HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/14/1998 CWC minutesMINUTES
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1998
9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: 2nd FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, VILLAGE HALL
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Gerald Farley. Trustees Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert,
Richard Lohrstorfer, Dan Nocchi (9:27), and Irvana Wilks (10:04) were present. Representing staff
were Assistant Village Manager David Strahl and Director of Finance Brian Caputo. Village residents
present were:
Joan Alicoate, 720 Creekside Drive
Jean Johnson, 621 Bunting Lane
John Kowalewski, 408 S. Mount Prospect Road
David Schein, 700 W. Ivanhoe Lane
Bill & Phyllis Stielow, 1614 Park Drive
Joan Alicoate, 720 Creekside Drive, stated that, because her home is within the Prospect Heights
Park District, she feels that she lives in an isolated part of the Village. She expressed the desire to use
facilities of the Mount Prospect Park District and asked why there are multiple park districts within the
Village. Trustee Wilks explained the history of the proliferation of special purpose districts in Illinois.
Trustee Corcoran asked Mr. Strahl to have staff prepare a letter to the Village's park districts
encouraging them to voluntarily provide services to Mount Prospect residents regardless of the park
district within which their properties are located. The Mayor and Board of Trustees will sign the letter.
The letter should point out that if all park districts agree to serve Mount Prospect residents, the "cross-
overs" will largely negate each and no one park district will shoulder a significant addition to its net
service burden. Mayor Farley stated that he previously raised this issue with the park districts and
would be happy to spearhead communication with them to follow-up on the letter the Village will now
send.
Ms. Alicoate also asked about how she could learn about services provided by the Village. Mayor
Farley suggested that she attend the Welcome New Resident event on May 2, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. in the
Senior Center.
Jean Johnson, 621 Bunting Lane, commented on her recent experience in dealing with the Village's
Building Division when remodeling her house. She said that the inspections were very helpful. In
particular, Les Hanneman found several deficiencies during his evaluation of the contractor's electrical
work. Mr. Hanneman required that the deficiencies be remedied. As a result of the inspections, Ms.
Johnson feels that she received higher quality remodeling work.
David Schein, 700 Ivanhoe Lane, an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), entertained questions concerning the revised Des Plaines River flood plain map that FEMA is
developing. Trustee Hoefert asked about the expansion of the flood plain. Mr. Schein confirmed that
the flood plain would indeed be expanded due to the increased density of construction in the plain since
its last revision in 1991. Mr. Schein also explained the significance of the newly defined "floodway"
associated with the river. Trustee Lohrstorfer asked if a levy at River and Milwaukee Roads could
serve to decrease the size of the floodway. Mr. Schein responded that a levy could possibly decrease
the floodway's size and that Jeff Wulbecker, the Village Engineer, is investigating the feasibility of
constructing a levy.
Bill & Phyllis Stielow,1614 Park Drive, expressed concern about their property being included in the
expanded flood plain discussed above because they believe that the resale value of their home would be
adversely affected. They stated that their property has never flooded. Mr. Schein stated that his
research indicates that the impact of a home's inclusion in a flood plain upon its resale value is
negligible over the long-term in most cases.
John KowalewsK 408 S. Mount Prospect Road, raised four issues. First, he mentioned a potential
problem with a home -occupation business on Mount Prospect Road. Mr. Strahl stated that he would
have staff investigate the problem Second, Mr. Kowalewski asked if the Village has an ordinance
requiring each resident to shovel the snow off the Village -owned sidewalk running along his property.
Trustee Hoefert responded that the Village had no such ordinance. Third, Mr. Kowalewski asked if
the Village had a prohibition against a resident parking a camper in his driveway. Trustee Hoefert
stated that the Village only requires that campers be parked on a hard surface. Fourth, Mr.
Kowalewski asked if the Village has an ordinance prohibiting the parking of a car over the sidewalk
dividing a residential driveway. Mr. Strahl responded that the Village does have such an ordinance.
However, due to Police Department manpower constraints, the ordinance is enforced on a complaint -
received basis.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian W. Caputo
Director of Finance
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