City of Rochelle Council Chambers
420 N 6th Street, Rochelle, IL 61068
7:00 pm
I. CALL TO ORDER:
• Pledge to the Flag
• Prayer
II. ROLL CALL:
III. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS, ETC:
pdf • Week of the Young Child (218 KB)
• pdf National Telecommunicators Week - April 8-14, 2018 (134 KB)
IV. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
• Mayor
• Council Members
• Retirements – Curt Christensen 16 Years of Service
• Good News – Fire Department
V. PUBLIC COMMENTARY:
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
1) CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE with Recommendations:
a) Approve Minutes of City Council Meeting – pdf 3/26/18 (65 KB)
b) Accept and Place on File Minutes of Golf Course Advisory Committee – pdf 12/18/17 (17 KB)
c) Accept and Place on File Minutes of Planning and Zoning Commission – pdf 2/5/18 (148 KB)
d) Approve Exceptions – pdf 03/21/18-04/02/18 (72 KB)
e) Approve Bills – pdf 04/03/18 (182 KB)
f) Approve Payroll – pdf 03/12/18-03/25/18 (53 KB)
g) Approve Request Related to Heat Wave Festival – pdf 6/9/18 (7 KB)
h) Approve Request from Kenny’s Place to Hold a Street Dance/Block Party – pdf 6/16/18 (56 KB)
2) Ordinance Amending Section 6-46 of the Municipal Code to Create One R-3 Liquor License – ETN Pizza LLC d/b/a/ Rosatis Pizza
3) Ordinance Amending Certain Section of the City Code Pertaining to Street Performers
4) Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the I-2 and B-2 Zoning Districts and Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone the Hub City Development Property from I-1 to B-2 - 300 Steward Road
5) Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the R-O and B-1 Zoning Districts and Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone 501 6th Avenue Property form R-O to B-1
6) Inter-Governmental Agreement between the State of Illinois, Department of Transportation and the City of Rochelle
7) Ordinance Amending Chapter 98 (“Utilities”) of the Municipal Code to Establish the Late Payment Charge of 3 Percent and Allow for the Waiver of Late Payment Charges for Residential Customers for Three Billing Period in Each Fiscal Year
VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) First Amendment to Power Purchase Agreement between the City of Rochelle and Rochelle Energy LLC
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The Council Meeting will be broadcast live on Facebook
Agenda Item #2 Ordinance Amending Section 6-46 of the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle to Create One R-3 Liquor License – Rosatis Pizza
Staff Contact: Sue Messer, Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy Clerk
Summary: Rosatis Pizza, located at 1233 Caron Road, has submitted an application for a Class R-3 liquor license. This license allows the retail sale of alcoholic liquor by a restaurant, for consumption on the premises. The Liquor Commissioner, Mayor Olson, has reviewed the application and has no objection to the creation of an additional R-3 liquor license. The addition of this license will result in a total of eight Class R-3 liquor licenses in the City of Rochelle.
Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance Amending Section 6-46 of the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle to Create One R-3 Liquor License
Supporting Documents:
pdf Ordinance Amending Section 6-46 of the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle (12 KB)
Agenda Item #3 Ordinance Amending Certain Sections of the City Code Pertaining to Street Performances
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease, Community Development Director
Summary: In an effort to create activity and energy in our downtown, the Street Performers Permit and Guidelines have been created to attract pop-up performances. An annual $10 fee and permit will be required of all street performers.
Performers will be allowed to perform in designated areas, which include the Downtown Community Gazebo on Main Street (south of Fire Station), Rochelle Municipal Utilities Office front lawn, corners of 4th and 5th Avenues in Downtown Rochelle on Lincoln Highway and Page Park located in Downtown Rochelle. Performances will be allowed from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Amending Section 26-44 will assist in requiring street performers to obtain a permit prior to operating in the City and ensure appropriate documentation is obtained prior to performances.
Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance Amending Certain Sections of the City Code Pertaining to Street Performances
Supporting Documents:
pdf Street Performers Permit (145 KB)
pdf Street Performers Guidelines (141 KB)
Agenda Item #4 Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the I-2 and B-2 Zoning Districts and Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone the Hub City Development Property from I-1 to B-2
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease/Kip Countryman
Summary: In 2010, the City entered into an annexation agreement with Hub City Development, LLC for a 48 acre parcel on the north side of Steward Road, east of Route 251 and west of South Main Street. At this time, no development has taken place. The developer would like to amend the zoning map to allow the parcel to be zoned B-2 Commercial Highway.
B-2 Commercial Highway Zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan and creates a better market for a project compatible with the Loves Travel Stop, which is adjacent to the west.
The property is surrounded by B-2 Commercial Highway on the west, agricultural on the south, Illinois Tollway I-88 on the north, and Residential Single Family on the east.
City staff is requesting to rezone the property from I-1 Light Industry to B-2 Commercial Highway. Under Section 110-121 this chapter may be amended, changed or altered by a favorable majority vote of the Rochelle City Council and only after a public hearing has been duly advertised and held by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The City of Rochelle Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on April 2nd to review the petition from Hub City Development. After review of the facts, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by a vote of 5-0, recommends to City Council that the City amend the official zoning map and change the 48 acre parcel to B-2 Commercial Highway.
Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the I-2 and B-2 Zoning Districts and Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone the Hub City Development Property from I-1 to B-2
Supporting Documents:
pdf Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the I-2 and B-2 Zoning Districts (883 KB)
Agenda Item #5 Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the R-O and B-1 Zoning Districts and Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone 501 6th Avenue Property from R-O to B-1
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease/Kip Countryman
Summary: 501 W 6th Avenue was built in 1967. It is a bi-level office building, similar to 610 N Main Street, that contains six businesses. However, the design of the building does not meet the residential requirements found in the City Building Code. The building has recently been purchased and the owner would like to maintain the current businesses and open an art studio/retail store in one third of the building. The new owner, Teresa Petry, is proposing to provide an entrance off of Lincoln Highway with an area outside to hold events. The current zoning of the property does not allow for expansion of the current setbacks without a variance. Zoning the property B-1 Commercial Central Business will allow a zero set back requirement, which would allow for expansion of the footprint of the building.
B-1 Commercial Central Business Zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan and creates a better market for a project compatible with other downtown businesses.
The property is surrounded by R-O Residential Office on the west and north and B-1 Central Business on the south and east.
City staff is requesting to rezone the property from R-O Residential Office to B-1 Commercial Central Business. Under Section 110-121 this chapter may be amended, changed or altered by a favorable majority vote of the Rochelle City Council and only after a public hearing has been duly advertised and held by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The City of Rochelle Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on April 2, 2018 to review the petition from Teresa Petry. After review of the facts the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends, by a vote of 5-0, to City Council that the City amend the official zoning map and change the parcel to B-1 Commercial Central Business.
Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the R-O and B-1 Zoning Districts and Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone 501 6th Avenue Property form R-O to B-1
Supporting Documents:
pdf Ordinance Amending the Boundaries of the R-O and B-1 Zoning Districts (62 KB)
Agenda Item #6 Inter-Governmental Agreement between The State of Illinois, Department of Transportation and the City of Rochelle
Staff Contact: Jason Anderson, Economic Development Director
Summary: On March 26th City Council was presented with a “Notice of State Award” for a $2,580,000 Freight Rail grant which the Council accepted. Upon IDOT’s receipt of the executed “Notice of State Award,” an Inter-Governmental Agreement between the State of Illinois, Department of Transportation and the City of Rochelle Illinois was completed and forwarded to the City of Rochelle. The contract has been reviewed by City Legal Counsel and found that the terms of the contract are acceptable. With the addition of the Bureau of Railroads award, the City will have secured $5.98 million (85%) in grants to offset the costs associated with Project Co-Op.
Funding Sources:
Source: Budgeted Amount: Proposed Expenditure:
EDA $3,420,000 $3,420,000
IDOT Bureau of Railroads $2,580,000 $2,580,000
City of Rochelle Railroad Capital Fund $1,000,000 $1,000,000
Recommendation: Approve the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Project Co-Op in the amount of $2.58 million and authorize the Mayor to execute said contract.
Supporting Documents:
pdf Inter-Governmental Agreement (1.43 MB)
Agenda Item #7 Ordinance Amending Chapter 98 (“Utilities”) of the Municipal Code to Establish the Late Payment Charge of 3 Percent and Allow for the Waiver of Late Payment Charges for Residential Customers for Three Billing Period in Each Fiscal Year
Staff Contact: Jeff Fiegenschuh, City Manager & Barbara Bell, Customer Service Manager, RMU
Summary:
Several years ago the City Council approved increases in the City’s utility rates via resolution. As part of the rate increase, the late fees charged were also increased from 1.5% to 5%. Unfortunately, those late fee increases should have been approved via ordinance and not resolution.
The ordinance you are considering formally codifies the late fees charged for Electric, Water, Water Rec, Garbage and Internet. However, as a way to ease some of the financial burden placed on our customers the City Manager recommends the fees be lowered from 5% to 3%. For example, in January 2018 there were 1,777 customers who were billed late fee penalties. The breakdown is $35,981 for Electric, $4,609 for Water, $6,683 for Water Rec, $990 for garbage and $99 for internet. The total collected that month was approximately $48,365. By reducing the late fees 2% this would have saved our customers approximately $19,000 in one month.
The City Manager’s top priority is to ensure we can collect 100% of our utility bills. This goal safeguards the financial stability of our utility systems. However, City Manager Fiegenschuh feels that 5% is too high and 3% will still accomplish what our intended goal should be; ensure timely collection of our utility bills. Another proposal that the City Manager will be bringing to the city council this year is an ordinance that directs all late fee revenues to be used to promote energy efficiency programs and possibly to establish a fund to help cover unpaid bills for lower income customers.
Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance Amending Chapter 98 (“Utilities”) of the Municipal Code to Establish the Late Payment Charge of 3 Percent and Allow for the Waiver of Late Payment Charges for Residential Customers for Three Billing Period in Each Fiscal Year
Supporting Documents:
pdf Ordinance Amending Chapter 98 (“Utilities”) of the Municipal Code (19 KB)
Discussion Item #1 First Amendment to Power Purchase Agreement between the City of Rochelle and Rochelle Energy LLC
Summary: The City of Rochelle entered into a Power Purchase Agreement with Rochelle Energy LLC on August 10, 2010. As a result, the City agreed to purchase electric power and environmental attributes (such as renewable energy credits) generated at the plant. The current agreement will expire on August 10, 2022. Rochelle Energy LLC has requested the current purchase power agreement be extended through August 10, 2027. In addition to the agreement extension, Rochelle Energy LLC has also agreed to use reasonable commercial efforts to increase the Energy Center’s output by 10-20 percent on up to 5 critical peak days each calendar year, upon 12-24 hours’ prior written request from the City.
A representative from Rochelle Energy LLC will be at the meeting to respond to any questions the Mayor and City Council have.
Supporting Documents:
