Village of River Forest Board of Trustees met Feb. 24.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
A regular meeting of the Village of River Forest Board of Trustees was held beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue – River Forest, IL.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. Upon roll call, the following persons were:
Present: President Adduci, Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Also Present: Village Clerk Kathleen Brand-White, Village Administrator Eric Palm, Assistant Village Administrator Lisa Scheiner, Assistant to the Village Administrator Jonathan Pape, Management Analyst Sara Phyfer, Police Chief James O’Shea, Police Commander James Greenwood, Finance Director Rosemary McAdams, Fire Chief Kurt Bohlmann, Public Works Director John Anderson, Village Attorney Greg Smith
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
President Adduci led the pledge of allegiance.
3. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Marta Kozbur, 1235 Monroe. Ms. Kozbur read comments from Annie Wallis. Ms. Wallis expressed concern with how and which Deer Management Committee members were selected and remarked that the task force was not balanced. In her own remarks, Ms. Kozbur expressed similar concern with the process of selecting appointments for the Committee, and she asked the Village Board to reflect on the process of presidential appointments.
Bob Zimmerman, 906 Keystone. Mr. Zimmerman expressed similar concern and stated that people who presented research to the Board were not selected for the Committee. He remarked that landscaping is not supposed to be central to the decision to cull but that some applications included this concern. He also discussed the proposed cost of the Intergovernmental Agreement and compared it to a less expensive program in East Lansing. He asked that this not tear apart the community.
Mary Vanker, 1234 Monroe. Ms. Vanker also expressed concern about the Committee appointments and the presidential appointment process used to select them. She stated she believed the Committee is unbalanced and was designed to achieve the result to cull the deer, and that the proposed Committee did not meet its criteria. She also discussed the merits of the applications and the geographic location of the applicants. She asked that the Board consider a more balanced Committee.
Frank Vanker, 1234 Monroe. Mr. Vanker also expressed concern about the process used to select Committee applicants. He stated he was dismayed to learn trustees were not provided with applications and suggested the Board revoke the Village President’s appointment authority on all committees. He stated the Committee needed both geographic balance and a balance of viewpoints.
Askold Kozbur, 1235 Monroe. Mr. Kozbur expressed similar concern about the appointment process and stated it was skewed towards culling deer. He asked for more geographic diversity and diversity of opinions, and he questioned the responses of some of the selected applicants. Mr. Kozbur asked why residents who spent time collecting data were excluded from the Committee. He asked the Board to consider how we operate as a community and how it is governed.
4. ELECTED OFFICIAL COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Trustee Bachner read a statement to acknowledge that this land was once inhabited by indigenous people and stated that River Forest continues to be a place that people from diverse backgrounds live and gather. She announced that Census Day is coming up, noting that Census bags and other handouts were available. She explained that Census enumerators cannot disclose private data, and that mailers will be sent out soon. Trustee Bachner stated that the Census can be completed online or over the phone, and they will only come to your door if that has not been done. She thanked all the Complete Count Committee participants for their work and played a video about being counted in Illinois.
Trustee Brennan reported that she attended the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Environmental Committee meeting on February 18 with Sustainability Chairperson Julie Moller. She explained she learned that commodity revenues are trending down and that cost will be passed down from waste haulers to their Villages. She noted the uniqueness of Strom’s service.
Trustee Henek welcomed everyone to the meeting. She reminded everyone to speak into their microphones as it is difficult for those listening to the audio to hear otherwise.
President Adduci reported that she attended the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus meeting last Friday with keynote speaker Mayor Lori Lightfoot. She noted her presentation included a discussion of pension reform and casinos. She stated earlier in the day she participated in a press conference with PASO, and that the Village will reinforce its commitment to welcoming immigrants and keeping them safe.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Regular Village Board Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2020
b. Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2020
c. FY 2020 Budget Amendment for the Capital Improvement Fund for the River Forest Public Library – Ordinance
d. Declaration of Surplus Property and Authorization of Sale by Internet Auction of Two Brush Chippers – Ordinance
e. PlanItGreen Letter of Commitment Initiative in Pursuing 100% Renewable Energy
f. Monthly Department Reports
g. Monthly Performance Measurement Report
h. Financial Report – January 2020
i. Accounts Payable – January 2020 – $1,646,570.18
j. Village Administrator’s Report
Trustee O’Connell made a motion, seconded by Trustee Henek to approve the Consent Agenda items A - J.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Motion Passes.
6. CONSENT ITEMS FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION
a. Accounts Payable from the General Fund to McDonald’s-Karavites for $42.74 (Trustee O’Connell Common Law Conflict of Interest)
Trustee Cargie made a motion, seconded by Trustee Vazquez to approve Accounts Payable from the General Fund to McDonald’s-Karavites for $42.74.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Abstain: Trustee O’Connell
Motion Passes.
7. RECOMMENDATIONS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
a. Sustainability Report
Sustainability Chair Julie Moller presented the Commission’s Annual Report. She stated they created a new style for the report to encapsulate the history of their work. She focused on reducing carbon emissions through composting, recycling, and native plantings, and she thanked the commissioners for their work collecting metrics. She highlighted the Village’s first bicycle plan and noted the importance of permeable pavers and planting trees for stormwater diversion. Chairperson Moller also emphasized the Pumpkin Smash event and the forum with retailers on reducing single-use plastics. This is the final year, she noted for pollinator gardens, and she explained the grants that funded these green block party events. In order to educate residents, she stated Commissioners staff events and had a volunteer stationed at the Food Truck Rally to explain composting to attendees. She thanked the Village Board for approving signing the PlanItGreen letter of commitment to attain 100% renewable energy by 2050, and she encouraged the Board to consider community aggregation. Chairperson Moller asked that in lieu of the Recycling Extravaganza, the Board consider modifying the Village’s waste hauling contract to include electronics recycling pick up and enhanced recycling services.
The Board briefly discussed Strom’s contract, which expires 4/30/22, and Chairperson Moller explained some of the other options currently available to residents for electronics recycling. Trustee Brennan commended the Commission’s matrix of CO2 levels in the report. Trustee Henek stated she was impressed by the Commission’s thought, passion, and professionalism.
b. Zoning Board of Appeals – Variation for Front Yard and Secondary Front Yard Setbacks at 243 Park Variation – Ordinance
Trustee Vaquez made a motion, seconded by Trustee Henek to approve an Ordinance granting the requested variations to Section 10-8-7 of the Zoning Ordinance at 243 Park.
In response to a question from Trustee Cargie, Village Attorney Smith stated the Zoning Board of Appeals has rules that allow for reconsideration.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Motion Passes.
c. Zoning Board of Appeals – Text Amendment Regarding Beauty Salons and Micropigmentation – Ordinance
Trustee Cargie made a motion, seconded by Trustee Brennan to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Village of River Forest Zoning Ordinance Regarding Beauty Shops, Permanent Cosmetics, Microblading and Micropigmentation.
Administrator Palm stated this text amendment was consistent with what the Board had discussed at their December 9, 2019 meeting and better reflects what is going on in the marketplace today.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Motion Passes.
d. Deer Management Ad-Hoc Committee Appointments: Trustee Tom Cargie, Co-Chair, Trustee Patty Henek, Co-Chair, Dan Hollenbach, Cathleen Hughes, Dawn Mizgala, Ronald Lemar, John Roeger, Annette Madden, Ingrid Liu, Katharine Christmas, Joel Lueking, Laurie Gillard, John Flynn.
Trustee Cargie made a motion, seconded by Trustee O’Connell to concur with the recommendation of the Village President to appoint Trustee Tom Cargie, Trustee Patty Henek, Dan Hollenbach, Cathleen Hughes, Dawn Mizgala, Ronald Lemar, John Roeger, Annette Madden, Ingrid Lui, Katharine Christmas, Joel Lueking, Laurie Gillard, and John Flynn to the Deer Management Ad-Hoc Committee to serve until the Committee is dissolved.
President Adduci thanked the residents who spoke earlier and stated she appreciates and is not fearful of feedback. She stated she accepted that they were angry with the appointment process and explained that this has been the process for the past seven years and what is statutorily granted to her. President Adduci stated she looks at the applications and comes up with what she believes are the best fit and best perspectives that applicants can bring to the table. She acknowledged that some residents do not believe that and that facts will always lead decision-making. She also explained how the timeframe of the process did not give her an opportunity to get input from the trustees because the applications closed February 18 and the agenda had to go out February 20. She reiterated that she stood by her appointments and that she will listen to all residents and all types of deer conflicts. She encouraged everyone to continue to be involved and attend the Committee’s meetings. President Adduci commented on the challenges of forming committees, noting the initial opposition to the Sustainability Commission and remarked on its present success. She stated the Economic Development Commission was also formed under her leadership. Since first being elected, she stated, she has appointed hundreds of residents and not one has called the appointment process into question. She reiterated her encouragement of residents to attend meetings, stating she would like to have all 30 applicants on the Committee but was only authorized 11. She also noted that the issue is not for or against culling but that the Committee’s objective is to reduce deer conflict. She apologized that this discussion has been drawn out and expressed reassurance that the Committee can work together and work through the issue to get the job done. President Adduci emphasized that she does listen and does do her homework. She apologized again for the disappointment felt by some but that she believes she picked the right people and they are doing the right thing for the community.
