City of Rock Falls Ordinance/License/Personnel/Safety Committee met May 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
Members; Also Attended:
Alderman Reitzel - Chairman p; Mayor Wescott P
Alderman Snow p; Administrator Blackert P
Alderman Schuneman p; Clerk Arduini P
Alderman Kuhlemier
Police Chief Nelson
Alderman Kleckler
1. Call to order
Discussion-Meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm
Plan of Action- Meeting begins at 5:00 pm
2.Audience Requests a.Brian Sisson - Amplifier ordinance review
Discussion- On Saturday June 17th, 2017 the uptown bar owners are having a street dance and beer garden in the love light tree parking lot. They are requesting that the amplifier license be extended until II :OOpm for the event. A list of uptown street dances has already been approved by the council, and some of those dates have been removed. There is a Gus Macker, and memorial ride events going on that day, this event is hoping to draw from those events. The parking lot will be fenced in and contained. The group is looking for outside security to help.
Mayor Wescott informed the group that the Police Dept. will have to be informed of who will be handling security well in advance of the event.
The Committee will approve these requests individually, as the ordinance allows.
Plan of Action- The Committee recommends the license be granted with the approval of the Police Dept.
3.Approve Minutes: Ordinance/ License/ Personnel/ Safety Meeting March 23rd, 2017
Discussion- The minutes were reviewed by the committee
Plan of Action- Minutes approved
4. Old Business: a.Review of Ordinance for Food truck license
Discussion- The committee reviewed the food truck license and the questions from Attorney Reese for drafting the Ordinance. The maps will be produced for the next meeting, and approved areas will be assigned hours of operation individually.
External generators will be allowed.
The highlighted language in section 1205 may stay.
The committee would like the City Attorney and Police's recommendations for Section 16-1207 determining who may not operate a food truck.
The committee would like the last sentence of Section 16-1201 changed to "Food truck vendors may operate from private property with registration."
The committee would like verification if the hours of operation, or limited number of hours on private property is enforceable.
Plan of Action- Tabled
a.Zoning ordinance discussion
Discussion- Mayor Wescott informed the committee that he has been working with the City Attorney concerning changes to the current Zoning. These will be coming back to the ordinance committee piece meal rather than all at one time. There are a lot of issues with each section of the zoning and the applications for variances. The current zoning ordinances are not clear.
Plan of Action- No action
b.Review of adult use ordinance massage therapist
Discussion- Building Inspector Mark Searing presented an ordinance that defmes "massage establishment". The change would allow state licensed massage therapists to work outside of the adult uses areas. The State recently has established a license for massage therapists.
Plan of Action- The Committee recommends to Council for approval.
c.Retiree insurance rate discussion
Discussion- City Clerk Arduini informed the committee that the retirees have for a long time received a $10 reduction form the premium amount. This benefit is not defined by ordinance or union contract. Clerk Arduini would like to have this spelled out or removed. This currently effects about 12 retirees.
Plan of Action- The Committee recommends doing away with the $10 discount at the next renewal on July 1st.
d.Penalties for crimes along trail system
Discussion- Alderman Schuneman spoke to the Police Dept. directly concerning this issue.
Plan of Action- No Action
e.Changes in water loads billing - Diane Hatfield
Discussion- Utility Superintendent Diane Hatfield presented an ordinance change to Section 32- 122 to put the cost of bulk water at the same price per unit as the rest of the city.
Plan of Action- The Committee recommends to draft an Ordinance and send to Council for approval.
f.Job Description of Fiber Superintendent
Discussion- City Administrator Robbin Blackert presented a job description for the Fiber Superintendent. This description was taken from Highland and modified by Magellan.
Plan of Action- Committee recommends the job description to Council for approval
g.Article VI. Burning h.Section 32-510 Burning
Discussion- Open Mayor Wescott presented the original ordinance changes approved by the committee along with the Ordinances that were not passed by the Council. There were no changes from the approved draft. Since the meeting, the Mayor has heard a lot from residents concerning this issue many would like to have their windows open. The City has done things to eliminate the need for burning, and put provisions in the current ordinance. Police can have a hard time determining where burning is coming from to enforce the ordinance without calls being made to them. Section 32-510 needed to be amended if the first ordinance was passed. That is why it is two ordinances.
Alderman Schuneman stated that Section 20-150 Nuisance eliminated 9 rules for yard waste. He stated that leaf burning in the fall is the big problem, and he would like to see a compromise made. A good compromise should not leave the council split. Alderman Snow illustrated the issues that leaf burning has for people with asthma. Residents need to spend more on inhalers, spend more time at the doctors' offices, he said that the issue is a life safety concern. A study showed that after Pekin II. stopped allowing burning, the high numbers of asthmatic children there went down. Alderman Reitzel added that an emergency room visit and 23 hours in the hospital costs $4,396.00. The Police reported 86 calls for unattended burns, and most were responded to by code enforcement, and not on weekends.
Alderman Shuneman broke the burning into 3 parts 1- open burning, 2 recreational fires, and 3 yard waste. He would be in favor of a 60 day burning season in the spring. This would be the same time that the prairies are burned. 300 days per year burning would not be allowed.
Alderman Snow would like to milTor Sterling's ordinance as we do with many other ordinances.
Mayor Wescott said that 60 days of burning would be a compromise, but we will have the same issues that we do today.
Alderman Schuneman would like to see if the fine portion can be changed to eliminate the Section 32-510 and combine that into one ordinance.
Plan of Action- The Committee recommends consult with the City Attorney about a new draft Ordinance and send to Council for approval.
6.Workers Compensation/Liability Reports
Discussion- Clerk Arduini informed the committee that a property claim has been added to the report due to a lightning strike damaging radio equipment in the Police and Fire Departments.
Plan of Action- Report accepted
7.Department Safety Meeting Minutes Review
Discussion- The committee reviewed the safety meeting minutes from each department.
Plan of Action- Minutes accepted
9.Adjournment
Discussion- With nothing else for the good of the committee the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 pm
Plan of Action- Meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm
http://www.rockfalls61071.net/download/agendas_and_minutes/2017_agendas_and_minutes/2017_committees_boards_and_commissions/ordinance_license_personnel_safety_committee/2017_ordinance_minutes/05-04-2017-Ordinance-License-Personnel-Safety-Committee-Minutes.pdf
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