The first public hearing on the FY2016 budget is but one item on a jammed pack agenda tonight (June 8) at the DeKalb city council meeting.
The public hearing is scheduled to begin just after the agenda is approved for the 6pm regular city council meeting.
The FY2016 budget will be presented as an action item for first reading later in the meeting.
The total budget reflects revenues of $83,695,507 and total expenditures of $82,649,782. These amounts include both Police and Fire Pension Funds as well as the DeKalb Public Library Fund. The General Fund reportedly reflects revenues of $34,710,279 and expenditures of $34,626,150.
There is not agreement between senior staff and the city’s finance advisory committee on the balance of the general fund. According to the budget summary prepared by staff the general fund is balanced for FY 2016 with a surplus of $80,000. The finance advisory committee’s analysis finds a $450,000 deficit.
After the budget is approved the city council will determine ywhat if any capital improvements and street repairs will be done in FY 2016 and how much qrevenue enhancements (tax increases, new fees, etc, etc, etc, will be needed.
During the Committee of the Whole meeting just before the regular meeting (5pm start) city attorney Dean Frieders will explain his legal position that somehow justifies the removal of Mike Verbic from and joint public meeting because not enough members of the finance advisory committee were in attendance to constitute a forum.
Verbic was not only told he could not participate in the meeting but that he must leave the meeting room completely. Verbic has been a critic of this budget.
According to Frieders the Illinois Attorney General’s office agrees with his position as des the DeKalb County State’s Attorney. In a telephone conversation and texts Verbic said Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Klein told him she does not agree with Frieders. In an email shared on Facebook finance advisory committee chair Mike Peddle said he talked with a member of the Illinois Attorney General’s office and was told that Frieders was in error in his interpretation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Also during the Committee of the Whole meeting staff will preview the city’s new website designed by a Kansas developer who had previous relationships with key members of the city staff. Allegedly the website had to be redone as an emergency action in response to the U.S. Department of Justice. Because of the grave emergency the city had no choice but to waive the bidding process.
The Illinois Attorney General has determined that the City of DeKalb violated the Open Meetings Act in response to a formal request for review by City Barbs editor Lynn Fazekas. The city’s position according to Frieders was the discussion and action taken in closed session was exempt from OMA because the original amount was under the city manager’s spending limit ($20,000) and DeKalb is a Home Rule community. The attorney general found DeKalb to be in vilation of the Open Meetings Act.
Expect a good showing of supporters of the Egyptian Theatre. The volunteer board and executive director Alex Nerad have taken a proactive approach to public criticism of their request for between 2 and 5 million dollars in additional TIF funds with much of it devoted to purchasing and installing air conditioning.
Supporters of the Egyptian Theatre took to the social networks to promote their request and to urge supporters to email and call the mayor and aldermen and to show up for tonight’s meeting.
The Egyptian Theatre received $890,000 from the Central District TIF to replace seats, purchase a new sound system and install air conditioning in the historic theater. The air conditioning system cost much more than the $500,000 anticipated so the Egyptian Theatre spent that half million on other maintenance projects without oversight and expects to receive more TIF funds in the near future to finally install the air conditioning. See page 12 of 26.
A new line item appears in this latest request: $25,000 for operating expenses.
To read more about the Egyptian Theatre and their funding request, click here.
A major development appears as an action item on tonight’s agenda.
Security Properties seeks approval of rezoning from Multi-Family Residential “MFR”, to Planned Unit Development Residential “PD-R” for the University Village apartment community. The applicants propose to purchase the 534 unit apartment complex which consists of 32 separate buildings made of up one, two and three bedroom apartments and townhomes. The property includes one community center and outdoor recreational area including a pool.
Security Properties plans to purchase the fee simple interest in University Village with 4% lowincome housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, Illinois Housing Development Authority (“IHDA”) Trust Funds (through the Preservation Now program) and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) 223(f) Pilot Program financing. HUD and the IHDA have indicated they will not provide funding or financing to the property under the current legal nonconforming use designation.
The seven zoning variances requested are:
1. Lot Size – Minimum 3,500 Square Feet per Dwelling Unit. The property is approximately 32.314 acres in size and there are 534 units. The total net density is 17.99 dwelling units per acre. This density exceeds the Unified Developments requirements and also exceeds the comprehensive plan requirements of 12 dwelling units per acre. (Article 5.05.04.1a)
2. Parking Ratio – Minimum One Space per Bedroom, Plus 0.5 Spaces per Unit. The property has within it 1,004 bedrooms in the 534 units. Therefore the total number of required parking spaces for the development equals 1,271 parking spaces. The development has 795 parking spaces. (Article 12.08.06
3. Lighting – Fixture Height and Average Illumination. The City of DeKalb’s Unified Development Ordinance restricts the height of light poles in residential districts to a maximum height of 15 feet. The development’s light poles are 20 – 25 feet tall. The light illumination totals averages of 1.5 to 2 foot candles for the entire development. Security Properties are committing to add light poles in the development where lighting is deficient. (Article 10.05)
4. Signage – Number and Size. Security Properties intends to keep the five ground signs (40 sq. ft. and 6 ft. tall) located at each entryway and entrance from the right of way. The UDO allows for only one ground sign that shall not exceed 6 sq. ft. or 6 ft. in height. (Article 13.06.01c)
5. Landscaping. The property is landscaped with 646 plants across the site. Security Properties is working with the DeKalb Police Department to identify areas that could be trimmed up or trimmed back to open up the common areas of the development. The final design would be consistent with crime prevention and environmental design (CPTED) principles.
6. One Building per Lot. A variance or condition of approval must be granted to allow for multiple buildings to be located on one property.
7. Principle Building Setbacks. The setbacks required for the development are met on frontage of public ROW, but not all interior roadways. The UDO requires that a front yard setback of 25 feet from any ROW and front lot line and a side and rear yard setback of five and 30 feet respectively. The University Village development would require that the site plan presented be approved to allow for the existing building locations bringing the legally non-conforming status in conformity with the zoning ordinances.
Security Properties has tentatively committed to providing $150,000 of up-front funding for social services, and an additional $10,000 per year for 15 years. This funding could be utilized to fund third party social service providers that are mutually acceptable to the City and Security Properties. Of note, it is proposed that the contribution to social services would be structured out of Security Properties’ profits, such that it does not result in a reduction of funding for property maintenance and on-site services.
The proposal received a negative recommendation from the DeKalb Plan Commission as it relates to density. Monica O’Leary has repeatedlhy voiced opposition to the property tax discount the property receives.
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