HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10/6/1987 - Landmark Commission MINUTES OF THE CITY OF MCHENRY LANDMARK COMMISSION
6 October 1987
' . The regular monthly meeting of the City of McHenry Landmark Commission
was called to order at 7 : 34 P.M. by Dick Rabbitt, acting Chairman.
Commission members present were: Dick Rabbitt, Marya Weber, Frank Gans ,
Mary Lou Schaeffer, Mary Vycital, Tom Hopkins , Elizabeth Serritella;
absent were: Don Howard, Adele Froelich. Resignations have been
tendered by Nancy Fike and Dorothy Uttich, although both were present
at the meeting as guests .
Other guests were: Mayor Busse, Aldermen: Smith, Nolan, Bolger,
McClatchey, Teta & Serritella, City Clerk Gilpin, Fran Olsen of the
Chamber, Parks Director Pete Merkel , the Chief of Police, and a number
of interested citizens .
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Financial report: August expenditures of $617 . 85 for fiscal year to
date total expenditures of $1 , 917 . 87 . (Also see attached statement) .
Voting proceded on the plaque application for the Schaeffer Residence
at 3619 Waukegan Rd. (application #8 ) . Average score received was 74 ,
and will be recommended to the City Council for final approval .
The Gary Nickels slide show has been scheduled for the November
meeting. Due to the regular date being election day and City Council
chambers being used as a polling place, the location and time will
have to be changed.
Due to the important business relating to discussion of the planned
move by City Hall , other business was put off until the next meeting,
including consideration of a plaque application received from James &
Mary Cavanaugh for the residence at 3715 Waukegan Rd.
Dick Rabbitt opened the discussion on City Hall by commenting on the
advisory capacity of the Landmark Commission as mandated by the
ordinance that created the Commission, and spoke on his feelings of
the Commission not being properly utilized.
Mayor Busse read a prepared statement concerning the role of the
Commission in City Hall plans for expansion and relocation. The City
Council has been discussing the move for many months, both at regular
meetings and 2 executive sessions . Official action to relocate has
not been taken. City Council has authorized the Mayor only to research
and negotiate parcels of land and/or buildings . Criteria for site
selection are: 1 ) Cost, 2 ) Occupancy Date, 3 ) Location, 4 ) Future
Expansion possibilities , 5 ) Parking, 6 ) Proximity to Business District,
7 ) Consolidating of Departments under on roof , 8 ) the Useful Life of
the Building. The Landmark Commission had stressed location as being
important in an earlier letter to the Mayor. The Mayor stated that
land and/or buildings are more difficult to acquire in the Central
Business Districts.
The reasons for the Landmark Commission' s concerns and the resifnations
of two of its members were a newspaper article that appeared in the
Northwest Herald in September that the City Hall planned to move. The
Landmark Commission had played no role in that "decision" . Mayor Busse
explained that plans to relocate had not been finalized and that the
article in the paper was misleading. The City had only decided to
reject the Gladstone Building on Green Street as a potential site,
due to renovation costs , poor access , and other drawbacks .
City of McHenry Landmark Commission, 6 October 87 page 2
The Landmark Commission had not been consulted because of timing. The
property came on the market on September 15 , which resulted in and
executive session of the City Council on September 21 and the resulting
to decision not to acquire the property. Executive sessions are
required for final selection so as not to destroy potential deals are
create potential speculation by others according to the Mayor . The
City is continuing to evaluate many sites and compromise on some of
the stated criteria will probably be necessary.. The Mayor encouraged.
members of the Commission and others to let him know of potential sites
or buildings in the Central Business Districts .
Alderman Bolger stated that the existing location of City Hall is a
landmark location and a good location. He felt that the Gladstone
Building was perfect for relocation and felt that the decision had been
rushed. He also mentioned a lower quote for renovation than had been
mentioned by the Mayor. He feels that a new building will cost too
much and will result in higher taxes . Ald. Bolger suggested a
referendum to decide the location.
Alderman Nolan stated that there was no need to rehash the issues at
this meeting. She suggested that communication with the Landmark
Commission may have been lacking, but the situation with the Gladstone
Building was due to timing.
Nancy Fike brought up the ordinance creating the Landmark Commission
and its advisory capacity concerning historic landmarks . She felt that
the Commission was not utilized as intended by the ordinance. She
questioned the future of Green Street if City Hall locates elsewhere
following the exodus of other business . She also questioned the Mayor
on his comments quoted in the paper as to upkeep and maintainence of
an older rehabbed building, suggesting that all buildings , including
new ones , require maintainence.
Alderman Teta stated his support for the efforts of the Landmark
Commission and asked that the resignations of the two members be
re-considered by them. He also stated that there had been a breakdown
of communication.
Alderman Smith stated that he felt the Commission should be involved
in issues only relating to actual landmarks , and that he was, not in
favor of the Commission having an active role in the decision making
process . Mr. Smith felt that the Gladstone Building should have been
selected as a relocation site, but that the majority ruled in the
decision.
Mayor Busse added that the City is currently conducting a survey of
shopping patterns on Green Street relating to people conducting
business at City Hall . He then stated that input from the Commission
is important, but the decisions must be made by the City Council .
Fran Olsen spoke of the Economic Development Commission ' s plans to
begin developing a Downtown master redevelopment plan and the concerns
about the impact of moving City Hall from its present location.
Nancy fike feels that the Landmark Commission should be involved in
the preparation of downtown development plans so that preservation is
L.- considered as a viable alternative.
City of McHenry Landmark Commission, 6 October 87 page 3
The Mayor suggested that the Landmark Commission should possibly
become involved and provide input for the Planning Commission as a
new City Master Plan is currently being developed. Tom Hopkins
pointed out that the Chairman of the Planning Commission had attended
an earlier meeting of the Landmark Commission to discuss. that.
Tom Hopkins then related the results of his meeting a day earlier
with Fran Olsen and Dave Gelwicks of the EDC concerning possible
involvement by the Landmark Commission. The EDC would be interested
in such an arrangement and will discuss this at their next meeting.
One possibility is to have one member of the Landmark Commission .
become a member of the EDC or vice versa. More details of the feelings
of the EDC will be discussed at the next meeting of the Landmark
Commission.
More general discussion concerning downtowns followed.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 25.
Respectfully submitted,
Cilg* #5)PAP:
Tom Hopkins
Secretary