City of Markham City Council met March 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor, Roger Agpawa called the Regular Meeting of the Markham City Council to order at 7:09p.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 Treasurer, Belinda Richardson
City Administrator, Derrick Champion
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
February 16, 2022
Motion to approve minutes with corrections of February16, 2022, by Ald. Barron, 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 $744,728.19, with manual checks of $4,993.75 for a grand total of $749,721.94
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
Mayor Agpawa - Tonight, are there are no special presentations. I just would for the sake of what we dealt with in the last few weeks, with the ordinance and participation from the business community. I usually try to see if I can get ahead of something I just like to mention tonight to some of the businesspeople that here the intent. I've had some communication, my office with you indirectly and directly, as well, that it is the intent of the council to not take action tonight. We'll get to that part of business on that existing ordinance that was kind of troubling our community so that’s the hope of the outcome tonight. We'll see where we go when we get under that.
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-673
Motion by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell, to adopt Resolution 22-R-673 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 (March 2, 2022)
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
TAKE ORDINANCE OFF TABLE
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Ald. Jones to take Ordinance off Table.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 112.019, “LICENSE CLASSIFICATION, SALE HOURS, AND FEES”, AND SECTION 112.045, “UNLAWFUL HOURS OF OPERATION/SALE HOURS” OF CHAPTER 112, “ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR” OF TITLE XI, “BUSINESS REGULATION,” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO DECREASE THE LIQUOR SALE AND OPERATION HOURS FOR A CLASS LIQUOR LICENSES IN THE CITY OF MARKHAM, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
REMOVE ORDINANCE FROM AGENDA
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Jones to remove Ordinance from Agenda.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 112.019, “LICENSE CLASSIFICATION, SALE HOURS, AND FEES”, AND SECTION 112.045, “UNLAWFUL HOURS OF OPERATION/SALE HOURS” OF CHAPTER 112, “ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR” OF TITLE XI, “BUSINESS REGULATION,” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO DECREASE THE LIQUOR SALE AND OPERATION HOURS FOR A CLASS LIQUOR LICENSES IN THE CITY OF MARKHAM, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
WAIVE READING OF ORDINANCE
22-0-2326
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Jones
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 112.023, “NUMBER OF LICENSES”, OF CHAPTER 112, “ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR” OF TITLE XI, “BUSINESS REGULATIONS,” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSES IN THE CITY OF MARKHAM, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Roll Call: 3 Yes/1 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
ADOPT ORDINANCE
22-O-2326
Motion by Ald. Barron, seconded by Jones
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 112.023, “NUMBER OF LICENSES”, OF CHAPTER 112, “ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR” OF TITLE XI, “BUSINESS REGULATIONS,” OF THE CODE OF MARKHAM TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSES IN THE CITY OF MARKHAM, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Roll Call: 3 Yes/1 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
CLERK REPORT
Three Business Licenses:
EM Cargo LLC
EEM Truck and Trailer Repair LLC
Nelson & Nelson, Inc.
OPEN FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell to EM Cargo LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa - We have your application for your business, if you would like to just extend to the council what you intend to do. We do have some information; we've been out and inspected you and I know that Ald. McDowell has been out to your place as well. They may have some questions of your business tonight; you can just tell us what your what you're going to do with your business.
EM Cargo - It's a trucking company, we just run trucks, our own trucks.
Ald. Hampton-Houser - You just stated that these are your own company trucks that you will be repairing on this facility.
EM Cargo - Yes, we do simple things, like change tires in our facility.
Ald. Hampton-Houser - You stated it just for you our vehicles, now are you saying that this is for anyone that has a tractor or trailer, and they need to come in and get a tire repair.
EM Cargo -No, we have the little shop Let's say for the truck that we have a lease if they need as small service, then we're going to do it in our facility. But if it's something big, we’ll send somewhere else. Ald. Hampton-Houser -These are your company's trucks and tractors trailers?
EM Cargo – Yes ours.
Ald. Hampton-Houser - Are you are you just repairing your own? You're not repairing other people's trucks right?
EM Cargo- Yes.
Ald. McDowell - I had a chance to go out and to the company. They actually rented a space out there. Really nice space is a trucking company very well kept up. They have a repair shop and the actual dispatch center, where they're actually taking all of their calls for their trucks that come in and this is on 163rd Place off Dixie Hwy.
Ald. Hampton-Houser -I also read the second one along with this because the other part is her storage place for the trucks, and I read both of them together.
