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[I. Call to Order]
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY.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 OR ALL WE BEGIN OUR
[II. Appearance of Citizens]
MEETINGS WITH 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 TO GIVE THEIR DOCUMENTS, IF ANY, TO THE POLICE OFFICER FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL.
WHEN THE MAYOR DETERMINES THAT ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK, GET ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY OF DONE SO.
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND KEY STAFF MAY MAKE COMMENTS.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, MA'AM.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING AND MODERNIZING THE DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS IS MY LOVE LETTER TO DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
HOPEFULLY I COULD GET THROUGH IT.
MY JOURNEY WITH DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SPAN OVER A DECADE SERVING ON ONE BOARD OR ANOTHER, SOMETIMES ALL THREE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
CURRENTLY, I'M PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE FOUNDATION CHAIR OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE.
AND I'M ON THE HUNDRED 50TH COMMITTEE
UM, I'M ALSO IHLS BOARD MEMBER AND A REGULAR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD MEMBER OR BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
I HAVE A FAMILY LIFE WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND, UH, I ALSO LOVE TO READ, I WOULDN'T TRADE ANY OF IT BECAUSE DPL HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR ME.
DPL ISN'T JUST A LIBRARY, IT'S MY THIRD HOME.
IT'S WHERE I'VE FOUND A SENSE OF BELONGING.
A PLACE TO EXPLORE ANY BOOK I'M AFTER, PHYSICAL OR AUDIO BOOK TO LEARN AND GROW THROUGH NEW SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES.
IT'S WHERE I'VE MET BELOVED AUTHORS, DISCOVERED CREATIVE HOBBIES, AND I'M ALWAYS GREETED BY NAME.
MORE THAN THAT, IT'S WHERE I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
BUT MY LOVE FOR DPL ISN'T JUST PERSONAL.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE LIVES ARE GENUINELY TRANSFORMED.
TAKE JESSICA, OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR, WHO'S HELPED OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR BY CONNECTING THEM WITH CRITICAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING HOUSING.
ALEXIS, OUR AMAZING TEEN LIBRARIAN, HAS CREATED A SAFE HAVEN FOR TEENS BY OFFERING ENGAGING PROGRAMS DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS.
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE IMPRESSIVE SCOPE OF OUR COLLECTION.
IT REVIVE RIVALS EVEN THE LARGEST LIBRARIES IN THE REGION.
THE BEACON OF EDUCATION, CREATIVITY, AND OPPORTUNITY.
THE PEOPLE, EVERY STAFF MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER, VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORTER.
PAST AND PRESENT, WHO MAKES THIS FANTASTIC.
MAKES THIS LIBRARY AN EXTRAORDINARY HUB OF COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION.
OUR FRIENDS GROUP RUNS A FANTASTIC STORE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING.
WHILE THE FOUNDATION TACKLES AMBITIOUS PROJECTS LIKE THE LOCAL HISTORY ROOM IS SORTING MACHINE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PROVIDES THE STRATEGIC VISION AND FI FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP THAT KEEPS US THRIVING.
CITY LIBRARIAN RICK MEYER HAS HELPED SHAPE BPL INTO A LIBRARY THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ASPIRE TO EMULATE THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE, EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
HIS PROFESSIONALISM, FINANCIAL ACUMEN, AND STUDY GUIDANCE HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE.
THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE OUR HUNDRED 50TH YEAR.
THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION IS NOT JUST A REFLECTION OF OUR HISTORY, BUT A TESTAMENT TO THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT THAT'S HELPED SHAPE OUR SHAPE THIS LIBRARY INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO DPL.
THANK YOU SAMANTHA, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND SERVICED ON THE BOARDS.
ANY ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? GOOD EVENING.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE LIBRARY.
RICK AND THE STAFF DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I ALSO FREQUENT THE BOOKSTORE AND SPEND QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THERE.
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WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, SO SATURDAY WE SAID THANK YOU, AND WE SAID GOODBYE TO ONE OF OUR ICONIC BUSINESSMAN INDICATOR.RAY ELDRIDGE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN MY LIFETIME WITH RAY, AND I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING EMBARRASSED ANYTIME I WALKED IN THE STORE, A RESTAURANT, A BANK, OR ANYWHERE HE WAS, HE'D SAY, THERE'S OUR BATON GIRL.
AND SO SOMEHOW I KIND OF GOT THROUGH THAT.
