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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 09/06/1995 - City Council REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Cuda on Wednesday, September 6, 1995, at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird. Absent: None. City Staff in attendance were: City Clerk Althoff, City Administrator Peterson, City Attorney McArdle, Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito, Director of Public Works Batt, Chief of Police Joyce. Absent: None. Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel arrived at 7:40 P.M. TEN MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION No one signed up to speak during the ten minutes of public input. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: (1) Picnic/Beer Permits (2) July Budget Report Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. MAIN STREET PARKING Mayor Cuda reported that Council had previously discussed and reviewed the lack of parking spaces on Main Street with no apparent solution. The municipal parking lot contains only eighteen (18) parking spaces which is no longer adequate for the needs of this commercial area. Council recently received a petition from Main Street business owners requesting the elimination of two hour parking on Main Street as well as a proposal from John Swierk, owner of Direct Design located at 3922 W. Main Street, to consider making Borden Street a one-way southbound thoroughfare. Mr. Swierk suggests additional angled parking spaces be constructed on the west side of Borden Street. Mayor Cuda turned the floor over to Mr. Swierk who presented the following proposals: • Eliminate the two hour restrictions on the street and the four hour restrictions in the municipal lot; • Make Borden Street one-way and create angled parking on the west side; • Purchase and demolish the school administration building creating a 24 stall parking lot; or • Purchase and demolish the Rockford Welding lot creating a 67 stall parking lot. Mr. Swierk stated the best alternative would be to purchase the Rockford Welding lot creating a 67 stall parking lot on this location. The City's commitment to revitalization of the downtown area was noted in that additional parking was created for the Riverside Drive and Green Street areas. A lengthy discussion followed reviewing each of the proposals and the associated costs. September 6, 1995 Page 2 Mayor Cuda stated his reluctance to earmark funds for the development of a second parking facility when the possibility of using the existing Metra lot was available. He explained that the Metra station may be relocated to the Pacini property if negotiations were successful. Alderman Bates suggested creating a committee where Illinois Municipal League articles could be reviewed, ideas shared, and recommendations brought back to the Council. Discussion returned to the Borden Street proposal. Alderman Lawson, noting the relatively lower cost of the Borden Street proposal, suggested Council consider implementing this alternative, re-evaluating its effectiveness after six or nine months. The implementation of this alternative would allow more time for the Pacini property negotiations to be conducted and for Council to consider the feasibility of utilizing the Metra parking lot for Main Street municipal parking. Mayor Cuda opened the floor to comments from the Borden Street property owners in attendance. Several of these owners stated their objections in general to this alternative. Main Street property owners also took this opportunity to state their preference for a municipal parking lot. City Administrator Peterson noted several solutions were researched in the past to no avail, although many other options remain including creating a special service area district. The discussion continued. Council directed the Public Works Committee to meet with the newly formed Main Street Parking Committee consisting of Carol Dick, Michael Flemming, Perry Moy, John Swierk, and Christopher Wirtz. Chairman of the Public Works Committee, Alderman Bolger, set the first meeting date for Wednesday, September 13, at 6:30 P.M. This Committee was directed to review financial options and report back to the Council. Mayor Cuda called for a recess at 9:00 P.M. The Meeting was reconvened at 9:10 P.M. with everyone still in attendance. PRELIMINARY PLAT, BOONE CREEK SUBDIVISION City Administrator Peterson explained that at the August 30, 1995, Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting, Council directed staff to place the approval of the Boone Creek Preliminary Plat on the Agenda. Peterson noted the property owner and developers have agreed to a $1 ,500 contribution toward the completion of a traffic study by the firm of Barton-Aschman. Roger Gerstad, developer, addressed the Council giving a brief chronological history of the Boone Creek development to-date. He explained that the Preliminary Plat differed from the concept plan as the Preliminary Plat had been redesigned to accommodate detention facilities on the property. The original concept plan allowed for detention on City owned property which was subsequently rejected. The Plan Commission has approved both Tract A-Residential and Tract B- Commercial portions of the Preliminary Plat subject to conditions. Gerstad stated that all the Plan Commission's recommendations had been met with the exception of #6, eliminating the Lancaster and Steeplechase cul-de-sacs. The developer stated their unwillingness to comply with this condition. Discussion followed regarding the incorporation of Barton-Aschman traffic study recommendations into the Boone Creek Preliminary Plat. Motion by Bolger to approve Tract B of Preliminary Plat of Boone Creek, Tract B, subject to incorporating Barton-Aschman's traffic study recommendations. The Motion died for lack of a second. September 6, 1995 Page 3 Discussion continued regarding Meadow Creek and Newport becoming minor collector streets which would increase the overall width of these streets from 27 feet to 34 feet. Motion by Baird, seconded by Lawson, to approve Tract B of the Boone Creek Preliminary Plat, subject to: 1) Street names being clarified and being restricted to anything under three words with presentation at final plat approval, 2) berming with natural vegetation being the norm on Dartmoor and Curran Roads, 3) easements being secured for a pedestrian path between Lots 64 and 65, and be paved similar to the bike path, 4) road widths increased, 5) the berm along Dartmoor being a serpentine type to allow for storm water, 6) all lots under the current 10,890 square feet being increased to conform to zoning requirements, 7) Meadow Creek and Newport Streets being widened to 34 feet. Alderman Locke requested the inclusion in the motion of the provision that no vehicular traffic cross Boone Creek. There being no response the motion remained as originally presented. Mayor Cuda then called for the vote. Voting Aye: Bolger, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: Locke Absent: None Motion carried. Gerstad then requested Council approval of Tract A of the Boone Creek Preliminary Plat. Some discussion followed. Motion by Locke to approve Tract A of the Boone Creek Preliminary Plat, subject to the developer paying for the widening of aprons on existing Dartmoor Avenue. Motion died for lack of a second. Discussion continued. Gerstad noted the Preliminary Plat shows 11 lots with a maximum of 40 multiple family townhomes whereas the concept plan showed 30 units on 10 lots. Discussion followed regarding the number of exits onto Bull Valley Road and the distance from these exits to the Bull Valley Road intersection. City Administrator Peterson noted these issues would be dealt with at the final plat review. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger, to approve Tract A of the Boone Creek Preliminary Plat, subject to the following recommendations of the Plan Commission: 1 . Glenbrook Trail be renamed, 2. Deed for the municipal access be secured at final plat. Voting Aye: Bolger, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: Locke Absent: None Motion carried. Mayor Cuda requested Council approval to execute the Army Corps of Engineers' permit for the Boone Creek crossing. City Administrator Peterson noted that items 16, 17, 18 and 20 needed to be reviewed by the City and developers to determine final responsibility. Staff was directed to meet with developers to draft a written agreement regarding these outstanding issues, and bring the agreement back for Council consideration at the next, September 13, Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting. September 6, 1995 Page 4 Alderman Locke left the meeting at 10:12 P.M. APPROVAL TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO LAYNE WESTERN CO. INC., AURORA, ILLINOIS, FOR WATER SUPPLY WELL #10 IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,836.00 Director of Public Works Batt reported the City had received four bids for the construction of Water Supply Well #10 which is to be located on Pine Street in the Oaks of McHenry subdivision. The low bid in the amount of $49,836.00 is Layne Western Company. Director Batt noted that this bid includes only the drilling and installation. The well pump purchase and electrical installation will require an additional bid. It is the staff's recommendation to award a contract for the installation of Water Supply Well #10 to Layne Western Company in the amount of $49,836.00. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger, to award the contract for drilling and installation of Water Supply Well #10 to Layne Western Company, Inc. of Aurora, Illinois, the low bidder, in the amount of $49,836.00. Voting Aye: Bolger, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: Locke Motion carried. RESOLUTION TO ADD COMERICA GOVERNMENTAL CASH INVESTMENT FUND AS AN APPROVED CITY INVESTMENT VEHICLE City Administrator Peterson reported City funds not needed for immediate or short term distribution are invested in three local banks in the form of Certificates of Deposit with maturities which range from 30 days to 1 year. Other City funds which need to be available in the short term are invested in the Illinios Public Treasurers Investment Pool (IPTIP). Monies invested in this pool are immediately available to the City for daily needs. Recently, the City became aware of another exclusively public sector fund which operates in the same way as the Illinois Public Treasurers Investment Pool, but which has higher yields as well as better reporting features. The Comerica Illinois Governmental Cash Investment Fund is a properly secured investment vehicle which could yield $4,000 to $6,000 annual interest higher than the recent Illinois Public Treasurers Investment Pool. It would also provide the City with better reports which allocate interest earnings within each fund group. It is the staff's recommendation that Council authorize staff to draft a resolution to enable the City to invest funds in the Comerica Illinois Governmental Cash Investment Fund. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger, to: 1) Approve Comerica Bank, a member of the Illinois Governmental Cash Investment Fund, as a depository for City funds; 2) authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the requisite documents to accomplish same; and 3) authorize staff to draft a Resolution adding and designating Comerica Bank as one of the City's depositories. Voting Aye: Bolger, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: Locke Motion carried. MAYOR - STATEMENT AND REPORTS Mayor Cuda reminded Council of the East of the River ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, September 8, 1995, 1 1 :00 a.m. at the V.F.W. Hall. STAFF REPORTS Alderman Locke returned at 10:20 P.M. September 6, 1995 Page 5 City Clerk Althoff distributed a memo providing the circulating and filing dates for petitions on aldermen staggered terms. Althoff also requested Council consider and set the date and hours for Halloween trick-or-treating. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Baird, to approve the City of McHenry Halloween trick-or-treating hours of 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31 , 1995. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Alderman Lawson informed Council that the West Campus Booster Club was looking for City assistance to haul a dirt mix from the River Road gravel pit to West Campus to be used on softball fields. The Club estimates five or six loads of dirt would be sufficient. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Baird, to authorize staff to assist the West Campus Booster Club in the hauling of a dirt mix for the use of softball fields at West Campus. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Bates, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. Alderman Locke drew Council's attention to the article in the Northwest Herald written by Cheri Rickert on the empty storefronts in McHenry Market Place. He requested Council consider inviting Ms. Rickert to appear before Council to present her recommendations and suggestions for addressing this problem. Council suggested Ms. Rickert be invited to attend a Building and Zoning Committee meeting and report on her recommendations. Alderman Baird requested the petition that is to be circulated for aldermen staggered terms include more signature spaces. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Lawson, to go into Executive Session at 10:25 P.M. to discuss personnel matters. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Bates, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. Motion by Locke, seconded by Lawson, to go back into Open Session at 1 1 :10 P.M. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Bates, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. Motion by Lawson, seconded by Bolger,to appoint City Administrator Peterson, Director of Public Works Batt, and Attorney Robert Long of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson to the Public Works Negotiating Team and to use the services of Mr. Long as deemed necessary. September 6, 1995 Page 6 Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Baird Voting Nay: Bates Absent: None Motion carried. Motion by Bates, seconded by Lawson to adjourn. Voting Aye: Bolger, Locke, Lawson, Bates, Baird Voting Nay: None Absent: None Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 11 :11 P.M. Mayor -ity Clerk % , '