West Cook News

Village of Western Springs General Government Committee met June 11

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present

Chair Tyrrell, Member Nawrocki, Village Manager Baer, Deputy Village Manager Biernacki, Director Valone, Director Schramm, Asst. to Village Manager Chavez, Village Attorney Jurusik, and Deputy Clerk Haeske

Electronic Participation: President Rudolph.

Chair Tyrrell moved to open the committee meeting, seconded by Member Nawrocki. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki. The General Government Committee meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Agenda Items

1. Public Comment

There were no public comments.

2. Approval of Minutes

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Member Nawrocki, to approve the minutes of the meeting minutes of April 2, 2024. The motion to approve passed on a roll call vote.

Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki. Voting nay: None.

3. St. John of the Cross Special Events Liquor License, License and Temporary Use Permit for Family Fest 2024 Event

Ann-Marie Hickey attended the committee meeting representing St. John of the Cross Parish. Director Valone presented an overview of a request from the St. John of the Cross Parish for issuance of a Class “I” Liquor License (beer, wine, and hard seltzer sales at the St. John of the Cross campus on the east side of Wolf Road between Courtland Circle and 51st Street) and a temporary use permit for their 2024 16th annual Family Fest event. The 2024 event dates are Thursday, August 15, 2024, through Sunday, August 18, 2024, and the event will be on Parish property. The event is essentially the same as last year’s with the same carnival operator, All Around Amusements, Inc. (AAA) and layout. The Parish is again requesting that alcoholic beverages be permitted throughout the church parking lot within the footprint of the Fest. The Parish has a security team that will staff three (3) checkpoints to ensure that the beverages remain on property (and within the footprint of the fest). This has been the case for the past 5 years.

Attorney Jurusik suggested and the committee concurred and requested that the carnival operator’s Certificate of Insurance name the Village of Western Springs as an additional insured in lieu of the indemnity agreement which was included in the agenda packet.

The committee reviewed the request and will bring this request forward at the June 17, 2024, Board combined workshop and special meeting with a recommendation to approve issuance of the liquor license and temporary use permit. Director Valone said the digital copy of the license will be issued on Tuesday for Ms. Hickey to bring to the State to obtain their liquor license.

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Nawrocki, to recommend approval of the issuance of a Class “I” Special Event liquor license and temporary use permit to the Board on June 17, 2024. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki. Voting nay: None.

4. Shell Gas Station, 5500 Wolf Road - Liquor Code Amendment and Class “R” Liquor License Request Director Valone explained the Mr. Dan Patel, owner, and operator of DBR2 Gas Station LLC (Shell Gas Station) located at 5500 Wolf Road, has submitted a request to amend the Liquor Control Code to allow for convenience-based and gasoline retailers to sell packaged liquor for offsite consumption. Mr. Patel attended the committee meeting. After discussion of a new license class to cover such a request on April 2, 2024, the applicant submitted a formal application for a new class of license (Class “R”) if the amended license language is subsequently approved by the Village Board.

The Liquor Commission met on April 3, 2024, and were open to considering an application for this proposed new license classification, Class “R” Convenience Retail License (Packaged Beer and Wine Only).

The application is included in the agenda packet. Of note, the application Mr. Patel submitted included a floor plan that has a liquor display area that only accounts for 5% of the retail floor area of the station. The proposed Class “R” license would limit the liquor display area to twenty percent (20%) of the retail floor area of that station and Mr. Patel’s request falls within that restriction.

Chair Tyrrell questioned the request for retail service until 1:00 p.m. and stated his objection sales until that time. Mr. Patel said the store is no longer open that late, with stores closing at 12 a.m. and he is requesting his application be modified to 12:00 a.m.

Mr. Patel thanked the committee and expressed his commitment to the Village of Western Springs and its residents. The committee concurred with the concept of this request, with the modification to 12 a.m. and the application will be forwarded to the Liquor Commission for discussion on June 13, 2024. 

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Nawrocki, to move this item to the Liquor Commission with a recommendation to modify the closing hours to 12:00 a.m. per the revision expressed by Mr. Patel with a recommendation to approve. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki.

5. The Opry and Parc Fermé – Requests for Special Event Liquor License and Temporary Use Permit

Director Valone provided the committee with an overview of a special event liquor license and temporary use permit request from Dan Schovain, the owner of The Opry, for his establishment and Parc Fermé. The event title is Cars, Coffee and Cops and the purpose of the event is to bring the community, Western Springs law enforcement personnel, fire personnel, and elected officials, and these two new businesses together to strengthen the community’s sense of unity. Alcohol will be sold during the event on the premise at the Opry. The event will feature exotic and collectable cars associated with Parc Fermé. Food service will be provided through a combination of food truck and food and beverage stations. The event is still in the planning stage and September is the likely timeframe. Mr. Schovain will be working to obtain approval of the event from neighbors to his location. There will be a “stage”, which will not be an actual stage but rather an area on the street for the band. Mr. Schovain will be bringing this item back at a future General Government meeting with more detail. A temporary use permit and special event liquor license would be required for the event.

