City of Columbia City Council met March 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
A. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Hill called the City Council of Columbia, Illinois to order at 7:00 PM.
B. Roll Call
Present: Aldermen Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury.
Absent: Aldermen Roessler and Holtkamp.
Quorum present.
Administrative Staff present:
City Administrator Douglas Brimm
City Clerk Andrew Hitzemann
Deputy Chief of Police Karla Heine
City Engineer Chris Smith
Dir. of Community Dev. Scott Dunakey
IT Director James Mitchell
City Attorney Terry Bruckert
Chief of Police Jason Donjon Deputy
City Clerk Kelly Mathews
EMS Chief Kim Lamprecht
Building Official Justin Osterhage
C. Pledge of Allegiance
Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
D. Proclamations /Recognitions /Presentations
There were no proclamations/recognitions/presentations.
E. Public Input
There was no Public Input.
F. Comments & Announcements - Mayor
There were no Mayor Comments & Announcements.
G. Comments & Announcements - Aldermen
There were no Aldermen Comments & Announcements.
H. Comments & Announcements - Department Directors
City Administrator Douglas Brimm updated the Council on the initial budgeting process. Mr. Brimm and Ms. Sharp have met with all the department directors and budget document is being prepared. Mr. Brimm reported that once the budget document is completed, there will be some areas of the budget that will be up for review to determine if the City will proceed with certain projects or hold them off due to inflation and material costs increasing.
The draft budget will be presented at the April 4th Council meeting for questions and review and presented at the April 18th Council meeting for approval.
I. Consent Agenda
City Clerk Hitzemann read the Consent Agenda.
1. Motion to Approve Minutes of the March 7, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting 2. Motion to Approve Closed Session Minutes of the March 7, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Motion to Approve Payment of Vouchers for the Period of March 4, 2022 through March 17, 2022 in the Amount of $384,020.28
Mayor Hill inquired if the Council wished to remove any items prior to a motion. There were none.
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Martens, and seconded by Alderman Garmer, to approve the Consent Agenda as read.
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
J. Unfinished Business
1. Ordinance No. 3602 Repealing and Replacing Chapter 15.44 "Sign Code" of the City of Columbia, Illinois Municipal Code
Director of Community Development Scott Dunakey stated the need for the sign code update is due to a number of amendments made overtime has left the sign code disorganized and difficult to understand. Mr. Dunakey mentioned a lot of amendments have failed to keep up with modern advertising trends and recent case law.
Mr. Dunakey has revised the draft sign presented at the Council meeting on March 7th· Specifically, Mr. Dunakey changed the formatting and added graphics to make the code easier to understand.
After a brief discussion, it was determined to make the following amendments to the sign code: 44.03 add definition of Dynamic Display; 44.07 add missing max height of 6 feet for yard signs/banners for residential uses; 44.10.1.4 delete unneeded "to"; and 44.03/44.09 add "projecting" to definition and graphic of blade sign.
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Niemietz, and seconded by Alderman Garmer, to pass and approve Ordinance No. 3602 Repealing and Replacing Chapter 15.44 "Sign Code" of the City of Columbia, Illinois Municipal Code with amendments
Motion Passed .
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
2. Motion to Award Bid for Phase 2 Quarry Road Roundabout and Resurfacing Project to Baxmeyer Construction, Inc. in the Amount of $1,436,407.77
City Engineer Chris Smith stated the City received three bids for this project. Baxmeyer Construction came in as the apparent low bidder with a bid $100,000 lower than the engineer's estimate.
It was moved by Alderman Martens, and seconded by Alderman Khoury, to Award Bid for Phase 2 Quarry Road Roundabout and Resurfacing Project to Baxmeyer Construction, Inc. in the Amount of $1,436,407.77
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
3. Resolution No. 2022-05 for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code {Motor Fuel Tax Supplemental - Quarry Road Roundabout and Resurfacing Project)
Mr. Smith reported in order to use $400,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds for this project a resolution is needed.
It was moved by Alderman Khoury, and seconded by Alderman Martens, to pass and approve Resolution No. 2022-05, a resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code {Motor Fuel Tax Supplemental - Quarry Road Roundabout and Resurfacing Project)
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
4. Resolution No. 2022-06 for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code {Fiscal Year 2023 Motor Fuel Tax Program)
Regular Meeting- March 21, 2022 Page 3 of 5
It was moved by Alderman Huch, and seconded by Alderman Garmer, to pass and approve Resolution No. 2022-06, a resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code (Fiscal Year 2023 Motor Fuel Tax Program)
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
K. New Business
1. Ordinance No. 3603 Repealing Ordinance No. 2355, Adopted and Approved by the Columbia, Illinois City Council on May 2, 2005 (Telecommunication Structures)
Director of Community Development Scott Dunakey explained that due to a recent proposed telecommunications tower right outside city limits, he began to research the City's telecommunications tower regulations. Mr. Dunakey reported the City transferred the regulations from the Zoning Code to the Subdivision Code by Ordinance No. 2355 on May 2, 2005. Mr. Dunakey stated the intent of this action was to extend telecommunications tower regulations into the 1.5-mile planning jurisdiction. However, the amendments to both codes were approved without the statutorily required public notices, public hearings, and Plan Commission recommendations. Also, the Illinois Zoning Enabling legislation prohibits municipalities from exercising control of telecommunications facilities outside of corporate limits, reserving such authority for counties.
Upon consultation with City Attorney Bruckert, staff is recommending that Ordinance No. 2355 be repealed since it is likely invalid and unenforceable. This action will render the ordinance null and void, thereby returning the regulations back to the Zoning Code where they can be enforced.
It was moved by Alderman Garmer, and seconded by Alderman Niemietz, to pass and approve Ordinance No. 3603, an ordinance Repealing Ordinance No. 2355, Adopted and Approved by the Columbia, Illinois City Council on May 2, 2005 (Telecommunication Structures).
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
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 and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) Setting a Price for Sale or Lease of Property Owned by the Public Body.
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Riddle, and seconded by Alderman Niemietz, to direct the Mayor to go into Closed Session at 7:34 PM to discuss 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective Bargaining and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) Setting a Price for Sale or Lease of Property Owned by the Public Body
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
Mayor Hill called the Regular Session of the City Council back to order at 7:52 PM. Upon return to Regular Session, Aldermen Roessler, Huch, Holtkamp, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, Khoury, and Mayor Hill were present.
M. Announcements
There were no announcements.
N. Adjournment
Motion:
It was moved by Alderman Khoury, and seconded by Alderman Riddle, to adjourn the Regular City Council meeting held Monday, March 21, 2022 at 7:52 PM.
Motion Passed.
Roll Call Vote results:
6 Aye: Niemietz, Huch, Martens, Riddle, Garmer, and Khoury
0 Nay:
2 Absent: Roessler and Holtkamp
0 Abstain:
https://www.columbiaillinois.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03212022-212
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