Government At Work- Crystal Lake City Council

TUESDAY, December 18, 2012

7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake City Council

Meeting in the City Council Chambers, 100 West Woodstock Street.

Among the first items on tonight’s Council Agenda is recognition of Police Chief David Linder. He is retiring following many years of service.

Union Pacific Railroad Award
Representatives from the Union Pacific Railroad (U.P.) will be on hand to present to the City of Crystal Lake Police Department the D.P.'s Safety Spike Award
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The Crystal Lake Police Department will join a select group of departments receiving this award. The award is typically given to communities that have worked with U.P. employees to educate people on rail safety. U.P. employees nominate communities for the award, which started in 2010.

Train Town USA Registry:

The City of Crystal Lake has been awarded a membership in Union Pacific's Train Town USA as part of the railroad's year-long 150th anniversary celebration.

The Crystal Lake Police Department will join a select group of departments receiving this award. The award is typically given to communities that have worked with U.P. employees to educate people on rail safety. U.P. employees nominate communities for the award
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Zoning Change on County Property

A contract purchaser of property located on the northwest corner of Route 31 and Crystal Lake Avenue would like input from the City regarding plans to rezone the property from Estate zoning to the County’s B-1 neighborhood Commercial District.
Prior to the property owner seeking County rezoning for the business, the City is being consulted since it is located within the mile and one-half of the city limits

Special Use Permit In Downtown Area

A Special Use Permit is being considered to allow a residential use on the first floor in the "B-4" Downtown District for property located t 55 E. Crystal Lake Avenue.
The current zoning district does allow for residential use in the B-4 Classification. The Planning Commission voted 8-1 in favor of the request. Generally a residential use of such property has been in the upper floors.

New Peking Restaurant

The restaurant, located at 40 West Terra Cotta Avenue is seeking a Class 14 liquor license. This allows the retail sale of beer and wine for consumption only on the premises between the hours of 11:00 a. and 1:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon on Sunday and 1:00 a.m. on Monday.

Relocation of Part of an Auto Dealership

Anderson Motors currently operates an auto dealership at 360 North Route 31. Here they sell Volkswagen, Mazda, and BMW vehicles on the 10.9 acre property.

The dealer desires to increase sales for each of the brands and meet manufacturer requirements.

Anderson Motors has acquired the former Extreme Ford dealership at 5213 Northwest Highway and will relocate their Volkswagen franchise to the new location, while retaining Mazda and BMW at their Route 31 location.

In order to accomplish this change, Anderson plans redevelopment of the Northwest Highway property including demolition of the existing building and construction of a new 34,140 square-foot sales and service facility.

They plan to take advantage of the City’s Enhanced Sales Tax Incentive Program which provides financial assistance for increased business in the City.
Anderson Motors is seeking the Council approval for the plans in order to take advantage of the program offered by the City.

TGI Friday’s To Texas Roadhouse

A request is being considered by the Council for the changes of the site exterior elevations and signage for the TGI Fridays at 835 Cog Circle. This is changing TGI Fridays to Texas Roadhouse.
The Planning and Zoning Commissioner recommended the request 8-1.

Drinking Place
Located at the northwest corner of Virginia and Pomeroy Streets, is seeking approval of a Special Use Permit to use tenant space, currently vacant, but formerly occupied by Nextel.
Parking in this area presents problems. However, a business operating in the area. Vogue Cleaners, has offered to allow parking in their parking lot during the times the Drinking Place is operating. The Planning Commission voted 8-0 for the proposed business.

Construction of Emergency Operations Center

A bid proposal is being presented for Council approval for the construction of an Emergency Operations Center, to be located in the lower level of the Municipal Complex.

An Operations Center, or EOC, is a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management, or disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation, and ensuring the continuity of operation of services within the community.

An EOC is responsible for the strategic overview, or "big picture", of the disaster, and does not normally directly control field assets, instead making operational decisions and leaving tactical decisions to lower commands. The common functions of all EOC's is to collect, gather and  analyze data; make strategic level decisions that protect life and property, and maintain the continuity of the organization, within the scope of applicable laws; and disseminate those decisions to all concerned agencies and individuals.

According to the State-certified, City of Crystal Lake Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), the individual in charge of the EOC is the Emergency Manager.

The EOC that will be constructed in the lower level of the Municipal Complex will be a dedicated room. Currently, there is no dedicated space for an EOC. Instead, in an emergency situation, which requires a central command and control facility, one is put together on an ad hoc basis.
A dedicated EOC will provide for the rapid opening of a central command and control facility when the need arises. An example of when an EOC would be operated is during a large scale storm event similar to the one experienced by the community in the summer of 2011
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It could also be used in case of severe weather events, such as a tornado. Crystal Lake is not immune from these as those who experienced one that struck the city on Palm Sunday, 1965.
Bids for the project were sought with 11 responses. Troop Construction was the lowest responsible bidder for the project at a cost of $343,700, with a contingency of not more than 10% for justifiable modifications.

Intergovernmental Agreement For Dial-A-Ride

On February 2, 2012, the City of Crystal Lake experienced the first fare adjustment in a two-step process to adjust fares to be consistent throughout the MCRide service area. The current fares for Crystal Lake riders are $1.75 for the general public and students and $0.85 for seniors and riders with a disability. These fare rates will remain effective through 2013.

Beginning January 2, 2014, Crystal Lake, as well as McHenry, will experience the second fare adjustment. Fares will be increased to $2.00 for the general public and students, and $1.00 for seniors and riders with a disability, which will equal the fares for the City of Woodstock and McHenry County, and adjust fares to be consistent throughout the MCRide service area.

Levy and Assessment of Taxes

It’s the time of the year to obtain the funds necessary to provide for the City services. That means time for levy and assessment of taxes.

The appropriation for the necessary funds for City operations totals $30,297,236. The tax levy is $14,783,056. Amounts in between the two are derived from sources other than this year’s property taxes. The impact of the tax rate is dependent on the assessed value of the individual property.

The total estimated levy rate is $1.271586. The final figure is determined by the County, where assessments of properties are determined.