City of Geneseo City Council met Oct. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Regular Council of the City of Geneseo was called to order on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present:
COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Bob James, Council Brett Barnhart, Council Craig Arnold, Mayor Sean Johnson, Council Martin Rothschild, Council Paula Simosky, Alderman Kent Swanson, Council Keith Kennett, and Alderman James Roodhouse
COUNCIL ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Director of Finance Jamie Matthews, City Administrator Brandon Maeglin, Director of IT Garrett Griswold, Attorney Derke Price, Deputy Chief of Police Kondon Karzin, Director of Public Works Chad VandeWoestyne, Building Inspector Rick Mills, City Clerk Paige Seibel, and Director of Electrical Operations Eric Rowold
PUBLIC PRESENT:
1 INVOCATION
2 Pledge of Allegiance
3 Roll Call
Meeting began at 6:00 PM
Arnold left meeting at 6:52 PM
4 Chamber of Commerce Report
Chamber Director Sullivan gave his report including upcoming events:
Scarecrow Row - October 28
Tie a Yellow Ribbon - November 5th
2023 Geneseo Christmas Walk - December 9th
Rothschild gave kudos for a great turn out at State Street Market.
A Q&A took place between Chamber Director Sullivan and Councilman Swanson.
5 Public Comment - Agenda Items
City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the City Council at this time.
None
6 Mayor's Comments
None
7 City Council Comments
None
8 City Administrator's Comments
None
9 Finance Director Comments
Electric Director Rowold gave his Capital Projects report
Public Works Director VanDeWoestyne gave his Capital Projects report
VanDeWoestyne advised IMEG will be engineering the 6th Well and Water Treatment Plant, and will be bringing the scope of the project to the October 24th COW Meeting.
A Q&A took place between Council, Mayor Johnson, and Staff.
Finance Director Matthews gave her report on the Budget Book & Treasurer's Report. 9.1. Treasurer's Report and Capital Asset Reports as Submitted.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Brett Barnhart, Motion to approve the Treasurer's Report and Capital Asset Reports as submitted.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold
SECONDER: Brett Barnhart
AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
10 Unfinished Business
Items requested to be removed from consent agenda.
Councilman Arnold requested to remove 11.5 Sewer Rates: O-23-11 from the consent agenda.
11 Consent Agenda
11.1. Approval of Previous Minutes
Regular Council - 12 September 2023 Minutes
Committee of the Whole - 26 September 2023 Minutes
Special City Council - 26 September 2023 Minutes
11.2. R-23-19: Appointment of Jeffrey Lang to the Police Commission
11.3. Electric Department Transmission Line Tree Trimming
11.4. PD In-Squad Cameras
11.5. Sewer Rates: O-23-11
*Removed from consent agenda*
11.6. Omnibus method
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to approve using the omnibus method and to approve items 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, and 11.6
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart
SECONDER: Craig Arnold
AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
11.7. Sewer Rates: O-23-11
Amend the ordinance's exhibit 1 schedule from a 4% increase to a 6% increase for year 2024.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Martin Rothschild, Motion to approve O 23-11, an ordinance revising the schedule of sewer rates and related charges, with an amendment to exhibit 1, changing the increased amounts from a 4% increase to a 6% increase for the sewer utility for year 2024.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold
SECONDER: Martin Rothschild
AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
12 Administration
12.1. Application from Stackhouse-Moore Properties LLC, to change the zoning classification at 225 East Park Street from R-2 residential to B-3 Business.
Building Inspector Mills advised that Plan Commission recommended to change the zoning classification at 225 East Park Street from R-2 to B-3 Business. City Attorney Price spoke to council and advised that on the submitted application there was no written description provided for why the re-zoning was being requested, adding that a blanket approval for the B-3 Business zoning classification would allow for numerous different businesses to operate, while being surrounded by R-2 residential homes. Attorney Price also pointed out that both the Plan Commission and City Council recently both took action to deny another applicant for re-zoning who came before the boards without a specific plan, and was attempting to re-zone a parcel to make it more marketable for a future sale.
Rothschild added he is not against the Plan Commission Board but feels that he has no choice but to vote this motion down to be consistent with the decision recently made from the other applicant.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Paula Simosky, Motion to approve the re zoning of the property at 225 East Park Street from R-2 Residential to B-3 Business.
RESULT: DEFEATED.
MOVER: Craig Arnold
SECONDER: Paula Simosky
AYES: NAYS: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
12.2. Approval of Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
Director of Finance Matthews gave her report on the 2024 budget
A Q&A took place between council and staff.
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to approve O-23- 12, an ordinance adopting the 2024 budget with update to sewer rate.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart
SECONDER: Craig Arnold A
YES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
13 Payment of City and Utility Bills
No discussion was had.
13.1. Approval of City Bills
Martin Rothschild moved, seconded by Keith Kennett, Motion to approve the City Bills as presented.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Martin Rothschild
SECONDER: Keith Kennett
AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
ABSENT: Craig Arnold
14 Public Comment - All Other Items
City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the City Council at this time
Vernon Stackhouse with Stackhouse Moore Funeral & Cremation Services advised he was disappointed with the council's decision to vote down the zoning change. He asked council members about the next steps if he had a potential buyer that wanted to purchase the building and make it into apartments. City Attorney Price and Mayor Johnson advised he would start with the plan commission process again and have a justification for zoning change on the application, and should have a purchase agreement with the buyer that was contingent upon the city approving a zoning change for the proposed buyer's plan.
15 Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM
15.1. Move to close the meeting
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Kent Swanson, Motion to Adjourn
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart
SECONDER: Kent Swanson
AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse
ABSENT: Craig Arnold
https://cityofgeneseo.civicweb.net/document/61076/
Alerts Sign-up