City Council - Regular Meeting

Microphones are hot. Microphones are live. Not like that. Having the appointed time of 5:30 arrived, I would like to call the Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 committee of a hold to order. Would you please stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance? 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. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Would you please take the role? Alderman Cox here. Alman Gregory here. Alderman Williams, Alderman Rockford here, Alderwoman Purchase here, womano here. Alderman Carlson here. Alderwoman Connley present. Alderman Donland here. Alderman Hanower. Mr. Chairman, you have a quorum.

Thank you. Um, I would accept a motion for the approval of the March 10th, 2026 committee of a whole meeting. Second. It's been moved and second. Any discussion on those minutes? All in favor? Eyes have it. Uh, no presentations. No presentations. All right. Next, we have the ordinance table to remaining in committee. Mr. Clerk, Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Oh, I apologize. Uh, Alderman Carlson. Sorry. If you indulge me for a second. Sure. I think I'd like to call Doug Brown up. Today is his last day. Sure.

At CWLP, 31 years of service. Um, to me, some strong and steady leadership. Doug, if you want to say a few words, but from on behalf of me, I congratulate you in your service. So,

thank you. Thank you. Uh, I just want to say that, you know, working for the city for 31 years has been a really a privilege. Um, you know, the our employees have been top-notch the whole time. And I really couldn't have done, you know, the the everything that we've accomplished through those years with without my my co-workers, uh, you know, the employees, the staff. Um it's been an incredible journey and uh I I'm definitely going to miss uh you know everyone and um you know I actually uh you know thank you for the city council for the support for the utility through the years and for the city and uh you know and uh I going to keep my expectations up for everybody to keep uh moving the utility forward. So thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Appreciate it. [applause] [applause] [applause]

Thank you, chair. Thank you. Okay. I'm sorry. Ready, Mr. Clark? Yes, sir. Ordinances uh and resolutions tabled 2026 078. Um on the one for the um police commission, I will I will say that we we do look to pull that out and and make some movement along with um the rest of that commission. Thank you. All set.

Yes, sir. Ordinances for committee consideration 2026 1117 an ordinance authorizing a one-year contract extension under the contract number UW26 0934 contract for work for shoreline stabilization rip wrap with no additional funding authorization with G&H marine for all sections of said contract for the office of public utilities move for consent second it's been moved and seconded for consent any discussion seeing no discussion all in favor eyes have it 202618 is an order accepting authorizing an agreement with Si Simons Industries for the procurement of a compact modular reclosures CMR for the amount not to exceed $67,34 for the Office of Public Utilities. Move to consent.

It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion on this matter? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? I have it. 2026119 is the ordinance accepting authorization and agreement with G&W Electric Company for procurement of Viper Street uh reclosers in the amount not to exceed $175,580 for the Office of Public Utilities. Move consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Is there any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor?

Eyes have it. 2026120 is an ordinance accepting bids and authorizing contract UI26-12-53 relative accuracy test audits for SIMS with Mastada Platt Associates LLC in the amount not to exceed $254,940 for the Office of Public Utilities. Move consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor?

I have it. 20 2026 121 is the north authorized an addit one to the professional services agreement with Larry Teberg for assistance with computer aspects of the ERP upgrade and the training within the utilities information systems division and authorizing additional funding to not to exceed $55,000 for the office of public utilities

consent. Second it's been moved and second for consent. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion all in favor? Eyes have it. Public Works 2026122 is an ordinance authorizing execution of professional services agreement with Highland Software Inc. for the use of Highland Cloud and hosting platform for onbase electronic plan review and document management system for June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. The amount not to exceed $131,918 for the Office of Public Utilities. Move consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Eyes have it.

2026123 is an ordinance authorizing acceptance of the rideway from Marketplace Drive located east side of Marketplace Drive in the north side of Walnut Drive for the Office of Public Works. Consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it. 2026124 is an ordinance accepting authorizing a one-year extension under RFPW25-55 with El Puit and Company, Petersburg Plumbing and Escavating LLC and PH Broen and Sons, Inc. for the cavein repairs in amount not to exceed $1,550,000 for the office of public works. Move to consent. Second.

It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it. 2026125 is the ordinance accepting lowest responsible bids and authorizing execution of contract number PW260262 with PH Bro and Sons Truman L Flat Sons Company and a group materials inc for the 20 for the FY27 maintenance materials for the amount not to exceed $87,694.50. Move to consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it.

General city business 2026126. An ordinance to decrease the number of class D liquor licenses by one due to the closure of business of L Aurelio Mexican Restaurant LLC DBA L Aurelio located at 4233 S W Bash. Move for consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it. Mr. Chairman, yes. I would like to make a motion to have for an omnivous vote for agenda items number 2026127 through 133. Second. It's been moved and second for ominous vote from 1

27 to 133. Am I correct? Yes, sir. Uh it's been moved and seconded. All in favor? Eyes have it.

Ready? 2026127 is an ordinance to decrease the number of class D liquor licenses by one due to the closure of business Cove LLC Jazzb located at 3114 South 6. 2026128 is an ordinance decrease the number of class [clears throat] D liquor licenses by one due to the closure of Big Dick Sloon Inc. DBA [clears throat] Top Cats Chill and Grill located at 3211 East Sangaman Avenue. 2026129 is an ordinance to decrease the number of class B liquor licenses by one due to the closure of business by Newman's Food Inc. DBA Save a Lot number 495 located at 2520 East Clear Lake Drive. 2026130 is an ordinance to decrease the number of class C liquor licenses by one for one Freedom Oil Company, DBA Freedom Oil Company, located at 3975 Dirkson Parkway. 2026131 is an ordinance to decrease the number of class E liquor licenses by one for the Springfield Airport Authority DBA Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport located at 1200 Capital Airport Drive. 2026132 is an ordinance to decrease the number of class doubleA liquor licenses by one due to the closure of business by Buzzbomb Brewing Company, DBA, Buzzbomb Brewing Company located at 406 East Adams. 2026133 is an ordinance to decrease the number of class A liquor licenses by one due to the closure of business Savoc Savoc Kon DBA Savoc Van at 4117 West Walbash Drive. Move

for consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. All in favor? Eyes have it. 2026134 is an ordinance authorizing payment to Jacob Wida, current city employee of Springfield police officer for the settlement workers compensation claim 25WC-015845 in the amount not to exceed $16,86546. Move consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor?

Eyes have it. [clears throat] 2026135 is an ordinance authorizing payment to Michael West, a City of Springfield Water Department employee for settlement workers compensation claim number 25 WC 03203 in the amount not to exceed $88,760.88. Move consent. Second. It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Eyes have it. 2026136 is an ordinance to amend chapter 17 section 17.05 to the 1980 city code of ordinances as amended pertaining to place placing of receptacles for collection. Motion for consent. Second.

It's been moved and seconded for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it. 2026137 is an ordinance of approving a tenative four-year agreement between the city of Springfield and the office of public works and the American federation of state, county, and municipal employees local 3738 from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2029. Move consent. Second. It's been moved and second for consent. All in favor? I

2026138 is a north authorizing execution of agreement between the department of commerce and economic opportunity to execute a supplemental appropriate route 66 grant number 26-336008 agreement beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for the amount not to exceed $200,000 for the office of convention and visage bureau. Motion for debate. Second. It's been moved and second for debate. All in favor? I eyes have it.

2026139 is an ordinance amending ordinance 391-10-25 for additional uh commercial casualty insurance with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. for the additional expenditure of $138,000 and a total amount not to exceed $337,947 for the Office of Budget Management. Move for consent. Second. It's been moved and second for consent. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it.

2026140 is an ordinance accepting authorizing the contract 21-41 SP-29479 with Marl Brothers Ford, Inc. for the purchase of delivery of four 2026 Ford Ranger crew cab trucks and all necessary equipment and and for an amount not to exceed $158,846 after a tradein of two uh end of life vehicles for for the Springfield Fire Department. Move for consent. Second move and second for consent. Any discussion? See no discussion. All in favor?

