City of Yorkville City Council met October 9.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
Mayor Golinski called the meeting to order at 7: 00 p.m. and led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Deputy City Clerk Pickering called the roll.
Ward I Colosimo Present
Koch Present
Ward II Milschewski Present
Plocher Present
Ward III Funkhouser Present
Frieders Present
Ward IV Tarulis Present
Also present: Deputy City Clerk Pickering, Attorney Costa, Attorney Gardiner, City Administrator Olson, Chief of Police Hart, Deputy Chief of Police Klingel, Public Works Director Dhuse, Finance Director Fredrickson, Community Development Director Barksdale-Noble, Director of Parks and Recreation Evans, Assistant City Administrator Willrett, Building Code Official Ratos, and EEI Engineer Morrison.
Quorum
A quorum was established.
Amendments to the Agenda
Mayor Golinski requested that Mayor' s Report Items# 2 and# 3 be moved prior to the Presentation on the Old Jail.
Amendment approved unanimously by a viva voce vote.
Mayor' s Report
Appointment and Swearing-in of Ward IV Alderman
CC 2018-44)
Mayor Golinski entertained a motion to approve the Mayor' s appointment of Jason Peterson as Alderman of Ward IV to serve a partial term expiring April 30, 2019. So moved by Alderman Colosimo; seconded by Alderman Frieders.
Motion approved by a roll call vote. Ayes-7 Nays-0
Milschewski-aye, Funkhouser-aye, Tarulis-aye, Koch-aye,
Plocher-aye, Frieders- aye, Colosimo-aye
Mayor Golinski swore-in Jason Peterson as alderman for Ward IV.
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Proclamation Update
CC 2018- 18)
Mayor Golinski re-read the proclamation for National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month that had been proclaimed earlier in the year. Alderman Frieders gave the City Council on update on the results of his suicide prevention outreach efforts. His efforts to raise awareness of suicide prevention resources resulted in 3, 225 personal emails being sent since April 24, 2018. Two hundred thirty-three cities in twenty different counties, in forty different states have agreed to adopt a suicide awareness proclamation due to the outreach efforts of Alderman Frieders.
Public Hearings
None.
Citizen Comments on Agenda Items Other than the Old Jail
None.
Consent Agenda
None.
Minutes for Approval
Mayor Golinski entertained a motion to approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of September 25, 2018 as presented. So moved by Alderman Frieders; seconded by Alderman Koch.
Minutes approved unanimously by a viva voice vote
Bills for Payment ( Informational): $745, 975. 49
Mayor' s Report ( cont' d)
Comcast Fiber Optics Contract—KenCom Connection
PS 2018- 20)
Mayor Golinski entertained a motion to approve a contract with Comcast for a term of 37 months at a cost of$ 1000. 00 per month and authorize the Chief of Police to execute. So moved by Alderman Colosimo; seconded by Alderman Frieders.
Motion approved by a roll call vote. Ayes-8 Nays-0
Funkhouser-aye, Tarulis-aye, Koch-aye, Plocher-aye,
Frieders-aye, Peterson-aye, Colosimo-aye, Milschewski-aye
Presentations
Citizen Presentation on Old Jail
CC 2018- 45)
Mayor Golinski said the citizens group would start with their presentation and when the presentation was finished public comment on the Old Jail would be allowed. Lisa Wolancevich of the Yorkville Historic Preservation Society( YHPS) gave a presentation on the group' s proposal for the rehabilitation and reuse of the old Kendall County sheriff' s residence and jail( see attached). Ms. Wolancevich explained that the YHPS had joined the Community Foundation ofthe Fox River Valley so any donations the group receives are tax deductible. The Yorkville Historic Preservation Society is asking the City for the following: removal of the debris from the jail and garage, a three year lease on the building at$ 1. 00 per year, $35, 000 for lead and asbestos removal, and payment of insurance and utilities on the building while the YHPS leases it. The group has a goal to raise$ 300,000 in the next three years to go toward renovating the building.
Mayor Golinski asked if anyone had any questions or wanted to comment on the Old Jail.
Alderman Milschewski mentioned that there were three similar sheriff' s residences and jails that had been renovated in Indiana and were now in use.
Trish Kinnavy, Yorkville resident, spoke in support of the renovation of the Old Jail. She felt that having a creative place for art, music and meetings would be great.
Alderman Funkhouser commented that he was glad to see the group presenting a plan; however, he felt there was still a little ways to go for the group to raise the finances necessary to repair the Old Jail. In terms of their financial plan going forward, he commented that the YHPS has approximately$ 6, 000 in their account to date, they have small pledges of approximately$ 4,500 and their plan relies heavily on the receipt of future grant monies. Ms. Wolancevich responded that the group will have the $ 18, 000 to repair the roof and gutters. Alderman Funkhouser questioned if the gutters could actually be replaced for the 1400 cost the group was estimating. Jonathan Rangel from AAA roofing spoke and said the existing trough system was not completely damaged and could be sealed up to use with the new gutters.
