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Belleville
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Ward 8 Alderperson· May 1, 2023 - May 1, 2027 (current term seated May 1, 2023 per May 1, 2023 council minutes; first took office 2022 per belleville.net/317, month unsourced; month-level end: May 2027 per belleville.net/317 and belleville.net/781 (city terms begin May 1)) (cycle default: IL municipal terms begin May 1, end Apr 30)

Kara Osthoff

Belleville

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending May 1, 2027.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
5
Total speaking time
3:16
Avg per meeting
0:39
Segments
49

Want every word Osthoff has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Osthoff said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

medium↑Jul 2026[30]

Short-term rental permit request at 523 Abend St

Short-term rentals generate an 8% transient occupancy tax for the city.

high↑Jun 2026[23]

Downtown projects update

$55,000 added to the project, funded by ARPA and TIF 3 dollars.

high↓May 2026[22]

$424,850 tourism grant fate

Unknown — the grant amount and use were not stated in the available materials.

high↑Jul 2026[19]

West Belleville Bike Trail

$105,800 in design costs, paid from TIF 3 funds.

high↑Mar 2026[18]

Fire Department grants and response volume

Grant funding and vehicle repair costs could affect the fire department's budget, though specific figures were not published.

high↓Jun 2026[17]

West Belleville Bike Trail Phase 1

$275,911 in engineering services, offset by TIF and grant funding.

low↑Jul 2026[17]

Downtown sign permit at 117 W. Main Street

medium↑Aug 2026[17]

North Douglas Avenue improvements

Up to $127,750 from HRST funds.

high↓Mar 2026[16]

St. Clair Township sewer agreement delayed

Over $244,000 across the three sewer-related items.

medium↑Aug 2026[15]

Short-term rental permits on N. Church and N. Charles

high↑Jun 2026[14]

Lake Forest Drive Flooding

One resident reported spending about $160,000 to rebuild after the 2024 flood.

medium↓Jul 2026[12]

Junkyard variance at 226 Centreville Avenue

medium↓Jul 2026[12]

Brookhill Estates speed limit reduction

Opponents noted replacing signs across subdivisions would cost thousands of dollars.

high↑Mar 2026[11]

CA Jones development agreement rescinded

Special Service Area #4 involves a special assessment on properties within its downtown boundaries; the specific amounts were not included in the materials provided.

high↑May 2026[11]

Speeding and school-zone safety on West Main Street

high↓May 2026[11]

Multi-family density on South Jackson Street

The applicant had invested over $100,000 in the property, which must now revert to single-family use.

medium↓Aug 2026[10]

Mobile food vendor regulations

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Downtown Business District SSA bonds

The bond amount isn't stated in the agenda; debt service would be borne by property within the special service area.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

Rezone request at 1901 Mascoutah Ave to light industry

Local taxpayers could see a slight boost in city sales tax revenue once the new shop opens its doors.

low↑Oct 2026[10]

Off-street parking variance at 931 S Jackson St

Decisions during term (401)

Recorded while Osthoff was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedOct 5, 2026

Approval of September 21, 2026 meeting minutes

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Claims, disbursements and payroll

approvedOct 5, 2026

Treasurer's reports for August 2026

approvedOct 5, 2026

TIF Joint Review Board date and public member

approvedOct 5, 2026

Amendment to liquor/convenience store special use permit (1801/1805 Lebanon Ave)

approvedOct 5, 2026

Removal of parking ordinance 74.02(F)

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Five engineering agreements (Douglas Ave, inspections, B Street/IL-161, on-call, dam inspection)

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Orchard Lakes detention basin study ($24,500)

approvedOct 5, 2026

Sign permits — David Parks and United Ink

approvedOct 5, 2026

Bonfire Holdings PUD amendment special use permit

approved14-2Oct 5, 2026

Sanders Byrd short-term rental special use permit

approvedOct 5, 2026

Chili Cook-Off use of 30 Public Square

approved14-2Oct 5, 2026

Ordinances 9538, 9539, 9540, 9542, 9543, 9544 read by title and approved

approved14-2Oct 5, 2026

Ordinance 9541-2026 (Sanders Byrd short-term rental)

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Motor fuel claims of $27,322.32

approvedOct 5, 2026

Mayor Gain Meyer will recommend the reappointment of Lynn Clapp and Katie Dawson to serve a 2-year term on the Human Relations Commission

