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HomeMy WebLinkAbouty - October 25 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING October 25, 2006 The rescheduled regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Schock at 5:07 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Absent: None. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2006, regular meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Presentation of the Riverside Drive Reconstruction Project Designs Public Works Director Loete stated that the staff and Riverfront Project Management Team have been going through the selection process of consultants to work with the City to rehabilitate and redesign the use for the Riverside deck. The two top firms were given guidelines to make a presentation looking at three different concepts. One of the concepts is to be modeled after preliminary work done a couple years ago on the deck. The second one is to be modeled after the concept of a deck which will allow access to the water rather than an overlook above the water. The third one is a free form concept. Rick Hitchcock of Hitchcock Design Group stated that their group has worked with the City on several projects, they know how to do the public input process and how to do the construction. They have better experience, a better approach, and know how to “do” bridges. Hey and Associates, which would be part of the group working on the project, works very well with the Corps of Engineers and Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Hitchcock described their ideas for the three concepts they were asked to explore and gave estimated costs of each. He gave cost estimates, possible uses, and an estimated timeline for each concept. To give the second presenter an opportunity to set up for their presentation, the Council proceeded with the following agenda items. Consideration of an Amendment to Title 20, entitled “Certificate of Appropriateness”, of the Elgin Municipal Code Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to authorize staff to proceed with an amendment to Title 20 of the Elgin Municipal Code which will allow staff to take appropriate enforcement action when a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is issued and the work is completed in a manner that does not conform to the requirements of the approved COA. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole October 25, 2006 Page 2 Consideration of an Amendment to Chapter 6.45.040 of the Elgin Municipal Code, “Permit for Solicitation on Public Streets or Sidewalks” Councilmember Rodgers made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the amendments to Chapter 6.45.040 of the Elgin Municipal Code, “Permit for Solicitation of Funds on Public Streets or Sidewalks”. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of a Purchase of Service Agreement with Public Action to Deliver Shelter Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Sandor, to approve the purchase of service agreement with Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) providing financial support in the amount of $30,400 to be used solely for operating expenses, including site coordinator salary expenses. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Councilmember Gilliam left the meeting briefly. Consideration of TranSystems for Development of a Bicycle Route Master Plan Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the engineering services agreement with TranSystems in the not-to-exceed amount of $97,147 for the development of the Bicycle Route Master Plan. Corporation Cogley explained the legal ramification if specific bike lanes are designated. Mayor Schock stated that since people can already ride their bikes on the streets, why the City would want to designate specific bike lanes which would increase the City’s liability and make the City more susceptible to law suits if someone gets hurt. Councilmember Kaptain stated that the designated bikeways would act as arteries and would just be on major streets. Ninety percent of the streets would not be included in the designation. He also stated that it would provide a margin of safety for bicyclists. As it in other communities, they have connected themselves to existing bikeways downtown and designated routes to get to that designation. Councilmember Sandor stated that he shares some of the same concerns as the Mayor. He stated that if the City is going to create something that increases liability and responsibility for maintenance, he hopes that the street designations are kept to the bare minimum needed to provide connectivity. Councilmember Kaptain responded that keeping the bike routes to a minimum has been the process in other communities. City Manager Folarin pointed out that the Council isn’t being asked to approve the routes but are being asked to approve the study. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Committee of the Whole October 25, 2006 Page 3 Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Continued Presentation of the Riverside Drive Reconstruction Project Designs Todd Meyer of HOK Planning Group outlined the other entities which are part of the project team. He gave examples of the many projects in which they have been involved in various part of the country. They currently have eight active projects in Chicago. However, he emphasized that they are not only involved in huge projects and really want to be associated with Elgin, which has done so much in the last several years. They described the design process and their ideas for the three concepts. They believe that urban design elements are important, and they view the Riverside deck as a public gathering place. They have worked with funding consultants in the past and also stated that the Department of Natural Resources has bike grant programs. They are very enthusiastic about doing this project. Although the current deck has deteriorated and will have to be demolished, some of the concepts of both presenters retain using the pylons which support the deck and rebuilding at least a portion of the deck. Councilmembers asked and both presenters responded to a number of questions regarding possible increase in cost estimates, maintenance costs, bike paths, traffic on Riverside Drive, clarification regarding filtering of the water that hits the deck, and other matters. Councilmember Gilliam returned to the meeting. Consideration of an Agreement with Big Timber Elgin, Inc. Regarding Construction of Water Tower and Water Main Improvements Near Highland Avenue Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to approve the agreement with Big Timber Elgin, Inc. relating to the construction of certain public improvements near Highland Avenue and a reimbursement to the developer in the amount of $126,509.11. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of the Program Year 2007-2008 Community Development Block Grant Hearing Process Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Rodgers, to schedule the hearing and work session dates for the 2007 CDBG program year as set forth below and to specify the City’s funding priorities and policies as identified in Alternative One for the 2007- 2008 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. First Public Hearing – January 10, 2007 at 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole October 25, 2006 Page 4 City Council Work Session – February 14, 2007, at 6 p.m. Final Public Hearing – March 21, 2007, at 7 p.m. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of the 2007 Schedule of City Council Meetings Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to authorize the proposed resolution setting forth the schedule of the 2007 City Council meetings with the exception of changing the second meeting in March from March 28 to March 21, 2007. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of the Remaining Dates in the 2007 Budget Schedule Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the Budget Schedule as presented below to consider the remaining steps and actions necessary in order to adopt the 2007 Budget and 2007-2011 Financial Plan. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. 11/15/06 City Council Budget Discussion 4:00-8:00 Centre of Elgin 11/29/06 City Council Budget Discussion 5:00-6:30 11/29/06 Public Hearing 7:00 12/6/06 Truth in Taxation Hearing 7:00 12/20/06 Budget Adoption 7:00 Consideration of an Illinois Department of Transportation Highway Safety Project Grant Agreement – Speed Enforcement Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to approve the acceptance of the Illinois Department of Transportation Highway Safety Project Grant in the amount of $44,377.50 for the Elgin Police Department. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Adjournment Councilmember Sandor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to adjourn and go into the Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the following matters. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Rodgers, Sandor, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole October 25, 2006 Page 5 Pending, or Probable or Imminent Litigation Against, Affecting, or on Behalf of the Public Body Before a Court or Administrative Tribunal - Exempt Under Section 120/2(c)(11) of the Open Meetings Act Selection of a Person to Fill a Vacant Office, Including a Vacancy in a Public Office, When the Public Body is Given Power to Appoint Under Law or Ordinance, or the Discipline, Performance or Removal of the Occupant of a Public Office, When the Public Body is Given Power to Remove the Occupant Under Law or Ordinance - Exempt Under Section 120/2(c) (3) of the Open Meetings Act The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. s/Dolonna Mecum November 8, 2006 Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk Date Approved