MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORMAL TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, NORMAL CITY HALL, 100 EAST PHOENIX AVENUE, NORMAL, MCLEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007.
- CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Chris Koos called the regular meeting of the Normal Town Council to order at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 4, 2007.
- ROLL CALL:
The Clerk called the roll with the following persons physically
PRESENT: Mayor Chris Koos and Councilmembers Sonja Reece, Adam Nielsen, Jeff Fritzen, Chuck Scott, Jason Chambers, and Cheryl Gaines. Also present were City Manager Mark Peterson, Assistant City Manager Pamela Reece, Corporation Counsel Steve Mahrt, and Town Clerk Wendy Briggs.
ABSENT: None.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Koos led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
- OMNIBUS VOTE AGENDA:
Mayor Koos excused himself from voting on any bills he may have incurred while performing his Mayoral duties and from voting on any bills submitted by Vitesse Cycle Shop.
Councilmember Reece excused herself from voting on any bills submitted by BroMenn Healthcare and from any bills she may have incurred while performing Council duties.
Item H was removed from the Omnibus Vote Agenda.
MOTION:
Councilmember Fritzen moved, seconded by Councilmember Gaines, the Council Approve the Omnibus Vote Agenda.
AYES: Reece, Nielsen, Fritzen, Scott, Chambers, Gaines, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
- APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
AUGUST 20, 2007: Omnibus Vote.
- APPROVAL OF TOWN OF NORMAL EXPENDITURES FOR
PAYMENT AS OF AUGUST 29, 2007: Omnibus Vote.
- MOTION TO WAIVE THE FORMAL BIDDING PROCESS AND
APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A DESSICANT DEHUMIDIFICATION
SYSTEM FROM PNUETECH ENGINEERING IN THE AMOUNT OF
$15,997.00 FOR THE WEST BOOSTER STATION: Omnibus Vote.
- MOTION TO ACCEPT A BID FROM ROWE CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $511,242.10 AND AWARD A
CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEPARD ROAD FROM THE
WEST BOUNDARY OF EAGLE’S LANDING SUBDIVISION TO HERSHEY
ROAD: Omnibus Vote.
- MOTION TO ACCEPT A BID IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,448,600.00 FROM COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION OF PEORIA FOR
THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEM AT IRONWOOD
GOLF COURSE: Omnibus Vote.
- MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUDITED TOWN OF NORMAL
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORT OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2007: Omnibus
Vote.
- MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT FOR
THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2007: Omnibus Vote.
- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE
AGREEMENT – NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS: Resolution No.
4091: Omnibus Vote.
- ORDINANCE AMENDING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR GRACE
CHURCH – BUILDING ADDITION AND EXPANDED PARKING LOT –
1311 W. HOVEY AVENUE: Ordinance No. 5146: Omnibus Vote.
- ORDINANCE CREATING PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON GROVE
STREET: Ordinance No. 5147: Omnibus Vote.
- ORDINANCE REQUIRING NICOR GAS TO RELOCATE GAS
MAIN FACILITIES WITHIN THE EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY OF RAAB
ROAD, FREDERICK LANE, AND SCHOOL STREET IN ORDER TO
ACCOMMODATE A PUBLIC ROAD IMPROVEMENT: Ordinance No.
5148: Omnibus Vote.
- APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
AUGUST 20, 2007: Omnibus Vote.
- ITEMS REMOVED FROM OMNIBUS VOTE AGENDA:
Councilmember Scott excused himself from the table at 7:07 p.m.
- RESOLUTION AMENDING A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY FOR ON-STREET PARKING SPACES:
MOTION:
Councilmember Chambers moved, seconded by Councilmember Fritzen, the Council Adopt a Resolution Amending a License Agreement with Illinois State University for On-Street Parking Spaces.
Councilmember Chambers expressed concern with the current parking situation in the Uptown area and indicated he was not eager to give up ten parking spaces close to the conference center to Illinois State University parking services. Councilmember Chambers questioned the urgency in transferring theses spaces to Illinois State University. City Manager Mark Peterson responded to the concerns raised by Councilmember Chambers and indicated there was no great urgency in transferring these spaces.
Councilmember Fritzen questioned if these spaces were going to be metered spaces. Public Works Director Mike Hall responded Illinois State University was planning on metering these spaces and that the university would be in a position to monitor the parking, and the meters would be monitored on a 24/7 basis. General Council discussion ensued.
AYES: None.
NAYS: Reece, Nielsen, Fritzen, Chambers, Gaines, Koos.
ABSENT: Scott.
Motion declared failed.
City Manager Mark Peterson requested Council suggest regulations for these ten parking spaces and submit them to staff, as staff will prepare an ordinance regulating these spaces.Councilmember Scott returned to the table at 7:17 p.m.
REPRESENTATIVE BRADY:
Representative Brady addressed the Council, updating them on current appropriation issues with the State of Illinois.
