By Ted Schnell • BocaJump | Dec. 6, 2011
The Elgin City Council on Wednesday will consider reducing water tap fees for commercial buildings that need commercial-size water tap to supply fire-suppressing sprinkler systems but not for the kind of water volume other commercial customers use on a daily basis.
BocaJump will be on hand to provide live-blog coverage of the council’s committee of the whole meeting at 6, and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall.
Assistant City Manager Rick Kozal said water users are charged a fee to tap into the city’s water supply, and the fee is based on the diameter of the tap-in pipe. A 1-inch tap is charged $1,300, but a commercial tap using a 4-inch pipe is charged $20,000 due to the difference in the amount of water. The tap fee, he added, is based on the size of the facility — the larger the facility, the greater the anticipated need or use of water.
However, Kozal said in some instances, companies want sprinklers installed in their buildings and need a commercial-size tap to ensure enough water is coming into the building to charge the sprinkler systems. Otherwise, the water is unused.
The ordinance attempts to make the fees more equitable for companies that require larger taps to accommodate sprinkler systems. See the entire City Council agenda below the Cover It Live box:
ELGIN CITY COUNCIL | Committee of the Whole
6 p.m. Dec. 7, 2011 | City Council Chambers
► Call to Order
► Roll Call
► Approval of Minutes
- Previous meeting — Nov. 16, 2011
- Special meetings of Nov. 11 and 19, 2011
► Items also on Council Agenda
A. Consideration of Acceptance of Law Enforcement and Prosecutor-Based Victim Assistance Services Program Grant for the Domestic Violence Case Manager Position ($38,858 grant, $9,714 in-kind contribution)
OBJECTIVE: Continue to offer domestic violence support services to the community.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve agreement with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information to accept the grant award to support the position of the domestic violence case manager in the amount of $38,858, with a local matching contribution of $9,714 of in-kind services.
B. Consideration of Acceptance of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security Citizen Corps Grant Program for the Purchase of Uniform Gear for the Community Emergency Response Team ($4,500 grant)
OBJECTIVE: Provide consistent and easily identifiable uniforms to Community Emergency Response Team volunteers for use during public safety situations.
RECOMMENDATION: Accept grant opportunity from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the purchase of Community Emergency Response Team uniform gear in the amount of $4,500.
C. Consideration of Resolution in Support of an Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Application for Stormwater Management Best Practices ($86,900 grant, if awarded)
OBJECTIVE: Fund green infrastructure best management practices to control storm water runoff for water quality protection in Illinois.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve a resolution for an Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant application for funds to construct a permeable paver parking lot for a portion of the city hall parking lot.
► Special Presentations and Reports
D. Elgin Chamber of Commerce / Incentis Group Presentation
E. Downtown Parking Update (Item must be removed from table)
► Initiatives and Other Items
F. Consideration of Agreement with Trotter and Associates for Engineering Services Related to the Lords Street Basin Retrofit Project ($131,500)
OBJECTIVE: Design and oversee construction of three types of storm water best management practices in the Southwest Area Neighborhood using grant funds.
RECOMMENDATION: Enter into an agreement with Trotter and Associates for engineering services in the amount of $131,500.
G. Consideration of Ordinance Amending 2006 International Building Code (No Cost to City)
OBJECTIVE: Require that persons demolishing structures disconnect utility services at the main rather than at the property line and to include provisions whereby the city can require temporary directional signage in/around construction sites.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve ordinance amending 2006 International Building Code.
H. Consideration of Fire Protection Agreements for 2012 ($72,509 Revenue)
OBJECTIVE: Provide an economically beneficial way by which the resources of the city’s fire department can be utilized by properties located outside of city borders when required.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve fire protection agreements with Illinois Tool Works, DSM Desotech, and St. Charles Properties.
I. Consideration of Acceptance of Public Improvements within West Point Gardens Phase Subdivision ($103,693 estimated five-year maintenance cost)
OBJECTIVE: Fulfill the city’s obligation to maintain reliable infrastructure for serving businesses and residents.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the acceptance of the public improvements for ownership and maintenance in West Point Gardens Phase 1 Subdivision.
J. Consideration of RFP 11-058 Regarding a Contract with Sherman Health to Provide PrePlacement, Annual and Periodic Medical Examinations and Other Related Medical Services ($36,000)
OBJECTIVE: Ensure the health and safety of employees through medical examinations and other medical services.
RECOMMENDATION: Award a contract to Sherman Health for conducting pre-placement, annual and periodic medical examinations and other related medical services in the amount of $36,000.
