Village of Western Springs General Government Committee met Nov. 5.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
This public meeting was held using the Zoom on-line platform as authorized by the Open Meetings Act, the CDC directive (social distancing guidelines) and Illinois Governor Disaster Proclamation dated October 16, 2020 (Phase 4 Restore Illinois Plan), and Executive Order 2020-59 extending the Governor's prior Executive Orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and his implementation of Phase 4 of the "Restore Illinois " Plan (Community Revitalization Order - COVID-19 E. 0. No. 55).
Present
Chair Tyrrell, Member Chen, Village Manager Velkme, Director Baer, Village President Gallagher, Attorney Jurusik and WSMTD Trustee Patrick Higgins
Chair Tyrrell moved to open the committee meeting, seconded by Member Chen. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Member Chen and Chair Tyrrell. The General Government Committee meeting was called to order at 11 :45 a.m.
Agenda Items
1. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
2. Approval of Minutes
Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Committee Member Chen, to approve the minutes of the meeting of October 8, 2020 as read. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Chen. Voting nay: None.
3. 2021 Budget Discussion
Deputy Clerk Haeske informed the committee that the Village's life and dental insurance renewal rates for 2021 remain unchanged. The overall renewal rate increase for the Village's Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance grandfathered plan is 3.37%. The Village received a COVID-19 credit for dental insurance in the amount of $1,455.96 based on April PPO premiums as well as a $15,604.84 credit on the Village's November Blue Cross Blue Shield statement based on the October 2020 health insurance premiums. Staff is pleased with the renewal rate and will move forward with the open enrollment process in November for employees for 2021.
4. West Suburban Mass Transit District fWSMTD)
Village Manager Velkme asked WSMTD Trustee Patrick Higgins to provide the committee with history on how and why the WSMTD was formed, which he did. Village Manager Velkme explained that the Village received a letter from the WSMTD on October 30, 2020, indicating their recent action to discontinue services and dissolve the WS1VITD on or before December 21, 2020 in order to limit costs and maximize the further funds available for distribution to the member communities. The District recently voted to establish a Grant VII program, pursuant to which the District will distribute $6,500.00 to each of its member communities. Funds must be used by the member community to fund capital expenditures along the commuter rail line in the member community. The District anticipates that all funds will be distributed to the treasurer for each community on or about December 21, 2020. The District has requested that each community approve a resolution to be filed with the Village Clerk and the Illinois Secretary of State confirming that dissolution request.
Village Attorney Jurusik reviewed the draft resolution provided by the WSMTD and modified it to follow the Village's format. It is his recommendation that the Board approve the resolution in the November cycle to meet the December 21, 2020 dissolution date.
Trustee Tyrrell moved, seconded by Committee Member Chen, to recommend the Board move forward with approval of the WSMTD dissolution resolution. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Chair Tyrrell and Member Chen voting aye. Voting nay: None.
5. Other
The committee had several other items to discuss.
A) Indoor Dining Complaints
The Village has received a few complaints from residents about restaurants in the Village which are allowing indoor dining in spite of Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health's COVID-19 resurgence mitigations which were implemented in Region 10 on October 28, 2020. Mitigation measures which took effect on October 28 in Region 10 included no indoor dining or bar service. The committee discussed what measures the Village could take to increase compliance by local restaurants. After discussion, the committee recommended Village staff publish a reminder notice on the Village website which will also be mailed to local restaurants that will reiterate Governor Pritzker's Restore Illinois resurgence mitigation guidelines.
B) Declaration of a State of Emergency in the Village of Western Springs, Cook County, Illinois (COVID-19 -November 9, 2020) (Disaster Declaration and Remote Meeting Rules Village Attorney Jurusik provided a draft declaration for the committee to review.
The Declaration of State of Emergency is intended to re-state and re-issue the disaster proclamation in the Village and re-affirm the remote meeting protocols. This Declaration does not change any procedures that the Village has in place regarding remote meetings or the Village President's authority to issue executive orders but simply is intended to restate and extend the prior Declarations. This Declaration will be included on the November 9, 2020 Board meeting agenda for consideration of approval.
