Loading...
04/20/1992April 20, 1992 The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Deerfield was called to order by the Mayor in the Council Chamber of the Village Hall on Monday, April 20, 1992 at 8:00 P.M. The Clerk called the roll and announced that the following were Present: Bernard Forrest, Mayor Marvin Ehlers James L. Marovitz Harriet E. Rosenthal Edwin B. Seidman Vernon E. Swanson and that a quorum was present and in attendance. Also present was Village Manager Robert Franz and Attorney Herb Linn. Trustee Marovitz requested the minutes of the previous meeting regarding the Proposed Amendments to Comprehensive Plan - Sara Lee Property be amended by deleting from the last paragraph the sentence "Trustee Marovitz abstained from voting." Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee Rosenthal, that the minutes of the previous meeting, as amended, be approved. Motion carried unanimously. Trustee Michael Swartz arrived at the meeting (8:05 P.M.). BILLS AND PAYROLL Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee Marovitz, that the Bills and Payroll be approved. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Ehlers, Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) TREASURER'S REPORT Finance Director George Valentine reported that sales tax receipts received in March were approximately 77 over the prior year. The current 12 -month average is 17 over the prior period. Water purchases and sales through February are 17% and 147 respectively over projection. Expenditures continue to be react according to budget. The Garage is making contributions to overhead for the first time in several years. As of March 31, 1992, 101.327 of cash was invested at an average interest rate of 6.567. 0 -92 -17 ORDINANCE Two budget amendments were proposed. One AMENDMENT TO 1991 -92 to amend the Emergency Services Fund to BUDGET provide for the additional costs for the warning sirens which were not budgeted for this fiscal vear;. the second for the Enhanced 911 'Fund to add $45,000 to eauipment for line and hook up charges. Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by be waived to permit passage of the Motion carried unanimously. (as amended 5/4/92) Trustee Swartz, that the rules Ordinance on first reading. Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the Ordinance amending the 1991 -92 Budget be adopted. Motion carl,ied by the following vote: AYES: Ehlers, 'Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) PUBLIC HEARING IMayor Forrest called to order the Public 1992 -93 ANNUAL BUDGET Hearing on the 1992 -93 Annual Budget and read his Budget Message, a copy of which is attached. Mayor Forrest noted the combined total budget is $16,538,609. The increase over last year's budget is due principally to the Wilmot road construction project and the water rate increase imposed by Highland park. Henry Hayes, a Deerfield resident, inquired about the State mandates for pension funds and if the pensions for Village employees are indexed for inflation. Finance Director George Valentine responded to the inquiries. Thomas Parfitt, representing the Library Board, advised the Board that the Library will'be using surplus funds from Tax Increment Financing, estimated about $450,000 for the past three years, to build whatever is needed to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Trustee Rosenthal moved, seconded by Trustee Marovitz, to close the Public Hearing. Motion carried unanimously. 0 -92 -18 ORDINANCE Trustee Marovitz moved, seconded by 1992 -93 ANNUAL BUDGET Trustee Seidman,.that the rules be waived to permit passage of the Ordinance on first reading. Motion carried unanimously. Trustee Marovitz moved, seconded by Trustee Seidman, that the Ordinance approving the 1992 -93 Annual Budget be adopted. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Ehlers, Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) 0 -92 -19 ORDINANCE WAGE AND SALARY PLAN The proposed Ordinance provides for a 4% increase in the base salaries of Village employees. Trustee Swanson moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the rules be waived to permit passage of the Ordinance on first reading. Motion carried unanimously. Trustee Seidman moved, seconded Ordinance amending the Wage and carried by the following vote: by Trustee Swartz, that the Salary Plan be adopted. Motion AYES: Ehlers, Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) AGREEMENT WITH DEERFIELD PATROLMEN'S ASSOCIATION Association. Motion PROPOSED AMENDMENTS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - SARA LEE PROPERTY Trustee Rosenthal moved, seconded by Trustee Marovitz, that the Mayor be authorized to sign a two year agreement with the Deerfield Patrolmen's carried unanimously. Trustee Marovitz recused himself from acting on this matter. Trustee Rosenthal moved, seconded by Trustee Ehlers, that the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Flan -- Sara Lee 4� ;; ,v, %>c; 1- dlfiuve . i 's`au: cable. ?lotion carried. Mayor Forrest recommended paragraph 7c on page 3 of "Possible Development Area" be amended by deleting the last two lines of the sentence referring to use of well water