City Council - Regular Meeting

0:34•RHRalph Hanauer

Hey, what's up? Hey, Roger? Okay, Mayor.

The Chair will call the September 15, 2026 meeting of the City Council to order. Would you please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance?

Clerk Redpath, can you please call the roll?

Thank you, Clerk. The Civility Pledge, in the interest of civility, I pledge to promote civility by listening, being respectful of others, acknowledging that we are all striving to support and improve our community and understanding that we each may have different ideas for achieving that objective. This evening there are no proclamations or presentations, so we will go right into the zoning. First item on the agenda would be docket number 2026-023 for the property located at 3161 West White Oaks Drive. The petitioner is Bridge Real Estate, LLC. The present zoning classification is R5B, Genera

2:57•RHRalph Hanauer

Mayor, I make a motion we concur with the staff recommendation. Second.

So we have a motion and a second to concur with the staff recommendation. Is there any discussion from the Council? Seeing none, voting will be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And the motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. The next item on the agenda is docket number 2026-024 for the property located at part of 3013 Lindbergh Boulevard. Petitioners are LLDRE, LLC. Present zoning classification is B1, Highway Business Service District, section 155.033. The requested zoning relief is conditional permitted use for adult use cannabis

4:39•RHRalph Hanauer

Mayor, I make a motion we concur with the Planning and Zoning, Sangamon County Planning and Zoning recommendation.

Second. We have a motion and a second to concur with the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning staff recommendation. Is there any discussion from the Alders? Seeing none, voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no.

The motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. The next item on the agenda would be docket number 2026-025 for the property located at 1000 to 1006 South Spring Street. The petitioners are EMS Midwest LLC. Present zoning classification is S2, Community Shopping and Office District Section 155.031 and R5B, General Residence and Office District Section 155.021. The requested zoning relief is reclassification of property from S2 Community Shopping and Office District Section 155.031 and R5B General Residence and Office District Section 155.021 and variances of Sections 155.480I Landscape S

Second. So we have a motion and a second to approve the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning staff recommendation. Is there any discussion from the council? Do we have anyone that signed up to speak in advance on this? Okay. Seeing none, the voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no.

We spoke. All right. I just wanted to make sure. Yes. Okay. All right. All right. Thank you. All right. So the voting is open and two more to vote.

And the motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. Thank you, Mr. Pavlik. Yep. The next item on the agenda is docket number 2026-026 for the property located at 1712 Sangamon Avenue. The petitioners are Hibachi and Wok Cuisine, Inc. Present zoning classification is B1, Highway Business Service District, Section 155.033. The requested zoning relief is conditional permitted use for a restaurant with service of alcohol pursuant to Sections 155.033 , conditional permitted uses in the Highway Business Service District, restaurants and banquet halls with the service of alcoholic beverages exc

All right, so I have a motion and a second to accept the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning staff recommendation. Any discussion from the Alders? Seeing none, voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And the motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. The next item on the agenda is docket number 2026-027 for the property located at 5248 and 5250 Carlton Street. Petitioner is the estate of Elizabeth B. Hermes as owner of 5248 Carlton Street, Indiana J. Hannell as owner of 5250 Carlton Street. Present zoning classif

So we have a motion and a second to approve the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning staff recommendation. Is there any discussion from the Alders? Seeing none, the voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And the motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. The next item on the agenda is docket number 2026-028 for the property located at 4905 Rogers Street. Petitioner is Chad Clem. The present zoning classification is I-1 Light Industrial District Section 155.040. The requested zoning relief is petitioned for varian

Second. We have a motion and a second to accept the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning staff recommendation. Is there any discussion from the Alders? Seeing none, the voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And the motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. This does conclude the zoning portion of our meeting. The Chair will now recognize Treasurer Fager for the presentation of the financial report.

The chair will entertain a motion to approve the financial report. Move, second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The chair also recognizes budget director Metzger for any questions on the OBM contract report. Are there any questions from the council on the OBM contract report? Seeing none, we will move on. The chair will entertain a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the September 1st, 2026 regular city council meeting and approve the minutes. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The chair will entertain a motion to incorporate the pre-council first reading of ordinances into the record of this council meeting. So moved.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion will say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The next item on the agenda would be the consent agenda. The chair will entertain a motion to incorporate the pre-council reading of the consent agenda into the record of this council meeting. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion will say aye. Aye. Those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The chair will entertain a motion to place the consent agenda on final passage.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, the voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And the motion passes with 10 voting yes, none voting no. Agenda item number 2026-339 remains table or in committee. The next item on the agenda would be agenda item 2026-405, an ordinance authorizing a special circumstance 50-50 cost-sharing agreement for the installation of a new water service line at 2553 South 11th Street. The chair will entertain a motion to place agenda item number 2026-405 on final passage. So moved. Sec

15:46 – 16:50•SGShawn Gregory

Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Again, I brought this as I did receive a call from a property owner. And when he called me, I didn't consider who he was, how much money he made, whether they're white or black. I considered the issue and the circumstances of that issue and that water line. BEING SO FAR AWAY AND WHAT HE HAS TO DO TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR ALLEYWAY. YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG LADY AND HER DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT SOME DAYS WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME WATER IN OUR HOTTEST DAYS. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROP

16:54 – 17:50•RHRalph Hanauer

Yeah, thank you, Mayor. I'll be brief. I spoke to Joe last night. I told him my thoughts on the whole thing. I do think that we need to look at circumstances like this, but we need to look at it for everybody and see if we can move the meters from wherever they are to closer to the homes or something. I don't know what that would cost down the road, but it's something that we ought to at least try to identify. And I've asked Scott Rogers to look into that. But as, you know, for just doing it for one person, I'm kind of against that. What I want to try to do is look at it from the standpoint of

Any other discussion from the Alders? Seeing none, the voting will now be open. All those in favor of the motion will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And the motion fails with six voting no, five voting yes. At this time, we would be into unfinished business. Chief Zummo, for unfinished business, I think there was something that came out today. So it was put out at 2 PM today, I think, a press release. So if you would like to speak on that 2 PM press release.

19:44 – 20:30•ECErin Conley

Alderman Conley. Thank you. Chief, I just want to tell you, you talked about your four-minute response time and how critical that is. I actually witnessed an accident, heard it, and then I did. I looked at my watch, which I always do, and it was under four minutes that a fire truck was there on scene. So I just thank you, thank you, thank all your staff for all the work that they do. They are truly part of our critical infrastructure and very valuable to the city. I can't tell you how often I hear from people how much they appreciate all the work you do and how quickly you respond. I also need

20:41•ECErin Conley

We'll have to talk offline, but I have had more requests for who do we call to get that installed. Thank you very much for everything you and everyone at the fire department does.

Thank you, Chief, and thank you for yourself and your command staff and your hard work on that ISO designation. I appreciate it. Thank you. Any other unfinished business to come before the council from the council members? Seeing none, we will move on to, oh. It's fine. Yeah, are you okay? Yeah. I'll just stop and let you speak. If it's new or old, it doesn't matter. New business, old business. Alderman Gregory.

22:40 – 23:11•SGShawn Gregory

No, I just wanted to, on behalf of Solid Ground Solutions, our Springfield Police, and Juneteenth Inc., invite everyone out to the Black Expo this Saturday. The police have some wonderful things for our young people that they have prepared. And this all comes from that Community Connection Grant that we got some years ago. And this will finish that up. And they have done a wonderful job planning some things and I just wanted to deliver that message from the good people at Solid Ground Solutions and Juneteenth Inc. and certainly our police department. Thank you.

23:12•ECErin Conley

Thank you, Alderman. Alderman Conley? Thank you. I'm sorry. If I could, Alderman Gregory, where is that going to be held again?

23:22•SGShawn Gregory

It is, ooh, you test me without looking at that. I'm sorry. It's going to be about.

Director raising is saying 10 to 7. Thank you. OK, so it's an all day event. That's exciting. Yes, it is.

23:31 – 23:53•SGShawn Gregory

They have about 40 vendors new. Some new. It wasn't at Juneteenth. It wasn't at the Taste of Springfield. YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY HAS A LOT OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS PUSHING, TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW PLACE AND DISPLAY THEMSELVES OUT AT COMBER COX PARK THIS WEEKEND. SO COME OUT, COME HUNGRY, AND GET IT ON. RALPH, YOU CAN COME, TOO.

23:58 – 24:21•ECErin Conley

well and i did i did have one just real real quick um new business i would like to wish uh board eight resident dave hellman a happy 90th birthday he recently turned 90. um took a break from his little part-time job duties to to celebrate but um very excited for him and congratulations to the family too so happy 90th thank you thank you mayor

Hey speaking of 9 year olds. Tomorrow. Oh good job. Olderman Rockford.

24:28 – 24:39•RHRalph Hanauer

I didn't have that on my radar birthday. Well, you got the guy here. He didn't. It was his birthday yesterday. Who?

It was no Saturday Saturday. I'm sorry. Happy belated birthday Alderman. Thank you. Happy birthday. Who else in the Hershey do we have to 65?

24:49•RHRalph Hanauer

You know that looks there's no way he's 65.

Any other discussion for new business from the Alders? Seeing none, we will go to citizens who have signed up in advance to address the council clerk.

35:51 – 36:07•SGShawn Gregory

Sorry. Can you get me up to the speakers? I'm sorry. You can go ahead. Okay. I just want to, you know, Jane said that, and I do want to recognize one of our very own, Ethan Posey. I know he's not in the room, but he was awarded for workforce development efforts.

36:10 – 36:37•SGShawn Gregory

Yeah. Yes, ma'am. And he definitely has worked hard at that, and he's worked hard to to really really gain the trust of this community over the years and and you know i'd be be remiss if i didn't if i didn't uh mention that um for ethan ethan posey for sure second that too thank you all the women allison ford i'm gonna say it one more time peter joseph

If you have passed, we have people that will help you pass them. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you very much, ma'am. You're welcome.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. The chair will entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed nay. The ayes have it.