CITY COUNCIL 08/16/2010THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Monday, August 16, 2010 7:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Honorable James J. Cowhey, Jr., Mayor
David D. Grumhaus, Jr., Alderman First Ward Thomas H. Morsch, Jr., Alderman Third Ward
Kent E. Novit, Alderman First Ward Greg C. Hanrahan, Alderman Third Ward
Stuart M. Widman, Alderman Second Ward John A. Looby III, Alderman Fourth Ward
David Moore, Alderman Second Ward Robert T. Palmer, Alderman Fourth Ward
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS 7:30 p.m.
Comments by Mayor
A. Resolution of Sympathy for Ron Shlifka, Owner of Kiddles
2. Comments by City Manager 7:35 p.m.
A. Welcome and Introduction of The Fresh Market
B. Announcement on Upcoming Town Hall Meeting
C. Report on Gorton Community Center
A copy of the latest press release and the list of the Interim Gorton Board are attached beginning on page 7.
3. Council Committee Reports 8:00 p.m.
A. Finance Committee – Alderman Grumhaus
B. Housing Trust –Alderman Morsch
1. Report on Recent Housing Survey
Copies of the Housing Survey will be available under separate cover.
2. Timeline for Future Discussion on Affordable Housing
Attached beginning on page 9 is a memo and public notice regarding this issue.
C. Laurel and Western Avenue Redevelopment Committee – Alderman Morsch
D. Legal Committee – Alderman Palmer
E. Post Office Reuse Planning Team – Alderman Novit
F. Public Works Committee – Alderman Looby
G. Transportation Safety Enhancement Committee – Mayor Cowhey
4. Comments by Council Members 9:30 p.m.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
CONSENT AGENDA 9:35 p.m.
1. Approval of the Minutes from the July 19, 2010 Regular Meeting
A copy of the minutes are attached beginning on page 12.
2. Approval of Authorized Invoices and Payrolls
During the month of July the following amounts were disbursed from the Cashier’s Account:
GENERAL FUND WATER TOTALS INVOICES 442,134.71 66,109.38 508,244.09 PAYROLL 1,061,907.54 116,490.73 1,178,398.27 TOTALS 1,504,042.25 182,600.11 1,686,642.36
The motion is for the approval of Authorized Invoices and Payrolls for July, 2010.
3. Authorization of Treasurer’s Warrants to Meet Expenses of August, 2010
The motion is to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign such warrants as may be necessary to meet the August, 2010 audited accounts.
4. Request for METRA’s Financial Assistance for the Rehabilitation of the CBD Train Station
In the mid-1980’s the CBD Market Square Train Station renovation was spearheaded by the Lake Forest Historic Preservation Foundation. Since its renovation minimal capital improvement
dollars have been allocated by neither Union Pacific, Metra or the City. The railroad tracks are owned by Metra, the depot is owned by the Union Pacific and the City leases the buildings
and handles all maintenance.
At its March 2010 City Council meeting the Preservation Foundation presented the Harboe Architects Historic Structure Report outlining the approximate $3 million in restoration the train
station needs. The Union Pacific has maintained its position that Metra is responsible for budgeting for capital improvements to its train stations.
Therefore, the attached letter on page 32 is formally seeking Metra to contribute $250,000 towards exterior stabilization improvements to the train station and appropriately allocate
capital improvement funding for the next 3-4 years until the building has been fully restored. The City Council has approved $150,000 towards capital improvements in the FY 11 budget.
5. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Grant Application between the City and IDOT for Funding of the Renovation of the CBD Train Station
(ITEP Grant)
A copy of the Resolution is attached beginning on page 34.
6. SUBJECT: Approve an easement agreement with METRA for the City-Schools Fiber Network Project
PRESENTED BY: Joe Gabanski, Network Administrator, Cornelius DuBose, District 67 and District 115 Technology Director
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: Enter into an easement agreement with METRA along with a fiber connection fee and miscellaneous permit fees, at an amount not-to-exceed $82,000.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: In 2008 the City Council approved the City-Schools Fiber Network (CSFN) project, which would link all buildings within the City and the two school districts,
District 67 and District 115, via the newly laid fiber network. The CSFN was implemented to put the City and the two School Districts in an advantageous position to contain ongoing costs
while effectively responding to future technological advancements in network communications systems. To ensure the network is able to provide the necessary reliability for critical communications
and a growing dependence on the network in all areas of City and School business, the CSFN was designed with a redundant network backbone ring interconnecting key City and School facilities
to protect against extended service outages caused by a fiber break.
A copy of the full report and other background materials is attached beginning on page __ of the packet.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Enter into an easement agreement with METRA along with a fiber connection fee and miscellaneous permit fees, including a one-time fee in the amount of $28,166.67
payable to Metra, and a fee payable to CMC Heartland Partners Liquidating Trust in the amount of $53,333.33.
Recommended Action: Approval of the Consent Agenda as presented.
NEW BUSINESS 9:45 p.m.
1. Discussion on Zoning Variations
PRESENTED BY CITY ATTORNEY VICTOR FILIPPINI
City Attorney Victor Filippini will give a presentation on established general policy and procedures regarding zoning and land use within the City. A copy of a memo written by the City
Attorneys is attached for your reference beginning on page 58 of the packet.
Recommended Action: For information purposes only.
OLD BUSINESS 10:15 p.m.
1. Consideration of a Report and Recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals in support of variances from the Maximum Lot Coverage Requirements and Various Zoning Setback Requirements
to Allow Construction of an Addition, a Replacement Garage and a Replacement Front Porch at 144 E. Westminster. (First Reading and, if desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CATHERINE CZERNIAK (847-810-3504)
At the July 19, 2010 meeting, the City Council considered the recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals on this matter. After considerable discussion, the Council tabled the matter
and requested additional background information on variances including how the City has viewed requests which involve multiple variances in the past and the potential long term impact
of approving projects that exceed the limitations of multiple provisions of the Zoning Code. The City Attorney will provide an overview of variances at the meeting prior to the Council’s
continued consideration of this petition.
On May 24, 2010 and July 8, 2010, the Zoning Board of Appeals held public hearings to consider the request for the following variances. The variances are requested to allow construction
of an addition at the rear of the house to accommodate a family room, bathroom, mudroom and rear porch on the first floor and a master bedroom on the second floor. In addition, the
existing garage, which will be removed to allow construction access for the addition, will be replaced in its current location and form, and the front porch, which is in deteriorating
condition, will also be replaced in its current location and form.
The specific variances are detailed below.
A variance from the maximum amount of the lot permitted to be covered by structures.
Maximum lot coverage permitted by Code 30% = 1,296 square feet
Existing lot coverage is 28% = 1,218 square feet
Proposed lot coverage with addition is 36.7% = 1,586 square feet
Variance requested is 6.7% = 290 square feet over allowable
Variances from the side yard setbacks for the addition.
Side yard setback required by Code = 12 feet from property line
Existing house – east side = 2.8 feet from property line
Proposed addition - east side = 3.5 feet from property line
Variance requested east side = 8.5 foot encroachment
Existing house – west side = 7.5 feet from property line
Proposed addition - west side = 7.75 feet from property line
Variance requested west side = 4.25 foot encroachment
Variance from front yard setback for porch
Front yard setback required by Code = 40 feet from property line
Existing house – front porch = 12.75 feet from property line
Proposed front porch = 12.75 feet from property line
Variance requested front yard = 27.25 foot encroachment
(No change from existing condition – porch rebuilt on same foot print)
Variances accessory structure setbacks for garage
Rear yard setback required by Code = 10 feet from property line
Existing garage = 6.5 feet from property line
Replacement garage = 6.5 feet from property line
Variance requested rear yard = 3.5 foot encroachment
(No change from existing condition—garage rebuilt on same footprint)
Side yard setback required by Code = 10 feet from property line
Existing garage = 4 feet from property line
Replacement garage = 4 feet from property line
Variance requested side yard = 6 foot encroachment
(No change from existing condition—garage rebuilt on same footprint)
This project was also presented to the Building Review Board on July 7, 2010 and the Board approved a building scale variance of 15.2% by a 4 -1 vote, with the Chairman voting in opposition.
The Zoning Board of Appeals heard a presentation from the petitioner’s representative and had extensive discussion about the requested variances. The Board heard testimony in support
of the project from a number of neighboring property owners, including the adjacent property owner to the west, and received letters raising some concerns about the proposed project
from the adjacent neighbor to the east.
The Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the requested variances to the City Council and developed findings in support of the recommendation. The Board’s recommendation
is subject to conditions of approval pertaining to additional impervious surface on the property and drainage impacts. The Ordinance, including the findings and conditions of approval,
is included in the Council packet beginning on page 66.
Zoning Board of Appeals’ Recommendation: Waive first reading and grant final approval of the Ordinance to allow variances as detailed above and as similarly detailed in the Ordinance
subject to conditions of approval and consistent with the plans dated June 30, 2010 attached to the Ordinance.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
ADJOURNMENT 10:30 p.m.
Office of the City Manager
August 13, 2010
The City of Lake Forest is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who require
certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, are required
to contact City Manager Robert R. Kiely, Jr., at (847) 234-2600 promptly to allow the City to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.
August 16, 2010 Agenda Page 2