West Cook News

Village of Western Springs President Board of Trustees met Jan. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

WORKSHOP MEETING 

President Heidi Rudolph, Presiding 

Call to Order, 7:00 p.m. 

Village Clerk Ed Tymick 

Board Members Present 

Nicole Chen Ellen Baer, Village Manager

Scott Lewis Casey Biernacki, Deputy Village Manager

Phil Nawrocki Sean Gilhooley, Director of LES

James Tyrrell Matt Supert, Director of Mun Svcs

John Mastandona, Director of Finance

Absent: Amy Avakian and Alan Fink Heather Valone, Asst. Director of CD

Jeff Koza, Director of Engineering

Mike Kelly, Director of Fire & EMS

Electronic Attendance: None 

Aleks Briedis, Director of Rec 

Elaine Haeske, Dep. Vlg Clerk 

Daisy Chavez, Asst. to Vlg Mgr 

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 

Resident Clare Kralovec expressed support for the Village's response to the migrant crisis as expressed on January 5, 2024, in a statement by President Rudolph on Asylum Seekers in the Chicago Region published on the Village's website. Resident Chris Recker expressed his concerns with the Village's approach. President Rudolph thanked the residents for their comments and said the residents' health and safety is the Village's priority and that Western Springs wanted to ensure a safe bus-to-train passage. President Rudolph also encouraged Mr. Recker, and any other residents with concerns, to contact Chief Gilhooley. 

CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEMS 

1) PROPERTIES AND RECREATION - TRUSTEE AVAKIAN 

Village Manager Baer reported in Trustee Avakian's absence. The Properties and Recreation Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. At that time, the committee will review a request for a Program Extension Letter for the Invest in Cook Grant for the West Underpass project as well as a monthly update from the Recreation Department. More information will be provided on January 22, 2024. 

2) FINANCE - TRUSTEE CHEN 

A) Ordinance Amending Title 1 (Administration), Chapter 9 (Administrative Code) and 13 (Contracts, Purchases and Financial Regulations) of the Western Springs Municipal Code Relative to the Implementation of a Property Improvement Grant Program 

B) Resolution Approving and Adopting a Property Improvement Grant Program of the Village of Western Springs 

Trustee Chen reported that the Finance Committee met on January 2, 2024, and heard information on the Village's proposed Property Improvement Grant Program. In 2013, the Village adopted its current Economic Development Incentive Policy. It is recommended that the Village use a few strategies to grow commercial development in the Village giving priority to the downtown area. The policy recommended creating Tax Increment Financing Districts, referred to as TIF Districts, a grant program to facilitate improvements to commercial facades and signs, business districts and sales tax sharing. From the Economic Development Incentive Policy, the Village created two TIF Districts. As the Districts have started to accrue increment, Village staff has drafted a Property Improvement Grant Program to facilitate the reinvestment of TIF funds in the downtown area. The proposed program to help downtown businesses and property owners to fund improvements to the existing building stock is recommended by the Economic Development Policy. Both the Economic Development Commission and the Finance Committee have reviewed the p proposed program and are recommending approval. Staff is here to present the details on the proposed program. Trustee Chen noted that Assistant Director Valone will provide a presentation this evening to the Board. 

The Power Point presentation provided by Assistant Director Valone is available from the Community Development Office. After discussion, the committee recommended Board approval of the ordinance modifying municipal code and the resolution adopting and approving a Property Improvement Grant Program of the Village of Western Springs. These items will appear on the January 22, 2024, omnibus vote list for consideration of approval. 

C) 2024 Vendor List 

Trustee Chen noted that the Finance Committee reviewed the 2024 Vendor List Report which contains a list of recommended vendors whose annual charges may exceed $25,000. Vendors that have agreements already approved by the Village Board are not included in this list. On January 2, the Finance Committee reviewed the vendor list and discussed the items as described by department directors. Please note that these costs are included and were also approved in the 2024 budget. Any future increases to the amounts listed would require the item to return to the Village Board for additional consideration. 

3) PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER- TRUSTEE FINK 

Village Manager Baer reported in Trustee Fink's absence. The Public Works and Water Committee will also be meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. At that time, they will review several items including the Springdale Point Repairs project bid tab and recommendation, a construction engineering proposal from Robinson Engineering for this project, and supplement #2 to the Springdale Park Detention Improvements project related to water main replacement. On January 22, 2024, the committee will provide additional information to the Board on these items. 

4) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY - TRUSTEE LEWIS 

A) Agreement for DACRA Software 

Trustee Lewis reported on this item which the Public Health and Safety Committee reviewed on January 2, 2024. This is a master licensing agreement with Dacra Tech, LLC to provide software to manage the ticketing, adjudication, towing, fine processing, and other services for the Department of Law Enforcement Services. This software has been utilized by the department for many years. This agreement is for a one-year term. The annual increase is $1,800 with a total annual contract fee of $18,000. Village Attorney Jurusik reviewed this agreement and the Public Health and Safety Committee recommended approval of the agreement by the Board. This item will be on the January 22, 2024, omnibus vote list for consideration of approval. 

B) 2024 Vendor List 

Trustee Lewis reported that the committee had also reviewed their 2024 vendor list which was part of the list that the Finance Committee reviewed and discussed earlier evening. 

5) PLANNING AND ZONING - TRUSTEE NAWROCKI 

No report. 

6) GENERAL GOVERNMENT - TRUSTEE TYRRELL 

A) Ordinance Declaring a Conflict with the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance with Respect to Paid Leave Requirements for Village Employees 

Trustee Tyrrell reported that the General Government Committee met just prior to the Board meeting this evening and reviewed several items including this draft ordinance. The Cook County Board of Commissioners passed a new Paid Leave Ordinance (No. 24-0584) that closely mirrors the provisions outlined in the recently adopted State of Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act. The county ordinance replaces a previously issued Earned Sick Leave Ordinance and removes provisions that exempted local governments. That ordinance does allow a municipality to issue their own additional ordinance, declaring a conflict if that municipality already has an existing ordinance outlining paid leave provisions. 

The draft ordinance presented this evening declares that the Cook County Paid. Leave Ordinance conflicts with the Village of Western Springs adopted Paid Leave Ordinance (No. 23-3159). Approval of this proposed ordinance would clarify that the new Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance does not apply to employees of the Village of Western Springs as they are already covered under the Village Board approved paid leave provisions. This ordinance has been reviewed by the Village Attorney as well as the General Government Committee and is recommended for approval by the Village Board on January 22, 2024. 

B) 2024 Vendor List 

Trustee Tyrrell stated that the General Government Committee also reviewed their committee's vendor list which was previously mentioned in the Finance Committee report by Trustee Chen this evening. 

C) DMMC Legislative Action Program and Sample Resolution 

The General Government Committee also reviewed and discussed this draft resolution provided by the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference (DMMC). The Village of Western Springs is an Associate member of the DMMC while still maintaining full membership in the West Central Municipal Conference. Each year the councils of government prepare a Legislative Action Program which outlines which legislative initiatives the council will prioritize in the coming fiscal year. Members of the conference are asked to provide a resolution endorsing the initiatives. 

REPORTS 

2024 legislative priorities include restoration of the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) to 10%, Sustainable Public Pensions focusing on safeguarding municipalities and taxpayers from increased pension obligations. cause by pension sweeteners, and amendments to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act to promote transparency while preventing misuse of the system and providing municipalities with better access to conduct remote public meetings. With the recommendation of the committee, this resolution will be included on the January 22, 2024, omnibus vote list for consideration of approval. 

1) VILLAGE PRESIDENT RUDOLPH 

No report. 

2) VILLAGE MANAGER BAER 

Village Manager Baer acknowledged the sudden and unexpected passing of Simon Piacente last week. Simon was a long-time coach and tennis coordinator for the Village's program. Our condolences and heartfelt sympathy go to Simon's family, his many friends. and, of course, to all the students that he has worked with over the many years. 

3) VILLAGE ATTORNEY JURUSIK 

Village Attorney Jurusik stated that he hopes to have an updated report on the Right-of- Way (ROW) transactions on January 22, 2024, with two action items revisiting the action. we took in September and putting that, hopefully, on a final path forward. 

ADJOURN 

MOTION: 

Trustee Tyrrell moved, seconded by Chen, to adjourn the Board meeting. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.

https://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01082024-1600