12/16/2013December 16, 2013
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Deerfield was called to
order by Mayor Harriet Rosenthal in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall on December 16,
2013 at 7:30 p.m. The Clerk called the roll and announced that the following were:
Present: Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor
Robert Benton
Alan Farkas
Tom Jester
Robert Nadler
William Seiden
Barbara Struthers
and that a quorum was present and in attendance. Also present were Village attorney Peter
Coblentz and Kent Street, Village Manager.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Trustee Seiden led those in attendance in reciting
the Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Trustee Benton moved approve of the minutes from
the December 2, 2013 Board of Trustees meeting.
Trustee Struthers seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
BILLS AND PAYROLL
Trustee Seiden moved approval of the Bills and
Payroll dated December 16, 2013. Trustee Farkas
seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL Assistant to the Village Manager Andrew
OBJECTIVES — ADMINISTRATION Lichterman presented highlights from the
Administration departmental objectives report. Mr.
Lichterman noted the administrative department consists of the Village Manager's office and the
IT department. They recruited a human resources coordinator and are looking at recruiting a
new IT system specialist. They will look into locking in a rate for municipal aggregation for the
third year of the program. The commercial solid waste franchise is moving forward. Lake Shore
is the preferred hauler at this time. A Public Hearing will be held at the January 6, 2014, Board
of Trustees meeting and the Board may consider awarding the five year franchise agreement.
Staff solicited proposals for cleaning services in May and the contract will save $5,000 annually.
The Commissions remain very busy. The Fine Arts Commission had a very successful Fine Arts
Festival. The Family Days Commission hosted the 50`s anniversary of Family Days and it was
very successful. The Farmer's Market held 16 markets from June through October. The
Sustainability Commission has a new chairman and recently went through a goal -setting
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December 16, 2013
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exercise. They are pursuing energy and water conservation assessment that will be available to
Deerfield residents.
Staff is looking into shared services. The Village has participated with several neighboring
communities to explore opportunities for joint RFPs to take advantage of economies of scale.
ComEd has implemented two service reliability improvements in the Poet's Corner and Clavinia
neighborhoods. The BYOB Ordinance was recently passed and three restaurants have applied for
2014 permits.
The IT division helped coordinate the new dispatching services for the Village of Riverwoods
The assumption of Riverwoods' dispatching services was completed successfully and is now
fully operational.
Trustee Benton commended the department on their work on the commercial waste franchise.
He questioned how businesses that needed additional pickups would be handled. Mr.
Lichterman stated Lake Shore will work with the individual businesses to determine their needs.
He noted there would not be a charge for service changes. Mayor Rosenthal indicated Lake
Shore is very open to working with the various businesses.
Mayor Rosenthal noted the new human resources coordinator position replaced the assistant
finance director so the net employees stayed the same.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no Public Comments on non -agenda items.
REPORTS
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION A report and recommendation of the Plan
OF THE PLAN COMMISSION RE: Commission regarding a request for a fmding of
REQUEST FOR A FINDING OF substantial conformance for an amendment to the
SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMANCE Atrium Planned Unit Development for the
FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE Charles Ifergan parcel located at 380 — 360 Lake
ATRIUM PUD FOR THE CHARLES Cook Road.
IFERGAN PARCEL (380-360 LAKE
COOK ROAD Trustee Jester moved to accept the report and
recommendation of the Plan Commission. Trustee
Struthers seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION Mr. Lichterman reported staff is recommending
OF STAFF REGARDING HUEHL ROAD changing the name of Huehl Road to Embassy
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December 16, 2013
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NAMECHANGE Way. He noted that Embassy Suites has reported
that many of their guests have a difficult time
finding the hotel. Embassy Suites is in favor of the change.
Trustee Farkas moved to accept the report and recommendation of staff. Trustee Benton
seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
CONSENT AGENDA
There were no items on the Consent Agenda.
OLD BUSINESS
ORDINANCE 0-13-62 APPROVING A
An Ordinance approving a rear yard setback
REAR YARD SETBACK AT 136 EAST
variation for the property at 136 East St. Andrews.
