City of Galena City Council met Jan. 23.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
23C-0018 – CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Renner called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 101 Green Street on 23 January 2023.
23C-0019 – ROLL CALL
Upon roll call, the following members were present: Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Renner
Absent: Hahn
23C-0020 – ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Mayor Renner announced a quorum of Board members present to conduct City business. 23C-0021 – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge was recited.
23C-0022 - REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
No reports.
23C-0023 – CITIZENS COMMENTS
Ron Leinen - Leinen stated he was present should there be any questions with regard to item 23C-0023.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
23C-0023 – PUBLIC HEARING ON AN APPLICATION BY LAWRENCE SEGERS, 201 S. BENCH STREET, TO VACATE 740 SQUARE FEET ADJACENT TO THE WASHINGTON STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Westemeier, to open the public hearing on an application by Lawrence Segers, 201 S. Bench Street, to vacate 740 square feet adjacent to the Washington Street right-of-way, 23C-0023.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
Testimony: None.
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Wienen, to close the public hearing on an application by Lawrence Segers, 201 S. Bench Street, to vacate 740 square feet adjacent to the Washington Street right-of-way.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
LIQUOR COMMISSION
Motion: Bernstein moved, seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn as the City Council and reconvene as the Liquor Commission.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
23C-0024 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A REQUEST BY CHRISTINA M. STAFFORD, TO CHANGE THE LOCATION AND NAME OF A CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSE FROM 234 N. MAIN, MR. D’S GENERAL STORE, TO 109 SOUTH MAIN, GALENA LION’S DEN
Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the request by Christina M. Stafford, to change the location and name of a Class A liquor license from 234 N. Main, Mr. D’s General Store to 109 South Main, Galena Lion’s Den, 23C-0024.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
Motion: Bernstein moved, seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn as the Liquor Commission and reconvene as the City Council.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA CA23-2
23C-0025 – APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 9, 2023
23C-0026 – APPROVAL OF A REQUEST BY THE GALENA ELK’S CLUB FOR THE 2023 ST. PATRICK’S DAY SHAMROCK SHIMMY FUN RUN AND PARADE ON MARCH 18
23C-0027 – APPROVAL OF THE FOURTH ANNUAL RUN FOR THE PARKS KIWANIS FUN RUN-WALK ON THE GALENA RIVER TRAIL, APRIL 22, 2023, 9:00 A.M. TO NOON
23C-0028 – APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DESIREE EINSWEILER TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FROM MARCH 8, 2023, THROUGH JULY 31, 2027
Motion: Westemeier moved, seconded by Wienen, to approve Consent Agenda CA23-2. Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
23C-0029 – FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE VACATION OF A PORTION OF WASHINGTON STREET
Motion: Westemeier moved, seconded by Kieffer, to approve the first reading of an ordinance providing for the vacation of a portion of Washington Street, 23C-0029.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
23C-0030 – DECEMBER 2022 WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS REPORT BY U.S. WATER
Andrew Schuler presented the report. Schuler stated the numbers look better this month and he hopes they will continue to look good next month.
Mayor Renner thanked Schuler for the report. He stated he liked the pictures included to show the deterioration of the valves and pipes and liked the safety program as well.
23C-0031 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE 2023 DOWNTOWN TRANSIT/SHUTTLE SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH JO DAVIESS COUNTY TRANSIT
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the 2023 Downtown Transit/Shuttle Service Agreement with Jo Daviess County Transit, 23C-0301.
Discussion: Bernstein stated she is happy to see the service expanded. It has worked well in the past and she feels it will work well in the future. It not only helps mitigate parking issues, but it also reduces greenhouse gases going into the environment.
Westemeier noted the shuttle is not being paid for with taxpayer money.
McCoy liked the idea of branding the shuttles, so people know what it is and that it is a provided service.
Wienen stated while she supports the shuttle service, she feels it will be impossible to drive to all of the hotels and get them downtown. She further recommended they check with the hotels to make sure the vehicle can go under the canopies.
Council agreed the agreement is an overall positive for the city.
Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
23C-0032 – PRESENTATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT BY O’CONNOR, BROOKS & CO, P.C.
Scott Roberts, O’Connor, Brooks & Co., P.C. made a presentation on the Fiscal Year 2022 financial statements.
23C-0033 – WARRANTS
Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by McCoy, to approve the Warrants as presented with the addition of a warrant to Mary Halstead in the amount of $1,120 and Karen White in the amount of $395 for janitorial services, 23C-0033.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
23C-0034 – ALDERPERSONS’ COMMENTS
Thank you – Westemeier thanked the water department for trying to keep up with the city’s infrastructure.
Thank you – Westemeier thanked Jennifer Schmidt and Mark Moran for assisting with the audit.
Street Sweeping – Wienen advised she has had a couple people reach out to her with regard to the street sweeper. She recommended communicating when there are holidays, and it is not necessary for residents to move their cars.
Sidewalks – McCoy recommended making it general practice that every time the city does a street, the sidewalk should be replaced or fixed. He further recommended staff build an incentive program for people to repair their sidewalks. He noted the ordinance states it is the responsibility of the property owner. He feels a program could encourage people to fix their sidewalks and provide some assistance.
23C-0035 – CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Sidewalks – Moran advised staff will putting the downtown sidewalk replacement out for bid. It will include sidewalks on Main Street, Commerce Street, Diagonal Street and Franklin Street. The Commerce Street lot will also be put out for bid.
Thank you – Moran thanked the business community for their support of the new tax payment system. Staff has been getting good feedback from LocalGov stating our taxpayers have been outstanding, pleasant and very tech savvy. Our business community is set apart from others in the state.
Thank you – Moran thanked everyone involved with the shuttle/transit agreement. He noted Barb Hocker has been great with outreach and Rose Noble has done the graphic design as well as marketing.
23C-0036 – MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Renner thanked staff for their work on the audit as well as the shuttle agreement. 23C-0037 - MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: Wienen moved, seconded by Bernstein, to recess to Executive Session to discuss the following:
∙ Section 2 (c) (6) – Sale or lease of public property.
∙ Section 2 (c) (11) – Pending, probable or imminent litigation.
∙ Section 2 (c) (21) – Review of Executive Session Minutes.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
The meeting recessed at 6:57 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 7:16 p.m.
23C-0038 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Westemeier, to adjourn.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
https://www.cityofgalena.org/documents/filelibrary/side_tabs/agendas__minutes/city_council_minutes/2023/cc012323_7B4DC729BBF21.pdf
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