No discussion of directly hiring police chief during Antioch Council’s Aug. 8 meeting
But will discuss potentially hiring retired cops to supplement depleted force
Council will also consider adding traffic calming improvements, approving speed limits from 15 to 50 MPH on some streets
By Allen D. Payton
After issuing a Notice of Public Hearing, last Friday, announcing a discussion by the Antioch City Council of directly hiring the police chief during their meeting next Tuesday, August 8, the only police matter on the agenda is a discussion of potentially hiring retired officers to supplement the depleted force. District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica requested the agenda item at the end of the last council meeting on July 25 in response to the 16 current vacancies out of 115 sworn approved in the budget and the 35 officers on paid leave for the two investigations. The matter is listed as Item 9, the last one on the agenda. (See agenda packet)
UPDATE: Mayor Lamar Thorpe said he pulled the item since District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson will not be attending Tuesday night’s meeting. In addition, the second reading of the tenant anti-retaliation and harassment ordinance on the Consent Calendar will require District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock’s vote to continue the item or the process to pass it will be required to start over. That’s because it passed on a 3-1-1 vote with Wilson’s voting yes, Ogorchock voting no and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica, who owns a rental property management company in Antioch, recusing himself during the July 25th council meeting. He said he will have to request it be pulled from the so he can vote on the other Consent Calendar items, requiring a separate vote on the new ordinance.
Before the regular meeting which begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown, the council will meet in closed session to, among other matters, once again, conduct the performance evaluation of the city attorney.
Proposed Speed Limit Changes
The meeting’s agenda includes other public hearings such as Item 1 for adopting an Ordinance amending the Antioch Municipal Code “Special Speed Zones” in order to change the speed limit on certain streets. City staff is proposing approving the speed limits from as low as 15 MPH to as high as 50 MPH on certain streets. See list on chart, below:
No Increases to Street Light and Landscape Maintenance District Assessments
Another public hearing, listed as Item 6, will be to adopt a resolution ordering improvements and levying annual assessments for Street Light and Landscape Maintenance Districts for Fiscal Year 2023-24 with no increases from the current 2022-23 Fiscal Year
In addition, the council will consider under Item 2, approving the proposed traffic calming improvements for Sycamore Drive, James Donlon Boulevard and West 10th Street. That item was carried over from the July 25th meeting. The proposal is to spend $1.4 million but no infrastructure such as speed humps are included.
City Council meetings are televised live on Comcast channel 24, AT&T U-verse channel 99, or live stream on the City’s website. In order to speak during the meeting members of the public must attend in person.
the attachments to this post:
APD logo 15 MPH & Speed Hump signs
Proposed Street Speeds ACC080823_P2
Proposed Street Speeds ACC080823_P1
