By Steve Robinson | May 17, 2010 - 10:34 pm
Posted in Category: Normal Town Council, The Normalite

Town of NormalNORMAL – Normal Town Council members unanimously approved a waiver from the Uptown Design Review Code, and permitted CVS Pharmacy to install signage that would cover more space in its windows than is allowed by the Town’s Uptown Design Review Code.

The Town’s Uptown Design Review Code does not allow for more than 25 percent of windows to be covered by signage. When CVS presented their original proposal for signage for its new store, at Uptown Crossing, at the corner of Fell and North Streets, in March, it sought to cover 52 percent of the store’s windows. At that time, Council members voted to table the matter until CVS could rework their window sign proposal.

Woonsocket, R. I.-based CVS Pharmacy returned to Monday’s Council session with a mock-up of a new sign with a reduction in signage from the originally proposed 52 percent to 36 percent. Adam Skrzeszewski, development representative for Elgin, Ill.-based Sure Light Sign Co., the company that manufacturers CVS’ signs, presented the three-dimensional mock-up of the newest sign proposal to Council members.

At the March meeting, Council member Cheryl Gaines had concerns about the size of the proposed signage, but at Monday’s meeting, said she liked “how the windows are going to look” as a result of the changes CVS made to the sign.

“(The new sign) just looks a little richer (rather) than (looking like) something just plastered to the window,” Gaines said in her approval of the changes made to the signage.

Ratification of TIGER Grant For Transportation Center Approved: Council members unanimously approved an agreement with the U. S. Department of Transportation for the Town to receive Federal grant money to help with the construction of the new Multimodal Transportation Center, to be located along Beaufort Ave.

The Town would receive $22 million for the proposed project under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant Program. Normal’s receiving TIGER funds for the project was announced by U. S. Senator Dick Durbin in February.

City Manager Mark Peterson said proposals by contractors for construction of the multimodal transportation center are due into Normal City Hall by Friday. That is just one of the ways selection of the construction firm will be different from most construction projects, Peterson said.

Peterson said the Town will review the construction proposals, with Town staff and project consultants analyzing the bids. That will be followed by the bids being submitted to an internal review committee made up of Town staff, consultants, and Mayor Chris Koos.

The review committee will select, Peterson said, “three to four finalists,” who will be interviewed. Based then on the finalists’ proposals and interviews, Council members will be presented with a recommendation as to which construction firm should be selected to build the four-story structure, which will located west of the Children’s Discovery Museum. There will be a four-story, 400-space parking deck adjacent to the transportation center.

The estimated costs of the project are $15.45 million for the transportation center, and $11 million for the parking deck. The total project is expected to cost around $49 million, when infrastructure, construction of a rail platform, and various fees are added. The Town’s share of the total cost will come to about $14 million.

Peterson said of selecting a construction firm under this process, “it may be that the firm selected doesn’t provide the lowest bid, but we determine as a selection committee, and ultimately a Council, that they’re the best equipped to do the project, even though they may not be the least expensive.”

Peterson said cost is just one item the Town is concerned with in trying to decide on who will build the transportation center. “We also want to make sure the selected contractor is capable…that they relative experience, that they are of a sufficient size, (and) that they have a good reputation,” he said. “We’re looking at quality and quantity. We’re looking at the quality of the contractor and the quantity of their bid.”

Corn Crib Stadium Vendor Granted Liquor License: Council members, serving in the capacity of the Normal Liquor Commission, met prior to the beginning of the Council session and approved a liquor license to Sodexo America, LLC, 1500 Raab Rd. so that beer may be sold at the Corn Crib, the stadium home of the Town’s new baseball team, the Normal CornBelters. The CornBelters begin play on the road this weekend, and will have their first home game on Tuesday, June 1.

Commissioners also approved imposing a $1,000 fine on Express Mart, Inc., doing business as Express Mart, 108 N. Linden St. for selling liquor to minors. The cost of the fine was because it was Express Mart’s second offense in three years time.

Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:

• Approval of the minutes of the Council’s regular meeting of May 3, 2010.

• Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of May 12, 2010.

• A motion to waive the formal bidding procedure and accept a quote from Dennison Ford of Bloomington for the purchase of a 2010 Ford Explorer XLT 4×2 in the amount of $21,993 for the replacement of Engineering Department Vehicke E-5 (2000 Chevrolet Astro Van).

• A motion to accept a bid from Bloomington-based Pro Air for HVAC replacements at City Hall and Fire Station #1 in accordance with the Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

• A motion to accept bids and award a contract to Bloomington-based Stark Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $379,800.25 for the Willow St. Improvement Project from Linden St. to Beech St.

• A motion initiating a Zoning Code text amendment revising Section 15.4-4(B) (General Provisions – Uses and Structures).

• A resolution authorizing execution of a lease agreement – Fairview Park.

• A resolution accepting Warranty Deed from Abye K. Derege and Emily C. Freese – 2010 Vernon Ave. Bridge and Road Project.

• A resolution accepting Warranty Deed from William M. Read and Donna L. Read – 2010 Vernon Ave. Bridge and Road Project.

• A resolution approving an amended site plan for Heartland Community College (1500 W. Raab Rd.) – Highway Sign.

• A resolution conditionally approving an amended preliminary development plan for the Shoppes at College Hills planned unit development – Panda Express.

• An ordinance rezoning property in the Town of Normal – 602 and 604 Hester St.

• An ordinance setting the Public Hearing for the First Amendment to the Town of Normal Uptown Renewal Tax Increment Plan and Town of Normal Uptown Renewal Tax Increment Project area. The hearing is being scheduled for Monday, July 19 at 7p.m. at Normal City Hall.

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