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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/26/1990 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE JUNE 26, 1990 I. ROLL I~ALL The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Gerald L Farley; Trustees Ralph Arthur, Timothy Corcoran, Leo Floros, George Van Geem and Theodore Wattenberg. Absent from the meeting was. Trustee Mark Bnsse. Also present at the meeting were' Village Manager John Fulton Dixon, Assistant Village Manager John Burg, Fznance Director David Jepson, Cable Television Adrmmstrator Cheryl Pasahc, Deputy Police Chief Ronald Richardson, Mount Prospect Park District President Rosemary Argus, Mount Prospect Park Distnct D~rector Tom Tayler; three members of the press and six persons in the audience. ~ II MINUTES The Minutes of the Comrmttee of the Whole meeting of June 12, 1990 were accepted and filed hi. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There were no citizens who wished to be heard IV.~ REPORT OF STATE INCOME TAX SURCHARGE · ' ' Finance Director Dave Jepson explained his report dated June 21, 1990 on the State Income Tax Surcharge. Due to the way the State has been reporting the · State Income Tax Surcharge, Mr. Jepson indicated that the budgeted receipts from the regular State Income Tax have been over-estimated. Mr. Jepson recommended using only $2.6 nulllon for Capital ProJects. Otherwise, there could be a $370,000 deficit in the General Fund. He suggested waiting until November when better information wall be available to make any decision relative to the revenues and tax distribution. The consensus of the Committee was to wait until ~November to make this derision. DISCUSSION OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT PARK DISTRICT'S PROPOSED DOG BAN Village Manager John DLxon noted that the Village has an Agreement with the Mount Prospect Park District to enforce any Ordinances passed by the Park Board He suggested the ,Village will 'have to inform the Park District of our priority for enforcement of the proposed dog ban He noted that two parks over which the Village has control were recommended by a group wishing to allow dogs at certain parks. Mount Prospect Park District President Rosemary Argus said there is an Ordinance on the books at this time which provides for a $25 00 fine if a dog caught in the act and the droppings are not cleaned up. She said the Park Board voted for a total ban, but they have had several meetings with groups wishing to develop some kind oLcompromise. She said the Park Board is willing to work ~ out a compromise since this group is wflhng to pay for the privilege. She smd the ,Park Board has been considering allowing r dogs at' certain parks such as Clearwater, ~Melas, Majewski and Weller Creek Parks Village Manager Dixon smd the Village owns five acres of land at Clearwater ~Park. He smd there is a jogging path and allowing dogs could pose a problem He also noted it would be an administratave burden to collect the proposed fees for allowing dogs to be exercised at parks and he recommended against a fee. Rosemary Argus said the Park Board is very concerned about children's safety and they would never consider allowing dogs anywhere near children's playgrounds Dsa Snead of 121 South Wa-Pella, spoke on behalf of the group thai would hke a compronuse on the dog ban She said some people hve in Mount Prospect because they are allowed to walk dogs in the parks. She said her group is willing to do what is necessary to make it possible for a compromise. Morfica Traversong said she does not want dogs ~n the parks.' She indicated that a partial ban has been tried for four years but it did not work. She suggested that dog owners should fence in their yards.. ~; Trustee Van Geem felt the Vdlage should not spend money to police this matter when the Village has more important issues to address. Trustee Arthur felt this is a Park District problem. He said the Police have other priorities ,and he agrees with the total ban. ~ ~ ~ Trustee Corcoran also felt this ~s a Park District problem. He agreed with one fenced-off area at Melas Park but he did not agree wth the proposed fee. He suggested the Park District should follow the lead of the Des Plaines Park District which has its own police force for these matters. Trustee Floros appreciated the difficult position in which the Park District has found itself. He said that the Village staff will cooperate but thas decision is up to the Park District Board ~ Mayor Farley asked why the Crumley Basin is not used by dog owners. Deputy Chief Richardson said that people will go where it as convement. He said the Police Department has not had much of a problem, but if we get into stronger enforcement, there vnll be .overtime, Court appearances, Subpoenas of witnesses and so on. He said that a designated area vnll also be difficult because people will be saying that they were on their way from the designated area or to it when they were caught. Deputy Chief Richardson said that River Trails Park Dastrict has its own program of education. He said staff is present at parks to give verbal warnings to dog owners or to obtain the identity of the dog owner and to contact the owner when the dog is running loose He felt that not a lot of good would come from disciplining dog owners. Trustee Van Geem stated it would be a terrible waste of the Pohce force and recommended taking Trustee Corcoran's suggestion that the Park District have its own patrol service. PolI~e Chief Pavlock said that enforcement would be a low priority of necessity. Park District Director Tom Tayler said the Park District used to hire off-duty Officers approximately ten years ago and wondered if this could still be done He asked Village Manager Dixon to check into this to see if this could still be done from a legal viewpoint. Mayor Farley said it appears to be the Committee's consensus this ~s not a high priority for the Police Department. He said the Village would have a problem hiring personnel to cover this responsibility in the mormng and in the evening. He said the fees would not cover the cost. Apparently the Committee agrees with the concept of a total ban. VI. DISCUSSION OF CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE MODIFICATION Trustee Van Geem said the local cable company is having trouble making money and so they have asked for relief from the Village. He said three requests in this Modification concern him. 1. The company would lake to reduce the channels ~from 120 to 60, while there are 70+ channels right now. 2. The company will have the right to reduce the cables from