City of Sycamore City Council met Nov. 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
ROLL CALL
Mayor Lang called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and City Clerk Mary Kalk called the roll. Those Alderpersons present were: Virginia Sherrod, Chuck Stowe, Alan Bauer, Nancy Copple, Josh Huseman, and Pete Paulsen. Alderperson Steve Braser and Rick Kramer were absent. City Attorney Keith Foster was also present.
INVOCATION – Tim Suter, Feed My Starving Children, gave the invocation. Tim announced that almost 6,000 volunteers will gather for four days to pack about 1.5 million meals for starving children all over the world. It’s the 10th year and said it is with grateful hearts and tremendous generosity that the City of Sycamore serves.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by the students from North Grove Elementary School
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Alderperson Copple motioned to approve the agenda and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.
VOICE VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
APPOINTMENTS- None AUDIENCE TO VISITORS
Attorney Keith Foster did a swearing-in of audience members wanting to address the Council.
Ron Floit, 421 Somonauk Street said Sycamore has a good brand and it’s the Council’s job to protect that brand. He asked the Council to wait two years on approving the Cannabis Ordinance.
Dick Larson, 410 Home Street, Sycamore said the City has done a fine job in crafting this ordinance and recommends that the Council vote for it.
William Hutchins, 1399 Oakland Drive, Sycamore said there are medical benefits to cannabis and said, like alcohol, people who want to do it will and people who don’t want to do it won’t.
Lillian Harbecke, 17535 Mt. Hunger Road, Sycamore said just because it [cannabis] is a law doesn’t mean we have to do it and to have a backbone and stand up and say no.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of October 21, 2019. B. Payment of the Bills for November 4, 2019 in the amount of $2,629,971.93.
C. Annual Report of the Condition of Sycamore Fire and Police Funds.
D. FY2019 Popular Annual Financial Report.
MOTION
Alderperson Bauer moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS
Alderman Alan Bauer introduced his family, David, Dennis, Renee, Rusty, Casey, and Roger who were all present as they were in town to celebrate their mother’s 102nd birthday.
Mayor Lang said that he is proud of the Police Department and glad Sycamore doesn’t have issues that other cities have.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
City Manager – Brian Gregory congratulated the many volunteers, the Pumpkin Festival Committee, the City Departments that all give their time, and the entire community on a successful Pumpkin Festival. It’s truly a piece of Americana. Census 2020 is coming in the spring. It’s important that everyone is counted as communities receive representation at the federal level based on population and state-shared revenue are all based on per capita. The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet Monday, November 11th for two Special Use Permit requests from TechWeld, and PetIQ. The third action item will be for zoning regulations pending tonight’s discussions on cannabis. There will also be a concept plan for Jim Mason’s St. Alban’s property.
Police Chief – Jim Winters said he will pass along the Mayor’s kind words to the Officers and said they couldn’t do it without a supportive Council and community. Last December, a new state law passed mandating certain juvenile file records be expunged and also established a compliance timeline. The process to expunge those records from the physical files and also from our computerized report management system has been ongoing throughout this year. So far, 604 juvenile records have been expunged and they are ahead of the first deadline of January 1, 2020. He gave a big thanks to our Records Clerk Mary Banasiak, Administrative Sergeant Rod Swartzendruber, and Deputy Chief Mike Anderson, who carried the load for this mandate and gave credit to them for keeping them compliant and administratively efficient. The Police Department was awarded a grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation (DCCF) for $2,100 which will be used to purchase an additional patrol utility box. Patrol Officers use this box which contains equipment such as an automatic external defibrillator (AED), portable breathalyzer, NARCAN (emergency treatment for an opioid overdose), and other various other equipment. Lastly, as part of the “No Shave November” campaign, the facial hair policy has been relaxed to support the effort in raising awareness and funds to fight cancer, as it has touched our lives or the lives of one of our family or friends. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) will be collecting the funds and all proceeds will be donated to Prevent Cancer Foundation and St Jude’s Research Hospital. A link to the FOP’s fundraising group will be on the department’s social media accounts.
Fire Chief – Pete Polarek said they received two grants; one from DCCF for $2,300 earmarked for the residential knox box program and the second grant from Enbridge for $1,500 earmarked to purchase technical rescue equipment. For the Pumpkin Festival, they were in full force, but had pretty low activity. He was very pleased. They were able to use the Sheriff’s Mobile Command Post during the parade due to the volume of people in town. It’s a great command and control unit. The Fire Preservation Company is having the annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, November 9th from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Fire Station #1. They partnered with Mike Embrey for “Sweets for Troops” where they send all the leftover Halloween candy to the troops.
Director of Public Works – Fred Busse said that all went well with the recent snow fall. It gave them a chance to review the plow routes and personnel and to address any glitches. Well #6 has been pulled showing significant ware on the bearings and ware plates within the pump. The pump will be reviewed completely and a report will be received in the next couple of weeks. Leaf pick-up is in full force and crews will be out earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon to catch up to the demand. They may extend the pick-up period but will let everyone know if they do.
Treasurer/Asst. to the City Manager – Adam Orton said it was a modestly successful year for both the Police and Fire Pensions. The Police Fund ended the year with $14.49 million in assets and Fire Fund ended with $15.35 million in assets. The funding percentage increased 2.8% for the Police and is currently at 66.8%. The funding percentage for Fire increased 1.9% and is currently at 65.1%. These are aimed at 100% funding but State law requires 90% funding by 2040. Both funds saw positive returns overall for the year. Police saw 5.1% return on investments and Fire saw a 4.7%. He referred everyone to the Popular Annual Financial Report and said it is similar to last year’s. It can be found on the City’s website and will be pushed out through the social media outlets.
Building & Engineering Director – John Sauter said they’re busy with several commercial plan reviews and are working toward start dates for those projects before the end of the year. Some of the projects being reviewed include:
• Jiffy Lube at the Meijer site.
• A new storage building at Seymour of Sycamore on Crosby Avenue.
• A new laundromat within the KEEP.Rentals building on East State Street.
• A new body shop located in the former Seymour building on East North Avenue.
He said they’re at 38 single family permits as of the end of October and were at 45 this time last year. He thinks it’s safe to say that the weather has had an adverse impact on construction this year but it is still a respectable number and they could see a late year push if the weather cooperates.
Director of Human and Administrative Resources (DHAR) – Maggie Peck gave a follow up on the Give-Back Campaign as the City will be participating in the Feed My Starving Children this month. They have filled the mechanic position, which will start mid-November. Interviews for laborers will begin Tuesday, November 5th.
City Engineer – Mark Bushnell said Curran was paving today at Fowler Farms, the R-4 subdivision. Completion of this paving will end the detour at the intersection of Motel Road and West Motel Road. Average highs normally allow for paving into mid/late November so they are keeping their fingers crossed for better weather to allow projects to continue with the installation of underground utilities and paving.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance – Alan Bauer - no report
Public Safety – Pete Paulsen - no report Public Works – Chuck Stowe - no report
PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance 2019.30—An Ordinance Amending Title 5, “Police Regulations,” Chapter 4, “Miscellaneous Offenses,” Section 14, “Controlled Substances and Cannabis,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. Second Reading.
The City Manager Brian Gregory gave a brief background of this law that allows recreational cannabis in Illinois which is set to take effect on January 1, 2020. They City began discussions back in September and had a public hearing at the 10-7-19 City Council meeting. First Reading of the ordinance was brought forward at the 10-21-19 City Council meeting and the ordinance is here tonight for action. As a reminder, municipalities cannot prohibit the use of recreational cannabis provided that the amount meets the guidelines. The question before the Council is if they want to allow retail dispensaries for the sale of recreational cannabis within Sycamore. This ordinance aims to answer that question based on previous discussion and it aligns with the State law bringing our ordinance, which had prohibited the use of cannabis, into line with the State law. The ordinance will go into effect January 1, 2020. It would not allow craft-grower facilities (plants to be grown and cultivated on-site) nor would it allow on premise consumption. It includes definitions, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA), and defines on premises consumption. It talks about the zoning and where a dispensary may be sited, amending the City Code and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This will go to the Planning & Zoning Commission for discussion and then back to the Council for final approval.
