Village of Riverside Board of Trustees met March 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
I. Call to Order: The Regular Meeting of the Village of Riverside Board of Trustees was held on Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL. President Sells called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. Roll Call: Present: President Sells
Trustee Pollock
Trustee Jisa
Trustee Lumsden
Trustee Ballerine
Trustee Sedivy
Trustee Peters
Absent: None
Also Present: Village Manager Frances
Village Attorney Marrs
Village Clerk Haley
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Presentations / Public Comment
A. Emergency Preparedness Presentation by Chief Buckley and Chief Weitzel
President Sells introduced Fire Chief Buckley and Police Chief Weitzel. Chief Buckley gave a PowerPoint presentation on the village’s emergency preparedness measures. He provided details on MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) Division 10, the Fire Department Mutual Aid organization the village is a member of. He noted that Division 10 includes many communities along the I-55 corridor. Next, Chief Weitzel spoke regarding the law enforcement aspects of emergency management and noted that the Police Department belongs to several mutual aid organizations that allow the department to call in extra resources when needed. Public Works Director Bailey then provided information on IPWAMAN – the Illinois Public Works Association Mutual Aid Network – an organization with 300 member communities across the state. IPWAMAN member communities share equipment and staff during emergencies.
Chief Buckley noted that when an emergency situation is larger than local agencies can handle, larger agencies become involved. He noted that the Cook County Department of Homeland Security based in Oak Forest and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) are also resources for Riverside. He encouraged residents to visit the village website where they will find a link to the IEMA website which includes many good resources regarding how to prepare for different emergencies. He also encouraged residents to visit the Riverside Ready page of the village website. He concluded by urging residents to actively participate in emergency preparedness and community safety initiatives. “If you see something, say something” is the phrase of the day. The police and fire departments can’t be everywhere. If something seems out of place, make the call.
President Sells thanked Chief Buckley, Chief Weitzel and Director Bailey for their informative comments. He urged everyone to plan ahead and be prepared. He asked Chief Weitzel to touch on the subject of school safety. Weitzel stated that he wants to be very careful when discussing school safety protocols. He declined to comment on specific procedures, but stated that the department conducts various drills and exercises at all of the local schools annually. These exercises are coordinated with neighboring communities. He stated that the new RBHS School Safety officer is a great asset.
President Sells asked if there was an update on funding for the repeaters needed to boost the department’s radio signal inside the high school. Chief Weitzel stated that grants have not been announced yet, but he believes the department will have a response soon. There seems to be a sense of urgency since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.
B. Chief Weitzel to review 2017 Wedge Year End Report
Chief Weitzel noted that the Wedge unit was a little bit less activity in 2017 than in 2016. This is partly attributable to staff reductions. The Wedge unit operates 4-6 days per month. In 2017, the unit focused on arresting the worst offenders who commit crimes in all or most of the Wedge member communities. Weitzel noted that many criminals don’t know what jurisdiction they’re in when they are arrested. Weitzel also noted that he will be stepping down as the Wedge Chairperson in the coming year. He has served as chairperson for the last 6 years and he feels the time is right for someone else to assume those duties.
C. Public Comment – None.
V. Reports of Village Officers
A. Village President’s Report
President Sells stated that Juanita Ray, the wife of Richard Ray, passed away earlier this week. The Rays have worked tirelessly over the years documenting local Riverside landmarks. He extended condolences to Mr. Ray and his family.
President Sells also urged everyone to vote on Election Day on March 20.
B. Village Manager’s Report
Manager Frances announced that Riverside has 8 new firefighters who recently graduated from the fire academy. She offered congratulations to new firefighters on their accomplishment and welcomed them to Riverside.
Manager Frances also announced that the village has submitted a letter of intent to join the West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA). The WSSRA board discussed the letter of intent and is excited about the possibility of Riverside joining the association.
President Sells noted that he met with North Riverside Village President Hermanek and both of them will meet with Riverside Township Supervisor Wilt next week to discuss possible funding of special recreation programs for all residents of Riverside Township.
VI. Approval of Consent Agenda
A. Approve Voucher List of Bills March 15, 2018
B. Approve Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Minutes March 1, 2018
C. File and review Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes November 14, 2017
D. File and review Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes January 11, 2018
E. File and review Historical Commission Meeting Minutes January 15, 2018
F. File and review Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes January 24, 2018
G. File and review Planning and Zoning Commission – Village Board Joint Special Meeting February 1, 2018
H. File and review Community Development Department February 2018 Monthly Report
I. File and review Finance Department January 2018 Monthly Report
J. File and review Finance Department February 2018 Monthly Report
K. File and review Fire Department February 2018 Monthly Report
L. File and review Police Department February 2018 Monthly Report
M. A Resolution authorizing the provision of Commission Cards for Riverside Auxiliary Police Corps members and Brookfield Zoo Police Officers
N. A Resolution authorizing the Village Manager to waive competitive bidding and enter into an agreement with Illinois Alarm Service Inc., in the amount of $19,508 for the purchase of video cameras at the Police Station Lobby and Pine Avenue Fire House for consolidated dispatching purposes
O. A Resolution authorizing the Village Manager to execute a contract with Paramedic Services of Illinois Inc. (PSI) for Paramedic Services in the Village of Riverside from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2023
P. A Resolution of Continued Support of and Participation in the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency’s Regional Disposal Project
Q. Motion to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the Village of Riverside and Fraternal Order of Police Telecommunicators
President Sells read the Consent Agenda aloud and asked if any of the Trustees required an item to be removed for discussion. Hearing no requests, he called for a motion and second to approve the Consent Agenda.
Trustee Ballerine made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Trustee Jisa seconded the motion.
Ayes: Trustees Pollock, Jisa, Lumsden, Ballerine, Sedivy and Peters.
Nays: None. Motion passed.
VII. Reports of Departments, Commissions and Trustee Liaisons
Trustee Ballerine announced that Riverside TV is looking for residents to participate in a local cooking show. Anyone interested in auditioning for the program should contact Riverside TV.
A. Traffic Study Committee Report by Chief Weitzel, Chief Buckley and Director Bailey Chief Weitzel started the report by announcing that the Police Department will debut a new marked car next week that will be used exclusively for traffic enforcement. This is in response to input from residents that more traffic enforcement is needed within the village, not just along the state routes that serve as the borders of the village. Weitzel noted that he, Chief Buckley and Director Bailey met several times and made field trips to several neighboring communities to see different traffic calming devices in use. Trustee Lumsden also participated. Based on their discussions and on site observations, they recommend the following:
• Install parking boxes on Woodside Road for northbound and southbound traffic. Parking boxes should extend north from the traffic light at Kimbark and Park Place to just south of the intersection of 31st Street and Des Plaines Avenue. Director Bailey believes the village can get better pricing by installing the parking boxes in conjunction with the other street paving projects that will be done in 2018.
• Install a broken yellow line to separate North and Southbound traffic on Barrypoint and Longcommon Roads. Additionally, install parking boxes on one side of Barrypoint where parking is currently permitted.
• Institute 20 mile-per-hour speed zones in all Park Zones as recommended in the Traffic Study and approved by the Parks and Recreation Board. This would require some new signs, but every effort would be made to use existing poles and replace 25 mile-per-hour speed limit signs with 20 mile-per-hour speed limit signs in all Park Zones.
• Install speed limit signs at all major roadway entrances to Riverside such as Longcommon & Harlem, 31st Street & Des Plaines Avenue - Maplewood, First & Forest, and Northbound Barrypoint, just north of the Barrypoint Bridge.
• Install a stop sign for southbound traffic on Riverside Road at the intersection with Burling Road.
• Install a four-way sign on Longcommon Road at Addison, Bartram and Nuttall Roads.
• Install high visibility, ladder type crosswalks throughout the village when streets are being resurfaced starting in 2018 with the First Division paving project.
• Seek ways to improve safety at the intersection Woodside, Kimbark and Park Place. There have been several serious crashes at this intersection over the last three years: Four involved drunk or impaired driving; one was a hit and run and one was a minor accident that caused only property damage. The committee would like KLOA to review this intersection and give suggestions for improvements that could be implemented when Woodside Road is resurfaced.
Trustee Pollock noted that installing traffic boxes will show drivers that Woodside Road is intended to be one lane in each direction.
Trustee Jisa inquired about the cost and lifecycle of painted pavement markings versus thermal plastic pavement markings. Director Bailey noted that the village does not currently own the equipment needed to install thermal plastic pavement markings and it would likely cost $20,000 to refresh painted pavement markings annually. Thermal plastic markings typically need to be reapplied every 3 – 5 years.
The committee has also recommended that ladder type crosswalks be installed throughout the village, especially in school zones.
Trustee Lumsden stated that he feels the 2018 recommendations are an easy way to get started with improving safety. He also stated that posted speed limits drive programs like Google Maps. If the village decreases the speed limit from 25 to 20 MPH in all School Zones and Park Zones, navigation programs will likely direct less traffic through the village and instead route it to roads with faster posted speed limits. Lumsden expressed support for decreasing the speed limit to 20 MPH throughout the village and only allowing a 25 MPH speed limit in selected areas.
There was a brief discussion of using movable traffic humps at various locations throughout the village in a similar fashion to the way the speed trailer is currently used.
Installation of extra lighting, reflectors embedded into the pavement or rumble strips at the intersection of Woodside, Kimbark and Park Place was also discussed. Manager Frances noted that it might be possible to find grant funding for lighting improvements.
The committee would also like to try a temporary closure of Akenside Road during the morning rush hour to prevent traffic from entering Akenside where it intersects with Woodside and Delaplaine Roads. Chiefs Weitzel and Buckley, along with Director Bailey, expressed concern about the volume of traffic on Akenside on weekday mornings, especially since traffic on Akenside is ultimately directed to the back entrance of Hauser/Central School where there is typically already a lot of school traffic and teacher cars parked on the street.
Consensus: Agree with recommendations. Direct staff to move forward with research and planning.
Trustee Lumsden thanked Chief Weitzel, Chief Buckley and Public Works Director Bailey for their recommendations.
VIII. Ordinances and Resolutions
A.An Ordinance amending Sections 8-6-2 (Water Service Accounts and Charges) and 8-7-9 Sewerage Service Charges) of the Village Code of the Village of Riverside, Illinois relative to a Water and Sewerage System Infrastructure Maintenance Fee
Finance Director Johns noted that the Water and Sewer Fund is an Enterprise Fund which means that it receives no tax dollars. Water and sewer operations are funded entirely with user fees. Over the past ten years, the amount of operational surplus created each year in the Water and Sewer Fund has dramatically decreased. The operational surplus is used to fund capital projects on a cash basis. Without major changes to the fee structure, the village will not have the funds needed to pay for required capital expenses. As the village’s water and sewer infrastructure continues to age, more funds will be needed for improvements. To fund the capital outlays estimated at $2.6 over the next five years, staff is recommending the implementation of a $30 bi-monthly infrastructure fee. This fee would generate approximately $540,000 annually to help fund Water and Sewer Capital Projects or related debt service.
Trustee Jisa made a motion to approve the Ordinance. Trustee Pollock seconded the motion.
Ayes: Trustees Pollock, Jisa, Lumsden, Ballerine, Sedivy and Peters.
Nays: None. Motion passed.
IX. Considerations – None.
X. New Business
Trustee Sedivy asked if red light cameras would be included in the police chief’s research on entry point cameras. President Sells stated that research on red light cameras would be included.
XI. Adjournment
With no further Considerations, no other New Business, and no need for an Executive Session, President Sells called for a motion and second to adjourn the Regular Meeting.
Trustee Lumsden made a motion to adjourn. Trustee Ballerine seconded the motion.
Ayes: Trustees Pollock, Jisa, Lumsden, Ballerine, Sedivy and Peters.
Nays: None. Motion passed.
President Sells declared the meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
http://www.riverside.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03152018-705
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