CITY OF KANKAKEE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

OCTOBER 5, 2009 7:01 P.M.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: It’s 7:00 A.M. and I would–P.M.–seems like 7:00 A.M. I’d like to call the meeting to order and ask Pastor Carl Randle from Fair Haven Church of God in Christ to come forward and lead us in prayer.

PASTOR RANDLE: If you all......please m’ams and sirs, please be so kind to just grab the next person’s hand next to you. Eternal God, our Father, we thank You Lord for Your goodness and for Your kindness. We thank You, God, for this wonderful City. God, this is a wonderful City, good place where children can be raised. We thank You, God, for the City Council and all the elected officials. We pray, God, that you would, ah, have them help to have a team concept together, everyone accomplish more. We pray God for the collaboration of this Council. God, we pray, Lord, that they make informed and intelligent and wise decisions for this City, that this City may flourish and move forward as it once has. We thank You, God, for Your blessings and God, You have blessed everyone. We pray, God, now that You would help us in our endeavors in this City. Lord, that this City be the great City that it once was. Lord, that it begin to come up, flourish, jobs, new motivation, new ideals that’ll be inspiration to other surrounding cities. Now, we ask Your blessings in Jesus’ name. Amen.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Now, I would like to ask the youth from Fair Haven Sunshine Band to come forward and lead us in the Pledge.

YOUTH FROM FAIR HAVEN SUNSHINE BAND AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you very much. May we have roll call, please?

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department Heads, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Kinkade; Young; Doyle; Bohlen; Simms; Tyson; Rodriguez; Gordon; Beasley (9)

ABSENT: Spice; Power (2)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do I have a motion to accept the minutes from the September 21, 2009, meeting?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor Epstein, hearing no objections from my colleagues, I move they be approved as recorded.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do I have a second?

ALDERMAN OSENGA: I’ll second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Osenga to accept the minutes. Roll call. All those in favor. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Motion carries. Ah, we have a Petition from the Planning Board, PB09-14, an Ordinance authorizing a conditional use permit to allow General Development Corporation of Kankakee to establish and operate a commercial self-storage facility at the property commonly known as 1855 S. Schuyler Avenue. Do I have a motion to accept the Findings and Recommendations of the Planning Board?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: I so move.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Swanson. Is there a second?

ALDERMAN FAFORD: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Faford to accept the findings. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (12)

ABSTAIN: Baron (I have a conflict of interest and I have to abstain.) (1)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

PB09-14, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO

ALLOW GENERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF KANKAKEE TO

ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A COMMERCIAL SELF-STORAGE FACILITY

AT THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1855 S. SCHUYLER AVENUE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. We now have the Ordinance approving a conditional use permit for the same facility. Do I have a motion to Suspend the Rules?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: I so move.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Swanson, seconded by.........

ALDERMAN FAFORD: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Faford to Suspend the Rules. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (12)

ABSTAIN: Baron (1)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Do I have a motion to place this Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: So moved.

ALDERMAN FAFORD: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Swanson, seconded by Alderman Faford to place the motion on its Final Passage. Roll call, please. Oh, I’m sorry. Discussion? Alderman Schwade.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Mayor Epstein, will we ever get the minutes again from the Planning Board?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes. That was a yes or no answer. Yes, we will.

ALDERMAN BROWN: And, I have a question?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes, Alderman Brown.

ALDERMAN BROWN: A couple of years ago, didn’t we approve a commercial storage shed for a property right across the railroad tracks from there?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Actually, there was one just south of there that we approved. And, they have not built them.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Oh, they did not build it?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: They have not built–started building, but it was approved but, they have not built those.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Then this probably is an inappropriate question to ask, so how long does those things–when we approve ‘em–how long will they have to go before they have to come before us to ask for approval? ‘Cause I thought they was.....

MAYOR EPSTEIN: You thought what Alderman Brown?

ALDERMAN BROWN: I thought there was another storage in the area?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Out there already.

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: There is another one across the tracks and south on Kensington.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Yeah.