and inserting the words "should be allowed only for industrial use." Trustee Rosenthal moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the revised Possible Development Area section of the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan - Sara lee Property -2- recommended by the Plan Commission be accepted and the Attorney directed to prepare the necessary Ordinance. Motion carried. Consent Agenda 0 -92 -20 ORDINANCE Ordinance amending Special Use /PUD to SPECIAL USE /PUD expand Deerbrook Bank drive -thru DEERBROOK BANK DRIVE- facility - Deerbrook Shopping Center. THRU FACILITY EXPANSION SPECIAL USE AMENDMENT FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST AMENDING WATER RATES Ordinance amending Special Use to permit addition to existing building - First Church of Christ Scientist - 155 Deerfield Road. First reading. Ordinance amending water rates - $2.05/100 cubic feet. First reading. R -92 -02 RESOLUTION Resolution for maintenance of streets and MAINTENANCE OF STREETS highways by a municipality under the AND HIGHWAYS Illinois Highway Code. Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the Consent Agenda be accepted, the Ordinance adopted and the Resolution passed. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Ehlers, Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) 0 -92 -21 ORDINANCE Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee REAR YARD VARIATION Swartz, that the rules be waived to permit 1335 N. WAUKEGAN RD. passage of the Ordinance on first reading. Motion carried unanimously. Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the Ordinance granting a rear yard variation - John and Rosemary Wheeler, 1335 N. Waukegan Road be adopted. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Ehlers, Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) RECONDITION TRAVELING BRIDGE COLLECTOR - WASTEWATER RECLAMATION FACILITY proposal of Roberts -St Three proposals were received for the reconditioning of the traveling bridge collector at the Wastewater Reclamation facility. The Director of Public Works and Engineering recommended accepting the age Electric Company. Trustee Rosenthal moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the proposal of Roberts -Stage Electric Company for the reconditioning of the traveling bridge collector at the Wastewater Reclamation facility at a cost not to exceed $12,472 be accepted. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Ehlers, Marovitz, Rosenthal, Seidman, Swanson, Swartz (6) NAYS: None (0) R -92 -03 RESOLUTION Implementdtion of the 125 Cafeteria Plan ESTABLISHM E11T OF will allow employees to utilize pre -tax IRS SECTION 125 PIAN dollars to pay for their portion of the hospitalization plan. Trustee Seidman moved, seconded by Trustee Marovitz, that the Resolution establishing an IRS Section 125 (Pre -Tax Contribution) Plan be passed. Motion carried unanimously. -3- SUBSIDIZED TAXI SERVICE These agreements provide for the continua- tion of subsidized taxi service available to senior and handicapped residents of the village. The flat fare to Highland Park Hospital will increase to $3.50; the flat fare to Northbrook Court will be eliminated. Reimbursement to cab companies from the Village will increase from $2.75 /trip to $3.25 /trip. This is the first increase since 1983• Trustee Rosenthal moved, seconded by Trustee Marovitz, that the Mayor be authorized to sign agreements re subsidized taxi service. Motion carried unanimously. R- 92- 04'RESOLUTION Mayor Forrest recommended passing the OBJECTING TO LEXINGTON Resolution objecting to an application for HOMES DEVELOPMENT rezoning of the Thorngate parcel pursuant PLAN - THORNGATE PARCEL to the Lake County Zoning Ordinance. Trustee Marovitz moved, seconded by Trustee Swartz, that the Resolution objecting to an application for rezoning of the Thorngate parcel be adopted. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, upon motion of Trustee Seidman, seconded by Trustee Swanson, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. ATTEST: illage Clerk A PROVED: Mayor -4- BUDGET MESSAGE Preparation and adoption of the annual budget is always an important process but, this year, it takes on even more significance in light of problems with the overall economy and continued public pressure for less taxation at all levels of government. Our 1992 -93 budget reflects these concerns as we adopt a financial plan to meet our goal of providing high quality municipal services at the lowest possible cost. The combined total budget is $16,538,609. The increase over last year's budget is due principally to the Wilmot Road construction project and the water rate increase imposed by Highland Park. With those exceptions, this budget holds the line on spending without sacrificing the quality of current programs and services. There will be no increase next year in personnel. In fact, a part -time position in public works has been eliminated. To remain competitive in the municipal market, there will be a 4% increase in the employee salary plan. However, as part of that settlement, employees will pay a portion of the dependent health insurance premium, a long - established