Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council’s Committee of the Whole Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, 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 Mayor Snyder, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, City Attorney Mr. Blinn Bates, City Treasurer Mr. Conzo, City Administrator Ms. McLaughlin, and Recording Secretary Mrs. Riggs.
Mayor Snyder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were five Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Wilmert).
Mayor Snyder asked for a moment of silence for Calvin McCabe, a Former Alderman. The Pledge was led by Mayor Snyder.
Presentation by Retail Coach Consulting Firm:
Mr. Aaron Farmer, Vice President of Retail Coach Consulting Firm gave a presentation on retail recruitment and working with current businesses. A few items that were mentioned were: Corporate site selection, downtown revitalization, Retail Coach has ten employees and three locations, currently working on a project in Otto, Illinois, unparalleled access to National, and Regional Retailers. They do community meetings, recruiting retail, demand assessment, retail strategies, developer strategies, action plan, and retail coaching. Retail Coach needs to do an area market analysis so they can convince businesses to come to Lincoln by: having a site for the site selection, retail trade area needs to be defined, retailer defined method by meeting with and interviewing retailers and a Lincoln resident survey. There will be a primary and secondary retail trade area. They have a consumer analysis by getting the demographics, psychographics to measure consumers’ attitudes, values, preferences, lifestyles, and buying habits, land use analysis with immediate and adjoining land uses, infrastructure capacity, zoning, demographic trends, and community preferences. The retail gap/opportunity analysis is identifying what needs there are, site marketing which shows location, photograph/site plan, property highlights, property size, asking prices, and traffic counts. They then look at the regional market analysis, retail trade area, demographic profile, dominant lifestyle profile. A feasibility study is used to convince retailers and restaurants that they cannot afford to not locate in Lincoln. They have community and economic development observations and recommendations. The last phase is a retail coaching retainer with no additional charge. Retail coach is with the city for approximately 18 months.
Alderman Tibbs asked what the first step would be. Mr. Farmers said they would meet with current businesses. Ms. McLaughlin asked about the success rate? Mr. Farmer said it is a process and does not have a specific rate but about 75% are repeat clients. Ms. McLaughlin asked to discuss downtown? Mr. Farmer said the City was going to have three or four separate sub markets and would need to be looked at separately. Ms. McLaughlin asked about updating information. Mr. Farmer said Retail Coach looks about every three years. Ms. McLaughlin asked if it was fee based. Mr. Farmer said it was based on population and with a community Lincoln’s size he gave a cost of $40,000.00 to the city. Alderman Hoinacki asked if Retail Coach did the meetings or is that on the city. Mr. Farmer said Retail Coach would do the meetings. Mr. Farmer said there should be one point of contact and they would also want to work with EDP and Chamber of Commerce. Ms. McLaughlin said to be clear, you work with retail not industrial. Mr. Farmer their main focus is retail but there is also entertainment. Ms. McLaughlin asked Mr. Farmer to leave some cards.
Dr. Dru Hauter – Lincoln Futbol Club:
Dr. Hauter had a handout for everyone. The Futbol Club was able to park over 800 cars at their tournament last year. The spring season just finished with about 98 players. Lincoln Futbol Club can host the tournament without an issue, with 30 games being held on Saturday on 6 different fields. The Futbol Club now owns a John Deere tractor. The Route 66 2nd Annual Shootout will be held on September 13, 14 and 15, 2013. The Radio Flyers club will fly out of the parking lot. The Futbol Club is working on more structures and has a website.
Alderman Tibbs said this is wonderful, what they have done with the property.
Dr. Hauter said they have excellent families that are dividing the work load. The Futbol Club is looking at putting in a walking trail at the complex.
Alderman Tibbs said her neighbor is one of the mowers. Dr. Hauter said there are several people helping to do all the work at the complex. Mayor Snyder thanked the Futbol Club for their work.
Informational Item:
Mayor Snyder said Bill Hoagland passed out a flier on the Art of Wine and Brew.
Discussion regarding the FY 14 Appropriations Ordinance:
Ms. McLaughlin had sent this by email to the Aldermen and said it is based on input from department heads. Mayor Snyder said a Public Hearing will need to be held. Ms. McLaughlin said the Public Hearing has to be published as well. Alderman Anderson said the meeting of July 15th will be adjourned to July 23, 2013. Mr. Conzo said the budget is what is planned to spend and Appropriations is what is wanted to spend but can't necessarily spend.
