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Home My WebLink About01/14/2025 COW MinutesVillage of Mount Prospect Meeting of the Committee of the Whole Tuesday, January 14, 202517:00 PM Mayor Hoefert called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St. ROLL CALL Members present upon roll call by the Village Clerk: Mayor Paul Hoefert, Trustee Vincent Dante, Trustee Agostino Filippone, Trustee Terri Gens, Trustee Bill Grossi, Trustee John Matusza k, Trustee Colleen Saccotelli Absent: None MAYOR'S REPORT 3.1. PROCLAMATION: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 20, 2025 Mayor Hoefert read the proclamation into the record in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Randy Spitzer Property owner, 2400 Terminal and 2411 E.Oakton ■ Supports DiMeo Brothers moving into the area of Badger Drive and Oakton Street; he believes they will be good neighbors. ■ Concerned about flooding in the area, MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) has helped in the past and requested assistance from the Village. Village Manager Michael Cassady responded, stating that staff is aware of this issue, and we are working on a solution. Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey briefly discussed the challenges to this issue as the property is privately owned, and MWRD will not fund private properties. He ensured that the Village is seeking a solution. S.1. PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR MELAS /MEADOWS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE MAIN SPAN Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey stated that the purpose of the evening's discussion is to present conceptual drawings and renderings of four design options for the Melas/Meadows Pedestrian Bridge Ma in Spa n a nd to seek d i rection from the Board regard i ng the design and appearance of the main span. He stated that funding will also be discussed. Mr. Dorsey introduced Village Engineer Matt Lawrie, Public Works Deputy Director Jason Leib, Vice President of Ciorba Group Brett Sauter, and Salvatore DiBernardo, President of Ciorba Group, to answer questions and provide additional information (Ciroba Group performed Phase II Design Engineering for this project). Mr. Dorsey provided the following details: ■ The 200 -foot -long bridge will connect Melas and Meadows Park. It will span Northwest Highway and the Union Pacific Railroad. ■ A map depicting a broad overview of the bridge and approach ramps wasshown. ■ Mt. Prospect Park District (M PPD) has provided input; the M PPD subleases Melas Park for recreational purposes from the Village. The MPPD owns Meadows Park. ■ A Phase I Engineering Study was completed, which is required before applying for grant funding. ■ Phase 11, Design Engineering, is underway; work includes coordinating meetings with Mt. Prospect Park District, MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District), IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation), Union Pacific Railroad, and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Phase II also included initial designs of bridge approaches and lighting. Mr. Dorsey presented four (4) alternatives for the Main Span. He displayed images of each design and noted that the i mages a re conceptual, not f nal engi neeri ng. 1. Prefabricated trusses are cost-effective, easy to construct, and offer flexible design features; the funding gap (after grant funding) is $1.7 million. 2. Vie rendeel Truss is a unique design featuring an arch structure supported by two piers; the funding gap is $2.0. 3. The Network Tied Arch is pricier than options 1 and 2. It stands 60 feet tall at its highest point, making it visible from great distances. The funding gap is $2.9 million. 4. Cable Stay has the most unique design. The funding gap is $4.8 million. Mr. Dorsey discussed funding for the bridge project, stating that the Village has received $61,946 from an Invest in Cook grant for Phase I and a Congressional Appropriation grant of $5'17,400 for Phase II Engineering. For Phase III Construction and Construction Engineering, the Village has secured an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant for $3 million, a Surface Transportation Program grant in the amount of $2 million and has applied for a Grade Crossing Protection Fund totaling $2.9 million through the Illinois Commerce Commission. Mr. Dorsey provided further funding details. Mr. Dorsey mentioned that staff recommends the Vierendeel Truss option due to its distinct design and cost-effectiveness. He outlined a timeline for the next steps, starting with the main span design and leading to a scheduled bid letting in November 2025. He also indicated that staff will continue to explore funding opportunities to address the funding gap. Construction is tentatively set to commence in April 2026, with a target completion date of December 2026. Mr. Dorsey reiterated that the Village has secured over $5.6 million in grant funding. Staff is requesting direction from the Board on the main span design. Vi llage M a nager M i chael Cassady suggested that the f rst a nd seco nd options a re the lead i ng contenders, as options three and four are too costly. Mr. Dorsev. Brett Sauter and Salvatore DeBernadro answered auestions from the Board: ■ All four options are designed with the same code standards to withstand extreme weather events. ■ All four options have ramps that meet ADA (American Disabilities Act) guidelines, and there will also be stairs. ■ Opportunities for branding will be discussed in greater detail at a laterdate. ■ The Village has received written notices of award for grant funding to support this project. ■ Staff is confident that grant money that has already been spent (approximately $850,000) will not need to be refunded if the bridge is not built. ■ Director of Finance Amit Thakkar stated he is confident the Village can fund the project through the current C I P (Capital Improvement Project) fund, off -setting gra ntfunds. ■ The Village has approval from the MPPD and MWRD to build the bridge but will not provide financial support. ■ Elevators are significantly more costly than stairs and are not a viable option ■ The Mt. Prospect Park District supports the proposed layouts. ■ Fencing will be installed along the tracks. ■ Mr. Dorsey stated that safety was identified in the grant applications to justify the bridge. In addition, it will join two regional recreational parks. ■ The bridge was identified as a goal in the Village Strategic Plan. Board comments: ■ The Board has not yet approved building the bridge. It was clarified that the Village is moving forward, but a final decision will require approval from the Board. ■ In favor of the bridge for safety reasons ■ Suggested choosing a preferred design and finalizing the numbers to ensure a productive discussion on the next steps. ■ Suggested seeking community input regarding design ■ It is important to brand the bridge ■ Commended staff for responsibly managing the project ■ Supports the bridge's construction; the area taken up by the ramps isn't usable space, and the ramp will benefit pedestrians. ■ Looks forward to future discussions regarding banding, material, and colorscheme. A discussion ensued regarding each Board member's preferred option. There was a consensus that option one (1), the Prefabricated Truss, is favored. Public Comment: Louis Goodman 310 N. School St. Suggested the construction of a tunnel under Northwest Highway and the railroad instead of a bridge or adding a stoplight in this area; both would be less expensive solutions. Mr. Dorsey responded, stating staff explored the option of a tunnel, but the Railroad (Union Pacific) does not want tunnels and will not support this option, as they own the property. He added that IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) would not approve a traffic signal at this location. The overall cost of a tunnel is comparable to the construction of a bridge. The tunnel in Arlington Heights was built several years ago and would not receive approval today. Steve Polit 601 N. Wilshire ■ He noted that anyone has the right to call their congressional representative ■ It was also stated that the need for the bridge must be justified and read a prepared statement Jeff Nejdl 313 N. MacArthur ■ Supports building the bridge and believes the community will make use of it; it is asafer option for pedestrians. No further discussion. Mr. Dorsey stated he has a direction from the Board to move forward. 6.1. As submitted No report. None. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT ANY OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT With no additional business to conduct, Mayor Hoefert asked for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Gens seconded by Trustee Dante motioned to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous vo ice vote, the January 14, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Karen M. Ago ra n os, Village Clerk