City of Highland Park Committee of the Whole met Oct. 29.
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, Stone (by phone), Blumberg, Knobel, Holleman
Members Absent: Councilman, Kaufman
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 – October 15, 2018
Councilman Knobel moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole held on October 15, 2018. Councilman Blumberg seconded the motion.
On a voice vote:
Voting Yea: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Stone, Blumberg, Knobel, Holleman
Voting Nay: None
Absent: Councilman Kaufman
Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed unanimously.
CLOSED SESSION
Councilman Blumberg 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 purposes 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)); and iv) purchase of property (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)). Councilwoman Stone seconded the motion.
On a roll call vote:
Voting Yea: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Stone, Blumberg, Knobel, Holleman
Voting Nay: None
Absent: Councilman Kaufman
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 5:28 PM, Mayor Rotering reconvened the open session of the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Blumberg, Knobel, Holleman
Members Absent: Councilmen Stone, Kaufman
City Staff Present: Ghida Neukirch, Larry Amidei, Joel Fontane, Lou Jogmen, Ramesh Kanapareddy, Julie Logan, Rob Sabo, Drew Awsumb, Jon Lowman, Kristi McCaulou, Tim Pease, Emily Taub, Jorge Torres, Laura Fairchild, Lara Lukasik, Ashley Palbitska
Also Present: Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod, Deputy Corporation Counsel Hart Passman
SCHEDULED BUSINESS
Ravinia Festival Agreement
Mayor Rotering recused herself from the discussion due to her participation on the Ravinia Woman’s Board.
Mayor Rotering exited the meeting at 5:30 PM.
Councilman Holleman assumed the role of Presiding Officer in Mayor Rotering’s absence.
City Manager Neukirch explained that staff will provide information regarding the not-for-profit terms within the proposed sixth amendment to the Ravinia Festival Agreement.
Councilman Knobel recused herself from the discussion regarding the removal of not-for-profits from the proposed Sixth Amendment of the Ravinia Festival Agreement due to her participation as a Council Liaison and non-voting member to Highland Park Community Foundation.
Councilman Knobel exited the meeting at 5:31 PM.
City Manager Neukirch recommended that all references to not-for-profits be removed from the proposed Sixth Amendment. It is recommended that Ravinia Festival and YEA! enter into an agreement pertaining to the concert that Ravinia Festival has historically offered the organization.
The Committee was in consensus to remove all references to not-for-profits from the proposed Sixth Amendment to the Ravinia Festival Development Agreement.
Councilman Knobel entered the meeting at 5:33 PM.
City Manager Neukirch noted that all references to not-for-profits will be removed from the agreement, trash pick-up has been extended from the Braeside Train Station to Ravinia Festival grounds and that there will be a total of two neighborhood meetings held by Ravinia Festival pursuant to policy feedback at the last Committee of the Whole meeting.
Assistant City Manager Sabo presented information and sought feedback from the Council regarding 1) the Municipal Admissions Fee (proposed 5% based on comparable data); and 2) the term of the agreement.
The Committee discussed the Municipal admissions fee and were in consensus to move forward with the proposed 5%.
The Committee and City Manager Neukirch discussed the term of the agreement and City staff’s regular interactions with Ravinia Festival.
The Committee was in consensus move forward with a ten year term for the agreement. Mayor Rotering entered the meeting at 5:51 PM.
493 Hazel Avenue Covenant
Corporation Counsel Elrod and Michael Pinsel, property owner at 493 Hazel, provided historical information pertaining to the property at 493 Hazel and the restrictive covenants that have been placed on the property.
Community Development Director Fontane provided information on a request from Mr. Pinsel, to release restrictive covenants the City holds on the subject property.
Mayor Rotering, Councilman Blumberg and Community Development Director Fontane discussed the topography of the property and the square footage of buildable space within the property.
Councilman Holleman stated that Mr. Pinsel is not looking to change the current zoning but the removal of restrictive covenants to allow for his property to be developable, similarly to the other houses on the block. She stated that she was in favor of removing the restrictive covenants as long as there was not a discussion regarding changing the zoning of the property.
Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg and Knobel inquired as to what the need was to have the covenants removed.
The Committee, Corporation Counsel Elrod and Mr. Pinsel discussed historic preservation as it relates the property.
Mr. Pinsel stated that he is not looking to sell his property but when it does come time to sell, he does not want to have restrictive covenants on the property because it diminishes the property’s value.