BUT, UM, THE ELDRIDGES HAVE GIVEN US SO MUCH TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY TAUGHT GOOD WORK ETHIC, GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AND RA RARELY SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT ANYONE.
I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YESTERDAY I SPENT THE PART OF THE EVENING WITH MY BELOVED DECATUR MUNICIPAL BAND.
TONIGHT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK THEY WILL HAVE THEIR FIRST CONCERT AT CENTRAL PARK.
ALSO THIS WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY, THE AL SPEED MANSION, WE'RE NOW BEGINNING OUR, UH, SUMMER HOURS.
SO WE'RE OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY, EVERY SATURDAY FROM TWO TO FOUR.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, NOT SUCH A PLEASANT TOPIC.
UM, JUST A REMINDER, I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER'S WORKING ON THE BUDGET.
I BELIEVE FOR NEXT MONTH THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE STARTING.
SO JUST A REMINDER OF THE TAXING BODIES MEETING.
SO IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, LAST WINTER, I ASKED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ASKED, THE PARK BOARD, ASKED THE COUNTY AND ALSO THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND ALL AGREE TO ATTEND A MEETING.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE HEARING ANYMORE TO GO HERE AND YOU'LL GET THERE AND HAVE THEM ALL THERE.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL? OKAY.
SEEING THEM, WE, UH, DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A RESPONSE FOR ANY OF THESE SPEAKERS? I WILL SAY TO MS. OWENS, UM, I HAVE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THE OTHER TAXING BODIES ABOUT POTENTIALLY HAVING A MEETING, A PUBLIC MEETING, BUT, UM, JUST HAVING THOSE TALKS NOW AND TRYING TO WORK ON SOME LOGISTICS.
[III. Approval of Minutes]
MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 19TH, 2025.
SEVEN A'S NO NAYS ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.
[1. Resolution Accepting the Proposal and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for Microtransit Management and Operations with MV Transportation, Inc.]
FIRST ITEM IS RESOLUTION.ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR MICRO TRANSIT MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS WITH MV TRANSPORTATION INC.
MOTION TO THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
UH, THIS, UH, AS LACEY ELZ, OUR ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MAKES HER WAY TO THE PODIUM.
SHE'S GONNA WALK US THROUGH THIS, SO I'M NOT GONNA STEAL HER THUNDER.
BUT, UH, THIS TRULY IS ANOTHER VICTORY LAP FOR, UH, COUNCIL RELATED TO, UH, MICRO TRANSIT, WHAT IT OFFERS THE, UH, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB GROWTH.
AND, UH, THIS IS A, UH, AGENDA ITEM BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT.
UH, AGAIN, UH, WORTH THE VICTORY LAP AND THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS, UH, CONTRACT TO YOU GUYS TONIGHT.
I KNOW THAT WE STARTED THIS IN 2023 WITH THE KICKOFF OF THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONS ANALYSIS, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST COA THAT WE HAD CONDUCTED ON THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, UM, IN 30 YEARS.
SO BY UNDERTAKING THAT, UM, WE STARTED DISCUSSING THIS CONCEPT OF MICRO TRANSIT AND WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE FLEXIBLE WORK FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE WE HAD IDENTIFIED A LOT OF GAPS IN SERVICE GAPS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IDENTIFIED TRANSPORTATION AS A BARRIER.
SO OUT OF THAT, COA CAME, LIKE I SAID, THIS CONCEPT OF MICRO TRANSIT, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE AN UBER OR A RIDESHARE, UM, PROGRAM THAT ANYBODY CAN USE.
AND SO IN THE BEGINNING TALKS OF THIS, IT WOULD JUST BE CITY OF DECATUR.
SORRY, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS, I FEEL LIKE IT'S AN ECHO.
UM, SO WITHIN THE CORPORATE CITY LIMITS OF DECATUR, BUT, UM, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, MICRO TRANSIT, IT HAS GROWN, UM, WITH THE INCORPORATION
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OF THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT ZION, THE VILLAGE OF FORSYTH INTO THAT FOOTPRINT.AND THEN FINALLY, UM, THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
AND SO MICRO TRANSIT IS, UM, IT'S AN EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE, DATA-DRIVEN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO SERVE AREAS THAT NECESSARILY DON'T MAKE SENSE TO OPERATE FIXED ROUTE IN.
UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN IN TRANSIT, WE'VE HAD COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME UP AND DISCUSS ABOUT HOW IT'S NOT EFFICIENT OR HOW THEY DID NOT APPRECIATE HAVING LARGE FIXED ROUTE BUSES IN THEIR SMALLER NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND A LOT OF OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS WEREN'T DESIGNED TO HAVE SUCH LARGE VEHICLES IN THEM.
SO THIS IS A, A REALLY GREAT SOLUTION TO THAT.
UM, TONIGHT I'M PRESENTING, UM, THE CON THE POTENTIAL CONTRACT WITH MV TRANSPORTATION.
SO THEY ARE OUR, UH, CURRENT CONTRACTOR WHO OPERATE OUR FIXED AND PARATRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND, UM, WE DID HAVE A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS.
UM, THEY HAD THE MOST COMPETITIVE RFP AND THAT OFFERING US A SERVICE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE MICRO TRANSIT INTO THE FIXED DROUGHT AND PARATRANSIT SYSTEM.
SO I'M, I'M VERY CONFIDENT, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I THINK THAT IT IS, IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT FOR THE PUBLIC'S, UM, KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW, UH, THIS WILL BE, PEOPLE CAN USE THIS ON THEIR CELL PHONES OR EMAIL AND HOW, HOW THEY CAN SET UP SERVICE? ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UM, SERVICE, YOU CAN STILL CALL IN AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BOOK A RIDE AND IT'S GONNA BE SET UP AS A CURB TO CURB SERVICE.
UM, AND THERE WILL ALSO BE AN APP THAT PEOPLE CAN BOOK THEIR RIDE.
AND SO, UM, THE SYSTEM WILL DO, UH, TRIP PLANNING FOR YOU AND WE'LL GET YOU THERE.
WHATEVER IS MOST EFFICIENT AND FASTEST.
GREAT QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MR. COOPER ON THE, EXCUSE ME, ON THAT SAME, UH, SUBJECT MATTER LINE ITEM ON WHAT IS IN PLACE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MAY BE MANY THAT DO NOT USE ANY APPS, DO NOT USE CELL PHONES, DO NOT DO ANY, UH, THAT TYPE OF STUFF OVER THE PHONE.
HOW WILL THEY BE ABLE TO UTILIZE SERVICE AND PAY IF WITHOUT USING THE APP? SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SERVICE JUST LIKE OUR PARATRANSIT SYSTEM IS DONE? SO RIGHT NOW, PARATRANSIT IS OUR DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT EITHER COGNITIVELY OR PHYSICALLY NAVIGATE THE FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM.
AND SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS CALL IN TO THE DISPATCH CENTER AND THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO BOOK A TRIP.
AND SO WE'LL OFFER THAT SAME SOLUTION FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT USE AN APP OR A CELL PHONE FOR MICRO TRANSIT.
AND THEN THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE FARES AT THE TRANSIT CENTER.
COUNCILMAN HORNE, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MS. ELSIE? UM, AT OUR SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY, UH, THE CITY INDICATED THAT IT WAS PAYING MV TRANSPORTATION $6.8 MILLION TO OVERSEE TRANSIT AND PARATRANSIT OPERATIONS.
UM, AND THE TOTAL SALARY AND BENEFITS TO DRIVERS WAS $4.4 MILLION, A DIFFERENCE OF 2.4 MILLION.
AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THE TRANSIT SYSTEM HAD A, A LARGE DRIVER SHORTAGE, UH, POTENTIALLY REDUCING, UH, CITY RIDERSHIP.
UM, WHY SELECT MV TRANSPORTATION FOR THIS OPERATION? AND THEN SECOND, HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT MV TRANSPORTATION IS GONNA LIVE UP TO ITS COMMITMENT OF DRIVERS.
I'M GONNA TAKE THIS ONE REAL QUICK AND THEN I'LL LET, UH, LACEY ADD, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, LACEY EMPHASIZED WAS THAT THIS WAS A COMPETITIVE BID.
UH, SO WE DID PUT THIS OUT, UH, MV UH, IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE ASKING, UH, COUNCIL TO, UH, AWARD.
AND LIKE ANY CONTRACTUAL SITUATION WITH CITY, UH, IN, IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, UH, IT'S UP TO US, UH, CITY STAFF TO HOLD, UH, THOSE THAT ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AGREEMENT ACCOUNTABLE, UH, FOR WHAT THEY'VE AGREED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO PERFORM FOR THE CITY.
