Building & Zoning Committee

“Where People Count” Community Development 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles, Illinois 60714 Mayor Telephone (847) 588-8040 ● Fax (847) 588-8050 ● TDD (847) 588-8059 Robert M. Callero Trustees June 2, 2010 Chris Hanusiak James T. Hynes Joe LoVerde Building and Zoning Committee Meeting 8:30 a.m. Louella B. Preston Andrew Przybylo In Attendance: Alan Weel Robert M. Callero – Mayor Village Manager Steve Vinezeano – Assistant Village Manager George R. Van Geem Joe Annunzio – Village Attorney George Van Geem – Village Manager Village Clerk Andrew Przybylo – Village Trustee Marlene J. Victorine Chris Hanusiak – Village Trustee ______________ James Hynes – Village Trustee Community Rich Wlodarski – Community Development Assistant Director Development Bonnie Jacobson – Planning Coordinator Director Mary Ann Starzynski – Recording Charles Ostman Absent: Chuck Ostman – Community Development Director Tom Kanelos – Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Andrew Przybylo. Approval of Minutes: Chris Hanusiak made a motion, seconded by George Van Geem to approve the minutes of the May 5, 2010 Building & Zoning Committee meeting as submitted. All approved no opposed. Minutes of May 5, 2010 passed. Andrew Przybylo then stated that he would like George Van Geem added to paragraph 2 page 7 of the May 5, 2010 minutes as “concerned”. No other changes needed to be made but a discussion ensued about unincorporated. Andrew Przybylo questioned that it stated that John Houseal is going to be in contact with the unincorporated areas and he didn’t recall if any of the open meetings and if the consultations will be with the elected officials from the township, the Niles Township supervisor, the Maine Township supervisor or the other thing that would be problematic for most unincorporated areas are their zoning issues and that would be their Highway Department. Bonnie responded that she felt John Houseal would be looking to us for whom we feel are the best people to contact for unincorporated areas. Bonnie felt the goal is to include as many people as possible. Andrew Przybylo stated that we had talked about the unincorporated areas and how they impact on the Village of Niles and the possibility of somehow making the unincorporated areas subject to annexation in the future. In doing a comprehensive plan should we be talking to the supervisor of Maine and Niles Townships and the Highway Commissioner who is going to be informed about their flooding problems and water issues and also the www.vniles.com Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who is in charge of law enforcement in those areas. Andrew Przybylo asked do you feel as I do that those people should have some input if not in the formal report in terms of what is said about the unincorporated areas. Chris Hanusiak stated that perhaps a meeting just to inform them where we are going with the plan right now, general ideas. Mayor Callero stated that he felt once we get a little further into our plan so that they aren’t directing and saying we should do this, we should have our plan to present to them, have to be very careful because we were named in a suit from the unincorporated area with the water going down there so we have to be careful. We are not in the suit anymore. Andrew Przybylo stated that it is not in their political interests to want us to incorporate their area. Mayor Callero stated that he was thinking more the water issues. Andrew Przybylo asked do we have any transmission lines or sewer lines that go through theirs or do they connect to ours? Mayor Callero stated that it would be more the Storm Water Committee that would be handling that. Andrew Przybylo also stated that the density impacts traffic which is why dialogue is important but feels they are not going to be interested, although the County Board is interested that is in their comprehensive plan that all unincorporated areas be annexed, they don’t want to see any unincorporated areas anymore. George Van Geem stated that he always felt if this was done right nobody loses a job or political clout it is just under a different umbrella, even if we annex them they are still going to need all the social services that they need today and they are still going to need all the highway maintenance that they are getting today. Now does that mean a few less elected officials – sure but the actual governmental services that are provided to those people assuming that they are being provided today and needed and not wasteful are still going to be needed when they are under a different umbrella. Andrew Przybylo stated I don’t disagree, I am fine with it. George Van Geem stated that is all part of the study, which nobody knows for sure where it is all going to fall in the end but we are going to need the highway department over there, going to need branch library, going to need a lot of things. Jim