DeKalb Times

City of Genoa City Council met May 17.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL 

II. STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP (UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 7 PM) 

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

IV. GUEST SPEAKERS 

V. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 3, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE MAY 9, 2023 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING 

VI. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLES 

VII. ITEMS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN ATTENDANCE* 

VIII. OLD BUSINESS 

IX. FUTURE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION  

X. NEW BUSINESS 

A) PRESENTATION BY CUSTOM ALUMINUM PRODUCTS  

B) APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE  AGREEMENT AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF AN ADOPTED ECONOMIC INCENTIVE  AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF GENOA AND 702 W. MAIN, LLC 

C) APPROVE A DOWNTOWN FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT AGREEMENT WITH  STORMWAG PROPERTIES, LLC, NOT TO EXCEED $30,000 

The owner of 318 West Main Street (location of Mark Carlson State Farm and Retail Handyman)  is requesting a Façade Grant for their building. The project total is $73,400 which includes some  costs that are ineligible for the project, however, the owner is requesting up to $30,000 of  eligible expenses be reimbursed as part of the program. As outlined in the packet, the applicant  will be preserving some of the existing brick while adding additional brick, painting the exterior  white, replacing windows and the door, and adding height to the façade to make it similar to the  property to the west. The added façade will include black cement fiber shiplap, a metal  roof/overhang, gooseneck lighting, and an updated sign. This Façade Grant was included in the  estimated expenditures to the Façade Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.  

D) APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 1 AND 6 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF  THE CITY OF GENOA, DEKALB COUNTY, ILLINOIS 

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Committee has been analyzing and discussing the City’s  utility rates and is recommending the Ordinance included in the packet. These changes include:  

• A 15¢ increase to water rates 

• A 18¢ increase to sewer rates  

• Increasing the basic user charge for non-residential metered users  

• Amending the ordinance to state that the City will post notice on the property for past due  bills (current practice), not mail a notice (what the code currently states). This section also removes the requirement that water bills must be paid in full because Staff does  work out payment plans on a case-by-case basis.  

• Adds language that clarifies that water bills left unpaid by tenants are ultimately the  responsibility of the property owner.  

• Adds language that clarifies that unpaid bills by a previous owner are due from a new  owner before water service can be reinstated.  

E) APPROVE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A 3-UNIT MULTI-FAMILY  USE AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF FIRST STREET AND ADAMS STREET, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 601 A&B WEST FIRST STREET AND 205 ADAMS STREET 

Included in the packet is a project review report outlining a request for a Special Use Permit for a  multi-family use. For both the length of the current owners’ ownership and as far back as City  files date, the single property has contained three residences, making the use a legal  nonconforming use because while it does not meet the City’s current zoning code  (nonconforming), it predates the ordinance and is therefore “grandfathered in” (legal). Per the  Unified Development Ordinance, legal nonconforming uses are permitted to continue, however,  should more than 50% of the property’s value need to be reconstructed due to some disaster, the  property would then need to come into conformity. This makes the property difficult to receive  financing. To sell the property, the petitioner is requesting a Special Use Permit to allow for  multi-family to bring the property into conformity (legal conforming). Staff and the Plan  Commission evaluated the existing property in accordance with the U.D.O.’s Special Use Permit  requirements, while also keeping in mind that the development already exists. Ultimately, the  Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval to the City Council, including the  conditions outlined in the ordinance.  

F) APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE  AGREEMENT AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF AN ADOPTED ECONOMIC INCENTIVE  AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF GENOA AND MALCOUR DEVELOPMENT LLC 

G) APPROVE A QUOTE FOR MANHOLE LINING FROM ADVANCED REHABILITATION  TECHNOLOGY, NOT TO EXCEED $11,250 

Please see purchase requisition.  

H) APPROVE A QUOTE FOR NETWORK CABLING AND UPGRADES AT CITY HALL BY FOREST CITY  COMMUNICATIONS, NOT TO EXCEED $14,000 

This project was identified through our 3rd party IT Audit as a needed improvement and Staff has  been working with our IT Consultant to determine the needed improvements. Two quotes were  received with the lowest quote included in the packet. The quote includes: 

1. Contracting with I.T Specialist to clean up data wiring in the City Server room, installing a  new patch panel and cabinet, new ports in offices along with upgrading the cabling to handle  higher speeds. 

2. Separate the old wiring from Administration and Police Department. 

3. The main server room located in the Police Department will have an upgraded patch panel,  new cabling, and ports in offices to handle higher speeds. The old original cabling will be cut  back to allow for the moving of one current rack to be used for the ever-expanding needs for internet, phones, and surveillance equipment. Clean up/remove all old wiring from old  installs. 

I) APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN EQUIPMENT  MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AND THE PURCHASE OF TWO COPY MACHINES FROM MARCO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, NOT TO EXCEED $8,210. 

The City of Genoa contracts with Marco Technologies, LLC for maintenance of the printers and  copiers at City Hall (Administration and Police Department). This consists of any repairs as well  as a cost per copy. Included in the Fiscal Year 23-24 Budget was the purchase of two new  machines- one for Administration and one for the Police Department. The Agreement in the  packet outlines the costs for maintenance for the machines as well as the cost for purchasing the  machines.  

J) APPROVE A QUOTE FROM C.E.S. FOR PREPARATION AND SUBMITTAL OF A SAFE ROUTES TO  SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION, NOT TO EXCEED $6,000. 

At the May 3rd City Council Meeting, the City Council approved both a Sidewalk Master Plan  and a map that highlighted sidewalks eligible for the Safe Routes to School Grant Program. Both  of these maps were created in mind with strengthening the City’s application for a Safe Routes to  School Grant Application. If approved, C.E.S., who the City often works with for Public Works  Projects, would complete a grant application due in the fall of 2023, including the Phase 1  sidewalks from the identified eligible sidewalk projects. 

XI. DEPARTMENT REPORTS 

A) FINANCE 

B) PUBLIC WORKS 

C) POLICE  

D) ADMINISTRATION 

E) MAYOR 

XII. ANNOUNCEMENTS 

XIII. MOTION TO ADJOURN 

*To respect the agenda and flow of the meeting, the Mayor may limit audience participation to 5 minutes per speaker and/or a total of 30 minutes for this portion of the agenda.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TCEskPjG7ZsnP7ltlXeaCwi-4G7qaJ5GbSZL8zVaUCw/edit