Stormwater Management Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS March 21, 2013 Chairman Robert Robicsek called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. in the Second Floor Conference Room at the Public Works Center. Members present: Adele Sturgis, Len Rago, Eugene Chodash, Thomas Burke, Johannah Hebl, Peter Rosner, William Pappas and Craig Hetue. Members absent: Robert Kaplan. Staff present: Village Engineer Paul Kendzior, Civil Project Engineer Jim Baxa and Minute Recorder Colleen Brunner. Others present: Thomas Kenny of Scott Simpson Builders and Chicago Tribune reporter Alexandra Chachkevitch. Minutes: On a motion made and seconded, the March 15, 2012 minutes were approved with the following change. Thomas Burke was present. Hear From the Audience: No Comments. Report on Initial Sub-Committee meeting with EQC Commission: Members received brief update from the Village Engineer on the earlier first sub-committee meeting concerning with the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). Members of the sub-committee indicated that the Village is on track with incorporating stormwater best management practices (BMPs) where applicable into the improvement projects. The EQC has educational materials and is willing to help out at Earth Day. Projects available for Boy Scouts are cleaning (debris removal) drainage swales and detention basins and storm drain stenciling within safety parameters. Updates on the FY 2012/2013 and FY 2013/2014 Stormwater Management Improvement Projects: A detailed written report was included with the packet. Additional comments are as follows: 1) The Oak Avenue Detention project is to include approximately 0.5 ac-ft of storm sewer detention under the street in strategic locations; 2) The Cedar Lane Improvements is still under final design and will be advertised for competitive contractor bids later this summer; 3) Bids for the Sunny Acres/Ridge-Lee Intersection project came in at a low price and we were able to incorporate an additional work on Pamela Lane. Member Chodash created a spreadsheet showing what has occurred over the past year and is very proud of the progress made to date. Member Sturgis feels those homes located in the floodplain have been abandoned by the identified projects in the new Master Plan. No additional projects or addendums have been requested to the Master Plan or initial Addendum. Member Burke stated that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) is looking at our area as a regional issue in regards to the floodplain. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior indicated that since its’ inception on May 1st of last year, the Village has collected approximately 1.5 million dollars from the new stormwater utility fee. MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 21, 2013 Page |2 Begin Discussion on encouraging the use of rain gardens and other BMP’s for existing properties and new developments: Village Engineer Paul Kendzior explained that the Village has encouraged the installation of rain gardens by revising the Private Property Drainage Improvements Reimbursement Program to include matching funding up to $3,500. We also encourage rain barrels and permeable pavers. Tom Kenny of Scott Simpson Builders is a LEED builder and explained the ways they are incorporating rain gardens, water harvesting (underground storage with capabilities of using reclaimed water for irrigation), swales, positive drainage outflow over land, etc. He would like to see the Building Code amended to not make it necessary to directly connect the storm sump pump discharge line to the storm sewer. This could reduce the amount of water in the storm sewer system. After a lengthy discussion, it was reaffirmed that the requirement is necessary because of the high probability of standing water, nuisance drainage concerns and icing/freezing issues in cold temperatures if the storm sump pump discharge lines were allowed to splash on grade. However, staff will continue to be receptive to any measures that can reduce connections and the overall amount of runoff to the storm system. New Business: The Commission will discuss MWRDGC’s regional flood control projects contained in their Detailed Watershed Plan that may impact the Village and the FY 2014/2015 improvement projects and possible standards for rain gardens. Next Meeting: To be announced. Adjourn: On a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Colleen Brunner