# Meeting Signals

Source transcript: `azue-lcubui.city_council_meeting_12_1_2025.txt`

Generated from normalized transcript text using deterministic pattern matching.

This document surfaces candidate evidence lines only. It does not prove absence, verify claims, resolve disputes, interpret intent, or produce the final civic record.

Public-comment content is not extracted in this deterministic signal pass because comment boundaries are transcript-dependent and better handled by the downstream record-generation pass.

Use these signals as review scaffolding for a later record-generation pass, not as authoritative meeting minutes.

## Motion / Vote Signals

| Signal | Evidence | Nearby Result | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approval Signal | So we'll start with item number 1, which is the approval of the agenda. | And if council is not approving this agenda, then there is no business and since we have not set in motion a meeting on this agenda to even comprehend what t... | detected |
| Approval Signal | Yeah, I'd like to dismiss the approval of this agenda so that we can bring it up at another time. | And if council is not approving this agenda, then there is no business and since we have not set in motion a meeting on this agenda to even comprehend what t... | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Of the Body, and so this is my motion to have this meeting dismissed, all consent agendas to be dismissed, and if anybody wants to challenge that, as Council, I'm talking about Council, where we have debated, talked a... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | So now before you is the motion of approval of your agenda. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | So now before you is the motion to approve the agenda. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Approval Signal | Madam Clerk, please take the roll on the approval of the agenda. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Approval Signal | Item number 2 is approval of the minutes from the special meeting on November 17, 2025. | That motion passes. | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | Is there a motion to approve? | That motion passes. | detected |
| Claims / Payment Signal | Okay, so the consent agenda consists of approving and to receive and place on file the Board and Commission meetings from the Joint Review Boards for The Berchard Hills Downtown Meadows West Avenue and Lamb Road Tifts... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | Attorney Zito has the floor you asked for a point of order okay about you wanting to engage with the council about items 20 and 21 that you do not agree they should be on the agenda we're not on that portion of the ag... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | Shadle thank you and the motion passes thank you item number six is the presentation of safe streets for all Matt and Lexi should I just dive into it or okay um thank you for having me tonight my name is Matthew Deerd... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Okay, then let's move on to the adoption of Resolution 2025-143. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | Is there a motion to adopt? | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Action-Like Signal | This is strictly going after implementation money, so adoption of the plan doesn't cost anything, just gives us the ability to chase grant dollars and bring them back to Freeport. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Okay, then let's go to the adoption of Resolution 2025-144. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Item number eight is the second reading of ordinance 2025-61. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | We have gone over the 2026 appropriation ordinance and staff recommends moving forward and approving it tonight. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Item number 9 is the second reading of Ordinance 2025-62. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Item number 10 is a second reading of Ordinance 2025-63. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | Item number 11 is, this will be a motion to abate all real estate tax levies for repayment for the General Obligation Bonds. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | The bond abatements have been discussed at the Committee of the Whole and also first reading at the last council meeting and staff request City Council approve the abatement ordinance. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Item number 12 is the second reading of ordinance 202573, could you please read this? | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Action-Like Signal | We had first reading at the last city council meeting about a surplus inventory at the Albertus Airport. | The ordinance passes 8-0. | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Item number 13 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-78. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Approval Signal | No person shall erect, fix, fly, or maintain any banner, sign, flag, advertisement, or other such device, regardless of its height, over and across any street, alleyway, or public way, except with the prior approval o... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Staff in the Planning Commission recommends moving to a second reading of this ordinance. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Motion / Vote Signal | Is there a motion to move this forward? | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | That's for the Water Treatment Plant Is there a motion to move Ordinance 2025-79 forward? | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | Item number 15 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-80. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Ordinance Action Signal | These are the related to the small portion of the wording for the leases and the current lease places the responsibility on the leasee for maintenance of the lease premises and excluding the roof and hanger door the e... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Action-Like Signal | So, staff recommends moving this on to second reading. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Item number 16 is the adoption of Resolution 2025-145. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Staff recommends moving forward with the resolution Establishing a Sister City Relationship with the City of Freeport in the borough of Lidditz, Pennsylvania. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Item number 17 is the adoption of resolution 2025-146. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | The strategic plan alignment is responsive, efficient government and staff request approval of the resolution adopting the 2026 through 2029 Capital Improvement Plan. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | And I just feel like it's just too much it's too much any other discussion Madam Clerk please take the role Shadle aye Sanders no Sellers aye Klemm aye Johnson aye Simmons Parker aye and Stacy no the resolution is ado... | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Staff request approval of the resolution to write off $75,556.46 of water, sewer, storm and garbage receivable balances at this time. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Item number 19 is the adoption of resolution 2025-148. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Resolution Action Signal | Item number 20 is adoption of resolution 2025-149. | No nearby result line detected | detected |
| Action-Like Signal | The total cost of the program is $7,300 and staff recommends moving forward with the stormwater inspection reporting project. | No nearby result line detected | detected |

