City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Monday, March 2nd city council meeting. Clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Baney here. Alman Glab here. Alman Dhy here. Alwoman Bassie here. Alman Davis here. Alderman Cook here. Alderwoman Miller here. Please stand for the pledge. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

All right. At this time, I open up for public comment for items that are not on the agenda this evening. I have Joel Williams from Habitat for Humanity. Joel, if you can hit that center button. Thank you, sir. All right. Yours.

Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for allowing me to speak to you today. My name is Joel Williams. I am the president and CEO of Lake McHenry Habitat for Humanity. Uh this is my first time having the honor to uh speak in front of you. Uh I'm relatively new to this uh to the Mckenry side of Habitat for Humanity. I had previously served as the executive director of the Lake County affiliate uh for about four years and then last year we merged Lake and Mckenry together. One of the reasons we did that was we knew that we could achieve a lot more together, have some economies of scale and some efficiencies uh that have allowed us to impact more lives and uh serve more people. So as we start to do a little bit more, I am really excited to be able to doing more in Mckenry uh the city specifically. We think we've got some really cool things that'll be happening here. Uh, I'm joined here tonight by our board chair, Kyle Steiner, McHenry High School graduate. Um, there's some familiarity. I thought some people might know him, but uh, Kyle is our board chair and, uh, has been really helpful to, uh, guide me and help me understand a little bit more about the goings on in Mckenry County. Um, as I, uh, have expressed to others before, I have definitely been a taker of the city of Mckenry. I have been able to enjoy all of the delicious food, uh, that, uh, I have been able to experience throughout my life. uh and entertainment. I've been uh in this region for a little while, but I'm learning more about the needs and the different things that Mckenry or that Habitat for Humanity can do for the city of Mckenry. So, hoping that most people know what Mckenry or excuse me, what Habitat for Humanity is and does. Uh but we build houses uh and we help people get into those houses. Uh we are currently building houses throughout both Lake and Mckenry County and we're looking for new opportunities to be able to build new houses. So, we are always on the lookout for land. if there's a a piece of land available, we can do just one house. We can do multiple houses. We're always looking for an opportunity to be able to do that and certainly would engage with you as uh the people who know Mckenry best uh to be able to find some of those opportunities as well. Um when we do build that, we build it with volunteers and if anybody wants

to come out and swing a hammer, you're certainly welcome to join us with that. Uh but we uh build with volunteers and then we help uh the individuals who are ultimately going to get into the house. uh we help them um obtain a mortgage so that they can purchase the house and be a homeowner. It's a home ownership program at its core. We also have what we call our critical home repair program. That is a program that I think is just as important as the new home build program, but we have that to be able to fix homes that are otherwise decent, safe, and affordable, but they just need one thing that the person can't afford. That could be a roof, that could be a broken furnace, it could be all sorts of different things. And so we work with them to be able to uh fix that so that they can stay in the house that has been home but is otherwise affordable to them. Um that program is uh really growing a lot. We're getting a lot of good support from the state of Illinois to be able to support that. Uh so we're looking to be able to do even more uh in various communities to be able to impact that including within the city of Mckenry. Uh finally, some of you have probably been customers at our Restore right on Front Street there. The Restore is basically we call it a discount home improvement store. Uh, but think of it as anything that you might need for your house, you're going to be able to find at the Restore. Sometimes things you didn't even know you needed for your house, you will find at the Restore. But all of the items that are there are donated. Some of them are donated from people who no longer have a use for them, like the air hockey table that is now in my basement, which my wife is a big fan of. Um, or some other pieces of furniture or some other things that might have come from somebody else. But in addition to that, we also have new items that are donated directly from the manufacturer. So, we've got some good relationships with some manufacturers and some other folks that uh will donate new items. So, just about anything that you might need for your house, you're going to be able to find at the Restore. We're proud to have that in the city of Mckenry. We've been there for a number of years. It is right next door to our office and we're looking forward to being able to have an even greater impact because we know that people are looking for items that are affordable um that they're going to be able to have at high quality. All the profits that come from that store go

