CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 18, 2009
7:00 P.M.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I’d
like to call the meeting to order. In
the absence of Father Warthan who could
not be here this evening, I am going to ask Jess Gathing to come up and lead us
in a prayer. Thank you.
JESS GATHING: Would
everyone please bow their heads? Dear
heavenly Father, we come tonight. We
just want to say thank You, Father.
Thank You for this occasion dear heavenly Father. As we go through tonight, dear heavenly
Father, with the business of the City, dear heavenly Father, we ask that You
bless each and every person that’s here, dear heavenly Father, to all of our
leaders, dear heavenly Father and to our Mayor, dear heavenly Father. And, these blessings we ask in Your son Jesus’
name, we pray. Amen.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I would now like to call up, with
pleasure, the graduates from the Kankakee School District’s Speech Therapy
Program to lead us in the Pledge.
KRISTY STROLL: Can
I say their names?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Sure. Absolutely.
KRISTY STROLL: These
are some of our kids who have graduated this week from speech from Kankakee
School District and they’re here to lead the Pledge for you with their indistinguishable
speech. Julia Drake, Oddysey Gibson,
Isobel Kennedy, Mariasia Laster, Litzy Piquet, Jacob Goodchild and Jacob
Hammel.
JULIA DRAKE, ODDYSEY GIBSON,
JACOB GOODCHILD,
JACOB HAMMEL, ISOBEL KENNEDY,
MARIASIA LASTER,
LITZY PIQUET, AND ALL: Pledge
of Allegiance
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you very much. Anjanita, we’ll have the
roll call please.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT: Brown, P.; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron;
Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson;
Cox (14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department
Heads.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT: Kinkade; Young; Doyle; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Simms; Tyson; Shaw; Gordon; Bertrand (11)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I would now entertain a motion to
approve the minutes from the May 4, 2009, meeting. Do I have a motion?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yes,
you do and I’d like to just welcome Alderman Hank Williams from the fightin’ 5th
back to the Council. Hearing no
objections Mayor Epstein, I move they be approved as recorded.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a second?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: All
those in favor. Opposed.
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY
4, 2009
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well,
Steve you stole my thunder. Motion
carries. I’d like to, ah, again welcome
Alderman Williams. It’s nice to have you
back in the Chambers and not by telephone.
And, also, just as a deviation from
the agenda, I’d like to congratulate Alderman Carl Brown on his appointment as
Chief Probation Officer for the County.
We’re very proud. We’ll move onto
Petitions. Are there any Petitions from
the floor? Hearing none, we’ll move onto
Communications. I believe, as I look at
Communications, we might be able to consolidate them. Do I have a motion to do so?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Epstein, I move that approve items 7B, C, D, E and F with a $500.00 allocation
for item #C, for the Tyjuan Hagler project and I’d like a roll call.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
believe that’s an amendment to what’s in the packet and I will entertain the
change from $350.00 to $500.00. Was
there a second on this?
ALDERMAN JONES: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Jones. Roll call, Anjanita
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown (Can I vote twice? Aye, Aye); Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron;
Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson;
Cox (14)
BRADLEY WAL-MART STORE #1307 IS REQUESTING PERMISSION
TO HOST A
TAG DAY ON SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2009 FOR CHILDREN’S
MIRACLE NETWORK
TYJUAN HAGLER IS REQUESTING SPONSORSHIP OF THE CITY OF
KANKAKEE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR KIDZ KAN DO FOOTBALL CAMP AT
BISHOP
MCNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL
KANKAKEE RAILROAD MUSEUM IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT
ON
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009, FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL 6:00
P.M. FOR THEIR
ANNUAL RAILFEST
KANKAKEE RAILROAD MUSEUM IS REQUESTING STREET CLOSURES
OF EAST MERCHANT STREET WEST OF SCHUYLER AVENUE AND THE ALLEY BETWEEN COURT
STREET AND MERCHANT STREET FROM 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 6:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY, JUNE 6,
2009, FOR THEIR 7TH ANNUAL RAILFEST
PROJECT TURN-AROUND OF KANKAKEE COUNTY IS REQUESTING A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF KANKAKEE AND PERMISSION
TO HOST
THE FOURTH ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL RALLY AND PARADE ON
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. We’ll move onto Standing
Committees. Public Safety, Alderman
Hunter.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Briefly,
Mayor Epstein, the minutes are self-explanatory, however, there’s one item that
we require a vote on. Bids were
reviewed. This is regarding the Police
Department. Bids were reviewed regarding
the purchase and installation of a tv monitor and an overhead multi-media
projector and a DVD player for the Public Safety Center Training Room and the 2nd
floor Conference Room. The bid from The
Shoppe was approved in the amount of $7,333.00.
