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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/1986 COW MinutesMINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FEBRUARY 25, 1986 I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Carolyn H. Krause; Trustees Ralph Arthur, Gerald Farley, Leo Floros, Norma Murauskis, and George Van Geem. Absent from the meeting was Trustee Theodore Wattenberg. Also present at the meeting were: Village Manager Terrance Burghard, Assistant to the Village Manager Michael Janonis, Director of Public Works Herbert Weeks, Deputy Director of Public Works Glen Andler, Director of Finance David Jepson, Director of Planning and Zoning Steve Park, Director of Economic Development Kenneth Fritz, Village Engineer Chuck Bencic, Administrative Aide of Public Works Beth Kromer and Research Assistant Michael Steklac. Also present was one person from the print media. II. MINUTES IV. V. The Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting of February 11, 1986 were accepted and filed. OPENING REMARKS Mayor Carolyn Krause addressed fellow the meeting and those watching the Budget philosophy of the Board with regard to Krause also indicated that those citizens phone in any questions they had regarding they would receive a prompt response. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Board members, those citizens present at Hearing on cable television as to the televising the Budget Hearings. Mayor tt home watching the broadcast could any aspect of Village operations and that There being no citizens present desiring to be heard, the Committee moved on to the next item of business. 1986-1987 BUDGET HEARING Village Manager Terrance Burghard in his opening remarks stated that the Department of Planning and Zoning and the Department of Public Works whose budgets were up for review tonight made up approximately 50% of the $26.8 million Budget proposed for fiscal year 1986-1987. Department f Planning and zo.ning Director of Planning and Zoning Steve Park reviewed with Committee members the $.J million budget of the Department of Planning and Zoning. Mr. Park pointed out that the Department of Planning and Zoning had three main responsibilities which were; Oversight of all development and redevelopment taking place in the Village of Mount Prospect, the administration of Community Development Block Grant Funds and the various projects funded through this source and the economic development of the central business district and other areas within the Village. Among the more important activities for the 1986-1987 fiscal year were: The revision of Development Codes and the ,adoption of Appearance Regulations for signs and architectural development; the completion of the Commonwealth Edison Right -of -Way Beautification Project; the continuation of the Village's Street-Scape Program as well as the Single Family Rehabilitation Program; the expansion of the Multi -Family Rehabilitation Program as well as an expansion of the Business Facade Program. Other major projects noted by Mr. Park included the continued development of the Tax Increment Financing District and the development of a marketing strategy to promote the Village of Mount Prospect. Questions from the Committee members brought the following discussion: Village Manager Terrance Burghard indicated that the proposed Federal Tax Reform. legislation could have a deleterious affect on the TIF Project in that the proposed use of Municipal Bonds and their favored Tax Exempt status could be jeopardized under new legislation thereby rendering the Project less desirable to developers and investors; that deficit reduction efforts in Washington were sure to result in a loss of all Community Development Block. Grant Funds and a likely cessation of the successful Multi -Family Rehabilitation Program; Train Station platform and building improvements were scheduled to take place this fiscal year including the completion of platform improvements, burying of overhead cable and facade work on the train station itself; the successful Business Facade Program was proposed to be expanded outside of the original CDBG eligible downtown business district and would be funded through General Fund revenue. Committee members were generally favorable with the proposed Budget of the Department of Planning and Zoning and indicated that the importance of the review and control undertaken by this Department was more important than ever as the Village matures and experiences more limited development and a increasing volume of redevelopment. De artment of Public Works Director of Public Works Herbert Weeks reviewed with Committee members hi - 10 million Public Works' Budget. The Department of Public Works is made up of four Divisions (Streets, Water/Sewer, Parking and Engineering). These four Divisions encompass some 36 separate Programs. Mr. Weeks stated that his proposed Budget for 1986-1987 represented a 106 decrease over the 1985-1986 Public Works Budget. Some of the more important aspects of the 1986-1987 Public Works Budget were: The proposed resurfacing of approximately 7.28 miles of roadway at a cost of $754,000, water main repair and replacements for approximately $90,000, sewer repairs as required by MSD regulations for $25,000, replacement of fleet vehicles, the re -negotiation of the refuse disposal contract with Browning-Ferris Industries, the ongoing Lake Michigan water project and the addition of one person to the Public Works staff. Questions from Committee members yielded the following discussion: The addition of the one person to the Public Works staff would not significantly decrease the overtime budget of the Public Works Department; that the Village's aging water and sewer infrastructure (7-80 years old) was beginning to require more attention; that fleet vehicles were being replaced with compact rather than sub -compact cars because the sub -compacts were not holding, up under re wired use; that the shared - cost tree program continued to be popular at the �50 cost to the resident and should not be raised; that even though the Lake Michigan water system would be supplying 100' of the Village's water, five wells would be kept on line as emergency sources of water in the event of a system failure and that the re- negotiation of the refuse disposal contract might require an increase in the Property Tax Levy above that which is being proposed presently. -2- 4 Also discussed was the need for a long-range maintenance schedule for the Village's water and sewer system and a continued emphasis on street resurfacing and reconstruction. Mayor Krause also congratulated Mr. Weeks and Forestry Super- intendent Sandy Forgacs for receiving a Tree City U.S.A. Award for the Village's outstanding tree maintenance program. The Committee members were generally favorable of the proposed Public Works budget. VI. MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Burghard reported that both the Highland and Busse Road Pumping Stations were now operating and that all Mount Prospect residents were receiving LAKE MICHIGAN WATER in varying percentages. Mr. Burghard noted that engineers were still experiencing control problems and that until these problems were remedied, the Village would not switch over to 100% Lake water for fear of damage to Village water mains due to varying water pressures. Mr. Burghard also indicated that progress with the TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT in the area of property acquisition was proceeding smoothly and that negotiations with potential developers continued. Additionally, Mr. Burghard indicated that the Manager's office had received a request for a rate increase from American Taxi Cab covering all aspects of the rate structure. Mr. Burghard indicated that he would be bringing this information to the Mayor and Board of Trustees for their review. VII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS There being no other business to discuss before the Committee of the Whole, the Committee moved on to the next item of business. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee of the Whole, the meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL E. JANONIS Assistant to the Village Manager MEJ/rcw -3-