right back into building more housing. So when you are shopping there, you are also making a difference for furthering affordable housing in Lake C in Mckenry County. Uh again, this was just really my opportunity to be able to introduce myself. It's been uh a year of trying to bring the teams together and so now I'm kind of on a tour of uh trying to just introduce myself to some folks that I might not know. As I said, it's just a privilege to be able to speak to all of you today. if there are any opportunities to be able to work with you to be able to develop affordable housing or to be able to repair some of the existing housing that uh might need some um some work done on it, we definitely want to be a part of that. So, we know that there's a lot of talk going on around affordable housing uh right now and we're just very excited to be here to hopefully support that and all the work that is happening within the city of Mckenry. So, again, thank you so much. Uh hopefully we'll be uh doing some more work with you and if uh there are questions certainly feel free to reach out to me. Um, you can find my information on our website. It's habitatlmc.org or you just come on down the street and I'm there uh pretty often and you can just pop in and say hello. So again, thank you so much for your time.

Thank you very much. Have a good evening. All right. Any other public comment? Vic, sit down. All right. Uh, consent agendas. Uh, consent agenda items 5A through 5e. Is there any items that council would like to pull for separate consideration? Looking for a motion to approve 5A through 5E. Aldwin Miller. I'll make the motion to approve consent agenda 5A through 5e as presented. Please. Thank you. Alden Bainy. I will second Alderwoman Miller's motion. Thank you. Council um Trisha, please call. Sorry. Alderwoman Miller. Yes. Alderwoman Bainy. Yes. Alman Glab. Yes. Alman Dhy. Yes. Alumoman Bassie. Yes. Alman Davis.

Yes. Alman Cook. Yes. Thank you, council. Next item on the agenda is 6A is Windhill Pancake Parlor Video Gaming. I'm looking for a motion to approve a video gaming license to 4X Hospitality LLC located at 3307 West Elm Street, Mckenry, subject to the completion of a video gaming development agreement. And if approved, pass an ordinance increasing the number of location licenses for video gaming. I am looking for a motion to approve. Alderman Banny, I'll make the motion to approve the video uh Windhill Pancake Parlor video gaming license. Thank you. Second, Alderman Dhy. I'll second the motion.

Thank you. Uh Phil Sudak, the owner of Windhill is here in the audience if you have any questions. Um but I will open it up for city council comments. Alo Bessie,

thank you. As of January, Fox Lake, Woodstock, and Crystal Lake have issued in this order 29, 25, and 22 gaming licenses. These are the cities or villages with the second, third, and fourth highest number of gaming licenses in Mckenry County. Mckenry has issued the most gaming license in the county by a significant margin with 44. A concern I have repeatedly heard from residents is that we have too much gaming and it has a negative impact on the city's reputation. The default of businesses and of businesses requesting a gaming license with their liquor license particularly in the downtown districts needs to change. I can appreciate that Win Hill previously had a gaming license but we do need to draw the line somewhere. So, I am voting no.

Thank you. Any other comments by city council? Phil, would you like to say anything? I'm trying to get off. Yeah, if you can come up to the podium if you don't mind, if you hit that center button for me, sir.

Uh I am trying to improve the whole riverfront area as well. So, I'm starting with the uh front condo that we own uh in front of Windhill. It's been vacant since we took it over about two and a half years ago. So, we are putting Italian deli in as a forefront of that business. Up the stairway towards the Windhill side, I'm putting six machines potentially as well. So, we'll be covered up, not covered, but it will be forefront will be a Italian deli and grocery store, but I'm putting in the small area in front. Then the games will be kind of tucked away as well. So, we'll really be the forefront of what the business is. Then eventually plan on going to the riverfront as well. I'm going to DNR tomorrow to get the peers approved that way as well, similar to what Bimbo's u did in front there as well to increase the traffic flow to the riverfront, redevelop the restaurants on the riverfront as well. Then there's a fourbedroom house behind there. I'm going to eventually turn into a uh vintage burger shop as well. So, similar like a cop's burger in Milwaukee. So, that's my immediate plans over the next probably year, year and a half as well. So, I'm putting an extraordinary amount of capital into the riverfront as well and the the city front as well to make that corner much more known. I've cleaned up the property quite a bit. Did a full interior remodel of Windhill. Uh painted the exterior of the house next door which is high for many years. So, you know, I just asked you guys for a little leniency so I can make a little more profit out of the out the business at hand.