Hynes said he didn’t feel there was a question if they should be brought in the question is when. Sooner than later because we are not saying here is what we are going to do, what we are saying is we are looking at a comprehensive plan we would like your input. Chris Hanusiak stated how do we approach this do we invite them to our meeting or do we want to have a separate meeting with Houseal Lavigne with these guys. Andrew Przybylo stated that he felt that Houseal Lavigne should after we have a contract. Andrew Przybylo then stated discussion of Logo next. Bonnie stated that John Houseal had some preliminary ideas but nothing yet. Stated that she knew they wanted to come up with a slogan. She stated that she did include in the packet for the meeting a draft press release for the comprehensive plan as was requested at the last meeting. George Van Geem stated that the Pre Board Meeting is still scheduled for June 22, 2010. Bonnie stated that Andrew Przybylo wanted to make a big splash so she tried to draft something up, this is her first attempt and said to feel free to edit, add, delete on it. Mayor Callero stated he did make one change to the 2nd paragraph – stated it looks like it was written by them, the last sentence “Their selection was based on a clear demonstration of technical competence and expertise… and felt that “a clear demonstration of” should be removed and would read “Their selection was based on technical competence and expertise… George Van Geem stated along those same lines he agrees with Mayor Callero that this kind of reads as an advertisement for Houseal Lavigne and feels that paragraphs 2 and 3 should be flipped; start with what the Comprehensive Plan does for the Village. Bonnie stated that she was trying to emphasize with some specificity that there was a long selection process and Houseal Lavigne was selected based on this. Chris Hanusiak questioned this is a press release before the June 22 Board Meeting? Bonnie stated yes. Andrew Przybylo stated wait this is worded as “chosen” and they are not yet. Bonnie stated it should say considering approval because a contract has not been approved yet. George Van Geem stated Houseal Lavigne was selected by this committee as it says in the draft press release and doesn’t feel we are going out on a limb saying they are the preferred candidate. Andrew Przybylo stated he didn’t either. Andrew wanted to request that the other 3 trustees get in their packet in advance of the pre board meeting copies of the request for 2 qualifications of the 3 finalists. Andrew Przybylo stated that was the only communication sent back to us from the 3 candidates that mention any monetary compensation, projected cost. Andrew Przybylo then asked who was going to put the press release out to the newspapers. Jim Hynes stated that we should do as we don’t even have a contract with Houseal yet. George Van Geem stated that he will work with Bonnie to get the press release done, to be discussed at the pre board meeting, which is 1 hour before the board meeting. Andrew Przybylo then asked what else needs to be discussed and Bonnie asked if anybody had anything on Slogan ideas. Andrew Przybylo stated to keep in mind that you want to inspire citizens - to involve them. Mayor Callero suggested “Niles Plan for the Future”, Andrew Przybylo suggested “A New Niles Beginning Now”. Shouldn’t be too long – 5 words perhaps. Andrew Przybylo asked if you could Google comprehensive plans done in the United States. Bonnie stated that maybe the committee could do this as their first step. Andrew Przybylo stated that you want to express that Niles is going to be better for this plan and then focus on the future. Rich Wlodarski asked if this was something that they would want for the board meeting. Andrew Przybylo asked if Bonnie could email any information collected on slogan/logo ideas. Mary Ann Starzynski stated that after doing a Google on comprehensive plans there are thousands of logo ideas that come up. Logos are plentiful, slogans are few. Andrew Przybylo said to keep in mind that you want citizens to buy into this, to become involved, so want to inspire them and by them becoming involved it will be better in terms of flooding, parks, traffic, the look. Bottom line is property values should be impacted if this plan works long term. Mayor Callero stated make as simple as possible… Niles Plans for the Future. Andrew Przybylo responded that was very esoteric. Two words, vision and Niles, looking 10 -20 years out. Stated send any ideas to Bonnie. Bonnie then stated two things about the sub-committee. Chuck Ostman and Bonnie worked on an application for this committee which was given to those present at the meeting to review. Andrew Przybylo asked if there were known categories for where the applicants were going to be pulled from. Bonnie responded that John Houseal had stated no more than 2 trustees because of the open meetings, 