Village of Glencoe Committee of the Whole met April 20.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
I. Call to Order and Roll Call
The Committee of the Whole Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Glencoe was called to order by the President of the Village of Glencoe, Cook County, Illinois, at 5:32 p.m. on the 20th day of April, 2017, in the Village Hall Conference Room. The following were in attendance:
Attendee Name; Title; Status:
Village Board-
Lawrence Levin; Village President; Present
Trent Cornell; Trustee; Present
Barbara Miller; Trustee; Present
Peter Mulvaney; Trustee; Present
Scott Pearce; Trustee; Present
Dale Thomas; Trustee; Present
Jonathan Vree; Trustee; Present
Village Staff-
Philip Kiraly; Village Manager; Present
Steven Elrod; Village Attorney; Arrived at 5:50 p.m.
Sharon Tanner; Assistant Village Manager; Present
David Clark; Director of Finance; Present
Megan Hoffman; Management Analyst; Present
Cary Lewandowski; Director of Public Safety; Present
Denise Joseph; Assistant to the Finance Director; Present
David Mau; Director of Public Works; Present
Adam Hall; Management Analyst; Present
Laura Boll; Management Analyst/Deputy Village Clerk; Present
II. Public Comment
There were no comments from the public.
III. Discussion on Mobile Food Service Vendors
Management Analyst Laura Boll provided an overview of this topic, reminding the Board that staff has received a number of inquiries from residents and business owners regarding food trucks and mobile food service push carts in the downtown. Ms. Boll explained that food trucks especially have been an emerging trend in Chicago and the suburbs, however current Village Zoning Code regulations state that all sales in the downtown must take place in an enclosed building which does allow for the operation of mobile food service vendors, and any sales outside of the business district are not allowed. To date the Village has permitted a limited number of food trucks and vendor push carts through the Special Event permit process. She explained that discussion of this topic and consideration of regulations are in line with the strategic priority of commercial vitality as well as the downtown plan’s goal to review the Zoning Code to fit the changing needs of businesses. Options to regulate mobile food service vendors were presented which included designating locations, limiting the number and duration of the placement of food trucks, and the requirement of a permit process include fee and inspection.
Trustees expressed interest in allowing and regulating mobile food service vendors as well as concern over designating areas and competition with businesses. Manager Kiraly added that staff would not recommend designating locations near existing food establishments. Additionally, a first step would be outreach to restaurants and the Chamber of Commerce.
Jason Walsh, owner of Tudor Wine Bar, 338 Tudor Court, shared that he would like to have ability to see food trucks be allowed to sign up for time slots and locations and thinks there could be a good market for them in Glencoe. He suggested that other locations outside of downtown should be considered including Central Park and Lakefront Park.
Lou Rubin of 949 Valley Road added that he is also in support of allowing food trucks and sidewalk push carts but would not want to see the flood gates open. He agreed that regulation of quantity and designating locations would address this. He added that his son’s sidewalk vendor cart which was permitted to operate last summer under a special event permit received overwhelming support from the community and business owners.
Trustee Miller asked if options to regulate locations outside of the downtown could be integrated into an ordinance to be broader and more inclusive. Trustee Mulvaney added that he is in favor of this concept given the right constraints, as this fits with the strategic priority of commercial vitality. Trustee Miller asked if staff can research and share comparable fees and permits in other communities. Manager Kiraly replied that staff will look into this as well as what Glencoe can do as a non-home rule community to further regulate these uses. He added that in the interim staff will continue to use the special event permit process and will come back to the Board with a draft ordinance, likely this summer. The Board agreed that this would be appropriate.
IV. Coal Tar Driveway Sealant Regulation
Management Analyst Adam Hall reported that the Sustainability Task Force has discussed options to regulate coal tar sealants in Glencoe which are used on asphalt driveways. Highland Park, Wilmette and Winnetka have banned the use of coal tar sealants, however Glencoe is not able to as a non-home rule community. Staff has been researching whether coal tar sealants can be regulated under the Village’s nuisance ordinance as an alternative. In order to determine that they are a nuisance under this ordinance, it must established with facts that coal tar sealants are harmful. He added that this would also be difficult to enforce as the Federal and State governments have not made this determination.
Given that an outright ban of these sealants is not possible due to the Village’s lack of authority, Mr. Hall reported that the Village can educate residents on the topic through the Glencoe Quarterly and other tools.
Trustee Thomas said he would not know if his driveway contractor uses coal tar and that likely other residents also do not know, and given this education seems a good place to start. Manager Kiraly suggested that use of coal tar may be decreasing as neighboring towns have banned it. He added that education and lobbying for state legislation could be good options to address coal tar concerns.
President Levin stated that there is not a high cost to educating residents to ask their contractors to use asphalt instead of coal. Trustee Pearce suggested including an article in the Glencoe Quarterly on this and other things residents can do to support the goals of the Sustainability Task Force.
Trustee Mulvaney suggested that working directly with contractors in the industry as well as educating residents could be effective. Trustee Cornell agreed that contractors could market it as the more green option which may be appealing to Glencoe residents.
V. Staff Report on Evaluation of Plan Review and Inspection Services
Public Works Director Dave Mau reported to the Board that staff is reviewing ways to reorganize the Building and Zoning Division of the Public Works Department with the upcoming retirement of Building and Zoning Administrator John Houde. This reorganization includes looking to an outside vendor for building permit reviews and inspections including compliance with all codes and permit regulations in the Village Zoning Code. Recently these services have been provided by Safebuilt for redundancy and to backfill extended leaves. A number of advantages to using an outside vendor were discussed, including access to certified and licensed plan reviewers and inspectors, and improved ability to meet metrics for permit turnaround time. Village staff believes these services can be provided in a way that is consistent with historical practices and trademark Village services.
Mr. Mau reported that a request for proposals was issued for plan review and inspection services. After responses are reviewed staff plans to recommend a contract at the May Village Board meeting. Trustee Pearce asked if this will be cost neutral with greater capacity, Director Mau replied that is the expectation.
Trustee Mulvaney asked if a potential contract with a selected vendor could be amended to add green building codes should the Village adopt them in the future. Director Mau stated that staff would have the ability to expand the scope. Manager Kiraly added that these firms are more easily suited to manage new codes and get certified faster than the Village would be able to.
VI. Other Items for Discussion
Trustee Vree reported that a resident has brought the topic of Village services on private streets to his attention. He stated that during the financial crisis in 2008-2010, services such as snow plowing that had previously been provided by Village staff on private streets were removed. He noted that he would like to discuss with the Board whether the time had come to reconsider providing these services again as the cost savings seems minimal.
Trustees asked staff to share information about Glencoe’s private streets. Director Mau reported that Glencoe has nine private streets. None have curbs and gutters, some have marginal storm sewers, and pavement conditions vary. All are cul-de-sacs. Director Mau added that all private streets have the option to pay the Village for snow plowing services. All private streets either have a contractor or pay the Village for this.
President Levin recalled that the estimated cost savings of not providing services was between $18,000 and $20,000, but this was not tracked in detail.
Trustee Pearce asked if the Village can charge fees for service as is done with garbage and that his opinion is that it does not seem right to use public resources on private property. Director Mau replied that presently two of the nine private streets contract snow plowing services with the Village. Trustee Mulvaney agreed with the suggestion of fees for services. Trustee Cornell also agreed and stated that he would like to hear from these residents as a group before looking into this further. The Board agreed.
Trustee Cornell asked if staff is maintaining a list of projects that are affected by Glencoe’s home-rule status. Manager Kiraly replied that yes, staff is maintaining this list and will brief the Board at a future meeting.
VII. Adjourn
At 7:05 p.m. Trustee Thomas moved, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the meeting. Said motion passed with a unanimous voice vote.
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