HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/09/1994 Coffee with Council minutesMINUTES
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
Saturday, April 9, 1994
10:00 a.m.
Trustees Room, Village Hall
The Coffee With Council meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. with Mayor Farley, Trustees
Corcoran, Clowes, Hendricks, and Skowron attending as well as Assistant to the Manager David
Strahl and Planning Director Bill Cooney.
Mount Prospect resident, Mr. John Metzenthin, who resides at 1418 South Birch, stated that he
had two issues that he wished to discuss with the Council. He said that his first issue related to
updating the Board on the recent casino gambling legislation before the State. He stated that
there was a proposal that would require a statewide referendum prior to allowing additional
casinos in the State of Illinois. He felt that it was important that the Board understand this given
the recent discussion at the Village Board level.
Mr. Metzenthin stated that his second concern related to the consumption of alcohol in the
Village limits. He distributed a newspaper article regarding a recent vehicular accident that
involved teenage drinking. This particular accident occurred in Algonquin and resulted in the
death of the individual. He stated that although teenage drinking was a problem, he felt that
drin'`r; An geâ–ºtcral is a probiem in the Village. He felt that the Village could make a statement by
prohibiting alcohol consumption at the 4th of July festivities at Melas Park. He felt this would be
a positive sign that the Board could convey regarding drinking in the Village. Trustee Hendricks
stated that this was a Lions Club function and that they should be present prior to any action or
discussion by the Board. Trustee Clowes stated that the issue really should be in regards to
responsibly drinking versus a ban on drinking. He felt the Village does a good job of controlling
liquor at this event by only allowing alcohol to be consumed within a fenced -off area. He stated
that he felt it was important for parents to act responsibly and be role models for their children by
not drinking around the household. He also added that the recent Mount Prospect law which held
parents responsible for underage drinking at their house had not been challenged and felt that it
had been well received. He added that there would be a youth forum down in Springfield on
Monday, April 12, and that three teens from Mount Prospect TAPS Program would be
representatives at this meeting.
Mayor Farley stated that he had considered the possibility of using sting operations to eliminate
potential sales to minors within the Village limits and he was curious how other Trustees felt
about such a proposal. There was general discussion regarding that option and it was felt that it
may be appropriate in the future.
Mr. Strahl brought up an item of information with the Council. He indicated that Janet Hansen,
Executive Director of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, had inquired if the Village
Board had officially expressed their support or opposition to a proposed property tax cap in Cook
Coffee with Council Minutes
Page 2
April 9, 1994
County. There was general discussion regarding the problems with unfunded State and Federal
mandates that the Village must fund. There was also a question whether a cap would help reduce the
number of mandates since it would prohibit Villages from funding them. It was determined that this
issue should be discussed in the future by the entire Board.
Mr. Strahl brought up the issue of an appropriate Village response to the State-wide debate regarding
appropriate controls on assault weapons. Mayor Farley stated that the Northwest Municipal
Conference was currently reviewing the same issue, that Chief Pavlock was on the Conference
Committee, and did not want to make any formal action until that group completed its review. There
was general discussion regarding the appropriateness and effectiveness of gun control with no final
resolution being made.
As a point of information, Mr. Cooney stated that there was a current subdivision proposal at the
Northwest corner of White Oak Street and Meier Road. He stated that, if approved, there would be
sufficient right-of-way to enable Meier Road to be extended north to Central Road. He added that
the Village's long-range plan called for this extension and that Meier Road was a collector street as
outlined in the Village's Thoroughfare Plan. He explained that this would serve as a collector street
for the residential neighborhoods in this general area. T fere was gensr:l dis^::ss o o the i_fri act
that this extension would have on surrounding residential properties and on the overall traffic patterns
in the Village. Discussion was also held on the appropriateness of widening Busse Road from two
lanes to four lanes between Golf Road and Central Road.
There being no other business, Coffee With Council was adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
Respectfully bmitted,
William J. C oney, Jr.
Director of Planning