Kankakee Times

City of Kankakee City Council met March 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: I would like to call the meeting to order. We do not have anyone for prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance by the Council.

In Unison: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: We have no Public Comments. Alderman Roll Call please.

Clerk Dumas: Present: Tetter, Brown, Curtis, Baron, Lewis, Tall, Faford, Swanson, Crawford, Osenga, O’Brien, Gall, Malone Marshall, Absent: Kennedy (13) Present (1) Absent.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Department Heads.

Clerk Dumas: Present: Dumas, Schuldt, Kubal, Power, Schiel, Piggush, Bertrand, Schmitz, Croswell, Koehler. Thank you

New Business First Reading Ordinance For Home Rule Municipal Retailers’ Occupation Tax And Home Rule Municipal Service Occupation Tax

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Under Items 6 – 11 we have no business. I will move on to Item 12 our business that pertains to an Ordinance for home rule municipal retailers occupation tax and home rule municipal service occupation tax. I will give a synopsis of where we are. Priority of this Administration is to reduce the burden of tax of our residence and to spur Economic Development. I want to take this time to thank Elizabeth Kubal our Comptroller who has provided detailed analysis and made herself available to me with me and Council members for countless hours. I also want to thank Pat for keeping us on track with the date and I want to thank the Council for ideas and collaboration. When we had our presentations I know many of you were there to support. I know Alderman O’Brien made some copies and supplies available. Alderwoman Lewis was there with sign in sheets. I appreciate everybody’s cooperative nature in addressing this issue. I also want to give a special thanks to our Budget Chair, Alderman Dennis Baron who leads us as we address our City’s finances. When I asked for someone to take this show on the road with me, Alderman Curtis did not hesitate because we knew the importance of getting Public Information out as quickly as possible and as much as possible. I want to thank you for doing that. Just so you all know we did notice for five public presentations. We had a very well attended Budget committee which was held on March 7th at 5:30p.m. twelve of our fourteen City Council Members were present in addition to business members of the Community and other residents. On Thursday, March 15th at 6:30 p.m. we facilitated at the Westside Neighborhood meeting with Alderman Osenga and Alderman Crawford. Saturday, March 17th at 11:00 a.m. We had a presentation at the Public Library. Monday, March 19th we did a presentation here at City Council Meeting and on Tuesday, March 20th at 6:30p.m. we did a presentation and that one was recorded. Thank you to the Director of the Public Library, Steve Bertrand for taking care of that for us and that is available for the Public. We did notice, we held five presentations, we held them during different times of the day, different days of the week and just to clarify we are home rule municipality meaning we have a population of 25,000 or more so this does not have to go to referendum. We will be voting tonight because we need to contact the Illinois Department of Revenue by April 1st so that this goes into effect July 1st of this year. Residence will see an impact on their property taxes June of 2019. So may I have a motion to suspend the rules that will interfere with the passage of the ordinance?

Ald Curtis: I make a motion to suspend the rules.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Motion made by Alderman Curtis.

Ald Baron: Second.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Seconded by Alderman Baron. Roll Call.

Clerk Dumas: Ayes: Tetter, Brown, Curtis, Baron, Lewis, Tall, Faford, Crawford, Osenga, O’Brien, Gall, Malone Marshall Nays: Swanson AbsenT: Kennedy (11) Ayes (1) Nay (1) Absent.

Second Reading Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Motion carries. May I have a motion to place the ordinance on final passage?

Ald Curtis: So move Mayor.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Motion made by Alderman Curtis.

Clerk Dumas: Correction on that vote.

(12) Ayes (1) Nay (1) Absent.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Correction noted. Motion made by Alderman Curtis.

Ald Baron: Second.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Seconded by Alderman Baron. Any discussion? Alderwoman Swanson?

Ald Swanson: I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend any of the meetings. I just had some family issues and I haven’t been able to talk to people. Over the weekend I had some friends that are business owners that are very upset about this. They have pretty much said they will probably have to move their businesses out of Kankakee because of this. I think it’s not a good time to do it. I think if it was a County wide effort it would be better. I just think that you have builders, consumers.so many different forums here that travel five miles to save a lot of money. I think we are really going to lose some businesses over this. I really appreciate everybody’s hard work. I know that there has to be some solutions taking care of but, I’m voting no and I just wish that we.there are so many people out there.I don’t know why they did not come to the meeting they should have and I apologize for myself. I don’t think this is something we should rush into and it has been really rushed.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Thank you Alderwoman Swanson. Any other discussion? Roll Call.

Clerk Dumas: Ayes: Tetter, Brown, Curtis, Baron, Lewis, Tall, Faford, Crawford, Osenga, O’Brien, Gall, Malone Marshall Nays: Swanson Absent: Kennedy (12) Ayes (1) Nay (1) Absent.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Motion carries. We have no Motions and Resolutions, no need for an Executive Session. Alderman Comments? Pat will give us an overview of the next steps.

Pat Power: Now that we passed it, the next step number 1 is to publish it. All we actually need to do to publish this is to post t on our website which will be done immediately tomorrow. I am also strongly suggesting, we run this in the paper. Once we have the Ordinance signed a certified copy will immediately forwarded to the Secretary of State’s Office and we must get it down there before April first to go into effect July 1st.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Any other Comments? Alderman Baron?

Ald Baron: How are we going to get it down there? Are we going to trust the United States mail?

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Elizabeth?

Elizabeth Kubal: Thank you Mayor. It will certainly be overnighted.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: If you all do not have anything else. I have a couple things. Alderman Curtis can you see me after the meeting? I have something for you. Anyone interested in committees please contact me. We have some appointments are not assigned yet. Also there are some adjustments I have to make and we still have a few vacancies on some of our boards. If you have an interest let me know. Pat has a birthday coming up this Thursday on March 29th, Chief Dumas on March 30th so happy birthday to both of you. As a reminder: Please email you agendas and the minutes from those committees to me so I can stay informed of what is going on what’s going on with the committee. Also, we have a Staff Retreat scheduled for the staff; Department Heads and Deputy’s. Thursday April 5th.it’s all day. The facilitator that I spoke with encouraged me to invite Council if any of you are available..if you are interested let me know. I will have a contract next week of what it looks like. So that is all have.May I have a motion to adjourn?

Ald Swanson: So move.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Motioned by Alderwoman Swanson.

Ald Lewis: Second.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Seconded by Alderwoman Lewis. All in favor.

Committee: Aye.

Mayor Wells-Armstrong: Oppose same sign. We are adjourned. Thank you

https://citykankakee-il.gov/perch/resources/editor/citycouncilspecialminutes032618.pdf