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Home My WebLink About04/08/1997 COW minutes .... : , ~ ,;MINUTES, cOMMITTEE OF wHOLE ' ..~,,~ .....~ THE . :'CALL TO ORDER ' MaYor F~'rle~ ca'lied the meeting to order at 7:~' ~'''' ' P.M. Present a{ the m~eting were: Trustees George Clowes, Timothy Corotar, ~lene Jura~k and I~ana Wilks. ~sent from ~e meeting wemTmstees Richard Hendri~s and P=ul HOefe~. Staff present included ~llage Manager M~ael Janon~s, .Forest~ Superintendent Sandy Cla~ Dire~or of Public,Works Glen Ahdler Fire Chief~ EdWard~ca~ello Fire Marshal Paul Valentine and Administrative Intern ~ic ~rens~ Als0 present was R.J. Laveme f0~erly, of ACRT~i . ~ ~ ~ ~.~ MINUTES ~* "~ ~ Approv I of the Minutes of Mar~'l ~, ,1997.,, M0fio ade y Tmstee Wilk~ and Se~nded by Trustee Jura~k to approve the Minutes. Minutes ~ere approved. BE None. PROPOSED ~EE O IN E R~SlONSlARBORiCULTU~L STANDARDS "~' ';/ a~, began ~ announc, ng an Arbor Day tree Forest~ Superintendent sandy bi ~ ~'~" planting on ~d125~ at 9:30 AM. a~ Lions Park S~o01, and invited any interested pemons to pa~idpate.~ She ~en provided a general ove~iew 6f the Proposed tree ordinan~ revisions and revisions to ~e ~ficultural and ,Tree Removal Manuals. '/Sandy stated ~at ~e revisions being proposed ~nsisted ~of foUr peas: ihe ~eation of a brochure to help info~ citizens of ~boricultural issues an~ 0rdinan~s, an U~an Forest Planning Policy, revisions to the Village's Arboricultural Manual and revisions to the Village's Tree Removal,Manual. ~..~ ~, -~ She stated ~at the brochure would prowde info,ebon to c~bzens regarding trees and include a map of a "tree walk" which~w~uld'all0w citiz~n~ t~ visit trees thmugho~ the ~llage. She ~anked members of the Moun~ ~ProSpe~ Garden Club and Public Wo~s Adminis~ative Aide Da~ WU~i for their valuable'aSsistan~ in ~.~e ~eation ~,~e br~um, vSandyalso stated that it was herJntention to explore ~ Plannin~ Coordinator Dan Ungerleider the possibilitygf pla~ing ~ ~py of the ~ brochure on the Village's World ~de Web homepage. ' Sandy addressed the revisions to the T Rempval Manual. 8he ~tated that she initially desired a ~ncise, obje~ive and numeri~l method of~dete~ining ~ether or not a particular tree ought to be'removed. ~ However, as the process of revising the Manual continued,~ it became clear that'such a perfectly objective method was going to be difficult if not impossible to obtain, and that,"grey'~ areas still remain within the Manual. Sandy welcomed Village Board"members' suggestions and emphasized that continued refinement of the M.a, nual was still possible. .sa'ndy was '~SS~SteS' ~n'outiining proposed rews~on§'to the T~'ee RemoVal Manual by Mr. R.J. baveme, fo~erly of AORT Inc., who pa~c~pated i~ the process of rews~ng the Manual. Mr. Eaveme emphasized t~at economics were a d(~wng force behind the rews~ons made,t~ the manual. He stated that they took ~nto account the ' Ion~;i~rm 'economic im~l¢~iiohs.~of tree' removal decision~ When revising the Manual, and cited the fact that keeping a' li~ing trse h~aithy was ie~s expensive than continually removing and replacing trees. ,Mr. Laverne ~lso addressed the fact that the Village has many trees that are at matu~it~ b~'0ver-m&turity sta~e's' of gr~h~ He al~o'state~ that there needs to be ':~ b~la~ stm~ be~een the n~ed bf public and private agencies to a~ss Village right-of-ways with the need to promote a healthy aboricultural environment. Comments by the Village Board members included the following: ..... T~stee Juracek commented that she was yew impressed with the project and ordinan~s;' ~h~ stai~d th~ She thought ~ha{'ihe' (~striction requiring trees in the Village right-of-way to be planted evew fs~y feet (40') ought to be changed bemuse some varieties of trees may be pla~ed closer together. Sandy responded- that the,fody-foot (40')~restncbon was based'on providing :'Se~elop~rs wit~'& fi~'hu~ber t0 woCk~with,' and to allow the Village Administration · to dete~ne the amount tb'~8 r&imbur~ed to the developer for planting trees in the yillage right-of-way. If a developer were to plant trees closer than fody feet (40'), ~e ~illage ~y heed to r&imburse a greater amount to the developer..;She stated ~r'~:'¢"that s'bction uld be blarified. ,, ¢ , ¢,,., ~ .... T~stee ~lks thanked ~he'G~r~en Club for their wo~ on the'brochure..She stated that the "Tree Walk' was a great idea. She also thanked Mr. Laverne for his ~,,::,¢~ ~ General comments by the~ilia~ B0a~d membersincluded the following items: A quesbon arose as to whether cheml~ls could be used to destroy tree roots that had ~nvaded sewers,systems, thereby-el~m~nabng .the ,need for,,~a~n tree removals. Mentio~as made ~f the faut that in the past,,petitions were required in tree removal proceedings, and neighbors were consulted as to their opinions - regardlqg the removal, and that ~e '~r0pos~d ~anges in policy seemed to ~ange ~:' i?'