Council Committee of the Whole Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.
Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue and Alderman Tibbs. Also present were Street Department Superintendent Mr. Landers, Fire Chief Miller, Building and Safety Officer Mr. Lebegue, EMC/American Water Manager Mr. Ferguson, and Police Chief Greenslate. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Administrator Mr. Johnson, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were eight Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue and Alderman Tibbs) and none absent.
Mayor Snyder led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Participation:
Alderman O'Donohue gave a presentation on the marketing playbook for Tourism. The logo is Destination Logan County Illinois. The number one visit is for historical reasons and number two is events such as the Art and Balloon Fest. Our history your adventure is the tag line.
Logan County Alliance Agreement:
Ms. Andi Hake said the Logan County Alliance is restructuring the membership and the Alliance is looking to do branding strategy. The Alliance is requesting $5,042.00 per month and $30,000.00 as a one-time payment to get the economic development branding strategies accomplished. Part of the $5,042.00 will help with employing a CEO/President or an Executive Director.
Mayor Snyder said there will be a funding agreement through the City with the expectations for the City of Lincoln and the Logan County Alliance. Funding agreements are being done with any group that is requesting money.
Ms. Hake said the funding will be directly for the City of Lincoln and the Alliance will be focusing on Lincoln for the next twelve months.
Mayor Snyder said this is making the City of Lincoln better by putting the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Lincoln and Tourism together. Alderman O'Donohue said this was passed by the City Council about a year ago.
Mayor Snyder said there will be a report at the end of the fiscal year which is April 30. It was agreed to put the quarterly reports in the agreement.
Approval of CEO Sponsorship:
Mayor Snyder said this was a presentation given by April Doolin. This would be giving $1,000.00 per year for three years. This item will be on the Consent Agenda for Monday, December 15, 2014.
Payment Requests #1, #2, and Change Order #2 Pulaski Streetscape Project:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said this includes the contractors work and Farnsworth Engineering for the engineering work. Street Superintendent Mr. Landers has looked over Pay Request 1 and everything is in line with the work done. Street Superintendent Mr. Landers is currently looking over Pay Request # 2 before the City Council approves. Change Order # 2 are items that the City asked to have done which were not included in the original plan.
Recommendation for selection of City Engineer:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said the City received proposals from Terra Engineering, Clark Dietz and the Farnsworth group. City Administrator Mr. Johnson recommended on behalf of the City to go with the Farnsworth Group.
Stark Pay Application #7:
Mr. Ferguson made a request to pay the Pay Request #7.
The request for Stark is $524,509.33 and the request for Farnsworth Engineering is $19,335.10 for a total of $543,844.43. An agreement between Stark and the City of Lincoln will be made and once finalized and agreed upon it will be disbursed.
Alderman Bauer asked if there was parking on one side only on Pulaski Street. Alderman Tibbs asked if the North side could be no parking. This will be discussed again at the second COW meeting which will be on January 27, 2015.
2014-2015 Snow and Ice Control Policy:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said he and Street Superintendent Mr. Landers met and discussed a policy on damaged mailboxes and private property damage and setting a limit for what amount will be reimbursed for damage and they also discussed a way to get the information to the public. They will have a policy to set the routes but also a plan to repair equipment and get this information out to the public. The information for snow and ice will be available through the news media, the City's Facebook page and the City website. He asked for this to be on the Consent Agenda for Monday, December 15, 2014 with the changes that the City Council requested. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Mayor Snyder gave kudos to Street Superintendent Mr. Landers for the Railer Rumble wrestling meet at Lincoln Community High School. Mayor Snyder said this was a very well planned event.
Creation of Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police Position:
Police Chief Greenslate said Brenda McCabe will be retiring at the end of January, 2015. He recommended that the City create an Administrative Assistant Ordinance. He asked this to be placed on the agenda for Monday, December 15, 2014.
Other Discussion and Reports:
Meeting with IDOT on Traffic Signals
Police Chief Greenslate said he met with IDOT and learned a lot about how the traffic signals work on the state routes. There were some sensors that were out and Mr. Landers has been in contact with IDOT to get the sensors replaced.
Filing of Tax Abatement Resolutions with Logan County Clerk
City Treasurer Mr. Conzo said there are currently two bonds which each require a tax abatement Resolution. These are the TIF Bonds and the Sewer Bonds that the City recently passed. A Resolution for each of these Bonds and will be placed on the Agenda for Monday, December 15, 2014.
2014 Tax Levy:
City Treasurer Mr. Conzo said the 2014 Tax Levy will remain the same with the exception of slight increase of $312.00. There will be a Public Hearing on December 15, 2014 prior to the Regular City Council Meeting.
Everyone agreed to keep the tax levy the same as Fiscal year 2013/2014 without including the $312.00.
Agreement with ComEd for 3rd Street Facility:
City Administrator Mr. Johnson said the payment for the replacement value is divided into several payments. The City will receive a certain amount with the signing of the agreement to replace the 3rd Street Facility. There will be payments made during the construction phase milestones once they are reached; such as ground breaking, foundation, and roof. The last 10% will be disbursed after the City Street Department has vacated the 3rd Street garage. He asked to have this on the agenda for Monday, December 15, 2014.
Other Discussion and Reports:
Mayor Snyder said he has attended a few County Board meetings. David Hepler is the new Chairman of the Board. There will be a joint meeting held tentatively on January 28, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. It will probably be held at the Logan County Courthouse.
Mayor Snyder reminded everyone that December 15, 2014 the Citizens of the Year Awards will be handed out. Also, that night, the Lincoln Futbol Club will be there to give the City Council an update.
Fire Chief Miller said the program for their sick time, overtime and days off ceased to work. The Fire Department is getting a new program and it will be saved on the server at City Hall and at a separate site. This will allow the Fire Department to use this program through their smartphones. This will also work with the fund ware that is used by the Clerk’s office for payroll.
Mr. Steve Smith thanked the City of Lincoln for hiring the Farnsworth Engineering group.
Executive Session:
An Executive Session was not held.
Upcoming Meetings:
Public Hearing: Property Tax Levy, Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Council: (Immediately following the Public Hearing) Monday, December 15, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.
Committee of Whole: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Tibbs seconded it. There were eight yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Cooper, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays and none absent; motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs
Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln