City Council

GENEVA CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 CALL TO ORDER The September 15, 2014 meeting of the Geneva City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Kevin Burns. Aldermen present: Chuck Brown, Mike Bruno, Don Cummings, Dorothy Flanagan, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Mary Seno, Tom Simonian, Ron Singer. Aldermen absent: None. Also attending: City Atty. Charles Radovich, Asst. City Administrator/Dir. of Administrative Services Stephanie Dawkins, Acting Public Works Director Brian Schiber. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Approve Mayor’s Appointment of Daniel Konicek to the Zoning Board of Appeals Mayor Burns said Mr. Konicek comes highly recommended by ZBA Chair Art Kaindl. Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Daniel Konicek to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Carried unanimously by voice vote. MOTION CARRIED Department Presentation: Public Works Dept. Acting Public Works Dir. Schiber gave a presentation on the City’s snow and ice operations. He reviewed the City’s fleet of snow removal equipment, covered the City’s 2,000-ton salt storage facility and the fact that the City has been able to purchase this year’s supply of salt at the contracted price of $58 per ton, much less than the current price of road salt. He addressed roadway categories and snow removal priorities, along with parking restrictions during snowfalls. Finally, he defined treated and untreated salt, showing that treated salt remains in a more concentrated area when spread. Questions were then taken, with Ald. Kilburg taking the opportunity to ask about the status of the City’s summer roadway projects as well as the infected ash tree removal program. Acting Dir. Schiber said that over-night construction is being considered for planned downtown Rte. 38 repairs. OMNIBUS AGENDA All items listed on the Omnibus Agenda are considered to be routine by the Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council member or citizen so requests in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda. Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED APPROVE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING HELD SEPT. 2, 2014 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED 1344 Geneva City Council Meeting September 15, 2014 APPROVE REPORTS Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED COUNCIL COMMITTEES Committee of the Whole September 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE Approve Reprioritizing FY Capital Projects and Goals and Reappropriation of FY2014- 15 Budgeted Funds in an Amount not to Exceed $208,000 to Include, if Possible, the Road-Diet Concept in the Geneva Portion of the Rte. 31 Road Resurfacing Project through the Illinois Department Of Transportation Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Simonian to approve reprioritizing FY capital projects and goals and reappropriation of FY2014-15 budgeted funds in an amount not to exceed $208,000 to include, if possible, the road-diet concept in the Geneva portion of the Rte. 31 road resurfacing project through the Illinois Dept. of Transportation. Ald. Simonian, in whose ward the proposed Rte. 31 project will take place, recapped progress in determining interest in the road diet proposal thus far. He explained that he mailed 267 letters to constituents in the immediate area seeking whether or not they would favor the proposed project. He said he, Mayor Burns, Ald. Maladra, County Bd. Member Mike Donahue, Bob Fitzsimmons and Phil Bus also met with approximately 51 constituents. Overall, responses were favorable. He distributed a summary of the results along with comments from respondents. Ald. Simonian said that Mr. Fitzsimmons and Mr. Bus agreed to develop the initial concept, with neighborhood residents funding the initial conceptual phase and engineering if the City and IDOT would continue from that point forward. He emphasized that since IDOT plans to move forward with resurfacing Rte. 31 in the designated area, it is important that the City expedite the develop and presentation of its road diet proposal, reallocating funds from the Fourth St. parking lot to the Rte. 31 project. Ald. Maladra agreed, saying that the conversation needs to move forward from opinions and ideas to one that is supported by facts regarding phase-one engineering in order to determine if the project itself is possible. Ald. Kilburg sought clarification on how City funds would be applied, with Ald. Simonian saying that the City might have costs that have yet to be determined and agreed upon. Mayor Burns said that if there is an opportunity to advance the City’s plan, IDOT will want to know how the City will fund the project, the answer being from the capital budget in the amount of $208,000 set aside for the Fourth St. parking lot improvements. He said the question tonight is if the priority is the Fourth St. parking lot or placing the funds in a holding account pending a decision on how the Rte. 31 project will progress. Ald. Kilburg felt that input should come from the entire community, adding that concerns he has heard aim at whether this project is intended to facilitate a bike lane or to move traffic more efficiently through Geneva. Mayor Burns assured that the public at large will be able to provide comments if and when the project advances. Ald. Cummings felt that there would be minimal risk, with potential reward in moving forward. He cited a national study, which concluded that road diet programs increase both pedestrian and vehicular safety. He supported the motion. Ald. Bruno agreed, citing the opportunity at hand. Ald. Flanagan supported bringing the proposal before IDOT to determine its interest. 1345 Geneva City Council Meeting September 15, 2014 Ald. Brown question why an amount less than the $208,000 could not be specified for this project at this time, with additional monies being transferred from the general fund at a later time if the project moves forward. He suggested Staff determine the extent of reprioritizing and the amount of money needed at this point to reprogram and present that information at next week’s COW meeting. Asst. Admin. Dawkins said that a lesser amount from the general fund would require dipping into reserves, going below the reserve level stipulated by the Council. Brief discussion followed regarding the justification of moving funds for the proposed road diet program at this time. Ald. Kilburg raised the issue of the possible need to acquire some personal property to accommodate a widened roadway. He also asked if the proposed traffic circle at Rte. 31 and Third St. would be part of this project. Ald. Simonian addressed Ald. Kilburg’s questions. After some additional discussion, roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT The following bills were presented for payment: General Fund $55,632.63 Beautification Fund 1,355.20 Tourism Fund 767.73 Tri‐Com Fund 14,630.00 SSA #1 390.20 SSA #16 616.00 General Capital Projects 170,928.49 Infrastructure Capital Projects 15,274.46 Electric 2,100,753.04 Water/Wastewater 62,371.73 Refuse 7,758.20 Cemetery 5,563.13 Commuter Parking 386,946.99 Group Dental 2,145.00 Workers Compensation 900.00 Utility Refunds 1,588.40 ____________ Total Funds $2,827,621.20 Moved by Ald. Brown, seconded by Ald. Flanagan that the bills be approved and vouchers prepared. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Brown, Bruno, Cummings, Flanagan, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS Approve Ordinance 2014-27 Amending Title 4, Ch. 4-2-13 Adding One (1) Class B-3 Liquor License – Gomra Corp. dba El Molcajete for a Second Location at 227 S. 3rd Street Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED 1346 Geneva City Council Meeting September 15, 2014 Approve Renewal of Group Health, Dental, Life Insurance Policies Effective November 1, 2014 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2014-68 Declaring Street Division Surplus Property as Presented Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Use of Capital Funds to Study Additional Area Near Intersection of Illinois Rte. 38 and Illnois Rte. 25 for Potential Inclusion in a Downtown Tax Increment Finance District Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Ordinance 2014-28 Enlarging the Boundary of Special Service Area #1 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2014-69 Authorizing Bid Award and Contract to EDC Systems in the Amount of $106,272 for 2014-15 Citywide Computer Replacement Program Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2014-70 Authorizing Bid Award and Contract to Sound Vision Inc. in the Amount of $20,860.42 for City Hall Council Chambers Audio/Video Redesign Project Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS Ald. Kilburg congratulated the Kane County Cougars baseball team on winning the Midwest League championship. He also noted that the team attracts more than 400,000 fans annually to Geneva. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, moved by Ald. Simonian, seconded by Ald. Marks to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting. Carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. ________________________ Lynn P. Landberg, City Clerk 1347