ST. ANDREWS — 2R
Second Reading.
Trustee Seiden moved to adopt the Ordinance. Trustee Benton seconded the motion. The
motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
ORDINANCE 0-13-63 APPROVING AN
An Ordinance approving an amendment to a Special
AMENDMENT TO A SPECIAL USE
Use for site improvements for the North Suburban
FOR SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE
Evangelical Free Church located at 200 Lake Cook
NORTH SUBURBAN EVANGELICAL
Road. Second Reading.
FREE CHURCH AT 200 LAKE COOK
ROAD — 2R
Trustee Struthers moved to adopt the Ordinance.
Trustee Seiden seconded the motion. The motion
passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
ORDINANCE 0-13-64 AMENDING THE
An Ordinance amending the wage and salary plan.
WAGE AND SALARY PLAN — 2R
Second Reading.
Trustee Nadler noted that he would abstain from the vote, as he had missed previous Board
meetings where this was discussed.
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December 16, 2013
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Trustee Seiden moved to adopt the Ordinance. Trustee Farkas seconded the motion. The motion
passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Seiden, Struthers (5)
NAYS: None (0)
ABSTENTION: Nadler (1)
NEW BUSINESS
APPEAL OF THE APPEARANCE Mr. Street reported the Appearance Review
REVIEW COMMISSION'S DECISION Commission considered the request of CosmoProf
TO DENY A WALL SIGN FOR at their November 25, 2013 workshop meeting. The
COSMOPROF, 405 LAKE COOK ROAD proposed sign incorporates their colors of blue and
green on the proposed wall sign. The other wall
signs in the plaza are red in color. The Appearance Review Commission found that the proposed
wall sign did not keep with the intent of the Deerfield Park Plaza sign criteria and the Deerfield
Appearance Code. On a vote of 7-0, the petitioner's request was denied. Deerfield Park Plaza
co-owners Sherwin Blitstein and David Dresdner would like their tenant to install a sign with
their nationally recognized colors and are appealing the decision of the Appearance Review
Commission.
Mr. Blitstein stated the Appearance Review Commission expressed concern about the
appearance of the sign. However, there are many other signs along Lake Cook Road that have
different colors. He noted the center is long and deep and many of the interior tenant signs are
not visible from the street. Mr. Blitstein indicated the CosmoProf sign would not be visible from
Lake Cook Road. He noted CosmoProf is a division of Sally Beauty Supply, which is the largest
beauty supply company in the world. When dealing with large, national retailers, the center does
not have as much leverage as when dealing with smaller tenants. National tenants put a lot of
money into branding and marketing. Mr. Blitstein noted there are three 2000 square foot
vacancies in the center. He stated that the prior owner appeared before the Plan Commission for
a signage criteria change that allowed greater flexibility in sign colors, size and lighting. Mr.
Blitstein noted the Appearance Review Commission also felt having this tenant with a blue sign
would be unfair to the other tenants; however, he has a signed petition from the other tenants
stating that they approve of the sign.
Trustee Jester believes the former owner was very rigid about the red color in the center, but
noted Blitstein does not seem to have an issue with sign color. Trustee Jester suggested Mr.
Blitstein apply to change the sign criteria for the center to allow tenants to have variable colored
signage. Mr. Blitstein thought the June 8, 2000, Plan Commission agreement would allow for
mutually agreed upon sign colors between the landlord and the tenant. Trustee Jester believes
that could be a misinterpretation.
Village Planner Jean Spagnoli stated the Appearance Review Commission focuses on the
Appearance Code while the Plan Commission focuses on the Zoning Ordinance and criteria that
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December 16, 2013
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becomes part of the PUD. She noted the Appearance Review Commission did their job by
upholding the Appearance Code. Ms. Spagnoli noted the Appearance Code criteria references
uniformity within the center. The Appearance Review Commission felt it was keeping with the
intent of uniformity. Trustee Jester suggested the center ownership can ask that uniformity be
removed from the criteria. Trustee Struthers believes that if the center was fall and all of the
signs were red with a bronze baked enamel finish, this sign would look out of place. The
shopping center is not full, however, and if the landlord applies to change the criteria to allow
other colors, this would not look out of place when other tenants came into the center.
Trustee Jester does not believe this is a Village issue; rather, it is a shopping center issue. Peter
Whitaker from the Appearance Review Commission stated one of the criteria in the Appearance
Code states the signs and graphics shall have a harmonious relationship to the building to which
they relate. The Commission believes the store should have the same look and feel as the rest of
the building and should not stick out. Mr. Whitaker noted CosmoProfs website and Skokie
location have different colors. Marci Wood from CosmoProf noted Sally Beauty Supply's
website is primarily red and black. The CosmoProf brand has different colors. Ms. Wood noted
they have requested all of the CosmoProf stores in the Midwest be changed to the blue and green
color, as their customers look for the colors because they are more artistically inclined. She
noted the Libertyville store has the blue and green colors. The Skokie store was a converted
store that is more than 15 years old. Mr. Blitstein indicated the new stores all have the
CosmoProf colors as presented. Mr. Whitaker stated that if landlords and tenants dictate the
appearance in Deerfield, the Village will not have a desired look. He noted the CosmoProf
stores he saw also had 100% of their windows covered with advertisements. He expressed
concern that they would ask for additional window signage as well. Mayor Rosenthal noted
there is a gray area. She does not believe decisions should be made for short term. If the Board
feels this is an appropriate sign for this business in the center, they will overturn the denial and
approve the sign.
Trustee Seiden noted the Appearance Review Commission looks at the sign and determines
whether the proposed sign conforms to the rest of the stores in the center.
David Dresdner indicated this tenant would not enter into the lease if they were forced to have a
red sign. There are many other businesses along Lake Cook Road where signs are different
colors. He does not believe putting in a blue sign would be detrimental to the community. He
noted that as the landlord, he wants consistency, but does not believe this sign would not be out
of character for the center. The current sign regulations do allow variation in color, size and
logo. Trustee Jester suggested the center ownership should get the rules of the PUD changed to
alleviate the problem. Trustee Nadler does not believe sign color should be judged.
Trustee Struthers moved to approve the appeal of the Appearance Review Commission
recommendation. Trustee Farkas seconded the motion. Trustee Farkas stated the Appearance
Review Commission does good work in the Village. There are standards that apply throughout
the Village. The PUD has some ambiguity. The Commission did their job in their interpretation;
however, the Board must look at the bigger picture. He wants to help promote new business
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within the Village. Mr. Whitaker stated the Commission wanted a harmonious relationship with
the rest of the building. Trustee Benton noted the other tenants do not feel this deviation would
detract from their businesses.
Mayor Rosenthal noted a positive vote would be in favor of the appeal request from Deerfield
Park Plaza.
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Struthers (5)
NAYS: Seiden (1)
Mayor Rosenthal thanked Commissioner Whitaker for representing the views of the Appearance
Review Commission and thanked the Commission for their hard work in reviewing this petition.
AUTHORIZATION TO RENEW GIS Mr. Lichterman reported staff is recommending
SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACT continuing with MGP to provide GIS services. The
contract increase is less than 1 percent. Staff
recommends authorizing the contract in an amount not to exceed $73,623.
Trustee Seiden moved to renew the GIS service provider contract for 2014 in an amount not to
exceed $73,623. Trustee Farkas seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Nadler, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
Mayor Rosenthal reported on the following recent events:
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY Core Power Yoga had a ribbon cutting in Deerfield
Square. It was a very nice event today to noon.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCH
RUN FOR CHANGE
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The Village was represented nicely at the DBR
Chamber of Commerce luncheon on December 4.
Deerfield High School is raising funds for GLASA.
They still have several events upcoming events.
Mayor Rosenthal wished everyone a happy New
Year.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business or discussion,
Trustee Benton moved to adjourn the meeting.
Trustee Struthers seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The regular meeting
was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
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December 16, 2013
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APPROVED:
I eL"
Mayor
ATTEST:
Village Clerk