Eyes have it. 2026141 is the nor approving a payment [clears throat] to Herald O'Shea builders for emergency work performed at fire station number 12 in the amount not to exceed $50,468 for the Springfield Fire Department. Move for consent. Second. It's been moved and second for the consent agenda. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion. All in favor? Eyes have it. 2026142 is an ordinance a sub amending ordinance number 195-05-24 and authorizing an additional payment of $16,11.90 for the total amount not to exceed $410,3040 for the FY2027 Lion Group Inc. for the purchase of 30 set of rig gear for the Springfield Fire Department for consent.

Second. It's been moved and second for consent. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion. All in favor? I eyes have it. 2026143 is an ordinance authorizing payment to Cellubbrite Inc. for the amount of 73,521 for the inciet digital for uh forensic extraction systems from March 15, 2026 through March 14, 2027 for the Springfield Police Department. Motion for debate. Second. It's been moved and second for the debate. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion. All in favor?

I have it. 2026144 is an ordinance authorizing payment to Tyler Technologies Inc. for $79,3765 for the annual maintenance fees for e- crash and ecitation reporting systems for the FY2027 from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 for the Springfield Police Department. Move for consent.

Second move and second for the consent agenda. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? Hi. Uh, eyes. Now it is time for un unfinished business. Anyone have unfinished business? I will bring up just one one quick matter. Today, Miss Amy is the end of the um enrollment for the cannabis grants. Am I correct in that?

Okay. Um, we we had quite, you know, some time with um the website and things. Um, and I'm sure your office has taken that under consideration. Um the the one thing and and we could talk further but I I I just want to say um the one thing that um has come to me that I think is really really important is the the interior exterior portion. Um the ordinance is um owner occupied rehabilitation which is very broad and and and it should cover those things. I know on the website itself it didn't give them the ability to do that. Um, and you know, for those applicants, I hope that we can um be considerate of of those needs if they're there. Thank you. I appreciate it. Uh, anyone else with unfinished business? Any new business? Any new business?

All right, seeing no new business. Oh, let the record reflect Alderman Williams Jr. is in the house. Do I got voting in or anything, Mart? Do I got a vote amendment or anything? We got to do anything with that. All right. No, you're okay. Just want to make sure. Alderman Carlson. Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to mention um I was and we all were invited today to a press conference uh over at the uh uh the BOS center. And I think uh what it is, it's it's it's ultimately going to be the expansion of the Bank of Springfield Center that I think is going to put a lot of new life

and some vibrant activity in downtown Springfield. But mostly I think what I saw today was really bipartisan support led by uh our own state senator Doris Turner along with Mike Coffee who had been working on this uh for a couple years uh along with chairman uh county board chairman Andy Vanmeer and of course uh mayor Misty Busher was there as well. Um but it's it's it's it's exciting that uh you know when you have business and labor um put partisanship aside I think it's going to pay dividends. I think we all want a vibrant uh downtown and I think uh this is uh the first step chairman towards towards uh rehabilitating uh downtown and and and getting it back to where uh I think it should be. I mean we are we are the capital city and uh there's a lot of great things going on uh around the city obviously downtown as well. I think this is this is one great step uh towards it. So, um, I want everybody to to keep an open mind as we go through this as we go through this process. Um, so

thank you, chairman. No problem. Thank you, sir. Alman Williams.

Yes. Thank you. And excuse my lateness. Um, I I I have heard about the press conference. I didn't see it. Uh, but I did review it, you know, like on social media. And what I'll say to that is it's not a good thing for the city. It creates a another taxing body and and in Illinois, especially Springfield, we have at least 12 taxing bodies right now. We're our own taxing body. So, we the city council should be the authority for that what they're trying to do and for that board. Now they're creating a board giving us one seat

and I don't want to do this um public health thing all over again and all that. This is our downtown. I don't know if the two downtown aldermen been informed or not or were involved in this co collaboration that you're calling it nonpartisan and all that is fine. It's well known that Republicans have always wanted a metro government. I'm concerned, mayor, about their footprint constantly growing. I grew up with everything being Springfield recreation, Springfield Parks, Springfield. Now we don't even have