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Vol. 23, No. 3 - May 2001e-er ieldT LES May 2001 - VOL. 23 NO.3 BERNARD FORREST After 36 years as an elected official (32 as Mayor), Bernard Forrest relinquished the gavel at the April 25`h Village Board meeting. Bernie completed a public service career that oversaw much of the development that. now makes up Deerfield's corporate boundaries. From the Lake Cook corridor to redevelopment of the Village Center, he helped build the tax base that now benefits all local government agencies in the area. At the same time, he led Boards that reduced the Village's share of the real estate tax each of the last ten years. Never losing sight that the day-to-day basic services are the core of good government, Bernie led by example... volunteering thousands of hours to making Deerfield better. The community is indeed indebted to him for his unselfish service over three and one half decades. VEHICLE STICKERS • Computer card applications for vehicle stickers will soon be in the mail. Please complete and return them by mail or bring them to the Village Hall. The stickers must be displayed on all vehicles registered in Deerfield by JULY 1ST. After June 30'h, there's an additional 50% added to the cost of each sticker. Seniors (those who are 65 by July I') are charged only $1.00 for the first vehicle. If you don't receive your computer card, or if you're waiting for your state plates, you still need to have the sticker by July I". Call us if you have any questions. BLOOD DRIVE Mark your calendar for the next blood drive on Sunday, June P between 8 A.M. and 1 P.M. at the Deerfield Community. Center, 836 Jewett Park Drive. No appointment.is necessary. 50/50 PARKWAY TREE PROGRAM If you are interested in paying half the cost of a new tree for your parkway, give us a call at 945-5000. • We'll send you information on the program and an order blank. Orders are taken during the summer and the trees are planted around the middle of October. The trees are balled in burlap, guaranteed for a year and planted by our Public Works personnel on Village right-of-way. VILLAGE TRUSTEE OPENING Deerfield residents are invited to submit an application to fill a two-year term as Village Trustee, an opening created when Steven Harris became Mayor on April 25te. Persons interested must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of Deerfield for at least one year. No compensation is paid for this office which will expire in April, 2003. Descriptions of the duties of Trustee and application forms are available at the Village Hall and can be mailed if you call 945-5000. Applications will be accepted until May 18`b. The position will be filled by a person nominated by Mayor Harris with the concurrence of the Village Board. It is expected that the appointment will be made in June. MEMORIAL DAY PARADE The American Legion Post will conduct its annual Memorial Day program and parade on Monday, May 28`h. It begins at 10:00 a.m. in Jewett Park followed by a parade along Waukegan Road to the cemetery. There will also be musical entertainment at 9:30 a.m. in the Village Hall courtyard. SEE INSIDE TO [:MEET YOUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS NEWLY ELECTED OIL 7RCULS PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY At the April 25`h Village Board meeting, Steven Harris was sworn in as Deerfield's new Mayor. Steve, elected as Village Trustee in 1999, is a thirteen year resident of Deerfield. An attorney, Steve and his wife Jani live with their three sons at 1488 Berkley Court. On April 3tfl, Jerry Kayne, Director of Technology for a productions services company, was elected to a four-year term as Village Trustee. A ten year resident of Deerfield, he and his wife Marci live with their two children at 673 Lombardy Lane. Also elected for new four year terms were Harriet Rosenthal and Vernon Swanson. Harriet was first elected in 1985. Vern has been a Trustee since 1975. Leaving the Board after two terms as Village Trustee is John Heuberger who was recognized at the April 16`h meeting for his dedicated service to the community. SPRINKLING RESTRICTIONS The Illinois Division of Water Resources requires that municipalities which use Lake Michigan water must restrict lawn sprinkling between May 15" and September 15'b. Here are the procedures to be followed: Even numbered addresses may sprinkle on even numbered dates from midnight to noon and/or from 6:00 P.M. to midnight. Odd numbered addresses may sprinkle on odd numbered dates from midnight to noon and/or 6:00 P.M. to midnight. No property owner is allowed to sprinkle between noon and 6:00 P.M. on any day. This applies ONLY to lawn sprinkling. Fines for violators are $25 per occurrence for residents and $100 for non-residential properties. REMINDERS ❖ New and replacement fences require a permit from the Department of Community Development. d• You can assist the Village and your neighbors by keeping the storm sewer inlet near your home clear before and after a rain event. ❖ Landscapers