I move to approve.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: There’s
been a motion and a second. Roll
call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS FROM THE SHOPPE FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY CENTER
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. We’ll move onto License and
Franchise. Alderman Brown.
ALDERMAN BROWN: The
minutes are contained in your package.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Ah, Budget Committee. Alderman Baron.
ALDERMAN BARON: Ah,
this looks like a long spiel coming up, but it’s not. We’re only going to ask for four things. The first item is the Fire Department’s
presentation. They’re bids for
installation of fire sprinklers. We
applied for and were awarded a grant from FEMA to, among other things, install
sprinklers at four of the fire stations.
We dutifully went out and got an estimate as to how much that was going
to cost. We were told $158,000.00.
We built that into our grant application. We got awarded that money, let it out for bid
and the bids, one of them is from the people that gave us the estimate, came
back at $203,000.00 and $210,000.00–not $158,000.00 We, ah, FEMA will not increase the grant
amount. Therefore, we find ourselves in
a situation where we don’t have enough money to, ah, let the bids. So, the recommendation from the Budget
Committee is that we reject the bids and rebid being that they were too
high. So, I would make a motion that we,
specifically, reject the bids that we received for the sprinklers for the four
buildings.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second
that, your honor.
ALDERMAN BARON: And,
that we rebid the job.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: There’s
a motion and a second to rebid the sprinkler system job and to deny the bids
that were received for the reason that they were too high. Roll call, please, Clerk Dumas.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO DENY BIDS FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEM OF FIRE
STATIONS AND
HAVE THE PROJECT REBID
ALDERMAN BARON: Having
just issued $26,000,000.00 in tax-exempt bonds, our tax–our bond counsel who
now informs us that we do need to keep track of this in a very formalized and
structured sort of way. We have to–bond
counsel gave us a post-issuance compliance checklist to make sure we dotted our
i’s and crossed our t’s for any audits from IRS to make sure that those people
that are buying the bonds are going to be able to not declare their income as
taxable income on their returns. If we
don’t do that right, we are subject to some penalties. So, bond counsel has suggested that we adopt
the tax-exempt bond record keeping policy for the City of Kankakee. I’m sure you’ve all read it closely. And, I would recommend that we adopt that
resolution.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second
it, your honor.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: There
is a motion and a second to adopt the record keeping procedures that were asked
of us by our bond counsel. I would need
a roll call, Clerk Dumas.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
RESOLUTION APPROVING A TAX-EXEMPT RECORD-KEEPING
POLICY FOR
THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
ALDERMAN BARON: We
received our........
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BARON: Oh,
I’m sorry.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That’s
all right.
ALDERMAN BARON: We
received our preliminary report from AmAudit who did an analysis of the utility
tax. As you all remember, it came back
with the recommendation that we adopt an Ordinance that captures all of the
utility tax indistinguishable Kankakee.
Some of it wasn’t previously done, wasn’t being captured because
somebody other than Nicor. The
recommendation from, ah, AmAudit was that in order to equalize our tax–in order
to equalize those that are customers of Nicor and that are being taxed
under our existing utility tax ordinance, that we would have to set the rate of
4 ½¢ per therm to basically equalize that.
So, our recommendation is that we pass an ordinance which I don’t think
we have the ordinance, but I think at the very least we can vote that our
equal..........that our rate should be established at 4 ½¢ per therm for those
that are contracting with somebody other than Nicor Gas. There’s an ordinance..........you don’t have
the ordinance in the packet.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: No,
and I didn’t........quite frankly, I didn’t have it, but I do have it now if
you want to hold off until the next meeting and then we’ll be able to Suspend
the Rules if you want.