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: But, there’s not another one on South Schuyler. And, my memory–and I’m doing this without having looked it up–my memory is a conditional use permit is good for a year as long as the use occurs and then it’s good until the use changes. But, if the use is not exercised within a year, then the conditional use permit reverts.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (12)

ABSTAIN: Baron (1)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

PB09-14, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO

ALLOW GENERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF KANKAKEE TO

ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A COMMERCIAL SELF-STORAGE FACILITY

AT THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1855 S. SCHUYLER AVENUE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto Communications, Mr. Jack Kotter has a presentation for us this evening.

MR. KOTTER: Good evening, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Good evening.

MR. KOTTER: I’m here representing the Chief of the Army Reserve as his ambassador to the State of Illinois. This past weekend we had a community covenant that we signed and assisting me is Colonel Pulaski of the Homewood Recruiting Station and also then SFC Whipple who is the station chief here in this local area. As you are aware, our local company, the 317^th Engineer Company, is about to deploy in this coming week to go to Iraq. And, I think it’s very important that we, as the local citizens that stay behind have an agreement with them, like we have in this community covenant. So, if I may, I would like to read it to you. It says, Together we are committed to building strong communities. We, the community, recognize

i the commitment and increasing sacrifices that our USAR are making every day

i the strength of our service members comes from the strength of their families

i the strength of their families is supported by the strength of the community.

We, the citizens of the City of Kankakee and the Villages of Bourbonnais and Bradley are committed to

i building partnerships that support the strength, resilience and readiness of the United States Army Reserve soldiers and their families

i assisting in the implementation of the Army family covenant.

I think this is particularly significant in the situation that we have a lot of the families and relatives that are not necessarily very familiar with the military and this transition into military families is one that they now have to go through and, that requires the support of the community. If they were more accustomed to serving on active duty, they would probably be located on an installation where they would have a lot of support services that would already be built there, so I’m particularly proud of the City of Kankakee and Mayor for agreeing to sign this covenant to show our support and our commitment to these soldiers. I would like to point out one thing. In the upper left-hand corner is the emblem of the United States Army Reserve and on that you’ll see two faces. Our motto........we have been also called twice the citizen. We’re the citizen here locally; we’re also the citizen as a warrior protecting our nation. So, I appreciate your support and I thank you and I would like to present you then with this poster of the covenant.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: It was an honor and privilege. Our next item on the agenda is a presentation by the U.S. Census Bureau. We all are aware that the census is coming up and, ah, I would like to call Nicole forward. Oh, I’m sorry, you’re there already. I’m looking for you.

