Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebuary 08, 1989 COW COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING February 8 , 1989 The meeting was called to order at 6 : 30 p.m. , in the Council Conference Room by Mayor VanDeVoorde. Members present : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde . Absent : Councilman Gilliam. Further Consideration of a Request to Abate the Special Assessment for Mall Improvements . The City Manager stated on January 1, 1989 there were 30 properties and 20 property owners with an outstanding balance due of $264 ,037 principal and $19 , 787 interest . Mr. Cook further stated he could not recommend the request to abate this assessment , with the taxpayers picking up some $600 ,000 . Mr. Fisher, representing Polk Bros . , asked if the assessment could be prepaid, thereby reducing the amount of interest to be paid. Mr. Bolerjack stated the City would accept prepayments . Consideration of a request from Mr. W. J. Stastny to be heard considering the proposed Big Timber Widening from McLean to Randall Road. Mr. Stastny, Vice President/General Manager of Bridgeport/Haring Products, tendered exhibits to the Council showing the effect on his company by the proposed widening of Big Timber Road. Mr. Stastny stated when his building was being built the City demanded some $40 ,000 in landscaping, which the State will now remove and there is no assurance the landscaping will be replaced. Mr. Stastny also pointed out the potential danger to trucks upon entering or leaving the plant because there will not be sufficient room to turn. The City Manager stated Mr. Stastny can negotiate with the State for an acceleration lane , relocation of the driveway, and the replacement of the landscaping, but he has to be the one to negotiate , the City cannot do this. A majority of the Council agreed that they have no authority to negotiate. The Mayor and Council suggested that Mr. Stastny work with the State to see if a compromise can be achieved. Consideration of a recommendation to request State approval of Closure of the Roads on the Route of the Fox Trot . Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman i Committee of the Whole Meeting February 8 , 1989 Page 2 Popple to approve the foregoing recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a Recommendation to Approve the 1989 Medical Insurance Rates . Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to approve the 1989 medical insurance rates , and that staff be allowed to explore the insurance market in the middle of the year to obtain comparable quotes from other insurance companies . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a Recommendation to Make Changes in the Water Meter Reading Rates . Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Shales to approve the staff recommendation for a 5 . 9% increase in the water meter reading rates . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a Recommendation to Approve Changes in the Greater Downtown Elgin Commission Ordinance. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to approve the above recommendation. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde . Nays : None. Consideration of a Request to Concur in a Contract for Architectural Services for Neighborhood Housing Office Improvements. A total of $75 , 000 was allocated in the 1988 CDBG Program for the new NHS Office. Approximately $1,000 has been expended for dumpsters for a volunteer cleanup of the interior and exterior of the property. Therefore approximately $74 ,000 remains for rehabilitation expenditures. The two bids received were for $7 , 500 (Burnidge and Cassell) , and $7 , 700 ( Dixon and Associates . The NHS recommended that Dixon Associates of St . Charles be awarded the subject contract even though they were not the low bidder. Stuart Wasilowski, Executive Director of NHS, stated the NHS Board felt Dixon and Associates was the most qualified. Committee of the Whole Meeting February 8 , 1989 Page 3 Mayor VanDeVoorde stated the low bidder has in the past donated many hours to the NHS projects and he felt they were more qualified and familiar with the subject project . Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve the contract with Dixon Associates. Yeas : Councilmen Fox and Moylan. Nays: Councilmen Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to approve the contract with Burnidge and Cassell. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Consideration of a proposal for improvements to the second and third floors of the Old Main building. Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to approve the recommendation from the Historical Society, subject to the following: 1. That only licensed personnel be used on those areas such as plumbing and electrical work where City ordinances require licenses . 2 . That permits for all work be applied for and all work be property inspected. 3 . That protection be made to assure the City that there will be no liens on City property so that evidence be presented by the person acting as general contractor to show that all work is completed and certified free of liens prior to payment for that work ( in other words , that those restrictions to payment followed by the City be followed ) . 4 . That the insurance requirement be amended to furnish liability coverage on all volunteer help. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a recommendation to vacate an alley. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to approve staff ' s recommendation to vacate an alley that extends east from Park Row to a deadend. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole Meeting, February 8 , 1989 Page 4 Consideration of a recommendation to grant an easement to the Sanitary District of Elgin for sewer extension. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve staff ' s recommendation to approve an easement for sanitary sewer purposes in the newly dedicated right of way for Lovell road in the Country Brook Subdivision. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None . Consideration of a report on the revised schedule for the adoption and implementation of a new zoning ordinance. The City Manage advised the Council the comprehensive amendment of the Zoning Ordinance has been delayed due to a number of factors including greater than anticipated complexity, resignation of the project coordinator, and interruption by other projects demanding immediate attention. Additionally, the consultants have been somewhat unresponsive with respect to the contractual timetable for project completion. As a result , further payments on the contract for services have been halted pending the receipt of a consolidated draft ordinance including first revision language for the majority of the text . The most recent correspondence from the staff to the consultants expressed our concern for any additional depays and included a revised project timetable. Councilwoman Moylan stated this is not good performance on the part of the consultant . Roger Dahlstrom stated the consultant has not been paid and will not be paid until the contract is adhered to. Consideration of a report on changes in the court schedule to provide more opportunity for consideration of housing matters . The Corporation Counsel advised the Council that as of February 1, 1989 , all City ordinance traffic matters will be heard on Tuesday. This shift will allow the City prosecutor and the court to focus undivided attention to building and zoning matters which will continue to be heard on Monday afternoons . In addition, the sitting judge has expressed a willingness to devote additional time on Thursday and Friday trial call to more lengthy and complex building and zoning matters , as may be necessary. The City Manager stated these changes should bring about some improvements . This matter will be monitored with periodic reports to the Council. Committee of the Whole Meeting February 8 , 1989 Page 5 Consideration of a report on the appointment of a youth representative to the Parks and Recreation Board. The Council was advised that Justin Williams , a 13 year old student at Larsen Middle School, has been selected as the Youth council representative to the Parks and Recreation Board. Jennifer Ford, Elgin League of Women Voters , is continuting as the adult supervisor. The Leaaue will continue to be the sponsor of the youth council. Mrs . Ford has informed the Park and Recreation Board that there is a strong nucleus of twenty young people and they will be meeting monthly at the Gail Borden Public Library. Consideration of the Capital Improvement Projects Report for the month of January. Status Report Citizen Complaint Mrs . Sue Lloyd, 1112 Highbury Drive, complained to the Council that X-rated movies are being sold in many of the video stores . Mrs . Lloyd specifically named the Lord' s Park Video. Attorney Blondin stated he was reluctant to give an opinion without further briefing and checking the low. The City Manager stated he did not think this matter could be legislated and someone would have to come into the police department and file a complaint . Mrs . Lloyd stated she would like the Council to ban all X- rated film. Councilman Walters stated he could not support an activity that is censored under the first amendment . Councilwoman Shales stated that we should uphold our present laws , namely, the obscenity ordinance. Mayor VanDeVoorde requested that the police department check into the within named establishment . Further consideration of the Parks and Recreation Preliminary Master Plan. Councilwoman Moylan stated that while in the booth at the Elgin Expo she became aware that citizens were interested in filling our survey forms . Mrs . Moylan suggested that the City put some money into this project . This is a good investment and a good way to know what the people want . Committee of the Whole Meeting February 8 , 1989 Page 6 Councilwoman Shales stated she would like othe r agencies that have recreational services included in the planning stage so that we compliment each other and not compete with one another. Councilwoman Popple stated the City can provide these services at a much lower cost than some of the other agencies and she would not like to see these services given up. Councilwoman Shales stated we could do a lot better by working together. Councilman Fox stated he thought the Forestry Program could be coordinated with the Public Works Department . The City Manager stated the staff will start with census data, they will look into areas that have service agencies and open areas . When the assessment is complete , then they will see what is not provided. The survey will also tell us if an area has sufficient facilities for various activities and what the demand for some would be. Councilwoman Shales stated the Hemmens Building is in need of additional restrooms for women, especially on the first floor. Councilman Fox stated that perhaps the Council would like to set a special meeting just to review this preliminary plan. Council agreed to meet on Monday, February 13th, at 4 :00 p.m. Adjournment Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to adjourn the Committee of the Whole Meeting to go into Executive Session to discuss , litigation, personnel and property acquisition. Yeas : Councilmen Fox,Moylan , Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. arie Yearman, City Clerk