Votes at a glance: Council approves grants, consultancy payment and redevelopment deal

Several ordinance and consent-agenda items were approved by the Springfield City Council on Feb. 4. Short summaries, vote tallies and key details are below.

Route 66 grant for Convention & Visitors Bureau — passed Aldermen voted to accept and appropriate a $300,000 Route 66 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. The ordinance (agenda item 2024-540) passed on final passage with 9 voting yes, none voting no.

Outside counsel payment — passed The council authorized an additional payment of $100,000 to Aaron Fox Schiff LLP for work on coal combustion residuals regulations and the utilities' flue gas desulfurization sludge landfill, bringing that engagement to a total not to exceed $195,000 for the Office of Public Utilities (agenda item 2025-022). The ordinance passed with 9 voting yes, none voting no.

Consent-agenda correction: ICJIA subrecipient amount corrected — approved Councilors amended a consent-agenda item to correct the amount of a subrecipient agreement with Springfield School District 186 to $251,000 pursuant to ICJIA grant number 102501 for the Springfield Police Department. The amendment and subsequent final passage of the consent agenda passed as part of the consent vote (consent agenda final passage recorded as 9 voting yes, none voting no).

Lexa Inc. redevelopment agreement (322 E. Adams St.) — passed The council approved a redevelopment agreement with Lexa Incorporated for financial assistance at 322 East Adams Street, using central area tax increment finance (TIF) funds in the amount of $1,455,000. The ordinance (agenda item 2025-036) passed with 8 voting yes, none voting no and 1 abstaining.

How the council voted: summary of tallies - Route 66 grant (agenda item 2024-540): 9 yes, 0 no (final passage) - Aaron Fox Schiff LLP additional payment (agenda item 2025-022): 9 yes, 0 no (final passage) - Consent agenda correction to ICJIA subrecipient amount (agenda amendment related to consent): amendment passed; consent agenda final passage 9 yes, 0 no - Lexa Inc. redevelopment agreement (agenda item 2025-036): 8 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain

Speakers or staff referenced during these items included Clerk Redpath, Mayor Misty Buscher, Alderman Donlon and members of the finance and planning staffs. None of these items generated sustained debate comparable to the ordinance on appointment procedure or the Third Street Greenway grant discussion earlier in the meeting.

The council also incorporated pre-council readings and the pre-council consent agenda into the record by unanimous voice votes earlier in the meeting.

Officials noted the consent agenda included several routine contract authorizations, corrections and routine city business; specific program details are recorded in the city clerk’s ordinance files.