McLean County Times

Town of Normal Town Council met May 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Koos called the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council to Order at 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 5, 2025.

2. ROLL CALL:

The Clerk called the roll with the following persons

PRESENT: Mayor Chris Koos and Councilmembers Kevin McCarthy, Scott Preston, Kathleen Lorenz, Rory Roberge, Andy Byars, and Karyn Smith, also present were City Manager Pamela Reece, Assistant City Manager Jenny Keigher, Corporation Counsel Jason Querciagrossa, and Town Clerk Angie Huonker.

ABSENT: None.

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Koos led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT:

Jean Olsen, Normal resident, expressed her concerns regarding short-term rentals. Tom Collins, Normal resident, expressed his concerns regarding short-term rentals.

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 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 21, 2025

B. REPORT TO RECEIVE AND FILE TOWN OF NORMAL EXPENDITURES FOR PAYMENT AS OF APRIL 30, 2025

C. RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT BIDS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO GEORGE GILDNER, INC. FOR THE 2025 SUMP PUMP DISCHARGE AND STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $296,364: Resolution No. 6372

D. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE TOWN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE MUNICIPAL INSURANCE COOPERATIVE AGENCY (MICA) INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR PLAN YEAR 2025-26: Resolution No. 6373

MOTION:

Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Preston, the Council Approval of the Omnibus Vote Agenda.

AYES: Preston, Lorenz, Byars, Roberge, Smith, McCarthy, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

Item B was removed from Omnibus Vote by Lorenz.

Items A, C, and D were approved by Omnibus Vote.

6. ITEMS REMOVED FROM OMNIBUS VOTE AGENDA:

REPORT TO RECEIVE AND FILE TOWN OF NORMAL EXPENDITURES FOR PAYMENT AS OF APRIL 30, 2025:

MOTION:

Councilmember Lorenz moved, seconded by Councilmember McCarthy, the Council Approval of a Report to Receive and File Town of Normal Expenditures for Payment as of April 30, 2025.

AYES: Lorenz, Byars, Roberge, Smith, McCarthy, Preston, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

Lorenz requested information on the Town of Normal donation installment balance to the Children’s Discovery Museum. Reece responded. Lorenz highlighted the purchase of an ambulance. Reece responded.

GENERAL ORDERS:

There were no General Orders.

NEW BUSINESS:

7. ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS TO JULY 1, 2025: Ordinance No. 6023

MOTION:

Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Smith, the Council Approval of an Ordinance Extending the Moratorium on Short-Term Rentals to July 1, 2025.

AYES: Byars, Roberge, Smith, McCarthy, Preston, Lorenz, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

Reece introduced the item and explained that the purpose of the extension was to allow time to evaluate potential impacts from recently proposed state legislation.

Byars asked how capacity limits were governed and whether those regulations applied to short-term rentals. Corporation Counsel Jason Querciagrossa responded.

Lorenz asked for clarification on the vote, the timeline for an update on staff’s recommendations, and what the pending state legislation addressed. Reece and Assistant City Manager Brian Day responded. Lorenz questioned whether input had been received from other stakeholders. Reece responded.

Byars requested clarification on the pending state legislation. Day responded.

8. ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY VACATING EASEMENTS ON LOTS 367-368 OF THE ELEVENTH ADDITION TO VINEYARDS SUBDIVISION (3623, 3625 CABERNET COURT): Ordinance No. 6024

MOTION:

Councilmember Preston moved, seconded by Councilmember Smith, the Council Approval of an Ordinance Conditionally Vacating Easements on Lots 367-368 of the Eleventh Addition to Vineyards Subdivision (3623, 3625 Cabernet Court).

AYES: Roberge, Smith, McCarthy, Preston, Lorenz, Byars, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

9. RESOLUTION CONDITIONALLY APPROVING THE RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 367-368 ELEVENTH ADDITION TO VINEYARDS SUBDIVISION (3623, 3625 CABERNET COURT): Resolution No. 6374

MOTION:

Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Preston, the Council Approval of a Resolution Conditionally Approving the Resubdivision of Lots 367-368 Eleventh Addition to Vineyards Subdivision (3623, 3625 Cabernet Court).

AYES: Smith, McCarthy, Preston, Lorenz, Byars, Roberge, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

10. MOTION TO INITIATE A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT PERTAINING TO VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE ZONING CODE:

MOTION:

Councilmember McCarthy moved, seconded by Councilmember Roberge, the Council Approval of a Motion to Initiate a Zoning Text Amendment Pertaining to Various Sections of the Zoning Code.

AYES: McCarthy, Preston, Lorenz, Byars, Roberge, Smith, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

Lorenz requested clarification on the process and the next steps following the vote. Reece responded. Lorenz asked for a summary of the changes. Reece invited Town Planner Mercy Davison to provide the summary.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Alex Bell, Bloomington-Normal resident, expressed her concerns regarding recent staffing decisions at the Illinois Art Station.

Seth Wheeler, Normal resident, expressed his concerns regarding recent staffing decisions at the Illinois Art Station.

Ron Ulmer, Normal resident, expressed his concerns regarding the Town’s website and the Linden Street resurfacing project.

Eliab Vazquez requested information on community mental health spending and expressed concerns about long wait times at local hospitals and the need to hire additional mental health providers.

Fred Royster, former graduate teaching assistant at the Illinois Art Station, expressed his concerns about recent staffing decisions at the organization.

12. CONCERNS:

Smith noted that ISU students will soon be moving out and that the Office of Sustainability is promoting a program to store unneeded items.

Lorenz noted that the Ecology Action Center, in partnership with Home Sweet Home Ministries, coordinated a cleanup day at the tent encampment on Main Street and encouraged community members to volunteer. She also stated that the encampment is scheduled to be disbanded by June 1.

Preston extended congratulations to all college and high school graduates. McCarthy welcomed Councilmember Rory Roberge.

13. 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 Lorenz, the Council Accept a Motion to Adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council.

AYES: Preston, Lorenz, Byars, Roberge, Smith, McCarthy, Koos.

NAYS: None.

Motion declared carried.

Mayor Koos adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council at 7:43 p.m., Monday, May 5, 2025.

https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5296