HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/14/1999 COW agenda COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
AGENDA
Meeting Location: Meeting Date and Time:
Mount Prospect Senior Center Tuesday, September 14, 1999
50 South Emerson Street 7:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
I1. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 24, 1999
II1. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
IV. PROPOSAL TO OUTSOURCE WATER BILL PREPARATION AND MAILING
The Village's current utility billing system was developed in-house specifically for the Village. Utility bills
are printed on postcard stock and mailed to approximately 7,000 customers each month. During the
conversion of the present utility billing software to the new system, it was determined that several
peculiarities in the way we currently operate, would require substantial customization of the basic
software module. As the Village Board indicated during review of the new computer software, efforts
should be made to avoid the expense and complication that comes with highly customized software.
The Finance Department has reviewed various options designed to improve our current procedures.
Staffwould like to present a proposal to outsource our bill preparation and mailing operations. The
attached memorandum from Deputy Finance Carol Widmer highlights the issues with the software
conversion process as well as the benefits to be derived from outsourcing.
Appropriate staff will be available to answer questions and facilitate discussion.
V. WATER SYSTEM CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
In 1996, the United States Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to provide for the
public's right-to-know about what is in their drinking water. The amended SDWA established a
provision, which required all community water supplies to produce a brief annual water quality report.
These reports are to be mailed to all customers and include information such as the source of their
water, levels of detected contaminants, compliancy rates or any violations and other educational
material. The intent behind these reports is to assist customers in making informed decisions
regarding their water supply.
Under the new amendment, all community water suppliers must deliver the first Consumer Confidence
Report to their customers by October 19, 1999. Subsequent annual reports will be sent out prior to
July 1 of each reporting year. The reports should be readable, concise and not too long or filled with
scientific jargon. In addition, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency require certain mandatory information to be included in the report.
NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING BUT BECAUSE OF A
DISABILITY NEEDS SOME A CCOMMODA TION TO PARTICIPATE, SHOULD CONTA CT
THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S OFFICE AT '100 SOUTH EMERSON, MOUNT PROSPECT,
ILLINOIS 60056, 847/392-6000, EXTENSION 5327, TDD #847/392-6064.
Since this is the inaugural report, staff would like to present the prototype to the Village Board for
review and comment. Attached is a memorandum and sample report from Water/Sewer
Superintendent Roderick O'Donovan. Appropriate staff will be on hand to answer questions and
facilitate discussion.
V. FY 2000 COMMUNITY DEVELOP BLOCK GRANT AND CONSOLIDATED PLAN
The 2000 Consolidated Plan is a five-year Plan that describes the Village's housing and community
development priorities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this document
from all communities that participate in the Community Development Block Grant Program. The
document identifies the needs of Iow-income residents of the community and is designed to improve
the quality of life for the whole Village. The document is a policy guideline for the Village's Community
Development Block Grant activity and also serves as the federal application for FY2000 CDBG funds.
As a policy document regarding community needs, the Plan is written in a manner that is
understandable for Village residents, while also meeting HUD regulations. There are seven sections
of the Consolidated Plan. The Citizen Participation Plan describes how the Village consulted with
various agencies to establish the housing and community priorities. The Housing Sections describe
current housing trends in the Village and the housing needs for Iow and moderate-income residents.
The Community Development Strategic Plan describes the Village's community development priorities
and sets specific objectives that will be met in the next five years. The Annual Action Plan describes
what projects the Village plans to fund with the CDBG and FY2000 and the Monitoring Plan describes
how CDBG sub-recipients will be monitored.
The Plan Commission has reviewed the 2000 Consolidated Plan over the past several months and will
make a formal recommendation to the Village Board at their September 15, 1999 meeting following
a Public Hearing. The Plan Commission has been invited to the Committee of the Whole meeting and
Village Board comments will be presented at the Plan Commission Public Hearing. The final
Consolidated Plan will come before the Village Board for formal approval at a future Village Board
meeting. HUD regulations require the Plan to be published for citizen comment for 30 days before
being submitted to HUD on November 15, 1999.
Appropriate staff will be on hand to answer questions and facilitate discussion.
VII. VILLAGE MANAGER=S REPORT
VIII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
IX. ADJOURNMENT
H:\GEN\Cow~,genda\091499 COW Agenda.doc