City of Geneva City Council met Nov. 15.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
The Geneva City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Burns at 7:00 p.m.
Elected officials present:
Aldermen: Mike Bruno, Becky Hruby, Gabriel Kaven, Dean Kilburg, Brad Kosirog, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Amy Mayer, Robert Swanson.
Mayor Kevin Burns, City Clerk Roger Godskesen
Elected officials attending by video or teleconference: Ald. Tara Burghart
Elected officials absent: None
Others present: City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins, Assistant City Administrator Ben McCready, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Building Commissioner Eric Nelson
Others attending by video or teleconference: City Atty. Ron Sandack
Pledge of allegiance led by Owen, Kate, Riley and Sarah
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS
a. Art on Fire Presentation
Mayor Burns invited Cultural Arts Commission Chairman Tim Vetang to the podium. Vetang gave an overview of Arts on Fire project which is now in its 8th year. In that time, with a one year break due to the pandemic in 2020, 120 hydrants have been painted. Vetang noted there are over 1,500 hydrants in the City of Geneva, and encouraged anyone interested to participate. He described the selection process, announced the four winners for this year, and presented a gift certificate to the two winners present. The first and second place winners are away at college, and will receive their certificates by mail. Hanna Dworkin and Kathleen Brockett won first place for "The Big Red Fire Hydrant". Angelina Oliva Trejo's "Sunset" won second, Will Ris' "Geneva's People" won third, and Roger Godskesen's "Key Lime Stars" fourth place.
b. Consider Mayor’s Appointment of Lisa Cervenka to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force
Moved by Ald. Kilburg, seconded by Ald. Mayer to confirm the appointment.
MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote 10/0.
4. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
5. OMNIBUS AGENDA
All Items listed on the Omnibus Agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a council member so requests in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the agenda as presented. Roll Call:
AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Hruby, Kaven, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Swanson)
ABSENT: 0
NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED
*6. Approve Regular City Council Minutes from November 1, 2021. (Clerk Recommends Approval)
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*7. APPROVE REPORTS
Tax Revenue Report
8. COUNCIL COMMITTEES
None
9. OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE
None
10. MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT
City of Geneva Expenditures - 11/15/2021 $ 5,751,265.17
Manual Check(s) –
Utility Billing Refund(s) 675.14
Misc. Refund(s) –
Sales Tax Abatement –
City of Geneva Payroll 721,081.32
Tri-Com Expenditures - 11/15/2021 25,357.23
Tri-Com Payroll 113,701.47
Total Expenditures $ 6,612,080.33
Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Kosirog to approve the bills as presented. Roll Call:
AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Hruby, Kaven, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Swanson)
ABSENT: 0
NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED
11. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
*a. Approve Resolution No. 2021-92 Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with Dacra Tech LLC in the Amount of $38,640.00.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*b. Approve Resolution No. 2021-93 Authorizing Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Geneva School District No. 304 for Providing a School Resource Officer at Geneva High School.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*c. Approve Resolution No. 2021-94 Authorizing Execution of a Reciprocal Reporting Agreement with Geneva School District No. 304.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*d. Approve Resolution No. 2021-95 Waiving Competitive Bidding and Award Purchase of Upgrade Parts for Geneva Generation Facility to Altorfer Caterpillar in the Amount of $218,159.98.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*e. Approve Resolution No. 2021-96 Authorizing Execution of a Contract with Newcastle Electric, Inc. for Installation of Variable Frequency Drives at the Water Treatment Plant at a Cost Not-to-Exceed $31,350.00.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*f. Approve Resolution No. 2021-97 Authorizing Execution of a Contract with Municipal Well & Pump for the 2021 Well #13 Rehabilitation Project at a Cost Not-to-Exceed $258,815.00.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
*g. Approve Resolution No. 2021-98 Declaring Cultural Arts Commission Supplies and Equipment as Surplus Property.
Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the measure as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote 10/0. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED
12. PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, PETITIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND BID AWARDS
12.a. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2021-99 Authorizing a 10% Price Increase for City Facility Contracted Cleaning Services with City Wide Building Maintenance Inc. from $6,904.28 to $7,634.31 Per Month from December 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022.
Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Mayer to approve the measure as presented.
The vendor, citing increased material and other costs, has requested that their contract with the city be modified, granting them a 10% increase in rates for the five remaining months of the contract. The terms of the contract allow either party to cancel with 10-days’ notice. A discussion followed, involving details of the price increase requested, and the relative pros and cons to the city to granting the increase.
Concerns were raised that the vendor could cancel if their rate increase is not granted, thus leaving the city very little time to bid for and select another vendor to clean the various buildings. Building Commissioner Eric Nelson answered questions from the council.
Ald. Hruby felt the tone of the letter from the vendor was stated as a demand, asked Nelson for clarification of the contract, and whether the city could make a counter-offer.
Swanson asked whether Nelson thought the vendor would re-bid for next year, which Nelson said he did not know.
Kaven asked that if the city does not approve the increase, and the vendor cancels the contract, how long it would take to find another service provider to do the cleaning. Nelson said a new bid wouldn’t be able to go out until next month, and estimated 30-45 days. Adm. Dawkins added that if the vendor cancels, the city’s only option would be to find another vendor for the short term, and that might not be easy to do. Kaven felt that he would not be opposed to keeping the existing vendor.
Bruno felt that continuity of service provided is attractive, so that he would not be opposed to the increase in the contract.
Mayer asked which city facilities the vendor cleans, and Nelson and Dawkins provided a list.
Kosirog asked if city staff worry about setting a precedent by allowing this vendor to re negotiate their contract. Dawkins felt that it did not.
Swanson was opposed to allowing a vendor to modify the terms of their contract in this way, adding that if a firm is asking for more money, but does not even show up to explain why, it feels like a bad sign. He added that it does not set a good precedent to give more money to a vendor who has a contract in place.
Hruby asked for an explanation of how the contract was entered into which could be broken with only a 10-day notice.
Kaven added that since the city only has a 10-day notice, and that the increased cost for the remainder of the contract was only $3,400, that it felt easiest to keep the existing vendor in place.
Marks agreed with Swanson, to the effect that the vendor entered into the contract in good faith, and they should honor it as written. Bruno asked what other options there were.
There being no further questions or comments:
Roll Call:
AYES: 6 (Bruno, Kaven, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Mayer,)
ABSENT: 0
NAYS: 4 (Burghart, Hruby, Marks, Swanson) MOTION CARRIED
13. NEW BUSINESS AND PUBLIC COMMENT
No one was waiting to comment via the online system.
No one commented in chambers.
14. CLOSED SESSION ON THE PURCHASE, SALE OR LEASE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY
Moved by Ald. Kosirog, seconded by Ald. Bruno to adjourn to closed session. Roll Call:
AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Hruby, Kaven, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Swanson)
ABSENT:
NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED
NOTE: The council adjourned to closed session at 7:35 PM and returned to open session at 8:25 PM. The cameras were turned off during the session.
Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Kosirog to return to open session. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote 10/0.
15. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, moved by Ald. Bruno to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting.
MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote 10/0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11152021-1868
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