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HomeMy WebLinkAboutw - September 27 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING September 27, 2006 The regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Schock at 6:07 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Absent: None. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the minutes of the September 13, 2006, regular meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of the 2006/2007 Insurance Policies A resolution will be presented at tonight’s Council meeting for adoption by the City Council. Presentation by the Veterans Memorial Committee Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Sandor, to continue the presentation by the Veterans Memorial Committee to the October 11, 2006, Committee of the Whole Meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of a Highway Safety Project Grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Rodgers, to accept the Highway Safety Project Grant in the amount of $85,792.05 from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of the Purchase of an Interim Records Management System from Woodland Computing Group, Inc. Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Rodgers, to approve the agreement with Woodland Computing Group, Incorporated in the amount of $24,340 to provide an interim records management system for the Elgin Police Department. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole September 27, 2006 Page 2 Consideration of Change Order No. 1 to the Contract with Brandenberg Industrial Services for the Demolition of Various City-owned Buildings Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve Change Order No. 1 in the contract with Brandenburg Industrial Services in the amount of $19,140.96 for charges from ComEd related to the removal of equipment from the former Unilever site. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of a Proposed Ordinance Amendments Relating to Noise Issues Councilmember Rodgers made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to adopt the proposed ordinance amending the City’s ordinances relating to the specified noise issues. Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to amend Section 1 of the proposed ordinance relating to restaurant hours of operation adjacent to any residentially zoned property to provide that they not be permitted to operate between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 1:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Councilmember Kaptain stated that he would have liked to have had input from the effected restaurants and have staff explore giving the restaurants the option of hiring security. Other Councilmembers stated that the restaurants hiring security has previously been done but has not alleviated the problem of patrons partying in other parts of the neighborhood. Upon a roll call vote on the proposed ordinance as amended above: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of an Engineering Services Agreement with K-Plus Engineering, LTD. For the Westfield Business Park Water Main Investigation Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Rodgers, to approve the agreement with K-Plus Engineering in the not-to-exceed amount of $49,300 for the Westfield Business Park Water Main Investigation. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Acceptance of an Easement Grant for Water Main on Property Owned by Ryan Companies US, Inc., Located at the Southwest Corner of Alft Lane and Alft Court Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to accept the plat of easement grant by Ryan Companies US, Inc. for the water main on property owned by Ryan Companies US, Inc. located on the southwest corner of Alft Lane and Alft Court in the Randall Crossing Business Park of Elgin. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Committee of the Whole September 27, 2006 Page 3 Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Change Order No. 1 and Final with Arrow Road Construction Company for the 2006 Unimproved Street Program Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Rodgers, to approve Change Order No. 1 and Final with Arrow Road Construction in the amount of $12,472.91, with a final contract value of $251,537.88 for the 2006 Unimproved Street Program. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Amendment No. 1 to the Engineering Services Agreement with Smith Group JJR, LLC for the Entry Corridor Improvements Project Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Sandor, to approve Amendment No. 1 with Smith Group JJR, LLC in the amount of $169,490 for additional engineering services and construction related engineering services on the Entry Corridor Improvements Project. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of a Reduction in Payment of a Housing Court Fine Entered by Default Judgment Against the Property at 376 Park Street Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to accept a reduced fine payment for the default judgment entered in housing court against the property located at 376 Park Street. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Mayor Schock and Councilmember Sandor stated that in the future the City’s cost should be calculated and considered in reference to any possible reduction in fines. Consideration of a Proposed Development Agreement with Water Street Place, LLC Providing for the Redevelopment of the Former Library Property at 200 North Grove Avenue Attorney Peter Bazos introduced the members of the Water Street Place development team which is composed of Ryan Companies US and RSC & Associates. In 2004, the City issued proposals to developers for an “Urban Development Proposal” for a mixed use residential, retail, and commercial project for the former library property. Staff was direct to negotiate with the above-named development team. The Planning and Development Commission has recommended approval of the proposed project. Various members of the development team described the details of the proposal which included the design for the project, the project goals, and the landscape features. The project includes a Committee of the Whole September 27, 2006 Page 4 16-story tower building, which will have 146 condos, eight townhouses, 237 private parking spaces and about 18,400 square feet of retail space at the street level of the building. Four restaurants will front the river, and a new street called Water Street will be built to run through the development. At City Manager Folarin’s request, Corporation Counsel Cogley described to the Council and audience the major points contained in the development agreement. A market study will be conducted to insure that the project will be successful. The property is in a TIF District, so future increases in taxes, currently estimated to be $36,000,000, will go to the City during the period of the TIF. After completion of the feasibility study, the property will be conveyed to the developers. Mr. Cogley stated that a set of performance standards are included in the agreement as well as a list of permitted uses and a list of prohibited uses. The $10.8 million of development assistance from the City will be paid in installments. The property will also include a number of public improvements. Some of the Councilmember comments regarding the project and proposed development agreement, include the following: Councilmember Kaptain stated that he doesn’t think there is sufficient parking, and he doesn’t believe the project adheres to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. He said that he cannot support the project because he doesn’t believe it will be successful. He further commented that the project is on the busiest downtown street, and yet the developers are requesting the largest incentive in the City’s history. Councilmember Gilliam expressed the concerns of a friend of his who believes that his taxes will be paying for this project, and he is against incentives. Councilmember Sandor stated that this project brings a different lifestyle which he described as an urban lifestyle in a suburban setting. He believes the development agreement has a lot of safe guards in place and supports going the next step of having a marketing study conducted. Councilmember Rodgers stated that she hasn’t been in favor of incentives for developers and would prefer giving incentives for increased jobs. She also questioned how the developers could be so confident that the condos would sell in a slowing housing market. Councilmember Figueroa stated that some people will be amazed at the quality of this premier project and others will question giving the developers $10.8 million. He stated that he hopes this development exceeds everyone’s expectations. Mayor Schock stated that incentives to developers is not a new occurrence in Elgin. He stated that the City’s largest incentive package was the donation of land and subsequent purchase of stock in the Elgin Watch Factory. The second largest incentive was when the City purchased the land on which Elgin Mental Health Center (EMHC) is located, and then gave it to the State of Illinois so that they would bring the EMHC to Elgin. It’s been a long tradition in Elgin, over a Committee of the Whole September 27, 2006 Page 5 hundred years, and in other communities, to give incentives to spur development with City participation. He also stated that this property has not generated a penny of taxes for many years. The only way we can get tax money is to spend money. Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Sandor, to approve the proposed development agreement with Water Street Place, LLC which would provide for the redevelopment of the former library building property located at 200 North Grove Avenue. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: Councilmember Kaptain and Councilmember Rodgers. Announcements from Council Councilmember Rodgers stated that she wanted to clarify information given or said at the budget meeting. She said the discussion was about the street lighting analysis or assessment, and the Council did receive an inventory which was complete. However, she was referring to the presentation that the Council is waiting on from the City Manager’s office to be given to the City Council. She didn’t want the residents to think that the presentation had already been made to the Council since it has not been. Announcements from Staff Fire Chief Falese stated that October 8 to 14 is Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is “Be Careful What You’re Cooking.” More fires start in kitchens than any other room in the house. An open house will be held at Fire Station #2 on Big Timber Road on Saturday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A lot of activities are planned for the kids, and there will be helicopters coming in. He issued an invitation for everyone to come to the open house and become acquainted with the Fire Department and with firefighters. Adjournment Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to adjourn the meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. s/Dolonna Mecum October 11, 2006 Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk Date Approved