Meeting Events

Meeting: gesfftcxa0i.finance_committee_of_the_whole_9_15_2025

Meeting date: 2025-09-15

Meeting type: finance_committee

This is a deterministic derived artifact, not official meeting minutes. Related records may be grouped for review while complete machine provenance remains in the JSON artifact.

Decisions and Votes

• Approval of agenda item four — Passed

  • Summary: Motion made to approve item four of the agenda.
  • Evidence: “we’re looking for item four approval of the agenda. So moved.”
  • Evidence: “Motion by Parker, second by Klemm. If we can have all in favor. Aye. And opposed. That motion carries.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:53

• Correction and approval of minutes

  • Summary: Motion made to approve the minutes after correcting errors regarding dates.
  • Evidence: “With those corrections in mind, we have a motion for approval of the minutes. So moved.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:35

• Approval of minutes — Passed

  • Summary: The motion to approve the minutes passed.
  • Evidence: “Motion by Parker, second by Johnson. If we have all in favor. Aye. Opposed? That motion carries.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:46

• Stopping Budget Review for the Day — Passed

  • Summary: A motion was made to stop reviewing the budget at the current level because the speaker did not want to run through other TIFs and requested picking up the discussion next Monday.
  • Attribution: Stacy
  • Evidence: “I would like to make a motion that we stop with the budget at this level because I don’t want to just run through these other tips I want to understand them. It’s already after six so I’m making a motion that we stop with the budget after this diff and pick up here next Monday.”
  • Evidence: “Madam Clerk, you take the roll on the motion. Klemm? No. Johnson? No. Simmons? No. Parker? No. Stacy? Aye. Shadle? No. Sanders? Aye. The motion passes four to three I’m sorry the motion fails it failed I said the numbers wrong though three to four okay thank you.”
  • Source timestamp: 31:59

• Motion to adjourn

  • Summary: The vote on the motion to adjourn resulted in ‘Aye’ votes.
  • Evidence: “All in favor? Aye. Opposed?”
  • Source timestamp: 39:56

Procedural Actions

• Call to order of Finance Committee of the Whole meeting

  • Summary: The meeting was called to order.
  • Evidence: “That’s fine. All right, being 531, we’ll call to order the Finance Committee of the Whole meeting.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:00

• Quorum confirmation

  • Summary: A quorum was confirmed present for the committee.
  • Evidence: “Here, Stacy, I thought I saw her, yep, Shadle, Sanders, and Sellers is absent, but we have a quorum, Chair.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:12

• Pledge of Allegiance

  • Summary: The committee participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
  • Evidence: “If you could join me in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
  • Source timestamp: 00:32

• Adjournment Scheduling

  • Summary: The discussion confirmed that the adjournment was for the next Finance Council meeting, not a recess until after the City Council meeting.
  • Evidence: “She’s actually asking to adjourn and then it would just be picked up at the next Finance Council. You next available. Thank you.”
  • Source timestamp: 33:29

• Adjournment of meeting

  • Summary: A motion was made and seconded for adjournment.
  • Evidence: “Seeing none, I take a motion for adjournment. So move. Second. Motion by Klemm, second by Parker.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:56

Financial and Contract Events

• Police bargaining wages increase

  • Summary: There is an increase of $70,300 over the 2025 budget for bargaining wages.
  • Evidence: “101-151-5000 On bargaining wages. There is an increase of $70,300 over the 2025 budget.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:37

• ASME wages decrease explanation

  • Summary: A decrease in the 25 budget for ASME wages was noted due to employees with higher longevity moving out of the PD and new employees starting at a lower rate.
  • Evidence: “101-151-5010 ASME wages. There appears there to be a We’ve had a decrease in the 25 budget and we have rechecked our numbers and had employees with higher longevity move out of the PD to another department and new employees begin at a lower rate so that accounts for the reduction there.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:37