ANYTHING TO ADD, LACEY? YES, I DO.
UM, ENVY AND, UH, US HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT TALKS ABOUT THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DID TAKE ACTION IN DECEMBER TO DO A THIRD AMENDMENT WITH THEM AND UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OUR RIDERSHIP HAS HAD A 39% INCREASE SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UM, THEY HAVE HIRED MORE THAN ENOUGH DRIVERS.
UM, THEY HAVE INCREASED RECRUITMENT AND SO FROM JANUARY TO MAY, WE HA WE'VE SEEN A 21264% INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP.
PART TWO, THEIR PARTNERSHIP, UM, AS WELL AS THE STRATEGIC REALIGNING OF THE
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ROUTES AND INCREASING SERVICE.MR. CULP, MS. HELSEY, WHAT ARE YOUR DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM? SO THE NEW PROGRAM WILL MIRROR THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO START.
UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE A PHASED APPROACH.
SO, UM, WE'LL DO A SOFT LAUNCH IN JULY, UM, THAT WILL KIND OF START INCORPORATING IN, BUT IT'LL OPERATE MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, UM, THE SAME HOURS AS THE FIX OUT 5:15 AM TO 8:15 PM AND THEN A SECOND PHASE WILL COME WHERE WE WILL OFFER THAT AFTER HOURS, UM, UNTIL 12:30 AM AND THEN ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT MICRO TRANSIT IS BECAUSE IT'S DATA-DRIVEN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSESS AND REEVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD INCREASE HOURS BEYOND THAT IF THERE'S THE DEMAND FOR IT.
DR. HORN, SO I KNOW A LOT OF THE TRANSIT OPERATIONS ARE FUNDED THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS FOR TRANSIT.
SO GETTING BACK TO AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR MV, IF WE, UH, DID NOT AWARD IT TO MV, BUT TO ANOTHER, UM, BIDDER, UM, COULD THE, UH, FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR TRANSPORTATION BE USED FOR OTHER UPGRADES SUCH AS, UH, IMPROVING THE BUS STOPS AND BUS PADS? IT COULD NOT BE.
UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, THE TWO GRANTS, THE FTA GRANT AND THE IOT GRANT ARE BOTH OPERATIONS ONLY GRANTS AND NOT CAPITAL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS A QUICK THERE? SURE.
MR. MANAGER, JUST REAL QUICK, LACEY, DO ME A FAVOR AND, UH, JUST ASK THE MV TEAM AND, UH, TRANSIT STANDUP, RECOGNIZE THEM, PLEASE.
YES, WE GOT A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, GUYS.
SO WE HAVE OUR LOCAL TEAM HERE TONIGHT.
UH, GENERAL MANAGER, NICK STANDERFORD, UH, TRANSIT MANAGER, LIONEL GRIFFITH, LEAD ROAD SUPERVISOR, RANDY.
AND THEN WE HAVE CORPORATE ENVY, UH, MATT BEACH AND TIM MCCANN.
AND, UM, DO YOU WANT THEM TO COME DOWN AND SAY ANYTHING? NO.
ALRIGHT, CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE.
ITEM TWO RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING
[2. Resolution Accepting the Proposal and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for Professional Services for the FY2025 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant between Fehr Graham and the City of Decatur
]
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, ASK THE DIRECTOR TO, UH, REMAIN AT THE PODIUM.
I'M GONNA LET HER WALK THROUGH THIS.
IT'S A, UH, GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED AND THEN THE, UH, THE BID FOR THE, UH, A HUNDRED PLUS, UH, BROWNFIELD SITE REVIEW IS LESS THAN THE GRANT AMOUNT.
AND I'M GONNA LET LACEY, UH, FILL IN SOME MORE BLANKS.
SO THIS IS AN AGREEMENT WITH FAIR GRAHAM, UM, TO CONDUCT THE EPA BROWNFIELD'S ASSESSMENT GRANT.
AND THEY DID COME IN UNDER, UM, THE $500,000 LIMIT, WHICH IS GREAT.
SO IF WE HAVE CHANGE ORDERS OR SOMETHING, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A BUFFER AS WE MOVE ON, BUT THIS GRANT FUND WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT FAIR GRAHAM IN CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY CHARACTERIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE 113 BROWNFIELD SITES THAT WERE, UM, IDENTIFIED.
