City Council Minutes 2008 02-09-08 Special Meeting Pagel of 5
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Conference Room
Saturday, February 9, 2008 — 8:00am
In Attendance:
Mayor Valerie Burd (arr. 8:38)
City Manager Brendan McLaughlin Alderwoman Robyn Sutcliff
Assistant City Manager Bart Olson Alderman Jason Leslie
Alderman Wally Werderich Alderman Gary Golinski
Alderman Joe Besco Alderwoman Rose Spears
Alderman Joe Plocher Parks & Rec. Director David Mogle
The meeting was called to order at 8:15am by City Manager Brendan McLaughlin.
I
The purpose of this meeting was to set goals for 2008. The City Manager
distributed a vision statement and asked the Council for input. Alderman Besco said
that "fiscally prudent" needed to be added. Mr_ McLaughlin said he had asked the
department heads to set goals for their departments in addition to this list.
McLaughlin noted that Alderwoman Spears had sent a list of items to be covered
including: open communication with staff, infrastructure and transportation issues,
city facilities and vehicles. The Council members read each of the Vision Statement
points and McLaughlin suggested that the Council should set 1 -2 goals for each
Councilman to oversee.
Alderman Leslie commented that there were no goals pertaining to senior citizens.
According to Alderwoman Spears, senior centers were discussed in 2005 -2006, and
she had suggested an ad hoc committee at that time. The committee will be formed;
however, she will be working with other senior organizations outside her Council
capacity.
Alderman Golinski commented that when the Park Board sets goals, they also set
milestone dates by which to reach goals and then examine the progress on a
quarterly basis_ In addition, Leslie said the goals should be listed in the newspaper
in order to invite public comment.
The following goals /categories and sub - categories were identified by the Council.
Also listed are the Council members who will spearhead the action.
1. INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (MunnsBesco)
a. New police facility (Munns/Plocher)
b. Community center
c. Public Works facility
d. City Hall
2. FINANCE/REVENUES
a. Funding for government agencies
b. Review impact fees that support City
c. KenCom or alternate BKFD /financial support (Spears)
d. Economic growth (Leslie/Munns)
e. Evaluate fiscal incentives (Golinski/Leslie)
f. Strengthen city role in EDC activities
(Munns/Leslie/McLaughlin/Miller)
3. ESTHETIC PRINCIPLES
a. What the City looks like
b. Quality level
c. Increase development standards
d. Facilitate large lot zoning/make economics viable (Besco/Werderich/Miller)
4. QUALITY OF LIFE
a. Event planning
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1. Oktoberfest /Summerfest /city role (Leslie/Plocher)
b. Community involvement
c. Distinction
d. Open Land / Agricultural (Sutcliff /Olson/Mogle)
e. Hoover Agreement ( Mayor /McLaughlin/Mogle /Golinski)
E Public Safety
1. Police staffing levels
2. KenCom (Spears)
g. Open government communication
1. Action plan for constituent communication (Spears/Plocher)
5. TRANSPORTATION
a. Bike Trails /pedestrian friendly (Golinski/Werderich/Mogle)
b. Land planning adjacent to Rt. 47/how to help Springfield (Besco /staff)
c. Explore bridges to islands in Fog River (Besco/Werderich/Mogle)
6. REVIEW FEES
7. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS TO SUPPORT CITY
a. Explore use of "gray water" (Plocher/Werderich) &bio- diesel (Sutcliff/Werderich)
GOAL DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS
INFRASTRUCTURE & FINANCE:
1. Leslie said looking forward, the City needs to examine where the money is needed most.
2. The Public Works facility needs to be replaced.
3. It was noted that the FD needs money for higher ladders for taller buildings.
4. Spears noted that KenCom could be in harm's way due to the backup system being 20 years
old -- public safety issue. A joint venture back -up plan between Yorkville and Oswego was
suggested
5. Alderwoman Spears suggested that the City could be more cost - conscious with City events.
To involve the community, she said other organizations could sell concessions to make
money. The City taxes should not pay for all the extras.
OUALITY OF LIFE:
1. Mayor Burd said she thought that in the past, some standards were lowered in order to
expand the City's borders. The City may have overlooked the services that needed to be
provided. Now it needs to be balanced with quality of life.