Councilman Knobel asked, if the covenants were removed and the home were to be demolished, would the property have to go through the Historic Preservation Commission’s (“HPC”) process.
Corporation Counsel Elrod and Community Development Director Fontane confirmed that it would have to go before HPC before the home could be demolished.
Mr. Pinsel stated that he was only looking to have the contractual restrictions removed and not any other type of restrictions that may come with the zoning or neighborhood.
Councilman Holleman asked if there were other properties in Highland Park that had these types of restrictive covenants tied to the property.
Corporation Counsel Elrod stated that there were no other properties in Highland Park with these types of restrictive covenants.
Councilman Holleman stated that if the restrictions are removed, there would still be a public process in place if the property were to be sold and some kind of development be proposed. She explained that the value of the property increases without the restrictive covenants.
Corporation Counsel Elrod explained that with a covenant in place, it provides the City more protections regarding the use of the property rather than relying merely on the Zoning Code.
Mayor Rotering and Corporation Counsel Elrod discussed how a developer could purchase the property and seek variances if the covenants were to be removed.
Councilman Knobel and Mr. Pinsel discussed communication that took place with neighbors within the vicinity of the property.
Councilman Blumberg stated that he hasn’t been swayed that anything has changed with the property and there doesn’t seem to be a necessity to have the covenants removed. He noted that he was not in favor of removing the restrictive covenants.
Mayor Rotering stated that she agreed with Councilman Blumberg and discussed her appreciation for the protections that are currently in place for the property.
Councilman Stolberg stated that he was generally inclined to agree with Councilman Blumberg. He explained that he was still unsure as to what has changed regarding the property and has not been convinced that the restrictions need to be removed.
Councilman Knobel stated that nothing has changed with the property, the neighbors are interested in having the restrictions remain because it is an added layer of protection for the neighborhood and if the restrictions were to be removed, it would be a major process for the City to undertake during a public process.
Councilman Holleman stated that Mr. Pinsel has invested a lot in to the property and deserves to get fair market value for the property when the time comes to sell it. She explained that there are still underlying restrictions on the property, especially with the ravine at the back of the property. She explained that the Council is restricting the price of this piece of land and Mr. Pinsel should be entitled to the full sale value of the property.
Mayor Rotering stated that four Councilmembers were opposed to removing the restrictive covenants.
Mr. Pinsel explained how he was a unique buyer of the property and that there are protections on the property outside of these restrictions. He voiced his displeasure with the decision.
Budget Workshop – City Manager’s Office
Assistant City Manager Sabo presented information on the City Manager’s Office proposed FY2019 budget.
Mayor Rotering and Assistant City Manager Sabo discussed how the families that previously utilized the City’s Youth Services have been connected with other after school programs.
Councilman Knobel confirmed that items like HP150, Business Summit and Special Service Areas (“SSA”) are pass through costs.
Councilman Holleman Corporation Counsel Elrod and Assistant City Manager Sabo discussed the services provided by SWALCO and the relevance of SWALCO now that the City has a waste hauler that has a primary focus on recycling.
City Manager Neukirch provided information on the City’s memberships budgeted within the City Manager’s Office.
Human Resources Manager Taub presented information on the Human Resources proposed FY2019 budget and the City’s staff training programs.
Budget Workshop - Police
Police Chief Jogmen presented information on the Police Department’s proposed FY2019 budget.
Councilman Holleman and Chief Jogmen discussed the cost for the Procedural Justice Training.
Councilman Holleman stated that she believes that this training should not be deferred based on cost and should take place in 2018.
Chief Jogmen provided information on what the Procedural Justice Training provides to staff.
The Committee was in consensus to reinstate the Procedural Justice Training into the FY2019 budget.
Budget Workshop Fire
Fire Chief Amidei presented information on the Fire Department’s proposed FY2019 budget.
Mayor Rotering and Fire Chief Amidei discussed response time variations between the three firehouses. They discussed providing training in Spanish for the firehouse training that is provided to third graders within the school district. They discussed CPR and AED training.
Budget Workshop – Community Development
Community Development Director Fontane presented information on Community Development’s proposed FY2019 budget.
Budget Workshop – Finance
Finance Director Logan presented information on the Finance Department’s proposed FY2019 budget.
OTHERS MATTERS
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilman Holleman moved to adjourn. Councilman Knobel seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.
The Committee of the Whole adjourned its meeting at 7:44 PM
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