Mayor Gary W. Manier called the regular meeting of Monday, December 6, 2010 to order at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Washington District Library.

Present and answering roll call were Aldermen Newman, Brucks, Moss, Clanin, Howerter, Dingledine, Gee and Schneider.

Also present was City Attorney Ken Black, City Administrator Robert Morris, Police Chief Jim Kuchenbecker, P & D Director Jon Oliphant, City Engineer Ken Newman, Public Services Manager Bill Bimrose, Controller Joanie Baxter, City Clerk Pat Brown, and members of the press.

All present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance which was led by the VanDerBurg children, Caitlin, Phillip, Keaton, and Cohen.

The Agenda was reviewed and stood as presented.

Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Items included on the Consent Agenda were minutes of the November 15, 2010 Council meeting; payment authorization - release of DCEO grant funds to WACC, Inc.; and approve & authorize TIF #2 subsidy payment - Dennis Shubert, 104 N. High St. 
On roll call on the motion to approve the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Brucks, Clanin, Schneider, Newman, Moss, Gee, Howerter, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Audience Comments - Mrs. Faye Brautigan, 603 Yorkshire Drive - Expressed her concern about the beavers living in the creek upstream from the Stratford/Kingsbury bridge. Trees and shrubs are being chomped down and severe damage is being done to properties near the bridge in addition to the debris that collects under the bridge. The city was contacted and did come out and remove the debris in late November. She indicated that the beavers are nesting and more debris is collecting under the bridge. There is also a concern about the erosion of the creek banks and the amount of trips the city will need to make to keep debris from collecting under the bridge. Mayor Manier thanked Mrs. Brautigan for making the city aware of the problem and told her that Public Services will look into the issues and get back with her on their findings.

Mayor Manier requested Council approval of his appointment of Konrad VanDerBurg to the Police Pension Board. Alderman Schneider moved and Alderman Gee seconded to concur with the appointment as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Brucks, Clanin, Dingledine, Newman, Moss, Howerter, Gee, Schneider 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Alderman Newman reported item A under City Administrator on the agenda for the Finance & Personnel Committee. Alderman Dave Dingledine, Public Safety Committee Chairman reported nothing on the agenda. Alderman Al Howerter, Public Services Committee Chairman reported item D under City Attorney on the agenda.

