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Home My WebLink About17 - September 8, 2010 COW COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING September 8, 2010 The regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order by Mayor Schock at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Absent: None. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Steffen made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Warren, to approve the minutes of the August 25, 2010, regular meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Update on City Council Strategic Initiatives and Planning Efforts City Manager Stegall provided an update on the accomplishments over the past year and a foundation for continued discussion and planning for the strategic planning process. Mr. Stegall said that the challenges of the last year have included protecting the city’s financial health, transforming city services, and initiating revitalization efforts. Strategies have included a layoff, budget cuts, process improvements, flexibility and cross-training of employees, partnerships and citizen engagement, defining who we are as a city, and determining short and long term infrastructure needs. He also noted that the city ended the year of 2009 with a slight surplus and no tax increase, making the city unique among other Midwest municipalities. Mr. Stegall cited favorable comments from Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings, and several magazine articles regarding the city’s financial stability and amenities. Strategies for the future will include revenue diversification, sustainable development, enhancing engagement and communication efforts within Elgin’s community, business retention, and continuing to position the city for economic growth. Councilmember Gilliam stated that he did not think that staff and the city had been given enough credit for having a balanced budget without raising taxes and he thanked Mr. Stegall for the presentation. Update on Schedule for City Construction Projects Public Services Director, David Lawry, provided an update on city projects currently under construction. Those projects completed already include: Big Timber - McLean to Randall; CBD Underground – Phase IV; and Spartan Drive. On-going projects include:  Highland Avenue Sewer Separation – landscape restoration expected by end of September  Bent Street Sewer Separation – completion expected by the end of September  CBD Phase IV Streetscape Improvements – completion expected by the end of the year  Park / Gifford Street Rehabilitation – completion by the end of September  Spring Street Rehabilitation - completion by the end of October Committee of the Whole September 8, 2010 Page 2  Highland Avenue Reconstruction – restoration and striping by mid-October  Neighborhood Resurfacing Project: Nesler Road - complete Northwest Quadrant (old Area I) - complete Sexauer / Triggs / Heine - complete Randall Ridge - complete Cobbler’s Crossing - surface this week Summerhill – leveling this week Highland Glen – milling and binder this week Illinois / Bent – concrete and milling this week Kenneth Circle – To be completed if weather allows Davis Road – To be completed if weather allows Bluff City Cemetery – To be completed if weather allows  MFT Intermittent Resurfacing – Bluff City Blvd. – completed by the end of September. Mr. Lawry also noted the following pending projects:  Big Timber East – LAPP AND ARRA funded. IDOT has not released bids. Project not likely to be started this year and will carry over to 2011  North McLean – ERP funded. IDOT has not approved bid package. Project will be completed in 2011  Special Assessment Project – Paperwork will be submitted to Kane County for approval by the end of October. Project will be bid by the end of this year with construction commencing in 2011. Councilmember Kaptain asked if Mr. Lawry expected any problems with IDOT regarding Highland Avenue and Mr. Lawry stated that he did not. Mayor Schock expressed his appreciation for all of the hard work that has gone into these projects. Mr. Lawry said the credit should go to Kyla Jacobsen and Joe Evers. Consideration of Purchase of Service Agreement with Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Steffen, to approve the Purchase of Service Agreement with Public Action to Deliver Shelter to provide financial support in the amount of $21,190. Councilmember Dunne asked why there was an eight percent increase over that of the previous year. Mr. Stegall answered that it was because of the increase in unemployment and thus the increase in the number of homeless. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Committee of the Whole September 8, 2010 Page 3 Consideration of 2001A and 2002 General Obligation Bond Refunding Councilmember Steffen made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to authorize the refunding of General Obligation (G.O.) Refunding Bonds, Series 2001A and G.O. Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2002 in order to realize significant debt service savings. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of an Agreement with Casey Equipment for Rental of Wheel Loaders for Two Salt Storage Facilities Councilmember Dunne made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Prigge, to approve a contract for the rental of two wheel loaders for the 2010/2011 winter season with Casey Equipment at a cost of $31,200. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Acceptance of Public Improvements on Lambert Lane Councilmember Dunne made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Steffen, to accept the public improvements for ownership and maintenance within the Lambert Lane right of way. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Sharing Agreement with Rosen KIA Automobile Dealership Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Warren, to approve the economic incentive agreement with Rosen KIA of Elgin that rebates twenty-five percent of the sales tax revenue generated by the dealership during a ten-year term. Councilmember Steffen asked if this agreement would prohibit the dealership from seeking any other grants from the city. Mr. Stegall said that it did not. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Announcements from Council Mayor Schock said that he had recently attended an event at Multifilm, a company located on the north side of Elgin. He said this is a small company that has experienced solid growth and that they have recently installed a geo-thermal heating/cooling system that will help them to stay competitive. A tour of the company may be watched on Channel 17. Committee of the Whole September 8, 2010 Page 4 Councilmember Kaptain announced that Neighborhood Housing Services, Elgin Community Network, and the City of Elgin are hosting another Neighbor Works event on September 25, 2010. It will be held in the Garfield School neighborhood. Councilmember Warren announced that the Rotary Club, In the Neighborhood Deli, and the Elgin Community Network will sponsor a community luncheon after the completion of the Neighbor Works project. Mayor Schock complimented Councilmember Kaptain and the Neighbor Works program for the improvements they made during the last event. Announcements from Staff Mr. Stegall announced that Chief John Henrici will be retiring as Fire Chief in November, 2010. Chief Henrici was recognized for his fifty years in fire service. Chief Swoboda provided an update on the calls for service at the various Larkin Center locations. As of August 31, 2010, there have been a total of 791 calls at five locations. This accounts for two percent of all the calls for police service. Most of these calls involve runaways and incidents within the facilities. Chief Swoboda stated that the Police Department has been working with the Larkin Center to alleviate these problems and that he is cautiously optimistic. He noted that ultimately Larkin Center would like to abandon their group homes and consolidate their residents in one facility. Councilmember Prigge expressed his concerns about the large amount of calls. He asked that another report be given in ninety days. Cherie Murphy, Assistant to the City Manager for Community Engagement, announced upcoming city events. Adjournment Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Steffen, to adjourn the meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. s/ Diane Robertson September 22, 2010 Diane Robertson, City Clerk Date Approved