Stormwater Management Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS March 20, 2014 Village Engineer Paul Kendzior called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M. in the Second Floor Conference Room at the Public Works Center. Members present: Adele Sturgis, Eugene Chodash, Peter Rosner, Johanna Hebl, Leonard Rago, Greg Hoeft and William Pappas. Other staff present: Minute Recorder Colleen Brunner. Minutes: On a motion made and seconded, the minutes from the November 21, 2013 were approved with the following change; 1) under heading FY 2013/2014 Stormwater Projects Update, section #1, insert as after Member Sturgis stated as the Cherry Lane storm sewer becomes more efficient…. Hear From the Audience:-None Backyard/Possible Structure Flooding at First Street/Center Avenue A written report was included in the packet. Sue & Rick Gourley have resided at 1340 First Street for 23 years. They have an “English” style basement and have made many improvements over the years to help with flooding. Examples include the installation of double hung windows on the south side, additional storm sump pumps, elevating the furnace from the basement floor, storm sewer service lines on each side of the yard to divert water and an additional pump that discharges water to the front of the house. They have suffered structure flooding many times in the past. Their home is at the low point of the block so surface runoff from rain events gets trapped in the rear yard. The property takes on water from 2013 Center Avenue due to the ground topography. They do have a storm drain, but if the Villages main storm sewer line is full, it’s of no use. They suggest the Village purchase a property on the block for detention. Commission members then asked the Gourleys and Village Engineer Paul Kendzior the following questions. Member Hebl- questioned whether we could consider alternatives such as rain gardens. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior thought that alternative methods like these in conjunction with detention are the only way to help reduce the occurrence of flooding for this area. Member Pappas- asked for in depth explanation of the sump pump usage and their overland flow issues. Member Rosner- he is aware that 2010 Walters Avenue connected to the Gourleys storm sewer and are they also experiencing backyard flooding. Member Rago- questioned whether there is any backup from the roads nearby. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior replied no. Has the construction of new single family homes on the street impacted drainage. Member Hoeft- drains work with low flow events, but during heavy rains they fill and surcharge. These drains usually work up to 1-inch rain events. Member Sturgis- asked if the home has an outside door to the basement. The reply was no. There has been new construction on Center Avenue and First Street over the last 4-12 years. Where rear yard storm APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 20, 2014 Page |2 sewers installed. The Village did allow these homes to be constructed. Member Sturgis cited Illinois Drainage Law that does not allow someone to obstruct drainage. Member Chodash- asked how often flooding occurs. The answer was at least once a year. Are other homes on the block having structure flooding. The Gourleys know of 5 homes that have had structure flooding. 2013 and 2015 Center Avenue don’t drain because they do not have rear yard drainage. Proposed Addendum #2 to Master Stormwater Plan Village Engineer Paul Kendzior summarized that Addendum #1 has 6 projects. The current schedule for the implementation of these 6 projects is five to six years away. At the August 15, 2013 meeting, the Commission members passed to motion to revisit a proposed Addendum #2 to the Master Stormwater Plan. Possible projects included the Willow Creek Subdivision, Wendy Drive and now the rear yard/structure flooding at the Center/First block. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior indicated that the Willow Creek did benefit from the Techny Drain comprehensive storm sewer project by reduced flows in the Techny Drain-South Fork. However, the subdivision is still experiencing street flooding at most intersections due to the insufficient size of the local storm sewer system. The proposed concept plan is to construct a relief sewer and property acquisition for detention. The proposed concept plan for Wendy Drive would include a sewer extension from the recently completed Lee Road/Ridge Road project to drain the sag in the roadway, which is currently impassable for passenger vehicles during rain storms of moderate to severe intensity. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior further explained that the direction received from the Board is to complete the original 22 projects from the Master Plan first. There are 15 projects currently remaining. The 6 projects from Addendum #1 would be next. The fifth year of the Village’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) has these 6 projects tentatively scheduled for FY 2018/19. Please be reminded that all projects are subject to final Board approval and available funding. Resident Bari Rosenbloom from the Willow Creek Subdivision asked if the expansion project at Covenant Village will impact her neighborhood. Village Engineer Kendzior indicated that it would not because detention is being provided for the improvements and the storm sewer outfall is to the main channel of the Techny Drain. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior also explained that the incoming spillway elevation at the detention basin on the Techny Drain-South Fork behind Glenbrook North High School was lowered by approximately one-foot last fall. This will help the subdivision’s storm sewer system drain because flow levels in the South Fork will be lower during rain fall events. Village Engineer Paul Kendzior requested that the Commission to make a decision on adding these three projects and undertaking a proposed Addendum #2, or not pursuing the Addendum. Member Sturgis would like to see her neighborhood, Northbrook Manor be included in the proposed Addendum #2. The Commission members further discussed the issue and a motion was made to table the three projects discussed at this evening’s meeting to the next Stormwater Commission meeting and ask others with flood conditions to come forward. The motion was seconded. Vote was 4 nays and 3 ayes. The motion failed. Member Rago then made a motion to include the three projects discussed tonight as proposed Addendum #2, but wait until the next meeting to see if any other projects come forward and should be included. The motion was seconded. The vote was 7 ayes. The motion passed. APPROVED MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 20, 2014 Page |3 Member Hebl made a motion to add additional projects for Northbrook Manor (Maple, Illinois Lorenz, and Spruce) and her neighborhood to the agenda for the next meeting for possible inclusion into the proposed Addendum #2. The motion was seconded and passed. New Business Member Hoeft stated they received an email concerning Go Green Northbrook. He suggested the Village take a survey of available buildings where a rain gardens could be installed. In response to a question, Village Engineer Paul Kendzior indicated that intersection drainage improvements for Dundee/Skokie are not part of the Northshore 770 project. Next Meeting: To be announced. Adjourn: On a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Colleen Brunner