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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-12-2022MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MORTON GROVE RICHARD T. FLICKINGER MUNICIPAL CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 CALL TO ORDER I. Village President Dan DiMaria convened the Regular Meeting of the Village Board at 7:00 p.m. & II. in the Council Chambers of Village Hall. He asked for a moment of silence to honor all those who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks. III. Village Clerk Eileen Harford called the roll. Present were Trustees Bill Grear, Saba Khan, Rita Minx, John Thill, Connie Travis, and Janine Witko. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Trustee Minx moved to accept the Minutes of the August 22, 2022 Village Board meeting as presented, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote with 1 abstention (Trustee Khan). V. SPECIAL REPORTS VI. VII. NONE PUBLIC HEARINGS NONE PLAN COMMISSION REPORTS 1. Plan Commission Case PC 22-11, Request for Approval of a Special Use Permit for a Public Service Use in a CMR Commercial Residential District with Variations to Front Yard, Corner Side Yard,, Location of Surface Parking Lot, and Select Landscape Requirements. a. Mayor DiMaria introduced Community Development Administrator Zoe Heidorn to present this case. Mayor DiMaria said this is an exciting case; it's for a new train station. b. Ms. Heidorn said it was her pleasure to introduce Plan Commission Case PC 22-11, a request by the Village of Morton Grove for the construction of a new Metra station at the property at 8501 Lehigh in Morton Grove, which is zoned C/R Commercial Residential. The existing station was constructed in the 1970s and last updated in the 1980s. Minutes of Sep D22 Board Meeting VII. PLAN COMMISSION REPORTS (continued) c. In August of 2021, the Village issued an RFQ seeking architectural design and engineering services for the renovation or reconstruction of the existing Metra station. RM Swanson Architects was chosen by the Board of Trustees based on technical qualifications, project approach, portfolio, and recent experience as project architect tor Libertyville in their renovation of the Libertyville Metra station, which was nearly identical to Morton Grove's current station. d. Staff has worked closely with RM Swanson to develop a final project concept. The new, nearly 1,300 square foot station will be relocated north of the current station to improve site access, circulation, and visibility. The proposed station will be designed in the Craftsman style, a timeless American architectural style that can be found throughout the Village and is reflective of the Village's past and present. e. Ms. Heidorn said, on August 1, 2022, the Appearance Commission reviewed the Application and approved an Appearance Certificate for the proposed improvements. They recommended approval of the Application with conditions. On August 4, 2022, the Traffic Safety Chairperson determined that the project will not have significant negative impact on the community from a traffic safety perspective and waived the review of the Application by the full Commission. On August 15, 2022, the Applicant appeared before the Plan Commission. Based on the Application, supporting staff report, and testimony presented at the Public Hearing, the Plan Commission voted unanimously (with one absent) to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit. f. Ms. Heidorn said RM Swanson is currently finalizing 40% plans for Metra's review. The Village plans to bid the construction this winter so as to have shovels in the ground by spring of 2023. She said she'd be happy to answer any questions of the Board. There were no questions. VIII. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only) Rudy Vilk spoke once regarding the Warrants, saying that no one knows why the Board has "this expenditure" or "that expenditure" on the Warrant Register. He said the mayor had directed him to talk to Village Administrator Czerwinski or Finance Director Sullivan. Mr. Vilk said, "When you have a problem, you need to make changes." He felt people should be able to understand the amounts that appear on the Warrants. He said there is no one way of know what amount is tied to which Resolution or Ordinance, or which invoice. He asked the Board to address this, stating, "this is part of your job." IX. PRESIDENT'S REPORT 1. Mayor DiMaria proclaimed the week of September 17 through September 23, 2022 as "Constitution Week" and asked all Village residents to affirm the ideals that the framers of the Constitution in 1787 had in mind by attentively protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties.. 2 Minutes of September 12, 2022 Board Meeting IX. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) 2. Mayor DiMaria asked for a motion to concur with his appointment of Volha Liston to the Community Relations Commission. Trustee Minx so moved, seconded by Trustee Grear. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. 3. Mayor DiMaria asked for a motion to concur with his appointment of Thomas J. Friel to the Fire Pension Board. Trustee Minx made the motion; Trustee Grear seconded it. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. 4. Mayor DiMaria asked the Board and assemblage to remember that the distressing events in Ukraine continue. He urged everyone to keep the Ukranian people in their hearts, thoughts, and prayers. 