~ {his apcdach?, A qu~tidn-aro~e asto how driveways would be ~reated within the context of the policy, and whether or not they were considered "hardscape'. Concern Was expressed at the lengtl~of the'processing time allocated for approval :of Tree Removal Applications. Concern was also expressed as to the effect of the changes of policy regarding' tree. removal and ;landscal~ing 'on'"permitting Sandy responded to ~ 'number of the questions raised by the Village.Board: She stated that the Policy addresses the use of chemicals to destroy roots invading ?sewers without~destroying the tree, but that chemicals.do not alway~ solve the~ :problem? ~ ~ ':::: ' Sandy stated that in Somein~tances, a petition of neighbors ~residing within two- hundred fifty feet (250') would influence the removal decision. She alsostated that this is indicative of the "grey" areas within the Policy regarding removal. Sandy stated further that the objections Of one individual have influenced past decisions. Sandy stated that'it had,not been'her intentiodto have driveways included under the definition Of "hardscape"'within the Tree Removal Policy. :Sheconcurred with Trustee Wilk~ that there could be confusion regarding this"definition and that modifications td the text would be in 'Oi'der to obviate possible confusion. She,stated that the Tree Removal Application process did not necessarily have to ;take fourteen (14) days and'could be shortened. ¢She reviewed ,Village policy concerning illegal planting in Village parkways. 'She also addressed Village policy regarding sight bbstructiohs and changes in grades of the Village parkways. ~' :~Sandy a~ld~essed issues` regarding permits. She ~stated that reviewing landscaping is already a part'of tl-ie.permit process ~and "would not,require:additional staff S ge !icy re ources. She stated that Villa po 'regarding parkways is~not intended to q~i ~' foYthe e eedi f th~ p kW y. ~ ,~' ~, re r permits r s ngo ar a ~, sandy,requeSted-that the Village Boar~ prov!de direction a's~to;whether the, brochure ought to be prin~ed in its current form. ~ . Consensus ~f the Viii?ge Board was to print the brochure in its current form. Consensus of the Village Board was to Support the Ordinance with changes addressing the above mentioned concerns and move it to the Village Board for consideration at ils'April 15 meeting and the Ordinance'should remain virtually in thecbrrent form' KS p~resented for rewe~ th~s evemng. FIRE SPRINKLER CODE AMENDMENTS ; Chief Ed' ~'rd ..... I!" ~'~ '~ id~ ~' g~n'e ~10~ r:view {1~ effort by Fire w Cave o Pr°v eda r ' e of e the Fire ..... .Department ;.Staffs ,to :'revise ,sprinkler,. requirements and .to..:consolidate Fi~e ,:, Ordinances in support of the Community Development Department's effort to revise ~,, the overall Village Building Code.. Chief Cavello stated that sprinklers are the best defense against fire due to the fact that they detect the fire,~alert both residents and the Fire Department to the fire, and minimize damage. Chief Ca~/ello then ~ :introduced Fire Marshal Paul Valentine, to detail specific c~ange.s to the Village Code. ,, Paul ;stated.that a majoritY,.(~f the amendments , t0~ the ,Village C6de~were..., geared towards consolidating fire related ordinances, which current, ly,.exist:in several places within the Village Code. He stated that modifications to the sprinkler codes 'i would be applied-,to all ,classes of buildings wi,th ~the !except!on Of existing Mercantil Bu in Factorie ',, e, s ess and. s.