GRANT LICENSE
Motion to grant license by Ald. McDowell, seconded by, Ald. Hampton-Houser to EM Cargo LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion to close floor by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell- to EM Cargo LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
OPEN FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell to
EEM Truck and Trailer Repair LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
GRANT LICENSE
Motion to grant license by Ald. McDowell, seconded by, Ald. Hampton-Houser to EEM Truck and Trailer Repair
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion to close floor by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. McDowell - to EEM Truck and Trailer Repair LLC
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
OPEN FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Barron to Nelson & Nelson, Inc.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa - We have your information for business licensing. And we know that some of our inspection people have been out as well as Ald. McDowell to visit your location. Tell us what’s the nature of your business and we'll have some questions for you.
Mr. Nelson - We've been in operation since 2019, the location that I'm using here is for the logistics of our dispatching, load planning and for my workers. This is my office for payroll and day-to-day operations, and my secretaries. The industrial space garage area will be used for a storage area for supplies. We do have contracts with General Motors, DWS, Amazon, etc. We have a good rating in the state of Illinois as far as business really excited to come over in Markham.
Ald. Hampton-Houser - So there will be no vehicles parked on the location
Mr. Nelson – No
Ald. Hampton-Houser - Are you basically a broker?
Mr. Nelson – No I am a owner operator.
Mayor Agpawa-I know that we had some discussion Mr. Nelson, you did have one matter that talked with the Alderlady about with your vehicle, you said you aren’t going to have vehicles there, but you did. That's something that we probably need to really make sure we're clear in your business plan with you, that if you're not going to have there then you shouldn't have parked on the street because I understand I got something to my office that we had to tow something from over there that was illegally parked. Mr. Nelson Mr. Nelson - A driver wanted me to check the oil, wheels and stuff like that he was having a problem. I did that, unfortunately, the truck was towed. But I did speak with Police Chief and the Alderlady and I have expressed that it will not happen again.
CLOSE FLOOR
Motion to open floor by Ald. Hampton-Houser, seconded by Ald. Barron – to Nelson & Nelson, Inc.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
DENY LICENSE
Motion to deny license by Ald. McDowell, seconded by, Ald. Barron to Nelson & Nelson, Inc. at the present time.
Roll Call: 4 Yes/0 No/0 Absent-Motion Carried
Mayor Agpawa - Let's get this truck towing issue cleared up and let's come back and then we can see where we can go from there. See Mr. Champion when you are available.
MAYOR’S REPORT
We are having typical March weather; I hope nobody's going to get fooled by it. We certainly should be ready for it but we're going to definitely take advantage of getting into the neighborhoods with some of the housing things that we typically do, when it comes to these easements, we want to get on them. I've already gotten the usual lists I get from some of the wards I get different lists from you all about things that you want to get done and we'll get Public Works moving on those things. I want to mention that. I know I have some meetings in the upcoming week or so with a couple of different people who have volunteered to work on boards and different commissions, in different areas of the city. We're always looking for people that want to try and volunteer in this community. If you know anyone that would want to do that, please let us know, contact my office and we'll work with you. Excuse me one of the things that I wanted to mention. I think that Ald. McDowell said it in her prayer, I would ask really, that everybody really keep Ukraine in prayer. I think that you know what, we have our world in the place that it's at right now. As a city leader, I think about these things of the crisis's that can happen to people or community. Definitely that's something where there's a lot of suffering a lot of lives being lost. I definitely think that we're in a place that we really have a lot to be thankful for. Let's just try and keep other people in mind and take it and do what we can here locally. That's something that's really weighs on my mind every morning when I think about the war that is going on, Two other things I will go ahead and mention because I did want to elaborate on one subject, we have a community breakfast that is going to be on March 11 at Roesner Fieldhouse at 10 in the morning, we had started this back in about 20 I guess it was 2019 there about and we started to do a community affair where everybody comes out. I know we always talked about so much