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City Council Minutes
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OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE WEST PEORIA CITY COUNCIL MARCH 9, 2010, AT 7:00 P.M. WEST PEORIA CITY HALL 2506 W. ROHMANN AVENUE WEST PEORIA, IL
A regular meeting of the City Council of West Peoria, Illinois was held at the West Peoria City Hall on March 9, 2010.
1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Dillon.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Dillon.
3. ROLL CALL The following members were present: Mayor Dillon, Alderman Dohm, Alderman Dwyer, Alderman Ganson, Alderman Mathewson, Alderman Meismer, Alderman O’Neill, Alderwoman Thomas, Alderman Venzon, City Administrator Carlson, City Attorney Connor, Economic Development Coordinator Pratt, City Clerk Stephens. Also attending Township Supervisor DeSutter, Rolland Reinhart, Street Department Manager Strube and Officer James Middlemas.
4. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM AGENDA None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the minutes from the February 23, 2010 City Council Meeting was made by Alderwoman Thomas and seconded by Alderman Dohm.
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Thomas, Dohm, Dwyer, Ganson, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
6. COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT Officer James Middlemas reported on March 6th, the third shift County Officers stopped a car on Farmington Road and cited the driver of the car with a DUI while inspecting the car the officers found and confiscated two loaded illegal firearms from the car. Officer Middlemas reported on March 6, there was an attempted break-in at a home on Ayres Avenue. This ended up being an intoxicated male from one of the local bars and was taken into custody. Officer Middlemas said that Alwan’s Pharmacy had received a false prescription. The prescription pad that the prescription was written on was taken from a doctor’s office. This person was also taken into custody. Officer Middlemas told the City Council he will not be here for the next City Council Meeting. He will be in training and Lt. Hartwig will fill in for him.
7. MAYOR DILLON Mayor Dillon told the City Council that he, City Administrator Carlson and Economic Development Coordinator Pratt have been meeting with some people about the possibility of annexing into the City of West Peoria. Mayor Dillon said that Kim Hanks, a former colleague, received the Educator’s Award. Kim’s name was put in last year for this award. Mayor Dillon said that he wrote a letter on her behalf on some of the accomplishments she did for West Peoria. This will be on a news release in a few weeks. Kim is a great teacher. This award is well deserved. Mayor Dillon said that State Representative Jehan Gordon had a Public Safety Meeting at West Peoria City Hall about the different laws going on in Springfield. She also talked about concealed carry. Mayor Dillon said he had received an invitation from Habitat for Humanity for March 23, 2010 for their ground breaking ceremony on Dakota Street for the building of a new house.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT The Township Supervisor DeSutter said the Boy Scouts are selling trash bags again this year. The cost is $15.00 for a box of one hundred. Township Supervisor gave the dates for their upcoming events: March 28, is the Easter Egg Hunt at the Woodridge Building on Heading Avenue. Registration will be at 1:30 p.m. and the Easter Egg Hunt will be at 2:00 p.m. Supervisor DeSutter invited everyone to bring their children and have a good time. This for children up to the age of 8. April 13th, is the Annual Township Meeting. April 24th, is Clean up Day. April 30th, is Government Day
9. MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT TO HERMANN & ASSOCIATES, LLC FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR ASHLAND AVENUE DESIGN PROJECT 01.010.09 INVOICE #803 IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,520.75 (LINE ITEM 01-41-532) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Ganson. Discussion: None
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Venzon, Ganson, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
10. MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT TO HERMANN & ASSOCIATES, LLC FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR STERLING AVENUE PHASE I PROJECT 01.007.08 INVOICE #804 IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,218.50 (LINE ITEM 01-41-532) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Ganson . Discussion: None
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Venzon, Ganson, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill Thomas Nays -0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
11. MOTION TO APPROVE MEMBERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CENTRAL ILLINOIS Alderman Mathewson said not knowing the cost of the membership, he does not want to make a motion and asked Economic Development Coordinator Gene Pratt to speak to the City Council on the Economic Development Council Membership. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt told the City Council the cost is sixty-two cents per person based on West Peoria’s current population of 4,762. It will be just under three thousand dollars.
MOTION TO APPROVE MEMBERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Dohm. Discussion: Alderman Mathewson said this money will be coming out of TIF which is part of what TIF is for, to promote Economic Development. Alderman Mathewson asked Economic Development Coordinator Pratt to speak on this. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt told the City Council the City is involved in a rather aggressive and challenging expansion. One of the things the City is considering is an enterprise zone which is primarily controlled by Bartonville and Peoria County and they are currently interested in expanding the enterprise zone into West Peoria. The primary benefit is there are no sales tax on building materials that are used for setting up new facilities. This can be a huge benefit for a potential developer who is interested in building in the City of West Peoria. This is somewhat complicated as it takes the cooperation of the municipality that currently has the enterprise zone to ask to extend it and it also takes legislative action in Springfield. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt said the Economic Development Council is willing to work on this and be a partner and facilitate. This would make it much easier to extend those services. Not only would they would be providing other services; putting our available properties for Economic Development on the website that would go across the nation for at least a year, this would be a great advantage for West Peoria to have this. The Economic Development Council of Central Illinois is certainly set up to do this and it would be a great advantage to have this for at least one year while we are working on the expansion project. Mayor Dillon said the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois is presently part of the Heart of Illinois Mayor’s Association and he currently sits on the Board of Directors which is basically presidents, vice presidents and directors of all the major business in the City of Peoria. Mayor Dillon told the Council he learns a lot of what is going on in the City that he was not aware of. When Economic Development Coordinator Pratt brought up the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois membership he thought this is something the City should try. Alderman Dohm asked how the City will market this. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt said the City has already started doing this by creating an inventory of all available property, properties that are vacant, properties that are in commercial districts that are not being used or are underused and that the owners would be willing to have these properties listed on a data base. This would be according to size, square footage and the amenities of the buildings and traffic counts that are available for those buildings. People could see this on the website along with West Peoria’s tax rate, population of our city and the proximity of shops, universities, hospitals, the attractions to West Peoria, etc.
