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City Council Minutes
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OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE WEST PEORIA CITY COUNCIL JULY 13, 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 July 13, 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. City Residents John F. Siewert II and Gus Mason.
4. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM AGENDA None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the minutes from the June 22, 2010 City Council Meeting was made by Alderman Dohm and seconded by Alderman Dwyer. No Corrections
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Dohm, Dwyer, Ganson, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
6. COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT Officer James Middlemas reported: Between July 2 to July 5 there was a residential break-in on N. Cedar Avenue. A Game Station and jewelry were taken. The County has a suspect that they are looking for. Another residential burglary took place between July 4th and 6th , in the 2100 block of W. Alice. A window was damaged during the break-in and a TV was taken. On July 11th, a residential burglary in progress in the 2400 block of Kellogg. The suspect fled the scene after they were noticed by the home owners. The suspects were caught and all the property returned. Officer Middlemas warned everyone to keep their garages locked. There have been a lot of bicycles being taken. Officer Middlemas warned that there are at least two different groups that are involved with this.
7. MAYOR DILLON Mayor Dillon reported on the West Peoria 4th of July Parade. Phil Roberts was the Grand Marshal of the parade this year. The weather was great and the City had plenty of candy to hand out.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT Township Supervisor DeSutter mentioned to Officer Middlemas the Township has an ongoing Bicycle Registration and the Township Office is opened every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. He said in the past there were a couple of bikes that were returned to their owner because of the Registration. Bob recommended the residents come to the Township and register their bikes.
9. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 10-47 JOINT PPUATS FUNDING AGREEMENT ANNUAL ELEMENT OWP FY 2011 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,677.18 MFT (LINE ITEM 17-00-543) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Dohm. Discussion: Alderman Venzon told Council Member that is the annual PPUATS dues.
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 8 Venzon, Dohm, Dwyer, Ganson, Mathewson, Meismer, O’Neill, Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 0 Motion Carried
10. DISCUSSION ONLY: A. Elected Officials Compensation Alderman Venzon asked Mayor Dillon why this was brought up for discussion now. Mayor Dillon told the City Council the reason is because by law this has to be discussed 180 days prior the next election and this is the reason he asked the City Council to discuss it at this meeting. This does not have to be done until October, 2010, before the April, 2011 election. Alderman Venzon said that answered his question about the timing, but asked how can the City even consider a raise, thinking about a raise or talking about a raise when Item 10. B - Tax Levy and Item 10. C - Sales Tax Increase is on this Agenda for Discussion Only. Alderman Venzon said we will be talking about and probably implementing some sort of tax increase. Mayor Dillon responded stating that this is something that should be reviewed every four years and stated there are some elected officials that have not had a raise in 4 years some in 12 years and some in 16 years. Mayor Dillon told the Council he thought it should at least be discussed. Alderman Mathewson said this is like reviewing the Policy Manual and other things the Council/ Committee does annually this does not mean we will change anything, but the City will have a record that this was discussed. Mayor Dillon told the Council Members this was poor timing but the City does not set the law, it as set by State Statute. Alderman Venzon stated in respect to all of the elected official I cannot see how we can justify a raise at this time. Mayor Dillon asked the Council to consider that this will be for four years. Alderman Mathewson told the City Council City Administrator gave the Finance Committee the numbers that the surrounding municipalities pay and I would suggest we go back to the Finance Committee review and discuss it at their meeting. Alderman Dohm said he just read a memo stating the City requesting all the salaried and hourly employees to take a freeze on their wages and stated he would have a terrible time voting for the increase for elected officials. Alderwoman Thomas said even though this is a parliamentary procedure, she did not feel this was right time to discuss an increase for elected officials and stated this is bad timing.
B. TAX LEVY City Administrator John Carlson told the City Council at the last Finance Committee Meeting the Committee talked about looking into a potential increase in Tax Levy. Again this is for discussion only. John said the Council Members did receive some information on what an increase would render: a twenty-five percent increase would be a twenty thousand dollars increase to the City and be approximate an eighteen dollar a year property increase for the home owner and to his knowledge the City has never done this before. The State Funds that come into the City are shrinking and recommend that this be considered. City Administrator said the Council later this year will have to make a decision and depending on their decision the City will have a Truth and Taxation Hearing. Attorney Connor said if the City is going to do a Real Estate Tax increase of any size they have until Mid-October because some notices periods that will have to go through.
