City Council Meeting

 Liveblogging the city council meeting as I can. Here is the agenda

Pro and anti abortion speakers at tonight's city council meeting. Those supporting access to abortion are trying to get the mike and just run out the clock on citizen comments. The term "fascist" getting used. One young woman offering to arrange for adoption of any babies to prevent them being aborted. Of course, the problem becomes the previous 9 months as she did not mention anything about carring for those women during the pregnancy.

Citizen concerns about number of miniorites on city bid projects.

Another citizen concerned about zoning for the Choices abortion clinic. She is not sure why the zoning cannot be changes to keep the clinic from opening. The location where the clinic will open is zoned for medical business so the zoning is not an issue. She did ask the council for forgiveness for judging them during her last time speaking before the council and wants to know what can be done to change the zoning so the clinic cannot open.

Council comments

Councilwoman Harvey now asking why it is easier to get a gun than it is an abortion and asks people not to judge the other. Asking for help for the people in Georgtown Apartments some (or many) of which are getting moved. Also thanked people for coming out to Juneteenth events and the re-opening of the Eurma Hayes Center.

Councilman Loos points out the city cannot rezone properties without the property owner's request.

Consent agenda:  

New LED display for Turley Park

City providing funding to help relocate Carbondale Cycle from its current location to 126 S. Illinois (the old tourism office). Carbondale Cycle's current location will be demolished to make way for the new multi modal transit station.

Consent agenda approved.

Council approves annexing properties in Bonnie Brae Subdivision.

Discussion on tourism. Belleville spends about $38000 on tourism and Charleston spends about $124000, less than what Carbondale does.

City staff sees the Superblock as a possible focus of tourism.

Southernmost Tourism covers the 10 southern most counties of southern Illinois, with offices located in Anna, including Jackson County. Carbondale is the only large metro area in the region that could provide lodging and infrastructure for a significant influx of tourists. Would like to strenghten relationship with the city. 1 full time employee.  Generally carves out Carbondale from the rest of the 10 county region because Carbondale has its own tourism office but agrees Carbondale should be more represented in the office's outreach. Shawnee National Forest and Shawnee Wine Trail are the main destination drivers. Funded through a state grant as well as a hotel/motel tax. Budget is $250,000

Illinois South covers 21 counties and is membership funded. Reaches from the Cairo up to Highland. Heavy into social media and online marketing of the region. Carbondale not currently a member. Runs a very high end online operation. Anecdotal evidence as to the effectiveness of their operations. Budget is $2 million

Carbondale Tourism having problems tracking how effective their their promotional activities are.  City should quit doing the same thing it has been doing over the past several years as council does not think it has been successful.

Don Monty now speaking, saying the city should say it wants from the tourism entities it supports. Carbondale Tourism started off promoting conventions and meetings in the city but has gotten away from that.

Council discussing rental of space at Eurma Hayes Center. Market value is roughtly $3-4 per square feet.  Does the amount the city has contributed to refurbishing the center justify a lower market rent?  Council seems to be saying yes, at least for the immediate future. Get the center running and see how it works. Councilpeople Rye-Sanders and Daughtery think market value is fair because the money the city gave came from Coivd relief money.

Looks as if a large number of attendees have departed by this stage of the meeting.

Motion to rent the space, apparently at the lower rate, carries unaimously and the meeting adjourns.