<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>The Cardinal &#187; Village Meetings</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/category/business/village-meetings/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.arlingtoncardinal.com</link>
	<description>Arlington Heights News, Sports, Weather, Health &#38; Fitness</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 00:44:25 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Pge One Test</title>
		<link>http://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2007/11/pge-one-test/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2007/11/pge-one-test/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Village Meetings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2007/11/02/pge-one-test/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 1 <br />COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE <br />MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT <br />AND THE BOARD OF ...



]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 1 <br />COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE <br />MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT <br />AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF <br />THE VILLAGE OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS <br />HELD IN SENIOR CENTER ROOM 183 &nbsp;<br />MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2007 <br />7:30 P.M. <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustees Present: A. Mulder, N. Breyer, J. Farwell, T. Hayes, H. Jensen, <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; V. Kucera, B. Rosenberg, J. Scaletta, T. Stengren <br />Staff Present:&nbsp; B. Dixon, D. Mikula, D. Staggs, T. Kuehne, J. Massarelli, Wm. Enright,&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; S. Shirley, D. Bowe, M. Reynolds <br />&nbsp;<br />Others Present: Shelia Ahern, Daily Herald <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; Graydon Megan, Chicago Tribune <br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />SUBJECTS: <br />&nbsp;<br />4. Update – Intersection of Wilke and Northwest Highway <br />5. Cypress Detention Basin Study <br />6. Grove Street Storm Water Considerations <br />7. Proposed FY2008 – FY2013 Capital Improvement Program <br />8. Other Business <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and the Pledge of <br />Allegiance was recited. <br />&nbsp;<br />4. Update – Intersection of Wilke and Northwest Highway <br />&nbsp;<br />Bill Dixon, Village Manager, said this item was discussed at the Committee-of-the- <br />Whole meeting of July 9, 2007. Union Pacific Railroad installed a fence in the spring <br />of 2006 which effectively prevented pedestrians from crossing the tracks at <br />unauthorized locations. Pedestrians then shifted from crossing Northwest Highway <br />at mid-block to going to Wilke and Northwest Highway. This is a controlled <br />signalized intersection but has no pedestrian design or consideration. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />The Village’s Engineering Department, Public Works Department and Illinois <br />Department of Transportation (IDOT) have been working to create a safe crossing <br />at this intersection for pedestrians. Public Works completed some sidewalk and <br />striping at the end of August and IDOT will be installing temporary pedestrian traffic <br />controls this fall. This was the agreed upon temporary course of action. <br />&nbsp;<br />IDOT has indicated that the originals goals associated with the Arlington Park Train <br />Station project included intersection improvements, but those were never <br />completed. Since that is the case IDOT said there is $2 million earmarked for <br />highway improvements as part of the Train Station and could be used to fund <br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 2 <br />construction of permanent improvements at Wilke and Northwest Highway. After <br />discussions that followed the July 9th Committee-of-the-Whole meeting and with the <br />Board expressing some real concerns about the cost of the design fee, IDOT has <br />now said that they will participate up to a maximum of $100,000 in the design. <br />Staff considers this a break through as previously this expense was to be the sole <br />responsibility of the Village. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />At the July 9th meeting the Board also asked for a breakdown of the hours for both <br />the recommended firm and the second rated firm. This information has been <br />provided in the memo dated October 3, 2007 from Director of Engineering Jim <br />Massarelli. Not only are the hours different for the two firms but also there is a <br />significant fee reduction from the one firm which originally started out at $244,000 <br />and is now at $178,000. With this reduction now IDOT is willing to go half. Mr. <br />Dixon went on to read the three recommendations as stated in the memo. Mr. <br />Dixon also referenced the letter from IDOT to Mayor Mulder dated August 3, 2007. <br />IDOT has asked that the Mayor, on behalf of the Village, indicate our concurrence <br />with this arrangement. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Farwell said he remembers from looking at his notes that Hampton, Lenzini <br />and Renwick (HLR) had the extensive experience and Homer Chastain had the <br />favorable figure by a significant amount. Trustee Farwell asked for an explanation <br />of the fee reduction. Mr. Dixon said they went from $244,000 to $200,000. Since <br />then staff has had a number of meetings and HLR went over their original contract <br />vs. a revision to that. The major reduction in costs comes from their not attending a <br />number of meetings where the Village will act as liaison between Arlington Park <br />Racecourse and this project. After looking at the scope HLR thought there was <br />additional land acquisition that may not be necessary and that was reduced <br />significantly in terms of the time and effort necessary for the acquisition. There was <br />also a reduction in the scope of work in terms of basic design and plan preparation. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg asked about the schedule to complete the construction. Mr. <br />Massarelli said that it was thought to be a year and three months to a year and six <br />months from awarding contract to completion of plans. Right now it looks like staff <br />will let the construction project in the summer of 2009. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Hayes said he was happy to see that HLR further reduced their proposal <br />from the $200,000 figure of July 9th. It was worthwhile for the Board to take a step <br />back and ask them to re-look at their numbers and hours. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Dixon said that he feels the Mayor deserves some credit for her relationship <br />with the District Engineer of IDOT. It was the Mayor’s letter to the District Engineer <br />that shook lose some of the design money. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Breyer asked if there is any concern with the possibility that the State may <br />not meet their financial obligation. Mr. Massarelli said that from staff’s experience <br />working with the State, once there is an agreement there are no problems. <br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 3 <br />TRUSTEE FARWELL MOVED, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE STENGREN, THAT THE <br />COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD THAT <br />THE BOARD: <br />&nbsp;<br />A. Authorize President Mulder to sign the letter from IDOT’s&nbsp; District <br />&nbsp;Engineer concerning their offer to fund 50% of the&nbsp; Phase I and <br />&nbsp;Phase II (design stage) of the Northwest Highway/Wilke Road <br />&nbsp;intersection design to a maximum&nbsp; funding from IDOT of $100,000; <br />&nbsp;<br />B. Approve entering into a contract with HLR to design the Northwest <br />&nbsp;Highway/Wilke Road intersection improvements for a not-to- <br />&nbsp;exceed amount of $178,424 pending IDOT approval of the <br />&nbsp;proposal from HLR; <br />&nbsp;<br />C. Increase the Capital Projects Fund #401-5001-571.50-30 by <br />&nbsp;$100,000 by increasing the grant revenue account by this same <br />&nbsp;amount to reflect IDOT’s maximum participation in the design of the <br />&nbsp;intersection improvements. <br />&nbsp;<br />The motion carried unanimously. <br />&nbsp;<br />5. Cypress Detention Basin Study <br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder said that flood mitigation has been an important component on <br />Village Board agendas for more than 20 years. There are still some areas that staff <br />has continued to study. This item is the seventh area and had to be put off because <br />of being more complicated. <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Dixon said the direction from the Board was for staff to monitor this area during <br />times of heavy rainfall. Most recently after the August 23rd storm both the <br />observations and reports received from citizens indicate this area needs attention. <br />Three potential solutions have been identified for this area. Public Works is <br />recommending that $55,000 in this year’s budget in the Weller Creek Flood Control <br />South Branch account be used to initiate a design study for the necessary <br />improvements. <br />&nbsp;<br />Scott Shirley, Public Works Director, said that these are not mutually exclusive. The <br />remedy in this area could be parts or all three of the components. Mr. Shirley <br />discussed a schematic that was put together with the residents who live at 105 W. <br />White Oak being present. Mr. Shirley expla<br />
ined that there was an in-house <br />extension made to the sewer that had some benefit. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Shirley said staff is not looking for any approval at this meeting but to be <br />allowed to proceed to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP), receive some proposals <br />from engineering firms, analyze them and then bring staff’s recommendation to the <br />Board to award an engineering analysis. <br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 4 <br />Trustee Rosenberg asked what time frame was expected as far as receiving bids. <br />Mr. Shirley said he would hope that there could be an RFP on the street within three <br />weeks. Engineering firms usually need three to four weeks to analyze the proposal <br />and ask questions. It could be two months before proposals are received. In two to <br />three months staff should be able to have a recommendation to the Board for <br />award of an engineering contract for the design analysis. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg asked if there was anything temporary that could be done to <br />help the residents in this area. Mr. Shirley said nothing that could make a <br />difference. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Scaletta asked if there is some work going on now at the detention basin. <br />Dennis Bowe, Superintendent of Utilities, said that a portion of the basin is being <br />enlarged to accommodate the detention that is necessary for a project that is going <br />on for People’s Bank. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Scaletta wondered if it was a good idea to put the figure of $55,000 out for <br />public information and that it could look like we are trying to back into a figure. Mr. <br />Shirley explained that all he wanted to do was make the Board aware that we do <br />have some money to work with. It is entirely possible that the RFP could be less but <br />also possible that it could be more. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Kucera asked that the O’Mara family be allowed to ask any pertinent <br />questions they may have. This issue affects a number of the neighbors. <br />&nbsp;<br />Linda O’Mara said they have lived in the area for seven years and it has been <br />upsetting to go through this with all the different rain events and levels of trying to <br />keep their home safe as well as having a child in the house. Many times they have <br />tried to get the water out of the street with neighbors coming to help. Cars are <br />driving through heavy water that throws waves at their house and it comes to the <br />door. Even though Public Works tries to barricade the area, cars still drive through. <br />Sean O’Mara said they are not talking inches but feet. They have found these <br />incidents to be very frightening. Mr. O’Mara thanked Dennis Bowe for his help by <br />blocking the street. The water may not come into their basement but it definitely <br />comes up to their front door and it takes a long time for the water to recede after <br />the rain calms down. <br />&nbsp;<br />Ms. O’Mara said she is thankful that this issue has finally gotten to where it is and <br />hopefully it won’t take too much longer to feel safe. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />TRUSTEE SCALETTA MOVED, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE ROSENBERG, THAT <br />THE COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD <br />THAT THE BOARD APPROVE USING $55,000 OF UNUSED MONIES IN <br />ACCOUNT #426-5001-571.20-05 TO INITIATE A DESIGN STUDY FOR THE <br />SUGGESTED REMEDIES FOR THE CYPRESS DETENTION BASIN AS STATED <br />IN THE MEMORANDUM DATED SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 FROM THE PUBLIC <br />WORKS DIRECTOR. The motion carried unanimously. <br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 5 <br />6. Grove Street Storm Water Considerations <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Dixon said the August 23, 2007 storm is a consideration for this issue. It was a <br />good storm to still show where there were problems in the Village despite the <br />expenditure of $75 million over a 20 year period. The Grove Street sewer area has <br />been worked on for ten years. There was a proposal presented to the Metropolitan <br />Water Reclamation District (MWRD) that was rejected. The Village retained a <br />consultant and went to MWRD with a second proposal which was also rejected. <br />&nbsp;<br />The latest design concept, if MWRD accepts it, will result in a detailed plan being <br />completed and further discussion with the Board will then be warranted. This is a <br />good reminder that in the case of when sanitary sewer is involved, while looking for <br />some public sector measures that could assist with solving the problems in the <br />Grove Street sewer area, the most effective method is overhead sewers to protect <br />from backups. A Village rebate of $2,500 is offered for the installation of overhead <br />sewers. So far three property owners have availed themselves of the program. <br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder asked Mr. Massarelli what the reasons are for the negative <br />response from MWRD to the prior proposals. Mr. Massarelli said this are is <br />somewhat unique being considered a separate sewer area. Unfortunately it drains <br />into a combined sewer area. There are rules and regulations for the separate sewer <br />area where the homes are but the discharge is going into a combined sewer which <br />creates more difficulty in terms of design and getting MWRD to accept suggestions. <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Massarelli said staff started looking at this issue back in 1997 as part of the <br />large Weller Creek TARP system connection that was made in the early ‘90’s. The <br />Village tried to get this area to drain into the park system connection. MWRD at <br />that time said that area could only handle combined sewer areas. The problem is <br />focused on the Grove Street sewer. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />One of the alternatives was to create underground detention. Unfortunately it is a <br />sanitary sewer so MWRD says that cannot be done without some very special <br />modifications which become extremely expensive in terms of maintenance of the <br />detention basis. The second alternative was to enlarge the pipe going from an 8” <br />sewer to a 24” sewer. In that instance MWRD stated that the Village could not do <br />that because it is a separate sewer area and the sanitary sewer sizes are limited to <br />the tributary areas’ number of homes that drain to them. <br />&nbsp;<br />What staff is trying to do now as a third alternative is to create a deeper sewer. As <br />you get closer to the east end of town the sewer is very shallow and creates a <br />problem for the people who live along Dale. What staff intends to propose is to <br />make the sewer deeper and give additional relief hydraulically to the residents. The <br />negative impact is that it needs to be lifted through a lift station into its discharge <br />point. The biggest obstacles that staff has right now are the costs and where the lift <br />station would go. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Scaletta said since MWRD tells staff what they can’t do, do they ever <br />suggest how to get there. Mr. Massarelli said the one item that is extremely difficult <br />to do is the elimination of the storm water. The homes were built in times where <br />the rules were much different than they are now. The house itself drains into one <br />system which includes foundation drains. Most of the gutters have been eliminated <br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 6 <br />but the biggest influx of storm water is from the foundation drains that drain from <br />the home and go directly into the sanitary sewer. MWRD states that this needs to <br />be eliminated but to do that the residents have a great burden on them to separate <br />the system within their home. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Breyer asked if each of the homes in the area had overhead sewers, would <br />the problem be solved. Mr. Massarelli said the problem of basement backup would <br />be solved. Trustee Breyer asked if overhead sewers were installed, would that <br />eliminate the need for the sewer. Mr. Massarelli said staff would have to analyze <br />what impact that would have but more than likely the sewer would not be <br />necessary. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Breyer asked if it would be cheaper to give a b<br />
igger subsidy to do the <br />overhead sewer. Mr. Massarelli said as part of their next step they are going to look <br />at the costs and compare them. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Farwell said that maybe the $2,500 subsidy is a little on the light side. <br />President Mulder said that Trustee Farwell is suggesting that this number be re- <br />assessed and that is why it might not be an incentive. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />TRUSTEE STENGREN MOVED, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE JENSEN, THAT THE <br />COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD THAT <br />THE BOARD AUTHORIZE STAFF TO COMPLETE A DETAILED DESIGN OF THE <br />LIFT STATION, IF AND WHEN THE METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION <br />DISTRICT CONCURS WITH THE LATEST DESIGN CONCEPT PRESENTED BY <br />STAFF. The motion carried unanimously. <br />&nbsp;<br />7. Proposed FY2008 – FY2013 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Dixon explained that the Proposed FY2009 CIP budget decreased 20% from the <br />prior year and totals $21.4 million or $5.5 million less than last year. The previous <br />three years have included significant expenditures for public building construction. <br />Approval of the CIP does not authorize expenditure of money. After approval by the <br />Board staff would incorporate the first year of the plan into the proposed FY2009 <br />budget which will be developed with the Board’s participation over the next few <br />months. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Looking at the first of the five fiscal years one of the components for the first year <br />is funding for activities in the Water &amp; Sewer Fund. This is an area that has not <br />received much attention from a revenue standpoint over the last decade. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Tom Kuehne, Finance Director/Treasurer, said the CIP has decreased over the prior <br />couple of years as the Village has had a lot of public building improvements. The <br />real focus for the next few years will be street resurfacing, construction and Water <br />Fund issues. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg referenced Page: CPF-1 where it talks about the street program <br />costs indicating increases of roughly 14-17% per year. Both he and Trustee Farwell <br />are concerned that no one knows the stability of oil. It seems the cost per mile has <br />gone up over two times of what it was six years ago. It seems that many more <br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 7 <br />dollars have been added but not getting that much more for what is being done. <br />Trustee Rosenberg asked if anyone had any thoughts on how to prevent this. <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Dixon said what is being referenced is the result of a competitive bid process. <br />What is being alluded to is what petroleum costs have done to the cost of asphalt. <br />Mr. Kuehne said this is a valid concern and one staff has discussed at length at