Alderman Ebersohl arrived just after the first meeting began.
Ordinance, Planning and Zoning
• Main Street C-1 & C-2 Zoning Discussion
Mark the property owner would like to have his property rezoned into C-2 so more tenants would be interested in a new building he is planning there. He stated that of he had more freedoms in the uses of the building getting tenants and financing would be much easier.
The new building would be a two story structure with a total square footage of about 7,500 s.f. located behind Diehl Plaza while facing the back of the current plaza. It would contain retail possibly with some potential for office space. Concerns were brought up about how it would present the entrance to Columbia. Mark stated the facade would be dependent on tenants and projected revenue. Mark also noted that any uses on Main Street in those C-2 areas should be acceptable at the entrance to Main Street. He also noted the Industrial zone right across Route 3 and the C-2 down Ghent Road.
Alderman Agne noted maybe a C-1 with special uses could maybe work, while it was pointed out this would be similar to just making it a C-2 district.
The issues arose that this one parcel does not meet the minimum 5 acres needed to be rezoned into a C-2. The rezoning would have to involve the other C-1 between Main Street and Route 3.
Alderman Row stated that all of the discussion if facades and building placement should not be discussed as the only current issue is whether the C-1 should be C-2.
Mark was instructed to start the process with the city by filling out the required paperwork to re-zone his property. The owners of the other parcels will have to be notified.
• Handbills and Flyers Distribution Discussion
An email had been circulated that caused concern for people distributing shady flyers I guess. There is a two page form that is supposed to be filled out in order to hang things on people’s doors. It was also noted that filling out the form helps with security in the town. Discussion took place regarding if the city should ban flyers all together including campaign literature.
No action was taken on the subject.
• Mixed Use Development District (MDD) Discussion
Alderman Agne brought up as a last point that the council should begin the process of looking to pass some sort of MDD criteria in the case that any developer ever wants to come to Columbia. It would be better to have it on the books and not scramble if a developer decides to start talks with Columbia.
Finance, Claims, Bonds and Interest
• Financial Review (6 months into fiscal year)
This discussion would be better summarized by actually looking at the review that was put together by Al Hudzik and Linda Sharp. If anyone actually wants to see it I am sure a FOIA request would get you an electronic copy. Here are the highlights I took from their spoken summary:
Revenue is down approximately $200,000 as of right now due to a few factors
o State Income tax payments are a few months behind from the state.
o Sales Taxes are also down, as of December 14 we are 11.81% behind where we were last year at this time. The city projected to be down 5% compared to last year when preparing the budget.
Expenditures are under budget for the most part so far but a few large purchases may have been put off over the first six months of the year and if they are made in the last half then they may go over or exceed revenues.
The importance of Census 2010 was emphasized as that directly affects the payments the city receives from the state. It was noted how important it is and the city should begin to stress to its citizens to fill out the paper work when it comes in the mail next year.
• Tax Levy
This was discussed and will be proposed at the next city council meeting. The bulk of the conversation surrounded the police pension fund and how we are not sure what amount is required for that this year as the city has not received the recommendation yet from the fund.
License, Insurance Claims, CEMA and Contracts & Finance, Claims, Bonds and Interest (Joint Meeting)
• Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association Insurance Renewal Discussion
The only decision to be made would be to decide if the city would enter the min/max program and pay one amount and then hope their claims don’t exceed that amount or they may have to pay the difference until a maximum is reached. If I have the right figures from the conversation the city will pay $189,025 as the min. Our cost could be as much as $252,107 if the claims amount to enough.
If the city would not enter into the min/max program the set amount we would pay no matter what the claims are would be $220,XXX. It is basically trying to save around $31,000 with taking the gamble of possibly having to pay $32,000 over what the “fixed” costs could have been. The program has worked out for the city in the past and they seemed in agreement to go with the min/max gamble again this year.
Hejna asked Hutchinson about how last year he said the city should try to bid out its insurance and see if better rates could be found. Hutchinson said that that will need to be prepared in June or July for next year if the city wishes to bid out the insurance in the future.
Personnel
All of issues below were discussed in executive session.
•Update/Discussion on Collective Bargaining Negotiations and Employee Salaries
I left at this point in the meeting and did not stay to see if the council had a Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Commitee Meetings 11-23-09
Everyone was in attendance for this meeting. Committee of the Whole was scratched from the agenda.