## Roll Call Signals

### Roll Call Signal 1: I just gave you your clarification. Okay, so Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll on the consent agenda? Shadle?

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Shadle | Aye |
| Sanders | No |
| Sellers | Aye |
| Klemm | Aye |
| Johnson | Aye |

Nearby result line: Shadle thank you and the motion passes thank you item number six is the presentation of safe streets for all Matt and Lexi should I just dive into it or okay um thank you for having me tonight my n...

### Roll Call Signal 2: Any further discussion on the action plan? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Shadle?

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Shadle | Aye |
| Sanders | Aye |
| Sellers | Aye |
| Klemm | Aye |
| Johnson | Aye |

Nearby result line: The resolution is adopted 7 to 1.

### Roll Call Signal 3: Discussion on the resolution? Madam Clerk, Please take the roll. Shadle?

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Shadle | Aye |
| Sanders | Abstain |
| Sellers | Aye |
| Klemm | Aye |
| Johnson | Aye |
| Simmons | Aye |
| Parker | Aye |
| Stacy | No |

Nearby result line: And the resolution is adopted.

### Roll Call Signal 4: We have gone over the 2026 appropriation ordinance and staff recommends moving forward and approving it tonight. Discussion on this ordinance. Madam Clerk please take the Shadle?

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Madam Clerk Please Take The Shadle | Aye |
| Sanders | No |
| Sellers | Aye |
| Klemm | Aye |
| Johnson | Aye |
| Simmons | Aye |
| Parker | Aye |
| Stacy | No |

Nearby result line: The ordinance passes 6-2.

### Roll Call Signal 5: Discussion on this ordinance? Madam Clerk, please take the roll. Shadle?

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Shadle | Aye |
| Sanders | Aye |
| Sellers | Aye |
| Klemm | Aye |
| Johnson | Aye |
| Simmons | Aye |
| Parker | Aye |
| Stacy | No |

Nearby result line: The ordinance passes 7-1.

### Roll Call Signal 6: Johnson, Simmons, Parker, Stacy, yes the motion fails three to five of course it does so then before you is the passage of the resolution any further discussion on and the resolution. Madam Clerk, please take the roll...

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Shadle | Yes |
| Sanders | No |
| Sellers | Yes |
| Klemm | Yes |
| Johnson | Yes |
| Simmons | Aye |
| Parker | Yes |
| Stacy | No |

Nearby result line: And the resolution is adopted 6-2.

### Roll Call Signal 7: So we did look to see if they're active. After seven years is my understanding you can't I can't take them to court after seven years but I do try to collect and we collect several lots of dollars for someone who mayb...

| Name | Vote |
|---|---|
| Shadle | Aye |
| Sanders | Aye |
| Sellers | Aye |
| Klemm | Aye |
| Johnson | Aye |
| Simmons | Aye |
| Parker | Aye |
| Stacy | Aye |

Nearby result line: The resolution is adopted, 8-0.

