMUNAL OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS AND HE DESERVES TO HAVE SOME RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THANK YOU MICHELLE, FOR COMING.
HELP ME OUT AND I KNOW ALL I KNOW ALL OF Y'ALL LOVE ME, BUT YOU JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO COME DOWN AND HELP ME WELCOME HIM FOR THE CITY.
[00:10:01]
IS I WANT TO DO ONE THING FOR ME AGAIN, AND THAT IS PLEASE DON'T LET THE MASON TEMPLE GO DOWN BECAUSE IT'S GONNA COST US MORE MONEY TO TEAR IT DOWN THAN IT WOULD THE CITY TO FIX IT UP SO PEOPLES COULD USE IT.I GOT A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR THAT PLACE, AND IT'S LOOKING TERRIBLE.
THEY MOWED THE YARD TODAY, BUT THEY NEED TO BAIL HAY BECAUSE THE WAY THEY LEFT THE LANE THERE.
SO CAN THE CITY PLEASE FIX THAT BUILDING UP SO IT CAN BE USED AGAIN AND DON'T LET US PAY TO TEAR IT DOWN.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DECATUR AND I, UH, I LOVE IT HERE.
I LIKE HAVING MY FAMILY IN DECATUR AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
I STAND HERE TONIGHT BEFORE YOU AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN, DEEPLY DISCOURAGED BY THE SIGNIFICANT PROPOSED INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE FINANCIAL NEEDS, THIS PROPOSAL IGNORES THE BURDEN THAT WE ALREADY CARRY AS TAXPAYERS IN MACON COUNTY RANKED 10TH HIGHEST IN PROPERTY TAXES NATIONWIDE.
I LIVE IN A 55-YEAR-OLD HOME THAT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS, YET MY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES ALREADY TAKE UP EIGHT AND A HALF PERCENT OF MY ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
THE CITY HAS BEEN SHRINKING RAPIDLY, AND YET GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE GROWING.
INSTEAD OF EXPANDING, INSTEAD OF EXPANDING BUDGETS, WE SHOULD BE SCALING THEM DOWN.
IT'S TIME TO REALLOCATE SPENDING AND PRIORITIZE EFFICIENCY OVER EXPANSION.
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUST DO WHAT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DO LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM IS CLEARLY BROKEN.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE COUNTY STATING THAT MY HOME'S ASSESSED VALUE HAD DOUBLED SINCE I PURCHASED IT A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS AGO.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M APPEALING THIS DECISION, BUT WHAT SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE IS THAT ACCORDING TO THE MACON COUNTY ASSESSOR'S RECORDS, THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THIS VERY COUNCIL WHOSE VERY NICE HOMES ARE ASSESSED TODAY AT LESS THAN WHAT THEY PAID FOR THEM 10 AND 15 YEARS AGO.
HOW CAN THIS THIS SYSTEM BE, HOW CAN IT BE SO INCONSISTENT AND UNFAIR? AND FINALLY, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, INCREASING TAXES IS THE EASY WAY OUT.
IT SEEMS THAT IT'S TIME FOR OUR CITY MANAGER TO STEP UP AND PRESENT REAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN DECATUR.
WE PAY HIM FAR TOO MUCH MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, SHRINKING POPULATION, RISING COSTS AND UNFAIR ASSESSMENTS REQUIRE BOLD LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS, NOT JUST MORE MONEY FROM THE TAXPAYER'S POCKETS.
INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES IS NOT THE SOLUTION.
IT DRIVES PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES AWAY.
WE NEED A SMALLER, MORE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL AND FOCUS ON FIXING THE ROOT ISSUES AND INSTEAD OF PLACING A GREATER BURDEN ON OUR TAXPAYERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.
AND BEFORE I CONTINUE, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING HE SAID THAT I THINK IS INCORRECT.
IT'S UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR TO COME UP WITH IDEAS TO GIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. YOU ALL NEED TO BE INVOLVED AND COME WITH IDEAS FOR HIM TO IMPLEMENT NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS MORNING IS THE STORMWATER UTILITY FEE AND ERU.
I RECENTLY PAID MY FEE FOR THE YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN AN ISSUE ON MY MIND ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME.
AND WHILE RESEARCHING, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS FEE WAS PASSED IN NOVEMBER OF 2014.
SO THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THIS FEE SEEMS LIKE A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS THIS IN 2021.
I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS FEE I HAD BEEN PAYING.
I LEARNED THAT THE FEE IMPOSED IS ONLY, IS IMPOSED ONLY ON IMPERVIOUS OR HARD SURFACES.
MY LOTS THAT WERE BEING CHARGED ARE NOT IMPERVIOUS.
I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY AND THEY CHANGED MY BILLING.
STOP CHARGING ME THE ERU FEE AND CREDITED MY ME FOR THE SEVEN PRIOR YEARS.
HOWEVER, I'M STILL BEING CHARGED THE STORM UTILITY FEE FOR MY LOTS.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND ISSUES THAT THE CITY SHOW INTEGRITY.
GO BACK AND CREDIT ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DIDN'T HAVE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
IS THE CITY STILL CHARGING THE ERU FEES FOR THOSE PROPERTIES? THEY SAY THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE.
WAS I THE ONLY SQUEAKY WHEEL AND OTHER ARE BEING UNJUSTLY CHARGED? WHY ARE NATURAL GRASS LOTS BEING CHARGED IN THE FIRST PLACE? BY THE CITY'S DEFINITION, STORM WATER RUNOFF HAPPENS WITH HARD IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
NATURAL LOTS ACTUALLY REDUCE RUNOFF BY ABSORBING STORM WATERS.
THE CITY'S FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER STATE, THE AMOUNT OF STORMWATER RUNOFF FROM A PROPERTY IS RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF HARD OR IMPERVIOUS AREA THAT
[00:15:01]
IS ON THE PROPERTY.MY LOTS AREN'T IMPERVIOUS OR CREATING RUNOFF.
WHY AM I BEING CHARGED? I'LL TALK DIRECTLY WITH THEIR WATER DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS, BUT I SERIOUSLY HOPE YOU ALL WILL LOOK INTO THE ISSUE OF FEES BEING IMPROPERLY CHARGED AND COLLECTED.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL THIS EVENING? A COUPLE OF NOTES.
I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN AT THE, UM, SIGNING WHEN, WHEN THE SIGN WAS UNVEILED FOR MR. PELS.
HE'S A FRIEND AND I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT ONLY RECEIVED NOTICE THAT IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFOREHAND.
AND I HAD A PREVIOUS COMMITMENT THAT I JUST ABSOLUTELY COULDN'T GET OUT OF.
BUT I DO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR PUSHING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
UM, COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL PAT? UH, NONE OF US LIKE PROPERTY TAX, BUT I'M GONNA SAY THE SAME THING I DID TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE CITY DOES NOT ASSESS YOUR PROPERTY.
UH, WE'RE ONLY 16% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX AND AS I STATED TWO WEEKS AGO, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE OTHER TAXING BODIES AND GIVE THIS SAME SPEECH.
EVERYONE PICKS ON THE CITY AND WE'RE ONLY 16% OF YOUR BILL.
AND, AND I BELIEVE MR. GLEASON, IF I'M NOT WRONG, UM, CAN YOU GIVE ME AGAIN THE NUMBER THAT FOR THE 7% INCREASE, WHAT IT WOULD BE THE CITY'S PORTION OF THAT TAX? BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE ASSUMING THERE IS A 7% OF A TOTAL TAX BILL THAT WILL BE IMPOSED AGREED MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SAME MESSAGE AS HAS BEEN SHARED, UH, MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROPERTY TAX BILL.
UH, AND THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
UH, COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL'S? CORRECT.
AND THIS CAN BE CHALLENGING TO KEEP UP WITH WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROPERTY TAX BILL, BUT I WANT TO SHARE THAT IN 2022, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE WAS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
TONIGHT'S THE BUDGET AT ADOPTION.
THE ACTUAL, UH, PROPERTY TAX, UH, WILL BE, UH, APPROVED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 2ND.
BUT THE REASON THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE, UH, PROPERTY TAX IS IS BECAUSE THAT'S A SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT WE'RE PLUGGING INTO THE BUDGET, UH, THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED FOR ADOPTION TONIGHT.
SO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE IS A CERTAIN NUMBER FOR THE CITY'S 16% PORTION.
THAT NUMBER IS LESS THAN WHAT IT WAS IN 2022, A CITY OR ANY ENTITY.
AND YOUR TAXING BILL CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN THE REVENUES IF THE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR PROPERTY GOES UP.
THIS COUNCIL TOOK A VERY BOLD ACTION LAST YEAR AND REDUCED THE RATE DRAMATICALLY FROM WHAT IT HAD BEEN THE YEAR PRIOR.
BUT WE STILL CAPTURED SOME INCREASE IN REVENUE BECAUSE THE ASSESSED VALUE INCREASED.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON THIS YEAR AS WELL.
YOU WILL SEE A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT WHILE IT'S CLOSE TO THE 2022 RATE MORE THAN THE 2023 RATE, WHICH IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AT 7%, IT GENERATES A FAIR AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE OTHER AREAS TO, TO SUPPORT, UH, THE 2025 BUDGET EXCEPT FOR THE GAS USE TAX THAT WAS, UH, RECENTLY ADOPTED.
FAIR AND EQUITABLE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF, UH, THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE PAYING IT OTHERWISE ALREADY.
AND WE HAD 200 ENTITIES THAT WERE NOT PAYING FOR IT.
SO THIS BUDGET TONIGHT, UH, WHILE THERE ARE SOME INCREASES, IT VERY MUCH IS ON THE BACK OF TWO THINGS.
A SMALL PORTION OF INCREASE ON THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AND THE NEW GAS TAX, UH, THAT WAS ADOPTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
THIS IS A TOUGH TOPIC AND, AND THE MAYOR'S ALLOWED ME A CHANCE TO, UH, SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UH, THIS 7% THAT THE CITY IS, UH, UH, HAS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, IF YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL CURRENTLY, LET'S SAY, IS $5,000, THE MISCONCEPTION IS THAT 7% TIMES $5,000, YOU'RE GONNA SEE AN INCREASE OF $350 ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL.
IT ACTUALLY, FOR THE AVERAGE VALUED HOME IN OUR COMMUNITY IS $135,000 HOME.
AND YOU CAN DO THE MATH UP OR DOWN IF YOUR HOME IS VALUED MORE OR LESS THAN THAT AVERAGE HOME.
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IS ONLY $35.AND I REALIZE THAT $35 CAN BE IMPACTFUL TO A COM, YOU KNOW, TO A RESIDENT.
BUT THAT'S THE PORTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
FOR THE AVERAGE HOME IN THIS COMMUNITY AT A 7% INCREASE IS $35 OR ROUGHLY $3 A MONTH.
AND THAT IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP, UH, KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASED COST OF OPERATING THE CITY AND ACTUALLY IN SOME AREAS GROW, UH, THE PERSONNEL NEEDS, BUT JUST NOT THAT MUCH TO THE TUNE OF 15.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO COVER.
IT IS, AND TO A COUPLE OF NUMBERS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT.
UM, NUMBER ONE SAYING THAT MACON COUNTY HAS THE, UH, 10TH HIGHEST, UH, PROPERTY TAXES IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S NOT REALLY APPLES TO APPLES WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT OTHER STATES BECAUSE ILLINOIS FUNDS SCHOOLS THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH OTHER STATES DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
AND I BELIEVE DR. HORN HAD SOME NUMBERS AT OUR LAST MEETING, BUT IT WAS, AGAIN, NATIONAL NUMBERS, NOT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD NEW NUMBERS.
UM, ALSO TO THE ISSUE ON THE DISPENSARY, WE LOOKED AT THIS AND I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT IN OVER A YEAR, BUT WE COMPARED THE REVENUES TO, UM, WHAT PEORIA WAS BRINGING IN FOR THE COUNTY IN, UH, FOR THEIR DISPENSARIES.
IT WAS, AND THEN AVERAGED IT PER CAPITA TO OUR POPULATION.
IT WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $350,000.
AND THIS IS A YEAR AGO THAT THE CITY WOULD'VE BROUGHT IN IN REVENUE.
AND THAT $350,000 IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT.
BUT REALISTICALLY, HARRIS TOWN HAS A DISPENSARY.
THEY'RE BRINGING IN ABOUT $20,000 A MONTH.
FORSYTH HAS BEEN TOLD THEY WERE GONNA BRING IN A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
SO IT WAS MOUNT ZION, BUT I DON'T KNOW, THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE DISPENSARIES DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT MUCH OF AN INCREASE IN SALES.
IT WOULD BE LESS FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR PROBABLY IF WE HAD ONE.
AND YOU HAVE THREE DISPENSARIES IN THE COUNTY, SO YOU TAKE A THIRD OF IT, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT IT'S NOT THE KIND OF MONEY THAT PEOPLE THROW AROUND THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON, PLUS THE COST OF SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT FOLLOW THAT.
PAT AND ANOTHER, UH, WAS MENTIONED THAT, UH, IT'S THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL'S, UH, ISSUE TO PRESENT THINGS TO THE, TO CITY MANAGERS AND STAFF, WHICH WE'VE DONE.
BUT OUR LAST CITY MANAGER CAME UP WITH SOME IDEAS TO, YOU KNOW, UH, HELP KEEP THE PROPERTY TAX DOWN BY OTHER FEES, UH, ON BUSINESSES IN THAT.
AND, UM, WE, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH SUPPORT.
SO CITY MANAGERS AND STAFF DO WHAT THEY CAN DO, BUT HE, IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT, IF THEY DON'T HAVE FOUR VOTES, THEY DON'T BRING IT TO US.
SO, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS IN THE PAST AND WE'VE, WE'VE TURNED THEM DOWN.
COUNCILMAN Q WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.
SORRY, I DON'T HAVE CHUCK'S FACE UP ON MY, ON MY, UM, IPAD.
UM, COUNCILMAN KUHL, IF YOU COULD HOLD FOR A MINUTE.
WE'RE NOT HEARING YOUR AUDIO IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
COUNCILMAN KUHL? CAN YOU TRY AGAIN, PLEASE? NOW WE CAN'T HEAR HIM AT ALL.
WHAT, START FROM THE BEGINNING IF YOU WOULD.
IF I DISRUPT THE MEETING AGAIN, JUST SKIP ME.
BUT MY COMMENTS ARE THIS TO MR. TAYLOR, UH, ON THE MASONIC TEMPLE TEMPLE.
I THINK WE'D ALL LIKE TO SEE THAT RENOVATED.
I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH IT ONCE YOU RENOVATE IT? SO SOMEBODY HAS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN OF NOT ONLY HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET THE MONEY TO RENOVATE IT, BUT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO WITH IT ONCE YOU DO RENOVATE IT ON THE CANNABIS.
WE'VE BEEN OVER AND OVER ON THIS.
UM, I, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE NEVER GOT A VOTE ON WHETHER CANNABIS WAS GONNA BE LEGAL IN THIS STATE.
AND 50% OF THE STATES IN THIS UNION DO NOT HAVE LEGALIZED CANNABIS.
OKAY? SO THAT'S THE ONE THING I WANT TO SAY.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS VOTE ON WHETHER WE WANTED IT IN, IN OUR MUNICIPALITY.
THE LAST CITY COUNCIL ELECTION THAT I WAS IN, WE HAD FIVE OR SIX PRO CANNABIS CANDIDATES THAT RAN, AND ONLY ONE, UH, ONE WHO'S AN EXISTING COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO ON THIS COUNCIL, WE DID NOT SUPPORT A DISPENSARY.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE SUPPORT FOR A DISPENSARY.
AND AS FAR AS THE REVENUE, THERE'S MANY OTHER BUSINESSES THAT YOU COULD BRING INTO DECATUR THAT WOULD MATCH THE SAME REVENUE THAT CANNABIS WOULD HAVE.
AND I SEE NO POSITIVE, UH, UH, REASON TO APPROVE CANNABIS IN THIS CITY.
JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT DOESN'T
[00:25:01]
MEAN WE HAVE TO DO IT.OKAY? IT'S JUST LIKE TELLING YOUR KIDS IF EVERYBODY ELSE DOES IT, YOU KNOW, YOUR KIDS COME TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT.
WELL, YOU GOTTA BE A GOOD PARENT SOMETIMES AND SAY NO.
AND SO THAT'S HOW I FEEL ON CANNABIS.
UM, ON MY PROPERTY TAXES, I THINK ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID THAT, UH, OUR PROPERTY TAXES HAVEN'T GONE UP.
I KNOW THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS, UH, I HAD A SENIOR EXEMPTION.
UH, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY THING THAT COULD HAVE KEPT MINE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, MAYOR, IS THIS THE TIME TO DO, UH, TALK ABOUT OUR STANCE ON THE PROPERTY TAX? ARE WE GONNA WAIT TILL ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS COMES UP? WELL, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET, BUT WE ARE NOT SETTING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE TONIGHT.
UH, THERE IS, THE HEARING IS ON THE BUDGET, SO I, I WOULD SAY MORE LIKELY DURING THE BUDGET.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO CAME TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAINST IT AT THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S COMING UP.
AND THEN, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN, UH, PROBABLY AT OUR NEXT MEETING, I AM 100% OPPOSED TO A 7% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
IT IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY, UH, FOR US TO APPROVE THAT.
UM, THIS, UM, PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF 7% WOULD RAISE APPROXIMATELY $1.1 MILLION TO, TO PUT THAT NUMBER INTO PERSPECTIVE.
AT ONE OF OUR RECENT MEETINGS, WE SPENT $1.2 MILLION FOR A PIPELINE, UH, TO THE FORMER VULCAN MINE IN DECATUR THAT WOULD PROVIDE 8% OF THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY SHORTFALL IN THE MOST SEVERE DROUGHT IN A, IN AND OF ITSELF.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REASONABLE EXPENSE.
HOWEVER, THE CITY ALREADY CAN ACCESS WATER FROM THAT FORMER MINE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
IN OTHER WORDS, JUST ONE EXPENSE THAT WE PAID FOR JUST A MEETING OR TWO AGO PAID FOR COMPLETELY, UH, FOR THIS $1.1 MILLION PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
THE REALITY IS MACON COUNTY ALREADY HAS EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH PROPERTY TAX RATE.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 40% OF RESIDENTS IN MACON COUNTY, OVER 40,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS ON A WEEK TO WEEK, MONTH TO MONTH BASIS.
AND SO EVEN IF THE CITY MANAGER ARGUES, WELL, THAT MAY ONLY BE 35% OF ONE'S DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING THAT PEOPLE HAVE WHEN INFLATION RATE HAS GONE UP 20% IN FOUR YEARS, THERE SIMPLY IS NO LONGER THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING THAT IS AVAILABLE.
THE FORECLOSURE RATE IN MACON COUNTY IS ALREADY 12.9 TIMES GREATER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
AND SO WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING PEOPLE TO PAY MORE AND IT'S UNNECESSARY.
AND SO I WILL STRONGLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AND NOT TO HAVE THIS IN THE BUDGET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT.
AND AGAIN, THAT VOTE IS NOT TONIGHT.
THAT WILL BE, WOULD IT? DO YOU KNOW THE DATE OF THE DECEMBER MEETING MANAGER? DECEMBER 2ND.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? YES, DR. HORN, JUST TO CLARIFY THOUGH, IN THE BUDGET, TONIGHT IS A 7% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THAT IS WHAT THE PROPERTY, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN.
THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, UH, THAT WE ARE PROJECTING IS AT 7%.
FORMAL ADOPTION FOR THAT IS ON DECEMBER 2ND, BUT IT'S AT REVENUE, UH, THAT, UH, WE'RE PLUGGING IN FOR THE BUDGET ADOPTION THIS EVENING.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN HORN'S ASSESSMENT THAT THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IS NOT NECESSARY.
UM, WHILE HE WILL SAY THAT WE CAN DRAW WATER FROM THE VULCAN, UH, PIT ALREADY FOR OUR WATER, UM, IF WE WERE EVER IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO TEST
[00:30:01]
THAT AND IT FAILED, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE VERY UNHAPPY WITH US.I THINK THERE IS ALSO A FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CITY HAS DONE NOTHING TO CUT AREAS IN THE BUDGET.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES.
I'M JUST GOING TO USE THE EXAMPLE BECAUSE HE'S SITTING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME THIS EVENING.
UH, CHIEF ABBOTT, WHEN WE HAVE AN UNINSURED DRIVER RUN INTO ONE OF OUR FIRE TRUCKS OR FIRE ENGINES AND PUTS IT OUT OF SERVICE, WE HAVE AN EXPENSE TO FIX THAT VEHICLE.
WOULD YOU JUST PREFER THAT WE PULL IT OFF INTO A GARAGE AND SAY, WELL, WE'RE JUST GONNA DO THE BEST THAT WE HAVE WITH WHAT, WHAT WE'VE GOT.
WHEN I LOOK AT HIS MEN AND WOMEN WHO RESPOND TO A FIRE, THEY HAVE, UM, VERY NECESSARY AND VERY EXPENSIVE PROTECTIVE FIRE GEAR.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE SHOULD MAKE OUR MEN AND WOMEN MAKE DO WITH WHAT THEY HAVE? AND SO BE IT WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY TIMES IN THE SUMMER WHERE WE HAVE POP-UP PARTIES AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL OFFICERS.
SO THIS COMING SUMMER, IF WE HAVE A POPUP PARTY AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO RESPOND, DO YOU JUST WANT US TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE? WHEN THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS HAS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WORST FIRST STREETS AND CURBS AND SIDEWALKS, WHICH BY THE WAY FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF CONSTRUCTION EXPENSES THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE, NOT ONLY FOR A CITIZEN, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO RISE FOR A CITY.
DO YOU WANT DIRECTOR NEWELL TO SAY, I'M SORRY, CITY.
I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO FIX THOSE STREETS.
DO YOU WANT US TO CUT BACK ON THE CHEMICALS AND THE WORK THAT WE DO TO KEEP OUR WATER DRINKING WATER SAFE? IF WE MAYBE JUST CUT BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT ON EACH CHEMICAL AND DILUTE IT, IS THAT OKAY? IT'S NOT OKAY.
TO ME, COSTS HAVE GONE UP FOR EVERYONE.
