Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, June 25, 2013.
Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs. Also present were Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson, City Engineer Mr. Forgy, Safety and Building Officer Mr. Lebegue, Fire Chief Miller, American Water/EMC Mgr. Mr. Ferguson, and Police Chief Greenslate. Also present were City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and one absent (Alderman Wilmert).
Mayor Snyder led the Pledge.
Public Participation:
June 21, 2013 Fire at the Oasis
Mayor Snyder said he had gotten many good comments about the efforts put forth by the City of Lincoln Fire Department and the other responding fire departments. He asked Fire Chief Miller to convey to City of Lincoln's Fire Department his thanks, and appreciation. He said there was a good deal of assistance from other fire departments and that is what Mutual Aid is about.
Fire Chief Miller said citizens brought water and other drinks for everyone on the scene assisting with the fire. He said dispatch was on the scene and did a great job handling the response by other fire departments and bringing those departments in to assist. There were 17 different fire departments with 60 fire fighters battling the fire. The City of Lincoln Firefighters had no work time accidents. He thanked the City Council for keeping the city's equipment repaired. They lost the second floor of the Oasis and there was water and smoke damage to three other buildings.
Mayor Snyder said he had received a note from Joan Parker, President of Logan County Title Company thanked Fire Chief Miller and the City of Lincoln Fire Department for their work. Fire Chief Miller also thanked Russell Wright, Assistant Street Superintendent for his assistance and the City of Lincoln Police Department for crowd control and the EMA for all their services.
Kathy Vinyard, Citizen of the Month
Mayor Snyder congratulated Kathy Vinyard on her being the Citizen of the Month.
Sewer Department
Alderman Neitzel commended the sewer depart for Tremont Street.
Ms. McLaughlin left at 7:07 p.m. and returned at 7:09 p.m.
Smoke Free Playgrounds Presentation (handout):
Mallory Ramos, Health Educator at the Health Department and a few members of REALITY (teen anti-tobacco group), and were present to discuss “smoke free playgrounds.” The REALITY group presented information about clean-up they had done at local playgrounds, the results of a survey they conducted, and research on the dangers of smoking around playground areas.
Fire Chief Miller said the fire department supports their efforts. Alderman Carmitchel was not in favor of fines. Alderman Anderson preferred the ordinance to be the entire park.
Paul Cooper and Maurice Johnson to be sworn in as Patrolman:
Mayor Snyder said they needed to the swearing in Paul Cooper and Maurice Johnson on the agenda for Monday, July 1, 2013.
Discussion regarding utility tax:
Ms. McLaughlin passed out a memo on the proposed utility tax. This is allowed by state statute. It could be a potential revenue stream for a new public safety building and the downtown revitalization plan.
Alderman Carmitchel asked about a theoretical time table. Ms. McLaughlin said she could see construction starting in two years.
City Treasurer Mr. Conzo said it was not a good time to raise taxes. Mr. Conzo said Illinois is expensive place to live. Mayor Snyder asked City Treasurer Mr. Conzo if he might have a suggestion as to how the city might address the space needs for police department and fire departments. Mr. Conzo said he had some ideas on this but it would be a lot of details to explain. Mayor Snyder said City Treasurer Mr. Conzo should put his details together and bring them forward. Mr. Conzo said he would do that. Alderman O'Donohue said he didn't mind the utility tax because the city is a non-home rule community and has only limited options to raise revenue. Alderman Anderson said the city is tax-capped and it needs to be given serious consideration for legitimate options. Alderman Carmitchel said it is a realistic burden on the average citizen. Ms McLaughlin said it would be $6.00 on a $200.00 bill with a 3% tax.
Fire Chief Miller said without having funds available to prepare plans and sites, the department is often hampered in receiving grant funding for construction.
Discussion regarding strategic planning:
Ms. McLaughlin said the City has never had any strategic planning in the past. There was an unexpected check for $13,000.00 that came in from American Water that they could use for that purpose. A strategic planner would need to be hired to set strategic goals, a vision statement and a mission statement.
Ms. McLaughlin said Mayor Snyder asked her to prepare an RFP to generate proposals from consultants to do a strategic planning session with the City Council. She and Mayor Snyder envision a day and a half (for example, Friday afternoon and evening and all day Saturday). This would help the City Council identify issues that need to be addressed and set goals and actions for the staff. This would also give the Council direction as to where they want to go.
Alderman Carmitchel asked if Ms. McLaughlin could facilitate this.
Ms. McLaughlin said this would be the worst thing for a City Administrator to do. The City Administrator doesn't want to be in the process of setting policies that the City Council will ask the City Administrator to administer. The Aldermen need to set the policy then send the goals to the administrator to have staff fulfill. This will not exceed $5,000.00 and will probably be closer to $2,000.00 - $5,000.00.
Alderman Carmitchel was all for strategic planning but did not want to have to pay for this. Alderman Anderson said this has been talked about for years and the City Council needs to be able to focus on other items than the day-to-day. Now that an administrator has been hired the City Council shouldn't have to worry about the day-to-day.
Ms. McLaughlin said she has seen some communities go away for the weekend and everyone is put up in a hotel. The City Council needs to be somewhere so they can think freely and clearly.
Mayor Snyder said in the last six months the City Council has moved some big blocks in terms of getting an administrator on board, implementing the 5-year capital improvement plan in place and dealing with the hotel/motel tax. The City Council needs to get together and prioritize the things that need to be addressed.
Alderman Hoinacki agreed they needed a plan. Mayor Snyder asked if anyone had an issue with putting out the RFP.
Ms. McLaughlin said there were some things they were looking for the strategic plan facilitator to develop:
- 1.Develop planning process
- 2.Community Vision
- 3.Vision and Mission Statements
- 4.Core Values
- 5.Goals and Objections
- 6.Outline specific measurable goals with clear time line and action plan
- 7.Clear plan for communicating the outcomes and goals
- 8.Identify and suggest plan, implementation and follow up
- 9.Provide city departments and elected officials with hard copy and digital version so it can be shared with community.
Alderman Neitzel said she was tired of planning. People want to see things being done.
Alderman Anderson said that is why this is needed. Alderman Neitzel said they should take one thing at a time and just do it. Alderman Anderson said the problem is they don't know where they need to be. Ms. McLaughlin said what about housing, schools, downtown, education, and finances? Ms. McLaughlin said these are things that can be prioritized.
Logan County Fair Concert Proposal for beer sales 2013 (FYI only):
Mayor Snyder said the City of Liquor Commission received a letter from the Logan County Fair Association requesting liquor sales at the Country Music Concert and the Liquor Commission approved this item.
Fire Department Position Opening:
Fire Chief Miller said he would like to hire a new firefighter from the New Hire List due to an opening in his department. He asked for the approval to hire a new firefighter be on the agenda for the July 1, 2013 meeting.
Request to permit stop sign at Ophir and Rutledge (attachment):
Detective Adams said the police department would need to run the statistics on this intersection. Mayor Snyder said the City would hold off until the other information was received.
Other Business:
Oglesby Bridge
City Engineer Mr. Forgy said the bids will be opened on July 8, 2013 and that the City has permission from the Corp of Engineers to proceed with the process.
High Speed Rail:
Mr. Forgy said he had gone to a meeting the week of June 17, 2013 and that discussions are continuing especially with the impact to downtown Lincoln. There are several downtown areas that will be impacted with what IDOT is calling “Stage 1.” Some things that are being discussed with IDOT include the reconstruction of Chicago and Sangamon Streets will steepen the profiles slightly and envision a new project down the road. Stage 2 will incorporate the revisions to side streets. Unfortunately, Stage 1 funding does not cover Chicago and Sangamon Streets. Stage 2 may, incorporate street reconstruction, but there is no funding available at this time. IDOT wants to move forward quickly and are asking for a variance from the City for the vertical profile of the roadway at the crossings to move forward with Stage 1. Mr. Forgy’s position is the City wants to see some of the items that they want because the city loses some of its leverage after the variance is given.
Regional Planning Commission
Mayor Snyder reminded the Aldermen about the survey from the Regional Planning Commission dealing with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. The city's last Comprehensive Plan was updated in the 1970's.
OSLAD Grant
Mayor Snyder said there is a private group of citizens that would like to raise private dollars to facilitate the Apex site on 8th Street. This group would like the city to file this OSLAD grant application for next year. The private funds raised will be a match for the state dollars.
Park District Chicken Dinner Announcement
There will be a drive thru chicken dinner at the American Legion on Friday, June 28, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The cost is $7.50 and the proceeds will be used to offset the cost of the 4th of July Fireworks.
Sound System
Alderman Tibbs said she was contacted again after the June 10, 2013 meeting that people at home watching the meeting cannot hear what is happening at the meeting. Mayor Snyder said this should be on the agenda for July 9, 2013 to discuss. Mayor Snyder said Ms. McLaughlin has been in contact with Comcast. By obligation under the franchise agreement Comcast is to broadcast the City’s voting meetings. If people are not able to hear that is part of Comcast’s responsibility. Ms. McLaughlin has been trying to reach Libbie Stein and this will be discussed at the July 9, 2013 Committee of the Whole. If Ms. McLaughlin is not able to get with Ms. Stein between now and then she will go above Ms. Stein to try and get more information to bring to the City Council.
Oasis
Mayor Snyder wanted to offer $5,000.00 (from $13,000.00 received from Illinois American Water) to the Oasis as a donation to their building fund. He asked for this to be on the agenda to make the donation pending the budget amendment.
Upcoming Meetings:
Council: July 1, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.
Committee of Whole: July 9, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.
Alderman Anderson moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) personnel, hiring, firing and discipline and Alderman Horn seconded it. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call. There were seven yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Wilmert); motion carried. The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 8:29 p.m.
The meeting returned to regular Session at 8:39 p.m. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll. There were seven Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and one absent (Alderman Wilmert). Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Administrator Ms. McLaughlin, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder said he and Alderman O'Donohue sat through phone interviews for a new Tourism Director and there were over 100 resumes. It was narrowed down to 5 phone interviews. There are now 3 people the committee would like to come to Lincoln for face to face interviews. The search committee is trying to use the same format that was used for the City Administrator candidates. There will be a panel made up of the search committee, stakeholders, and organizational holders (with people such as Andi Hake, Brian Bergen, and Bill Hoagland.) Alderman O'Donohue said after he left the meeting several members of the board that resigned today. Alderman O’Donohue said for the first time at the meeting today was a member of one of the hotels was present and this has always been an open position. Alderman O’Donohue said Charlie Ott was voted in as the new President and Gayle Appel was voted in as the new Vice President.
Ms. McLaughlin raised the question if this could wait until December. Ms. McLaughlin was looking for information on 4th of July activities and went through the websites for the Chamber, Tourism Bureau, Park District and finally called Andi Hake to be able to get an answer. McLaughlin said there is a black whole being created for the tourism.
Alderman Neitzel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Anderson seconded it. There were seven yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee’s as a Whole Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln