It was a night of approving ordinances at the Sycamore City Council meeting Monday. The council unanimously approved nine ordinances.

First on the agenda was an ordinance the council previously discussed at the April 7 meeting, regarding fine increases for parking meter violations. This amendment calls for an increase in the initial fine for failing to feed a parking meter from a 25 cents to $1.

The second ordinance was also discussed at the last meeting, which allows the Sycamore Police Department to apply a “boot.” This device would immobilize a vehicle if an offender has five unpaid parking tickets and unpaid fines no less than $250. A notice would be attached to the vehicle warning the offender that the vehicle will be towed within 72 hours if the fine is not paid in full.

The boot will cost about $400, said Sycamore Fire Chief Bill Riddle.

Third Ward Alderman Gregory Taylor expressed reservations about this ordinance at the April 7 meeting.

“I really hate the idea of a boot being applied, but when people get to this level of disregard, unfortunately, these are measures that have to be taken,” Taylor said.

The third ordinance approved a 30 percent increase in ambulance fees.

Fourth was an ordinance that required a maximum reduction of 90 percent for sewer and water connection fees for businesses and manufacturers.

This meeting also called for an ordinance to approve the budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009.

Fourth Ward Alderwoman Terry Kessler commended the city’s treasury department for a job well done on the fiscal budget proposal.

“Coming up with all of this is quite a task,” Kessler said. “This really credits our staff on really keeping their finger on the pulse of the budget.”

Two ordinances coincided with each other, dealing with the adoption of new appointments for employees.

The eighth ordinance approved a contract between Sycamore and the Municipal Engineering Corporation for contractual engineering services due to the retirement of Sycamore’s engineering consultant John Brady.

The last ordinance amended the original Fiscal Year 2008-2009 budget to keep the budget document consistent with council direction.