C) Executive Order No. 2020-06: Executive Order of the Village President of the Village of Western Springs (Tolling of Application Review and Approval Period For Small Wireless Facility Permits Due to Local, State, or Federal Disaster Declaration or Similar Emergency Causing Delay - COVID-19 Pandemic)
A draft of Executive Order No. 2020-06 was also provided to the committee for review and discussion. Village Attorney Jumsik explained that this order relates to the tolling of the application review and approval period for small wireless facility permits. Section 15(d)(10)(B) of the Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act ("Act") (50 ILCS 840/15(d)(10)(B)), authorizes a local authority to toll the time period for an application if "a local. State or federal disaster declaration or similar emergency that causes the delay." Further, Section 15(D)(6)(G) of the Act (50 ILCS 840/15(D)(6)(G)) requires, that "the wireless provider comply with the applicable codes and local code provisions or regulations that concern public safety." Pursuant to the authority granted to the Village by the applicable provisions of the Act and in accordance with the federal, state and local disaster and emergency declarations currently in effect. Executive Order No. 2020-06 approves the tolling of the time period for the review and approval of any and all applications for Small Wireless Facility Permits submitted pursuant to the Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act until such time as the local. State or federal disaster declarations expire or are repealed, whichever occurs first.
This Executive Order will provide Village staff with the ability to implement a naini moratorium as allowed in State Small Cell Act upon execution by Village President Alice Gallagher. The Board will receive a report on the intention of President Gallagher to move forward with this order on November 9, 2020. Village staff has been stretched thin with COVID-19 issues and this Order will ensure the time clock on required reviews won't start until the pandemic ends.
D) Advisory Referendum Question on the November 3, 2020 General Election Ballot Attorney Jumsik reported that in 2019, the Village adopted a moratorium ordinance which imposed a temporary moratorium prohibiting "Adult-Use Cannabis Business Establishments" from locating and operating within the Village, excluding medical cannabis dispensaries and cultivation centers. In July 2020, the Village Board approved a resolution providing for submission of an advisory public question to appear on the ballot of the electors of the Village of Western Springs at the General
Election to be held on November 3, 2020 concerning the operating of cannabis businesses in the Village. The results of the referendum question put to the voters of the Village of Western Springs, "Shall the Village of Western Springs allow cannabis businesses to operate within the Village of Western Springs?" on the November 3, 2020 General Election Ballot were shared with the committee.
President Gallagher shared that as of today, of the 12 precincts counted, approximately 39.45% of residents voted "YES" and 60.55% voted "NO". This means the Board of Trustees will not consider whether or not to allow the sale of recreational marijuana in the Village. Attorney Jurusik explained that the Village will still need to address creation of a zoning district within the Village for medical marijuana businesses. This step will require a public hearing by the Plan Commission to develop the zoning code amendments for the Board's consideration and for the Board to adopt a cannabis tax for a medical cannabis dispensary. Attorney Jurusik recommended a Tower Topics article be written to update the Village on the results of the advisory question on the ballot and to explain the next steps regarding necessary zoning code changes. It is also important to have the Village Board updated on this matter. The Village cannot prohibit medical cannabis establishments, but rather can only create reasonable zoning restrictions limiting their location within the Village.
An ordinance on the recreational cannabis moratorium will be on the docket for Board approval in the next few months which will close out this issue.
6. Schedule Next Committee Meeting
The Board of Trustees has meetings scheduled on November 9 and 23, 2020. December meetings will be held on the first and third Mondays (December 7 and 21, 2020) to ensure the Village's budget documents are finalized and filed on time. The General Government Committee set their next meeting on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at 11:45 a.m.
With no further business to discuss. Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Member Chen, to adjourn the committee meeting at 12:44 p.m.
The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Chen.
Voting nay: None.
https://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11052020-1131
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