City Council

GENEVA CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 16, 2015 CALL TO ORDER The November 16, 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: Mike Bruno, Tara Burghart, Don Cummings, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Jim Radecki, Mary Seno, Tom Simonian, Ron Singer. Aldermen absent: None. Also attending: City Atty. Charles Radovich, City Administrator Mary McKittrick, Asst. City Administrator/Dir. of Administrative Services Stephanie Dawkins, Public Works Director Richard Babica, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Preservation Planner Michael Lambert, Water & Sewer Division Superintendent Bob VanGyseghem, Electric Division Superintendent Hal Wright, Community Development Intern Nick Westendorf. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Eagle Scout candidate Ethan Fintzen. MOMENT OF SILENCE Mayor Burns requested a moment of silence for the victims of last Friday’s terrorist attack in Paris, France. PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Recognize Ethan Fintzen on Eagle Scout Project Scout Fintzen explained that his Eagle Scout project consisted of improving a garden and play area at the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva. He noted the assistance he received in carrying out the project, especially thanking Dir. Babica and the Public Works Dept. for providing the mulch needed and Wasco Nursery for transporting it free of charge. Mayor Burns presented Scout Fintzen with an Eagle Scout Recognition Certificate. Scout Fintzen received a round of applause. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA None 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. Ald. Simonian requested that item 11b (Ord. 2015-35) be removed for separate consideration. Moved by Ald. Singer, seconded by Ald. Seno to approve the Omnibus Agenda as amended. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED APPROVE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 2, 2015 Moved by Ald. Singer, seconded by Ald. Seno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Geneva City Council Meeting November 16, 2015 1366 APPROVE REPORTS Moved by Ald. Singer, seconded by Ald. Seno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED COUNCIL COMMITTEES Committee of the Whole Nov. 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE None MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT The following bills were presented for payment: General Fund $103,322.29 Cultural Arts Fund 1,000.00 Tri‐Com Fund 15,601.45 SSA #1 104.03 SSA #4 1,955.84 SSA #16 7,589.16 Debt Service Fund 866,612.50 Infrastructure Capital Projects 98,678.42 Prairie Green 1,050.00 Electric 2 ,818,199.94 Water/Wastewater 42,737.71 Refuse 486.51 Cemetery 3,332.90 Commuter Parking 428.75 Group Dental 5,026.62 Workers Compensation 900.00 Utility Refunds 396.75 ____________ Total Funds $3,967,422.87 Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Marks that the bills be approved and vouchers prepared. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS Approve Resolution 2015-112 Authorizing Execution of Operating Agreement with ISC, Inc. (subsidiary of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency) Moved by Ald. Singer, seconded by Ald. Seno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Ordinance 2015-35 Amending Title 9 (Water & Sewers), Chapter 3 (Service Rates and Charges) of the Geneva Municipal Code Moved by Ald. Singer, seconded by Ald. Marks to approve Ord. 2015-35 amending Title 9 (Water & Sewers), Chapter 3 (Service Rates and Charges) of the Geneva Municipal Code. Having removed this item from the Omnibus Agenda, Ald. Simonian felt that he did not have sufficient time to do his due diligence in determining if the ordinance is in the best interest of his constituents and the citizens of Geneva. He did not feel that the proposed Geneva City Council Meeting November 16, 2015 1367 rate structure was fair to heavier water users. He proposed tabling this item until rate history and possible options are better understood by the Council and residents. He expressed dismay in being given inadequate time from introduction to voting on items in general because of implementation of deadlines. Ald. Maladra said he and Ald. Marks served on a 2012 task force to study the rate structure and that the rate structure now in place is the result of that task force working with the consultant currently being retained. He added that the rate structure being proposed now is consistent with the goals and objectives set at the time by the task force. The variable, he said, is a drop in water consumption much greater than anticipated. Ald. Cummings said that in response to questions he had at last week’s COW meeting, Dir. Babica said he would have additional figures developed to address those questions; therefore, Ald. Cummings was willing to have this item tabled in order to review the additional information when available. Ald. Bruno was comfortable with the information provided. Ald. Marks would like to see the additional information. Dir. Babica said that when he saw the preliminary figures showing an immediate increase to the higher 30 percent fixed cost component he had “sticker shock”, adding that full development of the those figures will take up to two weeks. This, he said, will require a rate structure recalibration causing the new rate structure implementation scheduled for Dec. 15 to be postponed. Ald. Radecki pointed out that development leading to the proposed rate structure included input from Council members, staff and residents over time and therefore should not be further delayed. Ald. Maladra agreed. Ald. Simonian said he wanted to better understand what has occurred over the past three years and to study all options for the future. Dir. Babica said that the proposed rate structure reflects the guidance of the Council and is intended to be fair and equitable to all Geneva rate payers, and even though additional information could be developed, in the end a significant rate increase will still be needed. After a few additional comments, roll call on the original motion: AYES: 8 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Singer) NAYS: 2 (Ald. Cummings, Simonian) MOTION CARRIED PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, PETITIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND BID AWARDS None NEW BUSINESS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Seno to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting. Carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. ________________________ Lynn P. Landberg, City Clerk Geneva City Council Meeting November 16, 2015 1368