AGENDA
ROCHELLE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, August 10, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
City of Rochelle Council Chambers
420 North 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’s Report
• Council Members
• Remarkable Resident – Christopher Tenggren
• Good News – Blake Toliver
Adam Lanning, Toby Lindeland and Electric Department
V. PUBLIC COMMENTARY:
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
1) CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE with Recommendations:
a) Approve Minutes of City Council Meeting – pdf July 27, 2020 (205 KB)
b) Approve Exceptions – pdf 07/15/20-08/04/20 (309 KB)
c) Approve Payroll – pdf 07/13/20-07/26/20 (60 KB)
d) Accept and Place on File Minutes of Planning and Zoning Commission – pdf 07/06/20 (180 KB)
2) Ordinance Approving the Preliminary and Final Plat of Subdivision at the Northwest Corner of Ritchie Road and Ritchie Court
3) Ordinance Authorizing the Shop Local RMU Credit Program
4) Ordinance Continuing the Small Business Permit Fee Waiver Program for 2021
5) Ordinance Approving the Disposal of Surplus Personal Property Owned by the City of Rochelle
6) Ordinance Amending the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle Pertaining to Chapter 98 Article 1 Section 8 Entitled “Deferred Payment Agreements”
7) Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Modify the Rochelle Municipal Utilities Assistance Program
Anyone interested in participating in public commentary remotely should contact City Clerk Sue Messer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 815-562-6161 to make arrangements.
Council members may participate in the City Council Meeting remotely as a result of the Governor suspending the requirement for in-person attendance at Public Meetings.
The Council Meeting will be broadcast live on Facebook
VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) Non-Highway Vehicle Ordinance
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda Item #2 Ordinance Approving the Preliminary and Final Plat of Subdivision at the Northwest Corner of Ritchie Road and Ritchie Court
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease, Community Development Director
Summary:
The City of Rochelle has petitioned to subdivide the property located at the Northwest corner of Ritchie Road and Ritchie Court, Parcel # 25-32-201-002. The purpose of subdividing is to divide one 16.32-acre parcel into three lots. The City of Rochelle plans to use two lots for electrical distribution and transmission substations and sell one lot to an adjacent landowner. Acreage price and all fees facilitated at no cost to the City.
Survey Tech developed a preliminary and final plat of subdivision on behalf of the City, for a three-lot subdivision with easements and onsite detention for the three lots.
City staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission have reviewed the preliminary and final plat for conformance with the comprehensive plan, the provisions hereof, and all other applicable city ordinances. Pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-12-8, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall recommend or not recommend the approval of the preliminary and final plat within 90 days of the application.
A public hearing was held on Monday, August 3, 2020. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve the Preliminary and Final Plat of Subdivision by a vote of 5-0.
Strategic Plan Goal Application:
This request continues to support the City’s Strategic Plan goals and objectives by exploring, developing and improving strategies for industrial growth.
Recommendation:
Approve an Ordinance Approving the Preliminary and Final Plat of Subdivision at the Northwest Corner of Ritchie Road and Ritchie Court prove an
Supporting Documents:
pdf Preliminary Plat of Subdivision (4.42 MB)
pdf Final Plat of Subdivision (4.50 MB)
pdf Signature Page Final Plat of Subdivision (3.90 MB)
Agenda Item #3 Ordinance Authorizing the Shop Local RMU Credit Program
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease, Community Development Director
Summary: The proposed Shop Local RMU Credit Program is designed to be an economic tool by the City of Rochelle to encourage our residents to patronize local businesses who were forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating in Program provides a $60 reimbursement in the form of a credit on a future Rochelle Municipal Utility (RMU) bill for qualifying purchases at retail/service shop and restaurant establishments located within the RMU Service Territory.
- $60 credit on your RMU bill
- Residential household within RMU Service Territory (1 per household)
- Purchases made at qualifying businesses, August 15 through December 31, 2020
- A minimum $300 spent at a qualifying retail/service shop and/or local restaurants deemed non-essential by gubernatorial executive order
Strategic Plan Goal Application:
This request continues to support the City’s Strategic Plan goals and objectives by promoting, retaining and enhancing small business development
Recommendation:
Approve an Ordinance Authorizing the Shop Local RMU Credit Program
Supporting Documents:
pdf RMU Credit Program Application (125 KB)
pdf Ordinance Authorizing the Shop Local RMU Credit Program (105 KB)
Agenda Item #4 Ordinance Continuing the Small Business Permit Fee Waiver Program for 2021
Staff Contact: Michelle Pease, Community Development Director
Summary: The City of Rochelle previously approved the creation of the Small Business Permit Fee Waiver Program pursuant to Ordinance 19-5086, which was passed on December 9, 2019, in order to assist small businesses within the City open and/or expand by reducing the fees associated with small business growth.
