City of Dixon City Council met Dec. 7
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arellano at 5:33pm.
ROLL CALL
Councilman Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano answered roll call.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION
The Pledge of Allegiance was cited and the invocation was given by Reverend Randy Sizemore, Bethel Church.
RECOGNITIONS
Mayor Arellano turned the meeting over to Councilman Venier for the recognition of Dixon High School Student Athletes. Councilman Venier spoke about the athletes, then Athletic Director Jared Shaner went through the recognitions of each student for girls cross country team, diving- Laci Long, and tennis-Riley Bally and how they would have qualified for state competition in a normal year. Coach Lee Eastman recognized the girls golf athletes -Bella Heintzelman, Katie Drew and Olivia Rick. The students were congratulated by the Council.
WORK SESSION
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Councilman Marshall moved that the minutes of the Regular Session Council Meeting of Monday, November 16, 2020 and the Special Session Council Meeting of Thursday, November 19, 2020; be accepted and placed on file. Seconded by Councilman Venier. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
APPROVAL OF TOTAL LABOR AND OUTSIDE CLAIMS
Councilman Oros moved that the Total Labor and Outside Claims in the amount of $519,069.04 be approved and ordered paid. Seconded by Councilman Considine. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
None
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Langloss – has been working with Chamber Mainstreet, Mayor and LCIDA on the 27-acer development with food, gas, hotel, etc., working with farmers and land owners to expand the City. Council supporting small businesses, huge shout out to Finance Director Fredericks who has been on top of all the grants and won a major grant to reimburse some of our grants, so we have more to give to businesses. Public Works have done a great job with the Christmas decorations, they look great. Rock River Garden Club has supplemented some decorations and have 8-10 volunteers working on decorating the town. Sauk Valley Leadership group, which includes Rock Falls Mayor and Sterling City Manager, great group to be involved with to help with leadership development. Budget packets will be out later this week to the department heads, planning on budget meetings in January and February. Next meeting will have the year to date report of revenues vs. expenses. Capital projects only have spent what we needed, discussion ensued.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Arellano – Update on special meeting, proactively reaching out to businesses was very successful, some went further than asked and followed through on their commitment to the community, thanked them. Household transmission seems to be down as well LCHD is tracing from some of the gatherings, hospital is down, but the death rate is rising. LCHD is nervous about the Christmas holiday season, then straight into new years day. Still finding out the impact of the household gatherings. IML- he is at full status on the board after his leave of absence for his military deployment, meeting will begin this week. He will have remote military duties this weekend. Illinois Public Health has released the vaccination rollout immunization guide, it will be posted on the city’s social media for residents to review. Sauk Valley Leadership group he was involved in earlier sessions and enjoyed. The appointments to the Veterans’ Memorial Commission in this meeting had some resignations of the chairman and secretary, and they are looking to expand their members. Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals will be having a series of meetings on a large solar project south of our boarders and the impacts on live zoom meetings. Economic development is thick and heavy there are a number of businesses looking at our community, we are working with and keeping our existing businesses in mind. Thanked the business community that proactively followed what we asked.
Councilman Considine – Recognized today is Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th. Get involved with the school to understand the importance of the men and women of Pearl Harbor Day. Decorations downtown, recognized the city workers and volunteers who made that happen. Disappointed with businesses who are still defying the Governors order, selfish.
Councilman Marshall – We are getting into December, the end of a fun year to say the least. The special that was run downtown by a local business for the healthcare workers, adopt a healthcare worker, over 350 donations for lunches were received and are still being received. Very awesome how people are willing to help, it turned into a real quick out pour for them. Thank you to all who donated, you embodied the helpful spirit of Dixon. There are plenty of meals waiting for healthcare workers.
Councilman Oros – Dixon Chamber of Commerce Main Street events this season will be different, thank the partnership with KSB and Santa for the lighting of the Christmas tree video; the community is rallying in a different way this year. Thanked businesses that have sacrificed so much to keep our community safe, thank you.
Councilman Venier – Christmas decorations don’t think they ever looked better. Out of towners have commented on how pretty the city looks and love the peace signs, very fulfilling to a lot of people. Mainstreet competition of window front decorations is in full swing, come down and see the beautiful window displays, and Christmas music is playing every day. Thanked the women’s
garden club for all their hard work. Pearl Harbor day, remembering our country’s history. It is really important for so many businesses to shop down town this year.
BOARD & COMMISSIONS REPORTS
None
VISITOR/PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments from Facebook that were in response to the original comment asking for public comment were as follows:
Suzanne Bollman – Are the vaccine Mandatory? Discussion ensued.
Tim Carlson – Here
Gabriel Tieken – Here
Suzanne Bollman – Is the vaccine mandatory?
Discussion ensued regarding commenting on facebook comments online that are not addressed during public comment.