I'VE ANSWERED A LOT OF EMAILS THIS WEEK, UM, ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE 7% PROPOSED TAX INCREASE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US SITTING UP HERE ARE HOMEOWNERS AND WE'RE IN A BEAR THAT COST AS WELL.
BUT WHAT HAS SURPRISED ME IS WHEN I HAVE RESPONDED TO SOME CITIZENS AND SAY, DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PULLING IN OVER 50% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE? AND HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM OR DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE DECATUR PARK DISTRICT IS PULLING IN, UM, RIGHT BEHIND THE CITY OF DECATUR, A GREAT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS? HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM? AND OH, BY THE WAY, RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHICH REPRESENTS EIGHT COUNTIES, HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD TAX INCREASES AS WELL.
ARE YOU HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM? SO I THINK I'M SAYING THE SAME THING THAT COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL IS SAYING, BUT JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
ILLINOIS'S TAX STRUCTURE, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IS NOT ONE WE WOULD CHAMPION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, WELL, I THINK IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE OVER 7,000 TAXING BODIES.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION BECAUSE I HAVE TO PAY THAT TAX BILL TOO.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN I TURN ON MY KITCHEN SINK TO GET A DRINK OF WATER OR WHEN I NEED TO CALL 9 1 1 ON THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS A CITY WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO OUR CITIZENS AT A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY EXPECT.
[III. Approval of Minutes]
WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024.[00:35:01]
MCDANIEL? AYE.IS THERE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS TONIGHT? NONE.
MOVING THEN TO NEW BUSINESS, THE
[1. Treasurer's Financial Report]
FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT.MR. GLEASON, ARE, WE'RE GOING TO YOU FIRST.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL TO THE COMMUNITY.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS THE MONTHLY TREASURER'S REPORT.
SO WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN 2024 AND WE'RE IN THE, UH, FOURTH QUARTER.
UH, SO WE'RE DOWN THE HOME STRETCH.
UH, AND, UH, WE'LL SEE THAT, UH, EXPENSES AND REVENUES BASICALLY ARE TRENDING AS, UH, WE'VE EXPECTED THERE'S A NORMAL 11 FLOW, UH, WHERE THERE'S HIGHS AND LOWS THROUGHOUT, UH, ANY GIVEN FISCAL YEAR.
AND GOOD EVENING TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
SO IN OCTOBER, UH, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WE ARE SEEING SOME UPS AND DOWNS WITH REVENUE, BUT FOR OCTOBER WE ENDED CASH AT 22.8 MILLION, WHICH IS 95 DAYS CASH.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS REQUESTED, AND IT IS IN, UM, OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT WE STAY AT 90 DAYS.
ANTHONY COOLING, WHO IS OUR BUDGET AND REVENUE OFFICER, HAS PROJECTED WHERE WE'RE GONNA END FOR THE YEAR.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT MORE WRITEUP IN THE TREASURY'S REPORT THIS TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO END THE YEAR IN REVENUE AT $2 MILLION.
AND WITH THAT ALSO EXPENSES WE EXPECT TO BE 1.5 MILLION UNDER BUDGET AS WELL.
NOW, THE 2 MILLION IN REVENUE LARGELY IN PART IS PPRT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TAXES WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
THEY REDUCED IT 20% FOR ABOUT $800,000.
GRANTS IS DOWN ABOUT $525,000.
AND THERE'S CORRESPONDING EXPENSES WITH THAT, THAT WE WOULD NOT SPEND IF WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE GRANT.
CONSUMER TAXES THAT IS RELATED TO CONSUMER CONSUMPTION IS DOWN $680,000.
AND THEN THE REVENUES WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, UH, WE DID NOT ADOPT THROUGH COUNCIL IS DOWN $400,000.
SO OF COURSE THOSE REVENUES DID NOT COME IN.
NOW THE STATE INCOME TAX HAS BEEN TRENDING UPWARDS.
SO WE LOOKED INTO THAT MORE AND THE STATE HAS INCREASED THE RATE HALF A PERCENT IN DISTRIBUTION TO MUNICIPALITIES.
SO WITH THAT, WE ALSO, UH, CHANGED THAT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET.
AS WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL THIS IN RECENT, UH, ARTICLES, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT, UM, THE STATE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CAME OUT WITH THAT THEY ARE SEEING CONSUMER SPENDING, UH, REDUCED AS WELL.
SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE PICKED UP ON THAT.
I NOTED THAT THE REVENUE IS DOWN 2 MILLION AND EXPENSES ARE DOWN 1.5.
THAT LEAVES $500,000 TO FINE IN FISCAL YEAR 25, 24, EXCUSE ME.
AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE EXPECT CASH TO BE AROUND 93 DAYS, AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $500,000 TO COVER, UH, THE SHORTFALL THERE.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD BE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, HAVE YOU DONE ANY FORECAST? IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD.
I KNOW, BUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS NOT LOOKING LIKE THEY'RE GONNA BE FLUSHED WITH CASH.
AND THEY'RE, UH, THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT, UH, THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO COME OUT WITH HIS BUDGET PLAN THAT, UM, SEEMS TO ALWAYS COME BACK TO BITE US.
SO ARE THERE PROJECTIONS ABOUT ANY KIND OF SHORTFALL YET, OR IS IT JUST TOO EARLY? IT'S TOO EARLY, BUT WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE DID, AND I'LL GET INTO THIS IN A MINUTE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FISCAL YEAR 25, BUT WE, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT OUR BUDGET, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING BEHIND THE BUDGET FOR REVENUE.
SO IN 25, WE TOOK THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND MADE SURE THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING SOME OF THAT AND NOT INCREASING, UH, THE REVENUES FOR 2025, UH, MUCH EXCEPT FOR THE STATE, UH, INCOME TAX, WHICH WAS PERFORMING BETTER THAN BUDGET.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL, MR. MCDANIEL, MAYOR ALSO ON SOME OF THOSE ARTICLES.
UM, ILLINOIS IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT DOES NOT, UH, TAX PENSIONS.
THAT'S BACK ON THE, UH, UH, ON THE, ON THE, UH, DESK TO LOOK AT.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE, ANY GOVERNOR TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MONEY.
AND, AND SINCE THEY DON'T, UH, TAX PENSIONS, UH, RIGHT NOW, AND IF THEY DO, 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
SO WE GOTTA BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT TOO.
I MEAN, I'M A SENIOR, YOU KNOW, SO MY, MY PENSIONS ARE AREN'T TAXED IN THAT.
BUT, UH, IT MAY BE BOTH MY SOCIAL SECURITY AND ANY OTHER PENSION I MAY HAVE.
SO THAT'S GONNA HIT EVERYBODY.
THAT'S NOT THE CITY, THAT'S THE STATE.
AND, AND LADIES, OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? OH, CHUCK.
IF THE STATE STARTS TAXING PENSIONS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST OPEN THE FLOODGATES AND WATCH EVERYBODY LEAVE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY ON THAT
[00:40:01]
VERY UPBEAT MEAT SO FAR.I WAS GONNA SAY, THAT'S EASY TO SAY, BUT MOST PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO MOVE.
WELL AND AFFORD A HOUSE IN ANOTHER, ANOTHER STATE.
ANY OTHER? I'M JUST GONNA REPEAT IT.
THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE TREASURER ON THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT? OKAY.
[2. Public Hearing in the Matter of the 2025 Budget]
WILL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MATTER OF THE 2025 BUDGET OFFICIALLY CALLED THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ORDER.MR. GLEASON, DO YOU HAVE ANY REMARKS ON THIS OR IS THIS STRICTLY FOR THE PUBLIC? OKAY.
IF I COULD ASK MS. OWENS TO COME BACK TO THE PODIUM AND, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, FOLLOWING OUR USUAL RULES TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA.
BUT BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND IT'S ON SUCH A CRITICAL MATTER, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE AUDIENCE TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA TELL YOU, UM, MS. GREGORY DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF EXPLAINING, THAT'S PART OF MY NOTES I HAVE.
UM, WHILE I WANT YOU TO KEEP THE TAX EVERY REASONABLE, DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T TALK TO THE OTHER PARTIES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS EVERY PENNY THEY CAN GET.
IF WE IMPROVE THE SCHOOLS, YOUR JOB'S GOING TO BE EASIER.
I DON'T JUST PICK ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO I DO WANNA MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.
BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE COUNCIL AND STAFF TO BE BETTER CHAMPIONS.
AS MS. GREGORY WAS THIS EVENING.
YOU ALL KNOW I CAME IN SUPPORT OF BOTH THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MY MOM WAS SAVED BY A POLICE OFFICER, AND INTERESTING THAT YOU USE AN UNINSURED DRIVER HITTING A FIRE TRUCK.
MY MOM WAS HIT BY AN UNINSURED DRIVER WHO INCURRED THE REST OF HER COSTS FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
THAT WOULD BE IN THE BEGINNING, HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER.
I ESSENTIALLY ADOPTED MY MOM AND ALL OF HER BILLS BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SO SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS DO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE TO PLAN.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE CONTINUE TO ADD MORE TO OUR GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS ANOTHER DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND THOSE EXPENSES? SO I THINK THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO BETTER JOB EXPLAINING TO THE CITIZENS WHERE THEIR MONEY GOES, DO A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING AS PAT DID THIS EVENING, YOU GUYS ARE GETTING A SMALL PERCENTAGE.
I DO THAT WITH EVERYONE THAT I TALK TO.
OKAY? I'VE DONE THAT AT KONO MEETINGS.
I'VE EXPLAINED PRIVATELY TO PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY.
I DON'T EVER INTEND TO BE, BUT I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.
SO I THINK SOME OF YOU REALLY NEED TO START STEPPING UP, ATTENDING PUBLIC MEETINGS AND ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE.
I ALSO WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT YOUR BUDGET THAT I CERTAINLY HOPE WHEN MS. MORRIS RECOVERS MONEY FROM THE YW, AND I'M NEVER GOING TO LEAVE THAT ISSUE BEHIND THAT, OVER $700,000 OF OUR MONEY WAS USED TO DEMO A PROPERTY THAT IS NOW PROBABLY GOING TO SET VACANT.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN EL DORADO, JUST FROM JASPER TO WHERE THAT PROPERTY IS, THERE ARE, I DON'T KNOW, EIGHT CORNER PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALREADY VEGAN FOR SALE OR FOR LEASE.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A HOT COMMODITY, BUT I AM GOING TO SAY, WHEN YOU RECOVER THE FUNDS FROM THE DERE, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THOSE ARE PUT TOWARDS SAVING PEOPLE'S HOMES.
YOU NEED TO START LOOKING AT THE WEST END.
I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH MR.
SO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I HAVE HOMES THAT HAVE ROOFS ARE DAMAGED.
IF YOU TOOK $700,000 AND INVESTED 20,000 IN SAVING A HOME, THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO PAY $50,000
[00:45:02]
TO DEMO IT.WE NEED TO START BEING MORE PROACTIVE.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU NEED TO START PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WEST END.
I TRAVEL THERE EVERY DAY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SAD STORIES.
SOME OF THEM ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE ELDERLY PEOPLE.
SO I DO THINK, AND I'M NOT A NEGATIVE PERSON ABOUT DECAT OR I WOULDN'T BE HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME THAT YOU STEP UP AND YOU START EXPLAINING YOUR VICTORIES.
