City of Rochelle City Council met Jan. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
I. CALL TO ORDER: Pledge to the Flag was led by City Clerk Rose Huéramo. Prayer was said by Pastor Chris Bender.
II. ROLL CALL: Present were Councilors T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Shaw-Dickey, Arteaga. Absent: Mayor John Bearrows. A quorum of six were present. Also, present City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh, City Clerk Rose Huéramo, and City Attorney Dominick Lanzito.
Motion made by Councilor T. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, "I move the Council appoint Councilwoman Kate Shaw-Dickey as Mayor Pro Tem for tonight's Meeting." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Shaw-Dickey, Arteaga. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
III. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS, ETC: None.
IV. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Mayor's Report: None.
2. Council Members: None.
V. PUBLIC COMMENTARY: None.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
1. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIUS VOTE with Recommendations:
a) Approve Minutes of City Council Meeting - 12/12/2022
b) Approve Check Registers - #204265-204366, 204376, 204377-204497, 204512-204633
c) Approve Payroll - 11/28/2022-12/11/2022 and 12/12/2022-12/25/2022
d) Approve 2023 City of Rochelle Events
Motion made by Councilor D. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor Gruben, "I move consent agenda items (a) through (d) be approved by Omnibus vote as recommended." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
2. An Ordinance Amending the Effective Date of the Efficiency Program in Chapter 98 of the Rochelle Municipal Code. Residential home efficiency upgrades can benefit both the customer and RMU by allowing customers and RMU to reduce their energy or water usage and lower peak demand. Incentivizing customers of RMU to make home efficiency upgrades can make upgrades more affordable for homeowners and renters leading to a more sustainable city. Retroactively implementing the addition of home efficiency upgrades to Chapter 98 will allow RMU customers that have made applicable investments in their homes since January 1, 2022, to receive the financial benefit of home efficiency upgrades, alleviating financial distress in the present. Sustainability Coordinator Molly Sedig was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor Hayes, Seconded by Councilor T. McDermott, "I move Ordinance 23-5394, an Ordinance Amending the Effective Date of the Efficiency Program in Chapter 98 of the Rochelle Municipal Code, be approved." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
3. A Resolution Approving Support and Commitment of Local Funds - Phase 4 Sewer Lining Project. Pursuant to Community Development Block Grant requirements, the City must complete a grant application by January 23rd in order to secure potential funding for a fourth phase of sewer lining. For 2023, the CDBG program has increased its maximum funding to $1.5 million and we would like to apply so that we can complete the 4th phase of sewer lining. To complete the application a resolution authorizing the terms of the grant application must be passed by council. These terms include the City committing $300,000 to the lining project and submitting all necessary documents required by the CDBG program. The total estimated project cost is $1,322,200 of which we are requesting $1,022,200 through the grant. Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor Arteaga, Seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, "I move Resolution R23-55, Resolution Approving Support and Commitment of Local Funds - Phase 4 Sewer Lining Project, be approved." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion Passed 6- 0.
