City of Markham City Council met Dec. 1.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor, Roger Agpawa called the Regular Meeting of the Markham City Council to order at 7:10p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Prayer led by Ald. McDowell. Roll Call was taken by City Clerk, Leslie Trimuel.
ROLL CALL: ALDERMAN PRESENT
Alderman Rondal Jones
Alderman William Barron
Alderwoman Wanda McDowell
Alderman Breanna Hampton
ALSO PRESENT: Attorney Steven Miller
Treasurer, Belinda Richardson
City Administrator, Derrick Champion
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
December 1, 2021
Motion to approve minutes of December 1, 2021, by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
AUTHORIZATION OF CLAIMS
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Barron, to adopt Authorization of Claims and Accounts Bill list, totaling $530,076.97, with manual checks of $7,995.00 for a grand total of $538,071.97
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Members of Council members of the public with respect to the city attorney's report, it appears under paragraph, eight. Starting off with eight a, we have a proposed resolution approving the extension and renewal of the RE proclamation and declaration of a continued local state of emergency, but then the city of Markham, and approving the mayor's determination regarding modifications to in person meetings in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. November 17, 2021.
ADOPT RESOLUTION
21-R-660
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell, to adopt Resolution 21-R-660 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF THE RE PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF A CONTINUED LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHIN THE CITY OF MARKHAM AND APPROVING THE MAYOR’S DETERMINATION REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (December 1, 2021)
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT RESOLUTION
21-R-661
Motion by Ald. Barron, Seconded by Ald. Hampton-Houser to adopt Resolution 21-R-661 RESOLUTION APPROVING A MASTER POLE ATTACHMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHICAGO SMSA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP D/B/A VERIZON WIRELESS AND THE CITY OF MARKHAM
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion carried
Questions
Ald. Jones - What are the areas for the poles?
Mayor Agpawa - None yet none at all.
Ald. Jones – Is this city wide or a particular area?
Mayor Agpawa - This would be open city wide, they would still have to come and propose to us. This is just to open the door, just like cannabis or gambling or whatever, I use that analogy, just to set the stage. Now we're modifying I did talk with legal about it, we're modifying our existing ordinance to make room for dealing with poles opposed to towers.
Ald. Jones - The next thing was the cost, so you answered that question.
Mayor Agpawa - I believe we can negotiate the cost.
Ald. Hampton-Houser – In reference to the cost, on page 3 is the cost that they want to propose to us for putting the particular wireless devices on our electrical poles. My question is would there be room for other individuals who might want to come to Markham with the same idea that it is a whole playing field. We want to make sure that if we agreed with this resolution, that we actually monitor exactly where they place these poles or devices that someone else may want to come in. In this resolution, there is information sharing exactly how they can install them. We want to make sure that we have an open field for other individuals that might want to come in and in and utilize the polls as well. I’m in agreement with Ald. Jones as well, we want to know exactly where they are going to locate these polls. And what is the objective dates.
Mayor Agpawa - Right now, none of that's on the table, when the time comes, those will be the things that we will want to talk to them about.
Ald. Jones – Are the fees negotiable?
Mayor Agpawa – I think they are locked in, it’s set by statue.
ADOPT RESOLUTION
21-R-662
Motion by Ald. Jones, Seconded by Barron to adopt Resolution 21-R-662
RESOLUTION REGARDING COOK COUNTY CLASS 6B SUSTAINABLE EMERGENCY RELIEF (SER) PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE FOR A PERMANENT INDEX NUMBER 28-24-308-024-0000 OWNED BY JMI CRAFTED COMMERCIAL MILLWORK, INC. LOCATED AT 3032 W. 167TH STREET, MARKHAM, ILLINOIS 60428
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion carried
Questions
Ald. Hampton-Houser - In reference to the Class 6B Sustainable Emergency Relief (SER) I was trying to find out what other companies might be able to benefit from this as well, in our community. I noticed that 6B Sustainable Emergency Relief is to get relief to the to the business industry, for a minimum of ten years for a tax break. I know Ald. Barron’s ward. I think his information might be valuable for individuals in his ward as well. If we can find out exactly where the information or the application is located at, I think it might benefit us as well.
