HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-12 MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT
AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MORTON GROVE
COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, HELD AT THE
RICHARD T. FLICKINGER MUNICIPAL CENTER
NOVEMBER 12, 2018
-
V.
CALL TO ORDER
Village President Dan DiMaria convened the Regular Meeting of the Village Board at
7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Village Hall. He then asked several of the veterans
present this evening to lead the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
VI. Village Clerk Eileen Harford called the roll. Present were: Trustees Bill Grear, Rita Minx,
Ed Ramos, John Thill, Connie Travis, and Janine Witko.
VII.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Minx moved to accept the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of October 22, 2018
as presented, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote.
VIII. SPECIAL REPORTS
1. Presentation by American Legion Post #134 Regarding Naval Recruit Thanksgiving Dinner.
a. Mayor DiMaria welcomed Post #134 members Casey Buchara, chairman of this event locally,
and Joe Gesicki, chaplain for the Legion Post. Mr. Buchara said they were here this evening to
promote the 12th annual Naval Recruit Thanksgiving Dinner, and to ask for the Board's support
in making this another successful event, where approximately 55 recruits from Great Lakes
Naval Station are transported to Post #134, where they are wined, dined, and entertained.
Mr. Buchara thanked the Board for their past support and noted this event is the first "outing"
the recruits go on in the midst of their training.
Mr. Buchara said that buses will leave the Legion Post at 6:OOam to pick up the recruits and
they're back to the Post by 9:OOam at the latest. The recruits stay until around 4:30 or 4:45.
He said this is a wonderful day for these recruits, who are in their seventh week of training,
because the veterans, members, and officials serve them—it's their day. The recruits' ages are
from 18 to early 20's, and they thoroughly enjoy the Thanksgiving dinner donated by Kappy's
and the phone bank donated by AT&T, which allows them to call anywhere for any length of
time. The entire event is filmed and DVDs are sent to the recruits' parents for them to enjoy.
Mr. Buchara said folks are welcome to stop in at any time to meet and greet the recruits, and
thank them for their service, but the best time to come is from 11:OOam. Mr. Gesicki offered his
appreciation and personal thanks to everyone on the Board for their support and help with this
event. Mayor DiMaria said "It's become part of my Thanksgiving Day ritual," and encouraged
the assemblage to get over the Post #134 at some point on Thanksgiving Day. He also wished
all the veterans a very happy Veterans' Day.
b.
c.
IX.
X.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
NONE
RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only)
NONE
Xl. PRESIDENT'S REPORT
12, 2018Board Meetin
1. Mayor DiMaria sought the Board's concurrence with his appointment of Christ Kintner to the
Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Kintner has previously served on a different
Village Commission but now would like to do more. Trustee Witko moved to concur with this
appointment, seconded b Trustee Travis. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote.
2. Mayor DiMaria thanked all those who attended yesterday's Veterans' Day Parade or who
recognized veterans in their own way.
3. Mayor DiMaria announced that Santa Claus will be coming to town on Saturday, December 1,
2018. He'll start at Waukegan and Greenwood at noon and end at Main and Austin between
1:15-1:30pm. Santa will participate in the Holy Days Festival at Harrer Park at 3:00 p.m.
More details and an overview map of Santa's route can be found on the Village's website
(www.MortonGrovelL.orq).
4. Mayor DiMaria said the Morton Grove Firefighters Association is accepting non-perishable food
donations through December 10 at the following locations: MG Fire Department Station 4,
Village Hall, the Morton Grove Civic Center, the Moose Lodge, MG Park District/Prairie View
Community Center (6834 Dempster), Jerusalem Lutheran Church, and Edward Jones
(5901 Dempster). He encouraged everyone to help the less fortunate this holiday season by
making this a successful food drive
5. Mayor DiMaria welcomed Bill Luksha to the podium to talk about the Sea Scouts. Mr. Luksha
started a Sea Scout unit in 2015, sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church in Skokie, and this
year, he advanced two scouts: Colin Russell to Eagle Scout and Luke Navas to the rank of
Quartermaster. Luke was also selected as "Sea Scout of the Year" in the Chicago metro area.
a. Mr. Luksha said it was great marching in the parade yesterday with the veterans. He said that
he has been a Sea Scout leader since 2005. Sea Scouting promotes better citizenship and
improves members' boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills,
outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.
b. Mr. Luksha added that his troop had participated in a number of charitable events, including
unloading 1,200 Christmas trees off of a ship docked at Navy Pier. He said the troop is co-ed
and is high-school age or older. They meet twice a month, and everyone is welcome. He
suggested that people who'd like more information on the Sea Scouts should either Google it or
check out the Sea Scouts' Facebook page.
