All right,
good evening, everyone. I'd like to call this village board meeting to order
on Monday, August 21st, 2023, and ask if you would all please rise and join the village
board in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States
of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible
with liberty and justice for all.
All
right, would the clerk please call the roll?
Trustee Shirley?
Here.
Trustee LaBette?
Here.
Trustee Grassey?
Here.
Trustee Schwingback?
Here.
Trustee Dunnington?
Here.
Trustee Tonalia?
Here.
Trustee Bertucci?
Here.
President Hayes?
Here.
Next item on the agenda is the approval of minutes.
and we have two sets to approve tonight.
The first is from the committee,
the hall meeting from August 7, 2023.
Any changes or passes?
Their motion to approve.
I move to approve the committee of the whole minutes
for August 7th, 2023.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Grassey, second by Trustee Lebedz.
Any questions or comments from the board or the audience?
I have to pass, I wasn't.
Or passed by Trustee Bertucci.
Anything else from the board or the audience?
Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Any opposed? Next are the Village Board meeting minutes from the same evening, August 7, 2023,
passed by Trustee Bertucci. Right. Any other changes or passes? Move approval of the Village
Board minutes from August 7, 2023. Second. Motion by Trustee Schringbeck, seconded by
Trustee Grassi. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? And next we move on to the
approval of the accounts payable and I call on Trustee Bertucci. I move approval
for the warrant register check date dated August 15th, 2023 in the amount of
two million twenty four thousand three hundred sixty seven dollars and ninety
cents. Second. Motion by Trustee Bertucci. Seconded by Trustee Schringbeck.
Any questions or comments from the board? Anything from the audience? Seeing
Seeing none, roll call.
Trustee Bertucci.
Yes.
Trustee Schwingback.
Yes.
Trustee Tenalia.
Yes.
Trustee Grassi.
Yes.
Trustee Shirley.
Yes.
Trustee Dunnington.
Yes.
Trustee Lebedz.
Yes.
President Hayes.
Yes.
There are no recognitions or presentations, so I'll move on to citizens to be heard.
These are for items not on the agenda, and I do have one blue card submitted tonight.
That's by Don Duffy.
And Don, if you just reminded of our three-minute time limit, if you would, so please
come forward.
Thank you very much. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak today. My name
is Don Duffy. My family and I have lived in Arlington Heights for 22 plus years. And
today I want to talk to you about a very important organization in our community, the
Children's Advocacy Center of Northwest Cook County, which I've been a board member
of since February. This organization is a healing place for children who have survived
child abuse. They provide free healing services to children who have experienced
abuse, allowing them to process trauma and reclaim their childhoods. They also
offer forensic interviews, family support services, and a Safe from the Start
program for children ages from birth to five years who have experienced
violence in their households. They serve 38 communities in North and Northwest
Good County and have three locations, including one here in Arlington Heights.
They were established in 1989 and they help on average more than 1,000
children and their families each year. Child abuse is a serious problem that
affects many children in our society. It can have long lasting physical emotional
mental consequences for the victims and their families. That's why we need to
show organizations like the CAC to help them heal and recover from their trauma.
They are a leading resource to empower and heal children and families who have
experienced abuse and also prevent violence against children. The CAC has
demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the village of Arlington Heights by
assisting 93 cases and providing over 480 hours of support to village residents
during the fiscal year of 2023. I'd like to extend a warm thank you to Mayor Hayes
as well for his recent public proclamation of this to the CAC in
recognition of their 34th anniversary. Thank you. And if anybody wants to learn
more about the CAC or support their work you can visit their website at
cachelps.org. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Duffy, for coming this evening and bringing
to the public's attention the great work that the Children's Advocacy Center of Northwest
Cook County does. And as you said, I will be recognizing the organization in my office
next Tuesday at four o'clock. So that's August 29th at four o'clock if anybody would
like to attend. Again, recognizing the 34th anniversary of the CAC. So I thank you again
for coming and thanks for all the great work that you do on behalf of children in need.
All right. Is there anyone else in the audience who wish to address the board on items not
on the agenda? Seeing none, I will close then the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the
agenda and move on to Old Business. And we do have three items to report out tonight
from our committee the whole meeting from earlier this evening and the first
is to be reported out by Trustee Schwingbeck. Thank you Mayor. I would move as
I did earlier this evening to concur in the Mayor's appointment of Damian
Gil-Lara for appointment to the Environmental Commission with youth
member with a term ending April 30th, 2024. Seconded by Trustee Dunnington.
motion by Trustee Schringbeck, seconded by Trustee Dunnington. Any questions or comments
from the board? Anything from the audience? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.
Aye. Any opposed? Damian, if you come forward to the podium, and we'll make it official.
So if you just raise your right hand and repeat after me, aye and states your full name.
Having been appointed to the Youth Commission, I should say, having been appointed as the
Youth Member of the Environmental Commission, in the Village of Arlington Heights, in the
County of Cook, do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the
United States, that I'll support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution
of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office
according to the best of my ability.
Congratulations Damien, we know you will.
And, Becky, I don't
know if we need to get this corrected. I'll take care of it. Okay, so come forward
if you would. And I'm going to, you're going to have to eventually sign Ann Oath, not this
one with our Village Clerk, but we'll take care of that at some point. But in the interim,
I'm going to present you with a Village Logo Pen, which all of the elected and appointed
board members were as a representative of this community. So please accept that. And
thank you for your willingness to serve. We look forward to working with you. So
should I just hold on to this, Becky?
That would be fine, Mayor.
Okay, all right, thanks again, Damien.
All right, we do have two other emotions
to report out tonight regarding liquor licenses
that were recommended for approval,
and so I would call in Trustee Lebeds.
Thank you, Mayor Hayes.
I move now, as I did earlier this evening,
to recommend that the Village Board of Trustees
recommend to the liquor commissioner
the issuance of a class double-aid liquor license
to High Bar Services Inc.
doing business as Bird's Nest Arlington Heights,
located at 11 West Davis Street.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Lebed, second by Trustee Grassi.
Any questions or comments from the board
or from the audience?
Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.
Aye.
Opposed.
Well, congratulations to Bird Nest.
We thank you for choosing our tonight
as your second location in the Chicago land area.
And we wish you many, many years of success
at your new location,
which was the former location of Dunton House.
And so we very much appreciate you coming down tonight.
And again, good luck to you.
And we have one other motion to report out tonight.
That was by Trustee Grassi.
I moved now, as I did earlier this evening,
to recommend that the Village Board of Trustees
recommend to the Liquor Commissioner
the issuance of a Class E Liquor License
to Big Angus Eatery,
Incorporated, doing business as Big Angus Eatery,
located at 640 West Northwest Highway.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Grassi.
seconded by Trustee LeBeds. Any questions or comments from the board or the audience?
Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Pass. I'm sorry. Passed by
Trustee Tenalia because he's recusing himself. So why don't you just state that
for the record, Jim, if you would. Okay. I'm recusing myself tonight because the
owners of Big Anges are clients and friends of mine, so we're just avoiding
any appearance of impropriety.
All right, thank you.
All right, we have voted congratulations to Big Anges
and continued success in the Village of Iketon Heights
and keep up the great work.
Everyone very much appreciates your food
and now you've got an expanded service menu
and so congratulations, good luck to you.
There's no other new business or old business
and so we'll move on then to the Consent Agenda.
Any members of the Board wish to remove an item
on the Consent Agenda?
Any members of the audience wish to remove an item
on the Consent Agenda?
All right, any members of the Board wish to vote no
or pass on any items on the Consent Agenda?
Seeing none, I'd entertain a motion to approve.
Move approval.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Tanalia, seconded by Trustee Lebedz.
Roll call.
Yes.
Trustee Tanalia?
Yes.
Trustee Lebedz?
Yes.
Trustee Schwingbeck?
Yes.
Trustee Dunnington?
Yes.
Trustee Grassi?
Yes.
Trustee Pertucci?
Yes.
Trustee Shirley?
Yes.
President Hayes?
Yes.
So move on then to new business and we do have two items to report out tonight.
The first is a proposed ordinance for the removal of amendments on adapting the appendices
to the basic building, plumbing, and fire code.
Mr. Recklaus?
Can I start there?
Thank you, Mayor.
As you all know, we've been in the process
of updating our building code to streamline it,
make it more consistent with the international building code
while we do still have a couple of local amendments tonight.
We're recommending approval of an ordinance
that would eliminate a couple more of those amendments.
It's relatively straightforward.
