City Council

Meeting date:

Monday, April 21, 2014

O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

April 21, 2014

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Mayor 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; Ed True, present; Jerry Albrecht, present; Jerry Mouser, excused; Kevin Hagarty, present; John Drolet, present; Herb Roach, present; Michael Bennett, present; Courtney Cardona, present; Jim Hursey, present; Ray Holden, present; David Cozad, present; Harlan Gerrish, present. A quorum was declared present.

Mayor Graham asked for approval of the minutes. Motion was made by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to approve the minutes of April 7, 2014. All ayes. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING – None scheduled.

RESIDENTS: No one came forward.

REPORTS:

Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Goodwin read requests from the following:

1. Request from Spencer Pet Rescue to conduct a roadblock on Saturday, June 7, 2014 and Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 9:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of State and Lincoln

2. Request from OTHS Girls Soccer Boosters to conduct a raffle on April 25, 2014 for assorted baskets

3. Request from St. Clair County Extension and Education Garden Tour Committee to conduct a raffle from April 21 – June 7, 2014 for various prizes

Motion by E. True and seconded by J. Drolet to approve the requests. All ayes. Motion carried.

Mayor’s Report: Mayor Graham read a proclamation declaring April 26, 2014 as Arbor Day. H. Gerrish said the ceremony will be held at the Community Garden at State and Smiley on Saturday.

He asked the hockey team to come forward, and he read a Proclamation declaring April 21, 2014 as O’Fallon Township High School Hockey Day.

Mayor Graham announced that this month’s Southwestern Council of Mayors will be held Thursday, April 24, 2014 at the Falls Reception and Conference Center in Columbia.

RESOLUTIONS: Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to approve Item 1, a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Resolution of support for the Savannah Hills Pavilion Grant in the amount of $30,000.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye, Gerrish, aye. Ayes - 13; Nos – 0. Motion carried.

ORDINANCES: Mayor Graham announced that the 1^st reading ordinance would be addressed after Executive Session.

2nd Readings – Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by M. Bennett to approve Item 3 on 2nd Reading, an Ordinance for amending Chapter 116 of the 2014 Code of Ordinances by establishing a not-for-profit corporation license classification – G-1 and G-2.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by M. Bennett to approve Item 4 on 2nd Reading,

an Ordinance amending Title XI, Chapter 116, Section 116.18 (c) regarding Fees for the 2014 Code of Ordinances.

Motion by K. Hagarty and seconded by H. Roach to amend the ordinance for the not-for-profit organizations to reduce the fees they currently pay by $100.00.

K. Hagarty stated that the clubs in the area are having a hard time. He said they give a lot back to the community. H. Roach agreed and said they give contributions to scholarships and put on the Memorial and Veterans Day events. For example, they give thousands of dollars to Special Olympics.

Mayor Graham said he received calls from area bars that said they do not feel it is a level playing field, if the clubs do not have to pay the same fee.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, no; Meile, aye; True, no; Albrecht, no; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, no; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, no; Cozad, no, Gerrish, aye. Ayes - 7; Nos – 6. Motion carried.

Vote on original motion as amended: ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye, Gerrish, aye. Ayes - 13; Nos – 0. Motion carried.

STANDING COMMITTEES –

Community Development: Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by M. Bennett to approve the following Special Event requests under the Omnibus Agreement:

a) Motion to approve the Special Event request from the YMCA to place temporary mobile units for their summer camp program on their site from May 19 – August 22, 2014 with conditions

b) Motion to approve the Special Event request from Frieze Harley-Davidson to conduct several events at their location on May 18, June 20, and August 15, 2014 with conditions

c) Motion to approve the Special Event request from Metro East Cycling “O’Fallon Grand Prix Bicycle Race” to conduct their event on June 14, 2014 with conditions

All ayes. Motion carried.

J. Albrecht announced that the next meeting is on April 28^th in the Mayor’s Conference room at 6:00 p.m.

Public Works: R. Meile stated they will meet April 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room.

Public Safety: K. Hagarty announced they will meet May 12th at 5:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room.

Finance/Administration: Motion by M. Bennett and seconded by J. Hursey to approve Warrant #299, in the amount of $1,792.435.76.

J. Drolet said he had a problem with Porter Road LLC and the Rasp Farm TIF. He was staunchly opposed to the TIF. He said that the developer has not done anything in the Rasp Farm area except move dirt.

Motion by J. Drolet and seconded by H. Roach to amend the warrant by removing the bill from Porter Road, LLC for the Rasp Farm TIF in the amount of $250,000.

M. Bennett said we had a legal agreement to pay the invoice.

H. Roach agreed with M. Bennett, but stated there is nothing out there.

Mayor Graham replied that it was done to help the people on Dartmouth with the flooding problem. They have had the problem for twenty years. The land was detached from Shiloh. The hospital is being built and it will develop at some point. The objective was to improve Dartmouth.

J. Drolet added that the developer will collect $350,000 in the next five years. Mayor Graham disagreed with the numbers.

D. Funk reminded the Council that we have a contract that we must abide with. J. Drolet agreed that we must abide by the contract, but he disagreed in principle.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, no; Meile, no; True, no; Albrecht, no; Hagarty, no; Drolet, aye; Roach, no; Bennett, no; Cardona, no; Hursey, no; Holden, no; Cozad, no, Gerrish, no. Ayes - 1; Nos – 12. Motion failed.

Vote on Original Motion - ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, no; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye, Gerrish, aye. Ayes - 12; Nos – 1. Motion carried.

M. Bennett said the committee will meet next Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Parks and Environment: E. True stated they will meet May 12^th at 5:30 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Graham said we will have closed session. Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to go into Closed Session to discuss pending litigation and property disposition.

H. Roach reminded everyone that Alderman Drolet and he are hosting a Ward 4 Town Hall meeting on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

The Council went into closed session at 7:39 p.m. and returned at 8:26 p.m.

1^st Readings – Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to approve on 1^st reading, Item 2, Ordinance approving the Ameren Franchise Agreement.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, present; Roach, no; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye, Gerrish, aye. Ayes - 12; Present – 1; Nos – 1. Motion carried.

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

The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 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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