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Motion to approve an agreement with Lochmueller Group in the amount of $49,950.00 for Construction Inspections, Pay Estimate Submittals, and General Contractor Questions and Coordination for the 2027-2028 MFT/TIF Programs

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Motion to approve an agreement with Horner & Shifrin not to exceed the amount of $9,950.00 for East B Street/IL-161 Intersection Improvements (HRST)

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Motion to approve an agreement with TWM not to exceed $9,500.00 for On Demand Engineering and Surveying Services (MFT/TIF)

approved14-0Oct 5, 2026

Motion to approve an agreement with Gonzalez Companies in the amount of $2,500.00 for Bicentennial Park Dam Inspection (TIF16)

Voting record (101)

94 yes7 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve the recommendation for the appointment of Mark Heffernan as Police Chief, effective September 22, 2026, at 12:01am, for the remainder of the fiscal year 2026-2027.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve claims and disbursements in the amount of $1,458,445.25 and payroll in the amount of $1,184,067.93.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve the hire of Blake Mooney as a probationary police officer (lateral entry) effective September 22, 2026, at 12:01am.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to waive formal bidding procedures and purchase one new 2027 Ford Explorer from Clement Automotive for $38,570.00 for the EDPZ Department, with them matching the price of the 2026 Ford Explorer purcha

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve bank financing from Busey Bank at 3.98% interest for financing of two new rear loader sanitation trucks.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve an agreement with Bknott Productions, Inc, in the amount of $4,300.00 to produce videos for community outreach, recruitment, and social media footage for the Fire Department.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve Resolution 3586 as read.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to approve Ordinances 9536 and 9537 as read.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

to pay the Motor Fuel Claims in the Amount of $9.288.49.

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

Appointment of Mark Heffernan as Police Chief

Voted yesSep 21, 2026

2027 Ford Explorer purchase for EDPZ Department

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

West Belleville Bike Trail Phase 1 engineering – $275,911

Voted noSep 8, 2026

Decline of $423,000 DCEO Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

Claims, payroll and disbursements

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

Hire of four probationary police officers

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

Rescind Leshawn Herron development agreement — 2510 East Main Street

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

Development agreement with Pari Mutuel Wagering LLC — 4204 West Main Street (Mac's on Main)

Voted yesAug 3, 2026

Speed limit reduction to 20 mph in Brookhill Estates

Voted noAug 3, 2026

Deny Riverwalk LLC junkyard use variance — 226 Centreville Avenue

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve Gonzales Companies LLC for the preparation of an MEPRD Trail Grant for N. Douglas Ave. not to exceed the amount of $3,500.00.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve DMS Contracting, Inc., lowest responsive bidder, in the amount of $399,000.00.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

2026-2027 Roadway Oil/Chip Program

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

MEPRD Trail Grant Proposal

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve claims and disbursements in the amount of $1,195,731.85 and payroll in the amount of $1,105,394.48.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the request as read.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve amended Fee Schedule FY 2026-2027.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., Engineers and Consultants scopes of work and contracts for service in response to the City of Belleville's Request for Proposals for Comprehensive Zoning Code &

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve Ordinance 9512-2026.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve 7-month service agreement extension with WSI Technologies in the amount of $4,688.00 for recording software (Police Department).

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

to sell/scrap/auction miscellaneous equipment (Fire Department).

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve Resolution 3580 as read.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the request as read.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

change the Ordinance 9514-2026 to an approval.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

deny the denial of Ordinance 9514-2026.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the Ordinances as read.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

pay the Motor Fuel Claims in the Amount of $3,513.09

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve the agreements as read.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

approve Resolution 3581 Authorizing the Institution of Legal Action related to Fire Department apparatus.

Voted yesJul 20, 2026

Special Use Permit — short-term rental, 800 Gass Ave (John Reichert)

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

Motor fuel claims

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

approve the service agreement with WSI Technologies in the amount of $4,688.00 for recording software

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

sell scrap, auction, miscellaneous equipment that is no longer serviceable or useful to the fire department

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

WSI Technologies recording software agreement extension

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

Disposal of unserviceable Fire Department equipment

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

pay the Motor Fuel Claims in the Amount of $40,589.66.

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

approve the hirings as presented.

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

approve claims and disbursements in the amount of $2,892,223.53 and payroll in the amount of $1,141,266.14.

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

approve the Ordinances as read.

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

approve the requests as read.

Voted yesJul 6, 2026

approve the denial as read.