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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12/4/2023 - City CouncilCity of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 12.04.23 1 MINUTES REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 4, 2023, 7:00 p.m. City Council Chambers, 333 S Green St, McHenry, IL 60050 Roll Call: Mayor Jett called the roll call. Members present Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller, and Mayor Jett. Others present Attorney McArdle, Administrator Morefield-absent, Director of Community Development Polerecky, Finance Director Lynch, Director of Parks and Recreation Hobson, Director of Economic Development Martin, Chief of Police Birk, City Planner Sheriff -absent, Director of Public Works Wirch, Deputy Clerk Johnson, and City Clerk Ramel. Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Jett led the pledge. Public Comment: none Presentation: Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year ending April 30, 2023 (Eccezion) Kevin Smith presented the Annual Report recap. Alderman Koch had asked some questions but was referred to the fund balances that are presented in the package. Consent Agenda. Motion to Approve the following Consent Agenda Items as presented: A. Resolution for the release of Executive Session Minutes and Destruction of Executive Session Recordings More than 18 Months Old. (Deputy Clerk Johnson) C. Parks & Recreation Facilities & Special User Permit Requests D. November 20, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes. E. Issuance of Checks in the amount of $2,753,062.62 A motion was made by Alderman Strach and seconded by Alderwoman Miller t o approve the Consent Agenda Item as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried. City of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 12.04.23 2 *Clerks note: This item was pulled by Alderman Koch. B. Shamrocks the Fox Event Approvals (Recreation Director Hobson) Alderman Koch had asked about last year and how many days was the open liquor allowed. Per Director Hobson, it was three days, and about $1,000 was made last year off of it. There will not be open liquor on the Friday date , which was also noted. Alderman Santi wanted to know if the alcohol needed to be contained at Miller Point, not able to walk around with it on that day. Would like to help voice the need for sponsors. Alderman Glab wanted to know if there are going to be signs, they are going to be set up by Miller Point per Director Hobson. Alderwoman Bassi asked if they would be willing to put up signs where there should not be alcohol, yes confirmed by Director Hobson. A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman McClatchey t o approve the Consent Agenda Item as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried. Individual Action Item Agenda: A. Amendments to Downtown Parking Permits Motion to pass an Ordinance amending Title 7, Chapter 4, Section 7: Permit Parking, of the McHenry City Code. (Deputy City Clerk Johnson) Alderman Santi had asked some questions regarding how many spots were sold last year and Deputy Clerk Johnson gave an overview of the parking permits sold: Main Street had 1 residential, Court Street had 3 residential and 13 business, Riverside Drive had 8 residential and 21 business, and Green Street had 4 residential spots sold. It was noted that there are 36 regular parking spots and 1 handicap spot between the two Main Street lots. There are 36 regular spots and 1 handicap spot for the alley at Riverside Drive and there are 79 regular spots with there handicap spots between all of the Court Street parking lots. Alderman Koch wanted to know if there are signs where the permit parking is allowed, it was confirmed by Director Hobson that there are signs but need to do a better job with them. Alderwoman Bassi questioned the pricing increase to the parking permits, per Deputy Clerk Johnson, this has not been talked about because he wanted this discussion to occur tonight, City of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 12.04.23 3 any permits that are sold are being told they are not guaranteed a spot is what he has been stating. Chief Birk, explained the business permits and that there are not many of them sold, but it is easier for the police to reinforce and allow the residents to have a parking spot. No public comment. A motion was made by Alderman Koch and seconded by Alderwoman Bassi t o approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved. No public comment. B. Annexation of Land Motion to pass an Ordinance annexing a 2.68-acre Tract of Land located on the southeast corner of Lake Shore Drive and McCullom Lake Roa d (Community Development Director Polerecky) Director Polerecky stated that in 1997 there was a land swap that had never been annexed, there were 2 parcels in front of the horse barn and it needed to go to Planning and Zoning, hence why this is on the agenda tonight. Alderman Glab wanted to table this until the discussion of the development of this land. Alderman Strach expressed that this should not be delayed because the use of the property will not change. Alderwoman Bassi had asked Director Hobson about the leasing agreement, it was stated that it was a 5-year lease, there were 4 years left to go and there were no extensions written into the lease. Director Hobson hopes that the tenant Bridgett and her team will