City Council Minutes 2016 10-11-16 special meeting MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE,KENDALL COUNTY,ILLINOIS,
HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS,
800 GAME FARM ROAD ON
TUESDAY,OCTOBER 11,2016
Mayor Golinski called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk Warren called the roll.
Ward I Koch Present
Colosimo Absent
Ward 11 Milschewski Present
Kot Present
Ward III Frieders Present
Funkhouser Present
Ward IV Tarulis Absent
Teeling Absent
Also present: City Clerk Warren,City Attorney Orr,City Administrator Olson,Police Chief Hart,EEI
Engineer Sanderson,Community Development Director Barksdale-Noble,Director of Parks and
Recreation Evans
QUORUM
A quorum was established.
BUSINESS
Home Rule-Presentation
City Administrator Olson introduced himself. He stated that the City put together a ten slide power point
presentation. After the presentation,the meeting will be opened up to the audience for discussion and
Alderman may discuss the home rule issue,as well. After that,the meeting will be an open format where
citizens may show up and discuss this issue. City Administrator Olson presented the formal presentation
about home rule. At the end of the presentation,City Administrator Olson showed a sample of what the
ballot would look like on November 8th. He stated that there will be another meeting in this same format
two weeks from now.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Tom Gilmour, 1345 Chestnut Circle,discussed statistics about residents wanting to leave the state. He
expressed concerns that the home rule would promote more deficit spending and therefore increase the
tax burden to the residents.Mr. Gilmour also discussed other implication of home rule.
Kris Mikuta,Realtor Association of Fox Valley,had a couple questions. One was in regards to a
referendum,and another was in regards to certain taxes once a community becomes a home rule
community. City Attorney Orr answered her questions. Kris Mikuta and City Attorney Orr discussed that
once a community is home rule there are certain taxes that the City is authorized to immolate.Kris
Mikuta asked if the citizens will know how those taxes will be used. City Attorney Orr stated there is an
annual budget and the City has to demonstrate what taxes are used to what purposes. She deferred to City
Administrator Olson to explain this in more detail.Kris Mikuta discussed credibility in regards to the City
Council.
Home Rule-Discussion
Mayor Golinski asked if there were more citizen comments and no one came forward. City Administrator
Olson stated that the intent was to keep this meeting open ended and keep the audio running so if any
other resident showed up and had questions then the Council would be there to answer.Mayor Golinski
asked if there were any comments from the Council.
Alderman Kot asked City Administrator Olson what his population was based on when he mentioned
having 25,000 people. City Administrator Olson stated that was based on a very brief calculation.
Alderman Frieders wanted a brief clarification on adding more alderman in regards to how home rule
would affect that decision. City Administrator Olson and Alderman Frieders discussed home rule in
further detail. City Attorney Orr and City Administrator Olson discussed non home rule verses home rule.
Alderman Funkhouser stated that the one thing that being home rule would give the City of Yorkville is
for the City to get out of the oppressive thumb of the state of Illinois.Alderman Frieders, Community
Development Director Barksdale-Noble,and City Administrator Olson discussed percentages.
Mayor Golinski stated if anyone thinks of anything else, feel free to jump in.The Council is present to
listen.
The Minutes of the Special Meeting of the City Council—October 11 2016—Page 2 of 2
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Golinski stated since there is no further business in the home rule referendum meeting he will
adjourn that meeting. Mayor Golinski stated meeting adjourned.
Meeting adjourned at 6:46 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Beth Warren,
City Clerk, City of Yorkville,Illinois
I
1
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
HOME RULE REFERENDUM
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
“Shall the United City of
Yorkville, become a home
rule unit of government
pursuant to Article VII,
Section 6 of the
Constitution of the State of
Illinois?”
2
What is Home Rule?
Established by the adoption of the 1970 Illinois
Constitution, Article VII, Section 6: Powers of Home
fRule Units: Home Rule shifts greater responsibility and
authority for local government decision making from
the state level to the local level.
Municipalities with a population of more than 25,000
are automatically Home Rule Units. Municipalities that
do not meet that requirement require approval by
fdthiHRlttreferendum to achieve Home Rule status.
The United City of Yorkville’s 2010 Census Population
was 16,921
Who has Home Rule?
Nearby Home Rule Municipalities:
Aurora
Bolingbrook
Carol Stream
Downers Grove
Kankakee
Manhattan
Oswego
Plainfield
Joliet Romeoville
Shorewood –2015
by referendum
3
What does Home Rule Change
for the City?
The City will have more flexibility and authority to address
local issues as they present themselves, and can
selectivelyoptoutofunfundedstatemandatesselectively opt out of unfunded state mandates.
The Mayor and the City Council agreed to pledge to
exercise any of the Home Rule Powers only to the extent
deemed necessary with a view to the long term impact
upon the community.
The City Council has approved broad restrictions on the
useofhomeruleauthorityincludingbutnotlimitedto:use of home rule authority, including but not limited to:
limiting the power to incur debt;
holding a public hearing prior to the adoption of any new tax or
increase in existing tax;
and continuing to follow property tax caps under the Property
Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL).
Possible Concerns
Increased Taxing Powers
TheCityCouncilagreedtofollowthesameThe City Council agreed to follow the same
non-home rule procedures to hold a public
hearing prior to any increase in existing tax
or when implementing a new tax.
Increased Property Taxes
The City Council agreed to follow the current
titltthihitpractice to levy property taxes, which is to
follow property tax caps under PTELL.
More regulations on businesses
4
New Possibilities for the City
Improve the City’s bond rating.
Thus saving dollars in interest costs on future bond g
issuances.
Incur debt beyond 20 years
Stretching out payments over several years lowers
the burden on residents.
Reduce property tax burden on residents
by shifting tax burden to non-residents.
IncreasesofamusementtaxescouldshifttaxIncreases of amusement taxes could shift tax
burdens to visitors.
Changing the size of the City Council.
Saving costs by authorizing a referendum to permanently
set any number of wards and alderman.
New Possibilities for the City
continued...
Administrative Adjudication improvements.
A monthly hearing process would save City dollars.
Reduce residential speed limit default to 25 mph.
This is one of the most requested ordinances by
residents. Under Home Rule Authority the City could
reduce its default speed limit.
Opt out of state unfunded mandates as they are
created.
Mandates affect City coffers as there is no authority to opt
out of them.
Modify the zoning and planning process.
Setting up special commissions to address new issues.
Establishing criteria for hardships based on local specific
criteria, rather than state and case law.
5
Moving Forward
There are limits on Home Rule
MiilitiMunicipalities
Issued debt may not have a maturity period
longer than 40 years
The General Assembly can also vote to
impose additional limits on Home Rule units.
HRlttbdthhHome Rule status can be reversed through
referendum, in the same way that it was
created
Sample Ballot
November 8, 2016
6
Next Meeting
Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 5:30 pm
CitCilChb800GFCity Council Chambers, 800 Game Farm
Road, Yorkville, IL
More Information
www.yorkville.il.us/2016homerulereferendum
General Questions can be directed to Bart
Olson, City Administrator:
630-553-4350
bolson@yorkville.il.us