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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/20/1992 FC agendaFINANCE COMMISSION Minutes of the Meeting February 20, 1992 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. Commission members in attendance were Richard Bachhuber, John Engel, Newt Hallman, Vince Grochocinski, Jim Morrison, and Tom Pekras. Also present were Village Manager John Dixon, Finance Director David Jepson, Assistant Finance Director Carol Widmer, Planning Director David Clements, Inspection Services Director Chuck Bencic, Public Works Director Herb Weeks, Deputy Public Works Director Glen Andler, one Village resident and one member of the press. Commission members Paul Davies, Ann Smilanic and Earl Sutter were absent. Village Trustee Mark Busse arrived after the meeting began. II Approval of Minutes The minutes of the February 6, 1992 meeting were accepted with one correction. Commissioner Newt Hallman pointed out that he had requested the Fire Department to provide information on the utilization of the six firefighters who were hired to provide service to. the Elk Grove Rural Fire Protection District. III Budget Review Village Manager John Dixon presented an overview of the 1992-93 proposed budgets for the Planning, Inspection Services and Public Works Departments. Mr. Dixon explained that Planning and Inspection Services have the responsibility to see that the neighborhoods and the image of the Village is maintained and the Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the Village's appearance and its infrastructure. These three departments make up 34.4% of the total Village Budget. A. PlanningDepartment Planning Director David Clements presented his department's proposed 1992-93 budget of $600,290, a decrease of $43,375 from the 1991-92 Budget of $643,665. Mr. Clements gave a brief overview of the department's activities which include day-to-day planning consisting of: permit review, zoning administration, providing public information, working with residents and the business community on individual projects, counseling on local regulations, and helping to explain Village ordinances. The Department also has long-range planning activities which consist of monitoring the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Plan to assure that all future growth and redevelop- ment meets long-range planning guidelines. In the area of economic development, the Department provides public and business relations, including a business visitation program, and represents the Village interests locally and regionally. The Department is also responsible for the management of the upcoming Triangle Downtown Redevelopment Project. The Planning Department also oversees Community Development Block Grant programs which provide assistance to low -moderate income residents, the handicapped and elderly. In addition to the activities outlined above, the Planning Department provides staff and technical assistance to the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Sign Review Board, Business District Development and Redevelopment (B.D.D.R.C.) and the Village Board. The Planning Department consists of four professional planners, a full-time secretary, a part-time secretary and summer interns. Since mid-December the Department has been operating with only three planners. The vacant position has recently been filled and a new staff member will begin work on February 27, 1992. The Planning Department has several major tasks planned for the upcoming year. One is the Zoning Ordinance revision which began during the 1991-1992 fiscal year and will be completed in the coming fiscal year. The goals of this project are to correct ambiguities and obsolete regulations in the current zoning ordinance. Draft copies of the changes will be presented to the Zoning Board of Appeals and then to the Village Board. The Economic Development budget will emphasize continuation of the facade program with funding for three facade improvements in key areas along Northwest Highway. The Downtown Redevelopment budget shows higher personnel costs due to greater emphasis on the downtown redevelopment project. The Economic Development Coordinator will be working with Broadacre, the preferred developer, on a marketing study to determine the most viable uses for the project area known as the Triangle Redevelopment Project. The 1992-1993 budget proposes continued funding of several important and successful Community Development Block Grant Programs. The housing rehabilitation program enters its 11th year, and the Department expects to achieve the successful rehabilitation of 16 to 18 homes this budget year. Also, the Boxwood neighborhood programs are proposed for fifth year funding. These programs provide after school activities for children and a summer day care program with field trips and handicraft activities. Two CDBG Programs will not be continued in the CDBG Accessibility and Improvements Program Program. Instead, increased spending is proposed rehabilitation programs. B. Inspection Services 1992-1993 fiscal year. These are the and the Commercial Rehabilitation for the residential and multi -family Inspection Services Director Chuck Bencic presented the proposed 1992-1993 Budget for the Inspection Services Department which consists of the Building Code Division, Environmental Health Division and the Engineering Division. 