All of the items have been discussed
and were approved unanimously at the July 24th, 2023
building code review board.
and I have our Director of Building and Life Safety,
George Torres and Assistant Building
Visual, Elliot Eldridge here to answer any questions
that the board may have.
All right.
Questions or comments from the board?
George, you wanna make any comments?
Come forward if you would.
Yeah, just saying this is very consistent
to the base code that not only for the ICC
but also the state plumbing code.
Okay, thanks.
Anything from the audience on this agenda item?
Seeing none, then can we make the motion now?
It's in ordinance.
Correct.
We can go ahead and make the motion now.
Correct.
OK.
Is there a motion to approve?
I move to approve.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Grassi, seconded by Trustee Bertucci.
Any further questions or comments from the board?
Trustee Tanalia.
Thanks, Mary Hayes.
Again, this is George and his staff
are doing an excellent job with Bill's Manager of Red Clause's leadership on this and they
are turning this building department around in a lot of good ways. And this is just housekeeping
and updating and, you know, we spent a little bit of time talking about it but it wasn't
really difficult at the Building Code Review Board meeting. Everybody agreed right away.
So these are two pretty cut and dried details that we can clean up tonight.
All right. Thank you, Trustee Tonalia. Any further questions or comments from the board or the audience seeing none?
We have a motion and a second. It's an ordinance. So roll call.
Trustee Grassi. Yes. Trustee Bertucci. Yes. Trustee the Beds. Yes. Trustee Shirley. Yes. Trustee Schwingbeck. Yes. Trustee Dunnington.
Yes. Trustee Tonalia. Yes. President Hayes. Yes.
Thank you George and team for bringing this forward and getting that done.
We have one other item of new business that's a request for a plan unit development amendment
for Arlington Town Square located at 15 through 189 West Gulf Road.
The petitioner is present.
Why don't you come forward if you would and just introduce yourself and tell us what
you're looking to do here.
Hi, my name is Jason Park.
I'm the property manager for Arlington Town Square.
I'd like to discuss the proposed variations that we are requesting.
Esteemed board members, fellow citizens, and respected attendees, I stand before you today
as a member of the board meeting, an opportunity for us to collectively deliberate on crucial
matters that have a profound impact on our community.
The proposals we discussed today span a range of topics, each embodying our commitment
to thoughtful growth and adaptability.
As we delve into these issues,
I wish to provide you my insights and reasonings
for bringing these matters to the forefront.
Let us begin by addressing the proposed variation
for Chapter 28, Section 10.4-2,
an amendment that seeks the permission
to provide 308 parking spaces
instead of the mandated 386,
resulting in a calculated deficit of 78 spaces.
I firmly advocate for this modification
as it aligns with our community's commitment
to sustain urban planning, the building has ample parking and has not seen a
parking overfill, as supported by the parking survey, by acknowledge
Waving and access of parking can stifle growth and promote inefficiency. We demonstrate our
forward-thinking approach to fostering a well-balanced urban environment. I also wish to draw your
attention to the variation to Chapter 28, Section 6.12-1. This proposal suggests waiving the
requirements to provide a traffic study and a parking analysis. This waiver acknowledges
that while technical assessments are vital, there are instances where cost and time
associated with such studies outweigh their benefits which we believe applies to the situation.
In addition, I would like to discuss the matters related to the variation from Chapter 28,
Section 10.8, a proposal that would allow for six bicycle parking spaces instead of the
required 41, resulting in a calculated deficit of 35.
The variation underscores a community's recognition of the importance of bicycle
infrastructure while considering our unique circumstances with the property being
located on two major streets, Gulf and Arlington Heights Road. It demonstrates our commitment
to providing alternatives to traditional transportation while being practical in our approach. Equally
significant is our advocacy for three special use permits that have the potential to enrich
our community's culinary landscape and cultural diversity. The proposed permits seek to
pave the way for marbling a Korean barbecue restaurant that would offer an authentic
and unique dining experience operated by a seasoned veteran with over 20 years of experience
in the field. Next would be Hello Boba, a bubble tea, a unique bubble tea dining experience
operated by another seasoned veteran with over 20 years of experience. This would be their
second location in Arlington Heights. They already operate a Korean pub. They see that
much benefit and potential in the Arlington Heights district. Lastly would be Too Less
Jew, a national bakery, which has over 100 locations nationwide and over 1,000 globally.
