City of Joliet Land Use & Legislative Committee met April 24.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
1. Roll Call
Present: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Absent: None.
2. Approval Of The Minutes Of The January 24, 2018 Land Use/Legislative Committee Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes of the January 24, 2018 Land Use and Legislative Committee Meeting was made by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion seconded by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
3. Citizens To Be Heard On Agenda Items
Mr. John Sheridan appeared before the Committee. He stated his concern with the expenditure of the CDBG money.
Mr. Garland Mays, President for Building Brighter Communities Inc., appeared before the Committee. Mr. Mays updated the Committee about the BBC entity and what they are about.
Mr. Mac Willis, President, Unity CDC, appeared before the Committee and inquired about the agenda item for the Quality of Life Plan. Mr. Hales, City Manager, responded that it is on the agenda for informational purposes only. Mr. Willis said Unity's experience with working with the City of Joliet on home projects requires skilled persons to do that.
Ms. Laquisha Heath, Unity CDC, appeared before the Committee. She said once the Quality of Life Plan is discussed on the agenda she is available and can introduce any of the future actions and program procedures that will be coming forth from Unity CDC now that she has come aboard as the new E.D.
Ms. Amy Sanchez, Joliet, Board Member of Unity CDC, appeared before the Committee. She stated her concerns with the topics on the agenda regarding developing another Community Based Organization.
4. An Ordinance Amending Chapter 19, Article Ii, Division 6, Illegally Parked, Abandoned, Inoperable Or Stolen Vehicles, And Article Iv, Impoundment, Of The City Of Joliet Code Of Ordinances (Revising the procedure to impound disabled and abandoned vehicles and consolidating and updating the impoundment of vehicles involved in certain offenses)
Mr. Shanahan, Corporation Counsel, discussed the 3 Code of Ordinance changes at the same time. He said the goal is of the City to consolidate and expand the process for Administrative hearings. He explained in further detail a better system for adjudication. He reviewed the three ordinance revisions for fine consolidation, administrative tow for violations involving vehicles and the administration adjudication process.
Mr. Shanahan reviewed the revisions in this ordinance after item #6 on the agenda. There was minor discussion regarding towing of vehicles.
Motion to recommend agenda items #4, #5 and #6 on the agenda be sent to the full City Council for approval was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
5. A Comprehensive Ordinance Consolidating And Updating The Procedure For Administrative Adjudication Of The City Of Joliet Code Of Ordinances (Consolidating administrative adjudication into Chapter 3, revising the procedures for administrative adjudication violations and updating the procedure for appeals to an administrative hearing)
Mr. Shanahan reviewed the revisions to this ordinance last.
Mr. Dave Braner, IT Director, said the next step is to try to find the platform to make everything work. There is an RFP in play to try and help find a software package to help the city adjudicate correctly. He explained in further detail.
Councilman Morris asked if someone is in violation of not having proper fire extinguishers, exit lights etc. at the property isn't there some type of fine. Mr. Shanahan responded.
Motion to recommend agenda items #4, #5 and #6 on the agenda be sent to the full City Council for approval was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
6. An Ordinance Consolidating The Fines In The City Of Joliet Code Of Ordinances Into Section 1-8, Renamed Penalty For Violation Of Code; Continuing Violations, And Updating The General Penalty Provisions Of The City Of Joliet Code Of Ordinances (Consolidate, amend and update the penalty sections throughout the City Code to reference Section 1-8)
Mr. Shanahan discussed the ordinance revisions for fine consolidations first out of the 3 ordinance revisions.
Mr. Bob Nachtrieb, Cathedral Area Preservation Association, asked if the revisions today supersede or take care of the stuff that was being worked on a year ago with rental inspection fees. Mr. Shanahan said it does not and is still in the works.
Motion to recommend agenda items #4, #5 and #6 on the agenda be sent to the full City Council for approval was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
7. Council Memo #215-18: Resolution Approving the Designation of the Committee for Building Brighter Communities Inc. as a Community Based Development Organization (CBDO) for the City of Joliet
Councilman Morris asked for clarification on how the proposed resolution designating the Committee for Building Brighter Communities Inc. as a Community Based Development Organization for the City of Joliet got started.