~ ,~, ;~General comm~nt~.by t e Village Board.members included thefollo g items: ~' Concern .was expressed at difficulties obtaining compliance of properly owners in the processpf converting apartments to condominiums: Concem was expressed :as to the responsibility of property owners~ regarding .runoff. Of ~prinkler systems, ,~ particularly in buildings in' which hazardous chemicals,were stored or used. Concern was expressed about the costs incurred I~y I:~ro~ertY owners due to , installation,of sprinklers, r' Aquestion was raised as to .whether ,"Wet ....... . ,, systems were appropriate for use in locations,, P~! responded to a number of comments and inquiries made by the Village Board: Paul stated that existing. Business, .Mercantile and Factory Buildings, would not be ;'affected by,the ,code .changes. He stated that ~.cur,ren{ly, .sprink. ler installation is , ~required when apartment buildings are converted tO,c.?ndominiums., He stated that tradeoffs are built into thecode that provide advan~tag,e.s t?,de~el6pers who include sprinklers, citing an example that Village Code allows larger and taller buildings ,,.,when they include sprinkler systems. ,Healso stated,.that the building materials that are allowed to be used by buildings with sprinElersyste'ms a,r~ ].ess~pensive than those materials allowed in buildings without sprinkler systems. Fire Chief Cavello state~ that there a e other cost reductions ava lable to help :property owners who inst~ll,o? are,{equired to ins!al! spr, i.,n, kler syste.ms. ~ Paul ...... stated tiaa{ runoff problems,fro~~, . Sp~'inkl~r,~,.sYstems in 13usinesses with hazardous chemi~ls, are' ge0emlly addressed by Environmental Protection Agency requi~'ementsi' He also addressed tl-ie use' ~6f "Wet" ~spi'i~kler System,s in areas with computers. He/stated that the Halon systems are liable to go off too early and therefore are less desirable than "Wet" systems due to the likelihood of a discharge when there is no fire. He stated that.when computers are .involved,~he prefers a '~ "p'~e-~larr~" "wet' SySt~rn~in~ which ;~n eariy alarm alerts residents to potential problems prior to discharge of water. This allows the problem to be addressed by individuals before discharge, protecting valual:;l~ c0n~p~ter eq~Jipcnent. ? ~ . Consensus of the Village Board was to support the changes to tl~ sprinkler code and their incorporation into the revised Village Building Code, to be presented for final Village review and approval sornetim~iri mid-199?,~, VI. ~ INTRODUCTION OF~CITIZENS' FIRE ACADEMY "~ ' '~' ~'" ' ''~-'''' ,Fire Chief Ed~,ard ~Cavell~ p~bvided a general overview of the Citizens' Fire Academy. He stated that it was intended to involve citizens in fire prevention, as citizens are their own fro~fiLline defen§e. He stated that the initial program would involve a thirteen (13).week course to be taken by the first fifteen (15) qualified citizens. He stated that a similar'program from which inspiration for the Citizens' Fire Academy wa~'~dr~Wn h&s been'extremely successful and has a waiting list for participation.He §tared that information packets are' available at the Fire Department. '~ ' '" ':" ~ General comments of the Village Board included the following: There was concern expressed for the Village's liability for such a program. The program was seen to have great potential, and was compared to the Police Department's successful Neighborhood Watch program. It was felt that the program will address adult fire prevention education which tends to be neglected in favor of educating children. , Chief Cavello stated that the legal aspects of the program had been discussed with Village Attorney Everett Hill, and that a release form had been drafted. Consensus of ,the Village Board was to proceed with the Citizens' Fire Academy program as presented for review this evening. VII. MANAGER'S REPORT ' Village Manager Michael Janonis announced the Floating Coffee with Council Meeting to be held Saturday April 12, 1997. The first half of the meeting would take place from 9:00 A.M. until 10 A.M. at Village Hall, 100 S. Emerson Street. The meeting would then move to a location yet to be determined within St. Emily's School from 10:30 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. He stated that interested parties should look for signage when they arrive at St. Emily's directing them to the location of the meeting. Village Manager Janonis also stated that Trustee Hoefert had been abseni this evening due to an injury he sustained Over the weekend, and that he was sure that the Village Board would like to offer their get well wishes to Trustee Hoefert. VIII. ANY OTHER ' ,~ ~ .... t,,x ", :'<~:?: .... ~ere being no fudher bus_i~e~s, ,the ~eting wa~ a~urn,ed ~9:,1 ~Respecffully submitted ,',:, ./Administiati e Int ' IAricAhrens~ ~ .... ~ ,~ ,.t: ~ ~, ~ ,,*