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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10/07/1998 - City Council REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 7, 1998 The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Cuda at 7:30 P.M. on Wednesday, October 7, 1998 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Absent: None. City Staff in attendance were: City Administrator Lobaito, City Clerk Althoff, City Attorney McArdle, Chief of Police Joyce, Director of Public Works Batt. Absent: Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel, Director of Community Development Napolitano. Mayor Cuda noted Alderman Baird would be participating in this evening's meeting via teleconferencing. TEN MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION Alderman Glab addressed Council stating his support for the Elementary School District 15 and High School District 156 Referenda. He opined schools were a municipality's greatest infrastructure. He noted if the Referenda passed, the schools would receive significant federal monies defraying the total referendum's cost. He encouraged City of McHenry residents to become informed about the Referendum and seriously think about supporting its efforts. Mayor Cuda requested Council consider and approve addressing Agenda Item No. 4 as it would accommodate the Petitioners Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Filpi. Council concurred. REQUEST FOR FENCE VARIANCE - 1915 BIRCH LANE Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Margaret Filpi, residents of 1915 Birch Lane, were in attendance. Mrs. Filpi addressed Council requesting a variance to allow the installation of a 4-foot high white scalloped fence, set back one foot from the sidewalk along Chestnut Drive. Current City of McHenry fence regulations require a residential fence be at least 15 feet from a corner side lot line. Granting the variance would allow the Petitioners full use of their back yard. Adjacent property owners would not be adversely affected by the proposed fence, as their homes face Pine Drive, and not Chestnut. In addition, the fence would not impact vehicular sight lines at the Chestnut Drive and Birch Lane intersection. Alderman Glab stated his opposition to the variance, citing the City's current ordinance and the need to maintain greenery and open space in City of McHenry subdivisions. Mayor Cuda noted only eight fence variances had been granted by the City of McHenry in the past four years. The Petitioners noted a fence was more aesthetically pleasing than a row of unkempt bushes which did not require a variance. Some discussion followed. Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Bolger, to pass an ordinance granting a variance to Joseph and Margaret Filpi to permit the installation of a 4-foot high white scalloped fence located five feet from the sidewalk at 1915 Birch Lane. Voting Aye: Bolger, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: Glab. Absent: None. Motion carried. _ Alderman Baird suggested the Community Development Committee review the City Ordinance requiring a fifteen foot setback from a corner side lot line for a residential fence. 1997-1998 ANNUAL TREASURER'S REPORT- PRESENTATION BY CITY TREASURER DAVID WELTER Treasurer David Welter addressed Council reviewing the 1997-1998 Treasurer's Report. He presented a comparative analysis of City revenues and expenditures between year-end April 30, 1997 and year-end April 30, 1998. In addition, he ranked the City of McHenry sales tax revenue receipts with all other McHenry County Municipalities. The City of McHenry is currently ranked the second highest recipient October 7, 1998 Page 2 of sales tax revenue in McHenry County, receiving a total of $4,019,509 between July 1 , 1997 and June 30, 1998. He stated, overall, the City of McHenry was in a healthy financial position. Mayor Cuda and Council thanked Treasurer Welter for his presentation and for providing additional pertinent financial information. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: • Contract approval for purchase of 2,000 tons of Rock Salt - $58,480.00; • Monthly Treasurer's Report; • List of As-Needed Checks: GENERAL FUND: CHECK# VENDOR NAME AMOUNT 91066 RETAINED PERSONNEL ESCROW $ 1000.00 91067 APRIL SKARBEK $ 1233.50 91068 FIRST MIDWEST BANK $ 850000.00 91069 POLICE PENSION FUND $ 50627.62 91070 POSTMASTER MCHENRY IL $ 1359.34 91137 CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT $ 43306.00 91138 WATER/SEWER FUND $ 5935.00 91139 INSURANCE CLAIMS ACCOUNT $ 15945.05 91140 MCHENRY COUNTY RECORDER $ 83.00 Report Totals 969489.51 WATER SEWER FUND: CHECK# VENDOR NAME AMOUNT 14635 GENERAL FUND $ 75000.00 14636 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 575000.00 14637 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 150000.00 14638 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 295000.00 14639 FIRST MIDWEST BANK $ 310000.00 14640 FIRST MIDWEST BANK $ 230000.00 14641 POSTMASTER MCHENRY IL $ 200.60 14656 GENERAL FUND $ 26161.53 14657 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 37361.33 14658 COLOMER, JOHN, ENT $ 58.20 Report Totals 1698781.66. Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. REQUEST FOR SIGN VARIANCE - SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 404 NORTH GREEN STREET Reverend Roger W. Schneider of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church was in attendance. Reverend Schneider addressed Council requesting Council approval of sign variances permitting a new free-standing sign at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, located at 404 North Green Street. The new sign would replace a free- standing sign currently located on the property. Reverend Schneider also distributed a rendering demonstrating the comparison between the existing sign and the proposed new sign. Staff explained a sign for institutional uses cannot exceed 32 square feet in area and 6 feet in height. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church's proposed sign has a 32 square foot area attached to a 28 square foot wide brick supporting structure. Supporting structures are not normally included in sign areas unless they form part of the sign proper, or display. In the case of the Shepherd of the Hills Church the supporting structure forms an integral part of the display, resulting in a total sign area of 60 square feet. Sign height according to the City of McHenry's Zoning Ordinance is measured from the curb level of the nearest street to the top of the sign. The curb level in front of the proposed sign at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, is approximately three feet higher than grade. The actual height of the sign for zoning purposes is 10 feet 6 inches. Staff considers a variance for the sign area appropriate as the base of the proposed sign must be included in the total sign area. No variance would be required if the proposed sign was designed with different support structures, such as two poles. Staff also is recommending the sign height be reduced by two feet to 8 feet 6 inches as measured from the curb. Staff noted the lower grade of the church property is considered a hardship.