VILLAGE OF LONG GROVE

MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE BOARD OF LONG GROVE

Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 8 P.M.

3110 RFD, LONG GROVE, ILLINOIS 60047-9613

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:

President Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 8:02 P.M.

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

Village President:                      Rodriguez

Trustees:                                   Acuna, Barry, Hannon, Lazakis, Schmitt, Wachs

Village Clerk:                            Schultheis

Also Present:                            Village Manager Lothspeich, Village Planner Hogue, Village Superintendent Block, and Village Counsel Filippini

 

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS/ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE:

Towner Subdivision – Roland Holup. – No one was present. Nothing to report.

Indian Creek Club – Bill Jacob. – No one was present. Nothing to report.

 

Vision Church Update:  Village Counsel Filippini said that the Supreme Court had decided that the Decision of the

Seventh Circuit opinion is final. The decision means that Vision Church will have to conform to the Village’s zoning

codes. – No action was taken.

 

Long Grove Heritage Run:    

Long Grove Rotary Club President - Ryan Birch. – Ryan Birch said that there were

800-plus runners/walkers, and that over $25,000 was earned.  Trustee Schmitt was honored by Ryan Birch, on behalf of

the Long Grove Rotary Club, for her efforts in coordinating the event – No action was taken.

 

Indian Creek Watershed Presentation:              

Project President - Tori Trauscht.

Indian Creek Watershed Ltd, Project President Tori Trauscht provided a brief presentation on, and to

request that the Village Board consider formally adopting, the Indian Creek Watershed Plan.  –

Project President Trauscht said that the watershed plan has been endorsed by the state of Illinois.  She

said that among the goals of the project were water quality issues and the reduction of flood damage.

She said that there was a need for projects to be presented to the Indian Creek Watershed Project, and

that it was their hope to partner with the Village of Long Grove on these water projects.

Resident Barbara Turner asked to see examples of the types of projects that were being suggested,

because the Park District may be able to match funds. – Tori Trauscht said that their group has done

more than $300,000 of project work in conjunction with the Park District.

President Rodriguez recommended a committee comprising of Trustees Barry and Hannon to look

into the types of projects that might  be of interest to the Village. – No action was taken.

 

Kildeer Countryside Drop-off:

Resident Susan Klein complained about the situation that has been created by the drop-off at Kildeer

Countryside Elementary School.  She said that municipal business should be shown some respect,

because the entrance way to the Village Hall was being blocked and the aesthetics ruined by the way

that the configuration and new drop-off procedures.

President Rodriguez said that she had sent written to the Nelson Gray; and that she was meeting with

Nelson Gray and Mark Tepper regarding the issue. – No action was taken.

 

Cuba Road:  Resident Susan Klein discussed the new configuration of Cuba Road during

construction.  She said that traffic was being diverted in such a way that people were being confused

by having to drive on the left-hand side in the wrong direction.

Village Manager Lothspeich said that more “Wrong Way” signs had been added and that signs had

been put in different lanes to decrease the confusion regarding the lane set up – No action was taken.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

Item #1:    Report of the October 2, 2007 Plan Commission & Zoning Board Of Appeals Meeting.

 

Ψ     PUBLIC HEARING; CONTINUATION.  Consideration Of  A Proposal For Various Amendments To The Village Code For The Village Of Long Grove, Title 5, Zoning Regulations, Including Without Limitation Modifications To The Maximum Floor Area, Building Height And Other Regulations Within The Village Of Long Grove, Illinois. – CONTINUED. 

 

Item #2:    Public Hearing Re: Request For A Solid Fence Within 100’ Of State Highway.

3253 IL Route 53 Property Owner Elliott Baretz submitted an application requesting approval of an

exception to the Village Code Fence Regulations as permitted under the recently approved amending

Ordinance 2007-O-16 to construct a six foot (6’) tall fence within 100’ of State Highway IL 53. -

Trustee Wachs noted that the drawing showed the trees on the wrong side of the fence.  The petitioner

Elliott Baretz said that the trees will be on the other side of the fence on the next drawing.

 

Trustee Barry enters the meeting at 8:35 P.M.

 

Trustee Lazakis moved to direct Village Counsel to prepare a draft resolution approving an

exception to the Village Code Fence Regulations for the Installation of a Fence within the 100’ of

State Highway IL 53 on the property located at 3253 IL Route 53; seconded by Trustee Wachs.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – nay; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

(Motion carried  5 – 1)

 

Resident Dee McLaughlin asks to make a comment in the public hearing.

Trustee Schmitt moved to reopen the Public Hearing; seconded by Trustee Barry.

VOICE VOTE:

All ayes, no nays (Motion carried 6 – 0).

Resident McLaughlin said that she did not see why this was a public hearing if there was already a consensus on the decision.  President Rodriguez reminded her that there was a public hearing a month ago, and it was then that the importance of the path easement was discussed. She also mentioned the quality of life issue that existed for the petitioner.  Trustee Barry said that there were so many caveats and conditions attached to the acceptance of this fence that it would it would not expose the Village to a domino effect.  It was also stated that the easements would help the Village deal with the state of Illinois in the event of road widening. – No further action was taken.

