City Council

GENEVA CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 20, 2015 CALL TO ORDER The January 20, 2015 meeting of the Geneva City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Kevin Burns. Aldermen present: Chuck Brown, Mike Bruno, Don Cummings, Dorothy Flanagan, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Mary Seno, Tom Simonian, Ron Singer. Aldermen absent: None. Also attending: City Atty. Charles Radovich, City Administrator Mary McKittrick, Public Works Director Richard Babica, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Police Chief Steve Mexin, Police Commander Julie Nash. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MOMENT OF SILENCE Mayor Burns asked for a moment of silence for Weldon Johnson, who passed away earlier Tuesday. Mr. Johnson, a lifelong resident of Geneva, was a former alderman and owner of Viking Office Supply. Over the years, he was very active in Geneva events and served on a number of community boards. Ald. Brown called attention to Mr. Johnson’s love of Geneva and noted that he was an avid Geneva booster, always encouraging people to shop locally. Mayor Burns said that city flags are being flown at half-staff in Mr. Johnson’s honor. PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Public Hearing on Enlargement of Special Service Area No. 16 Mayor Burns announced that the Public Hearing has been rescheduled for April 6, 2015. Update by Geneva Police on Coyote Sighting Tracking Chief Mexin and Cmdr. Nash presented data gathered as a result of the discussion on coyote activity conducted at the June 23, 2014 COW meeting. Chief Mexin reviewed the results of a survey of 56 area communities, with 24 responses. Most of those responding had some level of sighting tracking, but only two had hired a trapping service. Chief Mexin then reviewed the reported coyote sightings, saying the City received 131 reports from May 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2015. A map of the sightings showed that coyotes are present throughout the city, with the greatest concentration being in the northwest sector. He said that most coyotes sighted displayed non-threatening behavior, although there were a few reported incidents of threatening behavior and attacks on pets. He cautioned that the reported sightings were not necessarily indicative of the number of coyotes in the city, given the number of coyotes not reported or those reported more than once. He also said that the City has no indication of how effective trapping and relocation would be. Chief Mexin suggested that the Council further discuss the issue and determine whether the City should continue its current position of public education, coexisting with the coyotes, and documenting coyote attacks; or should it expand the program to include hiring a service to trap and relocate or euthanize the coyotes, keeping costs in mind. Questions were then taken. Several Council members sought clarification or additional information relating to Chief Mexin’s report. Ald. Brown was pleased that the Police are looking into the coyote problem, but asked if this was a burden to the department. Chief Mexin answered that responding to calls of coyote sightings was not a burden, but compiling the data was very time consuming. Ald. Brown favored continuing the current course of action. Ald. Maladra wondered how to gauge the success of a more aggressive elimination program. Chief Mexin said that the police are limited in the action they can take. Responding to a question from Ald. Simonian, Cmdr. Nash said that the County, by state law, cannot trap and euthanize the coyotes. Ald. Kilburg felt that the City should 1387 Geneva City Council Meeting January 20, 2015 consider producing a short educational video as to how the public should respond to the presence of coyotes and that the video could be shown on channels 10 and 99. Audience members wishing to comment included David Munch and Mark Romano from Scientific Wildlife Management, Sycamore, Ill. They provided information on coyote behavior and methods to control the coyote population, suggesting trapping as a humane option. Peter Tuman, 473 Prairieview Dr., said that coyotes are constantly running through his northwest Geneva neighborhood and that he and his wife are frequently awakened in the night by nearby coyotes howling. He said the coyotes have become emboldened and he felt that some more aggressive measures will be needed to address the coyote problem. Kayla Block, 3362 Harvest Ridge Rd., said that many residents hesitate to contact the police about a coyote sighting because they feel that nothing will be done. She encouraged the City to increase its effort to make more persons aware of the City’s concern over the coyote problem. Cmdr. Nash said that officers have been asked to gather more information when handling coyote-sighting calls. OMNIBUS AGENDA All items listed on the Omnibus Agenda are considered to be routine by the Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council member or citizen so requests in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda. Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED APPROVE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING HELD DECEMBER 15, 2014 AND SPECIAL MEETING HELD JANUARY 12, 2015 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED APPROVE REPORTS Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED COUNCIL COMMITTEES Committee of the Whole January 26, 2015. MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT The following bills were presented for payment: JANUARY 5, 2015 General Fund $73,788.65 Cultural Arts Fund 355.90 SPAC Fund 11,026.91 Beautification Fund 255.00 Tourism Fund 2,179.94 Tri‐Com Fund 16,250.01 SSA #1 1,314.59 1388 Geneva City Council Meeting January 20, 2015 Debt Service Fund 315.00 General Capital Projects 87,288.14 Infrastructure Capital Projects 61,834.30 TIF #2 548.28 Electric 344,367.02 Water/Wastewater 471,096.74 Refuse 44.76 Commuter Parking 507,900.65 Group Dental 8,384.50 Utility Refunds 57.58 PEG 23,556.96 ____________ Total Funds $1,610,564.93 JANUARY 20, 2015 General Fund $158,673.77 Cultural Arts Fund 234.96 SPAC Fund 2.09 Tourism Fund 430.10 Tri‐Com Fund 3,424.64 SSA #1 145.96 Debt Service Fund 900.00 Electric 3,335,764.46 Water/Wastewater 214,319.67 Refuse 8,174.27 Cemetery 190.54 Commuter Parking 479,294.57 Group Dental 7,170.00 Workers Compensation 1,800.00 Utility Refunds 503.74 ____________ Total Funds $4,211,028.77 Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Flanagan that the bills from both dates be approved and vouchers prepared. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS Approve Resolution 2015-03 Authorizing Labor Contract with Mohawk Electric for OH Wire Replacement on Stevens Street and ComEd Right-of-Way/James Street in the Amount of $263,429.93 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2015-04 Authorizing Third Amendment to Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Electric Capacity and Energy (WM Illinois Renewable Energy LLC – Settlers Hill) for Years 2015 and 2016 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED 1389 Geneva City Council Meeting January 20, 2015 Approve Resolution 2015-05 Adopting a Supplemental Resolution for Improvement by a Municipality in the Amount of $539,478.00 for Use Within 2008/09 Street Program Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS No New Business was presented. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting. Carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. ________________________ Lynn P. Landberg, City Clerk 1390