City of Columbia City Council met Jan. 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Columbia, Illinois Held in the Council Room of City Hall.
A. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Hill called the City Council of Columbia, Illinois to order at 7:00 PM.
B. Roll all
Present: Aldermen Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury.
Absent: None.
Quorum present.
Administrative Staff present
City Administrator Douglas Brimm City Clerk Andrew Hitzemann
Deputy Chief of Police Karla Heine City Engineer Chris Smith
IT Director James Mitchell
C. Pledge of Allegiance
City Attorney Terry Bruckert Chief of Police Jason Donjon Deputy City Clerk Kelly Mathews EMS Chief Kim Lamprecht
Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
D. Proclamations/Recognitions/Presentations
Mayor Hill administered the Oath of Office to Officer Andrew Potter.
E. Publiclnput
Kay and John Descher spoke to the Council regarding the light pollution produced by the businesses in front of Skyline Drive.
Ann Edwards expressed concern about the noise level from Top Shooters and the crime level since Brockland built there.
Donna Biondo stated Skyline Drive is directly impacted by the lights and sounds at Top Shooters and asked the Council to vote against Top Shooter's two sign variances.
Katie and Jeff Giron spoke against Ordinance 3597 stating they would like to avoid a permanent no parking zone by having a mutual understanding that they would agree not to park on the street during inclement weather and City collection days.
Sadie Sanders and Matan Gal also spoke against Ordinance 3597 and explained the streets aren't wide enough for larger City vehicles to turn around properly in.
F. Comments & Announcements - Mayor
Mayor Hill announced two upcoming events: Monroe County on Ice at City Hall parking lot on February 9th and the Monroe County Job Fair at The Falls on February 12th .
Mayor Hill stated there will be no water bill penalty due to a mail delay and encouraged residents to sign up for direct debit through the portal or Clerk's Office.
Mayor Hill review the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee with the Council. The Committee will consist of the following members:
• Mayor Hill as the Chairman
• One City Council representative
• One Parks and Recreation Advisory Board representative
• One Heritage and Preservation Committee representative
• One Library Board representative
• One Board of Police Commissioners representative
• One Columbia Fire Protection District representative
• One CUSD4 School Board representative
• One Historic Main Street Association representative
• One Chamber of Commerce representative
• Five community at large appointees (one for each ward and a Mayor appointee)
G. Comments & Announcements - Aldermen
There were no Aldermen Comments & Announcements.
H. Comments & Announcements - Department Directors
Director of Community Development Scott Dunakey provided the Council with an overview of the Community Development Department.
I. Consent Agenda
City Clerk Hitzemann read the Consent Agenda.
1. Motion to Approve Minutes of the January 3, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting
2. Motion to Approve Closed Session Minutes of the January 3, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Motion to Approve Payment of Vouchers for the Period of December 30, 2021 through January 13, 2022 in the Amount of $304,148.65
Mayor Hill inquired if the Council wished to remove any items prior to a motion.
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Martens, and seconded by Alderman Riddle, to approve the Consent Agenda as read
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
8 Aye: Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury 0 Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain:
J. Unfinished Business
1. Ordinance No. 3598 - Crown Castle Settlement
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Martens, and seconded by Alderman Holtkamp, to pass and approve Ordinance No. 3598. An Ordinance Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Certain Settlement Agreement with Crown Castle GT Company LLC, Crown Castle International Corp., GTE Wireless Inc., New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, and Verizon Communications Inc.; and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Certain Lease Agreements with NCWPCS MPL 24 - Year Sites Tower Holdings LLC and Crown Castle GT Company, LLC; and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Consent to Sublease
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
8 Aye: Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury 0 Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain
K. New Business
1. Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Columbia and the Monroe County Emergency Telephone System Board Pertaining to Mobile Data Terminals
City Administrator Douglas Brimm asked Mayor Hill to postpone this item. This item will be brought back to the Council at a later date once a few concerns are resolved.
2. Discussion of 2 Sign Variance Requests for Top Shooters Located at 531 Old State Route 3
Director of Community Development Scott Dunakey reviewed two Sign Variance Requests for Top Shooters. Top Shooters is applying for two variances to allow the area of an EMC to exceed 40% of the total sign face area; and to allow a freestanding sign conjoined with an EMC having an area between 10 s.f. and 50 s.f. to be located within the 5-foot required setback.
Mr. Dunakey reported that IDOT was sent a notification regarding these variances and they were the only neighboring properties to provide feedback. IDOT expressed concern with the location of the sign and potential conflicts with Illinois regulations that prohibit private signs that within or overhang into the IDOT right-of-way.
Mr. Dunakey then reviewed his staff report with the Council and stated the Plan Commission voted to recommend conditional approval to Council, subject to accurate verification of the sign location relative to the property lines.
A few concerns about the brightness, height, and location were questioned by the Council. Mayor Hill asked the applicants to address the Council regarding their concerns. Tim Wheeler, owner of Top Shooters, explained he wants to update the sign to look more modern and to avoid changing letters in the weather. Mr. Wheeler stated the new sign will be in the same location as the current sign, just slightly higher.
3. Discussion of Architectural Review for Charlie's Carstar Auto Collision Repair Proposed for Construction at 1845 Ghent Road
Director of Community Development Scott Dunakey stated Charlie's Carstar recently purchased property on Ghent Road with plans to construct a new shop and relocate. Charlie's Carstar would like to use a combination of architectural concrete masonry units and exterior insulation and finish systems for exterior walls. Mr. Dunakey explained this is an allowable material substitution per the Code, but requests Architectural Review Board and City Council approval. The Plan Commission heard the request and voted to recommend approval to Council.
4. Discussion of a Significant Industrial User Agreement Permitting Discharge of Wastewater to the City of Columbia, Illinois Sewer Collection System and Treatment Plant
City Administrator Douglas Brimm reported that Crown Linen is planning to expand their existing facility. As part of the permitting process, and in conjunction with studies being conducted on the City's sewer collection system/plant capacity, concerns have been raised pertaining to the composition of effluent discharged from Crown Linen. The City has been working with Crown Linen regarding an agreement to either comply with the standards set in the City's utility code, or assess fees enumerated by City Code on industrial strength discharges.
Through sewer sampling it was discovered that Crown Linen contributes 10% of the total daily volume to the City sewer system and 15-45% of the organic loading.
Mr. Brimm stated there are other large utility users that will need to be addressed as well. Crown Linen will be updating some of their current systems and it will bring their water usage significantly lower.
The City has submitted the draft proposal to Crown Linen and Crown Linen has engaged a consultant to review the agreement. Once there's mutual acceptance, the agreement will come back Council for final approval.
L. Closed Session
Mayor Hill informed the Council that he would entertain a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective Bargaining
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Martens, and seconded by Alderman Riddle, to direct the Mayor to go into Closed Session at 7:32 PM to discuss 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective Bargaining
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
8 Aye: Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury 0 Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain:
Mayor Hill called the Regular Session of the City Council back to order at 8:49 PM . Upon return to Regular Session, Aldermen Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, Khoury, and Mayor Hill were present.
M. Announcements
There were no announcements.
Alderman Niemietz asked for a time line for the code recodification.
N. Adjournment:
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Niemietz, and seconded by Alderman Khoury, to adjourn the Regular City Council meeting held Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 9:00 PM.
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
8 Aye: Niemietz, Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury 0 Nay: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain:
https://www.columbiaillinois.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01182022-202
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