4. An Ordinance Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirements and Awarding RNOW Incorporated and Phoenix Software the Purchase Order for a Camera Truck and Related Software for the Water Reclamation Department. To meet current IEPA regulations, the water reclamation department is required to regularly clean and televise the sanitary sewer system. The existing equipment used to perform this task is approximately 20 years old and needs replaced. Staff has solicited three suppliers of this equipment package and demo’d each of them over the last several months and feels that the package supplied by RNow best fits our needs. The televising equipment is manufactured by Proteus and is fitted inside a 2023 Ford Transit for $236,145. The software required for this equipment is supplied by a separate company (Phoenix Reporting Software) for a total cost not to exceed $18,000 for integration. The three bids came in at: Standard Equipment - $265,900.24, EJ Equipment - $267,519, RNow plus software – $254,145. Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor T. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor Hayes, "I move Ordinance 23-5395, an Ordinance Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirements and Awarding RNOW Incorporated and Phoenix Software the Purchase Order for a Camera Truck and Related Software for the Water Reclamation Department, be approved." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
5. A Resolution Establishing Utility Services Price Schedule for Rate Class 167. While reviewing our current rate structure it was determined that the hydroponic rate class 167 needed to be adjusted. We worked with Utility Financial Solutions to develop a rate that was more in line with current market pricing. The current rate has been in place since 2015. A. Monthly Facilities Charge (per meter) $332.00, B. Monthly Demand Charge All kilowatts (kWs) @ $8.02, C. Energy Charge Summer: Off-Peak (kWh) $0.04247 On-Peak (kWh) $0.04818 Critical-Peak (kWh) $0.39130
Winter: Off-Peak (kWh) $0.04332 On-Peak (kWh) $0.0516. Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor D. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor T. McDermott, "I move Resolution R23-56, Resolution Establishing Utility Services Price Schedule for Rate Class 167, be approved." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
6. A Motion to Approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the City of Rochelle and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 196 with the Term of May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2025. The current collective bargaining agreement with the IBEW Utilities expired on April 30, 2022. Our teams reached a tentative agreement for the entire package on December 1st, 2022. The IBEW Electric and WWR union met and ratified the collective bargaining agreement. The proposal represents a good compromise, where both sides gave and received concessions. Attached is the redlined tentative agreement with the new provisions. Most of the provisions from the previous agreement carried over to the new one. A summary was provided to Council of the major changes to the new proposed agreement Effective May 1, 2022, with raises effective 1/1/2023. City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor Arteaga, Seconded by Councilor Gruben, "I move Council approve a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Rochelle and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 196 with a term of May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2025." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
7. An Ordinance Accepting and Approving the Proposal from Bruns Construction for Improvements to the Rochelle Railroad Park Gift Shop. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), funds designated to communities were eligible for tourism-related expenditures due to pandemic-related impacts on the industry. As a result, various improvements to the Rochelle Railroad Park Gift shop were identified by staff. The project includes the addition of a handicap ramp entrance, bathroom remodels, addition of a front window and new siding, gutters, and soffit. Bids were opened on December 13, 2022 and the low bidder was Bruns Construction, Inc. at $167,175. The 2023 Hotel/Motel budget includes $135,000 in ARPA Funds for the project. Staff recommends utilizing $32,175 in hotel/motel cash reserves and approving an additional $17,000 as a project contingency.
Director of Community Engagement/Assistant to the City Manager Jennifer Thompson was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor Hayes, Seconded by Councilor T. McDermott, "I move Ordinance 23-5396, an Ordinance Accepting and Approving the Proposal from Bruns Construction for Improvements to the Rochelle Railroad Park Gift Shop, be approve." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
8. Ordinance Amending Section 6-46 of the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle to Delete One Class R-2 Restaurant Tecalitlan to Create One Class R-2 Liquor License for Tecalitlan 7 Mexican Restaurant. The City has received a request from new owners, Josefina Valencia, and Angelica Valencia for the business at 1071 Caron Rd. Deleting the license from previous owners and creating a liquor license for the current owners. The Class R-2 liquor license allows for the retail sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises by restaurants with no bar. The Liquor Commissioner, John Bearrows, has reviewed the request and has no objection to the transaction. City Clerk, Rose Huéramo was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor T. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, "I move Ordinance 23-5397, an Ordinance Amending Section 6-46 of the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle to Delete One Class R-2 Restaurant Tecalitlan to Create One Class R-2 Liquor License for Tecalitlan 7 Mexican Restaurant, be approved." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS: None.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 6:55 P.M. Motion made by Councilor T. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, "I move the Council recess into executive session to discuss pending or imminent litigation." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
At 7:17 P.M. Motion made by Councilor D. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor Arteaga, "I move the Council return to open session." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
IX. ADJOURNMENT: At 7:17 P.M, Motion made by Councilor D. McDermott, Seconded by Councilor Hayes, "I move the Council adjourn." Voting Yea: T. McDermott, Hayes, D. McDermott, Gruben, Arteaga, and Mayor Pro Tem Shaw-Dickey. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/rochelleil-pubu/MEET-Minutes-a6509975ec1d4650a6e6fec4c45c7208.pdf
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