GO BACK TO THE 30 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE COVID MONEY.
TELL US, WHAT DID WE GET FOR THAT? TELL THE PUBLIC, DID WE GET A 24 HOUR DAYCARE? NO, NOT YET.
WE'VE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON JASPER STREET, BUT YOU NEED TO BE BETTER AT TELLING YOUR OWN STORY AND QUIT BLAMING PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE FINALLY HAVE SITTING IN THIS CHAMBER THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S VERY SAD FOR ME TO COME HERE KNOWING THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON IMPORTANT ISSUES AND OUR RESIDENTS DON'T COME.
I TOLD YOU EARLIER, I INVITED A LADY TO DINNER TO TRY TO GET HER TO COME.
OKAY? I TAKE EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE TO DINNER TONIGHT IF THEY PROMISED TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING.
WE HAVE TO GET MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
HE WORKS FOR US AND NEED TO REMEMBER IT.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET TONIGHT DURING THE HEARING? SEE NO ONE.
I WILL CLOSE THE BUDGET HEARING FOR THIS EVENING.
AND MOVING ON, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER THREE,
[3. An Ordinance Adopting the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Appropriating Monies for the Purpose of Defraying the Expenses of Departments and Funds of the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025]
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE PURPOSES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING, THE EXPENSES OF DEPARTMENTS AND FUNDS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.MOTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
BEFORE I TURN THIS OVER TO THE, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR, UH, RUBY JAMES TO, UH, WALK THROUGH THE, UH, BUDGET PRESENTATION.
JUST FEW KICKOFF COMMENTS AND NOTHING NEW TONIGHT.
UH, THEN WHAT, UH, I'VE COMMENTED TO IN PAST MEETINGS LEADING UP TO THIS, UH, AND I'M NOT GOING TO, UH, PUSH BACK ON ANY OF THE COMMENTS, UH, AT ALL.
I MEAN, YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, UH, A CITY MANAGER THAT, UH, TALKS, UH, A LOT ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCES AND TAXPAYER, UH, AT AS STEWARDS OF THE, UH, TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THIS BUDGET, YOU KNOW, I STEP IN, UH, NOT DISSIMILAR, UH, TO A SITUATION I STEPPED INTO HERE IN 2015 WHERE, UH, THE CITY HAD, UH, FIVE OPERATING DAYS OF CASH.
IT WAS NOT A GOOD TIME FOR THE CITY.
SO SURE ENOUGH, I STEPPED BACK WHEN, UH, WE'RE AT THE TAIL END OF HAVING SPENT $34.9 MILLION IN A RP FUNDS.
HOW DO WE SPEND THOSE? WELL, IN FACT, WE SPENT THOSE AND THEN SOME.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL'S GOING TO HAVE TO RECONCILE THAT AS WE CLOSE THE FY 24 BUDGET.
UH, AS FAR AS THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DAY THAT I ARRIVED HERE IN MAY STARTED NOT PUSHING BACK, BUT JUST SETTING, UH, MY EXPECTATIONS ON ALL POSITIONS, ALL VACANCIES, JUSTIFY THOSE, YOU KNOW, TO MY DIRECTORS.
WHAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN THIS VERY, UH, VACANCY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE? FAST FORWARD TO NOW, IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY QUICK SIX MONTHS AND, UH, FILL IN VERY GOOD CONSCIENCE THAT, UH, THE, THE AD OF THE PERSONNEL THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED IN THE FY 25 BUDGET CAN BE JUSTIFIED.
UH, EIGHT OF THOSE ARE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
TWO OF THE 15 ARE GRANT POSITIONS THAT THE EXPECTATION WAS THOSE WOULD CONTINUE ONCE THE GRANT FUNDS RUN OUT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE, UH, THAT LEAVES FIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
WE TALK ABOUT THE, UH, SECOND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
WELL, HERE'S ACTUALLY THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT POSITION.
I'M THE ONE THAT TOOK THE MULTIPLE DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IN THIS COMMUNITY DOWN TO ONE WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE.
AND I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE MULTIPLE DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS.
UH, I WOULD JUST HAVE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK THROUGH THE VACANCY SAVINGS AND PERSONNEL COSTS.
SO I'VE GOT THAT AUTHORITY ALREADY.
[00:50:01]
POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HERE IS DEFINITELY WITH COUNCIL, BUT MORE SO THE, THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE COUNCIL HAS, UH, AN INTIMATE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH, UH, THE CITY'S FINANCES.BUT I WANT THE, THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT AGREE, BUT I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY'S BUDGET.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, I ALREADY HAVE THE AUTHORITY, UH, TO DO THAT.
BUT PHIL, AGAIN, THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHARE THIS.
WE ALSO, UH, LOOK AT A COMMUNITY THAT, UH, AND I'M GONNA REPEAT MYSELF, BUT IT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THAT NIGHT THAT YOU DO REPEAT YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY CLEAR.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NEVER SPENT, OR IT'S BEEN VERY FEW LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
I WAS HERE WHEN WE RECEIVED THE FIRST MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE HOWARD G BUFFET FOUNDATION, AND THEN ALSO THAT LENT ITSELF TO THE JOHNS HILL REDEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN WE RECEIVED 34.9 MILLION.
WHILE NOT ALL OF THAT MONEY WAS SPENT ON NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, A LARGE PORTION OF THAT WAS THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, OR I'M SORRY, THE, THE TOPIC TONIGHT FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE TRULY ARE PLEDGING $2.5 MILLION TO, UH, BE DEDICATED AND PLEDGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I'M GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, AND I HAVE SAID THIS, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH, BUT WE'RE GONNA CALL THIS 2025 FISCAL YEAR, A TRANSITION YEAR WHERE WE ARE COMING UP WITH A LARGER PLAN, BUT ALSO CONTINUING TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY EXPECTS THAT.
ALSO TRYING TO REENGAGE, UH, FOUNDATION OPPORTUNITIES AND FIND A WAY TO DO EVEN MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS, UH, UH, ACTUALLY A BUDGET THAT I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PRESENTING TO, UH, THE COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
A QUICK REPEAT ON, UH, THE NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE.
THE ONLY NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE IS THE GAS USE TAX THAT WAS ADOPTED.
AND IT'S GOING TO GENERATE IN 2025, ROUGHLY $3.5 MILLION.
THE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY TAX, AGAIN, IT'S 7% OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT A 16% BELONGS TO THE CITY.
THAT 7% IS $35 ON A HOME THAT'S VALUED AT $135,000, WHICH IS ROUGHLY $3 A MONTH FOR THE CITY'S PORTION.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF HOW, UH, COUNCIL VOTE IS, UH, THE OPINIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, YOU KNOW, ON WHAT THE FINAL DECISION MIGHT BE, I AT LEAST WANT THERE TO BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE THERE'S AN INTEGRITY, UH, FOR MYSELF, FOR STAFF, FOR RUBY THAT'S STANDING AT THE PODIUM NEXT.
AND DEFINITELY MY MARCHING ORDERS FROM THIS COUNCIL.
THERE'S GONNA BE SEVEN, SEVEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I NEED FOUR.
AND, UH, THAT'S TO, UH, CONTINUE THE, UH, BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
AND WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF THAT, I BELIEVE.
SO TO CONTINUE ON FROM THAT, UM, WE WERE ASKED FOR JUST TONIGHT THE A RP DOLLARS, WHAT THEY WERE SPENT ON.
I'M GONNA ANSWER THAT QUICKLY IF I CAN.
UH, WHAT I CAN REMEMBER FROM MEMORY IS, UH, $8 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING DEMOLITIONS.
10 MILLION FOR A C CLARA CONE PROJECT WAS THAT, WHICH IS AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
IT'S BASICALLY TWO OF THE LARGE, UH, TREATMENT FACILITIES UP THERE, WHICH ARE BRAND NEW.
AND THEN 5 MILLION FOR A SEWER PROJECT TO IMPROVE, UM, SEWER SURFACE TO THE CITY.
AND THAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE LARGE PROJECTS I CAN REMEMBER.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE SMALLER PROJECTS.
I DO HAVE A COMPLETE LIST OF THEM, UH, AT MY DESK, WHICH I CAN, UH, PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT, AND MAKE IT PUBLIC IN MY NEXT TREASURER'S REPORT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO FISCAL YEAR 25.
UM, AND AFTER THE CITY MANAGER SUMMARY, I'M JUST GOING TO, UH, DO A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES.
SINCE WE HAD OUR OCTOBER 14TH STUDY SESSION, ESSENTIALLY, WE INITIALLY LOOKED AT, UM, THE HISTORICAL 2024 TRENDS, WHICH WERE LESS THAN, THAN WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED AND LOOKED AT THAT AT 25.
BUT WE ALSO LOOKED AT WHERE REVENUES WERE COMING IN, UH, FOR THE YEAR.
AND SOME OF THEM WERE, UH, WE, WE WANTED TO BE CAUTIOUS.
WHEN WE WENT INTO THE 25 BUDGET, CITY MANAGER ASKED US TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND SAY, WELL, UM, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE ALSO BEING REALISTIC AS WELL AS CAUTIOUS.
AND SO WE DID ADJUST SOME OF THOSE REVENUES A BIT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE STATE INCOME TAX, KNOWING THAT, UH, THE STATE ADJUSTED IT BY HALF A PERCENT GAS USE TAX.
THE CITY MANAGER, UH, DISCUSSED IS, UM, ACTUALLY AT 3.7 MILLION IN
[00:55:01]
TOTAL FOR THE YEAR.AND THEN, UM, FOR NOVEMBER 4TH, UH, WHEN WE, UH, DID THE ESTIMATED AMOUNTS NECESSARY, UM, TO BE RAISED BY THE 2024 TAX LEVY IN THAT RESOLUTION, IT WAS 7%.
WE HAD 5% IN THE BUDGET, AND WE ADDED A $315,000 TO THE REVENUE, WHICH AGAIN, IS ON THE SHEET THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE MATERIALS AS THE ADJUSTMENTS.
AND I ALSO WANNA COMMENT ON THE $40,000 CHANGE ON THE CONVENTION BUREAU.
THIS WAS NOTED, UH, THE NIGHT WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE, THE SESSION AFTER THE STUDY SESSION, I BELIEVE, AND HAD SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
THAT IS NOT AN INCREASE TO THE CONVENTION BUREAU.
IT'S A CORRECTION, UH, THAT MADE THE CONVENTION BUREAU ACCURATE.
UH, IT SHOULD BE 280,000 IN 2025.
THE FARM PROGRESS SHOW IS COMING TO TOWN.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT'S NOT AN INCREASE, IT'S A CORRECTION.
AND WITH THAT, UH, THAT IS EXTENT OF MY COMMENTS.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
DR. HORN, JUST A QUESTION FOR NOW, THEN I'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS.
UH, COULD, COULD YOU REMIND THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS, UH, WHAT THE PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR? SO IN TOTAL, IT IS THE PENSIONS FOR, UH, POLICE AND FIRE, THE LIBRARY.
THE BAND, AND ONE MORE DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A FIRE TRUCK MM-HMM.