Mayor Agpawa – We can get with the City Administrator to put some things out to the business community about it. I appreciate your concern for the other businesses.
WAIVE READING OF ORDINANCE
21-O-2318
Motion by Ald. McDowell, seconded by Barron
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 159 “SMALL CELL WIRELESS FACILITIES” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO COMPLY WITH CHANGES TO THE SMALL CELL WIRELESS DEPLOYMENT ACT
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT ORDINANCE
21-O-2318
Motion by Ald. McDowell, seconded by Barron
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 159 “SMALL CELL WIRELESS FACILITIES” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO COMPLY WITH CHANGES TO THE SMALL CELL WIRELESS DEPLOYMENT ACT
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
WAIVE READING OF ORDINANCE
21-O-2319
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by McDowell to waive reading of Ordinance 21-0-2319 ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 151.03 “AMENDMENTS” OF “INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE” OF CHAPTER 152: “HOUSING REGULATIONS” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT ORDINANCE
21-O-2319
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to adopt Ordinance 21-0-2319 ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 151.03 “AMENDMENTS” OF “INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE” OF CHAPTER 152: “HOUSING REGULATIONS” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Questions
Ald. Jones - On page three Section 19, it talks about ditches and culverts, who was previously responsible? It thought it was the responsibility of the homeowner or the owner. I don't understand what the difference in the language is three.
Mayor Agpawa - We’re adding a tunnel carrying extreme, I'd have to compare, but looks like this is what's being added a tunnel carrying extreme open ditch.
Ald. Barron - It’s not that much different than the existing language. The misconception is that most homeowners think and basically, it's my ward that has culverts, the misconception is that the city of Markham owns that land. I have to go to the house and explain to them that there's an easement there and we haven't taken your land away from you. But they're responsible for a drainage ditch. Mayor Agpawa - It might to that easier to read it is more of a description from what I can see. It doesn't look that much different it seems to be more descriptive.
Ald. Jones – Page 4, section 26, we already have on the books, you can’t park on grass or unpaved unpaid soil, what’s the difference in this one?
Mayor Agpawa - I can tell you most of the time the officers typically they're, asking for more that give them teeth to do things. They run into especially when you're towing vehicles, you want everything you can have, that's really what they're doing. Because it gets touchy when you wind up having to give a vehicle back because you didn't have enough of all the reasons you took it. It goes back to the culverts and ditches there's just more description.
WAIVE READING OF ORDINANCE
21-O-2320
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Waive Reading Ordinance 21- O-2320
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 110.25 “LICENSE FEE SCHEDULE” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO IMPOSE A HEALTH INSPECTION FEE
Roll Call: 3 Yes/ 1 Abstain/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT ORDINANCE
21-O-2320
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Adopt Ordinance 21-O-2320 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 110.25 “LICENSE FEE SCHEDULE” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO IMPOSE A HEALTH INSPECTION FEE
Roll Call: 3 Yes/1Abstain/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Questions
Ald. Jones - This new Health Inspection fee, what is that?
Mayor Agpawa - This would be whenever they do a health inspection.
Ald. Jones –This is all restaurants and even a caterer?
City Administrator, Derrick Champion – Anyone that has perishables and anyone that's handling food, brick and mortar and grocery stores
Ald. Jones - Page 4, Section E, the fee is $100, and this is an additional fee pf $150.00, so if they miss an inspection there is another fee of $150.00?
Mayor Agpawa - Each subsequent reinspection is $150.00 if they failed the inspection. City Administrator, Derrick Champion - To kind of tweak it a little bit, this is comparable to what everybody else is doing. We wanted to be with the industry standard.
Mayor Agpawa – We charge reinspection fees now for other inspections.
