Good evening. I'd like to welcome everyone to the Village of Riverside
Board of Trustees regular meeting of Thursday, March 19th, 2026.
Uh please stand as you're able and join me in the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge algiance 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.
» Clerk Stenzel, please call the role. >> Trusty Marsha,
» here. >> Trusty Gallagher here.
» Trusty CS >> here.
» Trusty Evans here. >> Trusty Mateo here.
» Trusty Fitzgerald here. Manager Francis >> here. President Pollock
» here. >> Also, President Clerk Stenzel.
» Uh we have a brief president's report. Uh upcoming village meetings include the
following. Uh March 23rd, Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting.
Riverside Public Library at 6:30 p.m. March 25th, Planning and Zoning
Commission regular meeting at uh here at the Village Hall Town Hall. uh room 4
6:30 p.m. And our next regular scheduled meeting is April 2nd. Uh same time, same
place, 6:30 p.m. Town Hall. Uh that concludes my president's report.
Do we have any trustee reports this evening?
There are none. Uh Manager Francis, manager's report.
» Thank you. I have two items to update the board and the public on. One being
um the board might have seen that Joel Kennedy is starting to work on parkway
restorations from lead service lines that were installed last year. Um so
this will be firsttime restorations in the parkway and also any areas that have
subsided over the winter will be restored as well. Another item that will
begin soon is Nyor's restoration over on Cowi. They'll be restoring the roadway,
curbs, sidewalk, and um the parkway. There will be a detour when that work
begins. Uh public works staff is working on obtaining the details and
coordinating through Nyore and their contractors. Once the village has
received that information regarding the detour and the timing, we will share it
with the public. As of this evening, we don't have confirmed dates, but as soon
as we do, we will send those out. That is all I have this evening.
Thank you. Uh public comments for non-aggenda items. Is there anyone in
attendance who would like to address the board uh on a matter that is not on our
agenda tonight? Uh knowing that uh as we go through the agenda, there'll be
public comments on those specific items. There are none. Uh consent agenda. Clerk
Stenzel, please read the consent agenda. >> Approve voucher list of bills March
19th, 2026. Approve village board of trustees regular meeting minutes March
19th, 2026. Approve village village board of trustees executive meeting
minutes March 5th, 2026. The previous one was also March 5th. Review and file
board and commission minutes economic development commission regular meeting
minutes January 14th, 2026. Landscape Advisory Commission regular meeting
minutes February 10th, 2026. Historical commission regular meeting minutes
February 16th, 2026. Review and file department reports. Public works
February 2026 finance February 2026 2025 community development annual report
and 2025 public safety annual report. A resolution authorizing the village
manager to create a purchase order in the amount of $174,900
for Christopher B. Burke Engineering to provide professional design and
constructive engineering services as part of the South Coat Road res.
An ordinance amending the village code relative to beekeeping and henkeeping
and amending a fee schedule for the village riverside. An approval of facade
grant application for Salme 35 East Burlington.
» Do any of these items uh need to be removed from the consent agenda?
Uh there are none. I'd ask for a motion and a second to approve the consent
agenda. >> So moved.
» Second. >> Motion and second. Clerk Stenzel, please
call the role. >> Trusty Marsha.
» I. >> Trusty Galgas.
» Hi. >> Trusty Cos.
» I. >> Trusty Evans.
» I. >> Trusty Matteo.
» I. >> Trusty Fitzgerald.
» Hi. >> Motion carries. Uh, department board and
commission reports. We have an update this evening from for from the parks and
recreation department. Assistant director Megan Cisa will provide that
report. Good evening, President Pollock, village
trustees, manager Francis. I just wanted to provide you all with a quick update
on some events and programs that we have coming up as we move into the spring
season. Our variety of egg hunt events will take place later this month. We
will kick off the egg hunt festivities with our teen flashlight egg hunt that
will take place next Thursday, March 26th, over at Indian Gardens. The hunt
will begin at 7:45 p.m. and we invite those that are 11 to 15 to join us for
that. Just be sure to bring a basket and a flashlight with you. We will follow
that up with our annual egg hunt which will take place on Saturday, March 28th
over at Big Ballpark. We will begin our age groups promptly at 10:00 a.m. and we
invite those that are 10 and under to join us for that. The bunny will also be
available at that event for photos. And then we will conclude our egg hunt
events with our golden egg hunt which will take place from March 31st to April
2nd. Each day in that time frame, new golden eggs will be hidden in the parks.
Each golden egg that's found is going to be eligible for a $10 parks and recck
certificate to use toward any future program or event. Moving on to
programming that we have, we've got a variety of programs that are beginning
in the next few weeks. Some upcoming adult programs that we have are cardio
kickboxing, weight training, Zumba, yoga. We have a Mother's Day paint and
sip, and dodgeball and pickle ball tournaments. And then some upcoming
youth programs include a spring break art camp, flag football, and spring
soccer, as well as our ongoing nature programs such as Saturdays in the Woods,
and Earth Day nature hike. And speaking of programming, our summer program
brochure will release in May with all of our summer programs, classes, and
events. Be sure to keep an eye out in your mail for our seasonal brochure
mailer that will come out to announce when that is released. And lastly, we're
very excited to announce our brand new weekly newsletter for Riverside Parks
and Recreation. Every Tuesday, we will release a newsletter to your email
that's going to include some exciting upcoming programs and events. This is
going to be the best way to keep up to date with all things Riverside Parks and
Wreck. We did send out an initial signup email as well as our first newsletter.
And if you did not receive that, you are able to sign up um with the QR code
that's been posted both to the Riverside Parks and Recck Facebook page as well as
the village p Facebook page. Thanks. >> Thank you. Any questions for assistant
director Cisco? I would just make one comment. Um
» since we adopted Well, first of all, thank you for the update on the
programs. Uh, spring is here, so it's time to get out, get outside and sign up
for a program. But I also want to take this opportunity to thank the parks and
recreation department and parks and recreation board on the tremendous
success, in my opinion, you've had already in implementing your master plan
for 2025. We've already got funding for for uh uh Turtle Park uh and um and Ble
Park, right? Yeah. Ble uh funding and that's in the pipeline. And we're hoping
to follow that up with Harrington next summer. And uh also the parks and
recreation board will be considering another goal from the master plan of
creating zoning for the uh parks and open space in the village. So, thank you
to the department and the board. >> Thank you very much.
» Uh, pending business, um, presentation and discussion of new public safety
facility visualization concepts. Manager Francis,
» thank you. Um we do have the team from Williams Architects that will walk the
village board through um the different schemes and designs for the board to
take a look at and provide some feedback on. Additionally, I just wanted to
provide the board a brief update after this evening. Um the next step based on
the feedback that's received, Williams will then attend a preservation
commission meeting and get additional feedback based on the narrow down down
designs that the village board wants preservation to react to and give
additional feedback. So with I will turn it over to the Williams team.
