West Cook News

Village of Western Springs President and Board of Trustees met Sept. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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

James Tyrrell

Absent: Philip Nawrocki

Electronic Attendance: None

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

Tony Budzikowski, Director of CD

Mike Kelly, Director of Fire & EMS

Aleks Briedis, Director of Rec

Michael Jurusik, Village Attorney

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

President Rudolph led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Roll call as noted above.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

There were none.

CONSIDERATION OF AND ACTION ON AGENDA ITEMS

EXPLANATION OF OMNIBUS VOTING PROCEDURE

President Rudolph said that the Illinois State Statutes allow a municipality to collectively vote on a group of ordinances, resolutions, and other motions, such as awards of contract, appointments, etc. This is known as an omnibus vote. All the items contained on the omnibus vote list have been previously discussed by the President and Board of Trustees on at least one occasion, and often on several occasions. By placing them on the omnibus vote list, a single vote may be taken to approve them. A Trustee may remove any item from the list and have it discussed and voted on separately, prior to the omnibus vote. She asked if there was any such request. There were no changes.

Trustee Tyrrell moved that the following ordinances, resolutions, and motions as contained on the meeting agenda for September 25, 2023, be adopted and/or approved under an omnibus vote.

CONSIDERATION OF AN OMNIBUS VOTE (*)

1) *APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 14, 2023, AUGUST 28, 2023, AND SEPTEMBER 11, 2023, AS READ

2) *ORDINANCE NO. 23-3144

AMENDING SUBSECTION 8-10-5(B)

(Stormwater Utility Fee: Definitions) And Subsection 8-10-5(L) (Stormwater Utility Fee: Exemptions From Stormwater Utility Fee) Of Chapter 10 (Water And Sewer Charges Regulations) Of Title 8 (Public Ways And Property) Of The Western Springs Municipal Code To Add To The List Of Permitted Exemptions Certain Eligible Public Path Systems As Defined By The Watershed Management Ordinance Of The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Of Greater Chicago

3) *ORDINANCE NO. 23-3145

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)

4) *ORDINANCE NO. 23-3146

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)

5) *RESOLUTION NO. 23-2751

Determining To Levy An Additional Library Tax For Construction. Maintenance, Repairs And Alterations Of Library Buildings And Equipment For The Fiscal Year Commencing January 1, 2024, And Ending December 31, 2024

6) *RESOLUTION NO. 23-2752

Approving The Filing Of An Application By The Village Of Western Springs For A Project To Be Funded Under The Illinois Safe Routes To School Program (Project: Community-wide Sidewalk Plan)

7) *RESOLUTION NO. 23-2753

Approving And Authorizing The Execution Of Amendment No. 1 To The Professional Services Agreement Between The Village Of Western Springs And HR Green, Inc. For Performance Of Phase II Design And Phase Iii Construction Engineering Services Related To The 2022 Harvey Avenue Concrete Street Reconstruction Project

The motion was seconded by Trustee Chen.

The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Voting aye: Trustees Avakian, Chen, Fink, Lewis, Tyrrell, and President Rudolph.

Voting nay: None.

Absent: Trustee Nawrocki.

REPORTS

1) MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT (Trustee Chen)

A. The July and August 2023 Financial Reports

Trustee Chen presented the July and August 2023 Financial Reports.

The investment activity is presented for August 2023. The IMET convenience fund average daily yield was 4.8%. In July, the Police Pension Fund posted realized and unrealized gains of 2.57%. The Police Pension Fund posted realized and unrealized losses of (2.02%) and maintained a trailing 12 month return of 7.3% at the end of August. The market value of the Police Pension portfolio decreased to approximately $17.285 million with an additional $1.008 million of cash. Investment opportunities for the operating. funds have remained strong, as the Federal Reserve rates remain high (target range of 5.25% to 5.50% as of September 20, 2023).

The General Fund maintained a surplus at the end of August, mainly due to the collection of motor vehicle license fees and other taxes. The County has distributed approximately 55% of the FY 2022 levy. Sales tax collections and LGDF distribution continue to be in- line with budgeted amounts with 68% of budgeted amounts being collected.

Expenditures were on target for the month and include encumbrances in the amount of $108,733. Encumbrances are obligations that have been identified and due within the fiscal year.

In the Capital Improvement Fund, expenditures incurred in July and August include the purchase of computer equipment, car lease payments and public safety equipment.

In the Water/Sewer Funds, consumption billed in July for the period covering April 15, 2023, to June 15, 2023, was 29.11% higher than the consumption billed in 2022 for the same period. Consumption billed in August for the period covering May 15, 2023, to July 15, 2023, was about the same as consumption billed in 2022 for the same period. Year-to- date consumption is approximately 6.8% higher than the same period in 2022. The expenditures include an encumbrance in the amount of $1,738,670 for the meter changeout program, which began in August.

In the Stormwater Utility Fee Fund, the stormwater utility fee first appeared on the utility bills mailed in July. The Village is split into two billing routes. To date, both routes have each received one utility bill including the stormwater utility fee.

In the Police Pension Fund, in the month of July, the Village's portion of the IPOPIF Fund increased 2.57%. In the month of August, the Village's portion of the fund decreased 2.02% decreasing the market value of assets held to $17.285 million and maintained a trailing month return of 7.30%.

MOTION:

Trustee Chen moved, seconded by Lewis To Accept the July and August 2023 Financial Reports As Presented.

The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Voting aye: Trustees Avakian, Chen, Fink, Lewis, and Tyrrell.

Voting nay: None

Absent: Trustee Nawrocki.

REPORTS

1) VILLAGE PRESIDENT RUDOLPH

No report.

2) VILLAGE MANAGER BAER

Village Manager Baer reported that last weekend was a very busy one in town with WSBA's Fall Fest. WSBA with a lot of support from Village including police, fire, and public works/municipal services crews. Everything went well and WSBA does an amazing job with the event planning. Village Manager Baer extended her thanks to staff who were here this weekend for this as well as the Field Park Fun Run and the French Market. It was a great weekend and kick-off to fall.

3) VILLAGE ATTORNEY JURUSIK

Attorney Jurusik stated that with the approval of the two right-of-way transactions, he will be working to get those transactions closed and will report back to the Board once those do close.

OTHER

There was no other business.

MOTION TO ADJOURN

The Closed Meeting which had been scheduled following this meeting was not needed and so Trustee Tyrrell asked for a motion to adjourn.

MOTION:

Trustee Tyrrell moved, seconded by Avakian, to adjourn the Board meeting. The Board will proceed to Closed Meeting For the Purpose of Discussion of The Appointment, Employment,

The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.

https://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09252023-1560