• Police wages increase related to negotiations

  • Summary: There is an increase of 261,155 over the 2025 budget agreement for Police wages, related to police negotiations.
  • Evidence: “101-151-5015 Police wages. There’s an increase of 261,155 over the 2025 budget agreement. There’s no additional staff here, so this essentially is related to the negotiations, the outcome of the police negotiations.”
  • Source timestamp: 03:23

• Health insurance increase for Police

  • Summary: There is an increase of 166,915 for health insurance.
  • Evidence: “101-151-5220 health insurance. There’s an increase of 166,915.”
  • Source timestamp: 03:44

• Police pension contribution amount determination

  • Summary: The annual commitment to the police pension is determined by the actuary and is in addition to annual bond payments.
  • Evidence: “101-151-5255, police pension contribution, the annual commitment to the police pension, the amount is determined by our actuary, and this is in addition to our annual bond payments.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:05

• Consulting services increase for PD

  • Summary: There was an increase of 15,000 from 2025 for consulting services.
  • Evidence: “101,151, 60,150 Consulting services. So we had an increase of 15,000 from 2025,”
  • Source timestamp: 04:47

• Contracted building repair and maintenance increase

  • Summary: There is an increase of $15,000 for remodel of the dispatcher kitchen.
  • Evidence: “101-151-6155 Contracted building repair and maintenance. There’s an increase of $15,000 for remodel of the dispatcher kitchen included in the budget this year.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:02

• Police Capital Equipment Fund expenditures

  • Summary: Budgeting includes amounts for additional surveillance cameras ($5,000), new water fountain ($5,000), equipment shed ($10,000), awning replacement ($10,000), two speed signs ($12,000), and 10 additional body cameras ($14,500).
  • Evidence: “101-151-7010 Machinery and for equipment over 1,000. We’re budgeting 5,000 for additional surveillance cameras, 5,000 for a new water fountain, 10,000 for an equipment shed, 10,000 for awning replacement, 12,000 for two speed signs, and 14,500 for 10 additional body cameras.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:02

• Fire wages increase

  • Summary: Both non-bargaining and fire wages line items increased due to cost of living, with bargaining including longevity and educational increases.
  • Evidence: “Both line items increased by cost of living and in the case of the fire bargaining, they’ve included longevity and educational increases.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:59

• Fire overtime projection decrease

  • Summary: Overtime for Fire is projecting a decrease to overtime expenses.
  • Evidence: “Then on 101-152-5140 overtime for Fire is projecting a decrease to overtime expenses.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:59

• Health insurance increase for Fire

  • Summary: An increase of $150,000 is anticipated for Health insurance.
  • Evidence: “101-152-5220 Health insurance. $150,000 Increase is anticipated.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:59

• Fire pension contribution status

  • Summary: The Fire pension contribution amount is the same as the police contribution and includes annual bond payments for the pension obligation bonds.
  • Evidence: “101-152-5260 Fire pension contribution, same as the police contribution works. This is our annual contribution. In addition, we pay the annual bond payments for the pension obligation bonds.”
  • Source timestamp: 09:15

• Fire General Fund Budget Line Items

  • Summary: Line items 101,152-5000 and 50-20 non-bargaining and fire wages increased by cost of living; fire bargaining included longevity and educational increases. Overtime for Fire (101,152-5140) is projecting a decrease to overtime expenses. Health insurance (101-152-5220) anticipates a $150,000 Increase.
  • Attribution: Don
  • Evidence: “So we’ll start with 101,152-5000 and 50-20 non-bargaining and fire wages. Both line items increased by cost of living and in the case of the fire bargaining, they’ve included longevity and educational increases. Then on 101,152-5140 overtime for Fire is projecting a decrease to overtime expenses. 101-152-5220 Health insurance. $150,000 Increase is anticipated.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:59

