Town of Normal Council met May 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Koos called the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council to order at 7:17 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL:
The Clerk called the roll with the following persons
PRESENT: The Meeting was conducted virtually. There were no persons physically present in Council Chambers.
REMOTE: Mayor Chris Koos and Councilmembers Kevin McCarthy, Chemberly Cummings, Stan Nord, Karyn Smith, Kathleen Lorenz, and Scott Preston, also present were City Manager Pamela Reece, Assistant City Manager Eric Hanson, Corporation Counsel Brian Day, and Town Clerk Angie Huonker. ABSENT: None.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Koos led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Given the circumstances necessitated by the COVID – 19 crisis, and in accordance with a mandate of social distancing, public comment was made available virtually through the use of Zoom Meeting.
There was no Public Comment.
5. OMNIBUS VOTE AGENDA:
Mayor Koos read aloud the items to be considered by the Omnibus Vote Agenda.
A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF MAY 4, 2020; APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 4, 2020:
B. REPORT TO RECEIVE AND FILE TOWN OF NORMAL EXPENDITURES FOR PAYMENT AS OF MAY 13, 2020:
MOTION:
Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Smith, the Council Approval of the Omnibus Vote Agenda.
AYES: McCarthy, Cummings, Nord, Smith, Lorenz, Preston, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
Item A was approved by the Omnibus Vote. Item B was removed from the Omnibus Vote.
6. ITEMS REMOVED FROM OMNIBUS VOTE AGENDA:
REPORT TO RECEIVE AND FILE TOWN OF NORMAL EXPENDITURES FOR PAYMENT AS OF MAY 13, 2020:
MOTION:
Councilmember Nord moved, seconded by Councilmember Smith, the Council Accept a Report to Receive and File Town of Normal Expenditures for Payment as of May 13, 2020.
AYES: Cummings, Nord, Smith, Lorenz, Preston, McCarthy, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
Councilmember Nord asked for clarification on several expenses. Mayor Koos and Assistant City Manager, Eric Hanson responded.
GENERAL ORDERS:
7. ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE PARK WEST AND GREYSTONE FIELDS SUBDIVISIONS: Ordinance No. 5827:
MOTION:
Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Smith, the Council Adopt an Ordinance to Amend the Parking Restrictions within the Park West and Greystone Fields Subdivisions.
AYES: Nord, Smith, Lorenz, Preston, McCarthy, Cummings, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
8. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE UNDERGROUNDING OF CERTAIN UTILITIES IN UPTOWN NORMAL ALONG E. BEAUFORT STREET IN THE ALLEY LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE RAILROAD FROM UPTOWN CIRCLE TO LINDEN AVENUE AND AWARD A BID TO ANDERSON ELECTRIC: Ordinance No. 5828:
MOTION:
Councilmember Lorenz moved, seconded by Councilmember McCarthy, the Council Adopt an Ordinance Authorizing the Undergrounding of Certain Utilities in Uptown Normal along E. Beaufort Street in the Alley adjacent to the Railroad from Uptown Circle to Linden Avenue and Award a Bid to Anderson Electric.
AYES: Smith, Lorenz, Preston, McCarthy, Cummings, Koos.
NAYS: Nord.
Motion declared carried.
Council discussion included a review of utility undergrounding practices in the Town as it pertains to both development and infrastructure improvements. The discussion also included a review of options for this project based on utility provider requirements, safety concerns, and accessibility to the services.
Council also discussed TIF funding and reimbursements specific to this project as well as previous projects.
9. ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING BOUNDARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AREA KNOWN AS THE BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL ENTERPRISE ZONE – FERRERO EXPANSION: Ordinance No. 5829:
MOTION:
Councilmember Preston moved, seconded by Councilmember McCarthy, the Council Adopt an Ordinance Authorizing Boundary Modifications to the area known as the Bloomington-Normal Enterprise Zone – Ferrero Expansion.
