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Home My WebLink About03/10/1990 VB MinutesMINUTES VILLAGE BOARD BUSSE SCHOOL PARKING MARCH 10, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 11:10 a.m., at the Senior Center, 50 South Emerson, by Mayor Gerald Farley. Also present at the meeting were: Trustees Ralph Arthur, Mark Busse, Timothy Corcoran, Leo Floros, George Van Geem, Theodore Wattenberg Village Manager John Dixon and Safety Commission member Drew Johanson. No members of the Mount Prospect Park District presented themselves. Mayor Farley indicated that this was to be a joint meeting between the Village Board and the Park Board but the Park Board had sent a letter indicating they would not be present for a number of reasons. The reason for this meeting was to resolve the parking issue at Busse School. We were to center our discussion along concerns of safety around Busse School, discuss the options presenter in, the past as well as the policy changes that were made by parents ,and staff of both Suzuki School and the Creative Children's Academy. There also should be: an awareness of the concern for parking in the neighborhood. Mr. Johanson of the Safety Commission was asked to give their recommendations. He indicated that thr. first recommendation would be an off-street parking lot and if that were not accepted, then angle parking with no parking in the first 30 feet of the Stop sign. This would cause the loss of approximately seven spaces. Also, that the bicycle parking area could be used for people who are parked there for a long, period of time. A question was raised by Trustee Floros as to why seven spaces were lost. The answer was that the width of the parking spaces widens by over a foot from perpendicular to angular parking. Trustee Arthur question the need for 30 feet of open space in front of the Stop sign. The answer was for sight obstruction. Trustee Corcoran questioned the street parking with children ,goingin and out and the safety of the children. Cuff street parking was the best response to the safety question. Trustee Arthur indicated that he wished to leave parking as it is and not to put in a parking lot. Trustee Wattenberg endorsed Trustee Arthur's recommendation. Mayor Farley indicated that the users of the parcel were vital to the community and the use of the property is different and that the needs of the users of the building and the neighborhood need to be reviewed. Trustee F"loros indicated that we do not solve the problem by eliminating parking. Additional parking along the east side of the building would be beneficial. This is a Park Board problem and they have decided to do nothing. Trustee Corcoran indicated that either angled or perpendicular parking is a hazard and that parking should be moved to the side. Trustee Wattenberg discussed the assets of the education given by these programs. Trustee Busse indicated that off-street parking to be paid by the Village with the parking strip elimination should be reviewed with regards to on -street parking. Trustee Van Geem questioned whether the Village could recoup the dollars the Village would be paying out for parking, however, it was pointed out that the Park District did not wish to have parking at this park in the future even when the building is no longer there. Trustee Arthur questioned whether the Park District would definitely tear down the building and develop it as a park whereupon the Mayor then turned the discussion to the audience. Several residents made a number of comments indicating there had only been verbal discussion and no guarantee that the building would be taken down. Another resident indicated that the problem started three years ago and there had not been a problem prior to that; that would be the approximate time Suzuki Academy started utilizing the building. Another parent of a child indicated there is benefit to the community from a Sales Tax standpoint. Another resident and parent suggested angle parking and that there be parking available on William. Another resident indicated that this is a Park District problem and the Park District had indicated in one of their meetings that they have no problem with the Village taking out the parking strip. It is the landlord's responsibility and people should go to the Park Board on this matter. A representative of Suzuki Academy indicated that in a pure world a parking lot would be best, however, alternatives that reduced the number of space with diagonal parking would also address the concern. There was no real safety matter since there had been no accidents or records of injuries in this area. He also presented a petition of 127 parents who are not in favor of elimination of the parking strip. There is a concern whether or not there would be a greater problem created by forcing parking throughout the neighborhood and having children who would then have to cross a number of streets. -2- A resident indicated that he had a video tape of parking at Busse School and would make it available to anyone wishing to see it. He also indicated it definitely showed a safety problem and reiterated that there has been a business within the last three years right across the street from his property that did not exist prior to that. Trustee Floros ,asked questions about the parking lot and then asked for a show of hands if the parents would utilize the parking lot and would it be an acceptable .solution. A number of hands were raised in the audience where upon Trustee Floros moved that. the Village build a parking lot and expand the existing bicycle parking area to the east. It was seconded by Trustee Corcoran. Trustee Arthur then indicated that there was a need for the Park District's permission in order to allow construction on their property. The motion was modified to include contingent on approval of the Park Board. There then was discussion by the audience indicating that they would rather stay with what is known and not put another variable in to create possibly new problems. Residents that lived near the proposed parking area raised other issues. It was also shown that there are only 50 Saturdays over the next 40 months that would be utilized by Suzuki for their concert activities.. CorcoranTrustee Children's Academy would stay in, the -area, if the lease . extended. Both responded they are c . ronga's po Chuck Miller identified himself as a Park Board member, however, he indicated he was only a visitor and did not speak for the Board. He indicated that if consultation with the Park Board first, it would have been a better way of approaching this problem. He added that the Park Board considered the cost of a parking lot and voted against this action. He also indicated that no matter what is done, someone will be distressed. The problem was increased when the adult care facility move out and Suzuki moved in. The Park District has financial concerns. They do not anticipate extending the lease past the June 1993 .date. He also indicated that the Park Board of Mount Prospect did not want him to officially represent the Board in the discussions today. .Another parent indicated that the Village Board was being responsible but indicated that the Village should not: pay for a temporary lot and that diagonal parking should be used. Mayor Farley then indicated that the Board has reviewed the options to determine what might best work out and that a 50 -car parking space on the east end of the property with the Park District Commission was a notion before them. Trustee Floros asked the Mayor to indicate what his feelings would be. Mayor Farley responded that angled parking with the utilization of the bicycle path was his preference. -3- Farther discussion by the audience indicated that there would be a problem with children having to cross streets as well as walk on sidewalks that may not have snow removed from them. Also there was a comment made that some residents get additional benefits that other residents do not receive. In particular, no parking around them house at all. It was pointed out that the owner of the property, the bark District, had an obligation of the lease to remove snow from parking areas. There was also a question of whether or not Creative Children's Academy or Suzuki could help financially in a solution to the problem. There was a comment made by a resident that the Village Board was not being treated fairly by the Park Board. The Mayor then called for a vote for the 50 car parking lot to be built with Park District approval with Village funds on the east side of the lot. Wattenberg -"No" Corcoran - "Yes," Van Geem-"Yes,"" Busse.""des," Arthur -"No," Floros-"No." There was a tie vote. Mayor Farley voted, "No." The motion was defeated on a 4-3 vote. Trustee Wattenberg then excused himself from the meeting because of a prior commitment. A motion by Trustee Arthur, seconded by Trustee Floros to provide angle parking and utilize the existing bicycle parking area to the east for additional parking as well as eliminate parking for the first 30 feet of the Stop sign on Henry. Trustee Wattenberg was absent. Floros-"Yes," Busse -"Yes," Arthur -"Yes," Van Geem- "Yes," Corcoran -"No." The vote of 4-1 was carried. The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m. JFD/rcw Respectfully submitted, JOHN FULTON D�10 N Village Manager -4-