Ald. Jones - That's what I was thinking about, because I know a lot of times, someone may miss their housing inspection and we charge the same amount again so it’s like an ouch to them, you know, sometimes things happen. So, I was just thinking about the constituent or the person. Ald. Barron - We have inspections on the books.
Mayor Agpawa - The fee schedule wasn't there, but this is a little bit different.
Ald. Barron - Basically, it's really not defined. I mean, basically if you read this, if you sell candy bars, you need a health inspection, or any food product. All the gas stations, this isn't just the grocery stores and restaurants. This is for any place that has any kind of food and perishable food.
CLERK REPORT:
Business License – No report
MAYOR’S REPORT
Good evening, everyone, I know we don't have a packed house here tonight but, it’s good to be back in an open meeting. I've had the pleasure of meeting and I would hope that on the rest of the Council could go down and meet the new librarian. We had a chance to talk in my office about her background and where she comes from and I'm encouraging the Council to meet her. One of the things that I was really encouraged by was the outreach aspect that we talked about. I think that we're going to have a better relationship with our library, as a result of her background, when you get a chance stop by, Ald. McDowell you are the liaison there. I intend to spend more time with her get to know or even more. They want to do some things in terms of outreach to the community The other thing I want to mention is that we talked about in the warm months about some of the businesses that are coming, I just want to let everybody know that a lot of things that we've talked about in the public and certainly even as a board that we approved will set the stage for a lot of businesses to come, they are on the way but it seems like sometimes it takes an eternity to move forward. There are many things in the background that have to be done. We saw that one dimension maybe somebody will throw a shovel in the ground before Christmas or right after New Year's. We've got a lot of people that are still really working diligently to move business in, we talk about all the time, but it's certainly coming. I talked with the field superintendent and rode with the superintendent as well this week in Public Works and a lot of improvements throughout the community we all have witnessed in every single ward, it’s just really has been a great year, we one more meeting, but we have had a real blessed year and just riding thru the community with him, as always, some fine tuning needs to be done but. One of the meetings I had today with the field superintendent is that he had parked the new Bush Hog I stated, “well don't let it park too much., we're still cutting grass”. We're cutting grass, because it's still easier to get to some of these properties, while we still have vacancies to get to. I still want to hear from you all about the vacancies in your wards. This is our opportunity while it's cold in and slower before the snow comes for us to get back into those vacancies. I'm sure you all have something to say under your reports about that. One of the things that I have been soliciting the community and I'm going to continue to ask each of you on the on the board here to on our council to send volunteers to me if you would please, for some of the various boards and things that they can serve on. I'd like to talk with them and vet them if you send them my way to be able to serve, I'm going to be renewing some and replacing others on some of the different boards coming up. I have made no appointments since I've been in office, it's my intention to do that now to start looking volunteers, sheets will be given out to you. There are many different things that people can volunteer for, in the city and not just Planning and Zoning or Fire, Police or civil service. We want a Pastoral Commission, some people like to serve that way, work with the seniors a lot of different things that we can do. I just want to mention I'm just very excited about the holiday season and what I want to thank the employees for what they're doing around the building to decorate in the spirit of the holiday and Christmas and for what others may believe but we want to definitely thank them for all what they're doing to try to make Markham look really, really good. Our lighting is really beautiful. We're getting calls in the office all the time about it. We get messages and emails about it. Then I get words from the other mayors about what do we think we're doing over here? We just kind of showing off and all that kind of so you know, we're just getting rave reviews and we're going to keep it up. I would I like to ask all of the Council members to next year, give me some suggestions. I know that the staff and the team of the city is already working on a parkway theme. I'd like us to really just dress our Parkway in the future, not just for Christmas but maybe just like we did for the summer lights. So if you have ideas, let's talk about it. You all bring it up, I’d like to go over by Ald. Barron’s ward with some lighting on 155th in the pumphouse area in the next couple years or years so. I would like to see some pole lights over there and at the pump house know that they're on the map. I just would like to get your ideas, so please let me know, and we'll work together.
