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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/23/2000 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MAY 23, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Mayor Gerald Farley. Present at the meeting were: Trustees Timothy Comoran, Richard Lohrstorfer, Michaele Skowron and [rvana Wilks. Trustee Paul Hoefert arrived at 7:40 p.m. Absent from the meeting was Trustee Dennis Prikkel. Plan Commission members in attendance included Chairman Mike Zadel, Carol Tortorello, Ed Janus and Gary Grouwinkel. Staff members present included Public Works Director Glen Andler, Police Chief,Ronald Pavlock, Deputy Fire Chief John Malcolm, Deputy Director of Community Development Michael Blue, Project Engineer Matt Lawrie, Planner Judy Connolly and Village Engineer Jeff Wulbecker. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of Minutes from May 9, 2000. Motion was made by Trustee Corcoran and Seconded by Trustee Skowron to approve the Minutes. Minutes were approved unanimously. Trustee Lohrstorfer abstained. ~-, III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD John Korn, 301 North William Street, spoke. He commended the Village and Public Works Director Glen Andler on the fine work done by the Public Works Department to clear the tree damaged caused by the recent storm. IV. CORRIDOR DESIGN GUIDELINE UPDATE Deputy Director of Community Development Mike Blue, introduced the topic and the design team of Frank Clements and Craig Farnsworth of Wolf Clements and Associates and Don McLean of Graf/X Communication Group. Craig Farnsworth of Wolf Clements and Associates spoke. He presented the updated Corridor Design Guidelines, which included modifications based on the previous Village Board discussion. The report identifies twelve specific sites where features and enhancements could be installed. The features include gateway signs, banners, lighting, landscaping or special signage. He walked the Board through the twelve sites and scope of work at each site. He provided a general cost of installation of the improvements including the cost of individual elements. Mr. Farnsworth also discussed the potential maintenance costs for the sites, which ranged from $4,000 to $8,000 per site per year, potentially $50,000 to $80,000 per year to maintain. Don McLean of Graf/)( Communications Group spoke. He presented four variations of a Village logo, two included an elm tree, two included an eagle. All four included a blue chevron either at the top or across the upper center of the logo with the saying "Where friendliness is a way of life." He discussed the application of the logo on the gateway signs and street name signs. Mr. McLean also presented designs for banners that would be installed around town on streetiight poles. Mike Zadel, I~an Commission Chairman spoke. He stated that the Plan Commission has not had an opportunity to review and discuss the report. He stated that they need more time to prepare their comments. Trustee Hoefert spoke. He stated that the design is moving in the right direction. He likes the walls and the keystone in the walls. He asked questions about the stone wall material and the material of the logo. He supported more subtle, natural colors for the logo. He preferred the tree image. Trustee Wilks spoke. She expressed her preference for the chevron message to be located at the top of the logo. She prefers the eagle image that is similar to the sign at Central and Northwest Highway because it is unique. She also is in favor of the message "Where friendliness is a way of life." Trustee Skowron spoke. She likes the keystone. She likes the chevron at the top of the logo. She is not in favor of bright colors. She finds the logo on the street signs to be too busy. She also finds that the message "Where friendliness is a way of life" is too long. Trustee Corcoran spoke. He stated that the blue color is out of character with the sign. He also expressed the desire for a smaller message. He likes the idea of a tree but thinks the image presented is too barren. He likes the keystone with the chevron on top. He likes the material, typeface and layout of the signs. Trustee Lohrstorfer spoke. He prefers the tree image. He likes the chevron at the top and the blue color. He would like to see some other versions of the tree. Mayor Farley spoke. He prefers a different logo than those presented, which would include the water tower, Of those presented he prefers the tree, but would like to see more definition of the tree. He prefers the chevron and message at the top and he likes the message. He also is in favor of the blue color. Trustee Wilks spoke. She would like to see other eagle images. She suggested that the message be replaced with the date of incorporation of the Village. She stated that the blue color is good but she would like to see other renditions with natural colors. Trustee Skowron spoke. She was interested in knowing where are other locations that gateways have been installed with multiple materials. "" Trustee Hoefert spoke. He expressed his preference for the chevron at the top. He also was in favor of the date of incorporation message. Mike Zadel, Plan Commission Chairman spoke. He stated that the Plan Commission would also like to see other variations of the logo. He stated that the message "Where friendliness is a way of life" doesn't go with the picture. He would like to see an image that coincides with the friendliness theme. Trustee Wilks requested that names be given to the individual sites in the report and the cost estimates be included. Ce nsensus of the Village Board was to request that additional renditions of the logo be prepared for their review. All renditions should include the chevron at the top and a different version of the tree with more leaves. The renditions should compare the blue chevron color with a natural color. The renditions should also provide a comparison of the "Friendliness" message with the incorporation date. V. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CONCERNS Matt Lawrie, Project Engineer presented the topic of traffic calming. He explained that traffic calming measures can be categorized as speed calming, volume reduction or pedestrian safety measures. Matt introduced five speed calming measures; traffic circles, chicanes, choke points, speed humps and raised crosswalks. He introduced five volume reduction measures; diagonal diverters, semi-diverters, median barriers, cul-de-sacs / dead ends and turn prohibition signs. He also introduced two pedestrian safety measures; curb extensions and pedestrian refuges. Matt discussed the current issues concerning each measure including emergency response time, snow removal, funding and liability. Matt explained that traffic calming measures should be implemented only after a detailed study has indicated that a significant positive result can be expected following its installation. Mayor Farley spoke. He expressed the need to reduce the speed of traffic in neighborhoods. He stated that this information should be presented to the Safety Commission. The Safety Commission should make recommendations to the Village Board concerning specific measures at specific locations. He also suggested that the Safety Commission consider other alternatives such as new police enforcement altematives. He stated his desire to install some measures this summer. Matt Lawrie, Project Engineer stated that the next Safety Commission meeting will most likely be in July. Trustee Wilks concurred that these measures should be considered by the Safety Commission. She stated that these would be major changes to the roads. She stated that Virginia has implemented some of these measures and that they are most difficult to negotiate. In a related matter, she requested that painted crosswalks be installed at the Kensington and Route 83 intersection. Trustee Corcoran spoke. He has seen these measures and stated that they are very effective and reduce the need for other measures such as stop signs. He highly supports them and would like to see a demonstration project installed this summer. He would like to see a list of the top ten intersections in need of traffic calming measures and recommendations to address them for next year. He expressed the need to be sensitive to emergency vehicle access. Ron Pavlock~ Police Chief spoke. He explained that traffic calming should be part of a package for the Safety Commission to consider. He suggested additional methods such as police visibility, smart trailers, radar in cars, laser radar, moving radar and speed gun photo radar. He explained that Mount Prospect has trained traffic enforcement officers but that limited time is available for this duty. He expressed the need to address the truck enforcement safety problems in Mount Prospect. Trustee Corcoran stated his support for the use of photo radar ticketing. Trustee Wilks also stated her support for the use of photo radar ticketing. Consensus of the Village Board was to refer this issue to the Safety Commission for their review and recommendation. The Board also expressed a desire to see some traffic calming method implemented this year. VI. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT Glen Andler, Public Works Director presented a summary of the tree damage sustained by Village trees during the May 18, 2000 windstorm. He expressed his thanks tothe City of Des Plaines for their help in the clean up operations. He anticipates that it will take until June 2 to complete the clean up. Mayor Farley asked Glen Andler, Public Works Director to look into the possibility of obtaining emergency relief funds for the tree damage clean up. Trustee Hoefert asked if there was any damage to private property from parkway trees. He stated that this type of emergency supports the case for emergency funds in the budget. Glen Andler, Public Works Director stated that approximately twelve trees caused damage to private property but no major damage, II. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Wilks asked Trustee Corcoran about the status of the Supreme Court review of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) appeal of the decision of the Circuit Court which upheld the Army Corps' decision about the landfill. Trustee Corcoran stated that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear this case. This ~s very encouraging for Mount Prospect and SWANCC. The argument will occur next spring and the decision will not be made until next year. VIII. ADJOURNMENT No other business was transacted and the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ,lAW X:\files\engineer~general\COWMMIN UTES052300