Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 13, 1988 COW f COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING January 13 , 1988 A Committee of the Whole Meeting was held on January 13 , 1988, in the Council Conference Room. Mayor Van De Voorde called the meeting to order at 6 : 30 p.m. Members present : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde . Absent : None. Consideration of a redevelopment corporation. The City Manager stated at the last Committee of the Whole Meeting the proposed redevelopment corporation was discussed and the Council directed this issue be placed on tonight ' s Committee of the Whole Meeting, as well as the Council Agenda. The Resolution provides that the Mayor, with the concurrence of the Council, shall appoint an advisory committee for the purpose of making recommendations to the Council concerning the nature , purpose and power of a not-for-profit corporation for redevelopment within the City of Elgin. Members of said advisory committee shall be appointed from the membership of the Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium and Office Building Authority, the Elgin Economic Development Council and the Greater Downtown Elgin Commission. Councilwoman Popple asked if the proposed Corporation would need any staff. Mr. Cook stated the Resolution provides that the City Manager and Corporation Counsel are authorized to provide assistance. If there is sizable growth, it may require additional staff, which could be achieved with volunteer assistance. Councilwoman Popple asked to whom these committee members would be accountable to. Mr. Cook stated the committee would include a member of the Council, and the City would have a substantial voice. Proposals would come back to the Council for approval and they would function much like the Board of Convention/Visitors Bureau. The Resolution on tonight ' s Council Agenda merely authorizes the staff to initiate the Articles of Incorporation, which will be presented to the Council for approval. Mayor Van De Voorde stated the makeup of this Committee will be up to the Council thereby establishing Council control. The Mayor further indicated he would like to serve on this Committee. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 13 , 1988 Page 2 Consideration of a recommendation that engineering services be procured to prepare materials for consideration of annexation of surrounded areas . The subject property contains three commercial land uses that have operational characteristics inconsistent with various City ordinances . Each area contains an automobile salvage operation. Automobile salvage operations are not provided for a permitted or special use in the Elgin zoning ordinance. Consequently, annexation of these areas would render the salvage operations legal nonconforming uses with respect to zoning. Additionally, the area contains Max and Marge' s tavern. This business operates with a 4 : 00 a.m, closing hour as permitted in the county. The legal representative for Max and Marge ' s has advised the staff that this use could not meet the requirements for a 4 : 00 a.m. operation would have a severe negative effect on the viability of the business. There are twelve areas of unincorporated land surrounded by the City of Elgin. The residents and businesses located in these unincorporated areas are, in reality, part of the City. They have access to many of the amenities available to Elgin residents and businesses without providing full economic support for all these amenities. These unincorporated areas interfere with the efficient and effective provision of city services . The Comprehensive Plan recommends the annexation and development of areas surrounded by the corporate limits . I Councilwoman Popple stated she could not see any overwhelming benefit to the City by the annexation of the subject property. Mayor Van De Voorde stated that overall plans call for these annexations and once that is done we can work to solve the many problems in this area. The City Manager stated that if the City wants to clean up the approaches to Elgin, we must be in control of the surrounding areas . Councilwoman Moylan stated some of the residents in these areas are already receiving city services and they should be brought in. Councilman Walters stated he was concerned with the cost of supplying police and fire services to this area. The City Manager pointed out we are now furnishing mutual fire aid now. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 13 , 1988 Page 3 Mayor Van De Voorde stated the intent was to bring in this surrounded property and the Comprehensive Plan tells us to do so. Councilman Fox stated the City of Elgin has troubled areas within the City that we should cleanup. Councilman Gilliam asked if this project taking us away from something else that we should be doing. The City Manager stated we have a sizable development of residential areas right across from this property, and it may take five to ten years before this is totally improved. Mayor Van De Voorde reminded the Council they instructed staff to do something about annexing these properties . Councilwoman Moylan stated this property will become even more important in the future. Councilman Fox stated he was not sure this would be high on his priority list . Councilman Walters stated he did not feel this is the right time to spend this money and time on this priority. Attorney Al Anderson, representing Max and Marge ' s stated he would encourage the Council to defer this annexation, and he agreed there are other projects in Elgin that should be given more priority. Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the required engineering services, and to accept the low proposal from Burnidge and Westphal, Inc. for a total cost of $4 , 040. Yeas: Councilmen Gilliam, Moylan, Shales and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : Councilmen Fox, Popple, and Walters. Consideration of recommendation for an amendment to the Elgin Central Business District Plan. Over the course of the past year, the Greater Downtown Elgin Commission has examined the potential for a redevelopment project in Area F reinforcing the efforts underway as a result of the River Trail ( South Grove Redevelopment Project . As a result of their review, the GDEC has recommended that Area F be expanded to include the block in which the Daily Courier News is located. The proposed amendment would affect the section of the Central Business Plan identified as "Potential Redevelopment Areas" Committee of the Whole Meeting January 13 , 1988 Page 4 The proposed amendment would not commit the City to any implementation action at this time. In fact , active public support of a specific redevelopment project would require the adoption of a redevelopment plan. The Council agreed to have this item placed on the next Council Agenda. Consideration of an agreement for providing fire protection outside the city limits. Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to approve a Fire Protection Agreement with Hintz Trucking Company, which provides for a payment of $1,420 to the City for such protection. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Change Order No. 3 to the overhead tank paintig contract . Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve Change Order No. 3 to the subject contract , in the amount of $3 ,470. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None . Consideration of a recommendation to accept improvements on Valley Creek Unit No. 2 Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to approve staff' s recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a recommendation to accept improvements on Summerhill Unit No. 3 Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to approve staff' s recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a recommendation to accept improvements on Summerhill Unit No. 2 Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to approve staff' s recommendation. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: _ None. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 13 , 1988 Page 5 Consideration of a recommendation to accept improvements on Valley Creek Unit No. 3 Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to approve staff' s recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a report with regard to zoning case 33-87 . On August 12 , 1987 , the Council considered the subject petition, and at that time the Council directed the legal staff to draft a _ ordinance granting the requested action, subject to the submission of a revised site plan. On November 5 , 1987 , the Planning Department notified the petitioner' s legal representative that failure to provide the required revised site plan could result in alternative actions by the City. On December 29 , 1987 , the Planning Department notified petitioner' s legal representative that continued failure to provide the required, revised site plan would result in the presumed withdrawal of the petition. Both notifications from the Planning Department were sent return receipt , certified mail. Consideration of a report from the joint staff meeting between the City of Elgin and the Housing Authority of Elgin. Staff furnished the Council with a summary of the subject meeting, including areas of discussion covering public housing improvements, inspections , insurance, security needs , tenant selection and evictions , tenant associations and maintenance, potential sources of assistance, annual report and development of goals. Consideration of a report on the capital projects activities for the year 1987 . Staff furnished Council with a current status report of the various capital projects. Consideration of a report recommending a second annual retreat for City Council members . Council indicated their interest in scheduling another retreat , and set a tentative date for said retreat on April 16 , 1988. Consideration of a report with regard to the establishment of a task force for solid waste collection and disposal. The City Manager stated the landfill situation in our area is such that costs continue to rise as the landfills approach capacity, and consideration should be given to alternatives such as incineration, recycling and contracting out garbage pickups . Committee of the Whole Meeting January 13 , 1988 Page 6 The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in October awarded a construction permit for a municipal trash incinerator in Crestwood, a suburb southwest of Chicago. This will be the first municipal incinerator built in Illinois since 1970 . The incinerator, sponsored by the Southwest Council of Local Governments , will serve several communities in the Crestwood area. It will burn 450 tons per day of trash and will generate electricity for possible resale. Construction will cost around $30 million and will take 15 to 18 months . Public imput should be considered in an effort to help cut costs , possibly through recycling efforts , as well as long term solutions such as incineration. Both Council members Shales and Moylan have expressed interest in the formation of a task force as a result of their participation in seminars with representatives of other cities who have explored this problem. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to direct staff to bring back a list of prospective members for such a task force. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a quarterly report on delinquent water accounts. Council was furnished with a fourth quarterly report on delinquent water accounts , and a comparison of January 1, 1987 with the current quarter of December 31, 1987 for the total outstanding water accounts with 90 day delinquencies. 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 Litigation, Property Acquisition, and Personnel. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. The meeting adjourned at 7 : 30 p.m. Marie Yearmaq Cit Clerk Y