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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-1983 Council Meeting Minutes 414 A Special meeting of the Canton City Council was held on July 20th , 1983 in Canton High School for a Public Hearing . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING FOLLOWED BY THE IN- VOCATION GIVEN BY MAYOR EDWARDS . Mayor Edwards asked for roll call at 6 : 30 p .m. Present : Aldermen Kovachevich , Savill , Workman , Carl , May , Horr . Absent : Aldermen Hammond , Sarff. A quorum was present . PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING . Shall be the consideration of the 1983 Amendment to the Canton Redevelopment Plan and Redevelopment Project. This amendment includes a change in the area by the inclusion of two blocks . City Attorney Jim Malmgren reported that the mayor owns property in the tax increment area . Alderman Carl appears to have an interest in property in the tax increment area , with that in mind Mr. Nebel and Jim Malmgren are of the opinion that the mayor and Alderman Carl have a conflict of interest and this point in time prior to starting the public hearing that they excuse themselves from participating in debate , or the public hearing , or in anyway voting upon any question . Mayor Edwards excused himself and asked the clerk to call for a mayor pro-tem . Alderman Savill nominated Alderman Kovachevich . Motion by Alderman Workman , second by Alderman Savill that nomin- ations be closed . Voice vote , motion carried . Motion by Alderman Savill , second by Alderman May that Alderman Kovachevich serve as Mayor Pro-tem for tonight ' s meeting . Voice vote , motion carried . The city ' s representatives gave comments . Jim Malmgren City Attorney stated that he wanted to go over an overview of what we feel the primary points of the proposed 1983 amendment are : The pr8 osed amendment would seek to untarget the present tar- geting pecific buildings for acquisition and destruction by the city in the tax increment area .The proposed amendment con- tains a first time inclusion of the power to construct new sidewalks , lighting , landscaping and associated amenities , using tax increment funds for those purposes . The proposed amendment includes a first time inclusion of the power to make loans for rehabilitation purposes;the proposed amendment pro- vides for the inclusion of underground utilities ;theproposed amendment would abolish the cap on interest rates to be paid on tax increment bonds . The proposed amendment would eliminate the diversion of second avenue thru the Mathews Clinic . The proposed amendment seeks to clarify the question of construction of buildings into the middle of the street on the east and west sides of the square , and would seek to provide for an orderly process accomplishingmovement to the middle of the street . The proposed amendment would include new blocks 18 and 41 in the tax increment area . And the proposddlamendment would include the ability to acquire real propery and to remove structures without further amendment to include a re-determination that check bottom *properties not now scheduled for acquisition should be acquired , or , need not be acquired. The amendment would include many other of the page . matters which are set forth verbatimin the proposed amendment . It does deal with traffic flow matters , and new public ways and I will reserve that for the city engineer ' s comments . In considering the public hearing it is not proposed or in- tended that this special council meeting to take any final action on the proposed amendment; and, at the conclusion of the public heat g , I will request the council to continue the hearing to Aty councilregularily scheduled meeting of September 20th , 1983 in the City Council Chambers , 210 E . Chestnut St . , Canton , Illinois . Cliff Sagaser City Engineer Comments : Recorder could not re- cord his statements . Robert Molleck Police Chief Comments : Recorder could not re- cord his statements . * that others now scheduled for acquisition , 415 CONTINUED JULY 20TH , 1983 Robert Derenzy Fire Chief Comments : Recorder could not record his comments . Jim Malmgren stated that the following documents are a part of the record of this proceeding and are available for inspection now and at all times during normal business hours at the city building , prior to the proposed continuation of the public hearing September 20th , 1983 . 1 . Canton State Bank letter of January 20th 1983 in opposition to the proposed amendment . 2 . Citizens Advisory Committee letter of March 1st , 1983 in support of the proposed Amend ment . 3 . Fishermen ' s Club of the First Congregational United Church of Christ letter dated March �r 9th , 1983 in support of the proposed Amend- ment . Q 4 . The City of Canton ' s Planning & Zoning Co . action of March 14th , 1983 in support of the proposed amendment , those minutes are on file . 5 . Canton Works Managerial Retirees Club letter dated April 9th , 1983 in support of the pro- posed amendment . 6 . Canton Union School District #66 endorsement of June 20th , 1983 proposed amendment , those minutes are on file . 7 . A letter from Mary 1�". Rubia dated July 5th , 1983 which expresses no opinion . 8 . Spurgeons letter July 11th , 1983 in opposition to the proposed amendment . 9 . Hicksatomic Stations letter of July 14th 1983 which offers to sell certain real estate in the tax increment area , but which expresses no apparent opinion to the proposed amendment . 10. Fulton Square letter of July 18th , 1983 in opposition to the proposed amendment to which are attached the letters from Spurgeons dated July 11th , 1983 and from the Canton State Bank dated July 18th , 1983 all in opposition . 11 . Canton Park District letter of July 20th , 1983 which appears to be in favor or in the alternative to take no position on the proposed amendment . 12 . A letter from Spoon River College Board of Trustees dated July 7th , 1983 which takes no position to the propsed amendment . Additionally , although it was not a response to the proposed 1983 amendment the city was today advised the possibility of a construction of a dual cinema in the tax increment area , and a possibility of the city ' s acquisition of the Capitol and Garden Theatres . 416 CONTINUED JULY 20TH , 1983 Public Hearing Comments made by the public : Robert Beckner Sr. 1250 Sunview. I own a business at 71 E . Side Square . Mr. and Mrs . Beckner want to go on record as favoring the amendments to the redevelopment plan and project . We feel its a step in the right direction . They ask customers of his business what they thought of this plan ( they signed a petition ) and only 2 did not want to get involved . Nancy Elson 639 N . 2nd Avenue . Read the minutes of the School; Board Meeting , they are as follows : Mayor Edwards , City Att- orney Jim Malmgren , Cliff Sagaser City Engineer , were invited to discuss the impact of the 1983 proposed amendment to the Canton Redevelopment Plan and Project on District 66 . Mayor Edwards spoke briefly and explained the reasons that brought about this proposed amendment : 1 . The merchants do not seem to be satisfied and the business climate is dropping . 2 . The citizens asked that the traffic flow be reviewed . 3 . There is a deteriorating tax base - last year tax increment funds were $110 . 000 . 00 ; this year , $42 ,000 . 00 . City Attorney Malmgren reviewed the area comprising the Enterprise Zone and stated block 18 and block 41 are being added . He explained that any material amendment requires a public hearing and discussed further what the plan involves and the flexibility that will be retained . Superintendent Benson stated that he was glad to see something happening to improve the city and expressed support of the amendment . Derenzy moved that the board support the 1983 proposed amendment to the Canton Redevelopment Plan and Project . All members voting in favor of. Clarence W Phillips 44 White Court . A letter was written in support of the proposed changes in the plan and the reasons for such support , that letter is as follows : First and most impor- tant is the fact that the changes in the plan should encourage owners of downtown property to improve or replace their property , since the proposed changes in the plan remove , to a large degree , the hesitation to invest in a property which might be taken away from the owner at any time , I believe this will let the tax increment district function as it has in other states , with pro- perty improvements producing increases in tax revenue to be used for further development within the district , with increased mo- mentum as time passes . Secondly , I believe our downtown has had a flaw in it for over a century , the flaw being the mis-match between the street on the east side of the square at its joining with White Court. Prior to the tornado of 1975 , the century-old building which housed Fredman Furniture made realignment of the two streets impractical . When the "Downtown Plan " was being developed, the Fredman building still existed . None of us in Canton were alert enough to see the possibility of aligning these streets after the Fredman Building was demolished , but Cliff Sagaser was . There surely can be no doubt that increased traffic onto the Square and increased sales tax revenue and real estate tax income for the Tax Increment District will result from the proposed changes . I wish to go on record as being fully in support of the proposed changes . William H . Malmgren 676 N . 6th Avenue . I am generally for the proposed amendment and I ' ll tell you why , I want to be able to get to one side of the square to another., I can go from East to West , and I can go from North to South . I want to look for some sense of mobility . I use to be comfortable about coming to downtown Canton , I ' m not any more . I ' m bothered by it . I ' m just not happy with the situation . Charles E . Wright 531 S . 2nd Avenue . The State Statutes says to present the plan to the planning commission and it has not been presented . Under the old plan it says "this community develop- ment plan may be modified at any time by the City of Canton provided , however , that it be modified after the lease of sale of 417 CONTINUED JULY 20TH , 1983 real property in the project area , the modifiations must be in - centive of the developers of such real property or in the very necessities of interest of (.blank) of the proposed modifications . " ( I could not make out the rest of the comments ) . Mr. Wright said he was not critical , he just wanted some answers . Another thing he would like to see changed , is in the original plan and also in the amended plan , and that is , the city pledging the full faith and credit of the municipality and such obligations are superior to full faith and credit to the municipality . The ordinance authorizing the obligation to provide for the levy and collection of the direct annual tax on all taxable property in the municipality . The city officials pay principle interest on the obligations as they mature . That ' s in the state law , the city ordinance states nothing about how that should be done , by referendum or anything , where the state does . I would like to see us ( blank ) or detail it in an ordinance to comply with the state law. Kai Nebel commented : He said he could not comment on' the first �- part of Ordinance #523 because I haven ' t reviewed that . In Ur reference to the plan , it picks up the language of the statute Q which gives the city the power to issue bonds , it does not pro- vide the issuance of the bonds themselves . If any action were Q to be taken in reference to issuances of bonds , it would have to be thru a bond ordinance . If any kind of bond ordinance were drafted and submitted to the city council , which involved full faith and credit , there is a provision in the statute which enables there to be an referendum on the basis of petitions being signed by members of the public . So at that time , citizens of the community , if an adequate number of them asked for a referendum, would have a referendum. That issue is not proposed at this present time . I don ' t go to the mayor and settle it one way or another , I 'm just mentioning it to you on how the statute works . Charlie Wright answered , that you need 10% of the voters in the last presidential election to sign a petition . And since there has been nothing said here , it would be very easy for the city to go ahead and issue the tax without having a referendum. Kai Neble answered , if you do that , there would be no bond counsel in the world would approve tax exempt . Any bond would have to have the opinion of bond counsel . Not one bond counsel in the world would issue an opinion if the city council would defy the statute , nobody would buy. that . Harlan Crouch 263 W . Chestnut . I ' m a property owner on the west side and the east side . For two years this administration has been dscussing the downtown development issue . I participated at committee to study the downtown , make recommendations and worked some 6 months doing that . Recommendations were made by the committee and those recommendations are making Chestnut St . a two-way street between Main and Avenue A, and some minor altercations for the type of uses available for the downtown Area , but in general we planned the intent . I ' m concerned that the issue has not been dealt with preferably by the council . We now have a plan before us . I ' m concerned when I see us acquire a building and sell that building for one dollar , be- cause we say we don ' t believe that we should eleminate proper- ties from the tax roll . But we turn around and develop a plan that ' s going to remove 3 viable business ' s and demolish the buildings . I ' m concerned with the inconsistency . How can we pay substanial dollars to buy and demolish buildings so we can widen the street at a cost of $160 ,000 . 00 that goes from no where to no where . It seems like a substanial expenditure for little benefit . There is no perfect plan . Lets not find per- manent solutions to temporary problems . John Barclay 142 N . 2nd Avenue . In the past I have objected repeately against the original plan . I favor the new plan as 418 CONTINUED JULY 20TH , 1983 far as it goes , it could have gone a little further on South Main Street. William Cherry R. R. # 2 . I ' m handicapped , so what ever plan you adopt , always remember the handicapped . Carol Kuchan 396 South Avenue . The City of Canton has a committment to the people who have a business here . She supports the new redevelopment plan . Vic Mason 345 S . Avenue B . I ' m here primarily as a citizen . It cost $18 ,000 . 00 to sand blast his building , ( he purchased it for $1 . 00 from the city) its a beautiful building . I like the plan , and I ' m 100% for it . Jack Yancick R. R. # 4 . I served on the original committee before the 1975 tornado . No matter what this council does , no matter what the citizens do , we have to do one thing , make a plan flexible enough for it to be changed and paid for . Walter Hauber 111 W. Locust St . I own two pieces of property on the west side of the square , and I believe very much in this plan . Barbara Henderson no address given . I ' ve been a citizen for 45 years and am against any tearing down of the Jones Park . I ' m also concerned about buildings being torn down . Tim Tomasello 70 Aspen Drive . I am the manager of Spurgeons . A committment was made with Fulton Square , the plan we have now is a good plan . Larry Sprague 32 N . Avenue C . The problem with the downtown area , is not getting people downtown , its keeping them downtown . I can go in the store at 5 minutes till 5 and I get the feeling get the h--- out of here because I want to go home . Norman Eldridge 644 S . 