HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 07/18/2019 - City CouncilCity Council
Special Meeting Minutes
July 18, 2019
Page 1
City Council Special Meeting
July 18, 2019
Call to Order
The City Council of the City of McHenry, Illinois, met in a special session on Thursday, July 18,
2019, at 4:00 p.m. in the McHenry City Council Chambers, 333 S. Green Street, McHenry, IL.
Roll Call
Deputy Clerk Johnson called the roll. Roll call: Members present: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab,
Alderman Schaefer, Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman
Miller, and Mayor Jett. Others present: Chief of Police Birk.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Jett proceeded to lead those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment
There were no comments from the public in attendance.
Discuss and possibly approve an ordinance amending Chapter 12, Licenses, and Permits
Generally, Section 12-64, Prizes, of McHenry's Municipal Code
Alderwoman Miller asked for a background explanation of the ordinance and asked why the
amount goes down to $1 million after September 1st. Chief Birk explained the history of the raffle
prize limits. The ordinance originally called for a $100,000 limit on July 18, 2016. As the VFW
had increasing sizes of their raffle prizes, the Council increased the limits. Ordinances were
passed to set limits of $500,000 on September 5, 2017; $1 million on February 5, 2018; $3 million
on July 4, 2018; and $6 million on August 6, 2018. At the March 18, 2019, meeting, an ordinance
was passed that stepped prize limits down to $3 million through July 30, 2019; and to $1 million
after July 31, 2019. At the time the VFW appeared to be happy with and agreed with the new
ordinance setting raffle prize limits.
The VFW is asking for the prize limits to be raised temporarily because the prize is large enough
that it won't be able to pay out a winner by the end of July when the prize limit is lowered down
to $1 million. A lengthy discussion ensued about the possibility that they may be requesting
ordinance changes in the future if the proposed ordinance is passed tonight. There is no way to
tell how big the prizes could get or the issues that the City could run into if the prizes were to
increase as they have in the past.
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding traffic and parking issues from last year's raffle.
�- Alderwoman Baehne stated that she has been talking with a business who states they have lost
City Council
Special Meeting Minutes
July 18, 2019
Page 2
$100,000 due to the raffle. Mayor Jett also commented on the negative impact on the Hickory
Pit and other nearby businesses. Other Council members talked about the positive impact that
the raffle may have had on the community.
Attorney McArdle explained the indemnification Agreement that has been presented to the
Council. There have been rumors that there are people not happy with the deadline being
extended for the prizes. Some have claimed that their odds of winning have changed, and the
City does not want to become liable if a person were to bring suit or claim against the VFW and/or
City.
Alderman Glab asked what was being done with the money being raised. Ben Keefe of the VFW
explained that the goal was to take care of issues with the building. Last year $100,000 was spent
on other things due to the size of the raffle. The VFW reimbursed all expenses needed from the
McHenry Police Department. Money was also given to other charitable organizations, the FVW
International, and children's homes. The parking lot was an issue before the game started, and
that has been taken care of. A beer garden has already been approved by the City Council. The
goal is to break ground on that this fall. A furnace has been replaced as well as upgrades to the
electrical service. The intention moving forward is to make more improvements to the building
and make new meeting spaces.
A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderwoman Miller to approve an
ordinance amending Chapter 12, Licenses, and Permits Generally, Section 12-64, Prizes, of
McHenry's Municipal Code subject to the condition that an indemnification agreement will be
fully executed as modified and agreed upon by both parties. Roll call: Vote: 6-ayes: Alderman
Santi, Alderwoman Miller, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman
Devine. 1-nays: Alderwoman Baehne. 0-abstained. Motion carried.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman Schaefer to adjourn the
meeting at 4:48 p.m. Roll call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Glab,
Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays, 0-
abstained. Motion carried.
7 Q.
Mayor a ne ett Deputy Clerk Monte Johnson