Kankakee Times

Kankakee City Council met Monday, Dec. 19.

The Kankakee City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month in Council Chambers at the Donald E. Green Public Safety Center, 385 E. Oak St.

Here are the minutes as provided by Kankakee:

CITY OF KANKAKEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 19, 2016 7:00 P.M.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I guess you guys are ready to start. You got quiet. I’d like to call this meeting to order and at the request of the IT Department, I am going to–this is December 19, 2016. The meeting of the City Council is now called to order. So that way they will have a marker so they know what date this Council meeting is being held on. There will be no prayer this evening. At this time I would like to ask Mr. Graves’ 6th grade class from King Middle Grade School to come forward and lead us in the Pledge.

MR. GRAVES’ SIXTH GRADE CLASS FROM KING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department Heads.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Regnier; Perkins; Kubal; Bohlen; Simms; Tyson; Cross; Bertrand; Yohnka; Schmitz (10) ABSENT: Power (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Moving onto the minutes. A motion to approve the minutes of the December 5, 2016, meeting.

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Motion to approve Mayor Epstein.

ALDERMAN CRAWFORD: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Osenga, seconded by Alderman Crawford to approve the minutes. Are there any additions or corrections? Hearing none, all those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 2016

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The minutes are approved. There are no Petitions. Before we move onto Communications, I would like to just extend the condolences of the City Council to the family of Pat Schatz on the passing of their daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca was at our last Council meeting, ah, as our auditor presenting the City’s audit and she was an extraordinary young woman and was certainly taken from us far too early. And, it’ll really be a void in the community because of all of the good works that she did. So, again, our condolences to Pat and her husband Bill on Rebecca’s passing. Ah, moving onto Communications, the first item is information–oh, no–the first item is not information only. Clerk Dumas is going paperless which means you all are going high tech. And, ah, we have Pete Schiel is here and we’re going to take a few minutes since we have you all together, to go through the steps that you will have to take in order to access the agenda and the Council packet starting at the next Council meeting. They have written instructions in there, but I’m more a hands on person, so we asked Pete to be here tonight. Before he starts, let me emphasize the computers you are receiving are properties of the City of Kankakee. They are to be used for City business only. There’s an internet use policy that is available on our City Employee Handbook. If you would like a copy of it, we’d be happy to share it with you. And anything that’s on that computer is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. And, periodically, we will collect the computers to make sure that they are being used in the proper manner. Okay. Pete.

PETE SCHIEL: We have a handout as you can see and it’s pretty self-explanatory. We have the login on these laptops automatically, so it’ll log you in, it’ll automatically connect to the wi fi that’s in this room for you. As, you can see, so you don’t have to worry about of those issues. Being automated are automatically processed for you. So, if you turn to page two, up in the center, it says City of Kankakee–looks like a tree–you double click on that and it will come up with the login page that we see here. The password is indicated in the handout on page two. And, essentially after that, once you log in appropriately it will come to the utility ESU packet and then the City Council packet. We’ve got it set up as a PDF. Just click on it and you’re done. So, those are the only steps. So, you’re not going to have to log into the PC. You’re not going to have to connect to the wi fi. You basically just double click on the icon that I have on the desktop for you already, put in the user name password and you have full access. Now, keep in mind, when everybody loads up, this connection is pretty quick, but keep in mind these are quite large–these files are quite large. It may take, you know, 15-20-30 seconds to load up. But, ah, both the agenda and the packet are on there so if you choose to check that out, you’re more than welcome. The packet this week was 54 pages with the Environmental Services. We’ve had that going for five-six years, ah, but the turnaround investment indistinguishable six to eight months with the paper we’re saving and labor costs. So, I know Alderman Brown and I have talked, if you ever want to have a little session, ah, we can meet in the Council Chambers any time and I will physically go through this with you if you have any questions or concerns.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I would encourage you all as long as we have a few minutes tonight, to turn your computers on right now and do the log in because it is going to be your responsibility to have done this, I would hope, even prior to the Council meeting so you’ll be familiar with all of the items that are in the packet prior to coming to the meeting on Mondays. So, let’s make sure there’s no glitches. I know they checked all the computers, but.

