02-18-2004 Special Meeting121
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE ELEANOR ROHRBACH MEMORIAL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, DES PLAINES CIVIC CENTER,
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2004
CALL TO ORDER: The Special meeting of the City Council of the City of
Des Plaines, Illinois, was called to order by Mayor
Anthony W. Arredia at 7:00 p.m. in the Eleanor Rohrbach
Memorial Council Chambers, Des Plaines Civic Center on
Wednesday, February 18, 2004.
ROLL CALL: Roll call indicated the following aldermen present:
Beauvais, Christiansen, Murphy, Sayad, Brookman, Becker,
Smith and Argus.
Also present were City Manager Niemeyer, Assistant City Manager
Schneider, Director of Finance Egeberg, Fire Chief Farinella, Deputy Fire
Chief Heavey, Deputy Fire Chief Jaeger, Police Chief Prandini, Assistant
Director of Engineering Duddles, and City Attorney Wiltse.
PRESENTATION:
ZONING CASE
03-75-MA
MAP AMEND./
LEE ST. &
PROSPECT:
City Manager Niemeyer presented a video outlining some
of the history and reasons ·behind why the fire station
is needed and why the City decided to build it at Lee
Street and Prospect Avenue; also presented were several
alternate uses for the new fire station, i.e. moving Fire
Prevention Bureau from City Hall, moving the Police
Neighborhood Resource Center; and several different ideas
on how to fund the station as developed by the Finance
& Administration and Public Safety committees.
MAYOR ARREDIA DECLARED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS NOW
RESOLVED INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Alderman Becker, Chair
Assistant City Manager-EDC Director Schneider reviewed
his memos of February 10, 2004 and February 5, 2004,
regarding the City's request to rezone property located
at Lee Street and Prospect Avenue from R-1 Single-Family
Residential District to I-1 Institutional District; the
Des Plaines Plan Commission voted unanimously to
recommend in favor of the request with conditions; the
Staff also recommends in favor of the request.
Moved by Becker, seconded by Argus, to concur with
recommendation of Des Plaines Plan Commission and Staff,
and recommend to the City Council, re Zoning Case 03-75-
MA, to grant City's request that property located at
southwest corner of Lee Street and Prospect Avenue be
rezoned from R-1 Single-Family Residential District to
I-1 Institutional District; and City Attorney be
authorized to draft necessary ordinance.
Mrs. Virginia McGrath, 586 N. Seventh Avenue, addressed
the Committee of the Whole stating that there is a need
for a new fire station; emergency responses are up in all
the stations; the money will be well worth it; she can't
say enough good things about the response team; God bless
each and everyone of them.
Mr. Brian Burkross, 2133 Webster Lane, addressed the
Committee of the Whole asking what studies have been done
to justify this station; there will be interest on this
$11 million; it will be closer to $17 million and may go
up even higher; he is in support of a new station but not
at this location and not for this much money; he has many
questions about the minutes that were taken at the Plan
Commission meeting; the residents should demand the facts
about this new station.
ZONING CASE
(Cont'd. )
PAGE TWO
122
2/18/04
Mrs. Marge Kostick, 576 N. Seventh Avenue, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that she is the EMS
Coordinator for the Fire Department; our community
continues to age and as a result we need more ambulances;
right now the Fire Department does not have room for all
of its equipment.
Ms. Nancy Kelso, 1020 Jeannette Street, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that she has lived here
for 17 years; our City is changing and growing; fi r e
stations are so important in our lives; they save lives ;
her family would be delighted to have a fire station near
them; firemen love the community and are doing their
best.
Mrs. Cathy Stashak, 1753 Whitcomb Avenue, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that she is a retired
firefighter who served the City for 20 years; she has
stayed active in the field and has been involved with a
group working for the new fire station; our Fire
Department personnel are qualified to determine where a
new station should be; we don't need a survey; fire
station personnel keep their property well maintained;
they set an example for the neighborhood.
Alderman Becker stated that this process was started in
2001; the group took a bus tour and looked at several
facilities; our architect took a long look at our needs
and this is what they designed ; this is for the good of
Des Plaines.
Alderman Beauvais read a letter from the principal a t
Terrace School (located right next to Fire Station #3 ),
which expressed the good relations they have with Fire
Station #3; she suggested that all Exe cu ti ve Session
minutes regarding the new fire station be released .
Alderman Christiansen stated that emergencies have no a ge
limit; everyone will at some point use emergency
services; he has always been in favor of this and he i s
i n favor of the rezoning.
