City Council Meeting Summary 04.15.2019

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Next City Council Meeting – April 29th 2019 at 6:00 PM
Official Minutes available at www.cityofmonmouth.com
Supporting documentation may also be found on the City Of Monmouth website

Public Hearing for 2019-2020 Budget
Monmouth Resident Hewy Stegal inquired for clarification about the fire departments “other operating costs” line item for $100,450. Administrator Steinbrecher spoke to the use of this item which includes fuel, maintenance and repair and other miscellaneous use items. A brief statement was also made requesting additional fire hydrants to be upgraded/added in the southern part of town.

Proclamation – Great Nicola Magic Week
Mayor Davies read a proclamation declaring the week of April 22nd the Great Nicola Magic Week in Monmouth. This proclamation is during the week of the annual magic festival which is held at the Warren County History Museum. The Great Nicola (William Mozart Nicol) was a talented inventor and showman who devised innovative apparatuses in his Monmouth workshop that inspired the grand stage illusions performed by today’s most celebrated magicians. Monmouth was also the home of the LaWain House of Magic, a national supply house for magic supplies, operated by professional magicians Jack Wain (the Mysterious LaWain) and his wife, Leola. The Great Nicola Magic Festival will be held on April 26th and 27th at various times. More information on the event and the exhibits may be found on the history museums website at http://www.wchistorymuseum.com/magicfestival.html.
The full proclamation may also be found on the City Of Monmouth website.

1– Presentations Or Citizen Inquiries
Monmouth Resident Hewy Stegal addressed Council about the potential 353 agreement which is being voted on tonight. Mr. Stegal spoke about a couple of other groups that he feels would bring comparable services to the City. Council and Mayor thanked Mr. Stegal for his input.

2- Monmouth Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Rexroat
• Monthly Training was completed on the topics of fire behavior, fire suppression, reading smoke, forcible entry, and department organization. Reading smoke is a method that firefighters use to help determine the location and conditions of a fire and what is burning by looking at the smoke. Smoke from a structure fire can have many different characteristics including color, movement, density, and velocity. By learning what the different characteristics mean, firefighters can make better decisions on how to attack the fire.
• The fire department participated in the event that was hosted by Family Video who was holding a fund raiser for lymphoma research. The firefighters had a truck on display for children to look at.
• The fire department provided a station tour to a group of Girl Scouts to show what firefighters do and what equipment is used. Staff also participated in the Merit Badge University for the Boy Scouts. Merit Badge University is an annual event where Boy Scouts from the region make stops in the local area to earn various badges from a wide range of skills.

3- Monmouth Police Department Monthly Report – Chief Switzer
• An active shooter drill was conducted at Monmouth Roseville High School.
• MPD hosted a distant learning class on mental health.
• Officers conducted 4 internet safety presentations to students at Central Intermediate School in Monmouth.
• The department has started an information awareness campaign about the “Scott’s Law” which requires vehicles to reduce speed, proceed with caution and change lanes (if possible) to provide emergency services additional space and safety when they are stopped on the shoulder of the road.
• Investigator Kramer became certified as an instructor in the use of ballistic shields. Several shields are currently available for emergency response, and advanced training will be held with the officers.

4- Approval Of 353 Court LLC Agreement – Administrator Steinbrecher
This company recently presented to Council on March 4th and has been under review by staff and officials. 353 Court LLC is a consulting firm that specializes in revitalizing downtowns and assisting with community and economic development. The company was discovered through the professional recommendations of other communities (Pekin, Normal and Havana) that have had successful downtown revitalizations after working with them. The company also recently engaged in a contract with the city of Aledo.
• The company will contact existing businesses to help encourage business expansion & retention. Their independent and objective nature will help to facilitate a candid conversation with business/building owners which can then be used to help develop long-term planning on the City’s part.
• 353 will produce a “market ready inventory” which would be used to identify areas where a strategic investment may be advantageous to encourage new business development.
• The company will also introduce an entrepreneurial aspect to their services which will be used to encourage new business start-ups in the community.
• A comprehensive market analysis, combined with stakeholder forums and community roundtables will be used to create an actionable work plan for the City to use as a framework in its continued efforts of economic development.
• 353’s strategy is one of long-term, sustainable investment in the community. Their workplans concentrate on creating an atmosphere that is conducive towards entrepreneurs and longterm business success.
• 353 would function as a readily available asset to existing businesses and new businesses who would like to discuss or receive coaching on the more technical aspects of running a business and growing a business.
The consultant group is requesting funding in the amount of $112,500 for these comprehensive services. Funding will be secured through restricted use T.I.F. funds which may only be applied to infrastructure or services that are directly related to economic development in the specified TIF area.

