NORMAL – Normal Town Council members found out about the financial health of the community at the group’s regular meeting on Sept. 21 at City Hall. Overall, the Town has faired better than some other communities its size Town officials indicated, but still needs to find ways to brace for a deepening recession.
Finance Director Ron Hill and City Manager Mark Peterson helped the Council absorb the details of the report with a Powerpoint presentation.
First, the good news, Hill said, was that the community has positives to be proud of in terms of property tax rates, utility tax revenue, and monies made from food and beverage taxes.
But Hill said revenue from state income tax dollars was down from past years. He indicated that amount of money the Town received from utility tax revenues in fiscal year 2008-09 was unchanged from the previous fiscal year.
“We need to rebuild our reserves that have been depleted,†Hill said. Like anyone on a budget, Hill explained, Normal will have to put off any equipment replacement until reserves have been rebuilt.
“We’re a little better off than some cities, but it’s still painful,†Hill told Council members. He reminded them that Standard & Poor’s has given the Town a bond rating just one notch below a perfect Triple-A rating.
Hill indicated that the cost of the average home in Normal has gone up during the period, too. The average cost of a home in Normal in fiscal year 2008-09 was $288,000, up 4.7 percent from a cost of $275,000 the previous fiscal year.
Hill forecast a 6 percent increase in the money taken in from food and beverage taxes for the town in the coming fiscal year.
Peterson told Council members there should not be any surprises in the report, and that the Town is likely to live with recession and it effects for a couple of years. “We’re well equipped for what’s ahead,†he said.
“We’re looking at every nook and cranny to save money,†he said. “We’ve underestimated the impact of the recession. We didn’t want to preach doom and gloom. We’ll bounce back with a sound and robust economy when the national economy bounces back.â€
Looking ahead 18-24 months, Peterson said Normal is “a house in good order but there are some challenges. Things will get better. Things will return to normalcy in Normal.â€
No Skateboarding Allowed In Uptown: As a means to keep the Uptown area from incurring damage, as improvements continue, Council members unanimously passed an ordinance, amending the Town Municipal Code, prohibiting skateboarding in the Uptown area.
The borders of the Uptown area which this ordinance addresses are from Mulberry St. on the north, Fell Ave. on the west, the Union Pacific railroad tracks on the south, and Linden St. on the east. Within this area, skateboarding will be prohibited, and would carry a fine of not less than $25 and not greater than $500. This area would be the only area within the Town where skateboarding would be prohibited.
Skateboarding would still be allowed on Constitution Trail and in all Town parks, including the skating facility at Fairview Park.
Daycare Site Conditionally Approved: Council members unanimously passed two resolutions related to a new daycare facility which is part of a partnership between BroMenn Healthcare, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Illinois State University. First, Council members passed an ordinance rezoning the property at the daycare’s proposed location, 708 Harris St., from Single Family Residential to General Business.
Council members then unanimously passed a resolution conditionally approving a site plan for the Harris St. location, as well as 1110 S. Main St. and 1200 S. Main St.
Planned Unit Development Request Denied: Council members unanimously voted to reject a resolution conditionally approving a conceptual preliminary Planned Unit Development at 601 ½ Main St. Developer Adebayo Adanri had sought the property to build a five-unit townhouse complex on the lot. The land is surrounded by single family residences.
Town Planner Mercy Davison explained the density of Adanari’s proposed development would be 11 units per acre, whereas Town Code only allows 8 units per acre. Davison said the Normal Zoning Board of Appeals voted against Adanari’s plan.
Bruce A. Thacker, 601 N. Main St., spoke to Council members in opposing the plan. “We’re not opposed to single occupation (in the area), but this is just (for Adanri) to make money,†Thacker said.
“It’s a nice project, but there’s not enough land for it,†Mayor Chris Koos told Adanri in explaining his opposition to it.
Council member Adam Nielsen asked why this was being brought to the Council table if it was only a concept. City Manager Mark Peterson answered Nielsen, explaining that developers have brought concepts for building projects to the Council before.
City Manager Mark Peterson said Town Staff thought the Council and the Planning Commission might see things differently from what the staff thought.
“(Town staff) wanted to get Council feedback over this before (Adanri) undertook his plans,†Peterson said.
Off-Street Parking Regs Amended: Council members unanimously approved an ordinance amending off-street parking regulations. Among the amendments was a requirement of the use of “Best Management Practices, or BMPs, for parking lots with 300 or more parking spaces.
BMPs utilize design features, including engineered structures, to include the quality of stormwater runoff.
Council Approves Regional Comprehensive Plan: Council members unanimously approved the McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan. The plan was last updated in 2000. Among initiatives to be given priority in the newly-updated plan are:
Investigation of the creation of a transit district and expanded transit service.
Identification of areas targeted for revitalization.
Consideration of cost- and revenue-sharing alternatives among local governments.
Review of development fees.
Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:
Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of Sept. 8, 2009.
Approval of Town expenditures for payment as of Sept. 16, 2009.
A motion to waive the formal bidding procedure to allow the purchase of waste collection containers from Charlotte, N. C.-based Schaefer Systems International, Inc. at a total cost of $19,207.50.
A motion authorizing a change order with Bloomington-based Felmley Dickenson Co. for improvements to the east façade of 111 W. North St in an amount not to exceed $12,430.
A motion authorizing a change order with Morton-based CORE Construction in the amount of $22,400 for additional work on the College Ave. Parking Deck and approval of an associated budget adjustment.
A motion to accept the audited Town of Normal financial statements and report of Certified Public Accountants for the year ending March 31, 2009.
A motion to accept the Federal Compliance Audit for the year ending March 31, 2009.
A resolution authorizing execution of an Intergovernment Agreement with Illinois State University pertaining to fire protection service.
A resolution conditionally authorizing execution of an agreement for program management services with Fishers, Ind.-based Bowen Engineering Corporation pertaining to water treatment plant filter rehabilitation and Clearwell piping, baffles, and pump projects.
A resolution conditionally authorizing execution of an amended redevelopment agreement pertaining to the property at 701 Broadway Ave.
A resolution reapproving a preliminary subdivision plan for Parkside East Subdivision First Addition.
A conditional resolution partially reapproving the final plat of Parkside East Subdivision – First Addition.
A resolution conditionally approving a preliminary subdivision plan for Blackstone Trails Subdivision.
An ordinance adopting the McLean County Regional Greenways Plan for areas within the Town of Normal planning jurisdiction.
An ordinance annexing property to the Town of Normal – Calvary United Methodist Church.
An ordinance annexing property to the Town of Normal – Tiehack Development Corporation.
An ordinance ratifying and reapproving Ordinance 5286 (Zoning Map Amendment for Tiehack Development Corporation.