Yep. All right. And I appreciate on, you know, on behalf of all of us, we appreciate all the money you've invested in Mckenry. We really we really appreciate it. So, absolutely. Thank you. Any questions for the applicant? All right, Madam Se. Thank you, sir. Thank you. All right. Any other questions, comments by councel? Please call the role. Alumoman Baney, yes. Alman Dhy, yes. Alman Glab, yes. Alwoman Bassie, no. Alman Davis, yes. Alman Cook, yes. Alwoman Miller, yes. Thank you, council. Once again, Phil, thank you very much. Look forward to working with you on the other projects.

All right. All right. Next item on the agenda is 6B, TIFF fund uh budget amendment. Motion to pass an ordinance authorizing a budget amendment for 2526 tax uh increment financing fund. Looking for a motion to approve. Alone Miller. I'll make the motion to pass an ordinance authorizing a budget amendment to the 2020 2526 tax increment financing fund. Thank you. Second Alderman Glenn. I'll second. Thank you. Discussion by city council. Alman Glenn.

Yeah. I just want to say that uh I voted against uh purchasing the property. Uh however, uh it's you know got passed by the council. Uh I feel that uh doing a tax increment is the only proper way to do it that um don't want to see it coming right out of the general fund. However, uh I know this is going to take a big bite out of the uh the tip funds. So, we're we're always going negative before the property taxes come in. And uh I just want to be sure that we just don't get too far in the hole over the next couple years uh that we get try to get closer and closer to the uh plus sign side. You know, I know we need to reinvest it all the time to for it to grow, but uh just so that we are at a stage of being cautious. That's all.

Thank you. Appreciate the support. I'll do Bassie.

Andy, did you copy what I've got here in my notes? Um, mine is I voted no to purchase the property because I do not want to see this 1939 building which is significant to Mckenry's history and culture demolished with the land marketed to a corporate developer. However, since the purchase has already been completed, I am voting yes to using TIFF money rather than general fund money to purchase. This will this will put the TIFF fund over a half a million dollars in debt to the general fund. And this money needs to be paid back before an additional TIFF before any additional TIFF spending is in the budget for the next fiscal year.

Thank you. Any other city council comments? Any public comment regarding this item? Clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Miller, yes. Alderman Glad, yes. Alderman Bainy, yes. Alman Dhy, yes. Alwoman Bassie, yes. Alman Davis, yes. Alman Cook, yes.

Thank council. Next item on the agenda is 6C, uh, an IGA with the fire district for sale of property. Motion to pass an ordinance authorizing the mayor's execution of an IGA with the McHenry Township Fire Protection District for the sale of the vacant parcel of land west of DOT Street, pin number 09-28-151-026 for a gross sale price of $52,000. I'm looking for a motion to approve. Alman Dornney. Yeah, I make a motion to approve item 6 C as presented the intergovernmental agreement with the fire district for sale of the property listed. Thank you. Second, Alman Cook, I second the motion.

Thank you. Discussion by council. Although ambassy, I am voting yes on this, but I would like the proceeds to go towards the city's portion of the 31 expansion. Any other council comments? Any public comment? Clerk, please call the RO. Alderman Dhy. Yes. Alderman Cook, yes. Alwoman Miller, yes. Alman Davis, yes. Alman Glad, yes. Alwoman Batty, yes. Thank Council. I'm sorry. Alderwoman Bassie, I apologize. I'm finally voting yes. I'm sorry, Alderoman.

Thank you. No, I'm just kidding. Been a long day. I apologize. Thank you very much. I appreciate all you've done in the community. All right. Next item on the agenda is discussion. Uh staff reports. Any staff reports? Russ, go ahead. I do have one real quick. Uh Alderwoman Bassie pointed out that we forgot to include the Arbor Day um information in the staff update for this month. So, I just want to remind everyone that the Arbor Day celebration is April 24th this year. Um the deadline, if anyone's interested in donating a tree to that program, is April 1st. And there's information about that on both the city website under the permits applications and forms and also in the city newsletter that will be coming out shortly.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Any other staff reports?