Discussion regarding Utility Tax:
Ms. McLaughlin distributed a short memo to the Aldermen as Mayor Snyder requested and is based on Alderman Carmitchel’s comments of contribution to the pensions giving a 4% rate, 3% going to what was discussed for the safety building and downtown improvements, and 1% to pensions.
Alderman Anderson said the pensions were looked at several years ago. This would help them be able to catch up on the under funding as well as making the pension payments.
Mr. Conzo said the pensions are under funded by about 53.28%.
Alderman Hoinacki said if they did a $2M downtown bond with a payment of $246,000.00 for ten years then what happens with the $246,000.00 when they get it paid off. Ms. McLaughlin said the City Council could put a sunset provision in the utility tax ordinance then whoever the Aldermen are they can choose where it goes or allow it to sunset.
Oglesby Bridge bids:
Mr. Forgy discussed the bids for the bridge removal and everyone had a handout with the information. The prices increased more than he expected and were over the budgeted amount. The project is not to be awarded and they will combine later with another project.
Alderman Anderson asked if this was combined with other things and what kind of a time frame they might be looking at. Mr. Forgy said they were looking to go out for bids for Pulaski Street and were hoping to begin that project in September.
Alderman Anderson said she didn't want to see the city pay any more than they have to. This is going on three years waiting to remove it. She was hoping to get it done before it gets too cold.
Mr. Forgy said he could contact the contractors and there is never a guarantee on bidding.
Ms. McLaughlin said the City would need to decide if Mr. Forgy should investigate and make a determination which way to do these projects.
Request to Permit Safety Stripping for crosswalk:
Ms. McLaughlin said Castle Manor would like the city to put striping down between Wal-Mart and Castle Manor. Mr. Jackson said it would not work in that block.
Alderman Tibbs noticed that there was a person crossing in a wheelchair there the other day. Mr. Forgy did not think it would be a good idea to put that there and felt it was not safe. Mr. Jackson said with Plowfield Square going in they could go further down. Mr. Jackson said the grade of the walk was the biggest problem but there are no controls.
Request to Permit a Block Party by LifePointe Church of God:
Mr. Jackson said he requested a date for the block party and he was waiting to hear back from them.
Discussion regarding paperless meetings:
Ms. McLaughlin said the Kathy’s (Kathy Vinyard and Kathy Schmidt) are working beyond 5 p.m. to get the packets done. Mrs. Gehlbach said it is a very time consuming process. Ms. McLaughlin said they could give the paperless meetings a trial period.
Discussion regarding city council chamber's sound system:
Ms. McLaughlin said she spoke with Libbie Stein with Comcast again today. The Franchise agreement is not the most helpful document. There is a tax that can be collected and that could help pay for the sound system and there are a lot of communities that collect that tax.
Alderman Anderson said the City should be looking for another cable company. Mayor Snyder said the City might need to discuss going out for bids or at least specifications. Alderman O'Donohue said the cost is $2,900.00 but the system in the handout was probably $5,000.00 to $6,000.00. Alderman Anderson said if the City is going to do this it should not go with something that will be out of date. Mrs. Riggs said that she was using new technology without tapes for doing dictation. Alderman O’Donohue said he would look into it. Alderman Hoinacki said he would like to see a demo of it. Alderman Tibbs said the City needs to move forward.
Announcements:
Mayor Snyder read a thank you note from Judy Busby.
Mayor Snyder read a letter from Boy Scout Troop 65 from Wooddale, Illinois stating they are riding along as much of Route 66 as possible on July 30, 2013.
Mayor Snyder said he had a letter from Logan County Fair Association about their Fair pre-party on Sunday, July 28, 2013. The dinner will be at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Snyder said he put out a one page news release on calls from other utility companies.
Upcoming Meetings:
Council: July 15, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.
Committee of Whole: July 23, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.
Alderman Anderson moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) review of executive session minutes and Alderman Horn seconded it. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call. There were five yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried. The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 8:48 p.m.
The meeting returned to regular Session at 9:04 p.m. City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll. There were five Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O’Donohue, and Alderman Tibbs) and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Neitzel, and 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.
Alderman O'Donohue made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Anderson seconded it. There were five yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman O'Donohue, Alderman Tibbs, and), zero nays, and three absent (Alderman Carmitchel, Alderman Neitzel, and Alderman Wilmert); motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee’s as a Whole Meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs, Recording Secretary
City of Lincoln