of having the seniors come out, but this is not just for seniors, this is for everybody to come out to a community forum breakfast, we would really like to keep that spirit of unity and have people to come out to that. One of the things that I wanted to take time to mention tonight, I don't listen to everything that I hear, I usually wait for people to at least call the office, If they have a complaint or they want to register a complaint or they have something that they want to say we'll take those things in, Sometimes I feel like it's necessary to make a statement about some things, I will make one statement that is as far as the alcohol liquor matter, I will say one thing, good to see you all here, sorry it’s under these circumstances but it's good that people come out. Every once while even after tonight drop by and see us, call office if there's things that we can do to work together as it gets warm. Maybe there's some things that we can get out of this. I'm glad that we're able to get through this, and you know, I just want to continue to encourage you all do good business and we'll work together I know there's some still some meetings that are set. We need to have those meetings. I'm looking forward to the Administrator and Aldermen coming back and let me know how those things went. And I'll hear about them and chime in as well. So, I did have an opportunity to stop by one location with some of the mayors, that was a good opportunity to be out and we'll be out to visit you. One of the things that I wanted to mention what I was saying about comments that you hear in the community I really want to and I know that the administrator will chime in tonight, we recently received to the City of Markham, three of our schools received $100,000 each from Amazon and actually $200,000 went to the one district because just two schools are in the one district. We were pretty fortunate to get that money allocated to us and I think that the part that probably troubled me the most is that I was hearing so many things about well, we should have got more, and I really just really said to myself that’s just not a good attitude for us to have here in Markham. Why should we have gotten anything? This is necessary for me as the leader of the city to say this, Amazon and these businesses don't owe us anything, pay your taxes, do good business and be a good commercial resident, that's what you owe us. You owe us that, pay your fees and conduct good business. But if somebody decides to give us something the audacity for us to think that they should have given us more makes me just boil. I can't believe that we think that. Well, we'll be underserved the rest of our days if we function that way, I refuse to be some underserved mayor of an underserved community. I took it as a blessing, not as somebody owed it to me in the deals that we made to get Amazon in here, somebody else could have cut it with them, and maybe they could have gotten just as lucrative deal. That's the one we made, was it the best deal in the world, probably not, but it's the one we made to where we could benefit for years to come. It should have been negotiated that they should have given us more, now it was just necessary for me to say that because every time somebody will say, well, they're making billions I get it, I’m not counting their money. That's not what we're saying, I'm not counting any business in this town, you can give as much as you want. But you just have to do right by Markham they’re wise to go ahead and try and invest in the place where they live at, their businesses live here. They should do that, so as the leader of the city again, I'm making this I'm on a soapbox for just one reason because we had this room full of kids, our kids, they don't have to take care of our kids they don't have to give us anything, but since they're doing it, God bless them. We'll certainly ask since they have it to give, I mean we just need some understanding people about that. And as a leader, I'm going to say it and I don't know how this Council feels about it, but I just know that we've done the right thing to try to get business to come in here. That's why they came, with that I've said not near as much as I want to. That's enough. I'll go over to the city administrator who was actually brought in to really make sure that we had good partnerships with businesses that we tried to do that. It hasn't been perfect for anybody just come in here to work with us. We've had to rebuild some things, I'm looking at look at Mr. Sutton, a longtime resident here, he had to go through all kinds of stuff with our Building Dept., up and down, back and forth. He called me all the time, but stuff and I had to try to understand it because and try and let him know we are rebuilding. But he did everything we asked him to do. He didn’t ask for anything for free, he paid for it. If anybody that ask for free and they work for Markham, you run them out, don't you give then anything, if they come over asking to give me a discount or give me something you tell to pay, they get paychecks. So that's how we should do that.
