Will County Gazette

City of Lockport Committee of the Whole met Oct. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

REGULAR MEETING of the Committee of the Whole of the City of Lockport, Illinois was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 in the Board Room, 3rd Floor, of the Central Square Building, 222 E. Ninth Street, Lockport, Illinois. Mayor Steve Streit called the Meeting to order at 7:23 pm.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Mayor, Steve Streit

Alderman, Patrick Sheehan

Alderman, Jonathan Pugh

Alderman, Patrick McDonald

Alderman, JR Gillogly

Alderwoman, Christine Bergbower

Alderman, Darren Deskin

Alderwoman, Joann Bartelsen

Alderwoman, Renee Saban

ABSENT: NONE

ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator, Ben Benson

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams

City Clerk, Kathy Gentile

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies

Finance Director, Lisa Heglund

Chief of Police, Richard Harang

PRESS: Cathy Wilker, LCTV

MAYORS REPORT

1. M-1. Commerce Street Parking Lot (923 S. State Street) Redevelopment Informational Update Presentation

•  Director of Community & Economic Director, Lance Thies, informed the Council on the history on the property and established purchase agreement that had previously been approved by Council. This PSA put in motion a due diligence period for the developer, FORE Investment, to investigate the development opportunity, financial structure, project design, pro forma and total project costs to verify, or request changes to, the terms that would be included in a final Development Agreement.

•  Dan Klister, representative of FORE Investment, presented to Council, sharing preliminary design and proposed schedule for development to start in Spring, 2024. Seeking increased incentive amount to keep the project fiscally feasible.

•  From a budget perspective, the City has the option to use TIF and gaming funds to support the incentive request.

•  Discussion among the Council ensued, regarding the ratio of residential and retail in the current design, and the amount of TIF that would be generated from the improved property.

ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSENT OR ACTION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CD-1. Redevelopment Agreement with FORE Real Estate Holdings, LLC, or its Subsidiary, for the Development and Economic Incentive to Construct a 3-Story Building with Apartment and Commercial Units on 923 S. State St., Lockport, IL (Commerce St. Parking Lot)

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams, presented the Staff report. This agreement is similar to others used for redevelopment within the City, similar to Embers. The Agreement also contains waivers of some impact fees and reduction of others in order to close the financial gap on the Project. For this project, there are protections in place for the City to ensure that the Project gets completed by January 1, 2026 including the liquidated damages provision which will be deducted from Developer's economic incentive annual payment if the Project is not completed by the deadline.

Discussion among the Council, and request for the developer to leverage local contractors where possible. City Staff will work with TIF members to determine if any type of TIF negotiation can help the cost effectiveness of the project.

DIRECTION: Add as an Action item for the November 1 City Council Meeting

CD-2. Concept Plan for a 148 Unit Townhome Development Generally Located North of 151st Street and West of I-355 / PZC Case #2023-012

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams, presented the Staff report. Michael Stockwell, on behalf of Lennar Home Builders, has submitted application for a Concept Plan for an 148 unit Townhome Development named Oak Valley. The item was heard at the regularly scheduled Plan and Zoning Commission meeting on October 10, 2023, and voted unanimously 7:0 to recommend approval of the development subject to a few conditions. If approved tonight, this item would be presented to Council in February or March, 2024 with the final development plans.

Discussion among the Council regarding the lot layouts and elevations. The property was originally zoned to be industrial.

DIRECTION: Add as a Consent Agenda Item for the November 1 City Council Meeting

CD-3. Special Use Permit for a Planned Development for a Limited Manufacturing Development; Preliminary/Final Development Plan Review (In-One-Step); and Final Re subdivision Plat; for Lots 19 & 20 in Prime Business Park (J&A Sales) / PZC Case #2023-013

Director of Community & Economic Director, Lance Thies, presented the Staff report. The applicant R&T Property, LTD, on behalf of J&A Sales (manufacturer that produces gasket products) is seeking approval for the construction of a new 30,000 sf industrial building.

The applicant has agreed to enter into a license agreement with the City, allowing them to use the Salem Lane stub road as an integral part of their operation for parking and loading.

Tim Schlosser, RT Properties, was present to answer questions.

DIRECTION: Add as a Consent Agenda Item for the November 1 City Council Meeting

CD-4. License Agreement for the Use and Occupancy of the Northern Portion of Salem Lane for Business to be Located Northwest of Salem Lane and Prime Boulevard, Prime Business Park, Lockport, IL

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams, presented the Staff report. The License agreement will allow the owner to use the property as a stub road, as an integral part of their operation for parking and loading.

DIRECTION: Add as an Action item for the November 1 City Council Meeting

PW-1. Release of Bond and Initial Acceptance of Site Improvements for Thorntons Lockport

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff report. Seeking Council’s acceptance of all improvements and release of the bond. The bond would be replaced by a 10% one year maintenance guarantee.

DIRECTION: Add as a Consent Agenda Item for the November 1 City Council Meeting

PW-2. Accept the Proposal from Chamlin & Associates, Inc. in the Amount of $203,000 for Phase I Preliminary Engineering Services for the IL 171 Channelization Project

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff report. This project would provide a bi-directional turn lane, water main and sewer, and a safer route for those traveling thru Lockport.

Discussion among the Council, and whether this channelization would be affected by IDOT. DIRECTION: Add as a Consent Agenda Item for the November 1 City Council Meeting PW-3. Proposed 2024-2030 Capital Improvement Plan and Supporting Funding Discussion

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff report on the CIP for projects scheduled thru 2030. The projects include $170M of improvements. Review of Water and Sewer Rate Study, cost of service analysis, user group and rate structure analysis, rate stabilization analysis, rate scenarios, and revenue options.

The rate structure model is a tool that the City can use to manage water and sewer rates. The model is intended to be an annual review, to evaluate and adjust year-over-year. The rate amounts can then be adjusted up-and-down, as needed. With the proposed rate structures, Seniors will pay less water/sewer, and potentially remove the minimum requirement.

Assuming the new rate structure is approved, the revenue would be used to begin CIP work starting in 2025.

By law, water rates need to be used for sewer projects. Water/sewer rate funding covers only water and sewer projects.

Separate revenue sources are required to fund infrastructure projects that are not water/sewer.

The current CIP includes many projects that are long overdue, on aging infrastructure that dates back 50+ years. The projects need to be prioritized to ensure that Lockport can continue to provide service at the appropriate levels. Revenues are required to support these capital projects. The City can choose to delay or push projects out, but some short-term fixes may be needed.

Previously, the City had approved a tax in 2010 or 2011, then added a gas tax in 2018.

Mayor thanks Staff for the excellent work in researching and compiling all the information for today’s presentation.

Staff will prepare multiple ordinances, one for water/sewer rate, and a separate one for possible tax increase.

DIRECTION: Add as two Action items for the November 1 City Council Meeting

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY BARTELSEN, SECONDED BY SABAN TO ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 10:04 PM. VOICE VOTE ON THE MOTION.

AYES – Sheehan, Pugh, Mcdonald, Gillogly, Bergbower, Deskin, Bartelsen, Saban

ABSENT – None

ABSTAIN – None

8 AYES, 0 NAY, 0 ABSENT, 0 ABSTAIN – MOTION CARRIED

https://lockport.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=lockport_46cc4ab2eb3f3c09125df7f2b79faff7.pdf&view=1