the <br />CIP meetings. TIF I was dissolved and the money that was generated previously by <br />TIF I was applied to the street resurfacing program. It is also recommended that in <br />the future the same thing be done with TIF II. If the assumption in costs is <br />incorrect there are two places to look at; 1) a $200,000 contingency built into the <br />Capital Projects Fund each and every year; and 2) there is a fairly decent fund <br />balance in this Fund and even after five years there will still be about $1.5 million <br />left there. There is some room to re-look at this next year. <br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder said it looks as if the Village has plateaued with the Motor Fuel Tax <br />(MFT) Fund. She knows the State is taking more out of the collections before the <br />money is distributed. This is not a place the Village can look for help. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Breyer asked if the politicians in Washington enacted additional taxes on <br />oil, would that affect the Village as far as the cost of creating the asphalt. Mr. <br />Kuehne said it would. Trustee Breyer asked if anyone has ever lobbied these big <br />spenders about things like this. Mr. Dixon said the contractors probably have. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg asked Mr. Massarelli if the Village can do something differently <br />to try and save any dollars on the paving as far as joining together with any other <br />municipalities to combat the pricing. Mr. Massarelli said staff has been looking at <br />these options the last few years. Staff is going to different seminars listening to <br />different techniques on how to do things. There are a couple of different techniques <br />staff is looking into applying a sealer/rejuvenator type material a couple of years <br />after a street is paved. Staff is not quite convinced that it does much after looking <br />at some communities that have been doing it for five or six years. There are also <br />some different methods of utilizing existing materials that are available. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />One of the changes made by the Engineering Department is to change the <br />resurfacing program from MFT funding to the Capital funding. The reconstruction <br />has also been shifted to the MFT Fund. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Scaletta asked about the emergency generator for the Senior Center. Mr. <br />Dixon said while this has been in the CIP staff has not taken movement to spend <br />the money. There is a grant application pending with FEMA. The reason this is in <br />the CIP is because the Senior Center is a warming/cooling center. If there was a <br />power outage or major problem people would be directed to the Senior Center. <br />However, there is not an emergency source of power at the Senior Center. There <br />has been some indication from the State that the Village may be receiving a grant. <br />With the current situation with the State budget and no paper yet to formalize the <br />grant, staff is still pursuing the grant at the Federal level. This project will probably <br />be rolled over to next year. <br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 8 <br />The Trustees asked for a definition of the spike shown in the chart for Revenues vs. <br />Expenditures FY2004-FY2013. Mr. Kuehne said one of the reasons would be the <br />additional $1 million transferred from the General Fund to the Capital Projects <br />Fund. This money is planned for street resurfacing. The other is the Northwest <br />Highway/Wilke intersection improvements which is a very large project which the <br />Village is absorbing this year. Staff budgets projects but they do not always get <br />done but get forwarded to the next year. This figure may actually turn out to be <br />lower this year with next year’s being higher. For budgetary purposes, if there is a <br />possibility of the project being done this year then it is shown. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Farwell said that in speaking with Mr. Kuehne earlier it seems that the <br />current year in a five-year projection always seems to have a bump of some sort. <br />Mr. Kuehne explained that you always have a list of things that need to get done <br />but they don’t always get done because of weather, design issues or a grant does <br />not come in. The project tends to get pushed off a little bit more which tends to <br />flatten the peak a little more into the future. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg said there seems to be a lot of bicycle path maintenance. Mr. <br />Kuehne said there are a group of these requests that depend on Safe Routes to <br />School funding. These were put in the CIP as expenditures and they have been <br />shown on the revenue side for grants. If the grants do not come in then the <br />requests will not get done. The other requests will be funded out of the Bicycle <br />Commission requests for funding for improvements to the bike system. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Farwell asked if staff has received any kind of requests to look into the <br />South Arlington Heights Road/Street beautification. Bill Enright, Deputy Director of <br />Planning &amp; Community Development, said there is money budgeted under one of <br />the projects that are planned for beautification in the major arterials. The only one <br />that is real definitive is Northwest Highway near Davis. <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Kuehne explained that the Motor Fuel Tax Fund is consistent from year to year <br />with t<br />
he Street Rehabilitation Program expense coming in at about $2 million each <br />year. This Fund is fairly similar to what was seen last year. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg said the Boeger Drive Extension has been labeled “DISC” and <br />was wondering if this is a project that staff expected to be done. Mr. Massarelli <br />said, yes, it will be completed. It is still necessary to purchase some property, <br />which is in court right now, before the project can be completed. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder commended staff for being more aggressive and seeking out <br />grants to help with the road projects, along with the utilization of Federal funds. <br />&nbsp;<br />Mr. Kuehne pointed out that a lot of information had been provided for the Water &amp; <br />Sewer Fund. In the past couple of years there has been discussion on this Fund and <br />the operating expenses increasing over the years as well as the significant capital <br />expenditures. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 9 <br />There has been no rate increase for ten years. At this time it is necessary to <br />consider a rate increase for the future for the financial stability of this Fund. Various <br />scenarios have been outlined for consideration. A survey has also been included of <br />various municipalities and what their water and sewer rates are. The survey does <br />show that the Village is close to the average for water rates but significantly under <br />the average for sewer rates. It is necessary to look at the combined rate as that is <br />the flow of revenue for the water and sewer system. The Village is significantly <br />under on the combined rate with the Village rate being $4 per 1,000 gallons with <br />the average for other communities being $4.55. The charts that have been provided <br />help to show what an increase would do in the long term. Staff has recommended <br />some multi-year increases. <br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder said one of the concerns of the Board is justification of an <br />increase, which has already begun. Mr. Kuehne pointed out that there have been <br />ongoing discussions with the City of Evanston concerning a possible increase, and <br />staff is not sure where this will end up. Mr. Dixon said that Evanston is the Village’s <br />source of Lake Michigan water. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />President Mulder said that the philosophy has always been to charge what it <br />actually costs. A number of mandates have come out from National Security <br />making sure the water supplies are secure. There are a number of things that are <br />being required. President Mulder asked if that is part of the reason why the Village <br />cannot absorb the additional expenses. Mr. Kuehne said there have been mandates, <br />but after ten years of no revenue increases the day of reckoning has come. There is <br />still a good fund balance in the Fund but staff is trying to be proactive so they will <br />not have to come to the Board and say that rates need to be increased a significant <br />amount. Staff is proposing more moderate rate increases over a longer period of <br />time. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Hayes asked if a recommendation was being looked for at this meeting or <br />not until November. Mr. Dixon said this is a first see for the Board tonight. If the <br />Board has a clear sentiment that they are interested in this, then it should be <br />brought out for discussion. The Board may prefer to mull this issue over first and <br />then do something in November. Trustee Hayes said he feels the time is right after <br />ten years to get the Village’s rates in line with the average of what other <br />communities are doing. He would like to wait until November in order to have time <br />to look over the various options. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Hayes asked why the Federal Stormwater Regulation Measures are listed as <br />“Essential” as opposed to “Obligated”, and exactly what is it. Dennis Bowe said the <br />Village has a permit from the U.S. E.P.A. for an operation that is called Municipal <br />Separate Storm Sewer System. Attached to that permit are various regulations to <br />optimize or improve water quality. Many are simply public outreach programs. The <br />Village is audited twice a year by I.E.P.A. to see if they are doing best management <br />practices to optimize stormwater quality. The Village is receiving the minimum <br />amount of money to comply with the regulations until they become more specific. <br />Mr. Kuehne said the category will be changed from Essential to Obligated. <br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 10 <br />Trustee Farwell said this is one fund that is negatively impacted by the pension <br />requirements that the Village has. Trustee Farwell said he would like to see an <br />analysis over the course of a year showing potential expense reductions and the <br />negative impact they would cause. This might be a prudent time to bring up issues <br />so the Board will be ready next summer to see if there are any cost cutting <br />measures that may be instituted. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg asked if staff has a recommendation from the options that were <br />provided. Mr. Kuehne said that the first option was prepared to show what it would <br />take to get the Village to the average of where everyone else is now in one year. At <br />the end of five years; however, it does not provide coverage of operating or capital <br />expenditures. The staff recommendation is Exhibit W-6 which shows five years of <br />moderate increases and it addresses the operating and capital needs for the entire <br />time. Exhibit W-7 also does that but it appeared to generate more money than is <br />required. <br />&nbsp; <br />Trustee Rosenberg asked what the average resident increase would be for their <br />water bill. Mr. Kuehne referenced Exhibit W-8 which showed the estimated <br />increases. Mr. Dixon said the Board may choose to deal with the first couple of <br />years and reserve the right to revisit the issue. Typically, when working with the <br />Board, it has always been in two to five year time frames. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />The Board agreed to revisit this issue in November and be ready with their <br />suggestions. Mr. Dixon asked the Board if they were interested in doing what <br />Trustee Farwell suggested as far as the expense analysis. Trustee Farwell said the <br />analysis may help to define certain costs on the operations side of the Water &amp; <br />Sewer Fund that might bring the Operating Expenditures down a bit which then <br />helps the overall fund balance long term, just like what was recently done with the <br />General Fund. &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Farwell asked if the Automated Meter Reading program is as efficient and <br />fulfilling as anticipated. Mr. Bowe said the Village is going on its first year of <br />completion so there is not a real good handle. Intuitively, staff knows the new <br />meters are more accurate than the old ones. Right now it is not possible to quantify <br />what the savings are. The meter reading costs have gone down and are more <br />efficient. Mr. Bowe indicated that he could prepare an analysis on this program. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Scaletta asked what the North Garage security encompasses. Mr. Bowe said <br />that the Talk-A-Phone security devices will be installed throughout the garage <br />similar to the Vail Garage. It is a security call box for emergency purposes. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Rosenberg asked Mr. Enright what the big items were in the $1,382,400 <br />Downtown redevelopment project in TIF II. Mr. Enright said there were a couple of <br />recommendations from the Downtown Task Force. Decorative light poles have been <br />installed throughout Downtown and the Task Force is looking to possibly expand <br />this to different locations at the north end of Arlington Heights and along Northwest <br />Highway. There is also a recommendation for the closure of Miner Street between <br />Dunton and Northwest Highway to add a public plaza. <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />Committee-of-the-Whole <br />Minutes – October 8, 2007 <br />Page 11 <br />President Mulder said she would like to see “Discover Arlingto<br />
n” taken out of the <br />Arts, Entertainment &amp; Events Fund (A&amp;E). She said there were six other Trustees <br />who agreed with her comment. President Mulder said she would like to see this <br />money come out of the General Fund. Trustee Scaletta said it is necessary to re- <br />evaluate some of the events and their costs. Trustee Farwell said it would be a good <br />idea to try and get more sponsorships from the businesses. <br />&nbsp;<br />Trustee Farwell said that given the memo the Trustees received in their Friday <br />packets, he was wondering if some type of budget projection should be done for <br />repair of sculptures in the future. Trustee Jensen said it was almost justification to <br />stop the program. Mr. Dixon said the sculpture locations can be controlled better <br />and also a selection of sturdier sculptures the Village is willing to lease. <br />&nbsp;<br />TRUSTEE ROSENBERG MOVED, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE JENSEN, THAT THE <br />COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE RECOMMEND TO THE VILLAGE BOARD THAT <br />THE BOARD APPROVE THE FY2009-FY2013 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT <br />PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,856,000 AND THE FY2009 COMPONENT <br />IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,444,600. The motion carried unanimously. <br />&nbsp;<br />8. Other Business <br />&nbsp;<br />None <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made to adjourn the <br />meeting at 10:06 p.m. </p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2007/11/pge-one-test/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: http://www.w3-edge.com/wordpress-plugins/

Page Caching using disk: enhanced
Database Caching 1/9 queries in 0.006 seconds using memcached
Object Caching 240/248 objects using memcached

 Served from: www.arlingtoncardinal.com @ 2013-05-22 02:13:34 by W3 Total Cache -->