• Fire Pension Contribution and General Fund Budget Status

  • Summary: The fire pension contribution (101-152-5260) is the same as the police contribution. The budget includes annual bond payments for the pension obligation bonds, and the remainder of the budget is very similar to 2025.
  • Attribution: Don
  • Evidence: “101-152-5260 Fire pension contribution, same as the police contribution works. This is our annual contribution. In addition, we pay the annual bond payments for the pension obligation bonds. And the remainder of the budget is very similar to 2025. So keeping keeping things pretty level.”
  • Source timestamp: 09:15

• Fire Improvement Fund Revenue Transfer

  • Summary: Per ordinance, a yearly transfer of 54% of the revenues (excluding collection or administrative fees) is made from the Fire Improvement Fund to the general fund. Revenues include ambulance service, accident, fire and extraction, and lift assistance fee.
  • Evidence: “Per ordinance, a yearly transfer is made to the general fund of 54% of the revenues, not including collection or administrative fees. So the revenues include ambulance service. Projections are in line with the prior years. Accident, fire and extraction, lift assistance fee, ALS Huffines.”
  • Source timestamp: 10:35

• Firefighter Turnout Gear Funding and Replacement Cycle — Passed

  • Summary: The department has carried $100,000 for PFAS-free firefighter gear, which is not currently available. An additional $50,000 increase is proposed to cover future costs when the gear becomes available (anticipated in 2026). Turnout gear must be replaced every 10 years.
  • Evidence: “And then one other thing, if I may, if we look at 7010 firefighter turnout gear, we’ve We’ve been carrying $100,000 in that specific line item for two years waiting for PFAS-free firefighter gear. Right now it does not exist. So we’re not going to expend those monies until the industry comes up with a safe turnout gear. We anticipate, we hope that’ll be available sometime in 2026. So we know, if a vendor, there’s a handful of turnout gear vendors, none of them can produce this garment. But we recognize that the first vendor that does is going to take advantage of that technology breakthrough and the prices are going to go way up. So we’ve proposed to increase that by another $50,000 and have that available if that turnout Geer becomes available. By NFPA standard, turnout gear needs to be replaced every 10 years.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:25

• Foreign Fire Fund budget estimate for 2026

  • Summary: The budgeted amount for the Foreign Fire Fund for 2026 is $83,000.
  • Evidence: “but we’ve budgeted about $21,000, I’m sorry about $83,000 for 2026.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:34

• Downtown TIF expenses breakdown

  • Summary: Expenses in downtown TIF include bank fees for downtown loan bond of $700, professional services including attorney fees Greater Freeport Partnership, Illinois Tax Increment Association dues site improvement and that goes to façades.
  • Evidence: “So these expenses include bank fees for downtown loan bond of $700 professional services that include attorney fees Greater Freeport Partnership, Illinois Tax Increment Association dues site improvement and that goes to façades”
  • Source timestamp: 19:57

• Proposed increase in Facade Improvement Grant funding

  • Summary: There is a proposed increase in the amount available for the Facade Improvement Grant up to $100,000.
  • Evidence: “We have proposed increases in the amount available to $100,000, so we’re looking at an increase to the Facade Improvement Grant.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:57

• Downtown TIF redevelopment agreements and debt service transfers

  • Summary: Current redevelopment agreements include Hampton Inn, Merritt Crane, and additional funds for new redevelopment agreements. Transfers are noted for debt service from principal and interest related to the 2015A bond and the 2018 bond.
  • Evidence: “Currently we have Hampton Inn, Merritt Crane, and additional funds for new redevelopment agreements there. And then transfer to debt service from principal and interest, so that’s the 2015A bond and the 2018 bond.”
  • Source timestamp: 21:01

