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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-2011 Clerical Committee Minutes CLERICAL COMMITTEE Tuesday August 9, 2011- 6:30 p.m. Donald E. Edwards Way 50 North 4th Avenue Canton IL 61520 Aldermen in attendance: Eric Schenck, Jeremy Pasley, Jeff Fritz, Craig West, Justin Nelson, Gerald Pasley, Dave Pickel, Jim Hartford Staff in attendance: Mayor Kevin Meade, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, City Administrator Jim Snider, City Clerk Diana Tucker, Police Chief Dan Taylor, Comptroller Caty Campbell, SRPED Mark Rothert Joe Ginger Video Services In the audience: Dan Oaks, Phil Fleming, Scott and Tracy Snowman, Steve Reed, David Graham, Christina Graham News Media- John Froehling from Daily Ledger. Finance Alderman Craig West, Chairman BILLS Motion and second were made by Aldermen West/Pickel to send the bills to Council for consideration. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. TREASURER'S REPORT Comptroller Caty Campbell explained the treasurer's report for the month of July. The General Fund surplus at the end of July was $28,875.00 which was down from the $142,535.00 surplus in the month of June. The Water and Sewer fund at the end of July was $185,713.00 which was up from $67,140.00 reported for June. Revenue and expense analysis: General Fund Revenues total $641,007.00. This amount was down due to decreases in property tax. General Fund Expenses total $612,132.00. Some larges expenses for the month included: 1. 5 payrolls for the month of July 2. Fireworks in the amount of $11,000.00 3. 2"d Floor renovations in the amount of $9,000.00 4. City of Pekin Zoning and Inspections in the amount of $8,000.00 5. Police auto body repairs in the amount of $6,000.00 (insurance reimbursed) Water and Sewer revenues: $467,978.00 Water and Sewer expenses: $282,265.00-slightly higher due to permits paid in July. The total available cash was $2,082,976.00 which was slightly lower than the past few months due to larger expenses. The general fund reserve monies were also lower due to transferring money to the TIF-IH fund to pay various pay requests. Motion and second were made by Aldermen West/Fritz to send the Treasurer's report to Council for consideration. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. MFT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM-PAVEMENT BID RESULTS A bid opening took place with the engineers estimate reported at $282,275.00 Two bids were received for the project and the low bidder was R.A. Cullinan with a bid price of $203,269.35. Due to the bid price coming in lower that estimated approximately $80,000.00 remain. The program includes portions of Avenue A, Birch Street and 5th Avenue. Keith would like to receive permission to approve this bid but to also have permission to add an additional street to the project. Keith will bring back suggestions for a street to add to the project. MFT STRIPING PROGRAM A bid opening took place with the engineers estimate reported at $26,655.75. One bid was received from Varsity Striping out of Champaign Illinois in the amount of $24,335.00. The project includes a portion of Chestnut Street from 5th Avenue to 20th Avenue. This will be on next week's agenda for consideration. The Finance Committee adjourned at 6:40p.m. Legal & Ordinance Alderman Jeff Fritz, Chairman 4A INDUSTRIAL TIF Attorney Chrissie Peterson explained that the 4A TIF was adopted in 1987. The TIF will be terminated as of December 31, 2011. The termination is required by statute for the existing plan in the existing area and notices will be sent to the appropriate bodies. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Fritz/West to send to Council for consideration. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. AVENUE F AND VINE STREET-SPEEDING VEHICLES Christina Graham addressed the committee regarding concerns she and her husband have regarding traffic on Avenue F and Vine Street. Christina and her husband reside on the corner of Vine and Avenue F in Canton. Recently Christina tried to get an appeal to have the two- way stop changed to a four- way stop. Christina further explained that they have been involved in accidents by speeding traffic. The speed limit is set at 30 miles per hour. A proposed solution by the Police Chief was to reduce the speed limit or have more officers patrolling the traffic in the area. Christina does not feel these options will help. Christina requests to have a four- way stop placed at this intersection. Christina has obtained 15 signatures in support of the four- way stop. The police department completed a survey that indicated that the average speed of vehicles was 31 miles per hour and the police department did not see this area as an issue. Christina explained that she did not feel the department conducted an accurate survey. Nancy Barnhardt also addressed the committee regarding her concerns with the traffic. Nancy is also a resident in the area. Nancy explained that the corner needs to have a four- way stop to slow the traffic down. David Graham addressed the committee expressing the same concerns. Chief Taylor explained that officers were at the area on 12 different occasions on different shifts. The average speed recorded was 31 miles per hour. Chief Taylor would recommend lowering the speed and have officers patrol the area more frequently. Only two tickets were issued during the survey period however Chief Taylor will continue to monitor the area. Chief Taylor further explained that placing a four way stop sign at this corner could create more accidents due to the irregularities of the intersection. Further discussion will take place at next month's meeting. LICENSE/EASEMENT FOR HARVESTER INN SIGN Attorney Peterson explained a picture of the proposed Canton Harvester Inn Sign and the location of the sign. A request was filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals for a setback of the sign. The sign would be placed in the City right of way. An easement or a license agreement would be satisfactory. Alderman Schenck asked if a possibility would exist to combine a sign for the Harvester Inn and a sign for the entrance to the downtown area. Keith will discuss the possibility of combining the signs with TESKA. Alderman Nelson stated that the signs for the entrance to the downtown area need to be a block before the entrance to the downtown, rather than placing a sign at the corner of the entrance to the downtown area. A sign a block away will direct traffic into the downtown area. Alderman Fritz suggested talking with TESKA and bring further information back for more discussion. Keith Plavec will contact TESKA and this will be placed on next week's agenda. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Fritz/West to have Keith Plavec contact TESKA and bring back additional information for next week's meeting. The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. The Legal and Ordinance committee adjourned at 7:20pm. Community & Industrial Development Alderman leremy Pasley, Chairman SNOWMAN STUDIOS Scott and Tracy Snowman conducted a presentation to highlight some of the artwork they created as suggestions to use for various signs and building murals in the downtown area. The artwork consisted of work displaying the big toot whistle, the old water tower, and other historic samples of Canton's past. The Snowman's announced their purchase of a downtown building and opening Snowman Studios as part of their commitment to Canton's past and future. UPDATE FROM MARK ROTHERT Downtown/Former IH Site: 61 EAST SIDE SQUARE: Working with County and township assessor to develop a hypothetical assessment for the property. This assessment will allow us to calculate the estimated TIF increment the property will generate and come to some conclusion as to a price for the property. According to the City's TIF administrator and advisors, all the costs for the 61 East Side Square project, whether for a private use or public use, are eligible for TIF reimbursement. This means that the City's generat funds or reserves will not have to be used to cover costs for the project when the debt certificate is expected to retire on December 1, 2011. Instead the entire $4 million debt certificate (that includes costs to build the project) can be refinanced through a longer term TIF bond issuance. The SPRED is actively seeking potential buyers for the property as outlined several weeks ago. Bid specs for additional work (parking lot, alley and water/sewer services) are being drawn up currently by Maurer-Stutz, Inc. DEVELOPMENT CODES: The SRPED board met with the Mayor and Maurer Stutz, Inc. talk about growing concerns in the business and development community about enforcement of building code standards. We came out of the meeting with a better understanding of the need for more education to the public about these requirements and Maurer-Stutz is putting together a list of action items to address this issue to better educate the community. USE of TIF FUNDS: An ad-hoc committee of the SRPED board recently met to discuss how the community might best use TIF funds and provide that input to the City. Attached is a memo recommending that the City focus such funds on job creation and development. MAIN STREET: Spent two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) in Bloomington for Illinois Main Street Training. Canton had the most representation of any community at the training with nine people that included staff and volunteers. Tourism Development TOURISM REPORT: Please see attached report from Dana Smith. SPECIAL EVENT: Open Air Market coming up on August 13, 2011. SPECIAL EVENT: Jammin for Jude is coming up on August 27, 2011 Business Development, Attraction and Support: The SRPED is working with the following business development opportunities. Please call me if you would like to talk privately about any of these: INDUSTRIAL PARK: Working with two businesses in the industrial park and facilitating their requests for TIF assistance for their respective expansion projects. LOW INTEREST LOAN FUNDS. SRPED assisted two local businesses that are either starting up or expanding with low interest loan funds. GRANT: the SRPED applied for a USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grant to provide technical assistance training to small businesses throughout Fulton County. If successful, we will likely open this training up to other Illinois Main Street communities and fellow Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway businesses. Marketing & Tourism Committee The Marketing & Tourism committee will resume activity in early August. Met with Diana Tucker to help prepare an itinerary for 15-20 Central Illinois City Clerks who will be holding their annual meeting in Canton on August 10. Posted a stop by a bus tour company in Jones Park on July 7, which included a brief overview of Canton history, and specifically the downtown area, by Emily Schoenfelder. The tour company brought approximately visitors to Canton as part of a visit to the Hummingbird Haven in Smithfield, but the tourists were not allowed to stay and shop or eat. Toured the downtown area and Jones Park with Missy Towery and Emily Schoenfelder to expand knowledge of history, anecdotes and other information that would be useful when conducting walking tours of the area. Met with Emily Schoenfelder to transition tourism projects, photos and background information prior to her departure at the end of her internship as a Peace Corps Fellow. Canton Main Street • Hosted highly successful 2011 Kid's Fest in Jones Park on Saturday, July 16. Participants included the Canton Police Department, Canton Fire Department, The Unique Twist, Colonel Klink's Inflatables, Kent Canevit and Stereo Village on DJ, Bill Burham Photography, Main Street volunteers at the Main Street Grill, and 30 vendors in the park. The estimated attendance was 450-550. • Attended two days of Main Street Training in Bloomington-Normal on July 19-20. ~ Attended the Main Street Coffee at Crawford's on July 12. • Was a guest on the WBYS morning show to promote Kid's Fest on July 15. Scenic Drive • Met with Carol Heigel and her husband on July 18 to discuss setting up as a vendor during the Scenic Drive. • Completed final drafts of advertising for 2011 Guidebook. Website Completed initial design for tourism website. Will bring before a subcommittee of the Marketing & Tourism Committee to finalize before developing content REQUEST FOR HOTEL/MOTEL TAX MONEY-CHRISTMAS Mayor Meade explained that $4,000.00 was in the budget for Christmas decorations. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Pasley/Pickel to approve $4,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund and send to Council for consideration. BIG READ CEMETERY WALK Mayor Meade explained that a request was made to use the cemetery for a historical tour during the Big Read Program. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Pasley/Pickel to allow the use of Greenwood Cemetery for the historical tour on October 3, 2011 and send to Council for consideration. Alderman Nelson suggested having lighting at the cemetery to help prevent any accidents during the tour. PROPOSED MINE Mayor Meade discussed having the City write a letter in support of a public hearing. The letter would only state that a hearing would be made available. The Community & Industrial Development Committee adjourned at 8:18 p.m. Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel A/derman Dave Pickel, Chairman No business for committee discussion. The Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel Committee adjourned at 8:19 pm. ADJOURNMENT ~.~Ihe Clerical Committee adjourned at 8:19 pm. C~__~ ~-~_'ti,i__ ~ _ ~ ~ ~ Diana Tucker City Clerk