Peoria Standard

City of Chillicothe Judicial Committee met July 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Judicial Committee met on July 26, 2023 at 4:30 p.m., in the council chambers at City Hall,

Present: Chairman D. White, Alderperson Sharp, Alderperson Bredeman, Mayor Hughes, Attorney Day, Office Manager Passage,

Chairman D. White called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT

John Landsverk 1138 Walnut addressed the committee regarding the property at 1127 Walnut. He advised that nothing has improved and questioned the status of if it could be a home occupation. Chairman White as that the attorney speak to the Police Chief regarding the condition of the property and the attorney to look at the home occupation issue.

Dean Braun 1441 N. Fourth addressed the committee regarding the solar ordinance. Chairman White advised the draft of the ordinance prohibiting solar in all zoning districts was sent to the Plan Commission to hold a public hearing. The hearing date is August 1 at 7:00 p.m.

PURPOSE

Update - Bike Trail Ordinance - Attorney Day explained that Bicycles have the same rights as motor vehicles. The Code largely mirrors the Illinois Vehicle Code with regard to bicycle regulations. With regard to the operation of bicycles on Chillicothe roadways, bikes should obey the general rules of the road and use the portion of the road closest to the right-hand curb if they are not maintaining the normal speed of vehicular traffic. There are exceptions, including left turns and the right-hard curb area being unavailable or unsafe. This would include sharrows. Although a sharrow is not a bike lane, it should be used in situations where cyclists and drivers must coexist in the same lane. If a bike lane is clearly designated, the cyclist should utilize the bike lane. Section 94-125 of our Code addresses the positioning of bikes on roadways, but does not specifically reference sharrows.

Cyclists using sidewalks should yield to pedestrian traffic, but otherwise have the same duties and rights as pedestrians. The City of Chillicothe can use official traffic control devices to prohibit the use of bicycles on sidewalks. The City currently prohibits the use of bicycles on sidewalks in certain areas of Second Street.

A discussion was held regarding the bike path. Office Manager Passage advised that the grant for the bike path identifies it as a multi-purpose pedestrian bike trail. Attorney Day stated that the following will need to be defined it our city code:

Motorized pedal cycle, low speed electric bicycles, and low speed gas bicycles.

A discussion was held regarding allowing motorized vehicles on designated bike trails. After discussion, it was the consensus of the committee to have the city attorney draft the ordinance change and bring it back to the committee for review.

Update - Zoning Classifications/Definitions - Attorney Day presented information from Peoria Heights and City of Peoria regarding short term rentals. He identified potentially three short term rentals within the corporate limits of Chillicothe. Attorney Day recommended to review and consider the costs and benefits of implementing an ordinance, similar to Peoria Heights, which regulates "short-term rentals." A short-term rental could be defined as all or part of a dwelling or dwelling unit that is rented for compensation to transient guest(s) for a period less than 30 consecutive days. It could also be defined as "Any dwelling unit or habitable unit that is offered, in whole or in part, for rent, lease or hire that is rented, leased or hired for which a Lessor receives consideration from a person for a period of thirty (30) days or less and that person has the right to use, occupy or possess all or part of the dwelling unit or habitable unit for said period." After discussion, the consensus of the committee was to have Attorney Day review and make recommendation for potential changes.

Massage establishments - Attorney Day stated he has looked at the section of the city code regarding massage establishments and it does need updated. The consensus of the committee was to have the Attorney discuss this topic with the Police Chief and draft necessary changes to the ordinance, then bring the draft back to the committee for review.

Zoning classification changes discussed was: (1) correcting a reference to fees within Section 106-74; (2) prohibiting restaurants, service stations, and tourist courts in the R-4 District; (3) adding museums to the C-2 District; (4) removing certain industrial and agricultural uses from the C-3 District; (5) changing the "storage, warehousing, and wholesale" reference in C-3 to "self-storage facility;" and (6) defining "self- storage facility." The consensus of the committee was to have the attorney draft the necessary changes and bring back the draft to the committee for review.

OLD BUSINESS

Ground Mounted Solar Other Zoning Districts - Chairman White advised that the public hearing for the ordinance prohibiting ground mounted solar in all zoning districts is August 1, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

SUMMARY

Council Agenda Items - nothing

Chairperson - Actions - nothing.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.

https://cms9files.revize.com/chillicothe/07.26.23%20judicial.pdf