It is 6.15. We'll commence the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at this time. Ms. Benowitz, can you call the roll, please? Council Member Hicks. Here. Dennis. Here. Miller. Here. White. Present. Achera. Here. Davis. Here. Cheeseman. Here. Mayor Schwartzman. Here. Ader present, Your Honor. We'll begin the Pledge of Allegiance, and I'll ask Mr. Dennis to start us off. we just come this evening and give you thanks for who you are and just for being such a glorious and awesome God. We thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus. We come up on this Christmas season, Lord. Fathers, we take time to reflect on the year 2024, Lord. Please look over the families, Lord, all the military people, Lord, their families, also those that are impacted by the Ukraine-Russian conflict, also the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, Lord. There were thousands of families who have been impacted. Lord, we also pray for those that have been impacted and affected by the natural disasters we've been having this year. Father, we pray for those who have lost loved ones this year, Lord. Please bless those who have been laid off from work. Father, please provide food and shelter and clothing for the poor, those that are hungry, the homeless that are out here in this cold weather, Lord. Father, we pray that you meet the needs as only you can. I pray that we as people, Lord, will look for those, Lord, that are in need and dig into our pockets, Lord, and just help them, Father. Father, we pray that our leaders will turn to God and that the spirit of greed and pride be broken down up in this country, in this nation, in this community. We pray for Galesburg's economy. We pray, more importantly, Lord, that we ask that you will help us to be more unified as a community, characterized by genuine love, kindness, and care for one another, that we can be each other's keepers. Love thy neighbor as thyself. And as we stand this evening as a community, I pray that you will bless this meeting, all those that are present, and those who are watching. And may all things be done decent and in order. And we ask this prayer in the name of your precious son, Jesus. May everyone say amen. Thank you. We have the minutes from the November 18th, 2024 meeting in front of us. I ask for a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Do I hear a second? Second. Thanks, Mr. Chair. Any questions about the minutes? Seeing none, I call for a vote on the minutes from the November 18th, 2024 meeting. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Cherry, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We now move to public comment. If anyone's here for public comment, please step forward. You have three minutes. I'm not seeing anyone, so we'll move on. Consent Agenda 2024-21. All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. May I have that motion? Thank you, Mr. Miller. Is that Mr. Dennis? Seconds? Okay. Any questions about any of the items on the consent agenda? Seeing none, I call for vote on the consent agenda 2024-21. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Echera, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We move to passages of ordinances and resolutions. We have one item, 241026. This is an ordinance, zoning amendment 40 East Simmons Street from institutional to B3 central business. This is under first reading. I turn it over to our city manager, Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Property at 40 East Simmons, as you know, is the location of the former library. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of a zoning amendment from I Institutional to B3 Central Business District for 40 East Simmons Street. The applicant is planning to sell the property and would like to rezone to the B3 Central Business District, which allows for a variety of mixed uses that are appropriate for the downtown area. The purpose of the B3 District is to provide for a wide range of businesses and services typically located in an urban downtown environment, such as retail, residential, governmental, office, cultural, hotel, entertainment, and ancillary uses. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Hanson? This will be coming back at the next meeting. Excellent. We don't have anything under bids, petitions, and communications. We now are at the city manager's report. Mr. Hanson, anything to add? Just one item, and I wanted to give a special shout-out to the staff who worked diligently here over the last couple weeks to put up the lights throughout our downtown. I arrived here about a year ago this week. In fact, certainly within just a handful of days. And one of the things that struck me as I came into town was just how amazing the lighting was throughout our downtown. uh... hopefully folks enjoy it but it takes a lot of effort from a number of people to make that happen and uh... appreciate their efforts be happy to answer any other questions thank you Mr. Hanson any questions for Mr. Hanson seeing none we'll move to the last section well at least miscellaneous business we have five items to consider uh... the first four fall under the minority women owned business startup assistance grant uh... the first one will Consider is 244084. This is for 360 Party Zone, LLC. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Second. Thank you, Mr. Cheeseman. Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of a $10,000 minority and or women-owned business startup assistance grant for 360 Party Zone LLC. The applicant offers a service that provides a 360-degree video of participants as they stand on a platform while the phone rotates around them. Customized videos can be shared on social media and other mediums instantaneously. In addition to the owner, they anticipate the two full-time employees within two years. The funds will be used to purchase additional equipment and a tow-behind trailer to transport the equipment to the various events that they serve. Abbotty, answer any questions? Thank you, Mr. Hanson. We also have Mr. Springer and Mr. Schloff here if you have any additional questions on any of these items. Any further discussion about 360 Party Zone LLC? Seeing none, I call for a vote on that 24-4084. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Echera, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Thank you. The second of these is 244085. This is Best Tab and Associates LLC. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Miller. Mr. Hanson? Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of a $7,500 minority and or women-owned business startup assistance program for Best Tab and Associates, LLC. The applicant will provide behavioral therapy, behavioral health education, and medication management assistance. Services will be provided in home offices, at a medical facility, at the client's home, or virtually. In addition to the owner, they anticipate one full-time employee. The funds will be used for marketing and to assist with licensing costs. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Any questions about this item? Seeing none, I call for a vote on 244085. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Next of these is 244086. This is the Griffin at 1052 North Henderson Street. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of a $7,500 minority and or women-owned business startup assistance grant for the Griffin. The business will be located at 1230 North Henderson Street and aims to provide high-quality artistic tattoo services, a variety of metaphysical services such as tarot reading and astrology consultations, and a range of merchandise such as artist prints, branded apparel, and tattoo aftercare products. In addition to the owner, they anticipate having one full-time employee The funds will be used for marketing, purchasing new equipment, and retail inventory. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Any questions for Mr. Hanson on this item? Seeing none, I call for a vote on 20, excuse me, Mr. White. The North Henderson should be the correct address, I believe. Which one? 1230 North Henderson. Okay. Please step up to the podium, if you would. The actual address is 1052. I think your paperwork may reflect two addresses. 1252 is actually the banker's address that the business has... has their association with, but the actual address for the shop is 1052. Thank you for that clarification. Okay, anything further? Seeing none, I call for a vote on 244086. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Aceri, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Next to these and last tonight is 244087. This is the Knox County Athletic Club, LLC. It's going to be located at 435 East 3rd Street. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller and Mr. Dennis. Mr. Hanson. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff is recommending approval of a $10,000 Southside Occupancy Assistance Grant for Knox County Athletic Club, LLC, proposing to provide sports skill development for youth with a primary emphasis on softball and baseball. The building at 435 East 3rd Street has been vacant since the previous use moved out over one year ago, and their use and renovation will prevent ongoing vacancy while providing an updated facility for year-round youth sports training. The funds will be utilized towards the purchase and renovation of the property. Happy to answer any questions. Anything for Mr. Hanson on this item or for anyone else? Seeing none, I call for a vote on 244087. Bix, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Aceri, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Fantastic. So that's four new businesses that we're assisting. Just for the record, that's 28 now that we've assisted over the last three years, which is phenomenal. I believe three of those are located downtown. Eleven, excuse me. Eleven of those 28 are located downtown. And... We also, in this case, see a reoccupancy of the old rescue mission building, one of the old schools in Galesburg. So I think that's phenomenal. So I'm very pleased, and the public should be as well. Last in our miscellaneous business is not last at all. 244088 is the FY2025 budget and salary schedule. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. thanks mister chair mister hansen thank your honor time council before i read uh... the typical report i just want to take a moment to thank uh... miss o'hurn and uh... the finance team miss billiter who is really the the master of mine behind the budget and keeps us in line along with all the department heads and staff as i'm sure council is aware especially for those of you that have been through this before This process is a six- to eight-month endeavor to get to this point. Obviously, we had a fairly lengthy work session in September, and I provided a few updates in October and early November as well. The majority of the work obviously being done. Obviously, the tax levy was approved last week, and following the budget tonight, the last item is to abate the bonds. at the December 16th meeting, but obviously a culmination of a lot of work. Very pleased and appreciate the department heads and their staff and all the work that they did that goes into this. I think it accomplishes a number of goals, as I've stated before, on the capital side, on the operational side, you know, there's no position eliminations. There's a lot of the priorities that have come before council in 2024 still on the budget. And again, last time with your action we we actually kept the property tax rate for the city flat or slightly declining at least is what we're projecting and that's credit to the work of the council and certainly to the staff and I just want to take this opportunity to thank them obviously this is my first budget because my counterpart down to the right actually did the one last year I just took credit or blame depending on one's perspective. This one actually is on me and the staff. So I hope 2025 is just as good or better than 2024 in terms of what we get accomplished. I'm very proud of the work that they did and I want to acknowledge them for their excellent efforts and the jobs that they do every day on behalf of the residents of Galesburg. On this particular item, staff is recommending approval of the FY 2025 budget