MOTION
Alderperson Stowe moved to adopt Ordinance 2019.30 and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, and Paulsen voted aye. Alderpersons Copple and Huseman voted nay. Motion carried 4-2.
B. Ordinance 2019.31—An Ordinance Amending Title 3, “Business and License Regulations,” Chapter 13, “Occupation Taxes,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore to Create a New Section 4, “Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax”. Second Reading.
City Manager Brian Gregory said that this ordinance would impose a 3% tax on gross receipts on any adult use recreational cannabis sales that were to happen in Sycamore provided that a dispensary was to locate and operate within city limits. There was some discussion about revenue, but at this point it is premature to say what type of revenue, if any, would be generated by sales. If there is an impact, and we are not sure what that will be, it will ultimately impact happen whether there are sales or not. If a dispensary is to open and operate in Sycamore and revenue is able to be brought into the City, it may help offset the impact, once it’s known.
Alderman Bauer asked if the 3% is the only tax or asked how that works with the standard sales tax and Home Rule tax City Manager Brian Gregory said the way the law is written is when a dispensary opens, it can sell cannabis both for medical and recreational use. If someone comes with a medical card, it’s taxed like medicine at 1% or if someone purchased for adult use, it would be taxed, with not only this 3%, but also as general merchandise.
MOTION
Alderperson Bauer moved to approve Ordinance 2019.31 and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Alderpersons Copple voted nay. Motion carried 5-1.
RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution 805—A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the Worker’s Compensation and Liability Coverage for City Employees with Corkill Insurance.
City Manager Brian Gregory said last year, the City entered into an agreement with Corkill Insurance to broker the City’s Worker’s Compensation and Risk Management Insurance. In the FY18 budget, the City has spent $634,000 on these services. This is for a renewal of these services for $510,932. This would be with Liberty Mutual for liability insurance and with the Illinois Public Risk Fund for the worker’s compensation. He said that Director of Human and Administrative Resources (DHAR) Maggie Peck works with Corkill frequently and has gotten good service with the company. The FY20 budget for these services was $546,609 so there’s a nice savings over what they anticipated.
Mayor Lang asked, with such a discrepancy, if we are getting the same coverage.
DHAR Maggie Peck said that we are getting better coverage than ever and are very happy with them.
MOTION
Alderperson Copple moved to approve the Resolution 805 and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
CONSIDERATIONS
A. Consideration of an Administration Request to Award a Professional Services Contract to Northern Illinois
University Center for Governmental Studies and Egret+Ox Planning for Services Related to the Update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Maps.
City Manager Brian Gregory said this is exciting as the City’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) was last updated in 2014. Being the vision of the community, not only does it look forward, as in our Mission Statement, but it looks backward to preserve what we have. It’s aimed to look at above ground and below ground at infrastructure, making sure that we are prepared. Two company’s submitted proposals as follows:
| Cost Proposal | |
| NIU-CGS / Egret + Ox | $22,500 |
| Houseal Lavigne | $64,260 |
Alderperson Copple asked what the City paid for this last time. City Manager Brian Gregory said it was $21,000 or $21,500.
Mayor Lang said this is tremendous and that’s it’s the roll of the Council, to think about our children for infrastructure, homes, and industry. We need to be forward thinking for this master plan as it’s a great opportunity to prepare for tomorrow.
MOTION
Alderperson Huseman moved to approve the Consideration to award the Contract to Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies and Egret+Ox for $22,500 and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
B. Consideration of an Architectural Review Committee Recommendation to Award a Downtown Façade Improvement Grant to Mike and Melissa Mobile of Hometown Realty Located at 330 W. Elm Street.