are not allowed to begin yard work before 7:30 A.M. on weekdays and before 8:30 A.M. on Saturdays. A permit is needed to do any work in the Village right- of-way (street and parkway) which is the area approximately 30' from the center of the street. Please • note that , if you choose to landscape or plant in that area, the Village will not replace the material in the event of a water main break or other necessary maintenance work. Also, boulders or decorative rocks should not be placed in the parkway. Often used to deter motorists from driving onto the lawn, they could be dangerous and a liability to the homeowner. CONSTRUCTION PLANS Several projects, some already underway,. are scheduled for this summer. Greenwood Avenue In addition to the water main improvements, Greenwood from Wilmot Road to Chestnut Street will be reconstructed with new curb and gutter. Brierhill Road This street will be resurfaced from Deerfield Road to its southern terminus. North Avenue Traffic Signal After long delays securing permits from IDOT and METRA, work will soon begin on the permanent traffic signals and intersection improvement at Waukegan Road and North Avenue. We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause you. SOLICITORS It is unlawful for any person to solicit at a private residence if the residence is posted. Displaying this placard satisfies the legal notice requirement NO SOLICITORS OR PEDDLERS INVITED • is BUDGET MESSAGE Municipal governments exist to provide a wide range of basic services on which we all depend: police protection; snow plowing; water and sewer systems to name a few. The ability of an elected Board to provide these services in an effective and efficient manner rests on its financial decisions. That is why of all issues considered by the Village Board over the course of a year, none is more important than adoption of the annual budget. The Village's combined total budget for 2001-02 is $24,420,000 an 8.2% increase over last year's budget that is due almost exclusively to capital improvement projects for which money has been reserved over the past several years. To remain competitive in the municipal market, there will be a 3.75% increase in the employee salary plan. Two new employees will be added: a dispatcher in the police department and a maintenance operator in the water division. For the tenth consecutive year, the Village will reduce the amount it receives from the property tax bill. Although we now receive less than 6% of the real estate taxes paid, this reduction reflects the Board's awareness of the public's concern with higher property taxes. Developing alternative revenue sources and decreasing our dependence on property tax dollars has been a high priority. For the eleventh consecutive year, the Village has released surplus funds from the very successful Lake Cook Tax Increment Financing District. The amount distributed to local government agencies this past year was $6,956,000, bringing to $72,902,000 the total reallocated since 1990. The Village Center TIF District, while not generating surplus funds, continues to perform as planned. New buildings are being occupied by various businesses that will generate increased sales tax, which will benefit the General Fund. Again, I wish to emphasize that, as projected at the beginning of downtown redevelopment, the Village Center TIF projects have not and will not impose any tax burden on our residents. We are equally proud that this budget continues our practice of not imposing any new taxes on property owners. Although Deerfield is a Home Rule municipality, we do not have a Home Rule Sales Tax, Utility Tax or Real Estate Transfer Tax. Although a decision on its location has not yet been made, the Village remains committed to assisting the Park District in financing a new Senior Center. This facility is long overdue. A site should be selected through the normal zoning process and construction begun in this calendar year. Due to a water rate increase from Highland Park, the Village must increase its water rates from $2.65 to $2.85 per hundred cubic feet. This is only the second increase since 1992 and will amount to less than $10.00 per quarter for the average residential water customer. Scavenger rates must also be increased due to a new five-year contract awarded last fall to Onyx Waste Services. The Iast increase for refuse service was in 1995. This budget includes funding in the amount of $100,000 as part of the Village's plan to inspect sidewalks and make repairs in one of the four quadrants on an annual basis. Also included is $34,000 to purchase and install video cameras in each of the police squad cars. This will allow police officers to record all contacts made while on patrol. Major capital projects scheduled in this budget are: completion of the new two million gallon underground water reservoir at Mitchell Park and new transmission line from Highland Park to that facility; streetscape improvements in the two south quadrants of the downtown, continuation of the Street