AYES: Lorenz, Preston, McCarthy, Cummings, Nord, Smith, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
10. RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT BIDS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO ROWE CONSTRUCTION CO., A DIVISION OF UNITED CONTRACTORS MIDWEST, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,535,647.15 FOR THE 2020 MFT STREET RESURFACING PROJECT: Resolution No. 5775:
MOTION:
Councilmember Preston moved, seconded by Councilmember McCarthy, the Council Approve a Resolution to Accept and Award a Contract to Rowe Construction Co., a Division of United Contractors Midwest Inc., in the Amount of $1,535,647.15 for the 2020 MFT Street Resurfacing Project.
AYES: Lorenz, Preston, McCarthy, Cummings, Nord, Smith, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
11. PRESENTATION ON COVID-19 COMMUNITY IMPACT AND RESPONSE FROM PATH:
Karen Zangerle, Executive Director of PATH, gave a brief presentation on the impact her organization is seeing due to COVID-19. Ms. Zangerle indicated they have seen a large increase in call volume for housing needs. Ms. Zangerle also discussed distribution of funds to those most in need and the development of a plan to assist that process.
12. PRESENTATION ON COVID-19 COMMUNITY IMPACT AND RESPONSE BY THE UNITED WAY:
David Taylor, CEO of United Way McLean County and Phani Aytam, United Way McLean County Board Chairman, gave a brief presentation on the United Way COVID Community Response.
Mr. Taylor reviewed the background of the program and discussed the goals and guiding principles of the group. Mr. Taylor also discussed the types of assistance that are being requested. Mr. Taylor then reviewed the fundraising efforts, grants, and spending involved to support the program.
Mr. Aytam gave a summary of program efforts concerning mask distribution to those distributing food, paper product distribution, and the need for an integrated and coordinated approach to work towards solutions for providing assistance.
13. CONCERNS:
Councilmember Chemberly Cummings thanked the presenters and their organizations for their efforts in the community. Ms. Cummings discussed her position on community re- opening, public perception, and the future of doing business as it pertains to COVID-19.
Councilmember Karyn Smith spoke about her concerns with the lack of masks being worn and social distancing practices not being followed. Ms. Smith also noted her understanding with the frustration restaurants are facing, stating delivery services are not sufficient for them to maintain a successful business. Ms. Smith then indicated she would like to see advanced planning and coordination of a program that will work when reopening occurs.
Councilmember Stan Nord stated that he follows logistics closely, indicating there is a trend in larger distribution centers being moved to smaller, more diverse centers in smaller communities, noting Bloomington Normal could be a likely candidate. Mr. Nord went on to discuss pandemic issues.
Councilmember Kevin McCarthy thanked the presenters from PATH and United Way. Mr. McCarthy thanked staff for working with government partners to plan jointly, beyond typical governance. Mr. McCarthy then spoke about public confidence problems in reopening processes of other states, indicating testing capacity and contact tracing will be important to promote public confidence that it is safe to go out locally.
Councilmember Scott Preston expressed thanks to the residents, businesses, and our community for their patience, noting it is difficult to be isolated and remain at home. Mr. Preston noted he would support efforts to speed up the process of reopening.
Mayor Koos stated the Town is trying to work with the Governor rather then against him, noting he is part of an effort to ask the Governor for consideration of regional reopening plan.
Councilmember Kathleen Lorenz stated there is not a right or wrong answer for reopening the economy, indicating models are being built on assumptions. Mrs. Lorenz noted there is a continuum of decisions needed to find balance between economic health and public health.
City Manager, Pamela Reece indicated it is useful for staff to hear Council comments and concerns while the Town addresses the need to build resilience and get organizations and the community thru this pandemic.
Cultural Arts Director, Beth Whisman clarified earlier concerns regarding specific advertising expenses of Cultural Arts programming.
14. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Koos called for a Motion to Adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council.
MOTION:
Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Preston, the Council Accept a Motion to Adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council.
AYES: McCarthy, Cummings, Nord, Smith, Lorenz, Preston, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
Mayor Koos adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council at 9:18 p.m., Monday, May 18, 2020.
https://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3664
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