City Manager Brian Gregory said Mike and Melissa Mobile are present tonight and are in the process of doing significant work to their building. They are looking for the Downtown Façade Improvement Grant for eligible work that involves painting their entire building, installation of new custom glass entry doors which will be in line with American with Disabilities Act requirements, and the installation of a new garage door on Elm Street. The total of eligible improvements is $12,725 with the 50/50 match up to $5,000. This is funded through the Hotel Motel Tax Fund. The Architectural Review Committee reviewed the request and forwarded a favorable recommendation by a vote of 5-0. He said the City appreciates the investment the Mobiles are making in the building.
MOTION
Alderperson Huseman moved to award the Façade Grant of $5,000 and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
C. Consideration of an Administration Recommendation to Award a Contract to Geothink, LLC for Environmental Consulting and Project Management, Regarding the Site Demolition and Soil Management Plan to Remove the Former Harvester Square Raised Platform and Construct a New Engineered Barrier on City Owned Property at 370 South Avenue.
City Manager Brian Gregory gave background as stated in the agenda and said he was simplifying all the work that got the City to the point where the City took over the property and had the task of remediating the hazardous materials present. It met all the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) standards requirements and got the site clean with the help of Tom Mangan, Principle of GeoThink. They got a “No Further Remediation” (NFR) letter from the IEPA stating that as long as that platform stayed in place, none of the soils would ever need to be touched. However, that is in the TIF area and the goal is to improve the property to reuse and return to the tax rolls. The last step in making it functional and aesthetically pleasing to the neighborhood is to remove the elevated platform. With Mr. Mangan’s help, additional testing was done earlier this year to make sure the project is in the hundreds of thousands of dollar range versus the millions of dollars range. Those tests came back where they thought they would be for a project that would be more around $150,000. This is for a contract with Mr. Mangan to move forward in that process. The contract would allow for project management. In the end the concrete barrier and dirt would be removed and then brought back to street level. This is the last major project planned in the TIF at this time and said it would be funded from the TIF Fund. Mr. Mangan is present and willing to answer any questions.
Mayor Lang said referenced “estimated” cost and asked what could go wrong.
Tom Mangan said they would generate a bid and send it to qualified contractors in the area who will conform to the prevailing wage details. Depending on when they begin in the spring, there are always a couple of unknowns but he doesn’t anticipate any surprises. They are only going down seven feet and removing that material. The contaminated material will go out to the land fill first and then the remaining. If there is a really wet spring again and the material is wet, transporting water weight is heavier, which the biggest unknown is.
MOTION
Alderperson Stowe moved to award the contract to Geothink and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
D. Consideration of a Request from Phil Paulson of Genoa Business Forms for Tax Increment Financing Assistance.
City Manager Brian Gregory gave some background as per the agenda and said this comes as part of the TIF. Phil Paulson is asking for TIF assistance to help with the removal of the current roof and the installation of a new asphalt shingled roof, flashings and vents on the middle building which was built in the late 1800’s. This portion of the project comes with a limited lifetime warranty and is estimated to cost $12,875. This is the first and only request that Genoa Business Forms has made. Funding for this project would come from the TIF budget.
MOTION
Alderperson Huseman moved to approve TIF assistance for $12,875 to Genoa Business Forms and Alderperson Bauer seconded the motion.
Mayor Lang pointed out that this is what TIF is for and that he’s happy the City can help. This is what it is intended for.
City Manager Brian Gregory pointed out that Joel Barczak is present tonight and said the City worked with Blumen Gardens last year on some TIF assistance helping to stabilize that block. The real focus when it was established was around these blocks. These are all important steps in getting to where this TIF wanted to when it was established back in 2000.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Paulsen voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION
Alderperson Stowe moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.
VOICE VOTE
Mayor Lang called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 6-0
https://cityofsycamore.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cc20191104mins-1.pdf
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