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued)
6. Mayor DiMaria encouraged everyone to attend "Tailgating for Independent Futures," which is a
gathering before and during the Bears vs. Vikings game on Sunday, September 18. It will be
held at the Morton Grove Legion Hall Post #134 and tickets are $20 each. Proceeds will benefit
the "Center for Independent Futures," which assists disabled children.
7. Mayor DiMaria also announced that the Niles Township District for Special Education will hold a
holiday boutique on Thursday, December 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Julia Molloy
Education Center. The event will feature local vendors and a percentage of the proceeds benefit
the SEED Foundation, an organization which helps under -served students realize their potential
and fulfill their dreams of college graduation through a unique, college -prep public boarding
school model. Mayor DiMaria encouraged the assemblage to attend.
XII. CLERK'S REPORT
Clerk Harford had no report.
XIII. STAFF REPORTS
A. Village Administrator:
1. Mr. Czerwinski said that leaves are continuing to fall, and noted that the Village's leaf pick-up
service will end of December 7. Yard waste pick-up ends on December 12.
2. Mr. Czerwinski provided an update on the Church Street bridge. He said that an accident
had damaged one of the bridge's cross members, rendering it unsafe for travel. The Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT) will begin working on a temporary repair on November 26,
and the bridge is expected to reopen on December 1. He said he was unsure of when IDOT
plans to do "permanent" repairs.
Mr. Czerwinski reminded the Board and assemblage that there will be no Village Board Meeting
on Monday, December 24.
4. Mr. Czerwinski provided highlights of the Calendar Year 2019 budget process. He said two
budget workshops were held—one on October 9, which was an overview with a focus on
Revenue and the General Fund, the second on October 10, which continued the look at the
General Fund, as well as the Village's Enterprise Funds and personnel. After the workshops,
Village staff received feedback from the Board and adjusted the proposed budget in response to
that feedback. Tonight will be the first reading on the Budget and Tax Levy ordinances, and at
the Board's November 26 meeting, there will be a Public Hearing on the proposed Budget, as
well as the second reading of the Budget and Tax Levy ordinances.
a. Mr. Czerwinski said the total proposed budget for 2019 is $64.17 million, which includes the
Morton Grove Public Library budget of $3.4 million. This Budget is a 2.9% increase from 2018's
total budget of $62.34 million. This is a service-oriented budget.
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Minutes of November 12, 2018 Board Meeting
XIII.
STAFF REPORTS (continued)
A. Village Administrator: (continued)
b. Mr. Czerwinski said the Village's funding priorities included: bond rating stabilization, the
alternative water supply project, the reconstruction of Austin Avenue from Oakton to Main
Street, including repairs to the Oakton Austin intersection (a $2.3 million project, funded mostly
from federal and state monies); replacement of the sanitary sewer on Oakton from the railroad
tracks at Lehigh to Austin Avenue); maintenance of public facilities; and fiscal management
of the budget impacts caused by the State of Illinois' reduction in revenue rendered to
municipalities.
c. The Village's proposed General Fund Budget for 2019 is $31.20 million, a 3.73% increase over
2018's General Fund Budget of $30.07 million. The funding priorities of the General Fund are
bond rating stabilization, including pension funds support; maintenance of public facilities,
including funding to repair and tuck -point the Public Works facility's roof; and management of
the State's budget impacts.
d. Mr. Czerwinski said that a 2% property tax increase will be imposed, which will amount in total to
about $200,000 in revenue. This will replace the $204,053 revenue no longer coming from the
State. Mr. Czerwinski said the Village is losing $110,000 from the Local Government Distributive
Fund; $64,053 from the Sales Tax Administration fee; and $30,000 from the Personal Property
Replacement Tax due to the State of Illinois budget.
e. Mayor DiMaria asked the Board if there were any questions for Mr. Czerwinski. There were
none.
f. Trustee Thill commented that, for a resident with a home valued at $300,000, the 2% tax hike
will only cost an extra $1.50 per month. He said, "It's worth it." Mayor DiMaria reiterated that
the increase was necessary because the State of Illinois is sitting on funds that are owed to
municipalities.
5. Lastly, Mr. Czerwinski noted that there was a typo in Ordinance 18-15, which is on the Agenda
this evening for a second reading. Although it's only a 3 -letter typo, it changes the meaning of
the sentence entirely.
a. Mr. Czerwinski said the point of Ordinance 18-15 is to establish an administrative review process
for certain types of commercial uses that could have varying intensities, based on their business
model, staff levels, and operations, in conjunction with the characteristics of the specific location
where the business may want to locate (such as parking, access, lot size, setbacks, etc.).
b. The proposed administrative review process would allow the Village Administrator greater dis-
cretion in the types of documents and/or data that would need to be submitted, based on the
specific use.
c. One of the footnotes in Ordinance 18-15 states "A proposed use shall be a permitted use, pro-
vided the Building Commissioner, the Plan Commission Chairperson, Village Administrator, and
Corporation Counsel unanimously find, after considering the factors set forth in the Village, that
the proposed use has sufficient parking to meet the needs of the proposed use at the proposed
location, and will not have a negative impact upon adjacent land use or to the public. In the
event they do make such unanimous findings, the proposed use will require approval as a
special use process for approval."
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Minutes ofNovember12Y2018 Board Meetin�i
XIII.
STAFF REPORTS (continued)
A. Village Administrator: (continued)
d. Mr. Czerwinski said that the sentence beginning with "In the event" should actually read, "In the
event they do not make such unanimous findings, the proposed use will require approval as a
special use process for approval."
B. Corporation Counsel:
Corporation Counsel Liston was out of town this evening—no report.
XIV. TRUSTEES' REPORTS
A. Trustee Grear:
Trustee Grear had no report this evening.
B. Trustee Minx:
a.
2.
a.
b.
Trustee Minx presented Ordinance 18-15, Approving a Text Amendment to Modify
Certain Use Classifications in the Commercial Districts of the Village of Morton Grove
Municipal Code.
This is the second reading of this Ordinance.
Trustee Minx noted that Mr. Czerwinski had thoroughly explained this Ordinance, and thus
moved, seconded by Trustee Thill, to adopt Ordinance 18-15.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aae
Tr. ThiII aye Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
Next, Trustee Minx presented Ordinance 18-16, Amending Title 5, Chapter 9, Section 9
Entitled "Municipal Parking Zones" of the Municipal Code of the Village of Morton Grove.
This is the second reading of this Ordinance.
Trustee Minx explained that the Village constructed new municipal parking zones on the west
side of Marmora north and south of Dempster Street. Other municipal parking zones provided
along Dempster Street currently have overnight parking restrictions.
Public Works needs such restrictions to allow time for street sweeping, leaf removal, and snow
removal. The Traffic Safety Commission review the request for this new parking restriction at its
October 4, 2018 meeting, and recommended acceptance of Village staffs recommendation to
restrict parking from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., consistent with other restrictions in the area.
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XIV.
B. Trustee Minx:
TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued)
Trustee Minx moved to adopt Ordinance 18-16, seconded by Trustee Witko.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aye
Tr. Thill aye Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
3. Trustee Minx then presented Ordinance 18-17, Amending Title 5, Chapter 13, Section F,
Entitled "Restricted Parking Streets" of the Municipal Code of the Village of
Morton Grove.
a.
b.
c.
4.
a.
This is the second reading of this Ordinance.
Trustee Minx explained that, in January of 1996, Resolution 96-01was approved by the Village
Board. That Resolution established Zone 12 special permit parking regulations on segments of
Foster Street, Palma Lane, Sayre Avenue, and Simpson Street, based on current and future
needs at that time. Residents have now asked the Village to repeal Zone 12 parking restrictions
because the redevelopment of a commercial property in the area has eliminated the underlying
need for the restriction.
The Police Chief enacted an experimental parking regulation to repeal Zone 12 restrictions and
Village staff solicited feedback from the affected residents and received no feedback opposing
this repeal. The Traffic Safety Commission reviewed the matter at their October meeting and
recommended the repeal of the Zone 12 parking restrictions.
Trustee Minx moved, seconded by Trustee Witko, to adopt Ordinance 18-17.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aye
Tr. Thill aye Tr. Travis gye Tr. Witko aye
Trustee Thill commented that this is a great example of how the Village listens and responds to
its residents.
Trustee Minx next presented Resolution 18-57, Endorsement For Project Development of
Pedestrian Facility Along Oakton Street.
She explained that Village staff is developing an improvement to provide a pedestrian facility
(sidewalk) along Oakton Street and is working on this with the Villages of Skokie and Niles. The
Villages are trying to assemble funding sources for the engineering and construction expenses
for this project. The conceptualized project cost is estimated to be more than $1 M. The "Illinois
Safe Routes to School" program, a federally funded program administered by IDOT, is a funding
source that can provide up to $200,000 for construction costs. The program is accepting appli-
cations through November 19, 2018. The application process requires a resolution to authorize
the financial support of the sponsoring agency.
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XIV.
B. Trustee Minx:
TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued)
Trustee Minx moved, seconded by Trustee Travis, to approve Resolution 18-57.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aye
Tr. Thill aye Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
5. Next, Trustee Minx brought forward Resolution 18-58, Authorizing the Execution of Agree-
ments Related to the Purchase of Rights -of -Way Needed For The Construction of the Aus-
tin Avenue Improvements.
a. She explained that, in order to construct planned intersection improvements at Austin Avenue
and Oakton Street, it is necessary to acquire certain rights-of-way. Resolution 18-38 authorized
the Village Administrator to execute financial agreements with two private property owners in an
amount not to exceed $230,000. However, counter-offers from the private property owners cur-
rently exceed that amount. Negotiations are ongoing, but could ultimately exceed the authorized
amount. Resolution 18-58 authorizes funds available up to $400,000. The Village is required to
obtain adequate right-of-way property for the Austin Avenue roadway improvements, with project
improvements substantially funded by $2.3M in state and federal funding.
4.
Trustee Minx moved to approve Resolution 18-58, seconded by Trustee Thill.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aye
Tr. Thill aye Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
Lastly, Trustee Minx thanked everyone who had come out to the Veterans' Day Parade, and
thanked all the veterans in Morton Grove and everywhere in the country for their service.
C. Trustee Ramos:
Trustee Ramos had no report this evening, but wished the Board and assemblage a very safe
and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
D. Trustee Thill:
Trustee Thill had no report this evening.
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Mnutes of9November;12 r201,81BoaFdlinifi i
XIV.
TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued)
E. Trustee Travis:
1.
a.
Trustee Travis introduced for a first reading Ordinance 18-18, An Ordinance Adopting the
Budgets for All Corporate Purposes of the Village of Morton Grove and the Morton Grove
Library, Cook County, Illinois, For the Calendar Year Effective January 1, 2019, and
Ending December 31, 2019.
She explained that the 2019 Budget represents the Corporate Authorities' projections of
revenues that are expected to become available during fiscal year 2019, as well as
recommended expenditures for the Village. The Budget was presented at Village Workshops
held on October 9 and October 10, 2018, with a Public Hearing to be held on November 26,
2018. Public notice of the hearing will be published in the Pioneer Press newspaper on
November 15, 2018. The Budget has been available for inspection in the office of the Village
Administrator, the Public Library, and posted on the Village's website.
Trustee Travis said that, as this is the first reading of this Ordinance, no action would be taken
this evening.
2. Next, Trustee Travis presented for a first reading Ordinance 18-19, An Ordinance Levying
and Assessing Taxes For the Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois For 2018 to
be Collected in the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2019 and Ending December 31, 2019.
a. She explained that this Ordinance sets the 2018 property tax levy amount that will be collected
and will fund the 2019 Budget. It must be adopted and filed with the Cook County Clerk in order
to levy property taxes within the Village of Morton Grove.
b. Pursuant to Ordinance 18-18, the amount necessary to be levied for the 2018 property taxes is
$9,753,929 for Village operational expenses; $1,073,688 for Village debt service; and
$3,338,463 for the Library. This will result in a levy of $10,625,584 for the Village and
$3,338,463 for the Library, for a total levy of $14,166.080. By law, the Village is required to levy
an additional $2,374,894 for Village debt service payments authorized by general obligation
notes and bonds, for a total levy (before abatement) of $16,507,920. The Village Board intends
to adopt Resolutions that will immediately abate $2,374,894 from the levy, resulting in the net
levy as intended by the Corporate Authorities in the amount of $14,166.080. The effective result
is a 2% increase in the Village's portion of the tax levy and a 0% increase in the Library's portion
of the tax levy, resulting in an overall increase of 1.52% from the final extended tax levy from the
previous year.
