City of Columbia Committee of the Whole met Nov. 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ebersohl called the Committee of the Whole committee meeting of the City Council of the City of Columbia, Illinois to order at 7:00 P.M.
Upon Roll Call, the following members were:
Present: Committee Members - Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Reis, and Holtkamp. Mayor Hutchinson was also present.
Absent: Alderman Martens.
Quorum Present.
Led by Webelos, all in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Administrative Staff Present: City Administrator James Morani, City Attorney Terry Bruckert, City Engineer Chris Smith, Accounting Manager Linda Sharp, Director of Community Development Emily Fultz, Chief of Police and Director of EMS Jerry Paul, Deputy Chief of Police Jason Donjon, EMS Chief Kim Lamprecht and Deputy Clerk Donna Mehaffey.
Guests: Mrs. Kerry Roider, Cub Scout Cub Master; Mr. Mike Stogsdill, Den Leader; Webelos Jack Roider, Jonah Stogsdill, Joel Reed and Sam Riddle.
Chairman Ebersohl stated the meeting was called for the purpose of discussing: (1) Approval of Minutes from the October 9, 2017 Committee of the Whole Meeting; (2) Approval of Minutes from the October 23, 2017 Committee of the Whole Meeting; (3) Take a Book/Leave a Book Library; (4) Scout Totem Pole; (5) Dispatching Services; (6) FY 2017-2018 Tax Levy; (7) Small Wireless Facilities; (8) Solar Energy RFQ; (9) Other Items to be Considered; (10) Citizen Comments; and (11) Executive Session-5 ILCS 120/2(c)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 9, 2017 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
The minutes from the October 9, 2017 Committee of the Whole committee meeting were submitted for approval.
MOTION: It was moved by Alderman Reis and seconded by Alderman Niemietz, to approve the minutes from the October 9, 2017 Committee of the Whole committee meeting. Upon Roll Call vote, Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, and Reis voted yea. Alderman Holtkamp abstained.
MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 23, 2017 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
The minutes from the October 23, 2017 Committee of the Whole committee meeting were submitted for approval.
MOTION: It was moved by Alderman Huch and seconded by Alderman Roessler, to approve the minutes from the October 23, 2017 Committee of the Whole committee meeting. Upon Roll Call vote, Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Reis, and Holtkamp voted yea.
MOTION CARRIED.
TAKE A BOOK/LEAVE A BOOK LIBRARY
Mrs. Kerry Roider, Cub Scout Cubmaster, reported to the committee they are asking permission to complete a project. The Webelos introduced themselves.
Webelo Jack Roider reported they have a requirement needed to do for the community and are suggesting a free Library. Webelo Joel Reed explained there is a pole in the ground with a house shaped box on top with glass doors and is the same concept as take a penny, leave a penny only with books. Pictures of Take A Book/Leave A Book Libraries located in other parts of the country were distributed to the committee. Mrs. Roider said they will be working on a design for the free Library and said it should be placed at a location where there is a lot of pedestrians or possibly at the Welcome Center. She added the group sold popcorn allowing them to have funds for the proposed Library and there will not be a cost to the City. The Library will hold 20 books and the group will build, install, and weatherproof the Library.
It was the consensus of the committee for the Webelos to move forward with their project, Take a Book/Leave a Book Library and to provide a design and location to the committee in the near future. City Administrator James Morani said Mrs. Roider will work on the project through Community Relations and Tourism Director Sue Spargo.
SCOUT TOTEM POLE
Mrs. Roider addressed the committee regarding a proposed Scout Totem Pole in celebration of the 100 years of scouting in Columbia. Photos and designs of various totem poles were distributed to the committee for their review. This will be a project for both boy and girl scouts. The plan is to have five animals for the pole with the top animal to be an eagle to symbolize Columbia. A local craftsman will help with the project. The completed totem pole will be erected in front of the Scout Hut. Ms. Roider said she will get the design concept for the totem pole and bring it back to the committee.
It was the consensus of the committee for Mrs. Roider to move forward on the Scout Totem Pole project.
