HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 10, 1986 COW Committee of the Whole Meeting
December 10 , 1986
The Committee of the Whole Meeting was called to order
at 6 : 35 p.m. , in the Council Conference Room of City
Hall. Members present : Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam,
Moylan, Van De Voorde , Waters and Mayor Verbic. Absent :
Councilwoman Shales .
Consideration of a report from Corporate Policyholders
Counsel on the City' s insurance program.
Based on the subject report the City Manager offered
the following recommendation to the Council:
1. Our current limited self-insurance program through
Arthur J. Gallagher and Company must be continued
at least until April 1, 1987 .
2 . Concur with the March 2 , 1987 deadline that has
been established for receivin g proposals for various
lines of insurance and related insurance services .
3 . Continue investigation with one or more banks
for funding a "loss reserve pool" through the issuance
of tax exempt bonds as an alternative to purchasing
one or more lines of traditional insurance coverage .
4 . Decide against joining the High-Level Excess Liability
Pool for the reasons stated in CPC ' s report . While
there are no guarantees, it is hoped that some form
of "umbrella" liability coverage can be obtained through
either items 2 or 3 above.
Councilman Van De Voorde made a motion, seconded by
Councilwoman Moylan to approve the aforementioned
recommendations . Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam,
Moylan, Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays:
None.
Consideration of a request for financial assistance
by the Elgin Vikings.
The Elgin Vikings have been invited to play in the
finals of the Pop Warner National Championship Tournament
in Orlando, Florida. The football team is scheduled
to play on Saturday, December 6th. The team is requesting
the City to provide some funds to help defray the
cost of the team' s trip to Florida.
In the absence of any representative from the Elgin
Vikings , Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded
by Councilwoman Moylan to table this matter until
the next meeting. Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam,
Moylan, Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays:
None.
Committee of the Whole Meeting
December 10, 1986
Page 2
Consideration of participation in the Illinois Energy
Audits Association' s Grass Roots program.
The City of Elgin has been working with the IEAA on
the energy audit program for the last five years.
Information on the program has been included on water
bills and promotional material has been distributed
by various departments. Citizens seeking participation
in the City' s Residential Rebate Program are encouraged
to have an energy audit , the cost of which is a reimburs-
able expense. Over 2 ,000 energy audits have been completed
since the inception of the program.
A key feature of this program is that IEAA will make
a $5 . 00 donation to the City for each energy audit
performed. This donation does not affect the cost
of the audit , which will remain at $15.00 .
If 500 audits are performed annually, the City would
be eligible to receive $2 , 500 .
Councilman Waters made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Andersen for the City to participate in the program
and to designate that any funds received from said
program to the Neighborhood Housing Services for us
in rehabilitating housing . Yeas: Councilmen Andersen,
Gilliam, Moylan, Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic.
Nays: None.
Consideration of the payment of certain engineering
fees to H. W. Lochner, Inc.
The City Manager advised the Council the total for
all services for which we owe H.W. Lochner, Inc, is
$163 , 906 .00. One-half of this amount , or $81, 953 ,
will be paid by Kane County in accordance with the
amended agreement dated January 28, 1986 .
The City Manager further stated the engineering fees
are included in the proposed 1987 bond issue for the
bridge project . However, the fees to Lochner are payable
at this time. The General Fund ( Sale Tax or the Centel
fund) could advance this money and then be reimbursed
from the proposed bond issue sale in 1987 .
Mayor Verbic stated how strongly he felt the bridge
was needed and pointed out that $600 , 000 had already
been invested in the project . With the north end bridge
the city could furnish mutual aid efficiently and
save thousands of dollars in personnel costs. The
Mayor asked the Council to think about the bridge
in relation to Sherman Hospital,with the present congestion
on Kimball Street , and the patients who need immediate
Committee of the Whole Meeting
December 10 , 1986
Page 3
medical care. The Mayor asked his fellow Councilmembers
to find the courage to vote for the bridge which means
so much to the future growth of the City.
Councilman Gilliam stated he agreed with many of the
Mayor 's comments, but a vote was taken and even though
he disagreed with the vote he had indicated he would
recognize the vote, hoping that those people who wanted
the bridge would get out and vote for it . Councilman
Gilliam stated he had to listen to the vote and could
not support the project at this time.
Councilman Van De Voorde stated he has supported the
need for the bridge, and he still believes it would
be good for the community, but he also believes in
democracy, and 620 of the people who voted did not
want the bridge and he could not turn his back on
this vote and support the bridge at this time.
Councilwoman Moylan stated the City could take the
funds from the increased sales tax revenue, pay Lochner,
so it would all be done with one payment .
Councilman Waters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Moylan to terminate Lochner' s services immediately,
make payment to Lochner, and determine the source
of this payment during the budget process. Yeas:
Councilmen Gilliam, Moylan, Van De Voorde and Waters.
