HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 11/11/1992 - City CouncilREGULAR MEETING
November 11, 1992
The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to
order by Mayor Busse on Wednesday, November 11, 1992 at 7:30 P.M. in
the Council Room of the Municipal Center. At roll call the
following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Locke, Lieder, Smith,
Adams, Patterson, Serritella. Absent: Donahue. City Staff in
attendance: City Clerk Gilpin, Director of Public Works Batt,
Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel. Absent: Attorney Narusis,
City Administrator Peterson, Director of Building and Zoning
Lobaito, and Chief of Police Joyce.
Mayor Busse announced that the purpose of this meeting was to
address one item, and that was the Phase I Clean Lakes Program Study
for McCullom Lake.
In 1989 the City entered into an agreement with the
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) and the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to perform a Phase I Clean
Lakes Diagnostic Study of the McCullom Lake area and the water shed
for McCullom Lake. The intent of the study was to objectively
analyze the lake quality, and identify factors which may be
contributing to the declining lake quality, fishing characteristics,
and wildlife habitat. After approximately three years, the final
report is complete. It cost the City approximately $48,000.00 to
complete the study.
The meeting tonight was to review that final report. Specific
recommendations have been made to the City on a lake restoration and
protection plan. In order to implement these recommended
strategies, the Council was asked to give consideration to
submitting the Phase I report as a Phase II Implementation Grant
under the Federal Clean Lakes Program. In order to submit this
grant, it is necessary to adopt all of the recommended strategies in
the Phase I report.
TER MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
Prior to discussing the Clean Lakes Final Report, Anton Rebel
of 4009 Maple Avenue signed up to address the Council. He expressed
his opinions and observations on various events including clean up
of Boone Creek, reduction in the number of Aldermen, and criticism
on Council actions throughout the year. Five other people signed up
for the ten minute public input, but agreed to present their
comments after the presentation of the report by NIPC personnel.
PRF,SENTATION OF PHASE I REPORT
Bob Kirschner and Holly Hudson of NIPC presented a proposed
Lake Restoration and Protection Plan. In the Executive Summary,
Kirschner gave a history and diagnostic study overview of the lake
and outlined the Feasibility Study results. Some of the lake
quality problems which were identified during the diagnostic study
were turbid water; shallow water depths; sedimentation; colonization
by exotic, aquatic vegetation; excessive aquatic vegetation growth;
fish kills; a degraded fish community; and reduced lake aesthetics.
To help resolve these problems and guide the development of a
management plan for McCullom Laek, a series of use objectives were
identified. These objectives were derived in consultation with City
Staff, lakeshore homeowners, and lake users. They were:
(1) Improve water clarity for aesthetics, swimming, and other water
contact activities;
(2) Eradicate invasive exotic plant and animal species, notably
Eurasian water milfoil, and common carp;
(3) Promote species diversity and overall abundance of macrophytes
consistent with a balanced ecosystem;
(4) Enhance the lake's plant and animal wildlife habitat
opportunities;
(5) Promote public health by reducing bacterial contamination of
lake water;
(6) Reduce the risk of fish winterkill;
(7) Enhance future lake management opportunities through public
entity acquisition of additional lake bottom, shoreline, and
near-shore/critical watershead areas;
(8) Enhance the quality of boating and fishing opportunities;
November 11, 1992
Page 2
For each of these lake use objectives, a series of lake
restoration protection alternatives were developed. Kirschner
briefly outlined these components:
(1) Agricultural land management
(2) Urban contruction erosion control
(3) Drainage systems for newly developing areas
(4) Drainage systems for already developed areas
(5) A reduction in nutrient contributions from septic systems
(6) Homeowner actions to reduce nutrient/sediment runoff
(7) A soil testing and low/no-phosphorus fertilizer initiative
(8) Streambank stabilization
(9) Presedimentation basins along tributary inflows
(10) Manual removal of floating algae mats
(11) Promotion of balanced growth of lakebed-shielding plant
species
(12) Motorized watercraft restrictions
(13) Shoreline erosion control
(14) Eurasian water milfoil control
