Lincoln, Illinois
City Council Committee's Meeting
December 13, 2011
Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Committees' Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.
Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and Alderman Wilmert. Also present were City Engineer Mr. Mathon, Fire Chief Miller, Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson, Police Chief Greenslate, and EMC Manager Mr. Palmer. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Clerk Mrs. Martinek, City Attorney Mr. Bates, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were ten Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and Alderman Wilmert) and none absent.
The Pledge was recited by all.
The Mayor asked for the Committees' Issues to be Presented:
Insurance:
Chairman Alderman Bacon did not have a report.
Finance, Policy and Procedure:
Chairman Alderman Anderson said since there was nothing from the Public Hearing.
City Treasurer Mr.Conzo said he had made a recommendation for the use for the slight increase in the levy the City will receive. The City will receive approximately $22,592.00 more in the property taxes than the City did the previous year. He recommended an increase of $10,000.00 to Fire Pension Fund and $10,000.00 to the Police Pension Fund.
The following were his recommendations for line items to increase:
Item Present Up to
Corporate Levy $10,000.00 $10,100.00
Fire Protection Levy $125,000.00 $125,900.00
Fire Pension $380,000.00 $390,000.00
Police Protection $59,000.00 $59,800.00
Police Pension Fund $427,000.00 $437,000.00
Audit Fund $17,425.00 $17,457,00
Emergency Service District $4,000.00 $4,060.00
Forestry $48,000.00 $48,700.00
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Alderman Anderson said they had some information on the FMLA to be added to the Policy and Procedures Manual.
Mr. Bates said he had not looked at it but Mr. Blinn Bates was ok with it. He said that Ms. Leake said the City should get that passed and if there were any stumbling blocks they could be changed later.
Alderman Anderson asked to put the FMLA on the agenda for Monday. Alderman Anderson also asked to have on the agenda the Tax Levy Ordinance.
Mayor Snyder said he had passed out a document from IML. A bill passed the general assembly that says beginning in 2016 if the municipalities does not contribute enough to the pension funds in the amount that is actuarially required the Comptroller is required to intercept their state income tax and/or sales tax dollars that would come to the municipality and direct those to the pension funds. In 2016 it is a third of the amount, 2017 it is two thirds of the amount and in 2018 it could be the total amount. With tax caps the City is not able to keep up.
City Treasurer Mr. Conzo said the pension funds are pretty close now.
Alderman Anderson said she needed on the agenda to pay the City employees early for the last pay in December.
Sanitation/Technology:
Chairman Alderman Wilmert did not have a report.
Fire/Water & ESDA:
Chairman Alderman Horn said she did not have a report.
Sidewalks, Forestry and Lighting:
Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson had a sign list that handed out.
Grounds, Buildings & Local Improvements:
Chairman Alderman Tibbs said she did not have a report.
Mayor Snyder said last week he had passed out the proposed lease for the Safety Complex with a date of January 1, 2012. Alderman O'Donohue thought everyone needed to read what Police Chief Greenslate passed out with the cost and the amount of space the City of Lincoln Police Department has. Alderman Anderson said even if they were inclined to agree with, it is based on being paid up front January 1, 2012 and it is not in the City's budget or appropriations.
Mr. Bates said the City used to pay it May 1 in full every year. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek said they are paying monthly.
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Mayor Snyder said there are issues with the language in the lease, references to areas that the police department hasn't had control of for a long time, things to clean up and the payment that needs to be resolved. There are issues that Police Chief Greenslate raised.
Alderman Busby said he couldn't vote for the lease because of the 5% increase each year.
Mr. Jackson said there is a situation with a beaver on Brainerd's Branch. He contacted two gentleman that can do the job for a price. Mr. Jackson said Police Chief Greenslate offered the police departments service.
Police Chief Greenslate said he called DNR and the DNR will issue the City a permit. It was recommended that the City contact all residents within 100 yards of the beavers and determine if there were objections. The residents were contacted and none had a problem and DNR will issue the City a permit.
Mayor Snyder said he had four thank you letters for everyone to sign.
Ordinances & Zoning:
Chairman Alderman O'Donohue said a memo had been passed out from Mr. Lebegue regarding the 1020 Broadway property.
Mayor Snyder said he had passed out a copy of a letter he received yesterday from the Logan County Board of Realtors regarding banning of mandated sprinkler systems in new homes. The City of Lincoln is currently operating under the 1989 BOCA code.
Fire Chief Miller said he had information about the new fire code regarding congregate buildings where there are apartment resident type facilities. Mayor Snyder said he would appreciate their input.
Sewer Treatment Plant, Sewers and Drainage:
Chairman Alderman Busby said he did not have a report. He said there would be something for the beginning of January. The City saved some money from the prisons. The City needs to purchase pumps and the parts to it. There are two pumps and they want them to match and will get quotes and it will need 3/4ths vote and asked to have it on the agenda for January.
City Engineer Mr. Mathon said they have a sanitary easement.