two to one. 3 The company would hke to do away with the Lifeline access serwce The Lifeline semce allows residents to view the public access ~ channels such as the V~llage Board meetings and the school programs Trustee Van Geem was concerned about ending I.afehne because this keeps the cable company honest. If the price gets too high or the service gets sloppy, residents can take advantage of this service which requires only an initial installation fee but which is free thereafter. Trustee Van Geem said the Village is not getting anything out of this Modification Agreement request. He said a New York system owned by TCI was pared down to 40 channels but the price was still $17.50 a month. He noted, however, that if the Village does not allow modifications, the cable company will raise rates more than~ they would have to and then blame the Village if they get complaints. Trustee Van Geem recommended rejecting this Modification Agreement as it stands now. He said he has an open mind, 'but he feels the~ V~tllage should get something if the Agreement is changed ~ Mayor Farley asked if the renewal process has to start in three years Cable Telexasion Administrator Cheryl Pasalic said that TCI would have to apply for renewal three years before it expires in 1996. Mayor Farley asked whether it is fair that the Lifeline serwce should be free. Cable Televaslon Adrmmstrator Pasahc said this was on the RFP and it was a requirement. She said this is not unusual in Franchise Agreements. Trustee Arthur asked how many subscribers there are Cable Telewsion Administrator Pasallc said just under 9,000. Trustee Arthur said this is a business and it is up to the cable company to sell. If they do not produce, it is their own problem He said they should be required to do what is in the contract with no reductions. Trustee Corcoran asked what the difference in the rates would be between what our residents pay and what towns with one cable would pay. Cable Television Administrator Pasahc said that towns with one cable such as Schaumburg are facing a $.50 ~ncrease while people in Mount Prospect would face a $3.00 increase. The cable company feels they can save money on the electrical bills ~with one cable. However, Ms Pasalic noted that since TCI has not disclosed the financial statement, we have no way of venf'ymg the extent of the sawngs. Trustee Van Geem also noted that TCI has never forwarded the required financials. '~ Trustee Corcoran was concerned about the name change. Ms. Pasalic said there are no financial guarantees or Letters of Credit required in this bmlerplate document and nothing to show the parent company would back the subsidiary Trustee Corcoran agreed with Trustee Van Geem that the Village is getting nothing' and until we do, he is willing to take any calls from residents who are complaining about the price increase. Trustee Van Geem noted there are only approximately 15 subscribers to Lifeline in the Village. He reiterated his belief that there is nothing in th~s Modification Agreement for the Village and he suggested we forget about the proposal until tangible benefits for the Village are offered. Mayor Farley stated that Trustee Van Geem's concerns are very relevant and he asked Trustee Van Geem to let us know when any changes are proposed of interest to the Village. Trustee Floros asked abut the penetration m town. Ms Pasalm said there is approximately 43%-47% penetration while 50%-60% is typical in the United States. ~ Trustee Floros said that if our regulations are"so strict that the cable company must increase its rates, then we are doing a disservice to the residents However, he said he is not sure when we reach that point. He noted the Village should not be unreasonable in its requirements. Ms. Pasalic said the Village has asked for financial information to see the actual costs involved but TCI does not prowde any detailed information. Trustee Corcoran felt the Vtllage Board is a little bit like the ICC and must oversee the service provided by the cable company. If they cannot provide us with proper financials, we can never be sure whether or not we are doing what is in the best interests of our residents. Trustee Van Geem agreed the Village must provide reasonable accommodation to the cable company but, again, the lack of adequate flnancials prevents the Vdlage from making an informed decision Trustee Van Geem feels we should not begin the Public Hearing process on the Modification Agreement. Trustee Arthur felt the Village should publicize the Lifeline service on the water bills. Trustee Corcoran agreed and also suggested placing a message in the Village Newsletter. Mayor Farley agreed there ~s not much to talk about until we get a full financial disclosure. Trustee Wattenberg also agreed. VII.~ MANAGER'S REPORT~ Village Manager Dixon said he would hke to have two items on the next Board Agenda: 1. ~ An Appeal of the Disconnect Case. 2. The sale of the old well site on Rand Road. The Committee agreed to put this on the Agenda. VIII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Wattenberg asked what the Ydlage can do to bring our water rat6s in line vath the rates charged by surrounding towns such as Arlington Heights and Des Plaines. He said for a person on a fixed income, it is a big problem He asked Finance Director Dave Jepson to look into this to see how we can reduce our rates. Finance Director David Jepson said that two years ago, a study by the Department of Commerce and~Commumty Affairs indxcated that our rates were barely ,~, adequate. There has been no increase since then He would prefer to do any such rate study after the audit in July for a report m August. Trustee Wattenberg felt the h~gh cost was due to Chicago. Village Manager D~xon said we have had a great relationship w~th the City of Chicago and we have been promded a Most-Favored Nation clause The V~llage pays a very reasonable price for the water w~th the City of Chicago. He said we have never had any problems from the C~ty of Chicago. Trustee Van Geem said it really doesn't matter what other Villages charge. We must cover our costs for water and distribution. He said that some towns have part of the charge in the Real Estate Taxes. It is very difficult to ~comp~e water , rates from Village to Village. Trustee Arthur said it was an excellent decision several years ago to buy the Chicago water. He smd he would stand by this dec~slon anytxme IX ADJOUR~NT ~ ' At 9:10 p.m, Trustee Arthur MOVED, SECONDED by Trustee Van Geem to adjourn the meeting. Motion camed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, JOHN P. BURG JPB/rcw Assistant Village Manager -6-