Trustee Travis said that, once again, since this is a first reading of this Ordinance, no action will
be taken this evening.
3. Trustee Travis encouraged all photographers to enter the Village's Fall photo contest,
sponsored by the Community Relations Commission. Photos must showcase the Village's
tagline: "Incredibly Close. Amazingly Open." Photos must be submitted by December 1, 2018,
and winning photos will be featured on the Village's Facebook page and website, and 5 winning
photos will be enlarged, framed, and displayed at Village Hall.
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XIV.
TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued)
F. Trustee Witko:
XV.
Trustee Witko encouraged everyone to attend the Winter Farmers' Market on Saturday,
December 1, at the Civic Center, in conjunction with the Park District's Holly Days and with the
Morton Grove Days Commission's "Santa Comes to Town" festivities.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor DiMaria recognized Park Board Commissioners Keith White and Paul Minx, and thanked
them for attending tonight's meeting.
XVI. WARRANTS
Trustee Travis presented the Warrant Register for November 12, 2018 in the amount of
$465,045.66. She moved that the Warrants be approved as presented. Trustee Witko seconded
the motion.
XVII.
1.
2.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aye
Tr. ThiII ave Tr. Travis Tr. Witko acre
RESIDENTS' COMMENTS
Rudolph Vilk said he believed that everyone should work together to make the Village a better
place in which to live and work, but he felt that he is spending a lot of time trying to explain his
problems to the Board, saying that he asks questions but receives no answers.
Mr. Vilk felt that police officers should be more inclined to issue warnings that write tickets, es-
pecially for minor offenses such as burnt-out bulbs. He felt that, if a warning was issued, the ve-
hicle owner would be more inclined to take care of the problem quickly, and if that person did
not, then they should be fined. He had similar thoughts about paying for water consumption and
for Village vehicle stickers.
Larry Strybel, a member of American Legion Post #134, approached the podium.
Mayor DiMaria thanked him for his service to our country. Mr. Strybel said he wanted to give the
Board a "head's up" about a letter that he had written this morning. He said he was going to be
rewriting the letter, however, because it was pretty harsh. Mr. Strybel said this is an initiative that
concerns him. He met with the Appearance Commission about the sign ordinance because
there are many signs in the Village along the major thoroughfares of Dempster Street and
Waukegan Road that should be lit, but are not. He had compiled a list of over 50 businesses
along those two roads whose signs are either only partially lit up, or not lit up at all. He felt that
partially lit or non -lit signs make Morton Grove feel less nice. He wanted to ask one of the
Trustees to take the lead on this.
9
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yf, 4f1:-.,-;„ -;ac ^ :';_ ' • '-SIA nutes ofiNov rtiliW�91;2' 01 B'oard�Meeting
XVII.
RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (continued)
a. Mr. Strybel said he's aware that there isn't a lot of traffic after 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., but there is
quite a bit of traffic at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 a.m. He felt it would be a "win-win" situation if the Vil-
lage started insisting that signs be lit; that it would bring more business to the Village. He point-
ed out that the bank at Dempster and Waukegan has four signs that could be lit, but only one is.
Mr. Strybel then provided his list to Mayor DiMaria.
b. Mayor DiMaria thanked Mr. Strybel for his time and for having a business in Morton Grove.
XVIII.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, Trustee Minx moved to adjourn the meeting,
seconded by Trustee Thill.
Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Ramos aye
Tr. ThiII aye Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
10
Minutes of November 12, 2018 Board Meeting
PASSED this 26th day of November, 2018.
Trustee Grear
Trustee Minx
Trustee Ramos
Trustee Thill
Trustee Travis
Trustee Witko
"l Lr
(/11,7
APPROV/D\b, me this 26tday of November, 2018.
Daniel P. DiMaria, Village President
Board of Trustees, Morton Grove, Illinois
APPROVED and FILED in my office this 27th day of November, 2018.
Eileen Scanlon Harford, Village Clerk
Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois
Minutes by: Teresa Cousar
11