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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Minutes of Meeting
April 23, 2012
The Village Board met as a Committee of the Whole in the Council Chambers of the
Village Hall at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23, 2012. In attendance were:
PRESENT:
Village Board Staff
Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor Kent Street, Village Manager
Robert Benton, Trustee Jenny Maltas, Assistant to the Village Manager
Alan Farkas, Trustee John Sliozis, Police Chief
Thomas Jester, Trustee Peter Coblentz, Village Attorney
Mary Oppenheim, Trustee Clinton Case, Code Enforcement Supervisor
William Seiden, Trustee Barbara Little, Director of PW and Engineering
Barbara Struthers, Trustee Bradford Fink, Assistant Director of PW and Eng.
Robert Phillips, Assistant Village Engineer
Eric Burk, Assistant Finance Director
Also present
Michael J. Nigro, Managing Director Rreef Real Estate
Michelle Panovich, Principal/Senior Vice President Mid-America Asset Management
Tait Pinnow, Assistant Vice President Rreef Real Estate
Mr. and Mrs. Solheim, 654 Warwick Road
Public Comment
Mr. and Mrs. Solheim were in attendance to observe the Chicken Keeping Ordinance
discussion. The Solheims noted they would be willing to participate in a chicken keeping
pilot program and provide feedback and encouraged the Board to observation their coop
if the program is implemented.
Consideration of Chicken Keeping Ordinance
Mayor Rosenthal reported that staff has received requests to amend the Municipal Code
and permit chicken keeping in the Village. She noted Code Enforcement Supervisor
Clint Case prepared a report for the Board which included a survey of surrounding
communities that permit chicken keeping as well as sample ordinances that outline the
regulations and restrictions of other communities.
Trustees Farkas noted that he would be in favor of allowing a pilot program to permit a
small number of residents to keep a limited number of chickens for a specific period of
time. At the conclusion of the pilot program the Board could evaluate the program and
decide whether or not to approve an ordinance permitting chicken keeping.
Mayor Rosenthal suggested having a pilot program limiting the number of permits and
limiting the program to 1 year. She noted that residents participating in the program will
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need to know that if the pilot program is terminated residents will need to get rid of their
chickens and their coops.
Trustee Oppenheim stated a pilot program is not needed as there are a few residents that
are currently in violation of the chicken keeping prohibition without significant incident
and they have already served the purpose of the pilot program. She noted allowing
chickens makes sense from both a financial and sustainability stand-point.
Trustee Struthers reported she would be okay with allowing chickens as long as it does
not attract predatory animals to people’s homes.
Trustee Benton noted the Village does not have an expert on staff that would be able to
determine if a chicken coop is safe and healthy. Trustee Oppenheim suggested the
Village could outsource this inspection just as they do with the Village Arborist and this
requirement could be included in the ordinance.
Trustee Seiden stated that he is against permitting chickens in the Village and would not
want chickens next to his property and therefore does not want to force it onto others.
Trustee Jester noted the parallels between chicken keeping and the recently passed
alternative energy ordinance, which allows residential windmills as a Special Use, are
striking.
Trustee Struthers would like to require residents to obtain a Certificate of Health
verifying the health of their chicken. Mayor Rosenthal noted we do not ask for this with
cats or dogs.
Mayor Rosenthal suggested the Village Attorney prepare an ordinance for the Board to
review. At that time, the Board can decide to proceed with a pilot program, require a
Special Use, set a limit on the number of chickens and licenses, and consider lot size and
setback requirements.
Sewer Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) Study
Director Little reported on the progress of the Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Study. She
noted the smoke testing in the northwest quadrant is complete and now staff is working
with RJN to develop a private sector I/I investigation pilot program asking for voluntary
inspections to examine sewer connections in the northeast quadrant. The goal of the pilot
program is to determine how much sewer inflow and infiltration is coming into the sewer
system from illegal connections. The data collected from the I/I private sector pilot
program will assist the Village in determining how to best proceed with addressing sewer
inflow and infiltration.
Mayor Rosenthal suggested asking residents to participate in this study as a way to help
the resident and/or their neighbors resolve sewer issues. Trustee Oppenheim stated she
likes the sample letter being mailed to residents and wants to ensure that the Village is
keeping the sewer system healthy.
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Assistant Director Fink noted staff has surveyed surrounding communities and found that
quite a few municipalities do inspect sewer connections at resident’s homes.
Trustees Farkas mentioned the Village can also take a soft approach to enforcement and
rather than requiring immediate compliance, which could be very costly, the Village
could put a lien on the property so the connection issues are resolved once the home is
renovated or sold.
The Village Board recognizes the value in keeping the Village sewer system functioning
as intended and directed staff to proceed with the pilot program. Manager Street advised
a significant public information campaign will be implemented as well.
Lake Cook Road Landscaped Medians
Director Little reported the Village needs to advise the Cook County Highway
Department on the landscape median design for Lake Cook Road between Deer Lake
Road and Carlisle Avenue by late May for inclusion in the CCHD bid set. CCHD has
offered to cover 50% of the cost to construct the landscape medians as long as the Village
agrees to perform routine maintenance going forward. Ms. Little presented two options:
Option 1 – Median/parkways planted with ornamental plantings, native grasses
and trees with a total Village construction cost of $123,750 and an annual
maintenance cost of $13,000.
Option 2 – Median/parkways planted with only trees and native grasses with a
total Village construction cost of $56,800 and an annual maintenance cost of
$10,000.