» Good. Good evening, President Pollock, village trustees manager Francis. um
happy to be here again tonight and um we'll have all four of our team members
presenting um this evening a lot of information about the concept. So um
let's just get right into it and next please. So we want to just bring you up
to speed um as to where we've been um what we've been working on for the last
few months and ultimately the four different ideas we have um for the
exterior of the project. Um, we also have partnered with harbor contractors
and Chris Kak is here tonight to tell you a little bit about where costs are
projected at the moment as well as some ideas to um perhaps um bring costs down.
At this point, we are um simply looking for feedback from you as the village
board um what you like, what you don't like um in terms of the exterior concept
so we can continue to move forward and and refine. But most of all, we want to
make sure we're answering your questions and keeping you as informed as possible
about the proposal. So, um I sort of just gave away the the
updates. Um we've worked um had several meetings with staff. Um we've um put
together um four very um distinct concepts um for the exterior. We've also
really validated the work that you've seen so far by engaging a civil engineer
and a structural engineer to make sure that we really understand the site to
confirm that we do not need to do anything further in terms of storm water
um detention which we have confirmed and to understand um how we would be
actually structuring this in consultation with a structural engineer.
So um there is a measure of um architectural and engineering
feasibility that are baked into these concepts that we're um going to show you
tonight and talked a little bit about next steps as manager Francis mentioned
um we're ready to move um upon your direction into design adjustments and
review um by the preservation commission and to begin the community engagement
process around this project. Um, so with that, um, I will turn it
over to our project manager, Kim Nigro, to recap the site plan and the floor
plans and then we'll move to the exterior concepts. Thank you.
» Thank you everyone. Glad to be back with you. Um, I'll just start by recapping
the um, site plan and floor plans. um some of which most of which you saw at
our last presentation but it has been refined based on your feedback and um
some consensus um about the various schemes that we presented at our last
meeting. So um oh good this works. Oh thank you sorry
just getting back off. Thank you chief. So um just to give you the brief quick
overview of the site plan of the various schemes that we presented last time. The
main difference was whether the apparatus bay would be um flanked by the
apparatus support to the east or more or whether that support bar would be more
in the center of the overall layout based on again feedback from all of you
and more conversations with the manager and chief. Um the decision was that
keeping the apparatus bays more um toward the center and putting that
support on the outside edge um provided a couple of different benefits within
the plan layout itself as well as on the site. So this allows that apparatus
apron to be a little further away from the drive down to the lower level. Um
provides that surface level parking here for staff to come in quickly. Um and
then we've also again still focusing on the community and public space here as a
light touched link to the existing village hall. Um based on the feedback
again, we've focused the entryway right here on axis with the colonade or view
connection out toward the river. Um and and as you'll start to see in the
exterior schemes that we'll show you, um all of the schemes have this layout on
site. All of the schemes have the same kind of axis and exterior um colonade
and patio space um and you know are basically all in the same massing and
form on the site.
So this um lower level plan really again hasn't changed since you last saw it. um
parking available for um police here on the lower level, entrance uh for staff
to a staff stair that takes them um or through the elevator securely up to
secure administrative space on the second floor. Um and then keeping kind
of the basic storage of the building under the apparatus bay on this end and
the evidence processing and storage here um near where they would enter and then
the utilities on the far end.
So, this again, as I kind of recapped on the site plan, the main floor level has
um this community space around the lobby here with the public conference room and
toilets and the you we're saying ornamental stair that really just means
open, not an enclosed fire stair. um and space for displaying of the historic
firet truck and um potential repositioning of some um village hall
space in the in the existing village hall. Uh and again that really nicely
consolidated shared administrative space between police and fire. And then as we
move to the east, the um apparatus and the support zones um for the apparatus
bay.
And on the upper level, again, all of the community space is focused here on
the west end where they could come up this public stair, access restrooms,
access the fitness space, um, come down this public corridor all the way through
to the public terrace, um, and to the community space, which is has access to
Riverside TV, the kitchen, and some storage. So, the elevator is here
centrally located. this would have public access at this level. Um, also if
police or fire needed to use that elevator at this upper level, they can
do that and then come into a secure corridor
where most of the police functions are are focused right here with a men's
locker room and toilet and showers, women's locker room, toilet and showers,
and then as you move on, um, this shared kitchen, dining and day room space, and
then the more private bunk rooms and lockers for fire and EMS personnel.
Well, that was one of the comments from the last meeting was um liking them
having kind of their own quieter wing over here um on the other side of the
apparatus bay. So, yeah, again, just more public zone shared and and more
quiet private on the end. So, with that, I'm going to move into um
exterior schemes unless anyone has any thoughts or questions about the plan
recap. So, I want to start by again kind of
talking about what's in common with the four different schemes that we've looked
at. Um we've tried to take our cues um based on listening to chief and uh um
manager and and all of the committee about paying reverence to this historic
village hall but not trying to imitate it. understanding the cues that we're
receiving from the proportions of the building and um respecting that,
following that language, but creating a new um design for this new um facility.
So, we've done things like looking at the strong horizontal masonry banding of
this building and taking some cues from that. We've looked at these the strong
corner vertical elements with the turrets and taking some cues from that.
Um and then we've um because of the large footprint of this plan as compared
to this building, we've tried to break it down into clear those same kind of
clear functions of public administrative fire and you know make sure that it's
not looking like a vast facade by comparison to this building. and at the
same time wanting to um celebrate the height of this building while keeping
this new facility lower. Again, because it is um wider, a little larger in
footprint, we wanted to not have it also be as tall and competing with this facil
this structure in that in that way as well.
So, we've kind of named each of these schemes so that you have a little
something to remember. It's it's going to be a lot that we go through tonight.
So, I want um you to be able to refer back to which was that scheme. So, we've
named this one dynamic response. And so, scheme one uh really started around a
desire to um look at how closely we are situated up against the village hall,
but give it a little bit of room to breathe. So, um that footprint that in
plan was pretty square. In this version, we're sort of um angling a few of the
walls, mostly this colonade that kind of leads you through to the river and
bending right around this point where we get tight at this turret. Um and so the
idea was that as you enter in the facade, this the this column structure
feels wider, feels welcoming, kind of funnels you into the space and then
widens again at the back, opens up again at the terrace. So you feel that kind of
dynamic um movement as you as a you know from someone from the community coming
to that space. And then again as I'd mentioned um we've taken these these um
horizontal banding of the facility and kind of mirrored that um in terms of the
proportions of overall and then breaking this community space down separately in
mass from the apparatus bays and the support zone on the end. And in talking
about some kind of tower anchoring elements vertically in each scheme,
you'll see kind of this repeating um vertical elements that um you know give
some repeat the rhythm of these elements.
So this gives that view kind of right through the entry and through um to the
green space along the river. And you can kind of see those columns begin to
repeat leading you in. This would be that historic um firetruck display could
could be on either side and and then uh the public conference room and fitness
here. So it is glassier on this front area. This is where those community
spaces would be.
And then as we each of these images will kind of move you around to the south
toward the river as we And so this again is that um oop sorry
the um bunk rooms here and some light into the apparatus bay um support spaces
some lighting into stair towers
and on the back again um having kind of expressing these
um ramps and and this dynamic um sort of angular shapes again where you emerge
from the building with this colonade. Um and then having that repeating that kind
of angled shading at the community terrace as well.
And so then as you approach from the river, walk from the west, you would
enter this public patio level. And then again, there's the terrace um that's
supported by that colonade up at the community room level.
I should have said in the beginning, each of these schemes might have
elements or aspects that you like. They they are all somewhat interchangeable.
if there's some aspect of scheme one that you feel like would also work or be
celebrated in scheme three. Um just like with the plans, you know, we want to
show you these four options as a way of showing a lot of different ideas and
then taking that feedback and and working them in together.
So there's kind of an aerial view where you can see that bending um a little
more a little more clearly illustrated. And then the apparatus bay roof would be
set a little lower to allow some daylighting in along the um living
dining uh day room spaces.
Okay, move on to scheme number two. Oh, I one more. Sorry. Elevations. So
the the flat elevations we thought were kind of helpful to really look at the
scale of this building compared to those historical datms and lines in the
masonry and how we're kind of pulling those through and then how we're kind of
breaking down this eastern facade that's facing more towards the residential
areas with more punched opening smaller scale windows to keep that looking
appealing. Okay.
Good evening. Uh again, uh president, board, and uh and staff. Happy to be
back, uh here with you all. Uh so this is I've got control here, right? Uh
forward and back. All right. Um as uh as Kim shared, uh these images will take
you on a walk around uh each one of the schemes. Uh, another thing I wanted to
mention with these, as you see, we're showing this in a very light, um, just
kind of off-white collar with a little hint of material. So, uh, to build on,
uh, a bit of what was said, we're beginning to hint at materiality. So,
uh, keeping that in mind, too, like the kind of interchangeability of ideas with
these schemes, some of these lend themselves to, uh, inherently a little
bit more of a traditional look. Uh, but even the more modern look uh, could use
more traditional materials. masonry or or wood cladding and different things
that could uh kind of help bridge the gap between the the new and the old. So,
just keeping that in mind, we we've intentionally left these a little bit of
a blank slate with that um material uh flexibility in mind. So, uh I'll take
you around this one that we're calling um contextual presence. And uh as you
see immediately it feels a little more traditional, a little more in uh uh in
tune maybe with the the traditional architecture of the adjacent building.
Uh but yeah, very interested to have you all review all these and and give us
your thoughts uh if we're finding that balance. Um so the uh entry through the
middle there, you've got the view through and hint of the the river
beyond. We've got the historic engine number three. uh tucked into the the
space between the buildings on this one and this one you see we've we've kept a
little further away than scheme one. So you also see the view to the sky beyond
um and with the tight program there there's uh moves that we make with these
like with this one you see the upper level begins to pull forward a bit. So
by um kind of tight moving it further away from the village hall we we flex
and scoot the spaces forward a little bit. So, just a subtle difference that
you'll see with some of these. Um, so here we're moving around um to the
northeast. Uh, this one uh also does the the moves with the massing to step down
and then step back up uh at the corners. Uh here's the view from the swinging
bridge of the um south facade. Those views into the living spaces and then
the much larger glazed opening into the community room on the upper level.
Uh this one uh still has as all of them have the upper and lower um terrace on
the river side uh but with a more pulled back overhang.
Um here's the view from the potential riverwalk uh coming up from the
southwest.
And uh note again note the the large windows into and out of the um the
community room. Here's the aerial
from the northeast and then the other aerial from the southwest. And also
wanted to point out from the southwest views, you'll see a little hint of what
we were thinking of as a potential um art wall on the what's currently a a
literal blank slate on the back side of the uh the village hall where we just
have the lap siding there. Uh our thought was this could with um the
adjacency of the new public space could be an opportunity for a mural or or art
wall of some kind. So you'll see that in in all of the schemes. Um the other um
unique difference on this one uh a much more um like curve linear approach to
the riverw walk. And with all of these schemes, uh you'll you'll also see how
in collaboration with our um uh civil engineers, we're we're retaining that or
we're keeping the existing retaining wall and any proposed new work is being
held back from that retaining wall from the river. So, uh subtle detail on those
riverwalk schemes. There's um the elevations.
Uh and um we're only we were only showing the like the primary public
elevations. Um but we've kind of studied as you saw in the 3Ds the the the
alignment um on all sides.
And moving on um to the um next one. I'm going to take the middle two and then
I'll hand it uh hand it off to another member so you don't have to hear from
one of us for too long. Uh so this one we're calling um spatial framing. And uh
what you'll start to see with this one is this theme of kind of linear bands
that uh that encircle and frame certain spaces or views uh around the building.
So um there at the entry, this piece that rises up and frames that entry and
the view through. And you see a hint of another framing element on the far side,
which you'll see as we move around.
Uh here we've got the the stair towers, very similar massing to the others
responding to that program, but rather than the kind of capped tower, it's got
this uh framing element that that um uh frames the tower with some glazing in
there to provide light into the stair tower.
Here's the view from the swinging bridge with the articulation of the south
facade. uh more of those um boxed elements around there which as you start
to see in this view and you'll see in the other ones as well the articulation
on the south we begin to push and pull a little bit to provide solar control on
the south uh the lighting here is based on accurate um sun uh light that would
hit the building at different times in the year uh so you can see how in like
morning light in I forget what day we based this on but the those elements
that come out are providing important um feature to help prevent glare and direct
uh heat gain coming into those spaces while still uh allowing views out.
This one uh has that framing around that upper piece. So uh still open to the
river but a little more enclosed.
Here's the view uh approaching down the possible riverwalk extension
uh and the aerial views.
Yeah. So, more of a angular kind of river walk uh scheme shown on this one.
And you'll notice with all of these, we we were providing some like stepping
terracing or like potential little planter areas that would provide uh
engagement on the the riverwalk and terrace as well.
Here's those elevations.
All right, I'll hand it back to Kim. >> Thank you.
So, um, this final scheme, we wanted to, um, certainly show a version that did
have, um, pitched roofs and take a little bit of a cue from this building
in that way, while at the same time not going quite for the steepness that this
building has. This is not a building of that era, and we don't want to again
compete with with this building in that way. So, um, but we did want to do a
version to show you where we use those different roof shapes again to anchor
these, um, sort of towers at the corner and and give presence to the entryway.
Um so um the other thing about this scheme and why we're calling it
traditional anchoring is we're also exploring some other ideas of smaller
punched openings um that might lend itself more to an overall masonry
construction again a little more like the village hall. And like Joe said, um
the materiality is going to be another opportunity to relate back to this
building in terms of color and materials and those kinds of selections regardless
of what uh form the the new building takes. Um so in terms of the uh some of
the elements in the scheme are very similar to scheme number two in terms of
um these vertical kind of engaged columns and some of the um these sort of
outriggers that are something a little bit prairie style or craftsman uh in
nature.
So again the similar view towards the river
and in each scheme we are trying to think about providing you know some
space where you would want privacy on the inside anyway. It creates a signage
opportunity on the exterior.
So, as we move to the south, again, just looking at breaking up some of these
areas of glazing, slightly smaller glazing areas, um, balancing some what
might be some additional roofing uh, costs with maybe less glazing costs.
Um and in this scheme, one other difference um on the rear here is that
because of the roof um massing, we've extended the roof out and made this a
fully covered uh terrace where the columns go all the way up to support
that roof structure. Uh again, in this scheme, we're showing
a the same kind of riverwalk element with the curve linear
design as in scheme two.
you know, knowing that we aren't the landscape architects, we're the
architects, but this building has so much integral relationship with what we
know will be an important river um feature river future riverwalk. And so,
regardless of, you know, even the early stages right now, we want to make sure
that the architecture of this new facility is addressing that outdoor
space even at a conceptual level and being informed by it.
So again, as Joe mentioned, all of the schemes have that public art opportunity
that you know, if you're enjoying this terrace, you've got a nice view of
that public art opportunity.
And there you can see a little better in elevation how those kind of roof
elements um relate but don't compete with the
village hall. So just to kind of recap so you can see
them all in one place we thought would be helpful. Um again I hopefully seeing
them all at once um reiterates the point that we've made about the overall
massing the breaking up into public fire support elements and using those towers
to anchor the corners and and mimic the existing village hall in that way.
Sorry.
» And again, just this slightly different riverwalk schemes as placeholders of
that future idea and how this terrace space might start to relate to a future
riverwalk. Okay. Any you want to stop and take some
questions on the overall schemes or go all the way through?
» Uh, I'd say go all the way. >> All the way through. Great.
» We'll turn it over to Yes.
» All right. Well, thank you everybody and it's a pleasure to be here and glad to
meet you and I know I've worked with a couple of you in the past on different
projects, but as a little introduction again, Chris Kak with Harbor
Contractors. We're a 67y old construction management contracting
company and public safety facilities is probably one of our primary market
segments. I've been with the company for 23 years and I don't recall a time we
hadn't had an active public safety project on at any one of those times. So
with our experience on building projects and current projects and our historical
costs, we kind of work with the Williams team to help pro provide some validation
of the costs and obviously are being presented with some options and
decisions to show kind of the order of magnitude impacts of those types of
decisions. So we'll kind of get right into it. go backwards.
So to get right into it, again, we based everything kind of off of the the scheme
one project with initial price and we've got some details in the background of
that, but try to give some validation of the different schemes and kind of their
impacts of how things move along and change. Obviously, if you look at the
concepts, there are some different things, more roof lines, more glass, and
more windows, and those kind of lead to the
» Sure. >> I'm sorry if I could interrupt.
Absolutely. Could you tell us what when you say scheme one use the terminology
as also that so scheme one is the dynamic?
» Yes. >> Yes.
» Thank you. >> Yep. The scheme one is the dynamic. And
let me see if I go back a couple here. Where's your recap?
» Yeah. The scheme one is a dynamic. >> Yeah.
» And the next one, scheme two, the contextual presence. that would be or um
you know the a lower cost of approximately $300,000 than the scheme
one >> you know you get to go back to scheme
three the spatial uh context that one you know it's basically the same cost as
scheme one you know I mean it shows a small different thing and then scheme
four is the highest cost if you go again you get additional roof lines the extra
canopies and all that So,
so that's the the total project budget we came up with and and we'll get to the
next slide. It shows it is total project budget escalation, contingencies, owner
costs and all that. You know, that's one thing that uh you'll you'll see as we go
through. And then, you know, on top of that, we did the riverw walk allowance
of uh additional budget of $3.5 million. you know, the main patio function of all
of the options is in the base number, but the extension of the river walks
going east and west, and that's kind of an area that's kind of up for design a
little bit. And then, you know, we did have another item of renovations to the
existing building. You know, there's some functions that are leaving this
building. You know, kind of the basement moving area. You know, we kind of that
as a placeholder of if you're going to do something with those spaces now or
moving on. So what I want to talk about again this
is probably a really important item of the total project budget. Um we do this
a lot. We go through a lot of municipalities who are you know
obviously you're looking what other people have done and you hear people
talk about project costs of different projects they've done. It's those
numbers are often all over the place. Some of them include land, some of them
include owner costs, some of them are just the building costs. So this
represents the total project budget. you know, going through there. I mean, the
biggest item is the construction costs of the 223, which is about 75% of the
total budget. Um, next biggest one is the soft cost, the owner's cost. You
know, it's going to be design fees, furniture, a lot of costs that you guys
have to deal with whenever you're doing a project. You know, it's kind of
all-encompassing of the complete cost. Um, you know, we have included a
contingency at this point. You know, the way we put these estimates together,
like I said, we got a lot of experience doing this. We've worked with Williams
quite a bit. We know even though these drawings are early stages, we kind of
can envision what they're going to be when they get done completing them. You
know, we know all the details that have to get added. We've had conversations
with their structural engineers and work with their civil side. So, we can kind
of anticipate what those things are going to be, but you know, it's be
foolish at this point not to have a contingency in there because, you know,
there's going to be things that move around. And we also included an
escalation factor in there. You know, anticipating this would be a 2028 start.
You know, we kind of do that on a, you know, average continual escalation over
the years. You know, we don't really factor any current little minor price
impacts. They usually all kind of smooth out and just kind of go over the
historical, you know, 3 4% goes kind of per year. So, anybody have any questions
on the total project budget? Okay.
If we go to the next one, you know, um, one of the things we do on many of the
projects, you know, yes, we're a builder, but we get involved very early
on in these conceptual stages. You know, not only to help guide those or provide
some cost validation behind those design decisions, but as with every project,
everybody's trying to find the most economical way to build the project. So
we start looking at options with uh the Williams team as they're going through
design for you know are there ways for cost reductions. You know there's kind
of two major categories A and B. There's permanent changes. You know decisions
that you'll make that you can't really go back on you know of cutting the
building in half or taking off a floor or something like that. You know major
decisions or major program changes of reducing square footages. Those are
difficult to come back with. The next one is bid alternates or future phases.