2 The Total budget for 1992-1993 is $1,071,120 compared to $1,028,600 for 1991-1992 for an increase of $42,520. The increase can be attributed to increases in Personal Services and employee benefits of $43,770, an increase in Contractual Services of $10,750, and a decrease in Capital Expenditures of $12,000. Environmental Health Division The Environmental Health Division is responsible for inspecting all food establishments, swimming pools, day care centers, health clubs and multi -family residential rental units. Additionally, the responsibility of enforcing the Indoor Clean Air Act regulating smoking in public places has been assigned to this Division. During 1991, this Division performed a total of 2,342 inspections and they also responded to 1,516 citizens' complaints on property maintenance, insect and rodent control and public health matters. This division is staffed by two full-time and one part-time inspectors. One personnel change is proposed for 1992-1993. A part-time inspector has been added to the budget replacing a summer intern. In the past the summer intern has been trained to inspect pools and answer services requests from residents for approximately 2 - 21/z months of the year. As Chuck explained, at least 2 - 3 weeks is spent training the intern only to have the intern leave in a relatively short time. A part-time inspector on the other hand would be available two days a week all year around to make these inspections and to help maintain the necessary schedule of health inspections. En ing eering Division The Engineering Division is responsible for the review and inspection of all private site developments and for the design, contract administration and inspection of Village projects such as street resurfacing and reconstruction, sewer and water main replacements, the shared cost and new sidewalk programs, and bridge repair. There were approximately 57 ongoing and new development projects that were reviewed and inspected during 1991. The Engineering Division reviews all subdivision plats, driveway, patio and sidewalk permit applications and handles drainage and sump pump discharge complaints. They also review plans for roadway and traffic signal improvements proposed for the State and County roads within Village limits. One major accomplishment last year was the successful application for a Class 9 rating in the Federal Flood Insurance Community Rating System (CRS) Program. Under this program, communities receive points for various steps taken to help reduce flooding or provide information on flooding to their residents. Each improvement in class ratings means a 5% reduction in flood insurance premiums to the residents in the community. Mount Prospect was one of only 9 communities in the State and one of only 2 in Cook County to receive a Class 9 rating. Building Code Division The Building Code Division is responsible for plan review, issuance of permits and inspection of all buildings and structures in the Village. This responsibility includes new residential, commercial and industrial buildings as well as all remodeling projects, fences, driveways, signs, decks, etc. In 1990, 1,938 permits were issued with a value of $33,640,000, and during 1991, 2,000 permits were issued with a value of $31,098,000. The 3 Building Code Division performed 10,419 inspections during 1991. During 1991 there were more remodeling permits and fewer single-family permits issued. However, both require substantially the same amount of review time. The downspout disconnection project in the combined sewer area which was started in late 1990 was completed in 1991. A total of 4,674 homes were inspected. One objective of the Inspection Services Department in 1992-1993 is to complete review of the 1990 BOCA Code and to recommend the necessary changes to incorporate it into the Village Code. In the discussion following Chuck's presentation the question was raised as to whether fees charged cover the cost of the inspections performed. Finance Director David Jepson stated that a costing study has not been performed but it is clear that if fees have not been increased in the last 5 - 6 years then they are not meeting expenses. A further indication is that total revenue for building permits and related fees is proposed to be $326,500 and related expenses $427,585 in 1992-1993. C. Public Works Public Works Director Herb Weeks and Deputy Director Glen Andler presented the proposed 1992-1993 Budget. The Public Works Department consists of four divisions: Streets, Water and Sewer, Parking and Refuse Disposal. Street Division The Street Division of the Public Works Department has 14 separate service oriented programs for the maintenance of Village equipment and public properties. This Division is responsible for maintenance of approximately 150 miles of streets as well as parkways, storm sewers, street lights, traffic signals, public buildings, detention/retention basins, all beautification projects and pool vehicles. The Street Division Budget for 1992-1993 totals $4,641,680 compared with $4,736,885 in the 1991-1992 Budget, for an overall decrease of $95,205. The decrease is made up of reductions in the Street Maintenance, Forestry and Traffic Signals and Street Lighting Programs along with an increase in Administration and Support. Street resurfacing and reconstruction has been reduced $100,000, tree replacements by $16,000, traffic signal energy by $66,000 and traffic signal construction of $40,000. An increase of $70,220 in Administration and Support is made up of a provision for salary adjustments of $16,850, increased pension costs of $16,920, increased medical insurance of $18,600 and increased Workers' Compensation of $3,000. It should be pointed out that even with the reduction of $100,000 for street resurfacing and reconstruction, it is still a high priority with $1,400,000 included in the budget for this purpose. Additionally, it is expected that approximately $600,000 in street reconstruction will be accomplished through the flood control projects that are included in the Capital Improvement section of