 

Item #3:    Resolution Eliminating The Landscape Letter Of Credit For Prairie Trails – Valenti.

This will be the seventh and final reduction (elimination) of the original $5,149,000.00 Letter of Credit

(LOC) for Prairie Trails. –

Village Manager Lothspeich said that Valenti has seeded and restored the area twice.  Superintendent

Block also noted that twenty-five different builders are in the area with semis and concrete trucks and

they are responsible for some of the ruined landscaping.

Regarding additional trees, Village Manager Lothspeich said that the Landscaping Letter of Credit is

only good for two years and has already expired.

Trustees expressed concern about the width allowable for roads; as well as the developer’s

responsibility (wondering if developers should be held responsible until the development was

complete).

Trustee Wachs moved to approve a resolution eliminating the remaining $5,000.00 Landscape

Letter of Credit for Prairie Trails of Long Grove; seconded by Trustee Schmitt.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

(Motion carried  6 – 0).

 

Item #4:    Ordinance Authorizing Establishment Of A TIF District Interested Parties Registry.

Consultant Ehler’s & Associates has proposed a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) schedule that identifies

the next step in the process as adopting a TIF District Interested Parties Registry.  The proposed

ordinance announces the evaluation of the TIF District and formalizes the process for identifying

interested parties.  It should be noted that while the enclosed TIF boundaries map is consistent with the

boundaries approved by the Village Board during the September 22, 2006 Board Meeting and

continues to include the school district property, the boundaries can be amended by the Village Board

to exclude this and other properties at a later date.  -

Village Counsel Filippini said that this is a procedural step.

Trustee Lazakis moved to approve an Ordinance Authorizing the Establishment of a Tax

Increment Financing “Interested Parties Registry” and Adopting Registration Rules For the

Registry; seconded by Trustee Wachs.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

(Motion carried  6 – 0).

 

Item #5:    Proposal From Ehler’s & Associates For Qualification Of Business District.

One of several alternatives identified, none of which are mutually exclusive, for funding

improvements related to the proposed retail shopping center along Route 83 includes the establishment

of a business district that would impose an additional sales tax (up to a maximum of 1%) on the

businesses located within the proposed development. –

 

 

Village Counsel Filippini said that the proposal is complementary to TIF exploration. 

Village Manager Lothspeich said that the agreement should be not to exceed a certain amount so that

they could look for any overlap between the services that we have already gotten and the services we

will be getting.

Trustee Wachs moved to approve a proposal from Ehler’s & Associates for the qualification of

The Village of Long Grove’s Business District for an amount not to exceed $15,000.00; seconded

by Trustee Lazakis.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

(Motion carried  6 – 0).

 

Item #6:    Proposal From Applied Technology For A Lake Michigan Water Feasibility Study.

Lake County Public Works Director Peter Kolb directed the Village to the northern communities

consulting engineer Jim Smith of Applied Technology for a proposal to perform a Lake Michigan

Water Feasibly Study as an addendum to the current study being completed for the northern

communities.  Mr. Smith noted that the original communities paid $8,000 each and believed that the

addendum for evaluating Long Grove would not exceed that amount.  –

Trustee Acuna presented his findings regarding accessibility to Lake Michigan water.  Via pipe

maintenance and conservation efforts, Illinois has been able to save 100 million barrels of water a day

from Lake Michigan opening up the possibility of hooking up more communities.  A consortium of

communities has started to look into the economic feasibility of hooking up to the water supply.

Trustee Acuna stated further that the Village has three choices – 1) Shallow aquifers; 2) Deep aquifers

(which do not have the capacity of the shallow aquifers; and 3) Lake Michigan water.

Long Grove has been given the nod to be part of the study for Lake Michigan water accessibility if

they contribute $8,000.00 for the study

Trustee Acuna told the Board that the initial indication was that connection to Lake Michigan water

would be costly, but that the Village had a very small window of time to act to be part of any

additional access.  Trustees agreed that this would be a worthwhile study, and presented the Village

with a possible opportunity that it had not had in twenty-plus years.

Pam Newton said that the process would move quickly, and that it was important for Long Grove to

look into this opportunity.

Trustee Schmitt moved to approve a proposal from Applied Technology for a Lake Michigan

Water Feasibility Study for the Village of Long Grove for an amount not to exceed $8,000.00;

seconded by Trustee Acuna.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

(Motion carried  6 – 0).

 

Item #7:    Village President Rodriguez.

A.     Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve – Upper DesPlaines River Phase I & II Advisory Council

Meeting. -Staff represented Long Grove during the September 27, 2007 planning meeting.  – No action was taken

B.     Report of HOA Presidents Meeting – September 27, 2007.  – President Rodriguez said that the

meeting had been well-attended and that Minutes and information from the meeting had been

 made available to the Trustees. –No action was taken.

C.     Upcoming Village Board Strategic Planning Workshop. – Meeting will be October 20, 2007. – No

 action was taken.

 

Item #8:    Village Trustee Acuna.

Nothing to report. No action was taken.

 

Item #9:    Village Trustee Barry.

Pathways – Trustee Barry said that he would be going to his next meeting on October 19, 2007 – No action was taken.

Teasel – Trustee Barry told the Board that he shown the HOA presidents actual teasel at the September 27, 2007
 meeting to raise awareness – No action was taken.

 

Item #10:  Village Trustee Hannon.

A.         Treasurer Report For September 30, 2007.

Trustee Hannon moved to approve payment of the bills; Trustee Lazakis seconded.

                ROLL CALL VOTE:

                Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

                (Motion carried  6 – 0).

 

                  Trustee Hannon moved to approve the fund balances; seconded by Trustee Lzakis.

                  ROLL CALL VOTE:

                  Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

                  (Motion carried  6 – 0).

B.     Actual and Budget Comparisons For Period Ending September 30, 2007.  – No action was taken.

Item #11:  Village Trustee Lazakis.

Downtown Master Plan Update.  Trustee Ted Lazakis, Trustee Charlie Wachs, Village Superintendent

Bob Block, Village Planner James Hogue and Staff met with Hitchcock Design Group & K-Plus

Engineer Representatives and others on September 28, 2007.  – Trustee Lazakis said that progress is

being made on the master plan and that the first none steps appear to be on target:

1)      Finalize long range recommendations – week of December 10, 2007

2)      Identify alternative short term opportunities – week of December 10, 2007

3)      Review recommendations with the Task Force – Tuesday, December 18, 2007

4)      Finalize implementation strategy – Week of December 24, 2007

5)      Review updated master plan recommendations with task force – Week of January 7, 2008

6)      Present recommendations to elected municipal officials – Wednesday, January 8, 2008

7)      Prepare draft updated master plan report – Week of January 7, 2008

8)      Review first draft with the Task Force – Tuesday, January 15, 2008

9)      Revise second draft with Village Staff – Week of January 14, 2008

No action was taken.

 

Item #12:  Trustee Schmitt.

Bridge – Trustee Schmitt said that articles were due, and that The Bridge was proceeding on schedule

No action was taken.

Park District – Trustee Schmitt said that a job description for a land manager has been created. – No

action was taken.

Relay for Life – Trustee Schmitt said that the American Cancer Society was exploring the idea of

working with Long Grove on their June, 2008 relay. – No action was taken.

Recycling – Trustee Schmitt said that Long Grove was trailing in its recycling efforts with only a 24%

diversion rate (ie, the number of recyclable versus garbage output).  She suggested that a contest

between Hawthorn Woods and Kildeer, with the recycling winner to receive a tree from each of the

losing villages. – No action was taken.

 

Item #13:  Village Trustee Wachs.

Trustee Wachs wanted to publicly acknowledge Pam Newton for her work on behalf of Long Grove in

being included in the  Lake Michigan water study. – No action was taken.

 

Item #14:  Village Clerk Schultheis.

Nothing to report. No action was taken.

 

Item #15:  Village Manager Lothspeich.

Nothing to report. No action was taken.

 

Item #16:  Village Superintendent Block.

Public Works Directors – Superintendent Block said that he has been meeting with Ela and Vernon

Township Public Works directors regarding emergency procedure shared resources; and that these

townships have agreed to assist Long Grove in the event of an emergency. – No action was taken.

Lake Michigan Water – Superintendent Block stated that looking into a Lake Michigan water supply

was something the Village should consider  - No action was taken.

Housing -  There were four more housing permits. – No action was taken.

Street Striping – Is complete. – No action was taken.

Farm Tiles – Superintendent Block discussed the issue at Eleanora Estates and on North Krueger Road

regarding broken tiles. – No action was taken.

Salt Application – Superintendent Block said that he is talking with subcontractors – No action was

taken.    

Item #17:  Village Planner Hogue.

Nothing to report. No action was taken.

 

Item #18:  Village Attorney Filippini.

Nothing to report. No action was taken.

 

Item #19:  Approval of Board Meeting Minutes.

September 11, 2007 Minutes. – Trustee Schmitt moved to approve the September 11, 2007

Minutes as amended, seconded by Trustee Barry.

VOICE VOTE:

All ayes, no nays  (Motion carried 6 – 0).

September 25, 2007 Minutes. – Continued.

 

Item:         Executive Session.

At 10:37 P.M., Trustee Acuna moved to go into Executive Session to discuss (1) Executive Session

Minutes; (2) Litigation; and (3) Acquisition and Disposition of Property; seconded by Trustee

Barry.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Acuna – aye; Barry – aye; Hannon – aye; Lazakis – aye; Schmitt – aye; Wachs – aye.

(Motion carried  6 – 0).

 

Item:         Other Business.

September 11, 2007 Executive