City Council

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MAY 26, 2015 The City Council of DeKalb, Illinois held a Committee of the Whole Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 in the City Council Chambers of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. Mayor Rey called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. A. ROLL CALL Deputy City Clerk Julie Abraham called the roll and the following members of City Council were present: Alderman David Jacobson (arrived at 5:14 p.m.), Alderman Bill Finucane, Alderman Michael Marquardt, Alderman Bob Snow, Alderman Kate Noreiko, Alderman Dave Baker (arrived at 5:08 p.m.), Alderman Monica O’Leary, and Mayor John Rey. Also present were City Manager Anne Marie Gaura, Assistant City Manager Patty Hoppenstedt, City Attorney Dean Frieders, Finance Director Cathy Haley, Police Chief Gene Lowery, Fire Chief Eric Hicks, Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer John Laskowski, Community Development Director Ellen Divita, Economic Development Coordinator Jennifer Diedrich, Community Services Planner Jamie Smirz, Management Analyst Lauren Stott, Management Intern Jared Heyn, Deputy City Clerk Ruth Scott, and Deputy City Clerk Julie Abraham. B. ITEMS ALSO ON THE REGULAR AGENDA None C. CONSIDERATIONS 1. Community Development Annual Report Presentation Community Development Director Divita introduced Community Services Planner Jamie Smirz, Economic Development Coordinator Jennifer Diedrich, and Management Intern Jared Heyn. Principal Planner Derek Hiland and Secretary Brenda Hart were unable to attend the meeting. Community Development Director Divita stated the department’s mission statement: Maintain a high quality of life for community residents through Committee of the Whole Meeting May 26, 2015 Page 2 of 4 maintenance of a diversified and balanced tax base, and the retention and expansion of local businesses. Community Development Director Divita provided a list of community connections she and her staff have by participating on boards, commissions, etc. In 2014 the following occurred: • 717 permits were issued by the Building Division. • $229,929 in CDBG funds and $16,680 in Revolving Loan funds • 15% of annual CDBG funds are allocated to social service agencies • 22 housing rehabilitation projects were completed • 39 weatherization/beautification program project were completed Eight hundred volunteers throughout the community participated in NIU Cares Day. Projects completed in the City of DeKalb were overseen by Public Works – Street Division employee Judy Schneider and included: • Downtown landscaping and parking lot clean up. • Twenty volunteers assisted with projects at the airport. • Four households were helped with spring clean-up such as painting and yardwork. • Municipal building landscape was cleaned up. • Downtown alleyway refuse receptacles were painted Community Development Director Divita provided information on several items including marketing projects in progress, new business developments, permits released, expansions, new owners, and prospective new businesses. Community Development Director Divita stated hotel/motel revenues have almost doubled with the addition of Hampton Inn as well as an increase for inquiries into properties for a hotel/motel. Community Development Director Divita stated the City’s annual TIF reports have been filed with the State and in September 2014 Economic Development Coordinator Jennifer Diedrich attended the annual TIF conference in Chicago. An amount of $2,939,153 of TIF 1 surplus was distributed to taxing bodies. Community Development Director Divita spoke of the special use permits issued, planned developments, variance requests, and zoning ordinances text amendments occurring in the City. Community Development Director Divita stated there have been 6 cell tower applications within the last 6 months.  Committee of the Whole Meeting May 26, 2015 Page 3 of 4 Mayor Rey inquired how the Community Development department interfaces with Chamber events. Community Development Director Divita stated she and Economic Development Coordinator Jennifer Diedrich are scheduled to meet with DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matt Duffy on May 27, 2015. Mayor Rey thanked Community Development Director Divita for the information. 2. Engineers Without Borders Presentation Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Laskowski gave a presentation on his May 11-15, 2015 visit to Mexico with Engineers Without Borders to help solve drinking water issues. He provided the group’s mission statement and showed examples of the work that has been done such as creating filters using bone char. Mayor Rey asked about the life expectancy of the filters and the proximity of a kiln and bone char for the manufacturing process to geographical use area. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Laskowski stated the filters last up to one year and produce two to four liters an hour. The clay to make the filters is readily available and ideally they would like to get the cook stoves into each community. City Manager Gaura stated great stories like these are brought to the Council to show how City staff volunteer their time and share their knowledge. Mayor Rey thanked Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Laskowski for the presentation and for volunteering in Mexico. Alderman Noreiko asked when these items would be available to the citizens of Mexico. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Laskowski stated they are currently available and removing bacteria and pathogens. Once the final attachment can be used they will consider it fully functional. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None E. RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION Alderman Snow moved to recess for Executive Session to discuss the following items; seconded by Alderman O’Leary: 1. Pending or Imminent Litigation as Provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11). 2. Purchase or Lease of Real Property (Land Acquisition) as Provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5). 3. Personnel as Provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) Committee of the Whole Meeting May 26, 2015 Page 4 of 4 Motion carried 8-0 on a roll call vote. Aye: Jacobson, Finucane, Marquardt, Snow, Noreiko, Baker, O’Leary, and Rey. Mayor Rey declared the motion passed. Mayor Rey closed the meeting to the public at 5:32 p.m. Mayor Rey opened the meeting to the public at 6:05 p.m. F. ADJOURNMENT Alderman Finucane moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Alderman Jacobson. Motion carried on a voice vote. Mayor Rey declared the meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m. __________________________________________ JULIE ABRAHAM, Deputy City Clerk