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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 03, 1989 COW x,r Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 1 Apartment Licensing Deborah Neir reviewed with the Council a proposed Ordinance providing for Rental Registration. This Ordinance would provide for a fee of $25 .00 per structure for a four year period. Enforcement of the Ordinance would be the duty of the Bureau of Inspection Services. The proposed Ordinance sets out the following violations : 1. Failure to register. 2 . Failure of tenant to vacate within 60 days when not registered or when registration is revoked. 3 . Failure of owner to vacate all tenants when registration is revoked. 4 . Any person other than the Bureau of Inspections Services who removes any notice which has been posted, pursuant to ordinance requirements . The penalty for code violations range from $50. 00 to $500 .00 per day, with an appeal process available. The anticipated revenue for this program could amount to $82 , 000 for a four year period. The Bureau of Inspection Services would require one additional clerical position, the cost of which is approximately $20, 000 . Staff asked the following questions of the Council in relation to the program: 1. Should the City undertake the Rental Registration Program. 2. Is further imput needed. 3 . Is the proposed Ordinance acceptable. Councilman Gilliam asked what power does this program give to the City. Gordon Burkart stated the City will gain information which will be helpful in taking ordinance violations to court . The City will also be in a position to revoke the registration if the violations are not corrected. Councilwoman Moylan asked if there was any merit to knowing who is the real owner of the property. Mr. Burkart stated it would be an asset when taking the violations to court . Councilman Walters asked if the registration would reflect any changes in having to do with new units , or more tenants . Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 2 Mr. Burkart stated the proposed Ordinance does not address this, but the City would have this knowledge by increased use of utilities . Councilwoman Popple felt the proposed Ordinance had been watered down to the point where it was weak, and the City should have an Ordinance that means something. Councilman Fox stated the Ordinance does seem watered down, but it may help, and it could be expanded down the road and this is a beginning. Councilman Walters stated the Ordinance does provide an opportunity to put them out of business. Jim Cook stated it is one more tool to take to court and establish if they have a license, and have they lied on the registration form as to use. Presently it takes 6 months to a year to get anything done. Mayor VanDeVoorde stated he felt the opponents of this program is "what is coming next" . Councilwoman Moylan stated she thought any public hearings beyond this point would be useless and she would like to accept the Ordinance as proposed. Councilman Walters said he would like to amend the proposed Ordinance to provide the following: 1. The obligation to inform the City wining 30 days of any change of number of units within the building being registered. 2 . Falsification of statements given in the registration are grounds for revocation. The Council further directed that the ordinance be amended to have the organization developed so that the four year relicensing cycle would: a. divide the City up into quadrants with one-fourth of the quadrants being re-registered in each quarter of the year. b. That any registrations which change during the four year period because of change of ownership, etc. , would be registered only to the end of the four year cycle and would require re-resigtration at that time. Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters for staff to amend the subject ordinance , as herein stated, and to place said ordinance on a Council Agenda. Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 3 Yeas :Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Special Assessment District #2 (Area II ) Mel Dahl stated this project shall consist of the construction of a series of streets that are 35 feet back to back of curb with the pavement consisting of 3 or 4 inches of bituminous concrete over 8 and 10 inches of granular base , curb and gutter, storm sewers with catch basins and manholes and PCC driveway approaches, plus some miscellaneous items . The preliminary estimate of cost $5 , 077, 500 . Estimated cost to be assessed to property Owner: Property Owner $5 , 077 , 500 Less Public Benefit 995 , 100 $4 , 082 ,400 A residence on a 50 foot lot would be assess $6 , 379. 00 , which could be paid over a ten year period with an annual percentage rate of 9 percent . Jim Cook stated the streets would be reduced to a width of 26 feet , as is done now in all the new subdivisions. Collector streets would be 35 feet in width. Staff asked the Council to review the following questions : 1. Should the City proceed with the project . 2 . If so, when. 3 . Do we split the project . 4 . How do we determine the City' s financial participation ( Public Benefit ) . 5. Should we start with a public hearing, or initiate the project first and hold the public hearing later. The City Manager stated the project would cost less if the citizens within the district volunteered to a Special Service District , which would eliminate any court process. Savings could also be obtained in securing a bond issue, costs could be reduced from $5 million to $4 million. Councilman Walters stated the project would upgrade the neighborhood and it is needed in that area. Councilman Fox stated it is important that we alert the people as to this proposal. i Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 4 Mayor VanDeVoorde pointed out that Clifton and Carr were not indicated as included in the project , and they should be. Mel Dahl stated this is an error on the map and this location is included in the project . Mayor VanDeVoorde and Councilman Gilliam stated they would like to try the Special Service District approach first . Councilwoman Moylan stated that if the Council had the engineering costs then they could have the public hearing and discuss financing. Councilman Fox stated that you reduce hostility by sending a letter regarding the project , we should not rely on the newspaper to get the word out . Mel Dahl stated staff could handout a letter to each resident affected. Mayor VanDeVoorde asked what the cost would be for an engineering study of the project . Mel Dahl stated it would be approximately $200 , 000 . Mayor VanDeVoorde stated that if 900 of the people do not want it , he would not vote for it . The Mayor stated it is a good idea and it is needed, but he wanted further imput as to how the people feel about it . Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to have staff proceed with the engineering study, and to have letters sent to the residents outlining the project . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. Water Distribution Larry Diebert reviewed with the Council projected capital improvements through 1995 , Maintenance, and the following items not specified in the Donohue & Associates study under date of November 11, 1987 , and presented to the Council on April 26 , 1989 : Riverside Water Treatment Plant Plant expansion to 32MGD capacity. New High zone pump and discharge line. acquiring additional land for water storage facility. Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 5 Slade Avenue facility Demolish abandoned treatment facility Construct building for booster pumps and electric controls. Provide work area and office space for meter shop. Airlite Street Water Treatment Plant Second discharge line. Staff presented the following policy issues: 1. Funding alternatives 2 . Water conservation 3 . Rate structure 4 . Response to other communities. Jim Cook stated the Towers much be provided as development occurs and the cost of same should be paid by the developers. Mayor VanDevoorde stated he would like to see comparison of water rates for Elgin versus Lake Michigan users and other municipalities . Mr. Cook stated the water contract with Sleepy Hollow runs to 2001, and they are now requesting additional volumes of water. The contract with Bartlett runs to 2019 , and has a built in water projection use. South Elgin would like an emergency standby use for water. Councilman Gilliam asked if 129% is sufficient cost for water to Sleepy Hollow. Mr. Cook stated this is not sufficient and now they want to compete with us in future development . Sleepy Hollow should be paying in the 175% range. Water rates should cover maintenance costs and additional growth should be paid for by bonds. Councilwoman Moylan stated staff to proceed to investigate the possibility of acquiring land for the Riverside plant . Mr. Cook stated he could furnish this at the next meeting. Mayor VanDeVoorde stated that he was opposed to selling water to other communities and thereby reducing the amount of water to be made available to Elgin 's citizens . Councilmen Gilliam and Walters stated they would like staff to look into the water rate structure. 2 Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 6 Garbage Collection and Recycling Staff prepared the following issues to be addressed: 1. Should we proceed with an RFP to contract out only garbage collection. 2 . Should we proceed with an RFP to contract out only curbside recyling. 3 . Should we proceed with an RFP to contract out both garbage collection and curbside recycling. 4 . Should we proceed with a plan to implement volume- related charges for garbage collection by the bag. Councilman Fox stated he would like to see what the fees for homeowners would be. Councilwoman Moylan stated the public should be educated as to the costs . Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Shales for staff to develop an RFP for a total package and for recycling only. Staff should also proceed to release information to the citizens informing them of the pending programs. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays : None. Councilman Fox requested that the subject of composting be placed on the next Committee of the Whole agenda. South Grove Development Councilman Fox state he had directed a memorandum to the Council outlining his suggestions to be used for criteria in the preparation of a RFP for this project . 1. To seek out a viable development that will give the City back its investment . 2 . To provide for public access to the riverfront . 3 . Use of the property and aesthetic ' s of the property. 4 . Visual impact (height of buildings ) Jim Cook stated that security is an important issue in obtaining a high quality development . A modular development could be built with open space in the middle. Mr. Cook suggested that the Elgin Development Corporation be given the Council' s criteria and used as as judging group. Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 7 Councilwoman Popple stated the Council needs to talk about money relative to the purchase of riverfront property. The anticipated money from small grants will never be enough and the Council needs to push on a plan for the riverfront . Drugs and Gangs Councilwoman Shales suggested that a task force be implemented, consisting of a Council member, staff and citizens from the community, to deal with the present problems. Jim Cook stated a special program has been instituted (USA) to deal with the drug problems . The staff has been unsuccessful in trying to form a neighborhood group, there is no interest in such a group and these programs need localized interest . Mr. Cook further stated there is a high rate of gang related incidents right now, but a task force will not solve this. We are very close to having a war and that is why the USA program was instituted. Beautification Mr. Cook stated this program needs a high priority in the budget , and more people should be hired. Councilman Fox suggested dividing the City into Sections , have the Boy Scouts, or other groups , clean up areas on a voluntary basis . Mr. Cook stated volunteer work would not do it , a program has to be organized and supervised. Councilwoman Popple stated she would like to have a list of all the illegal signage in the City at the present time. Valley Creek Mr. Cook stated there is a serious flooding problem on Shenandoah Trail, which is the result of the next door neighbor filling in his yard. Mr. Cook stated this is a problem between Valley Creek developers and the homeowners . Lyle Avenue Extension Mr. Cook stated the staff has prepared a draft providing for the extension of the Valley Creek Annexation Agreement . � r Council Retreat June 3 , 1989 Page 8 Said extension would provide for a bridge. The City' s contribution for said bridge would be $50 ,000 , with the balance to be paid by Valley Creek. The staff is in the process of writing to the State to request approval for the opening of Lyle Avenue. Public Relations Councilwoman Moylan felt there is a growing need for a public relations staff person. The Council agreed to explore this matter at budget time . Adjournment Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to adjourn the meeting. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Gilliam, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor VanDeVoorde. Nays: None. The meeting adjourned at 2 :30 p.m. Q e Marie Yearmj"PA Cit Clerk Y