* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [I. Call to Order] [00:00:06] CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCILMAN KEEL BRETT. COUNCILMAN COLE HERE. COUNCILMAN COOPER. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN MCDANIEL. COUNCILMAN HORN PRESENT? MAYOR MOORE WOLF. PRESENT SIX. PRESENT ONE. ABSENT. PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. WE [II. Appearance of Citizens] BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS. OUR POLICY RELATIVE TO APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS IS AS FOLLOWS, A 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD AS 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 ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY HAVE DONE SO. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND KEY STAFF MAY MAKE COMMENTS. AND YOU GOTTA GIVE ME A MINUTE BECAUSE MY LITTLE MACHINE IS NOT ON. I'M SORRY. I NORMALLY TURN THAT OFF FOR YOU, MAYOR. THERE IT IS. AND NOW WE ARE READY TO GO. SO WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE US YOUR NAME, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF. MY NAME IS ANTHONY CHAP. ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, THERE'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH CASEY FINES. YOU'RE GOING TO DECIDE ON A SALES TAX REBATE THAT WE RETURN UP TO $25,000 TO CASEY FINES OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. YET YOU ALLOW POLICE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES TO NOT LIVE IN. DECATUR DEPRIVING THE CITY OF PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES, YOU WON'T ALLOW A LEGITIMATE INDUSTRY TO DO BUSINESS. I DECATUR, AGAIN DEPRIVING THE CITY OF SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES, AS WELL AS OTHER LICENSES, FEES, ET CETERA. NOW YOU'RE GOING TO DECIDE IF A BUSINESS SHOULD GET A TAX REBATE. AGAIN, DEPRIVING THE CITY OF SALES TAX REVENUE. YET THE CITY IS SO DEPRIVED OF MONEY FOR SERVICES THEY JUST RAISED A CITY CITIZEN'S PROPERTY TAXES 6% TO GENERATE REVENUE. THE LOGIC USED BY THIS COUNCIL ESCAPES ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL? GOOD EVENING. I'M ANN OWENS. SO I'M HERE WITH A FEW DATES FOR YOUR CALENDARS. TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH IS OUR NEXT KONO MEETING AT THE LIBRARY. STARTS AT FIVE 30, APRIL 26TH, ONE O'CLOCK TO TWO 30 AT THE LIBRARY. KONO WILL BE HAVING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PANEL, SHERIFF ROOT TWO POLICE OFFICERS OR REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH, THE GOVERNOR OGLESBY MANSION WILL HAVE OUR SECOND OPEN HOUSE THAT'S FROM TWO TO FOUR AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING TODAY, THAT IS AUGUST THE FIFTH. WE, AND DID A GREAT JOB LEADING OUR MEETING TODAY. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT. AND KONO IS A CO-SPONSOR. UM, AND THEN BRETT AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TODAY OF BEING INVITED BY THE ONE AND ONLY MARK ALLEN TO TOUR FIREHOUSE NUMBER THREE. SO WE GAVE THE FAREWELL OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER OF 2022 AND HE'S NOW DEEPENED A CONSTRUCTION, MAKING THREE APARTMENTS. SO WE ACTUALLY GOT TO STAND ON THE ROOF TODAY AND LOOK OUT OVER FAIRVIEW PARK. AND IT'S GONNA TAKE HIM ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR. BUT IT'S A FANTASTIC DEAL THAT HE MADE IN PURCHASING IT. AND THEN ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SUBJECT, I'M STILL BACK TO THE HEALTHCARE ISSUE. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE CITY HOSTS A HEALTHCARE FORUM THAT THE PUBLIC MUCH LIKE. AND IF YOU WANT KONO TO BE INVOLVED, I'M SURE KATHY, OUR PRESIDENT, [00:05:01] WE WOULD BE WELCOME TO ENTERTAIN THAT AS A CO-SPONSOR. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. IT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS OFTEN DON'T EVEN KNOW WHICH HOSPITAL TO GO TO FOR WHAT TREATMENTS. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT COULD BE ANSWERED IN A HELPFUL WAY, NOT NECESSARILY IN A NEGATIVE WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MS. OWENS. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL? MY NAME'S JAMES TAYLOR. I WANNA DO SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T DO VERY OFTEN. I WANNA GIVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT A CREDIT FOR THEIR TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENS AND THE CRIMINALS IN THE DEC IN THE CITY OF DECATUR. TRAFFIC STOPS. THEY HAD DUI, I MEAN FOR DUI AND, AND DRUGS. THEY HAD 28 ARRESTS IN MARCH. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THEY HAD 11 MISDEMEANOR, THEY HAD 33 FELONY CHARGES. THEY HAD 101. THAT'S THE TOTAL OF 173 CHARGES. PEOPLE THAT GOT OFF THE STREET THAT WAS CREATING PROBLEMS FOR US IN THE CITY OF DECATUR. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR DOING THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO KEEP US SAFE THAT THEY POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. TAYLOR. WE, UM, SHARE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO, UH, MAKE COMMENTS FOR COUNSEL TONIGHT? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME'S DAN DUNPHY. UM, I MOVED HERE IN UH, OH SEVEN TO HELP SET UP THE RURAL KING STORE AND KIND OF STUCK AROUND SINCE, UM, PURPOSE ME ATTENDING MY FIRST MEETING LIVE. UH, I'M INTERESTED TO LISTEN TO YOUR PROPO, UH, DISCUSSION ON, UH, THE GRANT MONEY THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, BEAUTIFYING DECATUR AND, UH, THE TREES THAT ARE GOING IN. UM, BASED ON THE LIMITED INFORMATION I COULD SEE ONLINE, LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, THAT LOCAL, UH, NURSERIES AND, UH, TREE FARMS WEREN'T CONTACTED FOR INFORMATION ON THIS. UH, PAUL'S TREE FARM'S A GREAT PLACE DONE BUSINESS WITH THEM IN THE PAST, BUT I SURE WOULD KIND OF HOPE ON GRANT MONEY THAT COMES IN, WE'D KIND OF LOOK LOCAL. AND SO I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS ON THAT. UM, I'VE WORKED WITH, UH, GRANT MONEY BEFORE IN THE EDUCATIONAL WORLD, SO I UNDERSTAND HOW IT GOES, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT LOCAL, THAT GRANT MONEY KIND OF DOUBLES AND TRIPLES 'CAUSE NO OFFENSE TO PAUL. HE'S A GREAT GUY, BUT HE'S NOT GONNA BUY TIRES HERE. HE IS NOT GONNA GO, UH, GET HIS OIL CHANGED IN TOWN AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO I'M INTERESTED IN, IN HEARING MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL THAT WILL GO ON TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO HAVE, UH, COMMENTS BEFORE COUNCIL? OKAY. ANYONE ON COUNCIL OR STAFF HAVE COMMENTS? UH, RESPONSE TO ANYONE? OKAY. SCENE NONE. [III. Approval of Minutes] WE WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 17TH, 2025. CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. SECOND. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. MAYOR MOORE WOLF. AYE. SIX I NO NAYS ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE. MOVING TO [1. Resolution Accepting Proposal of Arndt Municipal Support Inc. (AMS) for a Classification and Compensation Study] OUR FIRST ITEM UNDER NEW BUSINESS ITEM ONE RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING PROPOSAL OF ORANGE MUNICIPAL SUPPORT INC. AIMS FOR A CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDY. MOTION IS THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND, MR. GLEASON. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL. AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHAT THIS ITEM IS, IS A, UH, SALARY STUDY, UH, FOR THE ORGANIZATION. IT'S NOT BEEN DONE, UH, SINCE 1990. UH, SO THAT'S NEARLY, UH, IT IS 35 YEARS. UH, OUR APPROACH HAS BEEN TO AND UNION NEGOTIATIONS TO, UH, FIND OUR COMPARABLE COMMUNITIES. AND I THINK WE DO THAT WELL, UH, FOR THE THREE, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, UH, THAT WE HAVE. BUT FOR ALL OF OUR NON-UNION STAFF, IT'S REALLY BEEN A ONE-OFF TYPE OF APPROACH. AND THIS IS, UH, A MORE ORGANIZED, EFFICIENT APPROACH. I DID SEEK, UH, THREE PROPOSALS. UH, THIS BY FAR WAS, UH, THE, UM, LOWEST COST, UH, PROPOSAL, BUT THE ONE THAT I SUPPORT THE MOST BECAUSE, UH, SINCE OUR HR DEPARTMENT AND THE ORGANIZATION'S, UH, NOT DONE ONE OF THESE IN A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, UH, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WILL, UH, LIKELY NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE CONSULTANT A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND THIS IS A LOCAL CONSULTANT. WE'VE DONE, UH, WORK WITH, UH, JIM ART IN THE PAST. VERY SATISFIED WITH [00:10:01] HIS WORK PRODUCT. AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL COUNCILMAN COOPER? JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. UM, I KNOW THE OVERALL COST OF THE, OF THE PROPOSAL DOESN'T SEEM TOO FAR OUTTA WHACK, BUT I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT, UM, IT INDICATES THAT ANYTHING THAT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE CONTRACT IS, UM, WILL BE, UM, BILLED TO US AT $135 AN HOUR. SO I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT DO WE HAVE A, A CAP? UM, $135 AN HOUR CAN ADD UP REAL QUICK. SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, ARE THERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE CONTRACT THAT WE'RE GONNA GET HIT WITH A, UH, EXTRAORDINARY BILL AT 30, $135 AN HOUR FOR OTHER WORK THAT'S NOT IN THE CONTRACT? I DO NOT FORESEE THAT. AND THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S BUILT INTO A LOT OF CONTRACTS. UH, YOU KNOW, WE MANAGED, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE CONTRACT AS IT WAS BUILT AND BROUGHT BEFORE COUNSEL. SO I DO NOT FORESEE, UH, ANY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, A GREAT NEED FOR, UH, ADDITIONAL SERVICES. YOU KNOW, I WOULD DO THIS, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GONNA BE CAPTURED IN THIS, UH, CONTRACT, UH, THAT'S BEFORE COUNSEL FOR APPROVAL. IF WE GO BEYOND THAT, I THINK IT'S $35,070, I'LL MAKE COUNCIL AWARE. UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA MANAGE THIS VERY, UH, VERY WELL. AND, AND I'M GONNA SHIFT AND IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME, MAYOR, JUST TO ADD SOME OTHER, UM, UH, COMMENTS THAT I SHOULD HAVE HAD AT THE OPENING IS, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT BACK, YOU KNOW, KNEW THAT WE HAD PROBLEMS