5. Mayor DiMaria thanked all who participated in the second Morton Grove Sustainability Expo, which took place on Saturday, September 10 at the Civic Center. He also thanked Village staff and the vendors/exhibitors present, especially McGrath Auto. As advertised, this was a free educational and family -friendly event, which proved, once again, to be highly successful! X. CLERK'S REPORT Clerk Harford had no formal report this evening. XI. STAFF REPORTS A. Village Administrator: Mr. Czerwinski had no formal report this evening. B. Corporation Counsel: Corporation Counsel Liston had no formal report this evening. XII. TRUSTEES' REPORTS A. Trustee Grear: Trustee Grear had no formal report this evening. 3 Minutes of September 12, 2 122 Board Meeting XII. TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) B. Trustee Khan: Trustee Khan presented for a first reading this evening Ordinance 22-18, Approving a Special Use Permit for a Public Service Use for the Construction of a New Commuter Rail Station on Property Commonly Known as 8501 Lehigh Avenue in Morton Grove, II. Trustee Khan noted that this Ordinance is pursuant to Plan Commission Case PC 22-11, presented earlier this evening by Community Development Administrator Zoe Heidorn. She noted that, as this is a first reading of this Ordinance, no action will be taken this evening. C. Trustee Minx: Trustee Minx had no formal report this evening. D. Trustee Thill: 1. Trustee Thill had no formal report this evening, but extended his thanks to everyone who organized and participated in the Sustainability Expo. There was quite a bit of information being distributed, which he thought was great. 2. Trustee ThiII wished a very happy birthday to his wife, Marian. E. Trustee Travis: Trustee Travis announced a "Save the Date!" for Saturday, October 22, 2022, for the 13th Annual Community Artists' Performance. It will be held at the Civic Center from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Aspiring performers should apply by September 24 at 5:00 p.m. at www.identityperformingarts.org/projects.aspx. F. Trustee Witko: 1. Trustee Witko presented Resolution 22-36, Authorizing a Contract with Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. for the 2022 Street Improvement Program. a. She explained that this is an annual program to rehabilitate the Village's asphalt streets. Public Works developed contract documents and bids were solicited by both the Village and the Illinois Department of Transportation. 4 Fiie�ptesaf_5eptaVn&ci• ;:202; Iktiord Meetiri XII. TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) F. Trustee Witko: (continued) b. Twenty-three entities downloaded the documents and four bids were received. Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. submitted the lowest bid and is qualified to perform this work. c. Trustee Witko said the contract includes resurfacing 0.6 miles of residential streets as well as resurfacing the Public Works facility parking lot. The included streets are: Capri Lane from approximately 200 feet west of Menard Avenue to Central Avenue; Davis Street from Oak Park Avenue to Cherry Avenue; Davis Street from Major Avenue to Parkside Avenue; and Major Avenue from Theobald Avenue to Dempster Street. d. Trustee Witko said this contract must conform to the requirements of the Prevailing Wage Act. The State of Illinois regulates spending motor fuel tax funds through its Department of Transportation. This regulation includes forms used state-wide for contract documents and appropriating funds. e. The fiscal impact of this work is not to exceed $734,444, of which $234,444 will come from the Village's 2022 General Fund, and $500,000 will be appropriated from Motor Fuel Tax Funds. Trustee Witko moved to approve Resolution 22-36, seconded by Trustee Grear. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Khan aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Thill aye Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye 2. Next, Trustee Witko presented Resolution 22-37, Appropriation of Motor Fuel Tax Funds For the 2022 Street Improvement Program, MFT Section 22 -00113 -00 -RS. a. Trustee Witko noted that, as previously mentioned, a portion of the contract with Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. for the 2022 Street Improvement Program will be paid for with Motor Fuel Tax Funds. This Resolution approves the appropriation of $500,000 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the repair, milling, and resurfacing of Capri Lane from approximately 200 feet west of Menard to Central Avenue; Davis Street from Oak Park Avenue to Cherry Avenue; Davis Street from Major to Parkside Avenue; and Major Avenue from Theobald Avenue to Dempster Street. Trustee Witko moved, seconded by Trustee Minx, to approve Resolution 22-37. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Khan aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Thill ave Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye 5 Minutes of September 12, 2022 Board Meeting XII. F. Trustee Witko: (continued) TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) 3. As liaison to the Environment & Natural Resources Commission, Trustee Witko thanked all who attended the Expo, the Commissioners for their months of planning, all the exhibitors not only for supporting the event, but for helping educate residents and supplying them with sustainable ideas and products, and Public Works for setting up the event, their information table, and their dedication to sustainability. She added that Paula Miller's table was "adorable and informative," and said she looked forward to next year's event. XIII. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Trustee Grear wished a very happy birthday to Trustee Thill, whose birthday is later this week. 2. Trustee Grear also shared that he will be resigning his position as Village Trustee at the end of September. September 26 will be his last Board meeting. He said he has really enjoyed serving the Morton Grove community, but he wants to start spending more time with his family. XIV. WARRANTS Trustee Grear presented the Warrant Register for September 12, 2022 in the amount of $746,406.13. He moved to approve this evening's Warrant Register as presented, seconded by Trustee Travis. Trustee Thill commented that his cat had thrown up on his copy of the Warrant Register so he wasn't sure he could vote on them tonight. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Khan Tr. Minx aye Tr. Thill ly± Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye XV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS 1. Mayor DiMaria noted that several residents wanted to speak on a topic and asked that they try not to repeat what a previous speaker may have already said. 2. Janice Cha. Ms. Cha addressed the Board, stating that she was here tonight to advocate for the Village to do more in the areas of Ethnicity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Specifically, since the Village is currently revising and updating its Strategic Plan, she encouraged the Board to update one of its goals from the 2015 Strategic Plan, namely to embrace diversity by developing and implementing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) plans for all aspects of life in the Village including: 6 Minutes of September 12, 2022 Board Meeting XV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (continued) a. 1) Creating a new commission with a diverse and representative composition specifically charged with creating and monitoring EDI plans. 2) Trainings in EDI for all Village staff, officials, employees, departments and commission members, and also be offered to residents and businesses. EDI trainings will provide at- tendees with the necessary awareness, skills and knowledge to create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive community. 3) Planning for more diversity in recruiting, hiring and retaining employees in all Village departments and in appointing individuals to commissions b. Ms. Cha presented a petition with 219 signatures, representing those from businesses, civic organizations, and residents, urging the Board to focus more on EDI. 3. Gia Schultz. Ms. Schultz stated that statistics garnered from the 2020 Census show that Morton Grove is a diverse community: 39% of our residents were born outside the United States; over 53% speak a language other than English; 40% are non-white. In Morton Grove we have members of the LGBTQ community, people living with disabilities, people of all ages and with a wide range of races, ethnicity, and religions. With a population of 25,297 residents, Morton Grove is, in fact, a melting pot of diversity. a. Ms. Schultz asked, why then, is the Village government so homogenous? Why isn't Village government more representative of the ethnic makeup of Morton Grove? She said a lack of diversity in public service raises ethical concerns about whether all Village residents have genuine access to their Village government. b. Ms. Schultz said research has shown that a non -representative government leads to voter apathy and a decrease in political participation. She wondered, "Who benefits the most from a disengaged population and apathetic voters?" Looking at the statistics she noted earlier, Ms. Schultz said "Our diversity is our strength," and pointed out that we are under -utilizing what makes the Village great—a robust, diverse population, a community comprised of different perspectives, backgrounds, and beliefs. She said that, with the Strategic Plan being updated, this is a wonderful opportunity for the Village to correct years of exclusion and injustice. c. Ms. Schultz said she is asking the Board to step up and better serve all of our residents. She said, in Morton Grove, we can be inclusive, we can celebrate and embrace diversity, we can be more equitable, and we can be a Village where everyone belongs and feels welcomed to participate. We can be more inclusive in our hiring, retention, and outreach programs. We must be intentional and relentless for inclusion efforts. She asked the Board to "do the hard and necessary work" of incorporating EDI principles into our Village government and said "We are a diverse community. Let the Village government, Boards, and departments represent that wonderful diversity." 4. Akhter Sadiq. Mr. Sadiq said the reasons why the Village should include the "asks" of Vision Morton Grove regarding the Strategic Plan are because this will be the Village's blueprint for the next 7-10 years. 7 Minutes of September 12, 22 Board Meeting XV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (continued) a. Mr. Sadiq said the principles of EDI have been a topic of discussion and action throughout the nation's municipalities. The principles of EDI are inherent in many Morton Grove businesses, such as Aldi, Allstate, Amazon, Audi, BMO Harris, Chase, Dunkin Donuts, Enterprise, Fifth Third Bank, Starbucks, State Farm, and Walgreens. EDI is also embraced by the Morton Grove Public Library and many school districts: Skokie District 69, East Maine District 63, Maine Township District 207, Niles Township District 219, and Niles Township Special Education District 807. Mr. Sadiq noted, with all these fine companies embracing EDI, why isn't the Village? He urged the Board to consider including/updating EDI goals in the proposed revised Strategic Plan. 5. Caroline Bilicki spoke next, stating that she has a lot of pride in Morton Grove schools. She noted that the policies of the Village have a direct effect on its schools. She commented that she believes, unfortunately, that Morton Grove does have a background of racist histories and policies; in fact, where she resides, the property has a racially restricted covenant that dates from the 1920s. She said this is a real problem, and the Village needs to adopt EDI policies. Failure to do so will mean that the Village government condones or wants to maintain that kind of racism. The Village and EDI policies should take into consideration all races and all genders. 6. Abby Mills is the mother of two bi-racial children and an EDI practitioner. Abby said she has been a resident for 13 years. She felt her family's story, and the reason why EDI is so important is because it's truly a matter of life and death. That may sound extreme, but it's really not. a. Ms. Mills became a mother 11 years ago and then her partner left. She said she has seen people out walking who literally cross the street when they see her or her children approaching. Her nine-year old son had a $10 bill checked to see if it was counterfeit. He was called the "n -word" last year. She's had to have conversations with her kids about the color of their skin and how to conduct themselves. Last year, she let her son walk to school. Because it was a chilly day, he decided to wear a hoody with the hood pulled up. She was terrified something would happen, because when people see a black kid in a hoody, they often have negative reactions. She wants every person and every child to feel safe in the Morton Grove community. Change, and the said principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion happen by intention, not luck. She thanked the Board members for their time. 7. Bob Burkhart. Mr. Burkhart said that hearing Abby's story makes him even more passionate about committing to EDI, because, "as a privileged white man, I realize we have to look at ourselves and intentionally make changes." He said that updating the Strategic Plan provides an opportunity for that. Significant training and the willingness to do things differently go hand in hand with the adoption of this goal. Mr. Burkhart said, ideally, a Commission would assist in finding resources, envisioning possibilities, and monitoring progress. a. Mr. Burkhart said some people may wonder if this goal is worth it, and if it's reasonable to expect that it can be achieved. He's aware that the Village has a lot of important projects to tackle with a limited stuff. But, in spite of those limitations, he hopes the Village will be able to make a significant dent in this. 8 Minutes of September 12, 2022 Board Meeting XV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (continued) b. Mr. Burkhart pointed out four significant advantages to committing to and implementing the principles of equity, diversion, and inclusion: 1) Studies show that when you have diversity of minds, ideas, and approaches, you have more positive results. 2) A diverse workforce creates an environment where employees feel valued and able to express their opinions. It helps improve morale. 3) 76% of those seeking jobs say that a diverse workforce and climate is an important factor in applying for a job. That means having a diverse staff and a commitment to this goal could open Morton Grove up to many potential employees who are bypassing us now and taking jobs in other communities where EDI is the norm. 4) It would have a positive impact on the Village as a whole. It would put Morton Grove as one of the leading suburbs, and demonstrate that the Village is keeping up with the times. It would attract employees, residents, and businesses, especially younger generations who today have not even considered our town as a place in which to live or work. Mr. Burkhart closed by saying, "EDI is not only in our own best interests, it's the right way to go." 8. Aaron Macsai. Mr. Macsai said he's 68 years old and has lived in Morton Grove over 30 years. He went to Parkview School and Niles West. Growing up, he fought redlining. He said "Ignorance leads to intolerance." a. Mr. Macsai pointed out that Morton Grove's image, conveyed by its tagline of "Incredibly Close. Amazingly Open." is really saying everything is possible here. Our eyes and hearts are open. Our expectations are reasonable and realistic. "Amazingly Open" is an implied message of inclusion. It speaks to us having the ability to listen and change. b. Mr. Macsai encouraged the Board to "stay true to our words." He said he wants to watch our community grow. We strive to be "incredibly close" and we need to commit to being "amazingly open." He said EDI is reasonable and relevant, and will make us a healthier Village. 9. Eric Poders, 7940 Foster. Mr. Poders informed the Board that Rabbi Feldheim recently passed away; he had been the rabbi at the former synagogue that's now St. Mary's. a. He also thanked Police Chief Simo and his staff; Mr. Poders said he's still working with them on an open case. b. Mr. Poders said Washington Commons is a nightmare. Garbage is picked up at 4:00 am. It's having a bad effect on everyone who lives on Foster; it needs to stop. 9 Minutes of September 12, /B22 Board Meeting XV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (continued) c. Lastly, Mr. Poders said that on August 21 he went to a flea market only to have someone be stalking him. He said it was Rudy Vilk and warned Mr. Vilk that if he stalks him again, Mr. Vilk will be sued and possible arrested. XVI. ADJOURNMENT Trustee Minx moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. 10 Minutes of September 12, 2022 Board Meeting PASSED this 26th day of September, 2022. Trustee Grear Trustee Khan Trustee Minx Trustee Thill Trustee Travis Trustee Witko APPROVED by me this 26th day of September, 2022. i/ Daniel P. DiMaria, Village President Board of Trustees, Morton Grove, Illinois APPROVED and FILED in my office this 27th day of September, 2022. Eileen Scanlon Harford, Village Clerk Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois Minutes by Teresa Cousar 11 i