It's portions of a project that we can establish when it gets to the point of
this thing goes out for trade contractor bidding alternate pricing. They can be
either ads or deducts of hey at uh the build out of this room. You know, they
will provide the actual pricing. That decision can be made when you get the
real final numbers at bid time. So that's a good strategy to, you know,
kind of maximize your budget and also not, you know, get in a situation where
you eliminate something and go, "Oh man, we got really good numbers. The bids
came in really well." You know, in 2008 the economy was a perfect timing for
bidding. And we wish we wouldn't have made that change. It gives you those
options to have those things in there and choose as you go. So, you know,
initial options, just talking, you know, and work with the Williams teams, we
came up about $ three and a half million dollars of just initial options. That's
kind of a first round of that. And it's kind of a continued effort during the
design and pre-construction. You know, the way we work with the Williams teams
is as they're coming up with an option or something, they won't completely
spend the time and effort fully to design it out. They'll they'll consult
with us. We'll work with them and guide them along the way of, hey, this is a
more economical way to do it or, you know, here's a couple options you can
consider as you're going through the design. But you know some of the options
we've investigated are you know reduction in program spaces you know
those are things obviously you spent a lot of time working on a program but you
know sometimes choices have to be made and that's something to look at and you
know evaluate it and look at those as you go through. You know the other thing
is build the shell and core with future buildouts. You know, it's quite common
thing we do with a lot of clients where, you know, hey, you design a portion of
the building, you build the entire shell and cord, everything's there. You just
don't put the finishes in and it's either funded as a separate project or
bid as an alternate or something that could be a future phase of the project.
You know, the west parking lot, you know, kind of the same thing we had in
the budget, reconstructing the west parking lot, you know, and new paving
and getting that, you know, uh, cleaned up and a little bit, you know, that
could be a separate project later down the road. Um, you know, West Garage
Drive, you know, we've got the drive-thru of the garage, you know,
running through, you know, from east to west with the two garage doors. Same
thing. That's something it could be a bid alternate or, you know, done as a
future phase on the project. Um, you know, reduction amount of windows, you
know, that's something, you know, as you look at the different concepts, you
know, that's something that could be applied to any one of these concepts.
You know, obviously that's one of the more expensive items in any project is
the glass is more expensive than the masonry. So, it's something to look at.
um alternative exterior materials. You know, we've already worked with the
Williams team on the actual structural design of the building to kind of uh
bring some costs a little bit more in line with that. But alternate materials,
you know, that's something, you know, not necessarily could be a wholesale
change in materials or it could be selective materials. And Whim's very
good at mixing different materials and making it flow very well with their
designs, but that's something we look at as options as we go through the project.
Um, you know, there's other things of elimination of the ornamental stair, you
know, going to something more traditional with than the kind of
grander lobby that's in there. And then, you know, some open office space
layouts, you know, I mean, that's something to look at a little more of a
different concept where you have more of a cubicle type arrangement than offices.
Obviously, given the nature of this facility, some of those things are need
to be separate, you know, separate private offices, but it's an option to
look at. So pretty much it's it's to provide kind of a guideline, a path of
moving forward and continually looking at options throughout the process of
what's the most economical way to meet your guys' vision. So that's kind of
where we provide that support and help with that along the way. So any
questions on that cost reduction process or thoughts?
» We'll go through uh this. Yeah, once you guys are done, we'll we'll go through
this in more detail. >> Absolutely. I think that's the last
slide.
» We got one.
» Thank you, Chris. So, um just to wrap up and then um open everything up for
questions and for feedback. um next steps. We certainly want to hear from
all of you um what you um what you're thinking, what questions you have, what
preferences you have. Anything that you want to say, don't ever show us again.
It's all um it's all on the table and the goal is to show you a number of
options um so that we can work together to get um to the solution that's in the
best interest of the community. So um as we mentioned, we we'll have this
discussion tonight, answer questions you have. We want to um if we are not if you
all coales around a particular exterior idea that's wonderful. That is not our
expectation or our goal for this evening. It's merely to receive
feedback. If you wish as a um village board to sort of narrow the funnel um
for preservation certainly um is is something you can
choose to do. Um but um our next steps are to present this um to that group and
then to start the engagement process to um inform the community um not only
about the design for this project and the options for this project um but to
work with staff and work with all of you around the underlying need. Why are we
doing this? Why is this necessary? Why are we doing it now? So, um that is all
coming up in um in the coming weeks and months, but um it's a lot of
information. Um we're doing a public safety facility with fire and a lot of
information sort of through a proverbial fire hose. So, at this point, love to
turn it over to you for questions and comments.
» Thank you. Um in order for us to you know, there's a lot to digest here
obviously. uh and in order I want to organize how we proceed with our
discussion. I have a suggestion but I I'm open to to uh other other
considerations. I would suggest we go through the visuals first one at a time.
Maybe we say what we like and don't like about each one and uh then we get into
the cost reduction um uh discussion because the cost reduction
applies equally more or less to all the different options. Right. Yeah. Does
that work for the trustees? >> So I'd like to start with the site plan
because I have one comment on the site plan.
» Thank you. I'll just stay right here.
» And and this relates to the cost savings stuff, too. My
comment when I f saw this over the weekend was, do we really need that west
drive at all? Uh, and so I asked manager Francis that and I believe the answer
was not really. >> No. Um, initially when we were talking
about that drive, it was when we were conceptually thinking about having the
the fire apparatus kind of swinging around, but that changed and evolved
over time. So that additional access point is is not needed and actually that
will probably help free up space for a trash enclosure
» and it could be repurp or could be used in the future as more public space as
well. >> Sure. It's valuable riverfront space to
have unnecessary drive doesn't seem necessary.
» But sort of the site plan question leads into another one of my
questions about all the schemes and that is um for the mechanicals for the
buildings. Um you know a lot of places put their air conditioner condensers on
the roof. I just wasn't clear on where the intended place for that was and
whether they would be visible or somehow enclosed.
» Sure. I I can I can answer that question. And um we're we haven't
determined the um the exact mechanical systems for the project, but um it's
very likely that we'd have something for cooling and ventilation on the roof um
which would be fully screened. um that lower roof over the apparatus bays is an
ideal place for that. Um I have not studied your zoning ordinance in great
detail, but I'm relatively certain that it would require screening of those
units. So um that would handle a lot of the ventilation and cooling heating. Um
we can we can look at options indoors. Um we do like to do these facilities um
with hot water heat um and then air handling units which could be in the
basement mechanical rooms. But um we do anticipate some degree of equipment on
the roof and for that equipment to be screened.