BUT AT LARGE, ANY LACK OF FUNDS OVERALL FOR THE BUDGET, LET'S SAY THAT PENSIONS DON'T GET PAID FOR, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE SOURCES OF REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES TO PAY THE PENSION.
SO IN THEORY, WE HAVE TO REDUCE SOMETHING ELSE.
LET'S SAY NOT BUYING A FIRETRUCK, NOT BUYING A POLICE CAR, UM, THOSE WOULD BE REAL CHOICES, RIGHT? OR NOT, UH, PAYING FOR A WATER PIPELINE FOR WHICH PUBLIC WORKS TESTED AND WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT IT ACTUALLY, UM, DREW WATER THAT WAS NEEDED.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? SO MR. KUHL, NO QUESTION FROM HIM.
I, I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO SPEAK UP ABOUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, BUT I THINK I'LL JUST SAY HOW MR. KULA, I THINK WE'VE LOST YOU.
CAN YOU TRY AGAIN? OKAY, I'LL TALK NEXT TIME.
IF YOU DON'T HEAR ME THIS TIME, JUST CUT ME OFF.
I'VE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT MY POSITION AND, UH, SO IT'S NOT NEW TO HIM.
UM, I FULLY RESPECT EVERYTHING HE'S DONE.
I'VE TALKED TO ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I, I WON'T SUPPORT ANY TYPE OF INCREASE MORE THAN 5%.
UM, WE'VE BROUGHT 3 MILLION PLUS IN ON THE GAS TAX.
I READ DPS IS CONSIDERING CONSIDERING A 7% INCREASE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE WOULD ONLY DO 5%, I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A PIPE DREAM, BUT MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHERS WOULD ONLY DO 5%.
BUT WHEN WE DO 7%, THEN IT'S ALMOST LIKE, OKAY, IT'S OKAY TO DO 7%, THEN ALL THE OTHER TAXING BODIES DO 7%.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S ABSOLUTE, BUT THAT CROSSES MY MIND.
UM, AS FAR AS THE POLICE STAFFING, I'M ALL FOR STAFFING THE POLICE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UH, A BUDGET FOR 148.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 1 55, OR WE'RE NOT EVEN FILLING THE 1 48 RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GONNA FILL 1 55.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WANT TO GO UP TO 1 55.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S DOUBTFUL WE WILL FULFILL THAT.
UM, AND ON THE, UH, FIRE SIDE, AND WE SPENT TWO TO THREE YEARS ON THESE FIRE INSPECTORS, AND WE GOTTA NEGOTIATE TO TWO, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA CONSIDER THREE.
I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED THEM.
I'M JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP COSTS DOWN, WE JUST SPENT TWO, THREE YEARS GETTING IT TO TWO, AND NOW WE'RE JUST GONNA ADD THREE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA ADD THREE.
AND, UM, ON A, ON A SIDE NOTE, UH, WITH MRS. OWENS, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO, TO, UH, PIVOT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT MILLI AREA.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
GET THAT MILLIKEN AREA FIXED UP AS BEST WE CAN.
THAT UNIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY, AND TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THAT, UH, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE LAST FEW YEARS WE
[01:00:01]
HAVE REALLY HELD THE LINE ON OUR TAX INCREASES.AND IT HASN'T STOPPED THE OTHER TAXING BODIES FROM JACKING THEIRS UP.
SO, MS. GREGORY, I CAN'T GIVE IT UP, YOU KNOW, I KNOW COUNCILMAN HORN'S GONNA WRITE HIS $1.1 MILLION PIPELINE ALL THE WAY TO THE ELECTION, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, YOU HAVE A SET AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
WHEN YOU AREN'T DOING ONE THING OR WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO.
TO TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T FUND OUR DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE OF PENSIONS IS LIKE A RED HERRING.
WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF BILLS TO PAY.
WHEN WE CAN'T PAY ONE, SOMETHING'S GOING TO BREAK SOMEWHERE.
MR. MCDANIEL, WELL, AGAIN, AS WE'VE TALKED, UH, LAST FEW, UH, MEETINGS, WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT ENOUGH IN TO COVER OUR, UH, REQUIREMENTS WITH THE PENSIONS.
SO WE'VE TAKEN MILLIONS OUT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND AS FAR AS THE WATER, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'D BE UPSET IF I TURN ON MY FAUCET AND THERE'S NO WATER.
AND OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN TOWN REQUIRE WATER.
AND WE WERE IN A DROUGHT THIS YEAR, AND AS I MENTIONED, UH, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, IT'S, IT DROUGHT, MAJOR DROUGHTS ARE OUT WEST.
SO BUSINESSES ARE GONNA BE LOOKING TO SEE WHERE THEY CAN GET, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED.
THAT'S ALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
IF WE WANT MORE JOBS, WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, UP TO PAR, AND THAT COSTS MONEY.
AND, UH, I THINK OUR, OUR PUBLIC WORKS, I FORGET WHAT HE SAID DURING THE BUDGET, HOW MUCH MORE IT COSTS TO DO A, UH, YOU KNOW, A STREET COMPARED TO TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.
AND LIKE I SAID, ALL THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP FOR US.
AND LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, WHEN WE GO SHOPPING, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, CABLE OR WHATEVER IT IS, EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP.
SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT, DON'T WANT HIGHER TAXES.
AND I CERTAINLY DON'T, BUT I WANT THE SERVICES THAT, THE BASIC SERVICES THAT THE CITIES PROVIDE, AND THAT'S EXPENSIVE.
AND QUITE OFTEN THE PUB, THE POPULATION LOSSES BROUGHT UP JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE FEWER PEOPLE.
AND OF COURSE WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, BUT YOU DON'T SHRINK THE NUMBER OF ROADS, SEWER LINES, WATER LINES, BECAUSE YOUR POPULATION IS SMALLER.
YOU, YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME ROADS TO PATROL, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE CALLS, POLICE CALLS ARE ALL UP.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE CALL AND DO OUR JOB.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO.
SO, MR. COOPER, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IN THE LAST MEETING, WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A PERCENTAGE AT THAT MEETING IN ORDER TO MEET THE, THE, THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAD TO MEET.
AND INITIALLY, WHEN I FIRST ADDRESSED THE ISSUE, I WAS, UH, INDICATED THAT I WAS FEELING THAT WE SHOULDN'T GO UP ANY HIGHER THAN 5%.
AND I DID COMPROMISE AT THAT MEETING TO GO TO SEVEN BECAUSE WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT NIGHT.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT NINE, AND I CERTAINLY DID NOT WANT A 9% INCREASE.
SO I DID COMPROMISE AT NIGHT FOR SEVEN, KNOWING WE WOULD BE BACK HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN LATER, AND STILL COULD HAVE A, UH, METHOD TO REDUCE THAT FROM SEVEN EVEN LOWER AS WE HAD BUDGETS IN OUR OWN HOMES.
I, WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INCOME THAT WE GET EACH YEAR JUST AT OUR BUDGETS, AT OUR HOMES, AND ALL THE COSTS ARE GOING UP AT OUR HOMES ON EVERYTHING, FOOD, UTILITIES, TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, INSURANCE.
BUT WE HAVE TO THEN SET OUR BUDGET AND LIVE WITHIN OUR BUDGET BASED ON THE INCOME THAT WE HAVE COMING IN FOR THAT YEAR.
I BELIEVE IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITY COUNCILS TO DO THE SAME THING.
WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN A REASONABLE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF SOME OF THE INCREASES.
[01:05:01]
IS THE BIGGEST PART OF BUDGETS.PENSIONS ARE THE BIGGEST PART OF BUDGETS, AND YOU HAVE TO PAY 'EM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE MAY NEED SOME INCREASES IN PERSONNEL THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS RECOMMENDED.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL WE NEED THEM ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO DO THEM ALL AS, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, CHUCK JUST INDICATED, UH, I HAD THE SAME CONCERN.
WE'RE NOT FILLING THE POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL 'EM.
SO, SO WHY ARE WE ON ADD AND WE CAN'T FILL WHAT WE HAVE? AND I'M SURE IN 2025, SOME OF THE CURRENT OFFICERS ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE LEAVING OR RETIRING.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.
SO I'M ALL FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
I, I CAME OUTTA SECURITY FOR 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND IF WE CAN'T FILL POSITIONS, WE DON'T NEED TO BE ADDING AND WE CAN'T FILL WHAT WE HAVE, LET'S FILL WHAT WE HAVE FIRST.
AND THEN IF WE NEED TO ADD, WE CAN ALWAYS ADD THE COUNSELOR GOT THE RIGHT TO ADD ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR.
SO WHY NOT HOLD OFF ON THOSE RECOMMENDED POSITIONS AND GET WHAT WE GOT NOW FILLED IF WE CAN FILL 'EM, WHICH CHUCK HAS SAID, AND I, I BELIEVE AS WELL, OUR TRACK RECORD SHOWS WE HAVEN'T FAILED 'EM IN YEARS, SO LET'S NOT ADD THOSE POSITIONS.
THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE BUDGET INCREASE.
WE DON'T HAVE IT IF WE HAD THE BUDGET AND IT WASN'T GONNA MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEY'RE, THEY TAX TO PEOPLE.
AS EVERYBODY HAS HEARD TONIGHT, BIG PART OF THE TAXES IS FROM THE, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE PROVIDE FIVE OFFICERS TO THE SCHOOLS.
WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR THOSE FIVE OFFICERS? PARTS OF, OF THEIR FEES WE'RE PAYING.
WHY ARE WE PAYING? AND THEY GETTING MORE TAXES THAN WE ARE? IT'S TIME THAT WE HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR OFFICERS THAT THEY WANT TO GET FROM THE CITY.
THAT'S THE SAVINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE SAVING.
WE DON'T, WE JUST ADDED ONE MORE THIS YEAR FOR 2025.
WHY? WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR ONE MORE? THEY'VE TAXED THE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE USING US FOR THEIR NEEDS, FOR THEIR BUDGET.
IT'S TIME TO STOP THAT ASSISTANT.
I WASN'T HERE WHEN THEY HAD TWO, SO I CAN'T SAY WHETHER TWO WAS NEEDED OR NOT NEEDED.
BUT OBVIOUSLY AT SOME POINT IN TIME THEY REDUCED IT DOWN TO ONE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO DO TWO.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT, IF THE ONE IS OVERLOADED, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE WE NEED TO CUT TO FEEL THE, IN THAT WE'RE PAYING THE CITY MANAGER GOOD MONEY, MAYBE SOME OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES HE CAN PICK UP VERSUS ADDING ANOTHER EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR MONEY IS WHEN IT IS IN THE PENSIONS AND, AND SALARIES.
UH, I I I KNOW WE DO HAVE TO DO SOME INCREASING, AND MY INCREASE IS STILL, I FEEL IS FAIR, IS 5% AT THE MOST.
AND AS MY COUNTERPART, CHUCK HAS SAID, I WOULD BE WITH HIM ON NOT APPROVING ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA BE ABOVE 5% HERE TONIGHT.
MS. JAMES DOES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS, WHAT, 75% YES.
OF THE OFFICERS AND WE PAY 25%.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, NUMBER ONE, PART OF THIS NEW BUDGET, AGAIN, TRYING TO FIND POLICE OFFICERS IS VERY TOUGH.