DERRICK CHAMPION – CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Good evening, everybody, for those who don't know me, my name is Derrick Champion. I am the City Administrator and Economic Development Director for the city. Just a little background I started with the Government as Public Affairs Manager, from there went over to the Department of Commerce and African American Development, from there to Deputy Director of the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment Office that was established because the State of the State of Illinois wasn't getting enough resources to areas like Markham. From there went over to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Markham had landed Amazon which is a 4 million square feet $322 million facility it is the largest robotics fulfillment center in this country, with 3,200 hundred employees 22 hours a day. When I got here, the main thing that I was dealing with from day one was no black representation on that site. The one thing that I had to do was introduce me to all the stakeholders scale property whose landowners in the development phase right here. Amazon has just attended. Ryan companies is the general contractor, they are the company that that built that building. They're based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and when I got here in August 2020, it wasn't a community benefit initiative plan in place. It wasn't a quality-of-life plan in place but guess what I did. I made sure that I held those community partners accountable, I called a meeting and told them that if they want to be a good community partner, you have to take care of the city of Markham, starting with our schools first because when our schools do better, our communities do better. That was the message that I had, I wanted to make sure that they were taking care of parks and infrastructure. We got parks redeveloped, we got our lights from 159th Street, Kedzie there are electrical circuits that we can now enjoy Christmas lights every year. That $500,000 donation that the city of Markham received last week $200,000 we got go to the water tower. Markham Park School, Prairie Hills and Barrack Obama Academy, really proud of that. You know why? Because Amazon put teachers demand programs in all the title one schools that nobody even talks about. The one thing that I pride myself on is holding people accountable, I didn't grow up in Markham, I don't owe anybody in Markham anything. The work that I do is always to benefit the residents one could I care now, that $500,000 was money that was left over from the construction of that site. We had two choices, Amazon could have taken that back and put it in a general revenue fund, and we would never saw any of that. But guess what I did? had a meeting with the head person Brian Wilson right upstairs, I said the money needs to stay in Markham. Guess what happened, it stayed. If anybody wonders about what's going on in the city of Markham, especially on the second floor in this building, we are holding individuals accountable, especially our community partners. Amazon is a great community partner, Ryan Companies, they got it right. You know why, because they knew that they didn't come in here with a Quality-of-Life Plan, we changed that, the way that they do business, now nationally, Markham has made a huge impact On the way that a company does business now. We're really, really proud of that, and we should be thankful that we have a mayor that can have the vision to have a company like Amazon come here creating jobs, and more importantly giving back. Everything you say as we build this thing out is to benefit the residents of Markham. It's going to be a win for everybody at the end of the day, our schools, it will benefit our parks will be better, the infrastructure would be better. We're working on the redevelopment of our firehouses, extra firefighters. That's a big deal. There are more things coming down the pipeline that I can honestly say that it's going to be a lot of good press, in Markham because of the work that's been done upstairs. If anybody has any questions or concerns anything, I can be reached at extension 337. I am trying to leverage everything that I can from Amazon it is going to help properties or whoever else is your business here. I don't take it lightly that people are chiming in with negative comments, because people don't understand what's going on behind the scenes of holding people accountable. I'm proud to work in Markham. I'm proud to make sure that I'm working with legislators, working with our lobbyist to make sure that we get everything we deserve, even to a point where we're we don't and we shouldn't have to go after competitive grants notices of funding opportunities in Markham, you know why we already disadvantaged it should be a non-compete process. Those are the things that the mayor and I talk about, those are the things that he's talking to the government about. You're going to see some changes take place that show Markham is on the move. If you have any questions, I am here.
MAYOR AGPAWA
I take it seriously as far as I'm concerned, my administration and when I say that I mean that collectively, I believe that for all of us, we feel that way that we're trying to make people's lives better. Part of it is the maturity of not believing that somebody owes us something, I think that if somebody could, if they have it, and they want to give it, that's fine. But I think the attitude is what really is so important and maturity of how we handled that is how we get as far as we can go. I think that as a leader, we're trying to make people's lives better and we try to make a healthy community. We had a wonderful time with Amazon and those kids, I think that the future looks good. I saw some of those kids light up. I saw a lot of things they did was talk about the black authors that they brought about those books I was in shock with all of those books that they had.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR – DERRICK CHAMPION
That was my idea, since it’s Black History Month, let's put 100 books at each one of those schools, have black authors have black creators, that's a big deal. Just to kind of hit stop and then we want to hit play again, those Amazon signs that you see in the region are done by a black owned company, because of the work that's been going on here in Markham, I had to break up contracts to make sure that a black contracting component had an opportunity to do for that building. The minority bid on that building was $44.5 million, most of that went to a Hispanic company when I got here there was only about $1.4 million left, I took advantage of what was left and made sure that I had to break up contracts to have individuals that look like this community represented on that site. Ryan Companies joined the National Association of Minority Contractors. Just got a call last week. Derek, thank you for the work that you've been doing because of you., you made a difference. Now we can build a center out in the Southland area that doing things different now just because of the work that's been done right here in this building. Markham is making some noise that you already know about ask some of the black contractors, we're excited and proud of that is because of the work that's been done right here in this in this particular building.
