CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 7, 2011
5:30 PM

The Mayor called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call, Mayor Larry Russell, Alderpersons Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Margaret Crosthwaite, Charlie Letcher, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher and Randy Boonstra answered present.  Ald. Ron Roels was absent.  Also in attendance were Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Randy Balk - City Administrator, Dan Clark - Public Works Director and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.  The invocation was given by Pastor Roy Anne Mathews of Fulton Assembly of God Church.

Steve Ames, President and CEO of Clinton Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) gave the council an update.   He will be going out on the road again to market the region's assets.  One of those assets is the 110 acres south of 31st Avenue in Fulton.  He will be traveling to Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis and Atlanta, where leads and relationships have been established during previous trips.   CRDC is currently updating their sales materials and refreshing their website.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to approve the February 22, 2011 regular council meeting minutes.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Chief Rhoades and Public Works Director, Dan Clark both recommended not rescinding the no parking on the north side of 12th Avenue from 9th Street to 12th Street.  They cited safety as the issue as there would not be enough room for fire trucks, ambulances and city trucks to pass through if cars were parked on both sides.   Ald. C. Letcher said there are many other city streets that are narrowed by parking on both sides of the street and they should be restricted to one side parking as well.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to allow parking on both sides of the 900, 1000, 1100 blocks of 12th Avenue.  Roll call vote/Ald. Boonstra, W. Letcher, Crosthwaite, Field and Dykstra voted no/Ald. Juist and C. Letcher voted yes/motion failed.

Mayor Russell told the council there will be a discussion, lunch and tour at the Senior Center on March 22, 2011 for those interested in a year round local food and produce market.   This was made possible with the help of a USDA grant, the Western Whiteside County Marketing Team and Northern Illinois University.  A copy of the invitation is included in the council packet.

Old Business.   Signage on 4th Street. There have been mixed reviews on the crosswalk signs that were installed last fall.  They were removed for winter to allow for snow plowing.   The council directed Dan Clark to put the signs up on April 15, 2011.  They will be removed for the Dutch Days weekend/parade and reinstalled after that.

New Business.  The River Bend School District has put the tennis courts on 12th Street up for sale.   The school no longer has any tennis programs and the courts have fallen into disrepair.  The nets have not been up for 2 years.  Ald. Boonstra suggested the city might be interested in owning the courts, depending on the cost to refurbish.  He has heard of a new plastic product for refinishing courts.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk