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City of Crystal Lake, IL
McHenry County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Crystal Lake as amended 5-17-2005 by Ord. No. 5938 (Art. II, Ch. III, Section E, of the 1993 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Divisions and departments — See Ch. 33.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 89.
A. 
Establishment. There is hereby created the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for the City of Crystal Lake. It shall consist of three members, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council.
B. 
Terms of office. Terms of office for members of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall be three years and until their respective successors are appointed and have qualified. The terms of office shall be staggered, with the result that only one member shall begin a three-year term in any given year. A vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of that term.
C. 
Qualifications. Members of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall meet such qualifications as may be required by ordinances of the City and the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
D. 
Powers and duties.
[Amended 2-5-2008 by Ord. No. 6324; 3-4-2014 by Ord. No. 7005; 5-19-2015 by Ord. No. 7128; 5-16-2023 by Ord. No. 7928]
(1) 
Adoption of Division 2.1.[1] The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by ordinances of the City and in the provisions of Division 2.1, Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, of the Illinois Municipal Code (Chapter 65 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes): 5/10-2.1-1, 5/10-2.1-2, 5/10-2.1-3, 5/10-2.1-6.3, 5/10-2.1-6.4, 5/10-2.1-10, 5/10-2.1-11, 5/10-2.1-15, 5/10-2.1-16, 5/10-2.1-17, 5/10-2.1-18, 5/10-2.1-19, 5/10-2.1-20, 5/10-2.1-21, 5/10-2.1-22, 5/10-2.1-23, 5/10-2.1-24, 5/10-2.1-25, 5/10-2.1-26 (as applicable to this chapter) and 5/10-2.1-29. In addition, 5/10-2.1-5, Rules-Publications, is adopted, except pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining agreement such section shall only apply to promotions and the conduct of hearings on charges brought against certain members of the Police Department and not the conduct of examinations for original appointments.
[1]
Editor's Note: See ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5, Art. 10.
(2) 
Hiring sworn firefighters. The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall have the sole authority to issue certificates of appointment to prospective sworn firefighters, in accordance with the following process:
(a) 
The City Manager shall inform the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners in writing that the City of Crystal Lake is seeking to hire a firefighter and shall grant the Board authorization to fill the position.
(b) 
The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall thereafter convene in order to select the highest-ranking applicant pursuant to the qualifications set forth in the City's Firefighter Application Process and 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.3, or in the alternative, 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.4.
(c) 
The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall extend a conditional offer of employment to the applicant selected in accordance with Subsection D(2)(b).
(d) 
The recipient of the conditional offer of employment described in Subsection D(2)(c) shall undergo the appropriate medical and psychological tests required by 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.3. Upon successful completion of the required medical and psychological tests, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall issue a certificate of appointment to the applicant.
(3) 
Exceptions. The City adopts the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms in each section of Division 2.1 as provided in Subsection D, except as follows:
(a) 
Section 5/10-2.1-15: Sworn police officers (as appropriate per applicable collective bargaining agreements) on the promotional eligibility register selected for supervisory positions shall serve on a probationary basis for a period of 12 months. If the sworn officer does not meet the qualifications as established or fails in his or her performance of the functions of the supervisory position during the probationary period, the Chief may demote the sworn officer to the rank previously held without loss of seniority. If warranted, the City has the right to seek the sworn member's dismissal as provided in Division 2.1.
(b) 
Section 5/10-2.1-17: The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners may discharge, demote or suspend certain sworn members not exceeding 30 days without pay. Except as otherwise provided by an applicable collective bargaining agreement, the appropriate Chief may suspend, without pay, certain sworn staff members up to 10 calendar days. The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall be notified in writing of any such suspension. Any sworn member so suspended may appeal the suspension to the Commissioners within five calendar days after such suspension has been issued.
E. 
Bond. Each member of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall furnish bond as required by Illinois Compiled Statutes.
A. 
Establishment. There is hereby created the Board of Local Improvements for the City of Crystal Lake. It shall consist of not less than three nor more than five members, appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council.
B. 
Membership. The Board of Local Improvements shall consist of those persons appointed by the Mayor and City Council; provided, however, that in the event such officers are not provided for by ordinance of the City, the Board shall consist of the Mayor and City Council. The Mayor shall be President of the Board.
