Public Works Committee

Public Services Committee Meeting Summary January 17, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. Public Services Department Training Room Public Services Building 6849 Touhy Avenue Niles, IL 60714 I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by the Chair. II. Roll Call: Present were Chair Matyas, Committee Member Balzano and Committee Member Mary Anderson. Committee Member Fred Braun was absent. III. Approval of Meeting Summary: The Meeting Summary from September 7, 2016 was deferred as it was not completed. IV. New Business: There were 4 items on the agenda. 1. FY2018 Budget Information: The Public Services Department was finalizing the submittal of the Fiscal Year 2017/18 budget at the time of the meeting, and so programs included in the budget submittal were discussed. Of interest, was the continuation of a discussion about the Village’s Leaf Collection service offered each year in October and November. The current program involves residents sweeping leaves into the street for collection by Public Services crews, and disposal by the Village through a contract hauler. This method creates concerns about the leaves clogging storm drains and creating street flooding during rains during the leaf collection period. Another concern is that many trees are losing leaves later in the season, but Public Services equipment has already been transitioned into winter service which eliminates its use for leaf collection. As a result of this, Public Services is investigating alternatives to extend the service later into the year, as well as alternatives to sweeping leaves into the street. There will be a presentation to the Board as part of the  Public Services budget discussion. The Committee expressed interest in seeing the service expanded if feasible. 2. Performance Measures Update – Earlier in the year, the Committee received a brief presentation about a revised performance measures reporting system that the Village planned to implement. This alternative system is no longer offered and so a new system is planned. Public Services met with the Assistant Village Manager to discuss the new process as well as the measures and data that Public Services has access to report. The Committee will receive the Performance Measures updates as they are made available. 3. Graffiti Removal on Private Property – The 2007 ordinance regarding removal of graffiti from private property currently allows the property owner to sign a hold harmless authorizing the Village to remove the graffiti at Village expense. The Committee is discussing potential revisions to the removal ordinance. Several ideas were discussed for vetting at a future Committee meeting. 4. Miscellaneous Parking Change Request - Public Services recently received a request through the Police Department, from an individual who desires “no parking” signs installed along the stretch of Jarvis behind the Walmart store on Touhy. There was a brief discussion on how to respond to an individual’s request that impacts multiple businesses. The requestor will be contacted and asked to provide a petition reflecting support for removal of on-street parking from the adjoining property owners and businesses. V. Public Comment: There was no public comment. VI. Adjournment: As there was no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. The next meeting will be scheduled at the call of the Chair.