A motion for approval was made and approved.

5- Approval Of Northwest Restoration Company Proposal – Director Clark
The west wall of the Vaughn’s building needs minor repairs to prevent further weather-related damage to the structure.
The estimate includes:
• Removal of concrete at the base of the west wall.
• All damaged brick will be removed and replaced with aesthetically similar material.
• Tuckpointing of the basement’s west wall and south elevation up the stairs.

Northwest is requesting $6,700 for the project.

A motion for approval was made and was approved.

6- Amendment to W & C Engineering Services Agreement for North WWTP – Jennifer Anders The item is a change-order to an existing services agreement. The City has been engaged in a long-term improvement project for the North Waste Water Treatment Plant which includes modernization and expansion of the current pretreatment facility. The current pre-treatment facility was built to accommodate the organic waste stream which is produced by Smithfield and brings the waste product down to an acceptable level for treatment in the main facility.
Last year the City was informed that Smithfield plans to increase their daily production and by effect has necessitated additional considerations to the planned improvements. Improvements to the facility are funded through an existing service agreement with Smithfield.

A motion to approval the amendment was made and was approved.

7-Engineering Services Agreement – Loves Project – Jennifer Anders
The Love’s Truck Stop project has entered a new phase which now includes the engineering design of city utility extensions for water and sewer. As the City’s primary engineering firm, Woodard and Curran have been selected to perform these services.
• Services include a feasibility study, design services, permit application, and bidding phase functions.
• Construction completion is estimated for June 2020.
• These services will be reimbursed through an existing agreement with Love’s. Woodard and Curran are requesting compensation of $151,000 for these services.
A motion was made for approval and was approved.

8- Engineering Services Agreement – Work Order – CDBG Water Main Replacement – Jennifer Anders
Following a successful award of this year’s CDBG grant, the City has decided to pursue another grant application which will be used to replace water mains and their appurtenances.
• The grant deadline is August 30th.
• Grant applications must be “Shovel-ready” which requires pre-engineering to be performed before the application is considered.
• Services include a feasibility study, design services, permit application, and bidding phase functions.
• Woodard and Curran is requesting compensation of $136,000 for these services.
A motion was made for approval and was approved.

6- Ordinances
A. Request Change Of Zoning from Public Service to R-2
A request is being made to change the zoning to R-2 to accommodate the private storage of antique memorabilia. The zoning change is required as the collection will be for private viewing and not public, which a zoning of public service would require. A change to R-2 will also add this property onto the tax rolls. The request was presented to the Zoning Board last month and received a unanimous recommendation for approval by Council. A motion was made for approval and was approved.

B. A Special Ordinance Ceding Of Private Activity Bonding Authority
Every year a volume cap is placed statewide on the amount of private activity bonds which may be issued. This Volume Cap, per the IRS Code, can be used to issue tax-exempt private activity bonds for certain qualifying low-income housing and industrial development projects. It can also be ceded to another municipality or development agency for similar uses. State law requires that all home-rule municipalities reserve their allocation before May 15th. If the City does nothing, the cap reverts to the Governor’s Office for relocation to projects around the State.
There are no financial impacts or risks to the City. A ceding of the bonding authority simply offers the ability for potential borrowers to issue tax-exempt bonds based on their qualified project.

This year staff has recommended the bonding authority be ceded to the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority. The bonding cap will be used to support projects that will provide job opportunities and new investments.

A motion for approval was made and was approved.

C. Annexing Certain Territory to the City Of Monmouth
Brian Parkins of Parkins LLC recently purchased a plot of ground directly West of Cloverleaf Drive on US HWY 67. The company intends to develop the land into a trucking facility. Parkins is requesting an annexation of the property into City limits for utility and tax incentives.

A motion for approval was made and was approved.

D. Adopting Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020
The budget for this year was discussed at the April 1st City Council meeting and at the Public Hearing that preceded today’s Council meeting.
• This year’s budget is balanced.
• The budget is considered a status-quo budget with no increase or decrease in current staffing levels in all municipal departments.
A summary of the budget may be found at http://bit.ly/2XiKNMH

A motion for approval was made and was approved.

7- Executive Session
An executive session was held per Illinois Statute 5ILCS 120/2 to consider the sale of City-Owned Real Estate. Upon return to regular session a motion was made to offer the sale of the City owned lot at 1125 North Main Street to Heartland Investment LLC for $60,000. The buyer will have 90 days to complete due diligence.
A motion for approval was made and was approved.

***Report Courtesy of the Monmouth City Council***

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