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Home My WebLink About11022020 City Council Meeting MinutesGalesburg City Council Regular Meeting City Council Chambers 55 West Tompkins Street, Galesburg, Illinois November 2, 2020 5:30 p.m. Called to order by Mayor John Pritchard at 5:30 p.m. Roll Call #1:Physically Present:Mayor John T.Pritchard,Council Members Bradley Hix,Corine Andersen,Wayne Allen,and Larry Cox,5.Present via Telephone:Council Members Wayne Dennis and Peter Schwartzman,2.Absent:Council Member Lindsay Hillery,1.Also Present: City Manager Todd Thompson (via telephone),City Attorney Bradley Nolden,and City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz. Mayor Pritchard declared a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A moment of silence was observed in lieu of an invocation. Council Member Hix moved,seconded by Council Member Cox,to approve the minutes of the City Council meetings from October 19, 2020. Roll Call #2: Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA #2020-21 All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. 20-2026 Approve MFT Resolution for the purchase of salt,hot mix asphalt,concrete,CA-6 gravel,and high performance patching mixture for the 2021 calendar year. 20-2027 Approve Resolution 20-23 ceding the City’s 2020 private activity bonding authority to the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority. 20-3033 Approve the bid from Laverdiere Construction Company in the amount of $51,390 for the installation of the new campground restroom facility and related sidewalk work at Allison Campground. November 2, 2020 Page 1 of 5 20-4090 Approve a mutual aid agreement with the Quad Cities Chief’s organization. 20-5010 Receive the Police Pension Fund Municipal Compliance Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. 20-5011 Receive the Firefighters’Pension Fund Municipal Compliance Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. 20-5012 Receive the September 30, 2020, Investment Schedule. 20-8020 Approve bills in the amount of $759,577.05 and advance checks in the amount of $1,228,114.56. Council Member Cox moved,seconded by Council Member Hix,to approve Consent Agenda 2020-21. Roll Call #3: Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried by omnibus vote. PASSAGE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 20-1026 Council Member Andersen moved,seconded by Council Member Cox,to approve Ordinance 20-3622 on final reading amending Section 113.043 (C)of the Galesburg Municipal Code increasing the number of Class C liquor licenses. Roll Call #4: Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. 20-2028 Council Member Andersen moved,seconded by Council Member Cox,to approve Resolution 20-24 determining the 2020 Property Tax Levy,which is not more than 105 percent and therefore will not require a truth in taxation public hearing.The tax levy request will not exceed $9,910,760. Roll Call #5: November 2, 2020 Page 2 of 5 Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. 20-2029 Council Member Hix moved,seconded by Council Member Cox,to approve Resolution 20-25 authorizing the execution and amendment of the Federal CARES Act Grant Agreement for Transit operation costs. Roll Call #6: Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. BIDS, PETITIONS, AND COMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC COMMENT Brittany Grimes,NAACP president,gave the City Clerk a report on systemic racism in the City of Galesburg for distribution to the City Council members. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT A.The December 31, 2021, budget is available for inspection at City Hall. B.Stuff the Bus Food Drive Campaign MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS (Agreements, Approvals, Etc.) 20-4091 Council Member Andersen moved,seconded by Council Member Cox,to approve the waiving of normal purchasing policies and accept a sole source proposal from iWorQ Systems in an annual amount of $17,500 plus a $10,000 first year cost for inspections,licensing,and permitting software for the Community Development Department. Roll Call #7: Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. Council Member Allen moved,seconded by Council Member Cox,that the City Council sit as the Town Board. The motion carried by voice vote. TOWN BUSINESS November 2, 2020 Page 3 of 5 20-9026 Trustee Andersen moved,seconded by Trustee Cox,to approve Town bills and warrants be drawn in payment of same. Roll Call #8: Ayes:Trustees Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Trustee Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. 20-9027 Trustee Andersen moved,seconded by Trustee Cox,to approve Resolution 20-01 determining the 2020 Property Tax Levy,which is not more than 105 percent and therefore will not require a truth in taxation public hearing. The tax levy request will not exceed $531,000. Roll Call #9: Ayes:Trustees Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Trustee Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. Trustee Allen moved,seconded by Trustee Cox,to resume sitting as the City Council.The motion carried by voice vote. CLOSING COMMENTS Council Member Hix encouraged the public to participate in the Stuff the Bus campaign by Transit.He added that being on the United Way Board of Directors has shown him that food insecurity is a large issue in our community. Council Member Andersen thanked the NAACP for their report and is looking forward to discussing the issues and making suggestions in the near future. Council Member Schwartzman also thanked the NAACP for the report.He also asked for clarification on the Mayor’s comments in the media that the City will not be enforcing the Governor’s orders regarding bars and restaurants for our region’s enhanced mitigation rules. November 2, 2020 Page 4 of 5 Fund Title Amount Town Fund $1,173.13 General Assistance Fund $3,562.26 IMRF Fund Social Security/Medicare Fund Liability Fund Audit Fund Total $4,735.39 The Mayor stated that he would be discussing his reasonings and the City Attorney would be sending information to the Council. Council Member Allen reminded everyone to exercise their right to vote tomorrow and that he hoped that the national election is settled in a timely manner. Mayor Pritchard stated that he was recently on a call with Chicago Mayor Lightfoot,as well as other mayors,regarding the Governor’s mitigation orders.He noted that our region,Region 2, was the last to receive orders from the Governor.After talking to other mayors across the state and learning that the rise of COVID cases are more from private and residential gatherings,he is electing not to enforce or penalize bars and restaurants if they decide to remain open.He stated that in his opinion there is no real data to support that cases are being spread through these establishments.He also noted that many of the “safety nets”like stimulus checks,PPP loans,and enhanced unemployment,are not in place at this time to help these businesses.He further stated that for these businesses,the Governor’s cure will likely be worse than the current situation. He encouraged everyone to continue to be cautious and to socially distance when it’s necessary, wear a mask, wash their hands, and above all else, stay home if they are ill. The Mayor also thanked the NAACP for the report and is looking forward to reading it and he also encouraged people to help with the Stuff the Bus event. Council Member Andersen added that she had recently visited a restaurant and she feels that most of them are being very careful and meeting all the guidelines put in place to help stop the spread of COVID. There being no further business,Council Member Cox moved,seconded by Council Member Hix, to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call #10: Ayes:Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6. Nays:None Absent:Council Member Hillery, 1. Chairman declared motion carried. John Pritchard, Mayor Kelli R. Bennewitz, City Clerk November 2, 2020 Page 5 of 5