JILL HENRIKSEN: I have a little bit of a podium over here so don’t mind me. Just so I can follow my own notes. Yes, the census is next year already and I have some basic information that I wanted to make sure that I share with you as we get a little bit closer. The U.S. Constitution, Article One, Section Two mandates that a head count be taken every ten years. The first one was done in 1970 and every ten years since. The goal is to count every person once where they live. Now, this includes all ages, races, ethnics groups, citizens and even non-citizens. While many people want to know why is this census important? And, there are just so many ways. First of all, it determines the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. It also helps to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts. And, it also is used for annual distribution over $400,000,000,000.00 in federal and state funding per year. So, it’s a tremendous amount of money. Now, the data that is collected from the census is used for community planning. It lets us know where to build some roads, where to build schools, and also hospitals. It is used for Title I Grants to educational agencies, Head Start programs, directing funds for services for people in poverty and it also is used for women, infants and children, WIC, or food grants. Public transportation, growth and rehabilitation construction and the list goes on and on. I think I handed out a sheet to everybody that has about 50 ways that actually census data is used. But, just some other important ones, is it helps out for programs for the elderly and also emergency food and shelter and also estimating the number of people displaced by natural disasters. And, as you can imagine, dealing with Hurricane Katrina, that was a huge issue for them because they were undercounted. And, one of the biggest things I really wanted to bring up to the City of Kankakee is that your response rate in 2000 was only 60%. That means 40% of your people did not even bother to respond to the survey. So, ultimately, what we’re looking to do is to encourage them to fill out the forms and mail them back in. And, that way we don’t have to send people out to knock on doors. Well, anyway, this is a little bit about the questionnaire. In 2010, it will be short form only. That means it will only be ten questions long. It should take a few minutes for people to fill out and mail back in. The long form which used to be 30 questions is now part of America Community Survey and that is being sent out on an annual basis to just a random few. Now, like I said, the survey takes a few minutes to fill out and there will be assistance provided if people in the area need help filling it out or on the phone. Confidentiality is also a big issue that we have to reeducate the public on. It is completely protected by Title 13 of the U.S. Code, Section 9. No court of law, not even the President of the United States, can see an individual’s responses. Now, he will get statistics, but that is it. Every census employee, including me, has taken a lifetime oath and if I violate that oath or share that information, I’m subject, or anybody else is too, to five years in prison and $250,000.00 fine. Now, what we’re doing in the communities is trying to set up what are called Complete Count Committees. And, the Complete Count Committee is usually appointed by the Mayor or the Village President and then on top of it they assemble a committee beneath the liaison and then they will actually work with me directly and we will hook ‘em up with some strategies for the City of Kankakee to help really raise awareness in the community. Now, members appointed to the Complete Count Committee could include people representing government, education, media, business, faith-based organizations and community groups. And, I wanted to just give you a few examples of some of the things other cities are doing just to kind of help raise awareness as we get closer. A lot of them are putting information on, let’s say, utility bills, water bills, gas-electric bills to say please fill out your census survey. It brings money back into our community. If they don’t have room for that they’ll put on there Census 2010 because it goes out to so many people and they see it. Some other things that have been done are creating promotional materials and products, customized to your area. I know Champaign-Urbana has a big student population down there so they are making bookmarks and that sort of thing and distributing that way. Some other things that we’re trying to do is just dispel the myths out there about privacy and encourage people, like I said, to just mail it in once they get it. And, that way we don’t have to have people come to knock on their doors. Now another thing that people could do is just create census banner posters or even hanging signage in very highly visible areas. Some of the things even our small villages and towns have actually done is just put them on marquees reminding people to send it in. Some other communities, especially the larger ones, are putting the Census 2010 logo on bus schedules, brochures, newsletters and even web sites. Some are sponsoring booths at festivals and some are also doing public service announcements as we get a little bit closer. Another neat idea that I’ve seen happening in Champaign-Urbana, what they’re going to be doing is on the public station, they’re going to be airing clips about why we need a census every ten years and so that helps educate people as well as why and the importance of it. Now, ah, basically, I think I had mentioned this to you guys before, your response rate in 2000 was only 60%, so you were missing 40% of your people not responding to the survey. And, that means a lot of money is not coming into your community. What you need to do is to become a partner. Obviously, you guys have signed a proclamation, so I want to thank you for partnering with us. And, from that point on, we will just kind of work on assembling the committee and start coming up with some ideas and ways to raise awareness. Now, real quick, this is the very last thing. Just want to make you aware of some important dates as we get a little bit closer. March 2010, that is when surveys will be mailed out. April 1, is considered Census Day and then in May through July we will have enumerators, or census takers, go out and knock door to door for those who did not actually answer the survey. December 31, 2010, that is when the Census Bureau delivers the population counts to the President and March 2011 is the delivery of redistricting. And, I have included, I think, some of the information I handed out there, my phone number so if anybody needs to get in touch with me, 217.317-9008. And, I again am the partnership specialist so if there’s anything I can do to help you guys along in this process, please let me know. I know Kankakee County has also formed a committee or is in the process of forming a committee, so if you need any information on that as well. Some of the communities are working together. And, that’s it.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Any questions?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: That percent response rate, is that for the City of Kankakee or the County?

JILL HENRIKSEN: The City.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: And, I believe you can share with the individual Alderman, not at this time, but they can actually tell you exactly where they call it a red zone, I believe.