C. 
Duties. The Board of Local Improvements shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by ordinance of the City or the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
A. 
Crystal Lake Public Library. There is hereby established the Crystal Lake Public Library.
B. 
Establishment of Board. There is hereby created the Board of Library Directors for the City of Crystal Lake. It shall consist of nine directors chosen from City residents, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council. Not more than one member of the City Council shall be at any one time a member of the Board of Library Directors.
C. 
Term of office. The term of office for Library Directors shall be three years or until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. The terms of office shall be staggered, with three members appointed before July 1 of each year.
D. 
Powers and duties. The Board of Library Directors shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
The Board of Library Directors may make and adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations, for their own guidance and for the government of the library as may be expedient, but not inconsistent with ordinances of the City or the Illinois Compiled Statutes,
(2) 
The Board of Library Directors shall have exclusive control over the expenditure of all moneys collected and deposited to the credit of the Library Fund. The Director of Finance of the City shall be the custodian of the Library Fund.
(3) 
The Board shall have exclusive control of the construction of any Library building and of the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, rooms or buildings constructed, leased or set apart for that purpose.
(4) 
The Board shall have the power to purchase or lease real or personal property, and to construct an appropriate building or buildings for the use of the library, subject to the approval of the Mayor and City Council.
(5) 
The Board of Library Directors may, subject to the approval of the Mayor and City Council, remodel or reconstruct a building erected or purchased by the Board, when such building is not adapted to its needs.
(6) 
The Board shall have the power to sell or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property that it deems no longer necessary or useful for library purposes, provided that the Mayor and City Council shall have the first right to purchase such property.
(7) 
The Board of Library Directors may contract with any library association, school board, or any city, village, incorporated town, township, county, or district library board in the State of Illinois for furnishing or receiving library service, including but not limited to contracts for such library services as participants in any library formed pursuant to law and as participants in interstate library compacts, and to contract to supply library services and for the expenditure of any federal or state funds made available to any county, municipality, township or to the State of Illinois for library purposes.
(8) 
The Board shall have the power to enter into contracts and to take title to any property acquired by it for library purposes by the name and style of "The Board of Library Directors of the City of Crystal Lake," and by that name to sue and be sued.
(9) 
The Board of Library Directors may exclude from the use of the library any person who willfully violates the rules prescribed by the Board.
(10) 
The Board of Library Directors shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by ordinances of the City or the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
E. 
Reports. The Board of Library Directors shall make a report of the financial condition of the library within 30 days after the expiration of each fiscal year. Such report shall be itemized in the manner prescribed by the Illinois Compiled Statutes. The Board shall also make such other reports as may from time to time be requested by the Mayor and City Council.
F. 
Budget request. The Board of Library Directors shall prepare an annual budget request and submit the same to the Budget Director on or before February 1 of each year.
A. 
Appointment; membership. The Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Crystal Lake shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall have the power to vote and all of whom shall be residents of the City of Crystal Lake. They shall be appointed by the Mayor on the basis of their particular fitness for their duty on said Planning and Zoning Commission, subject to the approval of the City Council. The Mayor shall be an ex officio member of said Planning and Zoning Commission, with no power to vote. Members who fail to attend at least 60% of regularly scheduled meetings which are conducted in a calendar year shall be subject to removal by the Mayor and City Council.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
B. 
Terms of office. The members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall serve four-year terms.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
C. 
Powers and duties. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
To prepare and recommend to the City Council a Comprehensive Plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the municipality. Such plan may be adopted in whole or in separate geographical or functional parts, each of which, when adopted, shall be the official Comprehensive Plan, or part thereof, of that municipality. This plan may include reasonable requirements with reference to streets, alleys, public grounds, and other improvements hereinafter specified. The plan, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and as thereafter adopted by the Mayor and City Council may be made applicable, by the terms thereof, to land situated within the corporate limits of said City and contiguous territory not more than 1 1/2 miles beyond said corporate limits and not included in any municipality. Such plan may be implemented by ordinances 1) establishing reasonable standards of design for subdivisions and for resubdivisions or unimproved land and areas subject to redevelopment in respect to public improvements as herein defined; 2) establishing reasonable requirements governing the location, width, course, and surfacing of public streets and highways, alleys, ways for public service facilities, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, streetlights, parks, playgrounds, school grounds, size of lots to be used for residential purposes, stormwater drainage, water supply and distribution, sanitary sewers and sewage collection and treatment; and 3) may designate land suitable for annexation to the municipality and the recommended zoning classification for such land upon annexation.
