City Council - Regular Meeting

And I would ask the clerk to please call roll. Good here. Lockman here. Oldenettle. Ruben Dellis here. Scott Speed here. Pollock here. Williams here. Mayor Ezard here. City attorney Beard here. have a Thank you. Very good. We're in the workshop and we're going to back up. Um,

the first one,

the first one is I'm very happy to um have with us Dr. Charles Riggs and his uh students from Illinois College and Dr. Riggs has been here I believe the third time third year of this or fourth. Okay. Well, he comes up with some neat stuff. His crew comes up with some neat stuff and this is uh their latest. So, I'll give the floor to you, Dr. Riggs. The class has worked quite hard on this project. It's a proposal. Uh this is not something that we were asked to do. It's something that as part of the class is as uh the presenter is going to be Andrew Masham. If I messed the name up, I'm sorry. But uh he's going to be a presenter and he we did it this afternoon with Jamie Heden from Benton Engineering. kind of a dry run. So, we think we're quite ready to do this. Um, just kind of a side note to all this, you know, Illinois College is still aggressively pursuing a bed accreditation and mechanical engineering program. Um, so I think it's going to bring great things to Jacksonville, but I'll turn it over now to Andrew. All right. Um, homelessness has been an issue around the world, but in our class, we wanted to simulate what we could do to help this situation. Hi, I'm Andrew Msham. I'm a student at Illinois College. I am from California, and I'm here on behalf of engineering 151, an engineering class at Illinois College.

Now, the engineering 151 class focused on what we could do to what we would be able to do to assist homelessness in Jacksonville. Now, we took up and looked for many different uh solutions. So, first we had remodeling existing houses for people to live in as well as building tiny homes. But we found that was a little too expensive. Then we came to the idea, we had one one class where one student had an idea of using and recycling shipping containers for using them for unhoused the unhoused population. Now, we thought this was a great idea in engineering 151, and we wanted to see if we could actually simulate this within Jacksonville, and we've seen this happen before in other communities in our research, like in LA, where they kind of used it as an apartment complex. Now, we also decided on this because first, it doesn't take that much long to do. It's only about one to two month process to install them. as well as their price is defined and that they practically come turnkey from the vendors. Now, this class is engineering 151 design for America studio. What is design for America studio? Well, it's a program that helps engineers design and find solutions for issues across the country. So we had to follow this process throughout our this semester which it's the DFA or design for America process which is identify, immerse, reframe, ideulate, build and test. Then we want to follow the core values of design for America and those being trust in your community and we want to find a problem that we could assist with or simulate in this community as well as we want to look towards the future

without or with looking through all the different solutions as well as we need to take in everything. As we said before, we thought of rebuilding other houses or creating tiny homes, but we want to find the best solution for our simulation. So, we ended up with container homes. Then, as a part for design for America process, we wanted to research and survey the community within Illinois College. So, throughout our survey, which was about which was up for about two to three weeks, we got about 26 responses. Now, our questions consisted of, are you aware of the homeless situation in Jacksonville? Majority of the community of Illinois College agrees that they see it. Next, how did you find out? Now, many of them have observed it firsthand. What was the estimated number? Now, many of them thought that it was around 200, but as we know, we can't necessarily count that number. Where do they live? Since we were interviewing people from the community of Illinois College, many of them were students that lived on campus while others could were staff and faculty that live off campus. How many do you know homeless students? Any homeless college students? Now, as you can see, there's a lot of red. A majority was no. But the fact that there is people that say they know homeless college students, it means that there is that there is this situation that is happening within Jacksonville. What is your association with Illinois College? Majority of our responses were from students with the other majority being staff and faculty. Next, how often do you observe homeless people within Jacksonville? Now,

majority of our people we surveyed did say that yes, it is an experience to see people that are unhoused within Jacksonville. If you're to go out, have you or ever have you or known someone who has been homeless? Again, similar to our college student question earlier, this is being seen like people within the Illinois college community have seen the homelessness situation. Next, where do you think majority of them stay? Many say a park or just on the streets. Uh what is the most significant cause? Now, this could be many different factors, but many of the people thought it was through substance abuse or lack of affordable housing. Now, our survey data, it it shows that it's not an infrequent experience to see unhoused people. If you're to go out through Jacksonville, it's no longer an infrequent experience. Now a part of the design for America process is the ID8 part. Now in our simulation we proposed a medium barrier site in Lynette Lane which which wanted to focus on having making sure which would have some requirements for the people who would be housed there which would be sobriety as well as particip participation in a plan to exit homelessness. We also our main goal here is to ensure that people who are unhoused begin to get transitioned outside of homelessness through these recycled shipping container housing units. Now we also understand that there is a there are already current solutions that are being used within Jacksonville which

is the high barrier facility which has a lot stricter rules than what we are proposing and that what we simulated. Now what we thought was we planned to simulate this on a Lynette Lane sample site. Now as we can see we have two stars on our on our map. We have the one in the middle which is where we are standing right now, the municipal building, as well as the one in the top corner, which is the Lynette Lane site. Now, here are some photos that are that were taken by an Illinois college student from a drone view of the Lynette Lane site. As we can see, there's plenty of room to fit these possible units. Now, currently the Lynette Lane sample site is the property of Samuel Holmes. If we were to be if we were to purchase this site, we'd be able to use the current property on the site as management for the facility or it would could also be used to host events within the community we create. Now this site would be need to be reszoned but the nice part is that the sample site already has water, electric and sewer utilities. Next we also needed to find the build part of design for America. Well, we needed to create what we needed from a vendor as well as a matrix to see to compare these vendors with each other. Now we, as we see, we created a matrix and we really wanted to break down what each one did. And from majority of those vendors, they sold a a shipping container that was turnkey, which was one one of the parts we were looking for. And we found that this was our ideal model for a shipping container.

Now, as we can see, we have the restroom and then you kind of have a living area slashkitch and then you'd have the bedding for this temporary shipping container unit. And after our research between all these vendors, we found that compact living was our best vendor. Now, there are many things. This one special part about this container is that it comes turnkey as well as it's a 20ft container and of course the one thing that doesn't come with or that is optional is a ceiling fan which means it it which means that it comes with everything else that's needed which is heating cooling and other units other flooring and insulation. Now, we have seen through our research, we found that it would cost about $22,900. But through discounts that we have seen on their website and through their past discounts, we have found that it would be most likely if we were to purchase within bulk, it would be around $18,900. Now, the Lynette Lane site would need some upgrades. It would need a need to add new 4-in diameter water service because the current ones would be too small for our goal. Now, we do we do not understand all the fire requirements, but we do understand that we would need to add two hydrants. We'll also need to add new connection to the 6-in water man. And finally, sewer connections are 4 in diameter. As long as they were installed correctly, we won't have to spend any extra money. Now let's break down the price really. So through the water main services it would be about 184,000. Then for the sewer services it would be about 44,000.

Next it would be the non- construction cost which would be about 46,000 which would come to a total of $274,000. Now the all of these estimates came through our collaboration and consultation through Benton Engineering and through we this does not include the electrical yet but per unit an estimate would be around $8,000. Now let's really just show you what we came up with. So this will be our this is the SketchUp model of our prepared site. So we went in and we wanted to give you guys something a 3D description of what it really is. So our first view is as we can see we'll have units. Now it

Oh. Now this first view will be of it's kind of takes on an apartment complex look. Now this would consist of single units which would house a single person as well as family units which would be able to house if there are any unhoused families. Next view would be now many homeless people they may have pets or dogs and we wouldn't just want them running around the facility. So we want to incorporate a dog park into our design. Next would be another view of our apartment of a of the containers within that look like the apartment complex as well as a loading dock. This loading dock could be used for food donations or any donations of furniture for the units. Next, of course, since we're taking on an an apartment complex look, we're going to need the stairs because you got to know how people are going to be able to go move between each unit. Next would be now next would be the current building on the property which is the Samuel Holmes building which could be used from for the management of this site or it could be also used to host any events for this facility. Now this is what what our planned vision of the container would be. As you can see, it has a restroom. Then it has our bed going into the kitchen/ living area

