DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met Jan. 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Lang called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and Deputy City Clerk Laura Herrmann called the roll. Those Alderpersons present were: Josh Huseman, Pete Paulsen, Virginia Sherrod, Chuck Stowe, Alan Bauer, and Steve Braser, and Nancy Copple, Alderperson Rick Kramer was absent. City Attorney Kevin Buick was also present.

INVOCATION – William Mills, Bethel Assembly of God, gave the invocation. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Alderman Bauer.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Braser 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 7-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS - None

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of January 6, 2020. B. Payment of the Bills for January 21, 2020 in amount of $1,169,020.40

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 Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, and Copple voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS – None. 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS

City Manager - Brian Gregory said tonight starts the budget season. He will walk through the different steps of the 2021 budget and begin to wrap up the 2020 budget which ends on April 30th. Looking ahead, he will talk about the 2020 construction season and 2020 street maintenance program among other projects. The Chamber’s “Eat Week” is January 24 through February 1. He added that if you are a football fan, local Sycamore graduate, Ben Niemann, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs will play in the Super Bowl. He acknowledged Ben and his Sycamore roots and asked that we root for him.

Police Chief - Jim Winters said The Police Department has some preliminary crime numbers in for 2019 which saw a slight increase in Part I Index crimes. In 2018, there were 199 Part I crimes, and last year in 2019 we saw an increase to 234. We did see a decrease in traffic crashes from 439 to 429 of which included a decrease in personal injury crashes from 69 to 55. These are rough numbers which will be confirmed and presented with the annual report next month or the first part of March.

Fire Chief - Pete Polarek said he put out press release to remind citizens of the warming centers. The Fire Department received a surprise grant of $1,000 through the Community Foundation via Cinco de Mayo. The money was put towards the residential Knox Box lending program. They can buy six more boxes for this popular program. He appreciates Jesus and the folks that raised the money. They received a $1,500.00 grant on Friday from Enbridge. Those funds will go towards some technical rescue equipment and they are very pleased and honored to be a recipient.

Assistant Director of Public Works – Matt Anderson said the treatment plant expansion is moving along. Tomorrow they are hoping to tie in the existing lines with the new line. As for Well #6, Municipal Well says the pump is complete and they are expecting delivery at the end of this week. They are on track for the first part of February fir the pump to be back in the ground.

Treasurer/Asst. to the City Manager - Adam Orton said that the December Treasury Report is at a benchmark of approximately 67%. The General Fund Revenue remains at the current budgeted benchmarks, specifically the State and City sales tax are at 70% and 69% respectively and income tax is at 76%. The overall revenue picture is at 71% total. As they look into the end of this year and on to the next fiscal year, it does look like the revenue picture is shaping up. The revenues are also around 66%. On the pension side, the have had 4 straight months of fund growth.

Building & Engineering Director - John Sauter said the plans for Northern Axe are being reviewed. This is entertainment that provides cage-style throwing lanes used to throw axes at targets. They will be located next to “Syco Escape Rooms” in the former Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Store at 1170 DeKalb Avenue. This is another first for us and they have focused pretty heavily on safety, but it is apparent that the owner has made safety a primary concern from the get-go and he has made every effort to cover all the bases. They have a couple outstanding comments that need to be addressed, but anticipate a building permit will be issued later this week.

Mayor Lang asked what his projection is for opening. He is uncertain of an exact date, but is guessing 4-6 weeks.

Director of Human and Administrative Resources (DHAR) - Maggie Peck said that the staff is currently completing yearly evaluations. She will be conducting the annual sexual harassment training this month.

City Engineer- Mark Bushnell said that after negotiations with IDOT, Electric Park Drive will remain under the jurisdiction of the IDOT. The good news is that IDOT is finalizing plans to complete a mill and overlay project scheduled with an April letting. This will be at no cost to the City.

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

Ordinance 2019.44-An Ordinance Authorizing Boundary Modifications to the Area Known as the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, Vacant Ground Addition, Option 2, in the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the City participates as a designated Authority in the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone. This Ordinance comes to you from the Enterprise Zone Advisory Board. It’s an addition of certain land to the Enterprise Zone by Law it can encompass 15 square miles. Currently the Enterprise Zone totals 13.1 square miles. This property adds approximately 500 acres in Dekalb’s jurisdiction just south of Gurler Road between Route 23 and east of Peace Road extended. Every taxing body will be required to approve the Amendment because it is an intergovernmental agreement.

MOTION

Alderperson Braser moved to take Ordinance 2019.44, 2019.45, 2019.46 and 2019.47 in omnibus fashion and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

Ordinance 2019.45-An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Second Amendment to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone Intergovernmental Agreement in the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading

Ordinance 2019.46-An Ordinance Amending the Property Tax Abatement Qualifying Criteria and Definitions in the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, in the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First Reading and Second Reading.

D. Ordinance 2019.47-An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Third Amendment to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone Intergovernmental Agreement in the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe moved to take waive the First Reading for Ordinance 2019.44, 2019.45, 2019.46 and 2019.47 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 7-0.

