Lake County Gazette

Village of Deerfield Board of Trustees met March 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Deerfield was called to order on March 4, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at Deerfield Village Hall. The clerk called the roll and announced  that the following were 

Present: Robert Benton 

Larry Berg 

Elaine Jacoby 

Rebekah Metts-Childers  

Absent: Dan Shapiro, Mayor 

Mary Oppenheim 

and that a quorum was present and in attendance. Also present were Village Manager Kent Street and Steven Elrod, Village Attorney. 

TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON In the absence of Mayor Shapiro, Trustee Berg moved to nominate Trustee Benton as the Temporary Chairperson. Trustee Jacoby seconded the motion. The motion passed by the  following vote: 

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers (4) 

NAYS: None (0) 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Presiding Officer Benton led those in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 

PROCLAMATION On behalf of Mayor Shapiro, Temporary Chairperson Benton proclaimed the month of March 2024 as Women’s History Month in the Village of Deerfield to honor and celebrate the history  and contributions of women in the community, state and country.  

Community Relations Commissioner Renee Graxirena provided a history of Women’s History Month which was created by Gerda Lerner, who was born in 1920 in Vienna, Austria. Her father owned a large pharmacy and her mother, a free-spirited Bohemian at heart, tried unsuccessfully to reconcile her budding career as an artist with her duties as a housewife and mother. This struggle made a strong impression on young Gerda. Her family was forced to flee from the Nazis in 1938 and Gerda emigrated to the United States where she never lost her zeal for questioning authority and calling out gender inequality. Gerda married a radical filmmaker and became a leader in the American academic world, writing many books on feminism, patriarchy, and human rights. In her 1993 obituary in the New York Times, she was quoted as having said, “All human beings are practicing historians. We live our lives; we tell our stories. It is as natural as breathing. It is as important as breathing, too. History shapes our self-definition and  our relationship to community; it locates us in time and place and helps give meaning to our lives.” Ms. Graxirena believes Gerda would appreciate our own Women’s History Month community participation project and knows she would admire the broad diversity of artistic expression which has been seen so far. Ms. Graxirena noted that for Women’s History Month, the Community Relations Committee has issued a call for artwork submissions from Deerfield  artists and invited the community to submit a photo of their original artwork and to name a historical woman who inspired them. She pointed out our local artists have been sharing an array of artwork ranging from abstract to portraiture, and they have named diverse historical  heroes ranging from Dolly Parton to Deerfield’s own Elaine Silberman. Ms. Graxirena noted  their thoughtful response and fabulous artwork will be displayed on the Village website and on the Village’s cable access channel throughout Women’s History Month. Ms. Graxirena thanked  the Board for the Proclamation and supporting women and girls in every endeavor on behalf of the Community Relations Commission.  

Trustee Metts-Childers moved to accept the Proclamation. Trustee Berg seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote. 

DOCUMENT APPROVAL Trustee Berg moved to approve the minutes from  the February 20, 2024, Board of Trustees meeting.  

Trustee Jacoby seconded the motion. The motion passed by a voice vote. 

TREASURER’S REPORT Director of Finance Eric Burk presented highlights from the January 2024 Treasurer’s Report. He stated sales tax continues to exceed the prior two years due to increase cost of goods. Mr. Burk noted water and sewer billings reflect lower usage months which is typical this time of year. He reported interest income outperformed projections as rates have remained higher than expected.

Mr. Burk stated hotel tax reflects payments from all six hotels and back payment from two hotels. He reported state income tax, food & beverage tax and building permits all increased from the same period of last year. Mr. Burk noted many of the January cash payments are related to 2023 and are not included as expenditures in this report. He reported overall operating expenditures are below projection, as expected, due to timing of seasonal/once-a-year expenditures such as liability insurance, memberships and special events.  

Temporary Chairperson Benton asked if the warmer than average weather and early construction has any effect on the budget. Director of Public Works and Engineering Bob Phillips reported the asphalt plants are will not open until April. He stated the work that is being done currently would have been done this year regardless. He noted a sewer repair on Waukegan Road will be done within the next couple weeks before IDOT finishes their resurfacing project. Trustee Metts-Childers asked about the Village’s salt reserves. Mr. Phillips reported the excess salt will  be stored under tarps at the Water Reclamation Facility.  

BILLS AND PAYROLL Trustee Metts-Childers moved to approve the bills and payroll dated March 4, 2024. Trustee Jacoby seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:  

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers (4) 

NAYS: None (0)

PUBLIC COMMENT There was no Public Comment. 

REPORTS 

CONSIDERATION AND ACTION ON Mr. Street reported the Plan Commission held a THE PLAN COMMISSION Workshop Meeting on February 22, 2024, to RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE consider this year’s Zoning Map, which shows THE 2024 ZONING MAP the rezoning of properties on Lake Cook Road from I-1 Office, Research, and Restricted Industrial to C-4 Entertainment and Limited Retail Business District. The Plan Commission voted 5-0 in  favor of the updates. Mr. Street noted this is done every year. 

