The regular scheduled City Council meeting of Monday, October 1, 2007 was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Gary W. Manier in the Training Room at Fire Station No.1.

Answering present for Roll Call were Aldermen Dave Dingledine, Al Howerter, Don Brubaker, Amanda Shipp, Todd Clanin, Jim Newman, Jim Gee and Bob Brucks.

Also present was City Attorney Kenneth L. Black, City Administrator Bob Morris, City Treasurer Bob Gordon, City Engineer Ken Newman, Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker, Controller Joanie Baxter, P&D Director Jon Oliphant and City Clerk Carol Moss, as well as Walt & Joan Ruppman, Tom and Judy Gross, Mrs. Merkle, Josh Edwards, Don Gronewold, Gladys Charleston, Jean Keely, Beth O'Brien, Sue Freeburg, John Jackson and Loyal Gifford.

Following Roll Call all present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Agenda was reviewed and stood as presented.

Alderman Brubaker moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to approve the Consent Agenda of October 1, 2007 as presented. The Consent Agenda included minutes of the September 17, 2007 Council meeting and a WACC purchase authorization for the purchase of equipment, fixtures and furnishings. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Clanin, Dingledine, Gee, Howerter, Newman, Shipp, Brucks, Brubaker 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Aaron Phillips, Heinold-Banwart, Ltd., reported on the FY06-07 Audit. He stated that it is the responsibility of the auditing company to plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and are fairly presented in accordance with U.S. general accepted accounting principles. As part of the audit, there was consideration given to the internal control of the City of Washington. This was for the sole purpose of determining audit procedures and not to provide any assurance concerning such internal control. The City of Washington financial statements were in very good shape to begin with, which is a real plus because it indicates that management is doing a good job on a month to month basis. Revenue is down by about $2M and this is mostly due to development being down. This is a non-cash deficit and fluctuates from year to year. Water and sewer revenues are up as are sales tax revenues. Expenses are also up but a lot of that is due to the Community Center. If those expenses are taken out as well as interest for the bonds, expenses were consistent with other years. The City is financially strong with $53M in assets and $13M in liabilities. Cash increased about $4M from last year and most of that is due to management's ability to generate more than expenses. There were no controlled environment problems encountered. The department appears to operate very well and City Administrator Morris and the Council oversee things very well. Mr. Phillips commended City Administrator Morris and Controller Baxter for how well the department operates.

Alderman Dingledine thanked Mr. Phillips for his review and stated that the City is very fortunate to have people like City Administrator Morris and Controller Baxter who run the Finance Department so well. Mr. Phillips stated that it is a real pleasure to work with the quality staff of the City of Washington.

Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Dingledine seconded to accept the FY06-07 Audit Report as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Brucks, Clanin, Shipp, Brubaker, Newman, Gee, Dingledine, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Washington Historical Society/Washington District Library - WWII Veterans' Program - Mayor Manier read a notice that the Washington Historical Society and the Washington District Library will co-host a program honoring local WWII veterans on Sunday, November 10 at 1 p.m. Several Washington veterans will speak about their branch of the service, their place of duty and their unusual experiences during the war. A 500 page book entitled TAZEWELL COUNTY VETERANS OF WWII, published by the Tazewell County Historical and Genealogical Society will be available for sale. Cost is $60.00. Veterans in attendance may also sign the books. Sue Freeburg, member of the Historical Society, asked that veterans be made aware of this program and also that rides be provided for veterans if needed. The meeting will be held in the library meeting room at Five Points Washington.

Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to show support for the Library and the Historical Society and show support for the veterans. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Alderman Dingledine noted that PBS is airing a multi-part showing of the war. It is a gruesome account but it is very interesting, Mayor Manier noted that this showing will be aired again starting October 9.

Audience Comments - Tom Gross, 201 S. Main, encouraged the Council to approve the historic preservation ordinance to be presented as second reading and for action this evening. He stated that the Mayor appointed a citizens committee to work on this ordinance. The committee worked long and hard on the ordinance to make sure that it has built in protection for residents.

