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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/20/2007 COW minutes (Special)EEL `P. II 1111111 IVA MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FEBRUARY 20, 2007 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m., in the Village Board Room of Village Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, by Mayor Irvana Wilks. Present at the meeting were: Trustees Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert, John Korn, Richard Lohrstorfer, Michaele Skowron and Michael Zadel. Staff members present included: Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, and Community Development Director William Cooney. II. MINUTES Approval of Minutes of November 14, 2006. Motion made by Trustee Hoefert and seconded by Trustee Corcoran. Minutes were approved. III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Jim Uszler, Executive Director of Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce spoke. He thanked the Village for its cooperation in coordinating the Candidates Forum that occurred on February 24. He also wanted to highlight a Home Health Wellness Expo on March 3 at the new Sheraton Hotel in Wheeling. IV. AT &T PROJECT LIGHTSPEED David Strahl, AT &T Director of External Affairs spoke. He provided an overview of the product and how AT &T has cooperated with other communities to provide the proposed video product to interested customers and residents. He is requesting the Village Board consider approving a proposal by AT &T to start construction of the necessary infrastructure enhancements to provide the video product to the residents in the community. He also highlighted the components of an alternative franchise agreement between the Village and AT &T. He provided an overview of the commitment of AT &T and its service and support of the Project Lightspeed. He stated the offering of Project Lightspeed video service to residents of Mount Prospect would lower the cable rates to residents within the community and to date he and representatives from AT &T have talked to over 200 communities throughout Illinois and have obtained four agreements with those communities. He stated many communities want 100% build out in order to service the entire community however AT &T's position is to provide service based on market needs and returns. He started that there has also been some discussion regarding the VRAD boxes and the placement of these boxes in the right of way. These boxes are necessary to convert the video signal from the fiber optic lines for insertion into the copper phone lines through the cross boxes which currently provide phone service to area residents. He stated AT &T can not serve the entire community through the Phase I build out which is scheduled through 2008. He stated this build out is limited based on available capital that must be spread among the many communities throughout the thirteen state AT &T coverage region. He also stated the addition of these boxes would expand DSL service from approximately 70% to approximately 90% of the community. The general comments from the Village Board members included the following items. • There were numerous comments regarding the need or desire to have more extensive if not 100% coverage of the community. • There were also questions regarding the advocacy funding that AT &T has undertaken with so called "Grass Roots Organizations ". • There were also questions regarding actual price reductions for subscribers and incumbent communities once Project Lightspeed was introduced. • There was extensive discussion regarding the VRAD boxes their size, location, and opportunities to minimize their impact upon the right of way. • Several Trustees questioned the possible revenue which may be generated from this service and its impact on the existing incumbent cable providers. • There was a discussion regarding possible citizens' complaints as to the location to the VRAD boxes in the right of way and how such complaints might be addressed. Assistant Village Manager Dave Strahl provided information to the Village Board regarding the proposed location of the VRAD cabinets and the potential impacts regarding these locations and how staff might work to minimize such impacts if the Village Board were interested with moving forward with this product. He also provided information regarding the proposed coverage areas that would include more DSL service and the addition of the video service product. Dave Strahl, AT&T, External Affairs Manager spoke. He stated there is a current bill pending at the General Assembly, House Bill 1500, which would establish state wide franchise agreements and preserve the rights of way and revenue sources for the communities but would not block entry into the individual community markets as many of the franchise negotiations partly cause. He stated he has no knowledge as to what Phase II might be and when it would start; therefore if the community were to be fully served it would be under a different phase than this initial construction phase. Consensus of the Village Board was to request additional information. The information requested includes the following items: 1. Determine from existing cable franchise agreements whether there were time frame provisions requiring a build out throughout the community by other cable providers. 2. A disclosure statement by AT &T outlining the amount of funding they currently provide to "Grass Roots Organizations" to pressure residents, citizens, and legislators to obtain favorable legislation. This disclosure will also include a listing of all the grass roots organizations currently funded by AT &T for this purpose. 