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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/10/1997 CWC minutesMINUTES COFFEE WITH COUNCIL SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1997 9:00 a.m. 2nd FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, VILLAGE HALL The meeting was called to order by Trustee Irvana Wilks. Trustees present were Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert, Richard Lohrstorfer and Daniel Nocchi. Representing staff were Assistant Manager David Strahl and Police Chief Ronald Pavlock. Village residents were: Don Wood, 619 N. Forest Lois Hartzman, 615 N. Forest Jim Cardoni, 615 N. Forest Ken Hanawa, 621 N. Forest Rose Wold, 617 N. Forest Ron Wold, 617 N. Forest Mary Jo Green, 713 N. Forest Paul Zetzsche, 521 N. Forest Pat Dunn, 15 N. Marcella Renee Anderson, 709 N. Forest Randy & Kathy Skowron, 509 N. Forest Earl Brandon, 419 S. Ojibwa Chuck Peterson, 606 Prospect Manor Tom & Kathy VanGese, 515 Forest Avenue John Skopek, 1110 Juniper L. Britag, 809 S. Edgewood David Schein, 512 S. Na-Wa-Ta Jack Metcalf, 210 N. Prospect Manor Ron Wold, 617 N. Forest. Mr. Wold indicated he was the spokesperson for the Forest Avenue, Prospect High School parking problem. He stated earlier in the year he had sent out a petition asking for relief from the Village on the parking problems on Forest and surrounding streets. Mr. Wold indicated that the students parking on school days have precluded even the street cleaner from cleaning the east side of Forest. He also reported on the following concerns that have occurred since the petition was sent out: The Prospect High School gate to the rear parking lot is now open 24 hours a day due to Kensington Road construction. Students are speeding and disobeying the stop sign as they enter the residential area from the school from 10:45 a.m. through lunch and after school. Mr. Wold reported Village Engineering was contacted and during the past five weeks nothing has occurred. He did state that one of the Village Engineers did contact the high school. The school responded that they would like to see parking restrictions on Forest. This is not a totally agreed upon solution by all residents who also need to utilize the street for their own personal use. Mr. Wold indicates students are parking on the street up to 12 hours a day due to after school activities. Don Wood, 619 N. Forest. Mr. Wood indicated that vehicles are exiting from Prospect High School and onto Forest and go the wrong way on a one-way street. He also stated that there are many speeders. Trustee Wilks noted that School District #214 has increased the parking fee and has forced students onto the street. Paul Zetzsche, 521 N. Forest. Mr. Zetzsche restated that the parking fee has forced students to park on the street. He also indicated that many cars are leaving the school premises and going the wrong way on Forest, and at night students are driving with their lights off. He does not understand why the gates are open 24 hours a day, especially now that the neighborhood is becoming more populated with youngsters who may play in the street or dart between parked cars during the day. Mary Jo Green, 713 N. Forest. Ms. Green is opposed to full prohibition of parking because she uses the street herself. Renee Anderson, 709 N. Forest. Ms. Anderson indicated she has a problem backing out of her driveway into the street due to the constant sports activities occurring on school property. This also results in individuals parking on the street for lengthy periods of time. She is opposed to the parking prohibition, but did suggest moving parking to the west side of the street (currently the west side of Forest is posted "No Parking at Any Time"). Lois Hartzman, 615 N. Forest. Arlington Heights has put up "No Parking During School Days" signs and, therefore, has moved the parking problems to the Village of Mount Prospect. She also reported that kids are hiding from the security van behind her house and her neighbors to avoid being cited by security. Randy Skowron, 509 N. Forest. Parking for athletic events is a problem because the fields are rented out, people are picnicking on the parkway and blocking driveways during athletic events. Trustee Corcoran advised the residents that one of the benefits of living across from a park is you get to use the park on a regular basis. However, one of the detriments is that other people that use the park generally will park in front of your house. He went on to say it is not a real good expectation to think that people will not park in front of your home when they use a public park. He reported the number one topic that staff and the Board have talked about at this Coffee with Council forum over the past several months has been speeding, and the Board has found it's usually Mount Prospect residents who are the offenders. He reiterated his request of the Chief and the Village Manager for a Safety Officer to work on the ongoing speeding problems in the Village. He indicated that although the Village has implemented citizen programs such as the S.M.A.R.T Trailer, we can do more by getting citizens involved in solving their own neighborhood problems. Trustee Corcoran repeated the statements by the previous residents and agreed that the basis of the problem is probably the change of the school district parking policy along with the Village of Arlington Heights' action (posting areas west of the school as "No Parking During School Days"). He advised the residents that we should follow Village Engineer Sean Won's recommendation of a survey to find out what the real problems are. He stated that he had heard at least ten different problems, and recommended that we need to get every issue on the table and then prioritize the issues. He explained that through a survey we can find out what people have to say, and we can attack the problem from that aspect. Trustee Corcoran observed that no one at the meeting seemed to have a concensus as to what the problem is, except that parking is paramont. He suggested that if the residents had something other than parking, driving the wrong way in a one way and speeding the meeting should continue. He restated that we should follow the