TIF 4 and All of Its Supporting Legal Pieces Slated for Approval Tuesday
And, you've heard the rumors: Will chickens be allowed in Elmhurst? City committee will be asked to take a first look.
Elmhurst City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, at City Hall, 209 N. York St. Aldermen will first meet in executive session to discuss appointment, employment or compensation of an officer and specific employees, and acquisition of real property.
The public meeting will begin with a presentation from Tracy Cross & Associates on the Hahn Street redevelopment project. The city announced last month it hired the firm to "maximize stakeholder involvement and redevelopment success" for Hahn Street. The firm will offer a presentation on the market conditions of this area, as well as the region. The City Council welcomes comment and ideas from the public with regard to Hahn Street. Tracy Cross & Associates will analyze the public comment, market conditions and redevelopment feasibility and give a final presentation to the City Council on Oct. 1.
Following the presentation, the council will invite the public to speak for up to three minutes on any topic.
In addition to approval of minutes and accounts payable, the consent agenda includes the following items:
- Appointment of Teresa Menolascino to the Elmhurst Public Library Board
- Residents have been requesting an ordinance permitting chickens in residential areas, and aldermen Dannee Polomsky, Bob Dunn and Norman Leader have asked that the matter be referred to the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee.
- Wireless Mesh Wi-Fi Network for Water Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Communications Project. The City operates three water reservoirs and three elevated storage tanks using computers and software programs called Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), which operates through phone lines provided by AT&T. The current system is subject to equipment problems and is obsolete, unreliable and a security risk, according to a memo provided to aldermen. The proposed wireless mesh network provides communication not dependent on third party hardware or service, streamlines control of water operations, provides secure communications throughout the city and will become the "backbone" of the city's communication network. The Public Works and Buildings Committee is recommending approval of a proposal from Elan Technologies in the amount of $105,300 for planning, design and installation.
- Approval of a 5-K Run Oct. 20 beginning at Mary Queen of Heaven on West Avenue.
- Acceptance of two bids: one from Elmhurst Toyota in the amount of $23,832 for a Toyota Prius V Hybrid, and another from Roesch Ford in the amount of $23,900 for a Ford Fusion Hybrid
- Insurance for 2013. The Insurance Committee recommends a high deductible Health Saving Account plan to be offered alongside the existing Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and HMO plans, which would save up to $300,000 in the fifth year of the plan, and a self-insured model for dental with a potential savings of up to $50,000 in the fifth year.
- Approval of telephone service contracts with AT&T and Call One/Sound Inc, in the amount of $8,980 and $307.66, respectively, per month for 36 months.
- Approval to allow a business conditional use in the house located at 185 S. York. This house has been occupied as an office by Risk Resources, Inc. since 1997 when they received approval of their Conditional Use request. Risk Resources will remain the owner of the property; Conservation Design Forum will be the tenant.
- An ordinance approving the 24th amendment to the contract for the purchase of 260 N. York Street (Pauli's Marathon)
- Approval for Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation to hold its Halfway to St. Patrick's Day event at the municipal lot at Vallette and Division on Sept. 13
- An ordinance adding two 10-minute parking spaces and two three-hour shopper parking spaces in the municipal lot behind 275 N. York St.
- Resolution authorizing an agreement with Elan Technologies for the Water SCADA Project (see above)
- Resolution authorizing an agreement with AT&T for the renewal of data line contracts (see above)
- Resolution authorizing a highway authority agreement between Phillips 66 and the City of Elmhurst regarding one or more leaking underground fuel tanks at 524 Old York Road
Aldermen will then hear updates from Mayor Peter DiCianni.
Votes will then be taken on a series of ordinances that will approve TIF 4 and move the Hahn Street development properties from TIF 1 into TIF 4.
The council also is slated to approve payment of $1.25 million (divided into two payments) to Roundy's, as developer of Mariano's Fresh Market, to partially subsidize the estimated $18 million in developer costs.
John
8:30 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
I was wondering if anyone knew what the plans were for the Marathon and why the city was purchasing it. 24 amendments already? Sounds like there is significant debate about this property. Did I miss an article(s) on this issue already? I was wondering why the city was putting the brick pavers on that side of York..at the time it seemed excessive for a gas station but mabe there is some intersting foresight involved. Would love to hear the plans for this location.
Karen Chadra
9:55 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
It has remediation issues, and the city agreed to take over the property in order to let Morningside out of its development agreement for Hahn Street. Here are two articles that provide more information: (From November, 2011) http://elmhurst.patch.com/articles/clean-up-in-elmhurst-involves-tearing-down-and-digging-out; (and from March) http://elmhurst.patch.com/articles/city-set-to-let-morningside-out-of-its-contract-to-develop-hahn-street
Bill Angel
11:22 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The Marathon may have environmental clean-up issues. The Elmhurst taxpayers are on the hook for the clean-up once the property closes.
What in God's name would the City use that property for?
Bill Angel
8:49 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
$1.25 million give away is nothing more than corporate welfare off the backs of middle class tax payers of Elmhurst.
tom cruse
9:45 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
I wonder how much TIF 4 will end up costing us the taxpayers? I still do not know about all of the financial details and I do not think the city or alderman know them and their ramifications. The real way to attract businesses is to demonstrate we are a great place to raise kids and our school strengths. A lower tax rate would also help. TIFS are just gimmicks.
Tom Cruse
Joe O'Malley
10:25 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
From the above article... "Acceptance of two bids: one from Elmhurst Toyota in the amount of $23,832 for a Toyota Prius V Hybrid, and another from Roesch Ford in the amount of $23,900 for a Ford Fusion Hybrid" Really?
Well then, it's official!.....So now when the Mayor or the City Manager or the Assistant City Manager or his Assistant provide information to the local media, they'll able to point to the fact that Elmhurst is making great strides in reducing the City's Carbon Footprint.
Meanwhile just few blocks south of City Hall, at least 1000 or more Union Pacific open hopper cars travel through the heart of our fine City every week carrying dirty, filthy coal. ...God Bless America.
Symbolism does trump reality.
David R.
9:39 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Karen: what happened at the Tuesday meeting? was TIF 4 approved? why no article?
Karen Chadra
11:14 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Hi David,
All of the ordinances regarding TIF 4 passed. Alderman Bram again spoke out against moving properties from TIF 1 into TIF 4, particularly a few properties that are not in the Hahn Street redevelopment area. "Why are we including Hamburger Heaven and a podiatrist next door?" he asked. "I think this is a farce. I don't think these properties are necessary to be pulled into the proposed TIF." He and Ald. Gutenkauf voted no to moving Hahn St. et al. from TIF 1 to TIF 4. The other three ordinances passed. Gutenkauf voted "no" on all three of those. She was the only one.