City of Galena City Council Met Dec. 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
20C-0489 – CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Renner called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 101 Green Street.
20C-0490 – ROLL CALL
Upon roll call, the following members were present via Zoom teleconference: Allendorf, Bernstein, Hahn, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Renner
20C-0491 – ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Mayor Renner announced a quorum of Board members present to conduct City business.
20C-0492 – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge was recited.
20C-0493 - REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEE
No reports.
20C-0494 – CITIZENS COMMENTS
Joe Dillon, 304 N. Division Street – Dillon stated the memorandum with regard to outdoor dining was vague. He questions if outdoor dining is just for the COVID1 19 pandemic and will it cease.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Allendorf, to open the public hearing on the possibility of downtown outdoor seating in 2021.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Bernstein, Hahn, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Allendorf, Renner
NAYS: None
The motion carried.
20C-0495 – PUBLIC HEARING ON THE POSSIBILITY OF OUTDOOR SEATING IN 2021
Testimony: Joe Dillon, 304 N. Division Street – Dillon questioned if the outdoor seating would be allowed to go past the pandemic era. Businesses should be able to pick up normal business once the crisis is over. He sees no reason to extend the outdoor seating past the pandemic era.
Angi Bruun, Galena Cellars Winery – Bruun stated she has received positive comments from tourists as well as downtown businesses about the outdoor dining. While she agrees there are things that need to be fixed, she feels it should be allowed for 2021 stating everyone loved the outdoor seating.
Motion: Bernstein moved, seconded by McCoy, to close the public hearing on the possibility of downtown outdoor seating in 2021.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Hahn, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Allendorf, Bernstein, Renner
NAYS: None
The motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA CA20-23
20C-0496 – APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 23, 2020
20C-0497 – ACCEPTANCE OF OCTOBER 2020 FINANCIAL REPORT
20C-0498 – APPROVAL OF REVISED LOAN DISBURSEMENT #4 FOR IEPA LOAN #1946 (EAST SIDE WATER PROJECT)
20C-0499 – APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER #1 FOR THE CANOE AND KAYAK LAUNCH PROJECT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A WATER HYDRANT AND TO EXTEND THE COMPLETION DATE
20C-0500 – APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT BA21-09
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Kieffer, to approve Consent Agenda, CA20-23, item 20C-0500.
Discussion: None.Roll Call:
AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Allendorf, Bernstein, Renner
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Hahn
The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
20C-0501 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON OUTDOOR SEATING FOR 2021
A motion to approve was made and later withdrawn.
Discussion: Allendorf advised he is going on what he has heard directly from businesses and citizens. He has heard no negatives other than parking. He stated the only caveat would be is that the City needs to get going on parking projects. A study should be done in the intervening months on how we can maximize parking. Allendorf feels Mark and staff have a good grasp on the other issues as far as uniformity of outdoor seating and fine tuning the street closures.
Kieffer stated he has received nothing but good feedback. He feels parking is the biggest issue. He recommended tabling it for a month to allow staff time to figure out the issues and guide us on what to do.
Bernstein stated overall everyone seems to be in favor of it and it is a great thing for Galena. She agrees the City needs to look at the parking issues as well as insufficient trash pickup and problems with deliveries.
Westemeier was in favor of postponing until such time as the city can meet with the Fire Department and get their input. If tents are allowed, they are required to be fire rated and there has to be 20 feet between barriers from one side of the street to the other side of the street. Some sections are not 20 feet.
Westemeier stated garbage was another issue. What do the people on the west side of the street do? Do they have to take it to the end of the block? Are there dumpsters? Do we allow the garbage trucks to get through?
Westemeier feels the 300 block of North Main should remain open. Barriers could be placed on the east side with no parking on west side. Bench Street should also remain open.
Westemeier recommended more signage directing people to parking. The Depot Lot holds over 400 cars and the new lot by the Gazette will hold several cars. He further recommended better signage in the Depot Lot directing people to the walk bridge in Grant Park from the Depot Lot.
Westemeier stated he has received complaints from businesses on the west side of the street having to go to Commerce Street to get their deliveries. Retail stores need to be recognized as well. Westemeier stated he would be in favor of postponing until such time as staff can come up with more answers. He prefers not to rush into things. He recommends a definite start and end date.
Allendorf stated, while he understands the hesitancy, he feels the city has a handle on these issues. All of them have been discussed internally. Allendorf feels it is important to support this now so business owners have time to prepare for it. He recommended going from the last Friday in April to the last Sunday in October. Allendorf stated this is something Galena needs from a tourism development standpoint. We know the issues. Approving would just authorize the city to go ahead and make the plans accordingly.
The original motion was withdrawn.
Motion: Westemeier moved, seconded by McCoy, to postpone action on outdoor seating for 2021, 20C-0501.
20C-0502 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LAND AND BUILDING DONATION TO THE CITY OF GALENA
Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by McCoy, to postpone action on a resolution approving a land and building donation to the City of Galena until such time as the city receives a clear title.
20C-0503 – WARRANTS
Motion: Bernstein moved, seconded by McCoy, to approve the Warrants as presented, 20C-0503.
Discussion: None.Roll Call:
AYES: Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Allendorf, Renner
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Hahn
The motion carried.
20C-0504 – ALDERPERSONS’ COMMENTS
Outdoor Dining – Bernstein stated it was unfortunate to postpone the vote on the outdoor dining. She agrees the businesses and restaurants would like to know as soon as possible. All of the items raised are things the city needs to take a look at. Bernstein felt it could have been voted on to allow it to move forward with staff coming back with guidelines on the specific issues raised. Allendorf agreed.
Public Works – Allendorf commended the city crew for a great job on the first snowfall.
Outdoor Dining – Westemeier feels it is important to take our time with a decision on the outdoor dining rather than rushing it. Kieffer stated he has nothing against the outdoor dining. He agrees a few things need to be fine-tuned.
Tree Lighting – McCoy reported he was happy to see the Grinch escorting Santa to the Christmas tree lighting.
Outdoor Dining – Hahn stated he has been talking with Mark and staff. Mot of the things talked about are being taken care of. While he would have voted in favor for it tonight, he sees no problem with holding off for two more weeks.
Living Windows/Luminaria – Hahn reported Living Windows and Luminaria went off great.
Thank You – Hahn thanked the city crew for the snow cleanup.
20C-0505 – CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS
Capital Improvement Plan – The first draft of the Capital Improvement Plan will be on the next agenda.
Outdoor Seating – Staff will be ready with an outline of what outdoor dining would look like next season for review for the next meeting.
20C-0506 – MAYOR’S REPORT
Luminaria, Living Windows and the tree lighting were all great!
Snow Removal – Public Works did a great job with the snow removal.
COVID19 Vaccine – Mayor Renner reported there is a possibility of the vaccine being in Galena tomorrow. They will be starting with hospital staff.
Outdoor Dining – Mayor Renner stated he is on the fence with outdoor dining. They have asked for a lot of things which affects the whole town. He would like to take a look at the cost of some of the things people want done.
Mayor Renner wished all a “Merry Christmas”.
20C-0507 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Hahn moved, seconded by Westemeier, to adjourn.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: McCoy, Westemeier, Allendorf, Bernstein, Hahn, Kieffer, Renner
NAYS: None
The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
http://www.cityofgalena.org/documents/filelibrary/side_tabs/agendas__minutes/city_council_minutes/2020/cc121420_5E975D829349A.pdf
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