WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.400 Oh, I guess I can't call it to order yet. Linda, are you doing invocation tonight? If you would go ahead, please. 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:12.400 Manager, Board and Council Members, let's bow our head. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:17.140 Generally, Father, I praise you and thank you for who you are and for your love for 00:00:17.140 --> 00:00:20.260 this city and the people who dwell here. 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:25.780 Your heart is for blessing and peace and for all things to be done decently and in order. 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:30.780 In the name of Jesus, we bind any confusion, misunderstanding, anger, and chaos, and we 00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:33.920 lose order, understanding, and peace. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:39.980 Let righteousness prevail here, for your word says in Isaiah 32 that the effect of righteousness 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:55.980 and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places. Let it be so here tonight according to your word in Jesus name. Amen. 00:00:55.980 --> 00:00:56.980 Amen. 00:00:56.980 --> 00:01:04.980 Okay. Now that it is 610, I will call this meeting to order in the absence of Mayor Miller. 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:07.980 Alderpersons present. Klemm? 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:08.980 Here. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:27.980 Monroe is absent. Simmons? Here. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders? Here. And Sellers? Here. We do have a quorum. Tonight's chairperson will be Alderperson Shadle. Could you lead the Pledge of Allegiance? If you could join me, please. 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:49.620 Nation, underground, invisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:49.620 --> 00:01:53.060 And item four would be approval of the agenda, 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:57.700 but we would like to remove item eight to be brought back 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:58.900 at a later date. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:03.780 So move. 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:04.280 Second. 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:17.280 Motion by Klemm, second by Sellers, voice votes fine? Yes. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:31.280 One opposed? Motion passed. Item five would be approval of the minutes from the Committee 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:36.280 at the whole meeting, head on October 15, 2024. 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:37.360 So moved. 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:42.400 By Klemm, second by Parker, all in favor? 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:43.400 Aye. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:44.240 Opposed? 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:46.960 Motion carries on that. 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:50.680 Item six is public comments. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:53.699 If we could limit to three minutes, please. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:55.939 First on the list would be Josh Atkinson. 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:11.280 Thank you Mr. Chair. I guess I'm going to be speaking to an empty chair here tonight. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:18.280 Thank you Mr. Chair, Council, City staff, my name is Joshua Atkinson. I'm here today to speak to agenda item number nine. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:24.280 Each member here has been chosen by the people of Freeport to represent the residents in their wards. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:30.280 You have the responsibility not only to speak on behalf of we the people, but also to hold this administration accountable. 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:31.280 Fowler. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:39.120 As the Mayor acknowledged last week, the current rules of Council have been ignored and neglected 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:45.120 for nearly a decade, running meetings based on her discretion rather than following the 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:46.120 ordinances. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:52.639 I commend the Mayor for suddenly wanting efficient, respectful, and productive Council meetings. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.599 However, this attitude is eight years overdue. 00:03:56.599 --> 00:04:02.400 The mayor has failed to chair the council with respect to these rules. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:08.240 Rather than owning and apologizing for this mistake, or even finding for self, the administration 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:12.799 is now attempting to silence not only our council members, but the people of Freeport 00:04:12.799 --> 00:04:14.479 themselves. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:20.680 Our elected officials, especially those backed by the Citizens Party, our local MAGA Republicans, 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.159 often go unchallenged. 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:28.080 has sat by while family members, friends, and campaign donors seem to be the only ones 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:33.480 benefiting from our local leadership. This toe-the-party line approach has left our historic 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:42.480 city in a dire state. To those in this chamber who prefer the status quo of compliance, this 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:51.600 is a reality check. Local government, if done right, is hard work. It's frustrating. It's 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:57.040 It's full of challenges and that's exactly what you signed up for when you asked 23,000 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.760 people to trust you to represent them. 00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:01.879 Serving the community is not a hobby. 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:07.200 It's a full-time commitment, no matter the part-time title or the low pay. 00:05:07.200 --> 00:05:12.760 Many fear that after this last national election, those that continue to hide behind terms like 00:05:12.760 --> 00:05:16.520 citizens or people's party would feel emboldened. 00:05:16.520 --> 00:05:20.379 Sadly, this seems to be coming true. 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:30.379 as the administration attempts to reinforce policies that work against low-income families, young parents, marginalized communities, especially the Hispanic and Black populations. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:34.379 Every one of us deserves to have our voices heard. 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:41.379 Mayor Miller, instead of attempting to silence those who disagree with you, consider a different path. 00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:46.379 In your final months, work to earn their trust and respect. 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:59.379 Council, I urge you to stand up and stop this item from moving forward, and next year we will work together to make Freeport a place where every resident has the opportunity for their voice to be heard. Thank you. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:03.379 Thank you. Next is Diane Yocum. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:18.379 My name is Diane Yocum, as stated, and thank you Mr. Chair and members of the council. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:31.379 I come here with a lot of questions as I look at the wording in this particular format that we have here in this ordinance amending a good part of what is presently on the books as is. 00:06:31.379 --> 00:07:01.379 I have questions about what does city with the council being struck out mean does that mean one person gets to decide does that mean two people get to decide rather than the council gets to decide certain issues and I find that some of these chances of has already been commented on restricting people's opportunity to speak their mind or to speak and certainly it's already in the ordinance as it stands that they each have so many minutes 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:31.379 and so forth. And I think it becomes more repressive and oppressive as I go on and read some of what's in this presently because I do think it has a chance to squelch people's voices and especially there might be people that certain ones aren't too happy with. And so you want to make sure that they are shut down as quickly as possible. And another question, is an abstention vote or an abstain considered a 00:07:31.379 --> 00:08:01.379 って, if there is a violation of the vote, is that part of it, considered part of a vote and as someone abstains, do they then get fined for choosing to abstain from a vote and so there are lots of pieces in here I question very much so and I think this has been a punitive piece based on a knee-jerk reaction from last week's meeting and I'm not so sure, so well thought through and I 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:31.379 and I have seen the fingerprints of some of the language that seems to be a little more intense on some of these things that may have behind-the-scenes people who may be trying to pressure something to go through that does not need to go through, and so I really have serious concerns about this overall, very, very serious concerns, and I am very, very concerned about this. 00:08:31.379 --> 00:09:01.379 I am obviously very distressed to see this document and personally I think it needs to go into the waste bin right over there and not be voted upon but I don't have that opportunity nor do you you have to vote I ask you to vote against this document you already have things on the record in the book that tells you what you can do thank you thank you Micaiah Stacy 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:12.740 Good evening. For the three months I've been back in Freeport, I have witnessed firsthand 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:17.139 the amount of deception, silencing, and straight-up bullying by members of this council. Everyone 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:21.139 in front of me was fairly elected by the people of Freeport, but not everyone here's goal 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:25.340 to make Freeport a better city, which you've been justly called out on. These proposed 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:29.879 ordinances are a direct punishment for anyone who speaks against Mayor Miller and City Manager 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:34.960 Boyer. You don't like being questioned, so the answer to that is to shut them up financially. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:38.200 I understand the meetings would go faster if they were more orderly, but that's not the 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:42.460 problem here. The problem is your lies being questioned and no one likes being questioned, 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:46.720 especially when they get caught up in the lie. I personally suggest making topics on 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:51.519 the agenda clearer with no personal motives being proposed and being prepared to answer 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:55.399 valid questions about these topics. You guys were elected to be the voice, not silence 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:58.079 System. Please do better for the citizens of Freeport. 00:09:58.079 --> 00:10:04.879 Thank you. Marcus Signer? 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:14.119 I would like to say that I don't think that is a good idea. Everyone should be 00:10:14.119 --> 00:10:18.879 able to talk and say what's going on in the community. I can just see people 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:23.039 getting fined if they don't, if the mayor doesn't like it or just alone if 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:27.999 you don't like you or have conflict. I see it all over the city and I'm praying 00:10:27.999 --> 00:10:32.919 that doesn't go into effect. I understand that a lot of people are all one party and 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:37.119 the other is the other. There might be more people this way than the other and then you 00:10:37.119 --> 00:10:42.639 guys vote. We seen it when it was basically all Republicans in here. If he says he wants 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:47.159 something they're gonna put on an image like five of them agree and then two other friends 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:51.819 are gonna say no to just put up an image. We're tired of it, you know, and I come today 00:10:51.819 --> 00:10:56.759 to ask you, we're praying for this city, can you guys please step it up with these young 00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:59.099 and some people getting killed out here. 00:10:59.099 --> 00:11:02.399 I'm seeing, going past, what is that, Galena, 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:05.479 where there's, there are like two cars deep in parking lots. 00:11:05.479 --> 00:11:07.759 If there's a lot in areas that need to be protected, 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.879 why are we all parking together and talking that? 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:13.619 I feel like that is unnecessary. 00:11:13.619 --> 00:11:16.019 And like I said, I just pray for the city 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:20.579 and you guys come up with the best, the best option for us. 00:11:20.579 --> 00:11:24.399 And obviously that wouldn't just not be able to talk 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.239 or tell them what's on their mind. 00:11:26.239 --> 00:11:29.739 or I could just imagine how we can have an officer like, 00:11:29.739 --> 00:11:31.099 been happening and we come in here 00:11:31.099 --> 00:11:32.279 and tell you guys what's going on 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.639 but Jodi's friends with most of them. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:37.199 So we can just imagine what's gonna happen. 00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:40.119 We can, like, it's sad. 00:11:40.119 --> 00:11:42.519 And I feel like as a community, 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.779 a lot of us should go out for other things. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:47.479 Like, why does a clerk get this job every year? 00:11:47.479 --> 00:11:48.519 Cause no one goes for it. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:49.839 Let's start going for it. 00:11:49.839 --> 00:11:52.519 You know, instead of the same people getting in the office. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.919 Shouldn't be where I see Jodi Miller's friend 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.079 who gives out tickets. 00:11:56.079 --> 00:12:24.719 Thank you. Eddie York. My name is Eddie York. I can honestly say that I am a product of Freeport. 00:12:24.719 --> 00:12:30.839 I've been here since 1986. And don't get me wrong, I done some good and bad things. But 00:12:30.839 --> 00:12:35.479 now since I've been home, I'm on a positive note trying to do good. There's a lot of things 00:12:35.479 --> 00:12:41.439 that I see, as far as our mayor, is not stepping up doing her responsibilities. She neglecting 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:47.199 a lot of things that I see. You know what I'm saying? So it's more as like, I don't 00:12:47.199 --> 00:12:51.039 really know how to talk to people, but I'm gonna do my best. So it's like, what I'm saying 00:12:51.039 --> 00:13:07.039 is that in my product, in my environment, where I come from, from Galena State, Carroll, Iroquois, Prospect, Bend, Liberty, we don't get the same privileges as y'all get. You know what I'm saying? 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:16.039 It's like we got areas in our community where you step outside, you can't see your hand in front of you. There's no stop, no light. 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:18.039 but then when you call to ask for one to be put there, 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:19.959 or what can you do to get one, 00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:22.779 it's always you led to a whole nother subject. 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.159 You know, and then when it comes to dealing 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:29.119 with the properties, people trying to get properties, 00:13:29.119 --> 00:13:32.399 like to buy to help report. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.439 We don't get them, but Mrs. Miller's friends 00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:36.579 get them for pennies on the dollar. 00:13:36.579 --> 00:13:37.419 Why is that? 00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:41.219 I should have the same rights that her friends have. 00:13:41.219 --> 00:13:42.279 If my money not good, 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:44.799 their debt shouldn't be good either. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.799 Especially if I'm doing something positive. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.079 If I'm trying to help the community. 00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:52.199 Look how many young black kids have died in the last, 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:54.279 I've been home now two years. 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:57.959 Look how many young black kids have died in the last two years. 00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:58.799 Over 10. 00:13:59.999 --> 00:14:02.919 Because we don't have nothing to give them. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:05.299 I am the streets. 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.199 We have nothing to give. 00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:08.559 You have nothing to give a kid. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.759 It's like you have a tenth chance. 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:12.699 I need something to do. 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.599 And they don't know what to do 00:14:13.599 --> 00:14:17.919 because you have immature older guys leading them astray. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.480 So the first thing they do is pick up a gun 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.039 and they want to go bang, bang, bang. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.439 Not knowing you shooting your best friend. 00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:27.439 You shooting a guy you can eight with off the same spoon with. 00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:30.359 You have no activity for kids to do. 00:14:30.359 --> 00:14:32.119 Give a kid something to do. 00:14:32.119 --> 00:14:33.079 Help the police force. 00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:35.199 The police can't do all this by themselves. 00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:39.319 And that's what y'all community, y'all council think. 00:14:39.319 --> 00:14:41.359 They only one man, one body. 00:14:41.359 --> 00:14:42.240 They can't do it all. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:45.519 Hire more police, give them more funding. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:47.079 That's why people don't trust police now, 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.720 because y'all don't give a crap. 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:51.879 They need to be out there talking to us. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.720 They need to be out there communicating to us. 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.119 You need to build a trust. 00:14:55.119 --> 00:14:56.119 They can't do that. 00:14:56.119 --> 00:14:58.039 When they try to do it, people back up, 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.079 because it's like, okay, they're here for one minute, 00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:01.199 then they go on the next minute, 00:15:01.199 --> 00:15:03.279 and we don't see them again for another week. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.399 And then we get fined when we try to do something positive 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:11.599 for kids, like open venues to throw little gigs for kids, 00:15:11.599 --> 00:15:41.599 Williams, where there's non-violence, I do security. I'm a licensed security officer now. What I do is I try to help my sister throw little get-togethers for kids to keep the kids off the street. I could bring 100 kids in here right now with one phone call and they'll tell you, we have not had one fight, one disagreement, police have not been called, and I'm the only security guard there, period. Because I say what I say and I mean what I say. You come in here disrupting, fighting, acting crazy, get 00:15:41.599 --> 00:15:46.719 You can't come back Mr. York the three minutes okay but my thing is can y'all 00:15:46.719 --> 00:15:50.639 please come together man and try to do something for this city because you say 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:57.199 y'all a council prove it be a council help them help the fire departments 00:15:57.199 --> 00:16:01.319 people come out have more celebrations I went to Rockford and did they hold 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:05.279 police being in Rockford and they had over a thousand people out coming to 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:07.039 Representative, Police. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.879 Thank you. 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.439 We don't do that here in Freeport. 00:16:12.599 --> 00:16:16.039 Item number seven, discussion regarding ordinance 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:21.039 amending part six, general offenses, chapter 694, 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:24.399 weeds and grass of the codified ordinances 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:29.399 by adding a new section 694.08 to be entitled 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:33.639 vegetation and managed natural landscape 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:38.639 and amending chapter 694.01, excuse me, 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:42.319 nuisance declared for the purpose 00:16:42.319 --> 00:16:45.119 of allowing planned natural landscaping 00:16:45.119 --> 00:16:48.819 while prohibiting uncontrolled growth of vegetation. 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:51.240 Manager Boyer. 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.639 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.479 This ordinance is kind of a cut and paste 00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:59.199 from recommended best practices from other communities. 00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:02.839 What this does is it gives our community 00:17:02.839 --> 00:17:09.099 Coat Enforcement Officer, an opportunity to be more clear about the yards that are overgrown 00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:13.639 and take care of areas that need to be mowed and that. 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:20.419 But it also gives the property owner the opportunity to plant various pollinator species and to 00:17:20.419 --> 00:17:24.179 increase the ecosystem in their own little area. 00:17:24.179 --> 00:17:27.919 So city staff has just brought this before council. 00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:29.559 It's kind of a win-win. 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:34.679 It helps our environment and also works well with our MS4 permit. 00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:39.420 It clarifies our ordinance on overgrown weeds and things like that. 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:44.460 But it also doesn't kill off the idea of, hey, we want a garden here that still allows 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:49.899 for people to have gardens and to have little areas that are native plant species. 00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:58.579 So essentially, it also eliminates native species from the parkways where they're not 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:08.579 and others who are not real appropriate. They tend to grow up, get overgrown. They sometimes can be a hindrance in terms of blocking the view of traffic to the pedestrians alongside walking at. 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:15.579 So this kind of clears up a lot of things and staff recommends moving this on for first reading. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:23.419 Thank you. I'm recalling an email that came out earlier this summer kind of 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:32.139 bringing this to the forefront as a request. It's nice to see that come 00:18:32.139 --> 00:19:01.539 through. Any discussion? Alderman Stacey? I don't feel that this should even be considered. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:14.940 Not until the city properties are kept up to the same standards. 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:28.619 I have taken ride after ride through the east side of town and it looked like a freaking 00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:44.379 Jungle. And then we're told that $5,000 was budgeted for this to do the mowing and to 00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:56.379 get the weeds cut down and to keep it looking nice for the 2024 budget year. And that one 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:58.059 Penny. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:09.779 Penny was used. Why is that City Manager, Boyer? Why? When the east side was just a 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:19.779 jungle, areas that we own, the city owns, not taken care of all summer long. And now 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:28.899 Now you want to talk about planting some flowers, when are we going to do what we're supposed 00:20:28.899 --> 00:20:39.980 to do as a city for all areas of the city, for all the property, not just the property 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:52.659 that the city owns here and there but they're also help me understand just to 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:57.099 answer your question when lots are called in for overgrowth the city comes 00:20:57.099 --> 00:21:01.980 in and mows them whether it doesn't have to be a city lot we had excellent work 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:07.419 from our summer mowers they did a fantastic job there was really three of 00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:08.419 Fowler. 00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:12.980 One of them was at the cemetery almost the entire time, and two of our summer helpers 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:18.740 pretty much maintained every city-owned lot out there outside of the utility. 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:22.659 In the past, we have people that don't maintain their properties, when it grows up, people 00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:26.059 call it in, we come out, we mow it within seven days. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.779 That's been the policy, okay? 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:34.519 All this is is the opportunity to provide the residents an opportunity to kind of expand 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:40.839 and their gardening skills, plant natural native species in their yard and then to also, 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:42.679 it removes those from the parkway. 00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:47.019 We have some residents that are planting native species in the parkway and we really don't 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:52.279 have a tool to deal with that and this kind of revises and corrects all of that. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.480 So to answer your question, we have to do it both. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:22:00.319 We have to mow and we also have to take care of some of these natural naturescapes that 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.519 people have planted so they don't, you know, maybe they feel like they don't want to mow 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.700 and others in the Parkway. They plant nature scape in there and 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:10.960 there's no recourse. This allows us to make sure that's in the appropriate locations. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.179 Alderman Sellers? 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:20.099 I think also a misunderstanding is a lot of the properties that are on the east side, 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:23.700 they are under the flood mitigation grant. Is that correct? 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:26.159 That is correct. 00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:32.519 So those, that's wetland. So they will get like that and they will be like that. That's 00:22:32.519 --> 00:23:02.519 and I 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:12.519 There are city owned properties, which is the east side properties that we're talking about, and you also have city lots that have been bought over the years from houses that were demolished. 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:21.519 And essentially what happens is exactly what City Manager Boyer said, is that we're going out and we're mowing our own properties, and then we're also mowing properties where people do not mow them. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:27.519 They get a violation, so the city has to go out and mow those properties, and then the property owners find. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:41.819 So I think the answer to your question is yes, those properties that the city owns are being mowed. However, it's at a schedule that Manager Boyer has kind of put together to make sure that they're mowed in a timely fashion. 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:48.639 And yes, there are going to be some properties that are going to be wooded, that are going to be in wetland areas that are not necessarily going to be mowed. 00:23:48.639 --> 00:23:56.039 I don't know if that answers your question because we're talking about quite a bit of properties, but I hope it's shed some light for you. 00:23:56.039 --> 00:24:03.480 Alderman, Sanders. Are you saying that even though they're considered in places where 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:11.799 considered wetland while growing wild and on companies on city property and things like that 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:19.000 we cannot maintain these areas is what you is what we're saying. I'm not saying that well I 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:24.359 that's the inference that I'm getting is that we cannot go in and do any form of maintenance 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:33.879 Hicks, or Tim, because we have not done an assessment or survey. If we're not trying 00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:43.759 to get in a position to maintain these properties, then we cannot balance the difference between 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:50.480 residents and city. I don't care how much construction or maintenance city has to take 00:24:50.480 --> 00:25:02.480 We're expecting the citizens of Freeport to maintain their property to a standard because what happens is violations start to come into play. 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:15.480 And if that's the case, who is taking care of city structure and making sure that they are in appliance with all the things that our residents are getting? 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:19.480 We don't want to see a double standard taking place here. 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:22.920 what we wanna see is that the city is doing their part 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:27.599 without excuses, without being complete about it. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:31.839 And if we got money in the budget 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:34.200 to maintain these kinds of things, 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:36.759 then we should see something happening 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:41.759 and not come to council talking about this and that 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:44.599 and not talking about the main issues. 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:47.079 And so that's where I'm at right now. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:51.079 Alder, is there a particular lot that you have an issue with that you need us to look at? 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.079 Would you like to respond? 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.079 Yeah, I'd like to respond. 00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:04.079 No, well, it's your job to do your job, not me to do your job. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:15.079 And the fact that if we're doing the surveys to determine what areas should we get involved in and maintaining, 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:21.079 and then it's nothing that we should be looking at. It's something that your job 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:25.599 is already in place to do. All right, sounds like I've done my job since you 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:30.839 don't have a lot that's a problem. So there is no such lots. Alderman, Simmons. 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:37.359 I'm sorry, I'm sorry. All right, we are extremely and far off-topic, but while we 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:44.240 are there, I will say that this past summer the lots that of City or houses 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.960 that were torn down. 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:50.440 They were on what seemed to be a schedule to get cut. 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.400 They have been cut. 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:53.480 That is a stipulation of the grant. 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:55.839 They can't, they still have to give city services 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:58.139 in that area until everyone is gone. 00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:59.179 So that'll be done. 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.920 The lots that you're talking about 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:06.599 with all the cars and stuff, that's for, 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.839 we've been talking about that. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:10.139 That's for a totally different conversation. 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:13.619 I think if I'm right, this conversation 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:18.619 is just to let homeowners plant different type of grass 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:22.980 in their yards as an option. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.779 What you're saying is definitely a con 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:27.420 and you too is a conversation we need to have 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:33.139 and we need to bring that up as an agenda item 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:36.659 to request action for things that we want done, 00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:39.579 but right now in their grass. 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:43.019 But I do wanna commend City Manager on that. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:58.019 The lots of houses that were torn down over there around by the projects, it took a few phone calls, but they had been put on a schedule to get cut. So I do want to commend them for at least that. 00:27:58.019 --> 00:28:04.019 Thank you, Alderman Simmons. Point taken as well. 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:06.019 Alderman Stacy. 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:28.900 Yes, I just want to say there are a couple of lots already on the east side of town that's been sprinkled with seeds and flowers are there and they're housing a lot of rodents. 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:46.500 so that's how I feel about it. Mr. Chair, Alderman Klemm, yeah if I could I think as Alderman 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:50.460 Simmons says we're mixing up about two three things here but I would like to 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:58.380 have more discussion on this privately because of what I understand I 00:28:58.380 --> 00:29:01.740 I understand the whole gardening thing and I understand that. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:04.779 I understand the different prairie grasses, 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.980 all that kind of stuff. 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:11.019 One of the things I see, I'll talk to you about a house 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:13.220 that currently has that. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:17.539 And it just sticks out in the neighborhood like a sore thumb, 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:19.940 cause they can say, I don't have to mow it, 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.639 it's prairie grass. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:23.179 That's the way it's supposed to be. 00:29:23.179 --> 00:29:26.539 So I understand what you're trying to do 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:31.299 and I understand the not getting stuff done, 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:35.779 but I will say that the guys that I have talked to 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:40.139 and dealt with on the city lots have done a great job. 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:42.460 But keep in mind, one other thing that we've got here 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:45.799 in the city of Freeport that we have to deal with 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:47.980 is the lots that the county owns 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:50.139 from property sales that aren't sold. 00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:52.460 And they only mow them, I believe the minimum 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:55.460 once every six weeks or once every two months. 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:57.960 So, that creates a problem for us. 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:07.960 That creates a problem for us. It makes the city look bad, but it also gives our guys more work to do in the same sense. Thank you. 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:10.960 Did you have anything else, Director Duckman? 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:16.960 No. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:25.960 Okay. Were you looking for this to get moved on as a first reading of an ordinance? 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:48.960 I would make a motion to move it forward for discussion because we can always discuss it, you can always lay it over, we can always have discussions with the City Manager or with Mr. Duckman on what we believe should be happening. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:58.559 We have a motion by Klemm and a second by Sellers to move this on. Do we need a... 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:04.559 A voice vote should be fine, unless we're really split. Would you like a roll call, Attorney? 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:06.559 Could we just do a roll call, please? 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:30.180 I'll start with Shadle. Aye. Sanders? Repeat which one it is. The motion, the motion for 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:35.779 the ordinance that we've been discussing regarding vegetation and natural landscape 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:40.259 has been proposed to be moved to the November 11th meeting 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:42.100 for further discussion. 00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:43.059 November 11th? 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.059 No, can't be November 11th. 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.620 Yes, the next council. 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:47.340 Did you mean council or Cal? 00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.539 Next council meeting. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:51.579 Next council, so the 18th. 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:54.259 All right. 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.299 Yes. 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.059 Sellers? 00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.579 Aye. 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.180 Klemm? 00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:58.380 Aye. 00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:59.100 Simmons? 00:31:59.100 --> 00:32:00.180 No. 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.980 Parker? 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.779 Aye. 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.660 And Stacy? 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.740 No. 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:05.779 The motion passes five to two. 