Hemmens, pot decriminalization on agenda for special Elgin council meeting

Marijuana decriminalization, the Hemmens Cultural Center and the Sports Complex will be discussed at a special meeting Saturday in Elgin - and at least one city council member says the topics are important enough that the meeting should be videotaped.

The special committee of the whole meeting starts at 8 a.m. at the Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way.

Councilman John Prigge said he can't attend, but that's not why he wants it to be videotaped.

"These are important conversations, and people are interested in them," he said.

All regular committee of the whole and city council meetings at city hall are videotaped and available for viewing on the city's website; they are also streamed live online and on local TV.

However, city hall is the only location wired for live streaming, City Manager Sean Stegall said.

Special meetings held elsewhere could be videotaped, but that would require additional expenses for sound equipment and staff time, he said.

Prigge first brought up the videotaping topic last year but it didn't gain traction among his fellow council members.

Not being on camera can lead to more fruitful discussions, Councilwoman Tish Powell said.

"Unfortunately, sometimes when the camera is rolling, some people feel the need to play to the camera," she said.

No formal action is taken at special meetings, and the topics are discussed later at regular meetings, she pointed out.

Saturday's discussion about possibly decriminalizing misdemeanor possession of small quantities of marijuana in Elgin stems from the fact that Cook County is no longer prosecuting such cases, Powell said.

That leads to "unequal justice" for those who are arrested in Elgin's Kane County portion, she said.

"My concern is especially for young people who may not always make the best decisions," she said.

Also on Saturday, a task force will present its findings about the Hemmens, which include recommending the addition a new, multipurpose event space for up to 450 patrons on the building's southeast side.

The report doesn't give estimated costs for the proposed work, an analysis that will be performed by city staff members upon direction by the city council, Stegall said.

Council members also will begin to tackle long-range planning for the Sports Complex, including the potential sharing of athletic fields - in terms of use, maintenance and expenses - with community entities such as Elgin Community College and others, Stegall said.