and finally the exit. That would be our ideal shipping container housing unit. Next, we're pro we plan to pro provide facilities for these for the unhoused population. Now, this could be flower garden or even just Yeah, this could be a flower garden or a vegetable garden that could be housed by or that could be managed by the unhoused population. Next, what's really the point of this parking lot? But for many of the homeless population, they may not have access to medical care or food, enough food. So we wanted to have and make sure there was a facility that if there was any mobile medics or any doctors that could come and bring their facilities to this community as well as any possible food trucks to assist in the food for the community. Now that was the 3D in-depth explanation of the Lynette Lane site. Now, the key takeaways from this Lynette lane site simulation would be the transitional housing for unhoused people as well as the green areas like including shrubbery and trees and leaving those out. Next would be playgrounds that we could could add for if there's unfortunately any unhoused children as well as the dog park for anyone who has pets as well as the parking whether that's for uh medical purposes or just food purposes. Now, navigating around the Lynette lane site, we'll need to add stop signs, have parking for those electrical hookups,

whether that's through for medical care or for food purposes. We would then also need walking paths to connect each unit, as well as the roads and sidewalks would be needed to orient would be needed to be oriented to keep to minimize grounds upkeep. A flower garden possibly maintained by the community as well as leaving the green areas where needed and making sure it is ADA has ADA parking and making sure the Lynette lane site is ADA friendly. Now it let's say we are possible to move on with this through through our class. So through our class, what we saw was that since the city of Jacksonville has passed the appendix AQ for tiny houses, they've advertis we would then have to advertise and select an owner or developer of the for the Lynette Lane site. The developer would have to submit a layout to the city of Jacksonville for approval. developer would bid and select container home provider and then they would also coordinate and implement phases of container homes constructing ADA sidewalks and residential services for water, sewer and electric. Thank you again. I'm Andrew Msham. I come here on behalf of Engineering 151 Design for America studio. I would love to give a big thank you to Benton Engineering for helping us with our project as well as a big thank you to my professor Dr. Riggs. Thank you. If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer.

Um, I have one question, maybe I missed it. Who would fund all of this?

So, I believe This would be a better question for professor Dr. Riggs. [laughter] The idea is the property currently owned by Sanvelop city's only involvement. This is a sample project. That's the best way to go. You have somebody who really wants to own this property and they may not a lot of money, but they're doing it for their ar

and we wouldn't be in charge of building it. This is a developer. All right. That developer would then work with the owner. That's why we recommended possibly this existing home. facuring the day to manage whatever.

No, that's that's all I was just curious about.

Question. foot long. They're basically studio apartment. So it's 20 feet. It's 20 feet long, 8 ft wide. They're not the We don't want people. But remember, Much better.

And how many containers were you uh proposing to put on this property? So we thought of that it would be up to the developer but we did think that it could start in a phase of like around six to eight and then after we see how this has impacted the homeless population we would then be able to either do it on a greater scale whether that's going up to like 20 or just 10 to 15 and or even could be a possibility of moving it from having pods of like six to eight depending on where space is available.

The great part about this working doesn't take very long to get another shipping on a flat truck down like a Lego set. You got eight of these and then eventually you can build on top of them is what you're saying.

The one we showed you in California, they made that like a multilayer set. So the beauty of this is they can rapidly deployed you can do something like that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Awesome. Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Very good.

And you can stay or whatever you want. You don't have to. You don't have to. Item number two is something discuss festival lights contribution. I'm gonna have to turn this one. I don't know what that's uh basically we've already approved that the contributions were to be included in the 2026 budget. So I mean other than I think we mentioned some time before about a resolution for all of them all the requests.

Do we really need to do that or we've already passed the top dollar the $100,000 for those and they've gone through the the process the application. It would seem then that when you adopt the budget that should be sufficient city attorney's report.

