City Council

Meeting date:

Monday, June 1, 2015

O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

June 1, 2015

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Gary Graham who led the Council in “The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.”

Philip Goodwin, City Clerk, called the roll: Gene McCoskey, present; Richie Meile, present; Robert Kueker, present; Jerry Albrecht, present; Jerry Mouser, present; Kevin Hagarty, present; Herb Roach, present; Matthew Smallheer, present; Michael Bennett, present; Courtney Cardona, present; Ned Drolet, present; Ray Holden, present; David Cozad, present; Harlan Gerrish, present. A quorum was declared present.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Graham asked for approval of the minutes. Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve the minutes of May 18, 2015. All ayes. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING – None scheduled.

RESIDENTS: Mayor Graham invited any resident who wished to speak to come forward.

Jason Boone, District 90 Booster Club, spoke against the TIF for the downtown area. He would like the topic tabled for more discussion. He said the TIF will last for twenty-three years and will impact the schools one way or the other.

Sal Cincotta spoke on behalf of his company and how the TIF for the downtown area would benefit his company in the addition of another building he has purchased that will need asbestos and lead paint removed. He employs twenty five professionals and plans to hire more with the new addition. He owns several companies that are based in O’Fallon now. Mayor Graham stated his company has received nothing from the City with all of the extensive improvements that he has done in his current building at 226 E. State.

Brad McMillin, developer of the building where the new Peels restaurant is located, also voiced his support of the TIF in revitalizing the historical buildings in the area.

Terry Lysakowski stepped forward to state he supports using revenue to work on the streets, sanitary sewer and infrastructure.

V. Malare came forward to inquire of the status of the presidential street projects. Mayor Graham said the staff is working on getting right of way sign offs before Phase 1 can be started. He said he does need Mr. Malare’s neighbors to sign off before the project can begin.

REPORTS:

Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Goodwin had nothing to report.

Mayor’s Report: Mayor Graham read a proclamation declaring June 1, 2015 as Doris Vivian Day in honor of her years of service as a Crossing Guard.

RESOLUTIONS: None brought forward.

ORDINANCES:

1^st Reading –

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to consider on 1^st Reading, Item 1, an Ordinance amending Chapter 97, regarding the Lock Box System.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Roach, aye; Smallheer, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Holden, aye; Drolet, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye. Ayes – 14; Nos – 0. Motion carried.

2nd Readings –

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to consider on 2nd reading Items 2 – 5 under the Omnibus Agreement. All ayes. Motion carried.

Mayor Graham read items:

Item 2 – An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of real estate at 112 North Lincoln

Item 3 – An Ordinance. amending Ord. 623, Zoning, development known as Fezziwig’s

Item 4 – An Ordinance amending Ord. 623, Zoning, development known as Academy Sports

Item 5 - An Ordinance approving the execution of an Economic Incentive agreement between the City of O’Fallon and Washington Prime

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to approve on 2nd reading Items 2 – 5 under the previous Omnibus Agreement.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to approve on 2^nd reading, item 6, an Ordinance authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental agreement with O’Fallon Community School District 90 and O’Fallon Township High School District No. 203.

M. Smallheer stated he is not against the TIF but would like to discuss it further at the committee level.

Motion by M. Smallheer and seconded by H. Roach to send the TIF items 6 – 9 back to committee.

Mayor Graham stated that they have met with the school boards with the same percentages that they had discussed before.

M. Bennett stated that two of the three school board members saw the need for the TIF, but it boiled down to the pass through. He would like to see us bridge the gap.

H. Roach also wanted further review at the committee level, as he believes we have room to give and take on the issues. He is concerned about the schools. He summarized it with a letter that he received from a lady who expressed that her family chose to buy a home in O’Fallon because of the excellence in the schools in the community.

Mayor Graham answered that the city did not put District 90 on the State watch list. The schools have that responsibility. If the TIF is not approved the schools will get what they are getting now. If it is approved, they will get exactly what they are getting now. The taxes do not go away. There is a special meeting tonight, and they are going to look at adding something to the commercial property at Southview Plaza. If they come back with a good proposal and we take it to the TIF people and all attorneys agree, we can bring it back.

C. Cardona stated that she will recuse herself from voting, as she works for a business that is within the TIF area.

J. Mouser added that if we had a TIF already in place, it would have helped businesses like Cincotta and Peels.

D. Cozad added that the school will not lose money; the existing funding in place now will continue to go to the schools. We can come back and amend it if the school comes forward with an improved proposal.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, no; Meile, no; Albrecht, no; Kueker, no; Mouser, no; Hagarty, aye; Roach, aye; Smallheer, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, recuse; Holden, no; Drolet, recuse; Cozad, no; Gerrish, no. Ayes – 4; Recuse – 2; Nos – 8. Motion failed.

Vote on original motion, Item 6 - ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Roach, no; Smallheer, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, recuse; Holden, aye; Drolet, recuse; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye. Ayes – 11; Recuse – 2; Nos – 1. Motion carried.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to consider on 2nd reading Items 7 – 9 under the Omnibus Agreement. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to approve on 2nd reading Items 7 – 9 under the previous Omnibus Agreement.

Mayor Graham read items:

Item 7 – An Ordinance approving the Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Central City Redevelopment Project Area

Item 8 - An Ordinance designating the Central City Redevelopment Project Area

Item 9 - An Ordinance adopting Tax Increment Financing for the Central City Redevelopment Project Area

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Roach, no; Smallheer, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, recuse; Holden, aye; Drolet, recuse; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye. Ayes – 11; Recuse – 2; Nos – 1. Motion carried.

STANDING COMMITTEES –

Community Development:J. Albrecht stated they will meet June 8^th at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

Public Works: G. McCoskey stated they will meet the fourth Monday on June 22^nd at the Public Safety Building.

Public Safety: C. Cardona said the next meeting will be June 8^th at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

Finance/Administration: Motion by M. Bennett and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve Warrant #326 in the amount of $757,627.13.

Parks and Environment: R. Holden said they will not meet in June.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: No closed session.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

Submitted by,

__________________________

Philip A. Goodwin

City Clerk

Minutes recorded by

Maryanne Fair, Deputy City Clerk

Proper notice having been duly given

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