Hello, folks. Welcome back. 2026. Happy New Year, everybody. First meeting in council chambers of the year, January 5th. I ask the city clerk to call the roll, please. Council Member Mangieri. Here. Hunnigan. Here. White. Present. Achera. Here. Saul. Yes, ma'am. Cheeseman. Here. Mayor Schwartzman. Here. Seven are present, Your Honor. Thank you. I ask us raise for the pledge of allegiance. item in the minutes from the December 15, 2025 meeting. Need a motion and a second? So moved. Thank you, Mr. Saul. Second. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Any questions about any of the minutes? Seeing none, I'll call for a vote on the minutes. December 15, 2025. Mangieri, yes. Hunnigan, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Excuse me. We've reached public comment. Anyone here for public comment should step forward. You're the first of the year. Please say your name. What an honor. My name is Pastor Andrew Jowers. I'm also the president of Unity and Community Alliance. And I'm a proud resident of Galesburg, Illinois. I'm glad to be here tonight and say good evening to Mayor Schwartzman. all of the council persons and all those that are watching at home. I just feel just excited about being here tonight, this first council meeting of the year. I've been absent for a while. I decided to go back to school, full-time student. And I thank those for praying for me. I made it through with a straight 4.0 GPA at my ripe young age of past 70. And so I'm looking forward to May coming and I'll walk across the stage with an undergrad in Associate Degree of Arts, Associate of Arts in Architecture. So with that, I saw something in U.S. News and World Report on our city and it gave the District 205 the total number of students and the total number of schools. And then it said that the minority student population was 50%. I was kind of shocked by that, that the numbers were that close, you know, diverse. But it also said that 72% of the minority students were economically disadvantaged. And so with that, literacy has become my watchword. And so I'm going to do everything I can to help ensure that kids are literate in our city. So I want to put my email out there today. I know I may get some hate mail, some hate emails, but andyjowers at yahoo.com. And that's to anyone in Gillsburg that wants to see children learn. I believe everyone should have a quality education. And having that quality education, I think, will raise everyone up. So we need to look at the folks at the bottom. So thank you for all your time. And I want to say to Mr. Miller that's no longer serving, thank him for his service. and applaud his effort. And for those that are serving, I know it requires a lot of time. So I commend you on your service. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else here tonight for public comment? Okay, we'll move on. Thank you. Consent Agenda 2026-01. There are three items on these consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. The three items are 26-4000, the property tax assessment freeze for historic residences. 26-4001, renewal of assured partners risk management consulting and insurance brokerage services. Say that in one sentence. That's the second item. Third item, 26-8000, approval and warrants drawn and payment of same. We need a motion and a second. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. White. Any questions, comments about those three items? Seeing none, I ask the clerk to call the roll. Manjari, yes. Hunnigan, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. We have one item under passages of ordinances and resolutions. That's 26-1000. stop intersections designation at north street for highland avenue and marston avenue first reading so i'll turn it over to the city assistant city manager miss st george thank you your honor staff recommend approval of an ordinance to designate highland avenue at north street and marston avenue at north street as stop intersections THIS REQUEST WAS MADE TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER SIDE STREETS ALONG NORTH STREET AS THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT THESE LOCATIONS. THE TRAFFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL AND RECOMMENDED INSTALLING STOP SIGNS AT BOTH INTERSECTIONS TAKING INTO COUNT SITELINE OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE DESIRE FOR UNIFORMITY IN THE AREA. THE COST FOR MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLING THE STOP SIGNS IS $150. THE PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY'S GAS TAX FUND AND THERE ARE SUFFICIENT FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THIS WORK. THANK YOU. Any question about this item? It will come back to us at our next meeting. We have reached the city manager's report. Anything to add to the report that was sent out? Yes, thank you, Your Honor. Just two quick items. The latest traffic advisory report is included in the council packet for public review and includes several recommendations for roadway safety. Most notably, the recommendation related to the ordinance we just had on first reading to add the new stop signs along North St. IN A SECOND ITEM OF NOTE, WE'RE ALSO HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE CITY OF GALESBURG'S LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE REPAIR PROGRAM. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2022, THE INITIATIVE HAS SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTED OVER 100 HOME REPAIR PROJECTS. THE COUNCIL APPROVED EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM IN DECEMBER, INCLUDING NOW RENTER-OCCUPIED HOMES AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR ELIGIBLE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR PROJECTS. Information is available on the community development pages of the city's website, and a full press release will also go out tomorrow about the program. Thank you. Any questions about that or the report, I should say? Mr. Hunnigan. Will renters be eligible to receive funds under this program? Yep. The program was expanded in December to now include the renter-occupied residences as well. So how would that work? I guess that's my question. I believe, I can defer to Steve, I believe the owner still applies, but the rental properties are eligible. Only single family rentals are eligible, to make that clear, so we don't have a lot of people coming in. But the income is still going to be based on the tenant itself, not the actual landlord. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Mr. Cheeseman. Just one more thing, and again, this is an excellent opportunity for folks to... Seek these funds to do the repairs that are needed that oftentimes there's not enough money within a family to do something as major as this. And this is just a great, great thing. And I think we publicize it whenever we can. Also appreciate these traffic advisory committees and their look at things. It really does make a difference in terms of traffic flow, traffic speed, making it safer. So appreciate all the work with that. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Yeah, and I would just add, It's mostly just everyday citizens who make an appeal to one of us and say, you know, I'm thinking there's too much traffic here or maybe a stop sign would work or a crosswalk or something. And all of those, if it's mentioned, as far as I know, by a citizen, it is brought to TAC and TAC reviews it. Mr. Saul. That's exactly what happened in this case. I had a constituent come to me and say, why aren't there stop signs here? and there's stop signs all along North Street. So that's what happened. He came to me, asked me about it, and I asked that it be done. Very well. And it's not like you strong-armed him. Of course, the tag committee reviews it, looks at traffic counts and such, so it does take a little time before they issue their suggestions to us, and then the council votes. Yeah, I brought it up to Eric, and Eric carried the ball. Mr. White. I just have one question. Will they be adding more stop signs to North Street? Because if I see correctly, Matson is one block away from Hawkinson where there's a stop sign at, but I don't know if there's any stop signs on North and Ivan, nor is there stop signs on North and Pleasant or North and Columbus. nor is there a stop sign on Northern Brandy. That'll only be one stop sign one block away from one, and I was just going to wonder if they were going to add more stop signs in that block. There are stop signs on Ivan Avenue and Pleasant, and Columbus, you actually have to stop on North Street. I misunderstood. It's going to be on... It's going to be on Madison and not North Street. And Highland. Okay. And not on North Street, yes. Okay, I got it. Okay. I think we got some clarity for that. Thank you for making that clear. Okay, very well. We'll move on. We have two items under miscellaneous business. The first is 264002, initiation of property demolition process. I guess I'd ask for a first and a second. So moved. Thank you, Mr. Cheeseman and Mr. White. Ms. St. George. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff recommend approval to initiate the demolition proceedings for seven properties that are in a dangerous and unsafe condition or beyond reasonable repair. The properties include 334 North Chamber Street, 900 Monmouth Boulevard, 63 Sumner Street, 272 South Pearl Street, 742 Phillips Street, 39 South Chamber Street, and 559 North Cherry Street. The properties are dilapidated with issues including structural disrepair, fire damage, or prolonged utility disconnections. Despite communication efforts, no corrective action has been taken, and in some cases, owners have indicated an inability to proceed with repair or demolition. If approved, the demolition process will proceed in several steps, including taking the necessary action to pursue orders for demolition through the court system. Funds for the demolitions are available in the Property Redevelopment Fund. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Mr. White? How long will it be before these are taken care of and removed? It can vary. This just basically initiates the process, so community development will take steps from here, including 15-day notices. It'll move to legal, and it will proceed through the court system, which, based on the proceedings, could take more or less time. And then once that order is granted... then there's still additional steps that community development takes for the actual process to demolish the property. Okay. Because there's at least two other properties in my ward that I've turned in a couple years ago, and they're not on the list of being done yet that I know of. And I was just wondering how a new one comes on and the other ones haven't been done. Sure. If you want to send those, staff could follow up on status for the specific properties. Some properties, there are multiple properties still within the court system process at this stage, even as we initiate new ones. So there could be some that are still within the process, even as new properties are initiated. Okay, thank you. Sure thing. Thank you. Seeing no other hands, I'll ask for a vote on 264002. Mangieri, yes. Hunnigan, yes. White, yes. Echera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Last item under miscellaneous business is 264003, Enterprise Fleet Management Lease Agreement. I need a motion and a second. Second. Thank you, Mr. Saul. Second. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ms. St. George, please fill us in. Thank you, Your Honor. Staff recommend approving a five-year lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management for 14 vehicles at $1,444,658 annually with an upfront cost of $54,282. The new lease vehicles replace older, high-maintenance vehicles, reducing repair costs and improving fuel economy. The lease vehicles include 12 trucks, one cargo van, and one SUV. Enterprise will handle the sale of the old vehicles, returning net equity to the city. The vehicles to be replaced will be sold with an estimated proceeds of $98,777. The total lease cost for the vehicles is estimated to be $723,289 over the 60-month lease term. Funding is available in the Vehicle Replacement Program with future years funded through annual transfers. Thank you. Any questions about this item? Seeing none, I'll ask for a vote on 26-4003, Enterprise Fleet Management Lease Agreement. Mangieri, yes. Hunnigan, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. Thank you. I need a motion to sit as the town board. So moved. Second? Second. Thank you. All those in favor say aye. Anyone opposed? We are now sitting as a town board. We have one item, the bills, 26-9000. We need a motion for the bills. I move. Thank you, Mr. White. Second. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Seconds. Any questions about the bills? Seeing none, I call for a vote on the bills, 26-9000. Manjeri, yes. Hunnigan, yes. White, yes. Achera, yes. Saul, yes. Cheeseman, yes. Sixth vote, yes, Your Honor. All right, and we need a motion to sit as a city council. Okay, we heard that. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We are now sitting as a city council. We have reached closing comments. We are on target to be the shortest meeting in history. Well, maybe not. We'll see. It's certainly in my tenure. This year, of course, for sure. So who wants to lead off to set the tone? Mr. White. I'm just going to ask thanks to everybody being here. Happy New Year. We're going to have a great year, 2026. And I've got a trivia question. Who from Galesburg, Illinois, had a full-ride scholarship to Harvard University? I think I know the answer, but I'm going to pass it on to Ms. Echera. Ms. Echera, you're up. have excellent public safety personnel here. Also wanted to say it's really great that staff keep coming up with ways to optimize experiences for people to improve their homes from the grants to this possibility for individuals who want to look into restoring historic homes. I think it's all about continued investment in our community. So again, I look forward to being able to serve for another year and I wish everyone a happy new year. Thank you. Mr. Saul. I want to thank staff also for expanding to renters that they can fix their apartments. I know how hard it is to get somebody to come out and make an estimate. And it's really challenging sometimes to get work done on your home. So thank you so much for expanding that. I want to wish everyone a happy new year and a Merry Christmas. We didn't get to do that. And thanks for being here. Thank you, Mr. Stahl. Mr. Cheeseman. Again, ditto on that particular program that we have to help homes. Also, when we talk about that we're demolishing places, that is something that none of us take any kind of satisfaction with. But by the same token, those folks have not done the proper steps to try to do anything to repair it. And we have to continue to make these areas safe as well as appealing. So it's one of those things. We just finished a year and I wanna, and I've said this a number of times, but I wanna say it again, how much I appreciate volunteers that help in our community doing whatever they do, nonprofits doing all the things that they do in terms of helping those that need help, those that provide needed services, those that provide entertainment. I mean, we can go down a list and this isn't obviously a finite list from the Orpheum Theater and boy, what a job they have done. Discovery Depot, the Skate Palace, the Art Club, all of our musical entities, things that are done for our seniors. We have a community that cares and has numbers of organizations that really lend much to our community. I also want to say as we begin a new year, as Mr. White said, I look forward to a great year here. I'm excited about it. We have a lot of things that we got to attend to last year with many, many more this year in all kinds of areas from continuing to help with our economy to infrastructure, to beautification, to things that we can provide services from a community center. to just you name it, whatever we can do to make our city a better place for our citizens to live. I know all of us as a team and our team here within our city and our community look forward to doing that. And finally, and I've said this also, and this is something that I absolutely try to live by, that as a citizen out there that you have an idea, a concern, an issue, please contact me. That's the most important job that I have is being that conduit to our citizens and to our groups to try to help with whatever way I can find an answer. and help to whatever your situation is. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Cheeseman. Ms. Mangieri. Hi, everyone. I would like to start this year with something that I recently discovered. So as a chef and in the food justice and sustainability field of work that I work in, food scarcity and food waste is always on my mind. So I recently discovered an app called Too Good To Go. And I was actually really surprised that we have two businesses in Galesburg that already use this app to save food from going into waste. And what they do is sell their surplus food at a half the price or even less. So something that could be $20 would actually sell for $6. So two of those businesses are Cornucopia and Pusa Ranch. And they've been using them collectively about almost a year. So if there are any businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, or anything like that, that you can think of that you really love, that you would like to see participate in this, please let me know or let them know directly. It's totally free to enroll. There's a transaction fee for every time they sell surplus goods, but it's very minimal, especially compared to DoorDash. Anyway, anything that we can keep out of the landfill, because I also recently discovered that we have a 2025 EPA report that was released in July, that our Knox County landfill only has a few more years left before we have to start rethinking how much space we need to grow or create a new one in another location. So as much as we can save food from going into the landfills, into people who need it or just want it, that would be great. It makes my heart happy. So if you can help spread the word with other businesses, that would be very helpful. So thank you. Sorry, I got distracted by a note that Mr. White sent me. Thank you for that. It's a really interesting app. And I think it would be wonderful to check it out. Thank you for sharing that. Mr. Hunnigan. Am I? There we are. Okay. I would like to make some remarks on behalf of the Skate Palace, which is part of the All-Stars Sports Academy here in Galesburg. and I want to express my support for the All-Star Sports Academy in Galesburg, headed and managed by Michael Spinks. It is an organization that is quickly becoming a de facto boys and girls club of Galesburg, a youth organization which has been missing from our community for at least 10 years. Boys and girls clubs provide safe, positive places for kids, and teens after school and during summer, offering structured programs in academics, health and wellness, leadership, and encouraging youth to attend college, community college, and trade schools. We need more places like the All-Star Sports Academy in this community, period. The All-Star Sports Academy is centrally located at 1855 East Knox Street near two large apartment complexes with lots of kids on the east side of town, Iowa Court and Turnberry near Hy-Vee. The All Star Sports Academy is a 501 charitable organization. It has an advisory board of 13 members composed of all segments of our community. And like the Boys and Girls Club, its mission is service, service to the poor and service to the underprivileged of our community. It serves between 35 to 75 children on any given day. This organization has already approached several agencies for more funds, organizational funds, including the Knox County Board. The mission-driven nonprofit organization not only wants to expand, but must expand to better serve the needs of this community if it is going to survive in coming years. The All-Star Sports Academy in Galesburg is more than a skating rink located off of Grand Avenue. It is a civic slash community center for all forms of youth activity. However, without a dependable cash flow from private and public sources, it is doubtful whether its many, many services like providing free washing machine to its participants can be sustained in the near future. I was particularly impressed by a testimonial of a local pastor who said that the Skate Palace has become a sanctuary for underprivileged kids in our community. He also said they provide a safe and welcoming environment where kids can hang out, have fun, and feel safe. My take on the All-Star Sports Academy is this. If we can help the Y, which has a nationwide presence, we also need to help the All-Star Sports Academy in Galesburg, which exists because one person who grew up in my ward, where his mother still resides in 2026, saw a challenge, and he's able to see what few others can see. Thank you, Michael Spinks, for making us aware of your dream. Thank you, Mr. Hennigan. Welcome to 2026. As has been said, we do look forward to a very promising year for Galesburg. There's a lot of things that are underway. that some of them have started years and years ago. They're finally going to come to fruition, I think, over the next six to eight months. And I encourage people to be invested and engaged. Stay warm. We had a very cold December, but we still have some cold months ahead of us. So be careful and thoughtful. Knox College just started up again today, first day of classes. And a lot of students are... roaming around the downtown area. So be thoughtful of that as well. And I just received a note. Next meeting is going to be January 19th. But the morning of that day at 7 a.m., we're going to have an MLK breakfast at Ascent Church. And so please come. It's a great event. There's a word former on here. It's a former Geldberg High School teacher. Okay. DeAndre Henderson. You want to say that? We have a former high school teacher here, DeAndre Henderson. He's actually 40 under—he's 40 under 40 or something like that in Champaign. He's vice principal at Rantoul. He's my great-nephew. He's going to be our guest speaker. I think he taught at JHS North under Mr. Spring at one time. Please come out and support us. You know, we raise money to give out scholarships. As I asked earlier, did you know who graduated from Harvard, from Galesburg, Illinois? And Mr. Jowers, he's working on trying to help young people get an education. This is my little two cents that we put in, try to give money to kids so they can go to school and get a good education. Thanks, Mayor. Yes, thank you, Mr. White. With that, we can adjourn if we have a motion and a second. And all those who approve leaving in the meeting, say aye. Aye. Anyone wishing to stay longer? Aye. Apparently not. Okay, we are adjourned. Be safe tonight.