Liquor Control Commission & City Council meeting - Tuesday, May 15, 7:00 p.m.

This City Council meeting promises to run long, with a meeting of the Liquor Control Commission, a good bit of substantive business to transact with at least one controversial application for a special use permit, and a closed session. Here’s what’s on the agenda:

Liquor Control Commission

There are several items before the Liquor Control Commission. The Commission is composed of all City Council members except Lance Jack, who is prohibited by Illinois statute from any participation in liquor issues because he holds a liquor license.

We will go over the third quarterly report that tabulates ordinance violations and BNS inspections for all the liquor establishments in town. Businesses that are not on the list mean there have been no liquor-related violations in the last 3 quarters.

The major violators are, generally, the larger bars. The figures for the first 3 quarters of this fiscal year (2011-2012), in order of number of violations:

• Stix Bar (occupancy 402) 137 underage violations
• Pinch Penny Pub (occupancy 703) 88 underage violations, 1 overcrowding warning
• Cali’s/Callahans (occupancy 727)  33 underage violations
• Sidetracks (occupancy 388) 16 underage violations
• Copper Dragon (occupancy 555) 12 underage violations
• Gatsby’s II (occupancy 456), 5 underage violation
• Hangar 9 (occupancy 299) 2 underage violations
• Sports Blast (occupancy 1,014), no underage violations, 1 overcrowding warning

These numbers reveal that Stix needs to do a far better job of policing under-age possession of alcohol.

Gatsby’s is filing for a transfer of ownership. The paperwork seems to be in order, and the Liquor Advisory Board recommended approval of the transfer.

Carbondale Main Street is, as they do every year, applying for liquor licenses for the Downtown Art and Wine Fairs in May and October. These are events that many residents and visitors look forward to. And it raises money for expanded Main Street programs — an important activity in the revitalization of our Downtown.

City Council Meeting

Historic Preservation Award

We have the pleasure of awarding two homes the 2012 Historic Preservation Award. .

Al and Apryl Gordon, have restored the home at 303 N. Poplar by returning the exterior of the home to its original character. Anita Lenzini  restored existing historical interior wood trim and paneling in her home at 604 S. James St.

The pre-1970s homes in Carbondale represent a reservoir of wealth that these homeowners recognize. By maintaining and restoring these homes, they preserve irreplaceable building materials, often milled from old-growth timber. They contribute, as well, to enhancing Carbondale’s streetscapes. They add value — aesthetic, social, and financial — to our neighborhoods by preserving and upgrading their properties.

The Preservation Commission is to be commended for promoting these awards. Congratulations Al and Apryl Gordon and Anita Lenzini!

Consent Agenda

Pedestrian & Bike Trail Grant

The most significant item on the Consent Agenda is a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit an application for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Transportation Enhancement Program.

At our last meeting we authorized the purchase of railroad right of way in order to build a walking/bike trail from SIU to Town Square. Staff will seek $336,000 from IDOT’s ITEP program to fund phase I of this project. SIU awarded $66,466 from the SIU Green fund for the portion of the path behind the Glove Factory. The City will contribute $84,000 for the remainder of the required 20% match.

Southern Illinois is becoming a destination for bicycling. WGN just featured Carbondale’s Bike Surgeon and various biking destinations on their Cruisin’ Ilinois feature, “Biking Paradise in Southern Illinois: Cycling trails near Carbondale”, and “Bike trail tunnels through Shawnee Hills: Great Family Riding.” Thanks to Economic Development Director Gary Williams for these links.

Much of the work of governance comes to Council through our citizen-volunteer boards and commissions. Council will review the minutes for the April 4 Planning Commission meeting, the Feb. 16 Liquor Advisory Board, the March 5 Human Relations Commission, and the Feb. 8 and 23 Fire Fighter’s Pension Board.

Appointments of Boards and Commissions

Mayor Fritzler is asking our consent to appoint Luanne Brown to the Board of Fire Commissioners and Joyce Webb to the Liquor Advisory Board.

There are also openings on the Human Relations Commission (3 vacancies) and on the Preservation Commission (2 vacancies). If you are interested in this, let him (and other Council members) know.

See the Agenda for other routine business.

General Business

We will commend Barbara Dewalt for her 34 years of service to Carbondale  as an employee of the City. This recognition is overdue and well deserved.

Two Special Use Permits

Council has two special use permits to consider. One, sought by Haresh Thakkar, seeks to convert and office building at 950 S. Brehm Lane into apartments. At the Planning Commission Hearing no one spoke against it, and the City’s Planning staff recommended it be approved.

The other is more controversial. Scott Smith and Carolyn Therriault-Smith seek to establish a dog and cat grooming business in their home on 907 W. Burton St. Home occupations are a permitted special use in R-1 (residential) neighborhoods. In this case, however, the City’s Planning staff opposed it and the Planning Commission voted unanimously not to approve it. A number of neighbors, including the immediate neighbors, opposed it.

Philosophically, I believe that home based businesses like the one the Smiths seek to establish can strengthen a neighborhood. However, such uses are permitted only as special uses so that people in the immediate neighborhood can advise Council and staff regarding whether they want such a business on their block and in their neighborhood.

Every case is different, and neither the City’s professional staff nor the City Council can be the best judges concerning whether a business will enhance or detract from a specific locale.

A perfect example is the old Coca Cola warehouse at the corner of Sycamore and Oakland. The adjoining home owners had, for many years, opposed commercial development of any sort in the warehouse. But they had no knowledge that it was being converted to an auto repair shop until the permit had been issued and the lease signed.

There is no basis in Carbondale’s City code for establishing an auto repair shop in an R-1 neighborhood. In the face of public outcry, Mr. Baity rescinded  zoning permit he had issued, but by that time the shop-owner had begun renovations. The lease on the shop is up for renewal in July or August. I have urged City Manager Baity to make sure it is not renewed.

Because of this improper permitting, some citizens came to the Planning Commission meeting to oppose all business development in the neighborhood. They, quite understandably, feel that their neighborhood is being undermined by the establishment of businesses that are incompatible with its residential nature, the deteriorating old high school buildings, the as-yet-undeveloped Armory, and the continuing conversion of once comfortable homes into rentals operated by absentee owners.

The specific issues regarding whether a pet grooming business is compatible with the neighbor’s quality of life and the configuration of this particular street are complicated by the larger assaults on this neighborhood.

Grant application for parking lot

Finally, Staff is asking us to authorize them to submit a grant to the Delta Regional Authority to establish a parking lot in the old Animal Crackers building site immediately north of the current Amtrak station.

On weekends, large numbers of people purchase permits and “park and ride” Amtrak. Unfortunately, they clog up the existing parking lots south of the station — lots that should be used for people dropping off and picking up travelers and for patrons of the nearby eateries and entertainment venues.

While I am not happy about blacktopping over another empty lot, in this case I think it is warranted. I have urged staff to plan for excellent landscaping and to seek collaboration with the bicycle shop on the north to create a mural or other feature on the side of the building.

Closed Meeting 

We will then go into a closed meeting to discuss personnel and the sale, purchase or lease of real property.