Refuse Collection & Recycling
• Refuse & Recycling Contract Presentation/Discussion
Tim Schiebe (sp) was in attendance to give a presentation on the contract the city has with Reliable Sanitation.
Tim noted he has expanded recycling with some of his commercial clients in Columbia, notably The Falls, Tiny’s, & West Park Bowl. Tim noted that not all commercial trash in Columbia is his responsibility as a few other companies handle some businesses. Alderman Row asked if it was possible for the city to mandate only one trash company for the city and all businesses in it. Tim said that would be a franchise agreement and regardless he would continue to expand recycling with the businesses he services.
The mayor asked if there were any grants for expanding recycling, Tim said there were and that either the trash company or the city could apply for them, Hutchinson then directed Tim to possibly check with Paul Ellis as he would help with applying for grants such as that.
The total tonnage of recycled material per Tim’s records was up 3% from ’08 to ’09 and trash tonnage was down.
Tim proposed in his contract approximately a 3% increase a year as part of a 3 year contract. Alderman Stumpf threw the idea of having maybe the city also increasing their fee charged to citizens as well just as an idea. The suggestion was briefly discussed and Stumpf noted that Tim’s 3%/year increase is a good deal. Al Hudzik noted that the performance bond should be increased. Al Hudzik was instructed to finalize the contract but the increase was ok’d by the council.
The city will now give recycling bins and lids to all new residences.
Alderman Hejna noted that the leaf and limb contract will be up for renewal soon.
Tim mentioned he had the contact info of a number of companies he would pass along that provide leaf and limb service. Tim also noted that Blalock on Skyline drive will continue to allow Reliable to turn their trucks around in his driveway. He no longer wants a new culvert under his driveway.
Streets Sidewalks, Drainage, and Public Utilities
• Old Town Project – Davenport Callis Driveway Issue Discussion
The Callis(sp) family would like the following things to be done to their property as part of this project.
• Remove two trees that will probably die due to the construction.
• Replacement of conduit under their driveway that was removed.
• A retaining wall along the back of the sidewalk so their yard does not slope as much as it will. They would also like the retaining walls originally in the plan reworked around their driveway.
• For the grading of their driveway to extend farther back into their property so the grade is not as steep.
• Have their downspout drain out to the area between the sidewalk and the curb like the rest have been done in the project.
Alderman Row noted that while he believes that Ron Williams is correct and the city is following the plans if it were his yard he would want it fixed. Hutchinson also noted that it should be fixed but some costs have to be figured out before decisions get made. The council also discussed that any retaining walls should be on the Callis property so it would not interfere with any future work in the right of way.
Ordinance, Planning and Zoning
• Main Street – C-1 & C-2 Zoning Discussion
Alderman Agne was just beginning the discussion on whether a piece of property at the north end of town on Main Street should be changed to C-2 or remain C-1 possibly with special uses attached.
Brad asked if the planning commission should talk the subject over. Agne noted this was just beginning the discussion.
Fred asked if it was fair for this owner to be the only C-1 on Main Street while the rest are C-2?
Agne noted he was merely starting the conversation on the subject and asked that the council spend some time thinking the subject over.
Click on this link for a pdf illustrating the area in question.
Licence, Insurance Claims, CEMA and Contracts
•Rejis Service Agreement Discussion
It is my understanding that this is the company that provides computer support to the city.
There will be no fee increase on this contract this year. Al Hudzik has worked on cutting hours back over the last few months so the city did not go over on support hours in the current contract. He will continue to monitor the hours all departments use so as to not exceed the hours in the next contract. Al mentioned that Rejis responds quickly to issues.
Personnel
All of issues below were discussed in executive session.
•Update/Discussion on Collective Bargaining (including review of changes to FOP agreement)
Refuse Collection & Recycling
• Refuse & Recycling Contract Presentation/Discussion
Tim Schiebe (sp) was in attendance to give a presentation on the contract the city has with Reliable Sanitation.
Tim noted he has expanded recycling with some of his commercial clients in Columbia, notably The Falls, Tiny’s, & West Park Bowl. Tim noted that not all commercial trash in Columbia is his responsibility as a few other companies handle some businesses. Alderman Row asked if it was possible for the city to mandate only one trash company for the city and all businesses in it. Tim said that would be a franchise agreement and regardless he would continue to expand recycling with the businesses he services.
