MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETINGOF THE GURNEE VILLAGE BOARDGURNEE VILLAGE HALLMARCH 21, 2011 |
|
|
Call to Order
|
Mayor Kovarik called the meeting to order at 7:29 p.m.
|
|
Other Officials in Attendance
|
James T. Hayner, Village Administrator; Bryan Winter, Village Attorney; David Ziegler, Community Development Director; Christine Palmieri, Director of Human Resources; Robert Jones, Chief Police
|
|
Roll Call
|
PRESENT: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
|
|
Pledge of Allegiance
|
Mayor Kovarik led the Pledge of Allegiance.
|
|
|
|
|
A, PUBLIC COMMENT
Matt Koch
1896 Beechwood Av
Heath Hummel
1960 Beechwood Av
Joyce Davis
1149 Summer Circle
Christopher Thelen
1428 Sherwood
Jerry Kolar
3641 Highland
Kevin Moss
2086 Windsong Ct
Tom Washburn
Orchard Valley Dr.
|
Mr. Koch addressed the Board stating that he had read the recent Keeping Posted newsletter regarding the red light cameras and had several questions. He elaborated in detail three problems he had with the information he read and challenged the Mayor and Board to right what is wrong and rid the Village of these cameras.
Mayor Kovarik stated for the record that Mr. Koch is a candidate for trustee in the upcoming election. She then answered his questions and stated the intersections are starting to operate as intended by the engineers that designed them. She ended by saying the cameras remind drivers to stop at red lights.
Mr. Hummel stated that he is also a candidate for trustee. He said in these turbulent times Gurnee’s budget seems to increase year after year. He asked what the Village is doing to reduce the size of the budget. He said the recent Keeping Posted newsletter regarding the red light cameras forced residents to think about what type of community they live in. He said if 89%-90% of the revenue from these cameras comes from our guests he wonders how many won’t come back.
Mayor Kovarik said our obligation is to our residents to make our streets safer and at some point we have to use the technology that is at our disposal. She said regarding the budget that the Village is not expanding services but maintaining them. She said the Village is meeting the demands of the residents while keeping the burden off them with no property taxes.
Ms. Davis said she received a ticket from a red light camera this week and said she appreciates the cameras, adding she would much rather get money from law breakers.
Ms. Davis then said she was at tonight’s meeting representing Relay For Life. She said this year’s event will be held July 9th and 10th at Warren Township High School. She said this relay is one of the top 25 in Illinois and this year’s goal is $191,000. She said the Village of Gurnee did not have a team last year and believes it is important that the Village get involved.
Mr. Thelen said has been the DJ at nine Relay of Life events and he had never seen members of the government stay as long as the Village of Gurnee’s did when they attended in 2010. He urged the Village to attend this year.
Mr. Kolar said there have been several burglaries in his neighborhood recently and has not received any information on any of them and would like some information.
Mr. Kolar also said drivers continue to speed up and down Belle Plaine and Magnolia and many of them don’t have front license plates.
Mr. Moss asked how much revenue is generated by participating in the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group.
Mr. Hayner said between $10,000 and $12,000.
Mr. Moss asked if the Officer was full-time.
Mr. Hayner said yes.
Mr. Moss asked if that was a good return on the money.
Mr. Hayner said there are more benefits to the Village for its participation than just the financial return.
Mr. Washburn said he got a Red-Light ticket for turning right on red at Grand and Sterns School road. He said the green arrow is too short and the Village should turn the arrow off completely and let the drivers take their chances. He said right now that light is tricking people.
Mayor Kovarik the Village will look into his request.
|
|
B. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
|
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Jacobs to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Roll call,
AYE: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
NAY: 0- None
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
Motion Carried.
|
|
C. CONSENT AGENDA / OMNIBUS VOTE
|
The Village Administrator read the consent agenda for an omnibus vote as follows:
1. Approval of minutes from the March 7, 2011 meeting.
2. Approval of Ord. 2011 - 15 approving and publishing the official Zoning Map of the Village of Gurnee, as revised.
3. Approval of Ord. 2011 - 16 authorizing execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County and the Village of Gurnee regarding hosting electronic collections.
4. Approval of Payroll for period ending March 12, 2011 in the amount of $643,729.00.
5. Approval of Payroll Transfer Journal for period ending March 12, 2011 in the amount of $635,128.23.
6. Approval of Bills for the period ending March 21, 2011 in the amount of $1,164,512.07.
It was moved by Trustee Jacobs, seconded by Trustee Balmes to approve the Consent Agenda for an omnibus vote as read.
Roll call,
AYE: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
NAY: 0- None
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
Motion Carried.
|
|
D. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
|
1. Presentation of Medal of Valor to Officer Matt Bendler for his actions on December 24, 2010.
Chief Jones asked Officer Snyder to recount the events that took place on December 24, 2110.
Mayor Kovarik and Chief Jones presented Officer Bendler with Medal of Valor.
2. Approval of Proclamation designating April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in the Village of Gurnee. Mayor Kovarik read Proclamation into record.
It was moved by Trustee Garner, seconded by Trustee Jacobs to approve of a Proclamation designating April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in the Village of Gurnee.
Voice Vote: ALL AYE: Motion Carried.
