City of Markham City Council met Feb. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor, Roger Agpawa called the Regular Meeting of the Markham City Council to order at 7:11p.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
Attorney Lauren M. DaValle
City Administrator, Derrick Champion
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 19, 2022
Motion to approve minutes of January 19, 2022, by Ald. McDowell, seconded by Ald. Hampton Houser
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 $554,824.52, with manual checks of $-0- for a grand total of $554,824.52
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, starting with a proposed 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,
ADOPT RESOLUTION
22-R-670
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell, to adopt Resolution 22-R-670 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 (February 2, 2022)
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT RESOLUTION
22-R-671
Motion by Ald. Jones, seconded by Ald. Hampton-Houser, to adopt Resolution 22-R-671 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION of CDBG 2106-006
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
CLERK REPORT:
Good evening. I have a business license for Faced by Ashley LLC
OPEN FLOOR
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to open floor to Faced by Ashley LLC. Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion carried
MAYOR AGPAWA
Good evening, Miss Ashley McLemore, we have the City Council here this evening. They have your home-based business application and may have questions for you. We will open up to you to tell us briefly about your business.
FACED BY ASHLEY
I've been doing makeup for myself since I was 9 years old and always has a passion for just watching my mom and grandma so that's pretty much what started it. I just had a thought of like, hey, I want to do this for other people and do this as my living. I will usually make up my family, my clients and then I will also be offering zoom classes for people that want to learn how to apply makeup on themselves. But my whole goal is to let people know that their beauty is from God, and they don't need the makeup, it's just enhancing them and just to see people smile it's amazing to see how happy they are and their confidence makes after their services.
ALD HAMPTON HOUSER
Did you have to attend any type of classes? Is there any type of sanitation that you need to practice?
FACED BY ASHLEY
In the state of Illinois, they have nothing to offer for licensing, I practice sanitary precautions but they don't have a license for makeup artists.
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to close floor to Faced by Ashley LLC. Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion carried
GRANT LICENSE
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to grant license to Faced by Ashley LLC. Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
MAYOR AGPAWA
Council Members I didn’t make it clear ahead of time; I know this is Ald. Barron’s Ward, but I’ve been working with Ald. Hampton-Houser to try to help us with dealing with some of the business applications. We can talk about it at another time.
MAYOR’S REPORT
February is Black History Month, and again, our City Council chambers, we were not as fortunate last year to be able to do some of the things we wanted to do with black history. I want to give kudos to Ald. McDowell, she steps up every year really help get these things together, I think that there's other employees here in the building that have helped out. We have our vestibule hallways filled with different pieces of information on black history, many historians that came before us and we have some of our people locally as well. So, we're pretty blessed to have this month to be able to recognize, anybody that gets a chance to come by City Hall and take a look at what we have in our Council Chambers and in our hallway, please do.
I certainly I was going to do what I could do to dress up, but I dressed up for snow, so I couldn't dress in some of the African American garments that I have. I didn't lose the thunder Black History Month, but the snow has been quite a bit, the Department of Public Works has worked tirelessly ever since three o'clock this morning, they've been at it, and they went in this evening for a break and they'll be returning again about three or four in the morning, we're said to have another round of snow coming our way, so be patient. I had to tell one senior, I don't know where you're going that you need to get over your house so quick because I'm out here and almost getting stuck. But we've got some seniors that are in a hurry, I don't know what they're in a hurry about, but as they say bless their heart. But I'm not far from being a senior now and not in a hurry when the weather is like that, I have to be out here, so I am but again, hats off to Public Works. We had three members of the Fire Department that helped us plow because we've been shorthanded with CDL personnel, and they stepped up and they've been there as well. The Fire Departments helped out and I've asked Police to enforce the no parking. Otherwise, you're going to get plowed in so if your cars out there, we'll get don’t get a chance to tow it will be plowed in and you'll be you won't be able to get out. So, make sure you move your car, Finally, I just have a few announcements; for the website, and on our Facebook page at City Hall, there is an announcement and in the vestibule and hallways of City Hall, we have a Senior Birthday Club that we want to get started, if you have seniors in your ward that are of significant age, we want to really try to acknowledge them and certainly we want to know who some of our older seniors are in the wards. This will be how we're going to get it out to everybody. We like this as a way to continue to engage our community in different ways and want to be able to know the birthdays and the years I know for sure we have one that's almost 100 and we’re looking forward to her 100th birthday. If you know in your ward some of the seniors that are up in age like that, please have them get a hold of us here. I know Ald. McDowell is helping with this get a hold of my office, we want to make sure that we acknowledge you and just you get your information. Another announcement over at the Park District we participate with them with Black History Month in the coloring contest, again a couple of other things that the Park District puts out prizes will be given to the age groups of 5 and under, 6 to 12, and 13 to 18, we want to see some artistic things done or drawn by our young people in the park district is going to engage them to get a hold of the Park District. One other item next Friday is our annual Valentine’s Day drive by giveaway for the seniors, we will have baskets for them. I'm looking forward to the senior years so I can drive by there as well. But because we treat our seniors very good and thank the City Council for all of the support that we do for our seniors in the community. You all do very well with that and I'm grateful for what we're able to do this, next Friday at 11 o'clock over at Roesner Park that wilk take place. If you drive by City Hall you will notice that there are some blue lights out there and we have not been able to because of the meetings to have Bridget Reynolds to come by, she has had sickle cell for many years and has a deep hearted and concern for sickle cell. She's asked us to put out the news and the flyer and put it on our pages about sickle cell disease and also display the blue lights about sickle cell so if you pass by and see the blue lights at City Hall, it's that's not the old Kmart blue light special, that Blue light is for sickle cell and we're supporting that and we want to put the word out about people being healthy and dealing with that disease.