We've had a couple of people to pass away. I will let Ald. McDowell mention both are in her ward. I'm going to mention Lester Taylor passed away, he has been around for almost my whole time in government. I've always seen him around. He was here. Clue back with Mayor Miller all the time. He'd always be at the Council meeting, every time I looked up, he was there. He didn't stop coming to meetings until he couldn't come anymore, that's just who and how he was, just a great man and a pillar on 165th and Wolcott for many years he just cared about his community, those are the kind of people that mean so much because they just care. They don't care where you live, what ward, he never cared about that. He just wanted to come here and support this town.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR – DERRICK CHAMPION
There's a lot of first of all happy holiday season. I want to start off by just kind of piggybacking on a couple of things that the mayor talked about, we are working diligently every day with 40 potential businesses to come in Markham. We want to make sure that the right businesses are coming to Markham, we don't want just smoke shops or anything like that, we want to make sure that we're looking at healthy options, nice restaurants, and retail type businesses. I want to talk about working closely with lobbyists, making sure that we're going after any state, federal and local dollars, we're always looking for grants to improve infrastructure and anything that can help with quality of life, parks, anything else we can tap into. That's a constant mission, we want to make sure that individuals are consistently looking at our social media platforms in regard to our robotics and fulfillment center in Markham. There are jobs available, continue to look at our social platforms and our website, internally and all Ald. social platforms. We were speaking with Amazon yesterday, we are looking at other alternatives and making sure that individuals know about jobs, whether it’s putting ads in local newspapers as well. A wonderful event is coming up Saturday, December 18th breakfast with Santa hosted by our 1st Ward Alderwoman Hampton Houser and Mayor Roger Agpawa. Ald. Hampton-Houser will talk a little bit more in detail, she is partnering with the Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge & Most Worthy Faith Grand Chapter, we will be at the Banquet Hall, 16200 Laflin, come by for gifts for children of all ages.
ALD JONES
I’d like to say Mayor you did a great job this year. I was happy and love the street my decorations. I was just there to see the lights, and you expanded it. I have students that have never seen a streetlights before. I understand how the other mayors are saying what he's doing? so thank you for that. You're also getting calls you know, you told me that you were going to get it done along with the street repairs we have so they feel so excited the new homes they get new streets and new lights so that's why it’s Christmas every morning and every night they are so excited about bed they're checking things looking into the flood issue in my area, but I still get phone call with issues on the other side of 294 that I had to address. Thank you for street repairs, I really appreciate your effort in doing that. Also, Pinetree Park, for putting the dirt in there, over on the on the back side of frontage road. I love the artwork you're doing there. And last but not least, you'll notice that we've got some money in Jevic. I would love to sit and talk with you about that.
MAYOR AGPAWA
I rode with public works, we did go back to the Pinetree area. Let's talk about how you want to position things over there. Only thing I know that we need to do pretty quick is put a guard rail up. We went over because we sprayed the grass so let’s get together on that how you want to position things. We'll put the guardrail up, but then we'll come up with a way where there could be some side parking and people can go over there instead. We'll make it a nice park. However, you want to fix it up. We've talked about it over there. Definitely. And we'll get together with Treasurer on the numbers in the Berkshire area.
