Review the minutes of previous Concil meetings by
selecting the meeting year from the list below.
To review minutes not listed on this web site, please contact the City Clerk at:
#1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza
Decatur, IL 62523
Telephone - (217) 424-2708
E-mail - City Clerk
Decatur City Council Minutes - January 17, 2012 05:30PM
Download or Print the Council Minutes 
On Tuesday, January 17, 2012 the City Council of the City of Decatur, Illinois, met in Regular Meeting and Study Session at 5:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers, One Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, Illinois. Mayor Michael T. McElroy presided; together with him being Councilmen Jerry J. Dawson, Patrick S. Laegeler, Pat McDaniel, Julie Moore-Wolfe, and Dana M. Ray. Councilman Larry W. Foster was absent. Six members were present and one was absent. Mayor McElroy declared a quorum present.
City Manager Ryan P. McCrady attended the meeting.
Mayor McElroy led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The minutes of the meeting of December 19, 2011 were presented. Councilman McDaniel moved the minutes be approved as written; seconded by Councilman Laegeler, and on call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Mayor McElroy called for New Business.
This being the time set for Proclamations and Recognitions, a proclamation was read declaring Decatur as a “Runner Friendly Community”. Mayor McElroy presented a Stephen Decatur Medallion to Michael Clevenger, MacArthur High School IHSA Class 2A Cross Country State Champion; to the St. Teresa Girls’ Cross Country Team and to Todd Vohland, St. Teresa Athletic Director, Cross Country Coach and IHSA Class 1A Girls’ Coach of the Year. As a runner friendly community, Mayor McElroy presented a Stephen Decatur Medallion to Bill Harbeck, Mt. Zion High School Cross Country Coach and IHSA 1A Boys’ Coach of the Year; Angelo Rinchiuso, MacArthur High School Cross Country Coach; Bruce Bennett, Autumn Shoreline Classic Director; John Pranschke, Decatur Running Club President; and Mike Landacre, Staley Striders Head Coach.
Francie Johnson addressed the Council on behalf of Sue Lawson, President of the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations. Ms. Johnson highlighted the West End Neighborhood Association which was formed in 1988 and established as a 501 (c) (3) organization. Ms. Johnson identified the organization boundaries and stated that the organization currently has a membership of 263 with communications via a newsletter with meetings held every three months. The Association holds an ice cream social as a main fundraiser and conducts a neighborhood watch and clean up of Fairview Park.
Ordinance No. 2012-01, authorizing Partial Reissuance and Refunding of $16,524,000 Hospital Facility Revenue Bonds, Series 2010, Decatur Memorial Hospital, was presented.
Councilman Dawson moved the ordinance do pass; seconded by Councilman Laegeler.
Councilwoman Moore stated she will abstain on the vote because her employer is Decatur Memorial Hospital.
City Manager McCrady responded to Council’s questions stating that the refunding of bonds does not impact our rate and if the City needs to issue bonds we are able to do so.
Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. Councilwoman Moore abstained. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Ordinance No. 2012-02, authorizing Conditional Use Permit for Ambulance Service located at 1102 West Ravina Park Road on petition of Professional Management and Leasing, was presented.
Councilwoman Moore moved the ordinance do pass; seconded by Councilman Dawson, and on call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Ordinance No. 2012-03, approving Vacation of Alley located between 200 Blocks of East Grand Avenue and East Waggoner Street on petition of Daniel L. Dougherty, was presented.
Councilman McDaniel moved the ordinance do pass; seconded by Councilman Dawson.
City staff responded to Council’s questions stating that staff is not aware of any immediate plans but expressed hope that the vacation will make the site more attractive for future development.
Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Resolution R2012-01, approving Issuance of Taxi License to A-1 Taxi, was presented.
Councilwoman Moore moved the resolution do pass; seconded by Councilman McDaniel.
Ricky Jones commented that it has been too far without a taxi license and that he is a good friend with Corey Walker and how Corey picked him up from the hospital when he had a heart attack and that he had worked for Corey. Steve Carlson commented on how the city is in need of a cab service and remarked on how much he spends getting from the Spring Creek area on Monroe Street to St. Mary’s. Brandon Allen thanked the Council and staff for working with us. Willie Lee Jr. remarked that he spoke at the hearing and asked at the last meeting that the Council reconsider the motion and expressed his thanks.
Mayor McElroy commented on the remarks made by these gentlemen and how the community does need a reliable service but that the service needs to be done right.
Following discussion, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Resolution R2012-02, approving Lease Agreement Amendment with the Decatur Public Building Commission for Police Department Office Space, was presented.
Councilman Laegeler moved the resolution do pass; seconded by Councilman Dawson.
City staff responded to Council’s question stating that city staff has been meeting with the Public Building Commission and this will address the issue short term while we consider options for long term.
Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Resolution R2012-03, approving Expenditure of Funds to Brown Traffic Products, Inc. for Traffic Controller Signal Cabinet, was presented.
Councilman Dawson moved the resolution do pass; seconded by Councilwoman Ray.