## Money Signals

| Amount | Context |
|---:|---|
| $5 million | And when we turn the page, you'll see that you've got new wells online. So these are these are big time infrastructure projects, wastewater treatment plant getting 5Million dollars in external funding. So again, $5 mi... |
| $1.50 | So, it's a packed page. I'm not going to read all these to you, but you should spend some time thinking about all of these, some highlights though, doubling the funding for residential matching grants. So, you've been... |
| $3 | So, it's a packed page. I'm not going to read all these to you, but you should spend some time thinking about all of these, some highlights though, doubling the funding for residential matching grants. So, you've been... |
| $83 million | That's pretty incredible and speaks to government efficiency. You know, the other side of that is either that work didn't get done, you didn't get the streets and the fiber, et cetera, or the community paid for itself... |
| $47 million | You know, the other side of that is either that work didn't get done, you didn't get the streets and the fiber, et cetera, or the community paid for itself, right? Fert, so I'd rather have the $83 million if I'm livin... |
| $105,004 | In 2023, the library reduced the levy request for Medicare liability insurance, unemployment, and IMRF in order to spend down prior reserves in these areas. At the time, we informed Council that these rates would need... |
| $1,114,500 | As the 2023 levy was decreased previously in order to spend down reserves, the Library would like to increase the rate for 2025 paid in 2026. The library may increase their tax rate but only to an amount under 5% of t... |
| $52,500 | The library may increase their tax rate but only to an amount under 5% of the previous level. Based on this information, the library's levy request for 2025 paid in 2026 is $1,114,500. This increase would generate $52... |
| $100,000 | This increase would generate $52,500 more in property taxes from last year. Property taxes make up 84% of the library's income. A house valued at $100,000 would see an increase of $6 in the library portion of the tax... |
| $6 | This increase would generate $52,500 more in property taxes from last year. Property taxes make up 84% of the library's income. A house valued at $100,000 would see an increase of $6 in the library portion of the tax... |
| $200,000 | So we have made adjustments to several of the state revenues based on actual receipts from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Sales tax increased by $323,000. Home rule sales tax increased by $200,000. |
| $245,000 | Sales tax increased by $323,000. Home rule sales tax increased by $200,000. However, special use tax was reduced by $245,000. |
| $35,000, | So we received grants for tasers. We received grants for the AED units that we purchased in the spring. ComEd gave us support to the Streetlight program, $35,000, and then also PD is receiving a retail crime grant for... |
| $9,000 | So we received grants for tasers. We received grants for the AED units that we purchased in the spring. ComEd gave us support to the Streetlight program, $35,000, and then also PD is receiving a retail crime grant for... |
| $300 | It only affected the small departments that only have one or two employees in the department. So you'll see that throughout my memo. Finance department increase of $300 for overtime due to tight turnaround times and h... |
| $12,660 | Animal Control, we had a significant vehicle repair that we needed to cover. Animal Control is just one person, very small department, so this was kind of an outlying expense that wasn't anticipated. Hearing Administr... |
| $1 million | I don't remember their name, but that project is a wash. We will bill the solar company for that expense. And then I did project to use the carryover funds in the Street Improvement Fund of $1 million and we do have t... |
| $75,556.46 | The resident is also required to pay a higher deposit on the account if an old balance was not paid. The strategic plan alignment is responsive, efficient government. Staff request approval of the resolution to write... |
| $7,300 | Again, Fehr Graham has brought forward and has assisted the city for several years on this. And we would like to bring that before council. The total cost of the program is $7,300 and staff recommends moving forward w... |
| $46.99 | This is required for the municipality. The current contract was signed, it said, it expires on December. The original contract price was $46.99 a cubic yard for an estimated 3,300 cubic yards. |

