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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/14/1992 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE JANUARY 14, 1992 I ROLL CALL The meeting was ~called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor ~ Gerald L. Farley. Trustees present were: Mark Busse,~' George Clowes, Tim Corcoran, Leo Floros, Paul Hoefert and Irvana Wilks. Also present were: Village Manager John Fulton D~xon, Public Works Director Herbert Weeks, Deputy Public Works Director Glen Andler, Refuse Coordinator Lisa Angell and Finance Director David Jepson. Additionally, there were four members of the news media and about twenty residents. H MINUTES ~ ~ The Committee of the Whole Minutes of December 10, 1991 were accepted and filed. III CITIZENS TO BE HEARD No Village residents appeared before the Committee. IV DISTRICT 57 p, UDITORIUM Mayor Farley introduced this subject by stating that there has been a need in the community for a long time for an auditorium that would be used by community groups. He said that Dr. Thomas Many, Superintendent of School District 57, offered the possibility of expanding a proposed new Lecture Hall at I.incoin Junior High School into a 240 seat auditorium ff the Village, the Library and the Mount Prospect Park District would share the additional cost of the auditorium. Mayor Farley said he thought this was an excellent opportunity to provide the auditorium at a veqt reasonable cost. He then introduced Dr. Many and Tom Mnnz~ President of the District 57 School Board. Tom Munz, President of District 57 School Board, stated that thc School Board had appointed a Citizens' Committee to evaluate the building needs of the District. The work at Lincoln Junior High School was separated into two phases with the second phase including a Lecture Center for the use of the school. Mr. Munz said the Lecture Center could be expanded if there is a need in the community and if the other governmental bodies would share in the additional cost. Thomas Many, Superintendent of School District 57, stated that the proposed Lecture Center was in effect a large classroom that could accommodate school drama and choral groups and could be utilized for educational purposes but it did not include a stage. The proposed Lecture Center would seat 140 and was expected to cost $250,000. The Lecture Center could be expanded into a 240 seat auditorium with a 400 square foot stage at an estimated cost of $568,000, or $268,000 more than the proposed Lecture Center. Dr. Many said he has met with 'the Arts Coundl of Mount Prospect and they endorse the project. He added that they are pla~ninE on doing Phase II of the improvements to Lincoln Jnnior High School in 1992 and would like to have the project completed before September. Mayor Farley said he is excited about the possibility of building the auditorium because of the need for this type of facility. He said the auditorium would be ideal for certain plays and concerts and this would be a better use of the school facilities. He said he thought the cost was modest and he commended District 57 officials for considering the needs of the community. Trustee Hoefert asked if the Village and the other governmental bodies would be sharing in the cost of features that were for the exclusive use of the School District. He also asked about user fees and the adequacy of the stage area. Dr. Many responded that it was too difficult to parcel out specific costs and that he thought it was fair to ask the other governmental bodies to share the additional project costs to provide an auditorium rather than the Lecture Center. In regard to use fees, he said he would expect any groups other than the governmental bodies that were supporting the project to pay a user fee. These details would be worked out jointly in the future. Dr. Many said the stage area would be adequate for most comm-nlty-produced events but that it probably would not be adequate for professional productions. ¢ Trustee Corcoran asked if the scope of the project would be changed after the work had started and if the cost could be less because of the contingency in the proposal. Dr. Many responded that the projected amounts were the Architect's estimate but that once the project was bid, the scope would not change. Trustee Corcoran added that rules for the use of the auditorium would need to be estabhshed. Trustee Wilks asked how much it would cost the four governmental bodies. Finance Director Jepson said that based upon an estimated cost of $300,000, it would cost each governmental unit about $11,500 per year for eight years. He added that we would calculate the specific costs after the Village sold Bonds on February 4, 1992 and after the project had been bid. Trustee Floros asked how much a free-standing facility would cost and how the proposed auditorium compared with the auditorium at Prospect High School. Dr. Many responded that the Prospect High School Auditorium has 494 seats but that it is generally not available to outside groups. It was booked for over 600 events over the past year. A cost estimate for a 442 seat auditorium five years ago was $2 million to $3 miIllon. Trustee Floros said he generally favored sharing facihties and that it was commendable that District 57 officials thought of the needs of the community. Trustee Clowes pointed out that even though the cost would be shared by the four governmental bodies, it is all paid for by the residents of Mount Prospect. He added that he knows cultural arts are very popular at the Park District. He said he generally supports the project but he did not want the Village to be involved in the operation of the auditorium. Trustee Busse asked ff it would be possible to build an auditorium larger than 240 seats. Dr. Many said that was the maximum that could be built on the space available. Trustee Busse said he had been concerned that this auditorium would be a duplication of other available facilities but he said that based upon the discussion, he was satisfied the auditorium was needed. Kathleen Pluth, Vice President of the Arts Council of Mount Prospect, said it was difficult to use Prospect High School because of the cost, availability and acoustics. She said there was good interest in Mount Prospect for conununity productions, and the proposed Auditorium would work out very well. Mrs. Pluth said the Arts Council is committed to encouraging all types of the fine arts to Mount Prospect and that they will also be encouraging the Mount Prospect Park District to establish an Arts Center at Lions Park. She said the Village could use two different kinds of auditoriums. Mayor Farley and Trustee Corcoran expressed concern over proposing two facilities. Mrs. Pluth responded that