Village Center Commission (No longer holds meetings)

APPROVED Village Center Commission Meeting Minutes February 4, 2015 A meeting of the Village Center Commission was held on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall Conference Room, 850 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, Illinois. Chairperson Jannes Zobus called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were: Garo Emerzian Joan Reed Janice Shaw Vicki Street Jannes Zobus, Chairperson Also present: Dan Nakahara, Associate Planner Jeri Cotton, Secretary Public Comment: There was no public comment on non-agenda items. Document Approval: Dr. Emerzian moved to approve the minutes from the November 8, 2014 VCC meeting. Ms. Zobus seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously with a minor correction. Business: 1. Discussion with Dawn Rummel of Moore Landscaping regarding the 2015 plantings in the Village Center Mr. Nakahara explained Moore Landscapes has the 2015 Village landscaping contract and will be handling this year’s Flower Planter Program. He introduced Dawn Rummel of Moore Landscapes. The commissioners welcomed Ms. Rummel and were very happy that Moore Landscaping was handling the planter program for the Village. Ms. Rummel briefly explained the flower planter program and commented that the black clay planters are sold in sets of two and work well for the merchant program. There are several merchants that have existing containers and Moore Landscapes will update the seasonal plantings four times for those merchants if those merchants decide to be a part of this year’s program. Ms. Rummel explained the Village approves the color palate for the plantings each year. Mr. Nakahara noted the Village will subsidize the Village Center Commission February 4, 2015 Page 2 of 3 first 20 merchants that are new to the program with a $50 subsidy. The one-time subsidy goes toward a set of planters. Ms. Street noted the Chamber will put information on Flower Planter program in the March Chamber newsletter. Ms. Rummel explained that as part of the program, Moore Landscapes will fertilize the plantings, but watering the plantings is the responsibility of the merchants. Ch. Zobus asked Ms. Street to send out periodic watering reminders through the Chamber newsletter to the merchants. Ms. Reed asked about the streetscape trees being removed on the south side of Deerfield Road, near Bobby’s. Ms. Rummel explained she is working with the Public Works Department on some low plantings. A discussion ensued that there is a possibility that planters will be put on the south side of Deerfield Road. Ch. Zobus requested that the VCC be able to review the planters before they are ordered. Ms. Reed noted the courtyard near Bobby’s was beautiful last year. She asked Ms. Rummel to try and discuss the courtyard plantings with the Village planters. The Commissioners are happy with the 2015 flower planter program and are looking forward to having beautiful planters in the Village this year. Ms. Reed asked about the entrance features into the Village. Ms. Rummel explained that plantings at the entrance features are part of landscape contract. Ms. Reed believes the entrance features have always looked very pretty. 2. Evaluation of Holiday Decorations and Holiday Events Mr. Nakahara noted the timing of taking down the holiday decorations this year. Ms. Reed believes the decorations came down at an appropriate time. Mr. Nakahara noted that originally only the trees trunks were to be wrapped with lights but it was later decided that the tree canopy would be wrapped as well. Ms. Reed noted it would have looked nicer if the entire tree canopy was wrapped with lights rather than half way up the canopy. She does not believe it the trees looked good this year because only half of the tree canopy was wrapped with lights. Mr. Nakahara explained that it is a cost and manpower issue on how the trees are wrapped with lights. Ms. Reed suggested wrapping every other tree next year instead of wrapping all of the trees if that will help with the trees being wrapped properly. This way, the trees that are decorated will be beautiful. Ms. Street commented that the lighted trees looked very nice this year when driving along Waukegan Road. Ch. Zobus asked Mr. Nakahara to pass along the Commission’s suggestions to the Public Works Department. Ms. Reed believes the greenery with the burgundy bows looked beautiful this year. Unfortunately, some of the greens turned brown before Christmas. Ch. Zobus noted there were some red bows mixed in with the burgundy bows. Ch. Zobus suggested only using one color (burgundy) bows next year. Dr. Emerzian suggested lighting the Village Center Commission February 4, 2015 Page 3 of 3 light posts instead of the trees. The commissioners commented that the holiday display at Deerfield Square looked nice. 3. Village Center Update Mr. Nakahara presented the Village Center Update. He briefly explained the Public Work’s efforts to keep the streets clear during the recent blizzard conditions, salting and plowing Saturday night and continuing until Monday morning. He noted that Public Work’s crews continue to keep the streets clear and safe during heavy snow conditions. The Commission thanked the Public Works Department for their hard work and their efforts. Lake Shore Recycling Systems will begin the commercial waste hauling contract in May and each business in the Village is entitled to 5 cubic yards of recycling for free each week. Businesses will have to provide their own recycling containers. Mr. Nakahara suggested the Commission try to promote the program. In addition to this program, the Village’s streetscape recycling trash containers program will start as a pilot program this spring. Ms. Shaw asked what the Village will do about the electronics recycling now that the program has been discontinued. Mr. Nakahara noted that the program has been reinstated and will continue. Electronic collection Drop Off is available at 1180 Half Day Road on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:00AM to 1:00PM. Mr. Nakahara asked if the Commission was interested in working on an Earth Day event. Earth Day is April 22, 2015. Mr. Nakahara asked if the Commission would be interested in possibility of partnering with the Sustainability Commission. He noted an example of what can be done as Northbrook had an Arbor Day/Earth Day program on April 26, 2014. Ms. Reed explained the Commission discussed a community clean-up day. Ch. Zobus asked that representatives from the Sustainability Commission come to the March VCC meeting. Ms. Reed expressed concern about the timing. Ms. Reed suggested speaking with Mr. Ryckaert about what the Village has done in the past for clean-up day. Mr. Nakahara noted a pre-filing conference with the Plan Commission on March 12, 2015 from Tucker Development on a redevelopment plan in the Northeast Quadrant. He also noted a Public Hearing on February 12, 2015 regarding a proposed 9-unit townhome development on Chestnut Street. Ch. Zobus suggested preparing a booklet about what is involved in opening a business within the Village referencing a booklet that the City of Highland Park has for prospective business owners. Mr. Nakahara explained there is a lot of this information on the Village’s website. He referenced recently added flow charts of the process that are available on the website. Ms. Street noted there is a lot of information on the Village Center Commission February 4, 2015 Page 4 of 3 Community Development page of the Village’s website. Mr. Nakahara noted that he spoke with the Village Manager’s office about the possibility of creating a similar booklet or brochure. The Village Manager’s office likes the idea of some type of informational tool and glad that the VCC is in support of such a tool. Items from the Commission Ms. Reed asked about the Bedding Experts window signage. Mr. Nakahara explained a certified letter was sent to them in November. Their window signage is now in compliance. Ms. Reed asked if the Village can look at their windows again, as the signs seem to be excessive. Adjournment: There being no further business or discussion, Ms. Reed moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Shaw seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 pm. The next regular meeting of the Village Center Commission will be March 4, 2015. Respectfully submitted, Jeri Cotton Secretary