AND AS THE, UH, CITY MANAGER POINTED OUT, WE HAD TO RAISE OUR BASE PAY TO GET MORE, YOU KNOW, WE, AGAIN, AS THE MAYOR SAID, AND I STATE POLICE IS POACHING, OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE POACHING OUR POLICE.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE IT WORTH THEIR WHILE TO STAY HERE AND TO EVEN GET NEW ONES.
UH, IF, IF WE GO DOWN TO 5%, HAVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS AGAIN, YOU CUT, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU CUT, UH, THE, THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE GET FROM, FROM PROPERTY TAX, SOMETHING HAS TO GO.
[01:10:01]
BECAUSE WHEN I MET WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN KUHL, UM, ON THURSDAY, AND THEN THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LAST COUPLE OF THREE OR FOUR DAYS BEFORE, UH, BEFORE THIS MEETING THIS EVENING, IF WE WOULD REDUCE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE PROJECTED REVENUE OF A 7% INCREASE ON THE PROPERTY TAX DOWN TO 5%, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, THAN $300,000 OF LOST REVENUE.AND THEN THE WAY THAT I WOULD RECONCILE THAT, IF THAT BECOMES THE WISHES OF THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING, IS THOSE SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS, THEN THE SEVEN NEW POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS, AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE POLICE CHIEF, UH, CHIEF BRANDELL KNOWS THAT I WOULD HOLD THOSE, UH, AUTHORIZING THOSE TO BE FILLED, UH, NOT UNTIL JULY 1ST, 2025.
AND THAT WOULD BE, UH, THE 300,000 NEEDED IF WE WERE GOING TO REDUCE, UH, UH, THAT REVENUE PROJECTION OF 7% DOWN TO 5%.
AND AGAIN, ON THE PROPERTY TAX, UH, 16% IS OUR PORTION OF THE BILL.
ON AN AVERAGE HOME THAT'S VALUED AT 135007% IS ROUGHLY $35 OR $3 A MONTH.
UH, IF WE REDUCE DOWN TO 5%, THAT WOULD DROP THAT DOWN TO $25 ANNUALLY ON A HOME THAT'S VALUED AT 135,000, ROUGHLY $2 A MONTH.
BUT IF THAT'S THE WISHES OF COUNCIL, I'M PREPARED FOR IT.
AND I ACTUALLY APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCIL ENOUGH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS STARTING WITH COUNCILMAN KEHL GIVING ME, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, PREPARE FOR THIS.
BUT, UH, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS, UH, THAT, UH, REDUCED REVENUE PROJECTION OF 300 PLUS THOUSAND WOULD BE, UH, MADE UP, UH, IN THE EXPENSE SIDE OF NOT HIRING THE SEVEN NEW POLICE OFFICERS UNTIL JULY 1ST, 2025.
A QUICK POINT ON THE, UH, POLICE OFFICERS TO, UH, COUNCILMAN COOPER, UH, AND, AND, AND HE'S RIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, ALREADY WE HAVE VACANCIES OF THE CURRENT SWORN HEADCOUNT OF 148.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, ANTICIPATED RETIREMENTS AND, UH, 2025, AND THEN YOU'RE ADDING SEVEN NEW POSITIONS, IS WHAT I'M PROPOSING.
AND I BELIEVE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THAT WE DO FULLY EXPECT TO HAVE ALL THE VACANCIES FILLED BY THE, BY THE TAIL END OF THE THIRD QUARTER, UH, BUT DEFINITELY BY THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025.
SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL REALIZE THIS CALENDAR YEAR OR THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR, UH, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO.
UH, COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY HAS BECOME A RECRUITING STRATEGY, UH, THAT, UH, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO USE FOR 2025 WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT RECENTLY WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS, WITH THE POLICE UNION.
WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN THE, UH, BASE SALARY SO THAT WE ARE WITHIN THAT 10% RANGE OF OUR COMPARABLE COMMUNITIES, WHICH ARE THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, THE CITY OF CHAMPAIGN, AND THEN ALSO WE EXPANDED THE RESIDENCY, UH, SO THAT, UH, WE CAN RECRUIT BETTER AND THAT WE'RE OPTIMISTIC.
I COULD SPEAK TO THE PENSIONS REAL QUICK, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE PENSION SIDE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE REALITY.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S ALMOST, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL IS, UH, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR, UH, THE SINS OF, UH, THE ELECTED PAST.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT, UH, PENSIONS FOR, UH, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, AT LEAST HERE AT THIS COMMUNITY, WERE REPRESENTED BY, YOU KNOW, STATUTORILY BY THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS, ARTICLE THREE AND ARTICLE FOUR, AND THEN ALSO THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT FUND.
THAT THAT IS WHAT ALL NON-PUBLIC SAFETY FALL UNDER HERE AT THE CITY.
THE ONE KEY DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU START PUSHING BACK OR CHALLENGING A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION FOR A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, THE FLAW IN BEING CRITICAL OF THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS IS YOU NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE SUCCESS OF IMRF.
AND THE REASON THAT IT'S SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING BY THE MUNICIPALITY OR THE CONTRIBUTING AGENCY, AND IT'S BEEN ABLE TO FOR DECADES TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE THE INVESTMENT INCOME OFF OF THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING.
WHEREAS ON THE POLICE AND FIRE SIDE, WHEN THEY WERE CREATED STATUTORILY IN THE EARLIER MID SEVENTIES, THERE WAS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO FUND THOSE.
FOLEY AND MUNICIPALITIES DIDN'T UNTIL THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN THIS FUNDING REQUIREMENT, BUT YOU LOST SEVERAL DECADES OF, UH, HAVING A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE BOTH THE POLICE AND THE FIRE
[01:15:01]
PENSIONS, RIGHT? ABOUT 55% FUNDED, WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR MOST COMMUNITIES ACROSS, UH, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.LET'S SAY THE EFFORTS WE ARE MAKING FOR RECRUITMENT OF NEW POLICE OFFICERS, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING, BUT NOW I THINK WITH THE HIGHER WAGES AND, AND THE OTHER EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING PUT FORTH, THE, THE RESIDENCY CHANGES AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT, UH, THE CHIEF IS TRYING TO DO, LET'S SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF OFFICERS THAT NOW WANNA COME TO DECATUR.
ARE WE CUTTING OFF OUR NOSE SPITE OUR FACE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T GET THE SEVEN EXTRA OFFICERS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THEM? OR IS THERE A WAY TO ADJUST MID-YEAR BUDGET WISE THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE, BUT THEN WE'RE SAYING, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE MONEY TO HIRE THEM.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME, WE ARE GONNA MISS OUT ON GOOD COPS.
AND SO IN, IN ORDER, YOU KNOW, THE, THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUDGET THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO COUNCIL THIS EVENING, THAT IS WHAT I WOULD DO ON PAPER IS IF WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE 7% DOWN TO 5%, AGAIN, THAT'S ROUGHLY $300,000 OF LOST REVENUE.
SO I HAVE TO, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET RIGHT ON THE NOSE, UH, I NEED TO, UH, FIND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, MAKE THAT UP IN THE EXPENSE SIDE.
HOW I WOULD DO THAT ON PAPER IS BY HOLDING THOSE SEVEN POSITIONS JULY TILL JULY 1ST, 2025, WITH THE FULL EXPECTATION THAT ALL POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, VACANCIES WOULD BE FILLED BY THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025.
BUT MAYOR, TO YOUR QUESTION, LET'S SAY WE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING, I WOULD FI I WOULD COME BACK TO COUNSEL.
IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT'S JUST DONE IN MY OFFICE, YOU KNOW, THAT I DIRECT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS.
I WOULD REPORT THAT THE VACANCY SAVINGS, UH, IN ORDER TO, UH, UH, MAKE UP FOR A HIRING SOONER THAN JULY 1ST OF THOSE SEVEN POSITIONS, I WOULD COMMUNICATE THAT TO COUNCIL, BUT IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WE ALWAYS SEE, UH, VACANCY SAVINGS THROUGHOUT ANY GIVEN FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE NEVER AT A HUNDRED PERCENT ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, I'M NOT GONNA MISS AN OPPORTUNITY IF SOMEHOW WE'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS.
UH, SEVERAL BROAD COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I CERTAINLY HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET.
IT DOES NOT ADVANCE TO CATER STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AT THE PACE NEEDED, NOR WILL IT CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CITY'S LONG-TERM CHALLENGES.
I'LL SPEAK TO THREE MAJOR ISSUES.
FIRST, WE'RE TAKING A STEP BACKWARD IN THE CITY'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO CREATE A CITYWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PLAN, MOVE FORWARD IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY.
ON THE JASPER STREET, GREAT STREET'S GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, ADVANCE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE OAKWOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT AND MILLIKEN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
PROCEED MORE QUICKLY ON REMEDIATION OF BROWNFIELDS, PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR DEMOLITIONS OF DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, HOUSING, REHABILITATION PROJECTS, AND ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECTS AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE JOHNS HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS, CLEANING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD REDUCES CRIME.
THE CITY IS HOLDING A 90 DAY CASH RESERVE WHEN ONE GOVERNMENT STANDARD USED BY MUNICIPALITIES IS LESS THAN 60 DAYS.
THUS, WE HAVE OVER $7 MILLION MORE IN CASH RESERVES THAN IS NECESSARY.
AND THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT SOCIETAL COST THAN NOT GIVING THAT MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS OR USING THE FUNDS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
AND SO WHEN THE CITY MANAGER JUST TALKS ABOUT WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO, IF THERE'S A $300,000 REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, THAT'S A CITY COUNCIL DECISION, THAT'S NOT THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION, THAT'S THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION.
AND WE COULD EASILY SAY WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE CASH RESERVE FROM 90 DAYS TO 85 DAYS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IF WE SO CHOSE.
AND I WOULD ASK THE PUBLIC, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A 90 DAY CASH RESERVE RIGHT NOW? I DO.
AND WHY SHOULD THE CITY HAVE THAT LEVEL OF CASH RESERVE GIVEN THE PRESSURES THAT WE FACE? MY SECOND CONCERN
[01:20:01]
IS THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING PROJECTS IN ADVANCE OF CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHING POLICY POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN UNNECESSARY SPENDING OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF DECATUR GETS ITS EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY FROM THE DEWITT COUNTY, WAL WELL FIELDS, AND THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS FOR GETTING MORE WATER FROM THESE WELLS.
SURFACE WATER, TRANSPORT OR TRANSPORT VIA PIPELINE WITH A PIPELINE TRANSPORT, LIKELY COSTING SUBSTANTIALLY MORE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS UNILATERALLY ADVANCING A PIPELINE PROJECT INSTEAD OF A SURFACE WATER PROJECT WITHOUT THE COUNCIL EVEN PROVIDING INPUT.
THIS WILL RESULT IN A $250,000 COST TO TAXPAYERS IN 2025 FOR WHAT MAY ULTIMATELY COST TAXPAYERS $45 MILLION FOR AN EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY THAT MAY NOT BE MEETING.
NOW, THIS UNNECESSARILY INCREASES THE DEBT, WHICH COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
THIRD POINT I'LL MAKE IS THAT WHILE I'M SUPPORTIVE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND THE ADDED POSITIONS BEING PROPOSED OR PROPOSED ARE CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON LONG-TERM PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION OBLIGATIONS AND OUR RESIDENTS ABILITIES TO PAY THEM COLLECTIVELY, THE CITY WILL BE SPENDING $14.8 MILLION ON FIRE AND POLICE PENSIONS IN 2025.
TO PUT THAT NUMBER IN PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS MORE MONEY THAN THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS $11.7 MILLION.
THE DPD IS THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS, AND THE DFD IS THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
HOWEVER, CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE ON THE RISE FOR THE DPD AND CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE LIKELY TO HIT A RECORD FOR THE DFD, YET THE CITY IS PROPOSING REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION WHILE INCREASING THE CITY'S LONG-TERM PENSION OBLIGATIONS AND SUBSEQUENT PROPERTY TAXES.
THE REAL DECISION FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE IS HOW DO WE SPEND REVENUE THAT WILL RESULT IN LONG-TERM DECREASES IN CALLS FOR SERVICE TO THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AS A RESULT OF INCREASING WELLBEING IN QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
ULTIMATELY, A BUDGET IS A REFLECTION OF THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THIS BUDGET WILL FALL SHORT IN ADVANCING THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
IT'S UNCLEAR HOW $96 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND SPENDING WILL REVERSE THE CITY'S LONGSTANDING DECLINES IN POPULATION AND WORKFORCE.
AND SO FOR THESE REASONS, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS BUDGET.
FIRST OFF, COUNCILMAN HORN, THE CITY MANAGER DID SAY THAT HE WOULD BRING THAT DECISION BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
HE WAS ASKED HOW HE WOULD HANDLE IT.
HE PROVIDED A RESPONSE, AND THAT RESPONSE INCLUDED BRINGING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
LET ME PROVIDE, UM, AN OPPOSITE OPINION FOR YOU.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT CAME TO US THIS EVENING, AND YOU TALKED TO US ABOUT, UM, WHAT A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WOULD MEAN TO YOU KNOW, THAT IF WE INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION OR IF WE DON'T FIND A SHIFT IN NEIGHBORHOOD FOR REVITALIZATION, YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO AND HELP CLEAN UP SOMEONE ELSE'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIRD WATER IS A FINITE RESOURCE.
FOURTH PENSION OBLIGATIONS COME HAND IN HAND WITH AN INCREASE OF DPD AND DFD, MR. Q OR COLE.
I'VE TRIED TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS TONIGHT, INCLUDING THE CITIZEN'S COMMENTS, AND EVERYBODY'S GOT VALID POINTS.
AND I THINK THERE'S JUST A DIFFERENT TRAVEL FOR, UH, SOME OF US.
THERE'S NO, UH, NO'S, NO HEIGHT IN IT.
I WAS NEVER A FAN OF ANNEXATIONS.
BUT WITH THE IMPROVED OR THE APPROVED ANNEXATIONS, GEOGRAPHICALLY, WE'VE GRIT, WE'VE GROWN.
AND LARGEST PART OF ANY BUDGET IS PERSONNEL.
AND I'M NOT GONNA WILLING TO SACRIFICE PERSONNEL WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY MUCH MORE AREA TO COVER, WHICH IS FUEL WEAR ON VEHICLES AND PERSONNEL.
[01:25:01]
UH, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, WE MADE A PROMISE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE FOLKS AS WELL.AND, UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT KEEN ABOUT THE 7%.
I DEFINITELY WASN'T KEEN ABOUT 9%.
UH, GOING BACK TO MR. MCKENZIE, I ENJOY FAMILIES LIKE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS THROUGH THE COUNTY IS, UH, A STEP TO TAKE AS WELL.
BUT I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, CHIEF ABBOTT'S HERE TONIGHT, CHIEF BRANDELL MAY, UH, AGREE, UH, AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST THROWING 'EM THE KEYS TO THE SQUAD CAR OR FIRE TRUCK.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE THEY'RE TRAINED UP AND READY TO GO ON SCHEDULE.
AND THAT'S THE ONES THAT DO MEGA THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO WE STILL HAVE STANDARDS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SOME ARE NOT READY AT THAT MOMENT WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHEN YOU BRING AN AID IN THAT THEY'RE A SOLID EIGHT, THEY COULD GO ON ANOTHER AGENCY WITH RECRUITING OR NOT MEET THE STANDARDS.
SO I, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE QUESTION WILL RAISE YOU MAY GET BROUGHT BACK TO US IF WE GO TO A LOWER RATE.
UM, BUT I'VE GOTTA THINK ABOUT FAMILIES LIKE THE MCKENZIE'S AND WHAT THEY'RE FACING.
WILL NEXT YEAR BE BETTER FOR US NATIONALLY? WHO KNOWS? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT AND NEITHER CAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM.
BUT AS FAR AS THIS YEAR, 9% WAS DEFINITELY, UH, TOUGH.
SEVEN PERCENT'S HARD TO SWALLOW.
I I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SWEET SPOT TO LOOK AT.
UH, BUT I DIDN'T DEFINITELY ON GOING ON AND GO ON A RECORD AND NOT JEOPARDIZE PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND LIKE COUNCILMAN MCG GREGORY BROUGHT UP, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF, UH, COUNCILMAN AND DANIEL HAD ON THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS.
UM, I THINK SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT NOT TOO LONG AGO, UM, ABOUT GETTING THE COUNCIL ON THE SAME PAGE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN BECAUSE WE REPRESENT SOCIETY AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
I, MR. GLEASON, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
YOU'RE GIVING US SEVERAL OPTIONS AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M NOT WILLING TO BUDGE ON THAT.
MR. MCDANIEL, UH, TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PENSIONS.
WE NEED TO LET THE PUBLIC HEAR AND IT ON WATCHING TV, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, WE DON'T CONTROL THE PENSIONS.
THAT'S THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, CORRECT? THEY DECIDE, UH, THE, THE UNIONS CAN GO TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
WE NEED AN INCREASE AND THE, UH, GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL DO IT.
AND THEN IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE BACK ON THE MUNICIPALITIES.
AND THAT, AND TWO, COUNCILMAN HORNE, YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE, IT'S GETTING DRIER AND DRIER AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE HAD MORE DROUGHTS IN THIS AREA THAN WE'VE HAD IN YEARS AND YEARS.
SO WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT AS IT IS BEEN MENTIONED BY PEOPLE AROUND THE, UH, THE COUNTRY FOR THE NEXT WARS ARE GONNA BE FOUGHT OVER WATER, NOT OIL.
SO WE HAVE TO PREPARE BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA LOSE INDUSTRY IF WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER.
SO AGAIN, YOU'RE ALWAYS PUSHING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S GETTING DRIER.
ARE WE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION? I'M CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN COOPER IS THIS QUESTION AND CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? WE HAD LOT OF DISCUSSION.
THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE TAX INCREASE.
[4. Resolution Accepting the Bid of Municipal Emergency Services (MES) for the Purchase of Five (5) Scott Air-Pak X3 Pro Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Seven (7) Scott SCBA Cylinders]
RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID OF MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY SERVICES MES FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE SCOTT AIR PACK TIMES THREE OR X THREE PRO SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS, SCPA OR SCBA AND SEVEN SCOTT, SCBA CYLINDERS, MOTION TO RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.MAYOR, UH, I'M GONNA ASK THE, UH, FIRE CHIEF JUST TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM REAL QUICK.
THIS IS A SMALL ITEM, BUT THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND, UH, I KNOW THE CHIEF'S GONNA SPEAK TO THIS.
IT'S, UH, THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH A MAJOR EMPLOYER, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEN IT'S ALSO, UH, THE CHIEF AND HIS STAFF, UH, SEEKING, UH, ALTERNATE, UH, WAYS TO FUND, UH, SO THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS ON THE BACKS OF, UH, THE TAXPAYERS CHIEF.
I ALSO WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR NOT TALKING TO YOU FIRST ABOUT THE ACRONYMS AND WHETHER I WAS SUPPOSED TO SPELL 'EM OUT OR NOT.
UH, THIS BASICALLY IS A RESULT OF MEETING WITH A DM AFTER SEVERAL FIRES WE HAD THERE
[01:30:01]
TWO YEARS AGO AND SOME OF THE HELP THAT THEY WERE WANTING TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT.AND A DM UH, THIS IS A GRANT THROUGH ADMS, BUT IT'S A NO COST GRANT, SO IT COST THE CITY NOTHING.
SO BASICALLY WE'RE GETTING THE FIVE AIR PACKS AND SEVEN SPARE BOTTLES TO PUT ON OUR RESCUE, ONE FOR NOTHING FROM A DM.
WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SCENE? NONE.
[5. Resolution Authorizing a Behind the Meter Solar Project for the Decatur Public Library Building]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BEHIND THE METER SOLAR PROJECT FOR THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING MOTION, THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.SECOND, MR. GLEASON, MAYOR, I'M GONNA CALL UP DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
ETH, UH, FOR THIS ITEM AND FOR THE NEXT ITEM.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS PART OF THE, UH, SOLAR, UH, PLAN THAT THE CITY HAS.
AND, UH, WE'RE ADVANCING THIS, IT'S GREAT THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, KNOW, IN FACT, UH, WE'RE A MODEL TO OTHER COMMUNITIES ON, UH, THE EFFORTS THAT, UH, COUNCIL'S TAKEN.
AND REALLY JOHN'S BEEN THE ONE THAT'S RUN POINT ON THIS.
JOHN EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, AS TIM SAID, THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR PROJECT TO THE ONE THAT YOU CURRENTLY SEE OUT IN THE CIVIC CENTER PARKING LOT.
UH, WOULD ADVANCE TWO SEPARATE SOLAR PROJECTS, BUT I WILL KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE TWO OF 'EM TOGETHER AND CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY, ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
BUT THE FIRST ITEM THERE, ITEM FIVE, IS FOR THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, IT WOULD CALL FOR THE SAME, UH, SAME SOLAR PANELS THAT ARE INSTALLED ON THE, UH, CIVIC CENTER PARKING LOT.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM WOULD GO ON THE LIBRARY ROOF, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE FOUR CANOPIES THAT WOULD GO DOWN THE CENTER AISLE OF THE LIBRARY.
I KNOW THERE WAS A, A PICTURE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.
UM, BUT IT WOULD BE DONE BY THE SAME COMPANY, UH, SAME, SAME MANUFACTURED OF THE SOLAR PANELS AND, AND THE HARDWARE.
UM, AND IT WOULD SAVE THE CITY APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON ELECTRIC, UH, UTILITY COST FOR THE LIBRARY BUILDING.
SIMILARLY, ITEM SIX IS FOR THE WILLIAM STREET PUMP STATION.
UH, WILLIAM STREET PUMP STATION IS A LARGE PUMPING FACILITY FOR THE CITY THAT PUSHES, UH, INDUSTRIAL WATER, UH, REALLY TO THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE CITY.
AND SO IT USES A, UH, LARGER AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER CITY, CITY FACILITIES.
IT ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE A LARGE, UH, FENCED IN GRASS AREA AROUND IT, WHICH MAKES FOR A, A GOOD FOOTPRINT FOR THE SOLAR.