practice in the private sector which more and more public entities are incorporating in their wage and benefit plans. The 1992 -93 budget will continue the Senior Subsidy Housing Program and the combined effort with the Deerfield Park District to provide basic services essential to our seniors. Also continued are the 50/50 sidewalk, curb and tree replacement programs which encourage a shared responsibility for infrastructure improvements that benefit both. the Village and the homeowner. Special emphasis will be given this year to sidewalk replacement in an effort to improve pedestrian safety. Although a specific amount has been budgeted, the Village is prepared to match whatever interest is shown by Deerfield residents. This budget reflects the 20% water rate increase imposed by Highland Park on January 1, 1992. To date, we have avoided a costly legal suit in our efforts to obtain a wholesale rate. Further action will be taken pending a response from Highland Park on our latest proposal to resolve the issue. In the interim, however, the Village must increase its rate from $1.75 to $2.05 per hundred cubic feet. This is the first increase since 1986, and will amount to approximately $10.00 per quarter for the average residential water user. Both sewer and scavenger service rates will remain the same. Our contract with.-Laidlaw Waste Systems will expire on December 31st. In light of the community's extremely positive response to recycling, and our plans to expand that program, we expect that terms of the new contract will be favorable. Capital projects scheduled 'for 1992 -93 are: Completion of Phase II of Robert York Avenue; continuation of the Street Rehabilitation Program; new traffic signals at Lake Cook Road and Carlisle Avenue; Bridge Rehabilitation; Wilmot Road reconstruction with utility improvements; maintenance and repairs at the Water Reclamation Plant; and an East Side Lift Station sanitary sewer line. Many of these capital projects are possible due to the Village having leveraged its funds with Federal monies and Tax Increment Financing funds. It represents the Village's commitment to maintain its basic infrastructure which, if deferred, will only result in increased costs at a later date. Mayor Daley's comments following the flooding incident in Chicago demonstrate the plight of all municipalities which ignore their physical plant. Deerfield's Capital Budget has been successful in addressing these needs on a regular basis. We are pleased to project a 1992 property tax levy that is 1% less than last year's. This is possible despite the fact that several increases in the tax levy are due to forces beyond the control of the Village. Statutory pension requirements and other State mandated programs oftentimes preempt our efforts to hold the line on property taxes. As it is, real estate taxes collected by the Village are used only for scavenger service, pensions, street maintenance and debt service (which is principal and interest paid on outstanding bond issues). Furthermore, unlike many neighboring communities, Deerfield does not have a Utility Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax or Home Rule Sales Tax. Property taxes make up only 16.8% of total Village revenues. More importantly, it should be noted that the Village receives only 9.2% of the total real estate tax bill. As illustrated on page 4g in the budget document, an actual tax bill for a single family residence in Deerfield shows that, of the $4,040.14 paid in 1990, the Village received $373.74. Also worthy of highlighting, for the period 1985 -1990, the dollar amount received by the Village actually decreased from $409.21 to $373.74. For the second consecutive year, the Village released surplus funds from the Lake Cook Tax Increment Financing District. The amount distributed to local government agencies this year was $6.6 million (over $8 million was reallocated last year). This is significant new revenue for these 'taxing districts which, if they follow the Village's example, could be used to reduce their property tax levies. Residents should ask for and receive an accounting from these agencies of how these windfall revenues are to be spent. Deerfield's total outstanding General Obligation debt of $12,195,254, payable from property taxes, is 2.58 of its total assessed valuation of $489,019,552. When considering that non -Home Rule communities are allowed a ratio. of 8.6 %, the Village, as a Home Rule community, can be especially proud of its low debt service obligations. In presenting this budget for fiscal year 1992 -93, the Board of Trustees and I restate our commitment to sound financial management in serving the needs of the community. We are indeed fortunate to be in an excellent financial position, having lived within our resources for many years. In performing our job, we are grateful for the support of the many volunteers that serve on various boards and commissions, whose input is extremely valuable to our decision- making. Through this concerted effort, Deerfield will continue to maintain its tradition of a responsible community, responsive to its citizenry. BERNARD FORREST Mayor April 20, 1992