Nays: Mayor Verbic. Present : Councilman Andersen.
Consideration of an amendment to a contract with
Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc, for improvements
to Big Timber Road.
Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Gilliam to have this item placed on the next Council
agenda. Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan,
Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
Consideration of amending an agreement with Kane County
for the Big Timber Road improvements .
Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Gilliam to place this item on the next Council agenda.
Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan, Van De
Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
Consideration of prohibiting RIGHT TURN RED signals
at the intersection of Congdon and Dundee Avenue.
Councilman Van De Voorde made a motion, seconded by
Councilman Gilliam to approve this staff recommendation.
Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan, Van De
Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
Committee of the Whole Meeting
December 10 „ 1986
Page 4
Consideration of lowering the posted speed limit on
a certain portion of Highland Avenue.
Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Waters to approve this staff recommendation. Yeas:
Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan, Van De Voorde,
Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
Consideration of a report on the widening of State
Route 31 north of I-90 .
The City Manager advised the Council this project
is not funded, but is in the multi-year program. This
means it is on a list with many other projects that
are funded which IDOT would like to construct ,
but could be shifted to the funded capital category
should money become available. As we have been informed
in the past , it might be funded in 1989 . Much of IDOT' s
construction activity is greatly influenced by the
availability of Federal Aid Frimary funds. When and
how much Illinois will received is not known at this
time because the 99th Congress had not passed a transportation
bill. There are no funds at the present , but the 100th
Congress may pass something by May, 1987 .
The City of Elgin has no financial obligation to this
project . It is estimated that the cost of this improvement
will be approximately $4 , 000, 000 and will take one
and one-half construction seasons to complete.
The staff will keep the Council informed as to the
status of this project .
Consideration of replacing the cobalt source in a
lead paint analyzer.
The cobalt source in the XK-2 lead paint analyzer
is weak and in need of replacement . When the source
is weak, the accuracy of the instument is greatly
reduced.
Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Andersen to approve this replacement at a cost of
$1855 .00 . Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan,
Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
Consideration of a change order on the Elgin River
Trail ( Prairie Path) project .
This change order is for the removal of vegetation
along the path south of National Street , for additional
shrubs and for a dedication plaque.
Committee of the Whole Meeting
December 10 , 1986
Page 5
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Councilman Van De Voorde made a motion, seconded by
Councilwoman Moylan to approve the subject change
order. Yeas: Councilmen Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan,
Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
Consideration of the acquisition of two traffic signal
controllers .
Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Moylan to authorize the purchase of two traffic signal
controllers for $15 , 575, with the understanding that
the City will be reimbursed $9, 808.05 from IDOT. The
controllers to be placed at the Dundee/Luda and Villa/National/St .
Charles intersections. Yeas: Councilmen Andersen,
Gilliam, Moylan, Van De Voorde, Waters and Mayor Verbic.
Nays: None.
Consideration of the 1987 Sewer Program.
The City Manager reviewed with the Council a color
coded map reflecting those sewers televised in previous
years and those proposed to be replaced in 1987 .
Also indicated on the map are those projects listed
in the proposed 1987 budget . There are projects shown
that are financed entirely by the City and some as
Sanitary District of Elgin projects . The Sanitary
District projects are those projects which the City
Council has agreed to share the construction cost ,
or are part of the Build Illinois program.
The City Manager requested the Council approve the
1987 Sewer Program, and the recommendation that the
Council direct the staff to bring to Council for discussion
and approval those projects not yet identified prior
to the bidding.
Consideration of a report on the towing contract .
On September 22nd the Council awarded the towing services
contract to Ohm' s Car Care. The contract was for a
twelve month period ending September 30, 1987, and
was divided as follows: Section I "Removal of disabled
and impounded vehicles" , and Section II "Removal of
abandoned vehicles" .
Section II requires the towning contractor provide
a lawful place for storage of abandoned vehilces that
is outside Elgin, our City ordinances do not allow
such sites within our corporate limits or within one
mile thereof. .
Committee of the Whole Meeting
December 10, 1986
Page 6
To date Ohm' s has been unsuccesful in efforts to
find a location for such storage.
Councilman Van De Voorde stated that perhaps the City
of Elgin should provide such a facility thereby solving
our own problems instead of asking other places to
accept them.
Mayor Verbic stated that no body wants such a facility.
The City Manager stated that the liason Zoning Committee
should have the opportunity look at this problem.
Adjournment
Councilman Andersen made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Moylan to adjourn the Committee of the Whole Meeting
to go into the regular Council Meeting. Yeas : Councilmen
Andersen, Gilliam, Moylan, Van De Voorde, Waters and
Mayor Verbic. Nays: None.
The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
c
Marie Yearman City Clerk
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