2. Ms. Spears suggested that the City should not meet with developers until they have met the
City criteria. She said 12,000 sq. ft. lots should be the minimum lot sizes.
3. Mayor Burd noted that the Zoning Committee feels that concessions are made for the big
developers and those ordinary citizens need help too
4. Focus should be the arterial pathways. Estimated 50,000+ homes if the entire town was
built out.
5. City needs higher paying jobs. Besco said City should work with YEDC to bring in jobs.
6. Mayor suggested inviting Lynn Dubajic to an EDC committee meeting and also work with
the Chamber of Commerce.
7. Alderman Besco said companies should be encouraged to post their jobs on City website
OUALITY OF LIFE /Communications:
1. Residents receive quarterly newsletters. Golinski said the City needs to be able to receive
citizen feedback on the website. Need aldermanic link on site and all Council members
should be copied.
2. Needs to be more outreach as elected officials. Mayor Burd said she would be in favor of a
small amount of money in budget for this purpose.
3. Leslie suggested "meet your Alderman" booth at Hometown Days_
4. Mailings also a possible solution
5. Alderwoman Spears proposed mass e-mail communication list
QUALITY OF LIFE/Public Safetv:
I. Public safety at City Hall discussed — Leslie suggested policy for non -City employees
regarding access to offices
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2. Posting of "restricted access" in certain areas
3. Have police officer seated in back of Council Chambers at meetings
4. Draft evacuation plans for City in event of security issue
5. Consider all above factors when new City Hall is designed
6. Staffing concerns for Police Department were discussed in view of City growth
7. Besco suggested meeting with Oswego and Plano, at County Board meeting, to stress
importance of KenCom. Equipment needs to be upgraded and more deputies needed
8. Spears noted sometimes officers cannot get their calls through to KenCom due to down or
busy lines
9. Mayor Burd suggested perhaps KenCom should be directed by a Board comprised of
police personnel rather than County Board
10. Discussion of success of C -PAT
11. Crime is a concern
OUALITY OF LIFE/Hoover Agreement:
1. Alderman Golinski said City should obtain a lease agreement with Hoover and ask
County to comply with inter - governmental agreement.
2. Mr. Golinski gave synopsis of Hoover acquisition: Hoover was originally slated for
development, however, Forest Preserve and City wished to preserve land. Former Parks &
Rec Director Laura Brown found funding through Dennis Hastert's office—one of the
stipulations required the funding to be funneled through the Forest Preserve District. That
is when City Forest Preserve and City partnered. CorLands also assisted with financing,
while the City paid $650,000 in holding costs. Now the Forest Preserve wishes to return
that money and gain exclusive control of the land. David Mogle added that some County
Board members felt the City should have given money towards the land purchase as well.
Total purchase price of property was $18 million. The City spearheaded the project from
the beginning.
3. A meeting will be held with the Forest Preserve on February 22 and a news story of the
City's position was suggested by Mayor Burd.
FINANCE/Imnact Fees:
1. Are impact fees high enough? Amount must be justified
2. Fees cannot be relied on at this time due to economy
3. Yorkville charges second highest fees in the County
4. Incentives could be reduced except in the case of Countryside and downtown
5. City should raise the fees and promote Yorkville as being Al
FINANCE/Incentives:
1. How much incentive can City offer? Leslie said tighter working relationship with YEDC
is needed so City is aware of potential businesses. City is not privy to negotiating details
with businesses even though City helps fund the agency. Mayor said that agency does
confer with her.
2. Was suggested that Lynn Dubajic was not being used by City to her fullest capacity. City
would like to have more input with YEDC.
3. When determining businesses to be brought to City, decisions made on basis of
community survey that was done.
ESTHETIC PRINCIPLES/Laree Lot Zoning:
1. Besco said the City must work with Platteville to promote farmland preservation and 3 -5
acre lots
2. Mayor Burd commented that many years ago, the southern portion of the County was to
have been 3 -5 acre lots
3. Tax rate will need to be less in order to have estate zoning.
4. There are alternatives to City sewers when estate zoning in place
5. Besco said an estate zoning classification needs to be included in the City code before it's
too late. He used example of Aero Estates near Naperville —they maintain green, open
areas.
