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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/2020 COW MinutesCOMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE — 7:00 PM Tuesday, November 10, 2020 In accordance with Governor Pritzker's Resurgence Mitigation Plan effective Wednesday, October 28, 2020, the Village of Mount Prospect will conduct public meetings virtually through November 30, 2020. The Mayor and Board of Trustees, along with Village staff, will conduct the meetings of November 10, 2020 remotely. One member of the Village Board or executive staff will be present at Village Hall in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. We invite you to join us via livestream or view the meeting on Comcast or WOW channel 17. If you have a question on an agenda item or comment during the Citizens to be Heard portion of the meeting, please complete and submit a public comment form at least one hour prior to the start of the meeting. 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Juracek called this Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 6:09 p.m. via remote video conference. Village Manager Michael Cassady was physically present at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson Street, Mount Prospect, Illinois. Upon roll call by the Village Clerk, the following members of the Mount Prospect Village Board were present by via the remote meeting platform, GoToMeeting: Mayor Arlene A. Juracek, Trustee William A. Grossi, Trustee Eleni Hatzis, Trustee Paul Hoefert, Trustee Richard F. Rogers, Trustee Colleen E. Saccotelli, Trustee Michael A. Zadel. None were absent. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1 Minutes of the October 13, 2020 Joint Village Board and Finance Commission Special Workshop Motion by William A. Grossi, second by Richard F. Rogers to approve the 2020 Joint Village Board and Finance Commission Special Workshop minutes. Yea: William A Grossi, Colleen E Saccotelli, Eleni Hatzis, Michael A Zadel, Richard F Rogers, Paul Hoefert Nay: None Final Resolution: Motion carried. 3. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Residents who had a question or comment on an agenda item or another topic, were asked to submit a Public Comment Form by 5:00pm on November 10, 2020. Former trustee and Mount Prospect resident Steven Polit submitted a written comment via email prior to the meeting. Mayor Juracek read Mr. Polit's comments verbatim regarding how the Village should responsibly distribute tax revenue from cannabis sales. 11 CCLIN1111=hyi&l 4.1 Connect South Mount Prospect: 2020 Sub -Area Plan Update (PZ -17-20) Village Manager Michael Cassady introduced the subject plan ("the Plan") that was identified as a high priority in the 2020 Village Strategic Plan. Director of Community Development provided a brief background of the Plan and introduced Community Development Planner Connor Harmon. Mr. Cooney stated Mr. Harmon has worked on this plan for over two years and has executed key community and public outreach to develop the plan. Mr. Cooney stated the plan began in 2009 due in part to the proposed Blue Line extension to the Northwest Tollway that subsequently, never happened. The Plan has been revaluated and provides a guide for the next 5-10 years. Mr. Cooney stated a key factor will be the proposed annexation of the Oakton corridor. Mr. Harmon began his presentation by providing a background of the 2009 South Mount Prospect Sub -area Plan and shared the vision statement of the 2020 Plan. The plan follows recommendations from the 2017 Envision Mount Prospect Comprehensive Plan, 2020 Strategic Plan, 2012 Bicycle Plan, public input, and staff direction. Mr. Harmon noted community engagement played an important role in the development process. Engagement opportunities included the public surveys made available in English and Spanish, social media campaigns, open houses, and stakeholder meetings. Mr. Harmon stated the Plan contains six chapters: Demographics & Housing, Land Use & Zoning, Community Services, Open Space & Recreation, Transportation, Future Growth & Annexation and Implementation Strategy. Mr. Connor provided details for each chapter. Mr. Connor identified fifteen key opportunity sites for development or redevelopment that include the former United Airlines World Headquarters, the former Shell Gas Station on Elmhurst Road, the vacant lot at 2400 E. Oakton Street and the school bus storage site located at 1910 Busse Road. Mr. Harmon provided details regarding the Goals/Objectives and Implementaion of key action items associated with each chapter. Pubic Comment (via email) Terri Gens Resident • Questioned how the Village plans to develop transportation to connect North and South Mount Prospect. • Asked which representative community leaders from the South Mount Prospect area were included in the Plan development. Mr. Harmon provided a response, stated PACE was and will be a key agency to collaborate with to implement the Plan, in addition to the RTA. There were no other public comments received before or during the meeting. Board Comments • Expressed gratitude to staff for their hard word to produce this Plan; great opportunity for the south side • Important plan for the entire Village • Hopes to see more green space and park opportunities on the south side Logical next step is to obtain funding and explore grant opportunities • Important to engage multi -family dwellers; reaching our rental community is important to the success of this plan Board provided direction to move to the next step in the process. Mr. Cooney stated the next step is to bring the final plan for Village Board approval and adoption in December, 2020. 