City Council

GENEVA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 18, 2015 CALL TO ORDER The May 18, 2015 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: Mike Bruno, Tara Burghart, Don Cummings, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Jim Radecki, Tom Simonian, Ron Singer. Aldermen absent: Mary Seno. Also attending: City Atty. Charles Radovich, City Administrator Mary McKittrick, Asst. City Administrator/Dir. of Administrative Services Stephanie Dawkins, Public Works Director Richard Babica, Economic Development Director Cathleen Tymoszenko, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Police Chief Steve Mexin, Fire Chief Steve Olson. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Approve Mayor’s Appointment of Mary McKittrick to Deputy Clerk and Budget Officer Moved by Ald. Maladra, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Mary McKittrick to deputy clerk and budget officer. Carried unanimously by voice vote. MOTION CARRIED 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: 9 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED APPROVE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING HELD MAY 4, 2015 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED 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 May 26, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE Update on Route 31 Road Diet Feasibility Study Dir. Babica said that he received the final comments from IDOT regarding the City’s road diet proposal. IDOT moved the taper on the southerly end of the road diet section of Rte. 31 farther south from that proposed by the City. Dir. Babica said that he contacted IDOT, asking them to reconsider its modification, but they stood by their May 11 decision to shift the taper to approximately 550 ft. north of the Fabyan Pkwy. 1339 Geneva City Council Meeting May 18, 2015 intersection. He stated that IDOT ultimately has the final decision, Rte. 31 being a state highway. He then recounted the development of the City’s road diet plan, noting that the original concept was to reduce the four-lane roadway to three lanes and include bike paths, but the width of the roadway proved to be too narrow to accommodate the bike paths. He also noted that subsequently the road diet configuration was moved farther north at the request of business owners at the south end of the project. He concluded by saying that while the City did not get all that it wanted it got most of what it wanted. Ald. Cummings asked if IDOT had stated why a right-turn lane onto Fabyan Pkwy. for southbound Rte. 31 traffic was not included. Dir. Babica answered that it was outside of the project scope and would require property acquisition, intersection reconfiguration, and traffic signal modification, all at additional cost, adding that it also is outside of Geneva’s corporate limits. Ald. Maladra noted that a left turn lane into Fabyan Forest Preserve is opposed by both the Forest Preserve Dist. and the area business owners. Dir. Babica said the turn lane was initiated by IDOT. Approve Staff Request to Secure Reimbursement Costs Associated with Revisions and Resubmittal of Modified Phase One Study for the Ill. Route 31 Road Diet Moved by Ald. Singer, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve Staff request to secure reimbursement costs associated with revisions and resubmittal of Modified Phase One Study for the Ill. Rte. 31 road diet. Dir. Babica said the costs involved are estimated by Cemcon to be from $12,000 to $14,000, which includes preparation of an abbreviated project report. Mayor Burns noted that the City is seeking reimbursement of fees for the Modified One Study and to date all funds have come from private coffers. Ald. Simonian, having noted that he helped spearhead the road diet initiative, said he would have difficulty seeking additional funds from the private contributors without knowing a stated figure. He suggested tabling this matter until a defined cost was determined. Dir. Babica said the $12,000 to $14,000 is the figure quoted him within the last few hours. Admin. McKittrick said the recommendation is that the Council direct Staff to secure funds from the road diet task force, composed of those neighborhood residents who provided the initial funds to prepare the road diet study. Having been asked by Mayor Burns what would happen if the task force declines to advance any further funding, Dir. Babaca said that it could complicate the City’s relationship with IDOT. Ald. Kilburg felt that the public should know who is on the road diet task force. Ald. Simonian said that he could not divulge their names without their permission, but would seek the members’ permission. Ald. Kilburg said that when a private group is donating a significant sum of money for road improvement there should be some level of disclosure as to the source of those funds. Dir. Babica said that he would like a commitment from the task force to reimburse the cost of $12,000-$14,000 while concurrently he obtains a quote from Cemcon for Council approval. He emphasized the need to complete the abbreviated project report