ATTORNEY BARON: Well,
we could vote on the 4.5¢, then you’d have something to put in.......
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: That’s
fine. That’s fine.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I’ll
second that, your honor.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
have a motion and a second to propose the 4.50 on users other than those who
are using Nicor. Is that
correct? Do we have any discussion?
ALDERMAN BROWN: This
is not the ordinance?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No,
this is just we’re voting on the amount.
The ordinance will be at the next Council meeting. But, we have an amount at least to put into
the ordinance. Is there any other
discussion? Clerk Dumas, roll call,
please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO PASS 4.5¢ UTILITY TAX FOR THOSE NOT USING NICOR
AS
THEIR PROVIDER
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes.
ALDERMAN BARON: Our
last request is to partially fund the Neighorhood Reinvestment Incentive indistinguishable
according to the.........$2,500.00 to assist the purchase of homes in the City
of Kankakee where the purchaser otherwise has a down payment of at least
10%. We indistinguishable but
because we don’t have........the budget for this fiscal year.........we don’t
have any funding for it, this is an.........this is a proposal to fund
$25,000.00 into the program. That would
fund ten loans. indistinguishable So, I would move that we provide initial
funding for the Home Buyer Incentive Program in the amount of $25,000.00.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Epstein, is that a promise made and a promise kept?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes,
it is, so far.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay,
I second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: We
have a motion and second. Is there any
discussion? Clerk Dumas, the roll.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter (I think.......I know I’m out of order, but let me just ask
this. Ah, there’s been some concern in
some requests and strong interest for this program presently. Is that correct? That’s why we’re doing this now?
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: That’s correct. Because we do not have a budget currently, we
will partially fund this right now for
the $25,000.00. Once we sit down and
establish our regular City budget, there will be additional funding into the
program, but we didn’t want to wait, because people are asking for it. We are currently working on the application
process which will be very, very simple for people to complete in order to
access this money.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
And, I think I recall Alderman Swanson indicated that realtors have been
asking about it as well, too.
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
They’ve been calling CDA repeatedly so we really wanted to get this
initial funding at least passed for this evening so we can start the program,
hopefully, effective June 1.
ALDERMAN BROWN:
Has the criteria for this money been already set up for it?
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
Yes it has. When we passed the
initial ordinance.
ALDERMAN BROWN:
And, that’s been publicized? Or
that’s not.......
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes, it has and it will be also on the
application process. There’ll be the
criteria will be there. There’s two different levels. We have accounted for people who are getting
a conventional loan with a 10% down payment and those who are getting an FHA or
VA loan that the requirements for those two loans happen to be significantly
less as far as the down payment requirements.
But, they would still get the $2,500.00.
ALDERMAN BROWN:
Okay, now, we’re funding only about ten people right now.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That’s what this
ALDERMAN
BROWN: So, will they be equally for
both or........
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
ordinance
ALDERMAN BROWN:
.....or are we just first come, first serve?
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
The ordinance when it was passed........well, that but the ordinance
when it was passed established 75% of the funding would go to conventional; 25%
would go to the FHA/VA loans. And, we’re
working on the procedures, Carl, to time stamp applications in case the
funding, although I think we would probably continue to fund it if we get into
the situation which I would love that all ten homes literally have been used up
and if we needed to put more money into the project. Is there any other questions or
concerns? Roll call, please.); Browne,
R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO FUND HOME BUYER INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR
$25,000.00
UNTIL THE BUDGET IS PASSED
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. Ah, Report of....oh, I’m sorry.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
just wanted you to put an asterisk by page three of the Budget Committee. It doesn’t require action, but I’ve asked you
to read it or read indistinguishable the streamlined sales tax indistinguishable
which is a program that meant to reach equity in some worlds as to taxation of
internet sales. indistinguishable
how the State goes on this could have, I think, a significant impact on our
sales tax sharing. So, read through this
with the emphasis on need to work closely with municipalities to ensure that
no municipality is severely impacted in a negative way if changes in the sales
tax process to capture internet retail sales. Our budget.........a significant amount of our
budget that we get through sales tax sharing agreements that indistinguishable. So read through it. Thank you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Report of Officers.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor,
I move to approve the Report of Officer, place the monies into their proper
accounts and pay the bills in the amount of $258,960.90.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you, do I have a second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Any
questions on any of the bills? Hearing
no questions, roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSTAIN:
Jones (1)
REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS $258,960.90
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. We have no Unfinished
Business. We will move onto New
Business. We have an Ordinance Amending
Chapter 32, Section 231, Establishing a Handicapped Parking Sign at 576 N.