AS AN ORGANIZATION OF, UH, BEING ABLE TO, OR RECRUIT AND RETAIN, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE STEPS FOR THIS, UH, UH, FOR THE NON-UNION STAFF TO BE ABLE TO, UH, WORK TOWARDS BEING THAT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. AND, UH, WE'RE HIRING A PROFESSIONAL TO COME IN, GIVE US THAT POINT THAT WE NEED TO BE WITH STARTING SALARIES AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS. UH, INSTEAD OF, UH, THE ONE-OFF APPROACH THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST, IT'S, IT'S, AND IT'S MORE FAIR TO OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY OUTSOURCED THIS AND ASK FOR A PROFESSIONAL OPINION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? SEE NONE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE. SIX AYES, NO NAYS. ITEM TWO. RESOLUTION [2. Resolution Authorizing a Development Agreement with K.C. Finds, LLC] AUTHORIZING AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH CASEY FINES. LLC. MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND, MR. GLEASON. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS ITEM, UH, IF YOU RECALL, UH, WOULD'VE BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AND, UH, WHEN I BROUGHT, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UH, MELISSA HAN HAN, UH, SHE WAS, UH, TASKED TO, UH, REACH OUT WITH THE OWNER, UH, MS. UH, CAROL KESSLER, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE. AND THIS, UH, THIS, THIS SPACE IS AT THE OLD ACE HARDWARE. UH, AND IT'S ONE THAT, UH, SHE HAS BROUGHT THIS BUSINESS MODEL HAS BEEN OPEN, UH, NOT QUITE A YEAR, AND THERE IS A DRASTIC DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION WAS THAT WAS BEING CONSIDERED BY COUNSEL. UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CAP OF, UH, MAXIMUM OF $25,000 IN SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS. UH, THIS IS VERY REASONABLE. UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT A, UH, SPACE, IT, UH, QUITE POSSIBLY COULD STILL BE EMPTY, UH, IF NOT FOR, UH, MS. KESSLER'S, UH, UH, BUSINESS OCCUPYING THAT SPACE. I THINK THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY, UH, AN ITEM, UH, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY COUNSEL. IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, UH, I'LL CALL THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER UP. IT DEFINITELY IS ONE THAT SHE RAN THE LEAD ON. I BELIEVE DR. HORN HAS A QUESTION. UH, FIRST A COMMENT AND THEN A QUESTION. UH, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU HAD A FORMER RETAIL SPACE THAT'S SET EMPTY AND THEREFORE IT'S GETTING $0 IN SALES TAX. AND SO NOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AN INCENTIVE THAT WILL, UM, PROVIDE, UM, REVENUE TO THE CITY THAT IT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE. UH, PERHAPS. BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION GOES TO, UM, MR. CHAP'S POINT AND CITIZEN'S COMMENT, WHICH IS, OKAY, WELL, CAN WE DO THIS SAME TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT WHERE WE REBATE PROPERTY TAXES FOR, UM, NEW EMPLOYEES TO THE CITY OF DECATUR? OR, UH, CAN WE DO THE SAME PROCESS FOR NEW RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT COME TO THE CITY OF DECATUR AND OCCUPY BUILDINGS THAT ARE NO LONGER, UM, OCCUPIED? AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE GO FROM MAKING THIS A ONETIME, [00:15:02] UM, VOTE TO DOING THIS ON A CONSISTENT REGULAR BASIS TO ATTRACT RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES? I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE, THE QUESTION, UH, COUNCILMAN HORNE, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN BOUNCE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS HERE, BUT THE ONE THING THAT I THINK I'LL FOCUS ON, AND IF YOU WANNA BRING ME BACK TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T PROPERLY PLEASE DO, BUT, UH, BUILDING THAT, THAT TOOLKIT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE TEMPLATE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOWARDS. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE POSTED AND SHOULD BE POSTED ON A CITY'S WEBSITE SO THAT A DEVELOPER AND EXISTING BUSINESS THAT'S WANTING TO EXPAND, UH, OR IS THINKING ABOUT LEAVING, YOU KNOW, GOD FORBID. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT, UH, THOSE POSSIBILITIES, WE'VE GOT QUICK ACCESS. IT'S BEEN A STORY THAT WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S A LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF, UH, LET'S SAY A BASELINE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE OR A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE ACTUALLY OFFER AS FAR AS RESIDENCY, UH, UH, FOR, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES. YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE I'M TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF MY MOUTH, BUT IT ACTUALLY IS A PART OF PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE'VE HEARD THIS EVENING, DIFFERENT TIMES THAT I'VE COMMENTED ON DIFFERENT THINGS. IT HAS COME BEFORE COUNCIL, UH, THE LAST, UH, 11 MONTHS, NEARLY A YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. YOU