there are a wide range of needs and two facilities could be used. She added that it could be 8-10 years before the Park District would build a facility. Trustee Wilks said it looked like a good project and that it was a unique opportunity for the Boards to work together. She said she was supportive but needed more convincing. Carol Tortorello said as a taxpayer she was concerned about the cost and possibly setting a precedent. Diane Kumpf, President of the Arts Council, said she thought the community needed this auditorium. She added the Park District may never build an Arts Center and she asked the Board for their support. Mayor Farley said he would name a committee to work with staff to try to resolve the questions that were 'raised. V SOLID WASTE AGENCY OF NORTHERN COOK COUNTY (SWANCC~ William Abolt, Executive Director of SWANCC and Brooke Beal appeared before the Comrmttee to explain the new Project Use Agreements (PUA) that SWANCC is asking the members to approve. Mr. Abolt stated that the ongoing goals of SWANCC are to provide solutions to the economic and environmental problems associated with solid waste disposal. He said that existing landfills are being filled up and the problems will be much more complex in the future. He pointed out that one of SWANCC's goals is to achieve a $0% reduction through recycling by 1996. Mr. Abolt said plan~ are proceeding for the balefill, but it would be at least one more year before all the Permits are secured. He said that three transfer stations are scheduled to be built with the first expected to be completed by January 1994. He said that the transfer stations would be utilized by the member communities even if the balefill would not be constructed. Mr. Abolt said the new PUA contain revised financing plans that will allow SWANCC to refinance existing debt of $16.2.5 million. The new financing plan was approved by the Board of Directors in September 1991 and the PUA document was approved by the Directors, Managers and Attorneys in December 1991. If the Village approves the new PUA, no future equity payments will be required from the Vlliage. If any member does not approve the new PUA, they will be required to make payments starting May 1, 1992 based on the previous agreements that were adopted. Mount Prospect's payment would be $37,537.50 per month for 30 months.~ '. ~ ~ Village Manager Dixon said he supported the new PUA. He stated that the Managers and Attorneys had extensively reviewed the proposed agreement and that the issues that had been raised had been resolved. He added that the Village can retain some control of future solid waste costs by being a participant of SWANCC. Trustee Corceran stated that the solid waste question is a very difficult issue to deal with . The State has mandated changes and the County has avoided the solid waste issue leaving the problem with the municipalities. He stated that with the exception of medical costs, solid waste disposal costs have increased faster than any other Village 'costs. Trustee Corcoran said he thought the refinancing plan was good for Mount Prospect and that he thought the new PUA should be strongly considered. He added that the prob!em will not be resolved by not partiapating in SWANCC. Trustee Hoefert stated that the Village has taken a very aggressive position in regard to recycling, and he was concerned that this action may penalize the Village in the future. Mr. Abolt responded that the PUA allows for the '~put or pay" ~'~ volume to be readjusted annually. -4- Trustee Clowes asked if incineration of solid waste would be an acceptable alternate solution. Mr. Abolt responded that even with incineration the ash must ~ be landt~l!ed. He added that the costs of siting an incinerator are very high and there would be even more zoning and environmental problems. Trustee Clowes also asked about the comparison of tipping fees for SWANCC and other landfills. Mr. Abolt said he expected SWANCC to charge $43 to $47 per ton compared to competitive fees in the $40 to $48 range. He stated that he expected SWANCC members to realize substantial savings after the first few years. Trustee Florns commented that he had not been informed as to SWANCC's efforts to pursue incineration. Mr. Abolt said costs and benefits have been analyzed since 1981. He said their original plans were to incinerate and landfill the residue. Now the approach to solid waste disposal is to recycle, reduce the amount of waste, landfill and possible incineration in the future. Trustee Wilks asked how long the term of the agreement would be. Mr. Abolt responded that it would be for the life of the bonds, an estimated 25 to 30 years. In response to a question on the equity payment, Mr. Abolt stated that it was based on population. He also said that the $16.25 million that had been borrowed covered all costs to date including capitalized interest. Mayor Farley said an Ordinance approving the new PUA will be presented at the January 21, 1992 Board meeting. VI SOLID WASTE PROGRAM Lisa Angell, Solid Waste Coordinator presented a 51~mmnry~ of the solid waste program for the last six months. The Village initiated a two-phased plan on August 1, 1991 that was intended to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. The first phase included an expanded recycling program, and the second phase which will go into effect February 1, 1992 incudes a modified volt,me-based program. Under the second phase, single family residences will receive l~nllmlted recycling and will be allowed to set out two 32 gallon containers/bags per week and certain bulk items at no direct costs. Any bags or containers in excess of the two can limit will require a sticker which costs $1~25 per sticker. Ms. Angell said the recycling program has been very successful with service currently being given to 100% of the single-family and townhome properties, 70% of the condomini~*m.~ and 30% of the apartments. Efforts are being made to extend the recycling to all of the condominiums and apartments. Prior to August 1, 1991 recycling service included picking up newspaper, alumin~m cans and mixed glass. As of August l, 1991, mixed papers, mixed plastics and steel/tin cans were added. Since August 1, 732,020 pounds of mixed paper, 145,185 pounds of plastic and 100,~84 pounds of ferrous metal have been collected. In total, 4,458,557 pounds, or 5,455 cubic yards of recyciables have been picked up since August 1. ~,NAGER'S REPORT "'Village Manager Dixon,~eported that he is working on dates for the Citizens Utilities information meetings. VIII ANY OTHER BUSINESS No other business was brought before the Committee. IX ~ The meeting adjourned at 11:09 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ; ~ DAVID C. JEPSON Finance Director DC J/rede -6-