the Budget. The decrease in costs for traffic energy is a result of a change in the Franchise Agreement with Commonwealth Edison that is expected to be approved prior to May 1, 1992. The reason for the reduction in traffic signal El construction is because a traffic signal for Briarwood Drive was included in the 1991- 1992 budget. There is an increase in the request for flood control monies due to two major projects which are expected to be completed in the 1992-93 fiscal year. These two projects are the WaPella/Central/CanDota project and the Des Plaines backwater valve project. Storm water basin maintenance at the Opus/Kensington Business Park has been added to the budget this year. The project is expected to cost $10,000. Water and Sewer Division The Water and Sewer Division has twelve major programs and all are related to the repair and maintenance of the water and sewer system. Major responsibilities include the maintenance of all pumping stations and adjacent properties, well houses including all appurtenances therein, all underground water and sewer facilities;, some 2,000 fire hydrants, approximately 170 miles of water mains, and 310 miles of sewers. The proposed budget for this Division of Public Works totals $6,645,855, an increase of $93,425 from last year. Of the increase, $28,750 is due to increases in medical insurance for employees and their families and $60,000 appropriated for initial funding for the possible acquisition of Citizens Utilities Company water system in Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights. Some of the significant projects in the Water and Sewer Budget include the continuation of the booster pump replacement program ($65,000), replacement water mains ($145,000), replacement sewer mains ($80,000) and replacement of control panel at Huntington Commons sewage lift station at $12,000. In the forthcoming fiscal year, the Water Division of Public Works has the following goals: 1. Prepare bid specifications for the painting and rehabilitation of the 1,000,000 gallon elevated water storage tank in the downtown area. $30,000 has been allocated in the 1992-1993 budget to cover the cost of a consultant, possible reinspection and bidding. Funding for the actual rehabilitation work is projected to cost in excess of $450,000 and will be included in the 1993-1994 budget. 2. There is $60,000 included in the budget for possible acquisition of Citizens Utilities Company. Use of these funds is dependent upon the residents of the service area voting their approval. 3. Continued upgrading of the distribution system. Cast iron water mains which were installed mainly during the 1960's are deteriorating quite rapidly. Herb indicated he will continue to selectively replace portions of the worst areas. 5 Parkiniz Division The Parking Division is responsible for the administration and maintenance of the various Village -owned or operated parking facilities. The Parking Division budget for 1992-1993 totals $103,810 compared to the 1991-1992 budget of $217,985, for a reduction of $114,175. A new Village lot was opened February 1, 1992 on the former site of the Aldi store and adjacent to the Old Public Works building. This lot is referred to as the Wille Street North parking lot. The 77 parking spaces acquired will be for commuter parking and should be available until the summer of 1993. There are seven lots included in the Parking Division budget; three are owned by the Village and three are owned by METRA but maintained and operated by the Village. Refuse Disposal Division The Refuse Disposal section of the proposed Budget contains the expenditures associated with the collection and disposal of solid waste from all residential units in the Village. A new three-year contract was entered into with Arc Disposal on August 1, 1991 and is effective through July 31, 1994. Currently, 13,225 single-family and 8,272 multi -family units are served under this contract. In an effort to contain escalating landfill costs and reduce the municipal waste stream, the Village adopted a modified volume -based refuse collection program effective February 1, 1992. The modified volume based refuse program provides residents with full solid waste services but puts a ceiling on the number of refuse containers per week. Residents exceeding the ceiling of two - 32 gallon containers per week pay a $1.25 direct user fee for each additional container collected. This Division will continue to help resolve the solid waste problem through the inclusion of additional materials to the recycling program, consumer education and extending the recycling service to all multi -family properties choosing to participate in the Village program. In response to questions regarding replacement of vehicles and the maintenance costs associated with the vehicles, Herb Weeks responded that vehicles are evaluated on the basis of how they are used, what the needs of the Department are, and engine time as well as mileage, age and cost to maintain. There are times when a decision will be made to continue to maintain a vehicle because that particular limited use vehicle would be too expensive to replace. The street resurfacing and reconstructing program was discussed. Herb said he was comfortable with the level of work being done in both areas. The current emphasis is on resurfacing and crack filling because Herb felt he can accomplish a lot more with limited dollars with that type of program. Z The next meeting will be held on March 5, 1992 in the Trustees Room. Proposed 1992-93 budgets for Human Services Division, Police Department and Fire Department will be presented. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. 7 Respectfully Submitted, Carol L. Widmer, Assistant Finance Director