JILL HENRIKSEN: It’s called a hot track. It’s an area where more than 50 people–or 50% of the people did not respond to the survey. I don’t think I have the map on me, but I think I know what streets........I thought I had it jotted down.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well, we can share that.

JILL HENRIKSEN: Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: At a different time.

JILL HENRIKSEN: Absolutely. Yeah, we break..........show you exactly where in Kankakee the numbers were even much higher. Or, lower, I guess you’d say for responding.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Are you saying that they’re going to mail out the census report first and then after a certain deadline, if you don’t get a response back, then you’re going to send people in the field?

JILL HENRIKSEN: That is correct.

ALDERMAN BROWN: And, our response rate was 60%?

JILL HENRIKSEN: Correct. So even after mailing them and even after having people knock on the door, your community for some reason, they’re just not making themselves available, they’re not...........they’re just dodging us like you wouldn’t believe.

ALDERMAN BROWN: So, that’s the way they do it every year, where they mail out the response first.......

JILL HENRIKSEN: The mailing goes out first, yes. And, then, ah, we’ll know exactly who.....you know, where they’ve been mailed to and if people don’t respond, that’s when we send enumerators out there multiple times.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Compared to other communities, are we high.....low? Where is that?

JILL HENRIKSEN: I would say I have 14 counties I cover. The response right here, very low.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Will you be disseminating information about the employment opportunities?

JILL HENRIKSEN: Yes, I will not personally, but I can tell you who the recruiter is now. I can get you in contact with........I can either go through the City Clerk if you’d like, but they were actually just now getting out and about and they are looking to hire and would love to hire locally so the people who do go knock on door to door know the areas really well. And, they’re part of the community.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Hunter, the Clerk just passed out that information.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yeah, okay.

ALDERMAN BARON: The census, the City, for the most recent census received credit for Federal programs for only 60% of our actual true population?

JILL HENRIKSEN: That’s correct.

ALDERMAN BARON: And, it’s not corrected from.........60% is after the door-to-door effort?

JILL HENRIKSEN: That was an accumulation of, you know, how many people responded and how many did not. And, so that’s what the number’s based on. The higher your response rate ultimately, the more money you’re going to have filter back in.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: It’s one of the reasons we felt it was very important to.........I’ve met with Nicole– Jill– earlier and we’ve talked about committees. We are committed to obviously doing a much better job this time than we did ten years ago. It is vitally important that all of our residents understand the need to fill out the census form. It is quick. It is easy. It is confidential. And, it means, literally, millions of dollars for the City of Kankakee.

JILL HENRIKSEN: Absolutely, I mean I use this analogy. This is just a hypothetical thing that if you have a family of four. Hypothetically that doesn’t fill out the form and say, hypothetically they’re worth $100.00. As you can imagine per year, that’s $400.00 a year for just that family, $4,000.00 over ten years. So, this not only sets us up for one year, it sets us up for the next ten years.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you very much. Any other questions?

ALDERMAN BROWNE: I have.........I just had one suggestion. When you’re looking for people to actually fill in those, you know, to work for you, to bring up the census, it would make sense to me to take them from that 40% area.

JILL HENRIKSEN: And, we, that’s one of the things we will do is we’ll heavily recruit in this area. Especially in Kankakee. So, yes, you probably will be getting some people stopping that’s in the recruiting department here I would say within the next week or two because they’ve been, you know, just starting to gear things up. We’ll also be starting to do another hiring here as we go into the month of November.

ALDERMAN BROWNE: Okay, thanks.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you very much. Moving onto the agenda. Items C, D and E are information only. In the rest of the Communications, F through J, there was an amended agenda that added Halloween hours to our Communications tonight.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move to approve.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Move to approve by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Schwade. It’s hard to tell your voice tonight.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Sorry.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: All those in favor? Opposed same sign.