PETE SCHIEL: We indistinguishable them all in for probably 96 hours in the Chambers so everything should be okay.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: If you’re having an issue, just raise your hand.

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: With the computers.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: With the computers, right. Not in general. Alderman Baron has his hand up.

PETE SCHIEL: See, with everybody logging in at the same time. It’ll be a few seconds slower.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I think Dennis has an issue, Pete.

ALDERMAN BARON: It’s working

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is that it? Okay. And, Pete, do you want to explain to the media the app that we’re going to have?

PETE SCHIEL: Yeah, basically what we’ll do is we’re gonna’ have.create a new website for the Clerk’s office. Then we’re going to establish an app that will, ah, help refine some different things.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is anybody having an issue now? Has everybody accessed the packet?

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Not yet.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Not yet? Okay Let’s give it a couple more seconds. Okay.

PETE SCHIEL: Keep in mind it’ll take a few more seconds for it to load that 54 page document.

CLERK DUMAS: Is it coming up for you?

ALDERMAN BROWN: Ah, yep.

CLERK DUMAS: Good.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Are we okay, Pete? Okay, if everybody’s set, we’ll continue on with the meeting. The next item under Communications is from Comcast and it’s for information only. Moving onto Standing Committees, Public Safety. Alderman Osenga.

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Yes, Mayor, I had an unscheduled absence for health reasons for the November meeting. Alderman Davidson handled that and we’ll let those notes stand because I wasn’t at that meeting. The December 6, meeting, ah, we had quite a few bills on Police side. $328,000.00, but of that, those bills, $270,000.00 plus was four months of KanComm. So, if you took that out of the formula, the bills weren’t too bad. Overtime wasn’t too bad. Interesting issue from Police side is in November they wrote 173 tickets for no vehicle stickers. And, in–I’m sorry–in October they wrote 173. In November they wrote 209. So, people just don’t want to get their stickers I guess. And, ah, from Fire side, we had, ah, overtime was pretty low which is a good thing. We had 45 hours of overtime. 80% of the calls were EMS responses. They had seven fire calls, total of $124,000.00. But, one fire itself was about $80,000.00 so it wasn’t really that bad. So, ah, that’s pretty much our meeting.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Thank you. Building and Code, Alderman Tall.

ALDERMAN TALL: Yes, Mayor, the minutes are self-explanatory.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Budget Committee. Alderman Faford was Chair of the meeting that evening because Alderman Baron was gone. Alderman.

ALDERMAN FAFORD: Okay. Ah, sales tax for November was $330,110.00 which was about where we’re supposed to be at. The State is still two months behind in their payments, but they’ve been about two months behind in their payments since I’ve been an Alderman, so that’s nothing new. Ah, the rest of the taxes are running where we had budgeted so we’re in pretty good shape overall. Revenue is at 59.78%, just a little ahead of where we budgeted. Expenses were 66.22% which is a little above where we are at in this point in time. But, that’s due to our pension payments which have been paid in full because once the payment comes in from the County with our taxes, it’s paid out immediately. So, ah, expenditures at this time will always be a little bit higher than what they would normally show and the rest of the expenditures are standard at the regular levels. The main thing we talked about at the Finance Committee was the tax levy. The tax levy, we decided that we were going to put in $854,128.00 of City money into the levy to cover, ah, bond issues and the, ah, Budget Committee unanimously agreed to send the tax levy to the full Council. And, that’s about it. MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay.

ALDERMAN FAFORD: So, at this time, Mayor, if you want to go to the tax levies.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. If you’ll go to.under New Business, we have the tax levy to act on this evening. You’ll notice there are Special Service Areas that need to be acted upon. There’s four. Special Service Area Number One is the downtown. Special Service Area Number Two is the Historic District. Number Three is Coachlight. And Number Five is Eastside. Let me remind you that these Special Service Areas, these–the people or the businesses that live in these areas have self-assessed themselves, so the only amount that we are levying are not on the overall taxpayers of the City of Kankakee. It is only within the boundaries of those Special Service Areas. Ah, Coachlight and the Historic District, those are for the historic lighting. At one time, their levy was much higher to pay for the lights, but the lights have all been paid for so the $3,000 that is levied is used to maintain the historic lights in Coachlight and the historic lights in the Historic District. The downtown Special Service area, ah, is used to fund the projects of KDC and the Eastside Business Service Area are the businesses on the east side that have self-assessed and that money goes towards improvements on the east side of town. We used several–tens of thousands of dollars from that account to aid in the demolition of the K-Mart property in order for that property to be redeveloped. So, those Special Service Areas are taxing only those individuals who have–who live within the boundaries of those areas. Are there any questions? So, we’re going to handle the Special Service Areas together. So, I would like a motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of Ordinances C, D, E and F.

ALDERMAN BARON: I would make that motion, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Baron.

ALDERMAN TETTER: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Tetter. Are there any questions?

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: I would like to know what are the boundaries of the Eastside Business District.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: I don’t have a map for you, Alderwoman. Ah.

ALDERMAN BROWN: It goes from Eastgate all the way down to Hobbie and it goes towards.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: North.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Yeah it goes north and I can’t remember the exact.but I think it goes north to Hobbie.or maybe past Hobbie.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderwoman, it’s basically the strip–East Court Street strip–from Eastgate to Hobbie. Businesses on both sides.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Yeah, but it goes.I think.it’s been a long time. I have to pull the map out.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: It’s not residential. It’s businesses.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: So, if a business closes within that District, then that amount is–it will increase per business in that District?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: No. It’s levied on the property taxes. So, whatever the property taxes are on that business, this special levy shows up as a separate line item on the property taxes and it goes with the business. It doesn’t matter who owns it. It’s that parcel that is included in the Special Service Area, not an individual owner. It’s all done by parcel number when the District is established.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Okay. Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Any other questions? We have a motion and a second to Suspend the Rules.

Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Motion to place the Ordinances on Final Passage.

ALDERMAN BARON: So moved.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Baron.

ALDERMAN TETTER: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Tetter. Questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

ORDINANCE FOR THE LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES IN AND FOR THE CITY OF KANKAKEE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA NUMBER ONE A FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON MAY 1, 2016 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2017

ORDINANCE FOR THE LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES IN AND FOR THE CITY OF KANKAKEE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA NUMBER TWO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON MAY 1, 2016 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2017

ORDINANCE FOR THE LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES IN AND FOR THE CITY OF KANKAKEE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA NUMBER THREE “COACHLIGHT SQUARE DISTRICT” FOR THE FISCAL YEAR MAY 1, 2016 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2017

ORDINANCE FOR THE LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES IN AND FOR THE CITY OF KANKAKEE SPECIAL SERVICE AREA NUMBER FIVE “EAST SIDE BUSINESS DISTRICT” FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON MAY 1, 2016 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2017

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The motion carries. The next item on the agenda is actually the Ordinance that levies the property taxes for the General Fund. That levy is typically divided into two components. It’s the General Corporate part of the levy and then it’s the Debt Service piece of the levy. Ah, this was a very difficult decision to make on the part of the Administration and the Budget Committee.

Ah, we had talked at length last year when we subsidized the budget, ah, to cover some of the Debt Service out of our reserve funds that we would not do that again this year. We were hoping that our EAV (Equalized Assessed Valuation) would start to move upward. That did not occur. So, in order to minimize the effect on the taxpayers of the City of Kankakee, the City will use some of its reserve funds to pay down debt service to the amount of $854,128,00. The only increase–the only increase to the levy for the taxpayers of the City of Kankakee will be for the Police and Fire Pension Funds. That amount is $528,396.00. We are under a consent decree to fund those at 100% and the amount that those funds increased this year together was in excess of a half a million dollars and that will be noted on the levy for the residents. Other than that, the levy for debt service will be exactly what it was last year which it was subsidized at that time. There have been no increases for two years except for pension payments. Any questions? Motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of the Ordinance.

ALDERMAN TETTER: So moved, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Tetter.

ALDERMAN BARON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Baron. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Motion to place the Ordinance on Final Passage.

ALDERMAN TETTER: So moved, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Tetter.

ALDERMAN BARON: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Baron. Any questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

ORDINANCE LEVYING PROPERTY TAXES FOR ALL CORPORATE PURPOSES FOR THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON MAY 1, 2016 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2017

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving back to the agenda. The next item is the Report of Officers and I will entertain a motion to pay the bills.