(2) 
To review and make recommendations to the City Council, after holding a public hearing on petitions for preliminary planned unit developments (PUD), in accordance with the rules and standards prescribed by Chapter 650 of this Code, the Unified Development Ordinance, and the Illinois Compiled Statutes. The Commission shall hold a public hearing on the matter. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Commission shall make a recommendation to the City Council with regard to the petition. City staff shall review the exterior architectural aesthetics of a PUD development project, using the design guidelines proposed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the City Council as a basis for their discussion and recommendation. The City staff shall make a recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration at the Commission's meetings.
[Amended 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161; 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(3) 
To review and recommend to the City Council, after holding a public hearing on petitions for:
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(a) 
Map amendments (rezonings).
(b) 
Special use permits.
(c) 
Text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance.
(d) 
Unified Development Ordinance variations.
(e) 
Final PUD amendments.
(4) 
To review and recommend to the City Council, after holding a public meeting on applications for:
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(a) 
Preliminary and final plats of subdivision.
(b) 
Chapter 650-5, Subdivision Standards, variations.
(c) 
Comprehensive Plan amendments.
(d) 
Final planned unit developments.
(5) 
To hear, review and comment on conceptual PUD plans, after holding a public meeting.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(6) 
To hear any appeals in a public hearing as enumerated in § 650-9-200J of the Unified Development Ordinance and to render a decision thereon.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(7) 
To hold public meetings and public hearings and review and make recommendations to the City Council as required by the provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance and Illinois Compiled Statutes.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(8) 
To hear and make recommendations to the City Council on all matters referred to it, and to perform such functions as may be requested of it.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(9) 
To hear and make a final determination on administrative variations referred to it by the Zoning Administrator.
[Added 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
D. 
Improvements. The City Clerk may furnish the Planning and Zoning Commission for its consideration a copy of all ordinances, plans and data relative to public improvements of any nature. The Planning and Zoning Commission may report in relation thereto if it deems a report necessary or advisable, for the consideration of the City Council.
E. 
Quorum. The following requirement must be met to constitute a quorum: the presence of four or more voting members of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
F. 
Compensation and expenditures. The Commission shall receive $50 for each scheduled Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at which they are in attendance. If said Planning and Zoning Commission shall deem it advisable to secure technical advice or services, it may be done upon authority from the City Council and appropriations by the City Council therefor.
[Amended 12-6-2005 by Ord. No. 6014; 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
G. 
Chair and Vice-Chair. The Mayor shall name one member to serve as Chair of the Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall elect a Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall serve as Chair of any meeting at which the Chair is absent. In the event that both the Chair and Vice-Chair are absent, the members present at the meeting shall elect an Acting Chair to chair the meeting.
[Added 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
H. 
Rules governing procedures. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall adopt rules regulating the procedure of all meetings, provided that there shall be no time limits established by the Commission for the length of the meetings. Such rules shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk and may be amended at any meeting, and shall be effective upon filing with the office of the City Clerk.
[Added 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
I. 
Meetings required; notice. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold regular meetings and may hold special meetings as needed. Notice of the time and place of regular and special meetings be given in accordance with the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120) of the State of Illinois.
[Added 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
J. 
Hearings. All hearings required by this section to be conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be open to the public. Any person may appear and testify at a hearing either in person or through a duly authorized agent or attorney. All testimony shall be given under oath. The Chair or, in his/her absence, the Vice-Chair or Acting Chair, shall administer oaths. The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall also keep records of its hearings and other official actions. Every rule or regulation, every amendment or repeal thereof, and every decision of the Commission shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk and shall be a matter of public record.
[Added 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 11-5, Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund, was repealed 1-17-2023 by Ord. No. 7896.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 11-6, Board of Trustees of Fire Fighters Pension Fund, amended 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161, was repealed 1-17-2023 by Ord. No. 7896. Former §§ 2.68, Electrical Commission, and 2.69, Arts Commission, which immediately followed this subsection, were deleted 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161.