Alderman Murphy stated that we need to know that our
Staff have everything they need to do their job; she
supports the rezoning.
Alderman Sayad stated that we have to provide emergency
services for our residents; Lee and Prospect is the
proper place for this; our Fire Department i s t he best;
he is for the rezoning.
Alderman Brookman stated that she is not against a new
fire station or expanding the current one on Oakton
Street; this would be a new headquarters in the
residential area; it will be costly; we will have to make
improvements to the streets and sewers; this is not in
the best interest of the Fire Department; they shoul d
have the best equipment and benefits; this will have a
negative impact on the Department; she doesn't think the
zoning should be changed at Lee and Prospect at this
time; we should wait for the referendum on March 16th ; we
should have a consultant; all of these issues should be
tabled until after March i6th .
Alderman Smith stated that the City does need a new fire
station and Lee and Prospect is the right spot; he is
satisfied with the process; he doesn't think a referendum
is necessary; people will not know how to vote on this
because they won't have all the information; he hopes the
City Council will not be swayed by t he results.
Alderman Argus stated that we are entitled to good
police, fire and public works; it is our responsibility
to provide it to the residents; she will be voting for
the rezoning.
REZONING
(Cont'd. )
FUNDING/NEW
FIRE FAC.,
LEE ST. &
PROSPECT:
PAGE THREE
123
2/18/04
Mayor Arredia stated that from what he has determined,
he is convinced this is the right spot; he has full
confidence in our Fire Department.
Uoon roll call on the motion to approve, the vote was:
AYES: 8-Beauvais, Christiansen, Murphy, Sayad,
Becker, Smith, Argus, Arredia
NAYS: 1-Brookman
ABSENT: 0-None
Motion declared carried.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION -Alderman Sayad, Chair
Alderman Sayad stated that several funding sources have
been discussed for the new fire facility at Lee Street
and Prospect Avenue; there would be no tax increase if
we use the proceeds from the sale of the old Library and
the hotel-motel tax from the two (2) new hotels opening
soon in Des Plaines.
Alderman Smith stated that he is in favor of using the
money from the sale of the old Library, but he doesn't
think the hotel-motel tax should be used; that money
should go into the General Fund; we should start a new
revenue source, i.e. telecommunications tax, resident
ambulance fee, rather than the hotel-motel tax.
Alderman Becker stated that the sale of the old Library
and the hotel-motel tax is the way to go.
Alderman Argus stated that she believes we will be able
to pay for this without raising property taxes; this
should be paid for by new development; she would be
opposed to a resident ambulance fee.
Alderman Christiansen stated that he is opposed to
selling the old Library until we know about a new police
station.
Alderman Beauvais stated that she likes the idea of new
development paying for development in our community; if
we have any extra money, we should put it into our
replacement fund; she would not object to the sale of the
old Library, the hotel-motel tax, sales tax increase or
a property tax increase.
Mayor Arredia stated that we should use new development
to pay for development.
Mr. Brian Burkross, 2133 Webster Lane, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that we are in hard times
right now; his insurance company will not pay for
ambulance calls; how can you be so certain that these
hotels will come through?; you don't know what the future
will hold.
Mrs. Patricia Lukowicz, 445 W. Millers Road, addressed
the Committee of the Whole stating that whatever the
amount is now the interest will go up; she thinks you
have to do something and do it now; she would like to
keep the area where the old Library is.
Mr. Edward Ekman, 1101 Prospect Lane, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that the aldermen can't
say that the City will not have to spend more than $9
million; we will need contingency money; this property
will need improvements or we will have flooding; you have
to take a closer look at the hotel-motel tax income; what
will happen if these revenues don't come in?
FUNDING
(Cont'd.)
CONTRACT
AWARD/
CONSTRUCTION
MGR. , LEE ST.
& PROSPECT:
ZONING CASE
03-75-MA
MAP AMEND./
LEE ST. &
PROSPECT:
2/18/04
PAGE FOUR
Ms. Tricia Nelson, 1109 Stockton Avenue, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that you should wait for
the referendum and then honor the referendum; she likes
to hear that we are going to tax the hotels-motels; she
is fine with selling the old Library, but she is not for
a resident ambulance fee; the building should be scaled
down.
Mr. Bob Leipzig, 2080 Webster Lane, addressed the
Committee of the Whole asking what it would cost if you
just raised property taxes. Director of Finance Egeberg
said between $16 to $35 more a year. Mr. Leipzig stated
that he would rather have his property tax raised; this
is a safety issue; we have to grow for the future.