Rehabilitation Program; the installation of permanent traffic signals and a redesigned intersection at North Avenue and Waukegan Road; water main replacement on Central Avenue between Wilmot Road and Castlewood Lane; and a complete renovation of the police department facilities. This will be my last budget message as Deerfield's Mayor. Nothing gives me more pride in completing thirty-six years as an elected official than the financial condition of our community. Over the years, we have lived within our resources, built a solid tax base that supports all local government agencies and earned a AAA tax rating shared with only 60 municipalities throughout the United States. As always, I am grateful to the volunteers who serve on our boards and commissions and whose input is critical to our decision -making They more than anything else define Deerfield .... a community that has always been responsive to and responsible for the service needs of its citizens. BERNARD FORREST Mayor April 16, 2001 1 Police Beat May 2001 Home Alone Are They Ready? Can To never let anyone into your Your Children... home without asking your Your ten-year old comes home ® Be trusted to go straight permission. from school, but you don't get home after school? home from work until 5:00 P.M. . Easily use the telephone, To carry a house key with He is home alone for those two locks, and kitchen appli- them in a safe place. Don't hours every weekday. What ances? leave it under a mat or on a does he do until you arrive? . Follow rules and instruc- ledge outside. Hopefully his homework. Most tions well? likely, he gets a snack or talks on . Handle unexpected To never let a caller or a the phone. Maybe he watches situations without person at the door know that TV. But since you're not there, panicking? they're alone. you worry. . Stay alone without being afraid? How to escape in case of a Know the three "Ws": Where fire. your kids are, What they're do- Curiosity ing, and Who they're with. Are there things in your home To let you know if anything that children may be curious frightens them or makes them By following these safeguards about? Take the time to talk feel uncomfortable. listed below, you can help ease to them about the deadly some of this worry and take consequences of firearms, Remember, you're not alone. measures that will protect your medicines, alcohol, power Chances are there are other kids when you're not around. tools, cleaning products, parents in a similar situation. combustibles, inhalants and Try to find other resources in Make sure your kids are old appliances. the area. We suggest that you enough and mature enough to check with relatives, care for themselves. Every child Teach Your "Home neighbors, friends, parents of matures at a different rate. Keep " Alone Children: classmates, and after school in mind that age doesn't nces- activities. During the summer sarily correlate to the level of To check in with you or a there are camps and activities responsibility your child can neighbor immediately after in the area. assume. arriving home. How to call 911. VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD 850 Waukegan Road Bulk Rate Deerfield, Illinois 60015 U.S.POSTAGE PAID Fire/Police Emergency 911 Permit No. 1 Fire Department Non -Emergency ....................... 945-4066 Deerfield, Illinois CAR/PRE-SORT Police Department Non -Emergency ..................... 945-8636 Village Hall............................................945-5000 Public Works..........................................317-7245 Web Page ................................... www.deerfield-il.org POSTAL CUSTOMER E-mail ................................. deermailC�3deerfield-il.org STEVEN M. HARRIS, Mayor 940-7533 DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS 60015 TRUSTEES JERRY KAYNE 945-5320 DEREK RAGONA 945-2291 HARRIET ROSENTHAL 945-3545 WILLIAM S. SEIDEN 945-2442 VERNON E. SWANSON 945-0227 ROBERT D. FRANZ, Village Manager Ong Printed on Recycled Paper Printed at SPS, The Printing Company, Inc. (847) 498-6126 Summer 2001 Schedule PLAZA PLEASURES at the Farmerg Market Just a little note 11 B � 11 / Join us at the FARMERS MARKET each Saturday morning for food. friends r funl aturdags (10:00 a.m.) *indicates projzram is 45 minutes in length June 23 hummers & Strummers (Ukelele) - Sponsored by McDonalds June 30 Circus boy* (Variety Stunts) - Sponsored by Sopraffina Marketegfe July 7 The Doolegs (AmericanArish Folksongs) - Sponsored by CarrAmerica July 14 Joel Frankel & Jay Wkitehcad* (Folksongs) - Sponsored by CarrAmerica July 21 Mark Hayward* (Yo-Yo Champion) - Sponsored by Walgreens July 28 pave Rudolph* (Interactive songs)- Sponsored by Discover Financial Aug. 4 Chuck Field* (Ventriloquist) - Sponsored by Deerfield Centre L.L.C. Aug. I I pan Lemonnier - Folksongs & Foolery - Sponsored by Success National Bank Aug. 18 Steve belliveau's Zany Magic Show* - Sponsored by Il Forno Aug. 25 The Mike & Ken Show* (Comedy iuggling/Unicycling) - Sponsored by Discover Financial Sept. 1 blue Light Special (Accoustic) - Sponsored by Fujisawa U.S.A., Inc. Sept. 8 Jammin' Daddies (Classic Rock) - Sponsored by Il Forno Holidays on the Village Hall Courtgard May 28 big band Sound of Deerfield - Sponsored by the Village of Deerfield (9:30 a.m. July 4 Deerfield Community band - Sponsored by the Village of Deerfield (11:00 a.m.) General .Sponsors Amish Furniture Shoppe; Baskin -Robbins 31 Flavors; Cherry Pit Cafe; Coldwell Banker; Corner Boutique; Dear Franks; Deerfield Auto & Tire; Deerfield Garage; Deerfield Review; Koenig & Strey Realtors; Lindemann Pharmacy; My Son the Jeweler; Natural Web; Shields Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. - Ken & Michelle Shields; State Farm Insurance - Doug Hakanen; State Farm Insurance - Michael Rizzo; Upper Crust Bagels; Beverly E. Viti Salon; A. W. Zengeler Cleaners; Smugglers at'the Square. PLEASE REMEMBER TO SHOP DEERFIELD FIRST.t The Village acknowledges with appreciation the participation by all our local merchants and businesses for their generous contributions, sponsorship, & support of Plaza Pleasures. The DEERFIELD FARMERS MARKET begins its seventh season on June 23rd and will operate each Saturday morning until October 13th, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., rain or shine. The market offers the finest locally grown fruit and vegetables (including organic); and specialty items such as freshly baked breads and cookies, fabulous flowers, tasty maple syrup and honey, and a variety of fresh cheeses, salsas, biscotti and pasta sauces. The market is located in the commuter parking lot at the northwest corner of Deerfield Road and Robert York Avenue. There's plenty of parking along Park Avenue. For more information, call 945-5000 or e-mail us at topcarrots(aa,aol.com. Also, visit our website at www.deerfield-il.org/farmmkt/farmersmarket.html. 0-' KI DEERFIELp POLICE Police Beat POLICE Traffic Rules for Cyclists You know that a red octagon means "stop". But Illinois requires you, as a bicyclist, to know and obey all of the state's traffic signals and pavement markings. Village ordinance prohibits bicyclists under the age of 12 along or on Deerfield . Road, Waukegan Road, and Lake Cook Road. Riding Predictability On the street, most motorists follow traffic rules. Traffic flows smoothly because all the drivers can predict what each other will do. A collision usually happens only when someone does some- thing abnormal. When you ride in traffic, you can maneuver better than the cars around you. You might be tempted to ignore traffic rules — but don't! This is how most bicyclists get into accidents. When you break traffic laws, you put yourself in danger. Motorists and other cyclists won't know what you'll do next, making it harder to avoid you and prevent a crash. But, if you act like a vehicle —signaling turns, and stopping at red lights —drivers can predict what you'll do. Being predictable is the key to safe bicycling in traffic. And, if you follow traffic rules, motorists will come to respect bicyclists as Bicycle Safety drivers of vehicles —which is how Illinois law says bicyclists should act. Here are the basic rules for riding predictability: Be Smart: Know the traffic safety rules you should follow. Know when to yield and when someone should yield to you. When you're wait- ing for a car to pass you before you cross an intersection or change lanes, the driver might not realize you're yielding. Wave at the driver to go ahead. Pretend You're Invisible: In some situations —like a car turning in front of you=it's a good idea to pretend the driver doesn't see you. Know in advance how you'll avoid that driver. Can you stop in time? If not, slow down or plan how you would steer out of the way. How to decide whether a driver sees you: • Watch for the car to move slower than it would if you weren't there. • Look at where the driver's eyes are. If they're not look- ing at you, slow down and be ready to get out of the way. May 2001 Be Confident: Learn riding skills so you don't hesitate in traffic, and always be courteous. Children should not ride in the street unless a parent is confident of their abilities. Of course, young children should never ride in the street without being accompanied by an adult. Communicate: Bikes are slower, quieter, and less visible than most other vehi- cles. So, you should make drivers notice you, and try to communi- cate with them. And because some bicyclists don't follow traf- fic laws, drivers don't always know what you'll do —even if you think it's obvious. Make eye contact, signal your moves, and wave when someone yields. Bicycle Helmets You say a helmet is too much of a hassle? It makes your head sweat? Gives you hat hair? You think that you look funny wear- ing one? Keep in mind that about 1,000 bicyclists die in crashes each year —and around three -fourths die from head inju- ries. In Deerfield, there is a Village ordinance that requires everyone under the age of sixteen to wear a bicycle helmet. Regardless of your age it is a good idea to wear a helmet.