McHenry Times

Village of Algonquin Committee of the Whole met July 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Trustee Glogowski , Chairperson, called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 7:44 p.m.

AGENDA ITEM 1: Roll Call to Establish a Quorum

Present: Trustees, Jerry Glogowski, John Spella, Laura Brehmer, Brian Dianis, Bob Smith, President, Debby Sosine and Clerk, Fred Martin.

Absent: Trustee Maggie Auger

A quorum was established

Staff in Attendance: Tim Schloneger, Village Manager; Nadim Badran, Public Works Director; Dennis Walker, Police Chief; Jason Shallcross, Community Development Director; and Kelly Cahill, Village Attorney

AGENDA ITEM 2: Public Comment

Leslie Kuster voiced concerns and a complaint over the pending Special Use for open air dining at Prestwicke Plaza. She and other neighbors do not want the noise and congestion that the Special Use would present. Maral Panossian also voiced concerns with the potential noise that would upset an otherwise quiet neighborhood by the proposed Special Use for open air dining at Prestwicke Plaza.

AGENDA ITEM 3: Community Development

Mr. Shallcross:

A. Consider a Public Event License for Art on the Fox, September 9 and 10, 2023 

The Village of Algonquin is seeking approval of a Public Event License for the Art on the Fox art festival that will take place in downtown Algonquin on September 9 and 10, 2023. This event is being put on by the Village of Algonquin and is being organized by Amdur Productions, Inc. The Art on the Fox is a free public cultural event that features original art of all medias and also live music. The Art on the Fox last occurred in 2022 on South Main Street (event was previously held in Towne Park).

This year, the festival is planned to take place on South Main Street between Algonquin Road and Madison Street. Police and Fire have given preliminary approval of the event map and Public Works has preliminarily approved the street closure. The Art on the Fox will have two 8x8 platform stages with live music from 10 am – 7 pm on September 9, 2023 and 10 am – 5 pm on September 10, 2023. One of the stages will be located near the north end of Main Street near Algonquin Road and the other stage will be located at the south end of Main Street at Madison Street. Along with the platform stages, approximately 85 artist booths are planned to be located along Main Street.

The village is not planning to serve liquor as part of the art festival. Instead, the village plans to utilize a pending new liquor policy that would permit downtown restaurants to sell alcohol for consumption off premises, within an enclosed area. This policy would allow attendees to patronize downtown businesses who have a valid liquor license to purchase alcoholic beverage and then walk through the art festival with their food and beverage. If a current liquor license holder wishes to serve outside of their establishment they will need to obtain a Special Use Permit from the State of Illinois and need approval from the Village Board.

Staff recommends the Village Board approve the Public Event Permit for Art on the Fox for September 9 and 10, 2023, waiving the serving and consumption of alcohol restrictions, within the designated area, for certain permitted licensees including Bold American Fare, Whiskey and Wine, Cucina Bella, Creekside Tap, Bullseye, Cattleman’s Burgers and Brew, Sips on Main (tentative upon state and local liquor license renewal), Garden on Main, Bella Pizzeria, and The Black Bear Bistro. It will be the responsibility of the current liquor license holder to apply to the State of Illinois for the Special Use Permit.

It is the consensus of the Committee to move this on to the Village Board for approval.

B. Consider Major Planned Development Amendment and Special Use for Open-Air Dining at Prestwicke Plaza

Joseph Condo, the “Petitioner” and owner of Iron Horse Bar and Grill located in Prestwicke Plaza, applied for a Major Amendment to Ordinances 2003-O-07 and 2003-O-35 and approval of a Special Use for Open Air Dining.

The Petitioner is proposing to construct a five hundred and seventy-six (576) square foot outdoor patio in the courtyard immediately west of the Iron Horse Bar & Grill. The patio will be surrounded by the existing building on the east side, four-foot (4’) black aluminum fencing on the west and north sides, and a board-on-board cedar fence on the south. The Petitioner will provide a variety of shrubs and a dwarf tree on the north side of the patio for screening as well as six-foot (6’) tall minimum evergreen trees and switch grass on the south side of the cedar fence to aid with noise absorption.

The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the request for a Major Planned Development Amendment and Special Use Permit at the June 12, 2023, Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. During the Public Hearing, four (4) members of the public commented on the project. Topics of discussion generally included concern with existing and future noise levels, trash and cleanliness, and the potential for animals to be attracted to the food on the patio. After discussion amongst themselves regarding the residents’ concerns, the Planning and Zoning Commission chose to not adopt Staff’s findings and recommended denial of the request with a vote of 6-0; stating that they concurred with the public commenters and found that the addition of the patio may negatively impact the adjacent residents.

