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Home My WebLink About96-207 Resolution No . 96-207 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE REPORT OF THE STATE STREET TASK FORCE AND DIRECTING IMPLEMENTATION WHEREAS, the City Council directed the formation of the State Street Task Force to determine priorities for improvements in the area; and WHEREAS , on June 26 , 1996 , the City Manager delivered this report and recommendations . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that it hereby accepts the report and directs the City Manager to take action necessary to implement the recommendations of the State Street Task Force in its report of June 24 , 1996 entitled "Report of State Street Task Force" , except that the Building Improvement Program shall require dollar matching by grantees and no project shall exceed the sum of $25 , 000 in matching city funds . s/ Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly, Mayor Presented: July 10 , 1996 Adopted: July 10 , 1996 Omnibus Vote : Yeas 7 Nays 0 Attest : s/ Dolonna Mecum Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING JUNE 26, 1996 The regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Kelly at 6 : 30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. Present: Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters, Yearman, and Mayor Kelly. Absent: Councilmember Gilliam. Approval of Minutes Councilwoman Yearman made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters , to approve the minutes of the June 12 , 1996 , meeting. Yeas : Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters, Yearman and Mayor Kelly. Nays : None. Release of Judgment - 494 N. Commonwealth Avenue Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Yearman, to authorize a reduction in the amount of the City' s judgment, which is a lien against the above property, and to execute a code compliance escrow agreement. Yeas : Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters, Yearman and Mayor Kelly. Nays : None. Report of State Street Task Force Councilman Gavin, Chairman of the State Street Task Force, presented the report of the task force and highlighted some of the concerns of the area business owners and their recommendations . He suggested that the following two changes be made to the recommendations contained in the report: Eliminate Building Improvements Stage One, which would allow a grant of $3,000 per taxing address and go directly to Stage Two, which is a dollar for dollar match by the property owner to City funding; stipulate that there be a $25,000 maximum of City money spent per taxing address . Councilman McKevitt suggested a change to Paragraph C ( 10) of the guidelines for this funding to state that contracts will be negotiated with the two low bidders instead of -requiring that the contract be awarded to the lowest bidder. Discussion was held concerning the recommendation to explore the possibility of relocating the Van Den Bergh Foods employee parking lot north of their truck parking and loading docks, which area is now part of Foundry Park. Councilman Gavin made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Yearman, to approve the recommendations of the State Street Task Force with the proposed minor changes as outlined above. Yeas : Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters , Yearman and Mayor Kelly. Nays : None. Elm"n �/ v Agenda Item No . June 24 , 1996 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Councilman Terry Gavin, Chairman Deborah Nier, Staff Liason SUBJECT: Report of State Street Task Force PURPOSE To present the recommendations of the State Street Task Force. BACKGROUND The State Street Task Force was formed at the direction of the City Council in an effort to solicit input from property and business owners to determine priorities for improvements in the area. Members of the State Street Task Force are: Allen Anderson, New Century Partnership Richard DeBoer, New Century Partnership Ed Dohring, B & D Office Machines Harvey Eisner, New Century Partnership * Terry Gavin, Elgin City Council Victor Gonzalez, Elgin Jewelers Dale Jaacks, New Century Partnership * Chairman Staff working with the task force included: Gene Belmonte, Dept. of Code Administration Officer Clayton Braddish, Elgin Police Department David Lawry, Engineering Deborah Nier, New Century Partnership Diana McNeil, Planning Dept. Meeting announcements were sent to property and business owners in the State Street area inviting their attendance and participation. Normally, six property/business owners attend- ed in addition to those serving as task force members . Meetings of the task force were held on the following dates : April 18 May 20 June 5 June 17 A. Priority Issues The Task Force identified three major priority issues to which attention should be given: 1 . Parking 2 . Lighting and Security 3 . Building Improvements PARKING The undisputed major concern of the property and business owners was parking, in terms of both number of spaces avail- able and location. Although