McHenry Times

Crystal Lake City Council met Jan. 17.

The Crystal Lake City Council is comprised of the mayor and six council members who provide leadership for Crystal Lake by envisioning and setting the city’s direction and goals, establishing policies and passing laws involving matters that include finance and budgeting, community development, and appearance and legal issues. Council meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in Council Chambers of City Hall at 100 W. Woodstock St.

Here are the minutes as provided by Crystal Lake:

The City of Crystal Lake

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

January 17, 2017

Call to Order

Mayor Shepley called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Roll Call

On roll call, Mayor Aaron Shepley and City Councilmembers Ellen Brady, Ralph Dawson, Cathy Ferguson, Haig Haleblian, Brett Hopkins and Cameron Hubbard were present. None were absent. City Clerk Nick Kachiroubas was present.

City Manager Gary Mayerhofer, City Attorney Jolm Cowlin, Deputy City Manager Eric Helm, Director o f Finance George Koczwara, Director o f Community Development Michelle Rentzsch, Director of Public Works Mike Magnuson, City Engineer Abby Wilgreen and Chief of Police James Black were also present.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Shepley led the Council and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Recognition of Prairie Ridge High School Football State Champions by Mayor Aaron T. Shepley.

Mayor Shepley invited the Prairie Ridge High School Football Team, which recently won the Illinois Class 6A 2016 IHSA State Championship, to the front ofthe City Council Chambers and congratulated them on behalf of the City Council and the entire City of Crystal Lake, for their tremendous season. He also thanked Coach Schrempf and the assistant coaches for their level of integrity and commitment. Mayor Shepley unveiled new IDOT road signage commemorating the team's championship win, which will be installed soon. Coach Schrempf thanked the Mayor and City Council and spoke about the high character of the team members and the wonderful job which had been done by the assistant coaches. He stated that he was very thankful to live in Crystal Lake and thrilled that his daughters, who also attend Prairie Ridge High School, are growing up in Crystal Lake and were a part of the team as managers on the sidelines with him throughout the season.

Mayor Shepley called a brief recess for a reception in honor of the team's championship achievement and then reconvened the meeting following the reception.

Approval of Minutes

Councilwoman Ferguson moved to approve the minutes of the January 3, 2017 regular City Council meeting, Councilman Hopkins seconded the motion, On voice vote, all voted yes, Motion passed.

Accounts Payable

Councilwoman Ferguson moved to approve the Accounts Payable in the amount of $3,038,513,23, Councilman Hopkins seconded the motion, On roll call, all voted yes, Motion passed.

Public Presentation

Mayor Shepley asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak on matters of public interest or concern not included in the regular agenda, noting that they would be given an opportunity to speak when the agenda item was considered.

Andy Klink, 109 N, Caroline Street, asked who his City Council representative was, Mayor Shepley advised that the City Council members are elected at large and each member of the Council represents all of the City's residents.

Mayor's Report

Mayor Shepley spoke about last Friday's serious traffic accident in which a City Public Works employee, who was cold patching potholes, was struck by a vehicle which made no effort to brake, and was seriously injured. He stated that first and foremost, his and the City Council's thoughts and prayers went out to him and his family, and he also wanted to highlight that it is not just police officers and firefighters who put themselves at risk serving the community. He urged all to bear this in mind and please pay attention to workers on the roadways.

Mayor Shepley noted that the City had issued a press release armouncing that a new Mariano's grocery store would be locating on the property being vacated by Sears. He said that City staff had been diligently working on bringing Mariano's to Crystal Lake for over two years and he and the City Council were ecstatic to make this armouncement. He stated that he believe Mariano's would complement existing stores and reenergize that section of Route 14.

City Council Reports

None.

Consent Agenda

Councilwoman Brady moved to approve Consent Agenda Items 1la and b, with the addition of Items 12, 13, 15 (no action), 16 17 and 24, Councilman Haleblian seconded the motion, Mayor Shepley asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on any of the listed items, noting that without any objection, they would most likely be approved, No one wished to speak. On roll call, all voted yes. Motion passed.

11a. Crystal Lake South Booster Club - Approved a Temporary Class "16" Liquor License request for a Trivia Game Night Fundraiser held on February 25, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Parish Hall, 1023 McHenry Avenue.

lib. Chicago Title Land Trusts 1004004149 & 1004004152 & Reinhardt/Kirk Annexation Public Hearings - Continued to the February 21, 2017 regular City Council meeting for the Annexation Public Hearings.

12. Crystal Lake Park District -Approved the issuance of a Temporary Class "16" Liquor License request for an Inaugural Ice Games event held on January 28, 2017 with an alternate date ofFebruary 11, 2017 at Main Beach, 300 Lake Shore Drive.

13. Hellyer, 247 McHenry Ave. - Approved the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation and adopted an Ordinance granting a Simplified Residential Zoning Variation to allow a 21 foot front yard setback at 247 McHenry Avenue.

15. 8733 Ridgefield Road - Took no action on a County Zoning Request for a Zoning Reclassification.

16. Adopted a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Amendment to the Store Lease Agreement with the Crystal Lake Chamber o f Commerce.

17. Adopted a Resolution waiving the formal bidding requirements for electricity purchase, authorizing participation in the Northern lllinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NIMEC) and authorizing the City Manager to execute a one, two or three year contract with the lowest responsive and responsible electricity provider.

24. Appointed Ronald K. Scherf to the Historic Preservation Committee to fill a vacant term expiring on June 30, 2017.

14. Central Park Drive Parking Restrictions - Making it unlawful to stop, stand or park on Central Park Drive between the current east end of Central Park Drive and a point 575 feet west of the east end of Central Park Drive.

City Engineer Abby Wilgreen advised that trucks parking along this section of road between Walmart and the adjacent farm field were creating a problem for snow removal during the winter months, and this year, the nearby farmer had also complained that he had not been able to get into his field because of the trucks. She stated that City staff had contacted Walmart, which advised that the trucks were not theirs.

Councilman Dawson stated that the road belongs to the City and is a dead end. He stated that truckers can legally drive only so long and have to park somewhere to rest and he personally knew that the farmer has other places to enter his field. He urged the

Council consider the truckers' livelihoods and the fact that Walmart will not let them park on their property.

Councilwoman Ferguson agreed that if she were a truck driver, she would want to park near a place that is open 24 hours a day for safety reasons, and suggested that if snow plowing was the main reason for the complaints, parking restrictions could be implemented with 2" or more of snow.

In response to a question from Mayor Shepley, Ms. Wilgreen advised that this was the first year the farmer had complained. Councilman Haleblian wanted assurance that the farmer had other ways to access his field, and Councilman Dawson assured him that the farmer had numerous places to access his property.

Mayor Shepley stated that he agreed with the 2" snowfall suggestion and if there were further complaints, the Council could always take more action at another time.

Councilwoman Brady moved to adopt an Ordinance making it unlawful to stop, stand or park any vehicle on Central Park Drive betwen the current east end of Central Park Drive and a point 575 feet west of the east end of Central Park Drive when there is more than 2" of snow. Councilman Dawson seconded the motion. On roll call, all voted yes. Motion passed.

18. Council Inquiries and Requests.

None.

19. Adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matters of pending and probable litigation, the sale, purchase or lease of real property, collective bargaining, personnel and Executive Session Minutes.

Councilwoman Brady moved to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:16 p.m. Councilman Hopkins seconded the motion. On roll call, all voted yes. Motion passed.

20. Reconvene to Regular Session.

Councilwoman Brady moved to reconvene in Regular Session at 8:16 p.m. Councilman Hopkins seconded the motion. On roll call, all voted yes. Motion passed.

The Council considered Items 21, 22 and 23 together:

21. Approval of Executive Session Minutes that includes the dates of February 2, 2016, March 1, 2016, May 3, 2016, May 17, 2016, June 7, 2016, October 4, 2016, December 6, 2016, December 20, 2016 and January 3, 2017.

22. Consideration of motion to destroy verbatim records.

23. Consideration of action following semi-annual review of executive session minutes.

Councilwoman Brady moved to approve the Executive Session minutes that include the dates of February 2, 2016, March 1, 2016, May 3, 2016, May 17, 2016, June 7, 2016, October 4, 2016, December 6, 2016, December 20, 2016 and January 3, 2017; to approve the destruction of verbatim records from the executive sessions between June 3, 2014 and July 7, 2015; and to maintain the confidentiality of the executive session minutes as outlined in the agenda supplement.

Adjourn

There being no further business, Councilwoman Ferguson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Councilman Haleblian seconded the motion. On voice vote, all voted yes. Motion passed