» Are there um any of the particular designs that would be um more amendable
to that? I mean it seems like some of them are pretty
um flat and low. >> Yeah, I think it's something we have to
study to be very honest. In my mind, um the the more contemporary or the the low
slope or flat roof concepts um that have more horizontal elements lend themselves
to um those mechanical enclosures a little better because we could use more
horizontal elements to help with that screening. But um if the desire of um
the village is to explore something that has those more traditional forms, we can
find ways to to screen in in ways that that make sense. We we work on projects
all the time where it looks like a sloped roof building from the street and
um somewhere in the center invisible to anybody except someone who has a drone
or somebody flying over. Um you've got some accounts and stuff there.
» Wonderful. Thank you. >> So I think we can work that up no matter
what. Okay. Any other questions or comments on the site plan?
Is there a general agreement to eliminate the West Drive?
» Yes. >> Great. Um, so let's move on to the uh
dynamic response. Was that was Yeah. So, and
before we get into that detail, I just want to answer one question that I know
we we all have had or I've heard is uh we're not at the stage where we could
say what we're doing to make this an environmentally friendly building, but
we will be and it will be an environmentally friendly building to the
extent possible. uh meaning bird friendly windows uh meaning uh efficient
uh utilities all the stuff that goes into making a building sustainable. So
that will be a priority. It's just we're not there yet.
So dynamic response, what do you like or dislike about it?
» Anybody? Aine?
» I actually like this one a lot. Um, I really like the fact that it has, um,
some angularity to it. Um, it's contemporary. I see, you know, in the
section that's behind the, um, Riverside logo that there's some, uh, you know,
horizontal banding, which suggests to me that warm wood that you sometimes see in
in contemporary glass like you were talking about. um kind of softening or
harmonizing with materials um you know something that is of a
different time period with its surrounding architecture. So, um, you
know, this, uh, is very intriguing to me and, um, you know, I'm always I always
kind of wonder a little bit about like the pitch of the roof or is it flat?
Like, I can't exactly tell what's going on with it, um, and how that works with
drainage and things like that, but I really think it's a um, very energetic
and dynamic building. So, congrats on the initial concept. Um, I'm not sure
about the Riverwalk. Um, you know, having that be straight
as straight as it is. I mean, that's very very angular. Um, but in general, I
think uh there's a lot of positive things to be said about this one.
» I completely agree with you. >> All right. So, there you go. Um, when I
look at all four of them, the this first one is the one that I
actually had an emotional response to. I actually felt like architecture is such
a big deal in Riverside and we have so many different architectural styles
incorporated and
this to me is a visually interesting building that doesn't try and blend in.
It doesn't it's in it in itself It is interesting.
I also feel like um I worked on a college campus for over a decade and
obviously there were always we were always building and every time we tried
to build something that looked a lot like something else, it was never
received well because it never looked enough like it and it never it was
trying to be something else. And one of the things I really like about this is
it's not trying to be like the building that's directly next to it, which is
something that is awesome in Riverside that you can have two houses. You can
have a Victorian right next to a Franklidd Wright, right next to a
bungalow. And so I really liked the way that the lines kind of called to
the building next to it and were cohesive with it, but it was its own
building. it was its own design. Um, that was really, like I said, this is
the only one I actually had a response to. The rest of them I was like, well,
these are fine. Um, the other thing I love about this one is I love all the
glass and I feel like if you are inside this building, you're going to get a ton
of natural light and feel much more like you're in nature. Um, way more so than,
you know, it was we were talking with the last scheme where the openings were
smaller and stuff. I really felt like this would feel much more connected to
the river and the forest that's around it more so than some of the other
designs.
» Any other comments on this? >> I have a question. So, it looks like the
the the roof on scheme one it's pitched. Is it does it go like this or is it
straight across the top? >> I mean it it will have a pitch to drink
water. >> There are number of way that we handle
that. Um and and even with the p pitched roof beyond that fascia element that is
the large horizontal band, you know, would stay flat.
» So um it may be a little bit of optical illusion with the way that it bends
around the turret. It does kind of look as though it's peeking up, but the
intent is that it be a really strong horizontal band of facial all the way
around the building. And that movement is more in plan view.
Uh, I'm happy to provide my my thoughts. Um, initially this wasn't my favorite,
although I liked it. I still like it. Uh, Trusty Marsha and Trusty Cost may
convince me that it's the favorite. But what I do like about it a lot is all the
glass on the front side. Mhm. >> I mean, I think that is
it's symbolic of transparency. Uh, it connects it to the exterior.
Um, I I really like that part of it. I like the horizontal lines. I like the uh
small thing, but I really like the sign freeze above the garage doors, the
opportunity to have that branding there, that Riverside Public Safety Center. Um,
I realize you could do that in other ways on other elevations, but on this
one it's got a nice perfect It's like it's designed to have that. It would
look empty without the sign on it. Um what I am hesitant about with it is
the blank wall that we're looking at right now where the uh uh you know on
the left side of the the the bays and then on the back side.
Um yes I like that. Okay. Initially I thought there was too much blank walls
but maybe maybe not. Maybe not. >> Sorry.
um or that from that perspective it made me feel like there were too many blank
walls. Um but
those were my thoughts. Does anyone else want to weigh in?
We'll go on to the Go ahead. >> Um I like all of them. I think we all do
great work on it and I like how the facade is broken up. For me, this design
doesn't break it up enough. And I know that's intentional to take that straight
line all the way across the main part of the building.
Just my personal preference. I don't care for that.
» Uh I would just like to say your emphasis on the windows in the back just
because that's the that's overlooking the river which is our most important.
say that one of the comments on this scheme in particular that
» Can you go to the podium please? >> Sorry just one of the comments on this
scheme from the group about the glass from the riverside was a concern for
vandalism. They do get a there are as we were having this discussion walking
through broken windows facing the river. And so from a practical standpoint, we
wanted to again show a variety of options um if more glazing for views and
and that's why in this scheme we did really try to focus in on where are
people um occupying the space for long periods of time and having views from
the living spaces, the apparatus bay at the lower level that's more prone to
damage from both inside and out. Um and then focusing the glass more on the
community space where it will have the views. But um as mentioned uh any of
these comments about where you do or don't want more glass, you know, we can
translate those comments easily to any of the schemes.
» Are they designed as all windows or is it just a sort of a strip of windows?
» I mean typically when we have a large expansive glass like this, it will
either be a curtain wall system or a storefront system. So it's not all
operable if that's what So we would design certain amount of actual
ventilation open windows that can open within that system, but it would not all
be operable if that's >> You mean open and close?