Ms. Cheryl Hurtenbach, 1212 Prospect Avenue, addressed
the Committee of the Whole stating that there doesn't
seem to be a clear way to raise money for this station;
a study should be considered.
Moved by Becker, seconded by Argus, recommend to the City
Council that the debt service for the bond for the
construction of the new Fire Station #2 Headquarters at
Lee Street and Prospect Avenue be paid from revenue
generated from the hotel-motel tax remitted to the City
from the soon-to-be constructed Hilton on River Road and
the LaQuinta on Mannheim Road in TIF #6; that all or a
portion of the proceeds from the sale of the old Library
will be used to reduce the construction bond from $ 9
million to $6 or $7 million; and the size of the
construction bond will be determined in May when the bond
will be issued.
Alderman Smith stated that he will be voting against
this; we are not willing to make the hard decision that
we might have to raise taxes.
Upon roll call, the vote was:
AYES: 5-Beauvais, Murphy, Sayad, Becker, Argus
NAYS: 3-Christiansen, Brookman, Smith
ABSENT: 0-None
Motion declared carried.
PUBLIC SAFETY -Alderman Beauvais, Chair
Assistant City Manager Schneider reviewed his joint memo
with Deputy Fire Chiefs Heavey and Jaeger of February 5,
2004, in which Staff recommends that the City accept the
proposal from Pepper Construction, 411 Lake Zurich Road,
Barrington, IL 60010, for Construction Manager Service
for the new Fire Station #2 Headquarters, in the amount
of 5% of the construction costs; and Staff be authorized
to negotiate and the City Manager to execute a contract
for same.
Moved by Murphy, seconded by Brookman, to recommend to
the City Council to POSTPONE until April 5, 2004, further
discussion on the selection of a Construction Manager for
the new Fire Station #2 Headquarters at Lee Street and
Prospect Avenue, and Staff be authorized to prepare a
draft contract for the aldermen to review at that time.
Motion declared carried.
MAYOR ARREDIA ASSUMED THE CHAIR AND DECLARED THE CITY
COUNCIL BACK IN SESSION
Moved by Becker, seconded by Sayad, to concur with
recommendation of Committee of the Whole, re Zoning Case
03-75-MA, to grant City's request that property located
at southwest corner of Lee Street and Prospect Avenue be
rezoned from R-1 Single-Family Residential District ~
ZONING CASE
(Cont'd.)
FUNDING/
NEW FIRE
FACILITY,
LEE ST. &
PROSPECT:
CONTRACT
AWARD/
CONSTRUCTION
MGR., LEE ST.
& PROSPECT:
RELEASE OF
EXEC. SESS.
MINUTES/NEW
FIRE FAC.:
AJOURNMENT:
Anth
2 /18/04
PAGE FIVE
I-1 Institutional District; and City Attorney be
authorized to draft necessary ordinance. Motion declared
carried. Alderman Brookman voted no. (further action
on this matter under Unfinished Business on March 15 ,
2004)
Moved by Sayad, seconded by Argus, to concur with
recommendation of Committee of the Whole that the debt
service for the bond for the construction of the new Fire
Station #2 Headquarters at Lee Street and Prospect Avenue
be paid from revenue generated from the hotel-motel tax
remitted to the City from the soon-to-be constructed
Hilton on River Road and the LaQuinta on Mannheim Road
in TIF #6; that all or a portion of the proceeds from t h e
sale of the old Library will be used to reduce the
construction bond from $9 million to $6 or $7 million;
and the size of the construction bond will be determiend
in May when the bond will be issued. Upon roll call, the
vote was:
AYES: 5-Beauvais, Murphy, Sayad, Becker, Argus
NAYS: 3-Christiansen, Brookman, Smith
ABSENT: 0-None
Motion declared carried.
Moved by Beauvais, seconded by Brookman, to concur with
recommendation of Committee of the Whole to POSTPONE
until April 5, 2004, further discussion on the selecti on
of a Construction Manager for the new Fire Station #2
Headquarters at Lee Street and Prospect Avenue, and Staff
be authorized to prepare a draft contract for the
aldermen to review at that time. Motion declared
carried.
Moved by Beauvais, seconded by Murphy, that the aldermen
review for release all Executive Session minutes
regarding the proposed new fire facility, and this matter
be placed on the March 1, 2004 agenda. Motion declared
carried.
Moved by Brookman, seconded by Becker, that the Special
meeting of the City Council adjourn. Motion declared
carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:28 p.m.
Donna McAllister, MMC CITY CLERK
MAYOR