Suzanne Bollman – There more than first responders and health care that so up to work risking exposer. Discussion.
Tim Carlson – 1st Turned out amazing. Great job
Tim Carlson – Sorry 1st street
Carolyn Eloisa – is there an option to call in comments during the meeting? Discussion.
ORD# 3217 – LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF TAXES FOR THE CITY OF DIXON, LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING MAY 1, 2020 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2021
Councilman Considine moved to approve the tax levy and assessment of taxes for fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020 and ending April 30, 2021. Seconded by Councilman Marshall. Mayor Arellano explained the request. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
ORD# 3218 – AMENDING THE DIXON CITY CODE TITLE V, CHAPTER 13, SECTION 5-13-6 – NUMBER OF LIQUOR LICENSES
Mayor Arellano explained the request. Councilman Venier moved to approve the ordinance amending the Dixon City Code Title V, Chapter 13, Section 5-13-6, number of liquor licenses adding one (1) Class D License. Seconded by Councilman Marshall. Voting Yea: Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: Councilman Considine. Motion Carried
ORD# 3219 – AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 10 OF THE DIXON CITY CODE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL COMMISSION
Mayor Arellano explained the request. Councilman Marshall moved to approve the ordinance amending the Dixon City Code Title 2, Chapter 10 – Veterans’ Memorial Commission with respect to the number of commission members. Seconded by Councilman Oros. Discussion ensued. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
RES# 2831-20 – AMENDING 2020-2021 BUDGET
STREET DEPARTMENT
Public Works Director / Assistant City Manager Heckman explained the request. Councilman Oros moved to approve the resolution amending the FY20/21 budget with respect to the Street Department. Seconded by Councilman Venier. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
RES# 2832-20 – AMENDING 2020-2021 BUDGET
CITY OF DIXON SMALL BUSINESS STABILIZATION GRANT
Mayor explained the request and discussion ensued. Councilman Considine moved to approve the resolution amending the FY20/21 budget with respect to the 2020 City of Dixon Small Business Stabilization Grant Program (Round 3). Seconded by Councilman Venier. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
RES# 2833-20 – RE-APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL PARK COMMISSION
Mayor Arellano explained the request. Councilman Venier moved to re-appoint Tom Bushman, and Gary DeBord to the Veterans’ Memorial Commission for a term commencing December 7, 2020 and ending September 30, 2021; and Michael L. Mills, Terry Stephenitch and Butch Pfeifer for a term commencing December 7, 2020 and ending September 30, 2022. Seconded by Councilman Marshall. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FEHR GRAHAM STREET RESURFACING ENGINEERING FOR FAST TRACK STREET RESURFACING PROGRAM
Public Works Director / Assistant City Manager Heckman explained the request. Councilman Marshall moved to approve the agreement with Fehr Graham Engineering for services related to Fast Track grant street resurfacing. Seconded by Councilman Oros. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
APPROVAL OF SQUIRES AND IL RT 2 INTERSECTION CLOSURE REQUESTED BY ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Public Works Director / Assistant City Manager Heckman explained the request, and discussion ensued. Councilman Oros moved to approve the temporary closure of the IL Rt 2 and Squires Ave. intersection to allow IDOT to complete storm sewer and street resurfacing in this area. Seconded by Councilman Considine. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
REFER THE PETITION FOR VARIANCE FROM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN FOR 1903 CLARK STREET TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Councilman Considine moved to refer the petition for variance on behalf of petitioners Habitat for Humanity Inc. 1903 Clark St. to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Seconded by Councilman Marshall. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
APPROVAL OF 2020 CITY OF DIXON SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM (ROUND 3)
Discussion ensued. Councilman Venier moved to approve the 2020 City of Dixon Small Business Grant Program (Round 3). Seconded by Councilman Oros. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
VISITOR/PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments from Facebook that were in response to the original comment asking for public comment were as follows:
Carolyn Eloisa – ok thx
Carolyn Eloisa – ^Carolyn Sweeney
Suzanne Bollman – I mean everyone talks about first responder and Healthcare works against above and beyond. There are many that have gone to work through all this. Suzanne Bollman – You are doing fantastic job taking care of us. Thank you!
COMMENT
Mayor Arellano stated that he may cancel the first meeting of the new year, and plans on having the banquet license for the next meeting, discussion ensued.
ADJOURMENT
Councilman Marshall moved that the Regular Council Meeting of Monday, December 7, 2020 be adjourned to meet in Regular Session on Monday, December 21, 2020, at 5:30pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall by electronic means. Seconded by Councilman Oros. Voting Yea: Considine, Marshall, Oros, Venier, and Mayor Arellano. Voting Nay: None. Motion Carried
The meeting adjourned at 7:11pm.
https://www.dixongov.com/index.php?option=com_docman&view=download&alias=2747-12-07-20-council-meeting-minutes&Itemid=1086
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