AND THEN IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE CLEANUP PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
AND IT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, THREE PHASE ONE AND THEN TWO PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ACTUAL CLEANUP.
HOWEVER, THIS GRANT WILL THEN ALLOW US TO GO OUT FOR EPA CLEANUP ACTIVITIES ON IDENTIFIED PRIMARY SITES.
I THINK WE CAN ALL VISUALIZE MANY OF THE LARGER BROWNFIELD SITES, BUT WITH SO MANY LISTED, ARE SOME OF THESE LIKE REALLY SMALL OR ARE, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME IDEA? SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY SMALL.
UM, ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH PETROLEUM.
SO EVEN THINGS AS SMALL AS, UM, CLOSED DOWN GAS STATIONS OR LAUNDROMATS, UM, COULD BE IDENTIFIED AS A POTENTIAL BROWNFIELD.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? MR. COOPER? WHAT'S THE, UM, TIMEFRAME FOR THIS ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT? SO THIS TIMEFRAME, THE GRANT DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2028.
AND WITH THE NATURE OF THIS GRANT, WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE EPA THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE GRANT.
SO THEY'LL, THEY WILL MONITOR IT.
AND SO IT IS A FOUR YEAR TIMELINE FOR THIS TO BE COMPLETED.
DR. HORN AS A FOLLOW UP TO MR. COOPER'S, UH, QUESTION.
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SO THERE'S 114 BROWNFIELD SITES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY.UM, AND, UM, WE LEARNED THAT, UH, THESE SITES OFTEN PRESENT SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.
SO DO THEY COMPLETE THE WORK FOR 10 SITES AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT 10? AND THEN THE NEXT 10 IS JUST AN EXAMPLE SO THAT WE CAN START DO, DOING THE ACTUAL REMEDIATION FOR THOSE FIRST 10 SITES? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL ALL 114 SITES ARE DONE POSSIBLY FOUR YEARS FROM NOW TO WORK ON THE REMEDIATION? TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE EPA HAS TO APPROVE SITE BY SITE.
SO THERE COULD BE SITES IN THE LIST OF 10 THAT THE EPA DOES NOT APPROVE, WHICH WOULD CAUSE US TO, I GUESS NOT GO IN ORDER.
UM, ONCE THEY APPROVE THE, THE PLANNING PIECE OF IT, THEN THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO APPROVE THE REMEDIATION PIECE.
SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU JUST A BLANKET YES OR NO BECAUSE IT'S DEPENDENT UPON THE EPAS APPROVAL.
BUT IS IT TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING, ARE THEY GOING THROUGH ALL 114 BEFORE THEY ASK FOR EPA APPROVAL OR ARE THEY DOING THEM IN SMALLER BATCHES? THEY WOULD DO THEM IN SMALLER BATCHES AND LIKE I SAID, APPROVAL ONE BY ONE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.
[3. Resolution Authorizing Agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for a Site Readiness Planning Grant]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR A SITE READINESS PLANNING GRANT.MOTION, THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL AS, UH, MATT NEWELL, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS MAKING HIS WAY TO THE PODIUM.
UH, THIS IS, UH, AN ACTION ITEM BEFORE COUNCIL, UH, THIS EVENING.
UH, THIS IF APPROVED WITH, UH, PROVIDE VERY PRELIMINARY, UH, ENGINEERING, UH, FOR THE, UH, D DEWITT, UH, WELL FIELD, MATT, HELP ME OUT HERE.
THE, UH, IN 2024, THE CITY WORKED WITH, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PUT TOGETHER A SITE READINESS, UH, GRANT WITH THE, UH, ECONOMIC, UH, OR THE DCEO FOR THE STATE.
AND THE UH, UH, GRANT WAS, WAS TWO PARTS.
AND IT WAS LOOKING AT, UH, POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE NORTH WEST OR NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE CITY, UH, UM, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I 72 WEST OF, UH, ILLINOIS, ROUTE 48 FOR POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE, UH, LOOKING AT, AT EXPANDING INTO THAT AREA.
ONE OF SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT SITE NEEDED MORE WATER THAN WHAT THE CITY COULD PROVIDE.
SO ONE COMPONENT THAT, UH, WAS, UH, WAS SUGGESTED IN A GRANT WAS TO LOOK AT USING OUR WATER FROM THE DEWITT, UH, COUNTY WELL FIELDS THAT WE HAVE, UH, AND EXTENDING A PIPELINE DOWN TO THAT AREA TO, TO, UH, POSSIBLY SERVE SOME DEVELOPMENT THAT MIGHT GO IN THERE.
SO THAT IS THE, UH, THAT IS THE GRAND AWARD.
THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? YOU'RE GETTING OFF EASY.
[4. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for the Electricity Supply for the City of Decatur Electric Accounts]
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR ELECTRIC ACCOUNTS.MOTIONS TO RESOLUTION, DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
SECOND, MR. GLIESE? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, AND TO THE COMMUNITY MORE SO AS, UH, BRIAN MACKLEMORE AND SHELBY DUPONT WORKED THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM, UH, CQI, WE DECIDED TO PUT THIS ON NEW BUSINESS, UH, WALK THE, UH, COMMUNITY THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.
UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT, THEY DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.
UH, BUT THIS IS, UH, IF APPROVED, UH, WILL ALLOW US TO, UH, UH, EXPLORE, UH, ELECTRIC, UM, SUPPLY, UM, ENERGY COSTS, SAVE THE, THE, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, ENERGY COSTS.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, CQI.
AND I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO SHELBY.
I APPRECIATE HAVING US TONIGHT.
UM, I'M SHELBY DUPONT WITH CQI ASSOCIATES.
WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR HELPING THEM OUT FOR
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PROBABLY 16 YEARS.FIVE MYSELF, 16 FOR THIS OLD GUY OVER HERE.
AND, UH, WE'VE HELPED THE CITY WITH ALL OF THEIR ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS SUPPLY BIDDING.
AND LAST WEEK WE DID LEGAL APPROVAL WITH THE CITY'S LEGAL TEAM TO GET THE, UH, WE GO OUT TO BID AND WE GOT THE TOP TWO SUPPLIERS FOR ELECTRIC RIGHT NOW APPROVED.
UM, TONIGHT WE'D LIKE THE APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, RENEWAL CONTRACT FOR PRIMARY SIGNATURE, TIM GLEASON, CITY MANAGER, SECONDARY SIGNATURE, WENDY MORLAND.
AND, UM, THAT WOULD BE FOR CONTRACT TOMORROW FOR A DETE DECEMBER 25 START, 18 MONTH ENDING JUNE OF 2027.
AND IT SAVED THE CITY ABOUT $68,000 ANNUALLY SO WE CAN GO LONGER FOR BUDGET STABILITY.
THE LONGER, RIGHT NOW IT TERM IS MORE EXPENSIVE, SO WE THINK 18 MONTHS RIGHT NOW AND THEN WATCHING IT AS WE GO IS DEFINITELY THE RECOMMENDATION MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE BEEN, WE WORK WITH THE CHAMBER, SO WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU GUYS NOT HURT YOU.
AND DID I MISS ANYTHING? I THINK YOU GOT IT ALL.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MUST GOD DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB.
WOO
[5. City Manager Update]
THE CITY MANAGER UPDATE.UH, THIS IS THE NIGHT OF, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES.
UH, FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH, WE HAVE PROMOTIONS.
UH, JERRY DURBIN WAS PROMOTED TO FIRE.
LIEUTENANT TODD ZIMMERMAN WAS PROMOTED TO, UH, FIRE CAPTAIN CARL, UH, ZIEMER, UH, ENGINEERING TECH, TECH THREE IN PUBLIC WORKS.
WE HAVE, UH, ADDITIONAL PROMOTIONS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE ERIC ETHEL, UH, AND SCOTT ROSENBERG.
WERE BOTH, UH, PROMOTED BY CHIEF ALLEN TO, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF, UH, OF THE, UH, DEPARTMENT.
UH, BOTH OF SIR SERVED THE ED APARTMENT FOR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS.
AND, UH, EXCELLENT PROMOTIONS, OTHER APPOINTMENTS.
UH, RONALD DELUGE, UH, SUPERVISOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS.
KYLIE REYNOLDS, UH, WAS PROMOTED UP INTO, UH, URBAN LAND USE, UH, PLANNER WITHIN, UH, ECD, UH, MARISSA WAYBRIGHT, UH, TITLE RESEARCH ANALYST, UH, IN THE, UH, ECD UH, DEPARTMENT.
UH, MIKE ROSENBERG, UH, IS UH, HAS RETIRED AFTER 28 YEARS AS A FIRE CAPTAIN WITH THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND HE IS DEPUTY CHIEF ROSENBERG'S UNCLE, I BELIEVE.