KANKAKEE COLTS FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO

HOLD A TAG DAY ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009, WITH A RAIN DATE OF

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH IS REQUESTING STREET CLOSURE OF THE

ALLEY THAT RUNS ALONGSIDE THE CHURCH BUILDING AT 175 SOUTH

WALL STREET ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2009, FROM 11:30 A.M. UNTIL

2:30 P.M. FOR THEIR FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL

“MOVE ON” ORGANIZATION IS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO HOLD A

RALLY IN SUPPORT OF HEALTHCARE REFORM ON THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 15, 2009, FROM 7:00 P.M. UNTIL 9:00 P.M. IN THE GAZEBO

AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT AT SCHUYLER

AVENUE AND MERCHANT STREET (THE FARMERS MARKET PARKING LOT)

AQUINAS CATHOLIC ACADEMY IS REQUESTING STREET CLOSURE FROM

THE CORNER OF HICKORY STREET AND INDIANA AVENUE TO THE ALLEY

ON HICKORY STREET FOR THEIR TENTH ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE ON

FOLLOWING DATES AND TIMES: 6:30 TO 11:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY,

OCTOBER 16 AND 17, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 AND 24, AND

FRIDAY , OCTOBER 30, AND FROM 7:30 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY,

OCTOBER 31, 2009

CITY OF KANKAKEE TRICK OR TREAT HOURS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009 5:00 TO 7:00 P.M.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. So, just for the record, Halloween hours will be Halloween day–evening–from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M.

ALDERMAN BARON: What about Sunday?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: No. Halloween is on Halloween. July 4 is on July 4.

ALDERMAN BARON: Okay.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Standing Committees. Planning and Code. Alderman Swanson.

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Ah, just one item I want to discuss. It’s just that we would like all the Aldermen to submit a list of what they would like as the most important issues and priorities that they feel the Code Department should head in. And, if everybody could get that together and get it to me before the next meeting which I believe is on the 15^th, I’d really appreciate it.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you, Alderman Swanson. Public Works, Alderman Brown.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Thank you. I have a couple items. First of all, when License and Franchise is on the schedule on October 8, 5:15 P.M. I would like to invite the Solid Waste Committee, Jim Spice–he’s on vacation?–Richard Simms especially. I’ve asked Joe Deno to be there. We going to have a discussion on, ah, recycling from indistinguishable from Recycle Things who’s going to do a presentation. I think it’s very important for us to do this and do this presentation at this time. So, I would like to invite you. It’ll probably be a little lengthy, but I think it’ll be worthwhile. Also, ah, because I’m asking you from the Floor to consider Public Works is in need of a vehicle. There was a vehicle Dennis Doyle was driving got hit by a bus. And, it need to be replaced. The insurance company totaled the vehicle and we got the check for about $4,000.00 from that so he found a 2007 Chevy Silverado with 42,000 miles indistinguishable And, with that amount it would come out to be $16,200.00. And if you take the..... apply the $4,000.00 to that, the cost new vehicle is about $11,000.00. And, that will come out of Capital. It will not come out of the General Fund. So, I’m asking the Council to give its approval to go and purchase that vehicle.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: I’ll second. And, a question on the motion. We get a test ride?

DENNIS DOYLE: Yes.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion has been made by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Hunter.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Mayor. I just have one question.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Oh, I’m sorry. I have a question.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Is this because of after the last meeting with Alderman Hunter if they got hit?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: If they got hit by a bus? No. It occurred prior to Alderman Hunter’s discussion with Metro.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Oh, okay.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Good point, though, Alderman Schwade. So we have a motion on the Floor and a second to approve the purchase of a Chevy Silverado. It is a used vehicle for a total purchase price of $16,200.00 and we will back off the insurance payment of over $4,000.00. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE OF A CHEVY SILVERADO FOR

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries.

ALDERMAN BROWN: One other thing we mentioned that was this, okay, you see the leaves are beginning to fall and we did order a sweeper. I don’t think that has been presented yet, but we will be bringing that to the Council, too. The day, October 15, I think will be the beginning it looks like we’ll start doing the leaves and stuff like that, so I just wanted to make you aware of that. Hopefully, we have something indistinguishable to be able indistinguishable

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Mr. Doyle, I believe you’re going to advertise the dates also for leaf pickup?