## Civic Object Signals

| Type | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Grant / Program Reference | So thinking about how you program projects in the CIP, how you approach grant funding or seeking grants, and other staff training, doing things quickly, so we call it the quick build method of implementation using lower cost but high value materials such as ballers, striping,... |
| Grant / Program Reference | Because I think sometimes with plans like these, if all the projects are like five years out because we have to go write a big grant and then you know it's like it's like millions of dollars over five or ten years I think you can lose momentum and so the quick bill getting som... |
| Grant / Program Reference | I wanted to remind everybody that this was grant dollars that we were received from IDOT to do this study. |
| Resolution Reference | Okay, then let's move on to the adoption of Resolution 2025-143. |
| Grant / Program Reference | Resolution Adopting a Safety Action Plan as a Part of the City's Participation in the U. S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration's Safe Streets for All grant. |
| Grant / Program Reference | Yes, I would like Council to support this moving forward so we can move forward with the Safe Streets for All grant. |
| Grant / Program Reference | This is strictly going after implementation money, so adoption of the plan doesn't cost anything, just gives us the ability to chase grant dollars and bring them back to Freeport. |
| Grant / Program Reference | It depends on the grant and each one's different. |
| Grant / Program Reference | A lot of times IDOT grants are 80-20, but it depends on the specific grant in which dollars you're chasing, but true implementation money. |
| Grant / Program Reference | So West and South was in the IDOT corridors but we just received the HSP grant to address the sidewalks in that neighborhood of what was it 2.3 million dollars. |
| Grant / Program Reference | And I will give Matt and Lexi some credit because we had early data on the IDOT corridors that they shared with us that we were able to share with IDOT as part of that grant submittal, showing that that area was in need of having sidewalks, which helped our grant application t... |
| Grant / Program Reference | So, for example, you can measure the police force census and demographics, same with the fire department, looking at response times, grant dollars that are coming in, things like that will help you know if you're on track with this section of the plan. |
| Grant / Program Reference | So again, $5 million in external funding means funding that you got a grant or some other source to give Freeport money that so the taxpayers didn't have to pay for that portion of the wastewater treatment plant. |
| Grant / Program Reference | They essentially turn into a grant. |
| Grant / Program Reference | So that game's over, new game, looking forward, continuing to build on that, increasing forgivable loan and grant programs to maximize taxpayer dollars, key strategy, improving collaboration and using technology to increase efficiency inside of how we work as a government, key... |
| Grant / Program Reference | So targets and milestones, how much money and grant can we bring in? |
| Resolution Reference | Okay, then let's go to the adoption of Resolution 2025-144. |
| Resolution Reference | Resolution approving a strategic vision and goals plan for 2026 through 2028. |
| Ordinance Reference | Item number eight is the second reading of ordinance 2025-61. |
| Ordinance Reference | Item number 9 is the second reading of Ordinance 2025-62. |
| Tax / Levy / Bond Reference | City of Freeport Tax Levy. |
| Tax / Levy / Bond Reference | I think, Your Honor, just to recap, The city will be keeping the tax levy level or no increase as of last year and staff requests moving forward with the 2025 city tax levy. |
| Ordinance Reference | Item number 10 is a second reading of Ordinance 2025-63. |
| Tax / Levy / Bond Reference | Freeport Public Library tax levy. |
| Tax / Levy / Bond Reference | Item number 11 is, this will be a motion to abate all real estate tax levies for repayment for the General Obligation Bonds. |
| Ordinance Reference | Madam Clerk, could you please read Ordinance 2025-62 through 72, please? |
| Ordinance Reference | Ordinance 2025-64 is to abate the 2025 Real Estate Tax Levy for the repayment of the General Obligation Bonds, Series 2013-A. Ordinance 2025-65 abates the 2025 Real Estate Tax Levy for the repayment of the General Obligation Bonds, Series 2014-B. Ordinance 2025-66 abates the 2... |
| Ordinance Reference | Item number 12 is the second reading of ordinance 202573, could you please read this? |
| Ordinance Reference | Ordinance authorizing the sale, recycling, donation, and or disposal of certain personal and or Disposal of Certain Personal Property Owned by the City. |
| Ordinance Reference | Item number 13 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-78. |
| Ordinance Reference | Ordinance amending Chapter 1020, Streets Generally, Section 1020.13, Erection of Banner, Signs, etc. |
| Grant / Program Reference | ComEd gave us support to the Streetlight program, $35,000, and then also PD is receiving a retail crime grant for $9,000. |
| Grant / Program Reference | A couple other things quickly that were we added revenue overweight oversight load load permits that was new this year we've added a new ordinance we're tracking that revenue separately airport grant we increase the amount of funding coming in for airport grants we're receivin... |
| Contract / Agreement Reference | We had two bargaining unit contract negotiations this year. |
| Grant / Program Reference | And then we increased the cost of the grant projects. |
| Grant / Program Reference | And then we also added lights and I might be corrected here, it had to do with the IDOT corridors or downtown lights, I think is what it was, where this is where we got Grant Funding back through IDOT Community Development, we decreased non-bargaining wages due to the departur... |
| Grant / Program Reference | We increased consulting services to assist with grant compliance for a Housing Rehab Grant. |
| Grant / Program Reference | Moving on to neighborhood housing, we have an increase in real estate taxes of $600, increase to land property acquisition for property to be demolished, and then a decrease to Demolition expense health care fund several accounts needed to be adjusted in the health care fund t... |
| Grant / Program Reference | We've made changes to the EV Charger grant because we're anticipating that to be fully funded. |
| Grant / Program Reference | I did decrease the grant revenue in the Water Fund for 8 million just because those projects aren't quite here yet and those revenues aren't coming in yet. |
| Ordinance Reference | That's for the Water Treatment Plant Is there a motion to move Ordinance 2025-79 forward? |
| Ordinance Reference | Item number 15 is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-80. |
| Contract / Agreement Reference | As everyone's well aware, we've changed the lease agreement last year. |
| Contract / Agreement Reference | It just hadn't been in the previous lease agreement. |
| Resolution Reference | Item number 16 is the adoption of Resolution 2025-145. |

