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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 - February 9, 2011 COW COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING February 9, 2011 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 Warren made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Steffen, to approve the minutes of the January 26, 2011, regular meeting. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Blizzard of 2011 Recognition Mayor Schock read a proclamation recognizing the men and women across all City departments who displayed incredible teamwork and dedication to the community to ensure the safety of its residents and the plowing of its roads during the recent snow storm. It also included the numerous companies who partnered with the City to provide assistance during the storm ranging from providing 4-wheel drive vehicles, plowing and towing services, traffic control and warm meals and beds. Those companies include: Artie’s Towing, Biggers Chevrolet, Bob Brown Excavation, Candlewood Suites, Country Donuts, Great Lakes Snow Service, Kendall’s Kountry Kitchen, Plote Construction, TCP (Traffic Control Protection) and Vessel Excavation. A sign depicting “The Beast”, a large grader that was equipped with plows during the storm, was signed by members of the Public Works Department and presented to the Mayor by Aaron Neal A second proclamation was read by the Mayor recognizing Jim Leichter and Bob Colwell of Biggers Chevrolet who generously offered to provide nine 4x4 sport utility vehicles to the Elgin Police Department and other city departments during the recent snow storm. Lastly, the Mayor read a proclamation recognizing Jack E. Cook who recently passed away. Mr. Cook provided outstanding services to the citizens of the Elgin community throughout his life, both in the private and public sector, including having been the proprietor of Parkview Drugs, Cook’s Pharmacy and Manor Pharmacy; serving in the army in World War II and the Korean War; serving as a 15-year member of the Kane County Board, including serving as President of the Forest Preserve District for 8 years; and having recently served on the City of Elgin’s Veterans Memorial Park Committee resulting in the funding and construction of the Veterans Memorial Park. Committee of the Whole February 9, 2011 Page 2 Work Session for the 2011-2012 Community Development Block Grant Marc Mylott, Community Development Director, reviewed the program and noted that the selected projects and budgets listed within Table 1 below will be subject to a 30-day public review and comment period beginning February 12, 2011, and ending March 15, 2011. The City Council will then conduct the final public hearing on March 23, 2011, where they will review any public comments, consider approving the projects selected for the 2011-2012 CDBG Program, and adopt a resolution authorizing staff to submit the Annual Action Plan to HUD. Tab No.Submitting Organization/Agency Project Name Revised Funding Request Final Budget 1 COE - PNS Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program $500,000 $470,955 2 COE - PNS CDBG Program Administration $75,000 $75,000 3 Renz Center Pavement Project $27,000 $0 4 Senior Services Associates HVAC Upgrade $42,500 $42,500 5 PADS of Elgin Emergency Shelter Assistance $50,000 $50,000 6 HFHNFV Purchase/Rehabiltate One Home $25,000 $0 7 AID EE Rehabilitation (State St only)$53,935 $53,935 8 Well Child Center Phase Two Site Improvements $64,700 $64,700 9 Wayside Cross Ministries Daytime Homeless Shelter Assistance $45,060 $45,060 10 Northern Illinois Food Bank New Food Distribution Center $75,000 $75,000 11 Ecker Center Case Manager Salary $60,410 $0 12 Feeding Greater Elgin New Freezer/Cooler $40,000 $0 13 NHS of the Fox Valley Foreclosure Prevention Counseling $29,750 $0 14 Community Crisis Center Interior Remodeling Project $49,950 $42,850 15 One Hope United Playground Upgrade (Phase 1)$73,262 $0 Total CDBG Funds Requested $1,211,567 $920,000 Left -$291,567 $0 Anticipated 2011 CDBG Funding Allocation $920,000 Capital $951,347 79%$749,940 82% Service $185,220 15%$95,060 10% Admin $75,000 6%$75,000 8% Table 1: Selected Projects and Budgets Councilmember Gilliam and Councilmember Kaptain reviewed the proposals with staff. Councilmember Gilliam said that the criteria for selection were food, shelter, safety, and energy conservation. Councilmember Kaptain thanked staff for their assistance and said he hoped that more money would be available in the future because the certified census has the city above 100,000 residents. Mayor Schock said bills have been introduced in Congress to reduce the program by half. He urged everyone to contact their congressman and ask them to support the program. Mr. Mylott thanked Councilmember Gilliam and Councilmember Kaptain for their work on this project. Committee of the Whole February 9, 2011 Page 3 Consideration of 2010 Property Tax Abatement Councilmember Kaptain made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Steffen, to authorize the Chief Financial Officer to prepare and adjust the amount of the abatement and resulting tax levy to fulfill the City Council’s policy direction of maintaining the 2010 property tax rate at $1.92 per $100 of assessed valuation. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Councilmember Kaptain said the council should review its revenue streams and diversify them more. He has concerns that the property tax has become a large percentage of the revenue. Mayor Schock said that this is the eighteenth consecutive year that the city has maintained the $1.92 tax rate. Due to fallen the property values, most residents should see a reduction in the city portion of their property taxes. Mayor Schock noted that other taxing bodies may have raised their tax rate to offset the decreased property value. He also said that the city would probably not be able to continue this practice. Consideration of Public Improvements within the Edgewater Unit 1 Subdivision Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to accept the public improvements in the Edgewater Unit 1 Subdivision. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Public Improvements within the Edgewater Unit 3 Subdivision Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Dunne, to table consideration of the acceptance of public improvements in the Edgewater Unit 2 Subdivision. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Consideration of Change Order No. 1 and Final with G&M Cement Construction for the 2010 Neighborhood Street Rehabilitation – Highland Avenue Project Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kaptain, to approve change order no. 1 in the amount of $102,577.88 and final payment to G&M Cement Construction in the amount of $133,527.24. Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. Announcements from Council Councilmember Prigge said that he spent time driving around with the City Manager during the storm. He thanked all of the employees who were working during that time and the businesses who helped out. He suggested that ways to prevent drifting should be considered when planning for future new subdivisions. He also said he would be submitting to the council a plan entitled “Hire Elgin” that would include some type of incentives. Committee of the Whole February 9, 2011 Page 4 Councilmember Warren commented on the efforts of the Snow Command noting that the call center returned calls to over 200 residents during the storm. He also thanked all the people who worked behind the scenes. Councilmember Dunne noted that a water main broke during the storm and that a crew had to be pulled from plowing to repair the break. He said the coordination between departments was very good. He also announced a St. Patrick’s Day party at St. Thomas More Church on March 12. Councilmember Gilliam said the staff had done the best snow removing job in thirty-seven years. Councilmember Steffen said he had been in Geneva earlier in the week and that they were just removing the snow from their downtown area. Councilmember Kaptain said he was proud to be in Elgin. Announcements from Staff Cherie Murphy, Assistant to the City Manager for Community Engagement, announced upcoming city events, including the Have a Heart events on February 12, 2011. Adjournment Councilmember Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Dunne, to adjourn to adjourn to Executive Session for the following purposes: Discussion of Minutes of Meetings Lawfully Closed Under This Act - Exempt Under Section 120/2(c)21) 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 Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Specific Employees of the Public Body - Exempt Under Section 120/2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act Committee of the Whole February 9, 2011 Page 5 Collective Bargaining Issues or Deliberations Concerning Salary Schedules for One or More Classes of Employees (Exempt Under Section 120/2(c)(2) of the Open Meetings Act) Upon a roll call vote: Yeas: Councilmembers Dunne, Gilliam, Kaptain, Prigge, Steffen, Warren, and Mayor Schock. Nays: None. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. s/ Diane Robertson February 23, 2011 Diane Robertson, City Clerk Date Approved