Alderman Colosimo commented that the group has a goal to raise$ 300,000 in three years; however, they have only raised$ 6, 000 in three months, plus$ 4, 500 in pledges. If the group is trying to raise$ 300,000 in three years, they should already have raised$ 25, 000 in three months. He said that the group is telling the council that they are confident that they can raise the money. Alderman Colosimo said that is not a business plan. Ms. Wolancevich noted there is a foundation that is watching to see what happens with the city before it commits to donating funds. The foundation is not going to donate money until they know the city' s plan.
Johanna Byram, Yorkville resident, mentioned that the Old Jail was not yet on the National Register. Once a building is placed on the National Register, it becomes eligible for many grants. She is currently working on the Old Jail application to submit to the National Register.
Connie Goins Cannon, Yorkville resident, commented that the facility was not just the sheriff' s residence, but it had also served as the under sheriffs residence as well. She said her father had served as the under sheriff for eight years and she had lived in that facility with her family. She was in favor of saving the Old Jail.
Alderman Colosimo stated that he has issues with the proposal. He said the group is asking for the city to lease them the building for three years for$ 1. 00 per year and for the city to pay the insurance and utilities. He said the City Council had decided not to spend taxpayer money on the Old Jail. He feels that the group is asking the council to breach its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. Alderman Colosimo said the other issue is that the Old Jail has been sitting there for nine years since the city purchased it and no one came forward and wanted to do anything with the building until the City was looking at demolishing the building. Alderman Colosimo wants to either sell the building now to someone who is willing to put money into it now or he would like it to be torn down.
Alderman Milschewski commented that the City had not done anything with the building either for nine years. She said that the City had a group in front of it that wanted to save the building. Alderman Milschewski mentioned the Push for the Path group that raised money to put in a bike path that the City Council did not want to pay to put in. The Push for the Path group came in with a strong plan for raising money for the bike path. She said that the YHPS plan was not nearly as strong as the Push for the Path plan that had been brought to the council several years ago.
Valerie Burd, Yorkville resident, commented that the Push for the Path included a lot of fundraising and it revolved around a very tragic event in which a resident lost their life. Family members and friends came together and helped to raise money for the path. If comparing the Old Jail fundraising to the Push for the Path fundraising, people are not emotionally connected to fundraising for the Old Jail; however, people are getting excited about the Old Jail. She said it took five years for the Push for the Path group to raise the money needed to match the grant and that the city was willing to give that group the time to raise the money.
Todd Milliron, Kendall County resident, commented that he also donated to Push for the Path and that the 357,000 that was raised was not completely funded by private donations. He said the Kendall County Board had contributed$ 50,000 towards the path. He feels the YHPS group is very motivated to succeed and should be given the opportunity to raise the necessary funds for the Old Jail.
Alderman Funkhouser commented that funding mechanisms that are available for saving historical buildings are much greater than for projects such as the Push for the Path. He feels there is a wealth of opportunity for funds to be raised to save historical buildings such as the Old Jail. Regarding the Yorkville Historic Preservation Society' s proposal, he doesn' t want to spend any city funds on the building. If the group is interested in leasing the building, then he feels they should be willing to pay for items such as the insurance and utilities.
Alderman Plocher commented that he had drafted a one year proposal as an alternate to what the group was proposing. Alderman Plocher distributed his proposal to the City Council members( see attached). Robyn Sutcliff, Yorkville resident, asked what had happened to the money that had been raised in 2010 and 2011 when a Haunted House had been held in the Old Jail during the Halloween season. She said that the money that was raised was supposed to go toward the Old Jail. Administrator Olson said that the city still had money left from the Haunted House fundraisers. Money has been spent on the annual payment for insurance coverage on the Old Jail and on board up costs for the Old Jail.
Lisa Wolancevich asked if the City Council would consider deferring their vote on the demolition of the Old Jail so the group would have time to review Alderman Plocher' s one year proposal.
Public Works Committee Report
Old Jail RFP
PW 2018- 71)
Resolution Authorizing a Contract with D. Construction Inc.
for the Building Demolition and Site Restoration Project
for the Property at 111 W. Madison Street
Alderman Colosimo made a motion to approve a Resolution Authorizing a Contract with D. Construction, Inc. for the Building Demolition and Site Restoration Project for the Property at 11 I W. Madison Street and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute; seconded by Alderman Frieders.
Alderman Funkhouser made a motion to table this item for two weeks; seconded by Alderman Milschewski.
Motion to table approved by a roll call vote. Ayes- 5 Nays- 3
Colosimo-nay, Milschewski-aye, Funkhouser-aye, Tarulis-aye,
Koch-nay, Plocher-aye, Frieders-nay, Peterson-aye
Mayor Golinski stated this item will return to the City Council meeting that will be held in two weeks. He asked if anyone had anything further to say on the Old Jail.
Alderman Frieders mentioned that this issue of the Old Jail building did not just come up in the past few months. He said that if anyone did a quick search on the city website, they would find this building issue started in November of 2016 when the City Council started the RFP for the building conditions survey. He said that a lot of the comments that he has received about the Old Jail are questions asking what will be done with the building. While Alderman Frieders likes the idea of an incubator space, he doesn' t think it' s a good use for a building that in not located on Route 47. He also mentioned that the idea of an art gallery had been mentioned as a possible use of the Old Jail building and he feels that art galleries are not money making ventures. He feels that the ideas the group is generating for potential uses are private ventures and public funds should not be spent on them; therefore he would like the City to make a decision now and either outright sell the Old Jail or tear it down. He also mentioned that the building conditions survey was done on all city owned buildings and the city has buildings that staff currently operates out of that need repair. He feels that repair of buildings that staff is working out of is a much better use for public funds to be spent on.
Alderman Colosimo also commented that the police department needed more space as well as they are very crowded in their current space. He feels the city needs to focus on spending public funds on providing space for departments that provide necessary public services for residents.
Thomas Milschewski, Yorkville resident, told the City Council he feels the building is worth saving and he appreciates their vote to table this item for two weeks.
Alderman Funkhouser mentioned that he has pushed for the past few years for the city to do a study to determine what its building needs were and ways to fund the necessary buildings. He feels the city needs to deal with its current buildings that require repair. He also said that several months ago the City Council had the option to go out to RFP for preservation of the Old Jail and chose not to.
Alderman Milschewski commented that if the City Council ends up deciding to approve the demolition of the building, she is not happy with the current demolition proposal as it does not allow for anyone to salvage anything out of the building. She said there are people who would buy the brick if they had the opportunity.
Ordinance Authorizing the Ninth Amendment to the
Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Commencing
on May 1, 2018 and Ending on April 30, 2019
Mayor Golinski said the Old Jail would return in two weeks to the next City Council meeting. He then asked for a motion to table the budget amendment that was a part of this item as well. Alderman Funkhouser made a motion to table the Ordinance Approving a Budget Amendment; seconded by Alderman Colosimo.
Motion to table approved by a roll call vote. Ayes-6 Nays-2
Milschewski-aye, Funkhouser-aye, Tarulis-aye, Koch-aye,
Plocher-aye, Frieders-nay, Peterson-aye, Colosimo-nay
Reports
Economic Development Committee Report
No report.
Public Safety Committee Report
No report.
Administration Committee Report
No report.
Park Board
No report.
Planning And Zoning Commission
No report.
City Council Report
No report.
City Clerk' s Report
No report.
Community& Liaison Report
Yorktoberfest
Alderman Frieders encouraged everyone to attend the Yorktoberfest event being held on Saturday, October 13th at the Riverfront Park from noon until 10: 00 pm. Activities include hayrides, pumpkin decorating, the pumpkin pull, and the haystack hunt as well as a stein holding contest.
Library Board
Alderman Milschewski reported that the Library Board held an ice cream social which was so well attended they ran out of ice cream. The Library Board also approved their tax levy at their October 8d' board meeting.
National Taekwondo Charity Foundation
Alderman Plocher reported that the Taekwondo Korea Center located at 482 E. Veterans Parkway would be holding a blood drive on Saturday, October 13th from 10: 00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Staff Report
Veterans Day
Director of Parks and Recreation Evans reported that the city was working with the Yorkville American Legion Post 489 and the Veterans Outreach of Kendall County to honor our nation and veterans with the 2018 Yorkville Flags of Valor. American flags will be on display at Town Square Park during the week of Veterans Day. If anyone would like to sponsor a flag, the cost is$ 30.00 per flag which includes a keepsake ribbon and the option to personalize a tag to recognize and honor a veteran.
Additional Business
None.
Executive Session
Mayor Golinski entertained a motion to enter into executive session for litigation. So moved by Alderman Frieders; seconded by Alderman Colosimo.
Motion approved by a roll call vote. Ayes-8 Nays-0
Funkhouser-aye, Tarulis-aye, Koch-aye, Plocher-aye,
Frieders-aye, Peterson-aye, Colosimo-aye, Milschewski-aye
The City Council entered executive session at 8: 33 p.m.
The City Council returned to regular session at 9: 18 p.m.
Citizen Comments
None.
Adjournment
Mayor Golinski adjourned the City Council meeting at 9: 18 p.m.
https://www.yorkville.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2826
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