Trustee Brennan affirmed that she thinks President Adduci is extremely hard working and that she would not have run for trustee under a different Village President. She expressed that she voted for the task force because of the information and data presented to the Board over the past few months. She stated she would rather take more time to tweak and get things right so the Board can have all the residents behind them. She asked that the Board consider the optics and not risk that the Committee’s work product is questioned. Trustee Brennan expressed concern that the residents who spent time researching and presenting to the Board were not selected, and further stated the Board is doing itself a disservice by not having them on the task force. She suggested the Board consider adding two additional committee members.
President Adduci stated she did not have any issues with adding members, but cautioned not excluding those who did not do extensive research.
Trustee Vazquez stated he is ok with adding two more positions and suggested adding one person from the group at the meeting tonight and one that is not. He reiterated his previous comments that the Committee needs to be half and half. He cautioned he does not know if adding two more will satisfy everyone.
Trustee O’Connell stated he only knew two names for sure from the list of appointments and that they both had spoken to the Board about the health and welfare of the community. He emphasized the Village President’s statutory authority to make appointments and stated he wants to see the Committee start working. He noted that the meetings are open to the public.
President Adduci noted her thought process included the health and welfare issue. She reiterated her appointments are the people she thought best to help the Village through this issue and that she wants it to work and be successful.
Trustee Brennan stated she wants the Committee to get going but disagreed with President Adduci’s comparison to the tension with creating other commissions. She stated she was surprised and dismayed with the lack of representation from the group of residents who presented research to the Board.
Trustee Henek stated that her understanding of moving towards the task force was that it was a necessary and important component in order to analyze and gather data, and to educate residents. If the Village went the route of culling, she stated, benchmarks would measure their success. She stated she misunderstood how strictly the appointments would be chosen, noting the time taken to discuss the application form. She stated she was grateful to everyone who applied and to get a sense where people are coming with things. However, she noted, she was not of the understanding that she would not have access to the applications. She stated she was not questioning President Adduci’s judgment. Trustee Henek stated that initially she did not have concerns with the appointments but noted that where people are located makes a difference. She emphasized the importance of geographic representation on the Committee to help educate and inform residents, as well as to collect survey responses. She stated she hopes everyone continues to be engaged throughout this process. She stated they can have successful solutions outside of culling and that she wanted to ensure people feel comfortable with the process that followed.
Trustee O’Connell stated the Board went through what Trustee Henek described over their last few meetings and that it will not be just the eleven people sitting at the table making all the decisions, and that they will take input from residents.
Trustee Henek stated she and Trustee Cargie discussed that the Committee members, like the Sustainability Commissioners, would research and bring back information for consideration. She stated they will be reading and preparing themselves for meetings, but that some may not know what they have signed up for.
The Board discussed the value of geographic location of the Committee members, and President Adduci stated she always makes sure her appointments are willing to do the work involved in being on a committee.
Trustee Bachner stated she shared similar sentiments to other trustees, and she agreed that adding two people to the Committee is a good solution. She expressed concern about the optics of it not being a balanced Committee.
Trustee O’Connell asked about the criteria for selection of the additional two members.
Trustee Cargie apologized for the short timeframe for consideration, stating that it was his suggestion to extend the application deadline to February 18. He expressed disappointment that people are being prejudged but expressed hope that the Committee’s work will be acceptable. He commented that there will be disgruntled residents no matter which side of the issue prevails, but that they will do their best to bridge the gap. He stated that the people he knows on the Committee are willing to do the work involved.
The Board reached a consensus to add two people to the Committee and discussed what factors to consider. The consensus was that one of the appointments should be a resident who had presented their own research to the Board.
Trustee Bachner suggested that people who had applied but were not selected could attend the first meeting as community members so that if they are selected, they are not a meeting behind.
