EDC Minutes 2001 08-21-01 UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 21, 2001
7 :00 PM
Attendees
' Chairman Sticka
Mayor Prochaska
Tony Graff
Valerie Burd
Mike Anderson
Sue Swithin
PRESENTATION - WIRELESS YORKVILLE
Chairman Sticka opened the meeting welcomed the guests and introduced Chris Rollins.
Mr. Rollins presented "Wireless Yorkville ", stating he was here to talk about Wireless Yorkville j
and gave an overview of himself and his partner, Robert Norman. The would like to provide a
wireless pipeline to the Internet for City of Yorkville residents. With cable the size of the wire
determines the quality of service to the receiver. They would like the City to be a partner in this
acting as a central hub for service to the surrounding area. The advantage is there a are no wires
to lay, it requires no license, easement or franchise agreement. Neilsen rated internet users at
58 %, and a subscriber value of $1090.00 /per person. The asset value here would be a million
dollars for a five mile radius. He feels the City needs to take the next step toward effective
technology for communication with the residents, businesses and other government organizations.
Mr. Rollins stated the City needs a server of their own for E -mail, 24 hours, seven days a week, a
managed domain & web -site host, a host environment. The core of the network is the City. The
radius with them would be 5 miles using the two current water towers for the antenna. Mr.
Rollins distributed folders of information for each member to review.
Alderwoman Burd stated she thought that wireless was slow to download.
Mr. Rollins stated that they wanted less users so traffic would be less and therefore not slower.
High quality of service is important.
Chairman Sticka stated that the City does not have an option with cable.
Mr. Rollins stated this is not a stop gap measure, but a permanent solution instead of cable.
Mayor Prochaska stated that there are 2500 households in Yorkville.
Mr. Rollins stated that businesses don't have or want cable.
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Mayor Prochaska stated that A T & T is looking to upgrade their equipment in the next year or so
to include the internet.
Mr. Rollins stated that they looked at business to address charges vs. costs, and plan to structure
this as a not for profit business id the City wants to partner with them. It's a community asset.
Mr. Norman stated he used this to advise a basketball team that he coaches of a cancellation and
it was a huge time saver.
Chairman Sticka asked if two people in the same house can be on the internet at the same time, or
do they need two hook -ups?
Mr. Rollins stated this would require a residential gateway costing $40. to $50. per month. Mr.
Rollins stated this used to cost $2000., but now is about $300. Residents could get service
probably for a $99. hook -up fee.
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Mayor Prochaska asked if it could be purchased with the card already installed.
Mr. Rollins stated yes, and you could put them in the Library, public spaces so people could use it
and know it is a good thing to have.
Mayor Prochaska stated we need to know exactly what the City needs to do.
Mr. Rollins stated mostly an agreement draft is a good place to start.
Alderwoman Burd asked if they would then go to other towns close by to add them.
Mr. Rollins stated yes.
Mayor Prochaska stated the City as a partner would want the right of 1st refusal if at some point
that changes. Its a place to start.
Administrator Graff stated the City needed a road map, this is a policy decision. We have no
specific language for uses of our water towers. Our asset is the use of the tower.
Mayor Prochaska stated the City Council can decide the ultimate uses for the towers.
Administrator Graff stated we need to get specific direction for the sale or use of our towers.
Alderwoman Burd asked what the time line would be from installation to operational in homes.
Mr. Rollins stated less than 10 days.
Mayor Prochaska stated the City needs to develop a policy for use by surrounding area towns.
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Mr. Norman stated this would be graduated to outside users.
Sue Swithin stated this is an antenna issue. We have empty tower space. Mr. Rollins would want
exclusive rights as a partner.
Administrator Graff stated that our priority now is the new 11 million dollar water treatment
system . The Consortium should be on boar with this to help structure this use with specialized
attorney. The City should not give exclusive rights unless it is an economic advantage. We need
to consider our financial obligations to the residents and on going costs, quality of life and timing.
We should also explore A T & T Broadband. We need to develop a management map.
Mayor Prochaska stated they need time to digest this. We need to determine if we can give an
exclusive.
Alderwoman Burd stated we have with the phone company.
Alderman Anderson stated the purpose of the tower ordinance was to get users on our towers.
Mayor Prochaksa stated it is a lot of information, and we have learned a lot.
Kim Schaefer from Prairie iNet introduced herself stating they are the largest wireless company in
the area and serve over 150 communities. They started in this area south of Morris, and they do
not ask for exclusive rights, only non interference. They provide service in exchanges for a foot
print on our water tower or they can pay the City of Yorkville. The equipment is the easiest part
of the operation, keeping it running is the hardest part. They have been in business for three years
and have over 100 employees. They believe there is room for everyone and competition is good.
Chairman Sticka asked if the City could have two internet servers.
Mr. Rollins stated you could but it would be difficult.
Ms. Schaefer asked how they could recoup their investment if they are not for profit.
Mr. Rollins stated that they could live with not for profit.
Administrator Graff stated that a policy would have to be developed.
Chairman Sticka stated it is up to the City Council to determine policy.
Administrator Graff stated Yes, for the best asset to the City of Yorkville residents.
Mayor Prochaska asked if we would be being served or would we be part of the provider.
Administrator Graff stated yes, we would have this in the provider plan. We would provide
access and the firewall.