2 - 3 plan commissioners, 2 – 3 business owners, 2 -3 residents. Andrew Przybylo asked how many people in total on the committee Houseal is talking about. Bonnie responded 10-12. Jim Hynes asked if you would need to be a citizen or naturalized. Rich Wlodarski responded it would be nice but didn’t feel it was mandatory. Jim Hynes responded he didn’t feel that was necessary on the application form. After discussion it was agreed that on the draft application form the following should be eliminated: Are you a citizen of the United States, If Naturalized, give certificate #, Spouse’s name Occupation, Name and ages of children(if any), Other than traffic violation, have you ever been convicted of a crime, and If so, please state in full:….. It was also agreed that Job Duties/Reason for leaving was unnecessary on application. It was agreed that Social Security number should be included. Andrew Przybylo stated that he felt that after receiving application a simple quick background check should be done on each applicant. Chris Hanusiak asked who has access to these applications. Rich Wlodarski responded just this committee. Bonnie asked if this would be public information. Andrew Przybylo stated yes. Mayor Callero stated that anything that is considered a personal identifier can be blocked out. Andrew Przybylo then stated that he is trying to get a handle on this sub-committee for what John Houseal wants, that he understands he doesn’t want people there with special interests. Bonnie agreed. Andrew then asked specifically that John Houseal said as he himself doesn’t recall that 2 members are to be from the Building and Zoning Committee. 3 Bonnie responded that John suggested a group of 10 – 12 individuals is ideal: 2 Trustees (not more than 2, so there is no open meetings act violation) 2 -3 Plan Commission/ZBA members 2 -3 Business owners/Property owners 2 -3 Residents -at -large 2 Ex-officio staff members Mayor Callero stated that this is a sub-committee and just like the Ethics Committee he doesn’t feel trustees should be part of it, stating that you actually don’t want trustees on the committee. Bonnie responded that John Houseal feels it would be helpful for the cohesiveness to have a couple trustees on the committee and asked if there is a problem. Mayor Callero responded yes because we want this to be a sub-committee not trying to be directed by us. Andrew Przybylo stated that we should get John Houseal to double check on this because he hears the Mayor’s perspective but he also hears John’s perspective. Feels that if you want the sub-committee to have some meaning and coherence and bring the message back that is the way to bring that message back here, to have 2 of the trustees on that sub- committee. Andrew Przybylo stated that they are going to sit and listen to all 5 meetings where people are coming. Bonnie responded that John Houseal wants the sub-committee to be more of the sounding board, the working committee with a broad representation not the elected and appointed officials as part of that. Andrew Przybylo asked if the sub-committee votes on what gets sent to this committee. Rich Wlodarski stated no as he understands it is just more of a working committee. Rich stated that Houseal Lavigne is going to be the engine that drives everything, if someone goes off the beaten path they are going to be there as the mediator so to speak but he felt they were going to be taking everybody’s input not just from that sub-committee but all the people they interview whether it be business owners’, other elected officials, whatever, and then this committee will kind of hash things out – discussion, but they will be the glue that holds everything together. Andrew Przybylo stated we should ask John Houseal to restate who specifically should be on the sub-committee and if trustees will be included then he needs to convince Mayor Callero. Andrew Przybylo then asked who is going to chair this, which is the facilitator, and felt that Houseal Lavigne is responsible and restated that the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee should be 10 – 12 members. Jim Hynes thought that a warning to the sub- committee members – no swaying allowed – stay specific to agenda would be appropriate and that people have the ultimate right not to join if feel threatened and that Houseal needs to understand the potential for conflict. Bonnie stated that John Houseal is going to have in addition to this committee interviews some perhaps in private because people would be intimidated in public. John Houseal is going to gather all this information and going to need to present all the findings to this committee. Bonnie stated that this sub-committee needs to be formed right at the beginning of this process, now. Andrew Przybylo felt that there should be another meeting in 2 weeks to fine tune. Jim Hynes said that he felt it would be a good idea to announce at the Board