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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 23, 1987 COW Committee of the Whole Meeting September 23 , 1987 Mayor Van De Voorde called the meeting to order at 6 : 15 p.m. , in the Council Conference Room. Members present : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Absent : Councilman Gilliam was not present for the Committee of the Whole Meeting, but was present for the Council Meeting. Joint Meeting with the Elgin Housing Authority. Mayor Van De Voorde stated when the Housing Authority was created, and the sites approved by the City, it was only authorized for the purpose of providing decent housing, and if those people who supported this project could see how these units have turned out , they may not have supported this project . The Mayor further stated it was time for the Housing Authority Board- and the Council to roll up their sleeves and do something about this matter. Jim Muetterties , Chairman of the Housing Authority Board, stated he was glad the City was taking an interest in these sites, and the Board Members would certainly appreciate any assistance the City could give them. Councilman Walters stated the tenant should be charged with any act of vandalism for which they are responsible. Also the housing units were to be rented as temporary housing, and this was not the case today. This could be accomplished by a lease arrangement . Councilwoman Moylan stated she was appalled to see the trash and garbage in these units, and she suggested the tenants establish a tenant ' s council to deal with some of the problems . If the tenants are given encouragement to clean up and some peer presure it might help. Mrs. Moylan asked if there were any guidelines for inspecting the apartments , and if this information is shared with the City' s Inspection Department . Amanda Walker, the Public Housing Manager, stated the apartments are inspected once a year, those with problems are inspected more often. Mayor Van De Voorde stated he would like to see the Council maintain an interest in this matter, and if possible have a City staff member work with the Housing Manager, giving the Council a monthly report as to efforts and results. The Council agreed to meet with this commission in six months to see what progress has taken place. I Committee of the Whole Meeting September 23 , 1987 Page 2 Consideration of a request to modify the minimum amount of liability insurance required for a basketball goal permit . On May 27 , 1987 , the Council approved an ordinance allowing basketball goals in the right-of-way if authorized by a written permit from the Director of Public Works. Subsequently, owners of basketball goals in the right-of-way were notified in a July letter of the ordinance ' s permit requirements . Recently a follow-up letter was sent to those people not responding to the original letter. The letter mentioned the City crews would begin removing the goals on or about September 21st . Since the mailing of the second letter, the Mayor has received some comments on this ordinance. A letter from Mr. Dave Jepson, 907 Mohawk Court requests that the Council reconsider the required $1, 000 , 000 insurance coverance, because this is contrary to the best interests of the City and It places an unreasonable demand on the homeowner. Mr, and Mrs. Thomas Ward attended the meeting and stated that upon investigating the insurance costs they were advised $1,000, 000 coverage would cost them from $165 .00 to $175 . 00 per year. $500 ,000 would only cost between $6.00 and $10. 00. Mr. Ward asked the Council to reconsider this requirement and lower the required amount of $500, 000. Councilwoman Popple stated it was unfortunate the Council did not have this information earlier, because some people have already taken their goals down and she did not think it would be fair to change the policy at this point . Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to lower the insurance requirements to $500, 000. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Shales, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: Councilwoman Popple. Consideration of the acquisition of seasonal banners . Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve the recommendation from the Greater Downtown Elgin Commission, and staff, to purchase banners from the Season ' s Greetings firm at a total cost of $4 , 310 . Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of obtaining surveying services for the property, located at 355-361 Dundee Avenue. The City is presently in the process of negotiating the purchase of the property located at 355-361 Dundee Avenue. The Planning Department distributed Request for Proposals for surveying services to two area firms. One firm declined to reply. The Committee of the Whole Meeting September 23 , 1987 Page 3 second firm, Burnidge and Westphal, responded with an estimate of $2 , 500. The $2 , 500 would provide surveys and original legal descriptiongs for the two individual parcels which comprise 355-361 Dundee Avenue. Staff recommends approval of the Burnidge and Westphal proposal for $2 ,500. Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve staff' s recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a status report on modifications to the timing of traffic signals at Kimball and State Streets. The Council was advised the staff contacted the Illinois Department of Transportation with a plan to re-time the signals at State and Kimball Streets . In a telephone converations with IDOT on September 16th, staff was advised the requested re-timing had been approved. Once written approval is received the Electrical Division will institute the changes to the signals. The Engineering Division will monitor the intersection and will provide a report to the Council on the effects of the re-timing ninety days after the change. Consideration of the final acceptance of certain improvements in Unit One of the Valley Creek subdivision. Staff recommended that the surface improvements in Valley Creek Unit 1 be accepted for maintenance and that the developer be required to post a bond in the amount of 100 of cost of the surface improvements . Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the staff' s recommendation. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None . Consideration of plats of easement and rights-of-way for Summerhill Unit 4 subdivision. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve staff' s recommendation to execute the plat and easement documents . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. i Committee of the Whole Meeting September 23 , 1987 Page 4 Consideration of submitting plans and specifications to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for certain sewer improvements . Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to direct staff to prepare the necessary resolution for submission of the plans and specifications for the Abbott Lift Station Parallel Interceptor sewer to the I .E.P.A. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a report summarizing the status of various capital improvement projects. Staff provided Council with a status report of the various City capital projects. Consideration of a status report on the review of certain building codes . In order to maintain the City' s building codes in an up to date manner, consistent with other communities , and to provide architects and builders with current codes , the Elgin Building Commission has reviewed and completed its deliberations on building codes. These codes represent later editions of the building codes presently in use. Also included in the Commission ' s review was an examination of local amendments to the codes . Staff requested this status report be considered by the Council at its first Committee of the Whole Meeting in October. Spartan Meadows Clubhouse Alarm System. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Shales to approve the proposal of the low bidder, Elgin Key and Lock, for $1, 887, to install a new alarm system. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Change in the October 28, 1987 Council Meeting. Due to the absence of Jim Cook and Bob Malm from the City, on October 28th, Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to hold the October 28th meeting on November 4 , 1987 , at the regular time and place. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of certain material requested by the Council in conjunction with the public hearing on liquor issues . The Council was furnished with copies of liquor ordinances from Glen Ellyn, Evanston, Hoffman Estates , Aurora, Hanover Park, St . Charles , Woodale, Rockford and Wilmette. Committee of the Whole Meeting September 23 , 1987 Page 5 Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to cancel the public hearing scheduled for September 30, 1987 . To have the Liquor Commission handle any proposed changes to the City' s current liquor ordinances on a one by one basis. To bring back input from any such meetings to the Council, and to keep the license holders informed of any meetings wherein these changes are up for discussion. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Adjournment Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to adjourn the Committee of the Whole Meeting to go into Executive Session to discuss Personnel, Litigation and Acquisition of property. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. The meeting was adjourned at 7 :45 p.m. Marie Yearma City Clerk