VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
OCTOBER 20, 2008
CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 p.m.
In the absence of Village President John Hansen, Trustee Herwig called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Trustee Max Herwig, Trustee Dale Berman, Trustee Mike Herlihy, Trustee Bob Strusz, Trustee Mark Gaffino. Not in attendance: Village President John Hansen, Trustee Linda Mitchell.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin, Assistant to the Village Administrator Wes Kornowske, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community Development Director Scott Buening, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Village Engineer Jim Bibby, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Police Chief Tom Fetzer and Bureau Fire Chief Mark Bozik.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
1. Discussion of First Amendment to the Annexation Agreement with Mooselake Estates
Trustee Herlihy said that there are lots that have been in existence in the subdivision that hold standing water and are a menace for the neighbors that live next to them. There is stripped top soil, standing water and weeds. Herlihy asked what the Village is going to do to enforce what the Village is agreeing to. Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin said she had a memo from Village Engineer Jim Bibby stating that Gladstone plans to grade all of the vacant lots that do not presently drain to existing rear inlets per Kane Dupage letter. McLaughlin said that the Village has a list of items that Gladstone will address. Trustee Herlihy said that these are already the rules that Gladstone has had to work to for five years and are not conditions of the revised agreement. Herlihy said the neighbors that live adjacent to unimproved lots are frustrated by the fact that the filter fabric stays in the rear storm drain and if there is a 2 or 3 inch rain, it floods and washes out their own gardens, mulch and improvements. Herlihy said that the stormwater control ordinance requirements and the subdivision requirements are what they have been for five years. Herlihy asked what in this agreement is the Village going to enforce differently that isn’t already a requirement.
Trustee Herwig said that this was his biggest concern, as well. McLaughlin said that Gladstone’s engineer Ray Ulrich, Village Engineer Jim Bibby and Mark Smith were of different opinions about how the property was to conform as far as drainage.
Ulrich addressed the Board, stating that understands the requirements of the stormwater ordinance. The intent is to eliminate silt and erosion going down and polluting the waters. As far as standing water on the lots, that is how they were designed, so that there would not be water running off the lots and going into the storm drains and polluting the rivers downstream. Ulrich said it is a good design and accomplishes the object of the stormwater ordinance. Ulrich said that Kane Dupage and the Village agreed that it worked, but just didn’t like how it worked. Ulrich said that Gladstone wants to be conscious of the Board’s desire, and if the design is causing a problem to the homeowners, necessary steps will be taken to remedy the situation. Ulrich said that the Village has said that they want to see something above and beyond because they don’t want the standing water in the lots, and Gladstone will take the steps to correct that. Ulrich added that he doesn’t believe this is going to be done to be in compliance with the stormwater issue. It will be done as compliance of the desires and needs of the Village.
Jim Bibby said that Staff’s response is referenced in the letter regarding a meeting between the village staff, Kane Dupage Soil & Water district staff and the developer and their engineer as to how to address the situation. The developer has agreed to be in complete compliance of the ordinance. Bibby said there is no issue and Gladstone is willing to take that action to create the coverage on the lots as well as the grading to the rear yard inlet. Herlihy asked, where the rear yard inlet adjoins one, two or three completed landscaped lots, how the silt fencing will be handled for the vacant lot so that it does not cause flooding on the finished lots. Bibby said that the problem is resolved once there is complete coverage on the vacant lot. Until that time, the Staff concerns and the concerns of the owner are divergent. The Staff is out to protect the village’s stormsewer systems. Bibby said that there is a 2 to 3 month window in the spring to get that coverage and stabilization. Thereafter, the geotec raft riser pipe can come off, at which time the residents will get what they would expect. Until that time, there will be some ponding after each rain event since the stormsewer system needs to be protected.
Trustee Berman said that what is spelled out in the agreement appears to fulfill the requirement and was in favor of the amendment. Trustee Strusz said that the agreement seems to cover the issues. Trustee Gaffino asked if Jim Bibby was satisfied with what Gladstone is promising in order to meet the stormwater requirements. Bibby said that the issues will be addressed. The plan is a good one and will get the final result by summer of 2009. Consent Agenda.
2. Discussion of a Lease Agreement between the Village of North Aurora and T-Mobile
Sue McLaughlin mentioned that Trustee Herlihy had noted some concerns regarding insurance. T-Mobile had no problems with including the standard coverage and making the requested changes by the Board. Changes will be made to the agreement and a new document to be provided to the Board at the next meeting. Jonathan Haley, agent for T-Mobile said that the revisions requested by the Board regarding the insurance provisions will be made and turned around as fast as possible. New Business.
3. Discussion of a Pay Request No. 5, Final, to Trine Construction in the amount of $136,233.33 for the 2007 Watermain Replacement
Paul Young said this will close out the program for 2007 which is the Oak Street watermain. The final payout is 13.6% less than the original contract price. Consent Agenda.
Trustee Herlihy asked why there was a 365-day extension to close the project. Bibby said there was no extension to the substantial completion, which was 99.8% on the project, which was right on schedule. As to the issues that took to this point, some of it had to do with the punch list items, landscaping items and a couple of requested change order extras that staff would not give into.
4. Discussion of the disposal of surplus personal property
McLaughlin said that the Village Board passed a Resolution requiring approval to sell lists of property owned by the Village. McLaughlin said there is a list of old computer equipment and some seized vehicles. Chief Fetzer just received another vehicle and requested it be added to the list. Chief Fetzer said that the information was emailed to Atty. Drendel earlier today. The vehicle is a 1993 Chevrolet pickup. Consent Agenda.
5. Discussion on Ruby Bikeway Phase I Alternatives
Wes Kornowske said that he and Scott Buening has asked Rempe-Sharpe to put together an alternatives analysis for the Board prior to the Nov. 4th Plan Commission meeting. The Plan Commission has asked that Scott Buening bring a report on the progress of the Ruby Bikeway. Kornwoske reviewed the alternatives with the Board.
Alternative 1 – original alignment which would run down Airport Road, across Route 31 at the signalized intersection and down by Dr. Taos office to the river.
Alternative 2 – State Street alignment, down Willoway in front of the memorial, across Route 31 to State Street and down to the Fox River Trail.
Alternative 3 – New alternative which would go from Willoway to Oak Street and cross Oak Street and Route 31 where there would eventually be a signalized intersection in the next 5 years.
Alternative 4 – Path would run down the ComEd right-of-way and cross Route 31 without a signal.
Kornowske said that the Village has grant funding but requires the original alignment where it terminates at Willoway and Fox River Trail. The Village is confined to crossing Route 31 at some point to receive the grant funding. Kornowske asked the Board for direction on which alternative would be most suitable based on the engineering provided by Rempe Sharpe.
Trustee Gaffino said that Alternative 4 seemed to work well. McLaughlin said the concern with this alternative is that it is a path to nowhere right now. The slope is better and ComEd is willing to work with the Village, but the path doesn’t go anywhere once people cross Route 31. McLaughlin said that Staff came up with the Oak Street alternative due to the upcoming signalization and the path would lead straight to the river. Kornowske said that the State Street alignment was originally going to be the most cost effective until it was learned that State Street would need to be widened. Herwig said that State Street does not currently have curbs, so at what point is that on the Village’s schedule to curb and at that time could it be widened four feet. Kornowske said the issue with the Ruby Bikeway phase I is the constraints of the CMAP Grant that the Village received in 2003. The Village cannot piece meal the project and say that curbs will be installed in three years for the road program. It has to be done at one time. Herwig asked about the deadline for the grant. Kornowske said he continues to file extensions with CMAP. The grant was raised from $85,000 to $103,000. Bibby said that State Street is planned to be curbed 5 years from now. Herwig asked if the Village has the same time constraint with Oak Street signalization. McLaughlin said that it may be moved up with Oak Street being improved. Wes said that the thought is if there is a bike path in place and the road improvements, that possibly the signalization would be easier to get from IDOT.
Herwig said that with alternative 1 there would be a problem with the grade. Kornowske said that the Village would also have to install switchbacks. Herwig said that if the Village goes with alternative 4, what kind of grade would the Village be looking at after crossing 31. Kornowske said the grade is much better. Buening said that some switchbacks will be required but the grade is flatter. Kornowske said that land acquisition would be a major cost factor in alternative 1. McLaughlin said that with the budgetary constraints the Village is facing, this will have to be a decision about the priority of this issue amongst the police station, Route 31, water and roads. Staff is looking to resolve the Ruby Bike Path extension. McLaughlin said that when developers come in, the desire is to get the paths put into the plan and the Village is always looking for grants, but the Village does not have the money to make this a high priority.
Herwig said that when looking at the safety of the bicyclists in regard to the route, it would be safest to take pedestrians to an intersection with a light, which would be alternative 2 and 3. Herwig suggested this be placed on the back burner and continue extensions with the grant.
Herlihy said the bike plan has been in the Village’s comprehensive plan for at least 2 revisions. The riverfront improvements are also expecting pedestrian attraction to the riverfront. If there is no way to get pedestrians to the riverfront, will have to put in a parking lot, which the Village will not be able to afford. Herlihy said that Oak Street seems to be the most logical. It has the lack of a traffic signal and the Village knows one will be there at some point. If the Village commits to Oak Street, it will be an influence to IDOT to getting the signal done. Herlihy said that Oak Street is the best long term option.
Trustee Strusz agreed, especially since sidewalks are placed along Oak Street all the way to Route 31. Berman asked what is preventing the Village from getting the rest of the trail done and not necessarily the end that is being discussed. Kornowske said the Village does not have the funds for phase 2 and phase 3, only phase 1. Trustee Gaffino asked how long the Village has until it is required to spend the funds. Kornowske said the Village was granted an extension since 2003. The last increase in grant funding was in 2007. CMAP has pressured the Village to get some alignments to them.
Trustee Gaffino said he was in favor of the Oak Street alternative.
6. Discussion of an Ordinance to approve a 4-way stop at Oak St. and Sycamore Lane
(removed from the agenda)
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
Trustee Herwig commented that the Village is looking very nice with the finished streets, sidewalks and Oak Street. Herwig said that the Public Works Department, Mike Glock, Jim Bibby and Paul Young have done a great job.
Trustee Berman said that someone asked him how the Village pays for the projects. Berman said he had mentioned the Utility Tax. The resident said that a sign should be installed to inform the public where the money comes from to pay for these projects. Bibby noted that Staff worked hard to get the federal grant to pay for the majority of the project. Berman suggested signs be installed for future projects.
Village Administrator McLaughlin thanked Benchmark Construction for the free removal of the Timber Oaks monument signs. They took down the signs at no charge. McLaughlin also commended Mike Glock since he has had to deal with some very difficult residents who live along Timber Oaks Drive and he has always been professional and done a good job.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT – 8:00 p.m.
Motion made by Trustee Herlihy and seconded by Trustee Gaffino to adjourn the meeting. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