ALD JONES
Snow was going hopefully it’s totally gone. Great job Public Works, other people have done in snow programs. But it's also the little things that no one talks about that snow people have done. Two examples remind me of the Good Samaritan, the gentleman on the side of the road and two people pass them up. There were two incidents where a lady fell on the ground and our snow people one of the Public Works drove up, stopped back up, helped the lady out get to get to the hospital. She was just released out the hospital three weeks ago. This is the heart and dedication of the people that we have here, another incident on yesterday we have a firefighter, a lady was in a wheelchair, and she slipped away she fell he helped her up, this is the heart dedication of the rest of the employees that we have. You're not just doing the job but above and beyond. So those Public Works Department and the Fire Department who took the extra time do that, Markham is blessed for what you did. Give me the names I know of the mayor came to your office to commend them for doing such a great job, above and beyond, for what you are doing. I would like to also say I'm happy for the events of the Board on tonight extended the licenses until two o'clock. I believe this is definitely beneficial for small businesses. I commend you all for your dedication to your businesses. It's not about politics, but about business. You know, I want to respect you all in what you have accomplished. The blood, sweat and tears you put in your companies. God recently trained me theory ruined me. 40 years old. I definitely commend you all for staying with us with this company. Please come back out and support the city of Markham. I know I spoke to Ernie; he wants to sponsor some program for youth, we definitely appreciate that. I'd also like to commend Amazon for once again, their donations in my ward, 155th and Kedzie, they put a memorial bench and they did the decorations for that for Memorial Day. Mr. Champion thank you for the effort you put into that I’m really appreciate of that. This coming March 7, Markham we have a police exam, to bring more police officers to make you safe, to come to the meetings so that you can be comfortable. And that's what I want you to be safe. So, we should be doing things striving to better the community, better business and everything else.
ALD. BARRON
Good evening. I'm just going to chime in a couple of things on Amazon in working with some builders and some of the residents that come up and thank me because their house grew in value by $20 to $40,000. Amazon has had a very positive effect on the community. I think it's had a positive effect on the city. This past year, we were able to have some celebrations right here in our city parking lot, that were absolutely wonderful. Alder. McDowell for the coat drive, the mayor’s vision of cleaning up the town has been fabulous. I see somebody out there in the rain picking up paper, the town has never been this clean. I been here since 1958, and I'm going to say it right now, it's the cleanest it's ever been and it's only going to get better. Over the past two years we were able to do a lot of patching, this is one of the first winters I can remember in many years that some of the streets aren't just potholes that are connecting the streets together. A lot of the work that's been done in the last two years has been very successful, we stopped potholes we will be out fixing signs, that is one tragedy of snow falling is that some of our street signs and our stop signs and stuff like that get damaged, but I've been assured that they're working on some of the problems with the signs is the grounds frozen. I also want to announce that we lost the life of ours I know he was born here Buddy Carra he died last week Buddy worked for Public Works. He was on our volunteer fire department for many years. His father used to be the Superintendent of Public Works. I recently did a light check in the Fourth Ward and actually, with the new lights installed it's not as bad as it used to get anywhere from 15 to 20 lights. March 22nd through the 29th will be Bremen townships tax appeal. For the people my ward, that's the time to appeal your taxes. I urge everyone the file maybe the assessor's office will understand that we're not going to take all this when the new assessor came in, he told us over at Commissioner Simpson's office that you know he was going to bring a fair plan in and he was going to work with the residents and work with the businesses and we got hammered the business on Crawford Avenue down 167 It's ridiculous. All they’re doing is being successful in chasing businesses out of Cook County. You can't complain if you don't fight, I urge everyone to file a tax appeal. The next thing is for the next six Fridays starting this Friday, the VFW will have their fish fry Everybody raves about it, it's reasonably priced and with some of the restrictions being lifted, they'll actually be seating people inside.
