MINUTES

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

VILLAGE OF VERNON HILLS

DECEMBER 17, 2002

 

 

 

   IN ATTENDANCE: President Byrne called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m.  The following Trustees were present: Henley, Hebda, Ryg, Koch.  Trustees Williams and Duros were absent. 

 

   Also present were Manager Allison, Assistant Manager Kalmar, Assistant to the Manager Teich, Finance Director/Treasurer Nakrin, Public Works Director Laudenslager, Village Engineer Brown, Chief Fleischhauer, Building Commissioner Gerth, Corporation Counsel Citron and Village Attorney Geo-Karis.

 

   1.      ROUTE 83 DECELERATION LANES.

      Village Engineer Brown presented information on the feasibility of doing work at the 3 intersections on 83.

 

      IDOT may look at favorably if we pay – if IDOT is to pay, it requires a whole other process and other issues of time, money and priorities come into play and IDOT would like to see it done as one project. Trustee Hebda: worthy project – pursue in CIP for all intersections. The Chief was asked what the accident history was. There are a low number of accidents for rear end collisions; more typical is left turn conflicts. Trustee Koch: with the type of accidents, doesn’t that identify a need for signal – priority would be signal at Grosse Pointe.  Staff: Cost of signal at Grosse Point Blvd - $350,000 in addition to the cost of the deceleration lane.   Residents Kelly Zedell and Laura Kaplan both from Olde Grove Farms maintain that all 3 intersections are different and that Westmoreland is difficult to navigate because it is too narrow. Koch agrees that it is safety issue.  However, near misses don’t count to IDOT.  Study may not show it's needed but we need to prioritize. 

 

   2.      ROUTE 83 AND GROSSE POINTE TRAFFIC SIGNAL - ENGINEERING REVIEW.

      Try to work with Long Grove to do something jointly with their future development across the street. Committee agrees to allow staff to move forward with a warrant study.  Staff says it may cost around $6,000. 

 

   3.      AMLI @ MUSEUM GARDENS - CHANGES TO THE APPROVED PLANS.

      John Kalmar presented the Committee with a Memorandum outlining AMLI's request and possible trade-offs.  AMLI has requested a variance to substitute PVC pipe for iron pipe within the three buildings. Vernon Gerth has reviewed this request and, although there is not a specific problem with PCV, there is some qualitative benefit to using iron pipe.

 

      The developer, based on information provided by their general contractor Walsh Construction, estimates a saving of $170,000 to $220,000 and possibly more. Based on the possible savings from the substitution of PVC, there was direction from the Board at the last meeting to look at benefits for the community for this trade-off. The staff suggests consideration of the following ideas:

 

      Construction on the Cuneo property of a new Light Show route that is necessary because of the AMLI project.

 

      A contribution towards the construction of landscape median on Milwaukee Avenue as part of the Add Lanes Project.

 

      Village information sign to be located somewhere near the project area.

 

      A contribution towards the removal of Museum and Ring Drives landscape island. This is dependent upon Westfield’s review of our request to remove this island.

 

      An additional contribution to Countryside Fire Protection District.

 

      AMLI has agreed to a maximum total contribution of $100,000, as initially listed below:

 

         Fire District contribution          $10,000

         Cuneo Light Show route           $30,000

         Removal of landscape island       $60,000

            @Museum and Ring Drives

 

      AMLI would be designated as a Cultural Partner for five years starting in 2004. Payment is based on the time of construction or final building permit, whichever happens first.

 

      The Committee agreed to have staff develop the proper documents including a Development Agreement.  Motion by Trustee Henley, second by Trustee Koch to approve changes to approved plans as presented.  Roll call vote:

   AYES: 4- Henley, Koch, Ryg, Byrne

   NAYS: 1-Hebda

   ABSENT:  2-Williams, Duros

   Motion declared carried.

 

 

   4.      WRITER'S PUD - CONCEPT PRESENTATION. 

   Koch – Berm height, street name already exists, price $500-$550K

   Henley – No public street, lot size too small

   Ryg – Corridor study – need access to the open space – reduce the density to get vista from Rt. 45 – reduce the density

   Koch – FAR is too high but maintaining the creek line is important – 2 lots east of entrance should go.

   Engineer - Vista will not be available with Rt. 45 berm –

   President Byrne sensed mixed enthusiasm for this concept.

   Village Counsel reminded the applicant that this is a concept presentation and that the opinions of the members are just that, opinions.

 

   5.      VERNON HILLS GOLF COURSE - KEMPER BUDGET.

      A. Amend Resolution 2000-05 – Extending Payoff of Loan for an additional year – to 4 payments.  Reduces payment to $65,500 from $83,333 and allows for an annual capital budget of $45,000 with room for the start of a capital reserve fund.  President Byrne asked Kemper to look into matting for the bridges.  Motion by Trustee Henley, second by Trustee Koch to approve an amendment to resolution 2000-5 to add an additional year to the golf course club house repayment schedule.  Roll call vote:

   AYES: 6- Hebda, Henley, Koch, Ryg

   NAYS: 0-None

   ABSENT:  2-Williams, Duros

   Motion declared carried.

 

      B. 2003 Golf Course Budget

    No new fees are proposed.  The interest from the lease on the fairway mower is contained within the operating budget and Kemper will monitor the expenses versus revenues during the year.  Motion by Trustee Henley, second by Trustee Koch to approve the 2003 Golf Course Budget as presented by Kemper Sports Management.  Roll call vote:

   AYES: 4- Hebda, Henley, Koch, Ryg

   NAYS: 0-None

   ABSENT:  2-Williams, Duros

   Motion declared carried.

 

   6.      FY2003-04 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

      Village staff led by Village Engineer, David Brown, listed several capital improvement projects proposed for the 2003-04-budget year.

 

      Staff presented the items of the 2003-04 Capital Improvement list. One item that requires more investigation and will be pulled due to inaction this year is the burial of the power lines in front of the Clavey property.  Otherwise the Committee did not pull or add any additional items

 

   7.      MULTI YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

      Manager Allison asked the board to review the document and contact him if there were any projects that needed to be corrected, added or deleted.

 

   8.      METRA DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT - MEETING UPDATE.

         Pulled.

 

   9.      ADJOURNMENT.

      Motion by Trustee Hebda, second by Trustee Henley to adjourn the Committee of the Whole meeting and to go into closed Executive Session. Roll call vote:

   AYES: 4- Hebda, Henley, Koch, Ryg

   NAYS: 0-None

   ABSENT:  2-Williams, Duros

   Motion declared carried.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

 

 

 

__________________________________           ________________________________

Evan Teich, Asst. to the Village Manager              Roger L. Byrne, Village President