City of Belleville City Council met March 20
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Gregory called this meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
City Clerk Gain Meyer called roll. Members present on roll call: Alderman Hazel, Alderman Whitaker, Alderman Randle, Alderman Ferguson, Alderman Anthony, Alderman Ovian, Alderman Dintelman, Alderwoman Schaefer, Alderwoman Stiehl, Alderman Rothweiler, Alderman Elmore, Alderman Weygandt, Alderwoman Sullivan, Alderwoman Osthoff.
Excused: Alderwoman Duco, Alderwoman Eros.
ROLL CALL DEPARTMENT HEADS
City Clerk Gain Meyer called roll of Department Heads: City Treasurer Biermann; City Attorney, Garrett Hoerner, Police Chief, Matt Eiskant; Fire Chief, Lloyd Stinson, Finance Director, Jamie Maitret; Director of Public Works, Jason Poole; Director of Wastewater, Randy Smith; Library Director, Leander Spearman; Director of IT, Eric Walls; City Engineer, Sal Elkott; Director of Health, Housing & Building, Scott Tyler; Director of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Clifford Cross.
Excused: Director of Human Resources, William Clay, Director of Communications & PR, Kathy Kaiser
None.
PLEDGE
PUBLIC HEARING
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Marie Banks: I am here to talk about the corner of Mascoutah and Abend. When I first spoke against the idea of having a (inaudible) I was told Gustave Koerner was instrumental in the abolishment of slavery. As if I needed (inaudible) and was made to feel as though I should be happy that a white man (inaudible) from black people. Yes, this really did happen. Why was such a statement even made to me? And left me to believe that there are others in this community (inaudible). Although he may have been a great politician, I would prefer not to see his face every day, it is creepy, and it looks like an obituary that now has a permanent stamp in the back of my head. (Inaudible) historic district or how great this neighborhood is, I am asking again to go back in time wondering what it was like for black people in this area and why weren't they seen. It leads me down a path, thinking about the past, it doesn't depict a positive representation for me as a resident of this community. Belleville doesn't have the best track record when it comes to inclusion and knowing that this particular banner was installed by someone's personal agenda, it doesn't surprise me, it only solidifies selfishness and abuse of power that still exists within this community. From my understanding the decision to hang the banner was to highlight the beautiful homes that are in the Historic District that residents take pride in and preserve. (Inaudible) to add visual beauty that will hopefully attract more residents who want to become a part of this neighborhood. The pennant should not be used to highlight a specific individual that (inaudible) is for. But instead, the only thing that is being highlighted by this portrait banner of Gustave & Sophie Koerner is the ownership of the neighborhood and that the Historic District and some of the residents are frozen in time which could also be a reason why it is divided and so hard to see the (inaudible) of the neighborhood. I would like to ask you to please take it down.
Bill Enyart: I live at 301 Abend Street. In November I will have lived there for 38 years. I am here to speak tonight about the dog park. First, I would like to make three quick points. One, this is probably the letter that my wife Annette Eckert submitted to the Park Board prior to this meeting and I know the Mayor has a copy of it and our Aldermen have copies of it. I am just going to read one paragraph; One of the main purposes of the park when it began was to maintain greenspace and a positive atmosphere rather than having an asphalt parking lot on Main Street. The dog park concept maintains greenspace and maintains the possibility of using it for concerts or weddings, if it is booked and opened and cleaned by the Parks Department. Even with this extra work for the Parks Department it is less than what they currently have to do to maintain the Park. It is also less work for the Police. It also provides safety for people walking by the park and children and animals who might wander into the park. Drugs and needles as well as human feces exists now at the park. The second point I would like to make is from the report that was prepared by Captain Keilbach, Chief of Detectives and in 2018 there were twenty calls for the Police Department for that Park, Ever & Anon Park, twenty. In 2022 there were 169 calls for service so it jumped eight-fold in four years and I would like to also particularly like you to consider Chief Eiskant's report to you, when you vote on this dog park at that Park. Chief Eiskant, in his report to you, states I have met with Belleville Main Street, Parks and Recreation Board, citizens from neighborhood watch groups and many more citizens throughout the community over making Ever and Anon a dog park. The citizens that I have spoken to have been overwhelmingly receptive to the creation of the dog park and as Chief of Police, I support this project fully. One of Chief Eiskant's (inaudible) a block and a half from the park, as a neighborhood resident for more than thirty-five years, I support the concept of making the dog park also. In order to resolve some of the problems that we have seen develop here over the last few years.