Tenth Avenue. Do I have a motion to
Suspend the Rules?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor,
I move to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this
ordinance.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Roll
call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. Do I have a motion to put this
ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I
so move.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: A
second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Roll
call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231 ESTABLISHING
A
HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGN AT 576 NORTH TENTH AVENUE
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Ah, the next item of New
Business is an Ordinance Amending Chapter 32 Section 115 entitled Specific “Yield-Right-of-Way
Intersections Established by the Municipal Code of the City of Kankakee to
Establish A Yield Sign Established at the Intersection of Bourbonnais Street
and Enos Avenue. Do I have a motion to
Suspend the Rules?
ALDERMAN LINNEMAN:
So moved.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a second?
ALDERMAN OSENGA: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
has...........a first and a second. Roll
call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. Do I have a motion to put this
ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: So
moved.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: And,
a second.
ALDERMAN OSENGA:
Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32 SECTION 115 ENTITLED
SPECIFIC
“YIELD-RIGHT-OF WAY” INTERSECTIONS ESTABLISHED OF
MUNICIPAL
CODE OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE - A YIELD SIGN
ESTABLISHED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BOURBONNAIS STREET AND ENOS AVENUE
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. The next item of New Business is
the recommendation to donate two surplus fire engines 781-1 and 781-2 to the
Kankakee Area Career Center.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Has
this already been declared surplus?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes,
it has.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: And,
Chief Young is here if you have any questions.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: No
problem. Motion to approve the
recommendation.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a second?
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Swanson is the second. Roll call,
please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
RECOMMENDATION TO DONATE SURPLUSED FIRE ENGINES 781-1
AND 781-2
TO THE KANKAKEE AREA CAREER CENTER
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
passes. As with any transition, we still
have appointments that are being made. I
have four Appointments currently. I
would like to, Mr. Glade, our Plumbing Inspector, has retired and in that
effect, I would like to appoint Michael Magruder as the Plumbing
Inspector. Mr. Simms as our indistinguishable
on the Fire Pension Board, Mr. Power as the City Treasurer and Mr. Spice to the
Police Pension Board.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Epstein, with the Council’s indulgence, I move to approve these appointments en
masse hearing no objections.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Are
there any objections? Second by Alderman
Williams. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones (Mayor, I have one question.
Pat Powers as Treasurer for the City of Kankakee, that would not be a
conflict of interest?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN:
He replaces Ken Leshen who was previously the City Treasurer.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Okay.); Schwade; Davidson; Cox
(14)
MICHAEL R. MAGRUDER – PLUMBING INSPECTOR
RICHARD SIMMS – FIRE PENSION BOARD
L. PATRICK POWER – TREASURER
JAMES SPICE – POLICE PENSION BOARD
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Under Motions and Resolutions,
we’ve already done A ‘cause that was our recordkeeping. Motion/Resolution B. We need to adopt a post-employment health
plan for the employees of the City of Kankakee Fire Department. Do I have a motion to approve that
Resolution?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Williams. Roll call. Roll call, please.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Mayor.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes,
I’m sorry.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Could
I just ask?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Will
there a be a big financial impact with this or any kind of an impact?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Chief
Young. Would you like to address
that? Or, Chris.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Pursuant
to the contract, we agreed to contribute $250.00 per year. In addition to that, they can contribute
whatever else they choose to contribute.