Josh Edwards, 1304 Coventry, asked for Council support of the historical preservation ordinance. He noted that he and his family chose to live in Washington because of the historical character of the city. This is a fair and equitable ordinance and has a lot of built in checks and balances.

Jack Stone, 1404 Westminster, said that he was transferred to this area twenty years ago with Caterpillar, and his family chose Washington because of the community itself. Mr. Stone introduced Dominick Lyon who stated that he has lived in Washington his whole life. Both gentlemen were at the meeting to ask for the City's approval to have the first annual St. Jude Washington Run from Washington to Peoria. Lyon stated that he has always run with the Bloomington/Normal team. Stone stated that Bloomington/Normal has about 115 runners this year, and those runners go through Washington, so that is one of the reasons for wanting to start a Washington to Peoria run. Stone stated that authorization has to be received from St. Jude in order to do a Washington to Peoria run and if approved, it will take a lot of commitment from the community. Washington will only have 15-20 runners to begin with, but there are a lot of things that volunteers are needed for other than running. There is a Runners Committee, a Finance Committee, a Safety Committee and a Sponsor Committee to name a few. Mayor Manier stated that this matter will appear as an action item on the October 15 agenda, and Stone pointed out that this will not happen until August 2, 2008, so we have plenty of time, but things need to be set in motion in order to have everything ready for next year.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, second reading of a Historic Preservation Ordinance of Washington, Illinois. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. Alderman Brucks stated that this has been a long time coming and he thanked all who provided input to the ordinance. If adopted this will take work from citizens who will be appointed to the Historic Preservation Committee. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Dingledine, Shipp, Clanin, Brubaker, Newman, Gee, Brucks, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided second reading, by title only, of an ordinance authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Washington and County of Tazewell for a county approved recycling collection program. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Shipp seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
There was no discussion and on roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Gee, Howerter, Brucks, Brubaker, Newman, Clanin, Shipp, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, second reading of an ordinance ratifying the reservation volume cap in connection with Private Activity Bond Issues, and related matters. This ordinance pertains to the First Time Home Buyers Program. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Clanin seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Newman, Brubaker, Shipp, Dingledine, Gee, Brucks, Clanin, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Engineer Newman requested Council authorization to accept the proposal of Austin Engineering Company, in an amount not to exceed $20,000, for design engineering services for Business 24 drainage and sidewalk improvements. The proposal includes necessary surveying and design engineering work to make drainage improvements and consider installation of sidewalks along Business 24 between Gillman and Cummings Lane. Alderman Brucks moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to authorize acceptance of the proposal from Austin Engineering Company as requested. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Shipp, Dingledine, Gee, Newman, Brubaker, Clanin, Brucks, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

P&D Director Oliphant reported that the City is in receipt of a rezoning request through Tazewell County for the rezoning of 20.38 acres owned by Ray and Sarah Fligge for property located within the city's 1.5 mile planning jurisdiction at the southeast corner of the intersection of Farmdale Road and School Street from A-1 Agriculture Preservation to R-R rural residential. Oliphant indicated that the Comprehensive Plan earmarks the property as Rural Residential and if the property were located within the Washington corporate limits it would meet all zoning standards for Country Estates. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Shipp seconded to support the request as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes 7: Brubaker, Brucks, Clanin, Dingledine, Gee, Shipp, Howerter 
Nays: 0
Abstain: 1 Newman 
Motion declared carried. This vote and support of the City Council will be forwarded to the Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals in time for their meeting on Tuesday evening.

At 7:05 p.m. Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion regarding collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives per 5ILCS 120/2(c)(2)of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. On roll call the vote was: Ayes: 8 Howerter, Shipp, Newman, Dingledine, Clanin, Brucks, Brubaker, Gee Nays: 0 Motion declared carried.

At 7:20 p.m. the Council returned to open session and Alderman Brubaker moved and Alderman Shipp seconded to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.