Meeting that we are considering this contract. Andrew Przybylo stated that perhaps maybe a call to the Chamber of Commerce to see if they can put on their website that this sub committee is in formation. For the residents -at -large felt now have to find citizens to apply. Mayor Callero responded put in the paper and get applications. Joe Annunzio stated that he actually went to the Chamber for the Ethics Committee and made a talk and got 2 people to get involved and felt the same could be done for this committee. Andrew Przybylo responded that we want to interview these people to make sure that they aren’t going to come to these meetings being myopic, the only thing they see is a park, don’t want that. Joe Annunzio responded that there are a couple of things you have to take for granted and that is that anybody that joins the committee has some sort of internal interest, as in the Ethics Committee people wanted change. Bonnie stated that on the application it should state that this is going to be a 1 – 1 ½ year process and be prepared to commit to the process. Andrew Przybylo responded that when we get this out and we ask people this is not simply about new or change it is about the process that is going to impact everyone’s life over the next 10 – 20 4 years. Jim Hynes responded a revised application which would include a paragraph of instructions of what it would mean to be on this sub-committee in terms of time commitment – have this ready for a meeting in 2 weeks so that everything is satisfactory so before the Board Meeting we have gone through it and are happy with it. Andrew Przybylo said he felt Jim Hynes was talking about a ‘mission statement’ and said let’s call this the citizen’s comprehensive plan sub-committee and let’s have a mission statement that is going to talk to these points so that it is clear to people and we will use that when we publicize this when we get the word out that we need people. Mayor Callero suggested that instead of sub-committee make it “Advisory” committee. Everyone agreed they like that. Bonnie then asked about timing. Have this ready in two weeks, then approve contract, and then publicize, not sure, trying to understand the timing Andrew Przybylo stated he doesn’t want to do that he wants to go through the steps at the pre-board and make sure everyone is on topic and with this, want a unanimous vote on this. Bonnie stated that is just for the committee or the contract and the committee or just the contract. Mayor Callero stated we have to be ready with the application for the 6/22 Board Meeting. Rich Wlodarski stated so we don’t want to send out applications ahead of time but be ready at the Board Meeting. Mayor Callero said we break the news at the open meeting, open discussion and get them the papers 2 days later. Andrew Przybylo responded make sure the mission statement is compact and comprehensive. Bonnie responded so in 2 weeks we need a mission statement, a revised application. Andrew Przybylo stated we need logo, slogan and Mayor Callero to be convinced or not convinced about the trustees because we should have those parameters set going into the pre-board. Bonnie stated that she felt we would not have the slogan, logo until after the contract is signed with Houseal Lavigne but we should be working on ideas and getting them ready. Andrew Przybylo then went on to the Sign Code discussion of next steps, future meetings. Bonnie sent out a summary memo and said the point is to realize that there is a significant amount of discussion and direction that are going to be needed from this committee to figure out the sign code. Felt it was going to take more than an hour a month. Andrew Przybylo then stated are you asking us to check off, to consider this. Rich Wlodarski responded these are the highlights of things we know that will need discussion. Bonnie responded that there is going to be extensive discussion needed and so want to discuss the opportunity in the sense of time that we can meet with this committee for a few hours. Rich Wlodarski responded that they feel it will take 6 – 9 hours at a minimum to go through this, as they have been sitting down with the sign company going over a lot of stuff, stuff that doesn’t really need to be brought up, but this is all the hot topics that eventually the committee is going to be deciding and it is going to take a decent amount of discussion. In 1 to 1 ½ hours nothing could be accomplished therefore need to set aside a nice 3 hour block where maybe in the evening, order pizza, and try to get a lot done. Jim Hynes responded thought to minimize our time but maximize input we get from those who have a particular concern about each of these issues circulate this memo or something similar to the Chamber, post it on our website, and say anybody who has an opinion email or mail in response and we will consider those when we do have a meeting. Rich Wlodarski responded that we