City Council

GENEVA CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 1, 2016 CALL TO ORDER The February 1, 2016 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 (via teleconference), Craig Maladra, Richard Marks (arriving at 7:11 p.m.), Jim Radecki, Mary Seno, Tom Simonian, Ron Singer. Aldermen absent: None. Also attending: City Atty. Charles Radovich, Asst. City Administrator/Dir. of Administrative Services Stephanie Dawkins, Public Works Director Richard Babica, Economic Development Director Cathleen Tymoszenko, Community Development Director David DeGroot. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Recognition of Western Avenue Elementary Schoolʼs “Get Up and Grow” Committee for their Contributions to Wine, Cheese and Trees Jay Womack, Natural Resources Committee chair, introduced NRC members Adam McMillen and Jim Clesen. He said that past Wine, Cheese and Trees events have been very successful, allowing the NRC to donate to the City $20,000 in trees to date. Recognizing the fundraising efforts of Western Avenue School during this time, he recognized Principal Ron Zeman along with Jen Kelly and Lisa Goewey. Mayor Burns presented the three with a Certificate of Appreciation for their “Get Up and Grow” efforts and contributions to the Wine, Cheese and Trees event. Mr. Womack announced that a Red Oak tree will be planted at the school by the NRC honoring those who contributed to the “Get Up and Grow” effort. The group received a round of applause. Consider Mayorʼs Appointment to Plan Commission Mayor Burns noted that applications are being reviewed and an appointment recommendation will be brought forward soon. Recognition by the Cultural Arts Commission for Bus Shelter Artwork Doug Holzrichter and Jan Schmuckal, Cultural Arts Commission members, recognized Geneva High School artists Mark Anderson and Julian Desens for creating public art for two of the bus shelters along Randall Rd. The CAC plans to continue the program, selecting student-produced bus shelter artwork annually. Mr. Holzrichter introduced those present, including Mark Anderson, his parents, and his art instructor Louise Grissinger. All received a round of applause. AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA None 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. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED Geneva City Council Meeting February 1, 2016 1395 APPROVE MINUTES OF THE LAST REGULAR MEETING HELD JANUARY 19, 2016 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 February 8, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE None MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT The following bills were presented for payment: General Fund $466,742.67 SPAC Fund 600.00 Tourism Fund 4,778.00 Restricted Police Fines 419.36 Tri‐Com Fund 37,057.00 Mental Health Fund 281.25 SSA #1 6,363.54 Debt Service Fund 305.84 Electric 501,830.79 Water/Wastewater 325,684.65 Refuse 87.56 Commuter Parking 7,526.50 Group Dental 7,013.00 Utility Refunds 82.68 __________ Total Funds $958,772.84 Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Marks that the bills be approved and vouchers prepared. Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS Approve Ordinance 2016-03A Amending Title 10, Chapter 6, Section 6A, Paragraph 3 (Building Regulations – Historic Preservation, Historic Landmark Designation – Fees) Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve Ord. 2016-03 amending Title 10, Chapter 6, Section 6A, Paragraph 3 (Building Regulations – Historic Preservation, Historic Landmark Designation – Fees). Ald. Bruno suggested that by also applying a fee to owner-initiated landmarking in addition to non-homeowner-initiated landmarking, the incentive might be lost for the non-homeowner to approach the homeowner and seek his or her support in applying for landmark status. He called for a broader discussion on other fees intended to recover costs incurred by the City as part of the application process, and when it is appropriate to Geneva City Council Meeting February 1, 2016 1396 subsidize those costs. Further, he felt that there is some misunderstanding regarding private gain from landmarking, saying that landmarking by itself does not offer any private gain. It was Ald. Bruno’s understanding that a number of homeowners who were seeking landmarking have reconsidered since a fee has been attached to the process. In order to facilitate broader discussion, he called for defeat of the proposed amendment establishing an owner fee. On a question from Ald. Marks, Dir. DeGroot said that the Historic Preservation Commission can initiate with Council consent an application for landmarking, so theoretically a homeowner could approach the HPC to seek that landmarking, thus avoiding the fee. Ald. Cummings felt that, given the interest in historic preservation, others would raise the funds to pay the landmarking fee if a homeowner claimed hardship. He called for greater efforts to match revenue with costs. Ald. Simonian supported the fee at this time, saying that it could always be revisited later. Ald. Radecki also spoke in favor of the fee, supporting it in the interest of fairness and expense reduction to the City should a substantial number of homeowners seek landmark status. Ald. Bruno favored cost recovery through fees, but reiterated his feeling that an owner fee disincentivizes landmarking. Ald. Maladra said one gets on shaky ground when fees are used as a means of influencing behavior, adding that it is better and safer to focus on the cost-recovery aspects of fees. In his opinion, the homeowner sees benefit from landmarking or he or she would not initiate the process. There being no further discussion, roll call: AYES: 9 (Ald. Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 1 (Ald. Bruno) MOTION CARRIED Approve Ordinance 2016-04A Establishing Application Deposit Requirements for Historic Preservation Commission Hearings Pertaining to Title 10 (Building Regulations) Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Singer to approve Ord. 2016-04 Establishing Application Deposit Requirements for Historic Preservation Commission Hearings Pertaining to Title 10 (Building Regulations). Roll call: AYES: 10 (Ald. Bruno, Burghart, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Seno, Simonian, Singer) NAYS: 0 MOTION CARRIED Approve Resolution 2016-05 Approving the Welcome Sign Design Package by Lannert Group 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 Resolution 2016-06 Authorizing Execution of a License Agreement with Bensidoun USA to Operate an Open Air Market at the City-Owned South Fourth Street Parking Lot 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 2016-07 Authorizing Execution of Engineering Services Agreement with Bollinger, Lach & Associates in an Amount Not to Exceed $83,000 for River Lane Reconstruction Project Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED Geneva City Council Meeting February 1, 2016 1397 Approve Ordinance 2016-05A Amending Title 7, Section 7-4-7 to Prohibit Parking on the West Side of South Fourth Street from Franklin to a Point 80 Feet South and from Fulton Street to a Point 115 Feet North Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bruno to approve motion as presented. Approved by unanimous roll call vote. (Omnibus Agenda). MOTION CARRIED PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, PETITIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND BID AWARDS None NEW BUSINESS Citing concern by State Rep. Mike Fortner that other agencies support the City’s efforts to gain IDOT interest in East State St. reconstruction, Ald. Simonian asked that copies of the letters of support from Kane County and the Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors distributed by Dir. Babica be sent to Rep. Fortner. Mayor Burns said that copies will be sent tomorrow. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, moved by Ald. Simonian, seconded by Ald. Marks to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting. Carried unanimously by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. ________________________ Lynn P. Landberg, City Clerk Geneva City Council Meeting February 1, 2016 1398