HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 02/11/1998 - City Council REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 11, 1998
The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor
Cuda at 7:30 P.M. on Wednesday, February 11 , 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, Chief of Police Joyce, Director of Parks and
Recreation Merkel. In the absence of City Attorney McArdle, Zukowski, Rogers, Flood
and McArdle law partner David Rogers was in attendance. Absent: Director of Public
Works Batt.
TEN MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
No one signed in to speak during Ten Minute Public Input Session.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Murgatroyd, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Consent Agenda as
follows:
1) Resolution in Recognition of Darlene-Lawler Schlies' contributions to the City of
McHenry Police Commission;
2) IDOT Resolution in Lieu of Surety Bond for All Work Done by Municipal Employees
on State Rights-of-Way;
3) Executive Session Meeting Minutes: 1/21/98;1/14/98; 1/7/98; 12/15/97; 12/3/97;
1 1/5/97; 10/29/97; 9/17/97; 7/9/97; 3/16/94;
4) Expenditure in the amount of $100.00 for Retirement Gift;
5) List of As-Needed Checks:
GENERAL FUND:
CHECK# VENDOR NAME AMOUNT
88593 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 525000.00
88595 ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL $ 30644.36
66596 MCHENRY POLICE OFFICERS $ 700.00
88597 WATER/SEWER FUND $ 100000.00
88598 WATER/SEWER FUND $ 4170.00
88599 RETAINED PERSONNEL ESCROW $ 250.00
88600 CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT $ 22987.00
Report Totals 683751.36
WATER/SEWER FUND:
CHECK# VENDOR NAME AMOUNT
14129 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 300000.00
14130 FIRST NAT'L BANK OF MCH $ 200000.00
Report Totals 500000.00
Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
PRESENTATION OF PLAQUE AND RESOLUTION TO DARLENE LAWLER-SCHLIES IN
RECOGNITION OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLICE COMMISSION
Mayor Cuda presented retiring Police Commission Secretary Darlene Lawler-
Schlies with a Resolution recognizing her six years of service to the City of McHenry.
In addition, Police Commission Chairman Timothy Wirfs presented Ms. Schlies with
a plaque of commendation from the Police Commission Board. Ms. Schlies thanked
the Mayor, Council and Commission Members. Her commission board replacement,
Marianna Wolfineyer, was introduced.
PRESENTATION OF EDC PROJECTS, GOALS AND ACTIVITIES - KIT CARSTENS ,
CHAIRMAN OF MCHENRY EDC
In response to Council's request at its regularly scheduled December 10, 1997
meeting, Economic Development Commission Chairman Kit Carstens and Economic
Development Commission Board Member Joe Gausden were in attendance. Chairman
Carstens thanked Council for the invitation and the opportunity to develop a better
working relationship between the McHenry City Council and McHenry Economic
Development Commission. Mr. Carstens provided Council with a brief developmental
background of the Commission, as well as enumerating the Commission's past
February 11 , 1998 Page 2
projects. He noted the Council was well represented on the Commission with Board
membership of the Mayor, City Clerk, and Senior Alderman, in addition to the meeting
attendance of the City Administrator. The EDC has historically been a liaison for the
City of McHenry among County, State and Federal entities. The Commission is
currently seeking Council direction. Mr. Gausden suggested four possible projects for
Council consideration:
• Pursuing the development and location of a Children's Idea Museum within the
corporate boundaries of the City of McHenry;
0 Transportation issues, citing specifically, the widening of State Route 120 and
State Route 31;
• The conceptual planning and development of a river walk/front along the Fox
River within the City of McHenry's corporate boundaries along Riverside Drive;
• The development of the Pacini property located at the intersection of Bull Valley
Road and Route 31 .
Mayor Cuda stated any assistance with transportation issues would be
welcome, particularly Phase Two of the Bull Valley Arterial. He also informed Council
and the EDC representatives, the most recent Illinois Department of Transportation
project report schedule indicates the widening of U.S. Route 120 for the year 1999.
Alderman Bolger concurred with Mayor Cuda's direction regarding EDC's assistance
with Phase Two of the Bull Valley Arterial. He also recommended the EDC's
involvement with the proposed West McHenry Bypass.
Alderman Glab and Alderman Bolger also stated their support of the EDC's
assistance with the development of the Pacini property located at the intersection of
Bull Valley Road and Route 31 .
In response to Alderman Baird's inquiry, some discussion followed regarding the
EDC's efforts in business retention. Alderman Baird suggested more emphasis be
placed on obtaining tenants for the vacant buildings located in the center of the City
of McHenry's downtown areas. In response to Alderman Murgatroyd's inquiry, City
Administrator Lobaito noted the update of the City's current Comprehensive Plan
might assist the Council in developing and prioritizing project goals for the Economic
Development Commission. In response to Alderman Glab's inquiry, Chairman
Carstens reported the EDC, McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, and City of
McHenry will be drafting a letter to all Route 120 property owners regarding a general
cleanup effort.
Chairman Carstens was directed to return to a regularly scheduled Council
meeting within six weeks for further Council direction.
PLANNING RESOURCES CONTRACT FOR UPDATE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
City Administrator Lobaito reported as per Council direction at the regularly
scheduled December 10, 1997 meeting, Staff has negotiated the final contract
between Planning Resources of Wheaton, Illinois, and the City of McHenry. City
Administrator Lobaito noted the project's scope has been refined in an effort to reduce
costs and include additional analysis and recommendation on the City of McHenry's
current transportation system. The estimated cost of the new service contract with
Planning Resources is $54,270. City Administrator Lobaito also informed Council the
invoice documentation has been modified to provide daily itemized man hours. City
Administrator Lobaito requested Council review and comment on the Staff's selected -�
five areas of prioritized attention.
The five areas enumerated in Section 1 .9 of the service contract include:
• Potential land uses along the proposed Illinois Route 31 bypass and FAP 342;
• Bull Valley Road corridor;
• The Boone Creek and lagoon area, and adjacent Fox River shoreline;
• Area west of town along Illinois Route 120 that is currently being mined;
• Vacant industrial parcels along the railroad in the northwest quadrant of Bull
Valley Road and Illinois Route 31 .
February 11 , 1998 Page 3
Mayor Cuda suggested consideration of the north Route 31 area. He also
recommended Item #4, the area west of town along Illinois Route 120 that is currently
being mined, be expanded to include the area directly north of the land being mined.
Council was directed to contact City Administrator Lobaito with any additional
recommendations and/or suggestions. In response to Alderman Murgatroyd's inquiry,
he stated the total Comprehensive Plan Update will take approximately twelve months.
Planning Resources Inc. has recommended seven or eight individuals serve on the
Advisory Committee. Tentative discussions regarding the Committee's make up
include representatives from the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Council,
EDC, and Landmark Commission. Mayor Cuda stated a memo would be forthcoming
in the Friday Agenda Packet addressing the Advisory Committee formation.
ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SMITH ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BROOKSIDE PARK
Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel reported the City of McHenry entered
into an Engineering Services Agreement with Smith Engineering, Inc. to provide
preliminary engineering and cost estimates for the Brookside Park Development in
1994. Director Merkel reminded Council the City of McHenry had received formal
notification last month of the receipt of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Brookside Park Development Grant. A condition of the Grant requires project
completion within eighteen months. The construction phase of the Brookside Park
development project must be initiated. Smith Engineering has submitted an
Engineering Services Agreement for the final engineering plans, specifications and
details for bidding and construction. The total cost for this project is estimated at
$5,500. The costs for the final engineering are eligible for reimbursement as per the
Grant's specifications.
Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Brookside Park
Engineering Service Agreement with Smith Engineering Consultants, Inc. of McHenry,
Illinois, in an amount not to exceed $5,500.
Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
MAYOR - STATEMENT AND REPORTS
Referencing his memo, Mayor Cuda requested Council approve his appointment
of Anneliese West to the Landmark Commission. He noted currently two vacancies
exist on this Commission. Ms. West would fulfill Chris Novak's term which expires
April 30, 1999.
Motion by Baird, seconded by Glab, to approve the Mayoral appointment of
Anneliese West to the Landmark Commission to fulfill the term of Chris Novak which
expires April 30, 1999.
Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
Mayor Cuda reminded Council of the Ad Hoc Committee Meeting scheduled for
this evening directly after the regularly scheduled Council Meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Committee Chairman Alderman Murgatroyd reported the Finance
Committee Meeting Minutes from February 3, 1998 and February 5, 1998 will be
included in the Friday Agenda Packet. Alderman Murgatroyd also reminded Council
the Finance Committee continues 1998-1999 Budget discussions on Tuesday,
February 17, 1998 and Thursday, February 19, 1998 at 7:00 p.m.
February 11 , 1998 Page 4
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS
City Administrator Lobaito informed Council revision of the current snowmobile
ordinance requested by Alderman McClatchey will be included as an Agenda Item at
one of the March regularly scheduled Council Meetings. He also noted six tickets for
snowmobile violations have been written since January 1 , 1998.
NEW BUSINESS
Alderman Glab requested Staff address the numerous signs advertising area _
subdivisions and homes, unlawfully displayed in the City of McHenry's right-of-way.
City Administrator Lobaito stated Staff will comply with this request.
Alderman Baird requested Staff investigate and correct the apparent
inappropriate tree trimming occurring in the City of McHenry's parkways and rights-
of-way. He noted several trees were apparently destroyed by this trimming.
In response to Alderman McClatchey's request for further clarification, Mayor
Cuda stated the Illinois Department of Transportation project report schedule
distributed at the last Council of Mayors meeting showed the widening of Route 120
from the railroad tracks west to Charles Road has been rescheduled from the year
2001 to the year 1999. Copies of this projection will be provided Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Glab, to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 p.m.
Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
CITY dLERK MAYOR