Jason Wilson: I am a business owner for twenty-three years here in Belleville. I would just like to introduce myself to everybody tonight and I am grateful to be here and to be a part of the process that is going on and I am interested in relocating my business to downtown Belleville and just wanted to say thank you for being here tonight.
Barb Swantner: I live at 211 Abend Street. I just wanted to make a point about the dog park (inaudible) the fence to be moved or removed later on if they come up with a different plan, so it is not a permanent structure by any means. I also would like to mention the banners, I understand that that was for the Preservation District had already made their decision (inaudible) so I was surprised this morning the City out working putting out a different banner and moving some banners and I am just wondering, financially how that can be? Since the Koerner House sits on that corner and the other two properties are also vacant, a banner at this point is not necessary, we need to get the buildings up and running again. (Inaudible) before we start worrying about banners, I kind of agree with Marie, but it is not the most comfortable (inaudible).
Jason Buss: I am here to talk about the dog park and East Main Street. I live in that neighborhood at 208 South Charles, but I also own the, we have a Victorian that butts up to the dog park. That little area there has been a problem as everyone knows for quite some time. I am in total agreement that it should be changed, I think the dog park is a great idea. We do have a lot of problems there, if you are not familiar with it, just ask, I can tell you everything. There is really nothing that has been presented that is better than a dog park right now, and I think we should definitely move forward with that. I am here to say we do need to do something, thank you, if you are in agreement with me as far as making the dog park because it has been a huge problem and for someone who has invested a lot of money in the area I am really, really happy to see the change and the movement forward with this dog park.
Sean McElligot: This is kind of about the dog park but I feel, I feel that the issues with the dog park with all of the crime, I believe it stems from other issues and that is the vacant properties. It seems like for about the past ten years Belleville has been tearing them down but after that the town has left a lot of the lots to mow. It is kind of an out there idea but what if the town can give the Historical Committee a budget to pick and choose to save some of these properties, of course under City oversight, if they are not able to create a full rehab, a new roof could make it easier to sell to a developers. Because my family has rehabbed houses, and stuff like that makes it a lot more appealing, it is just a thought that popped into my head, if it could help with the vacant properties and homelessness and other issues like that.
Sandy Alvarez: I have been a citizen of Belleville since 1979 so I have seen many, many changes here, the majority, positive. I am happy to see the direction the City is going now. However, when I heard about the dog park situation, it really struck a nerve with me because I have been a critical care nurse for over forty years and teach critical thinking and attend high level meetings and the one thing that I have learned is you have to have a diverse group at the table who is making the decisions. You need a brainstorming session to have the openness for people to present ideas. You need to then investigate, discuss and evaluate the evidence of what will work and what will not. Decision making. I am not privy to all the meeting minutes and what goes on behind closed doors all I know is what I have read on social media I truly sympathize with everyone who has spoken about the problem in the area, but the problem is the homeless and what is going on in that park and I really do not believe putting a dog park, a fenced in area that is available to only those who can afford it, is going to solve the situation of the homeless and the problems that they are bringing with them. I have had the privilege of working with many extremely talented physicians and the one that comes to mind in this situation is Dr. Omar Quad who was a critical care specialist and pulmonologist at Memorial for years. We were at a high level meeting discussing bringing in a new procedure, he listened to everyone, he asked if there was any more input and when no one spoke up he said, I believe that all of you are doing the best you can and we are all trying to get the best result, yes, we are capable of doing this but should we do it? Just because we can do it, doesn't mean we should. He turned and looked at me and said, Sandy Alvarez, you taught me that when I was a new doctor here and I will never forget it. So, I want to ask you, just because we can do a dog park, just because we can put a fence up, is that solving the problem, just because we can should we really do it.
Michael Hagberg: This is also pertaining to some of the dog park. I wanted to comment first that there were no details provided in the packet about what area will be fenced or how it will be set up, so the public really has a lot of questions and no answers at this time. The general talk is yes, there is a problem with homelessness in that area and making it a dog park is not going to solve the homeless problem. I think that we need to take a serious look at the restrictions that were placed on the churches and placed on places like the Salvation Army that are willing to help the homeless but have restrictions from the City that prevent them from doing so. I think if you think creating a dog park is going to make the homeless problem go away, no, it is not.
