HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/14/2004 CWC minutes
MINUTES
VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14,2004
9:00 a.m.
Village Hall
2nd Floor Conference Room
The Coffee with Council Meeting convened at 9:00 a.m.
Present
Trustee Michaele W. Skowron
Trustee Irvana K. Wilks
Village Manager Michael Janonis
Chief of Police Richard Eddington
Residents In Attendance
Carol Tortorello
Margaret Lannen
Ray Rubio
Peter Skolnicki
David Schein
Jim Uszler
223 South Elmhurst Avenue
999 N. Elmhurst Avenue
412 North Elmhurst Avenue
634 Shabonee Trail
512 Na-Wa-Ta Trail
9 S. Elmhurst Avenue
Peter Skolnicki, 634 Shabonee Trail, approached the Board regarding overnight parking. He
purchased his town home approximately two years ago. At the time, he had access to one
additional parking space; however, that rental arrangement has been terminated.
Consequently, Mr. Skolnicki is asking the Village Board to relax its overnight parking ban so as
to accommodate the parking of one of his two vehicles on the street. The Board members,
along with the Village Manager, expressed their reservation about changing the overnight
parking ordinance. However, they did suggest to Mr. Skolnicki that he could also appear at the
Citizens' Comments Session of any Village Board meeting to express his concerns and his
desire for a change in the ordinance. Additionally, several options were proposed regarding
contacting other town homeowners or the surrounding businesses. Mr. Janonis stated that he
or Bill Cooney would contact Mr. Skolnicki with contact information on two businesses that were
in relatively convenient walking distance from his home.
Carol Tortorello, 223 S. Elmhurst Avenue, brought two issues she wanted to bring to the
Board's attention. The first was the Public Hearing on train horn quiet zones. Village Manager
Mike Janonis stated that he would be attending the hearing on the horn issue. Further, several
safety requirements would be virtually impossible for the village to comply with, especially at the
downtown crossings due to insufficient space. The crossing on Euclid could accommodate the
Federal No Crossover Barrier as part of a four-quadrant gate system.
Carol Tortorello's second issue was affordable housing. She inquired as to whether or not
Mount Prospect meets the federal criteria. The federal criteria is 10% of affordable housing in a
jurisdiction. Village Manager Mike Janonis advised that currently Mount Prospect has 16%
housing that is identified as affordable. Consequently, Mount Prospect is already in compliance.
Margaret Lannen, 999 Elmhurst. Ms. Lannen is the Manager of Randhurst Shopping Center.
She provided a construction update. The construction is on time and under budget. The
management firm Margaret Lannen represents is currently in negotiations for several of the out
lots. Due to the sensitivity of those negotiations, she was unable to provide any further details
at this time. Once the contracts are executed, she will be able to discuss more freely the
tenants and their businesses.
Ray Rubio, 412 N. Elmhurst, visited the Board with a concern about the rumors that Randhurst
was going to go condominium. This was addressed by the Village Manager Mike Janonis
stating that the impact of the loss of sales tax would preclude this option from being considered.
The rumor has been widespread over the last two years, and especially in the last two months.
David Schein, 512 NaWaTa, called two topics to the Board's attention. The first was a
publication by F.E.M.A. regarding tornado resistance construction and the need to
include "safe rooms" in new construction where federal funds were used.
Dave Shein's second issue was a proposal for an ordinance to license cats. He
provided a Burt Constable article from the Thursday, February 15, 2004, Daily Herald
that addresses irresponsible cat ownership.
Jim Uszler of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce addressed the Board on several
topics. First he commended the Board and the Special Events Commission for another
successful Celestial Celebration. Next, work on the Block Party continues. The Fairlanes
musical group has been contracted pending the finalization of the Block Party date. Finally, the
International Festival to be held on September 25th. The location will be the RecPlex. This
event is being planned in conjunction with the Mount Prospect Park District.
The meeting was adjourned at 11 :05 a.m.
R ~ec ully Sub 'ttë!; II , ~
Richard Eddington ~
Chief of Police
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