Sycamore City Council met Jan. 3.
Here is the agenda as provided by Sycamore:
SYCAMORE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA January 3, 2017
SPARTAN TV STUDIO TOUR 6:15 P.M.
Immediately prior to the meeting the City Council is invited to tour the Sycamore High School’s Spartan TV studio. The studio is complete with a news set and production equipment. A link to the news production can be found through the following link: https://vimeo.com/195573081.
The studio is located at Sycamore High School, 427 Spartan Trail using the auditorium entrance on the southeast side of the school.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 7:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
5. AUDIENCE TO VISITORS
6. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of December 19, 2016. B. Payment of the Bills for January 3, 2017.
7. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS. 8. REPORTS OF OFFICERS
9. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
11. ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance 2016.43—An Ordinance Amending Section 3-2-6, Paragraph A. 9 “Class H Liquor License,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.
In 2013, the City Council amended the Class H liquor license to align the local license for Prairie on State Winery with the license issued by the State Liquor Commission in order for the winery to sell its own wine produced off premises. The owners of the Forge are requesting a similar modification to the Class H license that allows a microbrewery the same option to make its beer locally offsite and sell its brand in a brew-pub. Without the amendment to coincide the local license with the State license, a microbrewer cannot operate a brew-pub or microbrewery and self-distribute to other retail outlets such as grocery stores. The City’s Liquor Commissioner has proposed the following change (in bold) to the City’s Class H license to ensure the Class H license for a microbrewery aligns with a winery.
Class H: Class H licenses shall authorize the retail sale of beer or wine, brewed or fermented either on the premises as a brewer or winemaker, or off the premises if done in connection with a "winemaker retailer (second location)" specialty retailer's state license or Class 1 Brewer’s license (referenced hereafter as "its own beer or wine"). Class H licenses shall authorize a winery or microbrewery to:
a. Furnish samples of its own beer or wine for consumption on the premises; b. Sell its own beer or wine by the glass for consumption on the premises; and c. Sell its own beer or wine in the original corked, capped, or sealed and labeled container for consumption off the premises.
The annual license fee for H licenses shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00). A Class H license holder is authorized to sell food in conjunction with the sale of its own beer or wine for consumption on the premises.
The Forge’s business operations will remain the same, while this ordinance will ensure the intent of the City’s Class H license aligns with the appropriate state license.
City Council approval is recommended.
12. RESOLUTIONS—None
13. CONSIDERATIONS
A. Consideration of a Partnership with Sycamore Community School District #427 to Allow Access to the Sycamore Community Cable Access Channel through Comcast.
As part of the City’s Non-Exclusive Franchise Agreement with Comcast Cable the City has access to a Public Channel. The channel, Comcast Channel 14 is known as a PEG Channel as it is designed to provide non-commercial public education and government programming. This channel has not been utilized by the City of Sycamore in the past as the City does not have the staff to operate the channel. In addition, there are upfront capital costs that include connecting an origination point to the system and acquiring the video and production equipment to operate the channel.
In recent months, the City and School District staff have discussed the possibility of allowing the District access to the channel. Utilization of the channel will allow the School District to enhance their core curriculum in the areas of English, Speech, Business, Communications, and Journalism. In addition, the channel will provide the community with a way to access local events and news. A digital bulletin board will provide information on district events, city news and community happenings.
The School District currently covers events and live streams through Spartan TV. With a professional studio constructed and industry worthy equipment, the District has the means to deliver the programming through the channel. The learning experience offered by Spartan TV covers broad disciplines and offers opportunities for learners from elementary school through high school.
Within the franchise agreement there are regulations that the City is responsible to ensure are followed. Federal communication laws and regulations govern the type of programming to ensure it is non-commercial. The School District is aware of the regulations and an intergovernmental agreement would be established to outline the parameters of the programming and an operational plan.
This partnership is possible through many generous contributions to the School District in the form of the studio and equipment. Private funding has been identified to make the connection of the origination point making this a possibility at a time when budgets do not offer these types of opportunities. While these contributions make this a possibility, the talent and energy that the students provide is what makes this a unique way to enhance learning and provide information to the community.
City Council direction is requested.
14. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
15. APPOINTMENTS
16. ADJOURNMENT
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