Village of Western Springs President and Board of Trustees met Sept. 11.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
WORKSHOP MEETING
President Heidi Rudolph, Presiding
Call to Order, 7:00 p.m.
Deputy Village Clerk Elaine Haeske
Board Members Present
Amy Avakian
Nicole Chen
Alan Fink
Scott Lewis
Philip Nawrocki
James Tyrrell
Ellen Baer, Village Manager
Casey Biernacki, Deputy Village Manager
Sean Gilhooley, Director of LES
Matt Supert, Director of Mun Svcs
John Mastandona, Director of Finance
Jeff Koza, Director of Engineering
Aleks Briedis, Director of Rec
Daisy Chavez, Asst to Vlg Mgr.
Michael Jurusik, Village Attorney
Anne Skrodzki, Village Attorney
Electronic Attendance: None
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
President Rudolph led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
President Rudolph said that September 11 is Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and remembrance of those served and in gratitude for those that continue to serve our nation every day. President Rudolph then led the audience in a moment of silence.
ROLL CALL
Roll call as noted above.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
There were none.
CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEMS DURING THE WORKSHOP MEETING
1) FINANCE COMMITTEE TRUSTEE CHEN
A) Stormwater Utility Fee Modification - Pathway System
Trustee Chen reported that the Finance Committee met last week and discussed two items that are on the Board agenda for this evening.
Trustee Chen reported that staff recommended that the Village Board consider a change to the Stormwater Utility Ordinance in relation to public path systems. The current ordinance specifies that certain path systems, outside of the public right-of-way, be counted as impervious area. Public path systems within public right-of-way (i.e., Village sidewalk) is exempt under the existing ordinance. The Western Springs Park District (WSPD) requested that their pathway systems be removed from their impervious area calculation. The Park District cited language within the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO) in which the WMO exempts public path systems that exist in open space. The MWRD WMO governs detention requirements, within Cook County, and the MWRD requirements have already been adopted into the Village's Municipal Code. The following language from Appendix A of the WMO supports the Park District's request:
MWRD WMO Appendix A - Definitions, Page A-11
Open Space: Pervious land to be retained as pervious land which is not part of a larger development. Open space may also include sidewalk, bike path, nature or walking trail development less than or equal to fourteen feet in width, and outdoor accessory features less than or equal to 0.10 acre in area, including, but not limited to, playgrounds, restrooms, and open-air shelters. To be considered open space, the accessory features must be surrounded by a majority of pervious land and be located on property holdings that are less than 30% impervious. Bodies of water are excluded from the calculation of the percentage of imperviousness.
Staff believes that certain paths on Park District property meet the MWRD definition of public path systems. Village staff would support a modification to the Stormwater Utility Fee to exempt certain public path systems that meet the criteria of the MWRD WMO.
Discussion followed. Trustee Chen noted that the Finance Committee discussed the proposed modification at their meeting on September 5, 2023. The Committee recommended approval of the modification by the Board of Trustees.
B) Thomas Ford Memorial Library (TFML) Intent to Levy a Building Maintenance Tax in the Amount of .02%
Trustee Chen presented a request from the Thomas Ford Memorial Library for the Village to levy a building maintenance tax in the amount of .02% on their behalf. The Thomas Ford Library Board passed a resolution at their June 27, 2023, meeting, requesting that the Village Board levy a Building Maintenance Tax in the amount of .02% of the value of all taxable property in the Village for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, equipping, and/or altering the library building. This levy is allowable under section 5/3-4 of Illinois Library Law.
The .02% levy request is for the fiscal year January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. This needs to be approved, and published by the Village, because as the corporate authority, the Village includes the Library's levy within the Village's annual levy.
If approved, the publication to levy such a tax will be provided to a local newspaper and shall be effective within thirty (30) days after publication, provided a petition of more than 1,061 or more electors is not filed. Historically, this levy request has been approved and implemented in past levies.
The Finance Committee discussed the library's levy request at its meeting held on September 5, 2023. The Finance Committee concurs with this request and recommended this item be placed on the September 25, 2023, omnibus vote list for consideration with a recommendation to approve.
2) GENERAL GOVERNMENT TRUSTEE TYRRELL
No report.