As this bakery has over 100 locations in the U.S., we feel their expertise in this respective
field would bring an even greater draw to our community's vibrant atmosphere by granting
these special use permits.
It demonstrates your commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship, promoting local businesses,
and embracing a vibrant mix of flavors and cultures.
In conclusion, I believe that these proposals embody our collective dedication to shaping
our community that is both dynamic and pragmatic, our willingness to adapt to regulations to
align with the changes needed for our residents, businesses, and visitors as a testament to
our community spirit of innovation and cooperation.
By discussing and embracing these amendments, we pave the way for the future that strikes
a harmonious balance between tradition and progress.
I express my heartfelt appreciation to the esteemed board members for providing this platform
for my dialogue and my fellow citizens for the engagement in this crucial discourse.
Together we hold the power to shape our community's journey towards an inclusive future.
Thank you for your time and your consideration.
All right.
Thank you.
Mr. Perkins.
Thank you.
Good evening.
I'll just walk through some of the zoning requests that are being asked for on this
property.
They're seeking a variation in parking, so for up to 78 spaces less than what is required
by code.
In 2009, the shopping center did receive a parking variation for 59 spaces, so they're
looking to increase that to 78.
And the reason for that is that they're proposing three new restaurants in the shopping
center that increase the parking demand.
They're also requesting a variation from the Trafficon Parking Study that staff
supported and then they're requesting a variation on the bicycle parking that I'll
talk about in a moment. So the three restaurants you've heard about, they're
proposed in the shopping center as I mentioned it is at the southwest corner
of Gulf and Alton Heights Roads. There are no real great bicycle access points
to this property at this point in time.
We're not recommending a variation approval of the variation, but just a deferral
and to provide some bicycle parking spaces,
primarily the six that were referenced.
Golf Road is illustrated on the village's bicycle plan for a regional bike path extension.
We don't have a timing of that. It crosses multiple communities.
As the board is aware, we've also got other potential development in the area with TIF-4
at the northeast corner of Galphen Allenton Heights Road, potential mixed use with residential
development and then also some residential development potentially on South Allenton
Heights Road.
So the characteristics of the development in this corridor could change and hopefully
some of the bicycle and pedestrian access points can improve and hence the recommendation
for the condition that while they only install six bike parking spaces now, if
deemed necessary in the future, they would add to that based on demand and the
ability to better access the property. We also took a look at the parking. We
did ask the petitioner to provide some parking camps. They provided these back
in, I believe, May and June in three or four days over a two-week period and
And the peak demand was between 11 and 1 to 2, ranged in occupancy around 95 to 97 spaces.
We also looked at the surveys that were done in 2009 and the peak occupancy around the
same time periods, but a little higher demand at that time, around 110 to 120.
And then staff did our own observation, both some initial counts this year as well
I was looking at past aerials and the peak that was seen was in April of this year with
around 118 spaces occupied out of the 308 that are on site.
So there would be one vacancy in addition to the three restaurants.
So we did project that if there's a occupancy of around 120 spaces, you add in the demand
from the three restaurants in the vacant space.
space. You could expect a parking occupancy of around 180 to 200 spaces still well within
the village code requirements. We looked at the uses and the property. There are some
medical uses that are driving that variation. There's a dialysis facility that occupies
about 10,000 square feet. Probably has a lower demand given the equipment they have
in that space. And then the auto supply, O'Reilly's probably has a different parking
demand to typical retail. So we felt that the request was appropriate and would help
reoccupy the property. So staff recommended and the plan commission recommended approval
of the request with the conditions that are stipulated here and I'd be happy to answer
any questions.
All right.
Thanks, Mr. Perkins.
Questions or comments from Board?
Trustee Bertucci.
So I just wanted to, I'm sorry, I just want to confirm with you that you have read and
understand all the conditions.
Yes, I have.
And do you agree to them?
Yes, we do.
Okay.
Anybody else?
Trustee Dunnington.
Thanks, Mayor.
Charles, this is probably more for you, but for the parking requirement, I understand
and that 47 is a really large amount of parking spaces,
but why did we decide that?
Why is the recommendation for a six?
We felt six kind of matched the requirement
for the three restaurants,
so the new parking code has a requirement for each use,
and so you add the sum of all the uses
in this shopping center, it comes to 47.