Village Engineer's direction and do a survey, and based on responses refer this matter to the Safety Commission for their possible action. He emphasized that we do not have a lot of open space in the Village and, therefore, every open area is being used. He has heard the same comments from other neighborhoods in the Village, with the most dramatic example being Melas Park during the 4th of July activities. Paul Zetzsche, 521 N. Forest. Mr. Zetzsche stated the high school should look at its scheduling of events and force its property users to park on high school property. Renee Anderson, 709 N. Forest. Ms. Anderson reported the high school does post temporary signs on Forest encouraging parking on school property for other activities. Tom VanGese, 515 N. Forest. Mr. VanGese indicated the Park District does post temporary signs during the soccer games to get people to park on school property. School buses from visiting schools park on the street and should be asked to park on school property (NOTE: On Monday, May 12, 1997, Chief Pavlock contacted Prospect High School staff and they will advise their coaching staff to prohibit parking of school buses and other participants on Forest Avenue. Trustee Wilks stated the problem is made more complex because it not only involves the Village but also the School District, and may call for a public meeting to come up with a constructive solution. Trustee Wilks stated these concerns should be discussed and resolved with a team effort. She also indicated restricted parking is limited in town and really is not a solution to all these problems. Trustee Hoefert stated that many problems are obvious and a joint meeting would probably be a good idea. Trustee Corcoran, as he stated earlier, indicated the feelings of the neighborhood need to be confirmed with a survey that includes all the issues. He requested that Chief Pavlock call School District #214 to see if we can get the people to park elsewhere during sporting events (as noted above, this was done on Monday, May 12, 1997. The school will be notifying students, teachers and parents through their weekly newsletter up until the end of the school year and through the summer school session of the concerns of the entire neighborhood. There will be strict enforcement by high school security staff coordinated with beat police officers who cover this area. NOTE: Attached is a copy of a memo indicating that due to the Kensington Road construction and the fact that only left turns are allowed out of the school property, traffic is forced to exit through the rear entrance causing a greater influx of vehicles and pedestrians on that side of the school. This restriction on Kensington will continue through fall, 1997.) Pat Dunn, 15 N. Marcella. Mr. Dunn stated that when he built his house on Marcella he was held to some very stringent requirements as to drainage and the right height. He indicated that these regulations are not being enforced in a similar fashion by Engineering and Planning for new homes being built in the area. His main concern is a new home being constructed at 13 N. Marcella. Trustee Hoefert requested that staff research grades to determine whether the new homes being built in the area comply with maximum lot coverage requirements. Trustee Corcoran stated that Village staff should review the standards, and perhaps a new commission should be formed that would look at these issues as they relate to appearance of a neighborhood. Trustee Nocchi reported Park Ridge has such an commission that works well, and suggested that perhaps we need to look at forming a similar commission made up of professional architects and engineers who can pre -approve some of these projects. Earl Brandon, 419 S. Ojibwa. Mr. Brandon is in the process of remodeling his home and hooking up to Village services. He had an estimate of $13,000 to extend sewer and water to his home. However, after the engineering work is done the cost is now estimated at well over $40,000. He is being required to install two shutoff valves. He does not have a problem with the shutoff valve that would control his property, but he is being asked to install a shutoff valve that would impact his neighbor's property. He requested that the Village review the need for the south side shutoff valve that is bringing his estimated budget up an extra $5,000. Assistant Village Manager Strahl will check the details and have staff advise the Village Board as well as the resident of alternatives. L. Britag, 809 S. Edgewood. Mrs. Britag is concerned that a neighbor across the street is about to build an addition (806 Edgewood), and believes that the construction trucks might damage the parkway. She is asking that someone facilitate reflector markers to keep the construction trucks off this area. Trustee Corcoran directed staff to advise the contractor that if the parkway is damaged the Village will repair it each time it is damaged and will also reduce the bond each time. He also requested that staff notify the contractor to take some preventative measures to avoid this problem (Assistant Village Manager Strahl will take care of this matter and notify the resident and the Board of the outcome). David Schein, 512 S. Na-Wa-Ta. Mr. Schein reported the drainage in his neighborhood has been brought up many times before, and with the current status of the Village with its limited area for development, it will be continually dealing with issues of lot coverage. He is also quite concerned about downtown redevelopment, and feels the Village should be looking at this issue and how we can attract moderate income people. He stated we need a good mix to formulate a viable downtown. Trustee Wilks recommended that he attend the Downtown Redevelopment Committee meeting that is to be held on May 31, 1997. Mr. Schein stated he would try to attend and express his philosophies and concerns. Jack Metcalf, 210 N. Prospect Manor. Mr. Metcalf expressed his ongoing concern for "latch -key kids." He feels there are not enough activities for kids after school, and the Village should work in conjunction with the Park District to formulate programs. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m. Ronald W. Pavlock Chief of Police RWP:jd