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:12.400 And that brings us to item nine discussion 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:17.400 regarding revisions to ordinance chapter 220, 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:22.660 council section 220.10, rules of council, 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:24.420 presented by attorney Zito. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:27.660 Thank you, Mr. Chair. 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:31.340 So in all of your meeting packets 00:32:31.340 --> 00:32:33.460 is the proposed ordinance there. 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:38.660 So this ordinance proposes changes to basically the rules of councils. 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:40.220 They're going through the ordinance there. 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:45.740 The first change is to the section that defines when there is a quorum. 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:51.420 There currently right now a quorum is comprised of a majority of all the aldermen. 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:55.099 The proposed change is to change it to a majority of the city council. 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:59.259 The difference there practically is the fact that city council is defined in our code to 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:01.460 mean all eight aldermen plus the mayor. 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:07.860 So quorum can be determined by counting the mayor's presence towards determining whether 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:11.140 or not we have a quorum there. 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:14.660 This section also then, the proposed changes go on to say that in the event that there's 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:20.299 a lack of quorum, then those that, and therefore not enough people showed up, right, so you 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.640 can't have a meeting. 00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:27.700 Those that did show up though, then can compel the absence of those that weren't there to 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:36.059 to show up at the next meeting, and it provides that there's a potential fine for those that purposely did not show up to the meeting there. 00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:45.740 And that's a fine of, when currently our ordinance says that it's a $20 fine, this proposed change raises it to a $100 fine. 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:53.380 It also then currently provides that you have to be upon conviction by the council as to whether or not that fine's going to be imposed. 00:33:53.380 --> 00:34:00.340 it's proposed to change that to the city there that there was brought up a comment there because 00:34:00.340 --> 00:34:05.480 that this talks about a fine and conviction I believe that most proper it would be to 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:10.460 take this through our the city's administrative hearing process in order to provide due process 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:14.300 rather than just have the council be the body that determines whether or not the fine should 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:20.480 be levied there our administrative hearing process is available we use it for any code 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:50.480 and others. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.280 and 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.480 the 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.480 City of 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.480 Washington. 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:56.480 And then we have the 00:34:56.480 --> 00:35:09.480 majority does have language in there that says that no member of the council should speak more than twice on the same general question. This clarifies a little bit that no person shall speak more than twice to the same agenda item number. So that's just a clarification. 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:11.480 and 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.480 the 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:15.480 Council. 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:19.480 This changes it to just a majority vote of the Council to allow for someone to speak more than twice. 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:30.480 As currently provided, that no one can speak more than once until every other member of the Council has a chance to speak once, so you can't speak a second time unless until everyone else has spoken. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:36.480 That's currently in our code now, so that's not changing. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:42.320 it does add new that no member shall be allowed to speak more than a total of 10 minutes per agenda 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:46.720 item so each council member shall be allowed to speak for 10 minutes and that it says that that 00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:51.199 timing you know how many minutes each person has spoken is just supposed to be timed by the clerk 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:59.840 so that's one the next proposed change the next section that is being proposed to be changed 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:07.760 is to voting. Currently it provides, our code provides that when each member that's present, 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:14.079 when a question is stated and a vote is called for that they're going to vote on it unless they 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:22.000 have a conflict there. This clarifies that when a vote is taken that you're going to vote unless 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:26.000 you have a conflict, in which case then you're going to abstain. So that's just a clarification 00:36:56.000 --> 00:37:01.199 and the other person needs to vote one way or the other, yes or no, on an item. 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:07.320 The next proposed change is to the section regarding enforcement of decorum. 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:11.900 Currently it says that the sergeant at arms of the meetings, which is either the chief 00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:18.440 of police or the fire department, it currently says that the sergeant at arms shall place 00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:24.079 any person who violates the requirement of maintaining decorum at a meeting under arrest 00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:26.240 and shall cause him or her to be prosecuted 00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:29.039 under the provisions of these codes. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:30.639 That's what it currently says. 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:33.440 The proposed change is to say that the Sergeant Arms 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:38.079 will remove any person who violates decorum at a meeting. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:41.199 It takes out the language of being placed under arrest 00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:42.680 and being prosecuted. 00:37:42.680 --> 00:37:46.639 There it just says that if someone's being unruly 00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:48.260 and doesn't maintain decorum, 00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:50.880 that they'll just be removed from the meeting. 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:53.199 But there's not anything about being placed under arrest 00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:56.240 or anything like that. 00:37:56.240 --> 00:38:03.199 And then the last proposed change under this ordinance has to do with the chairperson at 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:05.360 Committee of the Whole meetings. 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:09.320 They're currently right now, our ordinance says that every Alderperson is going to take 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:17.920 a turn serving as the chairperson of the Committee of the Whole meeting. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:19.820 Nothing there is changing. 