Archive for October, 2011

Traffic Studies

Author: yinn

Oct 11

A new police station on Route 38 is in the works, and a proposed expansion of the DeKalb Public Library would involve closing a portion of North Third Street.

Clearly, each of these projects/proposals if built would impact traffic patterns at their respective locations.

Mac McIntyre brought up the need for a traffic study at the police station site a few months ago so I’ve been doing some research into the requirements as time allows.

Communications with the state Department of Transportation have convinced me that it would likely not be possible for the City of DeKalb to obtain a permit for the police station construction without a traffic study. Indeed, ComEd will have to obtain a permit to dig a hole for a pole before it begins utility work at the site.

Additionally, I just found out that the city approved “administratively” a traffic study, now in progress, for the police station site.

All’s well then, right? NO. My reading of the Municipal Code does not allow for an “administrative” decision on traffic studies. The procedure is for the director of Public Works to make a recommendation and for the city council to vote on the recommendation.

I’ve put the applicable section of Chapter 23, Article 7 after the jump. Read the rest of this entry

1 Comment
Filed under: Council/City Watch, Plans & Surveys | Tagged as: ,

Clarity

Author: yinn

Oct 11

Hey, City of DeKalb, just so we’re clear: No fire station at the airport until the south side is taken care of.

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Filed under: Council/City Watch | Tagged as:

A Couple Meetings that May Interest You

Author: yinn

Oct 10

Sustainability Plan Presentation: Tuesday, October 11, 7 p.m. in DeKalb City Council Chambers. Sponsored by DeKalb’s Citizens Environmental Commission, this presentation is designed to introduce the public to the nuts and bolts of creating a citywide sustainability plan. Featured presenter is Aaron Cosentino from the City of Elgin. Cosentino worked with over 100 volunteers to develop a sustainability plan that was adopted by Elgin in August.

An often quoted definition for sustainability is the one put forth by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development: “Sustainability meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

However it is important for each city to arrive at the definition of sustainability which best suits its bioregion and community. The definition making process should include the social, economic, and environmental needs of the community.

DeKalb County/Area League of Women Voters-to-be: Thursday, October 13, 6:30 p.m. in the basement room of Kish Corner Family Restaurant, Sycamore. Anyone who is interested or thinks s/he might be interested in helping reorganize a local chapter of LWV is welcome to attend.

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Filed under: Calendar, Community Resources

Well. Finally.

Author: yinn

Oct 9

The DeKalb City Council is getting close to approving a DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport (DTMA) Marketing Plan. (See here, starting on p. 5.) The proposal is a concise and informative 15 pages. I found the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) more direct and insightful than I think we would have gotten in-house, so maybe hiring Hopkins was a good move.

I do want to point out that the move to prod the city toward a marketing plan started right here at citybarbs in 2008. That was the year people such as myself made the airport an issue as a money pit at budget hearings. I also made it part of my mayoral campaign.

If you think it’s too much to claim credit for the idea, I challenge you to explain how the airport had gone so long without a plan, but after a bunch of residents made noise publicly it’s finally accomplished.

My main aim, though, is not to crow about it but to demonstrate that over the long haul it’s worth it to make the noise, credited or not. Sometimes it gets results.

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Filed under: Council/City Watch | Tagged as:

Another Way to Abuse TIF

Author: yinn

Oct 7

Greg Hinz of Crains/Chicago Business.com has summarized the Chicago Inspector General’s investigation into a Daley administration practice requiring TIF recipients to donate some of the money to specific not-for-profits, most often one run by Mrs. Daley called After School Matters.

Of the 27 grant agreements signed between 1985 and 2009 that directed cash contributions to private non-profits, at least 16, or 59%, specifically designated After School Matters or an affiliate.

Altogether, After School Matters received $915,000 through such “public benefits” clauses, according to the report. This is on top of more than $54.5 million in direct city grants since 2004.
[...]
The figures as to how many TIF deals, technically known as redevelopment agreements, required payments to After School Matters is only a “best estimate” from the city’s law department, the report says.

Detailed data were not kept by the city, nor were any rules or standards established as to which groups should get the money, the report says.

The Inspector General’s report.

[Added 10/8] Mick Dumke of Chicago Reader has a take on Mayor Emanuel’s non-response to the report. The reformer’s mantle seems to be developing a big hole.

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Filed under: TIF | Tagged as:

Garden Blog Last Hurrah

Author: yinn

Oct 5

The “salad” garden grow box from a previous post now looks like this:

Potatoes & Beans Read the rest of this entry

3 Comments
Filed under: Garden Blog

City of DeKalb Maximum Comp Time Accumulations, Payouts & More

Author: yinn

Oct 3

Contract/
Agreement		Maximum
Accumulation
Comp Time		Maximum
Payout
Comp Time		Comments
AFSCME240 hours240 hoursCity can pay out some or all comp at any time
FOP146 hours130 hours
IAFF205 hours205 hours
Chp 3/Mgt.60 days60 daysEmployee can request a 1-time buyout prior to retirement

Yes, that’s correct: on Planet CityofDeKalb, some employees get to accumulate comp time for years and years.

And, yes: for management employees, the maximum payout is 60 DAYS. Read the rest of this entry

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Filed under: Council/City Watch, Payment Due? | Tagged as: , ,

City is Advertising a Lawn Care Company on Public Property

Author: yinn

Oct 2

Here is the southwest corner of Route 38 and Seventh Street, a high-traffic area where the city bought up Ralph’s place and demolished it with TIF money in the name of economic development.

2011 Ralph's Dirt Fountain

I’ll bet we’ve spent more than $150,000 on this property and all we’ve got to show for it is an overgrown, overpriced flowerpot. Where are the For Sale signs? Does city hall have none to spare?

1 Comment
Filed under: Council/City Watch, TIF | Tagged as:

Latest FDIC Orders Include Bank in Shabbona

Author: yinn

Oct 1

Farmers’ and Traders’ State Bank in Shabbona recently agreed to accept a Consent Order from the FDIC. FDIC issued the order one month ago and made it public yesterday, as is its usual procedure.

Yesterday also a bank in Plano, Texas, became the 74th bank to close in the U.S. in 2011. Bank failures peaked last year at 157, and in 2009 we had 140. Failing banks tend to be smaller this year than in the past few.

Still, the list of troubled institutions continues to grow. FDIC does not publish its official problem banks list, but Calculated Risk Blog has posted an unofficial list using public information since August 2009 when its count was 389, and by the end of this past July it was 995. The list does not include bank failures or unassisted mergers.

CR’s on citybarbs’ Public Policy blogroll. It’s my go-to for housing information.

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Filed under: Community Resources, County Watch
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