Councilman Dawson remarked that this item is an example of why the Council should consider raising the manager’s spending authority. City Manager McCrady commented that preparatory work for the 2013 budget has started and that he intended to ask that his financial authority be increased but that he does not plan to change the city’s purchasing policy.
Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Resolution R2012-04, accepting Bid of Cummins Crosspoint, LLC. for Bus Engine Overhaul, Decatur Public Transit System, was presented.
Councilman Laegeler moved the resolution do pass; seconded by Councilwoman Ray.
Paul McChancy, Mass Transit Administrator, responded to Council’s questions stating that it wouldn’t make sense to have a mechanic on duty since only two to three are done a year.
Upon call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
This being the time set for Appearance of Citizens, Tony Clark asked that the Council consider reopening that portion of Lake Shore Drive through Nelson Park. Mr. Clark commented that he sent a clipping of a 1929 article about construction of Lake Shore Drive and it is his belief that Ordinance No. 685 doesn’t transfer the road to the Park District.
This being the time set for Other Business, Mayor McElroy thanked the number of people who sent cards to himself and his family on the death of their mother adding it meant a lot.
Councilman McDaniel moved the Council recess to Study Session for the purpose of a Discussion regarding a Proposed Agreement with Hanson Professional Services for Development of an Asian Carp Protection Plan for Lake Decatur and a Review of the December 2011 Financial Report; seconded by Councilwoman Ray, and on call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
The first item of business was a discussion regarding a Proposed Agreement with Hanson Professional Services for the Development of an Asian Carp Protection Plan for Lake Decatur. City Manager Ryan McCrady and Keith Alexander, Director of Water Management, addressed the Council on this topic. The Council saw a brief power point presentation. In July 2011 it was discovered that a number of Asian Carp had swam upstream from the Illinois River to the Sangamon River and, as a result of little rain, a number had died just west of Lake Decatur below the dam. Mr. Alexander informed the Council that city staff cannot perform this type of work because staff doesn’t have the expertise. Furthermore, there is a high degree of certainty a protection plan is needed since Asian Carp can migrate upstream and funding opportunities might be available for the stretch of the Sangamon River that might be drained for research purposes. Kevin Irons, Aquatic Nuisance Species and Aquaculture Program Manager, and Mike Mounce, District 11 Fisheries Manager, with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Bill Rice, Senior Water Resources Engineer and Jeff Tatarek, Project Manager, with Hanson Professional Services addressed the Council. City Manager McCrady commented that it is his belief that the solution connects with the dam which is why Hanson Professional Services was contacted and city staff will work closely with the firm.
City staff and Messrs. Irons, Mounce, and Rice responded to Council questions stating that the Department of Natural Resources has statewide plans and can provide biological information; the only main tributary that flows into Lake Decatur is the Sangamon River so that is the only avenue for the carp; Hanson believes this is something that can be stopped but it is a matter of cost and there are effective measures now but those costs need to be determined as well as for ongoing maintenance and Hanson will try to develop costs right away; the electric bill for barriers placed in the Chicago area can be between $20,000 and $50,000 annually; Hanson isn’t aware that this has been stopped in any other community; study will look at what life cycle the carp move in, flood flows, hydraulics of the dam, swim characteristics to determine if they can make the jump etc; electronic barrier cables lay across the waterway and an electric current is created but this measure can pose a danger to people so lots of warning signs are posted discouraging the public from the area; Hanson will look at the hydraulic profile of the water at the dam and it may just stop there; Hanson isn’t working anywhere else on this matter; study will take between six and nine months and Hanson would like to get some costs back to the Council and the firm plans to promote this as a research site and hopefully receive some funding.
A majority of the Council indicated their support.
The final item of business was a Review of the December 2011 Financial Report. City Manager McCrady reported that the city is 2/3 through the fiscal year. McCrady highlighted local sales tax which is up significantly, state sales tax is up slightly, food and beverage tax is performing well as is hotel/motel. State income tax is currently four months behind in payment which would make a significant difference for the city. Department Directors continue to hold the line on expenses. Staff is preparing for next year’s budget and a budget calendar will be out soon. In closing, the City Manager remarked that the good news is things seem to be doing well and better than expected.
Councilman Dawson thanked Chief Walker for adding a U.S. Marshal and appreciated his courage in making this decision.
Fire Chief Sekosky responded to Council’s question stating that during vacations and holidays there were brownouts and, at times, averaged about 2.5 people off each day due to injury or vacation; but all seven stations were open and staffed. City Manager McCrady commended Fire Chief Sekosky and Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Abbott for working during brownouts.
Mayor McElroy asked that staff find out where we stand on Lake Shore Drive and whether the city has responsibility.
There being no further business, Councilman Dawson moved the meeting be adjourned; seconded by Councilwoman Moore, and on call of the roll, Councilmen Dawson, Laegeler, McDaniel, Moore, Ray, and Mayor McElroy voted aye. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 6:53 P.M.
Celeste F. Harris, City Clerk
Approved: February 6, 2012