City of Galena City Council met March 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
23C-0077 – 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 13 March 2023.
23C-0078 – ROLL CALL
Upon roll call, the following members were present: Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Renner
Absent: Hahn
23C-0079 – ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM
Mayor Renner announced a quorum of Board members present to conduct City business.
23C-0080 – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge was recited.
23C-0081 - REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
No reports.
23C-0082 – CITIZENS COMMENTS
Greg Hart, Arrow Energy – Hart spoke with regard to item 23C-0086. Hart stated since the City of Galena is a green community approving projects such as this becomes more important. Hart advised he is looking for the city council to overturn the decision of the Historic Preservation Commission. Hart noted a similar project was appealed and successfully overturned on Third Street. Hart feels this particular project is in a much less obtrusive location. They have taken measurers in order to the ensure the project is the least obtrusive. The panels will be black on black. Hart feels if the city is going to make accommodations for things such as satellite dishes, wires, etc., they should be open to making concessions for solar as well. Hart noted many of the incentives are time sensitive. Hart stated the use of solar makes the community a greener community and will offset carbon emissions and urged the council to overturn the decision.
Don Gereau, 219 S. High Street – Gereau stated they are looking at this as a green project. Gereau advised the Historic Preservation Ordinance states when it comes to energy conservation it is important that one is not achieved at the expense of the other. Gereau advised the project would save approximately 240 tons of carbon savings. It is great for the city and the homeowner. Gereau emphasized the roof siting vs. the savings in carbon footprint.
CONSENT AGENDA CA23-5
23C-0083 – APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2023
23C-0084 – ACCEPTANCE OF JANUARY 2023 FINANCIAL REPORT
23C-0085 – APPROVAL OF REQUEST BY ALICIA EDMONDS AND MEGAN WEBER FOR A HALF MARATHON ON THE GALENA RIVER TRAIL OCTOBER 28, 2023
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve Consent Agenda CA23-5.
Discussion: McCoy noted the two individuals listed in item 23C-0085 represent the Galena Charity Run, which is not-for-profit. The money will go towards the town and other organizations.
Roll Call: AYES: Kieffer, McCoy, Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
23C-0086 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN APPEAL BY ARROW ENERGY SOLUTIONS, APPLICANT, AND DON GEREAU, OWNER, 219 S. HIGH STREET OF A HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION RULING TO DENY THE INSTALLATION OF 9.9 K.W. ROOFTOP SOLAR ARRAY
Motion: McCoy moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the appeal by Arrow Energy Solutions, applicant, and Don Gereau, owner, 219 S. High Street for an appeal of the Historic Preservation Commission ruling to deny the installation of 9.9 k.w. rooftop solar array, 28C-0086.
Discussion: McCoy noted the Historic Preservation Commission did approve solar but didn’t approve it for the south side of the roof. While the board did follow the guidelines, McCoy feels the city needs to have a discussion in order to find a balance with ecology and historic preservation. McCoy advised the current guidelines excludes almost the entire historic district from having solar energy. Old homes are hard to heat and cool and most aren’t energy efficient. Solar is one avenue to help. McCoy noted tv dishes and ac units are allowed on homes. McCoy advised Arrow Energy will use the best available, non-descript black panels to tone them down. McCoy stated, while there are some solar shingles on the market, technology just hasn’t caught up. Shingles work on new construction only and will not work on old construction. McCoy feels the trees will help block it.
Westemeier questioned if they could place the panels on the lower roof near the chimney or in the yard. Hart advised when they went through the design process, they did so without making further changes to the property. He stated the lower the panels are installed, the more the trees will impact production, which could rule out a viable placement option.
Kieffer stated while he is all for going green, he preferred to see them use an alternate placement. He would prefer not to see them placed on historic homes.