• Lamb Road TIF expenses and funding sources

  • Summary: Expenses for Lamb Road TIF include attorney fees, revenue from TIFFs and Illinois Tax Increment Association dues, a redevelopment agreement with TriStar, and funds for miscellaneous repairs and demos. Major improvement planned is the lift station.
  • Evidence: “Again, GFP gets their revenue or a good portion of their revenue through the TIFFs and Illinois Tax Increment Association dues. Site improvements include, we have a redevelopment agreement with TriStar and a remainder for miscellaneous repairs and demos. The remainder of the site improvements would include miscellaneous repairs and demos, but we are working on the lift station as a major improvement.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:46

• Tax distribution funds from TIFs

  • Summary: A specified amount of generated increment goes back to taxing bodies as per the original agreement, including a transfer to sewer to fund the Walnut Lift Station.
  • Evidence: “So tax distribution funds go back to the other taxing bodies. So there is some amount of the generated increment that goes back to the taxing bodies as the original agreement specified. And then again, as I mentioned, the transfer to sewer to fund the Walnut Lift Station.”
  • Source timestamp: 24:41

Presentations and Reports

• Overview of budgets for discussion

  • Summary: City Manager Boyer presented an overview of several funds to be discussed.
  • Evidence: “And then we move on to discussion of the following budgets. City Manager Boyer and Director Reeder, General Fund Police, Capital Equipment Fund, Police, Drug Forfeiture, General Fund, Fire Public Safety, Fire Improvement, Foreign Fire, TIF Budgets, Projects, Fund Budget, and Downtown Loan.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:07

• Police General Fund Budget details

  • Summary: Details were presented regarding several line items in the Police General Fund Budget.
  • Evidence: “Manager Boyer. Thank you Alderman Shadle. So tonight we’re going to start out with the Police General Fund Budget.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:07

• Police Capital Equipment Fund purchased items

  • Summary: Items purchased include radios for the squads, portable radios, four squads with radio and DVRs, and one golf cart.
  • Evidence: “So as you see on the slide, the items we purchased include radios for the squads, portable radios, four squads with radio and DVRs, and one golf cart, being that we use that for events, and the one we have is broken.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:56

• Drug Forfeiture Fund status

  • Summary: The Drug Forfeiture Fund budget is the same amount as last year.
  • Evidence: “The next one is drug forfeiture fund. So this fund is controlled by the PD as there’s a specific use of drug forfeiture funds. The budget is the same amount as last So no changes there.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:59

• Fire General Fund Budget details

  • Summary: Details were presented regarding several line items in the Fire General Fund Budget.
  • Evidence: “Now we’ll move into the fire general fund budget. So we’ll start with 101,152-5000 and 50-20 non-bargaining and fire wages.”
  • Source timestamp: 07:59

• Fire Public Safety Fund Revenue and Expenditures

  • Summary: The Fire Public Safety Fund receives donations for public education materials used during Fire Prevention Month in the public schools, with no significant changes expected. The Fire Improvement Fund accounts for ambulance revenues and capital purchases.
  • Attribution: Don
  • Evidence: “Okay, we’ll move on to We’ll move on to the Fire Public Safety Fund. This budget receives donations to alleviate the cost of public education materials used during Fire Prevention Month in the public schools. So no significant changes there. Any questions on that? Okay. Then we have, oops, sorry about that, Curt. The Fire Public Safety Fund, I’m sorry, the Fire Improvement Fund. The city uses these funds to account for ambulance revenues and capital purchases.”
  • Source timestamp: 10:01

• Foreign Fire Fund generation and use

  • Summary: The Foreign Fire Fund receives 2% of the fire portion of insurance policy premiums from any insurance company not incorporated under Illinois law that provides fire insurance for property in an Illinois municipality with a fire department.
  • Evidence: “By state statute, all insurance companies not incorporated under the laws of the state of Illinois provide fire insurance for property situated within an Illinois municipality that maintains a fire department must remit 2% of the fire portion of the insurance policy premium.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:12

