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OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST PEORIA, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 7:00 P.M. WEST PEORIA CITY HALL 2506 W. ROHMANN AVENUE, WEST PEORIA IL
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of West Peoria, Illinois was held at the West Peoria City Hall on September 23, 2008.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Dillon.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Dillon.
3. ROLL CALL
The following members were present: Alderman Dohm, Alderman Dwyer, Alderman Mathewson, Alderman Meismer, Alderman Roberts, Alderwoman Thomas, and Alderman Venzon. Also present: Mayor James Dillon, Attorney Bill Connor, City Administrator John Carlson, City Treasurer Jennifer Main and City Clerk Carole Stephens. Alderman Ganson was absent
4. ADDITIONS AND OR DELETIONS FROM AGENDA None
5. MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes from the September 9, 2008 City Council Meeting was made by Alderman Dohm and seconded by Alderman Dwyer.
ROLL CALL VOTE Ayes – 7 Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, Roberts, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried
6. COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT Peoria County Deputy Chris Watkins reported that were several burglaries in Peoria County around Smithville Road. Sheriff’s Department has a couple of suspects they are talking to. West Peoria has had one burglary in the last two weeks He stated that about three weeks ago West Peoria had three in one night. Most of these burglaries are committed in the daytime, if you see anything suspicious call the Sheriff’s Department.
7. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Dillon discussed the water that is getting into residents basements caused from the recent storms who have never had water in their homes. Street Department Manager Henry Strube was out on calls a number of times. With all the construction going on between Peoria County, the City of West Peoria and Illinois American Water Company we have had some erosion problems and some residents were having trouble getting into their homes. The County said, with weather permitting hopefully they will be back on track with the Rohmann Avenue Project. The Water Company assured me that on some of the streets where the water mains were replaced, they are going to try to put on another crew and get those services taken care of so that the city can get some of the work done on some of the streets that need repair. Henry was out looking at some of the water problems, and they will be discussed at the next Transportation Meeting.
8. TREASURER’S REPORT City Treasurer Main passed out the Treasurer’s Report for August of 2008. Alderman Mathewson made the motion to receive and file the August report. Alderman Meismer seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE – Ayes 7 - Mathewson, Meismer, Dohm, Dwyer, Roberts, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried
9. PUBLIC COMMENT Resident: First item: I just noticed in the last couple of weeks, bringing attention to the Council, that there are nine different houses on Main Street that have student rentals signs out. This is the first time I have ever noticed nine, maybe one, but never nine. This raises a red flag to me that something may be going on in reference to the University, either they have more facilities on campus or there not enough students enrolled. Second Item: The other thing I thought of: Mayor Dillon put in the Website the different advantages of the project on Heading Avenue. One was the forty-four percent of the students with cars on campus. About twenty percent of people are local, people going to campus. I don’t think they include those particular cars as being on campus. Also, freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus. I am not sure if that figure is low or high, just wanted to bring your attention to that, I questioned that particular percentage and feel that in reference to this project it will be a higher percentage. Third Item: In the advantage shown on the Website showed three hundred thousand dollars would be the potential taxes that would be received by the City. This does not included the percentage that the developer would negotiate to be able to take of that three hundred thousand dollars for his own property and that is a negotiated item. This is why I bring these three items up. Mayor Dillon: Thank you. Resident; There were three things in the Peoria Journal Star that confirms our concerns about this Heading Avenue project if this is going to be a target for Bradley Students. 1) On the front page of the Peoria Journal Star today there was an article about the noise and Peoria Councilwoman Van Auken, who said that she has to deal with this every weekend. 2) Public Works: There is talk about reducing the lanes on Main Street east of University to Bourland Avenue making it pedestrian friendly, and also taking away the turn lane just this side of University Avenue. We have concerns about the traffic congestion on Heading Avenue or people who cut through on Waverly Avenue to Rohmann Avenue. 3) Yesterday in the Peoria Journal Star there was an article about Bradley students indicating them in drug cases. These are off campus students growing marijuana in their facilities. Resident: (This has to do with Rohmann and Sterling Avenue) I saw an employee of Stark Construction watering down the road to keep the dust under control. The dust is just unbelievable. Mayor Dillon: According to the letter I received and I think all the residents involved in this project received the same letter. The company is working on trying to dry the soil. They hope to have it dried and graveled and planning to work Saturday so they can start putting the gravel down. Resident: As far as the Heading Avenue goes, I have heard everything about it. But my understanding that an R-1-Zoning is to protect us from something unfavorable coming in. Mayor Dillon: The reason R-1 Zoning was chosen is the Special Use so they could put some restrictions on it. This was requested by the citizens. Originally they were going with an R-2 Zoning. The citizens then requested that the developer go with an R-1 Special Use. The developer chose to go that way. Resident: Was it already an R-l? Mayor Dillon: Yes, but you would have to go with a Special Use to put anything in there as an R-1. Resident: We have read about how other communities are dealing with multi-family housing project and student projects. When you look at this and say, “Boy, I am glad that in not us”. And here we are. We do not have to deal with this because it is not a built. The others are dealing with something that already exists. Do you not think that they would like to have the opportunity to bail and have the opportunity like we have and just say no to this project. It just does not have a good fit for our community. I really hope that you give us the consideration and listen to the residents.
10. MOTION TO APPROVE THE STANDARD AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF WEST PEORIA AND HERMANN AND ASSOCIATED FOR LLC FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES (LINE ITEM NO.01-41-532) was made by Alderman Venzon and seconded by Alderman Roberts. Discussion: Alderman Venzon told the council that this is another thing required by IDOT because we are using the MFT Funds. It breaks down the estimated cost for Engineering Services and Over Site Testing, cost that are above and beyond the actual work in the street.
ROLL CALL VOTE - Ayes 7– Venzon, Roberts, Dohm, Dwyer, Mathewson, Meismer, Thomas Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried
11. MOTION TO APPROVE THE TIF CONTRACT WITH THOMAS N. JACOBS & ASSOCIATES, LTD. FOR PAYMENT OF THE FIRST HALF OF 2008 LEGAL FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,221.10 (LINE ITEM NO. 15-00-500) was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Meismer. Discussion: This is just part of the agreement we have with Jacob and Sons
ROLL CALL VOTE – Ayes – 7 Mathewson, Meismer, Dohm, Dwyer, Roberts, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried
12. MOTION TO APPROVE THE TIF CONTRACT WITH THE ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP LTD. TO PAY THE FIRST HALF OF FEES DUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,884.40 (LINE ITEM NO. 15-00-500) was made by Alderman Mathewson and seconded by Alderman Meismer
ROLL CALL VOTE – Ayes 7 Mathewson, Meismer, Dwyer, Dohm Roberts, Thomas, Venzon Nays – 0 Absent – 1 Alderman Ganson Motion Carried
13. OTHER BUSINESS –DISCUSSION ONLY None
14. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. FINANCE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MATHEWSON – CHAIR The Finance Committee has not met since the last City Council Meeting will be October 7, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The audit should be done, we will discuss the audit to see if we have any problems.
B. LAND USE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DOHM – CHAIR The Land Use Committee met on September 17. The committee discussed the agenda items. We went over the Financial Report and the Zoning Report. The committee is still working on the Demolition Policy and we are close to getting it completed. The Demolition Policy is on this year’s calendar. We reviewed our calendar. The new Voting Registration Cards have been mailed. The next meeting for the Land Use Committee is October 22, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN DWYER, CHAIR Chair Dwyer thanked Alderwoman Thomas for the chairing the Public Safety Meeting in his absence. The main item that was discussed was the update on the Curbside Testing Program, which is progressing well. The next meeting for the Public Safety Committee will be October 15, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
D. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VENZON The Transportation Committee met on September 11, at City Hall. Part of what we did was work on the Construction Agreement, which we just passed at this meeting. The committee also discussed Market Street, whether to go ahead to begin this fall or wait until springtime. We are going to go ahead and start it. It should have gotten started and it is in very early stages. The committee decided to go with it now because of the conditions of the road and didn’t want to go through a winter and possible rain that would damage the road further. Henry Strube suggested and we agreed to change our time frame for the Sidewalk Bid Program. We are going to revise it and let everyone know what we are going to do. We are going to move it up, so we can do the Public Hearings and Sixty Days Notices and Thirty Day Notices and get the Bids out much earlier in the spring. When this is done we will let everyone know what is going on. Alicia Hermann tells us that the next Funding Round for PPUATS is going to be the summer of 2009. Alicia should have the study done for Sterling Avenue by then. The City is going after some more money to get the second Phase partially funded. Henry has ordered the salt for this winter, he has ordered extra for what is predicted to be a very hard winter. This is just a reminder that the new City garage will be a polling place for the next election in November. This is for ward 1 and ward 2. The Transportation Committee went through the normal items, committee goals and our calendar. Our next meeting is October 9, at 6:30 at City Hall. Discussion; Alderman Dwyer: Is the Sidewalk Program moving up the schedule going to change when the petitions are due at City Hall? Alderman Venzon: It shouldn’t, no. Moss Avenue Sidewalk. They have started and are a little behind, but they plan on being on schedule. Henry reported they are moving pretty well with the storm sewers on Market Street
15. PUBLIC COMMENT Resident: In reference to the subject earlier about the TIF. What is it that this firm provides to us in terms of service for $4,000 a year? Mayor Dillon: This is for the existing TIF already in place. Resident: Is this considered one TIF or is it done in two different increments? Mayor Dillon: At the present we only have one TIF. Resident; How many businesses are within that TIF have benefited financially from being in the TIF? Mayor Dillon: I know a couple of people have applied, but the TIF has been in existence for couple years, but because the money is not there instantly, you have to wait until some funds are built up. When funds were built up the City was able to set aside some funds out of the TIF to reimburse the City for one storm sewer project. The biggest advantage that one of development that into the first TIF didn’t want anything out of the TIF. The City and the residents will benefit from this. This will pay for some infrastructure. Resident: How many businesses have benefited? Mayor Dillon: A couple of businesses that I know that have applied, but actually the process just started and we didn’t have any money. Resident: The TIF was started in 2004? That is four years lag when funds become available to distribute. City Administrator: It is really 2 years, and it was not a significant amount. Resident: The reason for my question is trying to figure out what is the advantage of the TIF? You don’t need to answer my question. I am not in favor of the TIF and this is the reason I am asking these questions. In order for the residents to understand, your people represent us and we as residents have a right to know exactly what is going on. And what I don’t want to see, this will be on record I know, I don’t want to see all of the City of West Peoria become a TIF. That is my plea, my request, and I don’t even have to have anyone answer this question. Mayor Dillon: Mayor Dillon shows the resident of the TIF area and explained to him where the TIF is at the present time. The TIF is an economical development tool for the City to help with infrastructure and to help businesses. We just finished the application form two months ago. We had to wait until there was money in the TIF. We are actually working with one developer that the City could have said no to, because all his work was done prior to the TIF. Normally any development or redevelopment that is done the percentages is worked out before the agreement. We have a couple that we are working on working that out and we have one particular business that is basically working in arrears because there wasn’t any money. And they had purchased the property prior to the TIF. For a City our size the TIF is very beneficial, it provides extra money that otherwise we would not have. The City is very fortunate that the sales tax has continued to increase. The property as far as the City has hardly increased since we have become a City. The reason is because of the new businesses that have come into West Peoria; they have actually brought money into the City. This is a tool for us and older cities that are surrounded and it helps us take, I don’t like the word, but they call it blighted area. This is