City Council

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Graham who led the Council in reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance.” 

 

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

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Mayor Graham asked for approval of the minutes of November 7, 2016.  Motion was made by J. Albrecht and seconded by K. Hagarty to approve the minutes.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

PUBLIC HEARING – None scheduled.

 

RESIDENTS:  Mayor Graham asked if anyone wished to come forward to speak to the Council.  

 

Ron Zelms said the hotel/motel tax is a good idea, although he has concerns on whether the money will be well spent. He said he requested the business plan and performance draft that was done for the Parks, but was denied on the basis it was a preliminary draft.  There is no business plan or operational expenses or revenues to look at, which is why is he concerned.

 

Jack Tannick said he moved to O’Fallon fifteen years ago, because of the athletic and academic opportunities for his children. He supports the motel/hotel tax because it is an investment in our children.

 

Terry Lysakowski came forward to state he is against the park and Downtown Destination proposal. He said that businesses are already coming to O’Fallon, as the parking is full in the downtown area (He distributed a picture of how full the parking lots are). He said there is no need to give TIF money to build hotels, as the developers are here.

 

Jake Nieroda, Board member on Kixx Soccer Club, voiced his support of the project. He said a different generation of turf with a longer lifespan may be considered. If the Council has another project planned in the downtown area, a proposal could be done and presented. The two ideas should not be grouped together. He mentioned that there are two teams interested in coming to the metro area. Soccer grew up in the St. Louis area. If an MLS team comes here, the area will explode. It will only grow.

 

James Marceletti moved to the community in 2015. When he was growing up in Cleveland, St. Louis was thought of as a soccer community. He was drawn here because of the giant sports park. This decision will affect kids for years to come.

 

 

Clerk’s Report:  City Clerk Goodwin read a request from East St. Louis Class of ’83 to conduct a raffle at St. Clair Bowl for a television on December 10, 2016.  Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by C. Marsh to approve the requests. All ayes. Motion carried.

 

Mayor’s Report:   Mayor Graham had no report.

 

RESOLUTIONS:  Nothing brought forward.

 

 

1^st Reading – Nothing brought forward.

 

2nd Readings –

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to approve on 2nd Reading Ordinance item 1, an Ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 113 of the Code of Ordinances, regarding the Raffle License.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Hagarty, aye; Gilreath, aye; Roach, aye; Smallheer, aye; Marsh, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Drolet, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to approve on 2nd Reading Ordinance item 2, an Ordinance repealing and replacing Ord. 3446, an “An Ordinance imposing a Hotel/Motel Tax (Reenacting Ord. 1824).

 

R. Kueker said he will note no because he has not seen a report yet.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, no; Hagarty, aye; Gilreath, aye; Roach, no; Smallheer, aye; Marsh, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Drolet, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes – 12; Nays - 2.  Motion carried.

 

Mayor Graham said there are no TIF’s on schools with this. It is purely a hotel/motel tax. The property tax is about $17 a year. Seventeen years ago, a sales tax was passed. We have sidewalks. Over three hundred homes do not have storm water or sidewalks. Fifteen years ago, we needed 70 to 80 million dollars for infrastructure improvements. He said he has been out personally to see the flooding in the areas with flooding problems.  The original plan was for underground storage, but the Council would have to come up with the money.

 

This project will more than pay for itself. The children will have a nice facility.

 

 

 

J. Albrecht stated the committee will meet November 28th at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

 

Public Works:  G. McCoskey stated they will meet November 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

 

Public Safety:  C. Marsh stated they will meet December 12th at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

 

Parks and Environment:  R. Holden said they will meet December 12^th at 5:30 p.m.

 

Finance/Administration:  Motion by D. Cozad and seconded by R. Kueker to approve Warrant #362 in the amount of $1,596,970.45.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Hagarty, aye; Gilreath, aye; Roach, aye; Smallheer, aye; Marsh, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Drolet, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

D. Cozad stated they will meet next Monday night at 5:30 p.m.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:   Mayor Graham said there is no closed session.

 

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

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

 

Submitted by,

 

 

 

__________________________

Philip A. Goodwin

City Clerk                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                           

Minutes recorded by

Maryanne Fair, Deputy City Clerk

Proper notice having been duly given