Mr. Bates said he has a conflict with it and the Aldermen have something about it and it is out on Old Route 10 owned by Illico past the old Lincoln Office Building. He has a conflict of interest in this particular because he represents Illico and has for many years and has been working on the transaction of this property. It came up last week that the potential purchaser would like the City to vacate the sewer easement. He cannot work on this project as long as the conflict exists.
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Mr. Bates said the solutions for the resolution of the conflict is he doesn't work on it at all and the City gets independent legal counsel on that matter and if both parties, in this case being Illico and the City are advised and made aware of the conflict and wish to waive the conflict and he can work on the project to hopefully get a mutually satisfactory resolution. He has advised Mr. Golwizer of the conflict and he has indicated to Mr. Bates that he did not have a concern with Mr. Bates working on it as the Attorney for the City and Attorney for him. The waiver needs to go on agenda.
Alderman Anderson put the waiver on the agenda.
Mr. Mathon said there is a sanitary sewer easement across the entire front of the property in 1996 along with the temporary construction easement adjacent to it. It was to provide sanitary service to the property on the West edge of the property.
Mr. Bates said his only concern on behalf of the City is that it imposes on the City any maintenance or repairs on the new easement (25 X 30) the City would have to restore the property at the City's cost. This would be the same responsibility as Wal-Mart.
Alderman Busby said he could not vote for this. If the City has to go in and repair and the City just went through this on property to the East and he didn't want to go through it again.
Mr. Bates said there wasn't a document in place with that property and that was the problem. This would be a documented place. Mr. Bates also added that he didn't think they could do the anticipated project with the easement as it is now.
Streets & Alleys:
Alderman Neitzel said she did not have a report.
Mayor Snyder said there are a couple of parking issues that have come up and Mr. Mathon has provided memos to everyone on both of those. The first on the list was the 8th Street parking. The portion of 8th Street across from the former hospital location currently has parking restrictions on both sides of the street. There is no longer a need for the parking restriction on the North side since the hospital has been demolished. There was no parking on both sides because of the hospital. The City could amend the Ordinance to allow parking of 8th Street from Maple to State. The Mayor was contacted through the City's website to ask if that was something that the City Council would consider.
Mr. Mathon said this would allow parking on the North side and restrict it on the South side from Maple to State. Mayor Snyder said the restriction on the South side is because of the width of the street there. Alderman Wilmert said it would be less restrictive to park on the North side on 8th Street. Mr. Mathon said that was correct. Mayor Snyder said they would put the Ordinance on the agenda for Monday.
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Mayor Snyder said the next issue was regarding semi's parking on North Chicago Street from Delavan to the North. This is just to get input. The downtown has a ban on overnight parking and done predominantly so the street sweeper can cleanup. The overnight parking on Chicago Street is part of the downtown sweeping zone. In the residential areas semis are prohibited from parking overnight. The railroad side of the property is zoned commercial.
Police Chief Greenslate said the area between Chicago and Sangamon and the tracks included from Keokuk to Delavan or Pekin is zoned non residential. Thought it was done for trucking business and Illico used to be there.
Mayor Snyder said semis were actually parking there overnight and over a weekend. Alderman Tibbs thought whether they were commercial or not they were not allowed on the City's streets. Alderman Neitzel said that was residential because of what they had on Decatur Street.
Mr. Bates said that came up when all the semis were going through the residential district to go to the bottle factory this summer. They cannot detach the trailer and leave it on any public street.
Alderman Hoinacki asked about allowing parking on the West side of Chicago Street between Lincoln Avenue and Keokuk. Mr. Bates said over the last few weeks there has been a semi parking on Clinton Street in front of his office and/or parking on Sangamon Street South of Clinton Street parking on both sides of the road and/or in Regions Parking lot. Police Chief Greenslate said someone needs to call the police department. Alderman Tibbs understood the complaint.
Police:
Chairman Alderman Hoinacki said Police Chief Greenslate had passed out something and for everyone to look over.
Mayor Snyder said he had passed out to the Aldermen some information that he received from the Municipal League meeting:
Capital for a Day
Packet of information of proposals for IML that the board approved this past weekend
Wireless Act
Electric Aggregation to be put on the agenda for the term of the agreement, consulting and bidding.
Mayor Snyder said on December 19 there will be a representative from Illinois American Water will be present to discuss the rate increase.
Mayor Snyder said they will be doing the awards for the citizens on December 19, 2012.
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City Clerk Mrs. Martinek said as of January 1, 2012 she would be taking a position with the Supervisor of Assessments. Mayor Snyder thanked her for her service to the City.
Alderman Anderson moved to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) to discuss personnel and Alderman Horn seconded it. City Clerk Mrs. Martinek called the roll call. There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried. The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 8:13 p.m.
The meeting returned to regular Session at 8:43 p.m. City Clerk Mrs. Matinek called the roll. There were ten Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and Alderman Wilmert) and none absent. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Clerk Mrs. Martinek, City Attorney Mr. Bates, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Alderman Busby made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Neitzel seconded it. There were ten yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Bacon, Alderman Busby, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and Alderman Wilmert), zero nays, and none absent; motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee’s as a Whole Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs
Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln