Village of Northbrook Board of Trustees met Dec. 11.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
1. ROLL CALL
| Attendee Name | Title | Status |
| Sandra Frum | Village President | Present |
| James Karagianis | Trustee | Present |
| A.C. Buehler | Trustee | Present |
| Kathryn Ciesla | Trustee | Absent |
| Bob Israel | Trustee | Present |
| Muriel Collison | Trustee | Present |
| Jason Han | Trustee | Present |
3. MINUTES APPROVAL
A. Board of Trustees - Regular Meeting - Nov 13, 2018 7:30 PM
RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: A.C. Buehler, Trustee
SECONDER: Muriel Collison, Trustee
AYES: Frum, Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSENT: Ciesla
4. HEAR FROM AUDIENCE
Herb Brenner of Northbrook spoke about the County Minimum Wage, which was discussed at the last meeting. Mr. Brenner feels the Board disenchanted 14,000 voters of Northbrook, for the second time. Mr. Brenner also addressed the letter sent by Representatives, stating that when the State takes this issue up, it is going to take this up at $10.00 per hour because they will be comparing Northbrook to other areas, which do not have as high housing costs as Northbrook. If this is not taken up by the Board, in 2020 the minimum wage approved will be $10.00 per hour. Based on the Cook County Minimum Wage, employees should be making $12.00 per hour and they would only be making $10.00 per hour.
MANAGER'S REPORT
None.
WARRANT LIST
Review and Approval of Payments to be Made
Trustee Karagianis moved to approve Class A Warrants totaling $687,448.73 for the period November 1st through November 15, 2018 and Class B Warrants for the period November 1st through November 15, 2018 totaling $9,898,089.77. Class A Warrants for the period November 16th through November 30, 2018 totaling $746,191.62 and a Class B total from the same period totaling $1,654,523.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: James Karagianis, Trustee
SECONDER: Bob Israel, Trustee
AYES: Frum, Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSENT: Ciesla
B. Review of Frontage Deposit List Dated November 14, 2018
Trustee Karagianis moved to approve Frontage Deposit Refunds for November 14, 2018 totaling $17,400 and November 29, 2018 totaling $5,500.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: James Karagianis, Trustee
SECONDER: Bob Israel, Trustee
AYES: Frum, Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSENT: Ciesla
C. Review and Approval of Payments to be Made
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: James Karagianis, Trustee
SECONDER: Bob Israel, Trustee
AYES: Frum, Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSENT: Ciesla
D. Review of Frontage Deposit List Dated November 29, 2018
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: James Karagianis, Trustee
SECONDER: Bob Israel, Trustee
AYES: Frum, Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSENT: Ciesla
7. PRESIDENT'S REPORT
A. Chamber of Commerce Presentation
Tensley Garris, Northbrook Chamber of Commerce gave a presentation showing the Chamber's Holiday Marketing Campaign. The campaign commercial will target women ages 45 - 65, it will air November 26 - 30 across the North shore, it will air on thirteen popular networks, i.e., A&E, AMC, Bravo, etc. The commercial can also be seen on a wide range of digital platforms as well as websites. The commercial will air over 1,500 times during the holiday season for an estimated 518,000 impressions. Ms. Garris introduced Nickie the Northbrook Shopping Elf, a Facebook persona created about four years ago to spotlight retail activities, restaurant specials and community events. Another form of the holiday campaign will be print media; a four-page insert was included in the Northbrook Tower and the Glenview Lantern.
President Frum mentioned that she was invited by Mr. Elrod to attend the Chicago Bar Association Event and wanted to comment that it was wonderful.
President Frum stated that last night she attended the Civic Annual Dinner and she presented an award to Debbie Ford for her extensive volunteer work the past few years as the Civic Foundation Scholarship Committee Chairperson.
RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED
B. Northbrook Court Redevelopment Update
President Frum stated that for the last several months since the initial plans for the Northbrook Court were submitted to the Village Board in September, she and Staff have been meeting with the current owners, Brookfield properties, to discuss their proposal for a public/private partnership and redevelopment of the mall. Northbrook Court, in addition to being an economic engine of the Village, is also the largest anchor of the Northbrook tax base. Its success is essential to the fiscal well-being of the community. After meeting with the owners of Northbrook Court, the only way for this mall to remain viable and vibrant is for it to change. To maintain this economic engine and protect Northbrook's tax base in the years to come, real investment is needed. Brookfield properties has advised that it has formed a joint venture with the residential developer, Ryan Companies and together they are proposing to make a substantial investment, more than $250 million into Northbrook Court. As part of the financial package, they are proposing a public/private partnership that includes tax increment financing and a partial sales tax rebate. Over the past month, President Frum has been working with the Village Manager and Staff, the Village Attorney and a financial consultant to analyze an economic partnership with the developer. The goal is to secure the revitalization of Northbrook Court, without creating risk to the Village's prosperity and stability and without any exposure to the Village's General Fund. The land use and zoning issues relating to Northbrook Court will be thoroughly reviewed by the Plan Commission and public hearings will be held before coming back to the Village Board to review for final decision. The economic incentive request will proceed on a separate concurrent track. The terms that the Village Attorney will be stating tonight have not been finalized; nothing is on the agenda for approval tonight.
Attorney Steve Elrod went into detail describing the redevelopment proposal. There is a joint venture consisting of Brookfield Properties and Ryan Companies, a residential developer. The development concerns essentially the Macy's site. The actual development project consists of two components. First, is the redevelopment project, the replacement of the existing Macy's building and a portion of the parking lot to the west and south of the Macy's building, with a new development that itself will have two components, first is a retail center of approximately 178,000 sq. ft. of retail including multiple sit down restaurants, a public green space, a grocery store of approximately 70,000 sq. ft. and a food hall. The other component of the redevelopment project is a residential complex, with approximately three hundred high-end rental apartments consisting of five stories over a two-story enclosed parking facility. The second part of the project is the mall renovation project, which is a renovation of the remainder of the mall, both exterior and interior renovations including flooring, lighting, etc. The developer has indicated that the cost for these two projects is as follows: Retail portion, the new retail center and the mall renovation is estimated at $142 million. Residential portion is estimated to be $109 million. The overall cost of the project is approximately $250 million. The project will require zoning relief, including a text amendment and site plan amendments in the C4 district. Village Staff has been reviewing the public benefits of the project, including the increased municipal tax revenue and permit fees that will go directly to the Village, job creation and retention. This will be a public/private partnership, the Village and the joint venture team will be in partnership and the partnership would consist of tax increment financing and sales tax financing. The developer initially requested public financing of $32 million to help with its $250 million price tag. They requested $24 million in tax increment financing and $8 million in a sales tax rebate. During the months of October and November, the Village’s review team that was designated by the Board consisting of the Village Manager and his Finance and Community Development Staff Members, President Frum and Trustee Ciesla and the Village's Financial Consultant as well as Attorney Elrod's law firm, extensively reviewed the performance of the developers, their financial information and had several meetings with the developers. Based on those meetings, the developer refined its proposal and is now requesting a total economic development incentive request of $27 million in total, which breaks down to $21.5 million in tax increment financing and $5.5 million in sales tax rebate. The sales tax rebate of $5.5 million will have a built-in protection of the Village's existing tax base. The Village will first determine what is the tax base today at Northbrook Court for sales tax generation. The Village will also determine what incremental costs the Village will incur in terms of additional municipal services, i.e., police and fire for this proposed new development. The sales tax rebate will only occur for that amount that is above the existing tax base and above the determined municipal service increment. So, the Village will be protected under this scenario that was negotiated with the developer for 100% of its existing sales tax base from Northbrook Court. In respect to tax increment financing, this concerns the real estate taxes. Unlike a sales tax rebate, tax increment financing is not a rebate of taxes nor is it a reduction of taxes rather it is a vehicle that is a reallocation of the property taxes once they are collected. There are certain eligibility standards and requirements for the creation of a tax increment financing district, this proposal would envision a redevelopment project area, preliminarily called the Northbrook Court Redevelopment Project Area. It would not include any other portion of Northbrook Court. Kane McKenna, the Village's Financial Consultant will be studying this area. There are numerous standards in the Illinois Tax Increment Financing Statute. To qualify, you must meet at least five of those standards. Once a tax increment financing is created, the equalized assessed valuation of the area gets set and determined and that becomes the tax increment base. Real estate taxes continue to be assessed and paid by the owner as usual. Once the real estate tax is collected for an area that has been established as a tax increment financing area that tax revenue is allocated to the applicable taxing districts in a special and unique way. The amount up to that base continues to go to all the taxing districts as before. The taxing districts include the Village, Cook County, the park district, the elementary schools, the high school district, the MWRD and all the other tax districts. Any amount above the base, will go directly into a fund called the Tax Increment Fund. That amount is called the increment. It is the increment in the tax fund that will be used to pay the $21.5 million requested by the developer. No other funds from the Village will be used to pay that amount. That amount will be paid to the developer only for tax increment financing eligible expenses and only when the developer incurs those expenses. This is known as a pay as you go tax increment financing. The transaction as proposed, calls for the Village to issue one or more non-recourse tax increment financing revenue notes to the developer in the principal amount of $21.5 million. It's non-recourse because the owner of that note can look only to the tax increment that may be generated in the tax increment financing fund for repayment of his/her note. If there is no increment, the holder does not get repaid. Under Illinois Statute the tax increment financing payments to the developer are net of certain statutory set aside payments that must be made to the school districts, up to 40% off the top of the tax increment must be used to pay for any school aged children in the district that reside in the development. To create a tax increment financing district, a complex public process must be followed. First, a written analysis must be performed to determine the eligibility. Once complete it must be made available for public inspection. Second, the Village Board must initiate an interested party’s registration system, where people who are interested in making comments about the tax increment financing can sign up and be heard. The Village Board must initiate a public Joint Review Board Process. The Joint Review Board is composed of representatives from each affected taxing body and one at large representative. Third, the Joint Review Board must hold a public meeting and make a recommendation to the Village Board. Fourth, the Village Board must hold a public hearing pursuant to very strict and extensive notice provisions that are sent out in the statute. Fifth, the tax increment financing is ultimately approved at a public meeting by the adoption of three separate ordinances.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
RESULT: ADOPTED [5 TO 0]
MOVER: Bob Israel, Trustee
SECONDER: A.C. Buehler, Trustee
AYES: Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSTAIN: Frum
ABSENT: Ciesla
A. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-146
A Resolution Approving the Purchase of New Servers from Hewlett Packard Enterprise
B. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-147
A Resolution Authorizing the Annual Payment of the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement through CDW-G
C. RESOLUTION W/ NO MEMO NO. 2018-148
A Resolution Ratifying a Four-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Northbrook Professional Firefighters Association, Local 1894
D. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-149
A Resolution Authorizing Purchase and Installation of 123 Door Handles at Crestwood Place By American Building Services, LLC of Wheeling, IL
E. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-150
Resolution Approving Release of Closed Session Meeting Minutes
F. ORDINANCE NO. 2018-65
An Ordinance Granting Special Permit Approval for a Dance Studio in excess of 2,500 square feet in ICS District(1948 Raymond Drive – Soorya Dance School)
G. ORDINANCE NO. 2018-61
An Ordinance Vacating Portions of Henrici Drive Right-of-Way Adjacent to 430 Dundee Road
H. ORDINANCE NO. 2018-62
Voluntarily Annexing Certain Territory Contiguous to the Village of Northbrook and Establishing Zoning Thereof (3787 Walters Avenue)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
9. PLANNING/ZONING
A. A public hearing to consider the request to renew and transfer the Special Permit Ordinance No. 08- 28 for Fred Astaire Dance Studio at 4187-4189 Dundee Road.
Trustee Karagianis opened the Public Hearing. Hearing no comments from the public, Trustee Karagianis moved, seconded by Trustee Buehler to close the Public Hearing. On voice vote, all were in favor.
B. An Ordinance Approving the Renewal of Ordinance No. 08-28 Granting a Special Permit for the Operation of a Dance Studio with a Gross Floor Area in Excess of 2,500 Square Feet at 4187-4189 Dundee Road (Sanders Court Shopping Center)
RESULT: ADOPTED [5 TO 0]
MOVER: A.C. Buehler, Trustee
SECONDER: James Karagianis, Trustee
AYES: Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSTAIN: Frum
ABSENT: Ciesla
C. PRELIMINARY REVIEW - ZONING & DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
1. Preliminary Review of a Request for Lot Consolidation, Special Permit, Variations, and Site Plan Approval to Allow a Daycare Facility at 2005 and 2041 Techny Road
Michaela Kohlstedt reported that the subject property is zoned R2 - Single Family Residential and to the north is R4 and R2 Single Family Residential, to the east is C2 - Commercial also I1 with a mixed share of office and warehouse space. To the south and west is additional R2 - Single Family Residential. The Comprehensive Plan designates the property as appropriate for Single Family Residential. The property also falls within the south Shermer Road corridor special study area, which is an area designated for consideration of the complimentary land uses, and to limit the scale and density of development as it relates to the surrounding residential areas and to promote quality architecture. The subject property is not within the one-hundred-year flood plain and consists of 1.8 acres. Currently, there are two single family homes located on the subject property. In 2015, consideration of a preliminary review for an assisted living facility did not proceed past the preliminary review. In 2016, there was another application which did go through the formal application process for an assisted living facility. Ultimately, this application was denied by the Village Board based upon the density of the proposed assisted living facility. At that time, the subject property included two additional parcels located south of the current subject property.
Being proposed this evening is a daycare facility, proposed 12,870 sq. ft. single story structure that would operate Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. with approximately 20 to 25 staff members and would accommodate up to 175 kids, ranging in age from infancy to pre-kindergarten with the potential for after school care. The subject property includes 47 parking stalls located along the north and east side of the property. The building is centrally located and in the southwest corner of the property is the proposed outdoor play area. The applicant is proposing one ground sign located in the northeast corner of the subject property, the corner of Techny and Shermer. The subject property includes access off both Techny and Shermer Road, with the applicant proposing full access at both of those points. In addition to the building and the parking with the outdoor play area, the applicant is proposing a privacy fence screening along the west and south side of the subject property to provide screening of the outdoor play area. The applicant plans on preserving as many of the mature trees as possible on the subject property. The relief that would be necessary would be a lot consolidation, two parcels into one and a Special Permit approval to allow a day care by Special Permit in the R2 District. This use would require a major variance to allow for an increase in the permitted lot coverage to exceed 50%. The applicant is requesting a waiver to not bury the overhead utility wires that are located on the frontage along Shermer and Techny. There are three-yard variations needed to accommodate the parking on the subject property.
Trustee Karagianis feels that the lot consolidation would not be a problem, but the number of students may be a problem and the hours of operation. He is concerned about the traffic flow in and out of there. The issue of storm water management would be paramount in this because there is going to be so much lot coverage and he doesn't like the issues of the yard variations, he feels it is entirely too much development for that corner. He is not in favor of this as proposed, he does not have an issue with the use.
Trustee Buehler also feels that the lot consolidation would be fine. He would like to see the lot coverage engineered so that it didn't exceed the 50%, if the playground area were a permeable material they could work around that instead of going for a variance on that. He is also concerned about the ingress and the egress.
Trustee Israel is also concerned about the coverage, storm water management, parking access and egress. He likes that this is a lower intensity use and is a single-story structure, but he is conflicted because he feels it would be commercializing a corner in a residential area.
Trustee Collison agrees with Trustee Israel. She understands there is a need for this type of use, but she doesn't like putting something commercial in this area. She would like to see what happens with the Plan Commission.
Trustee Han had nothing else to add feels the same as the other Trustees. President Frum does not have a problem with the use but does have a problem
with the size, traffic, setbacks, parking, access, lot coverage, the detention, the trees and the need to speak with the neighbors. There are just too many issues on this subject property.
2. Preliminary Review of a request by Banjo's Self Dog Wash for a Special Permit Amendment for a dog grooming business at 527 Dundee Road
Swati Pandey, Senior Planner reported that the applicant is requesting a Special Permit amendment to a previously approved Ordinance, to allow a dog wash facility at 527 Dundee Road. This is a two-tenant commercial building which was approved in 2010, with several zoning approvals such as the increased FAR for the building, variations including a parking variation and Special Permit for automotive detailing facility, such as a car wash and a dry cleaning drop off facility. The 2010 Ordinance was renewed in 2015 with a ten-year term which is set to expire in 2025. The dry-cleaning drop-off facility has moved out and this vacant unit is being proposed by the applicant to be occupied by a dog wash facility.
The Special Permit amendment is required because the two uses previously in the building were authorized through the Ordinance and therefore, the amendment is requested to allow the dog wash to replace the dry cleaning facility. The dog wash facility or dog grooming business is a permitted use on the property which is zoned C2 Neighborhood Commercial. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the property for community retail. The proposed project includes a dog wash business with two indoor cleaning stations. The hours of operation include 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 7 days a week. There is a minor modification to the hours since the applicant submitted the narrative which was 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and has now changed it to 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There will be one employee on site with no outdoor activity and the required parking for the new use will be the same as the previous tenant. Therefore, the 17% parking variation which was requested previously, still holds true. The applicant is also requesting to amend the hours of operation for the car wash facility with the amendment of the Ordinance at this time. The previous hours were Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the new request is to allow 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week for the car wash facility.
Trustee Karagianis feels that this is a great idea, the hours proposed are acceptable. A reasonable term should be considered for the special permit.
Trustee Buehler also doesn't have any problems with this. A term up to year 2025 would be acceptable to him.
Trustee Israel is fine with this.
Trustee Collison does not have any issues with this either. Trustee Han agrees that this is a good idea.
President Frum doesn't have a problem with this but would like to have Plan Commission review parking for the property.
10. PUBLIC SAFETY
None.
11. ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE
A. Review and Approval of the November 13, 2018 Administration and Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
Trustee Karagianis moved, seconded by Trustee Israel to approve the minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting on November 13, 2018. On voice vote, all were in favor.
B. Public Hearing - 2018 Tax Levy
Trustee Karagianis read the Illinois Truth and Taxation Law requires that we calculate our estimated levy increase at least twenty days prior to the adoption. If the calculated increase is expected to exceed 105% of the previous year's levy we are required to publish specific notices and conduct a public hearing prior to the adoption of the levy Ordinance. At the November 13, 2018 meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee, the Board Members present unanimously recommended the levy on the agenda for approval tonight. Since the proposed levy exceeds 105% of last year's levy, the required public hearing notice was published in the Northbrook Tower on November 29, 2018. The proposed levy reflects a total increase of 5.63% while the general fund portion has remained flat. We'll be increasing our required contribution to police and fire pensions in accordance with recommendations from the bond rating agencies that we fund our obligations more aggressively than required by state law. The reason this levy is going up as much as it is, is primarily driven by our need to fund the pensions.
There were no comments from the public. Trustee Israel moved, second by Trustee Buehler to close the Public Hearing. All were in favor.
C. An Ordinance Levying Taxes for Corporate Purposes and Special Funds for the Current Fiscal Year commencing on the First Day of May, 2018, and Ending on the Thirtieth Day of April, 2019, for The Village of Northbrook, Illinois
RESULT: ADOPTED [5 TO 0]
MOVER: James Karagianis, Trustee
SECONDER: A.C. Buehler, Trustee
AYES: Karagianis, Buehler, Israel, Collison, Han
ABSTAIN: Frum
ABSENT: Ciesla
12. PUBLIC WORKS
Nothing to report.
13. COMMUNICATIONS AND LEGISLATION
None.
14. COMMUNITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
A. Verbal Report of the December 11, 2018 Community and Sustainability Meeting
Trustee Han stated that just before this Board Meeting, there was a Committee meeting that went over the Sustainability Plan along with the Greenest Region Compact Two. Staff helped the Committee to identify five goals from the Greenest Region Compact Two that the Committee could implement and the Committee voted that those five goals should be considered as part of the budget.
15. REMARKS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
None.
16. CLOSED SESSION
Trustee Israel moved, seconded by Trustee Buehler to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 pm. On voice vote, all were in favor.
17. ADJOURN
http://northbrookil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=1396&Inline=True
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