Staff believes that a continuation of the program through December 31, 2021 will continue to assist with economic growth within these difficult times for small businesses.
The continued program will have the same requirements:
- 30 or less full-time employees on site
- not a licensed franchise
- completed Permit Fee Waiver Application
Strategic Plan Goal Application:
This request continues to support the City’s Strategic Plan goals and objectives by promoting, retaining and enhancing small business development.
Recommendation:
Approve the Ordinance Continuing the Small Business Permit Fee Waiver Program for 2021
Supporting Documents:
pdf Ordinance Continuing the Small Business Permit Fee Waiver Program for 20 (101 KB) 21
pdf Small Business Permit Fee Waiver Application (129 KB)
Agenda Item #5 Ordinance Approving the Disposal of Surplus Personal Property Owned by the City of Rochelle
Staff Contact: Sue Messer, Assistant to the City Manager/ City Clerk
Summary:
Earlier this year the City purchased the Hickory Grove Banquet and Conference Center with the intent of demolishing and redeveloping the property. On July 24th the City Council approved a Resolution Authorizing Bearrows Real Estate & Auction Co to Inventory and Auction Surplus Personal Property contained within the banquet center. A list of the items being auctioned, divided into 434 lots, is included with the ordinance. The online auction will close at 9:00 pm on August 20, 2020 and winning bidders will pick up their items on August 22nd from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Recommendation:
Approve an Ordinance Approving the Disposal of Surplus Personal Property Owned by the City of Rochelle
Supporting Documents:
pdf Exhibit A - List of Auction Items (36 KB)
Agenda Item #6 Ordinance Amending the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle Pertaining to Chapter 98 Article 1 Section 8 Entitled “Deferred Payment Agreements”
Staff Contact: Jeff Fiegenschuh, City Manager / Sarah Brooks, Director of Utility Finance
Summary: Deferred Payment Agreements - Section 98-8 of our code currently states ‘an applicant shall pay a minimum of one-seventh of the amount past due and owing at the time of entering into the deferred payment agreement, with the remainder to be paid according to the terms defined in the agreement’. During the covid-19 pandemic, we suspended disconnections for unpaid utility bills. Starting in September 2020, disconnections will resume unless a deferred payment agreement has been created. Temporarily setting the initial down payment to 5% will allow more customers the ability to enter into the payment agreement and avoid disconnection. The same section also states ‘RMU shall allow an additional six months for payment to be made under a deferred payment agreement’. Temporarily allowing an additional twelve months for payment to be made under a deferred payment agreement will again allow more customers the ability to enter the agreement and avoid disconnection.
Strategic Plan Goal Application: Maintain Fiscal Stability & Balanced Budget – Short Term Routine
Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance Amending the Municipal Code of the City of Rochelle Pertaining to Chapter 98 Article 1 Section 8 Entitled “Deferred Payment Agreements”
Supporting Documents:
Agenda Item #7 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Modify the Rochelle Municipal Utilities Assistance Program
Staff Contact: Jeff Fiegenschuh, City Manager / Sarah Brooks, Director of Utility Finance
Summary: Resolution R20-16 from the April 27, 2020 City Council Meeting authorized the utility assistance to be increased from $300 to $500 and the poverty level to change from 150% to 200% for 6 months during the covid-19 pandemic. We would like to update the 6 months, which would expire in October, to the December 31, 2020 with allowing the City Manager authority to extend those same increases for one calendar year (2021) if warranted. To date in 2020, 89 customers have received the $500 utility assistance resulting in $44,500 of help to RMU customers.
Strategic Plan Goal Application: Maintain Fiscal Stability & Balanced Budget – Short Term Routine
Recommendation: Approve a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Modify the Rochelle Municipal Utilities Assistance Program.
Supporting Documents:
Discussion Item #1
Several residents have recently approached the City of Rochelle about the ability to operate golf carts (non-highway vehicles) on City streets. Staff contacted many Illinois communities currently allowing golf carts for input on successes and challenges. Communities note minimal challenges and that residents have enjoyed the use of golf carts on City streets. Jenny Thompson will present details of a proposed ordinance to Council.
Supporting Documents:
