Grundy Reporter

Village of Wilmette President and Board of Trustees met Oct. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

President Bielinski called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.

1.0 ROLL CALL

Trustees Julie Wolf

Daniel Sullivan

Senta Plunkett

Kathy Dodd

Joel Kurzman

George Pearce

President Bob Bielinski

Staff Present: Timothy J. Frenzer, Village Manager

Michael Braiman, Assistant Village Manager

Jeffrey M. Stein, Corporation Counsel

Barbara Hirsch, Deputy Village Clerk

John Adler, Director of Community Development

Melinda Molloy, Director of Finance

John Prejzner, Assistant Director of Administrative Services

2.0 PUBLIC COMMENT

Mark Weyermuller, Lawndale Avenue, said he is concerned about property taxes, the businesses that have closed in the Village and pensions.

3.0 CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee Sullivan moved approval of the Consent Agenda as follows:

3.1 Approval of minutes of the Regular Board meeting held September 25, 2018.

LAND USE COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA

3.2 Presentation of minutes of the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting held August 15, 2018.

3.3 Presentation of minutes of the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting held September 5, 2018.

3.4 Approval of Temporary Use Permit #2018-TU-22 for a construction trailer at Gillson Park (668 Sheridan Road) from September 7, 2018 through May 1, 2019.

3.5 Appointment of Land Use Committee as a Special Zoning Committee to review a zoning text amendment that would amend the development regulations in the GC-1 and VC zoning district.

3.6 Zoning Board of Appeals Report, Case #2018-Z-43, 214 5th Street regarding a request for a 2.25’ detached garage height variation to permit the retention of an expanded dormer on a detached garage in accordance with the plans submitted; adoption of Ordinance #2018-O-74.

3.7 Zoning Board of Appeals Report, Case #2018-Z-44, 1515 Sheridan Road regarding a request for a special use for dwellings above a ground floor to permit the conversion of office space into three residential dwelling units (apartments) in accordance with the plans submitted. The use shall run with the use; adoption of Ordinance #2018-O-75.

3.8 Zoning Board of Appeals Report, Case #2018-Z-45, 935 Oakwood Avenue regarding a revised request for a 22.77 square foot (0.34%) total floor area variation, and a 1.0’ rear yard garage setback variation to permit the construction of a new detached two-car garage in accordance with the plans as amended; adoption of Ordinance #2018-O-76.

FINANCE COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA

3.9 Approval of September 2018 Disbursement Report.

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA

3.10 Reappointment of Libby Braband to the Transportation Commission from October 14, 2018 to October 14, 2022.

3.11 Adoption of Ordinance #2018-O-72 amending Chapter Six of the Village Code regarding the Village Manager’s purchasing authority.

3.12 Approval of contract in the amount of $86,180 with Tyler Technologies Inc., Dallas, TX for annual licensing and support services for the Tyler Munis software application.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA

3.13 Adoption of Ordinance No. 2018-O-71 authorizing the disposal of surplus personal property owned by the Village of Wilmette.

3.14 Approval of one year contract extension at the unit prices set forth in the proposal dated July 17, 2018 and an estimated annual cost of $43,384 with Emergency Vehicle Service Inc., Roselle, IL for preventative maintenance and contractual repairs of Fire Department apparatus.

Trustee Wolf seconded the motion. Voting yes: Trustees Wolf, Sullivan, Plunkett, Dodd, Kurzman, Pearce and President Bielinski. Voting no: none. The motion carried.

4.0 REPORTS OF OFFICERS:

4.1 Proclamation designating October 24, 2018 as World Polio Day.

President Bielinski read aloud the Proclamation.

Trustee Pearce said he has been a member of the Wilmette Rotary for 27 years and thanked the Village Board for recognizing World Polio Day. When the rotary became involved in trying to eradicate polio, there was approximately 200,000 to 300,000 cases per year and in 2018 there are only 8 cases so far this year. It is a phenomenal effort by many organizations to eradicate polio.

4.2 Request for an Executive Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body pursuant to Section 2 (c) (1) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed pursuant to Section 2 (c) (21) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Village Manager Timothy Frenzer reminded residents that the Fire Department will have their annual Open House and 125th Anniversary on Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 9 am to 12 pm.

There was no report from Corporation Counsel.

5.0 REPORT OF LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSIONER:

No Report

6.0 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

6.1 LAND USE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

6.11 Zoning Board of appeals Report, Case #2018-Z-42, 1500 Maple Avenue regarding a corrected request for a variation to permit a parking space in a side yard adjoining a street to permit the widening

of the existing driveway in accordance with the plans submitted.

Trustee Pearce moved approval of a request for a corrected request for a variation to permit a parking space in a side yard adjoining a street to permit the widening of the existing driveway in accordance with the plans submitted, seconded by Trustee Wolf.

John Adler, Director of Community Development, noted that the request received a negative recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Regardless of the Village Board’s decision this evening, the applicant does have the right to seek approval and construct a conforming parking pad off the alley.

Trustee Pearce asked if it is the Village Engineer’s decision whether a parking pad can be accessed off the alley.

Mr. Adler said the applicant would have to provide notice to the neighbors and follow the process before access off the alley would be approved by the Village Engineer.

Trustee Kurzman said he noted that there were many parking pads in west Wilmette and asked why they were granted.

Mr. Adler said some parking pads may have been installed without permits, some may have been installed before the change to the Zoning Ordinance and some may have received a variation depending on the situation on the property.

Carolyn Sennett, applicant, said installing a backyard parking pad would increase the impervious surface by 350’ as they currently do not have access to the alley and would have to build a path from the house to get back there. They propose removing the current asphalt driveway and replacing it with a wider driveway that is paver brick which would only add 111’ of impervious surface to the property as a more environmentally friendly option. She also noted they would have to remove several mature trees to construct a parking pad off the alley.

President Bielinski asked how many cars the applicant owns.

Ms. Sennett said they have three cars and they usually park the third car on the street during the day. She noted there is limited parking on the 15th Street and Maple Avenue.

Trustee Pearce said clearly what is driving the applicant’s request is the inconvenience of moving cars but that is really in conflict with the policy the Village has.

Trustee Sullivan said what is difficult for him is he does not see what the hardship is, he believes it is a matter of inconvenience.

Trustee Wolf said she drove past the applicant’s home and noted that there are many properties in the area that have parking pads off the alley which gets the cars off the street.

Trustee Dodd said she also drove past the applicant’s property and there seemed to be ample parking on 15th Street and Maple Avenue. She is struggling with the applicant’s concern regarding parking on the street and moving the cars around as most streets in the Village have those same concerns.

Ms. Sennett said they are looking to redo their driveway and were hoping that they might be incentivized to use brick pavers if they received the ability to make the driveway a little larger.

President Bielinski noted there was no one present to speak for or against the application.

Trustee Pearce said he is not in favor of the application as this situation applies to a lot of residents in Wilmette. The Village has a policy against this type of request and he is opposed to it.

President Bielinski said he does not think there is anything unique about the property, it is a convenience and could apply to many residents.

Trustee Sullivan said he believes the request is more of a convenience rather than a hardship and he is not able to support it.

Trustee Wolf said she agrees and believes the Zoning Board of Appeals was right in their decision.

Trustee Plunkett said she understands the environmental concerns of adding more impervious surface but that has to be balanced by the precedent that we would be setting and the additional parking pads that residents would request.

Trustee Kurzman said he appreciates the applicant making adjustments to the plan at the Zoning Board hearing. He said from a public policy perspective, we would want to steer people towards

environmentally sound decision making, including the use of pavers. However, he would like to point out that pavers are not the same as permeable pavers and as a Village we have yet to quantify the difference between that and that is a request that he has made in other situations and would potentially be relevant. He thinks the applicant has done some things well and he does not want that to be overlooked but he is challenged by some of the same reasons that his colleagues are and he has trouble supporting the request as well.

Trustee Dodd said she agrees with what the other Trustees said, she does not see the hardship and also appreciates the applicant’s willingness to work with the Village on the request. The Village has alleys and that is where they expect parking pads to be installed, she will not support the request.

Voting yes: none. Voting no: Trustees Wolf, Sullivan, Plunkett, Dodd, Kurzman, Pearce and President Bielinski. The motion failed.

6.2 FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

6.21 Presentation of the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Budget.

Village Manager Timothy Frenzer said on behalf of the Village staff, he is pleased to submit to the Village Board for their review and consideration the proposed Village of Wilmette 2019 Budget, covering the Village’s fiscal year from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

The FY 2019 operating budget is again balanced, does not project any staffing reduction, maintains all Village services and is the lowest property tax levy increase in 22 years, an increase of 2.75%. It also provides for capital funding for critical infrastructure improvements in Village neighborhoods and critical equipment needs for Village Departments.

There will be a Budget Workshop on October 30, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., additional workshops will be scheduled if necessary. The proposed budget is available online at www.wilmette.com and also available at Village Hall. Mr. Frenzer thanked the members of staff for their hard work on the proposed budget.

6.3 ADMINISTRATION STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

All items listed on the Consent Agenda

6.4 MUNICIPAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

All items listed on the Consent Agenda

6.5 PUBLIC SAFETY STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

No Report

6.6 JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

No Report

6.7 REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES

No Reports

7.0 NEW BUSINESS

No Report

8.0 ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Wolf moved to adjourn to executive session at 8:21 p.m.to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body pursuant to Section 2 (c) (1) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed pursuant to Section 2 (c) (21) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, seconded by Trustee Sullivan.

Voting yes: Trustees Wolf, Sullivan, Plunkett, Dodd, Kurzman, Pearce and President Bielinski. Voting no: none. The motion carried.

The Village Board returned from the Executive Session at 9:53 p.m.

Trustee Sullivan made a motion to adjourn the Village Board meeting at 9:54 p.m., seconded by Trustee Dodd.

All voted aye, the motion carried.

https://www.wilmette.com/download/agendas_and_minutes/village_board/minutes/2018/10-09-18.pdf