City of Princeton Council met May 7.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Quiram. Upon roll call, the following answered present, constituting a quorum: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, and Neumann.
All present at the meeting offered the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
Public Comment: City Manager Rachel Skaggs recognized the contributions of intern Nichole Schmidt. Skaggs continued by introducing new Chief of Police Tom Kammerer, who then was officially sworn-in by City Clerk Pete Nelson.
Scott Maschek of the Postal Letter Carriers Union, made a final plea for participation in the May 12, 2018 food drive, in support of local food pantries.
Pete Gartner spoke against any electric rate increase. He also recommended that the city force the owner of one of the South Main St. buildings to repair the brick parapet.
Motion # 1: Neumann (2nd Favia) that the printed copy of the minutes for the Regular Meeting of April 16, 2018, be approved.
Vote # 1
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Motion #2: Neumann (2nd Favia) that the bills and payrolls of the Department of Public Affairs and Department of Accounts and Finance, the Department of Streets and Public Improvements, the Department of Public Health and Safety, and the Department of Utilities and Public Properties, be allowed and paid.
Vote # 2
Roll Call Vote: Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye.
Motion declared carried.
Motion # 3: Neumann (2nd Favia) that Ordinance 0-18-008 authorizing an electric utility rate increase for residential and industrial users, be approved.
Mayor Quiram asked Council Member Favia to share why she voted against the First Reading of this ordiance at the previous meeting. Favia explained that she believed the Citizens Electric Utility Advisory Committee did not have current enough data before making a recommendation for a rate increase. Advisory Committee member Bob Davidson spoke to the process that the committee used in order to reach the conclusions they did. He explained that it was clear that revenue simply was not keeping up with expenses. This likely was due to successive cool summers whereby electric consumption was not as high; therefore revenue was not as high.
Mabry mentioned that he believed the electric generation department is overstaffed, and he believed that loans from the electric department destined for other departments were not paid back to the electric department, which causes the shortfall. He also suggested that perhaps the electric department should be sold to a private company. Quiram explained his position that the rate increase is necessary, otherwise the city will need to dip into the shallow reserves in the electric department, which he believed to be counter-productive. Neumann suggested that the department was better managed now and that a rate increase, although regrettable, would be better managed than in the past. Further, he asked Skaggs about whether a customer, unable to pay a bill, can find some program for relief. Skaggs affirmed. Mabry asked about the labor agreements for electric, soon to be approved by the Council, as to the pay increases contained in those agreements. Skaggs responded that she would comment about the agreements within their relative contexts, when the agenda items come up.
Vote #3
Roll Call Vote: Swanson, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Mabry and Favia voted Nay. Motion declared carried.
Motion # 4: Neumann (2nd Favia) that Ordinance 0-18-009 authorizing annexation of property to the City of Princeton, be approved to a Second Reading.
Vote # 4
Roll Call Vote: Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Motion # 5: Neumann (2nd Favia) that Resolution R-18-021 authorizing the sale of real estate at 16 E. Railroad Avenue, owned by the public body, be approved.
Vote # 5
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Motion # 6: Neumann (2 Favia) that Resolution R-18-022 authorizing a labor agreement with the Princeton Policemens' Benevolent and Protective Association, Unit #167, be approved.
City Manager Skaggs explained that the labor agreements with the Police and others were negotiated in good faith and allowed the city to obtain 4-year agreements, which helps to lock-in budget projections. The city also obtained the ability to sunset a couple of items that had been expensive to continue year-after-year.
Vote # 6
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Motion # 7: Neumann (2" Favia) that Resolution R-18-023 authorizing a labor agreement with the International Union of Electrical Workers, Local # 51, on behalf of the Water/Waste Water Departments, be approved.
Vote # 7
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
City Manager Report: Skaggs presented first quarter data for calendar year of 2018, citing the city had received 99% of projected revenues and had spent 90% of projected expenses. She also reviewed the Sales Tax Report. She further shared the quarterly Tourism report. Favia suggested that the Tourism activities neglected area golf courses, pools, parks, etc. She further stated that she has asked the Tourism office for financial reports, but does not receive them.
Skaggs continued that the city was notified that an ITEP grant was denied but the city will reapply for this grant. Finally, she reviewed that statutory timelines for a sales tax increase referendum, should the Council choose to move forward with one for the November ballot. Favia asked questions regarding the 2004 successful 42% Sales Tax referendum, such as where the collected money had been spent. She suggested that if a new referendum were successful, the city should collect the tax and place it in a segregated account specified for infrastructure. Swanson somewhat agreed, looking back at past history. Neumann offered that if the tax provided for $2 million in revenue, then the city could budget $2 million in infrastructure projects, thereby showing a dollar-for-dollar accounting of the process. A discussion continued over whether any referendum language should contain a sunset phrase or not, concluding that Skaggs would give a recommendation at a future meeting.
Motion # 8: Neumann (2nd Favia) that the appointment of Ian Cardosi to the Plan Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals for a term expiring on 4-30-2021, be approved.
Vote # 8
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Motion # 9: Neumann (2nd Favia) that the appointment of Michael Wendt to the Plan Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals for a term expiring on 4-30-2021, be approved.
Vote # 9
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Motion # 10: Neumann (2nd Favia) that the appointment of Terry Charbonneau to the Trustees of the Police Pension Fund for a term expiring on 4-30-2020, be approved.
Vote # 10
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried.
Mayor Report: None.
Old Business: None.
New Business: Favia stated that a business commented to her that he now must pay for recycling, and whether that was part of the terms of sale.
Public Comment: Hector Gomez commented that it is hard for a person on a fixed income to incur higher utility rates. Sometimes they have to choose among paying the utility bill, paying for medication, or paying for food. Secondly, he believed it would be a good practice to assure the public that if a referendum was successful at raising the sales tax, then the city should account for it very conservatively. He cited many past practices at the state level where there was no accounting, such as the tollway funds, and the taxpayers lost significant money. He commented that it is not a good response to say, “.that was before my time.”, when trying to determine what council action was taken in the past. He believed it is the responsibility of the council or administration to dig for answers whether they were on staff or not at that time.
Geraldine Woodlief asked how the electric utility lost money. Various responses included the fact that moderate weather did not require as much cooling or heating as in past years.
Bob Warren commented that the accounting of money as a result of a referendum boils down to trust of the council by the taxpayers.
Motion # 11: Neumann (2nd Favia) that the Regular Meeting be adjourned. The next Regular Meeting of the City Council will be on Monday, May 21, 2018, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Vote # 11
Roll Call Vote: Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion declared carried. Adjournment at 8:04 p.m.
https://www.princeton-il.com/meeting-minutes/598/city-council/05-07-2018/
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