Sangamon Sun

City of Lincoln Committee of the Whole met Nov. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Mayor Seth Goodman at 7 p.m., with proper notice given. City Clerk Peggy Bateman called roll.

PRESENT:

Alderman Tracy Welch, Ward 1

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman Kathryn Schmidt, Ward 2

Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2

Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3

Alderman Ron Keller, Ward 3

Alderman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Alderman Jeff Hoinacki , Ward 4

PRESENT:

Seth Goodman, Mayor

Elizabeth Kavelman, City Administrator

John Hoblit, City Attorney

Peggy Bateman, City Clerk

Alex Williams, Recording Secretary

Chuck Conzo, City Treasurer

Paul Adams, Police Chief

Bob Dunovsky, Fire Chief

Walt Landers, Streets Superintendent

ABSENT:

Anthony Harper, Veolia Water, Project Manager

Wes Woodhall, Building and Safety Officer

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Mayor Goodman called upon citizens registered to speak. Mr. Kevin Qualters of 222 Lincoln Avenue came forward to talk about getting four to six hens in town. He covered the importance of eating fresh. He's reviewed other ordinances in other cities, including Bloomington, Chicago, St. Louis and Springfield. He said every place he looked up, residents are allowed to have chickens. He said most places allow you to have six hens.

Alderman Keller said in 2014 an ordinance was passed by the council, prohibiting residents from keeping certain animals. He said if the council did take this up, they would have to revise the ordinance. He then asked Mr. Qualters what type of space he has available.

Alderman Schmidt asked about the history of the ordinance. She wanted to know what the conversation was about when the ordinance was passed in 2014.Alderman Parrott asked what would be done with the waste. He said it would definitely have to be enclosed.

Alderman Welch asked if this was something the planning commission should revisit and give a recommendation to the council. He posed reaching out to the chair of the planning commission. There being no further public participation,Mayor Goodman moved down to other agenda items.

PROCLAMATION FOR ZONTA INTERNATIONAL,LINCOLN,ILL.CHAPTER 1OOTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY,EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 18, 2019:

The item will be placed on the consent agenda.

DISCUSSION FOR COMMITMENT TO CITY OF LINCOLN EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL,ALTERNATE,OR ADDITIONAL HEALTH ALLIANCE OR BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD INSURANCE FOR CY 2020:

Mrs. Nancy Schaub came forward to talk about the city's employee benefits and the health insurance renewal. She shared what the process was for this year. The city has been with Health Alliance since 2011. The company was requesting a 30 percent rate increase. Last year there was a five percent increase.They look at the last three underwriting periods of time. There is now a 19 percent increase posed.Blue Cross Blue Shield offered a more competitive rate - they could offer some savings to the city due to a lower employee rate. Those with dependents would have to pay for more for the dependent coverage. Blue Cross is a national network, however the HMO would not allow for access to Springfield Clinic. The city wanted to go with Health Alliance.

The item will be placed on the agenda.

REQUEST TO PERMIT A.M. EATS CART AND CATERING OWNED BY ANDREA DYKMAN,TO SELL FOOD IN TWO PARKING SPACES ON THE CITY OF LINCOLN STREETS AT SCULLY PARK ON DECEMBER 5, 2019,FROM 4:00 TO 7:30 OR 8:00 P.M.:

The item will be placed on the consent agenda.

ORDINANCE EXTENDING AMEREN ILLINOIS, D/B/A AMEREN ILLINOIS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT 20-YEAR RENEWAL,TO CONSTRUCT,OPERATE,AND MAINTAIN AN ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF LINCOLN, IL.

Theitem will be placed on the regular agenda.

ORDINANCE EXTENDING AMEREN ILLINOIS, D/B/A AMEREN ILLINOIS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT 20-YEAR RENEWAL,TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE,AND MAINTAIN A GAS UTILITY SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF LINCOLN, IL.:

The item will be placed on the regular agenda. Alderman Welch said Alderman Bateman has numbers from the meeting - he said it was worth explaining why this was brought to the council as a 20-year agreement.

Alderman Bateman said the current agreement that expires is a 50-year agreement. Instead of free services, they now base it on utilities. So they don't have to get a permit to maintaintheir lines on city thoroughfares "and such.n They write a one-time check, then the first year they pay over $28,000 with greater payments to come in subsequent years.

The highest bill for this building was $1,700 with the lowest being in the $600-range. The city would have to start paying utilities on various buildings. The city is currently paying a utility bill at the new street garage and police station as that was not in the 50-year agreement. The first check arrives 90 days upon the contract being signed.

Alderman Welch weighed in about the revenue stream the city would receive. Then Mr. Walt Landers asked if it was possible for the company to notify the city of locations on where they might be excavating. He said if they can make us aware where they are doing work then the city can monitor it and see it is being done correctly.

RESOLUTION ABATING PROPERTY TAX FOR $2,285,000.00 G.O.BONDS (ALT.REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2014 FOR TAX YEAR 2019; WITH $ 173,717.50 AS THE CITY'S LEVY FOR THE $2,285,000.00 G.O. BOND (ALT. REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2014:

Treasurer Conzo said the council has to vote to abate the property tax. It would be due in 2020, this is the bond that funded the project in the TlF District.

RESOLUTION ABATING PROPERTY TAX FOR $5,28.5,000.00 G.O.BONDS (ALT REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2014 FOR TAX YEAR 2019; WITH $ 634,375.00 FOR THE $5,285,000.00 G.O. BOND (ALT. REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2014:

The item was used to construct the sewer plant. The last payment on this bond with be in December 2023.