UH, AND THOSE ONES WILL BE, UH, BASICALLY GROUND, GROUND MOUNTED SOLAR.
UM, AND SO THAT'S A CHEAPER, CHEAPER WAY TO DO IT THAN, UH, THAN THE PARKING CANOPY THE WAY THAT WE DID IT ON THE CIVIC CENTER.
UM, BUT, AND THAT ONE IS PROJECTED TO SAVE THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS $17,000 A YEAR ON YEAR ONE, UH, COLLECTIVELY BETWEEN THE CIVIC CENTER PROJECT AND THEN THESE TWO PROJECTS, UH, WE ARE SAVING APPROXIMATELY $225,000 EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS, UH, ON OUR ELECTRICITY COSTS.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. KIN? DR. HORN, JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY FOR WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
ADDING SOLAR UH, PANELS WILL SAVE THE, THE CITY'S SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT.
FURTHER COMMENT, PLEASE CALL THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN COOPER.
[6. Resolution Authorizing a Behind the Meter Solar Project for the William Street Pump Station]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BEHIND THE METER SOLAR PROJECT FOR THE WILLIAMS STREET PUMP STATION.MOTION TO RESOLUTION, DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
ANYTHING TO ADD, MR. SETH? NO, MA'AM.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? SCENE NONE.
[7. Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Professional Services Agreement for the City of Decatur Safe Streets and Roads for All Comprehensive Safety Action Plan]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN.COUNSEL, I'M GONNA GIVE THE FLOOR TO, UM, OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, UH, LACEY SEY AND, UH, HAVE HER WALK THROUGH.
UH, REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS, UH, IT REALLY, COUNCIL ACTION TONIGHT, UH, IS, WILL LEND ITSELF TO FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO LACEY.
UH, THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL ACTION PLAN IS A GRANT THAT WE ARE AWARDED BY THE FHWA, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL HIGHWAYS ADMINISTRATION.
UH, IT IS BASICALLY A GRANT THAT IS GOING TO BE A KEY TO UNLOCK INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD.
SO THE PLAN OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN IS TO ASSESS OUR HIGH ACCIDENT INTERSECTIONS
[01:35:01]
AND THEN COME UP WITH A PLAN TO REDUCE THOSE DOWN TO VISION ZERO.SO THE GOAL IS TO NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS IN ANY OF OUR HIGH RISK OR HIGH VOLUME INTERSECTIONS.
AND THEN ONCE THAT SAFETY PLAN IS DONE, IT, WE CAN USE IT TO GO OUT.
AND IT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS THAT WILL BE COMING DOWN FROM THE FHWA IN THE FUTURE.
FOR INSTANCE, UM, SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL WILL HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION GRANT THAT IS AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN ALSO OTHER GRANTS THAT ARE SIMILAR ARE LIKE SAFE ROADS, UM, AND WHAT IS IT? SAFE ROUTES AND ROADS TO SCHOOL.
SO, ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MR. COOPER? UM, I PROBABLY SAW IT IN MY PACKET, BUT I JUST WANT TO CLICK MAKE SURE.
NO MATCHING FUNDS GOTTA BE PROVIDED TO THIS GRANT, CORRECT? THERE ARE MATCHING FUNDS.
AND HOW MUCH WERE THOSE 20% OF THE TOTAL GRANT? OTHER QUESTIONS? SCENE NONE.
[8. Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Purchasing Order between the City of Decatur, Illinois and Paul Tree Farms LLC for Tree Installation Contract]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A PURCHASING ORDER BETWEEN THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND PAUL TREE FARMS. LLC FOR TREE INSTALLATION CONTRACT MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.UH, THIS ONE ALSO, UH, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR LACEY SEY AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARK DISTRICT.
UH, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT IS BEFORE COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'M GONNA ADD, UH, THAT WILL, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT LACEY'S GOING TO SHARE ABOUT THIS IS IT ALSO WAS A RELATIONSHIP AND EVEN GETTING THESE TREES THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, IT WAS A RELATIONSHIP, UH, THAT STAFF HAD OR SOUGHT AND, UH, SAVED US, UH, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THESE TREES TO EVEN BEGIN WITH.
SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE STORY THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TOLD, BUT, UH, IT WAS A, A MAJOR SAVINGS.
SO THIS IS ALSO A GRANT FUND AND THERE ARE NO MATCHING DOLLARS THAT THE CITY IS REQUIRED.
SO, UM, THERE WAS A FEDERAL WAIVER THAT CAME DOWN.
SO THIS WILL BE 100% REIMBURSED TO THE CITY AND AS CITY MANAGER SAID, IT IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE CITY.
AND WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE U OF I, UM, TO CONSULT ON IT.
AND SO PAUL'S TREE FARM IS GOING TO DONATE THE 150 TREES THIS ROUND AND THEN WE ARE ONLY, THIS CONTRACT TONIGHT IS ONLY PAYING HIM FOR THE, UH, INSTALLATION AND RELOCATION OF THOSE.
UM, AND IT DOES SAVE US OVER, UM, $130,000.
AND SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND TO HOPEFULLY HELP REGROW OUR TREE CANOPY.
UH, NOW IN THE MEMO, UH, THIS ALSO PAYS TO WATER 'EM IN THE FUTURE.
YES, IT WILL ASSIST WITH WATERING REIMBURSEMENT.
UM, TREES WHEN YOU FIRST PLANT THEM REQUIRE THE MOST AMOUNT OF WATERING.
WELL, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, BE CRUEL TO THE PARK DISTRICT, BUT THEY GAINED A BUNCH OF DONATIONS TWO YEARS AGO TO PLANT TREES IN THE PARKS AND WE HAD A DROUGHT AND THEY DIDN'T WATER 'EM AND THEY ALL DIED.
SO, UM, WE NEED TO BE WATCH THE PARK DISTRICT IN THAT BECAUSE THEN THEY, WHEN THEY GOT SOME NEW TREES THEY STARTED WATERING BUT ALL THESE TREES DIED SO, 'CAUSE WE HAVE HAD DROUGHTS, DRY WEATHER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
SEVEN AYES? NO NAYS, WHICH BRINGS US TO THE
[9. City Manager Update]
CITY MANAGER.UPDATE MR. GLEASON? I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING.
UH, JIM HOLLIS, DO I HAVE ANY SLIDES? UH, LOADED.
UH, BECAUSE, UH, NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, UH, THAT'S THE UH, FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH.
ALRIGHT, DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL
[10. 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 ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? C NONE.ITEM A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A THIRD AMENDMENT TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT WHICH DECATUR METROPOLITAN EXPOSITION AUDITORIUM AND OFFICE BUILDING AUTHORITY REGARDING SOLAR CANOPY PROJECTS.
ITEM B RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE SOLAR PROJECT AT THE DECATUR CIVIC CENTER.
ITEM C ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 31 20 KATHY COURT ITEM D ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 31 0 5 TURIN ROAD ITEM E RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH TELESAN INC.
FOR THE ANNUAL SEWER INSPECTION PROGRAM.
CITY PROJECT 2025 DASH 19 ITEM F RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A THREE YEAR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES FOR WATER TREATMENT OPERATORY SERVICES.
[01:40:01]
AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH USIC LOCATING SERVICES LLC FOR FACILITY LOCATING AND MARKING SERVICES.ITEM H RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUNDS HOME FISCAL YEAR 2024 ITEM H ORDINANCE AMENDING PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND REZONING PROPERTY FROM R TWO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT TO PD PLAN DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 33 50 AND 32 36 NORTH MACARTHUR ROAD.
ITEM J RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACTION REGARDING UNSAFE STRUCTURES.
ITEM K RECEIVING AND FILING OF MINUTES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
ITEM L RESOLUTION APPROVING APPOINTMENT ZONING, BOARD OF APPEALS ITEM M RESOLUTION APPROVING REAPPOINTMENTS DECATUR METROPOLITAN EXPOSITION AUDITORIUM AND OFFICE BUILDING AUTHORITY CIVIC CENTER BOARD ITEM N RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF THE 2025 CENTRAL ILLINOIS REGIONAL DISPATCH CENTER.
INVOICE USER FEES FOR THE DECATUR PUBLIC DEPARTMENT IN DECATUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
COUNCILMAN KUHL? COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE.
DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE OTHER
[VI. Other Business]
BUSINESS? MR. MCDANIEL? I MR. COOPER, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CITY MANAGERS.WHEN I STARTED COMING TO THE REGULAR TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN 2001, UH, MAYBE SOME OF THE STAFF WE HAD FOUR DEPUTY OR, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN, WE'VE AND WE'VE ADDED NEW DEPARTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU'VE GOT LESS MANAGEMENT, MANAGING MORE DEPARTMENTS.
SO I AGREE WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
WE DO NEED A DE ANOTHER DEPUTY, UH, CITY MANAGER TO, TO TAKE THE LOAD, UH, UM, HELP OUR PRESENT, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND THE MANAGER.
AND IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, WHEN, UH, MR. GLEASON LEFT US, UH, THE LAST TIME HE WAS HERE, UM, HIS, UH, ONE AND ONLY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FOLLOWED HIM TO BLOOMINGTON.
SO WE WERE LEFT WITH NOBODY AND THERE WERE, UH, MANY LONG WEEKS THAT THE CORPORATE COUNCIL, CORPORATION COUNCIL WHO WAS PRETTY MUCH LEFT IN CHARGE THAT SHE AND I DID NOTHING BUT PRAY FOR NO ICE STORMS AND NO PROBLEMS AND NO, NO TORNADOES.
SO SOMETIMES HAVING THAT SECOND PERSON IS A REALLY, REALLY AN IMPORTANT POSITION.
OTHER BUSINESS FROM ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
UM, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WATER AND WATER SHORTAGES.
I JUST WANNA REMIND THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS THAT WE SPENT $160 MILLION TO DREDGE LAKE DECATUR AND THAT PROVIDED 30% ADDITIONAL VOLUME AND PERHAPS THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT DURING THE DROUGHTS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR, WE DID NOT HAVE TO TAP INTO EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLIES.
WITH THAT SAID, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN THE BUDGET THAT MY COLLEAGUES PASSED TONIGHT, UM, PUBLIC WORKS IS PROPOSING $32.3 MILLION IN SPENDING FOR A PIPELINE FROM THE FORMER VULCAN MINE PIT IN HARRIS TOWN TO DECATUR.
UM, THAT PIPELINE ALONE, UH, WILL EASILY MEET ANY EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY NEEDS THAT THE CITY HAS.
AND SO WHAT PUBLIC WORKS IS PROPOSING IS $32.3 MILLION FOR A PIPELINE FROM HARRIS TOWN, $45 MILLION FOR A PIPELINE, UH, FROM THE DEWHITT COUNTY WELL FIELDS, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT A LIFT STATION AT BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD THAT WILL COST $25 MILLION.
COLLECTIVELY, THAT IS OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT OF WHICH IT'S SERVICED BY PROPERTY TAXES.
AND WE DON'T NEED THE WATER SUPPLY COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY.
SO WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER TILL WE DON'T AND WE SPENT $90 MILLION IN DREDGING THE LAKE.
YES, HE IS INCLUDING THE COST OF FINANCING THE LOAN.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE GIVE NUMBERS, WE GIVE AN EXPLANATION OF THE NUMBERS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.