Thank you. Um want to discuss the rise grant housing project and Brian will probably help me out with this. This is tied in with the third item on my city attorney's report in the regular session purchase of agricultural land. The city received approval the $2 million grant for workforce development council and the property that we have identified as a potential as the best site for that would be property which would be east of the lane subdivision which is on lane coming back behind home depot there. Um the property we're looking get a copy of the contract property that we're looking at again $2 million that's used to help purchase the property. Uh property we're looking at will be 100 acres. Um the owner has agreed to a tenally agreed to a contract for 22,222 per acre for that ground. Um while that may initially a little bit high for what we're looking at. Uh there was a farm land sale for about 23,400 outside of I believe Auburn just very recently at auction. So land prices are coming up and this is bordering the city. So it's kind of developed ground. The problem we run into again is that there's a timeline on this grant agreement but we don't get a copy of the grant agreement to even review. We don't get the rules and regulations for the grant until we provide them with a tenative purchase contract. That's where we are tonight is to approve the purchase contract so we can get the

rules and regulations and figure out whether we can make this work for this housing. Um the only uh issue necessarily, but [clears throat] this is going to be a fairly longterm project once we get it started. And we have agreed with the owner since it may not get off the ground till sometime late next year. Uh and the closing would not take place until sometime next year. We're not going to worry about a lease for the ground next year. Anticipating we may not close till September, October. He's going to keep the ground closing be that late. The main purpose of adopting or approving the contract is to get the agreement from the state so we can move forward. Um the contract has a couple of contingencies. One, obviously we got to get the $2 million in order to purchase it. At least help purchase it. Uh two, we have to and approve the grant agreement itself. And that grant agreement would include the provision the city has to come up with 25% of the overall project cost as their match. Um Ryan, is there anything you want to add to that? It seems kind of backwards to us that we have to approve a purchase contract before we and get the information to

formally apply for the grant that's already been approved. That's the way the state program and we have to come up with 25%. And there various things we're looking at participation by eventually a developer to pay substantially more than 50% of our 25% match and it counts as part of the match. There's some other entities that are looking Just like the state.

Any questions on that at all? Obviously 100 acres for workforce housing. It's not going to be done in two years or three years. This is kind of a longterm project. provide the housing that one of the things that we need for trying to get employees here is housing. So we're not talking low income. We are not talking.

Thank you. Committee reports tonight parks and legs. Alderman Williams. Yes, Mr. Mayor. Tonight we have to discuss. The first one is discuss waving bids and accepting the proposal from Illinois Electric Cooperative for meter changes at Lake Jacksonville. And the second is discuss waving bids and accepting of a proposal from Scott Brothers Electric LLC for electrical work at.5 Lake Jacksonville. Okay. Okay.

And we have Superintendent Gilbert. Um so with all the new that we have been doing the last several years and we still have probably three more years to continue. REA had come out and kind of looked at what we were what we had and what we were needing to change to in order to utilize all this new electric. The the meters that we used to have were 30 and 20 amp. Now that we bumped up to 50 amp, 30 amp and 20 amp, uh some of the things that we have, the meters, etc. and some of the actual line the loop needs to be upgraded as well. Um when Mr. Dolan met with uh Aaron Scott and myself to look at some of the stuff for the next item on tonight's list, he was uh he gave us the the option of doing it now or doing it later, but like with everything else, it gets more and more expensive as we move on. Um he gave us a really really good deal. What I would like to is we still have $11,400 left in the boat dock and the uh camera funds in this project that come in to replace all the main meters at every point plus some of the things at the concession building and upgrade the uh the actual lines and even some of the transformers would come out at 10,920 and I would like to see if we could get that done. If we can't do this then I do know moving forward that this will be a new capital improvement item that I will be asking for. It's something we have to do. Uh there's a lot the lines have been there. I'm 42 years old and those lines and the power pools, a lot of them have been there since before my time. So, it's something that we need to do in order to uh utilize the new power that's coming in that we've already replaced at the start of the five-year project as

well as the points that are remaining for new electric pedestals, etc. You guys have any questions? I have a quick question. I'm sorry. Sure. Go ahead. So, you said you already have funds available that can take care of this, so you wouldn't need anything additional. Is that correct? Correct. Correct. With your approval, of course. Does this include all the future meter things?

This will be all This will be everything. This isn't just the points that have been done. This will be from point one all the way down through all of the camping points, the concession building, uh the north restroom, everything will be done this year. So then as we move forward to finish out the five-year project, that'll all be done. Everything will be upgraded, ready to go for the new electric. And then the second thing, anybody else have any questions? The second thing we have is just a continuation of the five-year project. Um, this one would come out for 0.5 which holds 44 uh public camping, seasonal camping peds as well as 18 overnight areas or 18 overnight spots. Just a continuation of what we've been doing for the last be the third year now. Then we we would be left with the plan of doing six and seven. Hopefully I'll be asking you guys for 20 at 2027 for six and seven and complete the project in 2028 with 0.9. That's what we're hoping for. You guys have any questions?