Mr. Sterr, Director of Neighborhood Services, responded to Councilman Morris. He said his predecessor began to cultivate the formulation of a Community Based Development Organization in order to utilize CDBG funds to redevelop the property across from Water's Edge on DesPlaines Street. Under Federal guidelines, the City has 2 sources of funding for housing. One of them is the Home Investment Partnership and the other is CDBG funding. He explained in further detail.
Councilman Morris stated he realizes going back there were conversations about the properties with the Housing Authority of Joliet. He is trying to understand how they got to the Building a Brighter Community organization as opposed to Habitat, Cornerstone or Unity not being a vehicle to do the same thing. Mr. Sterr responded that with CDBG money it is not for Housing Development Organizations. That is what the Home Investment Partnership funding is for.
Councilwoman Quillman said the other night at the City Council meeting they were surprised as well because they did not know about the other committee. She is asking what happened to the Quality of Life Plan. Mr. Sterr responded that it goes back to in the realm of CDBG funding and it can only be done with a CBDO. He said they did have public hearings on June 7, and July 24, 2017 for the allocation of 2017 funding that did identify $220,000 going to a CBDO for housing construction. No one attended the hearings and there were no public comments. There were no objections at that point from the public to a CBDO.
Councilwoman Quillman said it can be confusing if you do not know what all of the initials mean. Mr. Sterr said going forward they are now sending out formal applications to all of the organizations for CDBG funding.
Councilman Morris asked how the BBC came about. Mr. Sterr said the Committee for Building Brighter Communities was formed specifically for the development for the construction and sale of housing for low and moderate income owners in the City of Joliet and this was cultivated in order to use CDBG funds exclusively for new construction.
Mr. Hales, City Manager, said it was a critical question to ask as to why another agency could not be used. He said this does raise another important question, should the City's policy be to use CDBG money specifically for the construction of new affordable housing. The history has been utilizing the CDBG money for existing housing rehabilitation and helping bring existing housing stock up to current standards. Now that the City is looking at building new housing it causes some discussion if the City should go in that direction. Mr. Hales questioned if the Consolidated Plan really speaks to this as a new policy to utilize funding for the creation of new housing. Mr. Sterr responded that it does and he explained.
Mr. Sterr gave some information from the bi-laws of BBC.
Councilwoman Quillman asked what monies were used for the Richards Grove project. Mr. Sterr said originally it was started by having developers build houses for cost and then the City would use home investment money for down payment assistance.
Ms. Betsy Satcher, Vice-President for Committee for Building Brighter Communities, appeared before the Committee. Ms. Satcher said everyone is wondering how this got started. She explained the entire background of how they got started beginning with a phone call from Mr. Melesio when he was the Director of Neighborhood Services.
Councilwoman Quillman said unfortunately Alfredo did not tell the City Council about this.
Mr. Jackson explained that he and Mr. Sterr are coming in at the tail end of this. The only thing from a transitional stand point that they can rely on is a Consolidated Plan or the annual action plan where the strategy is memorialized. He said hopefully as they move forward with this they might get more participation at the Block Grant meetings so that these things can be vetted a lot better. He also stated the Consolidated Plan process is coming to an end in 2019 therefore this is all very timely.
Mr. Mays said part of the targeting comes because of the lack of communication. He said he flew to Las Vegas last year and sat with Mr. Melesio concerning their organization. He said Mr. Sterr and their lawyer have been great to work with. They are doing this for the neighborhoods and for the families and so that other cities can look at Joliet and see that this CBDO worked and maybe they would try it.
Mr. Hales said when this was brought to his attention it had become obvious that some of the other Council did not get in the loop on many things that have happened. The last thing they want is to set the CBDO up for failure.
Councilwoman Quillman asked what the money can be used for specifically. Mr. Sterr responded.
Ms. Heath, Executive Director of Unity CDC, stated they could possibly pose a solution with being able to work with BBC.
Councilman Morris said he does not see any problem with approving the designation of Committee for Building Brighter Communities Inc. in hopes that everyone can work together.
Councilwoman Quillman made a motion to go to the full City Council without a recommendation. Councilman Dickinson seconded the motion. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote of aye.
8. Council Memo #216-18: Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a CBDO Agreement Between the City of Joliet and Committee for Building Brighter Communities Inc. in an Amount up to $220,000 and the Conveyance of Vacant Surplus Property at 344 South DesPlaines Street
Councilwoman Quillman asked why this property and is there any other property that can be built without having to remediate it. Mr. Sterr responded he is not certain of other lots that the City owns that they can place this house. He was going off of Mr. Melesio's overall plan with Water's Edge being developed on the other side of the street. It would really impact the district if they could develop the City's side of the street as well. He explained in further detail.
Councilman Morris asked when the deadline is for the funds. Mr. Sterr responded.
Mr. Hales suggested putting on hold the two council memos and have a hearing and get the residents to weigh in on what they would like.
There was minor discussion on how to utilize the money.
Mr. Sterr said for this year's action plan they are publishing notices in the paper this Thursday for applications. They will be having a public hearing June 20, 2018 on how to spend the allocations for the 2018 dollars that they will be getting. He said some of this discussion can tie into that same public hearing. There was further discussion regarding the public hearings and the deadlines.
Motion to table the Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a CBDO Agreement between the City of Joliet and Committee for Building Brighter Communities Inc. in an Amount up to $220,000 and the Conveyance of Vacant Surplus Property at 344 South DesPlaines Street to a future Land Use/Legislative Committee meeting was made by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion seconded by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
9. Council Memo #221-18: Request Authorization to Award a Contract for the Environmental Remediation of Vacant Parcel at 344 South DesPlaines to Chase Environmental Group in the Amount of $90,650.00
This item was discussed with Council Memo #216-18.
Motion to table the Request Authorization to Award a Contract for the Environmental Remediation of Vacant Parcel at 344 South DesPlaines to Chase Environmental Group in the Amount of $90,650.00 to a future Land Use/Legislative Committee meeting was made by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion seconded by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
10. Joliet Quality Of Life Plan
Quality Of Life Plan For The 4th And 5th Council Districts (003)
Mr. Jackson gave brief background information about the approved Quality of Life Plan.
Mr. Hales stated that it does not appear there has been any recent discussion of it and he is not certain if there was an implementation plan. He wanted it on the agenda so that sometime in the future the Land Use/Legislative Committee could revisit the plan to see if it is still relevant today.
Ms. Amy Sanchez, Unity CDC, said the Plan does mention the old Joliet Prison. She said the Collins Street Task Force is still active and they have plans in the form of recreation for the prison east that is not part of the intergovernmental agreement.
Ms. Laquisha Heath asked if there is a specific application or procedure that the Unity CDC needs to take to apply for the CBDO opportunity. Mr. Sterr responded there are specific guidelines to be qualified as a CBDO. He will meet with her after the meeting to provide her with what he needs for documentation.
11. Old/New Business—Not For Final Action Or Recommendation
a. Discussion of Plastic Bag Tax/Ordinance
Checkout Bag Tax Affidavit for Apportionment
Checkout Bag Tax FAQs
Checkout Bag Tax Placard
Checkout Bag Tax Sample store receipts
Chicago Checkout Bag Tax Ordinance
Guidance on the Checkout Bag Tax
Mr. Shanahan said he will speak with the person that wanted this on the agenda instead of coming before the Committee. At some point in the future it will come back on the agenda.
b. Committee Purpose Statement
Land Use and Legislative Committee Role and Purpose Statement
This item will go on the next meeting agenda.
c. Meeting Date and Time
Councilwoman Quillman said that setting a regular meeting schedule will not work for the Committee members.
12. Public Comments
None.
13. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson, Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman, Councilman Terry Morris, Chairman.
Nays: None.
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