C. SALES TAX INCREASE City Administrator John Carlson told the City Council the City budgeted approximately three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars in sales tax, this is one percent of amount collected by the City. John said that if there would be an increase it would be only a quarter percent. Attorney Connor told the Council if there would be an increase of twenty-five percent increments, the City would be getting one an a quarter, or the City could go up one-half, three quarters percent or a total of one percent on top of the current one percent the City is receiving. City Administrator Carlson told the Council the a quarter percent increase would render ninety-three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars. A half percent increase would render one hundred eight seven thousand –five hundred dollars and one percent increase would render three hundred seventy –five thousand dollars. City Administrator Carlson stated this has to be voted on. . City Attorney Connor said this would require a referendum. City Administrator said there is a time limit as far the Sales Tax Increase to be on the ballot for the November, 2010 election. Attorney Connor said not only is there a time limit, but there are only so many slots that can go on a Referendum Ballot and if it is full before the City gets it approved it may not get on the ballot. Attorney said he would not wait to long if this is something the City wants on this Ballot, pass the Resolution and get it to the County Clerk and have it put on the ballot. City Administrator told the Council the Finance Committee would not meet until August 3rd . This is something we could discuss at the next Finance Committee Meeting and if any action would come out of this the Finance Committee would bring it back to the Council. Attorney Connor agreed. Alderman Dohm said that the Sales Tax Increase is the one he will lean toward more so than the Property Tax Increase. Alderman Meismer said that the Sales Tax Increase will bring in more revenue than the Property Tax and stated most of the residents do not realize what percentage of the Real Estate Tax their City receives. City Administrator stated the City gets eighty thousand dollars revenue from all the taxes combined. Mayor Dillon asked if anyone has talked to any of the business owners about increasing the Sales Tax? City Administrator said the Finance Committee brought this to City Council first and this is for discussion only. But we certainly can after we meet with the Finance Committee again. Alderman Venzon suggested starting with a quarter of percent for the increase in Sales Tax.
11. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. FINANCE COMMITTEE – Alderman Meismer – filled in for Chair Mathewson at the last Finance Committee Meeting. Alderman Meismer told the Council the Finance Committee discussed everything that was on the City Council’s Agenda for this meeting: PPUATS Dues, Elected Officials Compensation, Tax Levy, Sales Tax Increase. We also discussed the proposal for the Trash Pick-up Services this will be going to Public Safety Committee and Finance Committee in August. We went over the expansion of the TIF District and discussed our goal. Our next meeting will be August 3rd, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
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 July 21, 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 July 21, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
D. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Chair Venzon said the Transportation Committee met and went over the Transportation general housekeeping. The City received the bill from IDOT for Heading Avenue. There was a lot of discussion on Ashland Avenue. After reviewing how the bids came in the Transportation Committee is in the process of revamping a couple of options and hoping to get the options out for Bid this year. The Committee discussed the PPUATS Dues and the committee was brought up to speed on Sterling Avenue on the things Alicia is doing – general back ground work for IDOT. Alicia will be putting information into PPUATS in August for the round of acquiring money. Hopefully we will know in a couple of months. Our next meeting will be August 12th, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
12. PUBLIC COMMENT Alderman Ganson said the Sister of Immaculate Conception on Heading Avenue are having their 5th Annual West Peoria Resident Mass on August 1st, at 10:30 a.m. everyone is invited to attend. City Administrator Carlson told the City Council Members that Robin Johnson will be contacting them to set up a separate meeting with each of them. City Administrator Carlson informed the City Council that Jeffrey Norris from Morton came into City Hall to ask permission to go door to door selling 9-11 Crime Watch Security Lights. He was in West Peoria about three years ago and is legitimate. City Administrator added this was to let them know in case anyone would ask or call them about it.
13. 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 7:28 p.m.
Carole Stephens – City Clerk
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