CITY OF KANKAKEE

CITY OF KANKAKEE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

OCTOBER 19, 2009 7:00 P.M.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: It is 7:00 P.M. and I would like to call this meeting to order. Is.......Pastor Cox is not here at this time. Who would like to volunteer to lead us in prayer? Mr. Gordon. Thank you.

JAMES GORDON: I thought you were asking who would like to volunteer?

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: She did and you did.

JAMES GORDON: I would like for everyone please to bow your heads. Gracious God, we thank You for this day that You’ve blessed us to see. We thank You for the blessings upon this community. We thank You for the unity that we’re trying to pull together. We ask that You have mercy on us, God, and bless each leader that’s here that is present. Bless their families. As we gather this evening, Lord, we ask that You give us the wisdom that we need to do the things and say the things that are positive for this community. Help us to bind our forces together that we might create a community that we all can live in, have safety and help those who are less fortunate than we are. We continue to give You the glory and honor and ask for Your wisdom because Your word said that those who lack wisdom, if we ask, You will give it to us abundantly. We need Your wisdom, we need Your grace and we need Your mercy. And, we thank You for the blessings, bountiful blessings, in this community. We thank You for the leadership that You’ve given us, those who are concerned about this community. We be indistinguishable give your name praise, in Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you, Mr. Gordon. Alderman Baron, would you lead us in the Pledge?

ALDERMAN BARON AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department Heads, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Regnier; Young; Dear; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Simms; Tyson Gordon; Bertrand (10)

ABSENT: Rodriguez (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Before you, you have the minutes of the October 5, 2009, meeting. Do I have a motion to approve?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: I so move.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter.

ALDERMAN BROWNE: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Rich Browne. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, aye. Opposed same sign.

MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 5, 2009

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Minutes are approved. I have no Petitions. Are there any Petitions from the Floor? Under Communications, I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that there’s a special Budget Committee meeting on Monday, the 26^th at 5:15 P.M. in the 2^nd floor conference room of the Administration Building. The Budget Committee Aldermen are certainly required to be there if they can and other Aldermen are certainly invited to attend. Standing Committees. Public Safety, Alderman Hunter.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Minutes are self-explanatory. No action items.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: License and Franchise. Alderman Brown.

ALDERMAN BROWN: If I could Mayor, for just a minute I would like for Aldermen Linneman and Alderman Browne to comment on the last one........on the last License and Franchise Committee meeting.

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Ah, the big part of the meeting was a presentation about recycling and a system where we would get single stream containers and people who participated would get points that they could use at various and sundry things around the community. We are going to look further into this because we think it might be a very good way to up our.....the amount of recycling that we do in our community which I think really needs some help. And, so, we’re pursuing this and looking into it further to see if we can make it work.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I attended that meeting and I thought it was very informative. I took away a lot of the materials and I certainly think that we need to investigate further whether it’s that system or something else. Alderman Brown.

ALDERMAN BROWNE: No further comments. That pretty much says it all.

ALDERMAN BROWN: With that then, Mayor, what I talked about is preparing a special report and submit it to you so you can take appropriate action with that.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I think when we were at the meeting, if I understood, you would like to refer this project to the Utility Committee.

ALDERMAN BROWN: That is correct.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. And that’s what we’ll do once we get your report.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Budget Committee, Alderman Baron.

ALDERMAN BARON: For once, we don’t have anything to ask of you. Ah, we ah, the meeting on October 13, involved a review of the budget in detail and it’s going to continue to be along those lines as I’d like to echo the Mayor’s sentiments that those that aren’t on the Budget Committee are welcome to attend at any time. You can step in at any time. It’s something that I think that we all have the responsibility of being conversant about the various line items, especially in these.......and revenue and the various shortfalls in revenue, especially in these challenging times that the City of Kankakee and every other municipal corporation around is experiencing. And, I think that we’re handling it as well as anybody, but this is the time where we should have a heightened interest in the budget. That’s all.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Ah, the Report of Officers. Do I have a motion to pay the bills?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor, I move to approve the Report of Officers, place the monies into their proper accounts and pay the bills in the amount of $174,140.97.

ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to pay the bills. Are there any questions or concerns? Hearing none, roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $174,140.97

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto Unfinished Business, we have one item, the 2009 Telecom Equipment Project Bid for the City of Kankakee.

ALDERMAN BROWNE: Mayor Epstein, I move to reject all bids at this time.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: A motion has been made by Alderman Rich Browne to reject all bids in regards to this project. Is there a second on the motion?

ALDERMAN JONES: Second the motion.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Cheryl Jones is there any question? Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)

ABSTAIN: Baron (1)

MOTION TO REJECT ALL 2009 TELECOM EQUIPMENT PROJECT BID FOR

CITY OF KANKAKEE (CITYWIDE TELEPHONE SYSTEM)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto New Business. We have.....the first item is an Ordinance declaring certain property surplus from the Fire Department. It is a used vehicle. Do I have a motion to Suspend the Rules?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with consideration and passage of this Ordinance at this time.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to Suspend the Rules. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Is there a motion.........

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move this Ordinance be placed on Final Passage and Pass.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to put this motion on its Final Passage and Pass. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)

ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE

CITY OF KANKAKEE – KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT – AND

AUTHORIZING THE SALE THEREOF

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Items B, C, E and F, I think we could combine. My understanding is we may have a motion to pull item D.

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Mayor, I’d like to make a motion that we do pull item D from the agenda tonight.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Linneman seconded by........

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Osenga to pull item D. All those in favor. Opposed.

MOTION TO PULL THIS FROM THE AGENDA

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 238 ESTABLISHING A

FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN AT HICKORY STREET AND ALMA AVENUE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. We will pull that item from the agenda. Now, we can move onto the other items. Would anyone like to make a motion to consolidate B, C, E and F?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: With the Council’s indulgence, I move that we Suspend the Rules that would interfere with consideration and passage of these Ordinances at this time.

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Swanson to Suspend the Rules. 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 carries. Now do I have a motion to place these Ordinances on their Final Passage and Pass?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: B, C, E and F, I move that these Ordinances be placed on their Final Passage and Pass.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Hunter, seconded by.........

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Swanson. 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 RESCINDING

HANDICAPPED PARKING ORDINANCE NO. 08-35 AT 289 SOUTH

GREENWOOD AVENUE (TWO PARKING SPACES)

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 238 ESTABLISHING A

FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN AT DONALD STREET AND FOURTH AVENUE

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231 RESCINDING

HANDICAPPED PARKING ORDINANCE 07-100 AT 969 SOUTH SIXTH AVENUE

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 180 ESTABLISHING

FIFTEEN MINUTE PARKING FIFTY FEET EAST OF THE ALLEY IN

FRONT OF 347 WEST COURT STREET

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto Motions and Resolutions, we have a Resolution authorizing the execution of the letter of engagement regarding waterworks and sewerage revenue bonds. We are in the process of issuing revenue bonds. This is the first step. Do I have a motion to approve?

ALDERMAN BARON: I’d so move.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Hunter. Is there any question? Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE LETTER OF

ENGAGEMENT REGARDING WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE