Gurnee Village Board met March 5.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
Call to Order Mayor Kovarik called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Other Officials in Attendance:
Patrick Muetz, Village Administrator; David Ziegler, Assistant Village Administrator/Community Development Director; Bryan Winter, Village Attorney; Scott Drabicki, Village Engineer; Brian Gosnell, Finance Director; Christine Palmieri, Director of Human Resources; Chris Velkover, Information Systems Director; Tom Rigwood, Director of Public Works; John Kavanagh, Fire Chief; Kevin Woodside, Police Chief; Tracy Velkover, Planning Manager; Ellen Dean, Economic Development Director, Jack Linehan, Assistant to the Administrator
Roll Call:
Present: 6-Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Absent: 0-None
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Kovarik led the Pledge of Allegiance.
A. Public Comment
None.
B. Approval Of Consent Agenda
It was moved by Trustee Jacobs, seconded by Trustee Garner to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Roll call,
Aye: 6- Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Nay: 0- None
Absent: 0- None
Motion Carried.
C. Consent Agenda / Omnibus Vote
The Village Administrator read the consent agenda for an omnibus vote as follows:
1. Approval of minutes from the February 19, 2018 Village Board meeting.
2. Approval of Ord. 2018 - 17 approving the Plats of Easement which grant Utility Easements to the Village of Gurnee at 1701 – 1761 Dilleys Road.
3. Approval of Res. 2018 - 02 approving a contract with Dynegy Energy Services for the provision of electricity for pump stations.
4. Approval of awarding Fire Station One’s Apparatus Garage Door replacement project to the low bidder, American Door and Dock, at a cost of $64,150.00.
5. Approval of awarding the Almond Road Water Main Crossing project to the low bidder, Lina Excavating Contractors Inc. at a cost of $84,504.86.
6. Approval of awarding the Village Hall to Fire Station One Fiber Installation project to the low bidder, Western Utility, LLC, at a cost of $121,070.05.
7. Approval of request from Utility Division to waive the formal bidding requirement and to purchase 50 one inch water meters and 150 remote readers from Midwest Meter Inc. at a cost of $27,737.50 (sole source supplier for Midwest region).
8. Approval of request to allow Economic Development Director Ellen Dean to attend the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon in Las Vegas, NV from May 20 – 23, 2018 at a cost not to exceed $2,000.00.
9. Approval of Payroll for period ending February 16, 2018 in the amount of $824,610.22.
10. Approval of Bills for the period ending March 5, 2018 in the amount of $688,560.68.
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Garner to approve the Consent Agenda for an omnibus vote as read.
Roll call,
Aye: 6- Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Nay: 0- None
Absent: 0- None
Motion Carried.
D. Petitions And Communications
1. Approval of a Proclamation designating March as Women’s History Month in the Village of Gurnee.
Mayor Kovarik read proclamation into record.
It was moved by Trustee Jacobs, seconded by Trustee Garner to approve of a Proclamation designating March as Women’s History Month in the Village of Gurnee.
Voice Vote: All Aye: Motion Carried.
E. Reports None.
F. Old Business None.
G. New Business
1. Approval of Ord. 2018 - 18 granting a Special Use Permit to allow additional wall signs pursuant to the Gurnee Zoning Ordinance for 5455 Route 132.
Mr. Muetz said this request was before the Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) on January 3rd and February 7th to request a Special Use Permit to allow three additional wall signs for the building located at 5455 Grand Avenue. Ms. Sommercorn owns one office building in a three office building complex called Spruce Park, which is located at the southwest corner of Spruce Avenue and Grand Avenue. Her building is the southern-most building with no frontage on Grand Avenue. It is divided into 6 tenant suites. The building is allowed 3 wall signs. She has requested the 3 additional wall signs to allow each of her tenants to have a sign. The PZB originally instructed her to research whether placing a directory sign or free standing sign may meet her needs as an alternate to the 3 additional signs. At a continued Public Hearing, she demonstrated how these options would not meet her needs and be hampered by parked cars and a lack of support from the Business Park Association. This resulted in her continuing her pursuit of 3 additional wall signs which will be consistent in font, size and color. The total square footage of the 6 signs will not exceeded the square footage allowed for 3 signs. Two signs will be located on the east wall, with 4 located on the north wall. Following review and discussion the PZB is forwarding a unanimous favorable recommendation..
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Thorstenson to approve of Ord. 2018 - 18 granting a Special Use Permit to allow additional wall signs pursuant to the Gurnee Zoning Ordinance for 5455 Route 132.
Roll call,
Aye: 6- Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Nay: 0- None
Absent: 0- None
Motion Carried.
2. Approval of Ord. 2018 - 19 authorizing the Village of Gurnee, Lake County, Illinois, to borrow funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency through the Public Water Supply Loan Program.
Mr. Muetz said the IEPA Loan proposal was reviewed in-depth at the January 29, 2018 Committee of the Whole meeting and in Trustee Budget meetings. He then asked Finance Director Gosnell to review the details of the loan. Gosnell reiterated the terms are 20 years locked at 1.76% interest. The loan amount will be just over $7 million, which is the contract engineer’s estimate, staff estimates the project to be closer to $6.5 million. He continued to state that while the loan is $7 million, the Village only borrows what we need and are not obligated to draw the full amount. In addition, staff has budgeted to make an additional $200,000 principal payment each year, bring the payback period down to approximately 11 years.
Trustee Thorstenson clarified that there is not a prepayment penalty.
Mr. Gosnell said correct.
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Jacobs to approve of Ord. 2018 - 19 authorizing the Village of Gurnee, Lake County, Illinois, to borrow funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency through the Public Water Supply Loan Program.
Roll call,
Aye: 6- Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Nay: 0- None
Absent: 0- None
Motion Carried.
3. Approval of Ord. 2018 - 20 amending Chapter 10, Article II, Section 10-33 of the Village of Gurnee Municipal Code as it relates to Amusement Tax.
Mr. Muetz said the proposed Amusement Tax increase was reviewed in-depth at the January 29, 2018 Committee of the Whole meeting and in Trustee Budget meetings. As a reminder, Amusement Tax is currently at 3% and has not been adjusted in over 20 years. Staff has proposed the rate be increased to 4% effective May 1, 2018.
Mayor Kovarik asked when the last time this tax was raised.
Mr. Muetz said 20 years ago.
It was moved by Trustee Jacobs, seconded by Trustee Ross to approve of Ord. 2018 - 20 amending Chapter 10, Article II, Section 10-33 of the Village of Gurnee Municipal Code as it relates to Amusement Tax.
Roll call,
Aye: 6- Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Nay: 0- None
Absent: 0- None
Motion Carried.
4. Approval of Ord. 2018 - 21 amending Chapter 74, Article VI, Section
74-152(a) of the Gurnee Municipal Code as it relates to the Hotel or Motel Occupancy Tax.
Mr. Muetz said the proposed Hotel/Motel Tax increase was reviewed in-depth at the January 29, 2018 Committee of the Whole meeting and in Trustee Budget meetings. As a reminder, Hotel/Motel Tax is currently at 5% and has not been adjusted in over 30 years. Staff has proposed the rate be increased to 6% effective May 1, 2018.
Trustee Thorstenson asked how this tax compares to other areas with hotels, specifically Wisconsin.
Mr. Muetz said just over the border in Wisconsin the tax is set at 8%. Gurnee will be at 6%.
Mayor Kovarik said she was just in Washington D.C. and the hotel tax was 15%. She also stated that all Gurnee hotels and motels have been notified of the change.
Trustee Jacobs the Village should look into a parking tax for paid parking lots and valet service.
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Jacobs to approve of Ord. 2018 - 21 amending Chapter 74, Article VI, Section 74- 152(a) of the Gurnee Municipal Code as it relates to the Hotel or Motel Occupancy Tax.
Roll call,
Aye: 6- Garner, Balmes, Hood, Thorstenson, Jacobs, Ross
Nay: 0- None
Absent: 0- None
Motion Carried.
H. Public Comment
None.
Closing Comments None.
Adjournment It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Jacobs to
adjourn the meeting.
Voice Vote: All Aye: Motion Carried.
Mayor Kovarik adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
http://www.gurnee.il.us/docs/default-source/meetings/village-board/minutes/2018/2018-03-05_vb_minutes.pdf?sfvrsn=2
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