By Ted Schnell • BocaJump
The housing bubble’s burst several years ago sent home prices plunging and foreclosure rates skyrocketing as the nation plunged into the Great Recession, which among other things, brought development to a standstill.
It is in recognition of that slowdown that the Elgin City Council tonight will be asked to merge the city’s Planning and Development Commission with the Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board.
BocaJump will be on hand to provide live-blogging coverage of the City Council meeting.
Assistant City Manager Rick Kozal said Monday that with the slowdown, it just makes sense to combine the two panels into one Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Planning and Development Commission reviews comprehensive plans, offers recommendations to the council on planning and development matters and holds public hearings on annexations, among other duties.
The Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board generally makes recommendations on zoning and subdivision matters, holds public hearings and makes decisions on zoning and subdivision variations, making findings and recommendations to the city council concerning conditional uses.
Following are the agendas for the City Council’s meeting:
ELGIN CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS | 6 p.m. Sept. 14
► Call to Order
► Roll Call
► Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting - August 24, 2011
► Special Presentations and Reports
A. Urban Forestry Master Plan Presentation
► Initiatives and Other Items
B. Consideration of Acceptance of Public Improvements within Madison Homes of Elgin Subdivision ($3,773 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 the Madison Homes of Elgin Subdivision.
C. Consideration of 2011 Commercial Retrofit Grant Program ($122,898)
OBJECTIVE: Support federal initiatives to encourage the energy efficient redevelopment of downtown commercial buildings consistent with the city’s sustainability master plan.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve allocation to five grant recipients in the amount of $122,898.
D. Consideration of Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Financial Assistance Agreement ($117,900)
OBJECTIVE: Install a variety of stormwater best management practices in the Southwest Area Neighborhood using grant funds.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Financial Assistance Agreement in the amount of $117,900.
E. Consideration of Proposed Agreement with B & F Technical Code Services Inc. to Administer and Enforce Chapter 16.42, “Vacant Residential Buildings,” of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976 (No Direct Cost to the City)
OBJECTIVE: Identify, register, inspect and monitor vacant residential buildings to minimize the likelihood that such buildings become a burden to proximate neighbors and the taxpayers of the city.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve agreement with B&F Technical Code Services Inc.
F. Consideration of Ordinance Merging the Planning and Development Commission and the Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board (No Cost to the City)
OBJECTIVE: Merge two commissions into a new Planning and Zoning Commission to provide for a more efficient process.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval the ordinance merging the Planning and Development Commission and the Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board into a Planning and Zoning Commission.
G. Consideration of Engineering Services Agreement with Burns & McDonnell for the Airlite Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project ($599,534)
OBJECTIVE: To observe construction and ensure the contractor’s compliance to the contract documents for the Airlite Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to execute an Engineering Services Agreement with Burns & McDonnell for the construction phase of the Airlite Water Treatment Plant Project in the amount of $599.534.
H. Consideration of a Second Amendment to Engineering Services Agreement with Baxter and Woodman for Additional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System ($190,400)
OBJECTIVE: To comply with the terms of the city's submitted Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Long Term Control Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to execute a second amendment to the engineering services agreement with Baxter & Woodman Control Systems Integrators to include monitoring for the combined sewer overflows and lift stations in the amount of $190,400.
I. Consideration of Amendment to the Ordinance Establishing a Pay Plan for Part Time and Seasonal Employees of the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department (No Cost to the City)
OBJECTIVE: Phase out benefits to permanent part-time employees of the Parks and Recreation Department.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the amended pay plan ordinance phasing out benefits for part-time and seasonal employees in the parks and recreation department.
► Announcements from Council
► Announcements from Staff
► Executive Session
J. Discussion of Minutes of Meetings Lawfully Closed Under This Act - Exempt Under Section 120/2(c)21) of the Open Meetings Act
► Adjournment
ELGIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS | 7 p.m. Sept. 14, 2011
► Call to Order
► Invocation/Moment of Silence Rev. Lashea Tennysen 2nd Baptist Church
► Pledge of Allegiance
► Roll Call
► Minutes of Previous Meeting – August 24, 2011
► Communications
- Latino Heritage Month Proclamation
- National Wellness Week Proclamation
- Andersen’s Trophies 50th Anniversary Proclamation
► Recognize Persons Present
► Bids
1. 11-019 Biodegradeable Paper Bag Sales and Distribution ($38,303)
2. 11-037A Esscoe Systems for Replacement of Security Cameras and DVRs ($55,983)
3. 11-039 Airlite Water Treatment Plant Improvements ($9,544,400)
► Other Business
1. Consideration of Petition 15-11 Requesting an Amendment to the Text of Title 19, Zoning, of the Elgin Municipal Code; by the City of Elgin’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, as Applicant
2. Consideration of Petition 16-11 Requesting a Conditional Use in the AB Area Business District, to Permit Various Activities, Programs, and Events; Property Located at 1600 Big Timber Road by Servando and Olga Rodriguez and Mateo and Iris Portillo, as Applicants, and Seigle Investments, LLC-Big Timber Series, as Owner (Must be Removed From the Table)
3. Consideration of Petition 21-11 Requesting Development Plan Approval Pursuant to PAB Planned Area Business District Ordinance No. G32-10, for the Development of an Outlot within the Subdivision known as the Elgin Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Subdivision; Property Located at 1000 South Randall Road; by Atwell, LLC., as Applicants and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Sam’s West, Inc., and Sam’s Real Estate Business Trust, as Owners
4. Ordinance Amending Chapter 6.06 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as Amended, Entitled “Alcoholic Liquor Dealers”
5. Authorization for Payments
► Consent Agenda: The City Council considers consent agenda items routine and noncontroversial, and the items will be enacted by one motion and one roll call vote without separate discussion unless it is removed from the Consent Agenda for consideration immediately after approval of the Consent Agenda.
1. Resolution Accepting for Ownership and Maintenance the Public Improvements in Providence Unit 3B Subdivision
2. Resolution Accepting for Ownership and Maintenance the Public Improvements in Providence Unit 3C Subdivision
3. Resolution Authorizing Execution of Amendment Agreement No. 1 with Engineering Enterprises, Inc. for the North Commonwealth and Demmond Sanitary Sewer Engineering Analysis Project
4. Resolution Authorizing Execution of Sales and Subscription Agreement with All Traffic Solutions for Electronic Radar Speed Display Signs
5. Ordinance Amending Certain Parking Restrictions Within the City of Elgin
6. Ordinance Approving and Adopting the National Street Station Area Plan as an Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and Design Guidelines of 2005
7. Ordinance Granting a Conditional Use to Permit the Processing and Packaging of Meat Products in the PGI Planned General Industrial District (500 Bird Street)
8. Ordinance Amending Title 19 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as Amended, Entitled “Zoning”
► Miscellaneous Business
1. Minutes of Various Boards and Commissions
a. Budget Advisory Task Force Aug. 9 and 16, 2011
b. Emergency Telephone System Board July 21, 2011
c. Police Pension Board Aug. 8, 2011
d. Committee of the Whole Minutes Aug. 10, 2011
e. City Council Minutes Aug. 10, 2011
► Announcements
- Next Committee of the Whole meeting: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in the City Council Chambers
- Next Regular Meeting of the Elgin City Council, Wednesday, September 28, 2011, at 7 p.m. 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 in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, are requested 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.
