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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/13/2003 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MAY 13, 2003 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Mayor Gerald Farley, in the Mt. Prospect Park District Community Center, 1000 West Central Road. Present at the meeting were: Trustees Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert, Richard Lohrstorfer, Michaele Skowron, Irvana Wilks and Michael Zadel. Staff members present included: Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, Community Development Director William Cooney, Community Development Deputy Director Michael Jacobs, Building Coordinator William George, Environmental Health Coordinator Robert Roels, Fire Chief Michael Figolah, Fire Marshal Paul Valentine and Fire Protection Engineer Michael Heimbecker. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of minutes from April 22, 2003. Trustee Hoefert requested the Minutes be deferred until he could verify further details regarding the Minutes. Approval of the Minutes was deferred. II1. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD None. Mayor Farley stated that Item VI. on the Agenda, Long-Range Financial Plan-Information Follow-Up Discussion will be deferred. This information is not yet completed. IV. DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT-STATUS REPORT Norm Kurtz, Chairman of the Economic Development Commission, spoke. He stated the EDC has been involved in the redevelopment of downtown since the early 1980s and is very excited about the steady progress which has occurred. However, at this point, the EDC is inquiring as to what other steps are necessary to be considered for continued progress. Community Development Director Bill Cooney provided a presentation showing the change in the downtown during the redevelopment period. He stated the TIF District was created in 1985 and expires in 2008. He stated the Ad Hoc Committee in 1997 was formed for the central business area which includes a five-block, 15-acre site, bounded by Wille, Central, Emerson and Northwest Highway. The Ad Hoc Committee generated several strategic plan ideas which have been followed as the redevelopment process has progressed. He stated one of the challenges and opportunities that still await discussion is the small triangle area bounded by Busse, Northwest Highway and Route 83. He also highlighted the issues of the development of the Village Hall/Library block along with possible redevelopment of the Bank One remote parking lot. Due to the expiration of the TIF and the limited capacity remaining, there are not a lot of opportunities available to address these areas before expiration. He also stated there are other opportunities that exist outside the TIF area including Central Plaza and redevelopment in the areas of South Prospect Avenue. He stated that it would be recommended that some discussion take place regarding these remaining areas and opportunities to consolidate sites for redevelopment purposes. Village Manager Michael Janonis stated the TIF fund is currently running a deficit but is expected to generate a small surplus in the final year and it must at least break even by the final year. The pace of development has been slower but the price of the units has been higher than originally estimated which has helped the TIF Fund. He stated the Village owns some critical property pieces in the small triangle and there are several options that the Village could consider short of extending the TIF to address possible redevelopment scenarios. Norm Kurtz requested the Village Board reconvene the downtown redevelopment group a final time to put together recommendations for consideration for the remaining areas of downtown for redevelopment. General comments from Village Board members included the following items: It was commented that a good cross section of representation should be included in the Committee if it is to be formed. It was also noted that there are opportunities for private interest in selected areas which may be less than what would be necessary for a large mass project. It was also suggested that the Village encourage development by tearing down dilapidated buildings currently on Village property. Consensus of the Village Board was to reconvene the Downtown Advisory Committee with representatives of a diverse cross section with the EDC as the lead agency which will include staff recommendations and suggested structure and timing for completion of necessary tasks. Village Manager Janonis stated there is a limited opportunity for using TIF money due to the short expiration schedule and there is a concern about using the currently owned properties for parking due to concern about re-educating parking lot users. ADOPTION OF THE 2000 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE Village Manager Janonis stated that this is recommended to consolidate the various Code groups into one universal Code. This still allows for local options to address unique issues within the Village. Building Coordinator Bill George spoke. He stated the Code changes address several issues that the Code has been silent on and provides direction on several issues that have come up over time. Environmental Health Coordinator Bob Roels stated the Property Maintenance Code is inclusive of all existing local amendments and the foreclosure options have been improved as included in the proposal. 2 II. VIII, IX. Fire Chief Figolah stated the changes in the Fire Codes include four areas - (1) Iow suction alarm on fire pumps to avoid cross contamination issues, (2) cooking stove fire suppression in businesses, churches and apartment clubhouses, (3) elevator nuisance alarms as part of false alarm proceduress and (4) residential sprinklers in new homes. Fire Marshal Paul Valentine spoke. He stated the residential sprinklers are necessary to include the survivability of a fire within a home and homeowners' insurance offers a reduction for such installation. He stated the sprinkler heads themselves are heat activated only and would be a single-head activation in the area where the fire is. He also stated it would be tied to the local alarm for immediate dispatch. Chief Figolah stated the price for such a system is between $1.00 and $2.00 per square foot and this would only apply to new residences. He stated that several new townhome developments have recently voluntarily installed the sprinkler systems as part of the construction. Consensus of the Village Board was to approve the Code revisions and to ensure there is a determination of the percentage of homes necessary to be considered new construction, VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT Village Manager Janonis stated the Public Works Open House is May 17, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. ANY OTHER BUSINESS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted, DAVID STRAHL Assistant Village Manager DS/rcc 3