CITY OF SALEM
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2008
6:00 P.M.
I. Call To Order
II. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
III. Approval of Minutes, November 17, 2008
IV. Presentation of Petitions/Public Comments
V. Mayor’s Report and Presentations
VI. City Council Action
1. First Reading – Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 – Addition of New Classification of Liquor License “ Class I” - Regarding request from Wine Rack for Special Liquor License
2. Second Reading Ordinance - Amending Chapter 6 of City Code, Sec. 6-108 – Sign Permit Fee Increase
3. Second Reading Ordinance - Amending Chapter 7 of City Code, Cemetery Grave Spaces and Opening Fees Increase
4. Second Reading Ordinance – Amending Chapter 2 of City Code
Repealing Sections 2-241, 2-243, 2-245, 2-249, 2-301 thru 2-320
Amending Section 2-99 – Levies
Section 2-246 – Defining Department of Economic Development
Adding Section 2-38 – Adoption of an Ordinance
Section 2-236 – City Departments
Addition of Section -241 – Director of Administrative Services Duties and Responsibilities
5. Ordinance - AmerenIP 10-Year Franchise Agreement for Electric Utility System
6. Formation of Citizen Advisory Committee
VII. City Manager Report
VIII. City Attorney Report
IX. City Council Report
X. Adjournment
Thomas F. Christie
City Manager
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MINUTES
CITY OF SALEM
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DECEMBER 1, 2008
6:00 P.M.
I. Call To Order
The Salem City Council met in regular session on December 1, 2008, at the hour of 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Salem City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Leonard E. Ferguson.
Council Members present upon roll call:
Councilman Tom Carr
Councilman Joe Hotze
Councilman Harold Blank
Councilman David Black
Mayor Leonard E. Ferguson
Others Present:
City Manager Thomas F. Christie
City Clerk Jane Marshall
Finance Director Marilyn Shook
Assistant City Manager Bev West
Public Works Director John Pruden
Economic Development Director Tracey McDaneld
Chief of Police Ronald Campo
Code Enforcement Officer Brad Crow
Recreation Director Sherry Daniels
Library Director Kim Keller
Media: Salem Times Commoner, WJBD Radio, Centralia Sentential,
along with members of the public.
Absent:
DOEM Director Terry Mulvany
City Attorney Michael R. Jones
II. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
Opening prayer was led by Councilman Carr, followed by Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. Approval of Minutes – November 17, 2008
Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting of November 17, 2008 were presented for review. Councilman Carr moved and Councilman Black seconded the motion to approve the minutes of Regular Council Meeting of November 17, 2008 as written and waive the reading. Councilman Black asked for a correction under Item 3, Page 3 to read “hard liquor” instead of “mixed drinks. Roll call vote to approve the minutes of November 17, 2008 as amended and waive the reading. AYES: Councilmen Carr, Hotze, Blank and Black. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
IV. Presentation of Petitions/Public Comments
None.
V. Mayor’s Report and Presentations
None.
VI. City Council Action:
1. Ordinance 2008-34 - First Reading – Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 – Addition of New Classification of Liquor License “ Class I” - Regarding request from Wine Rack for Special Liquor License
Mayor Ferguson reported he has spoken with Mr. Dye and found that in most cases the alcoholic liquor has to be added to the mix at the time the drink is served. Therefore, to address Mr. Dye’s request to serve pre-mixed drinks, the proposed ordinance was revised to provide a full liquor license and to permit outside dining in a fenced in area with place of business not within 200 feet in each direction from any residential property. Following some discussion and because this issue was discussed at last meeting, Councilman Hotze moved and Councilman Carr seconded the motion to approve Ordinance 2008-34, creating an additional Liquor License Classification “Class I” with an annual fee of $1,100.00 to permit retail sale of beer, wine and alcoholic liquor for
consumption on premises and in an outside fenced area; and to permit other retail sales of liquors. Councilman Black and Councilman Blank expressed opposition to permitting hard liquors, basically creating another tavern. Mayor Ferguson commented this is not in a residential area and he is trying to help a business expand. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilman Hotze, Carr, and Mayor Ferguson. NAYS: Councilman Black and Blank. Motion declared carried.
2. Ordinance Second Reading Ordinance - Amending Chapter 6 of City Code, Sec. 6-108 – Sign Permit Fee Increase
Councilman Black moved and Councilman Blank seconded the motion to table discussion on this issue until after the first of the year to be considered along with the sign ordinance. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Blank, Black, Carr, and Hotze. Motion declared carried.
3. Ordinance 2008-35 - Second Reading Ordinance - Amending Chapter 7 of City Code, Cemetery Grave Spaces and Opening Fees Increase
Councilman Black moved and Councilman Carr seconded the motion to approve Ordinance 2008-35, an ordinance amending Chapter 7 of the City Code, Section 7-3 and 7-4 to increase the price of cemetery grave spaces and grave openings. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Black, Carr, Hotze, and Blank. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
Councilman Black reported that he received a complaint from Kenny Collier who was concerned about all the fee increases that have been passed on to the residents recently.
4. Ordinance 2008-36 - Second Reading Ordinance – Amending Chapter 2 of City Code -
- Repealing Sections 2-241, 2-243, 2-245, 2-249, 2-301 thru 2-320
- Amending Section 2-99 – Levies
- Section 2-246 – Defining Department of Economic Development
- Adding Section 2-38 – Adoption of an Ordinance
- Section 2-236 – City Departments
- Add Section -241 – Director of Administrative Services Duties and responsibilities
Following brief discussion, Councilman Black moved and Councilman Carr seconded the motion to approve Ordinance 2008-36, an ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the City Code.
Mayor Ferguson suggested that the Parks Department be added in the Code under Public Works because Section 2-249 - Director, duties and responsibilities – Parks is being repealed.
Councilman Carr moved and Councilman Black seconded the motion to amend the main motion to add Parks Department to the City Code under Public Works. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Carr, Hotze, Blank, and Black. NAYS: None. Motion to amend the Main Motion was declared carried.
Councilman Black moved and Councilman Carr seconded to approve the main motion as amended. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Hotze, Blank, Black, and Carr. NAYS: None. Motion to approve Ordinance 2008-36 as amended declared carried.
5. Ordinance 2008-37 – Ordinance - AmerenIP 10-Year Franchise Agreement for Electric Utility System
City Manager Christie advised that the City’s franchise agreement with Ameren (Illinois Power) ended in 2006 and it is essential that the City enter into a new franchise agreement establishing the terms and conditions under which Ameren may utilize the City’s right-of-ways and also determining Ameren’s fee payment. He recommended Council consider either the five-year or the ten-year agreement rather than entering into a longer period because more favorable conditions may present themselves.
Councilman Hotze moved and Councilman Carr seconded the motion to approve Ordinance 2008-37, an Ordinance renewing an existing franchise agreement with AmerenIP for a five-year period to construct, reconstruct, excavate for, place, remove, extend, maintain, and operate an electric utility system in the City of Salem. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Carr, Hotze, Blank, and Black. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
6. Formation of Citizen Advisory Committee
Mayor Ferguson asked that Council consider this item be tabled until after the first of the year. Following brief discussion,
Councilman Carr *Black moved and Councilman Blank seconded the motion to table discussion of the formation of a Citizen Advisory Committee until after the first of the year.
Councilman Carr spoke in support of a committee, commenting he wants to avoid any possible indication that Council does not want any input from the public on issues that come before the Council. Councilman Black commented that citizens are always free to, and invited to come to the Council Meetings at any time and speak on any issue. Councilman Hotze did not speak in favor of forming an Advisory Committee.
Roll call vote to table discussion on the formation of a Citizen Advisory Committee until after the first of the year. AYES: Councilmen Black, Hotze and Blank.
NAYS: Councilman Carr. Motion declared carried.
VII. City Manager Report
1. Mitchell Street extension program, based upon engineer’s communications, is going well; the engineers indicated the changes requested by IDOT are reasonable and should be ready to bid the project in the spring. We are working on the water and sewer lines that go along with the street.
2. Pool project continues to progress, consultants are getting very close to the blueprint phase of the project and looking to hold bid letting in the spring.
3. May be some economic stimulus monies available to the city after first of the year in the form of infrastructure. We have been trying to pull together possible projects that have been on books for some time, i.e.: West Main Street water line project, Town Creek sanitary sewer interceptor, renovation of east elevated water tower. We will be prepared if and when a package manifests itself.
VIII. City Attorney Report – Absent
IX. City Council Report
Councilman Carr mentioned the Recreation Department has a busy holiday schedule during the month of December.
Councilman Hotze
1. Concern about financial condition of the City – He thinks we should have requested bids for the employee’s health and hospitalization insurance program that was approved last meeting.
2. Concerned about where the money is coming from for the increase in fees from AmerenIP, the pool and other projects. He suggested the budget planning process should start before February.
3. Indicated that it appears that the spending is up, which will help the sales tax and he thinks this will be a good Christmas Season.
Councilman Blank
Asked Economic Development Director McDaneld about the energy program regarding use of landfill. She reported that Mayor Ferguson has a meeting at the IEPA office in Springfield on Wednesday to discuss this issue.
Councilman Black
Commented on comments regarding employee health insurance coverage expressing some concern about the coverage and possible liability to the City.
Others
1. Mayor Ferguson asked about the lighting for the downtown planters, to which Public Works Director Pruden answered this matter is being checked on tonight.
2. Mayor Ferguson asked City Manager Christie if he was keeping track of the interest rates regarding the swimming pool. Christie indicated Mr. Pickrell, Financial Advisor has advised the interest rates are improving slightly, about ½%, but don’t know what it will be in the Spring.
3. Economic Development Director McDaneld distributed copies of 2008 Economic Activity Report listing noteworthy economic activity for 2008.
X. Adjournment
Councilman Black moved and Councilman Blank seconded the motion to adjourn at 7:32 p.m. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Carr, Hotze, Blank, and Black. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
Jane Marshall, CMC
City Clerk
Approved as amended by City Council on December 15, 2008.
*Item 6 – Motion made by Councilman Black.
| 