City of Geneva City Council met Aug. 19.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Before each Committee of the Whole or City Council meeting, questions that have been posed by the City Council relating to the agenda for that evening will be posted to the City’s website. Below are the responses to this week’s questions.
Agenda Item 7. Reports
a) Tax Reports
Q: Sales Tax Schedules – on page 26, the percentage change column does not seem correct (2nd to last column). June (Mar) was not a 10.4% increase, and August (May) was not a 4% increase, but actually a decrease.
A: There was an error in the spreadsheet on the percentage column. The calculation is supposed to compare the percent of change from the current year to the previous year (fiscal year 2018-19); however, the formula in the spreadsheet is comparing the current year to fiscal year 2017-18. The formula has been corrected and the spreadsheet has been replaced in the packet.
Q: On pages 26 and 31, they should generally trend the same. However, in June (Mar), one was up 3%, one was down 3%. Do we know why?
A: The Municipal sales tax and the Non Home Rule sales tax numbers will not always trend the same because some items are exempt from the NHR sales tax including grocery and medication. Such differential is due to these type of sales.
Q: Sales tax revenue has decreased the last two to three months relative to the prior year. Do we know why?
Q: Did any stores close in this timeframe?
A: There are a number of factors that contribute to the decrease in sales tax including a very rainy spring, which impacted downtown visits/sales according to several retailers, and the increase in internet sales over brick and mortar, and the related shrinking footprint/bankruptcies of retailers.
Q: Did any stores close in this timeframe?
A: The City does not register or license businesses so exact records are not maintained. However, we do work to closely monitor closures. To date, during 2019, we note the following store closures: Alpaca to Apparel, Aunt Sally’s Quilts, Besties Girl Spa, Bicycle Heaven, Boston Market, CG Cookies, Charming Charlies, Euphoria Emporium, Gymboree, Hazelton Photography, Hi-Hat Resale; I.B. Quality Cabinets, Kay Jewelers,
My Eye Dr., Patricia Anderson Photography, Rival Minds and Robin’s Nest.
Agenda Item 10. Municipal Bills for Payment
1) Fox Valley Fire: $8,615
Q: Which location had the annual sprinkler system inspection?
A: Water Treatment Facility
Q: Where and what was the security upgrade for? Is this related to the $6,890 invoice for the same thing two weeks ago? Is this project nearly complete?
A: Water Treatment Facility. This invoice was for interior facility security upgrades; the previous invoice was for security improvements to the exterior of the facility. The project is now complete.
2) Interstate Battery: $848
Q: Does PD7039 have 2 batteries?
A: No, this was a clerical error. The batteries were for two separate vehicles.
3) Riverside Receptions: $1,435
Q: Did Geneva split the cost of this event with Shodeen?
A: Yes.
https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08192019-1479
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