3. Request consideration from AT &T that if a franchise agreement were reached that as technology changes in the future the VRAD boxes should become smaller. When the boxes do become smaller the existing large boxes would be replaced as part of a franchise agreement between AT &T and the Village. 4 4. AT &T is to provide a listing of actual cable rates and how they have changed due to Project Lightspeed entry into the market within each specific community. 5. Review House Bill 1500 to determine whether there is a revenue impact upon the Village. 6. Confirm with AT &T whether the footprint as provided in the graphic illustration to the Board includes the cross box as part of the overall footprint. Once this information has been provided to the Village Board then a follow up discussion about the other restrictive items that AT &T has previously articulated could take place to determine whether there is an interest by the Village Board to proceed or not. V. RETAIL CONSULTANT STATUS REPORT Cathy Maloney, Contract Retail Consultant spoke. She provided an overview of her activities during the past year, including the marketing and communication activities that she has undertaken. She stated one of the first items she undertook was a community interest survey, which was very helpful in determining what the community was interested in supporting or felt what was needed to be developed as a retail base. She also has undertaken numerous meetings with marketing contacts and brokers to focus on retail development including boutique grocers, apparel /accessory services, home decor /gifts, hobbies /toys and games, dinning /entertainment, and shops to compliment existing businesses currently here including home and fitness. She stated she has developed a very good working relationship with the MPDMA and they have been very helpful in getting the word out about the interest in retail opportunities in the community. She stated she felt the first year was a foundation year where tangible results will become more noticeable in the upcoming year. Several comments from the Village Board members included the following items: Several board members stated it was important to establish the contacts and the marketing strategy for retail development in the community and expect results in the upcoming year. Consensus of the Village Board was to continue the relationship with the consultant. VI. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT David Lindgen, Chairman of the EDC spoke. He presented a twelve page report to the Village Board, which includes a summary of the business development in town including some warehouse expansion that is currently taking place on vacant property in the community. He stated the number of permits remains steady so there is much interest in the community. He stated that EDC members have been working with Cathy Maloney and have participated in business retention visits throughout the community. He also stated that one of the major limiting factors for continued business growth in the community is the property tax situation within Cook County, which has a detrimental competitive impact compared to other counties. 3 VII. 2007 COW Topic Discussion Village Manager Janonis reviewed all the topics that had been submitted and described them to obtain a consensus as to inclusion for discussions during 2007. The items include the following: • Multi Family Zoning Regulations • Space needs report for public safety building and Public Works in addition to Station 14 • Landscape in the Right Of Way regarding sight obstruction issues • Fences on major roadways for uniform appearance • Lean Project List Review • Mature Tree Policy For Private Property Tree Protection • Succession Planning • Floor Area Ratio Discussion • Downtown Traffic and Coordination Discussion • PVC Fencing • E -Bill Payment Policy • Long Term Financial Policy and Strategy • Review Business License Fee Schedule • Emerald Ash Borer Discussion • Rand Road Corridor • Exclusive Commercial Refuse Contract and Discussion On Recycling Revenue Return • Pool Vehicle Discussion Regarding Hybrid and E85 Vehicles • Sanitary Sewer Flow Monitoring Results • Comprehensive Plan Update • Zoning Code Update • Village Emergency Operations Center Development • Emergency Medical Services Substations • Live Streaming and Internet Archiving of Village Board Meeitings • Neighborhood Resource Center • Review Boards and Commissions Structure • Regional Informational Technology Departments and Consolidation • Common Village Identity • Indoor Clean Air Ordinance Revisions regarding restaurants that want to change a liquor license in order to allow smoking to continue (this item did not get consensus support for further discussion) • LED Lighting Options • Additional Redevelopment Options Outside of the Downtown Arlene Jurasek, 303 S. Lancaster spoke. She commented that Com Ed has a new rate structure regarding the cost of electricity for street lights and the Village may want to consider Grant opportunities to address the electrical power increase. VII. VILLAGE MANAGERS REPORT None 12 IX. OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Wilks mentioned the upcoming Kiwanis Club Spaghetti Dinner at Grace Lutheran Church on March T She also mentioned the Kiwanis scholarship program is currently recruiting applicants. X. ADJOURNAMENT There was no further business to discuss, the Committee of the Whole adjourned at 9:58 p.m. DAVID STRAHL Assistant Village Manager 5