City of Macomb Committee of the Whole met July 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The Committee of the Whole, of the Macomb City Council, met in the City Council Chambers on Monday, July 10, 2023 at 5:15 p.m. located in City Hall at 232 East Jackson Street, Macomb, IL.
Mayor Inman called the meeting to order and roll call was taken, Deputy Clerk Jennifer Cerven called the roll and the following were present: Aldermen Justin Schuch, John Vigezzi, Byron Shabazz, Dave Dorsett, Ashley Katz, Don Wynn, and Dennis Moon.
In addition to the Mayor, Deputy Clerk, and Aldermen, City Administrator Scott Coker, Interim Chief Jeff Hamer, CDC John Bannon, and Fire Chief Dan Meyer were present. City Attorney Lisa Scalf was absent.
Mayor Inman swore in new City Macomb Police Officer Jonathan Meyer.
Public Comment:
Ms. Mallory Kessler highlighted important urban chicken ordinance details; to reduce noise, a limit of 6 chickens with no roosters, to reduce smell, only 3 cubic feet of manure for composting purposes and windows in coops for better ventilation, to sure the physical presents of chickens are not a nuisance to neighbors, chickens must be secure and coops must be placed within back yard boundaries.
Ms. Lindsey Wiemerslage stated she believed urban chickens would have a positive impact on agriculture within our community, helping teach children on food sources and how to care for animals. She stated urban chickens produce healthier eggs and help avoid supporting industrial farms that produce the majority of eggs sold in the United States.
Ms. Lauren Merritt stated she wanted to touch on the community impact of chickens, and stated a quote from the book “13 ways to kill your community” in which she quoted, “Governments make rules to protect people from stupid choices, but inevitably some people make even stupider choices that no one could have imagined”, those that would follow this ordinance, were doing it for the right reasons. She thanked CDC Bannon and his department for putting the ordinance together.
Ms. Katie Dowling stated she has been helping the Planning Committee on the technical side for the farm bureau. She felt the ordinance was very well thought out, and will help eliminate potential harm and disturbance to the community, as well as the chickens and caretakers. She stated disease control was very well stated in the ordinance.
Ms. Cassie Brannif stated she lives outside of Macomb and has chickens, she believes free range chickens were healthier in comparison to industrial. She stated chickens were a sustainable food and create food security. Chickens were a natural pest control and their waste could be used as fertilizer mixed in with other things are beneficial to gardens.
Mr. Chris Enroth, horticultural educator with the University of Illinois Extension, wanted council and the public to know they are available to use as a resource, they could help with questions and connect the community or elected officials to poultry specialist, for any further questions or concerns.
There was no further discussion.
The first item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance Amending Section 17-639 and Chapter 17, Appendix A of the Macomb Municipal Code Pertaining to Permissible Special Uses Within the R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts. CDC Bannon presented a memorandum highlighting the request to modify Chapter 17 Use Matrix to allow greenhouses in R-1 and R-2 zoning districts by special use. He stated this would require applicants to go to the Planning Commission for approval and City Council for final approval. This would propose a size limit of 800 square feet for greenhouses and nurseries allowed by these special uses.
He stated the Community Development Committee met on July 5, 2023 and recommended that City Council adopt the proposed code modifications, prompted by an application to rezone 1003 East Carroll Street to B-2 General Business. The owner desires to build a small 12’x24’ greenhouse on the property. The Planning Commission discussed and recommended that the Commission would be interested in hearing a special use application for a greenhouse in an R-2 Single Family Residential zoning district.
Alderman Moon asked how the process for getting permission today would be different if we change the ordinance.
CDC Bannon explained the municipal code prohibits accessory structures without a primary dwelling unit on an R-1 and R-2 zone property. Currently, there was no special use provisions. They were proposing to create a special use provision that would allow for an applicant to go to the planning commission and the city council for a special use of a greenhouse in an R-1 and R-2 zone.
Alderman Moon asked if the greenhouses would be structured.
CDC Bannon stated yes.
There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated this item would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.
The second item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance to Amend Portions of the Municipal Code of Macomb Amending Parking Provisions and No Parking Zones. There was no discussion and Mayor Inman stated this item would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.
The third item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Municipal Code Adopting an Administrative Adjudication System for Municipal Ordinance Violations.
Alderman Dorsett stated at one time they had looked at bringing Administrative Adjudication forward to streamline the process to make things easier for both staff and for those on the other side of the issue. It was looked at favorably and had been recommended by the Illinois Municipal League, but never moved forward. He stated this was looked at for a number of years, and the Committee has recommended adoption.
There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated this item would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.
The fourth item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance authorizing the Sale or Certain Personal Property (Equipment and Vehicles) Owned by the City of Macomb. There was no discussion and Mayor Inman stated this item would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.
The fifth item on the agenda for discussion was on approval of Economic Development Loan. Committee has the Power to Act. CDC Bannon presented a memorandum explaining the RLF loan. He stated staff is proposing to award AG Helton/ Action Properties LLC a $100,000.00 economic development loan from the City CDAP RLF Fund. Current balance $172,944.00 ending balance for the year in the account, contingent upon Action Properties closing on 1325 East Jackson Street and obtaining their private financing and other gap financing for the property purchase and development. The funds will be used in combination with sales tax incentive to fill the former K-mart with 3-4 retail tenants.
City of Macomb: $100,000.00 (3%)
MAEDCO: $100,000.00 (3%)
Prairie Hills: $100,000.00 (5%)
Blended: 3.67%
10 years/ 5-year balloon
CDC Bannon stated the applicant has electronically submitted the application along with supporting financial documentation that was required.
Mayor Inman stated the MAEDCO Board is scheduled to meet tomorrow, and it was on their agenda for consideration. There are provisions we are asking for, and a need, for collateral to be identified in the loan. The applicant is aware and plans to provide the additional information.
CDC Bannon stated this was a $4 million project with GAP financing.
Alderman Moon expressed his concern on this being brought up for discussion before MAEDCO had made their decision and asked if there was a time element.
Mayor Inman stated yes and the motion would be contingent upon their approval.
Alderman Vigezzi moved seconded by Alderman Dorsett to approve the Economic Development Loan, on question being put, Aldermen Schuch, Vigezzi, Shabazz, Dorsett, Katz, Wynn, and Moon being all Aldermen voting “Aye on roll call and no “Nay” votes on roll call, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried.
The sixth item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance to Amend Article II of the Chapter 6 of the Municipal Code to allow Chickens in the City of Macomb. CDC Bannon presented a memorandum highlighting the draft ordinance on urban chickens. He stated staff requested council discuss and approve a proposed ordinance change for an urban chicken program. The Community Development met and voted to take the proposed program to Committee of the Whole for discussion. Planning Commission voted 5-2 on June 14, 2023 to recommend approval of urban chicken licensure program.
Alderman Vigezzi shared concerns from people in his ward, with those being; lose chickens, smell, critters and dogs, avian flu, and the theft from students.
Alderman Katz asked what the vision was for the city, to educate the community, to help ensure the ordinance would be followed.
CDC Bannon stated they were currently putting together a series of videos along with flyers to help educate pulling permits and request a rental inspection.
Alderman Schuch stated he liked the idea of a piolet program and asked if there has been discussion on limiting the number of approved applicants.
CDC Bannon stated they initially started with 30 but revised it down to 15.
Alderman Shabazz expressed concerns with the number of predators this could potentially bring in and asked if this would be an issue.
CDC Bannon stated he does not have an expert answer for this, but if a chicken coop was properly constructed and the run is properly enclosed a predator should not be able to get in.
Alderman Dorsett expressed to the community that he would like for more people to reach out with questions or concerns.
Alderman Schuch asked to explain the process on how we got to this article.
CDC Bannon explained a couple of years ago, Ms. Merritt inquired about the possibility of chickens. Then a year later, Ms. Kessler and Ms. Wiemerslage reached out and they walked through numerous meetings together. He stated this was something the citizens have initiated. They have been very professional, helpful, and have provided much research.
Alderman Shabazz asked if this was a piolet program, and would it become permanent if successful.
CDC Bannon stated they were writing the ordinance to create a permanent code change with the plan to revisit in 3 years.
Alderman Shabazz asked how was this proposed.
CDC Bannon stated they proposed a permanent code change to be revisited in 3 years to review the success, challenges, or code modifications.
Alderman Wynn expressed his concerns about code enforcement and asked how they plan to enforce once a license was issued.
CDC Bannon stated code enforcement was limited in enforcing from the public right-away or the property they were invited upon. Most chicken coops are placed in back yards and unless there was a complaint, they cannot legally enter onto a property.
Alderman Moon expressed his concerns on code enforcement and recommended a meeting for further discussion. Alderman Schuch asked if they have had current complaints about illegal chickens.
CDC Bannon stated 2 in the last 4 years.
There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated this item would be placed on the agenda for first reading at next Monday night’s council meeting.
The Seventh item on the agenda for discussion was on proceeding with the 2023 Special Census for the City of Macomb. CDC Bannon presented a memorandum highlighting the Special Census. He stated staff requests authorization for a Special Census at $361,319.00 over the $300,000.00 budgeted. The following figures demonstrate that the Special Census has a positive financial payback and does not include the ancillary benefits of an increased population count such as business attraction for economic development.
He stated at $140.00 per person annually and conservatively estimating 5 years of payback, the city would recoup the following:
With Georgetown: 1078 x $140 x 5 years = $754,600.00 (Payback of $393,281.00)
Without Georgetown: 678 x $140 x 5 years = $474,920.00 (Payback of $113,601.00)
Alderman Moon asked if Georgetown was in the city limits, would we include them in our count. CDC Bannon stated no, and only if they are annexed before a count took place.
Alderman Moon asked when a count would take place.
CDC Bannon stated the fall of 2023 or the spring of 2024.
Alderman Dorsett expressed his concerns with the census.
Mayor Inman stated these are conservative estimates on what the city believes the numbers would be.
There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated this item would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.
There being no further business to come before Council, Alderman Dorsett moved, seconded by Alderman Vigezzi to adjourn the meeting, all Alderman voting “Aye” by voice vote and no “Nay” votes, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they adjourned the meeting at 6:08 p.m.
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