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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-09-08 Clerical Committee Meeting Minutes The Canton City Council Clerical Committee was held on December 9, 2008 in th Council Chambers at the Historic Depot, 50 North 4 Avenue, Canton, Illinois. Mayor Kevin R. Meade called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Aldermen Present – Eric Schenck, Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Craig West, David Nidiffer, Pamela Ihnes, Jason Strandberg, Sonya Lewis. Absent – None. Others present – Mayor Kevin R. Meade, City Clerk Nancy Whites, Interim City Treasurer Aaron Anderson, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Police Chief W. Dan Taylor, Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer, City Engineer/Zoning Officer Keith Plavec, Public Works Director Cliff O’Brien, Wastewater Treatment Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, Street Supt. George Spahn, Video Services by Joe Ginger. In the audience – Attorney John McCarthy, Billy Oaks, Mark & Brenda Rothert, Kim Scott and her attorney, around 15 workers for Outskirts Bar & Grille. FINANCE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN JASON STRANDBERG, CHAIRMAN. Council Action Bills. Alderman Sarff made the motion to send the bills to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion was unanimous by voice vote. Treasurer’s Report. Interim City Treasurer Aaron Anderson remarked that the report is not available this month, and hope to have both November and December’s report in January. Alderman Strandberg mentioned that the mayor and himself had talked about $20,000 that had to be taken from the Tax Levy Ordinance. Mayor Kevin Meade stated by doing this we won’t need a Truth & Taxation Public Hearing. Illinois Route 78 Sidewalk Improvements. City Engineer Keith Plavec gave some additional information on the project by e- mail. The Illinois Route 78 Improvements start approximately 1700 feet north of Alder Street and continue south to near the Big Creek Park entrance. The roadway will be two lanes with a center turn lane. The roadway will be part curb 1 and gutter, and part ditch section. The curb and gutter on the east side begins around Harvester Road and continues south to Big Creek Park entrance. The curb and gutter on the west side begins at Redwood Circle and ends at the Big Creek Park entrance. Proposed sidewalk is 5 feet wide. Removal quantity is 34,868.50 square feet or 6,974 feet. IDOT has sent an agreement to the City where the City is agreeing to reimburse the State for all construction and in-house engineering costs in regards to sidewalk removal and new sidewalk. The City is responsible for 100% of the sidewalk removal cost (sidewalk that was not going to be disturbed within the project limits by IDOT proposed improvements) and 50% of the new sidewalk cost. The estimated cost for the sidewalk removal portion is $60,030 and for new sidewalk is $120,175 for a total cost of $180,205. Please keep in mind that these numbers where estimates when the letter was drafted and IDOT now has a bid which we have been told will result in these costs being lower by possibly $30,000. IDOT has stated in the agreement that the City will reimburse the state in five annual payments with the estimated annual payment amount being $36,000. IDOT received bids in November and can only hold them for 45 days. IDOT needs to know the City’s intent so they can award th the project. This issue needs to be addressed December 9 Clerical Committee meeting and approved the following Tuesday (if acceptable) so IDOT can meet their 45 day period for retaining bids. City Engineer Keith Plave commented at the meeting the city has currently a balance of $2,000.00. Keith said he would e-mail a spread sheet extending into 2010. And the sidewalks will end at Harvester Road. Alderman Sarff made the motion send to the council meeting. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. The Finance Committee adjourned at 6:55 p.m. COMMUNITY & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN PAM IHNES, CHAIRMAN. Creation of a new TIF. 2 Alderman Ihnes gave a review of what transcribed before. Mark Rothert had presented the idea to the Clerical Committee on November 12, 2008. The area was from IL Route 9 and North Main Street and was shot down. Tonight we are discussing having the new TIF extending along Locust Street and connecting with the IH site. My question is, what do you want to do? Alderman Berardi said he wanted to talked about the TIF Administration and Elm Street Corridor Streetscape Plan Addendum all together. Then he asked about the Elm Street corridor. Are we talking about sidewalk maintenance. Mark Rothert stated, will make continuations of that Elm Street Corridor. Mark sent pictures around of vacant properties on North Main Street and the need for financing. Mark said the individual properties qualify. Alderman Sarff remarked when he looked at the pictures, there is blight, but they are not in a blighted area. The problem I have is the spirit of a TIF. This surrounding area has quality. Alderman Strandberg thought this should be put off for a little while, because of potential good news for council this Thursday. Alderman Schenck wanted the TIF District over far east at the end of Locust Street th and more South. Have a chief concern at 5 Avenue and north side of Locust Street up Howard Court where drug dealers, prostitutes are and a pit bull owner with no respect. We could expand the TIF a little bit more. Alderman Ihnes asked if there is no interest for a TIF on North Main? Will send back to committee a month from now. TIF Administration. Alderman Sarff asked what position are we in with this position? Mark Rothert explained was the Economic Group. Alderman Schenck remarked, the Economic Group was the best we interviewed. Alderman Berardi said to Mark, what if we had to cut your funding due to economic reasons? Mark answered, I would have to do a lot of fund raising or look for another job. Alderman Nidiffer made the motion to hire for the TIF Administration of Tom Jacobs Group for three year contract of administering our TIF District. Was duly seconded by Alderman Strandberg. Discussion. Mayor Kevin Meade said the term cannot be longer than the mayor’s term. Alderman Sarff stated, recommend to council to retain Tom Jacobs Group. Mayor Kevin Meade said he would seek clarification by next week. Alderman Sarff said staff could check on the legalities of the issue. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. 3 Elm Street Corridor Streetscape Plan Addendum. Alderman Strandberg made the motion to send on to the council meeting for discussion. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. Discussion. Alderman Ihnes explained this got missed a month ago on the agenda. Teska & Associates put together a proposal in the amount of $9,500 for the project and to be paid from grant funds. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Economic Development Update. SRPED Economic Director Mark Rothert explained he is preparing grants. The Community & Industrial Development Committee adjourned at 8:44 p.m. LEGAL & ORDINANCE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DAVID NIDIFFER, CHAIRMAN. White Oak Tavern proposed sign. Keith Plavec commented that Randy and Billy Oaks would like to erect a Pylon Sign next to their new building on White Court. The City’s sign regulations state that “no sign shall extend over any public right of way more than 8” unless approved by the City Council.” White Oaks sign will extend 30” over the sidewalk. Alderman Schenck had sent by an e-mail of the design standard from our downtown streetscape plan for the corner of White Court and Pine Street. Pages 13 & 14 of the plan deals with downtown signage. This is an excellent plan and we should be sticking to it. I don’t feel that billboard signs as proposed by White Oaks or anyone else should be allowed in our downtown. We should be sticking to our ordinance with awning signs and signs attached to buildings. Also, if we are going to make sidewalk improvements, we should do it consistent with the plan. Every single time we enter into a development agreement for new construction in the downtown area or issue a building permit in the downtown area we should be using the streetscape plan as our design standard. Also, TIF assistance that we provide to downtown developers should encourage them to build structures that are in compliance with our downtown façade guidelines. If we are not willing to do this on a case by case basis as projects are brought before us, I think we should consider adopting a resolution that establishes this as a policy that we can share with developers BEFORE they begin designing their buildings. 4 (End of Alderman Schenck report.) City Engineer Keith Plavec ask the committee members, as the zoning officer for the city how far does the city enforce the code? The ordinance needs to be more clear cut. Ricky Signs told Keith that most signs out there do not meet the city’s sign ordinance. That includes wall mount signs and post signs. You can see clearly when at the intersection of White Court & Pine Street, it will not block the path. Is this the type of sign you want to see downtown? Keith said reading everything that is written, White Oaks will be 1 foot off the right-of-way. They have 4 variances they will need for this sign already. Alderman Schenck said we need to update our ordinances to coincide with the Comprehensive Plan, and to use as a guideline for these types of standards. We don’t have a Planning & Zoning officer to work with businesses. They are doing this at White Court and Pine, if this was one block over, don’t know if I would accept. Alderman Sarff said he agreed with Alderman Schenck, if this was a block over, may not be in favor. Mayor Kevin Meade mentioned that he has been talking with the Fulton County Board about entering into intergovernmental agreement with them and the City of Canton sharing such a service. Alderman Sarff made the motion to have a ordinance for the next Legal & Ordinance Committee for Elm Street of what kind of signs. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Annexations. Mayor Kevin Meade reported that the City needs to annex those properties that have pre-annexation agreements. We have counted up to 100 pre-annexations agreements, and we will begin with the easy ones first. Have ask Keith Plavec to look at the process. Keith Plavec named some of the pre-annexations that already have city water/sewer and garbage pick-up. 5 Alderman Berardi ask what the cost would be? City Attorney Chrissie Peterson commented there would be a very minimal filing fee, and etc., would be under $100.00 for each. Alderman Sarff asked, how does this move forward for the City to receive the taxes? City Attorney Chrissie Peterson answered, the ordinances would be filed with the County Clerk’s office, and then it should happen automatically. Alderman Strandberg made the motion to have City Attorney Chrissie Peterson to move forward with the process. Was duly seconded by Alderman Sarff. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Ordinance Intoxicating Liquor. Alderman Nidiffer commented that some of the areas in the new ordinance he sees a little bit of controversy. Alderman Nidiffer thanked the council for instructing the City Attorney Chrissie Peterson to draft the ordinance, and for Chrissie drafting the ordinance. Having a section on catering is good. The number of licenses, let the market decide. Alderman Berardi asked, why are we doing this? What attempt was made to change the ordinance for one incident? They turn in the receipts and then we’re fidgeting around with them. There would be no problem if I seen the receipts the business turns into the IRS for food and alcohol. This ordinance affects a lot of businesses. Leave it alone! If there is a problem, it should be addressed by the Liquor Commission and the police department. We make the policy. Alderman Nidiffer said he almost wants to take the number of licenses before the public for nonbinding referendum, and see what the ratio would be! Mayor Kevin Meade said the tavern licenses are all filled up. Restaurants have to sell 60/40. Nothing says what they can charge for food. Does this violate? Yes! But not the letter of the law! It violates the spirit of the law, and we sure don’t want to hurt any other business. Alderman Nidiffer asked, do you want to send this ordinance back to the council meeting? Alderman West said he would support the catering addition to the ordinance. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson commented that what the 60/40 is based on is gross revenues. Alderman Strandberg made the motion to leave in the ordinance the Section on Catering, and in one month discuss the other added additions (75/25 for alcohol 6 and food consumption) in the ordinance. Was duly seconded by Alderman Ihnes. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Propose changes to the Personnel Policy. Alderman Sarff made the motion to hold over the proposed changes to the Personnel Policy. Was duly seconded by Alderman Ihnes. Discussion. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. The Legal & Ordinance Committee adjourned at 7:54 p.m. NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN LARRY SARFF, CHAIRMAN. Discussion was not held as there were no items on the agenda. Alderman Sarff announced that the Fire Union Contract will go in to mediation Monday December 15, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the city’s negotiating attorney Bruce Beal’s office at 121 West Elm Street, Canton, Illinois. Mayor Kevin Meade stated there would then be no need for an executive session. ADJOURN Being no other business, the Clerical Committee adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Recording Secretary, Nancy Whites, City Clerk 7