There's no magic to that number,
so the board certainly could add to that,
or it can be added at any time if there was a demand and primarily we would think initially
it would be employees that are perhaps working in these facilities that would be riding the
bikes and then hopefully later customers and that's why we added the condition number
three here that we can require additional parking to be added in the future for the
bicycles that is.
So, in the future, if there was needed space, how would we determine that we needed more
bicycle space?
I think it would be either on a complaint basis or, you know, casual observation.
If, you know, anybody went by and noticed and saw there were, you know, bicycles and
non-in-racks and things like that, or we got requests for additional bike racks from
customers or even, you know, businesses, you know, that had employees that were
looking to bike there, then we would follow up and request the property owner to install
additional bike racks at the appropriate locations.
Is it something that we could review after some development started in the area?
Like if there was a timetable for it?
We certainly could.
I mean, if there was a bicycle connection, for example, the Gulf Road one, which is,
I don't know, there's a time frame and it crosses multiple jurisdictions, but it
would provide access to the bike path to go to Busy Woods,
so it would be an important link.
If and when that would occur, we certainly
can revisit that.
And the same with additional development,
like the TIF 4 with Urban Street, once that gets occupied,
I think there could be a demand and a reason
for people who live in that new development
would be looking to ride their bike instead of getting
in the car to go to a business or something
like that.
I agree. I think right now it's probably not, you know, as it currently is a huge, there's
a huge demand for a bicycle rack, but hopefully in the future that's the goal of the whole
area that there will be a need for that. I could definitely see teenagers going to
the Boba Tea and I know there's a nail salon there. That seems like it would be really
popular, and I could see families riding their bikes to the bakery that's going to be on
the corner, and if there's only six spots in a family of four, that's filling up the
bike rack pretty quickly.
So I'm just wondering if we're a little short-sided and only six spots, and that if we need
a little bit more, or if we need a plan for when we would review when more space
needed possibly. I mean the other thing we could do is either the board could
increase that number now or you know once the businesses are open and stabilize
say after 12 months then you know we can go and kind of you know just observe and
and see if there's a need to increase at that time. Yeah I could definitely see
people from the Urban Street area working in that area, the Urban Street
development and then hopefully the new development right on the corner as well.
So, okay thank you. Also I wanted to ask about the Storo Ryleys. I know that they
have a lot of vehicles in the parking lot. Well, are they only parked there
like after hours? Yeah, typically those vehicles are used for out of
delivery services and things like that. We've already begun discussion with
that because of the randomness that all those service vehicles have been parked
at. We've already allocated around 18 spots for them to use that's in the
parking space so that it'll be more uniform and create a more smooth
traffic environment in the center. Okay great. Anything further from the board?
Thanks so much. All right. Trustee Bertucci. Well just so we have it on the
I'll move approval of the PC number 23-006 and amendment to plan unit
development ordinance 09-019 to allow modified parking variation especially
use permits for three restaurants and the listed variations along with the
listed recommended conditions.
Manager Recklaus, do you feel that I need to
read all those variations and conditions?
Would you recommend it? No, trust me, if
you just simply incorporate the staff, the conditions as stated in the staff
memorandum in your motion, I think that suffices. Okay, so that's what
exactly what I'm moving. Okay, we have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Motion by
Trustee Bertucci, second by Trustee Lebede. Further questions or comments from
the board? Anything from the audience? Seeing none, we have a motion and a
second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Well congratulations. Good
luck to you as the new owners and operators and we wish you much success
with your new tenants and with the shopping center in general. So good
Good luck to you.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you all for your time.
All right.
We have no other new business, and so we will then move on to the report of the Village Manager,
Mr. Recklaus.
Thank you, Mayor.
As you all know, the coming redevelopment of the Arlington International Racecourse
property is going to be complex on many fronts.
The project has already garnered legislative interest at the state level with proposed
legislation on potential new payment lieu of taxes tool, changes the TIF rules,
and on even the sharing of future project revenues
as proposed by various parties.
In some cases, the legislation was developed
and even proposed formally with little or no input
from the village whatsoever.
Staff believes that this level of activity
is going to continue in the coming months and years.
Future initiatives such as the exploration
of possible state infrastructure improvements
are also likely for any development of this size.
The village has generally good relationships
with their area legislators, but they must weigh the needs of many parties
involved in the process, not just the village, and moreover,
any project of this size is going to demand us working with legislators
throughout the region and state.
Chicago Bears Football Club, the current owners of the property in the area
school districts have already hired lobbyists to ensure that their interests
are represented in Springfield.