Just that small thing before we meet again of Shamrocks the Fox, if you heard of it, it's happening uh the 13th through the 15th of March. So, it will be Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Um recap will just be the Friday night will be the 10th down at Miller Point. Saturday, we'll start the day with the Shamrock Shuffle by the Kuanas Club. Uh based out of the freshman campus, East campus for for most of us, but freshman campus. Um the dying on the river will be approximately 10:00 a.m. They'll probably start a little bit before that by the time the boats are in the water. Uh then we'll have uh the Miller Point will open up with I think we'll have six uh eight food trucks this year. Um and then the tent with live music. Uh and then the same and then Sunday we'll have the tent open again at noon uh with fireworks ending the day at approximately 7 p.m. So a weekend full uh both both at Miller Point but throughout town there's events. The parade uh uh the parade is Saturday. That was the one thing I forgot to mention. Sorry about that. Uh parade is Saturday at noon I believe. So everything everything's coming together pretty good and just pray for nice weather, right Trish? We don't say that out. We don't say that out loud for events.

I get it. All right. Thank you, Bill. Appreciate it. All right. Uh, any other staff reports? All right. Uh, city council comments. Aldo Miller. Thank you, Mayor Jet. I just wanted to put a public shout out to parks and downtown maintenance. They've got all the lights out for Shamrocks and it looks amazing. We drove around the other day and I don't know where all the lights came from because it appears to be double what we had last year. Um, but it looks just amazing through town. Very festive, very springy. And uh, congratulations to the guys that got it all done in time. Thank you for all your hard work.

We're still working on it. But drive by uh, if you haven't driven by Vets Park, the there's two pots of gold there is a fun little thing that the guys worked on. It's every year they kind of come up with something and the decor decorations that they do in house are amazing. So, thank you very much. Well, and the new lights over by the digital sign in front of Spring Oaks Park. It just I saw that today coming back into town and I'm like, wait, those are new. Those have never been there before. So, it's kind of fun to run around town and, you know, discover what we didn't have before. So, thanks guys.

Any other city council comments? Alman Dhy. Yeah, I just want to acknowledge that it I know the mayor and chief were at a funeral today for Bob Marace. Um definitely the community lost a huge member um and a very big supporter of the city of Mckenry. He was involved in Fiesta Day for years. I believe he's on the police commission. Um but anyway, the community had lost a big person today and I just want to publicly acknowledge it for the family. Our condolences.

Thank you. I was actually gonna say it after that, but he he got me to it, so that's why I skipped me. But, uh, yeah, once again, uh, Bob has been someone that has been involved in the community for a long time. And, uh, his, uh, kid, uh, Mike has also been involved in the chamber and rise up and everything else. So, we attended today and, uh, yeah, um, he'll be greatly missed in the community for sure. So, uh, any other city council comments?

Glam. Yeah, I just want to mention the fact that uh bringing up the the TIFF budget amendment and all that uh brings back uh uh my concerns about uh creating the new tiffs and that uh I would hope that uh as that moves forward that we also look at uh right away that uh we get some uh committee of the whole meetings to discuss these areas and so that we know and we're on board before before we start spending any of that money, exactly what it is we want to accomplish and what we'd like to see the ending goals be. No problem. Thank you. Yep. Uh Benny, go ahead.

I just wanted to say for those who weren't able to attend how great the state of Mckenry lunchon was last week. Um Mayor Jet did a wonderful job. I know you had supportive staff and it was a wonderful presentation and just want to say thank you to you and to the Chamber of Commerce for putting that together. I think it's really an incredible event. Thank you. I appreciate all of you that joined. I know some of you have to work, so I appreciate all of you that attended. Um, and yes, Suzanne, for helping me out. Uh, we did a run through at the Vixon the night before or day before. Thank god we did that. It was horrible. Two and a half hours.

Yep. That was the best uh thing we could have done. So, uh, but yeah. So, other than that, uh, it was it was great and well attended. So, thank you. Any other city council comments? All right. Motion to adjurnn. Alman Cook, make a motion to adjourn. Thank you. Second. Alderman Bainy. I will second that motion. Thank you. Clerk, please call the role. Alman Cook, yes. Alwoman Bainy, yes. Alman Glab, yes. Alman Dhy, yes. Alderwoman Bassie, yes. Alman Davis, yes. Alwoman Miller, yes. Thank you everyone. Have a good evening.