The committee discussed the preliminary proposal. President Rudolph asked about the hours of liquor service. Director Valone said she will circle back with Mr. Schovain on that. Liquor service in his establishment at 10:00 a.m. is allowed by his liquor license with brunch. Attorney Jurusik said a special events liquor license would have to be issued for an event such as this. Discussion followed.

6. Liquor Code Amendment Class “S” Liquor License – Brewery

On January 9, 2024, the Village’s Liquor Control Commission met to discuss a request for new liquor licenses. At the meeting, the Liquor Control Commissioners also discussed the potential of creating a liquor license class for breweries. The discussion centered on creating this classification considering the trend of recent new liquor classes that have been approved, such as the Class “O” (Opry) and Class “Q” (Western Springs Wine Shop) and to advertise that Western Springs is open to these types of establishments.

At the April 3, 2024, committee meeting Village staff and Village Attorney Skrodzki provided background information related to neighboring communities with similar classes and the State of Illinois’ classes. In the event the committee and Village Board determines they wish to create such a new class, potential businesses would still need to apply for this class of license should they desire to hold same. The new Class S License  Brewery License (On-Site Consumption and Packaged Sales) would allow for the production and sale of craft beer, cider, and mead. This license would also allow for onsite consumption. Under this license two subclasses are proposed:

• Brew Pubs – These would be restaurants that brew their own beer, cider and/or mead. Brewing would be limited to beer, cider and/or mead. The amount that is produced is generally for use within the restaurant and some ancillary packaged sales.

• Breweries – Non-commercial distribution, production for tasting and sale only.

This would be more akin to a tasting room with direct to customer packaged sales.

The proposed text amendment would include that there are no current available licenses for this class since it is being proactively created. An establishment looking to locate in the Village and apply for a Class “S” License will still have to apply, complete a background check, and complete the review process with appearances at the General Government Committee, Liquor Control Commission, and then Village Board’s two meeting process.

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Nawrocki, to move this matter to the Liquor Control Commission for discussion on June 13, 2024. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki.

7. Board Room Equipment Purchase

Director Schramm explained that the audio and video equipment in the Village Board Room has been used to broadcast the Village Board meetings for many years. Much of the equipment has become quite old and the features have become obsolete. The microphones and speakers are still quite good, and the wireless microphones were recently replaced.

The Technology Department received a quote from Midwest Computer Products in the amount of $44,430.00. Technology Department staff attempted to obtain several quotes for this project, but only received one complete quote. It is anticipated that the Village will be reimbursed in full for this expenditure through the West Central Cable Agency (WCCA) grant program.

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Nawrocki, to move this matter to the Board for with a recommendation to approve at the Combined Workshop and Special Meeting of June 13, 2024. The motion passed on a roll call vote. Voting aye: Chair Tyrrell and Member Nawrocki.

8. Legal Updates

The committee members were provided with an update on pending legal matters.

9. Insurance Brokerage Services

Assistant to Village Manager Chavez, Deputy Manager Biernacki and Village Manager Baer presented information to the committee on their analysis of the Village’s insurance broker for health, dental and life insurance coverage. The Village Manager’s Office staff reviewed the insurance brokerage services to ensure that the benefits and services offered to employees remain competitive with those of other municipal employers. In this review process, four (4) insurance brokers were invited to present their scope of service and demonstrate their qualifications. Additional benefits include enhanced wellness program, COBRA administration, compliance administration, and more. Staff provided an overview of the information received from the brokers.

In the past, broker services were administratively approved by the Village Manager. Due to the extent of business that a broker is assigned, staff felt it was prudent to bring this time through the Board for approval of the brokerage firm. The Village Manager’s Office staff and the Village HR consultant, Stephana Przybylski, have reviewed the qualifications and proposals and recommended moving forward with brokerage services through the Horton Group of LaGrange, Illinois. The committee agreed with this request.

Chair Tyrrell moved, seconded by Nawrocki, to move this matter to the Board for consideration of approval of obtaining insurance brokerage services from the Horton Group with the committee’s favorable recommendation at the June 17, 2024, Combined Workshop and Special Board meeting.

10. Pride Month Proclamation

In 2024, the Village issued a Pride Month proclamation to acknowledge June as Pride Month in the Village of Western Springs. The Thomas Ford Memorial Library provides educational information and books geared towards important diversity, equity, and inclusion events such as Pride Month. Staff is looking for input from the committee on how best to acknowledge the many events which DEI has identified in a calendar year.

After discussion, the committee will present both the Pride Month Proclamation and the Juneteenth Proclamation on June 17, 2024.

11. Juneteenth Proclamation

As noted in the prior item, this proclamation will be presented on June 17, 2024, to the Board.

12. Other

There were no additional items to discuss.

12. Schedule Next Committee Meeting

The next committee meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

13. Adjourn

MOTION:

Chair Tyrrell made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Member Nawrocki. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

https://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07022024-1662