DISPATCHING SERVICES
Just to make the committee aware, Chief of Police and Director of EMS Jerry Paul reported to the committee that he has been contacted by several dispatching service agencies in the last six months to a year for the City of Columbia Communications Department to consider performing their dispatching services. Several area dispatching agencies have recently combined due to a state mandate. Chief Paul does not want to disclose the agencies at this time. He said he would be speaking to each elected official one-on-one regarding this request, discussing the pros and cons, cost and any input they have. Chief Paul said a plan will be put together and at some point in the future, there will be a public discussion. The committee had no objections with Chief Paul continuing discussion with the other agencies.
FY 2017-2018 TAXLEVY
Mr. Morani informed the committee the final draft worksheet for the FY 2017-2018 Tax Levy is in the process of being prepared. Mr. Morani said Accounting Manager Linda Sharp indicated the assessment increase is likely to be two percent and he will be using that figure for the tax levy worksheet. They are also still waiting on the final police pension figures. Mr. Morani said he will have the figures for the next committee meeting and added there should be no major changes to the tax levy.
SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES
Mr. Morani updated the committee on the Small Wireless Facilities. Mr. Morani said Senate Bill 1451 appeared to pass the Illinois General Assembly. This was for legislation that allowed small wireless facilities to be installed on either new or existing utility poles to be installed by the provider or a third party who would then lease it to a provider. He said the Illinois Municipal League (IML) took a neutral position on the legislation when the City of Chicago was exempted. He added a lot of the municipal organizations across the state had to come together and individually lobby their legislators. The bill passed in the House last week with only 62 votes, some amendments were passed, went to the Senate, and it passed overwhelmingly. Then the Senate president filed a motion to reconsider the bill, so it is actually stalled and has not yet been sent to the Governor.
Mr. Morani explained the proposed bill permits small wireless facilities to be installed on utility poles no greater than six cubic feet, but if there is accessory equipment, it could be no greater than 25 cubic feet. This is just for the antenna equipment. The proposed bill is dictating spatial requirements for the facilities. The state legislature thinks it is a good idea to put these on utility poles without any Zoning review by municipalities. It specifically exempts any Zoning review except for limited circumstances. The City of Columbia can also establish regulations for areas with underground utilities. Mr. Morani said he was able to read the entire bill and there have been some positive changes, but does not think enough changes were made to protect the rights of municipalities and the public. Mr. Morani said we are unable to stop the facilities from being placed in any public right-of-way, including residential zoning districts. The City is also unable to stop the facilities to be placed in any commercial or industrial zoning districts on private property. Mr. Morani said attorney Dan Vogel commented to him if they are going to allow the facilities without any Zoning regulations in the residential areas in the public right-of-way, how is that really different from being on someone's property in a subdivision.
Mr. Morani said a lot of the municipalities he has been speaking with are still upset about the bill. He said he has prepared a resolution for consideration by the City Council urging the Governor to veto Senate Bill 1451.
Mr. Morani also updated the committee on the company, Mobilitie, that made a presentation to the City earlier this year. Mobilitie has made an application with the City for a small wireless facility. Mr. Morani said the response on the application could really depend on what happens with Senate Bill 1451. If the bill would become law, then the City would not be able to have Mobilitie proceed with the required special use permit. Alderman Niemietz said when the IML presented the bill at the IML Conference, they did not sound very neutral on it and was critical of it when Mobilitie made their presentation. Mr. Morani felt the IML dropped the ball on this issue and thought it was going to pass because of the lobbying efforts of the proponents, wanted to get what they could and once the City of Chicago was exempted, the IML went neutral on it. During the spring legislative session, the minute that Chicago was exempted, the bill flew through the Senate and went to the House. Mr. Morani said municipalities and regional organizations had to start coordinating their lobbying efforts to oppose the bill. He said it then did not pass the House until the recent veto session, when some concessions were made by the telecommunications industry, such as how much could be charged for the use of right-of-way..
Mayor Hutchinson said the Southwestern Illinois Council of Mayors was opposed to Senate Bill 1451. He said a lot of the municipalities have their own utilities and it does not affect them like Columbia. There are also home rule communities that have ways to better control this. Mr. Morani said he still had a home rule community that contacted him that was still concerned about it and wanted to know what Columbia was planning to do. He said he will share the proposed resolution with the home rule community that contacted him. Mayor Hutchinson felt the IML took the neutral position because the bill did not affect municipalities that own their utilities or adversely affect home rule municipalities as much as non-home rule ones.