Staff recommends approval of a Major Amendment to Ordinances 2003-O-07 (An Ordinance Approving the Preliminary Planned Development For The Prestwicke Plaza Shopping Center and Granting Final Planned Development Approval For 35,118 Square Feet of Commercial Building Space) and 2003-O-35 (An Ordinance Issuing A Special Use Permit And Approving A Final Planned Development For A 3,168 Square Foot Retail Building With A Drive-Through Window (Prestwicke Plaza - Building C)) and a Special Use for Open Air Dining in the courtyard immediately west of the Iron Horse Bar & Grill located at 3967 West Algonquin Road, as outlined in the staff report for case PZ-2023-13, as the request meets the Standards and Findings of a Special Use Permit, subject to the following conditions and final staff approval:

a. The Site Plan titled, “Proposed Outdoor Patio for Iron Horse Bar & Grill, Sheet A1.1”, as prepared by Architects 127, with the latest revision date of April 18, 2023. The Site Plan shall be revised to show the board-on-board cedar fence spanning the entire width of the courtyard and going from the ground to the eaves of the buildings. If an egress door is included in the cedar fence, it shall complement the cedar fence and the existing building;

b. The Landscape Plan titled, “Iron Horse Grill”, as prepared by All Natural Landscape Solutions, and submitted to Staff on May 24, 2023. Six-foot (6’) evergreen trees shall be added to the landscape plan on the south side of the cedar fence. The patio and fence shall be shifted north to accommodate a seven-foot (7’) wide landscape area to allow for proper tree growth;

c. The fencing on the north and west side of the patio shall be a black aluminum fence and be at least thirty-six inches (36”) tall;

d. The noise level shall not exceed the permitted decibel level of the Village Code. There shall be no outdoor televisions;

e. The use of the patio shall cease at 10:00 pm.

After considerable discussion and hearing objections from neighbor residents, it is the consensus of the Committee not to recommend this Special Use for open air dining at Prestwicke Plaza

AGENDA ITEM 4: General Administration

Mr. Schloneger:

A. Consider an Amendment to the T-Mobile USA tower, LLC Site Agreement 

In December 2006, the Village entered into a site agreement with T-Mobile Central, LLC (2006-O-27) to lease 1,280 square feet of ground space at the Wastewater Treatment Facility, located at 125 Wilbrandt Street. This agreement was subsequently amended in 2016 (2016- R-68) to extend the term of the agreement. Currently, Verizon Wireless desires to lease ground space at this site to install equipment on the monopole tower. The Village has negotiated with T-Mobile to permit them to sublease to Verizon Wireless within the existing leased compound for additional consideration ($6,770 annually) to the Village. All other terms from the original agreement remain in place for the sublease.

Inlcuded in the packet was a copy of the Second Amendment to the Site Agreement that incorporates these terms. The construction drawings have been reviewed by Public Works staff and are in good standing. Staff recommends that the Committee of the Whole forward this to the Village Board for approval by Resolution at their meeting on July 18.

It is the consensus of the Committee to move this on to the Village Board for approval.

AGENDA ITEM 5: Public Works & Safety

Mr. Badran:

A. Consider a Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation of Real Property from Algonquin Corporate Campus, Phase III Owners’ Association to the Village of Algonquin 

In the packet is a resolution for acceptance of Lots 24-29 in the Algonquin Corporate Campus. Public Works has been working with Plote to gain ownership of these lots due to their ecological significance. When the subdivision was approved, these lots were put into the ownership of the business association. The lots consist of Woods Creek and the adjacent riparian area, several naturalized detention basins and a large naturally occurring wetland. These areas are the headwater of the Woods Creek corridor and, therefore, can have some of the largest impacts on the quality of the creek. With our long term efforts in restoring the creek, and the amount of time and money we have spent downstream in restoration, it is the Village’s best interest to own, and be in control of, the upstream portions of the creek to assure they are taken care of and protected properly.

At this time, we will continue to maintain the areas as they have been anticipating that these will be restoration projects sometime in the future.

Therefore, it is our recommendation that the Committee of the Whole take action to move this matter forward to the Village Board for ownership acceptance of Lots 24-29 in Algonquin Corporate Campus Phase 3

It is the consensus of the Committee to move this on to the Village Board for approval.

B. Consider a Professional Service Agreement with Synagro Central LLC. for the Load, Transport and Land Application of Biosolids 

We are seeking the support of the Committee of the Whole and Village Board to execute a professional services agreement with Synagro Central, LLC to provide transportation and land application of the approximately 3,800 square cubic yards of biosolids produced annually by our Wastewater Treatment Facility. Per the Agreement, the unit cost will be $25.81 per square cubic yard of biosolids. Based on our historical rate of production, we can expect an annual expenditure of $98,078.00. The Sewer Division has $134,000.00 budgeted for FY23/24 as noted in Account 07800400-42262 of the Sewer Division’s Operations & Maintenance Budget. Additional funds are to accommodate for harsh winter operations, frozen farm fields, and the necessity to dispose of biosolids by landfill rather than by land application to farm fields. Added disposal costs may include tipping fees at the landfill as well as a fuel surcharge if the price of Retail On-Highway Diesel exceeds $5.50 per gallon. For every $.05/gallon over $5.50/gallon we would see an increase of .5% added to the base price of $25.81. We fully expect to be within the approved budget for biosolids disposal.

Synagro is very aware of the Villages requirements and operations. Therefore, it is the recommendation of Public Works to move forward in the execution of this Agreement, for a term of two years. I am available to answer any questions, and look forward to having the opportunity to present this information to you.

It is the consensus of the Committee to move this on to the Village Board for approval.

C. Consider an Agreement with Trotter and Associates, Inc., for Design Engineering Services of Aerator and Roof Replacement of Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2 

Presented is the proposal from Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) for the design engineering services required for the aerator and roof replacement projects at Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2. TAI has demonstrated exceptional qualifications, competitive pricing, and a strong track record for the Village, making them the most suitable choice for this undertaking.

Roof Replacement at Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2: The Village has decided to proceed with a complete roof replacement at both WTP #1 (Well House #5) and WTP #2 sites. TAI's proposal includes the preparation of Construction Documents, encompassing detailed drawings and specifications necessary for permitting and bidding purposes. This comprehensive approach ensures a streamlined and efficient implementation process.

Aerator Replacement and Capacity Enhancement at WTP #1: At WTP #1, the Village aims to replace the existing aerators and increase their capacity to handle the full output of all wells during operation. TAI has demonstrated expertise in aerator design, making them well-equipped for this task. Additionally, the Village has asked to explore alternatives to the carbon scrubbers, and TAI has committed to investigating and proposing alternative technologies. This includes the option of integrating a packaged odor control system with the aerators, ensuring a holistic and effective solution.

Aerator Replacement and Reduction at WTP #2: Similarly, at WTP #2, the Village intends to replace the existing aerators and increase their capacity to match the full output of Well 9. Moreover, investigate the feasibility of reducing the number of aerators from two units to one for both wells. TAI's extensive experience in aerator design uniquely positions them to evaluate the requirements and propose an optimal solution for this configuration.

During the selection process, staff solicited cost proposals from three consulting firms: 

• Engineering Enterprises, Inc. (EEI),

• Trotter and Associates, Inc., and

• Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. (CBBEL)

Based on qualifications, EEI and Trotter were most favorably ranked. Notably, Trotter demonstrated a commitment to thoroughness by visiting both sites and conducting in-depth inspections. In addition to their comprehensive approach, Trotter provided the most competitive cost proposal.

1. $105,300 – Trotter and Associates, Inc.

2. $122,950 – Engineering Enterprises, Inc.

3. $110,000 – Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD.

Although Trotter has not previously worked on the Village's water infrastructure, their strong department dedicated to water infrastructure projects and impressive track record in wastewater systems warrant our confidence in their capabilities. Given their expertise, competitive pricing, and history of successful collaboration, staff firmly believes that Trotter is the best fit for this project. The proposal amount from TAI is within the FY2023/24 Water & Sewer Budget for the design of this project.

Therefore, the Public Works Department recommends that the Committee of the Whole take the necessary action to move this design engineering agreement with Trotter and Associates, Inc. for $105,300 to the Village Board for approval.

It is the consensus of the Committee to move this on to the Village Board for approval.

D. Consider an Agreement with Encap, Inc. for the Naturalization of the Wynnfield Detention Basin and Consider Resolution Accepting the Grant Funds 

This past spring, the Village of Algonquin completed a grant application for the restoration and naturalization of the Wynnfield detention basin. We applied for the $10,000 ComEd Green Region grant which has a special focus on conserving pollinator species and climate resiliency. On Thursday, 7/6/2023 the Village of Algonquin was notified that we were awarded the grant for $10,000 to complete this project.

The Wynnfield Detention naturalization project is important to the overall green infrastructure program that the Village has been implementing over the past decade.

Wynnfield detention is the last remaining turf grass detention pond owned by the Village and this basin drains directly into the nearly completed restoration of Dixie Creek Reach 3. It is vital to restore this large basin to limit the amount of weed seed and other runoff into Dixie Creek and this project will help the long-term success of our investment in green infrastructure.

Attached is a proposal from EnCap, who is an experienced ecological restoration contractor that the Village has worked with multiple times in the past for similar restorations. We recommend to approve EnCap’s proposal. They have completed multiple large restoration projects for the Village over the past 10 years at Creeks Crossing, Surrey Lane, and Woods Creek.

Therefore, it is our recommendation that the Committee of the Whole take action to move this matter forward to the Village Board for approval of the Wynnfiend Detention Restoration proposal for restoration services to EnCap for $60,035.00 and pass a Resolution accepting the grant funds.

It is the consensus of the Committee to move this on to the Village Board for approval.

AGENDA ITEM 6: Executive Session

None

AGENDA ITEM 7: Other Business

None

AGENDA ITEM 8: Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairperson Glogowski adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m.

https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1689773004_52987.pdf