Dave Schoenborn: My wife Sandy would be here, but she is recovering from surgery. I agree with the previous two speakers, this does not make the homeless problem go away, the homeless problem is a lot bigger and needs to be solved on a much bigger level What I think is, this park, today, is not the most attractive thing and it is not being used as it was fifteen years ago. There are a ton of people who walk their pets downtown, twenty-four hours a day, you can see people walking their pets downtown. I think this enhances the value of the neighborhood, to the south and the north of the park because those are two nice neighborhoods. Now people with smaller yards that are to the north have a place to let their pets come and run, how much more convenient for them. I think it is a place where people pass by every day and say hey look, Belleville has a dog park, most people do not know that Belleville has another dog park. It is really going to enhance that, it will enhance attracting new residents to the City, because of that, people say look the City is trying to make itself more walkable, more of a neighborhood. So, I think it enhances those neighborhoods, I think you will find all those people downtown walking their dogs might like a place to sit down for a few minutes and let the dog off the leash. I have not been to all the meetings, but I do believe a ton of ideas were discussed at them because I have heard summaries from most of those detailed meetings. I think it is a good thing, I think it will enhance downtown and help enhance the City.
PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS & APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Gregory recommended the appointment of Mark St. Eve to fill a vacancy on the Library Board and to fill the remainder of the term until May 2025.
Alderman Ferguson made a motion second by Alderwoman Stiehl to approve the appointment.
Vote by roll call: Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff. (14ly)
Motion carries.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion second by Alderman Ferguson to approve City Council of March 6, 2023.
All members present voted aye.
Motion carries.
CLAIMS, PAYROLL AND DISBURSEMENTS
Alderman Whitaker made a motion second by Alderwoman Schaefer to approve claims and disbursements in the amount of $1,160,465.78 and payroll in the amount of $918,342.86.
Members voting aye on roll call: Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel. (14)
Motion carries.
REPORTS
None.
ORAL REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES, SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND ANY OTHER ORAL REPORTS FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR STAFF
PARKS BOARD
Alderman Dintelman made a motion second by Alderwoman Schaefer to approve an agreement for professional engineering services with Gonzales Companies, LLC in the amount of $24,150.00 to develop construction and bidding documents for Bicentennial Park improvements.
Members voting aye on roll call: Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker. (14)
Motion carries.
Alderman Dintelman made a motion second by Alderman Rothweiler to fence Ever & Anon Park (416 East Main Street) to make it a controlled access, membership-based park to include a dog park.
Alderman Rothweiler: As everyone knows this has been a significant issue. First of all, it shows that people do care about Belleville, and everyone on either side, thank you for your comments. Alderwoman Stiehl and myself, with Alderman Elmore and Alderman Weygandt did not look at this in a vacuum, we held a Town Hall meeting on February 28th, originally scheduled for January, but how did I know it was going to snow. None the less we held the meeting on February 28th. We did not get as many people as I would have liked to have seen, but we got people there. This was not held in some backroom thing to do; I take it kind of personal when people suggest that to me. I would not have held a Town Hall meeting if I did not think it was an important issue that people should come and give their expressions of what they thought. People had a lot of ideas, it was not just one idea, it was not just a fence and a dog park. Some people thought about the playground, other people thought about other things. We considered those ideas, and the Parks Board considered those ideas at their meeting subsequent to my Town Hall meeting or our Town Hall meeting, they talked about it there and the reasons why certain things would work, and certain things would not work. What I know is this, what we are doing right now is not working, okay, it is a homeless issue, yes and hopefully the Chief will come and talk about this, but that is one issue. This is not going to solve the homeless problem in Belleville. What it would solve is the problems that the people in that neighborhood are having to deal with, they live there, the businesses are near there, they have to deal with this. What is happening now is as said, drug use, human feces, public urination I have heard about people having sex in there, in public, that park and is visible to guests and visitors walking the streets. Is that the image that we want for Belleville downtown? The answer is no, so while I do not have a perfect solution for all of this, and I don't pretend to, what I know is this, what we are doing is not working, we have to do something else. This is not permanent; the fence does not have to be there forever. If things turn around and something different is thought of for the park, it can be done. It can be changed, it is not a permanent thing. Right now, we need to limit access to the park in order to ensure that we do not have the vagrancy overnight, the disturbances I think they said 200 some calls to the Police Department, you don't think they have anything better to do then to go to that gazebo and run people out of there ten times a night? They do. I want them out protecting my neighborhood, your neighborhood, I don't want them sitting there at the park constantly. We have listened, Alderwoman Stiehl, myself, Alderman Elmore and Alderman Weygandt have listened to ideas and those ideas were never off the table for the future. Right now, I think this is the direction to go. I am going to offer an amendment to this, the motion that is out there. The amendment is the park may be reserved for special events in accordance with the same way as any other park in the City of Belleville can be reserved with the Parks Department receiving applications and approving or disapproving based on their guidelines and procedures. That way if somebody wants to have a concert in there, in the gazebo, you could. The dog park would be closed for the day, they would have to go to our second dog park for that time whatever that time frame is, that is permitted. You could have your concert and people could come and would not be restricted access, you could come in for the concert, you leave, they close the park, it is taken care of. That way it meets both parts of it and it allows the park to continue to be used if somebody has an event, like a wedding, somebody wants to get married in the gazebo they could do that with the approval of the Parks Department, they could do it. It would be open for however many hours they need to do that and then they leave. The park is not going to be fenced off so no one can ever get in there to use, that is not what is going to happen. That is my amendment to the motion that is out there.