(15) Control of the common carp
(16) Management of future overabundance of macrophytes
(17) Enhancement of the lake's plant and animal wildlife
habitat opportunities
(18) Control of contamination from agicultural operations
(19) Control of pet waste
(20) Discouragement of excessive resident waterfowl populations
(21) Wintertime aeration
(22) Snow removal from the ice surface
(23) Acquisition of additional lake bottom, shoreline, and
near-shore/critical watershed areas by a public entity
(24) Enhancement of the quality of boating and fishing
opportunities
An outline of the benefits expected from the lake restoration
and protection program were handed out to each individual in the
audience for their review. Slides were also shown of the work done
during the Diagnostic Study of the lake.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
Kirschner presented a Proposed Clean Lakes Program schedule
which would commence in July of 1993. Final design specifications
and acquisition of the shoreline parcel north of Petersen Park (Mass
Property) would be completed by late 1993. Public education and
awareness activities could also begin in the latter part of 1993,
and continue for the project's duration. In 1994, the eurasian
water milfoil and carp eradication would be instituted, the
conservation area would be established, the aeration system would be
installed, and the lake would be restocked with fish. Follow-up
management of exotic plant species and post project water quality
monitoring would continue in 1995. The final report to the USEPA
Clean Lakes Program would be completed by April of 1996.
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
The following persons spoke after the presentation:
Peter Kasper of 4702 Shore Drive, Bob Jezek of 5104 W. Shore
Drive, Marla Gettler of 2418 N. McArthur Drive, Bob Roch of 2504 N.
McArthur Drive, Al Bolt of 4808 W. Shore Drive, Bill Scarlet of
McArthur Drive, Ed Hammer of 5025 W. Flanders Road, John Gacek of
4714 W. Shore Drive, Mrs. Horseman of Wonder Lake, Donita Witkowski
of 4525 W. Lakewood Road, Carrie Lawson of 4710 W. Shore Drive, Jim
Thennes of 4406 W. Lakewood Road, and Joan Kurth of Lakewood Road.
Each one asked questions or submitted suggestions to improve the
lake. All were supportive of moving ahead with the proposed
restoration and protection plan.
November 11, 1992
Page 3
PROPOSED BUDGET
Kirschner outlined the budget for the proposed project, as
follows:
Eurasian water milfoil control ..................$ 34,000
Control of the common carp and restocking of
balanced fishery ...........................$ 98,310
Conservation area establishment .................$ 6,500
Aeration system design and installation .........$ 15,000
Acquisition of additional shoreline area
by a public entity .........................$ 392,000
Technical consultation, public education
activities, and final report preparation ...$ 51,000
Post grcject water quality monitoring ...........$ 16,000
IEPA.grant administration costs .................$ 11,000
TOTAL PROJECT COST .........................$ 623,810
Kirschner noted that it was proposed that the City of McHenry
contribute $392,000 in the form of in -kind contributions for the
shoreline parcel acquisition (the Mass Farm), and that the Illinois
Department of Conservation contribute $49,155 in the form of in -kind
matching contributions as its share of the fishery rehabilitation
effort. Therefore, the total amount of local State matching
contributions would be $441,155.00, or 70.7% of the total project
cost. The balance of the project cost, $182,655 or 29.3%
constitutes the Grant request that the City would be making to the
USEPA grant for Clean Lakes Program as a Phase II Implementation
Program Grant request.
Motion by Patterson, seconded by Serritella, to enter into a
contract with the USEPA and the IEPA to apply for a Grant to
implement Phase II for a weedkill and fishkill program over the next
2 1/2 years, and to accept the recommendation of NIPC as suggested,
and that the City will investigate and implement a plan to use
volunteerism and to haul away the dead fish after the fishkill.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Serritella,
Patterson, Adams, Smith.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Donahue.
RECESS
Mayor Busse called for a recess at 10:27 P.M. The meeting
reconvened at 10:30 P.M., with all Aldermen in attendance.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Smith, seconded by Serritella to adjourn.
Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Locke,
Smith, Adams, Patterson, Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Donahue.
Motion carried.
The Meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
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CITY CLERK R