6. Mayor Burd said incentives must be created to bring in this type of development.
Environmental Committee is looking at incentives.
7. Good, high- paying jobs are needed to support this type of development
8. Besco asked if Glory Spies could contact future employers and provide link on City's
web site for them.
9. Estate lots might not need City services. Residents on these types of lot usually do not
annex to municipality unless they want those services
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10. White Oak Estates is an example of larger lots within the City limits.
11. Agriculture overlay could be used to keep taxes lower
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Mayor Burd would like all public buildings to be "green" and also hopes City works
with YBSD/Ralph Pfister to recycle water
2. Alderman Plocher said Geneva currently has "green" water treatment facility
3. Discussion of what "graywater" means -not used for drinking, but for lawn - sprinkling
etc.
4. Extra water mains would be required to have this water come into homes, not practical
at this point Plocher suggested installing these lines as development comes in
5. Mayor wants to begin planning, educating and exploring this issue for the future
6. Dave Mogle said Parks' mobile water tanks are already using recycled water and Mayor
wishes to explore use of piping this water to nearby parks as a pilot project.
7. Mr. McLaughlin shared details of a model of this project that is in place in California
8. Joe Besco suggested looking at stormwater recycling
9. Proposal from Alderman Besco to install pumps for bio- diesel and E -85 fuel for City
vehicles
10. Alderwoman Sutcliff noted one of her constituents is involved in converting vegetable
oil to bio- diesel. She also noted that Algonquin already uses this for their city vehicles
at a substantial annual savings.
11. Alderman Besco said CTA has used bio- diesel several years with no problems
TRANSPORTATIONBikes Trails:
1. Discussion included need for more frontage roads, bike trails, better roads
2. Dave Mogle said that a recent Parks & Rec survey showed that paved bike trails are the
most desired amenity by the respondents
3. Bike trails to Harris Forest Preserve, Silver Springs and to downtown had been
discussed in the last few years -what became of that idea?
4. Developers were to have paid for the trails and Mayor Burd noted those provisions not
included in the PUD's
5. Gary Golinski said City must make commitment to build trails and include them in
developer agreements
6. Alderwoman Sutcliff raised subject of train shuttle between Yorkville and Ottawa to
promote the downtowns. Was noted that in past years, a dinner train had been
suggested
TRANSPORTATION/Islands:
1. Mayor Burd said she would like to explore the idea of using the islands, however, it was
noted that some might be privately owned.
2. If City has access to islands, was suggested to have stairs from bridge to the island
TRANSPORTATION /General:
1. Generally agreed that Rt. 47 expansion is out of City's control at this time and will not
occur until budget and capital bills are resolved at State level.
2. Identified problem of making left turns in downtown area -slows down traffic
3. Left turns on schools days also impedes traffic flow
4. Possible parking ban on arterial roads?
5. Does City want another bridge in addition to Eldamain bridge (if built)?
6. A Beecher Road bridge and Countryside bridge were both discussed. Was noted that
the soil samples for Countryside Crossing were not suitable for a bridge
7. Alderwoman Spears noted that in past, EEI had offered to do a free Beecher study if
they would be awarded the project, if a bridge would be built
8. Jason Leslie suggested inviting state reps from IDOT regarding traffic problems,
however, a meeting was held a few years ago. The City is now just waiting for the
funds to repair Rt. 47.
9. Council decided to travel to Springfield to establish a rapport with legislators for
funding
Other Brief Points:
Alderman Werderich stated the County is hoping to have the same zoning classifications
throughout the County and municipalities_
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It was noted that Wi -Fi was a previous goal and is still under consideration.
Conclusion
Rather than assigning individuals, Mayor Burd suggested assigning the goals to the appropriate
committees, after which time, committees would report their progress on a quarterly basis.
Alderman Golinski said milestones should be set to help accomplish these goals. Action plans will
be created and the Council agreed to meet quarterly to report on the goals they are overseeing.
Mayor Burd said she would like to include all this information in the Annual Report with an
emphasis on the City's commitment to the Hoover land acquisition.
The above goals will be revised, approved at City Council and then released to the press.
The meeting adjourned at 11:53am.
Respectfully submitted by
Marlys Young, Minute Taker