City Council > Minutes

                                CORRECTEDMINUTES OF THE FINANCE & RULES

                                          COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

                                              HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008

MAYOR SHERWIN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:30 P.M.

Clerk Floistad called for the roll.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT:                               ALDERMAN STRAUBE      

                                                  ALDERMAN FELDMANN

                                      ALDERMAN DELGADO

                                      ALDERMAN PADILLA

                                      ALDERMAN NESSLING

                                      ALDERMAN RIESTERER

                                      ALDERMAN GROCHOWSKI

                                      ALDERMAN PATTI

ABSENT:                                

OTHERS PRESENT:              MAYOR JEFFREY SHERWIN

                                                  FRED PAUL, TREASURER

                                                  JOANNE FLOISTAD, CITYCLERK

                                                  DENNIS KOLETSOS, CHIEF OF POLICE

                                                  WILLIAM KABLER, FINANCE DIRECTOR

                                                  DALE ROBERTS, SUPERINTENDANT OF PUBLIC WORKS

The committee reviewed the minutes of the February 4, 2008 meeting.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2008 meeting; seconded by Alderman Delgado.   Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The minutes were approved.

Mayor Sherwin presented the Invoices over One Thousand Dollars.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the Invoices over One Thousand Dollars; seconded by Alderman Riesterer.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin presented the Warrants and Vouchers.     Alderman Patti made a motion to pay the Warrants and Vouchers; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Alderman Patti asked about Bee Consulting and Computer.  Chief Koletsos said this is for enhancements and support for the Police Records management system.  Alderman Patti also asked about P.F. Pettibone & Co.  Chief Koletsos said this is for the commission cards given to the Police Department.  Alderman Nessling asked why we have bills for A T & T and Call One.  Bill Kabler said that we are switching to Call One and we have to get the last bills out of A T & T.   Alderman Feldmann asked about the e-mail for Liz Biddle.  Bill Kabler said we had to get an e-mail address for her and there is a charge for each e-mail account.  Alderman Feldmann wanted to know what the snow bill was for Mr. Onkananuwonk.  Mayor Sherwin said this is for the snow removal for this private property.  Alderman Feldmann asked what the Camera Surveillance Program was.  Mayor Sherwin explained that we have been going back and forth over the bill with the vendor for the cameras installed at Center Point and Millennium Park and this is the final settlement.  Chief Koletsos said that we approved approximately a $39,000.00 addition and they did not accomplish all the work.  Alderman Padilla wanted to know what the bill for Miles Chevrolet was.  Chief Koletsos said this is for a new car for the Police Department.  He also said that they lost the contract and the check is being reissued to Bill Jacobs.  Because of this change, Miles Chevrolet will not get paid and on the next Warrants and Voucher list, it will be listed as a payment to Bill Jacobs. Alderman Riesterer asked about the Home Depot credit services for Creekside.  Dale Roberts said this is for work being done there.  Alderman Grochowski asked about the alarm at the Community Center.  Bill Kabler said this for the fire alarm. One charge was for a down payment and the other for the balance.        The Mayor called for a voice vote.  All were in favor. The motion carried.

 Mayor Sherwin presented the Commission Expenditures.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the Commission Expenditures, seconded by Alderman Nessling.    Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Under Unfinished Business;

Mayor Sherwin said that the snowflake decorations are one sale right now.  They are $165.00 each.  We did collect some money from the parking lot leases.  Mayor Sherwin has not approached the Chamber or Commerce yet.  He said it would be nice to get the decorations all the way to Railroad Avenue on the West side and at least down to Roy Street on the East side.  It should be around $6,000.00.  We should need 21 more.  Mayor Sherwin said that the regular donation from the Chamber of Commerce would be great.  Mayor Sherwin said that the problem with the LED bulbs burning has, hopefully, been solved by using rubber gaskets and grease.  Mayor Sherwin said we will do away with the figures on the poles.   

Under New Business;

McShane Corporation made a presentation regarding the B6 Application for the Entenmann’s location. Introductions were made.  Dan Folgerty made the presentation.  He said he has spoken to

to 3 or 4 prospects that are very excited to be moving to this site.  Dan found out they will have an inability to attract industrial tenants without a 6B; he also looked into potentially developing the site into a retail site.  He knows that the City of Northlake would like to see a retail site.  Dan stated that McShane builds just about every kind of product available such as industrial, medical offices, multi-family and office properties.  He said they have done some retail, but they do not specialize in retail.  We do joint venture with other groups.  He contacted some prominent retail groups and was told “No thanks.  It does not have strong retail potential.”  Dan feels that this is a terrific industrial location.  He said McShane can provide a beautiful and esthetic gateway to the City of Northlake that you would hope to get with the retail facility.  Dan passed out some information.

Dan explained that they are looking to do some retention out front with a lot of vegetation, prairie grass, shrubbery and a berm that would be 4-5 foot high.  A sign would be in front that says “Northlake Gateway”. 

The building would be approximately 188,000 square feet and the taxes would be estimated at full scale which would be $540,000.00 with a 6B at about 240.  Basically, the taxes would be approximately the same, within 1% at 6B as they would be for the vacant Entenmanns.  He believes that without the 6B the property will sit there until some developer convinces the City of Northlake that is the right thing is to turn the property over.

Alderman Padilla asked what type of manufacturer would be in the location.  Dan said that one tenant would be Central States Trucking.  They are a warehouse and shipper.  They would be the majority of the site.  They have about 15,000 square feet of office.  The remaining 50,000 is not yet decided.  It will be geared to accommodate a manufacturer or distributor. 

