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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/01/2000 COW minutes Revised 8/29/00 MINUTES SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING August 1, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8:47 p.m. by Mayor Gerald Farley. Present at the meeting were: Trustees Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert, Richard Lohrstorfer, Dennis Prikkel, Michaele Skowron and Irvana Wilks. Staff members present included Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, Finance Director Doug Ellsworth, Community Development Director William Cooney, Public Works Director Glen Andler, Village Clerk Velma Lowe and Human Services Director Nancy Morgan. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no Minutes to be approved. Ilk CITIZENS TO BE HEARD None. IV. VILLAGE HALL/SENIOR CENTER DISCUSSION Mayor Farley stated that he would welcome any speakers who would like to present comments regarding this topic if they are new speakers and have not come forward during the previous meeting. John Korn, Chairman of the Finance Commission, 301 North William, spoke. He stated the Finance Commission has voted unanimously to move forward with the new Village Hall/Senior Center without utilizing a Referendum. He stated the timing is appropriate to move forward at this time and all members endorse the recommendation. Carol Tortorello, 223 South EImhurst, spoke. She stated that she has a vision of a strong downtown anchored by a Village Hall and suggested moving the Bank parking to the Village lot on Parcel B and find community space through the Park District for the recreational services currently provided at the Senior Center. She stated the Village Board has previously utilized tax dollars for flood and read improvements without Referendum and does not feel it is necessary that a Referendum be undertaken in this instance. Allen Enberg, 1801 Hopi Lane, spoke. He stated the Board is not considering the proper issues and felt the question that should be undertaken is how will services be provided over the next 50 years. He stated the Board and staff should see themselves as service providers and felt the Village has jumped ahead into the predesign phase without doing proper analysis. He stated there should be some review of how the private sector utilizes Internet services for multi-functional rooms and employees. He stated it is possible to conduct all business remotely and allow employees to work from home and reduce the projected 25,000 square foot footprint. Jim Bornhoeft, spoke. He suggested building a second floor in the Mount Prospect Public Library for the Village Hall and leaving the Senior Center alone. He stated that the Village of Barrington has currently undertaken a citizens' survey to see what residents want and felt that Mount Prospect should do the same to determine what the residents want. He also stated that he owns an apartment building in the community and has refused to turn the building into single family homes. Ruth Haut, 400 East Berkshire, spoke. She stated that some seniors feel the decision is cut and dry and has grave concerns about the access to the ground floor for the seniors. Why not keep the Senior Center where it is and have the Village Hall be built somewhere else. Rita Waters, 109 South Maple, spoke. She stated she is a newer resident and is concerned about putting seniors on a floor that is not on the ground level. Corinne Rusteberg, 509 Deborah Lane, spoke. She stated that she would prefer that the Senior Center be a stand-alone facility and not be in conjunction with a Village Hall or the Public Library. Hal Dietsche, 201 East Berkshire Lane, spoke. He stated that he has concerns about combining the Village Hall with the Senior Center and there could be disruptions to Senior Center activities during the construction as proposed. Leo Floros, 111 North Emerson, spoke. He stated this is a critical issue and it is necessary to get this project moving without a Referendum. He stated one example was when the Village took a bold step when it undertook Lake Michigan water without a Referendum. He also stated that the Village should discuss with the Library the need to finish the second floor at the facility because he feels that if it is not done now, it will never get done. He stated this topic has been under discussion long enough and it is necessary to move forward and it is important for the community to complete. Bill Blaine, ll9 North Emerson, spoke. He supports the comments that Leo Floros had made. He stated that as a member of District 2'14, he has noticed a positive integration of youth and seniors through the Community Education Program and would suggest the Board consider a community center approach. He stated that it is important to include all segments of the population. He would also suggest that green space be protected as much as possible. He stated he does not feel it is necessary for a Referendum. Mayor Farley stated that the Village Board would consider the recommendations from the Village Hall Ad Hoc Committee report and comments from residents. Village Manager Janonis stated there has been discussion on the Village Hall for at least ten years and previous studies have shown the current Village Hall as inadequate and the expense to bring it up to date will not solve all the issues that current exist. He stated it is a policy decision regarding whether the Senior Center activities should be combined with the