DENNIS DOYLE: Yes, we are. As a matter of fact, they’re in the paper and Bill’s agreed to put them on his show as well as the web site.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Thank you. Anything else, Alderman Brown?

ALDERMAN BROWN: That’s it. Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Ordinance Committee. Alderman Swanson.

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Ah, I have a couple. I have a correction actually and I also, first I want to say that the draft for the new City Ordinance for business registration is not ready for the First Reading so we are going to refer that back to Committee. And, then, ah, the first paragraph was I put to amend Chapter 21 of the Municipal Code. I put 12. It’s actually supposed to be 21. And, I’m going to turn it over to Alderman Williams for a motion on those amendments.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I’ll make a motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Swanson to Suspend the Rules to amend Chapter 21 of the Municipal Code. And, Alderman Williams, would you just like to make note for everyone exactly what you are changing that to?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yes, ah, at first I was gonna’ consider the First Reading on this, but, ah, there is only a small minuscule changes, Section 1D, after the comma it should read two garage sales per year for three consecutive calendar days and that’s the only change on that page–the only substantive change. And, ah, on page two under E, the posting of permit, the Ordinance will supersede the sign Ordinance. So, that’s really the only.......

MAYOR EPSTEIN: So, basically, the change is, for the other Aldermen, that you may purchase a permit twice a year to have a garage sale for three days?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Correct.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Just so everyone is clear on the change.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Sure.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Any discussion?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: No, you gotta’ Suspend the Rules.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Oh, I’m sorry. Let’s Suspend the Rules.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion to Suspend the Rules.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Let’s vote on that. Let’s vote on the Suspension of the Rules.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. May I have a motion to put this item on its Final Passage and Pass?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: So moved.

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Swanson. Now is there any discussion?

ALDERMAN HUNTER: I bring this up because I know there was a guy, and I’m sure you guys know, this guy over on Water Street and Schuyler, his........he had garage sales all the time. Who’s going to police this?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well, we already have permits on the books....for garage sales.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: No, I know, but who’s going to actually make sure that they don’t.......they have........hold garage sales without a permit? Who’s going to oversee that?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well, our Police and Code Departments should be stopping at garage sales and asking to see the permit. The permit should be displayed. And that’s the procedures we’ve had in place before. Any other discussion? Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MOTION TO AMEND CHAPTER 21 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto the Report of Officers. Prior to the motion I would like to pull checks number 58199 and 58250. Do I have a motion to approve the bills?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor, I make a motion to Suspend–to approve the bills in the amount of........

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Minus those two checks.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yeah, minus those two checks in the amount of $1,403,561.00.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We will make the adjustment. Do I have a second?

ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Ciaccio. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $1,403,561.00 ($1403,298.30)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto Unfinished Business, we have the Second Reading of the Ordinance Amending Chapter 34 of the Municipal Code of Kankakee. Do I have a motion to approve?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: I so move.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Swanson, seconded by Alderman........

ALDERMAN BARON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Baron. Any discussion? Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

SECOND READING

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 OF THE MUNICIPAL

CODE OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto New Business, item A, the recommendation to award the bid of $95,197.25 to Datamine for the Citywide telephone system.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor Epstein, with the Council’s indulgence, I move this matter be referred to Corporation Counsel for recommendation to be presented at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do I have a second?

ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Swanson. All those in favor.

ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I’m sorry. Alderman Davidson.

ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: As much as I want us to get this right–and we need to get it right–my concern is every time someone has an issue with a bid, are we going to do this? I mean, you’ve already told us that the bid’s been done. It’s been done correctly, but now because we have some issues afterwards, and additional documentation is being supplied to us, I mean, does that actually circumvent what we’re doing?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Davidson, I agree with your comments, but the 13 Aldermen are the ones who have the power in this Chamber, quite honestly, and if their recommendation and idea is to put off the bid, then I’m sorry, I have no power to change that otherwise. Voice vote. Okay, the motion carries.

ALDERMAN BARON: Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes, I’m sorry.