• Explanation of ‘miscellaneous’ fund usage in TIF districts

  • Summary: A developer might propose using TIF funds for demolition or landscaping under a redevelopment agreement, which could fall under miscellaneous.
  • Evidence: “And then I would say You know, I would go over with attorney Zito just because it’s it’s proper protocol There’s there’s laws that you want to go over a redevelopment agreement to make sure that when I come to to yourself and the rest of the council members. I want to speak intelligently. I want to be professional. And I want to say, I’ve reviewed this redevelopment agreement. I know that it’s within the laws. And then when I ask, I would say, I would like to do $100,000 to demolish the existing building, would be city funds. And then your question would be, did we budget for this? And I would say, well, yes, we did. In the Lamb Road TIF district, we put $100,000 for the potential of a demolition, the potential of maybe it’s landscaping, which would fall under miscellaneous.”
  • Source timestamp: 30:05

• West Avenue TIF Fund Expenses

  • Summary: Expenses related to attorneys fees, GFP, the Illinois Tax Recruitment Association, site improvements (including new RDAs), and miscellaneous repairs were noted for the West Avenue TIF.
  • Attribution: Director Duckman
  • Evidence: “so we’re moving on to the West Avenue TIF so we have the again the expenses related to attorneys fees GFP the Illinois Tax Recruitment Association. Site improvements would include new RDAs that we would need to budget for today that we may not realize that that will come up throughout the year as as Director Duckman pointed out and then also miscellaneous repairs also in addition to that tax disbursement funds go back to other taxing bodies meaning there’s a sort of portion that’s shared back with those those taxing bodies.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:45

• Downtown revitalization loan fund status

  • Summary: The city has one active loan from this fund, and all available funds are programmed to 2026. Changes would occur if a new loan is requested by downtown businesses.
  • Evidence: “Moving on to the downtown revitalization loan fund. The city currently has one active loan from this fund. All available funds have been programmed to 2026. If a new loan is requested by downtown businesses, then we’ll change that at that time.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:10

Metrics

• Projected use of approved funds for current project
  • Summary: The current project is projected to use about half of the approved funds in 2025 and the other half in 2026.
  • Evidence: “So we’re projecting the current project to use about half of the approved funds in 2025 and the other half in 2026.”
  • Source timestamp: 24:41

Discussion

• Departmental gear budget status

  • Summary: The department used 18-6 out of a $24 budget in the previous year, budgeted $8 this year (to date at 18-6), and will budget $8 next year.
  • Evidence: “Yep. I believe it’s the last one on the second page. We were at 24 budget, 20,000, and we used 18-6 out of that. This year we budgeted 8, and we’re to date at 18-6, and then we budgeted next year again 8.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:29

• Body camera appropriation contingency

  • Summary: If appropriations fall through, the minimum goal is 10 body cameras; if approved, the budget will not use the 10 units.
  • Evidence: “I asked our talk to the finance director and said we still need body cams, minimum of 10. So if that falls through, at least we can get those 10. However, if we get the appropriations, we won’t use the 10 in the budget. We’re just budgeting.”
  • Source timestamp: 06:58

• Central Station Window Replacement Cost Fluctuation

  • Summary: The projected cost for central station window replacement is about $400,000, but this amount could fluctuate; eight years ago, the identified need cost approximately $141,000.
  • Attribution: Chief
  • Evidence: “Sure. So if you look at second row from the top, central station window replacement, we’re projecting about 400,000 Fehr Graham, put together some vendors to come out and take a look at it. And that’s about where we projected that to be. But that was earlier in the year. So we would not be surprised if there was some fluctuation to that. So an example, about eight years ago when I was here previously, we identified that that was a need back then. And those costs came in at about 141,000.”
  • Source timestamp: 12:14

