Peoria Standard

City of Delavan City Council met July 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The Delavan City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 6:30 pm in the Delavan City Council Room, 219 Locust Street, Delavan, Illinois. Mayor Elizabeth Skinner presided. The following aldermen were present: Wade Fornoff, James Horath, Jeffrey Johnson and Steven Yontz. Other city officials in attendance electronically were Alderman Hall. City officials in attendance in the council room were City Administrator Matt Fick, Attorney Bill Connor, Police Chief Jerry Littlefield and Deputy City Clerk Tammy Hintz. Citizens attending electronically were Derrick Martin and Chris Shertz. Alderman Bury absent.

The meeting notice and agenda were posted at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting on the door of the City Council Room and on the widow in City Hall. A copy of the meeting notice and agenda is attached to and made a part of the minutes.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present. 

The invocation was given by Mayor Skinner. 

The agenda order was changed allowing public comment at the end. This due to COVID-19 and to be in compliant with the Open Meetings Act. Appropriate language was attached at the bottom of the agenda to allow the public to email any questions. 

Executive Session was removed.

CONSENT AGENDA

The following items were presented to vote under the Consent Agenda

A. Minutes of the June 16, 2020, regular meeting

B. Approval of Resolution #2020-19 for payment of bills 

A motion was made by Alderman Horath, seconded by Alderman Johnson to approve Consent Item A., minutes of the June 16, 2020, regular meeting and Consent Item B., Resolution #2020-19, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DIRECTING THE PAYMENT OF CERTAIN BILLS OF THE CITY OF DELAVAN, ILLINOIS. The vote on this motion was a follows: Ayes: Fornoff, Horath, Johnson, Yontz, Hall; Nays: none; Absent: Bury. Motion carried.

MAYOR'S REPORT

> Mayor Skinner commented on activity going on downtown, exciting things are happening, City Administrator Matt Fick has been playing a very big role in this. As soon as she can release information she will. Mayor Skinner said this is an exciting time and things are looking good. 

> Mayor Skinner mentioned once again, that Connie Madden is doing a wonderful job with the flowers throughout the city.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

City Administrator Matt Fick made the following report:

> The pond at Lake Park has been partially stocked and we should be fully stocked next week. 

> Looking forward into future meeting an Ordinance will be proposed requiring anyone doing work in the City right of way to obtain a permit. This has been done in other communities, and typically only effects utility companies. 

> The City participated in the Municipal Electrical Aggregation bid, the current contract expires November 2020. Along with 110 downstate communities, the Peoria Area group decided to go with Homefield Energy. Homefield provides a substantial savings, the typical customer should save $125 per year. Information will be sent out to residents, they can choose to "opt out”. Alderman Yontz had questions concerning how the billing rate is determined. City Administrator Matt Fick, stated he would get more information to Alderman Yontz.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Discussion and action Approving and Adopting City of Delavan FY2020-2021 Residential Maintenance Program for Property located at 501 S Walnut. (Ordinance #2020-30) 

City Administrator Matt Fick reported the owner does qualify for the program and the money would be deducted from the general fund. A motion was made by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Hall to approve ORDINANCE #2020-30, ADOPTING CITY OF DELAVAN FY2020-2021 RESIDENTIAL MANINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 501 S WALNUT. The vote on this motion was as follows: Ayes; Johnson, Yontz, Hall, Fornoff, Horath, Nays; none, Absent; Bury. Motion carries.

B. Discussion and action Approving and Adopting City of Delavan FY2020-2021 Residential Maintenance Program for Property located at 123 Heritage Lane. (Ordinance #2020-31) 

City Administrator reported that the owner does qualify for the program and the money would be deducted from the general fund. A motion was made by Alderman Horath, seconded by Alderman Fornoff to approve ORDINANCE #2020-32, ADOPTING CITY OF DELAVAN FY2020-2021 RESIDENTIAL MANINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 123 HERITAGE LANE. The vote on this motion was as follows: Ayes; Yontz, Hall, Fornoff, Horath, Johnson, Nays; none, Absent; Bury. Motion carries.