4.2 Mount Prospect COVID-19 Restaurant Assistance Grant Program Director of Community Development Bill Cooney introduced Senior Planner Jason Shallcross to present the COVID-19 Restaurant Assistance Grant Program. Mr. Cooney stated this program was first discussed with the Economic Development Commission to include retail and restaurant businesses. However, with the recent State restrictions imposed to curtail indoor dining, it was determined our restaurants were at risk and in most need of assistance. Mr. Shallcross provided details of the proposed program. Several surrounding communities have created assistance programs to help those businesses most affected by Executive Order 2020-10. Mr. Shallcross stated that along with the Finance Department, staff identified three (3) funding sources from the current budget to create the assistance fund. Staff is reallocating funds from the Village -wide fagade program, Economic Development program, and the reorganization of the Community Development department to provide $250,000 to benefit this initiative. Mr. Shallcross reviewed ten (10) eligibility requirements businesses must meet to be considered. They include operational businesses prior to March 2020 who have an active business license with no outstanding tax liens or legal judgments and are not part of a franchise system or chain consisting of more than four (4) units. Mr. Shallcross stated the Economic Development Commission (EDC) voted unanimously to support the creation the of the grant program in October, 2020. The EDC suggested a minimum grant award by $5,000.00 and that the monies be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. With the enactment of Executive Order 2020-63 that reinstated the ban on indoor dining effective October 28, 2020, staff determined restaurants were in most need of assistance. The Village has 112 licensed restaurants and 61 would be eligible for the program. Staff also indicated the program could be widened at a future date to include other businesses that been affected by the pandemic. Mr. Shallcross detailed education and execution of the program. Applications would be available on the Village website and would be reviewed and evaluated in the order they are received. An email and phone number would be available to help facilitate the process and to answer applicant's questions. Board Comments: • Supports this much-needed program and hopes it can be implemented as soon as possible; commended staff for finding funding to support this program • Crucial to the livelihood of our restaurant community; hopes additional funding can be found • This will help not just restaurant owners but all who work in the industry from cooks, chefs, waitstaff, dishwashers etc. • Questioned if there was a plan to offer smaller restaurants additional funds; questioned if first come, first serve was the right process and suggested a lottery. Village Manager Michael Cassady responded, stating the Finance team has identified an additional $250, 000 from the CARES Act that could allocate additional funds to each recipient. Mr. Cassady stated staff feels it is fair to award grants on a first come, first serve basis. • Concerned some smaller restaurant owners may not be as business savvy as others and may not be aware of this program; important to reach all restaurant owners • Many of our restaurants are struggling; does not agree with the way the State is closing down restaurants and the logic behind it doesn't make sense. Mayor acknowledged Board support for this grant program to move forward, but added staff should fine-tune the selection process. Trustee Hoefert cautioned staff to make certain every restaurant is aware this program is available. Mr. Shallcross provided assurance staff is committed to this. 5. VILLAGE MANAGERS REPORT No report 6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS No additional business 7. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Juracek asked for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Zadel, seconded by Trustee Grossi motioned to adjourn the meeting. Upon roll call each member acknowledged they were able to hear and participate in the meeting in its entirety: Aye: Arlene A. Juracek ,William A. Grossi, Eleni Hatzis, Paul Hoefert, Richard Rogers, Colleen Saccotelli and Michael Zadel. Nay: None. The November 10, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Karen M. Agoranos