North Cook News

The city of Park Ridge Committee of the Whole met Jan. 9 to approve an engineering proposal.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the committee:

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING OF THE PARK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL 

PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY

CITY HALL 

COUNCIL CHAMBERS 

505 BUTLER PLACE PARK RIDGE, IL 60068

Monday, January 9, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

I. Roll Call

Acting Mayor Maloney called the meeting to order at 7:21 p.m.

City Clerk Henneman read the roll call and the following Elected Officials indicated their presence at the meeting: Aldermen Moran, Milissis, Van Roeyen, Shubert, Mazzuca and Acting Mayor Maloney. There was a quorum.

II. Citizens Who Wish to be Heard on a Non-Agenda Item

None.

III. Public Safety

Alderman Milissis recognized the Police Department as it was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

A. Action Items – Police None.

B. Discussion Items – Police None.

C. Department Head Report – Police 

1. Monthly Report – December 2016 Deputy Chief Mellema summarized the Department’s monthly activities noting that the Department had conducted a traffic study around Lutheran General Hospital and that two new officers were sworn in and were now at the Academy for training.

2. Complimentary Letters – December 2016 Deputy Chief Mellema noted the commendation for Officer Niemiec for a felony arrest.

Alderman Milissis stated that Chief Kaminski had received the Public/Private Liaison award at the Illinois Security Professional Association’s banquet.

3. Red Speed Monthly Reports – December 2016 Alderman Milissis noted that 56% of the citations were approved.

4. Citizen Corps Volunteer Report – December 2016 Alderman Milissis summarized volunteer hours for CERT, Citizens Patrol, Parent Patrol, and Police Explorers at 186 hours for December and 5,152 hours for 2016.

D. Action Items - Fire None.

E. Discussion Items – Fire None.

F. Department Head Report – Fire 

1. Quarterly Report – 4th Quarter 2016 Chief Sorensen stated that the Department had 4,868 incident responses in 2016, a record amount and up 10 responses from 2015. He noted that he was very pleased with the success of the Training Division and Captain Decker’s efforts in leading it.

2. Complimentary Letters – December 2016 Chief Sorensen noted that there were two complimentary letters received over the holidays and had included them in the packet.

IV. Public Works

A. Action Items 

1. Approval of Surveying and Engineering Proposal for the Northwest Highway (ITEP) Streetscape Grant with Spaceco Inc., in the amount of $84,070.00 Motion by Alderman Shubert, seconded by Alderman Moran.

Director Zingsheim stated that the first step of the ITEP grant process is to update the design plans, construction cost estimate, and incorporate new IDOT standards for lighting, handicap accessibility, and other construction standards that have been revised since the plans were first developed in 2010 by Spaceco Inc. and the cost for their services are still eligible for reimbursement under the previous (2010) grant. IDOT has authorized Spaceco Inc. to perform these services under the previous grant and therefore Spaceco is the pre-approved engineering firm under IDOT procurement procedures. Spaceco has submitted a proposal for the engineering services to update the plans and specifications for $87,070. IDOT has indicated that 80% of this amount is eligible for reimbursement from the previous grant and from the grant that was just received. The cost for the services is paid for up-front by the City and reimbursed at the end of the project by IDOT. If this proposal is approved, the revised cost and cost- shares will be submitted in the form of a Local Agency Agreement. This agreement will then come to Council for approval, and if approved, it would serve as the City’s official acceptance of the grant.

Discussion ensured on the continued use of Spaceco for this project and the City’s flexibility in revising the plans.

Alderman Mazucca stated that he would like to see this project bid out.

Motion carried, 5/1, by voice vote with Alderman Mazzuca being the nay vote.

B. Discussion Items 

1. CBBEL Update on Stormwater Master Plan Jeff Julkowski, of Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. (CBBEL), gave a PowerPoint presentation updating the status of the Stormwater Master Plan. Attached is a copy of the presentation. There will be an Open House at City Hall on January 30 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The Open House would be staffed by CBBEL engineers and will provide the opportunity for one-on-one discussions with residents.

Mr. Julkowski stated that the direction from the City’s proposal had been for a standardized minimum level of protection. This would be done by looking at test areas and extrapolating it out over the city at various levels. He noted that then the next step would be for the Council to determine what that level of protection should be.

Discussion ensued on flood protection levels and gathering survey responses.

2. Recommendation from Bike Task Force to Update the City’s 2005 Bike Plan Director Zingsheim stated that at the December 19, 2016 Council meeting the Bike Task Force brought forward a proposal for updating the 2005 City Bike Plan. They provided a proposal from Ride Illinois (RI) and Active Transportation Alliance (ATA) at an approximate cost of $8,000.00.

At this time staff is seeking direction from the Committee on whether this would be considered a sole source expenditure, does the Committee want staff to send the item to Procurement in order to obtain three (3) quotes, or do they wish to have this item come back for action on a contract with RI and ATA as requested by the Bike Task Force. As this is an unbudgeted expenditure, when a contract is approved, a budget amendment would be required at a future Finance Committee meeting.

Discussion ensued on sole source requirements and obtaining quotes from other firms.

Acting City Manager Gilmore noted that another firm might have a different approach to updating the study. He stated that a statement of work could be developed, with input from the Task Force, and Procurement could work on obtaining three quotes to update the Bike Plan.

Joe DeYoung, 205 Glenlake and member of the Bike Task Force, clarified that the $8,000 proposal from RI and ATA is for a revised plan of record.

Consensus was reached for staff to develop a statement of work, with input from the Task Force, and to have Procurement obtain three quotes to update the Bike Plan.

3. Recommendation from Bike Task Force on Bike Parking Director Zingsheim stated that at the December 19, 2016 Council meeting staff was directed to bring back for discussion the Bike Task Force’s proposal for the implementation of Phase I of biking parking expansion. The Task Force has identified locations they feel need additional bike racks and shelters. Phase 1 includes replacing existing racks at the Uptown Train Station, adding racks along Northwest Highway, and adding two (2) shelters for covered parking. They estimate the total cost to be $7,300 for the bike racks and $27,900 for the shelters, for a total cost of $35,200.

Acting City Manager Gilmore noted that bike parking would not be part of Gewalt Hamilton’s Uptown Parking Study recommendations.

Alderman Moran commented on the potential for grant opportunities when the study has been updated.

Acting Mayor Maloney stated that he felt this $27,000 expenditure for Phase 1 should be part of the budget process.

Alderman Shubert noted that all three Phases for bike parking could be included in the budget process.

Consensus was reached to include bike parking in budget discussions.

4. Recommendation from Bike Task Force on Storm Drains Director Zingsheim stated that at the December 19, 2016 Council meeting staff was directed to bring back for discussion the Bike Task Force’s recommendation for the replacement of storm drains. The Task Force has identified a perceived safety concern regarding combination style inlet frames and grates and have created an initial list of 18 inlets that they consider to be unsafe that are on bike routes; staff is waiting for a more extensive list. He noted that replacing the entire structure would include the following: new precast, rings, breakout of street, reattach lateral sewer pipes, repour of curb and street openings in concrete, and asphalting the finished project. Each inlet would take a crew one day, with an asphalt crew following behind a few days later. Staff believes this to be an expensive project that would keep crews from other imperative issues.

He continued that when measured (length, width and depth), the City may be able to replace the lids only with standard covers in a different pattern. This would not be as labor intensive. The issues would be finding a standard grate to fit the existing opening and if the Council felt it appropriate to spend $150-$200 per inlet lid for a structure that we have had no problems with in the past.

He stated that staff has inspected the 18 initial inlets and found that only five are standard and two need to have the whole structure replaced as they are starting to fail. He suggested replacing the five lids, as long as there is no warping. Crews will be replacing the structures on the two that are failing. When a more extensive list is prepared, staff will examine those lids for replacement as well.

Consensus was reached to replace the five lids.

5. Hardship Exceptions to Resident Parking Ordinance Director Zingsheim stated that at the November 28, 2016 Committee of the Whole Meeting, staff was directed to bring to the Committee for discussion the establishment of hardship exceptions to the Resident Parking Ordinance, 13-13-3 of the Municipal Code. Council Policy Statement #19 establishes further guidelines for these permits. Currently the Police Department handles exceptions for daily guest parking; there is no policy in place for ‘long term’ or ‘hardship’ exceptions. He detailed possible hardship exceptions to include caretakers, long term/frequent family visitors, long term contractors, company owned/leased vehicles that are registered elsewhere, and cars registered to a Park Ridge address that is different from where the driver resides. If the Council wishes to establish exceptions, staff recommends revising CPS #19 to reflect the new policy.

Alderman Mazzuca has asked that staff include in this discussion resident parking on Peterson, adjacent to the area where the street narrows, between South Greenwood and South Western. Resident(s) in this area are seeking the ability to obtain resident parking permits to allow them to park on the resident restricted section of Peterson. This has not been allowed in the past, as they do not abut a restricted street, per 13-13-2 of the Municipal Code. Currently, this area of Peterson is No Parking on both sides, from 1411 Peterson to Western, per 13-11-1 of the Municipal Code.

Alderman Mazucca summarized the parking issue on Peterson and recommended that a determined set of hardships be established that qualify for exceptions.

Discussion ensued on the need for exceptions, as well qualifying hardships, and the process for approving exceptions.

John Dambro, 311 Grant, detailed his issues and need for a resident parking sticker for one of his vehicles that is registered out of state and does not have a city sticker.

Consensus was reached to have staff develop hardship exception language for review at the January 23 Procedures and Regulations Committee meeting.

C. Department Head Report 1. MWRD Rain Barrel Update Director Zingsheim stated that the City has sent in its final order for MWRD’s free rain barrel program. In total, 670 orders were placed for 1,777 rain barrels thru the City over a 16-month period. MWRD has now returned to its earlier program of selling rain barrels at cost thru their website.

Director Zingsheim stated that Superintendent Miller had applied for an energy efficiency grant thru the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus Public Sector Energy Efficiency program, in partnership with 360 Energy Group, for the Parking Lot Lighting Project. The City has received notification that they have been awarded a grant of $3,980 for this project.

Director Zingsheim stated that Waste Connections has purchased Groot Industries, the City’s waste hauler. There will be no changes to the City’s program.

Alderman Moran asked for an update on the pedestrian lighting replacement on Prospect Avenue. Director Zingsheim stated that he had received word that the company will be mobilizing soon with the project complete in approximately six weeks.

Director Zingsheim stated that the City would collect Christmas trees for chipping the week of January 9, 2017 on the regular refuse collection day. Trees for recycling are to be placed at the curb.

V. Other City Business

None.

VI. New Business

None.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.