Uh, not to exceed 100,000. And that would be all brand new um all brand new pedestals with 50, 30, and 20 amp availability as well as an 800 amp service which would be basically be the main where everything comes, you know, through the meter as well. Is this the capital improvement? Yes, sir. For next year, this would be for 20 2025.

How we've been having to do things is when we come to do it, we're basically a year behind. Um we're not behind, but things are built differently now. Now it's basically made to order. You can't just call them up and say, "Hey, I need, you know, 60 pedestals and they try to get it in." So, basically what we approved last year will be done in this off season as far as providing new electric points three and four. This is approved. Um then they would start on this project in the offseason of 2026. So the first year we did this, they were able to get in in April and knock it out before we opened up for camping season. But after talking to Aaron, it's just it's easier. It gives us time to let the ground settle over the winter and the early beginning of spring. That way we can get everything, you know, if we need to add dirt, etc. We don't have to worry about any kind of hazards that go along with trenching and all that, you know. adding new equipment, etc.

So, it's already in anybody else. Thank you, guys. Um, one question for anybody. Could anybody turn off that? That is really burning my eyes. I'm sorry. It's really Thank you so much. Thank you.

Okay. Uh backing up clarification discuss festival of lights contribution that is for this year. They went ahead and applied next year so we won't have to do this next year. This is for this year. Request for $10,000 festival of lights. That'll be on your agenda. And any public comment at this time? Seeing none, we are journ from the workshop and I would ask the clerk to please call roll on the council.

Cook here. Keith Henry here. Lockman here. Oldenettle. Rubis here. Scott Speed here. Pollock here. Williams here. Mayor Ezard here. City Attorney Beard here. You have a quum. Thank you. Is there a reading of the minutes this evening? I make a motion to approve the minutes as circulated. Okay. Alderman Watts. Second by Alderman Cook. All those in favor of approving the minutes, please respond by saying I. I. Opposed. No communications. Correct.

Correct. No petitions, communications, or claims. Okay. City attorney's report. Uh, thank you. First item I have is the second reading of the ordinance uh amending the J municipal code regarding the treasures bond. Is there a motion? Alderman Henry, second by Alderman Lachman. ordained that the Jaspa code uh article 5 section 2-145 be amended uh establishing the bond for the treasure to be $250,000.

Discussion. Seeing none, I would ask the clerk to please call roll. Cook, yes. Henry, yes. Lockman, yes. Ruben Dellis, yes. Speed, yes. Yes. Motion carries.

Uh second item I have is second reading of the ordinance amending the municipal code regarding chapter 3 alcoholic beverages increasing uh the number of licenses by onea license for the north clay convenience store. Is there a motion Henry? No other motion that fails. Second reading. Uh the third item I have is a resolution approving the purchase of agricultural land. Is there a motion? Alderman Loachchman. Second by Alderman Williams.

Be it resolved that the city approved the agreement between the city and 4AM LLC regarding the purchase of agricultural land pursuant to the agreement. attached as part of the workforce housing development project grant discussion. I would ask the clerk to please call roll. Cook, yes. Henry, yes. Luckman, yes. Ruben Dillis, yes. Speed, yes. Plet, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Any public comment at this time now? Oh, I didn't. I'm sorry. William, I say yes. [laughter] Yes.