Staff believes that given the unique nature and size of this redevelopment project,
It's just as important for the village to hire a team to look out for our legislative
interest.
As it was for us to hire our own economic and traffic consultants as we did last fall.
We work with the Illinois Municipal League and the Northwest Municipal Conference, as well
as our own law firm, Allred Friedman, to identify potential lobbying teams that we believe could
assist us, that would be well equipped to assist us, and we did receive four different
proposals. Those proposals were reviewed by myself, Village Attorney Passman and Mayor
Hayes.
We also personally interviewed representatives of those teams over the past couple of weeks.
Based on those interviews, we all came to the same conclusion that we believe that the
team of max strategies with their subcontractor GR consulting was the best fit for what it
is we were trying to accomplish and had the most comprehensive strategy on how to
represent the village's interests on this project.
We have prepared a resolution and an agreement for your review that would allow us to execute that agreement
and begin working with that team immediately, and we would recommend approval of that resolution this evening.
Thanks, Mr. Reclasson. Let me just concur and agree with Village Manager's recommendation and comments here this evening.
Again, I was part of the team that reviewed the proposals and interviewed the candidates
and they were all very impressive and all had something to offer, but I do think that
MAC Strategies had the best overall proposal and plan and very much looking forward to working
with them.
As I've said many times over the past two and a half years, I have yet most confidence
And it's in our internal personnel, our internal team, to handle this challenge of the redevelopment
of the Arlington Park property.
But it's come to a kind of a critical point in the process where we do need some assistance
down in Springfield, something we just don't have.
And so I think this is a very worthwhile expenditure.
Again, it's not a done deal, and we just want to make sure that our interests are
protected and all of our stakeholders interests are protected as well and so
that's the rationale behind the retention of a lobbyist and particularly
this lobbyist to make sure that our interests are protected and to ensure
that if this does become a reality that it results in and that positive for
the village of Arlington Heights and so again that's my rationale and that's
support it. So anything further from the board? Trustee Grassley. Thank you Mayor
Hayes. I just wanted to mention I had a number of questions just especially
spending money for for this group of people but my all of my concerns were
were were no longer concerns once I talked with staff hearing about what went
behind this but especially because it's really about taking care of the
benefits of of our village and our best interest as mayor Hayes said and I'm in
full support of that so thank you trustee Shirley and I just want to say
for everybody's edification that this is not just about if we get the bears
there's some legislation that's being proposed that could actually hamstring
the village on development of that property even if the bears don't come
there so I think it's important to understand that this is not about us
just saying we want the bears no matter what and everything else there's
There's actually legislation that's been proposed, that's been afoot, that could hamstring
us and our ability to develop that property to its fullest value.
So I think that's important to mention to residents out there that this isn't just
us saying we want the bears and that's all we want.
It's more about protecting our interests.
Right.
Good point.
Trustee Scherling?
Trustee LaBez?
Thank you.
Manager Reckos, is this expense reimbursable?
As I recall, the consulting contracts that we've agreed to, the bears were putting aside monies for us to use.
is that? This time we did we did budget money for additional consulting
services and we're assuming that that's going to be how we pay for it. As
things unfold it may be a conversation we have with them about you know relative
to the escrow it's not an expense that we initially anticipated when we created
the escrow account but we haven't had opportunity to discuss that particular
issue just yet with with the football club. Okay that's fine I am in full
support of this.
Okay, thanks.
Trustee Bertucci.
Thank you.
Just to clarify, um, um, um, Phillip manager, rec laws on who else has lobbyists down in
Springfield?
So you had mentioned the Chicago Bears football club, and then what other organizations or
groups have lobbyists down in Springfield on this particular matter?
Well, the area school districts hired a joint lobbying team as well, but a number of the
various regional stakeholders are represented with lobbyists. You know, a lot of the interests
and construction firms and labor unions and so forth that have been kind of players in
the regional discussion are obviously represented and we just want to make sure that our
community is kind of unequal footing and are equally represented, making sure that
our interests are heard as well. Correct, yeah. And I agree obviously wholeheartedly
we need somebody to be in that arena. Number one who specializes in that has
the time tools and talents so to speak. It would be kind of hard and and I
would say irresponsible to be trying to send our own staff down there to
try to figure out how to maneuver the hallway, so to speak.