ALDERMAN FAFORD: Your honor, I would move we approve the Report of Officers, place the money in the proper accounts and pay the bills in the amount of $844,843.55.

ALDERMAN TALL: I’ll second the motion.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Faford, second by Alderman Tall. Are there any

questions on any of the bills?

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Yes, check number 2674 on the back.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: 2674?

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: R & R Inc.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: R & R is Reuben Smith. That’s construction and that was the infrastructure work that was done downtown. Any other questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson, Davidson (2)

REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $844,843.55

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Continuing onto New Business, the next item is an Ordinance establishing a handicapped parking at 969 S. Fourth Avenue. Do I have a motion to Suspend the Rules?

ALDERMAN FAFORD: So moved.

ALDERMAN TALL: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Faford, seconded by Alderman Tall. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Motion to place the Ordinance on Final Passage.

ALDERMAN FAFORD: So moved.

ALDERMAN TALL: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Faford, seconded by Alderman Tall. Any questions?

Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) Absent: Swanson; Davidson (2)

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231 ESTABLISHING HANDICAPPED PARKING AT 969 SOUTH FOURTH AVENUE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. The next item is Planning dates– 2017 calendar dates for the regular meetings of the Planning Board. Do I have a motion to accept these dates?

ALDERMAN O’BRIEN: So moved.

ALDERMAN CRAWFORD: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman O’Brien, seconded by Alderman Crawford. All those in favor, aye. Opposed.

RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE 2017 CALENDAR DATES FOR THE REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The dates are approved. Okay, going down to Appointments. In your packet, I have a memo quantifying that I would like to appoint Chief Perkins as Acting Fire Chief for the Kankakee Fire Department effective December 1, (2016), and Richard Ronovsky as Acting Assistant Fire Chief for the Kankakee Fire Department effective January 3, 2017. You have a résumé for Chief Ronovsky. Ah, I am entering into an agreement with him. It is not finalized, but the agreement would only be for a period of probably five months. And, at this time, he would be down here three days a week assisting us until we are able to complete a search for a new Fire Chief and then go through the process of filling in the rest of the administrative staff there. Ah, he will only be paid on the days that he works and he will receive no benefits from the City of Kankakee. Do I have a motion to approve both appointments?

ALDERMAN OSENGA: So moved, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Osenga.

ALDERMAN CRAWFORD: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Crawford. Are there any questions? All those in favor, aye. Opposed. Oh, I’m sorry. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (11) ABSTAIN: Baron (I’m going to have to abstain. I represented Chief Perkins and family members in the past.) (1) ABSENT: Swanson, Davidson (1)

PHILLIP PERKINS – ACTING FIRE CHIEF FOR THE KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT- EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2016

RICK RONOVSKY – ACTING ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF FOR THE KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT – EFFECTIVE JANUARY 3, 2017

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto Motions and Resolutions. You have before you this evening, a Resolution to accept a Letter of an Agreement between ArtSpace Projects and the City of Kankakee. The cost of the consulting that we would like ArtSpace to come down and do in our community is going to be shared by the City of Kankakee, the Community Foundation of the Kankakee River Valley, HomeStar Bank and KDC (Kankakee Development Corporation). Do I have a motion to accept the Resolution?

ALDERWOMAN GALL: Motion to accept.

ALDERMAN TETTER: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Gall. Where was the second? Seconded by Alderman Tetter. I believe, Alderman, you’d like to make a comment?

ALDERWOMAN GALL: I did want to make some comments about this. I thought it was important. Ah, I feel we are fortunate to have all these other groups in our community who believe in what we’re doing and that they’re willing to contribute funds to help keep the cost low to the City. This will allow us to really leverage our money to get a process like this started. Ah, this definitely fits in the lines of what we were working on as far as our Art District. Ah, we’ve seen many successes with that we, along with KDC and others, have accomplished. I think we have a lot of wheels spinning at this point, but I think we’re ready to get some traction and move forward and bring some serious results. Ah, it’s important at this point that we learn and collect data from a group who has helped the progression of communities just like ours. After talking with Mayor Epstein, we firmly believe that if we want different results and to move forward, we do need to take risks. Also, when Brian from Rock Island Growth was here, he also said that the data collected from ArtSpace would also be useful for their projects if they would do a second project here which I know that they want to. I also wanted to remind you that downtown Kankakee doesn’t necessarily mean Schuyler Avenue. As our projects grow, I’d like to see things happen in a larger scale of downtown including West Avenue, Court Street, East Court. This is the beginning of so much more and I think that’ll help us bring more of our target market of young people, artists, entrepreneurs to Kankakee which, as we’re learning and seeing for ourselves, this is really working, but we don’t want to lose momentum. And, in 2017 and beyond, people are looking for a unique experience. I think that’s why we see malls declining and things like that. I think people–you can shop on line for what you need. I think what people are looking for is a unique experience. And, that’s what we have to offer especially if we build on this momentum that’s happening right now. This is really helping us capitalize on our unique attributes and infrastructure that are already here. And, as we’ve already changed the perception of downtown over the years, we can now learn how. of ways to fill up these buildings by allowing this target market of artists and entrepreneurs to live here and create jobs here and ultimately become homeowners here. I just wanted to remind you that let’s remember that the goal for the entire City and every taxpayer in the City of Kankakee is to ultimately improve residency, collect property taxes and create sales tax. I believe this is just a major game changer in achieving that Citywide goal. Thanks.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you, Alderman. Are there any questions? Alderman Curtis.

ALDERMAN CURTIS: Yeah, I’d like to comment on this also. Ah, this has all been mentioned. This kind of fits right in with what we’re doing with the changing the dynamic of the City of Kankakee. Any developer, whether it’s GROWTH from Rock Island or any other developer that we attract to the City, ah, when they go out for financing or do a study to decide that they’re going to develop here, they’re going to need such a study. And, what the great thing is here is we’ve got three other partnerships that are going to help underwrite this with the City. So, we’re getting a significant data research study that we can leave on the shelf not only for, as Stacy mentioned, downtown but the surrounding areas. Whether you’re getting tax credits, Federal government or just conventional financing from a bank, these are the type of studies that these lenders are going to need to review and see when they commit their dollars for Kankakee. So, I think this is one of the many steps that we need to continue to growth. And, ah, I’m excited that we’re looking at this. As Alderman Gall mentioned, it’s not just Schuyler Avenue. It’s our river front and some of the outlying areas. It’s the tentacles that we need to start getting into the neighboring communities.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you, Alderman. Any other comments?

ALDERMAN O’BRIEN: Mayor, I just wanted to note that part of the ArtSpace process is they like to rehab old buildings, not build new which fits in well with our downtown, but I want to note we don’t.we don’t have all the sites identified and that we want input. But, the sites we’re tentatively looking at are located in the 2nd Ward, but also the 1st Ward and the 5th Ward. So, ah, it’s not just the immediate downtown area, but kind of an adjacent area as well. So, that’s something that we would need additional input on and secondly, I think it’s important to know that as part of the process, they would come to Kankakee and spend some time here and be involved and meet with elected officials and people from the charitable community also. Certainly people from the arts community which, of course, makes sense as they determine if something like this is feasible or not. So, I would imagine that everyone here would be part of that process when they make their visit here.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. If you read their proposal, it’s quite extensive as far as the individuals and entities that they want to work with. When we spoke with Brian from Rock Island, they also had ArtSpace do a, ah, a visit and do an assessment. They ultimately did not use them to do a project in Rock Island, but actually GROWTH took the information that they had received from ArtSpace and did the project themselves. GROWTH is very interested in us doing this because they have indicated, as I said to you many times, that Fountain Square is not the only project that they would like to complete in the City of Kankakee. So, we would like to get the expertise of this company. They have already done–completed a project in Elgin–that created 57 living spaces as well as about 6,000 square feet of retail space. Obviously, Elgin is bigger than the City of Kankakee, but they are very well known worldwide and usually have a waiting list for those individuals who would like to be a part of their projects. So, again, it’s just another piece in the puzzle of our continuing to redevelop our community. So, we do have a motion and a second.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: I have a.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderwoman.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Excuse me. Ah, in the scope.the study scope of work here, the feasibility study is outlined that they’re going to talk.they’re going to host.facilitate four focus group meetings. I just want to put forth the importance of engaging as many stakeholders in the community as possible. Ah, sometimes meetings are scheduled where even people on the Council are not able to come to them because they’re scheduled in the middle of the day and some of us work. And, so I think it’s very important, ah, that you all–whoever is, I guess Mike that would be you–or housing or whoever’s lead on this project to make sure that stakeholders, you know, from the entire community are involved because, you know, a lot of times things like I said, meetings are held and even people on the Council are not able to attend those meetings and get that information. Ah, and, people in the community have complained to me about meetings being held at 11:00, 1:00 in the middle of the day because they would like to participate. And, they’re not able to. So, that’s one thing that I think is really important. And, the second thing is Feed–how do they fit into?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is Feed? Feed is very supportive of this project. They’ve actually done sort of a mini ArtSpace themselves.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Okay.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: And, ah, I don’t. you know, I’ve spoken to Michael Costanza and, you know, exactly. We’d like to expand upon that concept. ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Okay. I just want to, you know, they’re obviously our lead person in the community.our, you know, organization in our community for our arts and cultural redevelopment so they definitely need to have a voice and have some input into this so I just want to make sure that we have their blessing so to speak.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We do have their blessing.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: Okay.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Any other comments?

ALDERMAN BROWN: Just a couple.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Brown.

ALDERMAN BROWN: My questions is, where did the $5,000.00.which account does the $5,000.00 come from?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We have it in Community Promotions, Alderman.

ALDERMAN BROWN: I mean.I thought that.I just wanted to know.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: No, that’s where we would take it out of.

ALDERMAN BROWN: As well as, I think on page ten he needs to change that date from October 2016 to maybe some other month.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Oh, we will. In fact, we don’t anticipate them coming to town until spring.

They are booked.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Okay. Well this date.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: No, they are booked, actually, quite extensively for other communities that would like their services.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Um huh (affirmative).

MAYOR EPSTEIN: And, so, we don’t anticipate them coming to town until March or April.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Okay. That’s all I have.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Alderman Baron.

ALDERMAN BARON: It seems that Community Promotions is the perfect line item to take this out of. This is what Community Promotions is, ah, created for. And, in realizing that, I just want to reiterate the fact that we have. this is an expenditure of $5,000.00 and we’re getting the leverage of an additional $15,000.00 from three partner local organizations. Ah, so this is, if we get leverage of 75%.or 300% with every $5,000.00 we spend, it would be a good investment. But, yeah, I think this is the Community Promotions is perfect for that.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well and I think it shows that the partners in this project, ah, are willing to spend their own funds because they see that we’ve been successful in other ventures. And, we can’t do it alone. And, so, the more people that we engage in the process–Kankakee Development Corporation. We’re thankful for a local bank as well as the Community Foundation whose mission is to promote the community. They were very supportive of this. We’ve had the Charlton Foundation who has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the Riverfront Trail because they are committed to seeing the quality of life issues that we’re doing here in the City. So, we’re very fortunate to have individuals and organizations that support us. Okay, so we do have a motion and a second. Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Curtis; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Faford; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Gall; Kennedy (12) ABSENT: Swanson; Davidson (2)

RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN ARTSPACE PROJECTS, INC. AND THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, WITH THE COST SHARED BY THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY, HOMESTAR BANK, AND KANKAKEE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. There is no need for an Executive Session this evening.

There are no Public Comments from the public. Ah, any Aldermen Comments?

ALDERMAN CURTIS: Yes, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman.

ALDERMAN CURTIS: Ah, the Economic Development Committee will not meet on Thursday. Ah, we’ve been quite productive, I think, this year, but with the Christmas holiday we’re going to give everybody a break and come out in January. So, no meeting on Thursday.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Before we adjourn, ah, on behalf of the City and myself and my family I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season, a safe and happy New Year and look forward to a prosperous 2017. So, again, stay safe over the holidays. Motion to adjourn.

ALDERWOMAN WELLS-ARMSTRONG: So moved.

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderwoman Wells-Armstrong, seconded by Alderman Osenga.

All those in favor, aye.

MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We are adjourned. 7:40 P.M.