AND, UM, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THEM.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONSENT
[6. 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.]
CALENDAR.DOES ANYONE ON COUNSEL WISH TO REMOVE ANY OF THE ITEMS FOR CONSENT? DR. HORN.
ANY OTHERS? ITEM A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH CONCENTRIC INTEGRATION.
LLC FOR SOUTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT CONTROL PLATFORM MIGRATION.
PHASE TWO ITEM C RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO THE MACON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER FOR NEW POLICE OFFICER.
RECRUIT TRAINING ITEM D RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO CENTRAL SQUARE FOR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE FEES.
ITEM E RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A RADIO PORTING AGREEMENT WITH THE MACON COUNTY EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM BOARD ETSB AND CITY OF DECATUR.
ITEM F ORDINANCE, ADDING TERRITORY TO ENTERPRISE ZONE AND APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF THE ENACTING ORDINANCE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
LLCI NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
SEVEN AYES NO NAYS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
[B. Resolution Authorizing Amendment Number 4 to an Agreement with Clark Dietz Inc. to Provide Professional Engineering Services to the City of Decatur, City Project 2020-13]
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TO AN AGREEMENT WITH CLARK DIETZ INC.TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES TO THE CITY OF DECATUR CITY.
MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.
I, I CONTINUE TO BE OPPOSED TO OUTSOURCING OF PUBLIC WORKS POSITIONS TO THIS OUTTA TOWN ENGINEERING FIRM THAT COULD BE PERFORMED BY THE CITY AT A LOWER COST.
THE AVERAGE COMPENSATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS $157 AN HOUR FOR 1,270 HOURS OF WORK.
SO THAT'S 67% OF THE HOURS OF A FULL-TIME JOB.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN USING THIS ENGINEERING FIRM.
I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE FOUND OTHER WAYS TO ATTRACT PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERING STAFF AFTER FIVE YEARS.
[00:30:01]
MR. GLEASON, ARE WE STILL STRUGGLING TO GET ENGINEERS RECRUITED TO THE COMMUNITY? I KNOW IT'S BEEN, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST ENGINEERS, BUT WE'VE HAD TROUBLE IN MANY CENTRAL ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES WITH EVERYTHING FROM, WE'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH POLICE, BUT, UM, DISPATCHERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.UH, I I WOULD SAY, UH, I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN HORNE AND, UH, HIS DESIRE NOT TO, UH, HAVE CONTRACT EMPLOYEES.
BUT THE REALITY, YOU KNOW, RUNNING THIS ORGANIZATION IS THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS ARE RELATED TO ENGINEERING, ARE NOT UNIQUE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AND AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, HAS ACTUALLY PROBABLY A SECOND SEAT TO TRYING TO, UH, RECRUIT ENGINEERING TYPE OF, UH, POSITIONS IN, UH, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL POSITIONS.
SO IT'S AN AREA THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO EXPLORE CREATIVE WAYS TO, UM, UM, INCENTIVIZE, UH, ENGINEERING POSITIONS, FILLING ENGINEERING POSITIONS.
SO IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO NOT HAVE THIS CONTRACT, UH, EITHER, BUT IT'S JUST NOT OUR REALITY.
WELL I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH DR. HORNE AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A FULL ENGINEERING STAFF AND NOT TO DO ANY CONTRACTING.
IT'S SO HARD TO EVEN FIND PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS, LET ALONE KNOW ENGINEERS.
SO I, UH, UH, WITH THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE NEED THIS AT THIS TIME AND TEACHERS AND DOCTORS AND NURSES AND UNFORTUNATELY EVERYBODY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE.
PLEASE CALL THE QUESTION COUNCILWOMAN.
[VI. Other Business]
HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO BRING BEFORE THE BODY TONIGHT? SEE, NONE.LOOKED YOUR, WAIT, I DIDN'T SEE THE ACTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A SESSION FOR THE FORMATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE.
AT OUR NEXT MEETING, UH, THAT WILL BE BROUGHT UP AGAIN UNDER NEW BUSINESS AND IF THERE ARE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WISH TO HAVE A STUDY SESSION ON A COMMITTEE, UM, WE CAN MOVE IT TOWARD MOVE IT FORWARD.
ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? HOW ABOUT A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
SECOND COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.