Alderwoman Stiehl second the motion with the amendment.
Alderman Hazel: If, and just to get an idea of how this would operate then, if the park is available for other people to rent, then the day of the rental, who is going to be responsible for coming and cleaning up the park, so the other public can use it and will there be signage placed that restricts dog access while the park is being used for another purpose.
Alderman Rothweiler: The same thing that would be done at Bellevue Park, if someone rents the Pavilion at Bellevue Park, I expect the same type of response as that.
Alderman Hazel: I just want to register that they would be a least, off the top of my head, two issues that we would need to deal with. One, we would need to restrict access for dogs and then also cleaning up the park - there's Jason - cleaning up the park.
Director of Public Works, Jason Poole: To answer your question about the pavilion, right now we don't necessarily reserve the whole entire park, existing parks, we do reserve pavilions, so this would work the same way. Say you want to reserve Ever and Anon Gazebo, pay your fee, we would send out a mass email to all dog park owners, informing them the dog park will be closed on such and such date, please see our 106 North 6th Street location whatever the Rotary Park address is. Whatever the dog park needs for this day or return the following day, or if we rent it by the hour, right now we do not reserve buildings by the hour, we do it by the day. That is something that can be determined. To answer your question about who would clean it up, the dog park, the existing dog park does kind of ebb and flow, when it was really new it was the members taking care of self-policing themselves. If someone was letting their dog relieve themselves and not cleaning it up, other members were calling in and saying you need to send such and such a reminder, their dog's name is, and they would know who was doing it. We kind of got away from that a little bit, now we are sending letters again saying please clean up after your dog. That is a small park, a small area in comparison to Rotary Park, I feel like it is going to be self-monitored with necessary reminders as needed. I don't foresee us having to go in and spend three hours cleaning up this dog park prior to a special event.
Alderman Hazel: Personally, I could not see anybody wanting to have a wedding in a dog park. That aside, the design we are voting on a motion to fence the park, is what we are voting on. Will that design go through committee and come back to Council? And vote on the design and features of the park.
Mayor Gregory: There have been some things put out on social media that are not totally accurate or accurate at all. One of the things before Chris and Mary even called the Ward 6 meeting for months before that, we actually had a meeting that was requested by Belleville Main Street and the downtown merchants and also other people were there. I believe there were maybe forty to forty-five people there. The Police were there, Parks & Rec all of them were there and Abend Street people that have had complaints about what has been going on. The rumor that this was done behind closed doors and that we had an anonymous donor that we don't want to let out, is false. Because the Kern Family Ever and Anon Foundation had donated that park many, many years ago it became available. Only common courtesy would be to invite the people who donated and spent the money for the park to the meeting that we had before the Ward 6 meeting with the downtown merchants, Abend Street people and Belleville Main Street. At that point and time after listening to Chief Eiskant, and to the Belleville Parks and Recreation about the upkeep and listening to the comments of the merchants with the help of Belleville Main Street the decision was the best solution that everyone thought was the dog park Instead, Mr. Kern said, I will pay for the dog park. Belleville Main Street is working on the design with Parks and Rec and here we have a person who has offered to pay for the dog park and unfortunately that gentleman has even been beat up on social media. A citizen who is willing to donate and besides that, the gentleman is also donating technology working with the Police Department that is going to improve downtown safety immensely. Nothing was done in a manner that was unethical, even though that is how it has been portrayed. I think that once you hear what Chief Eiskant has to say even when he presented the other night to the Parks and Rec Board. But many people were surprised by one (inaudible) what our Chief had to say. I don't want anybody to think this was a fly by night, just decide, that is not how we make decisions here in the City of Belleville.