many of the businesses are operat- ing successfully, customers are inconvenienced by lack of close parking. Business owners admit that employees and own- ers use some of the existing parking which should be avail- able for customers . There simply is not an alternative park- ing location for this use . It is the recommendation of the task force to take steps to provide adequate parking for customers and employees . This should be accomplished as expeditiously as possible by: 1 . Acquiring property and constructing a surface parking lot. Suggested locations : a. 9 S . State Street ( former Brady Brick building) Location A on Map I . b. Parking lot on northwest corner of State Street and Highland Avenue. This lot is currently owned by Van Den Bergh Foods who have indicated an interest in exploring relocating their employee parking north of their truck parking and loading docks . Location B on Map I . C . Vacant railroad property west of the Chicago Northwestern railroad tracks and Crystal Avenue . Location C on Map I . d. Or any other appropriate location that might become available in the State Street area . 2 . Making efforts to provide short-term parking relief by designating areas for parking where parking is currently prohibited. LIGHTING AND SIDEWALK REPAIR/REPLACEMENT a . Adequate street and pedestrian lighting is considered essential to both the security and aesthetics of the area . Poor lighting creates "dark spaces" thereby increasing a heightened sense of danger and providing hiding places for potentially undesirable and illegal activity. The task force feels that improvements in both overhead and pedestrian lighting will help the visibility for area businesses . In addition to the security issues, ornamental pedestrian lighting will improve the appearance of this gateway area and create an identity as a vital business district. It is the recommendation of the task force to include the State Street gateway area in a comprehensive lighting plan including street lighting, pedestrian lighting and security lighting. 1 . Continue the CBD lighting program to begin in 1996 , to include the State Street gateway area, specifically the west and east sides of State Street between West Chicago Street and Highland Ave. 2 . Provide for lighting of the space between the rear of the buildings on the east side of State Street and the PACE bus terminal . Discussions with METRA are urged on this item. b. Given the deteriorating condition of the sidewalks and curbs feels that repairs or replacement is required for both pedestrian safety and appearance. BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS Building owners have expressed a desire to make improvements to their building facades in an effort to both stabilize the building and enhance its appearance. The task force recommends that a Building Improvement Program have the following profile: A. Stage One : Property owners will be allowed a grant of $3 , 000 per taxing address . There are 21 taxing addresses in the target area. The property owner could utilize the money for building repairs or improvements as approved by a review team. The owner would have no obligation to pursue a larger project . Stage Two: Any property owner desiring to pursue a project beyond that allowed by the $3, 000 rebate, could par- ticipate in a program which would require a dollar for dollar match of property owner money to City funds . B. Budget: Stage One Budget $ � 63, 000 Stage Two Budget 103 , 000 Total $166 , 000 C. Guidelines : The following general guidelines• will be applied: 1 . Exterior improvements only. 2 . Roof repairs/replacement not eligible. 3 . Improvements need to be compatible with the architecture of the building. 4 . Program will not pay for repair or creation if inappropriate features as determined by review staff . 5 . Funds may be applied toward architectural services . 6 . Property owners may utilize the program one time only, unless additional funds are made available . 7 . Landscaping will be an eligible activity. 8 . An application for participation will be required which will be reviewed by appropriate staff . Inclusion of property owner may be considered as part of review staff . 9 . Checks will not be issued until approved work has been completed, and waivers of lien obtained. 10 . Bids will be required to assure lowest price. COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED State Street area business and property owners . FINANCIAL IMPACT LEGAL IMPACT ALTERNATIVES 1 . Accept recommendations of State Street Task Force. 2 . Provide comments on State Street Task Force and points which need further discussion. RECOMMENDATION The State Street Task Force requests City Council acceptance of the report and encourages implementation of program recom- mendations . Respectfull su fitted, Council an Terry Gavin Chairman, State Task Force k. 'N.� D rborah Kier, Director N tury Partnership 1 tom. �Richard B. Helwig City Manager dkn/dkm Cn f 1 G O J� �S v� .:....._.:;::: :. O� �s �- c o � c 1 D S Z ,d �LP Y d U1�0E-.1