COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers
700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Acting Mayor Tracy Welch at 7:00 p.m., with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll.
Present:
Alderman Tracy Welch, Ward 1
Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1
Alderman Colby Leith, Ward 2
Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2
Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3
Alderman Ron Keller, Ward 3
Alderman Kathy Horn, Ward 4
Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Ward 4
Present:
John Hoblit, City Attorney
Peggy Bateman, City Clerk
Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer
Paul Adams, Police Chief
Remotely:
Elizabeth Kavelman, City Administrator
Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief
Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent
Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer
Andrew Bowns, Veolia Water, Project Manager
Christy Crites, CMT
Absent:
Presiding:
Acting Mayor Tracy Welch
Public Comment:
Johnathan Cox called in to speak regarding the chicken ordinance. Mr. Cox is for the change in the ordinance to allow chickens within the city limits. He feels that we live in an agriculture area where chickens should be welcome. They offer a food source to families, can be kept as pets, and teach 4-H responsibilities to children. Mr. Cox questioned the part of the ordinance stating that chickens will only be allowed in a back yard, not a side yard. He said there are some properties in town that only have a side yard. He doesn’t agree with the permit fee.
Alderman Keller replied that the side yard issue could be readdressed. The main concern was the setbacks from neighboring properties along with enough room for the chickens and coops. Alderman Keller feels that the permit fee is necessary. He feels that someone willing to pay a fee upfront, is someone that is more likely to take the matter seriously and care for the chickens properly. He also said there may be some monitoring done by City employees, so the fee will help compensate for company time to monitor chickens.
Lincoln CSO Improvement Design Contract Amendment No. 1 to add the design and bidding phase effort for addition of a bridge to allow access on existing City owned property to the CSO Treatment Improvements
Alderman Bateman explained that this is $60,000 in engineering fees for the CSO project. The expansion is being done on the other side of the concrete ditch from the Sewer Plant. There were many discussions with the Homeowner’s Association with Lincoln Lakes to use their road to access that side, however, it would have meant a continued agreement and road repairs being the responsibility of the City. Heavy trucks would’ve needed to use that road for the initial construction and then long term for the removal of waste. There was an adjacent piece of land offered to the City to purchase, but an agreement couldn’t be met. It was then decided to build a concrete bridge over the ditch for 24 hr/day access for the Sewer Department. The expense will be included in the loan for the CSO project. The cost of the bridge construction will be $450,000 - $500,000. The engineering and construction costs combined are still lower than the cost of purchasing the adjacent property or the agreements that were trying to be made with Lincoln Lake’s Homeowner Association.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Union Pacific Railroad (UPPR) Material and Force Account Estimate portion of Fifth Street Road that is being constructed in an amount of $219,145.00.
This is an estimate for construction at the railroad crossing near the former French property.
This item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Ordinance amending the city of Lincoln's Animal Control Provisions to Allow Poultry
Alderman Bateman contacted the Logan County Health Department and their response was that they would strongly recommend not allowing chickens in the city limits. He said that chickens carry diseases and that the city already has issues with coyotes, rodents, and feral cats. He said that for every one person that purchases a permit and takes raising chickens seriously, there will be 10 people that do not, leading to numerous phone calls to animal control and the police department.
Alderman Keller contacted Decatur, Highland Park and Jacksonville to get feedback on their chicken ordinances. Each community said that they have had absolutely no issues with chickens. One community said no one hears the chickens and that there are more issues with dogs and cats.
Building and Safety Official Wes Woodhall also spoke with someone from Jacksonville and she said over 4 years the only issue was with a rooster.
Attorney Hoblit said there could also be fines added to the ordinance for chickens that are loose and caught.
Treasurer Conzo felt the setbacks would be difficult for some property owners that had smaller lots.
Alderman Downs said he spoke with an area veterinarian and was told that the risk for chickens far outweighed the rewards. There are risks of Avian Flu and salmonella.
This item will be brought back to the next COW (July 14th), with setbacks, permit fee price, health risks, and loose chickens readdressed.
Opening of Bids for real estate listed in Lincoln Courier, tract of land along City Landfill.
There was only one bid received from Illinois American Water (IAW). The bid will need to be reviewed to be sure all bid requirements were met.