KNOW, ON ONE HAND WE'RE HAVING TROUBLES RECRUITING EMPLOYEES, AND WE'VE EXPANDED THE 50 MILE RADIUS. UH, AND THAT'S COME BEFORE COUNCIL. AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT, UH, DECISION TO MAKE. WOULD IT BE NICE IF WE COULD TELL ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR? AND YES, IT WOULD BE, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC. AND WE HAVE MANY YEARS TO PROVE, UH, THE CHALLENGES. AND, AND TRYING THIS BY EXPANDING THE RESIDENCY IS AN OPTION THAT I THINK, UH, WAS SMART FOR US TO TAKE NOW AN INCENTIVE, A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT AN INCENTIVE FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY. THAT'S ALSO A CONVERSATION, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR A, FOR A LATER POINT. BUT IT'S ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE HAD COUNCILMAN KEEL. I WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT, UH, CASEY FINES ON, UH, CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. I WENT OUT THERE AND, UM, THAT BUILDING OR THAT, THAT PROPERTY LOOKS LIKE IT HAS MAYBE FOUR, POSSIBLY FIVE. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF SHE TOOK OVER TWO UNITS OF THAT BUILDING OR ONE, BUT TWO OF THEM ARE EMPTY. ONE'S WEAVING. AND, AND SHE'S MOVED IN THERE AND RETAIL'S GETTING KILLED. NOT ONLY HERE, BUT EVERYWHERE. SO THIS IS, IN MY MIND, A GREAT INVESTMENT. UM, UH, AND SHE'S GOT A NICE OPERATION OUT THERE. I DON'T THINK $5,000 A YEAR IS, IS A, A BIG ASK FROM US. UM, WE, WE BUILD SEWERS, FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT HERE, UH, I THINK IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT TO BRING BUSINESSES IN. AND WE'RE TALKING $5,000 A MONTH. UM, I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN HORN'S CONCERN. I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU DO IT FOR ONE AND DO IT FOR ANOTHER. I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT, BUT I'LL BE VOTING YES FOR THIS. COUNCILMAN CULP, LIKE THEY'VE SPOKEN EARLIER, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS SPACE FILLED. UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE VACANT, AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT. UH, BUT I ALSO SEE, OR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION, I'VE SEEN CORRESPONDENCE WHERE THIS WENT BACK TO PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATORS PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL BACK INDICATOR, IS THAT CORRECT? IT, IT DID, UH, COUNCILMAN CULP, UM, THIS, UH, THE, THE FIRST ARRANGEMENT, UH, WAS MARCH OF 2024. AND, UH, WHEN, UH, THIS COUNCIL, WHEN THIS AGENDA ITEM IN THE ORIGINAL FORM CAME BEFORE COUNCIL, AND IT WAS PULLED RIGHTFULLY SO, I ASSUME COUNSEL WAS AWARE BECAUSE THIS WAS A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UH, THAT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN SIGNED BY MS. KESSLER. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT DEFINITELY APPRECIATE HER PATIENCE, UH, WITH THE CITY AND TRYING TO RECTIFY THIS. AND, UH, THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A PRODUCT, UH, AN ITEM THAT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL TONIGHT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WE SHOULD ADOPT. AND, AND REAL QUICK TO COUNCILMAN, UH, KEHL, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT THE, UH, THE, THE LOCATION, MS. KESSLER, I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS A BUSINESS MODEL. UH, I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT RETAIL IS NOT GOING TO BE THE ONLY WAY FOR HER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND SHE HAS EXPANDED THE BUSINESS OPERATION TO ALLOW FOR, UH, ART OPPORTUNITIES. UH, AND IT REALLY IS AN IMPRESSIVE SITE. I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT. AND I WILL SAY I HAVE BEEN IN THERE TO LOOK AROUND WHEN SHE OPENED, AND SHE'S GOT, IT'S A UNIQUE BUSINESS MODEL AND IT ALLOWS A LOT OF OTHER ENTREPRENEURS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO, UM, MAKE MONEY TO PARTICIPATE. AND SHE'S NOT JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN. I MEAN, SHE'S GOT ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITIES MEANT TO DRAW PEOPLE [00:20:01] IN. SO I CONGRATULATE HER ON THIS EFFORT. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, MR. COOPER? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I TOO HAVE VISITED THE SITE AND BEEN THERE. UM, BUT I DO THINK SINCE THE SITE WAS SITTING AS LONG AS IT WAS SITTING VACANT, UM, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, UH, INITIATIVE AND A GOOD PROPOSAL TO TRY. I HOPE. I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT, UM, THINGS THAT DR. HORN HAS INDICATED, AND I THINK THOSE ARE SOME GOOD IDEAS THAT HE'S INDICATED THAT I HOPE WE DO FOLLOW UP ONE, BUT ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE SAME THING IF POSSIBLE WITH, UH, ALL THE LOTS THAT THE CITY OWNED VACANT LOTS, UM, THAT WE GOTTA MAINTAIN AND IT'S COSTLY TO MAINTAIN, UH, A LOT OF STAFF TIME MAINTAINING THEM. UM, I THINK WE ALL LOOK AT SOME INITIATIVES TO, TO DO SOME SIMILAR THINGS WITH THE LOTS AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO TAKE THE LOTS OFF THE CITY'S HAND AND UTILIZE THEM, UH, IN, UH, IN OTHER WAYS. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCES REGARDING LOTS, AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE, GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT, AT, IS THAT STILL VIABLE TODAY IN TODAY'S SOCIETY? UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S RESTRICTING PEOPLE FROM PURCHASING LOTS DUE TO ALL THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THEM. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO WITH THEM AND STILL LOOK THE, MAKE THE CITY LOOK, LOOK NICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, LOOK NICE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKE USE OF THEM. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT DOING THE CITY ANY GOOD BY JUST SITTING THERE AND WE'RE MOWING THE GRASS EVERY YEAR, UM, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY TAXES. SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO ADD THAT INTO THE MIX OF SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND HAVE A, A DIFFERENT EYE ON, UH, OUT OF THE BOX LOOK THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? THANK YOU MAYOR. I AM, UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY COLLEAGUES THIS EVENING. UM, THIS WAS, UM, A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS, UM, ORIGINALLY EXECUTED THROUGH, UH, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT TILL IT CAME TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA AND WAS PULLED THE FIRST TIME. UM, I HAVE BEEN IN KC FINDS, UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING, BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE SEWER WORK THAT WE DID IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA OUT EAST OF TOWN, UM, THAT WAS TO SERVE AND TO LEVERAGE MANY MORE, UM, BUSINESSES. AND SO FOR ME, I'M NOT SURE IF WE APPROVE THIS, WHERE THE LINE IN THE SAND IS. UM, I THINK THAT, UM, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME, UH, UH, TIGHTER, UH, PARAMETERS AROUND REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS. AND FOR THOSE REASONS THIS EVENING, I WILL BE A NO. MR. KHL, I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE GETTING FROM THIS PROPERTY BEFORE WAS ZERO. SO NOW WHATEVER WE'RE GETTING IS A BONUS. AND I THINK THE COUNCIL SHOULD LOOK AT AT MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS. IF WE HAVE VACANT BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE WANNA START BUSINESSES, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW THE PARAMETERS, YOU'D HAVE TO SET UP A WHOLE, I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE DYNAMICS, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE NO REVENUE AND YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY THAT'S COMING IN AND CREATING REVENUE, I THINK THINK IT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD LOOK AT. AND EVERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS DIFFERENT. EACH PROJECT HAS A UNIQUE SET OF NEEDS, AND SO YOU CAN'T GET TOO COOKIE CUTTER BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT NEED AS THEY COME IN. SO, BUT I THINK I JUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WHERE WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING PREVIOUSLY. DR. HORN, I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY, AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN KHL ON THIS ISSUE. I I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA GROW OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH INCENTIVES. AND THIS IS A NO COST INCENTIVE TO THE CITY OF DECATUR. BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY'S POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHOULD SET PARAMETERS AND THEREFORE NEXT YEAR, WHY WOULDN'T WE HAVE 20 OF THESE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE COUNCIL? UM, AND, AND SO I AM, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE, BUT I WANT IT TO BE THE FIRST OF MANY INITIATIVES. AND AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T BE LIMITED TO JUST SMALL BUSINESSES. YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS FOR INCENTIVIZING REHABILITATIONS OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. AND YOU COULD SEE THIS ALSO INCENTIVIZING NEW RESIDENTS TO COME TO DECATUR, BUT IT NEEDS PARAMETERS. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? C NONE. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN CULP? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN [00:25:01] GREGORY? NO. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. MAYOR MOORE WOLF. AYE. FIVE AYES ONE NAY. ITEM THREE, [3. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Clifton Larson Allen LLP for Professional Business Assessment Services] RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH CLIFTON LARSON, ALLEN, LLP FOR PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ASSESSMENT SERVICES. MOTION, THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND, MR. GLEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THIS, UH, THIS IS AN OUTCOME AS, UH, AN INSET AS, UH, I JUST LOST TRACK OF THE WORD THAT I WANTED TO USE, BUT AS AN OUTCOME OF, UH, JUST LOOKING AT OUR PROCESSES, YOU KNOW, ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE, AND THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, IT'S, UH, LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, CONTRACT BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT WITH, UH, CLA IS GOING TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES, REVIEW OUR POLICIES. IT'S DEFINITELY AN AREA IN SOME OF OUR PAST, UH, PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES, UH, THAT I FEEL THAT, UH, THIS IS AN OUTCOME AND IS NECESSARY FOR US TO, UH, ADDRESS THOSE, UH, MORE EFFICIENT, UH, SOME COACHING, UH, TRAINING AND, UH, PUTS US IN A BETTER SPOT, UH, REGARDING OUR FINANCES. QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER? OH, SORRY, MR. GI. UM, SO, UH, IS THERE ANY OVERLAP ON THIS FROM THE FIRST COMPANY THAT WE JUST APPROVED IN THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM? I MEAN, THIS, I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CON CONTROLS, BUT YOU'RE ALSO TALKING, I THOUGHT YOU SAID SOMETHING IN HERE ABOUT LOOKING AT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT AND APPRECIATE, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE CHANCE TO CLARIFY THAT. SO THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS TRULY JUST A SALARY STUDY LOOKING AT OUR, UH, COMPARABLE COMMUNITIES TRY TO PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WE'RE COMPETITIVE, UH, CAN BE THAT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE COMPLETELY SEPARATE ON THIS ITEM WITH CLIFTON LARSON. ALLEN, REALLY THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS OUR FINANCIAL, UH, PROCESSES, PROCEDURES. HOW DO WE IMPROVE THOSE? HOW DO WE, UH, TIGHTEN, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE, UH, REALIZED THE PAST FEW MONTHS. THERE WAS AN ADDED COMPONENT THAT CLIFTON LARSON ALLEN, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD, AND IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, PROCESSES, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE, NO OVERLAP TO, UH, WHAT, UH, AREN'T, UH, UH, AREN'T MUNICIPAL SUPPORT IS GONNA BE, UH, PROVIDING US FOR, UH, THE STUDY SESSION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OH, DR. HORN, MR. MR. GLEASON, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE FOR WHAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT MIGHT BE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? AND THE REASON I ASK THAT IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE OBJECTIVES, ONE IS TO REVIEW FINANCIAL PROCESSES TO CONFIRM CONTROLS EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. ANOTHER IS ASSESS EXISTING SOFTWARE SYSTEMS TO CONFIRM CAPABILITIES AND UTILIZATION. AND SO FROM THOSE PERSPECTIVES, I COULD SEE THERE BEING ACTUAL MONETARY SAVINGS, UH, BY DOING THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE FOR WHAT, UH, ROI MIGHT BE REAL QUICK, WHEN I, UH, JUST WAS COMMENTING, I, I SAID STUDY SESSION, I MEANT SALARY STUDY TO, UH, THE LAST COMMENT THAT I MADE. COUNCILMAN HORNE? UH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DO NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ABLE TO, UH, ATTACH A NUMBER TO THAT, BUT I WILL GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL BE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND IF THERE'S A WAY FOR ME TO TRACK THAT SO THAT THIS COUNCIL IN SUPPORTING THIS AGENDA ITEM CAN TAKE A VICTORY LAP AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, I WILL DO IT. UH, IT'S ONE THAT I AM CONVINCED, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION NEEDS AND, UH, THERE IS GOING TO BE SAVINGS, POTENTIALLY WASTE, UH, THAT WE UNCOVER, UH, AS WE TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. CHUCK, DID YOU HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT? I DO. ALRIGHT. AND I'LL CALL THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN KIEL. AYE. COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE. COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE. MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE. SIX AYES DONATE. AND THAT BRINGS US [4. City Manager Update] TO THE CITY MANAGER. UPDATE, MR. GLEASON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAVE SLIDES, UH, THIS EVENING AND IT'S THE, UH, FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH. UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT, UH, FINANCIAL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE STEPS IN TRYING TO, UH, BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. AND THAT'S BY RECOGNIZING, UH, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK FOR, UH, THE CITY. WE HAVE, UH, NEW HIRES. UH, AMANDA IS IN THE, UH, CUSTOMER PAYMENT SPECIALIST IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE COURTNEY, THAT'S UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE. AND THERESA JACKSON IS THE, UH, THE NUMBER TWO, UH, IS THE, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, UH, EXCITED ABOUT THAT AD. THAT IS ONE THAT IN THE FY 25 BUDGET COUNCIL [00:30:01] APPROVED. SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT I KNOW FRENCH, THE HR DIRECTORS, BRIAN HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND, UH, QUITE THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY WITH THERESA. NEXT SLIDE APPOINTMENTS. WE HAVE, UH, CHRIS DOWNEY HAS, UH, BEEN PROMOTED TO DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF OF, UH, TRAINING TOBY JACKSON, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ALREADY A DEPUTY CHIEF. HE IS NOW WITH THE PROMOTION OF NEIL ELDER IS, UH, THE DEPUTY CHIEF IN CHARGE OF, UH, OPERATIONS. SO TRULY A NUMBER TWO WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THEN WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS, UH, WE HAVE MATTHEW APPOINTED AS BATTALION CHIEF IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ANDREW WAS PROMOTED TO A FIRE LIEUTENANT, UH, BRANDON PROMOTED TO A FIRE LIEUTENANT. CALEB WAS PROMOTED TO A FIRE LIEUTENANT AND COREY WAS, UH, PROMOTED TO A FIRE CAPTAIN ALL AS A RESULT OF THE, UH, RETIREMENT OF, UH, CHIEF ABBOTT WHO WAS ON THIS SLIDE. I KNOW WE RECOGNIZED HIM, BUT, UH, HE WAS DUE ON THIS, UH, FIRST MEETING IN, UH, APRIL AS WELL. FIRE CHIEF ABBOTT RETIRED AFTER SERVING THE, UH, COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS. DDU, UH, DWAYNE RICHARDS, UH, WAS THE, UH, IT, UH, SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR WITHIN THE DECATUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, SINCE 2010, BUT HAD BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR, UH, 25 YEARS. YOU KNOW, JUST ONE OF THOSE UN UNSUNG HEROES AND PEOPLE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, DON'T NECESSARILY GET THE SPOTLIGHT BUT JUST HAS DONE TREMENDOUS THINGS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM. NOTHING ELSE, MAYOR. ABSOLUTELY. AND, AND WE [5. 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.] NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM? MR. CULP? ITEM E. SORRY, YOU SAID E. YES. RESOLUTION REGARDING POULTRY FARMS. GOTCHA. JEFF, ARE THERE OTHERS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED? OKAY, IT'S JUST ITEM E, ITEM A RECEIVING AND FILING OF MINUTES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. ITEM B RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROVAL TO RENEW ANNUAL LICENSE AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT FROM TYLER TECHNOLOGIES INC. FOR THE MUNIS ENTERPRISE FINANCIAL SOFTWARE SUITES. ITEM C ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 29 83 SOUTH WHEATLAND ROAD ITEM D RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWO EMERGENCY WARNING SIRENS. ITEM F ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY FROM R SIX MULTIPLE DWELLING DISTRICT TO B TWO COMMERCIAL DISTRICT 2 34 EAST MARIETTA STREET. ITEM G ORDINANCE AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 24 FENCES ITEM H RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH DNS MANAGEMENT REALTY PARTNERS FOR 2025 WHEAT ABATEMENT. ITEM I RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH J AND D SERVICES FOR 2025. WE ABATEMENT ITEM J RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH RICKY WILFORD FOR 2025. WE ABATEMENT ITEM K RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH ROOTS LONG CARE FOR 2025. WE ABATEMENT ITEM L RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH TAYLOR MADE LANDSCAPING FOR 2025 WHEAT ABATEMENT. ITEM M RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH F AND E LAWN AND JANITORIAL SERVICE FOR 2025 WHEAT ABATEMENT AND ITEM N RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH INHERITED SERVICES LLC FOR 2025. WEED ABATEMENT. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. COUNCILMAN KUHL. AYE. COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. MAYOR MOORE WOLF. AYE. SIX AYES NO NAY ITEM [E. Resolution Authorizing Execution of Purchase Order between City of Decatur, Illinois and Paul Tree Farms, LLC for Tree Installation Contract] E RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF PURCHASE ORDER BETWEEN CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS AND PAUL TREE FARMS. LLC FOR TREE INSTALLATION CONTRACT MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. UH, DO WE WANNA GO TO MR. CULP FIRST? YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE MANAGER? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? I BELIEVE THE MANAGER CAN COVER, I'M JUST WANT AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THIS, UH, CAME ABOUT A VERY ATTRACTIVE OFFER. UH, BUT I WONDERED HOW ALL DID THIS GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL? WE HAVE SOME LOCAL COMPANIES HERE INQUIRING THAT BE, UH, NICE TO CLEAR UP. I APPRECIATE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY MAYOR COUNCIL MORE SO TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, IN OUR ATTEMPT, UH, LACEY, GO AHEAD AND WORK YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM IF YOU WOULD IN, IN OUR ATTEMPT TO, UH, TELL A STORY, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME PREVIEW ITEMS, UH, FOR THE UPCOMING AGENDA. THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, HAD TALKED ABOUT, DIDN'T GIVE MUCH THOUGHT BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY PHASE TWO, UH, IN THIS TREE PROGRAM. AND, UH, LACEY ELSIE, OUR INTERIM ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND THE TRANSIT DIRECTOR, I'M GONNA GIVE THE FLOOR TO HER HERE IN A SECOND. BUT THIS IS A DONATION OUT OF THIS COMPANY. THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE RECEIVED, UH, THE TREES THAT WE RECEIVED FIRST IN PHASE ONE. AND THEN THE TREES, UH, THAT WE'VE RECEIVED. NOW, THESE ARE NOT JUST A LITTLE THREE FOUR INCH IN DIAMETER. THESE THINGS ARE LARGE TREES THAT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COMPANY PROVIDED A, A, A, UH, DONATION FOR THE TREES THEMSELVES. [00:35:01] NOW, THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE PLANNING, YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS COST IS GONNA COVER. LISA, IF YOU WOULD CLEAN UP ANYTHING OR ADD ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK'S APPROPRIATE. ABSOLUTELY. SO I'LL JUST ADD THAT THIS GRANT IS OVER THE LIFE OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND SO THIS IS, UM, LIKE CITY MANAGER SAID THE SECOND INSTALLMENT, BUT THIS IS THE LAST INSTALLMENT WITH PAUL TREE FARM. SO MOVING FORWARD WE WILL BE SEEKING SMALLER CALIBER TREES, UM, AND THERE'LL BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BID ON THOSE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MR. COLP? SO THIS IS STILL PART OF THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT, THE ORIGINAL BID THAT CAME ON FOR PHASE ONE AND THAT INCLUDED PHASE TWO AS WELL. SO THIS WAS A DONATION, A GIFT, AND YES, THIS IS PHASE TWO OF IT. OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. KEEL, DID YOU HAVE A, UM, I'M JUST DOING THE MATH ON THIS. SO IT'S 185 TREES. IS IT, IS IT 2 11, 200 11,000 TO PLANT THEM? IS THAT, NO, THAT'S THE DONATION. THE VALUE OF THE TREES. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLANT THE TREE? SO ON AVERAGE IT'S ABOUT $800, BUT THAT INCLUDES A TWO YEAR WARRANTY. THAT'S THE MULCH, THE TRANSPLANT, UM, THE ROOT INJECTIONS. OKAY. 'CAUSE I, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO PLANT THESE AND I GUESS IT'S KIND OF LIKE, I WAS THINKING LIKE YOU GET A LOW COST, UH, ITEM AND THEN THEY NAIL YOU WITH SHIPPING. SO IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE OR DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE UH, 800 PER TREE PLANTING? NO, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE 800 PER TREE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PARK DISTRICT, UM, AND SOME OF THE TREES HAVE ALREADY GONE IN AND SOME OF THE PARKS, SOME OF THOSE TREES ARE EIGHT TO 10 FEET TALL. SO WE'RE TALKING VERY LARGE TREES THAT WE'RE TRANSPORTING, UM, AND THE U OF I EXTENSION AS WELL. SO THEY HAVE ALL BEEN CONSULTANTS ON THIS PROJECT. OKAY, THANK YOU MR. COOPER. OF COURSE, I KNOW OVER IN THE 900 BLOCK OF NORTH OAKLAND, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TREES PLANTED DOWN THAT STREET. ARE, ARE THOSE TREES PART OF THIS PROJECT OR IS THAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT? UM, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE HAVEN'T PLANTED ANY TREES, UM, IN ANY RIGHT OF WAYS. YEP. ANYTHING FURTHER, DR. HORN? UM, SO JUST TO CONFIRM, BEGINNING WITH THE NEXT PHASE, IT WILL BE BIDDING FOR THE PLANTINGS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. AND THEN, UM, IT'S LISTED THAT THIS WILL FUND THE PLANTING WATERING AND MAINTENANCE OF 1200 TREES OVER FIVE YEARS. DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CURRENT PROGRAM THAT THE CITY HAS WITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TO PLANT TREES ON THEIR PROPERTY? NO. THAT IS A SEPARATE PROGRAM. SO INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TREES PLANTED IN THEIR FRONT YARD AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT, UH, REDUCTION IN COSTS, UH, STILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO CURRENTLY? YES, I BELIEVE SO. CALL THE QUESTION COUNCILMAN KEHL. AYE. COUNCILMAN CULP? NO. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. MAYOR MOORE WOLF. AYE. FIVE AYES ONE NAY. MOVING NOW TO OTHER [VI. Other Business] BUSINESS, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE, UM, DR. HORN AND COUNCILMAN CULP ON THEIR REELECTIONS TO THE COUNCIL AND WELCOME OUR NEWEST COUNCILWOMAN. UH, MS. CRUZ, IS SHE HERE? OH, THERE YOU ARE AT THE BACK. THE LIGHTING IS REALLY BAD BACK THERE AS YOU'LL SOON FIND OUT. SO WELCOME. WE, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU AND I GUESS WE'LL ALSO CONGRATULATE, UH, OUR GOOD FRIEND MR. KUHL, WHO HAS SERVED TWO TERMS AND, UH, YOU STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO BEFORE YOU'RE GONE. SO WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? SEE NONE. I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. COUNCILMAN KUHL? AYE. COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE. COUNCILMAN COOPER? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? AYE. COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE. MAYOR MOORE WOLF? AYE. SIX AYES NO NAY. WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.