Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 09/07/1994 - City Council REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 7, 1994 The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Cuda on Wednesday, September 7, 1994 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Bates, Baird. Absent: None. City Staff in attendance were: City Clerk Althoff, City Administrator Peterson, City Attorney McArdle, Director of Public Works Batt, Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito, Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel, Chief of Police Joyce, Deputy Clerk Joan Marth. Absent: None. Chief of Police Joyce introduced two new officers, Kevin Cox and Victor Chirio, who recently graduated from the Police Training Institute. Officer Cox received the Marksman Award for Firearm Skills at Basic Training Graduation, and Officer Chirio received the Warren Award for Excellence in Academic, Scholastic and All-Around Performance. TER MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION Numerous residents of Martin Woods II subdivision were in attendance. Mike Ca,jthaml, representing the concerned citizens group of Albert's Martin Woods II, addressed the Council. Mr. Cajthaml stated their great concerns regarding the detention area within their neighborhood, including potential well water contamination. He noted the developer's inability to maintain this area as a dry bottom pond, even though it had been designed as such, and informed the Council that it was the fervent wish of the residents to create and maintain this area as a retention or wet bottom pond. City Administrator Peterson reported on the current status of this project. When the City received requests from the residents to correct this problem, staff demanded the developer design a solution consistent with the originally approved engineering for that subdivision which was a dry bottom detention area. Further discussion occurred. Mayor Cuda invited the residents and their engineer to the pre-construction meeting where the developers and City engineers would be available to answer any of their questions and comments about the engineering, easements, and . groundwater contamination. Further discussion continued. City Administrator Peterson suggested the , most expedient way to handle this situation might be to provide all past and present engineering studies to the residents' chosen engineer for their own review and analysis. After a designated time, the developer's engineer, the City's engineer, and the residents' engineer would meet with staff and representatives from the concerned citizens group to go over their concerns and how they have been addressed, and if there are any professional differences on the best design. Director of Public Works Batt was directed to contact the developer and request whether the project might be delayed for three weeks. Mayor Cuda noted that if a contractor has been awarded, and the three-week period cannot be granted, the City Clerk's office will send out notification to all those residents on the sign-in sheet. Meanwhile, the residents should provide the City Clerk's office with the name, address, and phone number of their selected engineer. CONSENT AGENDA Alderman Bates requested clarification on the reduction in the letter of credit of Gerstad Builders. Director of Public Works Batt responded satisfactorily. Motion by Baird, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: (1) August 17, 1994 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes; (2) Request from Gerstad Builders for reduction in Letter of Credit, Deerwood Estates, from $496,175.94 to $35,758.00; (3) Picnic/Beer Permits; "f Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. September 7, 1994 Page 3 COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS City Administrator Peterson reported that the current computer system, both hardware and software, is outdated and unreliable for sustained operations by the City. A Request for Proposal, rather than a bid, is being requested, as the most important aspects for recommending the successful award of this contract will be the quality of the software, and the vendor's experience in dealing with similar municipal operations. The 1994-95 Budget contains $72,000 for the replacement of the City's present computer system. City Administrator Peterson also noted that a PC Network system is being requested, as it is believed this allows the greatest flexibility for the future in meeting financial and administrative needs. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Baird, to authorize staff to advertise a Request for Proposal for replacement of administration computer hardware and software. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. INVITATION TO BID - VEGETATION REMOVAL/PLOWING AND ROUGH GRADING - BROOKSIDE PARK City Administrator Peterson reported that the work contemplated is tree stump removal and finished grading for Brookside Park. This work will not be considered as part of the "match" for the development of this park. The City has applied for a site development grant from the Department of Conservation. Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel has met with a representative to review the site and the City's grant. The grant will allow for three full-size and one junior-size soccer fields, as well as parking facilities and access to the park. Seeding is scheduled for the Spring of 1995, allowing one year for growth before opening the park for utilization. Staff's only concern is that at this time of year, the bids may come in high, as contractors are busy. The recommendation would be to maintain the option of re-bidding in the Spring if bids do come in too high. Motion by Bates, seconded by Lawson, to authorize staff to send the invitation to bid, as presented to potential bidders and that the notice be published in the newspaper. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. INVITATION TO BID - TENNIS COURT MAINTENANCE City Administrator Peterson noted that the 1994-95 Budget contains $40,000 for the improvement and upgrading of existing tennis courts. A suggestion has been made by Alderman Locke to include the cost of paving and ice skating/rollerblade skating area in the Fox Ridge subdivision, as some concerns have been expressed about the potential cost and maintenance of this skating area. Staff has recommended that this project be bid as an alternate to the contract. Some discussion followed. Motion by Baird, seconded by Lawson, to authorize staff to advertise and send the Invitation to Bid to various bidders, and include as an alternate to the contract the asphalt work necessary for creating an ice skating/rollerblade area in Fox Ridge Park, with the clearly stated condition that the Council reserves the right to reduce the scope of this work if the bid price exceeds budgeted funding. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Bates, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. As part of the grant the City received to construct the South Riverfront Park access road, parking road, and non-motorized boat access, the City is required to construct a shelter facility on the sight. The shelter has already been purchased by the City and the attached Invitation to Bid is for the erection and construction of the shelter. September 7, 1994 Page 4 Motion by Baird, seconded by Bolger, to authorize staff to advertise the Invitation to Bid, as presented as well as to send it to various potential bidders. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. MAYOR - STATEMENT AND REPORTS Mayor Cuda reminded the Council of the Fort McHenry dedication on Sunday, September llth at 4:00 P.M. Mayor Cuda informed the Council that staff had received a request from Scott Dixon of McHenry Corporate Center that he be given a copy of the topographical map of the property they are developing. It was the determination of the former Council to charge a recapture cost for these surveys, as monies from the General Fund were used for their purchase. The cost is $30/acre, or in Mr. Dixon's case $2,400.00. Mr. Dixon has asked for these fees to be waived. Mayor Cuda asked for Council direction. Discussion followed. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Locke, to waive the topographical survey fees for Mr. Dixon's industrial development. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke. Voting Nay: Lawson, Bates, Baird. Absent: None. Motion failed. Mayor Cuda recalled that a few weeks ago, the Gary Lang agreement had been sent out to the Aldermen and Gary Lang's attorney for final review. It has recently been brought to staff's attention that the time frame of the incremental increase in sales tax to be utilized for the left-hand turn lane was apparently not specifically addressed, and each party has a different interpretation of the time limitation. Discussion followed. Motion by Baird, seconded by Bates, to instruct City Attorney McArdle to go back to Mr. Lang's attorney with a two-year time limitation for the City's commitment of up to $50,000 from Mr. Lang's sales tax increase. Voting Aye: Locke, Bates, Baird. Voting Nay: Bolger, Lawson. Absent: None. Motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS Alderman Bates, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, noted he will be attending a NISRA Finance Committee meeting on September 13, 1994. STAFF REPORTS Director of Public Works Batt reported an upcoming agenda item will be the bid tabulations on the Prime Parkway traffic signal. They were submitted this morning with Virgil Cook & Son, Inc. being the low bidder. He noted it was $18,000 below the engineer's estimate. Mayor Cuda noted that as the attorney for the Knox/Busch petitioners could not get their publication in on time for the September 14th date, the hearing has been rescheduled for September 21st at 7:30 P.M. In response to Alderman Baird's question regarding open letters of credit, City Administrator Peterson noted that the developers of Green Valley, Units 2 and 3, were delinquent in the completion of their public improvements. This is true of other subdivision developers as well. City Administrator Peterson received Council direction to inform the developers of Green Valley, Units 1, 2, and 3, Winding Creek, Units 3 and 4, as well as Wooded Ridge, that the City is seeking completion of public improvements before year end. September 7, 1994 Page 5 NEW BUSINESS Alderman Locke reported the residents of his Ward would like to begin a "Neighborhood Watch" program. Chief Joyce informed Locke to provide him with a contact name or organization and an officer would be scheduled to meet with this group to begin the process. Director of Public Works Batt was instructed to look into locating and purchasing "Neighborhood Watch" signs. Alderman Baird questioned the high spikes in the beach samplings. Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel noted the spikes were always associated with heavy rainfalls, and were probably due to the washing of bacteria from yards and/or from the smaller tributaries. Alderman Baird also requested Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito meet with him to discuss a neighborhood rodent problem. Alderman Locke directed City Clerk Althoff to look into the practices of other surrounding municipalities in regards to the waiving or reduction of vehicle sticker fees for disabled vets. Alderman Bates noted that the minutes from the June 22nd and July 20th Parks and Recreation Committee meetings were included in the packet for the Council's review. He also requested that City Attorney McArdle, City Administrator Peterson, and Mayor Cuda look into a solution for tightening up Council meetings, particularly with regards to lengthy discussions and the Ten Minute Public Input Session. Discussion followed. Alderman Baird requested consideration of a recreation center be added as an agenda item to the September 19th Parks and Recreation meeting agenda. Alderman Bates, Chairman of this Committee, concurred. EXECUTIVE SESSIOft Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger, to go into Executive Session at 9:30 P.M. to discuss Personnel Matters. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: Bates. Absent: None. Motion carried. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger, to go back into Open Session at 9:54 P.M. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Bates, seconded by Lawson, to adjourn. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Voting Nay: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M. CIT CLERK MAYOR