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Mayor Prochaska stated that is where policy comes in. How involved do we want to be in this.
There are two very different ways to approach this situation.
Ms. Schaefer stated normally they would provide service to the City.
Mayor Prochaksa asked if they saw us as a partner.
Mr. Rollins stated that if the City builds a network I can get on it. We look from the perspective
of do it now.
Administrator Graff stated we have seen two versions tonight.
Mayor Prochaska stated that Administrator Graff brought up good issues. We do have a financial
obligation to the federal government.
Administrator Graff stated we need to review this and have George Glass review it also.
Mr. Rollins stated we should call him if we have any questions, or he can refer us to a specialized
attorney.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FEES
Chairman Sticka stated that we have a letter from Roger t Dalstrom the bottom line is $43,000.,
but will we get this $43,000. back from he schools.
Administrator Graff stated yes, this is for part of the school impact fees and they will be willing to
pay part of this.
Mayor Prochaska stated he thought the school would have this information for the City of
Yorkville, not us have for them.
Administrator Graff stated that Kaneland did this, they hire it done and Plano hire it done for the
Palumbo development.
Mayor Prochaska stated it is not prudent for the City to do this without the School District paying
their share.
Administrator Graff stated they will ask for a percentage breakdown.
Chairman Sticka stated that the City collects these funds for the sole benefit of the schools.
Mayor Prochaska asked if we should identify all taxing bodies? School, Fire Dist., etc.
Alderwoman Burd asked why we have to do this.
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Mayor Prochaska stated we need to justify the fees we are charging. the City Council will decide,
but Administrator Graff can look at this.
Administrator Graff stated this is partly a timing issue. Tenelli spoke of this as part of the
Comprehensive Plan update and how to fund future growth. Dalstrom is an expert witness and is
the best in this field. The financial advisors tell us we need to have a balanced fee structure for
new growth.
Chairman Sticka stated this examines all aspects.
Administrator Graff stated we are looking at a 9 month program. They will write the language
for Attorney Kramer to draft the ordinance from for a tracking mechanism. We have $90,000 in
the budget as contingencies and the auditors are almost done. On Sept... 9th we will find half of
the money to carry us until May 1 st. We will have a revised report to get us started.
Administrator Graff stated that Kaneland led the study and then it was adopted by Sugar Grove
and Elburn. The fees at the time of Building Permit is less and less.
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Chairman Sticka stated this should come back to EDC for an update in September. We are
pushing for this when the School District asked to raise their fees last year.
DOWNTOWN PARKING UPDATE
Administrator Graff stated that Engineer Wywrot had talked to IDOT and they are working to see
what can be done. This will be included in the Downtown Study. IDOT stated that the quicker
we can identify areas and needs, the faster they can respond.
Mayor Prochaska stated that at the Downtown Meeting they had wanted groups to make
recommendations. Staff needs to identify potential areas. The study will help with use.
Administrator Graff stated he has gone over the Downtown Study with Tenelli and Schoppe, but
hasn't gotten with businesses yet.
Mayor Prochaska stated we heed to correlate this with land uses.
Alderman Anderson asked about the property between the Post Office and Route #47.
Mayor Prochaska stated this is Paul Daniels.
Administrator Graff stated we need more business feedback.
Mayor Prochaska stated we need parking at Van Emmon and at the Tracks. Perhaps a portion of
private property to be converted to parking. The question is do we want piecemeal or a specific
lot.
Alderwoman Burd asked about putting some parking along the tracks.
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Mayor Prochaska stated when they approached this last time, it was the Burlington and they had
no interest.
Alderwoman Burd stated there is room for quite a lot of parking and it would look better too.
Mayor Prochaska stated they are working with the Planners to develop some options.
MAY AND JUNE 2001 BUILDING DEPARTMENT REPORTS
This should go to COW
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Alderwoman Burd asked bout re- zoning along Route #47.
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Mayor Prochaska stated this is part of the Downtown Plan.
Administrator Graff stated downtown zones will be identified.
Alderwoman Burd stated that if the Railroad vacates the property will revert to the Black family
as original owners.
Administrator Graff stated that ComEd had looked into this for annexation along the Burlington
for right -of -way to be contiguous for Enron and points north.
Administrator Graff stated that in regard to the landscaping of the ComEd substation, PW
Director, Eric Dhuse and Parks, Scott Sleezer will work with them.
The Inland/Raymond Drainage upgrade, it is $10,000. and Inland is asking for consideration.
ComEd will get back to us.
Mayor Prochaska stated he had met with Craig Weber regarding the boundary agreement which
has language that needs clarification. Each town will take their own determination with schools
etc.. Oswego is looking for language to support their metra station. We don't want to get rid of a
railroad crossing as they are too hard to come by.
Alderwoman Burd asked why we don't have a Railroad gate at Route #47.
Administrator Graff stated they would have to close Hydraulic in order to put gates in.
Chairman Sticks asked that something be done about the demolition at Morgan & Hydraulic and
the remaining foundation hole allowing someone to get into the pit.
Administrator Graff stated they would get that taken care of Making sure it is a clean and secure
site.
Chairman Sticka adjourned the meeting at 9:30 PM
Minutes by Sandy Marker
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UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SIGN -IN SHEET
August 21, 2001
NAME (PLEASE PRINT!) REPRESENTING PHONE
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