96-207 Resolution No . 96-207
RESOLUTION
ACCEPTING THE REPORT OF THE STATE STREET TASK FORCE
AND DIRECTING IMPLEMENTATION
WHEREAS, the City Council directed the formation of the
State Street Task Force to determine priorities for
improvements in the area; and
WHEREAS , on June 26 , 1996 , the City Manager delivered
this report and recommendations .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that it hereby accepts the report and
directs the City Manager to take action necessary to implement
the recommendations of the State Street Task Force in its
report of June 24 , 1996 entitled "Report of State Street Task
Force" , except that the Building Improvement Program shall
require dollar matching by grantees and no project shall
exceed the sum of $25 , 000 in matching city funds .
s/ Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly, Mayor
Presented: July 10 , 1996
Adopted: July 10 , 1996
Omnibus Vote : Yeas 7 Nays 0
Attest :
s/ Dolonna Mecum
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
JUNE 26, 1996
The regular Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order
by Mayor Kelly at 6 : 30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room.
Present: Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters,
Yearman, and Mayor Kelly. Absent: Councilmember Gilliam.
Approval of Minutes
Councilwoman Yearman made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Walters , to approve the minutes of the June 12 , 1996 , meeting.
Yeas : Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters, Yearman
and Mayor Kelly. Nays : None.
Release of Judgment - 494 N. Commonwealth Avenue
Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Yearman, to authorize a reduction in the amount of the City' s
judgment, which is a lien against the above property, and to
execute a code compliance escrow agreement. Yeas :
Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters, Yearman and
Mayor Kelly. Nays : None.
Report of State Street Task Force
Councilman Gavin, Chairman of the State Street Task Force,
presented the report of the task force and highlighted some of
the concerns of the area business owners and their
recommendations . He suggested that the following two changes be
made to the recommendations contained in the report: Eliminate
Building Improvements Stage One, which would allow a grant of
$3,000 per taxing address and go directly to Stage Two, which is
a dollar for dollar match by the property owner to City funding;
stipulate that there be a $25,000 maximum of City money spent
per taxing address . Councilman McKevitt suggested a change to
Paragraph C ( 10) of the guidelines for this funding to state
that contracts will be negotiated with the two low bidders
instead of -requiring that the contract be awarded to the lowest
bidder.
Discussion was held concerning the recommendation to explore the
possibility of relocating the Van Den Bergh Foods employee
parking lot north of their truck parking and loading docks,
which area is now part of Foundry Park.
Councilman Gavin made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Yearman, to approve the recommendations of the State Street Task
Force with the proposed minor changes as outlined above. Yeas :
Councilmembers Gavin, McKevitt, Schock, Walters , Yearman and
Mayor Kelly. Nays : None.
Elm"n �/ v
Agenda Item No .
June 24 , 1996
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilman Terry Gavin, Chairman
Deborah Nier, Staff Liason
SUBJECT: Report of State Street Task Force
PURPOSE
To present the recommendations of the State Street Task Force.
BACKGROUND
The State Street Task Force was formed at the direction of
the City Council in an effort to solicit input from property
and business owners to determine priorities for improvements
in the area. Members of the State Street Task Force are:
Allen Anderson, New Century Partnership
Richard DeBoer, New Century Partnership
Ed Dohring, B & D Office Machines
Harvey Eisner, New Century Partnership
* Terry Gavin, Elgin City Council
Victor Gonzalez, Elgin Jewelers
Dale Jaacks, New Century Partnership
* Chairman
Staff working with the task force included:
Gene Belmonte, Dept. of Code Administration
Officer Clayton Braddish, Elgin Police Department
David Lawry, Engineering
Deborah Nier, New Century Partnership
Diana McNeil, Planning Dept.
Meeting announcements were sent to property and business
owners in the State Street area inviting their attendance and
participation. Normally, six property/business owners attend-
ed in addition to those serving as task force members .
Meetings of the task force were held on the following dates :
April 18
May 20
June 5
June 17
A. Priority Issues
The Task Force identified three major priority issues to
which attention should be given:
1 . Parking
2 . Lighting and Security
3 . Building Improvements
PARKING
The undisputed major concern of the property and business
owners was parking, in terms of both number of spaces avail-
able and location. Although many of the businesses are operat-
ing successfully, customers are inconvenienced by lack of
close parking. Business owners admit that employees and own-
ers use some of the existing parking which should be avail-
able for customers . There simply is not an alternative park-
ing location for this use .
It is the recommendation of the task force to take steps to
provide adequate parking for customers and employees . This
should be accomplished as expeditiously as possible by:
1 . Acquiring property and constructing a surface parking
lot. Suggested locations :
a. 9 S . State Street ( former Brady Brick building)
Location A on Map I .
b. Parking lot on northwest corner of State Street and
Highland Avenue. This lot is currently owned by Van
Den Bergh Foods who have indicated an interest in
exploring relocating their employee parking north of
their truck parking and loading docks . Location B on
Map I .
C . Vacant railroad property west of the Chicago
Northwestern railroad tracks and Crystal Avenue .
Location C on Map I .
d. Or any other appropriate location that might
become available in the State Street area .
2 . Making efforts to provide short-term parking relief
by designating areas for parking where parking is
currently prohibited.
LIGHTING AND SIDEWALK REPAIR/REPLACEMENT
a . Adequate street and pedestrian lighting is considered
essential to both the security and aesthetics of the
area . Poor lighting creates "dark spaces" thereby
increasing a heightened sense of danger and providing
hiding places for potentially undesirable and illegal
activity. The task force feels that improvements in
both overhead and pedestrian lighting will help the
visibility for area businesses .
In addition to the security issues, ornamental
pedestrian lighting will improve the appearance of
this gateway area and create an identity as a vital
business district.
It is the recommendation of the task force to include
the State Street gateway area in a comprehensive
lighting plan including street lighting, pedestrian
lighting and security lighting.
1 . Continue the CBD lighting program to begin in 1996 ,
to include the State Street gateway area,
specifically the west and east sides of State
Street between West Chicago Street and Highland Ave.
2 . Provide for lighting of the space between the rear
of the buildings on the east side of State Street
and the PACE bus terminal . Discussions with METRA
are urged on this item.
b. Given the deteriorating condition of the sidewalks and
curbs feels that repairs or replacement is required for
both pedestrian safety and appearance.
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
Building owners have expressed a desire to make improvements
to their building facades in an effort to both stabilize the
building and enhance its appearance.
The task force recommends that a Building Improvement Program
have the following profile:
A. Stage One : Property owners will be allowed a grant of
$3 , 000 per taxing address . There are 21 taxing addresses in
the target area. The property owner could utilize the money
for building repairs or improvements as approved by a review
team. The owner would have no obligation to pursue a larger
project .
Stage Two: Any property owner desiring to pursue a
project beyond that allowed by the $3, 000 rebate, could par-
ticipate in a program which would require a dollar for dollar
match of property owner money to City funds . B. Budget:
Stage One Budget $ � 63, 000
Stage Two Budget 103 , 000
Total $166 , 000
C. Guidelines : The following general guidelines• will be
applied:
1 . Exterior improvements only.
2 . Roof repairs/replacement not eligible.
3 . Improvements need to be compatible with the
architecture of the building.
4 . Program will not pay for repair or creation if
inappropriate features as determined by review staff .
5 . Funds may be applied toward architectural services .
6 . Property owners may utilize the program one time only,
unless additional funds are made available .
7 . Landscaping will be an eligible activity.
8 . An application for participation will be required
which will be reviewed by appropriate staff .
Inclusion of property owner may be considered as part
of review staff .
9 . Checks will not be issued until approved work has been
completed, and waivers of lien obtained.
10 . Bids will be required to assure lowest price.
COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED
State Street area business and property owners .
FINANCIAL IMPACT
LEGAL IMPACT
ALTERNATIVES
1 . Accept recommendations of State Street Task Force.
2 . Provide comments on State Street Task Force and points
which need further discussion.
RECOMMENDATION
The State Street Task Force requests City Council acceptance
of the report and encourages implementation of program recom-
mendations .
Respectfull su fitted,
Council an Terry Gavin
Chairman, State Task Force
k. 'N.�
D rborah Kier, Director
N tury Partnership
1 tom.
�Richard B. Helwig
City Manager
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