renew since they are doing such a fantastic job. There would have to be a new lease after the 4 years is up. Public comment: Bridget who leases the property from R Double J Ranch expressed her concerns about resolving this tonight. Bridgett who is the current tenant they have no address, so if she needs to call the police , etc. it can be hard for them to locate her. Derby Lane is not a dedicated address per Director Polerecky , however, after the annexation, there will be an internal memo sent to change the address to 4401 McCullom Lake Road. City of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 12.04.23 4 A motion was made by Alderman McClatchey and seconded by Alderwoman Miler t o approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved. No public comment. C. Conditional Use Permit – Hickory Creek Barn Pending the passage of agenda item 7. B, a motion to pass an Ordinance granting a Zoning Map Amendment to A-1 Agriculture District, Conditional Use Permit for the Continued Operation of a Horse Stable, Indoor/Outdoor Horse Arena, Equestrian Related Agritourism, and Zoning Variations for the property commonly known as Hickory Creek Farm (Community Development Director Polerecky) A motion was made by Alderman Strach and seconded by Alderman McClatchey t o approve Individual Agenda Items as presented: Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach, Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays. 0-abstained. Motion approved. No public comment. Discussion Item Agenda: A. Recreation Center Expansion Director Hobson stated that 2018 was the last time this topic was brought to the residents, including a master plan. The desire to have these facilities has not gone away, and he wanted to have this discussion so that a plan could be added by January 2 nd for the 2024 ballot. Alderman Glab wanted to know the extent of the bonds for the rec center it was confirmed 13 years ago by Director Hobson. Feels the average resident would want to go forward with this and would not be in favor of property taxes going towards this but a referendum would be in favor of. Alderman Santi asked about the number of surveys that have been done regarding the rec center so far there are two, per Director Hobson. Number one walking path, indoor pool, and gymnasium choices in the surveys. Alderman Santi would like the ball to be in the resident's court maybe with a choice for them through the referendum. Alderman McClatchey $30 million dollars was being asked at the last referendum, per Director Hobson, who feels that the same plan may need to be increased by around 20%. Would like to see it on the ballot. City of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 12.04.23 5 Alderwoman Miller stated that she is also in favor of having it on the ballot because of the lack of public facilities. This is a good opportunity to serve the public. Alderwoman Bassi is in favor of the referendum. If approved, it is a bond that will be added to the tax bill per Director Lynch. Alderman Koch, let the residents decide. Alderman Strach, the same statement that he would like the residents to decide by adding it to the ballot. Alderwoman Bassi had asked for the total years for the project, May 2026 would be the completion date per Director Hobson. B. Hickory Creek Barn Alderman Glab stated that he had gotten an email regarding the fact that this farm has been in the city for close to 30 years. Stated that there are a ton of opportunities and we should have knowledge on a day-to-day basis and how as a city the benefits of the barn are utilized for the residents. Would like the city to be the leader for the program, and talked about how the property is deplorable, has old fencing, etc. it detracts from the pleasantness of visiting the barn. Director Hobson stated that there is a stable in Woodstock that we used to partner with but there is an advertisement with both barns now, McHenry as well. Stated that Bridgett and her team have helped get things moving forward and there have been five public events there, helping to move in the right direction. The private investment inside on the work being done. He looks at this as a partnership and to see what has been done in one year and believes that the direction is moving forward where it needs to be. Alderman Santi stated that we have a partnership with Bridgett and that is the step forward, and if she feels the need to come up to us she should. She needs help with funding and grants and would love to have a partnership to help find ways to help them with the barn. This conversation went on for some time. Staff Reports: Provided the 1st meeting of each month. City Council Comments: *Clerks note: Executive Session was not needed. Executive Session to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public City of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 12.04.23 6 body (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5).). Adjourn: A motion was made by Alderwoman Bassi and seconded by Alderman Santi to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 pm. Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman McClatchey, Alderwoman Bassi, Alderman Strach , Alderman Koch, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nay-, 0-abstained. Motion carried. ----------------------------------- Wayne Jett, Mayor ----------------------------------- Trisha Ramel, City Clerk