Special City Council Workshop Meeting
June 13, 2007
The Mt. Vernon City Council met for a Special Workshop Meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois at 4:00 p.m.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley called this Special Workshop Meeting to order and dispensed with the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call showed present: Council Member Shirilyn Holt, Council Member Mike Walker, Council Member David Wood and Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. Absent: Council Member Mary Burgan.
City Clerk Jackie Sharp read the “ Notice of Special City Council Workshop Meeting”. The notice read as follows:
“I, Mayor Mary Jane Chesley, hereby call a Special City Council Workshop Meeting of the Mt. Vernon City Council to be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is for discussion of the following matters:
1. Bed and Breakfast Ordinance
2. Training Session for Tax Increment Financing
Dated in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on this 8th day of June 2007. S/ Mary Jane Chesley, Mayor”
Council Member Mary Burgan entered the meeting at 4:09 p.m.
City Manager Ron Neibert spoke regarding the proposed Bed & Breakfast Ordinance. Mr. Neibert passed out copies of the Proposed Ordinance with the proposed changes highlighted in red so Council could compare each item and discuss them. The first proposed change is the petitions against the B & B & the percentages of the proponents against the Conditional Use. The second change would be if the B & B has to be owner occupied. The question of if there could be domestic help other than the owner and immediate family was the next item. Retail sales by the B & B and service of alcohol was the last change discussed. Mr. Neibert explained the 20% in the ordinance.
Council Member David Wood spoke regarding the State Statutes regarding the percentages of votes. Mr. Neibert stated that this is not just regarding this ordinance, but any zoning votes.
Council Members Shirilyn Holt and Mary Burgan both stated that they feel that items 600.6 and 600.7 are too restrictive and should be deleted. Mayor Chesley stated that she also feels they are restrictive. City Manager Neibert stated that he is not sure if Home Rule would override the State Statutes on the number of rooms to rent.
Council Member Mike Walker asked about the number of parking spaces needed for a B & B. One spot per rental room and space for the owner or operator.
Discussion was held regarding the property being owner occupied or operator occupied.
Discussion was held regarding deleting the portion that does not allow outside labor, such as cleaning, etc. Discussion was also held regarding having liquor on the premises, allowing patrons to bring in their own alcohol only.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that before the City Council Meeting on June 18, he would put the changes discussed into the proposed Ordinance and if there were any objections or questions, it would be addressed further at that time.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that the next item on the agenda is a training session for Tax Increment Financing. Mr. Neibert stated that he is not happy about the language of the TIF as far as ‘blighted language’ because it makes it sound very bad for an area. But they had to come up with a word to describe the area for it to qualify for a TIF. Other conditions for TIF are Conservation Areas, a combination of blighted and conservation areas or an industrial park conservation area. Mr. Neibert explained each area mentioned as defined in the act.
Mr. Neibert stated that TIF was made possible in January 1977 by the Illinois General Assembly. It was designed to be an economic development tool. The act provides a means for municipalities, after approval of a redevelopment plan and project, to redevelop areas and to finance redevelopment project costs with incremental property tax revenues. Mr. Neibert explained the property taxes and any changes that may happen with them. He also discussed how the municipality could finance projects in a TIF and EAV of properties in a TIF.
City Manager Ron Neibert stated that 23 years is the maximum on a TIF by statute.
Mayor Mary Jane Chesley adjourned this Special Workshop Meeting