Ms. Little noted that staff worked with landscape architects to prepare the two concepts
and both would improve aesthetics and enhance water quality and improve infiltration
thereby reducing the need for other storm water management techniques.
Trustee Oppenheim noted she is in favor of Option 1 and described the tree, plant and
grass selections as very appropriate for this purpose. She noted Lake Cook Road is an
entrance to the Village and these plantings will look very nice as they develop over-time.
She agreed that these plantings will greatly help with storm water mitigation.
Trustee Jester asked if the plants will tolerate the snow and ice control operations.
Trustee Oppenheim stated she has reviewed the plant list and they are salt tolerant.
Trustee Struthers noted the Village asks a lot of our Lake Cook Road businesses in terms
of aesthetics and the Village should move forward with the best looking option and do its
part to improve and maintain a nice appearance. Mayor Rosenthal concurred and noted
we have required signage and landscape improvements from our businesses and now it is
the Village’s turn to further beautify the corridor.
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Manager Street reiterated this is a one-time opportunity to take advantage of Cook
County’s 50% funding split.
Trustee Farkas suggested installing a “Deerfield” sign at the entrance since we are
spending a significant amount of money to beatify the Village entrance.
Mayor Rosenthal advised that Option 1 should be prepared and presented to the Board at
an upcoming meeting for final review and approval. Manager Street noted the medians
will likely be planted in fall of 2013.
Deerbrook Mall Presentation
Mr. Nigro of Rreef Real Estate presented a brief history of Deerbrook mall noting that it
was originally constructed in 1971 as an indoor mall. He reported the goal of the mall
ownership and redevelopment team is to redevelop the mall and transform it into a power
center that is not intended to compete with the downtown retail. Mr. Nigro defined a
power center as a development that leases space to the top retailers in their field and
control a large percentage of the industry. In total, the redevelopment plan is estimated to
cost $26 million.
Ms. Panovich of Mid-America Asset Management reported that in 2008-09 commercial
vacancy rates in the area were around 20% and now vacancy rates have normalized back
to the 7-8% range.
Ms. Panovich noted the opportunity to de-mall the middle section of Deerbrook has only
now become available. This will allow redevelopment by relocating Jewel near the
current Best Buy location, relocating TJ Maxx to just south of the present Jewel location,
removing the former theaters, adding new retail space and relocating the Starbucks to the
corner of Lake Cook and Waukegan. Ms. Panovich also noted the redevelopment team is
looking to attract restaurants to the mall.
Trustee Farkas asked for a timeline of the redevelopment project.
Mr. Nigro reported the first phase would include renovating a new space for Starbucks to
occupy this year, so that TJ Maxx could be relocated next year. He also noted that
construction would need to be put on hold during the holiday season.
Mayor Rosenthal advised there would be a benefit to complete as much redevelopment as
possible in 2013 when the construction is active on Lake Cook Road.
Trustee Farkas suggested the mall ownership display signs as soon as possible indicating
the mall is being redeveloped so that residents are aware the mall ownership is being
proactive.
Mayor Rosenthal noted that she and srtaff have been actively discussing the project with
the Deerbrook redevelopment team. She noted Deerbrook Mall ownership has been
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strategic and has had short term leases in place to allow for this redevelopment
opportunity to be possible.
Mayor Rosenthal stated the redeveloped power center is going to do very well and it will
take a couple of years to fully revitalize the center.
Manager Street reported staff will present a Letter of Intent outlining the terms and
conditions of the agreement between Deerbrook Mall and the Village of Deerfield at an
upcoming meeting. Subsequently, a formal development agreement listing further
requirements and project elements, including financing, will be presented for
consideration
Village Sticker – Request to Add Donation Collection
Mayor Rosenthal reported Deerfield High School parents have requested the Village
include an option to donate to the District #113 Foundation on the vehicle sticker renewal
forms. Mayor Rosenthal noted the original request was for a single $30 donation option
and a commemorative vehicle sticker. She noted the money that the Foundation receives
would need to be used only for Deerfield High School.
Trustee Struthers noted the Foundation includes residents from Riverwoods and
Bannockburn as well, and while it is a worthy cause the Village it is the wrong venue to
be asking for donations.
Trustee Oppenheim noted the Village spends a lot of effort clarifying the distinction
between what property taxes go to the Village and what goes to other taxing districts,
including the schools. This donation collection system would only further confuse the
role and responsibilities of the Village and District #113.
The Board concluded this is not a practice the Village would like to pursue for a number
of reasons, including the fact that vehicle sticker payments are mandatory and it can be
perceived as the Village advocating for residents to donate to the schools.
Future Saturday Morning Workshop – Review of Village Priorities
Mayor Rosenthal reported she would like to schedule a Saturday morning meeting where
the Board could establish and discuss long range priorities. Items for discussion could
include developing a database to reach-out to residents, discussing a strategic approach to
economic development and consideration of senior services.
Manager Street noted the Saturday morning workshop should be scheduled in June
following the Board and Commission Chair Dinner on May 31, as the Board may want to
reaffirm or modify the Village’s voluntary commission system.
The Saturday morning workshop meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 16 and 30
from 9 – 11 a.m. Staff will prepare and distribute materials for the Board to review prior
to the meeting.
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Adjournment
Trustee Oppenheim made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Trustee
Benton.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew S. Lichterman
Management Analyst