City of Crest Hill City Council met Sept. 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council work session was called to order by Mayor Raymond R. Soliman at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1610 Plainfield Road Crest Hill, Will County, Illinois.
The following Council members were present: Mayor Raymond Soliman, City Clerk Vicki Hackney, City Treasurer Glen Conklin, Alderman Scott Dyke, Alderman John Vershay, Alderwoman Barbara Sklare, Alderwoman Claudia Gazal, Alderwoman Tina Oberlin, Alderman Nate Albert, Alderman Joe Kubal.
Also present were: City Administrator Heather McGuire, Assistant City Administrator/HR Director Megan Fulara, Finance Supervisor Ashli Motyka, Building Inspector Kirk Wilkins, City Mechanic Brian Semplinski, Financial Advisor Nick Narducci.
Absent were: Alderman Marco Coladipietro, Police Chief Ed Clark, Public Works Director Tom Migatz, Community Development Director Scott McMaster, Director of Water/Wastewater Mark Siefert.
TOPIC: Renderings for City Hall and Police Department
Mayor Soliman presented the Renderings for City Hall/Police Station per the memo dated September 20, 2019. Administrator McGuire gave a presentation on the three options for the new buildings. Option #1 is very similar to the existing library. Option #2 is a combination of option #1 and option #3. Option #3 is more of a prairie style. Staff is supportive of option #3. This concept would be the lowest maintenance cost and lowest construction cost. Option #1 could be up to four times higher because of the stonework and labor. There are also higher costs involved with the number of windows and maintenance cost for them. Option #3 also compliments the existing library without duplicating it. There is also the benefit of not having flat roofs, and that there is an overhang that will shade the building. We can also do a steel roof which would give us a fifty-year life span. There will also be energy savings due to the reduction in windows in this plan. Alderwoman Gazal felt that options #1 and #2 had the look of a school building. Alderwoman Oberlin felt that option #3 complimented the existing library. Discussion followed on the design. Administrator McGuire informed the Council that once we decide which option we like, the design can be tweaked. Discussion followed on how the building and garden would be laid out. Alderman Albert informed the Council that he spoke with Alderman Coladipietro and he was in favor of option #3.
Mayor Soliman asked for an informal vote on Renderings for City Hall and Police Department option #3. All members present were in agreement.
TOPIC: City Hall/Police Station Finance Options-PMA
Mayor Soliman presented the City Hall/Police Station Finance Options-PMA per the packet dated September 23, 2019. Administrator McGuire introduced Robert Lewis and Andrew Kim from PMA Securities. She went over the background of the revenue resources for the proposed building. The City would like to do this project without raising taxes. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Kim gave a presentation on the update to the financing options for the City Hall and Police Station. Discussion followed on the interest rates and how they have fluctuated over the years. The Public Works facility which is currently under construction is being paid for from the capital projects fund. The new building is projected to cost $13,500,000.00. The funding for the project would come from the remaining balance in the capital projects fund, the sale of certain City properties and financing the remainder of the project. The City would need to finance roughly $11,000,000.00. Discussion then followed on the history and projections of non-home rule sales tax. Alderwoman Oberlin said that we recently made changes to the real estate tax rebate program. Will this change have any effect on the existing fund. Administrator McGuire did not think so. Finance Supervisor Motyka went over the program with the Council. Mr. Lewis gave a presentation on the alternate revenue bond options and alternate revenue bonds. Alderwoman Oberlin asked if something were to happen, can the bonds be modified. The bonds would be called eight to nine years afterwards. They can be refinanced when you get within the call date. Administrator McGuire explained that the City has worked this out so that we hopefully won't fall into that type of scenario. Mr. Lewis went over the background of the alternate revenue bonds and how they are repaid. Under law the repayment period cannot exceed more than 40 years. He commends 20 years. These bonds do not count against the 8.625% hon-home rule municipal debt limit. Are subject to a back-door petition period of 30 days. You must have 7.5% of registered voters sign the petition and the City would be required to hold a bond issue notification hearing. He presented the proposed timeline of key dates for the bonds. Mr. Lewis explained how the bonds would be sold and the history of the interest rates. He then went over the history of the Build America Bonds and how they work. Alderwoman Oberlin questioned the cost to administer and oversee the bonds. Discussion followed. Mr. Kim then went over the background of the credit rating analysis. The City has a credit rating of AA3 which is a very strong rating. Discussion followed on the Moody's credit rating versus S&P's credit rating. Mr. Kim discussed the rating comparison that was done with other communities. Mayor Soliman asked if we go with S&P will we be locked in. Discussion followed. The cost to switch companies could cost up to $25,000.00. Alderwoman Oberlin questioned the fees. They are fairly close in price depending on the bond issue. Alderwoman Oberlin asked if we can have a comparison between Moody and S&P so the Council has a visual to look at. Discussion followed on the credit rating of surrounding communities. Alderman Albert asked if there is something that we need to vote on. Administrator McGuire explained that we will need to move forward with approval of the ordinance to start the bond process.
Mayor Soliman asked for an informal vote to move forward with the ordinance of intent and BINA hearing ordinance. Five of the members present were in agreement. Alderman Albert abstained. Alderwoman Oberlin would like to think about her decision further. Alderman Albert questioned the selling of the City property Administrator McGuire went over the parcels that would be involved.
Mayor Soliman asked for an informal vote regarding the Build America Bonds. Six of the members present were in agreement. Alderman Albert abstained.
TOPIC: Wage Increase for Seasonal Laborers
Mayor Soliman presented the Wage Increase for Seasonal Laborers per the memo dated September 20, 2019. Assistant Administrator/HR Director Fulara explained that when our seasonal employees are done for the year, they do an exit interview. The comment that comes up most often is the rate of pay. After doing a survey of the surrounding communities it was found that we are at the low end of the pay scale. A lot of our seasonal employees are doing some of the same work that our entry level employees do. There is also a new wage scale that will bring the minimum wage up to $15.00 by 2025.
The recommendation is to increase the wages to $12.00 with a.50 per hour increase for returning employees who do an exit interview. Treasurer Conklin asked if we have budgeted for this increase. Finance Supervisor Motyka explained that we have 14 to 16 seasonal employees who are only allowed to work 90 days. We have money in the budget to cover this.
Mayor Soliman asked for an informal vote on the wage increase for seasonal laborers. All members present were in agreement.
Mr. Lewis went over a few points that were questioned regarding the bond issuance and the Build America Bonds. He will update the information for the comparison for the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments.
MAYORS UPDATES: Mayor Soliman announced that the annual Chaney Halloween parade will be on October 31, 2019. This will be on the agenda for the next Council
woman Oberlin explained that she was elected to look out for the residents of the City. That is why she questions even the professionals on various subjects that come up before the Council.
COMMITTEE/LIAISON UPDATES: There were no committee/liaison updates.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATES: Administrator McGuire announced that the issue with Sullivan Ct. has been resolved and the residents who were affected are back in their homes. She will update the Council when she has more information. Mayor Soliman commended everyone who worked to resolve the issue.
Administrator McGuire announced that the sandblasting and painting of the fire hydrants will begin this week. Mayor Soliman explained that they will begin with the main arteries of the City. Alderwoman Oberlin asked if this would include the fire hydrants in the associations. It would. Administrator McGuire explained that the interior streets would be done the following year.
Administrator McGuire announced the Serafin will be doing the focus groups for the businesses on Wednesday. Administrator McGuire will keep the Council updated when she gets further information.
Mayor Soliman announced that there is a need for an executive session on setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. (5 İLCS 120/2(c)(6).
(#1) Motion by Alderwoman Oberlin, seconded by Alderman Kubal to go into an executive session on setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6).
On roll call, the vote was:
AYES: Ald. Albert, Oberlin, Gazal, Sklare, Vershay, Dyke, Kubal.
NAYES: None.
ABSENT: Ald. Coladipietro.
There being seven (7) affirmative votes, the MOTION CARRIED,
The executive session began at 8:45 p.m.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:50 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:51
http://www.cityofcresthill.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09232019-406
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