were going to try to get some key stake holders whether it be from the Chamber, business owners, what have you, as part of the meeting with this so we don’t have to bring it up in the future and have everybody throwing in a monkey wrench. Andrew Przybylo stated we need a more targeted group, asked if Katie DeMaria was part of the sign. Rich Wlodarski stated that whether she is involved, which she very well could be, you still need some business owners – most of this is going to effect besides political signs and temporary banners the business owners. It could be somebody off the Chamber or other business owners that are interested. Andrew Przybylo made a suggestion we know that we are a part of this and want to broaden this and bring this together for 2 -3-4 hours over pizza and discussion. Andrew Przybylo suggested that before getting there is there a way to take this and put it, never done this, like a blog where we can interact and zap this to everyone so we can all see and share. Andrew stated that he may say something about car 5 signs and click and everyone would read and another person would write something and click and then when we come to the pizza meeting we would know what we are thinking or have some semblance of an idea being generated prior to the meeting, is that possible. Chris Hanusiak asked if this meeting was open to the public. Answer was yes. Andrew Przybylo stated yes but don’t blog to the public, create an email address and if you want to include certain people do so. Rich Wlodarski stated you don’t want 80 business owners, but 3-4 businesses from the Chamber, to have some good constructive input. Rich Wlodarski stated you are going to be surprised how much discussion will be generated just form political signs, to have a blog you would be so inundated going back and forth with a million ideas it would be confusing. Andrew Przybylo stated he would love to join a conversation about political signs however he would like to think that he could convince people of his position of political signs prior to the meeting via a blog. Bonnie stated expect the business community to say we don’t want any regulation what so ever, we want more, we want bigger, we want as much as we can put on. Felt there should be a balance and that there are other members from the community as well so things don’t get skewed to business. Andrew Przybylo stated he saw it as a dedicated blog to Katie DeMaria’s 5 business people that would be at the pizza party. Rich Wlodarski responded so get the people we want to discuss and include them in the blog in order to share information before a meeting. Andrew Przybylo stated the staff, plan commission, this committee, business owners perhaps officers of the Chamber, trustees, to generate ideas. Mayor Callero stated everyone has different ideas and it needs to get out there electronically for discussion before having a long meeting to help the process. Consolidate ideas and bring to meeting prepared to be interactive. Rich Wlodarski responded let me talk with Chuck Ostman as I think he already spoke with Katie. Chris Hanusiak stated perhaps ask to put on their website. Andrew Przybylo stated no because it wouldn’t be effective if it becomes too large and unmanageable. Jim Hynes said not necessary let the Chamber put it on their website if they have questions; only Katie and their officers should be included. Chris Hanusiak said portal open to Chamber board members where they would have a log in themselves where it is not open to the public only chamber members. They will organize/sort all info from their members and send us a concise form. Andrew Przybylo stated that he doesn’t want to read anything other than from the officers, as there are 30 board members and 6 officers. So forget Board members ONLY officers. Andrew Przybylo stated that when put this form up leave room under each item where a response can be written in corresponding not at the end of the total form and nothing would match. Andrew Przybylo then asked so we are going to meet in 2 weeks. Bonnie asked when the packet is needed for the Board meeting. Steve Vinezeano responded 2 weeks ahead. Jim Hynes responded agenda needs to be published 48 hours ahead to the public. Steve Vinezeano responded that it will be needed 6/11/2010 with the Board Meeting on 6/22/2010. Andrew Przybylo said so we should meet 6/9/2010 for a quick meeting to look at the application, mission statement, refine a slogan idea and John Houseal should talk to Mayor Callero about including trustees on the committee. Andrew Przybylo reminded Bonnie that when putting the packet together for the pre-board the RFQ’s for the 3 candidates specifically include the dollar amounts, be included. Rich Wlodarski then asked what evenings would be acceptable for meeting. Monday and Wednesdays were agreed upon. Chris Hanusiak made a motion to close and Jim Hynes seconded. Meeting ended at 9:40 a.m. 6