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe moved to approve Ordinance 2019.44, 2019.45, 2019.46 and 2019.47 and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser and Copple voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

E. Ordinance No. 2019.48-An Ordinance Authorizing the Revision of Exhibit B of the Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City Council and the City of Sycamore and the Board of Education of Community School District 427 Regarding School Resource Officers in The City of Sycamore, Illinois.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the City has had this an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the School District for a number of years. Recently the State passed a Public Act into law that added certain responsibilities that a School Resource Officer (SRO) must take in preforming their duties. This Ordinance brings our IGA in line with State Law. The School District approved the Policy last week.

Alderperson Copple stated she attended the School Board meeting last week and praised Detectives Binkowski and Hooper.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple moved to waive the First Reading for Ordinance 2019.48 and Alderperson Huseman seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple moved to approve Ordinance 2019.48 and Alderperson Huseman seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser and Copple voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution No. 810-A Resolution Authorizing the City of Sycamore to Enter into an Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Certain Paving Improvements as Part of the Illinois Route 23 Paving Project (Contract #66J41/Job No C-93-089-18) and to Allocate Funds for the Milling and Resurfacing of the Parking Lanes Along Illinois Route 64.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the State of Illinois will resurface Il Route 23 from Genoa to Route 64 in Sycamore. They expanded the project to include Route 64 from Main Street to Sacramento Street in Downtown. The City has been working with IDOT to get the parking lanes paved as well. The City will have that responsibility. The rest will be funded with 80% federal funds and 20% state funds. The City will pay for the parking lanes and the stamping and repainting for the crosswalks in the downtown. He estimates our share to be about $34,500.00. This will be included in our 2020 street program. Kudos to the Engineers working with the DeKalb Sycamore Area Transportation Study (DSATS) to add some of our roads that may be eligible for this type of funding.

Alderperson Bauer asked about the condition of South Main Street and if it could be added to the project.

Mark Bushnell stated that they had asked IDOT to expand the project approximately 200 feet south of Route 64 and was told it was out of their jurisdictional limits. They may contact the contractor directly but that repair would be at the City’s cost.

MOTION

Alderperson Paulsen moved to approve Resolution No. 810 and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser and Copple voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of an Administration Request for Direction Regarding the 2020-2021 General Fund Fiscal Year Budget.

City Manager Brian Gregory said he will present the full budget from now through late March and it will be brought to Public Hearing in April for approval at the second meeting in April. The General Fund looks balanced based on the assumptions they have. It’s about $17.7 million in both revenue and expenditures. Property Tax revenue pays out a large portion to the pension obligations. Property taxes make up about 17.5% of our budget. When you pull out the pensions, Property taxes make up only about 10%. Sales and Use taxes are the biggest single line item. Based on current trends, he anticipates these to be about $4.6 million. Home Rule tax proceeds are estimated to be about $2.1 million. The Restaurant/Bar Tax continues to grow a little bit each year. In FY 2021, that will be about $1.2 million. The Telecommunications Tax is starting to flatten out a bit. It looks like that will sit somewhere around $300,000. He has seen this drop each year, likely from residents that are choosing to use cell phones only rather than having a land line and a cell phone. Sales & Use Tax numbers are coming in about 2.85% above the FY20 estimates. Licenses make up less than 1% of the budget. In FY21, the City will look at the annual license fee for video gaming per terminal for which the fee is $100.00/terminal. The cost of administering the program has exceeded that. At some point, they will bring that back to the budget to make that cost balance with the revenues we are bringing in. Intergovernmental Revenue is about $2.2 million. The biggest portion of that is income tax. This is state shared revenues that comes on a per capita basis from the IML in November. Service Charges is about $1.1 million of which the largest portion is ambulance fees. Fines and Fees is a small amount. The Other income that we bring in is mostly pass through. The biggest number is our Waste Management Contract at about $1.6 million. This comes in as revenue and gets expended out of the general fund to Waste Management. The spending side is a balanced budget. The City will continue to maintain the same service levels. A few changes to point out in the FY21 budget that they are anticipating is infrastructure and moving Engineering into Public Works. Property maintenance under the Police Department would move to the B & E department. These will combine to form a Community Development Department. When Engineering moves to Public Works this budget proposes an entry level staff engineer. The City is proposing to add an additional swing shift fire fighter paramedic position. They also anticipate a part time NIU MPA intern in this budget. Personnel expenses account for over half the General Fund Budget. When combined with insurance costs, it is over 72% of the General Fund Support budget. They are transferring a little over $300,000 to Refunding Bonds to assist with debt obligations. Pension contributions are expended from the General Fund. The preliminary FY21 budget is balanced.

B. Consideration of an Administration Recommendation for a Closed Session to Review Closed Session Meeting Minutes and Personnel Matters.

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe moved to enter into Closed Meeting 7:39 and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser and Copple voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

ADJOURNMENT 

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 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 7-0

https://cityofsycamore.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cc20200121mins.pdf