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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-10-08 Clerical Committee Meeting Minutes The Canton City Council Clerical Committee was held on June 10, 2008 in Council thth Chambers at the Historic Depot, 50 North 4 Avenue, Canton, Illinois. Mayor Kevin Meade called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Aldermen Present – Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Craig West, David Nidiffer, Jason Strandberg. Absent – Eric Schenck, Sonya Lewis. Others present – Mayor Kevin R. Meade, City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasurer Kathy Luker, Police Chief W. Dan Taylor, Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer, Public Works Director Clif O’Brien, City Engineer Keith Plavec, Wastewater Treatment Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, System Maintenance Supt. Bill Terry & Video Services by Joe Ginger. Those in the audience – SRPED Executive Director Mark Rothert, Jane & Neil Williams, William Whiteman, Billy Whiteman and wife, 3 others unknown, Ari, news media of John Froehling from the Daily Ledger, Mark Bixler from the WBYS, Pam Ihnes. Alderman Sarff relinquished his Finance Committee being first to Alderman West committee of Legal & Ordinance. LEGAL & ORDINANCE – ALDERMAN CRAIG WEST, CHAIRMAN Ari’s Class B Supper Club License. Ari explained his plan for his restaurant on the Eastside of the Square. At Cracklin Jack they sell 70% food and 30% alcohol, and in Canton can sell 80% food and 20% alcohol. I want to go one step at a time as later will ask for tavern license. Will have the selling of alcohol more in the dining room. Alderman Sarff ask Ari if he would have outdoor events? Ari said no, as the sidewalk is not big enough. Alderman West said use to be could not sell on square alcohol, since then has been repealed in the ordinance. Alderman Nidiffer said he has no problems as someone here has invested additional in his restaurant. And we pretty much know what he is doing. Ari said all of his food prices have gone up. I want to offer liquor to not raise my food prices. Alderman Berardi said he has concern if one table is outside. 1 City Attorney said they would have to go through the liquor commission, and we will be talking about side walk seating outside later in the meeting. Alderman Sarff made the motion to refer to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Whiteman Ordinance. Alderman Nidiffer mentioned that their taxes are listed as commercial property. Alderman Berardi mentioned also that the county and township assessor shows as commercial property. Alderman Nidiffer mentioned that parking would be allowed with a set back at the west side of the property. City Engineer/Zoning Officer Keith Plavec mentioned that the off street classification is very broad. We put in one space of 600 feet in one single area. Actually it is one handicapped space and 2 parking spaces, and needs 36 square feet in the front. Alderman Berardi ask if it has to be 50 feet wide? William Whiteman stated the property is 55.8 feet wide. Alderman Nidiffer said you have to be careful about zoning in residential area. He said he heard that all growth in business is those already standing. Trouble with this is the Comprehensive Plan calls for this entire area to be residential. The two household opposed is one behind of the business and the other was on the side. The person behind is now not opposed. In good conscience I can’t support this. If commercial property you lose control. Do we have other avenues to build a better balance that would be good for the neighborhood. Alderman Berardi said they did not buy a pig-in-a-poke. He bought what he was told. The people failed and so did the City of Canton. The zoning people and prior council did not take care of it. We are punishing them and they have not done anything wrong. Alderman Sarff ask City Attorney Chrissie Peterson how the City is at fault? City Attorney stated that what appears to be commercial, the City does not have anything as commercial property. There will be instances that don’t coincide. Bid results for Bradley Corner Sewage Pumping Station Improvements. City Engineer/Zoning Officer Keith Plavec mentioned we had three bidders. Leander Construction was the low bid in the amount of $138,000. At the fourth hour they realize the pump on their records were not up to date on prices. And they are up some $4,000 to $5,000. They meet all prevailing wage, and see no 2 reason not to award, and they will do all the work, as they will not hire subcontractors. Keith said this is paid out of the bonding money. Alderman Sarff made the motion to refer to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Ordinance – Creating 2-10 (Side Walk Seating Permit of Title 3 (Business). City Attorney Chrissie Peterson had ask for comments about the ordinance as presented and she said had received none. Alderman Berardi wants to have the fencing to be anchored to the sidewalk to keep from falling over. The fence should be made out of plastic pipe. Refer to City Engineer/Zoning Officer Keith Plavec to come up with some guidelines. Keith said he would be happy too. Mayor Meade read from the Ordinance under Section 7 & 8. Under no circumstances shall railings, tables, chairs, or trash receptacles be secured by drilling and bolting into the sidewalk or any other public improvement. All railings, tables, chairs and trash receptacles must be removable. Removal must be completed in no more than two (2) hours. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson mentioned a lot of the other communities have vague guidelines, and they leave at the discretion of council. Alderman Nidiffer said the fence has to be sturdy enough. Parking Lots being paved. City Engineer/Zoning Officer Keith Plavec ask what point does the City of Canton enforce parking on current buildings? What is not up to codes and can we bring up to code? That is how I interpret the ordinance. How do you want me to interpret it? What do other communities have? Some mentioned shall have off street parking with paving and concrete. Another community has to be smooth, firm, slippery resistance. Alderman Strandberg told Keith he is doing a great job. We have several business bought their permits when they began, now we’re coming back and were telling them now it’s different. This is a bad situation for the businesses. The City has to look at this ordinance now, and work something out. Not okay to put someone out of business. City Engineer/Zoning Officer said he was not in favor of going backwards. Alderman Sarff ask do we grandfather them in, how do we catch up? Is it so much concrete and asphalt? 3 Alderman Nidiffer said, let’s offer some help to these people and try to help financial. Alderman Sarff said we need some type of resolution. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson said the ADA is retroactive from 1991 to business owners. Mayor Meade ask how big an area is 10 spaces? Keith Plavec said, several businessess and Mr. Whiteman would not need it. Mayor Meade ask what does this do for William Whiteman, do you want them close? Alderman Sarff said we could grandfather in, and how they want to deal with ADA, is up to them. Alderman Sarff made the motion for the City Attorney Chrissie Peterson and City Engineer Keith Plavec to have something ready for the next Legal & Ordinance Committee. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. th Rumble Strips on 4 Avenue. th Alderman Sarff mentioned these rumble strips are at 4 and Birch Street. They run along this particular house bedroom. The reason they are there is to make people stop at the stop sign. Alderman Strandberg said someone up there likes the rumble strips. The terraces have been torn up and a telephone pole hit. Public Works Director Clif O’Brien stated that he put the rumble strips down because of violations. Police Chief Dan Taylor was ask to look at how many accidents happen at that intersection and also those that were alcohol related. This will be added to the Streets & Garbage Committee for their next meeting. Swimming Pool Permits. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson mentioned that any pool that has 500 gallons or more has to meet all the requirements before permits are granted. Before, the swimming pools have to meet the requirements for compliance certificate. At this time they have gotten bigger and more in nature. All the same it is enforcement of safety. Alderman Sarff said to enforce the ordinance that we already have. And have the Ledger do a story on the safety of pools. Also, to include information with the water bills. Right-of-Way Ordinance. 4 City Attorney Chrissie Peterson said that Clif O’Brien, Keith Plavec and herself met on this as telecommunications want to come in and we need something on the books to protect our right-of-way. Alderman Sarff made the motion to refer the ordinance to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The Legal & Ordinance committee adjourned at 7:27 p.m. FINANCE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN LARRY SARFF TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN. Bills. Alderman Berardi mentioned that he has not seen Vandewalle & Associates for over a year and a half. What do you tell your constituent. I’ve ask the City Attorney to provide me with their e-mails, and she has not. How can we represent the City of Canton. Alderman Berardi said he wanted copies of e-mails and minutes of every meeting. I have said before you will never get rid of them. Alderman Sarff ask Mark Rothert if he had anything? Mark said he gives the council a summary. Alderman Berardi said he wants accountability. Mayor Meade said we have ask EOI why taking so long as it is costing us more money. Our time to be patient is over. Alderman West made the motion to refer the bills to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Treasurer’s Report. City Treasurer Kathy Luker said this is the first month of the year. Revenues for the General Fund at $528,752.79 with Expenditures $591,893.38. Revenue (Expenditures) -$63,140.59. General Fund 12 months budget is $6,977,011 and have use 7.6%. Budget (W/O) Depreciation $440,550) 12 months $7,417,561. Water & Sewer has used 1.2% of their budget. The Water & Sewer 2005 Alternate Bond $ current balance $25,297,538.97 and amount borrowed was $26,430,000.00. TIF IH Expenses was $7,653.19 to Bell Boyd & Lloyd, $5,843.66 to Bell Boyd & Lloyd, Vandewalle & Associates $1,790.67, and EOI received $1,007.50. Amount paid by General Fund transfer was $16,295.02. Loan from General Fund was $378,657.93. 5 Alderman Nidiffer made the motion to refer the Treasurer’s Report to Council. Was duly seconded by Alderman West. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Budget Report. City Treasurer Kathy Luker said the budget for the fiscal year 2008 – 2009 is in balance. Expenditures were higher than revenues for the month of May 2008 due to no property tax monies being transferred from the County to the City until June 2008 ($536,515.20). Amount levied $1,438,169.64 per the Fulton County recap. The total expenditures are above the 8.3% average for the month due to having five payrolls in the month of May and a payout of $45,000.00 to Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development, which is their entire fiscal year budget from the General fund. Please note that the fiscal year budget is in balance $6,977,011.00 after using depreciation monies to help pay for capital outlay expenditures. Without the depreciation accounts, the fiscal budget expenditures are $7,417,561.00. Lot Survey of Canton Lake. Not ready yet to make any recommendations. nd Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association 2 payment of 2 payments needed in the amount of $212,151.60. City Treasurer Kathy Luker mentioned that the next payment is due by June 13, 2008 for $212,151.60. Alderman West made the motion to refer to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Hotel/Motel Tax request from Community Concert Association in the amount of $2,000 for ads. Charlie Wright spoke about the need for 3 or 4 programs during the 2008-2009 . The Concert artists usually stay overnight. With a larger advertising budget, more radio, newspaper, and TV ads can be run. The community concert association brings quality, musical programs to Canton at a very reasonable cost. The association has a $30,000 budget. Mark Rothert mention the association came through the Partnership. 6 Alderman Sarff ask how can this justify the use of Hotel/Motel funds? Mark said in three parts. 1. Bringing others to Canton. (Mark never continue on with his remarks as Alderman Berardi interrupted him.) Alderman Berardi said we can certainly give $2,000 as a tradition. Alderman Nidiffer said we should support this and people can come here and have a good time. Alderman Strandberg said it’s worth a shot, this is a solid one to me. Alderman West made the motion to grant the request for $2,000 to the Community Concert Association, and refer to council. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Evidence Computer Upgrade. Police Chief W. Dan Taylor said this is not ready yet, might be next week. Squad Car Light Bar. Police Chief W. Dan Taylor in his memo requested a light bar for police squad #4. This is a new vehicle that is waiting to be put into the fleet once the light bar and new mobile radio is installed. This is a budgeted item through the State Bid Price in the amount of $1,485.00 Alderman Nidiffer made the motion refer to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman West. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Radio Antenna Relocation. Police Chief W. Dan Taylor in his memo requested to purchase from Supreme Radio Communications in the amount of $2,268.49 Radio Antenna Relocation. The Police Department has been experiencing radio transmission problems on Channel #2 (Backup). The Department’s Primary Channel is still in service as is Channel #2 Backup except that Channel #2 cannot be heard by dispatch. Supreme Radio Communications has researched this problem and advised that there is a problem with interference at the antenna’s current location at the High Rise. Supreme Radio communications has recommended moving the antenna to the PSAP using existing antenna and polyphaser. Police Chief Dan Taylor said this prioritize interest of public safety. The move of that channel can be placed at the Police Department building. Dan said he would check into the price of buying a new antenna and not removing the remaining antenna. 7 Alderman West made the motion to refer to council without recommendation until more information is available. Was duly seconded by Alderman Nidiffer. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Upgrade of Mobile Radios. Police Chief W. Dan Taylor in his memo requested to upgrade the Canton Police Department Mobile Radios. The current mobile radios are approximately ten years old and are only 30 watts. The new radios would be 50 watts, increasing their output and performance. These radios also offer built-in encryption making transmissions more secure through scrambling the radio signals so that scanner users cannot understand the traffic. With this encryption feature these radios would be compatible with the new upgraded portable radios purchased last year. Ragan Communications will provide for 14 TK-7160 50 Watt, 128 Channel VHF mobile radios for $6,715.80. The funds are available under the Depreciation Account. Alderman Nidiffer made the motion refer to council. Was duly seconded by Alderman West. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The Finance Committee adjourned at 7:42 p.m. COMMUNITY & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DAVID NIDIFFER, CHAIRMAN Update from Mark Rothert SRPED Executive Director. Mark said he would gave a brief update of things going on in Canton. The former location of Walgreens by Hy-Vee will be filled with a national retailer. Can’t give out name yet as not finalized. Working with 3 local businesses. They are also a national retailer and they are having expansion in Canton. Still in preliminary stage of final site location. In the process of applying for Governor’s Hometown Award which is given to communities who do special projects in all categories. We’re applying for Retirees Leading Initiative that was put on by Spoon River College, for senior involvement category. If we win, will receive a nice sign that can be displayed in the community. 8 Working on different business creation projects. One example of a day care as some people are wanting to start a day care. They came to a business creation and determined it is a need we have. Also working with Industrial firm out of Chicago. Their looking for a test location site for one of their new models of Waste Incinerator type thing used in plasma. And they want to model this new machine they have built for North America to look at the model, and buy it. So I thought the Industrial Park might be such a site. They need an acre basically. Alderman Berardi ask, what type of waste? Mark Rothert mentioned medical, animal, ethonal. There are a whole range of things. Learn more about Maid Rite. They have financing and purchased the land. Will be starting in the next two months. The Randolph Building has been purchased. Farmers Market will be starting up within the next two weeks. Lot 13 of Industrial Park. Alderman Nidiffer said last conversation was requirements of time and what the building will look like. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson commented she had only 2 suggestions that were made to her. Alderman Schenck wanted to see two deadlines in the agreement. One was for leveling of the lot, and the second was the construction of the facility. Alderman Berardi was asked to explain his comments that were made. Alderman Berardi said that Alderman Schenck had wanted some noted value attached to what will be built. Alderman Berardi said he came up with 30 feet at $30,000 they would be looking at as investment to off-set the cost. And would have 6 months to build, or comes back to the City. Alderman Sarff asked, I’m not disagreeing, I’m asking, say he spends $30,000 clearing the land, and does nothing else! Do we have to pay them back the $30,000? Alderman Berardi answered, no! Something should be done or comes back to city. 9 Mayor Meade commented that Tony has indicated will level the land, put in a culvert to take care of the water problems, will spend upwards $50,000 just to get up to workable. Introduction & Update Riwala Properties Owners of the Former Fulton Square Development. Mark Rothert mentioned would be scheduled for another time and they offered their apologies. They want to introduce themselves and to talk to you about their property and how we can all work together on that. I’ll work with them and tell them about our streetscape plan of what we want and what they can do. Streetscape Presentation: Private Design guidelines & Jones Park Improvements. Mark Rothert showed overall maps for the second Phase Planning Process Design of Guidelines, and recommendations of buildings on private property that are outside the public right-of-way of Main Street, East Side Square, J.C. Penney’s area, Elm Street, and South Main Street. What they did was provide guidelines as well as recommendations to Jones Park. The whole project of Jones Park will cost $227,000. Can’t pay for that through the IDOT Transportation Enhancement Program Grant. We could pay for it through donor opportunities of planters, benches, and etc. Mark mentioned he has some grant money and he wants to use for Elm Street. NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS – FIRE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATIONS, AND, PERSONNEL; AND , THREATENED, PENDING LITIGATION. Alderman Sarff mentioned that he had no report from the Fire Department and nothing for Personnel or Threatened, Pending Litigation. Mayor Meade mentioned that we’re looking for individual to take the position of Kathy Luker, City Treasurer, for the remaining 11 months of the term. We can also at this time talk about the position as she is the Budget Director. We need to give some thought to that position. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m. Recording Secretary, 10 Nancy Whites, City Clerk 11