 |
|
|||
|
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES |
|
OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST PEORIA, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009 7:00 P.M. WEST PEORIA CITY HALL 2506 WEST ROHMANN AVENUE, WEST PEORIA ILLINOIS
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of West Peoria, Illinois was held at West Peoria City Hall on November 24, 2009.
1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Dillon.
3. ROLL CALL The following members were present: Alderman Dohm, Alderman Dwyer, Alderman Mathewson, Alderman Meismer, Alderman O’Neill, Alderwoman Thomas, Alderman Venzon and Mayor Dillon. Also present were City Attorney Connor, Economic Development Coordinator Pratt, City Treasurer Main, Street Department Manager Strube, City Clerk Stephens, Rolland Reinhart, and Township Supervisor DeSutter. City Administrator Carlson and Alderman Ganson were absent.
4. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETING ACT.
5. MOTION TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING MAY 1, 2008 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2009 was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Dwyer. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Dwyer, Dohm, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried. Discussion: Alderman Mathewson explained the City’s Audit is in process and will be brought to the City Council Meeting on December 8th. There was a management problem with the MFT Fund that is not in this year’s Budget. This is last year’s Budget and this is to straighten out the MFT Fund. Alderman Mathewson stated that one of the goals for the Finance Committee is to keep a closer eye on the MFT Fund. Motion to adjourn the Public Hearing was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Dwyer. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Dwyer, Dohm, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
6. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM AGENDA None.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the minutes from the November 10, 2009 City Council Meeting was made by Alderman Dohm and seconded Alderwoman Thomas ROLL CALL VOTE – Ayes 7 Thomas, O’Neill, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, Venzon Nays - 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
8. COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT Officer James Middlemas stated in the 1900 to 2100 block of Alice attempts were made to get into garages which were locked. The third shift officers are aware of this and they will be patrolling the alleys. Officer Middlemas told the City Council the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Western Avenue received a counterfeit one hundred dollar bill. This is the first one in this area. He explained to the Council that this was an originally a five dollar bill that was bleached and the City of Peoria has problems with counterfeit money. He said that we are trying to make the City aware of this problem. Officer Middlemas reminded everyone this is the holiday season and to be extra vigilant in securing your homes.
9. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Dillon reminded everyone that December 6th at 5:00 p.m. is the West Peoria Residents Association Christmas sing held at the Franciscan Center and the Residents Association requested the presence of the City Council and City Staff to lead the sing along. Mayor Dillon told the Council Members that he attended a Clonmel Society Meeting and they passed around an article from an Irish Newspaper with articles and pictures of the 4th of July Parade in West Peoria. In the article they stated that marching in the rain helped them prepare to win the title of Best Marching Band. The Marching Band won every competition they were in. Mayor Dillon talked about a fire in West Peoria on November 23, 2009. No one was hurt. The City offered to help and asked if there was anything the City could do. The residents had everything in control and thanked them for their offer. He reminded everyone to be careful of the Christmas lights with this holiday season.
A MOTION TO CANCEL THE DECEMBER 22, 2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING was made by Alderman Mathewson was seconded by Alderman Dwyer. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Dwyer, Dohm, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
Alderman Mathewson suggested calling a Special Meeting to pass the Tax Levy on December 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
A MOTION TO APPROVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO PASS THE TAX LEVEY ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M. was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Dohm. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes 7, Mathewson, Dohm, Dwyer, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
10. TREASURER’S REPORT. City Treasurer Main passed out the Treasurer’s Report for the Month of September 2009. A motion to receive and file the September 2009 Treasurer’s Report was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Dwyer. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Dwyer, Dohm, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon. Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion carried.
11. PUBLIC COMMENT Township Supervisor DeSutter told the City Council members the Cub Scouts are selling Christmas wreaths the week of November 14th, 2009.
12. A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2009-18 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2008-07 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF WEST PEORIA FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING MAY 1, 2008 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2009 was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Meismer. Discussion: Alderman Mathewson explained to the Council Members this is the Ordinance related to the Public Hearing in the first part of this Council Meeting this evening. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Meismer, Dohm, Dwyer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion carried.
13. A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT TO WALKER EXCAVATING IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,634.21 FOR THE INTERSECTION OF KENWOOD AND SWORDS AVENUE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS (LINE ITEM 01-41-890 STORM SEWERS) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Mathewson Discussion: Alderman Venzon told the Council Members that all the information pertaining to this is in the packet you received for this meeting. It was determined this project could not be directionally bored. This is the reason for the price increase and was well worth what we paid for getting this problem solved. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Venzon, Mathewson, Dohm, Dwyer, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried
14. A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT TO HOROWITZ CONCRETE, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,905.00 FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF COMBINED CURB/ WALK WITH HANDICAP RAMPS AND NEW INLETS FOR ALICE AVENUE AND ST. ANTHONY PLACE. (LINE ITEM 01-41-880 Curbs, Gutters, Sidewalks) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Mathewson. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Venzon, Mathewson, Dohm, Dwyer, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
15. A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT TO HOROWITZ CONCRETE , INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,995.00 FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF COMBINED CURB/WALK WITH HANDICAP RAMPS AND NEW INLETS FOR ALICE AVENUE AND CLIFTON COURT. (LINE ITEM 01-41-880 Curbs, Gutters, Sidewalks) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Mathewson. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Venzon, Mathewson, Dohm, Dwyer, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
16. MACHINERY PURCHASE – APPROVAL OF MACHINERY PURCHASE. Alderman Venzon explained to the City Council that City Street Department Manager Henry Strube has been looking for a loader for the City, something newer with a bigger bucket, something that can be used on a variety of jobs. Henry found one at Altorfer’s in the neighborhood of $55,000. Street Department Manager Henry Strube described the machinery to the City Council. Henry said this piece of machinery is a 2007 Caterpillar 908 Loader with 600 hours and is still has warranty left on the machine. The front end is capable of quick attachments: broom, bucket, snow blades, snow blower and said that this would give him a bigger load capacity to load the City’s trucks in the winter and will cut their time to get back on the road when the winter storms hit. This can also be used on West Peoria Clean Up Day to clean up the alleys. Mayor Dillon told the Council that the City budgeted $50,000 and he talked with City Administrator John Carlson and that John said he could find the $5,000 that was not allotted.
