The DeKalb City Council meeting last night focused on several upcoming projects meant to upgrade the city’s appearance.

The council granted a special-use permit to Jim Finnan to re-subdivide 1236-1238 State Street from a two-family residence into two attached single-family residences.

The city had given Finnan a grant of $2,800 for demolition in 2001 with the understanding he would place a SFR there. Instead, he built a duplex.

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan said he was hoping to recoup the demolition costs based on the previously-arranged agreement.

The agreement was drafted by city staff which did not have the authority to dictate zoning policy, Finnan said.

“This has been misconstrued from the beginning,” he said.

Finnan’s decision to skip relevant parts of the agreement was unfortunate, Kapitan said. He followed his comments with a motion to mandate the recovery of demolition costs, but it was quickly defeated.

City Attorney Norma Guess explained the agreement was unclear and not binding at the time.

Moving from buildings to bricks, the council made a move to permanently address a beautification issue in the downtown area.

A consideration was unanimously passed to waive the bidding process and award the project to the lowest quotation made by Rabine Paving.

The project will give Palmer Court in downtown DeKalb a stamped brick pattern rather than actual bricks to keep the historical look but avoid future repairs in an area with heavy foot traffic.

In other news, citizens who missed the opportunity to view two recent community events will soon be able to see what they missed.

Films of the recent gang task force meeting at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., and the 50 year-old time capsule opening will be shown on local DeKalb channel 14.

A schedule of times will be posted tomorrow on the Web and on channel 14.

The citizen’s meeting run by the local police task force and school board brought out hundreds of concerned residents wondering how the city would deal with the recently transparent gang activity.

Creative residents looking to have an impact on the future of the downtown will soon have an opportunity to be heard.

Fourth Ward Council Member Donna Gorski announced a downtown revitalization meeting for April 20 where citizens are encouraged to participate. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Fellowship Room of St. Mary’s Church, 302 Fisk Ave.

“We would like folks to come out and give us ideas,” Gorski said.

Addressing an issue of confusion over parliamentary procedure and non-public city sessions, Mayor Frank Van Buer began the meeting by clarifying recent allegations of a violation of the Open Meetings Act.

“All of us are fully committed to the spirit of the Open Meetings Act,” said Van Buer. Closed meetings are typically meant to discuss sensitive personnel matters as well as business deals that require secrecy until finalized.

Second Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen and 6th Ward Alderman Dave Baker were not present.