Alderman Roessler said he understood the reason Mobilitie came to the City was to basically cover any dead spots and they may not affect some cities. Mr. Morani said one of the positives is that the proposed bill would sunset by year 2021.
Mr. Morani said the public has a right to know these facilities will be going up in their city and there needs to be a public process. He said these are not public utilities, they are not gas or electric, and it is not about the money. He stressed there needs to be a Zoning process for these types of facilities. He also pointed out that the city code needs to be amended to require that all new utilities are to be underground. This policy needs to be in place so the City can limit small wireless facilities in these areas. It was noted the proposed bill would allow the facilities to be placed on street light poles. This could be done in any new subdivision on a light pole.Mr. Morani said there is an abandonment provision so if the device does not get used in a certain period of time, the City can demand that the device be removed.
The committee was against the bill and the proposed resolution urging the Governor's veto will be considered by the City Council.
X. SOLAR ENERGY RFO
Director of Community Development Emily Fultz presented a draft version of the Solar Energy RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to the committee to get a qualified developer to install, operate, and maintain a photovoltaic solar array on the City's approximately 50 acre closed landfill. Ms. Fultz said that trees cover 35-percent of the site so less than 50 acres would be developed for solar use plus there are grade differences. Ms. Fultz explained the parcel is located outside the City, is located in unincorporated Monroe County, and is considered a Brownfield space because the area was the cause of environmental problems. She added that the proper zoning and permits would be needed from Monroe County rather than the City of Columbia. Ms. Fultz said there are different options to use the energy created by the solar energy. An example would be for the power of street lights and residential homes in Columbia.
Mr. Morani explained the way this came about was after Ms. Fultz attended a solar conference, the City was approached by one of the attendees, and since then, there has been more interest so he and Ms. Fultz wanted to do an RFQ as there could be many other entities interested.
Alderman Reis questioned the two yellow dots on the map - Exhibit B - and these were identified as Ameren substations.
Alderman Agne reported that for the last six months, Monroe County has been studying a Solar ordinance for this type of use. Alderman Agne said the recommendation was sent to Monroe County officials to review the proposed ordinance and said they will most likely have a Zoning meeting on it as well. Alderman Agne provided the proposed Monroe County solar ordinance to Ms. Fultz. Alderman Agne said the proposed ordinance would be for the County's Zoning Code. The contact person is Mr. Carlyle Mueller, chairman of the review committee. The proposed ordinance would be for large Solar arrays, what can be done around it, setbacks, etc. Alderman Agne said it is also distinguished by the amount of power that it generates. Alderman Agne said a large solar project has an array of 25 kilowatts or more.
Mr. Morani said the RFQ will be released in about two weeks and Ms. Fultz said it will be out for three or four weeks duration.
It was the consensus of the committee to move forward with the Solar Energy RFQ.
Χ. OTHER ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED
There were no other items to be considered.XI. CITIZEN COMMENTS
There were no citizen comments.
XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)
Chairman Ebersohl informed the Committee of the Whole that he would entertain a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining as permitted under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2).
MOTION: It was moved by Alderman Roessler and seconded by Alderman Huch, to direct Chairman Ebersohl to go into Executive Session at 7:42 P.M. to discuss collective bargaining as permitted under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2). Upon Roll Call vote, Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Reis, and Holtkamp voted yea.
MOTION CARRIED
MOTION: It was moved by Alderman Reis and seconded by Alderman Agne to return to Regular Session of the Committee of the Whole at 8:35 P.M. Upon Roll Call vote, Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Reis, and Holtkamp voted yea.
MOTION CARRIED,
Upon return to Regular Session, Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Reis, and Holtkamp were present. Mayor Hutchinson was also present,
No action was taken as a result of the Executive Session.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: It was moved by Alderman Niemietz and seconded by Alderman Agne to adjourn the Committee of the Whole committee meeting of the City Council of the City of Columbia, Illinois held Monday, November 13, 2017 at 8:36 P.M. Upon voice vote, Chairman Ebersohl and Aldermen Agne, Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Reis, and Holtkamp voted yea.
MOTION CARRIED.
http://www.columbiaillinois.com/DocumentCenter/View/9485
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