C. Discussion and Action Approving a Request for Use of Lake Park to Host an Annual Tractor Pull Event. 

City Administrator Matt Fick stated now that the State is in Phase 4, we have the ability to hold this with safety guidelines in place. The City, along with Attorney Bill Connor and Chief Jerry Littlefield would recommend supporting this event. Derrick Martin who was available via phone requested to use Lake Park during Labor Day Weekend for their annual Tractor Pull. This is tradition for many years and asked the City for a $500 donation to put towards the event. Alderman Horath made a motion to APPROVE A REQUEST FOR THE USE OF LAKE PARK TO HOST AN ANNUAL TRACTOR PULL EVENT AND DONATE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Seconded by Alderman Fornoff. The vote on this motion was as follows, Ayes; Hall, Fornoff, Horath, Johnson, Yontz, Nays; none, Absent; Bury. Motion carries.

D. Discussion and action on an Ordinance Approving and Adopting the FY2020-2021 Commercial Façade and Building Renovation Program for Delavan Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District I and Delavan Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District 11(Ord#2020-32) 

City Administrator Matt Fick reported that this was clerical item, the way it was originally written the ordinance needs to be adopted annually. It is now written that we will not have to adopt the program every year. Alderman Hall moved to APPROVE AND ADOPT THE FY2020-2021 COMMERCIAL FACAED AND BUILDING RENOVATION PROGRAM FOR DELAVAN TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) DISTRICT 1 AND DELAVAN TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) DISTRICT || (ORDINANCE 2020-32) Seconded by Alderman Johnson. Alderman Fornoff asked that when the City is restoring the downtown area, that the Council implement an ordinance to maintain the character of the buildings. The City has the ability to do more to maintain and should encourage our businesses to look like they belong there. The historic district needs to be preserved. Mayor Skinner agreed and felt that we were heading down that path. Alderman Horath asked how we could get this accomplished. City Administrator Matt Fick said the City would have to hold a town meeting and take those findings to the Zoning Board for approval, which would then come to the Council for approval. Alderman Fornoff asked for the application to include architectural sketches to show what the building would look like. Alderman Yontz asked Attorney Bill Connor, if Alderman Fornoffs concerns, could be addressed through existing Ordinances that could prevent something being built that is not suitable for the downtown. Attorney Connor said that the final decision would be with City Administrator Matt Fick who is the reviewer and it would be his decision until we have something in place. City Administrator Matt Fick asked that the Council approve this Ordinance to provide reimbursement to those who have already been approved and done the work, then to temporarily suspend the program until a new ordinance can be drafted with appropriate changes. Attorney Bill Connor said without a clear message or Ordinance it would be hard to regulate the look of the improvements. Mayor Skinner asked if the Council could make the motion for those projects already submitted and put a moratorium on future projects. Mayor Skinner asked if Alderman Hall, who made the motion, would be comfortable adding an addendum that a moratorium be added until the historic preservation district was reviewed and a clear direction from said meetings. Alderman Hall and Alderman Johnson agreed to add the addendum. The votes were as follows: Ayes; Fornoff, Horath, Johnson, Yontz, Hall, Nays; none, Absent; Bury. Motion carries.

Other items for consideration:

> Alderman Horath received a call from a resident about owning a pet pig. Currently the existing Ordinance #2017-112 does not allow pigs. The resident provided and information packet to each Alderman. The packet included limits, cities that allow, and general rules concerning pigs as pets. Alderman Horath asked if we could add this to the next meetings agenda for discussion. Alderman Johnson received the same phone call, the packet was very informative and commended the resident for the information she provided. Alderman Johnson did not see any reason as to why the current Ordinance cannot be amended to allow pot belly pigs as long as they are vaccinated or licensed. Attorney Bill Connor stated that currently the only state license required are for dogs. Alderman Yontz, after receiving his information did some research and presented a list of pros and cons for pot belly pigs. Mayor Skinner asked to add this item to the next agenda. 

> Alderman Yontz asked City Administrator Matt Fick about the real estate on 3rd Street, City Attorney Bill Connor replied that the need for executive session was resolved. 

> Alderman Horath received a phone call about lily pads at Lake Park, could this hinder the fishing derby. City Administrator Matt Fick said the company that stocked the lake will come out and treat the lake in the fall.

No further business was presented to the council. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Skinner at 7:08 pm.

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