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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/23/2010 COW minutes COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES March 23, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. in the Village Board Room of the Village Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, by Mayor Irvana Wilks. Present at the meeting were Trustees Arlene Juracek, John Korn, John Matuszak, Steven Polit, and Michael Zadel. Trustee Paul Hoefert arrived at 7: 15 p.m. Staff present included Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, Police Chief John Dahlberg, Deputy Chief Michael Semkiu, Human Services Director Nancy Morgan, Deputy Director Jan Abernethy, Community Connections Center Coordinator Thomas Tucker, Public Works Director Glen Andler, Forestry Superintendent Sandy Clark, and Forestry Technician David Hull. II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23. 2010. Motion made by Trustee Polit seconded by Trustee Juracek to approve the minutes. II. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD No citizens requested to be heard. III. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS CENTER UPDATE Human Services Director Nancy Morgan provided an overview of the start up process and the structure of the Center as it has been operating since its opening. Community Connections Center Coordinator Tom Tucker provided an overview of the five program goals that were created as part of the Center to measure the effectiveness of operations. He stated one of the items they are doing is tracking the number of persons coming into the Center and the diverse array of social service issues and the education necessary to address the issues with other agencies as required. They also have health screenings that have become common place at the Center and are based on population risk factors. They have regularly evaluated client needs since the opening to address any services or modifications of services to ensure the clients are well served. He stated many of the partnerships with other agencies are based on the population needs and a standing monthly meeting with these other agencies takes place to adjust needs based on the those needs. He stated there is H:\VILM\Cow\2010\MINUTES\COW Minutes 3-23-10.doc Committee of the Whole 3/23/10 significant marketing going on whereby they are regularly letting people know the Center is present and what services are available if people were only to stop in. He stated approximately 82% of the clients live in low to moderate income census tracts on the south side of Mount Prospect. He also stated the next steps include additional outreach, supplemental summer programs, focus groups and expanding partner agency relationships. Police Chief John Dahlberg provided information regarding the Police Department experience at the Center. He stated the department has logged approximately 687 total citizen contacts since the Center's opening. He provided a summary of the school outreach programs that have been coordinated through Carlos Huizar the police liaison officer at the Center. He also stated the Police Department is also providing services to the north side of the community in addition to working out of the Center. He stated they have undertaken cooperative arrangements with local business owners in an effort to expand services that the police department has to offer to not only business owners but also patrons of those businesses. He stated the department representatives are working with landlords and tenants through the crime free housing program as part of this outreach. Marilyn Genther of the Mount Prospect Public Library spoke. She stated the number of people the library is providing service to in the Center has been beyond their expectations and she stated they have enjoyed an excellent collaborative effort with the Village. She stated the library has counted over 34,000 visitors to the library annex at the Center. She stated that the Library annex provides the same services as the main library but tailored to the client that utilizes the Center. She stated the library is undertaking an expansion of the reading story time and is looking to increase the access to PC's and the internet based on usage levels. She stated they would like to increase the youth and teen programming opportunities and offer computer training classes and partner parenting classes. General comments from the Village Board members included the following items. It was suggested that an effort be made by Center personnel to get the word out regarding the census count that is currently underway. It was also suggested that additional contact be made with the Mount Prospect Park District to encourage summer activities for the Center clients. There was also a discussion regarding parenting classes based on the needs that have previously been identified. There was also a discussion of possible WIFI access at the Center for people to bring their own laptops. Manager Janonis summarized the Village staff participation as an ongoing program with continuous improvements working towards the future. Committee of the Whole Page 2 of 4 3/23/10 IV. GYPSY MOTH/EMERALD ASH BORER UPDATE Forestry Superintendent Sandy Clark provided some general information regarding Gypsy Moth and Emerald Ash Borer and introduced David Hull Forestry Technician for the presentation of the Gypsy Moth. David Hull, Forestry Technician spoke. He provided a background on the biology of the Gypsy moth life cycle. He stated Mount Prospect has seen increases in the population of the gypsy moths. He stated that aerial spraying could help control the population although such spraying is not paid for by the state. He stated that generally healthy trees could withstand the infestation of gypsy moths. Gypsy moth infestation is best characterized by leaves being stripped from the trees. He stated that moth larvae stage is the period in which the trees are defoliated. He also stated they have been placing traps to find locations that appear to be infested but have noticed a substantial increase in the total number that are caught in the traps so the population per square mile has definitely increased. He stated the best control opportunity for the Gypsy moth is to find and destroy the egg masses prior to hatching which has been undertaken through contract assistance. If the egg masses are eliminated the larvae stage damage can be eliminated or reduced. He stated staff has used ground spraying once egg masses have been removed to address any remaining eggs on the trees. He stated the plan is to continue the control efforts using approximately $18,000 of the $28,000 budget for treatment efforts. He also stated there may be a need to request Board consideration for the additional $5,600 for private property tree treatments. General comments from the Village Board members included the following items: . There was concern voiced regarding putting the tree removal burden on private property owners to remove infested private trees. . It was also suggested that additional effort be taken to determine if the existing budget could absorb a possible charge of $5,600 to cover the cost. . It was suggested that there be some consideration leveraging the existing funds with residential participation. Village Manager Janonis stated that he would take a look at the budget and continue to monitor revenues and once a status report is prepared for the end of April to determine whether there are funds available for this undertaking. He also acknowledged that the future cost of tree removal could be substantial compared to the spraying investment. Forestry Superintendent Sandy Clark spoke regarding the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) update. She stated to date there have not been any EAB found in Mount Committee of the Whole Page 3 of 4 3/23/10 Prospect, however; in areas surrounding Mount Prospect including adjacent communities EAB has been identified. She stated the EAB will be here it's just a matter of time. She stated there are approximately 90 sites throughout Illinois have been found to have EAB infestation. She also stated her staff is continuing to follow a plan that was developed in 2009 regarding Ash tree reduction and replacement of trees to diversify the inventory. She stated due to budget limits there have been limited opportunities to fund removal as previously intended. There has also been some small demonstration projects regarding reuse of Ash wood, however; the cost of the storage and reuse is significantly more expensive than the cost of actual retail wood purchases. She suggested the preventive spraying continue as long as funds are available and would come back to advise the Board if additional funds are necessary to consider regarding any financial assistance for private property removal of trees. She stated she would conclude the formalization of the Emerald Ash Borer control program that was developed last year. V. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT Village Manager Janonis stated the next Village Board meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2010 VI. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Korn stated the Lions carnival will be canceling its dunk tank during the 4th of July festival. Trustee Polit has also stated that the Youth Commission has a youth survey on the Village web site and encouraged everyone to participate in the survey. VII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. and moved into Closed Session. Returned from Closed Session at 9:55 and immediately adiourned. ~ ~ :