The mayor asked if there were any grants for expanding recycling, Tim said there were and that either the trash company or the city could apply for them, Hutchinson then directed Tim to possibly check with Paul Ellis as he would help with applying for grants such as that.
The total tonnage of recycled material per Tim’s records was up 3% from ’08 to ’09 and trash tonnage was down.
Tim proposed in his contract approximately a 3% increase a year as part of a 3 year contract. Alderman Stumpf threw the idea of having maybe the city also increasing their fee charged to citizens as well just as an idea. The suggestion was briefly discussed and Stumpf noted that Tim’s 3%/year increase is a good deal. Al Hudzik noted that the performance bond should be increased. Al Hudzik was instructed to finalize the contract but the increase was ok’d by the council.
The city will now give recycling bins and lids to all new residences.
Alderman Hejna noted that the leaf and limb contract will be up for renewal soon.
Tim mentioned he had the contact info of a number of companies he would pass along that provide leaf and limb service. Tim also noted that Blalock on Skyline drive will continue to allow Reliable to turn their trucks around in his driveway. He no longer wants a new culvert under his driveway.
Streets Sidewalks, Drainage, and Public Utilities
• Old Town Project – Davenport Callis Driveway Issue Discussion
The Callis(sp) family would like the following things to be done to their property as part of this project.
• Remove two trees that will probably die due to the construction.
• Replacement of conduit under their driveway that was removed.
• A retaining wall along the back of the sidewalk so their yard does not slope as much as it will. They would also like the retaining walls originally in the plan reworked around their driveway.
• For the grading of their driveway to extend farther back into their property so the grade is not as steep.
• Have their downspout drain out to the area between the sidewalk and the curb like the rest have been done in the project.
Alderman Row noted that while he believes that Ron Williams is correct and the city is following the plans if it were his yard he would want it fixed. Hutchinson also noted that it should be fixed but some costs have to be figured out before decisions get made. The council also discussed that any retaining walls should be on the Callis property so it would not interfere with any future work in the right of way.
Ordinance, Planning and Zoning
• Main Street – C-1 & C-2 Zoning Discussion
Alderman Agne was just beginning the discussion on whether a piece of property at the north end of town on Main Street should be changed to C-2 or remain C-1 possibly with special uses attached.
Brad asked if the planning commission should talk the subject over. Agne noted this was just beginning the discussion.
Fred asked if it was fair for this owner to be the only C-1 on Main Street while the rest are C-2?
Agne noted he was merely starting the conversation on the subject and asked that the council spend some time thinking the subject over.
Click on this link for a pdf illustrating the area in question.
Licence, Insurance Claims, CEMA and Contracts
•Rejis Service Agreement Discussion
It is my understanding that this is the company that provides computer support to the city.
There will be no fee increase on this contract this year. Al Hudzik has worked on cutting hours back over the last few months so the city did not go over on support hours in the current contract. He will continue to monitor the hours all departments use so as to not exceed the hours in the next contract. Al mentioned that Rejis responds quickly to issues.
Personnel
All of issues below were discussed in executive session.
•Update/Discussion on Collective Bargaining (including review of changes to FOP agreement)
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Holiday House Tour
This is an event sponsored by the Columbia Friends of the Library each year. Its this coming Sunday December 6th from 1pm-5pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the Library for $12 ahead of time and $15 the day of the event at any of the following locations which are also the starting points for the house tour. Hope everyone will attend.
- Elements Off Main, 107 W. Gundlach
- Agnes Ross, 113 W. Gundlach
- Bon Vivant, 123 S. Main Street
Tickets can be purchased at the Library for $12 ahead of time and $15 the day of the event at any of the following locations which are also the starting points for the house tour. Hope everyone will attend.
- Elements Off Main, 107 W. Gundlach
- Agnes Ross, 113 W. Gundlach
- Bon Vivant, 123 S. Main Street
Historic Local Schools
Good article about great things happening in Columbia.
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/monroe/
Good to see Columbia saving parts of their past.
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/monroe/
Good to see Columbia saving parts of their past.