HomeMy WebLinkAboutk - June 13, 2007 COW
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
June 13, 2007
The regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Schock at 6:05 p.m.
in the Council Chambers. Present: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers,
Steffen, Walters and Mayor Schock. Absent: None.
Approval of Minutes
Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve the
minutes of the May 23, 2007, regular meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers
Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters and Mayor Schock. Nays: None.
Consideration of a Proposed Ordinance Establishing Standards for the Construction of
Utility Facilities in the Right-of-Way
An ordinance will be presented at tonight’s Council meeting for passage by the City Council.
Consideration of a HOME Investment Partnership Consortium Agreement
A resolution will be presented at tonight’s Council meeting for adoption by the City Council.
Consideration of a Residential Redevelopment Assistance for 1000 N. Preston Avenue
Councilmember Figueroa questioned if the developer anticipated any difficulty selling the
condominiums due to the current slump in the housing market.
Mr. Keith Farnham stated that he anticipated no problems in marketing and selling the
condominiums once they were complete due to the unique nature of the project.
Mayor Schock stated that he was excited to see the vacant, blighted property put back into
productive use.
Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve a
redevelopment agreement with Keith Farnham of Hilltop Realty in the amount of $150,000 for
development assistance related to the conversion of the former Elgin Homes Dairy building,
located at 1000 N. Preston Avenue, into four two-bedroom condominium units. Upon a roll call
vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor
Schock. Nays: None.
Committee of the Whole
June 13, 2007
Page 2
Consideration of an Award of Phase I and Part of Phase II of the Comprehensive Retail
Plan for the City of Elgin
Councilmember Powers stated that he would be giving his qualified approval to the Phase I and
part of Phase II of the Comprehensive Retail Plan for the City of Elgin. He believes that Part 1
of Phase I Retail Study will be helpful in bringing in retailers because the data revolves around
demographics and typically this type of study influences retailers. Councilmember Powers
stated that the second part of the proposal that deals with the telephone survey is questionable
and not what retailers look for when evaluating prospective locations, but the retail site audit and
trade area analysis are outstanding. He believes that the Center City Assessment portion of the
proposal is redundant due to the numerous studies that have already been conducted by City
Staff and the Downtown Neighborhood Association and stated that the study could be better
oriented elsewhere.
Councilmember Steffen stated that he would like to reiterate Councilmember Powers’ point
about the redundancy of the Center City portion of the proposal and would have liked to see the
City work with the groups that have already conducted their own surveys. He also would like
Staff to look into modifying the scheduling of the Phases of the Comprehensive Plan and to
address the east side of Elgin’s lack of retail sooner rather than during the current scheduling in
Phase 4.
Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to authorize a
professional service agreement with Melaniphy and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $94,500
for Phase I of the City’s comprehensive retail analysis, and a professional service agreement
with 4 Insights in the amount of $34,300 for preliminary assessment to in the Center City area
for Phase II of the City’s comprehensive retail analysis. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas:
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock.
Nays: None.
Consideration of an Agreement with Ameritech for Enhanced 9-1-1 Services
Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to accept the
renewal agreement with Ameritech and pay a monthly invoice for the City’s Enhanced 911
access line charges in the amount of $5,670 plus applicable taxes. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas:
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock.
Nays: None.
Consideration of Prevailing Wage Rates
Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Gilliam, to approve a
proposed resolution establishing prevailing wages on Public Works projects in accordance with
the Illinois Department of Labor’s rate schedule. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers
Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None.
Committee of the Whole
June 13, 2007
Page 3
Consideration of an Engineering Services Agreement with Rezek, Henry, Meisenheimer
and Gende, Inc. for the 2007 Sanitary Sewer Master Plan
Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to authorize the
execution of an agreement with Rezek, Henry, Meisenheimer, and Gende, Inc. in an amount not
to exceed $99,753 for the 2007 Sanitary Sewer Master Plan. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas:
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock.
Nays: None.
Consideration of a Cook County Automobile Dealership Incentive Program Application
for McGrath Nissan
Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to authorize a
participation agreement with McGrath Nissan for the Sales Tax Sharing facet of the Cook
County Automobile Dealership Incentive Program. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas:
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock.
Nays: None.
Consideration of Amendment No. 2 to an Engineering Service Agreement with Stanley
Consultants for the Street Sign Inventory and Upgrade Project
Councilmember Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve
Amendment No. 2 to the engineering services contract with Stanley Consultants in the amount of
$100,000 for the street Signage Inventory and Upgrade Project. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas:
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock.
Nays: None.
Consideration of a Purchase of Portable Radio Batteries from Motorola
Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Figueroa, to approve an
exception to the procurement ordinance and to authorize an agreement with Motorola in the
amount of $13,183.02 for the purchase of 162 portable radio batteries. Upon a roll call vote:
Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and Mayor
Schock. Nays: None.
Consideration of a Purchase of Six Mobile Radios, Four Portable Radios and Associated
Hardware from Motorola
Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to approve an
exception to the procurement ordinance and to authorize an agreement with Motorola in the
amount of $39,759.16 for the purchase of mobile radios, portable radios, and the associated
hardware. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers,
Steffen, Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None.
Committee of the Whole
June 13, 2007
Page 4
Consideration of a Public Hearing on the Naming of City Parks
Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to approve the
naming of three new City parks to be known as Channing Park, Grant School Park, and Prairie
Park. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Steffen,
Walters, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None.
Consideration of an Intergovernmental Agreement with Fox River Water Reclamation
District for the Lime Waste Disposal Main Project
Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to authorize an
agreement with the Fox River Water Reclamation District to allow for a joint venture to
construct the additional Lime Waste Disposal main for the Water Department. Upon a roll call
vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Walters, and Mayor Schock.
Nays: None. Councilmember Steffen abstained due to a conflict of interest.
Consideration of Acceptance of the Palmer Foundation Matching Grant for the Elgin Art
Showcase
Councilmember Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Walters, to approve
accepting the Palmer Grant in the amount of $21,000 for the Elgin Art Showcase. Upon a roll
call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Kaptain, Powers, Walters, and Mayor
Schock. Nays: None. Councilmember Steffen abstained due to a conflict of interest.
Announcements from Council
Councilmember Gilliam asked that the Council consider acknowledging the overwhelming
consensus of the citizens of Elgin that the leaf pickup conducted by the Public Works
Department will continue and residents will not be required to bag their leaves in the fall. He
stated that he and other members of the Council have received a significant number of calls and
correspondence stating that the citizens see this proposal diminishing services rather than
improving them. The Mayor and other Councilmembers agreed that the bagging of leaves was a
dead issue and would no longer be pursued as an option and asked residents to be mindful of not
parking on the streets in their respective communities on the days noted for leaf pick up by the
Public Works Department.
City Manager Folarin stated that Staff will look into other options to improve City services
provided to residents other than the bagging option brought forth at the last Council retreat on
May 16, 2007.
Councilmember Figueroa questioned when Police Chief Womack would be doing the
presentation on crime statistics and asked that it soon be included in an upcoming meeting.
Committee of the Whole
June 13, 2007
Page 5
Councilmember Powers reminded residents that there would be a sing-a-long version of the
Wizard of Oz at Festival Park on June 23, 2007, starting at dusk.
Councilmember Kaptain commended Police Officer Schneider for pulling the individual on the
railroad tracks to safety the other night.
Councilmember Steffen encouraged residents to visit the Downtown Neighborhood
Association’s (DNA) Harvest Market which will be held on Thursdays starting June 14, 2007,
and continuing through September 27, 2007. Councilmember Steffen also reminded residents of
the Residence Tour that is being hosted by the DNA which will feature lofts in the historic
district and new townhomes in the downtown area on June 23, 2007.
Announcements from Staff
City Manager Folarin stated from this meeting forward that Public Information Officer Sue
Olafson will make announcements regarding upcoming events within the City of Elgin.
Public Information Officer Olafson listed the following upcoming events:
Prairie Rock’s Annual Brewfest will be held June 15th and 16th at Festival Park. She stated the
event is free to the public and will include several vendors and live entertainment.
Juneteenth Festival will be held June 16th and 17th at the Civic Center Plaza. She stated it is an
African-American festival of food and fun. This event is also free to the public.
Adjournment
Councilmember Gilliam 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, Powers, Steffen, Walters, and
Mayor Schock. Nays: None.
The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
s/Jennifer Quinton June 27, 2007
Jennifer Quinton, Acting City Clerk Date Approved