President Adduci noted the Resolution adding the additional two members would be brought to the Board at its March 9 meeting.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: Trustee Brennan
Motion Passes.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Creation of an Age-Friendly Advisory Committee – Resolution
Trustee Vazquez made a motion, seconded by Trustee Bachner to approve a Resolution establishing an Age-Friendly Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee.
Trustee Vazquez explained the process of being designated as an AARP Age-Friendly Community, noting that the Village is in step two, which is the planning phase. He stated Staff met with an AARP representative and will be collaborating with Carla Sloan, and that the purpose of this Committee will be to assess the age-friendliness of the Village and create the Age-Friendly Plan. He thanked Helen Kwan, Lydia Manning, and Management Analyst Phyfer for their work guiding these issues.
Trustee Bachner commented that this is wonderful and asked how this process would work with the schools.
Trustee Vazquez explained the social interaction component of age-friendliness and that the Committee can look at recruiting youth to participate in activities that involve seniors. President Adduci also noted the importance of intergenerational work.
Trustee O’Connell applauded the effort and asked how this would work with other senior services.
Trustee Vazquez emphasized that the work will not overlap but will instead compliment and coordinate. He stated they will make sure residents and seniors are taken care of and will work to expand partnerships with other services.
President Adduci noted Carla Sloan and Cathleen Roach sent emails expressing support and that they see this as complimentary work.
Trustee Vazquez noted that the Dementia Friendly River Forest group has met with Oak Park and the Township too, and he stated they will work to encompass the services of that group as well.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Motion Passes.
b. Recommendation Regarding Building/Zoning Inspector Position
Trustee Cargie made a motion, seconded by Trustee O’Connell to authorize Staff to modify the position of Building & Zoning Inspector from semi full-time to full-time.
Administrator Palm explained that Staff is always looking at ways to improve building department services and that Staff hired a consultant to analyze the department’s vacancy.
Assistant Administrator Scheiner stated that Staff is sensitive to the additional cost of increasing this position to full-time. She reviewed the history of employees in the department and explained Staff’s recommendation.
In response to a question from Trustee Henek, Assistant Administrator Scheiner stated she did not have a timeframe for the Building Official’s retirement but did not expect it would be too long, so there would be advancement potential for this position. In response to a follow up question, she stated this position would not have office hours but that the goal is to make sure someone with technical expertise is always available to customers at the front counter.
In response to a question from Trustee Henek about starting salary, Administrator Palm stated they always try to find the best candidate and they make general assumptions about starting salary for budgeting purposes. He further stated that Staff’s budget when hiring includes planning that a prospective hire will need family coverage health insurance.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Motion Passes.
c. Discussion regarding Non-Renewal of Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Agreement with SafeSpeed, LLC and Initiation of Request for Proposals for New Vendor
Administrator Palm explained the recommendation and stated the Village would begin a Request for Proposals process to look for a different vendor for this service.
In response to a question from Trustee Bachner, Administrator Palm stated he is aware of three other vendors in the area for this type of work.
In response to a question from Trustee O’Connell, Administrator Palm stated the incumbent would have challenges that are difficult to overcome in bidding for this service.
In response to Trustee Cargie’s concern about the possibility of litigation, Administrator Palm stated the Village has the ability to terminate the agreement but that there is nothing they could do to prevent the vendor from pulling their equipment before the contract is up.
In response to a question from Trustee Henek, Administrator Palm stated Staff will continue to monitor proposed State legislation that would prohibit or restrict municipalities from using this service.
In response to a question from Trustee Bachner about how tickets are issued, Administrator Palm explained the current vendor allowed the Village full control of who did and did not receive a ticket, but that he cannot speak to the models of other vendors.
In response to a question from Trustee Henek about the fines, Village Attorney Smith stated the $100 fine is dictated by the State and the fine’s allocation is negotiated.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
11. ITEMS TO BE APPROVED AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
Trustee Vazquez made a motion, seconded by Trustee O’Connell, to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 (Public Works) for May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez Absent: None Nays: None Motion Passes.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Cargie made a motion, seconded by Trustee Bachner to adjourn the regular Village Board of Trustees Meeting at 9:57 p.m.
Roll call: Ayes: Trustees Bachner, Brennan, Cargie, Henek, O’Connell, Vazquez
Absent: None
Nays: None
Motion Passes.
https://www.vrf.us/uploads/cms/documents/events/02-24-20_River_Forest_VBOT_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
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