Because of the delay, the burden was on the Firefighters Union in
establishing this plan. There’s been a
delay in establishing the plan so it won’t go into effect until June 1 of this
year which is actually a year after the contract comes into effect. At that point, any firefighter that wants to
contribute can and then our obligation to kick in $250.00 will occur.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Are
there any other questions? You know,
sometimes I forget to ask if there’s questions, so please just wave your hand
and I’ll acknowledge you. Any other
questions? Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE POST EMPLOYMENT HEALTH PLAN
FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Our next item is C. We have a supplemental resolution for
improvements by the municipality under the Illinois highway code in the amount
of $155.00 for the City of Kankakee.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
move to approve.
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Are
there any questions? Steve, were you the
first? Did you make the motion?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yes.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: And,
who was the seconder, please? Alderman
Baron. Thank you. Any discussions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION FOR IMPROVEMENT BY
MUNICIPALITY
UNDER THE ILLINOIS HIGHWAY CODE IN THE AMOUNT OF
$155.00 FOR
THE CITY OF KANKAKEE RIVERFRONT TRAIL, PHASE I,
SECTION
06-00001-00-BT, TEI JOB NO. E07093
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. I believe Mr. Tyson passed out
the overlay for streets that he is proposing.
There was no resolution included in your packet. Mr. Tyson, would you like to just speak to
the project and your cost? Or the cost
that’s involved.
DAVID TYSON: Yes,
I would. This is a project that we bring
every year which is our overlay and we do the milling on the edges of the
street, then we overlay the streets and I apologize, I thought I’d left the
Resolution with Anjanita on Thursday.
The Resolution is approximately for $975,000.00 so it needs to be done
tonight if we can send this down to the State of Illinois for approval is to
have the Council authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign the necessary papers
for it. Ah, this, like I said, on the
sheet I gave you–and if anybody needs a full-size I can give you. On the sides of it, it will say which streets
are being proposed and what the square yardages are in each Ward. I can–before I submit this to the state–I can
make changes as long as I’m exchanging square yardages for square yardages
within the Wards. So, other than that,
this is the best shot we have with the budget I was given to work with.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Are
there any questions for Mr. Tyson?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yeah,
just got a question on it Dave. You
said, $975, this document says $913. Am
I correct?
DAVID TYSON: I
was guessing at $975. The document....
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
don’t have a problem with $975.
DAVID TYSON: No. To be honest with you Alderman, I was just
giving you that number because I didn’t want to be short of what’s in the
record.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay.
DAVID TYSON: If
it’s on the docket and you have something in your books, I don’t have it with
me.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: No
problem.
DAVID TYSON: The
$913 would be what it is.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Anything
over $913, we’ll get that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No,
I think the Clerk has found the Resolution.
It’s $925,000.00.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay. Move to approve the amount of $975.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: $925.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: $925.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: $925,000.00. Let’s be accurate. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN BROWN:
I’ll second it.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Carl Brown. Any other
discussion?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: He
said for the $975.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: You
can try it, but it won’t work. Roll
call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION FOR THE 2009 MFT STREET
MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM SECTION 09-00000-01-GM – STREET OVERLAY
PORTION
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. We will not have an Executive
Session tonight. Are there any Aldermen
comments or questions? And, then I would
like to say a couple of words. Alderman
Williams.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yes,
I have a question for Mr. Tyson. Ah, as
we discussed at the last administration, the curbs on Cypress Avenue and
Harbor.
DAVID TYSON: Yes.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: They’re
not going to be left by the wayside I’m hoping?
DAVID TYSON: Ah,
the program, sorry, that program that we were talking about was actually
brought up with administration with the capital program. I don’t know if it was included in
there. We are doing a curb and sidewalk
program this year. I’ll be happy to
discuss it with you and Mayor Epstein, you know, at some other time or after
this meeting to discuss it. But, that
will have to be administrative decision.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Okay.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Grant-Swanson.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Going
back to the grant for the new housing.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Where
do people apply for that? And, can they
apply for it immediately? Like starting
tomorrow.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No,
they cannot start tomorrow. Attorney
Power and I are working on the application.