A. 
The Mayor and City Council formally establishes an Economic Development Committee for the City of Crystal Lake.
B. 
The Economic Development Committee shall be a continuation of the Economic Development Committee program currently in existence in the City of Crystal Lake.
C. 
The Economic Development Committee shall consist of nine voting members which shall be apportioned as follows:
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
(1) 
One member shall be a person nominated by the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce for consideration for appointment by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the City Council.
(2) 
One member shall be a person nominated by the Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street organization for consideration for appointment by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the City Council.
(3) 
The seven remaining members shall be at-large members appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the City Council.
D. 
Terms.
(1) 
The terms of the members of the initial Committee shall be as follows:
(a) 
Three for one-year terms;
(b) 
Three for two-year terms;
(c) 
Three for three-year terms.
(2) 
The selection of the terms shall be at the first meeting of the Committee by lot of the members. All subsequent terms shall be for three-year terms.
[Amended 9-15-2020 by Ord. No. 7653]
E. 
Members of the Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee need not reside within the City limits of the City of Crystal Lake.
F. 
The members of the Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee shall elect a Chairperson who will serve for one year from the date of election. In each year thereafter, the Committee shall elect a Chairperson on an annual basis. The Committee may elect a Secretary. Requests for clerical and secretarial services, when required, shall be made through the designated liaison to the Committee.
G. 
The City Manager shall designate a staff member who shall attend the meetings of the Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee to act as a liaison between the City Council and Committee and to provide existing information to the Committee. The Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee is established primarily to provide recommendations for the expansion and retention of existing businesses and industries within the City of Crystal Lake as provided for by City ordinances, policies or direction by a majority of the elected members of the Mayor and City Council.
H. 
As part of the mission of the Crystal Lake Economic Development Commission, the Council requests that the following be considered or developed:
(1) 
To review the Comprehensive Plan amendments, legislative initiatives and proposed ordinances and provide evaluation and direction.
(2) 
To act as a source for business leads that will be brought to the attention of the City's liaison as designated by the City Manager. It may also be responsible for providing information to staff relative to business development situations perceived or real affecting the business climate within the City.
(3) 
To develop and maintain a listing of vacant and improved nonresidential commercial and industrial business sites within the City of Crystal Lake.
(4) 
To assist the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce in developing and maintaining an inventory of nonresidential commercial and industrial business sites within the planning jurisdiction of the City of Crystal Lake.
(5) 
To develop and maintain inventory of government sponsored business grants and loans along with other benefits available to those operating within the City.
(6) 
To determine the desirability of an EDC section under the City's home page promoting Crystal Lake's business environment and to develop the general content thereof.
(7) 
To recommend the creation of multimedia presentations promoting Crystal Lake's business opportunities.
(8) 
To develop a proposal to promote quarterly Economic Development Committee luncheons.
(9) 
To develop regularly scheduled progress reports to the City Council.
(10) 
Such matters as may be recommended by the Committee and approved by the Mayor and City Council.
(11) 
Such other matters as may be referred to the Committee by the Mayor and City Council.
(12) 
Such other matters as may be referred to the Committee by the City staff.
I. 
The Committee members shall be bound by ethics policies, as may be established from time to time by the Mayor and City Council.
[Added 5-18-1999 by Ord. No. 5157]
A. 
Composition. The Senior's Committee shall be composed of 11 voting and two ex officio members as follows:
(1) 
Seniors.
(a) 
Six senior citizens who reside within the municipal boundaries of the City of Crystal Lake.
(b) 
Five senior citizens who reside within the boundaries of the Crystal Lake Park District. Said members may, but need not, qualify for membership under Subsection A(1)(a) as residents of the City of Crystal Lake.
(2) 
Ex officio members.
(a) 
One ex officio representative from the Crystal Lake City Council. The City Council shall appoint the Mayor of Crystal Lake to serve as the representative of the Council, unless the Mayor declines the position, in which case the City Council, in its discretion, shall appoint one City Council person to serve as the representative of the Council.
(b) 
One ex officio representative from the Crystal Lake Park District Board. This representative shall be the President of the Crystal Lake Park District Board, unless the President declines the position, in which case the Park Board, in its discretion, shall appoint one Board member to serve as the representative of the Park Board.
