Macon Reporter

Decatur City Council met Monday, Dec. 19.

Here are the minutes as provided by Decatur:

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Monday, December 19, 2016

On Monday, December 19, 2016, the City Council of the City of Decatur, Illinois, met in Regular Meeting at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers, One Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, Illinois.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe presided, together with her being Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, and Jerry Dawson. Seven members present. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared a quorum present.

City Manager Tim Gleason attended the meeting as well.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

This being the time for Appearance of Citizen, the following citizens appeared:

Russell Shulke read a statement regarding Fire Department prior equipment purchases.

The minutes of the December 5, 2016 City Council meeting were presented. Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the minutes be approved as written; seconded by Councilwoman Dana Ray, and on call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

This being the time set aside for Unfinished Business and there being none, Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe called for New Business.

R2016-144 Resolution Authorizing an Agreement with Chastain & Associates, LLC for Final Design of Baltimore Road Drainage Improvements Associated with Macon County’s Baltimore Road Reconstruction Project, City Project 2014-20, was presented.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the Resolution do pass; seconded by Councilwoman Dana Ray.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

2016-101 Ordinance Authorizing Contract for Pay and Benefits for I.A.F.F. Local 505 Fire Association, was presented.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the Ordinance do pass; seconded by Councilwoman Lisa Gregory.

Councilwoman Lisa Gregory and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe congratulated both negotiation teams on reaching an expedited agreement.

Councilman Bill Faber asked what the advantages were to the City in terms of generated revenue to have a fire fighter team all reside within the City limits. City Manager Tim Gleason stated the community has a response if an emergency happened and there is an economic impact. The greatest benefit is that all City employees are ambassadors of the City of Decatur and they conduct their personal business outside of work in this community.

John Phillips stated that he did not understand the five year residency limit on the firemen. Future employees should have to live in the City for as long as they are employed by the Fire Department.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

2016-102 Ordinance Appropriating Additional Funds for Certain Funds in Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2016, was presented.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the Ordinance do pass; seconded by Councilwoman Dana Ray.

Councilman Bill Faber asked for an explanation of what a TIF was. Assistant City Manager Billy Tyus provided an explanation as to what a TIF District was.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2016-145 Resolution Authorizing Inter-Fund Advance to the Decatur Public Transit System for Operating Expenses prior to Receipt of Illinois Department of Transportation Operating Grant Funds, was presented.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the Resolution do pass; seconded by Councilwoman Dana Ray.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe called for Consent Calendar Items A through D and asked if any Council member wished to have an item removed from Consent Calendar. Councilman Bill Faber asked that Item C. be removed from the Consent Calendar. The Clerk read Items A, B, and D:

A. Receiving and Filing of Minutes of Boards and Commissions

B. R2016-146 Resolution Approving Appointment – Police Pension Fund

Board of Trustees D. R2016-148 Resolution Accepting Bids for Water Treatment Chemicals –

Water Department

Councilman Jerry Dawson motioned to approve the items as presented; seconded by Councilman Pat McDaniel.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2016-147 Resolution Approving and Determining the Need for Confidentiality of Minutes of Closed Meetings, was presented.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the Resolution do pass; seconded by Councilman Pat McDaniel.

Councilman Bill Faber stated he was being asked to make a decision on the Confidentiality of Minutes with no information. Councilman Bill Faber asked for background information so he could make an informed decision. Corporation Counsel Wendy Morthland explained that State Statute requires Council to review the need for minutes to remain confidential as the result of a Closed Executive Session. The need for confidentiality would include personnel issues, litigation issues, and collective bargaining issues. Those are the three issues that generally will require minutes to remain confidential.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Bill Faber voted nay. Six ayes and one nay. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe called for Other Business.

Councilman Pat McDaniel asked for a brief review of the snow and ice procedures for roads. City Manager Tim Gleason stated the type of ice storm the community received recently was the about the worse kind you can get. Crews were activated last Friday and worked through today. The crews worked the priority streets for 18 hours and then got to the residential streets. The snow and ice policy will be placed on the Decatur website this week. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe thanked the street crews that were out over the weekend. Public Works Director Rick Marley responded to Council questions about snow and ice procedures.

Councilwoman Lisa Gregory congratulated the Fire Department on their friendly battle with the Police Department at the Red Kettle Drive and thanked the Mayor and her husband for serving as the chairmen.

Councilman Bill Faber wants City Council to have a Study Session about bringing jobs to the City. Councilman Pat McDaniel suggested having a Town Meeting and bring everybody together to update the public as to what is being done.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe called for Recess to Study Session for the 2016 Street Project Summary.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved to recess to Study Session; seconded by Councilman Pat McDaniel.

Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

City Manager Tim Gleason shared that the City wanted to celebrate the success of the pavement of roadways. The City wanted to recognize all those on the private side that were involved in the many road projects that the City of Decatur saw in 2016. Public Works Director Rick Marley shared that the Local Motor Fuel Tax funding created the opportunity to cause the work to begin to restore the streets in Decatur. Public Works Director Rick Marley introduced Transportation Engineer Griffin Enyart who gave the 2016 street projects presentation. Transportation Engineer Griffin Enyart provided a slide presentation covering the 2016 street and bridge projects and the Local Motor Fuel Tax projects. Mr. Enyart thanked all the contractors and agencies the City worked with on the road projects. Councilman Pat McDaniel requested the report on the 60 bridges, Council received a couple of years ago, be distributed to the Council members again.

Councilman Jerry Dawson moved the regular Council meeting be adjourned; seconded by Councilman Pat McDaniel. Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Bill Faber, Chris Funk, Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Dana Ray, Jerry Dawson and Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe declared the Council meeting adjourned at 6:47p.m.

Approved January 18, 2017 Debra G. Bright City Clerk