City of Joliet Land Use / Legislative Committee met November 2.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
1. Roll Call
Present: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Absent: None.
2. Electronic Message Centers
Mr. Schwarz, Planning Director, explained to the Committee that today is the 120 day deadline for the moratorium. The new regulations would take effect at the City Council meeting on December 5, 2017.
Ms. Cheryl Grate, Grate Signs, 4044 W. McDonough Street, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Grate feels that businesses do not want their messages to go by so fast that no one can read them. She does not feel that most people follow the 10 second rule.
The final version of the ordinance will go before the Plan Commission on November 16, 2017 and then to the City Council meeting on December 5, 2017.
3. Regulations And Restrictions On The Sale Of Cats And Dogs
Mr. Shanahan, Interim City Manager and Mr. Regis, Acting Corporation Counsel, spoke on behalf of the regulations and restrictions. Mr. Shanahan distributed the municipal code of Chicago model ordinance to the Committee members for their review. The options would be to vote both of them to the full City Council without any type of recommendation or put either one on or neither out of the 3 samples of ordinances.
Mr. Regis said originally there were 2 templates to work with, the Chicago model or the state statute model which was somewhat less restrictive. He explained how he came up with a third option as well.
Councilwoman Quillman asked if there could be 2 ordinances and not just 1. Mr. Regis responded they should be voted on separately because they address separate situations and having 2 ordinances would be acceptable.
Chairman Morris asked what Staff is recommending based on what the City has been waiting on for the last several months. Mr. Regis responded the first 2 ordinances are the puppy mill ordinances and the 3rd ordinance is the auction ordinance for reference. He said there are 2 options before the Committee. The Committee can either vote on them separately yes or no or they can opt to take no action and ask to present both models to the full City Council for discussion and consideration. Or they can recommend one and not the other.
Councilwoman Quillman made a motion to adopt the 3rd ordinance (the prize ordinance). Councilman Dickinson seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous voice vote of aye.
Ms. Gail Diedrichsen, 533 N. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Diedrichsen said this is something their community has been thinking about for a long time however they were waiting to see what the City of Chicago did. She said it would be wonderful if Joliet were leaders and could be an example for the other communities in the area. Ms. Diedrichsen stated she has been in the rescue business for about 45 years.
Mr. Alex Rodriguez, 619 Wilcox Street, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. He stated that he feels that the ordinances that were proposed as a compromise, while they do well, he does not feel they address the core issue enough. He would like the Committee to continue the conversation about the original ordinance that was written in 2015. He also seconded the neighbor from Naperville that Joliet does have a tremendous opportunity to be a leader for animal rights.
Ms. Morgan Drdak, 802 Westminster Road, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Drdak read a letter into the record.
Ms. Peggy Grandall, Ryehill Drive, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Grandall read a letter into the record.
Ms. Diana Bright, 1206 Pleasant Knoll, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Bright spoke about her puppy mill rescue dog experience.
Ms. Michelle Adams, Romeoville, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Adams read a letter into the record.
Ms. Raquel Melendez, 1317 Richmond Street, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Melendez shared the current legal standards for care housing and treatment in commercial breeding kennels with the Committee.
Ms. Ana Soskick, owner of Furry Babies, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Soskick clarified that the substandard breeders do exist but they are not the breeders that Furry Babies of Joliet uses.
Ms. Sherry Artis, 6 Main Street, Minooka, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Artis said she raised and bred dogs her entire life. She said you never sell them to a pet store.
Motion to recommend the Committee send the other 2 ordinances to the City Council/Committee of the Whole for review and discussion was made by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion seconded by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
4. Channahon/Joliet Boundary Agreement
Mr. Dave Silverman, Attorney for Channahon, appeared before the Committee. Mr. Silverman explained the reason for the request to amend the current boundary agreement between Channahon and Joliet.
Motion to recommend the Channahon/Joliet boundary agreement go before the full City Council for approval was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
5. Anti-Nepotism Ordinance
Mr. Regis explained the purpose for the proposed ordinance.
There was discussion between the Committee members and Mr. Regis.
Councilman Morris said he hates to see a qualified person that could run for office not be able to run because they have a family member who is working for the city or that person would have to resign. Mr. Regis said two city employees being related is not an issue but one working for the other is an issue.
Mr. Bob Nachtrieb, 614 Western Avenue, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Mr. Nachtrieb said he has lived here 22 years and Joliet would do well to clean up its appearance as well as what actually happens.
Mr. Regis said this is an ordinance that is out there and it is an actual practice of government.
Mr. Cornell Darden Jr., 1909 Westmore Grove Drive, Joliet, appeared before the Committee. Mr. Darden said he feels it could be difficult because in some situations people may not even know they are related such as a cousin. Mr. Regis responded cousin is not in the definition of relative.
Motion to recommend the anti-nepotism ordinance go before the full City Council for approval as written was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
6. Comprehensive Plan Rfq
Mr. Jackson said this is an informational item. The last city wide comprehensive plan was completed in 1959. Staff would like to move forward with a new one and Mr. Schwarz appeared on behalf of the plan for questions.
Councilwoman Quillman asked that every avenue be used for notification to the citizens so that no one is left out.
Chairman Morris asked about the process of choosing the consultant for the job.
7. Old/New Business—Not For Final Action Or Recommendation
Chairman Morris commented on an email that was received pertaining to a vicious dog attack. Mr. Regis said the dogs that are involved in the incidents are all types of breeds and sizes.
8. Approval Of The Minutes Of The October 10, 2017 Land Use/Legislative Committee Meeting
Councilwoman Quillman requested a revision to the October meeting minutes pertaining to a statement that she unknowingly purchased a dog at a pet store but did not know how sick the dog would be. It will be revised to she purchased a dog at a pet store etc.
Motion to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2017 meeting with the revision that was requested was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
9. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion seconded by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
https://joliet.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=joliet_9d2a0a3c-75b5-4d81-8917-99a10a8f7d89.pdf&view=1
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