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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 25, 1989 COW Committee of the Whole Meeting January 25, 1989 The Committee of the Whole Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Conference Room of City Hall. Members present: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Absent: None. Joint Meetinq with Human Relations Commission Marlene Carter, Chairman of the Human Relations Commission, reviewed the purposes of the Human Relations Commission, its 1988 activities and plans for 1989. The purpose of the commission is to eliminate prejudice and discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or physical or mental handicap and to promote tolerance and understanding. The duties of the commission are to serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council and to receive and investigate complaints as to housing and employment. The commission is in need for three additional commissioners to meet the requirements of the ordinance defining membership. The ordinance creating and defining the commission must be amended to include families with children as part of the fair housing ordinance. Activities during 1988 included the investigation of complaints, a joint meeting with the Elgin Board of Realtors, a Health and Welfare luncheon, speaking engagements before the Rotary Club and Kiwanis, and a housing discrimination pamphlet. The commission's goals for 1989 are the publication of a handbook which would include the Human Relations ordinance and the rules and regulations of the commission, a new tenant/landlord handbook, an affirmative action plan for the city and participation in Youth Week. I Consideration of Amendments to the Firinq Ranqe Aqreement An amended agreement for a firing range between the City of Elgin and Illinois State Police appears on the Council agenda. The agreement is substantially the same as the one previously reviewed and contains only minor language modifications. Consideration of a Resolution for Support of the School Referendum A Resolution in Support of the School District U-46 Referendum appears on the regular Counc i I agenda. Councilman Walters asked if adoption of the resolution signified the Council's support of the referendum or does the resolution speak for the entire City of Elgin. If the resolution speaks for the entire city, he expressed concern that the Council was wandering too far from its area of jurisdiction. Mayor VanDeVoorde stated that the resolution speaks only for the Council. t Committee of the Whole Meeting January 25, 1989 Page 2 Request of Michael Crane (Polk Brothers) to Speak to the Council Mr. Fisher of Polk Brothers addressed the Council regarding the special assessment levy against Polk Brothers and requested relief from the remainder of the assessment. He stated that Polk Brothers has paid $18,317 to date and owes $10,600. The Council directed an investigation of the impact of the relief requested upon the entire assessment area and upon other assessed properties in the mall. A report will be submitted for the February 8 meeting. Consideration of Presentation by Shedd's of Proposed Development on State Street Wayne Van Wart, General Manager of Shedd's Food Products, presented a brief history of Shedd's Food Products and described current operations and productions. He stated that Shedd's is a wholly contained profit-making operation employing approximately 140 people between 16 and 20 hours per day. He stated that 17 to 45 trucks move in and out of the company each day. Mr. Van Wart proposed a joint development project of the Woodruff and Edwards foundry property which would develop the land and alleviate an eye-sore. The project would initiate a mutually funded environmental study of the foundry property to first determine the condition of the property, followed by demolition of the current structure, including the removal of all debris, fill in any remaining cavities, and grade the land to the current level then divide the property between the City of Elgin and Shedd's Food Products. The City of Elgin could develop the northernmost area as a park or open space and could widen the intersection of Route 31 and Lawrence Avenue to include a turn lane. Shedd's could consolidate its truck traffic movement to its own property thereby limiting truck movement on Route 31 to entrance and exit only. He proposed a 30/70 percent split of the property, with the City of Elgin acquiring the northernmost 30 percent, and a 30/70 percent split in the cost of the environmental study, demolition and fill. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox, to accept the concept and proceed with the environmental study. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Alternative Desiqns for Water Tower Donohue and Associates presented three configurations for the design of the water tower to be placed west of Randall Road on Fox Lane; a single pedestal spheroid, multi-column ill a r. and fluted column h dro spheroidal / y p Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox, to approve the single pedestal spheroid water tower design. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 25, 1989 Page 3 Consideration of a Recommendation for Contract with Actuary for Fire/Police Pension System Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan, to approve the recommendation to accept the proposal of Mercer, Meidinger, Hansen to prepare actuarial evaluations of the Police Pension Fund and the Firefighter's Pension Fund. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Reduced Speed Limit on South McLean Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Shales, to approve the recommendation to reduce the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph on McLean Boulevard betwen Spartan Drive and Bowes Road. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Removal of No Parking Restrictions on South Jackson Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox, to approve the recommendation to remove parking restrictions on the west side of South Jackson between West Chicago Street and South Street. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Recommendation that No Stop Sign be Installed at Intersection of Clifton and Van Streets The Traffic Committee considered a request to install a stop sign at Clifton and Van Streets and determined that the intersection does not warrant the installation of stop signs. Councilman Walters requested that the Traffic Committee consider stop signs at the intersections of Aldine and Erie Streets and Washburn and Jewett Streets. Consideration of a Request for Extension of Special Use GIB-88 A special use for a residential planned unit development to be known as Oakwood Hills was granted on March 9, 1988 which was conditioned upon the establishment of the special use within one year of the date of passage of the ordinance. The developer has submitted a request to extend the deadline to Sep tember 9, 1989. Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple, to extend the deadline for the establishment of the special use to September 9, 1989. Councilman Fox: I opposed this project from the start and will not vote in favor of extending the special use. Councilman Gilliam: We approved the special use once, we should not back down now. Councilwoman Moylan: It would be unfair to the developer to change our minds now. Yeas: Councilmen Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: Councilman Fox. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 25, 1989 Page 4 Consideration of a Proposed Statement in Review of the CATS Long Ranqe Plans The City Council considered a proposed letter to CATS endorsing the 2010 Transportation System Development Plan with the exception of the Fox Valley Expressway and with a recommendation that a more indepth analysis be made on the impact that fixed route transit service, express route bus service and demand responsive bus service would have on attaining the Plan's goals and objections. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Coun cilwoman Shales, to approve the submission of a proposed letter to CATS regarding the 2010 Transportation System Development Plan, with the exception that the letter state the city's position more emphatically. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a Recommendation to Join Public Technology, Inc. Public Technology, Inc. is a program through which the City of Elgin could access technical research information. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan, to initiate membership in Public Technology, Inc. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of a Request to Initiate Zoninq for U-46 Farm Colony Site The Development Corporation has requested the authority to submit an application for the rezoning of the Farm Colony property from R-2 single family residential to a manufacturing classification. Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters, to proceed with the requested rezoning. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Abstain: Councilman Gilliam. Consideration of Extension of Parkinq Restrictions on Center Street Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple, to approve the recommendation to prohibit parking on the west side of Center Street between Slade Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Professional Services Contract for Charles H. Schrader A proposed agreement was submitted by Charles H. Schrader and Associates for granting writing and research services for a fee of $9,000. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple, to approve the agreement. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 25, 1989 Page 5 Consideration of Ordinance Prohibiting Trappinq, Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple, to approve the preparation of an ordinance to prohibit trapping within the City of Elgin. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Approval of Allocation for Historical Museum The Elgin Area Historical Society has requested the allocation of $5,000 for the improvements to the new kitchen at Old Main. Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan, to approve the allocation. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: Councilman Gilliam. Consideration of Contract for Mapping System Austin McDaniel Corporation has submitted a proposal to complete an Advanced Geographic Information System for the City of Elgin for a price not to exceed $60,000. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters, to approve the proposal of Austin McDaniel Corporation. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Consideration of Draft of Park Master Plan The City Council received the Park Master Plan and will review the plan at a later date. Consideration of 1988 Vehicle License Program Report Status report. Consideration of 1988 December Towing Report Status report. Consideration of 1988 Activity Report of the Paramedic Donation Fund Status report. Consideration of a Report on Change in Refuse Disposal Fees Status report. Consideration of 1988 Water Department Monthly Operations Report Status report. Committee of the Whole Meeting January 25, 1989 Page 6 Consideration of 1988 Selective Traffic Enforcement Report, Status report. Consideration of 1988 Outstandinq Water Accounts Report Status report. Consideration of 1988 Code Enforcement Report Status report. Consideration of 1988 Leaf Collection Report Status report. Miscellaneous Mayor VanDeVoorde stated that the City of Elgin has purchased advertising space in athletic books for special events. He requested that the Council consider whether or not to continue this practice. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters, to cease the purchasing of advertising space in brochures for special events. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Adjournment Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters, to adjourn the Committee of the Whole Meeting to go into Executive Session. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales, Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Nancy Roll, eputy Clerk