K. Consideration of Development of Electric Aggregation Plan for Providing Lower Cost Electricity to Residential and Small Business Customers (No Cost to the City)
OBJECTIVE: Authorize a referendum for the March 20, 2012 general election seeking approval of an electric aggregation plan for providing lower cost electricity to the city’s residential and small business customers and retain a consultant to assist in developing electric aggregation plan.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the submission of a referendum for March 20, 2012 general election seeking approval of an electric aggregation plan for the city and enter into agreement with BlueStar Energy Solutions LLC for developing electric aggregation plan.
L. Consideration of Amendment to Water Service Connection Fee for Separate Fire Service Water Connection (No Cost to the City)
OBJECTIVE: Provide for a reduced water system connection fee for separate fire service water connections to more accurately reflect the impact on the city’s water system.
RECOMMENDATION: Amend the city’s water system capital connection fees to reduce the connection fee for a separate service for fire service.
► Announcements from Council
► Announcements from Staff
► Adjournment
ELGIN CITY COUNCIL | Regular meeting
7 p.m. Dec. 7, 2011 | City Council Chambers
► Call to Order
► Invocation/Moment of Silence Pastor Thomas Atamian, The Refuge
► Pledge of Allegiance
► Roll Call
► Minutes of Previous Meeting – November 16, 2011
► Recognize Persons Present
► Bids — None.
► Other Business
1. Public Hearing on Truth in Taxation
2. Consideration of Petition 22-11 Requesting an Amendment to PCF Planned Community Facility District Ordinance Number G41-06, to Allow the Program for Graphics to be Amended; Property Located at 1425 N. Randall Road; by Sign Productions Inc., as applicant, and Sherman Health Systems, an Illinois nonprofit corporation, as owner
RECOMMENDATION: The Planning and Development Commission recommends approval of Petition 22-11. On a motion to recommend approval, subject to the following conditions, the vote was five (5) yes and zero (0) no.
3. Resolution Ratifying the Execution of an Interagency Agreement to Accept a Grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for a Part-time Domestic Violence Case Manager
4. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Grant Agreement from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the Citizen Corps Program
5. Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Grant Application for Stormwater Management Best Practices for the City Hall Parking Lot Permeable Paver Project
► Consent Agenda: The City Council considers consent agenda items routine and noncontroversial and will be enacted by one motion and one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless the council first removes it from the consent agenda. That item will be considered separately immediately after approval of the consent agenda.
1. Resolution Approving Change Order No. 1 and Final for the Contract with Virgil Cook and Sons, Inc. for Pedestrian Crossing at College Green Drive and Randall Road
2. Resolution Accepting for Ownership and Maintenance Certain Public Improvements in Units 1 and 2 of the Tall Oaks Subdivision
3. Resolution Authorizing Execution and Acceptance of a Plat of Easement for Storm Sewer and Stormwater Management Purposes from Tall Oaks Investment, LLC (Tall Oaks Subdivision Unit 3)
4. Resolution Approving Reimbursement to Wyndham Deerpoint Homes for the Cost of Oversizing the Water Main in the Tall Oaks Subdivision
5. Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with Life Storage Centers, LLC for Interior Watermain Repairs (400-450 Airport Road)
6. Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Easement and Public Improvements Dedication Agreement Regarding Certain Public Improvements and Watermain Repair Purposes from Life Storage Centers, LLC (400-450 Airport Road)
7. Resolution Approving Change Order No. 1 and Final for the Contract with J & T Services for the 2009 Central Business District Water Main Project
8. Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) for Funding of the City’s Sidewalk Gap and Transit Stop Study Project
9. Resolution Authorizing Execution of Third Amendment to Real Estate Sales Contract with The Residential Land Fund I, L.P. (Fire Station No. 9)
10. Resolution Appointing Members to Various Boards and Commissions
11. Ordinance Amending PAB Planned Area Business District Ordinance No. G42-07 (Spartan Green Subdivision-601 South Randall Road)
► Miscellaneous Business
1. Minutes for Various Boards and Commissions
a. Cultural Arts Commission Oct. 10, 2011
b. Emergency Telephone System Board Oct. 20,2011
c. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board June 28, July 26, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, 2011
d. Planning and Development Commission Oct. 17, 2011
e. Committee of the Whole Minutes Nov. 2, 2011
f. City Council Minutes for Nov. 2, 2011
2. Various Tax Reports
a. Sales Tax
b. Telecommunications Tax
► Announcements
- Next Committee of the Whole meeting: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in the City Council Chambers
- Next regular Elgin City Council meeting: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in the City Council Chambers
► Adjournment
The city of Elgin is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, are asked to contact the Human Resources Department at 1-847-931-6076 or TT/TDD 1-847-931-5616 promptly to allow the City of Elgin to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.
