HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12/14/1992 - City CouncilREGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1992
The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by
Mayor Busse on Monday, December 14, 1992 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Room of
the Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present:
Lieder, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Smith, Patterson, Serritella. Locke arrived
at 8:00 P.M. Absent: None. City Staff in attendance: Assistant to City
Clerk Marth, Attorney Narusis, City Administrator Peterson, Director of Public
Works Batt, Director of Building and Zoning Lobaito, Chief Joyce, Director of
Parks & Recreation Merkel arrived at 7:40 p.m. Absent: City Clerk Gilpin.
TEN MINUTE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
During the Ten Minute Public Input Session, C. David Treviranus,
representing the North Fox Condo Associatlon, spoke to the Council on the new
recycling law and asked that he be liason between the City and the Association
for implementing recycling in multi -family residences. Mike Owsley, a City
employee, asked the Council to consider installing A.M. radios on any new
snow -plowing trucks that are purchased because of the long hours that are
sometimes spent in the trucks. Judy White and Denny Mazur spoke on the
problem of icing on Chickeloon Drive hill during snow storms and asked the
Council if the hill could receive a priority rating for salting.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Smith, seconded by Serritella, to approve the consent agenda as
follows:
(1) November 12, 1992 Special City Council Meeting Minutes;
(2) December 2, 1992 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes;
(3) Tuition Reimbursement Request - Off. Wm. Brogan, Principles of
Management 330, $270.00;
(4) MET Resolutions: (1) Crystal Lake Road Intersection, (2) Crystal
Lake Road (Logan Street to Kensirgton Drive), (3) Local Share
Cost of Elm Street bridge over Boone Creek;
(5) November Treasurer's Report;
(6) November Budget Report;
(7) November Bills for Approval;
Voting Aye: Lieder, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Smith, Pattersoa,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Locke.
notion carried.
SIGN VARIATION REQUEST - 1504 N. RICHMOND ROAD, LARRY MCMANUS
Mr. McManus spoke to the Council asking for a variation for his five
square foot business sign located -in his front yard. He operates a permitted
business in a residential neighborhood under the home occupation guidelines.
The Director of Building and Zoning recommended thzt the variance request be
denied. City Administrator Peterson suggested that M McManus could seek a
zoning change for the property which would allow the signage. Since there was
not a full consensus of the Council for a resolution to this matter, it was
decided that Mr. McManus appear before the Building, Zoning, Planning &
Development Committee for a review and recommendation.
Motion by Bolger, seconded by Donahue, to direct Larry McManus of 1504 N.
Richmond Road, to appear before the Building, Zoning, Planning & Development
Committee for a review and recommendation on his sign variation request.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Smith, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Locke.
Motion carried.
Alderman Locke arrived at 8:00 P.M.
December 14, 1992 Page 2
ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT — DESIGN AND BIDDING, WATER PLANT #4
This matter was tabled at the previous meeting to allow someone from
Baxter & Woodman to appear and review the Services Agreement cost of $72,000
and what services were included. In attendance at this meeting was Carl Moon
of Baxter & Woodman who answered questions from the Aldermen on the
breakdown. He explained that they put together an estimate of the number of
hours it will take and the number of engineering drawings along with using
some standard specifications wherever possible, although this water plant is
of a different design than others in the City. Moon said that the $72,000
figure was only 8% of the construction cost, which is not a high percentage
for engineering service fees. In answer to one of the questions asked, Moon
agreed that should the total engineering services that will be provided result
in a lesser amount, the Agreement price would be reduced.
Motion by Bolger, seconded by Patterson, to approve the Baxter and Woodman
Engineering Services Agreement for the Design and Bidding of Water Plant #4 in
an amount not to exceed $72,000 and should the Design and Bidding procedure
result in a lesser amount, the Agreement price would be reduced.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Smith, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION APPROVING CITY MEMBERSHIP IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS SPECIAL RECREATION
ASSOCIATIOA
At the December 2, 1992 meeting, the Council approved the City's
membership in the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA).
In order to continue this process, a Resolution approving membership in NISRA
and accepting the Articles of Agreement and Bi—Laws of the Association is
necessary. Peterson also explained to the Council that according to the
McHenry County Clerk we cannot levy a new special tax for NISRA as we had
intended. The County Clerk said if we have not levied for this in the past,
even though we would keep within the tax cap of 5% or the consumer price
index, whichever is less, we could not levy for this special tax without going
to a referendum. Peterson and Attorney Narusis are still investigating the
matter, since it would seem unreasonable not to be able to levy the tax if we
remained within the tax cap set by the Legislature. Some of the Aldermen
expressed concern over joining NISRA at this time because of the money crunch
the City is facing.
Motion by Patterson, seconded by Bolger to pass a Resolution approving
membership in NISRA beginning with the City's next fiscal year May 1, 1993 and
ending April 30, 1994.
Voting Aye: Bolger, Donahue, Smith, Patterson, Serritella
Voting Nay: Lieder, Locke, Adams.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
CITY SNOWPLOW AND SALT OPERATIONS
Alderman Patterson asked that the City's program of snowplowing and
salting operations be placed on the agenda for general discussion In terms of
establishing priorities. After discussion and the Director of Public Works'
explaining the snowplowing operations and priority —procedures, it was the
consensus of the Aldermen not to change the current procedures, but to
possibly add containers of salt mixture near dangerous hills or intersections
for nearby residents to spread.
EMPLOYEE GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE
The Finance Committee had previously recommended and the Council had
approved a process whereby employee group representatives and the Committee
would evaluate a number of proposed health plans for 1993 from our current
carrier Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The Finance Committee and employee reps did
meet for three hours with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and we arg awaiting final
premium quotes from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which are expected shortly. Once
these quotes are finalized, the Committee and employee group representatives
will meet again to evaluate these plans and price quotes and get a consensus
on how to proceed.
December 14, 1992
Page 3
Alderman Locke requested that this matter be placed on the agenda to
request that proposals be solicited from other insurance firms. The Council
discussed the matter and it was the consensus of the Aldermen to wait until
the final quotes come in from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Finance Committee
and employee representatives meet to determine next how to proceed. Lieder
asked Peterson to schedule a Finance Committee meeting as soon as possible
hopefully before the first Council meeting in January.
FARM LEASE WITH DAVE BACKHAUS
For a number of years, the City has entered into an annual farm lease with
Dave Backhaus for the 26 acres previously donated to the City for park
purposes. There are approximately 23 tillable acres on this property.
Mr. Backhaus is asking for an extension of the farm lease to cover this 23
acres and additional property that has come into the City's Park Department
under a recently approved annexation agreement. The total tillable acreage
would be 43 acres with a fee of $70/acre payable to the City in two
semi-annual installments for a total of $3,010.00.
Motion by Bolger, seconded by Donahue, to approve the Backhaus Farm Lease
with the additional property added (total of 43 acres) for a period of one
year beginning January 1, 1993 and ending December 31, 1993 for the sum of
$3,010.00 and to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute said Lease.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Smith, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
1992-93 TAR LEVY
The Council announced the proposed 1992-93 Tax Levy figures at its
November 18, 1992 Regular City Council meeting, at which time a Public Hearing
was set and then held on December 9, 1992 to review the Tax Levy Ordinance.
No written or oral comments were received or made at the Public Hearing on
December 9. The following funds, tax levies and estimated rate extensions
were proposed for the 1992-93 Levy Ordinance:
FUND
PROPOSED LEVY
ESTIMATED RATE EXTENSION
General
$ 600,000
.2400
Band
$ 7,000
.0028
Civil Defense
$ 5,000
.0020
Audit
$ 20,000
.0080
Insurance
$ 200,000
.0800
Retirement
$ 400,000
.1600
Police Pension
$ 175,000
.0700
Police Protection
$ 175,000
.0700
Public Benefit
$ 48.000
.0192
TOTAL LEVY
$1,630,000
.6520
The above rate extension is based upon an equalized assessed valuation (EAV)
of $250,000,000.00. If the EAV is lower than anticipated, the City will be
required to reduce the levy to be in compliance with the tax cap of 3.1% (the
Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is less).
Motion by Smith, seconded by Serritella, to pass the 1992-93 Tax Levy
Ordinance as proposed in the amount of $1,630,000.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Smith, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Smith left the meeting at 9:00 P.M. due to another commitment.
December 14, 1992
Page 4
MAYOR — STATEMENT AND REPORTS
The Mayor proclaimed January as International CrimeStoppers month and ask
all McHenry residents to support the McHenry area CrimeStoppers unit.
The Mayor announced that the Chamber of Commerce received a letter from
the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs informing the City
of the discontinuation of the Illinois Certified Cities program, due to the
reduction in DCCA's share of revenue funds. The City previously participated
in that program.
The Mayor asked the Council set another date for the recessed hearing of
the Knox/Busch annexation proceedings, which was continued to December 17 and
was now being cancelled, as requested by their Attorney Thomas Rupp in his
letter to the City dated November 30, 1992. City Administrator Peterson also
asked the Council for confirmation on what he advised Mr. Rupp recently, and
that was that Rupp may want to meet with the School Districts before the
rescheduled meeting, based on the Council's discussions with the School
Districts at the meeting of December 9. The Mayor responded that he believed
that was part of what was discussed at that December 9 meeting and was
appropriate. The Council agreed.
Motion by Serritella, seconded by Bolger, to set another Special Meeting
on the Knox/Busch recessed annexation hearing from December 17, 1992 to
Monday, February 1, 1993 at 7:30 P.M.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Smith.
Motion carried.
The Mayor announced he received a call from Nancy Baker who advised that
that with the new administration in Washington it appears that additional
money will be coming down to Cities and Villages for infrastructure
improvements. The Council should keep this in mind this spring as we would be
in a great position to take advantage of these programs since we have several
projects ready to go.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Patterson set a meeting date for the Parks & Recreation Committee on
January 18, 1992 at 7:30 P.M.
Lieder set a meeting date for the Finance Committee on December 16, 1992
at 7:30 P.M. to begin preliminary work on the budget.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS
Peterson announced that the Rotary Club made a proposal to make a
contribution on the River Walk project along Boone Creek which was a high
priority item with both the Chamber and EDC. They have a large sum of money
that they would like to use to begin the project which would run from Route
120 east to the property adjacent to McHenry Villa (the old hospital
property). The Rotary may be asking the City for cooperation which would
probably involve the Public Works Department in some way, possibly use of
equipment or manpower.
Motion by Bolger, seconded by Patterson, to authorize the City
Administrator to work with the Rotary Club on their proposal to begin the
River Walk along Boone Creek from Route 120 east across Green to the McHenry
Villa property.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Smith.
Motion carried.
December 14, 1992
Page 5
Assistant to City Clerk Marth reported on the City Clerk's progress with
her arthroscopic surgery on her knee, reporting that she was doing well but
moving slowly.
Marth asked for approval of the Resolution setting the regular Council
meeting dates for 1993.
Motion by Donahue, seconded by Adams, to pass the Resolution setting the
regular Council meeting dates for 1993 with the change of the March 17, 1993
meeting date to March 15 because of an ethnic holiday that Alderman Donahue
celebrates on March 17 and the correction of the Annual meeting date in April
from April 26 to April 28.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Smith.
Motion carried.
There was no new business to report except that everyone wished one and
all a very "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Adams, seconded by Patterson, to adjourn the meeting.
Voting Aye: Lieder, Locke, Bolger, Donahue, Adams, Patterson,
Serritella.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: Smith.
Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
ssistant to the City Clerk