City Attorney Black read a resolution, by title only and brief synopsis, authorizing the conveyance of certain right-of-way in conjunction with the Illinois Route 8 reconstruction. Adoption of this resolution will authorize the conveyance of road right-of-way and a temporary construction easement to the Illinois Department of Transportation to enable the reconstruction of the intersection of IL Route 8 and School Street in conjunction with the planned upgrade of Illinois Route 8 east of Summit. Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Schneider, Dingledine, Clanin, Brucks, Newman, Moss, Howerter, Gee 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read a resolution, by title only and brief synopsis, accepting a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Approval of this resolution will adopt the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which updates the 2004 plan and sets region-wide goals and objectives for the identification of natural hazards and the protection of critical public infrastructure and facilities. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Newman seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Clanin, Dingledine, Gee, Moss, Schneider, Brucks, Newman, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read a resolution, by title only and brief synopsis, appointing Mary Westerfield as Deputy City Clerk of the City of Washington. Approval of this resolution will authorize the appointment by City Clerk Pat Brown of Mary Westerfield as Deputy City Clerk. Alderman Clanin moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Newman, Moss, Howerter, Gee, Dingledine, Schneider, Brucks, Clanin 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read a resolution, by title only and brief synopsis, authorizing change order No. 6 for Phase 1 Improvements to Sewer Treatment Plant #2. Adoption of this resolution will authorize the approval and execution of Change Order No. 6 to the construction contract with River City Construction in the amount of $102,437 for additional work related to Sewer Treatment Plant No. 2 improvements. Alderman Brucks moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Moss, Dingledine, Gee, Newman, Clanin, Schneider, Howerter, Brucks 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided second reading, by title only and brief synopsis, of an ordinance amending §154.148 of the Code of Ordinances entitled, "General Standards." Adoption of this ordinance will prohibit the city from regulating the duration that political signs can remain on residential property following an election. Alderman Gee expressed his discontent with this change and cannot support it. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 6 Newman, Brucks, Moss, Clanin, Howerter, Dingledine 
Nays: 2 Gee, Schneider 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided second reading, by title only and brief synopsis, of an ordinance amending various sections of Chapter 152 entitled, "Subdivision Code." Adoption of this ordinance will not require the city to review and approve any documents associated with a condominium development but instead the documents would be submitted to the city for public inspection purposes only. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. City Administrator Morris clarified that the ordinance as it is currently drafted will allow all new residential, commercial, and industrial condominiums as well as all residential, commercial, and industrial condominiums conversions. Alderman Newman commented that he is okay with new condominiums but sees problems with allowing conversions. Alderman Gee asked if the discussion during the Committee of the Whole meeting was to not allow residential conversions only and P & D Director Oliphant replied that the discussion was to not allow any residential, commercial, or industrial condominium conversions. Following a brief discussion Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to amend the original motion to not allow any condominium conversions and only allow new construction condominiums. 
On roll call the vote to amend the motion was: 
Ayes: 8 Newman, Moss, Howerter, Gee, Clanin, Schneider, Brucks, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided first reading, by title only and brief synopsis, of the following ordinances: 1) an ordinance authorizing a Cable TV Franchise Agreement. Adoption of this ordinance will authorize the approval and execution of a Cable TV Franchise Agreement with Comcast Cable. Among other things, this non-exclusive franchise will enable Comcast to continue to provide cable TV services to residents of the city for a period of ten years; 2) an ordinance levying the annual Municipal Tax. Adoption of this ordinance will set the city's property tax levy for 2010 taxes payable in 2011 in the total amount of $1,138,313; 3) an ordinance abating Tax Levy in connection with $1,325,000 Alternate Revenue Bonds, Series 2002. Adoption of this ordinance will abate a prior property tax levy in the amount of $113,317.50 made in conjunction with the $1,325,000 Alternate Revenue Bond, Series 2002, previously issued for the construction of improvements to South Cummings Road. This debt service obligation will be paid from the city's annual operating budget; 4) an ordinance abating Tax Levy in connection with $1,675,000 Alternate Revenue Bonds, Series 2002. Adoption of this ordinance will abate a prior property tax levy in the amount of $151,150 made in conjunction with the $1,675,000 Alternate Revenue Bond, Series 2002, previously issued for the construction of the N. Cummings/Cruger Road Improvement project. This debt service obligation will be paid from the city's annual operating budget; 5) an ordinance abating Tax Levy in connection with $5,000,000 Alternate Revenue Bonds, Series 2006. Adoption of this ordinance will abate a prior property tax levy in the amount of $396,319 made in conjunction with the $5,000,000 Alternate Revenue Bond, Series 2006, previously issued for the construction of Five Points Washington. This debt service obligation will be paid from the city's annual operating budget; 6) an ordinance amending §152.016 entitled, "Drainage Plan." Adoption of this ordinance would reduce the finished grade on each lot from ten percent within the first ten feet from the building foundation to five percent to be consistent with the regulations stated in the International Residential Code; and 7) an ordinance authorizing a contract with Tazewell County Animal & Rabies Control for animal & rabies control services. Adoption of this ordinance will authorize a contract with Tazewell County to provide for animal and rabies control services for 2011 in the amount of $13,163. These ordinances will be listed on the December 20th meeting agenda for action.

Mayor Manier announced that reporter Jennifer Freeman for the Washington Times Reporter has accepted a job at Caterpillar and this will be her last City meeting to cover. He expressed his appreciation for her work covering the City of Washington news and wished her the best of luck in her new job.

City Administrator Morris requested authorization to award the city's Property and General Liability insurance coverage to Alexander/Murray (Travelers) in the amount of $89,969.00 and to award the city's Workers Compensation insurance coverage to Winter Insurance (Bituminous) in the amount of $236,139 which includes Employer Liability in the higher amounts of $1,000,000/$1,000,000/$1,000,000. He expressed that these bids were the two least costly for the City. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to approve the requests as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Schneider, Dingledine, Clanin, Newman, Moss, Gee, Brucks, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Police Chief Kuchenbecker requested authorization to purchase a new Radio Repeater System in the amount of $20,273.00 from Ragan Communications. He went on to say our current system is located on School Street and that adding this second repeater will increase our radio coverage as well as improve our ability to communicate in the areas that we are having difficulty with, one being inside the High School building. Alderman Howerter asked if this includes the installation of an additional tower and Chief Kuchenbecker replied that there is an existing tower that has not been in use since 2004 on Legion Road and Public Services will paint and transport the tower to its new location on Wilmor Road. He added that the only cost in placing the tower is setting the base that it goes on. Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Schneider seconded to approve the request as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Brucks, Clanin, Dingledine, Newman, Moss, Howerter, Schneider, Gee 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Alderman Schneider congratulated the Washington High School Junior Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team for a second place victory at the tournament held by the Peoria Area Scholastic Bowl League recently. He added that only one question separated the first and second place winners. Alderman Clanin thanked the city for their support of the 5th Annual Basketball Tournament of Champions that was held at Washington Community High School on November 23rd-27th. He added that he personally watched 29 of the games and the tournament was run very well and the support of local businesses was great. He also mentioned that the High School Girls Volleyball Team set a school record for the number of wins this year and what a great season they had.

At 7:08 p.m. Alderman Moss moved and Alderman Clanin seconded to adjourn. 
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.