Committee of the Whole

Village of Mount Prospect Committee of the Whole Meeting Agenda 50 S. Emerson St. Mount Prospect, IL 60056 February 11, 2025 Village Hall - 3rd Floor Board Room 7:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. January 14, 2025 Committee of the Whole 3. ROLL CALL 4. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD 5. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5.1. Review of Elk Grove Township Services and Developments in 2024 6. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT 7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 8. ADJOURNMENT ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING BUT BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY OR NEEDS SOME ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE, SHOULD CONTACT THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 847/392-6000, EXTENSION 5327 Page 1 of 21  DRAFT Village of Mount Prospect Meeting of the Committee of the Whole Tuesday, January 14, 2025 / 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hoefert called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St. ROLL CALL Members present upon roll call by the Village Clerk: Mayor Paul Hoefert, Trustee Vincent Dante, Trustee Agostino Filippone, Trustee Terri Gens, Trustee Bill Grossi, Trustee John Matuszak, Trustee Colleen Saccotelli Absent: None MAYOR'S REPORT 3.1. PROCLAMATION: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 20, 2025 Mayor Hoefert read the proclamation into the record in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Randy Spitzer Property owner, 2400 Terminal and 2411 E.Oakton • Supports DiMeo Brothers moving into the area of Badger Drive and Oakton Street; he believes they will be good neighbors. • Concerned about flooding in the area, MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District) has helped in the past and requested assistance from the Village. Village Manager Michael Cassady responded, stating that staff is aware of this issue, and we are working on a solution. Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey briefly discussed the challenges to this issue as the property is privately owned, and MWRD will not fund private properties. He ensured that the Village is seeking a solution. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5.1. PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR MELAS / MEADOWS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE MAIN SPAN Page 2 of 21  DRAFT Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey stated that the purpose of the evening's discussion is to present conceptual drawings and renderings of four design options for the Melas/Meadows Pedestrian Bridge Main Span and to seek direction from the Board regarding the design and appearance of the main span. He stated that funding will also be discussed. Mr. Dorsey introduced Village Engineer Matt Lawrie, Public Works Deputy Director Jason Leib, Vice President of Ciorba Group Brett Sauter, and Salvatore DiBernardo, President of Ciorba Group, to answer questions and provide additional information (Ciroba Group performed Phase II Design Engineering for this project). Mr. Dorsey provided the following details: • The 200-foot-long bridge will connect Melas and Meadows Park. It will span Northwest Highway and the Union Pacific Railroad. • A map depicting a broad overview of the bridge and approach ramps was shown. • Mt. Prospect Park District (MPPD) has provided input; the MPPD subleases Melas Park for recreational purposes from the Village. The MPPD owns Meadows Park. • A Phase I Engineering Study was completed, which is required before applying for grant funding. • Phase II, Design Engineering, is underway; work includes coordinating meetings with Mt. Prospect Park District, MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District), IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation), Union Pacific Railroad, and the Illinois Commerce Commission. Phase II also included initial designs of bridge approaches and lighting. Mr. Dorsey presented four (4) alternatives for the Main Span. He displayed images of each design and noted that the images are conceptual, not final engineering. 1. Prefabricated trusses are cost-effective, easy to construct, and offer flexible design features; the funding gap (after grant funding) is $1.7 million. 2. Vierendeel Truss is a unique design featuring an arch structure supported by two piers; the funding gap is $2.0. 3. The Network Tied Arch is pricier than options 1 and 2. It stands 60 feet tall at its highest point, making it visible from great distances. The funding gap is $2.9 million. 4. Cable Stay has the most unique design. The funding gap is $4.8 million. Mr. Dorsey discussed funding for the bridge project, stating that the Village has received $61,946 from an Invest in Cook grant for Phase I and a Congressional Appropriation grant of $517,400 for Phase II Engineering. For Phase III Construction and Construction Engineering, the Village has secured an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant for $3 million, a Surface Transportation Program grant in the amount of $2 million and has applied for a Grade Crossing Protection Fund totaling $2.9 million through the Illinois Commerce Commission. Mr. Dorsey provided further funding details. Mr. Dorsey mentioned that staff recommends the Vierendeel Truss option due to its distinct design and cost-effectiveness. He outlined a timeline for the next steps, starting with the main span design and leading to a scheduled bid letting in November 2025. He also indicated that Page 3 of 21  DRAFT staff will continue to explore funding opportunities to address the funding gap. Construction is tentatively set to commence in April 2026, with a target completion date of December 2026. Mr. Dorsey reiterated that the Village has secured over $5.6 million in grant funding. Staff is requesting direction from the Board on the main span design. Village Manager Michael Cassady suggested that the first and second options are the leading contenders, as options three and four are too costly. Mr. Dorsey, Brett Sauter and Salvatore DeBernadro answered questions from the Board: • All four options are designed with the same code standards to withstand extreme weather events. • All four options have ramps that meet ADA (American Disabilities Act) guidelines, and there will also be stairs. • Opportunities for branding will be discussed in greater detail at a later date. • The Village has received written notices of award for grant funding to support this project. • Staff is confident that grant money that has already been spent (approximately $850,000) will not need to be refunded if the bridge is not built. • Director of Finance Amit Thakkar stated he is confident the Village can fund the project through the current CIP (Capital Improvement Project) fund, off-setting grant funds. • The Village has approval from the MPPD and MWRD to build the bridge but will not provide financial support. • Elevators are significantly more costly than stairs and are not a viable option • The Mt. Prospect Park District supports the proposed layouts. • Fencing will be installed along the tracks. • Mr. Dorsey stated that safety was identified in the grant applications to justify the bridge. In addition, it will join two regional recreational parks. • The bridge was identified as a goal in the Village Strategic Plan. Board comments: • The Board has not yet approved building the bridge. It was clarified that the Village is moving forward, but a final decision will require approval from the Board. • In favor of the bridge for safety reasons • Suggested choosing a preferred design and finalizing the numbers to ensure a productive discussion on the next steps. • Suggested seeking community input regarding design • It is important to brand the bridge • Commended staff for responsibly managing the project • Supports the bridge's construction; the area taken up by the ramps isn't usable space, and the ramp will benefit pedestrians. • Looks forward to future discussions regarding banding, material, and color scheme. A discussion ensued regarding each Board member's preferred option. There was a consensus that option one (1), the Prefabricated Truss, is favored. Page 4 of 21  DRAFT Public Comment: Louis Goodman 310 N. School St. Suggested the construction of a tunnel under Northwest Highway and the railroad instead of a bridge or adding a stoplight in this area; both would be less expensive solutions. Mr. Dorsey responded, stating staff explored the option of a tunnel, but the Railroad (Union Pacific) does not want tunnels and will not support this option, as they own the property. He added that IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) would not approve a traffic signal at this location. The overall cost of a tunnel is comparable to the construction of a bridge. The tunnel in Arlington Heights was built several years ago and would not receive approval today. Steve Polit 601 N. Wilshire • He noted that anyone has the right to call their congressional representative • It was also stated that the need for the bridge must be justified and read a prepared statement Jeff Nejdl 313 N. MacArthur • Supports building the bridge and believes the community will make use of it; it is a safer option for pedestrians. No further discussion. Mr. Dorsey stated he has a direction from the Board to move forward. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT 6.1. As submitted No report. ANY OTHER BUSINESS None. ADJOURNMENT With no additional business to conduct, Mayor Hoefert asked for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Gens seconded by Trustee Dante motioned to adjourn the meeting. By unanimous voice vote, the January 14, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Karen M. Agoranos, Village Clerk Page 5 of 21  Item Cover Page Subject Review of Elk Grove Township Services and Developments in 2024 Meeting February 11, 2025 - MEETING OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Fiscal Impact Dollar Amount Budget Source Category DISCUSSION ITEMS Type Presentation Information Illinois townships are sub-county units of government, while municipalities are incorporated under state law and perform many local government services. Townships may levy taxes, pass local ordinances and regulations, and provide various services as authorized by state statutes and elected officials. The residents of the Village of Mount Prospect are also served by Elk Grove and Wheeling Townships, with Central Road being the shared north/south boundary between the two townships. Elk Grove Township's boundaries are: Central Road on the north, Mount Prospect Road on the east, Devon Avenue on the south, and Rohlwing Road (generally Route 53) on the west. The Township serves about 66% of Elk Grove Village, 55% of Mount Prospect, 20% of Des Plaines, 15% of Arlington Heights and 10% of Rolling Meadows. About a fourth of the geographic area of the Township is unincorporated, a large portion of which is forest preserve. The Township's Assessor is Deputy to the Cook County Assessor and under direction from that office. The Elk Grove Township Assessor's Office has the unique position of being able to assist taxpayers with assessed value complaints along with other services, such as filing exemptions. Township residents are eligible to access programs and services to help them through physical or financial challenges. Residents are offered a wide variety of helpful services, from transportation and employment to passports and parking placards designed to save community members time and energy. The township is seeing a substantial increase in demand in all its areas of service. This includes social services, adult & family counseling and youth services. Of particular note is the increase in families served by the township's client choice food pantry. The pantry is currently experiencing over 1,000 monthly family visits. The Township completed construction of the Youth Programs Challenge Course as well as a new Community Room in 2024. The Youth Services Department announced the launch of two dynamic new programs designed to promote physical activity, teamwork, and essential life skills among the youth: the Bike Safety Course and the Challenge Course. Page 6 of 21 Discussion Township Supervisor, George Busse, will be present to provide a review of Township services and developments in 2024. Alternatives 1. Review of Elk Grove Township services and developments in 2024. 2. Discretion of the Village Board. Staff Recommendation This is an informational presentation and there is no staff recommendation. Attachments 1. Elk Grove Township presentation Feb 11 2025 Page 7 of 21 Page 8 of 21 Page 9 of 21 Page 10 of 21 Page 11 of 21 Page 12 of 21 Page 13 of 21 Page 14 of 21 Page 15 of 21 Page 16 of 21 Page 17 of 21 Page 18 of 21 Page 19 of 21 Page 20 of 21 Page 21 of 21