City Council

City Council SPECIAL MEETING June 24, 2024 5:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was given by all that were present. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gottman called the Special Council meeting of the Vandalia City Council to order at 5:00 pm. ROLL CALL: Aldermen Brosman, Lester, Hobler, Stunkel, and Hubler were present. Lewey, Bowen and Barker were absent. ORDINANCE 2024-6-24-A: Connor stated one of the things that AN ORDINANCE AMENDING came up in regard to Summer Fest is THE VANDALIA LAKE the City prohibits alcohol in the ORDINANCE AT SECTION place where the City has been 11.08.020: selling alcohol. The Ordinance presented for discussion would allow the City to suspend that prohibition on alcohol, and simultaneously allow alcohol at certain events. The City’s Risk Management would not provide premises liability coverage to the City at this time. Connor stated passing these Ordinances would not get coverage from RMA. Supplemental insurance could be purchased for an additional cost from an insurance company. Connor said at Summer Fest, the liquor license holder will have DRAM shop coverage and will name the City as additional insured. It was the Mayor’s recommendation to purchase the additional policy at an additional cost. Connor stated the City needs to bring the Ordinance into conformity with what the City is actually doing. Gottman stated once Summer Fest is over with, RMA will come out and make 1  recommendations for coverage. Lester suggested if there was an extra cost for additional insurance, then the vendor should be paying for the coverage and not the City. Stunkel suggested the City pick up the cost for the additional insurance this year. Under Section I, (3) of the Ordinance, Brosman recommended to strike “and only at such time as lifeguards shall then be on duty”. Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Stunkel to approve the amended Ordinance 2024-6-24-A: An Ordinance Amending the Vandalia Lake Ordinance at Section 11.08.020. Roll call: Hubler, yea; Brosman, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, yea. Lewey, Barker and Bowen were absent. ORDINANCE 2024-6-24-B: Connor stated this Ordinance would AN ORDINANCE AMENDING temporarily suspend the prohibition THE VANDALIA MUNICIPAL of alcohol on premises under the CODE AT TITLE V BUSINESS control of the City. Under Section I LICENSES AND REGULATIONS B, #2, the word “allows” will be AT SECTION 5.08 changed to “allowed”. Section I, B, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: #4, will be replaced with “These rules and regulations pertain to the entirety of the Lake Vandalia Marina and marina parking area, the Lake Vandalia public beach and public fee camping area, also identified as the Jaycee Park area, which for purposes of this title shall extend from the West side of the Lake Vandalia Marina parking lot westerly to the public fee camping area, the Rotary and Lions Pavilion areas and through and including the children’s park, beach area and beach parking lot loop, and the North side annual lease lots, including Girl Scout Camp Marill”. 2  Motion was made by Hobler and seconded by Lester to approve amended Ordinance 2024-6-24-B: An Ordinance Amending the Vandalia Municipal Code at Title V Business Licenses and Regulations at Section 5.08 Alcoholic Beverages. Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Lester, yea; Brosman, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, yea. Lewey, Barker and Bowen were absent. Motion carried. PRELIMINARY AND FINAL The preliminary and final plats for PLATS FOR INDUSTRIAL Lot 1 at the Industrial Park were PARK CONSERVATION AREA: reviewed. Tucker Willms is purchasing 3.50 acres. Motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Lester to accept the Lot 1 plat in the industrial park. Motion carried. APPROVE OR REJECT BIDS Motion was made by Brosman and FOR BEACH HOUSE PLUMBING seconded by Stunkel to approve the (WILL OPEN AT MEETING): bid for beach house plumbing submitted by Braun Plumbing in the amount of $1,400.00 pending the bid meets the criteria. Motion carried. POTENTIAL SECOND EXIT Discussion was held regarding the FOR VANDALIA LAKE: need for a second exit at the campgrounds. Motion was made by Hobler and seconded by Stunkel to open the road permanently. Brosman said the apron off of Highway 185 needs to be improved before he would agree to opening the road permanently. Roll call: Lester, nay; Brosman, nay; Stunkel, nay; Hubler, nay; Hobler, yea. Lewey, Barker, and Bowen were absent. Motion failed. Motion was made by Brosman and seconded by Hobler to remove the barricade on the secondary road, install appropriate gates, and use 3  the road for emergency vehicles only. The road would only be used for special events until the improvements have been made. Roll call: Stunkel, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, yea; Brosman, yea. Lewey, Barker and Bowen were absent. Motion carried. DISCUSSION ON SOLAR AND Discussion was held regarding solar WIND POWER: and wind power. A Local Government Tool Kit packet was reviewed. Connor said right now only electric facilities are allowed by Special Use in the agricultural district. The Council will be asked to pass an Ordinance on July 1 to allow those special use projects within the County. The County does not get to regulate the way the City gets to regulate. Connor suggested using the tool kit in preparation for the draft Ordinance as a template. The question is where is the City going to allow these? Are they going to require a Special Use permit? Currently, electricity can only be generated in an agricultural district by Special Use permit. He stated the City’s policy should not be to restrict solar because it’s solar. The policy should be to ensure that any solar installations that occur (through business entities or residential users), do not violate the zoning code or impact other people in a negative way. Gottman stated he wanted to make sure that, prior to anything being issued, all adjacent property owners who would be affected must be notified in writing via certified mail and an opportunity to come to a meeting where the City is going to consider these things. There were no objections to rooftop solar projects. He suggested the Council 4  come up with a model Ordinance that can be discussed with the community at public meetings to get their input. He would like to have a draft Ordinance prepared and ready for the July 15, 2024 Council meeting with the Ordinance being finalized in August. Connor will send updated material to the Council. ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by Hubler and seconded by Stunkel to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. _____________________________ City Clerk 5