DERRICK CHAMPION – CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Good evening, City Council and the residents of the City of Markham, just want to first of all, thank you as we met Ms. McLemore and you know the City of Markham, we definitely support small businesses. I definitely want Ms. McLemore to reach out to City Hall because there are resources that are available for small businesses through the State, I want to make sure that she's aware of our small business development centers that actually help small businesses that want to scale up as well. They have free resources, so we want you to be aware of those resources that are available for at home businesses. Also, there's been some information or some questions out regarding some of our jobs at Amazon so if anybody has any questions about employment and Amazon, please check out website and social platforms. We are tweaking a couple of days. With the information is out there should be up and ready tomorrow. But if you have any questions about any type of employment inquiries regarding employment at Amazon, we have somebody in house that will be taking inquiries and circling back with answers. Also, just a heads up we are continuously trying to identify the right businesses to come to Markham, we are still working, making sure that we're looking for family style restaurants, we are listening to our residents on what they are in need of here and some fresh food options. So once this weather breaks in the we have a lot of things happening coming in the spring and summer months so stay tuned for that. Also, we will continue to work on our quality-of-life plan include it picks it up on Parks and working on some infrastructure as well.
MAYOR AGPAWA
One thing I did want to mention today, a lot of the communities around us had most of their offices and their office pools closed, water and some of the other ancillary departments were closed. We had some stellar employees to all get in here, I got them out here a little bit early to get home. They were able to dig out and come into work, I thought that was really good that they pushed themselves to get here, and it was appreciated. And once they got City Hall rolling, later in the afternoon, we were able to get them out a little early. So, we appreciate that very much.
ALD JONES
Thank you, Mayor, I would like to first say Happy Lunar New Year, to those are celebrating the Lunar New Year, the tiger, wishing health happiness and good fortune I also like to give kudos out to Lisa Young for the senior snow plowing a lot of people have called me and called her and she really has stepped up to the plate. So, Lisa, thank you for all that you're doing for our seniors. I was out there also shoveling snow for seniors and I the love of the team effort in the snow plowing project. Last but not least, I like to say Black history is 365 days a year. Well, in February, we celebrate in double portion, so please get out there, do the homework, do your research and let the kids know in celebration of the history of African Americans in in general.
ALD. BARRON
Good evening, I would like to echo your sentiments on Public Works I was on the streets quite a bit today, what a wonderful job they did. Just be a little patient because the first thing they wanted to do was make sure that all the streets were open, there is no parking on the streets. The next thing I share want to share with everyone is about their taxes. We are one of 23 agencies that are part of your real estate taxes, we have very little to do with that. I myself have been focusing my taxes every year for the last three years. You can file an appeal by mail or on-line. The Police, Fire and all City employees that came into work today, kudos.
It was pretty tough driving for a while this morning and got better this afternoon.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
Good evening, Mayor, City Council and residents, we do have one more location if you’re not in Bremen Township you can go to Thornton Township as well, which is located on the 162nd to contest your taxes. I just want to give kudos again, to Public Works it is needed and is true in reference to their diligence and working for the City of Markham to removing this snow. Last but not least, a lot of reference to the snow, I’ve had quite a few phone calls from residents as well
saying we don't see the plows coming down the street, the plows are in the street, but they prioritize where they need to plow at first. you know you’re not going anywhere so we are asking you to be to be patient. Last but not least, Happy Black History Month, we have the shortest month, all year.
ALD. MCDOWELL
Good evening, May and City Council, I want to encourage all of our residents to come come in to pay your water bill etc. please take some time out with your kids and look at our Black History Display. I think that kids will really learn a lot about our history I had the pleasure of meeting some residents this week, and they were very excited. I encourage you want to come by you don’t have to drive them to the DuSable Museum you can come right here to City Hall of Markham. Just come in, walk around and read the history. Also, I want to ask our residents to be patient with us, with the snow removal today I got out of my house and moved garbage cans today in my ward, a lot of our seniors could not get out to the curb. I went down the street and pulled garbage cans into their yards because the garbage trucks and knocked all the cans down. I did not want them to have to move them because the plows had not actually got their driveways. Have a little patience, it’s a lot of snow and our team is actually working very hard to make sure everyone is safe.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
Anyone in Ward one who also needs to have a COVID test kits please, give me a call at 708-297-8748 I do have some testing kits available.
CLERK
No one has signed in to speak tonight.
MOTION TO OPEN FLOOR TO PUBLIC
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. McDowell to Open Floor to Public.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
MOTION TO CLOSE FLOOR TO PUBLIC
Motion by Ald. McDowell, seconded by Ald. Barron to close Floor to Public.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Ald. McDowell, seconded by Hampton-Houser to adjourn at 7:55p.m. Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/ 0 Absent-Motion Carried
https://www.cityofmarkham.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02022022-187
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