City of Collinsville City Council met May 10

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella

Jul 21, 2022

City of Collinsville City Council met May 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

Mayor Miller called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

B. ROLL CALL

Also present: City Manager Mitch Bair, Corporate Counsel Steve Giacoletto, and City Clerk Kim Wasser.

Present: 5 - Councilman David Jerome, Councilman Tony Hausmann, Councilman Donna Green, Councilman Jeff Stehman, and Mayor John Miller

Absent: 0

C. INVOCATION

Delivered by Pastor Dale Barnhurst of Seventh-day Adventist Church.

D. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Recited.

E. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITION/PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Miller read the Proclamations.

1. Professional Municipal Clerks Week, May 1-7, 2022

2. Proclamation recognizing May 15, 2022 as Peace Officers' Memorial Day and May 15-21 as National Police Week

F. BUSINESS PRIOR TO PUBLIC INPUT

G. COUNCIL DISCUSSION

1. Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative Discussion

Senior Planner Andi Yancey advised staff is seeking Council's input and guidance on the proposed Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative with regards to the programs structure and goals, timeline, survey and community outreach, and public meetings.

She outlined the programs goals:

Collaboration between City departments - educate staff to identify and report issues.

Identify and respond to neighborhood issues.

Improve responsiveness, customer service and education efforts.

Identify and prioritize neighborhood improvement needs.

Promote and encourage neighborhood-based organizations.

She estimated the following timeline for the program:

Late Spring and Summer 2022 - disseminate survey and collect data, community outreach opportunities

Fall 2022 - data processing, draft plan and website improvements with information for public Late Fall/Winter 2022 into Spring 2023 - host Neighborhood Planning Meetings

Ms. Yancey spoke of the resident survey and the efforts that will be put forth to engage the public. She mentioned public meeting structure via in-person and online. She displayed a map of the City divided up into 11 districts where neighborhood meetings would be held.

Councilman Jerome inquired of neighborhood clean up efforts and how the City could assist. Ms. Yancey mentioned ways the City could help with hosting a drop off location or partnering with others (Republic Services or Madison County).

Councilman Stehman spoke in favor of the program as a way in connecting with the residents and making Collinsville a desirable place to live.

Councilman Green mentioned a derelict home on her street. This topic led her to run for Council. She spoke of the benefits of having all departments and staff collaborating.

H. SPEAKERS FROM THE FLOOR

None.

I. COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - MAYOR

Mayor Miller recognized Firefighter Colin Furhman, who received the Medal of Valor award and Fire Dept. Shift A for receiving the Firefighter Excellence Unit Citation Award by the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

J COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - COUNCIL MEMBERS

Councilman Green spoke of the sidewalk improvements on St. Louis Road and thanked the Street Department for a job well done.

Mayor Miller recognized Dale Kress and Larry Club on their retirement. He thanked them both for their many years of service to the community.

K. COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS - CITY STAFF

City Manager Bair spoke of the May 29 fireworks display and sesquicentennial celebration. He updated the Council on the Woodland Park shelter progress. He spoke of the Horseradish Festival, scheduled for the first weekend in June as well as the Nascar Cup Series to be held at the World Wide Technology track.

L. CONSENT AGENDA

City Clerk Wasser read the Consent Agenda.

1. Motion to Approve Payment of Bills for the Period Ending April 29, 2022, in the Amount of $1,015,883.15

2. Motion to Approve Payroll for the Period Ending April 15, 2022, in the Amount of $738,031.88

3. Motion to Approve Minutes of the April 26, 2022 Council Meeting

Mayor Miller asked if the Council wished to pull any items prior to a Motion. No items were pulled. A motion was made by Councilman Hausmann, seconded by Councilman Stehman, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Jerome, Hausmann, Green, Stehman, and Miller

Nay: 0

Absent: 0

Abstain: 0

M. NEW BUSINESS

1. Ordinance Authorizing the Mayor to Sign an Agreement with Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau (GRRTB)

City Manager Bair introduced Cory Jobe, President and CEO of Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, who highlighted the annual tourism report with marketing data for Collinsville. He mentioned the upcoming Nascar event and utilizing a QR code as a way to promote tourism in the region and collect data. He spoke of ways tourism benefits the community. He spoke of a data platform to determine why visitors are coming into the area and how they are spending the money and time while here. He mentioned advertisement efforts and website improvements.

City Manager Bair spoke of tourism as being an economic engine for the community. He mentioned GRRTB's efforts in promoting the City of Collinsville.

Mr. Jobe mentioned sports tourism as a growing avenue for tourism revenues.

Mayor Miller inquired of the number of cities represented by GRRTB. Mr. Jobe advised GRRTB represents 39 cities in 6 counties.

N. OLD BUSINESS

O. CLOSED SESSION

Mayor Miller asked for a motion to proceed into closed session in accordance with 5 ILCS 120/2(c): 1. Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline or performance of employees

3. The selection or performance of a person in a public office

5. The purchase or lease of real property

11. Pending or Threatened or Imminent Litigation

A motion was made by Councilman Stehman, seconded by Councilman Jerome to approve. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Jerome, Hausmann, Green, Stehman, and Miller

Nay: 0

Absent: 0

Abstain: 0

P. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Q. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Councilman Green, seconded by Councilman Hausmann to adjourn at 7:31 pm. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Jerome, Hausmann, Green, Stehman, and Miller