and submit it to IDOT so that work on Rte. 31 can move forward. Robert Byrnes, 1612 Fairway Cir. and owner of a business park on Rte. 31, reminded the Council that he had spoken before on this matter, which matter he now called extremely disturbing. He reiterated his position that the length of Rte. 31 to which the road diet concept is being applied is not homogeneous in nature and that the businesses located along the southerly portion have different circumstances than does the northerly portion, which is residential in nature. He had successfully argued previously that the ingress- egress needs of his and other businesses were different than those of the residential area and that the business portion should remain configured as a four-lane roadway. He mentioned backups already occurring north from the Fabyan Pkwy. intersection, saying 1340 Geneva City Council Meeting May 18, 2015 that one solution might be to add a right-turn lane at Fabyan for southbound traffic. He said he was at a loss as to why IDOT does not recognize the problem. He saw more traffic problems in the future. Charles Toland, director for the Houghton Mifflin facility in Geneva, expressed the displeasure of his employees with the latest Rte. 31 reconfiguration. Citing the task force, he felt that decisions were being made based on special interests rather than business interests. He said that his group feels that the IDOT-proposed traffic pattern will cause issues with the employees getting into and out of the facility as well as some safety concerns. He said that he has been informed by officers of Houghton Mifflin that if disruption and safety of employees results, the company will look for another location. Ald. Maladra said that he was bothered by Mr. Toland’s comments suggesting the City does not care about businesses, as well as his remarks concerning the motivation of residents who sought changes to Rte. 31. He noted that the City changed the original plan at the behest of the businesses and that no one intends to make the situation worse. Ald. Simonian emphasized that the task force spent additional money to move the road diet configuration north of Mr. Byrnes’s and Mr. Toland’s businesses, but IDOT rejected that plan. Mayor Burns encouraged all concerned to contact local state representatives asking for their assistance in having IDOT reconsider its decision. Ald. Kilburg suggested drafting a letter to IDOT with unanimous support of the Council asking IDOT to reconsider its decision and review the City’s proposal, noting that IDOT’s plan would place an undue burden on Geneva businesses, with a copy of that letter being sent to the elected state officials involved. Per Ald. Kilburg’s suggestion, Mayor Burns said that he and Dir. Babica would draft a letter tomorrow. There being no further discussion, roll call: AYES: 9 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED Accept FY2014-15 4th Quarter Goals Status Report Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Singer to accept the FY2014-15 4th Quarter Goals Status Report. Carried unanimously by voice vote. MOTION CARRIED MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT The following bills were presented for payment: General Fund $286,245.57 Cultural Arts Fund 946.82 Tri‐Com Fund 26,319.77 SSA #1 8,189.16 SSA #4 1,198.89 SSA #5 2,039.67 SSA #7 209.74 SSA #9 107.34 SSA #18 119.97 SSA #23 76.16 SSA #26 434.50 Debt Service Fund 101,612.50 General Capital Projects 3,083.73 TIF #2 270.10 Electric 2,894,200.74 Water/Wastewater 134,522.92 Refuse 2,324.48 1341 Geneva City Council Meeting May 18, 2015 Cemetery 4,946.23 Commuter Parking 2,532.57 Group Dental 4,446.20 Workers Compensation 74,661.00 Utility Refunds 193.61 Restricted Police Fines 285.00 ____________ Total Funds $3,548,966.67 Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Marks that the bills be approved and vouchers prepared. Roll call: AYES: 9 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS Approve Chamber of Commerce Liquor Licenses (Class E-6) for Swedish Days June 25 – 28 2015; Arts Fair July 25, 2015; Festival of the Vine Sept. 11-13, 2015 Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Approve Letter of Correction for Final Plat of Subdivision and Planned Unit Development for Prairie Ridge Townhomes Phase 2 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 No. 2015-57 Authorizing a $2,000.00 Contract Addendum with ESI Consultants, Ltd. Related to Route 31 Water Main Replacement Stevens St. to Northerly Corporate Limits of the City of Geneva 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 Tribute to Marine Cpl. Sara Medina Ald. Kilburg called on all to reflect on the sacrifice and commitment of Marine Cpl. Sara Medina, who was killed in a helicopter crash on May 12 while providing relief to victims of the Nepal earthquake. She was a graduate of Aurora East High School. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Simonian to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting. Carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m. ________________________ Lynn P. Landberg, City Clerk 1342