the way this is set up. You have to pay whether this particular company was the one to set it up. The City has to pay fees for them to administrate and oversee it. At the present time I don’t think with us learning the TIF any of us are qualified to administer it without the help of a professional. Resident: The reason I am discussing this, we are spending $10,000 a year I am looking at the economics of this to. The City Attorney probably has more experience than any of us, on what a TI F on how it works and the application of the mechanics. But when you included our particular street in the TIF I became very concerned, because the rest of West Peoria is not put into the TIF. We need to uplift West Peoria to benefit people coming in and wanting to buy homes. Then we tell them your home is in a TIF, this is negativity. I know the advantage of the TIF, but it still creates negativity. I do not want a real estate agent to tell me my house is in the TIF. This is my concern. Resident: How long has the City used this company? Mayor Dillon: Since the TIF was initiated Resident: Now that we have a full time Economic Developer on staff do you see the day when we can administrate the TIF in house instead of contracting it out? City Administrator: I think we can cut back; we really need the legal aspect from this firm in Bloomington. Alderman Roberts: We have to use this company to make sure all the P’s and Q’s are right on this because it is a Government Program this is why we have to use them. I am not sure we could have anyone on staff or I do this. We have to use a firm like this possibility legally. Some of these amounts are full of questions about TIF. As we understand it more and more that he cost would go down. The other issue is because they are still managing it and they will always manage it. Because that is what you do with TIF. We may get out of the one. Mayor Dillon: The Company does not decide how much percentage or pay back, the council decides that. They help us with the eligible cost. Resident: To call our City blighted it does give our City a negative connotation. I would hope West Peoria could attract new business, without giving them a kickback on taxes. Resident: I have been listening to this and don’t sell the council short and don’t dispute the hard work they have done. They had open meetings when the TIF was first presented. And there was an agreement. Over the years I have seen these people, who are responsible residents of West Peoria work very hard to make sure that West Peoria is a fine place to live in. Resident: I want to mention about the Oxbow, I have come to several meeting and have listened to negative opinions of the residents. I am opposed to it for various reasons, none of which I will go into. I was the first City Treasurer; it seems to me that the Oxbow Development is the biggest thing to come to West Peoria since we incorporated. I would like to hear from the Council Member. Is there any council member that would give their opinion? Mayor Dillon: We are still waiting for plans from the developer. As I said at the last City Council meeting Alderman Mathewson and I were supposed to fly out today, and because this being a City Council Day, we chose not to go. Resident: Does any Council Member want to give an opinion? Alderman Dohm: I have nothing to base my opinion on. I have not said yes or no. I have heard a lot of negativity from the residents. I can’t possibly have an opinion, if I don’t even know for sure what they are asking for. As far as a residents concern about Edgehill being included in the TIF that could have been part of my concern, because Edgehill does have some storm sewer issues. By including the TIF we could use some of the funds to develop the storm sewer system without using the general funds of MFT money to create a better flow of water in that area. Alderman Venzon: As a concept I am for this project. As of now I do not have anything to base a yes or no on. My final decision will be when I see what they decide to do. The idea is what I like. If the idea is done well, I’ll vote for it, if it is not, I won’t. I have only had 5 people call me. The aldermen are willing to talk and the phone numbers are available. If you have concerns and have questions we are available. Resident One of the issues that is out there is the Comprehensive Plan – not wanting to promote multi-family dwelling and this is completely contrary to this plan. Alderman Venzon; I have read Comprehensive Plan a number of times. This is a special piece of property, it is the only piece like it in the City this is why we have to be very careful and take our time. We will do what we think is the feel for the City, Resident: Has anyone ever research another city that has done a project of the same scenario and what happened to the value of homes? Alderman Dohm. This is what the Mayor and Alderman Mathewson was going to fly out to do. Resident: How many of the Council Members live in West Peoria. Mayor Dillon: If you have already spoken you will not have the floor again. Resident: West Peoria hired an outside firm to run your TIF – would you consider an outside firm to have you considered an outside organization to look at what you are proposing to do on Heading Avenue? Resident: Because this is a Comprehensive Plan and it is a special piece of property that is why people are so passionate about it. Resident: This a rumor that I have heard: Is it true that the Oxbow Projects that exist now are not in residential neighborhoods? Mayor Dillon: I can’t answer that. All I can say is that from what they have told me; they have not had any opposition anywhere they have gone. Resident: We research with a realtor and the advice we received was to sell your home before the realtor has to say that Bradley is coming in here and expect a great decline in the value.
16. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Roberts and seconded by Alderman Dwyer. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m. Carole Stephens City Clerk
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