Bernstein stated she agreed with the points made by Alderman McCoy. She believes the city is penalizing every home in the historic district who is refused solar panels. She agrees this is something that needs to be discussed and reconsidered. She advised every solar panel we put up moves us forwards in terms of getting off of fossil fuels which needs to be done because of global warming. Bernstein was in support of the appeal.
Westemeier stated he is all for solar; however, he feels if this is allowed on the roof the city may as well get rid of the ordinance and allow people to put them anywhere. Westemeier agrees the ordinance needs to be changed and the city needs to start looking into the future. Westemeier stated he would prefer them to use the lower roof or a location in the yard.
Wienen stated she served on the Historic Preservation Commission for 13 years. She feels the city is in a hard spot with the green initiative and historic preservation. Wienen agrees the city needs to work on the ordinance. She stated if the appeal is overturned it sets a precedence. She stated she would like to see the city do more to help people. She felt using black on black would help.
Bernstein felt the panels wouldn’t be that obtrusive. Someone would have to be looking for the panels in order to see them.
Westemeier noted the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to deny. Westemeier was opposed until such time has changes are made to the ordinance.
Renner agreed the city is between a rock and a hard place. He urged people to go talk to the building inspector, Jonathan Miller, about what is allowed before we get to a situation such as this. Renner questions if we want to allow solar panels to go anywhere? He feels we are trying to address each location, stay green and make sure it is shielded from the general public and not taking away from the historic nature of the structure. Renner stated he was in favor of upholding the board’s decision to allow only on the shed. Renner agreed if this is approved, the only way to go would be to eliminate the ordinance.
Bernstein feels there might be some possibility for changes without scraping the ordinance all together. She recommended assigning categories to the homes in the historic district. Renner advised Ball State categorized the structures in their survey.
Jonathan Miller, Building Inspector, noted the guidelines are taken from the National Park Service guidelines. This is what the National Park Service wants. Miller advised this home was built in 1850. Allowing solar on this property that is visible from the public right of way would mean we would have to allow it everywhere as it would be very difficult to use the guidelines.
Roll Call: AYES: McCoy, Wienen, Bernstein
NAYS: Kieffer, Westemeier
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
23C-0087 – WARRANTS
Motion: Bernstein moved, seconded by McCoy, to approve the Warrants as presented, 23C 0087.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: McCoy, Westemeier, Bernstein, Kieffer, Renner NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Wienen
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
23C-0088 – ALDERPERSONS’ COMMENTS
Budget – Westemeier stated he is excited to get into the new budget. He is excited to talk about putting money in for sidewalks in residential areas and come up a five-year plan. Westemeier feels it is important to let people know residential areas are important too.
Thank you – Bernstein thanked the League of Women’s Voters for hosting the forum for the council candidates. This is a great way to inform the public about the candidates. Bernstein thanked all who participated and stated it was a great day for democracy in town.
Park Mobile – McCoy stated he is excited to see we are testing the parking application. He is hoping for success.
23C-0089 – CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Park Mobile – Moran advised the Park Mobile app is active in all municipal lots and is working. We are seeing revenues come in on the dashboard.
Thank you – Moran thanked Jen Schmidt for the financial report. Moran commended Jen for getting up to speed on the financial software quickly.
Budget – Moran presented the draft budget and transmittal report to the council. Moran stated the budget is a good one and is pretty ambitious. The budget is on the website on the home page.
23C-0090 – MAYOR’S REPORT
Thank you – Mayor Renner thanked the Fire Department for their work on Saturday night’s house fire.
Thank you – Mayor Renner thanked the Public Works Department for the snow removal.
23C-0091 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Wienen moved, seconded by McCoy, to adjourn.
Discussion: None.
Roll Call: AYES: Westemeier, Wienen, Bernstein, Kieffer, McCoy, Renner NAYS: None
ABSENT: Hahn
The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
https://www.cityofgalena.org/documents/filelibrary/side_tabs/agendas__minutes/city_council_minutes/2023/cc031323_BEFE980095932.pdf
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