City of Rochelle Council Chambers
420 N 6th Street, Rochelle, IL 61068
I. CALL TO ORDER:
• Pledge to the Flag
• Prayer
II. ROLL CALL:
III. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS, ETC:
IV. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
• Mayor
• Council Members
• Retirements
o John Loggins
o John Orlikowski
• Good News
o Sue Messer
V. PUBLIC COMMENTARY:
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
1) CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE with Recommendations:
a) Approve Minutes of City Council Meeting – pdf 1/8/18 (161 KB)
b) Approve Exceptions – pdf 1/3/18-1/15/18 (67 KB)
c) Approve Bills – pdf 1/16/18 (227 KB)
d) Approve Payroll – pdf 12/18/17-12/31/17 (49 KB)
e) Authorize Closure of 10th Avenue between Illinois 251 and 8th Street – pdf 2018 Outdoor Markets (13 KB)
2) Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Personal Property (Inoperable Vehicle) –Fire Department
3) Resolution Approving a Credit Card and Charge Account Policy
4) Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement between the City of Rochelle and Moran Economic Development for the development of a TIF study
5) Resolution Approving A Settlement Agreement for the Assessment of Rochelle Waste Disposal Property Tax Assessment Years 2013 through 2019
VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) Marketing Strategy for Rochelle Business and Technology Park
2) Lateral Transfer Option – Police Department
3) Ramsey Historic Consultants to prepare a National Register Nomination for Downtown Historic District
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
1) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the City. Section (c) (6)
2) Pending or imminent litigation. Section (c) (11)
3) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated. Section (c) (21)
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The Council Meeting will be broadcast live on Facebook
Agenda Item #2 Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Personal Property (Inoperable Vehicle) Fire Department
Staff Contact: Dave Sawlsville, Fire Chief
Summary: The Fire Department has a 1993 Dodge pickup truck that is inoperable and the cost of the repairs is more than the truck is worth. The needed repairs consist of a crack in the exhaust manifold, rusted and leaking brake lines and rusted holes in the cab floor.
Recommendation: Approve Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Personal Property (Inoperable Vehicle) in the Fire Department
Supporting Documents:
pdf Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Personal Property (Inoperable Vehicle) (11 KB)
Agenda Item #3 Resolution Approving a Credit Card and Charge Account Policy
Staff Contact: Chris Cardott, Finance Director
Summary: In November 2015, the City Council approved a Credit Card and Charge Account Policy. City Manager Fiegenschuh has instituted a pre-approval process for using the City credit card. The current policy is being amended to add this requirement under the Policy section, #1.
Recommendation: Approve the Credit Card and Charge Account Policy
Supporting Documents:
pdf Credit Card and Charge Account Policy (77 KB)
pdf Credit Card Use Request Form (193 KB)
pdf Resolution for the Credit Card and Charge Account Policy (9 KB)
Agenda Item #4 Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Moran Economic Development for the development of a TIF study
Staff Contact: Jeff Fiegenschuh, City Manager & Michelle Pease, Community Development Director
Summary: Included in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget is $35,000 to fund a TIF eligibility study. The proposed study will include the following phases: (1) All documentation necessary to determine the proposed area’s eligibility to be included in a TIF; (2) Development of a redevelopment plan and project documents and; (3) Assisting staff with all required notices and public hearings.
The City sent out RFQs (Request for Qualifications) with three firms responding. Those firms include SB Friedman, Moran Economic Development and Teska and Associates. Previous TIF studies were overseen by Teska and Associates. While in Rantoul, City Manager Fiegenschuh had the opportunity to work with SB Friedman and Associates to establish a new TIF and with Moran Economic Development on the reauthorization of Rantoul’s enterprise zone. All three firms are qualified and can bring a great skill set to this project.
Last week staff meet to discuss all three proposals and the unanimous choice is Moran Economic Development. The team feels this firm will bring additional enthusiasm and opportunities for new strategies to the project. Attached to this staff report is a copy of the Moran Associates proposal along with an update map of the proposed TIF boundaries. Moran’s overall price is $30,000, which is less than the amount included in the new budget. The time to establish a new TIF can vary, but our team expects the process to take 6-9 months.