Village Hall. He stated that ultimately a space study and needs analysis will need to be undertaken so that some narrowing of options is considered and decisions can be made from those options. He stated as we stand today, it is at least '18 to 24 months before construction would start and nothing will happen to the Senior Center until an alternative site has been identified. He stated there are three financing options since the Village does not have the available cash on hand to construct a Village Hall/Senior Center. One option is that once the bonds are paid off in 2006 for the Police and Fire building and Public Works facility, approximately $9 million will be available in terms of debt capacity. Another option would be to raise Property Tax to cover the debt service costs until 2006 when the debt capacity becomes available. The final option would be to structure the debt issue and capitalize interest until the debt capacity becomes available which would increase the cost of the project. He stated a good benchmark to keep in mind is that for every $'100,000 in annual debt service the acceptance the Board is willing to assume equates to approximately $1 million in debt funds available for use. He stated in order to bridge the gap until the debt capacity becomes available, it would be necessary to increase the Property Tax by two cents as a one-time increase to cover the cost until the debt capacity becomes available. He stated that more discussion regarding financing is yet to come but would suggest placing sufficient funds in the 2001 Budget to engage professionals to formulate the necessary plans in preparation of construction. Village Manager Janonis suggest that the Village Board undertake the discussion of the Village Hall Ad Hoc Committee recommendations. The first recommendation from the Village Hall Ad Hoc Committee was to build the Village Hall on Parcel B in the downtown. Consensus of the Village Board was to construct a new Village Hall in the downtown utilizing Parcel B which is the current site of the Senior Center. Recommendations 3 and 7 deal with green space. The recommendation is to maximize the use of green space in Pamel B and to create a footprint which enhances green space on the Darcel. Consensus of the Village Board was to support these recommendations. Recommendation 9 was that any future Village Hall building should not adversely impact any future Mount Prospect Library_ expansion. Consensus of the Village Board was to support this recommendation. Recommendation 11. Parcel C. the current site of the Village Hall. should be redeveloped and added to the tax roles. Consensus of the Village Board was to support this recommendation. Discussion regarding Recommendation 4 regarding any parking that may be considered for Parcel B should be below grade, General discussion from the Village Board members included the following items: It was suggested that one grade below and two levels above for parking be considered. It was also suggested that parking not be above ground on the parcel to enhance curb appeal of the building. There was also some concern about a parking deck in the center of the downtown. A discussion regarding the possible use of the Bank One parking lot and its ability to be redeveloped as a parking structure was discussed. Community Development Director Bill Cooney stated that the parking needs for the Village Hall have been estimated at approximately 150 spaces plus an additional 75 to 100 spaces for the Bank parking if it were to be relocated from across the street. Metra and commuter parking would account for approximately 100 spaces and remaining spaces would be available for Library and business parking for the downtown. Consensus of the Village Board was to consider one grade below and three levels of parking above grade for Parcel B, The consensus was not unanimous and additional discussion has been suggested to further delineate the parking needs for the site. Laura Luteri, President of the Mount Prospect Library Board, spoke. She stated that she is appreciative of the Village Board regarding inclusion of any Library parking so it does not compromise underground parking and dock loading/unloading needs for the Library. Discussion of Recommendation 5 that states no sDace should be reserved for recreational drop-in activities in a new Village Hall. Jeff Bruner, Chairman of the Village Hall Ad Hoc Committee, spoke. He defined the recommendation regarding the recreational drop-in as space specifically reserved for recreational activities in an administrative facility. There was extensive discussion regarding the various activities of the Senior Center and how those elements related to a Village Hall and whether an appropriate use of the Village Hall should include reserved recreational space. Consensus of the Village Board was to consider this option more fully at its next meeting on August 8 and attempt to dispose of the Referendum question at that meeting. V. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT None. VI. ANY OTHER BUSINESS None. Closed Session Motion made by Trustee Wilks and Seconded by Trustee Skowron to move into Closed Session to discuss Personnel and Property Acquisition. Committee of the Whole recessed into Closed Session at 10:28 p.m. being reconvened into Open Session at 11:00 p.m. VII, ADJOURNMENT No other business was transacted and the meeting was adjourned at 11:01 p.m. DAVID STRAHL DS/mc Assistant Village Manager H:\GEN\Cow\Minutes\080100 Special COW Minutes.doc