3rd . I ' m worried about having a fire , then everybody would rebuild in the street where would your , Fire protection and Police Protection be , as it is with this plan it would even be worse . I feel sorry for you guys up here tonight, because any way you go , your gonna be wrong . I hope you ' ll make the right decisions . Frances Steinkamp 432 N . lst . I just acquired a business , as I have alot of faith in Canton people . Lets don ' t commit ourselves to something we can ' t get out of. Cathy Campbell 335 N . 14th . I do not shop in downtown Canton , it ' s like I ' m not wanted in their stores . Bill Phillips 1465 E . Locust . We have obtained and reviewed the available documents relating to the 1983 Amendment to City Redevelopment Plan . In our opinion , the 1983 Amendment will allow improved opportunity to meet the original goals of elimination of conditions of blight and obsolescence and encouragment of private investment in new commercial facilities in the redevelopment area . We believe this for the following reasons : 1 . The 1983 Amendment , page 4 item ( i ) calls for the eventual repair or replacement of all sidewalks in the Redevelopment Area . An inspection of the walks show this is an admirable goal . The improvements are definitely required . 2 . The 1983 Amendment , page 4 , item ( ii ) , calls for the construction of a two way street between White Court 419 CONTINUED JULY 20TH , 1983 and First Avenue just south of the proposed building shown in the 1983 Land use plan . We believe this street will be an improvement to the Redevolpment Area . The street will allow improved vehicular circulation in the Redevelopment Area . This street should create more willing- ness by the citizens of Canton to venture into the east side of the square . The street should eliminate the existing bottleneck on the east side of the square . 3 . The 1983 Amendment , page 4 , item ( 9l ) , seeks construction of a new one way street at the north end of Jones Park . This new street should allow better vehicular access around Jones Park . If done properly , the street should not seriously affect the flow of ped- estrians in the area . The street should eliminate the existing bottleneck on the east side of the Square . This street , too , should Q create more willingness by the citizens of Q Canton to venture into the west side of the Square . 4 . The 1983 Amendment , page 4 , iten ( iii ) seeks construction of a new tow way street along the existing location of White Court . This two way street was not possible until the demolition of the former furniture store building located at the southeast corner of the square . We be- lieve this street will create a major new access to existing and new business ' s in the Redevelop- ment Area . We are part of a company which owns a building that is proposed to be demolished to allow the construction of the street . We have no objection to relocating for this purpose . 5 . The 1983 Amendment , pages 4 ,5 , and 6 helps eliminate the uncertainty of future development in certain blocks . Property owners in blocks 19 , 20 , 21 , 31 , 32 , 37 , 40 , and 56 now know they can make long term investments in their real property . 6 . The 1983 Amendment , pages 4 ,5 , and 6 clarifies and makes practical the requirement of property owners on the east and west sides of the square to build past the curb line . In fact , the Amendment has requirments that make construction past the curbline more difficult . This should ease the minds of property owners and allow in- vestment in upgrading of existing buildings . 7 . The 1983 Amendment , page 6 , deletes the limit of 8% interest on bonds . This part of the amendment should allow improved investment in the redevelopment area . Additionally , the 1983 Amendment has provisions for new green areas in the Redevelopment area , provisions for better con- cealment of utilities , and improved funding possiblities for development . In summary , we believe there are many facets of the 1983 Amend- ment that will improve the value of real property in the Redevelop- ment Area . 420 CONTINUED JULY 20TH , 1983 We support the 1983 Amendment and ask that it be adopted , with modifications if necessary . Harold Ellis 724 S . 1st Avenue . Could not understand his com- ments . He was opposed to the new plan . On September 20th , 1983 at 6 : 30 p .m. in Council Chambers at City Hall this public hearing will reconvene . Motion by Ald- erman Savill , second by Alderman Workman to adjourn the public hearing . Voice vote , motion carried . Motion by Alderman Workman , second by Alderman Horr to reconvene in a regular session . Voice vote , motion carried . Motion by Alderman Savill , second by Alderman Horr to adjourn . Voice vote , motion carried . Council adjourned at 8 : 00 p .m. CI NY CLERK APPROVED MAYOR