So I think we would be remiss if we didn't do this.
And when I say remiss, I mean, in the fact of not
being the proper stewards for the residents and taxpayers.
So I'm in full agreement, Mayor.
OK, thanks.
Justice Ringback, thanks, Mayor.
Randy, I didn't talk to you prior to the meeting.
I read through everything.
And I do understand a little bit about how lobbyists work.
I mean, this is a lot of money here.
Can you just maybe walk me through what our real expectations are of this lobbyist?
I know they're down there and they're looking out for our better interests, but for this
amount of money, what is going to be some things that we really expect to get out
of this?
So there's really three aspects of this that we're looking for.
One, to make sure that we're kept abreast of all of the different legislative developments that may impact this site, you know, broadly.
Again, regardless of, you know, what aspect of it it is.
Number two, to help us strategize and, you know, understand those dynamics and develop a strategy to ensure that we can get what we want and we can talk to all the right people that are able to do that, regardless of who they are.
Essentially, we're trying to make as many friends as we possibly can and make sure that as many people as possible understand what our goals are and what our interests are.
And then lastly, to help protect and implement those interests
in any legislation that comes.
And we fully anticipate, as has already been the case,
that there's not going to be one piece of legislation.
There's going to be a lot of different pieces of legislation
that are coming across the deaths of the legislature
before this development is over.
And so we want to make sure that that's the case.
The team that's been put together is very robust.
There's representatives on both sides of the aisle.
People have a lot of experience in the Senate.
People have a lot of experience in the House.
People that are represented or have represented
different aspects of the state geographically.
And that's why we're looking at a broader base group
because this is a project that has a lot of regional interest
and a lot of regional implications.
And we feel that we need to make sure
we're covering all our bases with this team.
Okay. Well, I appreciate that. And as Trustee Shirley said, we really need to be looking at
this property as a whole. And if there's going to be some good expectations and deliverables,
I don't have a problem with it. I didn't want to be putting that money out there
if we don't have some real firm expectations on what we want from these folks. So looking
I mean, through everything, it seems to make a lot of sense, but I just really wanted to
hear what your thoughts were.
So, thank you.
Okay.
Trustee Dunnington.
Thank you.
I wanted to confirm under the term of engagement, it'll be for a one-year term and then that
we could cancel with a 30-day written notice at any point if we decided we didn't want
to use their services anymore.
Correct.
At any time in that, no one has guaranteed, you know, work for a year.
or at any time the village determines
that we no longer need them
or we wanna go in a different direction
we absolutely can with a 30-day notice.
Thank you.
Okay.
Any other questions or comments from the board?
We do need a motion.
So I will move approval
and are we calling it a resolution?
Yes.
Move approval of the resolution
to take on the consultant agreement
with MAC Strategies Group as presented by the billed manager.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Bertucci, seconded by Trustee Schwingbeck.
Any further questions or comments from the board?
Anything from the audience?
Seeing none, roll call.
Trustee Bertucci.
Yes.
Trustee Schwingbeck.
Yes.
Trustee Grassi.
Yes.
Trustee Lebedz.
Yes.
Trustee Dunnington.
Yes.
Trustee Shirley.
Yes.
Trustee Tenalia.
Yes, President Hayes. Yes. All right. Thank you. Anything else from the village
manager other than the request for closed session? Nothing this evening. Anything
from the board under petitions and communications? Seeing none, I go back to
the village manager. Well, Mayor, I would respectfully ask that we enter into
closed session. Per ILCS 120 slash 2C21 discussion of minutes,
lawfully closed, whether for the purposes of approval of minutes or the
semiannual review of the minutes, and five ILCS 120
slash 2C11 litigation when an action against affecting
or on behalf of the village has been filed
and is pending before court or administrative tribunal
or when the board finds that an action is probable
or imminent.
Right, is there a motion to go into closed session?
Move to go into closed session.
Second.
Motion by Trustee Grassey, seconded by Trustee LaBeds.
Roll call.
Trustee Grassey, yes.
Trustee LaBeds.
Yes.
Trustee Bertucci.
Yes.
Trustee Tonalia.
Yes.
Trustee Schwingbeck.
Yes.
Trustee Shirley.
Yes.
Trustee Dunnington.
Yes.
President Hayes.
Yes.
We are adjourned in the closed session and will not be reporting back out.
Thank you all for joining us this evening.