GENERAL ORDERS:
- RESOLUTION AMENDING A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY FOR ON-STREET PARKING SPACES:
- NONE
NEW BUSINESS:
- PRESENTATION BY REPRESENTATIVES OF BLOOMINGTON
KIWANIS REGARDING ON-STREET FUNDRAISING:
Mr. David Besler, 1501 Dover Road, Bloomington, Illinois, addressed the Council, requesting the Council consider changing some of the intersections that canning is allowed within the Town. Mr. Besler suggested the intersections of Shelbourne and Towanda, College and Cottage, and Linden and Shelbourne replace Vernon and Fell, and Hovey and Cottage as allowable intersections.
Councilmember Nielsen posed questions concerning various fundraising activities by the Kiwanis, which questions were responded to by Mr. Besler. Councilmember Nielsen indicated he had safety concerns with canning in the streets. Considerable Council discussion ensued, including a discussion on the concern with including the Shelbourne and Towanda intersection, as that intersection was scheduled to become signalized. City Manager Mark Peterson indicated staff would not support the Shelbourne and Towanda intersection. After a lengthy discussion, the intersection of Raab and Towanda was substituted for Shelbourne and Towanda.
Mayor Koos instructed the Kiwanis members to look for alternative methods of fundraising in the future, as the Council does have some concern with safety in canning at intersections in the Town. Mayor Koos further announced permission would be given for the Kiwanis Club to can September 13 through 15, 2007, at the suggested six intersections, and an appropriate ordinance effecting the location changes would be forthcoming.
- PRESENTATION ON A PROPOSED UPTOWN WAYFINDING PLAN BY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CARDOSI-KIPER DESIGN GROUP:
Ms. Nora Dukowitz, Uptown Marketing Manager, introduced representatives of Cardosi-Kiper Design Group to discuss a wayfinding plan for Uptown Normal. Ms. Kim Cardosi and Mr. Ted Kiper of the Cardosi-Kiper Design Group presented the proposed wayfinding plan developed and endorsed by the Branding and Wayfinding Committee, describing the differences between the three wayfinding sign suggestions. Ms. Cardosi and Mr. Kiper responded to questions from Council concerning implementing the plan and possibly expanding the plan to include areas outside of the uptown area.
Mayor Koos indicated he favored sign design No. 2 for the new signs. Councilmembers Gaines and Chambers concurred with the Mayor’s suggestions. Councilmember Reece expressed concern with legibility of the signs and suggested Cardosi-Kiper work with the Main Street Commission on signage. Councilmember Reece indicated she did not like the current logo as it was presented on sign design No. 2. Following considerable discussion, the Council suggested additional design modification be incorporated on sign design No. 2 to better integrate the Town’s current logo to the designated area on the proposed signs.
- PRESENTATION BY TERRI RYBRUN REGARDING THE PROPERTY
AT 305 PINE STREET:
Ms. Terri Ryburn gave a brief overview of the plans she has to restore 305 East Pine Street in Normal as a historic stop on the Route 66 corridor. Ms. Ryburn presented Council with a request for funding to stabilize the building, which would include a new roof, as well as updating the inoperable heating system, and funds to hire an architect to design plans to restore the building.
Mr. Erich Maschhoff, 2614 Crooked Creek Road, Bloomington, Illinois, Executive Vice President of the Bank of Illinois, answered questions concerning the business plan Ms. Ryburn submitted to the Bank of Illinois in obtaining a mortgage for this property.
Mr. Paul Harmon, 6 Clinton Place, Normal, Illinois, addressed the Council concerning historic buildings in Normal, indicating many of the historic buildings of Normal are disappearing and offered his support of Ms. Ryburn in her endeavor.
Mayor Koos commented on Ms. Ryburn’s request from the Town and suggested the Council discuss what the Council could possibly do to assist Ms. Ryburn including how to go about obtaining this assistance. Councilmember Gaines indicated this was an ambitious project and expressed concern with how to protect the Town’s interest if the Town did offer assistance with the project. City Manager Mark Peterson indicated preliminary work was underway to determine if this area would qualify and/or benefit from a TIF district; however, it would be several months before this determination would be made.
After considerable Council discussion, Mayor Koos suggested Ms. Ryburn work with restoration experts and put together a restoration plan that defined immediate work required to secure the building. Mayor Koos further suggested Ms. Ryburn return to the Council with a restoration plan, as well as a complete business plan, to give the Council a more complete picture of this project.
- PRESENTATION OF THE 2006-2007 FINANCIAL TREND
ANALYSIS REPORT:
Mr. Ron Hill presented an extensive overview of the 2006-2007 Financial Trend Analysis Report and responded to questions from Council.
- MAYOR’S MOMENT:
Mayor Koos announced a crane had been moved to the hotel/conference center site and indicated the skyline of Uptown Normal would be changing with the steel framing going up at the hotel site.
- CONCERNS:
- SOUND SYSTEM:
Mayor Koos expressed concern with the sound system in the Council Chambers and suggested adjustments be made on the current public address system.
- SOUND SYSTEM:
- ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Koos called for a Motion to Adjourn.
MOTION:
Councilmember Gaines moved, seconded by Councilmember Fritzen, the Council Adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council.
AYES: Reece, Nielsen, Fritzen, Scott, Chambers, Gaines, Koos.
NAYS: None.
Motion declared carried.
Mayor Koos adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Normal Town Council at 9:42 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2007.