Funding Sources:
Source: Budgeted Amount: Proposed Expenditure:
Community Development Other Professional Services $35,000 $30,000
Recommendation: Approve resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Moran Economic Development to conduct a TIF eligibility study
Supporting Documents:
pdf Proposed TIF boundary Map (1.07 MB)
pdf Moran Economic Development proposal (1.17 MB)
pdf Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Moran Economic Development (33 KB)
Agenda Item #5 - Resolution Approving A Settlement Agreement for the Assessment of Rochelle Waste Disposal Property Tax Assessment Years 2013 through 2019
Staff Contact: Jeff Fiegenschuh, City Manager
Summary: Per the agreement with Rochelle Waste Disposal, LLC, the equalized assessed value of the Landfill will be $1,200,000 for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 assessment years. Both Rochelle Waste Disposal, LLC and the City of Rochelle are responsible for paying half of the taxes for the assessment years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and each entity has already paid their one-half share of taxes for these years. Taxes for the assessment year 2017 payable in 2018 are the responsibility of Rochelle Waste Disposal, LLC. Taxes for the assessment year 2018 and subsequent years will be paid by Rochelle Waste Disposal, LLC provided that Rochelle Waste Disposal, LLC is the operator of the landfill or until the landfill is closed.
Recommendation: Approve a Resolution Approving A Settlement Agreement for the Assessment of Rochelle Waste Disposal Property Tax Assessment Years 2013 through 2019
Supporting Documents:
pdf
Resolution
(159 KB)
pdf
Settlement Agreement
(103 KB)
Discussion Item #1 Marketing Strategy for Rochelle Business and Technology Park
Staff Contact: Jennifer Thompson, Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Summary: In 2018, City Staff will proactively market the Rochelle Business and Technology Park as a prime location for technology-related businesses and office space. Jenny Thompson and Adriana Milan will present the marketing plan, which follows the approval of a purchase option with the Harris/Baer families and a listing agreement with Lee & Associates.
Discussion Item #2 Lateral Transfer Option – Police Department
Staff Contact: Eric Higby, Police Chief
Summary: As part of the hiring process, police departments may utilize both a traditional eligibility list and a lateral transfer list. As long as a candidate has been employed as a certified police officer in Illinois for more than two years, is in good standing with his/her current or last department, and is eligible for a basic training waiver from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, they can be placed on a lateral list after the interview process. Having two lists provides flexibility and the ability to hire an individual without losing him/her to the academy for months. On January 9th the Board of Police and Fire Commission approved new language which makes the lateral transfer option possible.
Discussion Item #3 Ramsey Historic Consultants to prepare a National Register Nomination for Downtown Historic District
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease, Community Development Director
Summary: The City has engaged the Ramsey Historic Consultants firm to prepare a National Register Nomination for Rochelle’s Downtown Historic District. The tasks included in the project are as follows: coordinate with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office and the City of Rochelle to establish district boundaries and project schedule, preliminary research, field survey and photography, additional research and preparation of draft nomination, submission of final nomination, public meetings and presentation to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council.
Historic Districts act as a way of maintaining the history and telling the story of the community while providing access to a key financing tool, the 20% historic tax credit. These financing tools act as the key for struggling downtowns where property values sometimes do not justify the cost to improve these buildings. The tax credit acts as the gap filler and makes a project less risky for a bank and therefore more attractive for investment. In order to access the credit, the redevelopment projects must meet the Standards for Rehabilitation, which ensures a development product that honors the architecture and history of the building. Should a building owner not wish to utilize historic tax credits, they have the liberty to make changes to the building however they please; they are not constricted by the designation as a National Register Historic District.
Supporting Documents:
pdf Quick Facts about National Historic Districts (100 KB)
pdf Proposed Historic District(s) Maps (125 KB)