## Question Signals

- So are you talking about the Fehr Graham agreement and the land application for biosolids agreement?
- Discussion on the resolution?
- What is this going to cost the city?
- Main strategies as we look forward are continuing to work on the police census and fire department census, right?
- Are people using Refresh Report?
- You can ask how that's going, you know, rental properties being registered, external funding, tracking dollars that are coming into the city, you know, some of you are thinking about, well, what's this plan going to cost?
- Not just make them safer, but make them Smoothers, Lift Stations, Water Treatment Plants, Targets and Milestones, Miles of How many dollars of external funding are we bringing in to support this so we can offset the cost to our citizens, right?
- So they come and report to these meetings on a regular basis and you're like, man, how much are we paying them?
- I just want you to see the impact of these dollars and the focus that the city has on bringing them in terms of progress from the past, right?
- So targets and milestones, how much money and grant can we bring in?
- Are there staff development plans in place, including succession goals?
- Is that City dashboard I mentioned established so we can share information and you all can see how things are going?
- And then, can we also explore how to increase maybe even public transportation?
- By the way, you've been making progress adding ADA ramps and getting that ADA transition plan in place in terms of that sort of accessibility and then targets and milestones, sorry, below the screen here, tracking that, right?
- Are you building those those bike and pedestrian ways?
- Are you getting funding to support that?
- Were you able to make route improvements to Pretzel City and then are we making the city more accessible by hitting our target with ADA ramps?
- So you can see, is it helping businesses grow in and around the arts and culture district, for example, if you form one?
- And was that included in the budget?
- What do we have in common with this city?
- How long do they stay on the list, you know, if they want to come and re-apply for water, sewer, whatever?
- Landlords that have water in their names, are they on this list, are we allowing landlords to get their bills paid?
- I didn't go through, and I don't know if every single one of these is a property or Is that something that can be easily determined through all this technology system that we have?
- City Manager Boyer?
- Have we had a problem out there with the storm and sewer, whatever the case is that we're looking at?
- Has there been a problem that prompted City Manager to look into these matters?
- Was there a discovery with the storm and water program on this item?
- So now we were talking about the chemical that actually Creates the bio solid how that's the cost how much are we spending to do that?
- Do we have a cost factor for the chemicals that are going in there?
- And so you know you do a good job and so Stacy we want to tell you uh I I got a new house at the at the solar program in Freeport and uh I want to tell Tom Quinn he does a good job of Alderman in Freeport and he knows everything thank you Any other public c...

## Low-Confidence Transcript Lines

- And so you know you do a good job and so Stacy we want to tell you uh I I got a new house at the at the solar program in Freeport and uh I want to tell Tom Quinn he does a good job of Alderman in Freeport and he knows everything thank you Any other public c...

## Internal Extraction Counts

These counts are included for QA and pipeline observability. They should not be read as proof that a category was absent from the meeting.

| Category | Count |
|---|---:|
| Action-like signals | 40 |
| Roll-call blocks | 7 |
| Money references | 20 |
| Civic object references | 45 |
| Question lines | 30 |
| Possible people detected internally | 18 |
| Low-confidence lines | 1 |

## Extraction Notes

- This artifact is intentionally generic across public meeting types.
- It may miss actions, votes, speakers, topics, or context.
- It may include false positives caused by transcription errors.
- Empty sections mean no matching lines were detected, not that the event did not happen.
- Money references are transcript-derived and should not be treated as verified amounts.
- Important claims should be verified against the original recording and official meeting records.