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE THIS MACHINERY FOR $55,000 was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman O’Neill. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 Venzon, O’Neill, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried.
17. A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ESTIMATED TAX LEVY AMOUNT WHICH WAS 105 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR'S TAX LEVY was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Meismer. Discussion: Alderman Rocky explained to the Council members the 105 percent, which is a $4,025.00 increase will not increase our Levy, because of our Tax Rate. We need this estimate 20 days before we pass this levy which will be passed in a Special Meeting on December 15th, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes – 7 – Mathewson, Meismer, Dohm, Dwyer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Ganson Motion Carried.
18. OTHER BUSINESS None
19. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. FINANCE COMMITTEE Chair Mathewson: The Finance Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting. Our next meeting will be December 1, 2009 at City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
B. LAND USE COMMITTEE Chair Dohm: The Land Use Committee met and went over the Zoning Reports and Financial Reports. The Committee had a discussion about a Building Permit. The City of West Peoria has a situation about the height of building structures. This being a resident built a garage two stories high. Taller than the house. Our zoning currently allows this. The Committee will be making a correction along with a couple of other things in our zoning code. Alderman Dohm said that the Committee is looking for guidance – in verbage – on how the Council wants our current code that allows the garage to be as large as your house in square footage, but allows it to be 35 feet tall. Alderman Mathewson said to make sure you specify the ridge of the house and not the height of the chimney and state what you mean by primary structure. This should read: not to exceed the ridge line of the house. Alderman Dohm said the Committee should discuss the accessory building and also the garage and shed. These are two issues. The Committee also discussed the Babu Property, the annexation and the Church. Our next meeting will be December 16, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Chair Dwyer: The Public Safety Committee met and the main topic of discussion was the Waste Management Contract. Mr. Dave Pittman from the West Peoria Residents Association attended our meeting and discussed a greater involvement with recycling within the City of West Peoria. Dan Sullivan, the Zoning Officer of West Peoria, discussed the normal Code Enforcement Report and the Garbage Report. The Public Safety Committee will be attending the Transportation Meeting for a comprehensive review of the stop signs and speed limit ordinance and to inquire about getting them updated. Our next meeting will be December 16 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Alderman Dohm asked if Alderman Dwyer would talk about the Garbage Tax. Alderman Dwyer commented as far as taxes this was stopped because of the complexity of trying to do the assessment based on the assessed valuation, this is not way to be fair.
D. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Chair Venzon: The Transportation Committee met and discussed three of the items that were passed on this agenda tonight – payment to Walker, and Horowitz Concrete. City Engineer Alicia Hermann has started work on Ashland Avenue. They have surveyed and material testing and hope to have this ready for bid this spring. Alderman Venzon stated that City Engineer Hermann said the next funding round for PPUATS is set for early 2010. Applications are to be submitted the first of February and she is on target for this, getting the reports in so we can be part of that funding round. Alderman Venzon said that Street Department Manager Strube has some information from other municipalities on ticketing vehicles that are not moved for snow removal. The first offense is a warning, there is an escalating scale there after. We are looking into joining a group called “The Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network. If we do join, in case of an emergency, we could call for help from other municipalities or we could go and help another municipality in the group. This is a volunteer project and there is a small fee for joining, but no fee to call for help Mayor Dillon said this is similar to the Fire Department. The person who is the head of this organization is scheduled to come to the Heart of Illinois Mayor’s Association Meeting. Alderman Mathewson said that several months ago you started working on Ashland Avenue.It is my understanding that you were just going to make this shovel ready but not necessarily to do it. Is there a change? Alderman Venzon: No, we have to do Ashland Avenue. It is to the point it has to be done one way or the other. We were hoping we could have stuck in under the stimulus money. This is where the shovel ready came in. Alderman Mathewson asked if there were any other shovel ready projects sitting back and ready to go? Alderman Venzon said not yet. Mayor Dillon said that if something doesn’t come up with Federal Stimulus Money before we get this project going and we put this project out for bid, we will get another project ready. We knew Ashland Avenue had to be done. We wanted to get it shovel ready just in case something did happen. I am getting a lot of questions about the condition of Sterling Hill. I tell them we are in the second round of PPUATS, and the first round will not be available.
20. PUBLIC COMMENT None.
21. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Alderman O’Neill seconded by Alderman Dwyer to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
_____________________________ Carole Stephens, City Clerk
|
|
|