Yeah, sure. Okay. Motion carries. Sorry about that. Erin, [snorts] any public comment? Seeing none, consent agenda items tonight. Finance, IT, and personnel. Alderman Cook. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have two items tonight. First is the city treasures report for October 31st, 2025, which is in the alderman's packet. And the second is the resolution approving contribution to the festival of lights. Thank you. Parks and Lakes, Alderman Williams.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. One, we have a resolution authorizing the waiver of advertisement for bids and accepting of the proposal from Illinois Electric Cooperative for meter changes at Lake Jacksonville. And number two, a resolution authorizing the waiver of advertisement for bids and acceptance of proposal from Scott Brothers Electric LLC for electrical work at 0.5 Lake Jacksonville. Thank you. In public protection, Alderman Speed. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have one item resolution authorizing waiverss of advertising for bids and accepting of a proposal from Acme Sports for purchase of a new of new firearms for the Jacksonville Police Department in utility. Alman

wants Okay, thank you. Sorry. Um, you've heard the items under the consent agenda. Is there any you wish to pull for further discussion? And there's a second lock. Mr. Mayor, I would like to pull uh item number two under finance it personnel. Any others? Yes. Yeah. Don or chief

and public protection? Those will be pulled. Any further discussion on the consent agenda? I would ask the clerk to please call roll. Cook, yes. Henry, yes. Yes. Ruben Dellis, yes. Speed, yes. Williams, yes. Motion carries. Committee reports. Finance, IT, and personnel or no, we'll go to Yeah. Finance, IT, and personnel. Alderman Cook.

Resolution approving contribution to the Festival of Lights.

Is there a motion? Secondman Watts. He already read it. Any discussion? Yes. Uh, so was this already approved with the September 1st deadline for 2025?

So, I think there's a bit of confusion because it's the same company. Um we as we did last year, we did a regular uh donation to the Festival of Lights um just like we did to um Jacksonville School Foundation, whoever. It was just a regular donation of $10,000. So in September, the application for the video gaming grant was due and they were one of them. So this year's Festival of Lights is just the regular donation. Next year it will come out of the video gaming fund. Does that make sense?

No. So they miss they missed the deadline. No, it has nothing to do with the the two separate things. Okay. Yes. Two separate things. Thank you. Any other questions or I would ask the clerk to please call ro

Cook. Yes. Henry. Yes. Lockchman. Yes. Ruben Delis, yes. Speed, yes. Yes. Williams, yes. Motion carries. Very good. Um, public protection speed. Um, resolution authorizing a waiver of advertising for bids and accepting the proposal from Acme Sports for purchase of new firearms for the Jacksonville Police Department. There was a question on it. motion.

Um, be it resolved that the city council uh wave advertisement for bids and accept the proposal sports for new firearms with Jacksonville Police Department $66,38. Any motion? Alderman Henry, are you saying a motion to approve it? Yes. Yeah. Speed discussion. Yes. The question is how we're going to pay for this and I've had some discussion with the chief of police about using forfeited funds. So we can address that.

Two weeks ago when I was here talking to you guys, I mentioned that for federally forooted funds are capable of being used to purchase the firearms. Um, after speaking with Alderman Cook and the mayor, um, I believe that the best course of action will be to go ahead and use those fedally forooted funds because I want to make sure that number one, we keep the community safe and number two, I want to keep the officers safe. I believe we may move forward with these firearms now and I don't want to put us in a position to where something could happen. So that's why without having to worry about budgets and whatnot, I can go ahead and move forward with my federally forfeited funds. That's what the reason for this being pulled for discussion was about questions.

We appreciate that, Chief Thompson. And we'll look favorably to a foyer clerk next year hiring one. More to come on that

util. We need a roll call and I would ask the clerk to please call a roll. Cook, yes. Henry, yes. Lockman, yes. Ruben Dellis, yes. Speed, absolutely. Yes. Pollock, yes. Williams, yes. Motion carries. Okay. Utility Alderman Pollock. Second, Alderman Lochman

be ordained that the chapter 26 utilities article 3 be amended by deleting the existing article and adding the new sewer use and waste water regulations. Any discussion? Seeing none, I would ask the clerk to please call roll. Cook, yes. Henry, yes. Luckman, yes. Rubenis, yes. Speed, yes. Yes. Williams, yes. Motion carries.

I'd like to thank Missy for all the work that she put in on this. It was quite an ordeal when you have to replace an entire section. and try and coordinate all the previous behind the scenes work.

Thank you, Missy. Uh, any old business tonight? Old business? No. Any new business? Okay. Well, uh, we have one meeting in December and that will be on December the 15th. December meeting and I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving in this room in Jacksonville. And with that motion to Alderman Cook, second by Alderman Williams. We are ajourned.