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 1 Alderman Ganson Absent – 0 Motion Carried
12. MOTION TO CHANGE THE TIME OF THE APRIL 13, 2010, CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO 6:30 P.M. was made by Alderman Dohm and seconded by Alderman Ganson No Discussion
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Dohm, Ganson, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
13. OTHER BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ONLY a) Annexation Update Economic Development Coordinator Pratt told the Council: This is the primary thrust of what the staff is doing. There is a schedule which we will put in all of your boxes that details all of the activities and the steps we are taking to proceed. On March 23rd, 2010, there will be two meetings. One will be the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on the Variance of the Heights of the Buildings the Babu’s are proposing to build on their property and a Zoning Hearing to consider the Zoning Agreement that was reached with the Babu’s and the City of West Peoria to annex that piece of property. This is the only thing we will be doing on March 23rd, 2010 for a couple of reasons: to expedite the Babu’s activities. They have a few things they would like to start doing on their property. They would like to do some early surveying and so they can be secure their position in the City of West Peoria. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt told the City Council that there is a host of other properties that are considering annexing to West Peoria: Sanitary District, IDOT properties, Mr. Connaughton is still in the process of leaning in favor of annexing, Shari Hamilton with three properties and Peoria County which has agreed to annex the property at the corner of Farmington Road and Creek Road. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt said the legal description of the Annexation Agreement and activities will have to be delayed until April, 2010. For instance, the City will have to create a classification for the Speedway as the City does not have one for the Speedway and possibly there will have to be a Special Use Classification created for them. . There will be the Annexation Hearing and the Zoning Board of Appeals on March 23rd m 2010 And most likely the second meeting in April. We will have the second Zoning Hearing and probably a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing for the Special Use Permit for at least Shari Hamilton and her property to allow for that zoning classification. Shari has agreed to annex to the City of West Peoria and this was a rather easy one to reach. Mayor Dillon was at this meeting and it went well. There are still a couple of others to consider. There are implications that need to be looked at very hard. This will be shared with the Council at a later date. Economic Development Coordinator Pratt thanked Attorney Connor for all of the advice and help he has given to West Peoria. He has been a genuine help on getting us through this process. Attorney Connor told Economic Development Coordinator Pratt that he wanted to clarify that the Zoning Hearing for the Annexation Agreement was already completed.
14. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. FINANCE COMMITTEE – Chair Mathewson said the Finance Committee met on March 2, 2010. The Committee discussed the Economic Development Council Partnership. The major concern for the Finance Committee is the budget for next year. We are struggling with the deficit like most communities and we will continue to work on that. The Finance Committee received a grant request from the West Peoria Residents Association for the Newsletter. We do not have the money in this year for this. The Committee tabled this until we pass the new budget and then we will see. Our next meeting will be April 4, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Dillon said that with his new cell phone he receives the Legislative Bulletin and today the Legislative Bulletin stated that the State may be cutting more money from the municipalities. The Governor is supposed to vote on this tomorrow, March 10th. City Administrator Carlson said tomorrow is the Governor’s State Address and it is anticipated that he may recommend a decrease, which to my knowledge is the first time to municipalities of the State Income Tax. I calculated our share today and it will be $110,000 on top of the $70,000 I thought to begin with. The article said and I underlined may. City Administrator Carlson made comment that Mayor Daley may have a few things to say about this. I read this Legislative Bulletin everyday. It comes to me on line. City Administrator Carlson gave praise to the Illinois Municipal League, saying his experience with them has been exceptional.
B. LAND USE COMMITTEE Chair Dohm said the Land Use Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting. Our next meeting will be March 24th, 2010 at 6:30p.m. at City Hall.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Chair Dwyer said the Public Safety Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting. Our next meeting will be March 24th, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
D. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Chair Venzon said the Transportation Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting. Our next meeting will be March 11th, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
15. PUBLIC COMMENT Plan Commission Officer Pat Sharp commented on how glad she is that Ashland Avenue is being surveyed and asked when the City is planning on fixing the potholes. Mayor Dillon said the Transportation Committee is anticipating if the City gets this to the Engineers, hopefully in another round of stimulus we can get some stimulus money, but I don’t know if this would be possible. Transportation is trying to figure out a way to get this done.
16. MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Ganson Discussion: Alderman Mathewson explained the Executive Session: 1. SECTION (2)(5) ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY a. THE PURCHASE OF LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR THE USE OF THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING MEETINGS HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING WHETHER A PARTICULAR PARCEL SHOULD BE ACQUIRED. ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Mathewson, Ganson, Dohm, Dwyer, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
17. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION The council returned to regular session at 7:58 p.m.
18. ROLL CALL Mayor Dillon, Alderman Dohm, Alderman Dwyer, Alderman Ganson, Alderman Mathewson, Alderman Meismer, Alderman O’Neill, Alderwoman Thomas, AldermanVenzon
19. ACTION ARISING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION None
20. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn this meeting was made by Alderman O’Neill and seconded by Alderman Ganson. Motion carried unanimously by voice. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Carole Stephens – City Clerk
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