RESOLUTION ABATING PROPERTY TAX FOR $3,270,000.00 G.O. BONDS (ALT. REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2018 FOR TAX YEAR 2019; WITH $ 282,550.00 FOR THE $3,270,000.00 G.O. BOND (AH. REVENUE SOURCE). SERIES 2018:

He asked that these be placed on the regular agenda for the next meeting. This has to be filed by the fourth Tuesday in December. There is some time there-there is a COW meeting on the 26th, it could be published in the Lincoln Courier and an public hearing meeting could be on the 10th or the 16th. The topic would come back up in two weeks.

DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY'S CURRENT FARM LEASE OF THE MARCH 1,2017 - FEBRUARY 28, 2018 WITH MR. KENT CROSS,THE FIRST EXTENSION OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE DRAFTING AND APPROVAL OF A NEW LEASE:

City Administrator Kavelman said we either need to extend this agreement or draw up a new lease. The city is charging $150 per acre. City Attorney John Hoblit took the microphone saying the average for cash rents in Illinois was $223 per acre. Excellent farm land was $281. He continued on, sharing the numbers.

He said Logan County tends to be higher than the national average for prices. He said Logan County could be the highest at an average of $289 per acre. He said it would behoove the council to determine how much that land is producing.

Alderman Bateman asked if the city ever puts this out for bid like the county tends to do. He said it becomes a bid - and farmers raise their hands and raise the dollar amount per acre until they get to the winning bid.

City Administrator Kavelman agreed that she would want to put it out for bid. Alderman Bateman said they could form a committee and open the envelopes in the mayor's office. Alderman Keller agreed that it should go for out for bid. More discussion ensued.

LETTER TO DIE US CENSUS 2020 ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF LINCOLN-LOGAN COUNTY, ILL.COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE WITH ALDERMAN KELLER APPOINTED AS THE CITY OF LINCOLN'S VOLUNTEER LIAISON/CO-CHAIR TO THE COUNTY-WIDE COMMITTEE:

The item will be placed on the consent agenda. City Administrator Kavelman thanked Alderman Keller.

DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY'S PAYMENT OF ALUMP SUM MOTOROLA LEASE OF $257,669.00 PRINCIPAL AND SAVING $57, 733.04 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STARCOM LEASE FOR THE FIRST YEAR'S PAYMENT OF

$45,057.52 due by December 1,2019 within City FY 2019·2020, and the remaining portion of

$212,611.48 due within City FY 2020 2021:

City Administrator Kavelman said they council did need to make a decision about the Motorola Lease, City Treasurer Conze said you can pay it up front or pay for it from the police and fire funds. He said paying it up front saves $57,000 in interest. They would issue a general obligation bond which would result in bond proceeds... he said they could pay for it out of that. But that would use up about

$200,000 out of a $500,000 bond - and the money needs to last for three years. He said that's really the choice. The end of it would be 2025 - payments would be anywhere from $31,000 to $42,000 per year. Plus interest - meaning it would be closer to $45,000 per year. He said it needed to be decided upon fairly soon.

Alderman Welch said we haven't issued the bond yet, but half of the proceeds would be going to this purchase. He said although it is good to save money, he would just rather pay the fees on it over the first couple of years.

Alderman Parrott asked for examples of the types of things they have needed to spend money on. Treasurer Conzo listed off a few examples. More questions and discussion ensued. Chief Adams was going to follow up with the Motorola representative.

The lease was already approved by the council - they wanted to amend the agenda item for next week - and continue with the lease as approved.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S HP ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER MAINTENANCE AND LASER CARTRIDGES CONTRACT WITH KONICA MINOLTA AT $35.00/MONTH FOR THREE YEARS. FIRST YEAR: $210.00 IN CITY FY2019/2020, $420.00 FOR CITY FY2020/2021,$420.00 FOR CITY FY2021/2022 AND $210.00 FOR CITY FY2022-2023,EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 25, 2019:

Alderman Bateman talked about it being an unknown as they do not know how many cartridges would be needed. Alderman Welch read information from the contract and mentioned termination charges. Alderman Parrott asked about the need for printed copies. The item would be placed on the regular agenda.

DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE REGARDING THE CITY'S LEGALIZED CANNABIS DISPENSARY HOURS OF OPERATION AND NUMBER OF LICENSES:

Alderman Bateman opened discussion, saying this is the next step - that they needed to determine whatever the hours of operation could be - and the number of licenses. Alderman Bateman posed 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The item would be placed on the agenda. City Attorney Hoblit weighed in about the potential for three licenses in the area. Alderman

Bateman shared information on businesses that were interested in Lincoln. Alderman Bateman said he seriously doubted the city would end up with more than one - if the city even got one. The Mayor said the city would be lucky to get one in the first place. Alderman Schmidt "Yanted to leave it at one.

Alderman Welch said he wanted to ensure they council wasn't writing ordinances for specific people or businesses. He said whether you set it at one or you set it at three - but amendments can be made and sometimes they don't go the way the council hopes that they would. He was OK with moving forward based on his previous votes. He said one opens the door for it. One would be placed on the regular agenda.

UPDATE OF THE PROGRESS ON THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE FIFTH STREET ROAD PROJECT AND EMINENT DOMAIN PROGRESS:

City Administrator Kalveman opened discussion about the status of the project. She named a few of the property owners and the storage box would not need to be moved back - which would save about $7,000. Alderman Welch said in looking at the chart - it looks like there are some outstanding properties. She said they have heard from everyone - they are in the works with everyone. More progress has been made with one individual.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Comcast is taking away the cartoon package January 7 There will be an upcoming meeting with the IT committee

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Welch motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Parrott. The council adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

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