Alderman Feldmann asked what the impact of the truck flow would be.  She stated that it is already quite significant.  She was told it would be low.  Mayor Sherwin said that with the North Avenue entrance closed off, it would definitely help traffic flow. 

Alderman Patti asked if this business would create potential jobs for residents of the City of Northlake.  Dan said it could, but he does not know what the status of Central States is.  They are currently located in Elk Grove Village and want to move. 

Dan said that he is on a tight time line to close on this facility.  It is their vision that they would close on April 15th, have the asbestos removed by the end April, have the building demolished by mid June and have the new facility up by January 1st. 

Mayor Sherwin asked if we agree to the 6B, will that be sufficient to do the closing.  Dan said it will be.  Alderman Patti made a motion to have the City of Northlake attorneys and McShane’s attorneys draw up the necessary documentation to provide for a 6B application; seconded by Alderman Grochowski.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.  This will be put on the agenda for March 17th.

Mayor Sherwin talked about the membership for the Dupage River/Salt Creek Workgroup.  Mayor Sherwin said they meet to discuss the solutions to the Salt Creek basin as far as water quality.  We are looking into obtaining grants to take out the dams and improve the water quality in Addison Creek so the more groups we have backing us in the endeavor, we stand a better chance in obtaining the grants.   We will not have a presence on the board right away, but we will participate in their discussions.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve a membership for the Dupage River/Salt Creek Workshop; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin discussed the subject of Bus Benches.  He said he does not want to spread the bus benches through the residential portion of Wolf Road, so this does not leave a lot of locations to put the bus benches.  They are vinyl coated metal with openings so that water does not collect on them.  Alderman Patti stated that if there is graffiti on these benches it is easily removed.  The revenue for the city would be $100 per year per bench.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the placement of bus benches in certain location; seconded by Alderman Riesterer.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin brought up Ordinance O-05-2008, An Ordinance Proposing the Establishment of Special Service Area No. 1 by the City of Northlake for Water System Improvements, Providing for a Public Hearing, and other procedures in connection therewith.  Mayor Sherwin explained that Microsoft is proposing to use a million and a half gallons of water a day at peak hours for their cooling systems.  Two thirds of the water will evaporate and one third will go into the sewer system.  We need to make improvements in the water system to meet that demand.  The water revenues that are going to be generated by those sales are going to be enough to pay for these improvements.  However, we want to be guaranteed that those water sales will continue at a level until such time the bond issue is paid off.  The special service area creates a special assessment on the Microsoft property only. Mayor Sherwin said we have to upgrade our pump station, put new pumps in, put in a new generator and we need to do some water main work.  We also have to build an additional 3 million gallons of storage. The special service area takes the Microsoft property and creates a special assessment (special service area).  That is a real estate tax on that property.  We have agreed to abate the real estate tax by the amount of the water sales.  We can put any extra water sale money in escrow to abate future.  This way we have the guarantee that even if the water sales are not there that piece of real estate is liable for that tax.  This will be at no cost to the city’s tax payers.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve Ordinance O-05-2008; seconded by Alderman Padilla.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Alderman Patti made a motion to table Ordinance O-06-2008; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Representative from the Metropolitan Planning Council and Northwest Housing made a presentation regarding the Employer Assisted Housing Program at Wolf Ridge Condominiums.  Lilly from the Metropolitan Planning Council spoke about the employers assisted housing initiatives.  This could be for rental or home ownership.  She gave the history of EAH.  They are looking at having units that are available at Wolf Ridge.  If employees purchase a unit and receive a down payment assistance amount it helps employees live in the community in which they serve and it also sells the units as well.  Depending on an employees income they may be eligible to receive additional funding from the state because of the employer investment.  There are also Cook County funds available for those who are eligible.  These programs are set up with a forgivable loan. In our case this would be a 5 year forgivable loan with several requirements.  The employee must remain employed by the City of Northlake; the employee must remain the occupant owner and primary resident of the property.  Depending on the success of the program in how many employees might be interested in participating in Wolf Ridge, another idea is to open the program to other Northlake public workers such as the school districts. 

Mayor Sherwin said that we would only get the tax credit if the people meet the income guidelines.  The tax credit is available for households who earn roughly $90,000.00 a year.  This program will be available to everyone regardless of their income.  Mayor Sherwin asked if the state is okay with expanding the scope of this program.  The city will still get the tax credit. 

Holly from the Northwest Housing Partnership said they will be doing the counseling and doing the marketing.  They offer a full day workshop that will be done with Wolf Ridge.   Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the employer assisted housing plan; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor. The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin said that 21 condos have been sold. 

Alderman Patti made a motion to approve portable restrooms. for Northlake Days being supplied by John Spot; seconded by Alderman Riesterer.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Alderman Nessling made a motion to approve Gen Power for the electric for Northlake Days; seconded by Alderman Patti.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Bill Kabler talked out our liability insurance renewal.  Our insurance ends on the March 15th. There is an 8% cost savings over last year.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the renewal of our liability insurance; seconded by Alderman Straube.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Alderman Straube made a motion to approve the issuance of a new bond to replace the existing 1998 TIF bonds; seconded by Alderman Feldmann.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Alderman Feldmann made a motion to approve the renewal of Francisco & Son’s Landscaping contract for 2008; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

There being no further business, Alderman Feldmann made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote. All were in favor.  The motion carried.

MEETING ADJOURNED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:40 PM.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

JOANNE FLOISTAD, CITY CLERK