B. 
Terms of office. Each voting member of the Senior's Committee shall serve a three-year term expiring on June 30, except that upon creation of the Committee, four of the members shall be appointed to a three-year term, four of the members shall be appointed to a two-year term and three of the members shall be appointed to a one-year term. Ex officio members shall serve a one-year term.
C. 
Appointment procedure. The voting members of the Committee shall be nominated by the Mayor or City Council and approved by the City Council, except that, in creating the Committee, the Mayor shall have the sole nominating authority for five of the voting members subject to the approval of the City Council (two three-year terms, two two-year terms and one one-year term) and the Mayor or City Council shall have the authority to nominate the remaining six members.
D. 
Chairperson. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be one of the voting members of the Committee and shall be selected by a majority vote of the sitting members of the Committee, except that, on creation of the Committee, the Mayor shall select one of the members of the Committee to serve as the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall serve in that capacity for one year or until the term expires, whichever is less.
E. 
Function. The Senior's Committee shall receive input from senior citizens in the community, identify and discuss problems and issues facing senior citizens in and around the community and shall formulate prospective solutions to those issues and problems through presentations and proposals to be reviewed and acted upon by the City Council or other appropriate public body. The Committee and its Chairperson shall serve as a liaison between the Council and senior population and shall also encourage senior participation in local government.
F. 
Meetings/reports to Council. The Senior's Committee may meet bimonthly on the first and third Mondays of each month or as necessary. The meetings shall be open to the public and shall be held at the Crystal Lake Municipal Complex. The Chairperson of the Committee shall appear at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting as needed to present a Senior Committee's report concerning issues identified by the Committee.
G. 
Definition of senior citizen. For purposes of this article the term "senior citizen" or "senior" shall mean any person who has reached the age of 60 years.
[Added 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161; amended 12-1-2009 by Ord. No. 6520; 1-3-2017 by Ord. No. 7340; 8-1-2017 by Ord. No. 7385; 10-17-2017 by Ord. No. 7401; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 7885[1]]
A. 
Recognized uses of foreign fire insurance license fee moneys. Pursuant to Section 11-10-1 of the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-10-1, the Illinois General Assembly has imposed a 2% license fee upon every corporation, company, and association which is not incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois and which is engaged in effecting fire insurance within the corporate limits of the City based upon the gross receipts received from fire insurance upon property situated within the corporate limits of the City (the "FFI license fee"). The FFI license fee is imposed for the purpose of providing for the maintenance, use, and benefit of the Fire Rescue Department of the City (the "Department"). For purposes of this § 11-9, an expenditure of FFI license fee moneys shall be deemed to be for "the maintenance, use, and benefit of the fire department" only if used for:
(1) 
The acquisition or maintenance of firefighting equipment under the control of and on the premises of the Department;
(2) 
The acquisition or maintenance of training or conditioning equipment under the control of and on the premises of the Department to be used by firefighters of the Department;
(3) 
The acquisition or maintenance of equipment of the fire house under the control of and on the premises of the Department for the general benefit of firefighters;
(4) 
The payment of training or certification fees for the Department or its sworn members (but only to the extent such training or certification is expressly authorized by the Chief of the Department);
(5) 
Such other expenditures authorized by the statutory FFIB (as hereinafter defined) and approved by resolution of the City Council;
(the foregoing hereinafter being referred to as an "authorized expenditure").
B. 
Tax fund. To the extent that the City has on hand any moneys as of January 1, 2023, that had been designated for use of the Board (as hereinafter defined), the City Treasurer shall promptly cause such moneys to be delivered to the treasurer of the statutory FFIB following receipt of a resolution adopted by the statutory FFIB identifying such treasurer.
C. 
Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board. The City of Crystal Lake Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board (hereinafter the "Board") as previously established by this § 11-9 is hereby dissolved. The City hereby recognizes the foreign fire insurance board duly organized by and among the sworn members of the fire department of the City pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-10-2(a) (the "statutory FFIB") as the successor to the Board. The City disclaims any responsibilities (including oversight) relating to the actions of the statutory FFIB.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided an effective date of 1-1-2023.