Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
March 4, 2008
Here is a summary of Tuesday’s City Council meeting items. The items are listed in the order as they appeared in the agenda. Click here to see the full texts of the resolutions, ordinances, and staff reports.
1. Special Business District Resolution: The approved resolution is an intent to offer economic incentives to an area along Central Park Drive that is undermined and has not been developed. A Special Business District the businesses in the district to collect an additional 1% of sales tax in addition to the current 7.6% amount to pay for public improvements (such as utilities and mine stabilization). This is an incentive for a business to come to the district, and does not affect the amount of sales tax the City receives; most of the major competing centers in the area already charge this extra 1%. The Drury Inn also received Special Business District status in order for them to fill in the mine shafts under their seven storey hotel.
2. Tax Increment Financing District Inducement Resolution: This item was removed from the agenda. The Resolution was to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether the proposed area along Regency Park Drive is suitable for Tax Increment Financing (TIF). City staff has met with the impacted school districts regarding the proposed TIF project, and they requested more information before the City Council proceed with the feasibility study. As a result, the item was removed.
3. Concrete Replacement Resolution: Each year, the City lets a contract to repair concrete streets, curbs, and sidewalks. This year, Rite-Way Excavating was the low bidder at $109,600. The money for the project comes from the voter-approved Proposition S ½-cent sales tax.
4. Microsurfacing Resolution: Each year, the City lets a contract for microsurfacing on City streets. Microsurfacing is a thin layer of asphalt that is applied on relatively new streets to extend the life of the pavement. This year’s low bidder is MSI for $156,254. The money for the project comes from the voter-approved Proposition S ½-cent sales tax.
5. Street Resurfacing Resolution: Each year, the City lets a contract for asphalt resurfacing on City streets. Asphalt resurfacing is different from microsurfacing in that the existing pavement is milled and 3-4 inches of fresh asphalt is applied to the street. Christ Brothers is the low bidder at $864,306. The money for the project comes from the voter-approved Proposition S ½-cent sales tax.
6. Building Demolition Resolution: Over the past year, the City purchased the properties at 413 E. Adams and 410 E. Washington for stormwater improvements. There is virtually no drainage in that area of the presidential streets and the plan is to design some detention and drainage improvements using these two properties. As a result, the houses on the properties need to be demolished. Mertzke Trucking and Excavating was the low bid at $7,972.
7. Sludge Lagoon Cleaning Resolution: Each year, the City lets a contract to clean one of the sludge lagoons at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is not a pretty job, but necessary nonetheless. Merrell Brothers was the low bid on the job last year (by far), and they agreed to extend their bid for a second year at $97,482.
8. Motor Fuel Tax Resolution: Each year, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) requires the City Council to pass a resolution in support of using Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for the maintenance of City streets. MFT is a state tax that is redistributed to cities for street maintenance, repair, and reconstruction.
9. Water Tower Resolution: In 2005, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) mandated that the City needed to add water storage to the City’s water system. The City obtained a $6 million low-interest loan from the IEPA to build a new booster pump station and two one-million gallon elevated storage tanks. The bid opening for the water tanks was held on February 27 and the lowest bid came in $765,000 over the government estimate. With the bids coming in so much higher than the engineer’s estimate, staff is hesitant about accepting the bids, but IEPA’s loan timetable necessitates the City moving forward with the projects. As a result, we have included some contingencies in the resolution to allow the City some flexibility depending on IEPA’s response to the bids.
10. Mobile Home Park Ordinance (approved second reading): When the City became Home Rule, the state relinquished responsibility of inspecting mobile home parks. This ordinance copies the state statute and authorizes the City to inspect the parks.
11. Fireworks Ordinance (approved second reading): This is a housekeeping item that brings the City’s ordinance into compliance with the state statute.
12. Nuisance Ordinance Amendment Relating to Number of Animals (approved second reading): The ordinance is in response to the long debate over the zoning variance for a kennel on Vine Street. Both staff and the City Council agreed that the zoning code should not be used to enforce the number of animals in a residence. As a result, the Nuisance Ordinance is being amended so the number of animals is enforced as a police power and will not have to go through the City Council for deliberation.
13. Teen Center Age Limit Clarification: When the Teen Center on Old Collinsville Road was approved, the ordinance allowed for individuals age 13-18 to be allowed in the center. When the ordinance was recorded, however, the document inadvertently listed the age limit at 13-17. The motion was to confirm that the City Council’s intent was to allow ages 13-18 as originally voted on.
14. Special Event Permits: Four permits were approved for the following: Keller Farms Sweet Corn Stand from June 15-August 31, Sno-Cone Stand from April 15-September 15, Wal-Mart Garden Center from March 1-July 11, and Lincoln Crossing Shopping Center Carnival from April 15-April 20.
15. Water Division Supplies: Each year, the City lets a contract for general water supplies for maintenance of the water system. Midwest Municipal Supply was the low bidder at $35,925.
16. Water Line Variance at Southview Plaza Commercial Center: When the property was subdivided to allow for the construction of a new McDonalds restaurant on Hwy. 50, City ordinance called for the installation of an eight-inch water line and a new fire hydrant. The developer asked for a variance from the requirement and conducted a fire flow test to confirm that the existing six-inch water line is sufficient for fire-fighting capacity.
Now you’re up to date. There is a special Community Development meeting on tonight at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed Sign Ordinance. Next Monday night, committee meetings will be held for Parks & Environment at 5 p.m., Community Development at 6 p.m., and Public Safety at 7 p.m.
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