Alderman Hazel: I have a question, will the design features come back to Council?
Mayor Gregory: Yes.
Alderman Hazel: For approval.
Alderman Randle: I was just wondering for myself, for visitors to our town, whatever event Art on the Square. There are some people who do bring their pets on the road with them, for people who stay in Motels or Air BNBs who want to frequent downtown, is there going to be a means for them to be able to utilize the dog park as well?
Mayor Gregory: You bring up a very good point and you know I think that is something that will need to be decided, they come in, they work with Belleville Tourism, because a lot of people will make bus trips in for that event and maybe they could have their name on a list and maybe they could get in contact with Parks and they could send them a one day pass into the dog park.
Director of Public Works, Jason Poole: Yes, we have a five-day membership right now, you just have to supply your rabies vaccination and a small nominal fee for a short-term membership and to go back to Alderman Hazel, yes, I didn't contract with an engineering firm or anything like that. I can tell this is going to be a contentious topic of discussion, so I did not put forth a lot of what is it going to look like and all that stuff, but yes it will go back to the Parks Board and then return back to this committee when it comes to any other decisions made. I was just trying to see if it is going to go over before I do anymore.
Alderman Ovian: I would like to know because I have heard that basically there are other places that have problems with homelessness I would like to know if we have a solution for that, if Matt wants to comment on it, then I have a comment regarding another location we are having problems.
City Attorney Hoerner: I would suggest you confine your discussion to the agenda topic and not the overall problem with homelessness.
Alderman Ovian: You want to keep it just with this park?
City Attorney Hoerner: That is the agenda item.
Police Chief Eiskant: I sent you a letter and I sent you some statistics on, just to try and give you an idea of the issues we deal with as Police Officers with the park. I can tell you this goes back to around 2017 when we started seeing a lot of activity with the homeless and I don't want to make this out to be that we are picking on homeless, we are not. We are enforcing their behavior, their criminal behavior. There are homeless people that are not involved in criminal behavior, but the homeless that we have encountered at Ever and Anon Park, it is full of criminal behavior. 390 calls since 2017, 390 calls, that is just calls for service where we are dispatched or we call out, but there are hundreds of other times that we are out there doing checks and we may not even call about, or we deal with somebody on the street corner that isn't called out, so there are many more than that. You guys know the types of calls we responded to; human feces in the park, that is uncalled for, we have had two recent calls where people masturbating out there in public, in front of cars driving by and in front of businesses, it is unacceptable. It is a lot of resources that we spend, 169 calls in a year, we could be doing other proactive police functions to make Belleville a better place. Again, there is a lot of talk about what we are going to do about the other homeless issues throughout town or are they going to go to another park or what the issue is, we do have things in place. We have a meeting set up with the clergy about the meals. Every time I go to Ever and Anon Park, I actually went there today and just a pile of meals that were left behind that weren't even eaten and the sack lunches that are given out they just remain in Ever and Anon Park and either Jason's crew or Police Department are cleaning up all that. Hundreds and hundreds of cigarette butts even though there are containers to put your cigarette butt out. There are so many things, so many criminal acts for Ordinance violations that are going on in that park and it just depletes our resources. I am glad we are here today because this really started in 2017 but, the Mayor and I and many other groups have talked and given input on this and you know where I stand on support for the dog park, I talked to many people at the other dog park that we have and we had some of the same issues at Rotary Park that we have at Ever and Anon Park and we do not have those issues at Rotary Park anymore. I remember when I was a young detective working armed robbery cases in Moto Mart it stemmed from Rotary Park. It became a dog park; we are not having those issues anymore. It helps now that the Police Department is right across the street too, but we have seen a significant change in Rotary Park and those people that we were dealing with in Rotary Park they didn't go to another park, they didn't infiltrate a neighborhood. Scott Tyler, look at the great things he is doing with you guys with demoing all these houses that are dilapidated. He works his butt off all day, every day to get these houses down. Now there is a lot more work for him to do, but it takes time and that is another part of the homeless issue is they are going into these houses, Chief Stinson is dealing with that in some of the house fires. So, there are many things going on in the City with Housing, Police Department, Fire Department with the Churches with Ever and Anon Park, this is just one piece of the puzzle that we need to fix.
