Highland Park City Committee of the Whole met Sept. 12.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
CALL TO ORDER
At 4:30 PM, Mayor Rotering called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman Members Absent: Councilmen Stone, Blumberg
Mayor Rotering declared a quorum was present.
Staff Present: Ghida Neukirch, Ashley Palbitska
Also Present: Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod, Deputy Corporation Counsel Hart Passman
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole – August 27, 2018
Councilman Kaufman moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole held on August 27, 2018. Councilman Holleman seconded the motion.
On a voice vote:
Voting Yea: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Kaufman, Holleman
Voting Nay: None
Present: Councilman Knobel
Absent: Councilmen Stone, Blumberg
Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed unanimously.
CLOSED SESSION
Councilman Kaufman moved the Committee close its meeting to the public, pursuant to the following cited sections of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)), for the purpose of i) approval of closed session minutes (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)); ii) probable litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)); iii) pending litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)); iv) collective bargaining (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)); v) purchase or lease of property (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)); and vi) setting price for sale or lease of property (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6)). Councilman Stolberg seconded the motion.
On a roll call vote:
Voting Yea: Voting Nay: Absent:
Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman None
Councilmen Stone, Blumberg
Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed unanimously.
At 4:31 PM, the Committee recessed the public portion of the meeting to meet in Closed Session.
At 6:25 PM, Mayor Rotering reconvened the open session of the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman
Members Absent: Councilmen Stone, Blumberg
City Staff Present: Ghida Neukirch, Larry Amidei, Lou Jogmen, Ramesh Kanapareddy, Rob Sabo, Jon Lowman, Jon O’Connell, Chris O’Neill, Laura Fairchild, Ashley Palbitska
Also Present: Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod
SCHEDULED BUSINESS
Customer Service Survey Results
Assistant City Manager Sabo provided an overview of the survey process and results.
City Manager Neukirch explained that the Customer Service Survey was one of the many ways the City was seeking feedback from the public. She stated that the Senior Center was seeking feedback with programs being offered to understand the effectiveness of the program.
Councilman Knobel expressed her appreciation of the initiative that has been undertaken. She explained that as a member of the Council, she hears anecdotal feedback from the community but the Customer Service Survey results reflect positive feedback. She asked if the survey could be segmented further by asking if the property owner is a residential or commercial property owner due to meetings that take place with the property owners and that group being very vocal.
Councilman Kaufman asked if part of the goal is to continue to obtain the feedback and if there was the possibility of communicating the results in order to help change the perception that processes and customer relations tend to be more positive than negative.
Assistant City Manager Sabo explained that the survey results are published in the City’s Budget document but they can be included in the City’s communication plan. He noted that the survey does allow individuals to provide feedback that allows City staff to perform follow-ups in order to gain a better understanding of that individual’s experience.
Councilman Knobel discussed question seven on the survey and requested e-mail be added and add verbiage that explains how individuals can sign up for the City’s e-News.
Citywide Parking Study Update
Management Analyst Fairchild presented information on the comprehensive parking review that was conducted and staff recommended updates.
Councilman Kaufman asked staff to clarify the recommendation regarding the automation of parking meters.
Councilmen Holleman and Knobel, and Management Analyst Fairchild confirmed that the recommendation was to go to an application that would be accessible on a phone and a physical kiosk in the parking lot.
Councilman Knobel agreed that moving towards the phone application would be beneficial to not only commuters but to staff as well. She explained that there have been some zoning changes to the B4 zoning district and there has been discussion of the possibility of extending parking times in the B4 zoning district but not the B5 zoning district. She stated that the community has continually expressed how they are not able to get everything done that they need to inside the current posted two hour parking limits. She expressed her gratitude regarding the presentation and asked if a condensed version could be put together for the Property Owners Association meeting in order to inform them of possible changes in the near future.
Councilman Holleman expressed her support of staff recommendations. She stated that with the phone application, there is the capability of increasing parking time through the application. She voiced concerns regarding the license plate recognition software that was presented and asked that more research be conducted regarding the need.
City Manager Neukirch explained that her and Chief Jogmen did discuss that topic and decided that it was a policy issue that would be brought back to the Committee for review. She stated the presentation was to inform the Council of the capabilities of the software.
Councilman Kaufman stated that he was in support of the proposed automation.
Councilman Holleman stated that a parking study would not be needed due to the reporting capabilities from the application.
Mayor Rotering and Councilman Stolberg stated how beneficial the automation would be for the commuter lots.
City Manager Neukirch reviewed the recommendation brought forward by Councilman Knobel and explained that staff did recommend maintaining the two hour parking in both the B4 and B5 zoning districts but if the Committee was interested in having B4 parking requirements reviewed, staff was willing to conduct that review.
Councilman Knobel stated that the application could alleviate the parking issue in the B4 zoning district. She asked if there would be the ability to monitor those vehicles on a daily basis that move their vehicles around.
Management Analyst Fairchild explained that information can be pulled from the software to determine if there are vehicles that continue to shuffle around the Central Business District.
Commander O’Neill discussed the possibility of allowing individuals to pay for more parking time and the issue of individuals shuffling their cars around the downtown.
Councilman Knobel expressed her interest in researching the allowance of longer parking limits within the B4 zoning district.
OTHERS MATTERS
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilman Knobel moved to adjourn. Councilman Kaufman seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.
The Committee of the Whole adjourned its meeting at 7:11 PM.
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