» Yes. Sorry. >> No, I wasn't really thinking about that.
I just wanted to know how big the windows are. It looks like there's only
a strip of windows, not the whole space, the whole area of the squares.
» I see. I think you're seeing the ceiling going through and so that looks solid.
Yes. Yeah, I see what you're saying now. >> So, uh that is ceiling beyond.
» I see it. And then actually in this space, if you're in the this is the
dining room, um there are glass there are windows um looking over the
apparatus bay on the other side. So, and there's also windows lower looking from
that space into the apparatus bay. So, I think you're actually seeing I'm going
to go the other way. Nope, wrong way.
These windows showing through >> from the back view is what is kind of
throwing off that view of the glass. Thank you for
pointing that out.
» Also, I just want to mention where you see the most windows are the public
spaces because that was staff's focus as we met with Williams.
Yeah, it doesn't make any sense to have windows. I don't I mean, it'd be cool to
have textual design, textual architecture design in the bottom part
where the bay is, but it doesn't make sense to have windows there because
that's where all the trucks are and stuff like that. You know, like you
said, they can get damaged that that's not a great spot for I mean, as much as
I would love it, there's not a lot to see and there's not a lot of people
looking even from inside. There aren't people looking outside.
» Yeah, it it may be that the selection of exterior materials will
» impact this view a lot. >> Yeah.
» As well as the landscape and ramp design, you know, other things that we
use to fill it to fill in that lower space. Um there's opportunities both for
landscaping and material change to make sure that's not a large blank facade.
Any other comments on this one?
» So, let's uh talk about number two, contextual.
» Sorry, they're really small on my screen.
So, I'm seeing a lot of the same shapes roughly.
» There you go. >> That's where we go.
There we go. Contextual
» justice.
» This is my favorite one. Again, I like how it's broken up. I like this there's
a lot of vertical lines to it. And of course, the windows.
I like this one less because I liked the horizontality of the other one and I
feel like the columns here are distracting in a way um that they're
just >> they're kind of like
added just so we could have columns and I
don't it doesn't speak to the it doesn't really speak to function for me. So,
» I have a question about the the entry, the main entry. Is it a triangle in
between the two buildings? Is it smaller?
What is the shape of the lobby? >> Where the truck is. Are you talking
about? Yeah. >> Oh, okay.
» So, just as a reminder, I'll opine and then Williams can fill in the gaps. So,
we're going to be taking down where basically the fire trucks are, right?
Because that was an old addition. Um, all the fire equipment and then you have
offices currently on the outside of that. So, all of that would be removed.
So, what you're seeing in creating that connection are is the connection to the
historic building which occupies where uh our front desk is. Um it also has uh
different areas as it relates to police uh other like copier equipment, those
types of things. And so it's kind of mirroring the existing building,
creating that lobby connection to then the the new building. So it would be
somewhat triangular, but it it'll be open as it's kind of illustrated there.
Does that make sense? Okay.
What I liked about this one was the the roof line, the cornice line.
Um,
you know, puts a definitive
end on the height of the building. Um, which probably, you know, gives it a
little bit better relationship to the to the town hall building.
Um, the uh turrets or the columns, if you'll
go back to that,
that corner piece on the left has windows. It has it has a cap. It's like
a traditional Roman column or whatever. I think it'd be an ionic column.
Um, or Doric.
» Doric is the one with the swirls at the top.
» Ionic. Ionic has the it has the curls. Corinthian has the
» leaves. Right. >> So, it's Doric. Ionic.
» Corinthian. >> Doric. The simplest.
» Please tell me you got that on tape. Please tell me some of you that was all
» my work is done. >> Um
I I like the backside of this one. Um but quite honestly equally I I like
that it's cost less. Um,
I mean that's not a deal. That's, you know, it's doesn't cost enough less
to where if I, you know, didn't like it, I'd do it. But, um, but that's a plus in
its column.
» I I mean, I I I like this one. I feel like it's But I feel like it's fine.
» It's not as exciting. >> That's how I feel. It's fine.
» It's not as risky, not as exciting. >> Yeah. And I feel like we're such an
architectural village, right? It's architecture is so important to so many
people in this village that having something that's just kind of
» fine or like, you know, I'm I'm not I don't want to offend
anybody. I'm really sorry, but like it looks like a lovely strip mall or like a
I mean like a really lovely one. Not like your gross corn, you know, but like
it looks it's like a lovely strip mall kind of thing and I don't feel like it
has the like wow. >> Yeah.
Okay. >> Any other comments on this one?
» I agree with Trustee Cos. We are never like this. This is awesome.
Well, let's uh move on to number three. Spatial framing
» to me. This one's similar to the first one. Not the same, but has a lot of
similarities.
» The lines are a little bit more broken up.
» Any other comments on this one or You said that it was um a craftsman
style. >> That was the windows
» two more.
» I'm sorry. Two and four. >> Oh, okay.
» Two and four. >> This is a little more modern in the
same. >> Can you go to the microphone, please?
» I can't pick it up for our audio if it's not on the mic. I apologize. I
apologize. Um, anyone can answer these questions
for our team, but um, yeah, this one has a little bit more of a modern references
in the framing lines, whereas op scheme um, two and four did have some what we
would consider more traditional Craftsman detailing with um, the deep
overhangs and the um, the detailing of kind of the outriggers supporting that
roof line. But, you know, that can be accentuated
or or not in terms of the detailing of the building. So,
this one seems just too modern. I don't know if it would look
as nice next to the township building. Looks very modern to me.
» A little too busy and distracting. >> Yeah.
I wasn't too I wasn't didn't didn't really like the uh if you'll go to that
the backside perspective. >> Yeah. Well, no, not that one. What the
the swinging bridge side?
» This one. >> That's good. That's good.
the the framing of the columns on the edges at the corners and the framing of
the window bays seemed to me to be not natural.
Something like that. Not organic.
» Interesting. >> Um,
so speak for myself, either one or two I'd
prefer over this one. Does anybody feel any differently from
that?
» Good. We can move on to number four.
» Traditional anchoring. This is the most expensive one, right?
» And that's I'm guessing because of the roof almost entirely, if not entirely,
» which I did like the roof. this one.
» Others comments. >> Uh, this is my least favorite one. Uh,
again, I'm sorry, Alex, but I don't love the roof. Um, I also don't love that the
windows are are smaller and choppier. I like seeing the expanse of windows.
I think it's Yeah, I I I just think it's more
interesting. with the expansive windows. And I I
don't know. Yeah. Again, I worry what I worry about
with this one is that it's gonna look like that. We tried really hard to make
it sort of look like the building that's next to it, but it doesn't really look
like the building that's next to it. And that people are going to be like, "We
tried, but we didn't." And it's going to look not right.