We hope to have it completed this week and my thought is that those
applications can be picked up at the CDA office. Alderman Brown.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Ah,
in our last meeting, I think it was sad to say goodbye Mayor Green. I think we forgot about we had two other
Aldermans that left our Chambers. And, I
think it was very important when people serve, that they be recognized or at
least have an opportunity to say something or to..........to for us to say
thank you for the service because sitting in these seats is not easy and for
them to sit here for that number of years, I think deserves something. So, I just thought about it. We didn’t say goodbye to Alderman Coleman or
either Alderman Diersen.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Brown, I’d like to plan that we would bring them back and present them with
certificates of participation or achievement for the City. So, we will plan a City Council meeting that
we bring them back and that we will be able to do that properly.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Any other questions? Alderman Schwade?
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
just wanted to remind people that.......to be sure to attend the program at the
Library on Wednesday evening and, if possible, to go, there is also a
fundraiser on Tuesday evening. So, I don’t
know if it’s legal for Steve to mention and promote it because it’s not often
that we have the, ah, that people are..........Pulitizer Prize novelist is
coming here and, you know, launching his book in Kankakee.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Steve
would you like to say a few words?
STEVE BERTRAND: Sure,
Luis Urrea, who visited our City in 2006 is returning and, ah, his latest novel
Into the Beautiful North, features Kankakee in it because of his
experiences here. And, ah, the
fundraiser that’s happening tomorrow at the Country Club not only benefits the Mary
Jo Johnston fund for students, but it also is going to be used to bring, ah,
authors to the library for the Mary Jo Johnston author’s programs that we’re
having at the library. So, it does
benefit our programs as well. So, it is
the fundraiser and you can come to the door.
It’s 75¢–75¢, ha–if only. It’s
$75.00 per person and you can come. And,
it’s 6:30.......or, 6:00 is cocktails and 6:30 is dinner. And, the program, the open program for the
public is on Wednesday at the library at 7:00 where he’ll be doing a talk and
that, of course, is free to the public.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Any other comments? I just have a couple of brief comments. We do have new Aldermen and all of them
attended a Illinois Municipal League program on Friday, I believe, for new
Aldermen at municipalities and found it to be very informative. But, I promised them that we would do an
orientation program here to help them better understand the procedures, the
Department Heads, what the functions are of our different departments. I would like to ask if..........to set a date
for that and I know it will be difficult for everyone to be available, but I’m
looking at June 27 which is a Saturday.
It’s for new Aldermen, but I would encourage all the Aldermen to attend
and Department Heads if they’re available.
We will put together a program as well as a bus tour of the City. We’ve done that successfully twice and I
found it to be very, very helpful when I was an Alderman because many times,
which was only two weeks ago, so, ah, I think it’s really important for us all
to have a clear understanding of all parts of the City. And, many of us have lived here our entire
lives, but we’re not always that familiar with every part of the City and it’s
very interesting when you take the bus tour.
It enables you, when your fellow Aldermen are speaking about areas of
their part of the City, that they have issues or concerns with, or positive
comments, that you have a clear understanding of what they’re talking
about. So, ah, you may email me or call
me at the office if that date works for you and if it works for the majority of
people, then we will set up an agenda for that Saturday. I’m thinking 9:00 until 12:00 and we would
end up with lunch afterwards here at the Council Chambers. So, that’s one issue. The other thing is, many of you are beginning
to use–which is a good thing–your Alderman’s spaces at the Administration
Building as well as the Conference Room that’s in that space. I’d like to work on establishing some
procedures for the use of that Conference Room especially because we need to
keep track of who’s in there so if you’re planning to bring some–a group–in, we
need to have a reservation or the Clerk’s office is going to keep a
calendar. So, if you would like to
reserve that room to use with your constituents, please call the Clerk’s office
so she can keep track so we don’t have double bookings. I’m also working with Pete Schiel because
there is a code to get into the Administration Building off hours. And, that would present a problem because the
building is locked and coded after 5:00 P.M.
I would like to be able to provide all the Aldermen with an individual
code to that building so we can also track and monitor the comings and goings
into that building. So, as soon as we
have that procedure established, I’ll make sure that you all get that
information. Are there any questions
about that? Okay. I’ll entertain a motion to adjourn.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: So
moved.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay,
Alderman Rich Browne. A second?
ALDERMAN OSENGA:
I’ll second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Osenga. All those in favor? Opposed?
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Meeting
is adjourned. Thank you.
7:37 P.M.