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.
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