Trustee Berg moved to accept the report and recommendation of the Plan Commission to approve the 2024 Zoning Map and direct the Village Attorney to prepare the Ordinance. Trustee Jacoby seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote: 

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers, (4) 

NAYS: None (0) 

CONSENT AGENDA 

ORDINANCE O-24-11 GRANTING A H,3,A MODIFICATION FROM SECTION 2.04- 2.04-H-3, A OF THE DEERFELD ZONING ORDINANCE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 725 FOX HUNT TRAIL TO PERMIT THE INSTALLATION OF A FENCE WITHIN THE DEFINED FRONT YARD 4.5 FEET IN LIEU OFTHE MAXIMUM PERMITTED HEIGHT OF 3 FEET

An Ordinance granting a modification from Section 2.04-H-3-a of the Deerfield Zoning Ordinance for the property located at 725 Fox Hunt Trail to permit the installation of a fence within the defined front yard 4.5 feet in lieu of the maximum permitted height of 3 feet.

RESOLUTION R-24-22 AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING MID-TERM AGREEMENTS WITH THE TWO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS IN THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD 

A Resolution authorizing and approving mid-term agreements with the two (2) collective bargaining units units have (ICOPS and Local 150) in the Village of Deerfield. Both collective bargaining have agreed to the mid-term agreements which extend certain benefits under the Illinois Paid Leave Act and Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program to Village employees covered by their existing collective bargaining agreements.

Trustee Metts-Childers moved to accept the Consent Agenda and adopt the Ordinance and  Resolution. Trustee Berg seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote: 

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers (4) 

NAYS: None (0) 

OLD BUSINESS 

There was no Old Business. 

NEW BUSINESS 

RESOLUTION R-24-23 APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF NETWORKING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 

Director of IT, Matt Weiss, reported the Village’s technology network includes a large campus network switch that was implemented in early 2015, that is nearing end-of-life status with its manufacturer. He noted replacing the equipment will ensure the Village’s ability to have essential software and hardware support on this critical equipment, and offers the opportunity to implement new equipment to improve operations. Mr. Weiss reported the total cost for this project through partner reseller Heartland Business Systems is $91,192.85, of which $78,217.85  is for hardware and manufacturer support/maintenance and $12,975.00 is for professional services. Mr. Weiss noted $150,000.00 was budgeted from the Vehicle Equipment and Replacement Fund for this purchase in 2024. 

Trustee Berg moved to waive the competitive bidding and approve the Resolution approving the purchase of networking equipment and supplies to Heartland Computing Systems in an amount not to exceed $91,192.85 pursuant to exercising the Village’s home rule authority to waive the rules regarding competitive bidding. Trustee Jacoby seconded the motion. The motion passed  by the following vote: 

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers (4) 

NAYS: None (0) 

RESOLUTION R-24-24 AWARDING THE FAMILY DAYS FIREWORKS CONTRACT TO MAD BOMBER FIREWORKS PRODUCTIONS  

Public Works Analyst Ryan Oates reported that for the past 25 years the Village has contracted with Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions to set up the Family Days fireworks display. Mr. Oates noted that due to the Village of Deerfield and the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District’s long working history with Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions, staff has not historically obtained proposals from other firework companies.

Trustee Berg moved to waive the competitive bidding process and approve the Resolution awarding the Family Days fireworks contract to Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions in the  amount not to exceed $35,000 pursuant to exercising the Village’s home rule authority to waive the competitive bidding rules. Trustee Metts-Childers seconded the motion. The motion passed  by the following vote: 

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers (4) 

NAYS: None (0) 

RESOLUTION R-24-25 APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH NORTHBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT 27 CONCERNING THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD LAKE COOK REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT TIF AREA TAX INCREMENT FINANCING 

Deputy Village Manager Andrew Lichterman reported Northbrook School District 27 has requested the Village enter into an intergovern mental agreement to provide the school district funding in the event the Village uses TIF funds to assist in the development of housing in the district that increases the number of students that attend the school district during the life of the TIF. 

Mr. Lichterman noted the Village had a similar Resolution with Deerfield school districts regarding the Downtown/Village Center TIF district. Mr. Lichterman stated the Village expects a similar agreement with District 225. He reported Northbrook School District 27 has already approved the intergovernmental agreement. 

Trustee Metts-Childers moved to accept the Resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement with Northbrook School District 27. Trustee Jacoby seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote: 

AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers (4) 

NAYS: None (0) 

DISCUSSION 

ADJOURNMENT There being no further business or discussion, Trustee Metts-Childers moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Berg seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 

The next regular Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. 

https://www.deerfield.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03042024-1074