ALD BARRON
Good evening, I've been doing a light check for the last few nights and then I just expanded my search over to Ward 1 and 2, I was really impressed. The Christmas lights are wonderful. I see we've doubled up on the ones over here, we put some new additions on to City Hall. It is very festive, and it really lights everything up. I hope people can enjoy it. The only thing I'd love to see us do, maybe a big Christmas tree. We need to do something at fire station three. It's just dark. I hope everybody had a good Thanksgiving I hate to bring this up, but I see more and more people are dropping their mask in the stores and our positivity rate today was 4.1, An we're bracing for what the Thanksgiving holiday might bring us. I just tell people be careful. It's also getting cold so it would be nice if you've got any elderly neighbors to look in on them. Working with a few of them on some winterizations and haven't seen them all. You mentioned you know, some people won't get a shot but that's kind of their call, but maybe they'll get a flu shot Walgreens, that'd be a good start, I just thought I'd throw that in for good measure. I didn't go to Walgreens to get my flu shot but I got one of those two and they don't hurt so. I would say we used to do a lot at Station 3 and we used to do a lot of station two, I think we should get back to that. Maybe we could talk to the Fire Chief about both stations and really get that going again next year as well. I think that it does something in the neighborhoods. Definitely station two used to always be something that we did over there. The last thing I wanted to mention is I happen to go around Amazon, and I see the parking lot is filling up, it’s very, very pleasing to see that.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
Good evening, Mayor and Council, I agree I think out streetlights are very nice, I’m pretty sure that our residents appreciate that. I do want to also mention to the residents of Ward 1, I will be traveling thru our ward again in the next week or two to look at the easements, the vacant homes, and the fields to see which ones we need to actually revisit or the ones that we did not get an opportunity to visit at all, as far as grass cutting in those particular areas. I always ask for patience from all our all our constituents. Please be patient because the industry actually doing the work is our Public Works, they are stretched out so thin. It's not just Ward 1 but it’s 2,3 and 4, so they're working all the wards. Also, I on December 11, 2021, from 10am to 1pm, I am having a Coffee Sip with the residents. I need you all to come out ask questions. address your concerns, find out some additional information to exactly what's going on within our city. Just also be clear of information that's not accurate. I think it's important that you come out and address that and make sure that we share correct information.at the Markham banquet hall. Also, December 18t is they toy giveaway. It's open to all residents. There will be breakfast and gifts with Santa. Come out and have a bite to eat and just enjoy each other's company and bless the children as well. It is for all ages no particular age or older individual they will be receiving gifts cards of course they don't want toys. So please bring your family your December 18th come out and join us and allow the children to receive gifts. Last but not least visit the Park District on December 11th visit Winter Wonderland at Canterbury Park, it is beautiful, bring the children out adults as well and go through the winter wonderland. I think that's about it, enjoy your Thanksgiving.
ALD. MCDOWELL
Good evening, City Council. I just want to mention, we lost two very long-time residents in the 2nd Ward Lester Taylor and Monica Dawson. Two residents that have been there for almost probably sixty years in the city of Markham and we send our condolences to those families for those who like would like to attend their services you can call City Hall for information. I definitely want to point out to support both of those families. Also, I would like to give a special thanks to our Mayor and City Council for your hard work in support, I would like to thank our media team, Rick Foy and Michael Taylor for their support, and Public Works in our annual Cost Drive, we were able to bless 400 families this year. It was a fantastic event and I thank this Council from the bottom of my heart for all of your support. Thank you to our Attorney’s as well. Thank you all so much for everything, everyone did to come together to work as a team to make our cost drive a success. Also, on September 18th in the 2nd Ward we'll be having a toy giveaway. You do need to register this just gives us count. You can show up if you do not register we will have choices available for the kids. They will also be doing booster shots on that day, from 10 to 2, at Markham Fire Station, 16030 Dixie Highway, so come out bring your kids.
MAYOR AGPAWA
I'll just mention the Johnson family that has been here equally, a very, very long time. on 162nd Winchester for decades. I really have say this about the Dawson sisters, Monica who passed recently lived on161st and Honore, her sister Grace, lived on 161st and Wolcott, and Warta lives on 162nd and Winchester, all three blocks are in Ald. McDowell's Ward had a Dawson were very involved. They came out to support all the events and they've been very supportive of me and I'm grateful for them and their families.
ALD. MCDOWELL
She was like, looking forward to coming out for the Toy Give away she also put in 35 years with school district school. She was a teacher.
OPEN FLOOR TO PUBLIC SESSION
Motion to open the floor to the Public by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell Roll Call: 4Yes/0 No 0 Absent/Motion Carried
https://www.cityofmarkham.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12012021-182
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