• Fire Station Window Condition and Replacement Needs

  • Summary: The building windows are from the 1970s; there is a broken window in the weight room that leaks rain. Additionally, some intended ventilation windows are stuck closed.
  • Attribution: Chief
  • Evidence: “So that building, those windows we feel are from the 1970s, the building itself is about 84 years old we have a variety of windows that need to be replaced by in the weight room there’s a broken one it’s been broken for a long time and it leaks rain if you get a north rain from the north into the building it leaks on the floor we’ve even opened the walls to see where this is coming from we’re not able to identify exactly where it’s coming from upstairs this past year one of our firefighters almost lost the tip of Huffines. The window came down like a guillotine and sheared off the tip of his finger.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:01

• Central Station Location Confirmation

  • Summary: The central station is located across from Slumberland at Walnut and South.
  • Evidence: “I have one question, Chief. Where is this central station located? It’s across from Slumberland at Walnut and South.”
  • Source timestamp: 15:44

• Central Station Window Cost Confirmation

  • Summary: The cost estimate for the windows is considered pretty close to what was projected earlier in the season.
  • Evidence: “Is that an estimated cost for budgeting for next year? I’ll defer to Darren. Is that about what it came in when we did that early in the season? Yeah, we actually had a reputable window company come out and we went around the building with them. So there might be a little cushion there, but it’s pretty close.”
  • Source timestamp: 16:18

• Central Station window replacement costs and prevailing wage impact

  • Summary: The cost of replacing windows at Central Station is affected by prevailing wage standards when the city is involved.
  • Evidence: “Anytime the city’s involved, there’s prevailing wage standards and this would qualify as prevailing wage, which drives the cost up significantly.”
  • Source timestamp: 17:29

• Foreign Fire Fund generation source confirmation

  • Summary: The fund is generated by insurance companies providing coverage to properties in Illinois from out-of-state.
  • Evidence: “So if they choose to go to Wisconsin or Iowa or California or wherever, those companies by Estes. Those companies by a state statute have to give the fire departments and that’s just not Freeport That’s all Illinois fire departments two percent of their their proceeds”
  • Source timestamp: 19:50

• Site Improvement funding scope under TIF

  • Summary: The site improvement budget can cover potential public good projects within the TIF district, such as improving a public parking lot.
  • Evidence: “So that could be if it comes back to a project where potentially we’re talking about budgeting. So if we have money budgeted for site improvement, somebody may come down the line and say, look, we have a public parking lot. We have a project proposed that would be for the public good within the TIF district.”
  • Source timestamp: 22:21

• Current downtown TIF redevelopment agreements

  • Summary: The current redevelopment agreements in the downtown TIF district include Hampton Inn and Merritt Crane, which is building another storage facility.
  • Evidence: “In this downtown TIF district, you have the Hampton, the hotel. Then you also have the Merritt Crane, which came to council this year. They’re building another storage facility.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:16

• Lamb Road TIF expenses

  • Summary: Expenses related to attorney fees are noted for the Lamb Road TIF.
  • Evidence: “I would like to move on to the Lamb Road TIF so we have some expenses that are related to attorney fees.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:46

• Downtown redevelopment agreements for crane rental business storage facility

  • Summary: A discussion regarding a redevelopment agreement involving a crane rental business building a storage facility.
  • Evidence: “So that’s what I have for the downtown redevelopment agreements currently yep that is correct yeah okay with that I’d like to move on to the Lamb Road TIF so we have some expenses that are related to attorney fees.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:46

• Clarification on ‘miscellaneous’ site improvement costs

  • Summary: A detailed discussion occurred regarding the lack of description and breakdown for miscellaneous site improvement funds.
  • Evidence: “What miscellaneous do we have out there? You said tri-star and miscellaneous. What’s miscellaneous? I have to defer to the finance director on that one… Another thing, while we’re at that, considering what miscellaneous is, that’s a broad brush when you throw that in there without a description, a definitive description and a breakdown of what miscellaneous is.”

• Request for list detailing potential uses of funds

  • Summary: A request was made for a copy of the list detailing all redevelopment agreements and potential uses of funds.
  • Evidence: “If I wanted a copy of that list, is that possible?”
  • Source timestamp: 26:15

• Redevelopment Agreement Protocol and Funding Clarity

  • Summary: A speaker advised going over redevelopment agreements with attorney Zito to ensure compliance with laws before presenting to the council, specifically regarding a potential $100,000 expenditure for demolition using city funds. The discussion clarified that no actual $100,000 is currently committed in miscellaneous funds for this purpose.
  • Attribution: Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “And then I would say You know, I would go over with attorney Zito just because it’s it’s proper protocol There’s there’s laws that you want to go over a redevelopment agreement to make sure that when I come to to yourself and the rest of the council members. I want to speak intelligently. I want to be professional. And I want to say, I’ve reviewed this redevelopment agreement. I know that it’s within the laws. And then when I ask, I would say, I would like to do $100,000 to demolish the existing building, would be city funds. And then your question would be, did we budget for this? And I would say, well, yes, we did. In the Lamb Road TIF district, we put $100,000 for the potential of a demolition, the potential of maybe it’s landscaping, which would fall under miscellaneous. There’s site repairs that could be done. And maybe, and I apologize if we’re not more clear, but I believe what we are trying to say is there is no actual $100,000 right now that is committed. There’s no committed funds right now in that for miscellaneous. But there could potentially be.”
  • Source timestamp: 30:05

• Clarification of Miscellaneous Funds Purpose

  • Summary: A speaker requested more definitive clarity on what a ‘miscellaneous’ item refers to, requiring a good visual insight into the project and funds involved.
  • Attribution: Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “But the point that I’m trying to make is clarification, interpretation of what this miscellaneous item is or whatever the project is or whatever the case is. It has to have more definitive clarity with it so we can have a good visual especially a good insight visual of what you’re referring to and that gives us that gives us a good viewpoint of what it’s all about.”
  • Source timestamp: 31:50

• Budget Review Scope Limitation

  • Summary: Manager Boyer stated that his input was limited to answering detailed questions about the budget, clarifying that the current time was for reviewing the budget and not learning how TIFs work.
  • Attribution: Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “My only input on it would be, you know, I am available to ask, you know, more detailed questions about a question related to the budget, right? I mean, tonight we’re reviewing the budget and kind of we’re standing here reviewing the budget and anyone who has questions over the budget should get with me and we can discuss that, but this isn’t the time to learn how the TIF works, this is the time to go over the budget. So that’s my only comment.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:08

• Redevelopment Agreement Definition

  • Summary: A member asked for clarification on what RDAs stand for, and another confirmed the existence of two such agreements in the downtown area and two in the Lamb Road TIF district.
  • Attribution: Alderman Stacey
  • Evidence: “Alderman Stacey. New RDA’s. What’s RDA’s? I’m sorry that’s a redevelopment agreement. Do we have any redevelopment agreements currently? I believe we do but I’m not I don’t know if we have one in the West Avenue TIF district but as I just said the downtown had two of them Lamb Road has two of them.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:45

• Site improvements and tax disbursement funds

  • Summary: Discussion covered site improvements needing budget allocation for new RDAs and miscellaneous repairs, noting that tax disbursement funds are shared back with other taxing bodies.
  • Attribution: Duckman
  • Evidence: “Site improvements would include new RDAs that we would need to budget for today that we may not realize that that will come up throughout the year as as Director Duckman pointed out and then also miscellaneous repairs also in addition to that tax disbursement funds go back to other taxing bodies meaning there’s a sort of portion that’s shared back with those those taxing bodies.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:45

• Redevelopment Agreements (RDAs)

  • Summary: Alderman Stacy inquired about existing redevelopment agreements, noting the downtown and Lamb Road have two each. The Bertrude Avenue TIF expenses include attorney’s fees, GFP, Illinois tax increment association dues, site improvements with redevelopment agreement with FHN, other RDAs and miscellaneous repairs.
  • Attribution: Alderman Stacy
  • Evidence: “Alderman Stacey. New RDA’s. What’s RDA’s? I’m sorry that’s a redevelopment agreement. Do we have any redevelopment agreements currently? I believe we do but I’m not I don’t know if we have one in the West Avenue TIF district but as I just said the downtown had two of them Lamb Road has two of them. We do have existing redevelopment agreements. Okay with that I’ll move on to the Bertrude Avenue TIF. Expenses include again same as before attorney’s fees, GFP, Illinois tax increment association dues, site improvements with redevelopment agreement with FHN, other RDAs and miscellaneous repairs. So again last one here tax disbursement funds go back to and the other taxing bodies.”
  • Source timestamp: 34:45

• Meadows TIF expenses and RDAs

  • Summary: The Meadows TIF expenses include attorneys for GFP and Illinois Tax Increment Association dues. RDAs listed include Culver’s, Kendall and Grace, the Meadows Mall, and other RDAs and miscellaneous repairs. Tax disbursement funds also go back to other taxing bodies.
  • Evidence: “Okay, moving on, the Meadows Tiff, so the expenses include the same as mentioned before, attorneys for GFP and the Illinois Tax Increment Association dues. RDAs include Culver’s, Kendall and Grace, the Meadows Mall, and then other RDAs and miscellaneous repairs. The tax disbursement funds also go back to the other taxing bodies.”
  • Source timestamp: 36:19

• Bates Principal RDA with JJ Ventures

  • Summary: The Bates Principal RDA with JJ Ventures was set up differently, requiring payments from this expense line item; it relates to a Joanna Fabrics agreement approximately ten years ago.
  • Attribution: Parker
  • Evidence: “Bates, Principal, RDA with JJ Ventures. This is one that was set up in a little different way than the others and our auditors require the payments to be made from this expense line item. So, this was, I believe, one of the JJ Ventures agreement. That is a. That was the Joanna Fabrics. Joanna Fabrics. Yeah, right. How many years ago was that? It was. You got me on the spot here, but. Yeah, I’m sorry. It’s been a while. Ten years, probably. Yeah probably 10 years ago that was because it started as a yeah so any questions on the Meadows TIF okay moving on to projects fund”
  • Source timestamp: 37:35

• Projects Fund transfer to General Fund

  • Summary: The sidewalk fund and the Gene Adams trail and Pecatonica Prairie Path were moved from the projects fund to the street department budget per auditor recommendation, with zero revenue and expenses expected in this fund for 2026.
  • Evidence: “so both of the following items have been transferred to the general fund Street Department budget that used to be in the projects fund this is being done per recommendation from the auditors and there are zero revenue and expenses in this fund in 2026 so the sidewalk fund and the Gene Adams trail and Pecatonica Prairie Path have been moved to the street department.”
  • Source timestamp: 38:01

• Budgeting for lighting program

  • Summary: A question was raised regarding budgeting money for a lighting program, which could be discussed in the street budget or street light budget.
  • Evidence: “Alderman Stacy. I don’t know if this is the place to ask this question, but what if we wanted to budget money for a lighting program? That wouldn’t necessarily fall here, but that’s definitely something we could discuss in the street budget, or in the street light budget.”
  • Source timestamp: 38:44

Follow-ups

• OVW grant reapplying for PD

  • Summary: The OVW grant for the PD will need to be reapplied for in ‘26 as it is a three-year cycle.
  • Evidence: “our OVW grant, violence against women grant for the PD will need to be reapplied for in 26. Salton to complete the forms. So the OVW grant is a three-year cycle so it’s coming up this year.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:47

• Window Replacement Bid Specification Recommendation

  • Summary: It is recommended that the bid specification indicate that the same windows, contractor, and vendors should be used over the course of a two-year period for replacement.
  • Evidence: “In that bid spec, we should indicate that the same windows should be used over the course of that two-year period, the same contractor, the same vendors should be, all the people should be the same from year one to year two.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:09