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:49.820 does add the proposed new language, it says that any Alderperson who neglects or refuses to serve as the Chair of the Committee of the Whole or is willfully absent, meaning that they don't have a reason or reason for being absent, they just decide they don't want to be there at the meeting that night when it's their turn to serve as the Chairperson, that that person could be subject to a fine of not more than $100 there upon conviction by the City and again it uses the term 00:38:49.820 --> 00:38:54.500 City, uh, meaning that it would be determined by the administrative hearing process and not 00:38:54.500 --> 00:38:57.579 just by the city council, uh, there. 00:38:57.579 --> 00:39:04.059 So those are the proposed changes, um, to, uh, the current code of ordinances and, um, 00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:06.340 I'm happy to answer any questions. 00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:09.140 Alderman Simmons. 00:39:09.140 --> 00:39:13.539 Under what direction did you, prompted you to make these changes to this ordinance and 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:15.860 bring this before council? 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:20.820 My office was requested specifically, the mayor was the one who reached out to me, but my 00:39:20.820 --> 00:39:24.260 understanding is that there were additional Alderpersons that were in support of these 00:39:24.260 --> 00:39:26.500 proposed changes. 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:31.579 Alderman Sellers. 00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:39.820 I would just like to say that I know that there was some conflict on a lot of what was 00:39:39.820 --> 00:39:48.940 said in this ordinance and what I'm feeling is that a lot of times our meetings are three 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:55.820 and four hours which is, that's long for our council meetings to take place and that's 00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:57.940 That's because it has been said from... 00:39:57.940 --> 00:40:03.679 because it has been said from the floor and from different people saying that we're not 00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:05.460 coming prepared. 00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:07.500 And I think that's what's holding our meeting. 00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:10.380 We're not saying, you know, you can't answer the questions. 00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:13.980 You have time to go in and ask the questions at any time. 00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:20.820 But coming and asking a lot of the questions here and not doing it when you, you know, 00:40:20.820 --> 00:40:25.200 when you can go and get it before you come to the meeting and come and prepare, knowing 00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:29.000 and what we're going through will make our meetings go a little faster. 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:36.500 So I do feel that our meetings are just way too long and I've been on quite a few boards 00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:43.760 my own life and this one is just the longest, you know, repeating the conversations that 00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:49.200 you should know a lot of these things before you come here or understand. 00:40:49.200 --> 00:40:54.760 I understand if you got an extra question, because I have them sometimes, but I just, 00:40:54.760 --> 00:41:24.760 the three and four hour meetings are just they're getting to me because it's a lot of time that we're we're wasting because we're not going getting ourself prepared when we come and sit down and understand what's on the agenda so that we we know why this is this and this is that and I know I have to do it I know I don't like taking time out of my life on a Wednesday or Thursday morning to run and understand each thing and getting and I asked my questions I asked my questions 00:41:24.760 --> 00:41:29.780 Williams, I don't have to allot here because I've asked my questions and I understand. 00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:37.920 So that's my biggest thing is that these long meetings are just really, and I think it's 00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:45.099 a disrespect to a lot of our people that sit out there and want to say something, to add 00:41:45.099 --> 00:41:51.760 to the agenda that it's discussed public comments at the end. 00:41:51.760 --> 00:42:17.079 and Stacey. 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:25.159 You know, there's more to this council than the mayor and three people. 00:42:25.159 --> 00:42:27.800 And that's who came up with these changes. 00:42:27.800 --> 00:42:31.920 Not all of us were included. 00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:37.920 And this is the crap that continues to happen. 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:46.880 You pick and choose who you can get on your side to agree with you to make changes that 00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:54.559 you want, excluding the other five of us. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:57.039 And it's just not right. 00:42:57.039 --> 00:43:03.599 It happens time and time again. 00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:10.420 All eight of us have input that needs to be considered. 00:43:10.420 --> 00:43:19.340 and I would just like to make a motion that this be moved to the December cowl. 00:43:19.340 --> 00:43:26.260 So just maybe that can happen and the discussion from all of us that need to come forth can 00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:28.340 come forth. 00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:38.440 No, City Manager Boyer, I don't come to your office and meet with you on a regular because 00:43:38.440 --> 00:43:48.699 Wells. I don't work for you, I work for the people. And it's important to me that the 00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:56.800 The people hear how I feel and what I got to say and not that it's kept behind closed 00:43:56.800 --> 00:44:10.400 doors. 00:44:10.400 --> 00:44:15.400 So I would like to see this move to the cow and maybe the other five of us who have some 00:44:15.400 --> 00:44:18.420 I think this is my experience of having a lot of people not having the necessary input can be granted that right. 00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:28.400 This meeting have not ran properly in over a decade. 00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:39.400 And then out of nowhere last week, your health it to questions, no follow-up, it was like a joke. 00:44:39.400 --> 00:44:44.400 Like really 00:44:44.400 --> 00:45:06.400 It was funny to some, like, it's not funny. It's not funny. We sat here, we didn't have a finance meeting, and we could have been instructed. 00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:16.400 The meeting has never ran right, but it's going to run right tonight. But no, let's just see whose face we can break and get off. 00:45:19.400 --> 00:45:21.400 Just stop. 00:45:23.400 --> 00:45:31.400 Right is right and wrong is wrong. And this process has not been done right. 00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:45.480 I'd just like to interject that it is on the floor tonight so any input that you 00:45:45.480 --> 00:45:54.000 have is open for discussion well so hang on one sec so we have a motion right now 00:45:54.000 --> 00:46:02.880 to to move this to the December cow so there would need to be a second right 00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:04.880 We need to see if there's a second to that motion. 00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:05.880 I'll second it. 00:46:05.880 --> 00:46:06.880 Okay. 00:46:06.880 --> 00:46:09.880 Although I think the motion should have been at the table, but I will second it. 00:46:12.880 --> 00:46:13.880 Okay. 00:46:13.880 --> 00:46:14.880 I didn't hear what you said. 00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:16.880 Your motion should have been to table it. 00:46:16.880 --> 00:46:20.880 I would have hopped at that, but I will agree to move it. 00:46:20.880 --> 00:46:21.880 Okay. 00:46:22.880 --> 00:46:23.880 I'll second that. 00:46:23.880 --> 00:46:30.880 So there's a motion on the table now to move this agenda item to the December COW for further 00:46:30.880 --> 00:46:31.539 and 00:46:31.539 --> 00:46:34.539 all of the other members of the board. 00:46:34.539 --> 00:46:35.539 So that's the motion. 00:46:35.539 --> 00:46:39.539 We're going to have a discussion after discussion. 