Alderman Bateman would like a provision added to the bid that IAW must build their own road, gate and fence that will separate their property from the City’s Landscape Waste Faculty (LWF). Alderman Bateman said that when the gentleman from IAW addressed the council several weeks ago, he said that it would be no problem to do that and that IAW would even move the LWF’s gate down and build a new one as well.
Chief Dunovksy said that building a separate road and adding a fence would make it impossible for fire trucks to turn around when needing access to the water plant.
Superintendent Landers clarified for the council that the property in question is behind the LWF. The gate at the front of the LWF will be shared access with the City and IAW, the gate at the back of the LWF will only be accessed by IAW.
Alderman Bateman is concerned with a private company having access to City owned property 24/7. He’s concerned with illegal dumping and hunting.
Chief Dunovsky said it was discussed in a previous meeting that employees at both IAW and the City will have their own key card to access the facilities that will tell exactly who entered and when. The gates could have timers to close at the end of business day.
This bid will be reviewed and if requirements are met, the item will be placed on the regular agenda.
Discussion regarding F.Y. 20/21 Appropriations
The committee of Alderman Horn, Alderman Hoinacki, Treasurer Conzo and City Administrator Kavelman will begin meeting with department heads on 6/24 to discuss appropriations.
Treasurer Conzo is thinking worst case scenario with a decrease of $1.3 million in revenue projections. He hopes that revenue will bounce back quickly but wants to be prepared. The General Fund and Investments total $2,429,000. FY20/21 budget is at $7,695,878. Revenue for this year was projected at $7,697,000. Any decline that comes in revenue will need to be taken out of the Fund balances.
Acting Mayor Welch moved on to other items on the agenda.
Announcements:
· Alderman Bateman shared with the council that the Alley-Bi would like to block off the street from the alley to the intersection of Kickapoo/Pulaski to have an outdoor band on Friday, June 26 from 7pm-11pm. The fenced area will be enlarged for alcohol. Acting Mayor Welch will approve this request if the block party consent form is signed at the City Clerk’s office. Superintendent Landers will deliver barricades to that location on Friday morning and Chief Adams will have an officer stop by at 11pm to make sure the road is reopened.
· Alderman Bateman was contacted by a city resident to see if there was an additional way to post properties that go out for bid, along with printing in The Courier. Possibly on the City website. Chief Adams said there is already a section under the Services tab on the website for bids.
· Census Response update: Nationally – 61%, State – 66%, Lincoln/Logan County – 67%. Alderman Keller asked if there was any event where it was appropriate for census material to be distributed to please contact him.
· 3rd Friday events will be canceled for this year due to COVID-19. The 3rd Friday Committee plans to reach out to the bands that have been booked for months, to see if they would like to play uptown on the same dates and offer some background noise to the people on the square eating at restaurants.
· The Phase 4 guidelines from the Governor for reopening will be posted to the City website. City Hall and the Lincoln Municipal Building will reopen to the public on Monday, June 29th.
· Acting Mayor Welch announced to the Council that after careful consideration, he will not be vacating his seat of Ward 1 Alderman.
Adjournment:
Executive Session 2C5 Purchase or Lease of Real Estate:
There being no further announcements to come before the council, Alderman/Acting Mayor Welch made the motion to move into Executive Session, seconded by Alderman Keller. City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Yeas: (8) Alderman Steve Parrott, Alderman Tracy Welch, Alderman Sam Downs, Alderman Ron Keller, Alderman Kevin Bateman, Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Alderman Kathy Horn, Alderman Colby Leith
Nays: (0)
Abstain: (0)
Absent: (0)
The Council recessed from the Committee of the Whole meeting at 8:35pm in order to enter Executive Session. Acting Mayor Welch announced there may be one item of business upon returning from Executive Session.
Return from Executive Session:
The council reconvened from Executive Session at 8:58pm in order to reconvene the Committee of the Whole meeting. City Clerk Bateman called the roll.
Present:
Acting Mayor/Alderman Tracy Welch
Alderman Steve Parrott
Alderman Colby Leith
Alderman Sam Downs
Alderman Kevin Bateman
Alderman Ron Keller
Alderman Kathy Horn
Alderman Jeff Hoinacki
City Clerk Peggy Bateman
Alderman Bateman made the motion to place purchasing 201 9th St. on the next regular agenda. Alderman Parrott seconded.
There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Bateman motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Keller. All were in favor. Acting Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln