Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met Aug. 19.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Rod Davies called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 East Broadway at 6:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

II. ROLL CALL

City Clerk Susan S. Trevor called the roll and those answering Present were: Aldermen Justin Thomas, Tony Cook, Alderwoman Susan Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly and Alderwoman Mary Kelly 

Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, MFD Chief Casey Rexroat, MPD Chief Joe Switzer, Woodard and Curran Director Andy Jackson, IT Director Ken Helms and Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approval of the August 5, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderwoman Twomey to approve the August 5, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes. AYE: Alderman Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly and Alderwoman Kelly NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL

A. Presentations or Citizen Inquiries (all inquiries are limited to 3 minutes per City Ordinance)

There were none to consider.

B. Consent Agenda

1. Approval of Bills

It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Cook to approve the payment of the bills as presented. AYE: Alderman Cook, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly and Alderman Thomas NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. MFD July Report – Chief Rexroat

There were 125 calls in July with 4 being fire calls.

Training included “low angle rescue that occurs when a hill or incline up to a 35 degree angle is involved. Firefighters practiced making a hauling system to move a patient safely up or down an incline.

Prior to opening of Fareway Foods, shifts completed walkthroughs to familiarize themselves as to where the utilities, exits access points and fire department connections are located in the building in case of an emergency.

Occupancy load calculations were made for Market Alley Wines and Papas and occupancy load signs to post in the businesses were issued.

Tower 22 is back out-of-service due to a hydraulic leak.

The department hosted a MABAS Division #62 meeting at the North Fire Station.

B. MPD July Report – Chief Switzer

 There were 94 arrests along with 2211 Dispatch Calls in the month of July

 MPD removed 80 cats and 1 dog from a residence. Chief Switzer recognized

Public Safety Office Robin Avery for the amount of work she put into this incident and how she coordinated the post-removal of the cats. He also commended WIAR for their work and resources that were involved in the incident.

 MPD prepared for the car show.

 MPD assisted the MFD in an incident where a person set his house on fire and barricaded himself in the house. It took significant time and manpower to finally resolve the incident with the man being safely removed from the house and the fire put out.

 The Macomb School District contacted Lt. Bratcher to speak to them about starting an active shooter training program like ours.

 The MPD along with the Drug Task Force sized a large amount of cannabis (500 grams) that had been transported from Colorado to Monmouth.

C. M.C. Request for 5K Run for Breast Cancer Awareness – Shawna Bruer Hess

Mrs. Hess presented a request from Monmouth College to hold a 5K Run using City streets on October 5th from 7:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. She stated that they had many volunteers working that day to ensure the safety of the runners. Chief Switzer said that he had approved the route which is on file in the Clerk’s office along with a liability insurance certificate. It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderwoman Kelly to approve the above-stated request. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw, Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas and Cook NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

D. Video Gaming Regulations and Fees Discussion

Mayor Davies and Administrator Steinbrecher explained that the Illinois Gaming Board has now increased the number of allowable video gaming machines from 5 to 6. The Administration has been reviewing other cities’ licensing regulations and fees, along with working with Chief Switzer about the time spent checking on the machines’ usage. At present, the City does not charge licensing fees for the video gaming machines. The Administration is seeking input from the Council as to whether they would like to implement fees and to allow any additional machines. City Attorney Spears stated that any fees charged have to be justifiable. Mayor Davies again asked for Council opinions during the next few weeks in order for City Attorney Spears to draft an ordinance to implement any changes to the current ordinance.

E. New Marijuana Legislation Discussion

Mayor Davies explained that since the Governor passed legislation legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois a number of communities are beginning discussions as to how they regulate recreational retail shops or whether to even allow them. Since we are a Home Rule community we can ban them all together or we can charge an additional sales tax that is supposed to be remitted back to the City. City Attorney Spears said that the regulation of these shops will be similar to the regulation of alcohol where the City can limit the number of license holders, set license fees as well as charging an additional sales tax on top of the current sales tax. He said that he can draft an ordinance similar to the City’s alcohol ordinance. If the City passes such an ordinance, it is going to be time consuming to review and amend several of our current ordinances. Mayor Davies asked the Council to please study the legislation and provide feedback to the Administration as to how they would like to proceed regarding recreational marijuana retail shops.

VI. RESOLUTIONS

A. 19-006, CDBG Grant

Mayor Davies explained that this Resolution is for the commitment of local funds for the water main project on East Euclid if the City is awarded a CDBG grant for this project. It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderman Pinedo to approve Resolution 19-006 for commitment of local funds if awarded a CDBG grant for the water main project on East Euclid. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook and Alderwoman Twomey NAY: none MOTION CARRIED. 

VII. ORDINANCES

A. 1st Reading

1. 19-022, Amendment to Sidewalk Café Ordinance

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that the Ordinance has been amended to define a Lounge as an establishment with a liquor license that does not receive 50% of their revenue from food sales as a restaurant does. A lounge sidewalk café hours would be from 12 Noon to 7:00 p.m. versus a restaurant sidewalk café hours from 12 Noon to 10:00 p.m. After considerable discussion the consensus of the Council was to set the sidewalk café hours for both the restaurant and lounge from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. It was moved by Alderwoman Twomey and seconded by Alderwoman Kelly to approve Ordinance 19-022 with an amendment to set the hours of operation for the restaurant/lounge sidewalk cafés between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. AYE: Aldermen Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey and Alderman Daw NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

2. 19-023, Variance to Add Addition to Garage – 909 S. 4th Street

Zoning Director Clark explained that the request for a variance to add an addition to a garage located at 909 S. 4th Street had met all the necessary criteria, passed unanimously by the ZBA and comes to Council with their recommendation for approval. It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderman Cook to accept the recommendation of the ZBA and approve Ordinance 19-023 as presented. AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey, Aldermen Daw and Wells NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS

There was none to consider.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Daw to adjourn the August 19, 2019 meeting at 6:40 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/attachments/article/706/August%2019,%202019%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf