Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12/06/2000 - City Council REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 6, 2000 A Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Cuda at 7:30 P.M. on Wednesday, December 6, 2000 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 Kostecki, Director Public Works Batt, Director Community Development Napolitano, Director Parks and Recreation Merkel, Assistant Administrator Maxeiner. Absent: None. -- TEN MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION Ed Rous, of 1814 Oak Drive addressed Council, asked that the storm water which was collecting and pooling behind the houses on Oak Drive be addressed during the Lakeland Park Drainage Phase IV discussion. Mayor Cuda concurred to address Mr. Rous' concern during discussion of Agenda Item No. 6, Lakeland Park Drainage Phase IV. Mary Jean Deja of 1119 Manchester Mall addressed Council, explained several members of Staff had visited her property in response to her complaints regarding an adjacent property owner's sump pump discharge onto her property. She cited safety concerns, particularly with the winter weather and freezing conditions, explaining the water runs through her property and freezes on City sidewalks. Some discussion followed. Mayor Cuda and Council directed City Administrator Lobaito to visit Ms. Deja's property in an attempt to solve Ms. Deja's concerns. City Administrator Lobaito concurred stating he would report his findings to Council. Alderman Glab requested he be included in the home visit. Mayor Cuda instructed Director of Community Development Napolitano to provide Council with a copy of his memo to City Administrator Lobaito regarding this situation. CONSENT AGENDA At the request of Alderman Glab, Consent Agenda Item No. 2, Inland Business Park Maintenance Agreement for Center Island Improvements, was removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion. Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows, subject to the removal of Consent Agenda Item No. 2, Inland Business Park Maintenance Agreement for Center Island Improvements: ■ Approval: Request to connect to Police Alarm Panel - Manulife Financial; ■ Approval: City Council Executive Committee Minutes: ■ April 1, 1998 ■ April 29, 1998 • May 6, 1998 • July 29, 1998 • August 19, 1998 ■ September 16, 1998 ■ December 30, 1998 • February 17, 1999 ■ May 12, 1999 ■ August 18, 1999 • September 1, 1999 ■ November 3, 1999 • January 5, 2000 • February 2, 2000 ■ February 16, 2000 ■ April 26, 2000 • May 17, 2000 ■ May 31, 2000 • June 7, 2000 ■ August 16, 2000 ■ August 30, 2000 ■ November 1, 2000 • Approval: City Council Minutes: ■ November 15, 2000 regularly scheduled meeting. Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. Page 2 12/6/00 INLAND BUSINESS PARK MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FOR CENTER ISLAND IMPROVEMENTS Alderman Glab expressed concern with the language contained in the maintenance agreement regarding signage. He requested more restrictive language be inserted. Some discussion followed. It was the consensus of Council to amend the maintenance agreement for center island improvements for Inland Business Park with the following language: "that the existing Inland Business Park Center Island Signage as of December 6, 2000 will not be replaced and/or changed without prior Council approval". Motion by Glab, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Inland Business Park Center Island Improvements Maintenance Agreement with the following additional language being included: "that the existing Inland Business Park Center Island Signage as of December 6, 2000 will not be replaced and/or changed without prior Council approval". Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. LEONARD AND MAPLE AVENUE SIDWALK INSTALLATION Scott Smith of Smith Engineering was in attendance. Staff reminded Council Smith Engineering was directed to prepare and Engineering Services Agreement to design and prepare bid specifications for the installation of a pedestrian walkway connecting Leonard to Maple Avenue. Council at its November 1, 2000 regularly scheduled meeting authorized the expenditure of $5,140 for data collection, easement documentation and preliminary engineering. Smith Engineering has designed a concrete four-inch thick walkway, with a width of five feet and a length of 260'. The design as presented also requires a 46' block retaining wall with 55' of protective railing to be installed along the Boone Creek '— embankment near Maple Avenue. In addition, a split rail fence is included along the eastern boundary of the walkway. If approved, Staff will investigate the possibility of delegating fence maintenance responsibility to the affected homeowner. The project's estimated cost is $42,100, with an additional $6,420 necessary for bid document completion. Director of Public Works Batt also noted there might be legal fees associated with the preparation of easement documents. Mayor Cuda expressed concern regarding the close proximity of the proposed pathway to the southwest corner of the Maple Avenue property. Mr. Smith explained the proposed sidewalk was designed in an effort to limit City costs for this project. The sidewalk could be redesigned; however, the retaining wall would also require redesign, significantly increasing the cost of the project. Alderman Glab suggested this project be postponed until the Lakeland Park Drainage Study is complete, as future Lakeland Park Drainage improvements could impact this area of Boone Creek. Some discussion followed. Alderman Bolger suggested the installation of a chain link fence be considered as an alternative, to the installation of the concrete walkway. In response to Council inquiry, Director of Public Works Batt explained the concrete walkway was designed with a five- foot width in order to accommodate small equipment, which may be necessary to facilitate walkway repairs. Some discussion followed regarding the advantage of utilizing concrete versus asphalt material. Further discussion followed regarding the proposed walkway location and its proximity to Boone Creek. Mr. Smith iterated moving the walkway closer to the Boone Creek embankment significantly increases the cost of the retaining wall. It was the consensus of Council to defer formal action on the Leonard and Maple Avenue pedestrian walkway installation until the completion of the expanded Lakeland Park Drainage Study. Page 3 12/6/00 REQUEST TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS — LAKELAND PARK DRAINAGE PROJECT PHASE IV Director of Public Works Batt reported did specifications have been completed for the Phase IV Lakeland Park Drainage Project. The project will include the following: ■ The extension of Eastern Avenue storm sewer from Clearview to Shore Drive; ■ The installation of storm sewer from 4309 Clearview via Oak Drive to the existing storm water ditch. Director Batt explained the estimated cost of the project has been increased to $185,775.50 from the budgeted figure of $160,000. The increase is due to the inclusion of the 1904 Oak Drive property, which is also experiencing drainage problems, thereby expanding the original scope of the project. Mayor Cuda recognized Ed Rous whose ten-minute public input question was deferred to this Agenda Item discussion. Mr. Rous explained his property is located on the same block as 1904 Oak Drive. He noted significant storm water pools along his rear property line as well as along the rear property line of adjacent lots. In light of the drainage problem experienced at 1904 Oak Drive, and the proximity of a manhole between his property and the railroad tracks, he requested the Phase IV Lakeland Park Drainage Project be amended to include this drainage issue as well. Some discussion followed. Director of Public Works Batt stated Mr. Rous' drainage problem will not, in all likelihood, be corrected in conjunction with the Phase IV Lakeland Park Drainage Project. Citing the existence of water and storm water pipe, he also noted the drainage route would not traverse the front of Mr. Rous' property. Motion by Bolger, seconded by McClatchey, to authorize Staff to advertise for bids for the Phase IV Lakeland Park Drainage Project Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, and Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. MAYOR STATEMENT AND REPORTS Mayor Cuda reported he had authorized the placement of gravel along three homes on Broad Street. He explained the landscape renovations following the 2000 Streets Improvement Program were not yet completed. In an attempt to accommodate the affected residents' requests regarding unsightly mud, parking, and further lawn deterioration, gravel was placed along the Broad Street parkway. COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance and Personnel Committee Chairperson Alderman Murgatroyd reminded Council of the Finance and Personnel Committee Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 13, 2000 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regularly scheduled Council Meeting. This meeting's Agenda includes further consideration of proposed policies for the City of McHenry's Capital Improvements Plan. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS Community Development Director Napolitano referencing Alderman Glab's request at the November 29th regularly scheduled meeting, to investigate the future plans for Walkup Road reported he had spoken with McHenry County Transportation Department representatives and no plans currently exist to widen Walkup Road to four lanes. A Phase One Traffic Study, however, is being conducted on Walkup Road between Route 176 and Bull Valley Road to determine the need for constructing a three-lane cross section. Director Batt reported the newly constructed east-side elevated water storage tank is being filled. Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel reported bids for the Project Zone Page 4 12/06/00 Skatepark were opened on Tuesday, December 51h at 11:00 a.m. The results will be presented to council for formal consideration and action at the December 201h regularly scheduled meeting. In response to council inquiry, Director Merkel stated these bids were substantially lower than those received in October. City Administrator Lobaito, referencing his memo of December 6ch regarding Inland Real Estate Corporation's request for a decrease in property assessment, explained the property in question is 4512-4518 and 4502-4508 Garden Quarter. These properties are part of the Garden Quarter apartment complex. City Administrator Lobaito stated he is recommending Council direct the City's Attorney, Mr. McArdle, to file papers of intervention with the McHenry County Board of Review. He explained continued reductions in property tax revenues place the financial burden on other revenue sources available to the City. He also noted the intervention is typically done in conjunction with other taxing entities, specifically McHenry Elementary School District #15 and McHenry High School District #156. City Administrator Lobaito also noted no additional paper work has, as yet, been received, therefore no explanation for Inland's request is known. Motion by Murgatroyd, seconded by McClatchey, to direct city Attorney McArdle, to file papers of intervention with the McHenry County Board of Review in response to Inland Real Estate Corporation's request for a decrease in Assessment for their Garden Quarter property located at 4512-4518 and 4502-4508 Garden Quarter. Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. Alderman Glab requested staff keep council apprised of the process. City Clerk Althoff, referencing her memo of November 22, 2000, explained staff sought quotes for the purpose of revising, incorporating newly annexed properties, in the City's official Ward District Map. Smith Engineering was the only firm to respond to the request. Surveyor Eric Hegland of Smith Engineering has noted the inclusion of the language "following City Limits" accounts and automatically incorporates newly annexed properties into the adjacent ward. Therefore no official council action is necessary. Mr. Hegland did suggest council consider more accurate and implicit legal descriptions be developed in conjunction with any future redistricting. NEW BUSINESS Alderman Glab reminded council of his Ward Two meeting scheduled for Sunday, December 101h at the Municipal Building beginning at 2:00 p.m. He informed council the agenda includes the proposed Shamrock Farm development and future growth in general. Alderman Glab also offered congratulations to Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel as well as city resident, Sandra Salgado, upon their induction onto the McHenry County Board. He suggested Ms. Salgado be invited to attend one of the regularly scheduled council meetings sometime in January or February when she and Director Merkel might make a presentation regarding county issues, concerns, etc. Council concurred. Alderman McClatchey initiated a discussion regarding the installation of sidewalk along Riverside Drive to McCullom Lake Road. City Administrator Lobaito informed council he had met with McHenry Township Road Supervisor, Charles Majercik, and discussions were underway regarding of an inter-governmental sidewalk/streets participation program for Riverside Drive. City Administrator Lobaito clarified portions of Riverside Drive fall within the townships jurisdiction. In response to council inquiry, City Page 5 12/06/00 Administrator Lobaito assured council the Township would pay their fair share of the work. ADJOURNMENT Motion by McClatchey, seconded by Glab, to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 p.m. Voting Aye: Bolger, Glab, McClatchey, Murgatroyd, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. meeting was urned at 8:23 p.m. ZT . ti-,._ -� YOR CITY ERK