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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 09, 1988 COW Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Van De Voorde at 6 : 30 p.m. , in the Council Conference Room. Members present : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Absent : Councilwoman Shales. Consideration of amendments to the liquor control ordinance. Council reviewed recommendations and considerations submitted by the Liquor Commission regarding proposed changes in the Municipal Code. Recommendation No. 6 provided that licensees employ persons over 21 years of age to dispense and serve liquor. No ordinance amendment was recommended as it is doubtful persons over 18 years of age can be legally precluded from such employment . However, licensees should be encouraged to avoid employing minors in positions which require mature judgment such as a seller of liquor. Councilman Fox stated he had a problem with persons under 21 being allowed to dispense liquor, and he requested the legal staff to research this matter to see if the age could be raised to 21 for anyone dispensing liquor. Councilman Walters made a motion seconded b Councilwoman y C u oman Moylan to delete Recommendation No. 6 , until a legal opinion is rendered. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Recommendation No. 5 provided for the development of a Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (Basset ) Program. Joyce Stesiak-Troyer, representing Elgin Community College, stated she would be responsible for coordinating this program at the College. Ms. Troyer pointed out this program would provide good training for alcohol dispensers and servers to look for legal identifications and intoxication. This program in other communities has reduced the number of DUI cases and accidents. The course would consist of 4 weeks - 3 hour courses . Mayor Van De Voorde suggested the creation of a committee of five members to look into the needs and establish such a program which would be acceptable to the City and the liquor industry. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve Recommendations No. 1 through 5. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 Page 2 Consideration of bylaws for a development corporation. Council reviewed recommendations from the Council appointed task force to draft bylaws for a corporation to guide the development of various areas in Elgin. The recommendations provided the task force to serve as the first Board of Directors for the purpose of preparing articles of incorporation and filing them with the State. Upon approval by the State the appointment of the Board of Directors for the corporation would begin with 7 appointed by the Council, 3 appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, and 5 additional members appointed by those 10 Directors. While the bylaws and articles of incorporation can be changed by the Board as circumstances require in the future, they can be changed only after notice to the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce, with sufficient time to allow for any opposition to be expressed. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the proposed bylaws and to proceed to create the corporation. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Slade Avenue reservoir report . Mr. Klaus Dunkleberg, Donohue & Associates, presented their recommendations , which are the result of their inspection of the subject facility. The recommended solutions would result in an estimated cost to repair of $51, 000. There is $100 , 000 in the 1988 water budget for this work. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Gilliam to approve Alternate 2 for Reservoirs 1, 2 and 3. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a request for bus use for Youth Fest . Council reviewed a request from the Youth Fest Committee regarding free bus rides for youngsters wishing to attend the weekday after school events and the non-school day activity planned for Friday and Saturday. Pace was contacted and has agreed to authorize the free rides. However, Pace requested that a coupon system be developed so that the number of individuals taking advantage of the free ride program can be tracked. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve this request . Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 Page 3 Consideration of abandonment of National Street lot for Metra project . The City Manager advised the Council that Metra is proceeding with their new coach yards south of National Street on the west side of the river. The existing National Street Commuter Parking lot is in the way of this development . Metra has prepared plans that will provide more parking at the Chicago Street Parking lot than now exists at that facility and National Street combined. The Land Use Committee tabled this matter to a Public Hearing scheduled for April 18, 1988, because Metra did not submit any final plans for this project . Roger Dahlstrom stated he would be meeting with the Metra people on Friday to discuss the Chicago Street parking, landscaping, and the environmental impact . Mr. Cook stated the proposal will help with the downtown development and will eliminate a lot of noise. Increased trains are scheduled for the Big Timber Station and a temporary parking lot at Chicago Street to assist during the interim. Councilman Fox stated that although he was not on the Council, he was present for Metra' s original presentation and it was his recollection that Metra was going to buy all the buildings to the corner of Chicago and State and include that property in this improvement . Mr. Cook stated this was not in their present proposal. Mayor Van De Voorde stated they also had plans for the beautification of the riverfront along this property. Mr. Cook stated they are committed to this. Mayor Van De Voorde stated the Land Use Committee tabled this because there are a lot of neighbors who are concerned and there should be a public hearing to hear these concerns. Councilwoman Popple stated it would seem we are preempting the process if the Land Use Committee tabled the matter and we do not even have transcripts of that meeting at this point . Mayor Van De Voorde stated we need to consider the concerns of the people living nearby relative to pollution, noise and the lights. Councilman Gilliam asked if staff thought Metra could furnish the Council additional information within two weeks. Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 Page 4 Mr. Cook stated he would not know this until he met with them on Friday. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to place this matter on the next Committee of the Whole and Council Agendas. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of fire protection agreement with Illinois Tool Works. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the subject agreement . Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of retroactive approval of fire equipment repair. The Fire Department has experienced problems with the automatic transmission on fire engine 2 . Steves Equipment in West Chicago is the only firm in the area with the expertise to repair the Allison transmission. They have estimated that the repairs will run $2 , 000 , and $600 . 00 for removing and replace of the unit . Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the subject repair. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of establishing fees for fingerprinting. The City Manager recommended that an ordinance be enacted allowing the Police Department to fingerprint citizens as a public service for a fee of $10 .00. This fee would not be levied against anyone who must be fingerprinted pursuant to applying for any City license. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve this recommendation. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of rebudgeting of 1988 Block Grant . The City Manager advised the Council the 1987-1988 CDBG Program provided a $30 , 000 project contingency for the approved street reconstruction project . This project has been completed. The $30 , 000 in the Street Reconstruction project is available and it is recommended this $30 , 000 be allocated to the Residential Rehabilitation Rebate Program. Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 Page 5 Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve this recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of waiver of building permit fees for Elgin Community College. The Council reviewed a request from Elgin Community College that the waiver of fees for building permits for the College be authorized. Staff recommended this waiver be approve. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve the waiver of these fees for the College. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of licensing of itinerant merchants . The Illinois General Assembly enacted Public Act 85-600 requiring local licenses and bonds for transient merchants and itinerant vendors. The Act became effective on January 1, 1988. The proposed ordinance would provide an increase in fees to $100. 00 to offset the additional costs of administration and enforcement . Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the proposed ordinance. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of amendments to exempt position ordinance. The City Manager advised the Council in the last several years a number of positions have been created through Council budgetary actions, such as , Housing Inspection Supervisor, Housing Program Administrator, etc. There is a need to take formal action to make them part of management and technical classification plan and exempt them from Civil Service. This action is needed before the selection process for the new positions can begin and appointments can be made. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to approve the recommended amendments. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 Page 6 Consideration of a request for Planning Committee member conference attendance. Jack Peterson has requested that the City pay costs associated with his attendance at a Planning and Zoning conference in St . Louis , Missouri. This conference is not being offered in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, and Mr. Peterson will produce a report on the conference for the Council and members of the Land Use and Planning Commissions. Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve the registration fee for said conference. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of grant application for Lord' s Park Zoo. Council reviewed a request from the Recreation Division staff to proceed with a grant application to the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources for general operating assistance at the Lord' s Park Zoo. The minimum amount that can be awarded annually is $2 , 000 with a maximum of $3 , 500 . Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve this request . Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Consideration of participation in Law Enforcement Day at Spring Hill. Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve participation in Law Enforcement Day at Spring Hill. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a report on Staff Housing Liaison Committee meeting. Council was furnished with a summary of the fifth joint staff meeting held on February 25, 1988. 1988 Budget Council was furnished with the final 1988 Budget document . Property on Walnut Avenue previously occupied by the Warner Grocery. Councilman Fox stated he had an inquiry with reference to this property. The grocery operation was closed in 1986 . The daughter of the owner entered negotiations to sell this property, which had a lawful nonconforming use , Committee of the Whole Meeting March 9 , 1988 Page 7 and according to the daughter received zoning approval for a hot dog stand . This transaction did not take place and the daughter now has a perspective buyer who wants to open a beauty shop on these premises , but has been advised by the City that the nonconforming use is no longer in effect . Counsel Jentsch stated it would appear the nonconforming use was abandoned when the grocery business was discontinued. The City Manager stated they must apply for a special use to operate a beauty shop on the premises. Adjournment Councilman Gilliam 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 property acquisition. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. The meeting adjourned at 9: 15 p.m. Marie Yearman, City Clerk i