3. Approval of Proclamation designating April as “Alcohol Awareness Month” in the Village of Gurnee.
Mayor Kovarik read Proclamation into record.
It was moved by Trustee Garner, seconded by Trustee Ross to approve of a of Proclamation designating April as “Alcohol Awareness Month” in the Village of Gurnee.
Voice Vote: ALL AYE: Motion Carried.
|
|
E. REPORTS
|
None.
|
|
F. OLD BUSINESS
|
None.
|
|
G. NEW BUSINESS
|
1. Approval of Ord. 2011 - 17 authorizing the Village President and the Village Clerk to execute a Boundary Agreement extension between the Village of Gurnee and the Village of Third Lake.
Mr. Hayner said in May of 1991 a 20 year boundary agreement was signed with the Village of Third Lake. He said the agreement is set to expire and the Village of Third Lake has asked the Village of Gurnee to extend the agreement another 20 years to March 2031. Mr. Hayner said the agreement is the same with just a few modifications that he briefly explained.
It was moved by Trustee Jacobs, seconded by Trustee Balmes to approve of Ord. 2011 - 17 authorizing the Village President and the Village Clerk to execute a Boundary Agreement extension between the Village of Gurnee and the Village of Third Lake.
Roll call,
AYE: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
NAY: 0- None
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
Motion Carried.
2. Approval of Ord. 2011 – 18 granting Final Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) Plat Plan approval for the Heritage Woods of Gurnee senior living facility located at 3775 Grand Avenue.
Mr. Hayner said each Board member should have received a memo from Ryan adding is everything consistent with what was originally laid out. He said they have added a storage shed and made small changes to the decorative lighting. Mr. Hayner said the Plan Commission is OK with the changes and the petitioners are anxious to get started.
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Ross to approve of Ord. 2011 – 18 granting Final Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) Plat Plan approval for the Heritage Woods of Gurnee senior living facility located at 3775 Grand Avenue.
Roll call,
AYE: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
NAY: 0- None
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
Motion Carried.
3. Approval of Ord. 2011 - 19 granting a Special Use Permit to allow the establishment and operation of a law office, pursuant to the Gurnee Zoning Ordinance, for property located at 4017 Old Grand Avenue.
Mr. Hayner said this property is located on the east end of Old Grand. He said the petitioner has converted the location from a single family home to a Law Office adding the Plan Commission gave this SUP a unanimous favorable recommendation.
Trustee Garner asked the petitioner if they will be renovating the property and making it look nice.
Petitioner, Michael Cavanaugh, responded yes, stating he will make Gurnee proud.
It was moved by Trustee Morris, seconded by Trustee Garner to approve of Ord. 2011 -19 granting a Special Use Permit to allow the establishment and operation of a law office, pursuant to the Gurnee Zoning Ordinance, for property located at 4017 Old Grand Avenue.
Roll call,
AYE: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
NAY: 0- None
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
Motion Carried.
|
|
H. PUBLIC COMMENT
Kathy Nukkala
1039 Portsmouth
Trustee Garner
|
Ms. Nukkala said lots of innocent people receive red light camera tickets and they should not be referred to as “law breakers.”
Trustee Garner said he read Keeping Posted and he didn’t see a ratio of tickets issued for right turns on red verse actual red light running. He asked the Village to please release that ratio.
Mr. Hayner said he is talking with Red-Flex and will have that ratio tomorrow or Wednesday.
Trustee Garner asked why the Police Department does not know this ratio.
Mayor Kovarik explained how the citations are issued and why the Police Department does not have that information.
Trustee Garner said he has been driving 35 years and has turned right on red many times in front of Police Officers and has never received a ticket.
Trustee Morris asked Mr. Winter if semi trucks are issued tickets.
Mr. Winter says he has only looks over the tickets that go to review and so far only two of these tickets have gone to review.
Trustee Morris asked if the tickets are issued to the owners of the tractor or the owners of the trailer.
Mr. Winter said he didn’t know if citations were issued differently for semi trucks vs. cars.
Trustee Garner asked if the tickets are being enforced for tractor trailers.
Mr. Winter responded yes.
|
|
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Adjournment to Executive Session
Recall to Order
|
The Village Attorney stated that tonight’s Executive Session will reference:
5 ILCS 120/2 2 (c) (1) which states: The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body of legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body to determine its validity.
5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (11) which states: Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.
It was moved by Trustee Morris, seconded by Trustee Ross to adjourn the meeting into Executive Session.
Roll call,
AYE: 4- Ross, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
NAY: 1- Garner
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
Motion Carried.
Mayor Kovarik adjourned the meeting into Executive Session at 8:51p.m.
Mayor Kovarik recalled the meeting to order at 10:15 p.m.
PRESENT: 5- Ross, Garner, Jacobs, Balmes, Morris
ABSENT: 1- Schwarz
|
|
Closing Comments
|
None.
|
|
Adjournment
|
It was moved by Trustee Balmes, seconded by Trustee Jacobs to adjourn the meeting.
Voice Vote: ALL AYE: Motion Carried.
Mayor Kovarik adjourned the meeting at 10:16 p.m.
|
|
Andrew Harris,
Village Clerk
|
|
|
|
|