3) PLANNING AND ZONING TRUSTEE NAWROCKI
No report.
4) PROPERTIES AND RECREATION - TRUSTEE AVAKIAN
A) Ordinance Authorizing The Vacation Of The South 15.00 Feet By 187.00 Feet Of The 52nd Street Right-Of-Way Adjacent To And North Of The 5200 Grand Avenue Property Located In The Forest Hills Subdivision, And Approving A Plat Of Vacation And Reservation Of Public Utility, Sidewalk And Stormwater Drainage Easements Relating To Said Right-Of-Way Vacation (Petitioners: James Conniff And Laura Conniff)
B) Ordinance Authorizing The Vacation Of The North 12.00 Feet By 187.00 Feet Of The 52nd Street Right-Of-Way Adjacent To And South Of The 5140 Grand Avenue Property Located In The Forest Hills Subdivision, And Approving A Plat Of Vacation And Reservation Of Public Utility, Sidewalk And Stormwater Drainage Easements, And Abrogation Of An Existing Sidewalk Easement. Relating To Said Right-Of-Way Vacation (Petitioner: Ray Swapa)
Trustee Avakian reported that the Properties & Recreation Committee met on September 5, 2023. At that time, the committee reviewed and discussed the two draft ordinances providing for approval of ROW vacation (items 4A and 4B above).
Discussion followed. Trustee Avakian asked Attorney Jurusik to provide the Board with an update on this matter. Attorney Jurusik said that he had met with Director Supert along with Mr. Conniff and Mr. Swapa at which time they reviewed all the draft documents. This was a collective effort and parties are ready to finalize the approval of the ROW sales on September 25, 2023. Village Attorney Jurusik noted that the final amounts, which are consistent with the Village's ROW Policy pricing schedule, which will be paid to the Village for each ROW parcel is as follows:
4A Petitioners: James Conniff and Laura Conniff - $60,307.50
4B Petitioner: Ray Swapa - $61,710.00
With no objection from the Board, this matter was added to the September 25, 2023, omnibus vote list for consideration approval with a recommendation from the Properties & Recreation Committee to approve these two right-of-way sales according to the terms of the agreements outlined in the draft ordinances.
5) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY - TRUSTEE LEWIS
A) Shared Rescue Equipment
Trustee Lewis reported that the Public Health and Safety Committee met on September 6, 2023 and discussed several matters including the purchase and shared use of certain result equipment. Chief Kelly shared that the fire departments of the Village of Hinsdale and the Village of Western Springs wish to collaborate on the purchase and use of rescue equipment for the purpose of an initial response to a below grade, trench, or confined space incident. Rescue equipment, that includes harnesses, tri-pods, rope, fans and various hardware will be jointly purchased by the Villages on a 50%/50% cost sharing basis, which improves efficiency and reduces duplication of equipment for response to these low frequency, high risk incidents. The cache of equipment will be housed at the Hinsdale Fire Department Station and its use by either Fire Department (or both Departments on a joint service call) and response will be based on pre-determined MABAS box cards for technical rescue type incidents. Additionally, at minimum, training will be conducted between the departments annually on the use, policy, and procedure for these type of incidents and rescue equipment. Any replacement of such rescue equipment will be on a 50%/50% shared cost basis by the Villages. The anticipated cost to purchase the rescue equipment is approximately $8,000.00. Trustee Lewis noted that this is a small but a good example of our ongoing efforts to evaluate and explore opportunities for shared services with communities.
B) Other
Trustee Lewis commended the Fire Department for the well-attended pancake breakfast, which was held on Sunday, September 10, which was a beautiful day. Trustee Lewis also reported that Director of Law Enforcement Services Gilhooley provided the committee with an in-depth and excellent review of the 2022 Police Department annual report. Trustee Lewis asked Director Gilhooley to provide the Board with the highlights of this report, which he proceeded to do.
Village President Rudolph thanked Director Gilhooley for his leadership and for keeping our community safe. President Rudolph also extended kudos to Chief Kelly for the shared services agreement with the Village of Hinsdale. Trustee Lewis added that the committee also did discuss 2024 Fire Department and Police Department budgets during their committee meeting on September 6, 2023.
6) PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER-TRUSTEE FINK
A) Safe Routes to School - Grant Opportunity
Trustee Fink reported on the Safe Routes to School grant opportunity. Western Springs has lots of issues with sidewalks that do not get up onto school or sidewalks that do not go through the whole town, and this is a great opportunity to apply for funds. The Safe Routes to School grant is available every two years. Two years ago, we did not receive a grant and staff met with IDOT to see what we needed to make our application look a little better. It was recommended that we complete a comprehensive Village-wide Safe Routes to School plan. That entailed meeting with school officials, elementary through high school, public and private about what is the best, comprehensive way that we can look at this as a Village. The fantastic part is that if selected, the grant is not an 80/20 split like most grants, but it is funded at 100%. So, if we receive the Safe Routes to School Grant, hopefully it will take care of a lot of sidewalks for us. The grant requires a resolution of support from the Village Board. This resolution will be on the September 25, 2023 omnibus vote list for consideration of approval.
B) Harvey Avenue Reconstruction Project - Construction Engineering Supplemental Agreement
The Public Works and Water Committee recommended approval of an agreement with HR Green for the Harvey Avenue Reconstruction Project in the amount of $19,650 for additional engineering fees to complete the needed supervision of the completion of this project.
Construction on the project began in April 2023. Two ComEd poles and an electrical box had to be moved and even though ComEd was contacted several times, it just did not get moved in a timely manner. Because of that delay, we had to pay for Phase III engineering to HR Green. The Village has submitted a claim. to request that ComEd pay this fee. In the interim, the committee recommended Board approval of an agreement with HR Green for Phase III engineering in the amount of $19,650. This matter was added to the September 25, 2023 omnibus vote list for consideration of approval.
REPORTS
1) VILLAGE PRESIDENT RUDOLPH
President Rudolph commended a couple of great celebrations. The Park District's Centennial Celebration this past week was outstanding. The weather was terrific for it. President Rudolph said she lives very near Spring Rock Park, as does Trustee Avakian, and she thought it was very well attended and run and managed. Living in the immediate community it was just perfect in terms of traffic control and parking and there were a lot of people out celebrating. It was a fantastic way to show off the park and the Park District's 100-year celebration. It was amazing, and the fireworks shows was unbelievable. We are fortunate to have the parks that we have in the Village; 90 acres in total.
President Rudolph congratulated the Fire Department on the success of the Pancake breakfast which was a great event. It's such a great event for the community and having the equipment out and the kids just looking at everything. Everybody that was serving and participating were so helpful and encouraging questions and she thought it was a well-done event.
2) VILLAGE MANAGER BAER
Village Manager Baer reported that the Illinois Tollway has a long-term closure and detour on the ramp that is connecting the northbound Tri-state Tollway to eastbound Ogden Avenue so that will impact our residents. There will be project information that will be posted about detours and up-to-date changes on the Tollway webpage. We do have a link to that page on our website, as well. As a reminder, that is an ongoing closure and we do not know when it will be completed but it will be an extended period that the exit is closed.
As a reminder, the Village continues to work on the water meter replacement program and many residents have been contacted about that. We are working our way through town and there is information on our website about this project on the Community News section of the website.
3) VILLAGE ATTORNEY JURUSIK
No report.
ADJOURNMENT AND RECESS TO CLOSED MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSION OF:
1. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee of the public body or legal counsel (5 ILCS 120/2(e)(1)).
President Rudolph asked for a motion to adjourn the Open Meeting of the Board of Trustees. The Board will be conducting a Closed Meeting following the Open Meeting of the Board. Village Manager Baer noted that the exception for the Board of Trustees Closed Meeting is the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee of the public body or legal counsel (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)).
ADJOURN
MOTION:
Trustee Tyrrell moved, seconded by Nawrocki, to adjourn the Board meeting. The Board will proceed to Closed Meeting For the Purpose of Discussion of The Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, Or Dismissal Of A Specific Employee Of The Public Body Or Legal Counsel (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)).
The motion passed on a roll call vote.
Voting aye: Trustee Avakian, Chen, Fink, Lewis, Nawrocki and Tyrrell.
Voting nay: None.
The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
https://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09112023-1559
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