Alderman Elmore: Two quick comments about the trash and what, let's call it "poop”, we are talking about poop and the current dog park has a stand or a dispenser or a bag, you grab a bag, Jason is right, they do very well policing themselves. They are picking up, there is a trash can right there with it, it works very well and it is a lot better than human, which is not getting picked up. I go with what the Mayor said and other people on social media, I have tried to read some of the garbage that is out there, there is virtually nothing accurate in some of those statements that were made. If you want to know anything about the current dog park or these plans or how long we have been talking about how long we have been dealing with it, ask someone in the know, is all I encourage people in the public to do.
City Attorney Hoerner: We have a motion to amend the original motion which needs to be voted on first (inaudible)
Mayor Gregory: Do we need to reread the motion (inaudible).
City Clerk Gain Meyer: Basically, to fence Ever & Anon Park (416 East Main Street) to make it a controlled access, membership-based park to include a dog park which may be reserved with the guidelines as our current Parks.
Motion by Alderman Rothweiler second by Alderwoman Stiehl to approve the amendment.
Members voting aye on roll call: Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle. (14)
Motion by Alderman Dintelman second by Alderman Rothweiler to approve the amendment.
Members voting aye on roll call: Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson. (14)
Motion carries.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
Alderman Elmore made a motion second by Alderman Hazel to approve the following:
Motion to remove the parking meter and install "Reserve Parking” sign for 208 East Washington Street in the name of the applicant only.
Motion to install a Two-Way Stop Sign at North Florida and East "B" Street.
Alderman Elmore: I can give you a quick history on these two, but those are the motions.
Alderman Rothweiler: On the East Washington is this for an Air BNB?
Alderman Elmore: This is for an Air BNB owned by Geri Boyer, she did a fabulous job on this single very small structure that has no driveway, the parcel is just purely a building that she bought from a church, the church is in full support of having a reserve spot, one reserve spot for tenants, because this Air BNB has no parking, no driveway, no alley it has nothing. It is right in front of the building, and it is not a problem unless there is a festival or something going on and then it is a huge problem for the person who is occupying it.
Alderman Rothweiler: I got a couple of calls on this issue I have others with Air BNBs now in the downtown area they will be coming to you for reserve parking spaces as well, including handicapped space. A business owner complained that we are going to start taking parking spaces and making them reserve spaces taking them out of loop for parking for their businesses. Just an FYI, I have a feeling we are going to see more of this.
Alderman Elmore: We discussed this, and we are prepared for it.
All members present voted aye.
Motion carries.
FINANCE
Alderman Whitaker made a motion second by Alderwoman Schaefer to approve the following:
Motion to approve a contract with KONE Inc. for emergency cellular phone service for three elevators located at SWILJWDC. Equipment/installation total $2,250.00 with monthly fee of $105.00
Motion to waive the formal bidding procedures and utilize Sourcewell contract to purchase two new 2024 M2 Freightliner 20-yard load Sanitation trucks from Elliott Equipment Co. in the amount of $418,110.00.
Motion to approve the City health insurance (medical, dental and life) renewal effective 5/1/2023 as recommended by staff and insurance broker.
Members voting aye on roll call: Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony. (14)
Motion carries
POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE
Alderman Anthony made a motion second by Alderman Whitaker to approve the following;
Motion to approve a contract with ESO for a database to replace First Due in the amount of $15,315.00.
Motion to approve a contract with Lexipol in the amount of $41,147.25.
Members voting aye on roll call: Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian. (14)
Motion carries
COMMUNICATIONS
Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion second by Alderman Whitaker to approve the following communication:
LINCOLN THEATRE – CONCERTS 03/31/2023 and 04/14/2023
Request from Lincoln Theatre to host The Schwag, Friday, March 31, 2023 and Foghat, Friday, April
14, 2023, 6:00pm to 11:00pm. Additional City services: closure of 10 parking spaces in City parking lot at corner of North High Street and East "A" Street.
All members present voted aye.
Motion carries.