00:46:39.539 --> 00:46:44.539 And so, Mr. Chair, then if there's discussion on the motion, 00:46:44.539 --> 00:46:47.539 to lay it over to December. 00:46:47.539 --> 00:46:50.539 Any discussion on the motion? 00:46:50.539 --> 00:46:55.539 Yes, Mr. Chair. 00:46:55.539 --> 00:46:58.539 I agree to this and it would be a good idea. 00:46:58.539 --> 00:47:04.300 and now in the December cowl to think about how many finance meetings we've missed so far, 00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:10.420 to think how many people have not come prepared, not read their stuff and the meetings could 00:47:10.420 --> 00:47:16.780 run a whole lot smoother than that. Every time everybody said that the city manager, 00:47:16.780 --> 00:47:21.860 the department heads are available if you have any questions. Let's start using them 00:47:21.860 --> 00:47:26.220 like we should and be prepared when we come to the meetings. 00:47:33.380 --> 00:47:38.579 Take the roll on the motion or? Right, so what's before them right now is just the 00:47:38.579 --> 00:47:43.460 motion to move this to the December Cal for further discussion. That's the 00:47:43.460 --> 00:47:46.659 motion that you guys are voting on if you're ready to vote. Madam Clerk, 00:47:46.659 --> 00:48:01.180 Shadle? Aye. Sanders? Aye. Sellers? Aye. Klemm? Aye. Simmons? Aye. Parker? Aye. And Stacy? Aye. The motion passes 7-0. 00:48:01.180 --> 00:48:15.140 And item 10, Discussion and Explanation of Chapter 216, Public Meetings, Section 216.04, Executive Session of the 00:48:15.139 --> 00:48:26.139 The Codified Ordinances, presented by Alderperson Stacy and Sanders. 00:48:26.139 --> 00:48:43.860 Well since this meeting haven't been run properly for a decade, I have begun to feel that maybe 00:48:43.860 --> 00:48:50.619 The Mayor didn't know how to run the meeting, rather than to think something was purposely 00:48:50.619 --> 00:48:59.139 being done, I just thought maybe she didn't know how to run the meeting. 00:48:59.139 --> 00:49:12.380 And so, not knowing that number nine was going to be on the agenda, and I had received enlightenment 00:49:12.380 --> 00:49:17.780 on how the council meeting should be run. 00:49:17.780 --> 00:49:25.539 I wanted the mayor to explain how executive session are ran. 00:49:25.539 --> 00:49:29.539 But I came in here today to a piece of paper on my desk 00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:31.280 and no mayor. 00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:35.380 So I guess I could have asked for number 10 00:49:35.380 --> 00:49:52.980 to be removed like number eight because she's not here to explain. 00:49:52.980 --> 00:49:57.579 We can move this to the COW in December as well. 00:49:57.579 --> 00:50:01.579 in December, as well, and then just maybe. 00:50:07.579 --> 00:50:13.579 I was just going to ask Alderman, Stacy, is there something, is there, if there's a question 00:50:13.579 --> 00:50:17.579 that you had about it that maybe, could I answer it or is it specific that you want to ask 00:50:17.579 --> 00:50:21.579 the mayor? She the one that runs it. I want to hear it from 00:50:21.579 --> 00:50:25.579 her. Oh, okay. I just want to throw out there if there was like a 00:50:25.579 --> 00:50:31.340 So to save time, to save time, I can just make a motion that this be moved to the December 00:50:31.340 --> 00:50:33.380 Cowl as well. 00:50:33.380 --> 00:50:37.460 I'll second it. 00:50:37.460 --> 00:50:44.819 We have a motion by Stacy to move this item to the December Cowl, seconded by Simmons. 00:50:44.819 --> 00:50:45.819 Any discussion? 00:50:45.819 --> 00:50:50.139 I guess I have a question. 00:50:50.139 --> 00:50:51.139 Alderman Sully. 00:50:51.139 --> 00:50:54.139 Is it just because you want an understanding of this, that she left? 00:50:54.139 --> 00:51:10.039 Alderperson, Stacy, since you asked to have it on the agenda, I shared it with everybody 00:51:10.039 --> 00:51:23.319 so we had it in front of us for discussion. Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you just take the role? 00:51:23.319 --> 00:51:50.759 Shadle? No. Sanders? Yes. Sellers? No. Klemm? No. Simmons? Aye. Parker? No. And Stacy? Aye. 00:51:50.759 --> 00:51:53.440 We have a vote of four to three, the motion fails. 00:51:57.400 --> 00:51:58.239 I'm sorry? 00:51:58.239 --> 00:51:59.059 Three to four. 00:51:59.059 --> 00:51:59.900 Three to four. 00:51:59.900 --> 00:52:01.159 Three to four. 00:52:01.159 --> 00:52:03.460 You are correct, thank you for the correction. 00:52:05.679 --> 00:52:08.440 And item 11 is public. 00:52:08.440 --> 00:52:09.679 Say three to one. 00:52:09.679 --> 00:52:11.000 Three to four. 00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:11.840 Three to four. 00:52:13.840 --> 00:52:18.199 Item 11 is public comments on agenda or non-agenda item. 00:52:20.759 --> 00:52:41.759 Tommy? I want to tell Ashley, you're doing a good job with the Freeport Library. Thank you, Tommy. And joining Dickerman, you got to think about that, I think in school. 00:52:41.759 --> 00:52:44.759 Yep, that's right, Tommy. 00:53:00.759 --> 00:53:09.400 Again, going back to item number nine on the agenda, I can say one thing that I do like 00:53:09.400 --> 00:53:14.759 Izora, you took out that people were going to be arrested and prosecuted, so I do appreciate 00:53:14.759 --> 00:53:16.880 that much in this ordinance. 00:53:16.880 --> 00:53:22.279 I would say you could add that much, but as for the rest, not so sure. 00:53:22.279 --> 00:53:28.759 So anyway, I just have concerns and I know time is of the issue and so forth with everyone, 00:53:28.759 --> 00:53:33.719 but I still think this has been extra punitive in ways that it does not need to be. 00:53:33.719 --> 00:53:40.519 and that's what I'm going to say. 00:53:40.519 --> 00:53:41.519 Anyone else? 00:53:41.519 --> 00:53:46.519 Mr. Atkinson. 00:53:46.519 --> 00:53:49.199 Thank you Alderman. 00:53:49.199 --> 00:53:53.119 That last bit of conversation just really struck me hard. 00:53:53.119 --> 00:53:58.400 Alderman Sellers and for the rest of you, if you don't like three hour meetings, work 00:53:58.400 --> 00:54:00.599 together, talk to each other. 00:54:00.599 --> 00:54:05.799 I know that Alderman in this room, no more than two at a time, sit down and talk and 00:54:05.799 --> 00:54:14.319 try to understand things and how is it possible that you vote no on moving that forward when 00:54:14.319 --> 00:54:18.300 your fellow Alderman is just trying to get clarification on something? 00:54:18.300 --> 00:54:23.079 That is what is going to prevent you from having three hour meetings is clarification so each 00:54:23.079 --> 00:54:28.480 one of you understand how these council meetings are supposed to run but then you vote no because 00:54:28.480 --> 00:54:37.480 You don't want that clarification next time. That doesn't make any sense. You are the alderman at large for this city. Act like it. 00:54:37.480 --> 00:54:52.480 Let me be quiet. Okay. Yes ma'am. Okay. 00:54:52.480 --> 00:54:55.480 I just want to say, I've been a part of Freeport for a while now. The most thing that I... 00:54:55.480 --> 00:54:57.480 Your name, please. 00:54:57.480 --> 00:55:00.480 Y'all know me. I'm Akia. 00:55:00.480 --> 00:55:09.480 The most thing I've ever heard the community scream out is that they want a good communication, you know, good leadership and all that. 00:55:09.480 --> 00:55:21.480 This so proves, even to have number nine even on the table talked about, that you guys don't want to have people understand things and communicate what people write is diabolical. 00:55:21.480 --> 00:55:25.480 It proves that you guys don't want to work with each other. You want to control other people. 00:55:25.480 --> 00:55:29.480 And there is no control. God has control. That's all I got to say. 00:55:37.480 --> 00:55:41.480 My name is Marcus. I just wanted to say I'm hearing a lot of complaining about 00:55:41.480 --> 00:55:45.480 how the meeting's taking so long. How about let's put the community first. 00:55:45.480 --> 00:55:49.480 How about we have our comments first and then let's see how long it really takes us in a meeting 00:55:49.480 --> 00:55:54.719 if the City Council got to together and try to be have less time in the meeting 00:55:54.719 --> 00:56:00.840 let's let the community go first let's see that we never tried that let's try 00:56:02.639 --> 00:56:12.480 thank you anyone else seeing no more comments I would entertain a motion for 00:56:12.480 --> 00:56:22.219 Adjournment. Yes, we'll be going back to the Committee to hold. We have a second for the 00:56:22.219 --> 00:56:35.880 Adjournment. Motion by Sellers, second by Klemm. All in favor? I oppose. Thank you. Let's take 00:56:35.880 --> 00:56:42.880 take about three minutes and we'll reconvene the committee in the next couple of minutes.