City Briefs: Lodge on the Fox, Façade Grant, Streetscape Contract

The Batavia City Council took action on the following items at its meeting on Monday. To read about the city's latest department heads and Alderman being sworn in for new terms, click .

To read about the city's recognition on Monday of two longtime Batavia High School coaches, click .

City Gives New Restaurant Downtown Liquor License

The Batavia City Council had to create a new Liquor License for a new Batavia restaurant.

The Council passed Ordinance 11-18 to create another Class D Liquor License for the Lodge on the Fox and also issued it to the restaurant.

The Council had to create a new liquor license for the Lodge because the number of restaurants, liquor stores, or bars has to be the same as the amount of liquor licenses, Mayor Jeff Schielke said. The city couldn’t simply give the Fox Grill’s Class D Liquor License to the Lodge because they already issued it to Smashburger's Batavia restaurant.

Originally, the council planned to give Ona’s liquor license to the Lodge, but Ona’s liquor license was a Class D-1 License. The Lodge on the Fox hopes to open in about 60 days.

For more information about the new restaurant downtown Batavia click .

City Council Approves Changes to Facade Grant Program

The Council on Monday night approved making changes to the Façade Grant Improvement Program. According to the memo by Joel Strassman, Planning and Zoning Officer, the changes included the following conditions:

• Staff must notify applicants of the amount of money available before they fill out an application.
• Applicants who meet the February deadline will be given the first chance to obtain grants for the year.
• The Historic Preservation Committee will look over any applications turned in after the deadline after those who met the deadline receive their awards and provided funds are available.
• Requiring the property applying for the grant to be within one of the city’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts since the grant is financed through the TIF Program.

Downtown Streetscape Consultant’s Contract Amended

The Coucnil passed Resolution 11-31-R increasing the amount of pay for the architect firm behind the city's Streetscape project.

Altmanu will receive an additional $53,801 for its work on the Downtown Streetscape project. The city agreed to give Altamanu the additional amount because the firm went beyond the breadth of its contract with the city, held since June 14, 2010.

The contract didn’t include leading five different Streetscape Committee meetings and presenting the project to the public, according to a memo by Community Development Director Jerry Swanson.  Also, the city later requested Altamanu to address possible improvements to Batavia Avenue, Water Street, First Street and parts of Shumway Avenue to the Streetscape Master Plan for downtown, said John MacManus of Altamanu.  

With the added scope of the project, Altamnu's additional fees are well deserved—they’re doing an excellent job, said Alderman Mike O’Brien. Altamanu's original contract was for $68,830, allowing for $1,000 in reimbursable expenses, Swanson's memo said.