Alderwoman Sullivan made a motion second by Alderman Hazel to approve the following communication:
NEIGHBORHOOD BBQ - 06/17/2023
Request from Avenue Realty to host Neighborhood BBQ on Saturday, June 17, 2023, 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Street closure: Mascoutah Avenue from driveway of 122 Mascoutah to north side of Lincoln 4:30pm to 8:00pm (move to East End Park if Mascoutah Avenue is under construction)
Alderwoman Stiehl: The place that she wants to close off is very, traveled a lot and this is on a Saturday, 122 Mascoutah to Lincoln blocks off that entire area of Mascoutah Avenue, which is very busy, people take that all the way down to 177.
Alderwoman Schaefer: I am just going to say this though, we close our streets for so many other things I think they are asking for one time. If we do it for some, we need to do it for everyone.
Alderwoman Stiehl: I agree except, I have had so many complaints for people of the streets being closed off the main streets, East Main, West Main and now Mascoutah, I had to bring it up.
Alderman Elmore: Lincoln is open
City Clerk Gain Meyer: Yes, it is literally just where her business is to the North side of the driveway so that section of Mascoutah will remain open, Abend will be open to East Lincoln.
All members present voted aye.
Motion carries.
None.
PETITIONS
RESOLUTIONS
Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion second by Alderwoman Stiehl to read Resolution 3475 by title only.
All members voted aye.
Motion carries.
RESOLUTION 3475
A Resolution Authorizing the Future Execution of an Electrical Supply Agreement(s) and/or Natural Gas Supply Agreement(s) as Recommended by Good Energy, L.P.
Alderman Whitaker made a motion second by Alderwoman Schaefer to approve the Resolution as read.
Members voting aye on roll call: Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman. (14)
Motion carries
ORDINANCES
Alderwoman Stiehl made a motion second by Alderman Randle to read by Title only 9133, 9134, 9135, 9136, 9137 and 9138 as a group.
Alderman Ovian: May I have clarification on 15B, is that the metal shed that we City Clerk Gain Meyer: No, 15A is Stop N Save their metal shed, 15B is the development at 7 North High.
Alderman Elmore: I think 15B is North Arrow
City Clerk Gain Meyer: Yes, North Arrow, sorry.
Multiple people talking.
Director of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Clifford Cross: 15A and 15B so Stop N Save was a Liquor License request?
City Clerk Gain Meyer: No, this is the one that we had back at the first meeting in February with the shed.
Multiple people talking.
Director of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Clifford Cross: This is just the official action
Multiple people talking.
Alderman Ovian: What is their time to remove it?
City Clerk Gain Meyer: Raffi, that is not an ·
Multiple people talking.
Director of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Clifford Cross: We will follow up with a violation letter then we will work within the timeframe if they don't do it before deadline.
All members voted aye.
Motion carries.
ORDINANCE 9133-2023
A ZONING ORDINANCE IN RE CASE #03-JAN23-Stop N Save, LLC
ORDINANCE 9134-2023
A ZONING ORDINANCE IN RE CASE #08-FEB23 - North Arrow Development
ORDINANCE 9135-2023
An Ordinance Amending Article VII (Traffic Code), Chapter 76 (Traffic Schedules) of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Belleville, Illinois as Amended, by Amending Portions of Sections Thereof
ORDINANCE 9136-2023
An Ordinance Amending Article VII (Traffic Code), Chapter 75 (Traffic Schedules) of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Belleville, Illinois as Amended, by Amending Portions of Sections Thereof
ORDINANCE 9137-2023
An Ordinance Rescinding the Taxes Imposed by Ordinance No. 7343 and Dissolving the Special Business District Allocation Fund Thereunder (Eckert's Orchards)
ORDINANCE 9138-2023
An Ordinance Authorizing Sale/Conversion of Personal Property (Trailers - 106 South 6th Street - City Building)
Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion second by Alderman Randle to approve the Ordinances as read.
Members voting aye on roll call: Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer. (14)
Motion carries.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
MISCELLANEOUS & NEW BUSINESS
Alderman Randle made a motion second by Alderman Dintelman to approve Motor Fuel Claims in the Amount of $77,884.93.
Members voting aye on roll call: Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Osthoff, Hazel, Whitaker, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl. (14)
Motion carries.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Alderman Randle made a motion second by Alderman Whitaker to go into executive session to discuss collective negotiation matters (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2))
All members present voted aye.
Executive Session Began: 8:13
Regular Session Resume: 8:27
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Rothweiler made a motion second by Alderwoman Schaefer to adjourn at 8:29 p.m.
All members voted aye.
Motion carries.
https://www.belleville.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03202023-2972
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