ALDERMAN BARON: I have a conflict of interest on this issue also, and, am abstaining from any consideration of voting or discussion.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay, Alderman Baron is abstaining. Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Moving onto item.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: Ah, ah......all those in favor?

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: We did.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We did. We did that already. We did a voice vote.

ALDERMAN HUNTER: I don’t think. Did you guys vote?

UNKNOWN: I didn’t.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Let’s do.........all those in favor aye. Opposed.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Nay.

FINAL COUNT: 11 Aye 1 Nay 1 Abstain 1 Absent

MOTION TO DEFER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BID OF $95,197.25

TO DATAMINE FOR THE CITYWIDE TELEPHONE SYSTEM TO THE NEXT

REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. New Business, B. Ordinance amending Chapter 32, Section 231, Handicapped Parking Sign at 545 S. McKinley Avenue. Do I have a motion to Suspend the Rules?

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Mayor, I move that we Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of that Ordinance tonight.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: With your indulgence Alderman Linneman, we have another handicapped parking, item D. May we combine the two?

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Certainly.

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: That would be rescinding that handicapped.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We’re rescinding that? May we still combine them?

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Sure.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: With your approval?

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Yes.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Motion made by Alderman Linneman. Do I have a second?

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Osenga to Suspend the Rules. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Do I have a motion to put this item on its Final Passage and Pass–items?

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Mayor, I move that we put this on its Final Passage and Pass.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Linneman, seconded by.........

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Osenga. Any discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231 ESTABLISHING A

HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGN AT 545 SOUTH MCKINLEY AVENUE

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231 ENTITLED “HANDICAPPED

PARKING” OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE RESCINDING

HANDICAPPED PARKING ORDINANCE NO. 07-10 AT 312 SOUTH CHICAGO AVENUE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Williams.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Can we go back to the account payable and can you restate what those bills were that we’re–I need to mark ‘em? Those checks.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The numbers?

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yes.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: 58199 and 58250.

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Okay.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay? Moving on. We have an Ordinance declaring surplus property for the Kankakee Municipal Utility. God bless you. Do I have a motion to Suspend the Rules?

ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Brown, seconded by..........

ALDERMAN BROWNE: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Rich Browne. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Do I have motion to put this Ordinance.......

ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion to put this Ordinance on Final Passage and Pass.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Carl Brown, seconded by...........

ALDERMAN BROWN: He didn’t know about it.

ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Linneman. Any discussion. Roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson (13)

ABSENT: Cox (1)

ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE CITY OF

KANKAKEE – KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL UTILITY – AND AUTHORIZING THE

SALE THEREOF

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto Motions and Resolutions, we have a recommendation to accept the highway permit and Resolution for Kankakee City Hall (Administration Building) improvements, Phase II. This is the parking lot. Mr. Tyson, do you have any comments?

DAVID TYSON: All this is, is the Resolution that is required for the State permit for the entrance and fixing of the sidewalk and taking out the old drives adjacent to the parking lot across from new City Hall (Administration Building).

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I believe we just received this permit.

DAVID TYSON: Yes.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do I have a motion to approve?

ALDERMAN SCHWADE: So moved.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Schwade, seconded by.........

ALDERMAN JONES: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Jones. All in favor. Opposed.

RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE HIGHWAY PERMIT AND RESOLUTION

FOR KANKAKEE CITY HALL IMPROVEMENTS, PHASE II – TEI JOB NO. E07118

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Aldermen’s questions or comments? Alderman Jones, at the last City Council meeting, you had asked me to look into the bench in honor of Officer Samfay. When I spoke to the Police Department, the police officers were polled as to where they wanted the location of that bench and that was their preference because they come in and out of that door when the shift changes and they wanted there so they would have a constant reminder of Officer Samfay. So, that’s why the bench is in the location that it’s at.

ALDERMAN JONES: All right.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: There is no Executive Session tonight. Do I have a motion to adjourn?

ALDERMAN BROWNE: So moved.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Rich Browne, seconded by........

ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Williams. All those in favor. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We are adjourned.

7:44 P.M.