ALD. HAMPTON-HOUSER
Good evening, Council, Residents and those here as well. They are going to do their very brief whatever but I'm just going to tick tack on a few little things that we've already discussed. In reference to Amazon, I had conversation with some individuals this week, I explained to them as well, when it comes to building relationships, it's a give and take, it's all about communication. I my admire Amazon for sitting at the table, Derrick Champion coming to the table sitting down with the with Amazon and getting exactly what Markham deserves and what Markham needs, just speaking with Derrick they have not turned down anything of his request. They recognize and understand the relationship that we're building and where we're trying to go with our vision. Speaking of vision as mayor, you and I had a conversation this was years ago and we’re still on the conversations even so today and reference to the vision that we're trying to see for our city, the vision, the road, the route that we're taking, to make major improvements. My hat goes off to you as a leader of the city of Markham and we as some people might not understand this but there's only one chief and everybody else say Indians. They might not understand that but we see the same vision and we're Indians. I'm an Indian and I'm following make sure that we follow our guidelines. Make sure that we follow our vision making sure we don't point about what we tried to do what we're trying to accomplish with the city of Markham. So again, my hat goes off to you mayor, we appreciate you I appreciate you so much for standing up and we all see the same vision. Thank you for mentioning the police exam, because we are short police officers at this present time, and we are trying to make sure that we can move forward with getting the police officers in who's dedicated to the city of Markham, and they do their job. Thank you for mentioning that tax appeal, I'm in total agreement with him. We do need to make sure we appeal our taxes, I do understand his sensitivity and how dedicated he has been for years trying to make sure that we keep our businesses in our area and not run them off. That's the purpose of a tax, the purpose of the tax is to be an incentive to make sure we bring companies into our community and give them a break so they can stay in our community. I have to comment on that VFW, they do have excellent food on Fridays. I'm kind of glad it's that time of the season again and we need to support our businesses in our community. We have a lot of good businesses in our community, and we need to visit them and support them and pay a fair price. All right, and then also in Ward 1, I just want to thank Public Works they have been in the area, I have addressed a couple of concerns that some residents have had conversation with me about and we are actually making sure that we can execute those concerns and move forward. Spring is here, I have communicated with quite a few of the residents as well to let them know that we'll be moving forward with cutting down trees, getting easements cleaned up a little bit better and addressing some of the homes that are in our ward. We have come a long way in every ward, 1,2,3,4, in reference to the abandoned properties trying to get them cleaned up the easements and all the other things that we're doing. I keep my hat goes off to the council as a whole that we are moving in the right direction, and we have made some major changes and it has been seen and it's still being seen in the city of Markham. today.
ALD. MCDOWELL
Good evening, Mayor City Council. I just want to touch a little bit on Amazon, it was indeed a pleasure to be able to see those kids faces on last Friday when they looked and saw all of those books. They were overwhelmed. They get down on your knees and started going thru the wagons looking at the books and they were African American authors, that was exciting to me and overwhelming to our school system. I applaud Amazon for that. The kids also had a chance to go and look at our black history exhibit, and to actually walk with our kids in our community and to just enlighten them more about the culture of where they came from. It was phenomenal, so Amazon, if you're listening tonight, I applaud you, I thank you for what you're doing for our city of Markham. Amazon has actually donated 5k to cut the trees out in the 2nd ward. We will be breaking ground for a new park which is going to be donated by Amazon. I'm excited about that, because that is coming to all of you who live in Markham, and I don't care if they gave us a dollar, it is another dollar that our school systems did not have and not to be ashamed to say $100,000 I thank God for $100,000 to the school system that didn't have it. Another book that we can have in our black school system, that is just awesome. We really would we really need to do we have any kids that were making the comments to say 100,000 Come on, this is our school system, I grew up in 152 1/2 and I am so happy Miss Canon even called because she was so excited. So, I thank God for what Amazon has come into this city to partner with our town. Also, if you have not registered for Senior Birthday Club, it is a city-wide birthday club, we have received so many phone calls, and we’re a little bit behind with our video for our seniors. Please call in and register for our senior birthday.
CLERK
2 people signed in – only one will speak.
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
Pamela Mack - Greetings, Mayor, Council, thank you again. First of all, I want to say thank you for tabling or moving that ordinance off indefinitely. We are looking forward as a coalition with the Council and the government here. All in the business owners who carry Class A licenses are looking forward to being a part of the progress that they made and whatever we can do, we are open. We have all agreed to be an alliance and we want you to know that we are here, and we are in position to move forward with the new Markham. That was the first thing secondarily, this is something I want to share with everyone here and the Council, Knotty Luxe Jazz Bistro has a nonprofit component, and it loves arts foundation on Rivera and is familiar with it because we did a toy drive in December gave over a bunch of toys and I just want to let you know that we too are concerned with the children of Markham and Markham as a whole. We're looking for a home for our Arts Foundation. What we do is we have programming for free performing arts for the children of the Southland ages predominantly 12 to 18, but we do take younger because we have older siblings that they can't come out if they don't bring the younger siblings because they are the caretakers. So, we do take in younger children as well, we want to be a part of Markham, we want to not just be a business in the community, we want to also give to the communities please contact me. Your Office of the Mayor has our number of Americans my number we would love to participate this summer alone. We probably invested at least $15,000 in the children of Markham, that’s one business, one organization and I just want to let you guys know that and appreciate you giving me the opportunity to say something.
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/_03022022-189
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