and classification salary schedule. The 2025 budget includes total expenditures of $78 million and general fund expenditures totaling approximately $32 million. The balanced budget utilizes a total of $8 million in fund balances. anticipated for capital projects mostly. The incorporated classification salary schedule is consistent with the 2025 budget and includes 4% cost of living adjustment for AFSCME, PSEO, and exempt and nonrepresented employees. most of which are within those union contracts. We did have three position classifications that were required to reclassify for the range to comply with a new minimum salary requirement for exempt employees at the federal government level, but all of those wages were already in compliance. They just had to move the scale, and so they were moved to a corresponding rate within a 2.5% within their current range. schedule. So all in all, there haven't been a whole lot of changes since September. As I said, I think we did a lot of work, and I hope we got the priorities that you have set forth for us included in the spending plan, and we look forward to its approval and ultimately implementation in 2025. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Hanson. Any final questions? from the council on this. Mr. Cheeseman. Just one comment. Thank you for your work with this. This is obviously just an enormously complex kind of thing, and some of the things that you had to do with some of the challenges this year, Ms. O'Hearn and Mr. Hanson and staff, you should be commended, and I know that all of us here appreciate your efforts and work here. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cheeseman. Anyone else? Seeing none, I'll call for a vote on 244088. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Echera, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Well, I'm glad it was approved unanimously. I would agree with Mr. Hansen's take. I mean, he deserves a lot of credit. Ms. Hearn definitely came in a gangbuster. And in my 14 years serving this community as an elected official, this is the best, most thoroughly considered budget I've seen. So congratulations to all those involved. That's $78 million, by the way, being put to action for the betterment of our community. And that's a significant amount of money that needs to be spent wisely. With that, I'll ask for a motion to sit as the town board. Second. Thank you, Ms. Davis. Second. Mr. Cheeseman, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We are now sitting as a town board. We only have one... item under town business. I bet you most people watching can guess what those are. Those are the bills. 249027. We need a motion to consider the bills. Thank you, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Miller. Anything to add about the bills? Any questions about the bills from the council? Seeing nothing, I ask for a vote on the bills. 249027. Hicks, yes. Dennis, yes. Miller, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Davis, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Seven vote yes, Your Honor. Excellent, excellent. Now we need a motion to resume as a City Council. Thank you, Mr. Dennis. Second. Mr. Chair, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We are now sitting as a City Council. We move to closing comments. Anyone want to lead off? Mr. White. I just want to make sure that I reiterate to everybody, get involved in your city, know what's going on. Go to the city's page, go to the very bottom of the page, click on get notified. When you click on that, it'll give you any piece of information that you need. All our budgets, every commission, everything that you need to know about the city is on get notified, please. Get involved in your city, look at the packet, see what we're doing, and keep up with us and hold us accountable to our jobs here at the city council. It's taken me a couple of weeks to get this done, but I want to show you this. A young man made this out to GVAC a couple weeks ago. The kid's 16 years old. He's qualified to go out to Jupiter and get a job right now. He made this for me. Another young man made a new G. I've been trying to get these out here to show everybody the work that some of these students are doing out there. I have one more at home that he made for me that came from my tour in Vietnam. I was in house three. He made that also, but I didn't bring it because it's a pretty good size. But these kids out there, invest in them. take the time, help them get skills that they can use to become productive citizens and to be able to have good jobs and good skills that they'll move this city forward. They'll move their lives forward and they'll be proud of themselves. This is Christmas time is coming around. We just gave thanks for just another day. And I thank God that I'm able to be here. and to do what I do and to help, I can help. But this is Christmas time. Give. It's not about what you're receiving. Christmas is about giving. A man gave his life for every single one of us. And please, think about that this year. Not about what you can receive, but what you can give. Give to one another, love one another, and treat them with kindness and respect. whoever they may be, especially the ones that aren't like you. If you're right-handed, go and find a left-handed person and find out how they live. If you're short, find somebody tall. If you're rich, find somebody poor. But look around and give yourself back to somebody else and see how somebody else's shoes fit. Merry Christmas ahead of time. God bless everybody. Thank you, Mr. White. Mr. Chair. Thank you. I would echo Dwight's comments. I think there is so much opportunity to get involved in your city, not only at the municipal level, if you're interested in that, and I know several of the participants in our audience here today are quite involved. in volunteering and there's so many things you can do. Maybe you're into sports, maybe you're into helping the needy, serving someone at a kitchen. If you're not in a church, many churches have all kinds of volunteer opportunities that you could ask them if you're not sure where to turn, United Way. There's so many places if you're not sure where to start that might align with your interests that will enhance the fabric of our community. So I think that's a really great reminder. I'll also say a nice reminder to shop local. There's still some time left before Christmas. Don't forget if you have folks that have everything, as my parents do, you know, consider getting gift certificates for service or restaurants, something like that. So small businesses around really appreciate that kind of support. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Jarrett. Ms. Davis? Well, I feel like I might be echoing comments, but I... loved what our city manager said earlier about the Christmas lights. That's one of my favorite things about our city. I would encourage everyone to go just take a drive down main. Okay, maybe not when there's snow on the ground, that might be unavoidable at this point, but drive safely, but take a joyful drive or even a stroll down main and see the lighting that the city employees have put up. Thank you guys again for doing such an awesome job with that. I am so appreciative every time I get to go out there and look around and just bask in that beauty of our city. It's joyful. And I love that we just talked about the giving spirit of Christmas and being involved with your community and joy. That brings me joy. And I hope that you guys can find something, whether it's those lights or something else that... brings joy for you this Christmas season. Thank you, Ms. Davis. Mr. Cheeseman. I think that we all had the same thing on our minds without speaking to one another about it. Again, Dwight, wonderful comments there. But this morning on WGIL, there was an excellent interview with a young lady named Ellen Tolley Davis, who coined the term Cyber Monday, coming from little old Galesburg. Others, another young lady that's been a commentator, a political analyst on Fox and CNN named Masca. We have a number of people that have gone through our community, being raised by our citizens, their families, teachers, the educational system, et cetera, et cetera, that have went on and left our community and done great things. And almost to a T in the stories that I've heard, and I've heard a number of them both face-to-face and online, through interviews, how much that their city did for them, their schools, their families, their friends, those people that they've been around that have influenced them and helped raise them into the people that they are today. And I think we can never lose notice of that. So much negative is talked about in our city. We have so many things here that we have going for us that are positive in many, many ways. And we need to accentuate those things. And I think as we talk to people, that have left our town. And we need to do everything we can to retain what we have here. And those jobs through vocational types of things and others will help with this. And we need to emphasize those things. But we need to speak with those folks that have left and ask them specifically, what was done here that really helped you? What do you see in other places? What can we learn as we engage with these people that will help us do things for our community now, for our young people now, and to make our city better? And there's a lot of that out there. And one of the most valuable resources are those that have left that, again, know what their town did for them and I know would be eager to tell their stories. And they have a lot to offer. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cheeseman. Mr. Hicks. Nothing this evening. Thank you, Mr. Hicks. Mr. Dennis. Well, Mr. White said about giving. I give. to two real fine organizations. One of them is the Tunnel of Towers. I send them $11 every month. And Wounded Warriors, I send them $20 every month. And they're two fine organizations. If you see them on TV, be proud of what you see. And I want to thank Mr. White for bringing that up because I want to say that before, but I think it's the right time to do that. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Dennis. Mr. Miller. Well, I think it's this coming Sunday is the Christmas parade downtown Gillsburg. So I'm asking everybody to come out and enjoy such a wonderful thing. I know my wife will be walking in the parade. I'd like to challenge the council. It's too late this year to do it, but I'd like to challenge the council. Let's come up with a float next year. Let's do something to get out to the public. And then the other thing is the warming center is open. If we see somebody out there, let's help them get there. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Miller. I appreciate both those comments. Looking forward to that. Yes, the holiday parade is Sunday at 5 p.m. downtown Galesburg. It's one of the most festive events we have in our city. So if you haven't been to it, you definitely want to check it out. It's going to be cold, but it's December. Dress warmly. The positive spirit will warm you up. I promise you that. Two other things to announce. I mentioned last time I gave the State of the City last week, and it was posted on the radio. Thank you for that. And also, you know, the written portion is available as well. I think in there I tried to cover the main issues. successes we had in the city this year, and then things looking forward. So there's a lot of content there for folks to digest. And lastly, I mean, if you're looking for something fun to do, I can tell you, because I've been to several games so far, we have some really, really excellent basketball players in Galesburg. We have male and female players, both at the high school level, the college level, both of our colleges. So go out and enjoy a game. It's very inexpensive entertainment, and it supports local. A lot of our local players are playing at the college level as well on all the teams, and it's great fun. And it's a couple-mile drive at best for most of us. So with that, I will call for an adjournment of the meeting. We have a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Mr. White, all in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We are adjourned tonight.