Not that you wouldn't do a fantastic job on it, but
» but you're you're absolutely correct, trusty cause, and you've commented
before. I think historic preservation preservationists would say the same
thing. Don't try to look just like the other building.
Be respectful of the other building, but don't try to copy it.
» Exactly. That's a fine line. I know. But
» no, no, no. You're right. Because I can understand if if you did have the same
shingles on both buildings, then you are trying to mimic it. After two different
ones, it still wouldn't compliment it quite well. At number one, it does have
a very nice complimentary horizontal line.
It does pay some homage to it as well. So, um, while I was impressed with this
one, it's not my favorite. I would think number one, probably the best one.
So, given what I'm hearing, does this rise above one or two for anybody?
» Good. But we're down to two. Um, and I would suggest
that uh we send those two to to our preservation commission
saying here's what we like and ask for their feedback.
Emily, can you put the four up again? >> Yeah.
» Thank you. >> Yeah, this is four.
» No, four. >> All four. Sorry.
» Page 175.
» I think that's a good suggestion. So that's the plan based on the board's
discussion is the next step is the April 9th preservation meeting that we would
solicit additional feedback
» and want to send one and two to them. Is that what we're doing?
» Mhm. >> What's that?
» We're going to send schemes one and two. >> Yes.
» Okay. Well, I mean they can look at all four
of them because this is on our website, but
» yeah, >> the direction would be the village board
is asking for their response to one or two. If
they like if they have comments about three or four, I wouldn't stop them from
commenting, but >> you know,
» free speech and all. >> Yeah.
So, let's uh let's next go to the cost reduction page.
Wait, could we just say one more thing about scheme one?
» Yeah. >> So, I think your feedback was that the
the side the east facing side was too plain.
» Well, it's more that that blank column that faces the street.
» Yeah. >> Yeah. So, it's the doors just that one
column. And maybe it maybe it makes sense and
maybe again it's with the right materials it's fine.
» Um >> or open to suggestions on that one.
» Yeah. >> Or
» could you just maybe do something to it?
» It's a stair. >> So
» stairway. Yeah. >> Which you I mean like Kristen said you
could do architectural elements. You you know there's you could do I was kind of
thinking in the blank spaces they wouldn't necess In all of these games,
they wouldn't necessarily be blank. They would they're just blank slates. I don't
know. Maybe I'm >> be a contrasting panel of some kind.
Right. >> Well, and I also just wanted to remind
everybody as well like some of the elements could be interchange. So, one
thing that came to my mind there was signage potentially like we showed
there's that area adjacent to the entry which kind of makes sense for a good
signage location, but there's all like that could be an opportunity for for
signage. Um, but absolutely like there's still opportunity to articulate it with
windows. I recall in this scheme, I think the way that that stair gets its
light is that we had like a narrow slit window on the side that's not really
visible, but as some of the other examples showed, that's a great
opportunity to do like a linear slit window that would let light into the
stairs. So, yeah, there's definitely ways that that could be further
developed. >> Cool.
Okay. >> Anything else on the elevations?
» Let's uh go to that cost reduction page.
» Go Emily. Go. Go Emily. Go. You can do it.
» I'm glad she was doing that. I would be panicking.
would be like I can't find. >> We also have broken out slides for the
cost estimates too that kind of depict more if you need more visual.
» So there there was another page though that had the list
of that. >> Yeah.
» Yeah. >> So let's go through that. Uh reduction
in program spaces that just means making the building smaller, right?
I don't think we want to do that. >> No.
» No. >> I mean, yeah.
Uh, build shell and core for future. Uh,
» no. >> That just means spending money later
than rather than >> more expensive.
» And if we're going to referendum, you know, I feel like we should be
honest and say this is what it costs and >> yeah,
» just how much money we need. Um, we talked about the west driveway
and I think we agreed that we would eliminate that.
» Uh, we talked a lot about windows and if anything we wanted more windows
so that one's out. And then yeah, exterior materials that's for a future
discussion. Correct. We can decide what you at some point we'll see what the
different materials cost and what the savings are
» uh in that >> the elimination of ornamental stair I'm
guessing trustees don't have an opinion until you see the difference between
» the ornamental and non-orthnamental right
» and how much we save or don't save >> so that is that the difference more or
less >> this more of an open stair I can let
» Yeah. So, um, ornamental and open stairs we kind of use interchangeably. So,
these are some more contemporary examples, especially if you're, um,
tending in the direction of our schemes one or two. Um, this kind of expression
where the stairs and railings are a little little bit more contemporary,
open to the rest of the space. Um whereas if you um um if we're looking at
a clo an enclosed stair or what we would normally consider an egress stair, yes,
we can do some glass. Um so there there is um a measure of transparency, but um
just not as nice, you know, um more of what we would think of um as an enclosed
exit stair like you have right at the front um of the building here. So there
is obviously a cost difference um between those two. Um but um it it's one
way among many to um save a few dollars if you're so inclined.
» I can only speak for myself. I'm not so inclined.
» Yeah, I'm not either. >> Yeah, those that first two pictures is
beautiful. That's you know that's our public space,
» right? If >> you'll go back to the previous one.
Yeah. >> Yeah.
» No, the other stair one. >> Oh,
» that's the enclosed. >> The other stair.
» Pretty one. >> Pretty one.
» Yeah. No, that's >> that's nice.
» That one on the left. That's what I want our
primary village space to look like. >> Yeah.
Gate uh the Gateley Park Fieldhouse in um on the far south side of Chicago if
anybody's interested one of our projects.
» Well done. >> Yes.
» What is in the space underneath the uh staircase?
» Great great question. Um so um whenever we have a stair um where you have open
space underneath um we can't essentially we can't let somebody underneath it
until the head room is at least 6'8. So we need a way to block off those lower
areas >> um so we're not bumping our heads up
against something. And in this particular project, they just decided to
enclose that with a little bit of a um a low wall that people could sit on as
they're in the lobby. Depending on how we would articulate the
stair, um we may not end up having that condition at all where we'd have to
close close that off. >> We just had a moment. I just saw a um an
open staircase with an enclosure like that that had seating on the outside,
but it had a lyken garden. on the inside of it which is like extremely
lowmaintenance and it was installed in this really artistic pattern and I can
show you photos and it was cool and that would be a really neat um
» absolutely >> I feel like that doesn't fall into the
cost savings you know but you know you and I yeah I think it's right there
» be an LC project >> once in a while
» love it sustainability >> there y So there was one more item on
that list of co potential cost reductions I think.
» Yeah. Yeah. And I'm not interested in open office space layouts
» and I you know that was a trend for a long time and I'm sure you guys can can
can have have an opinion on that. From everything I've read open office space
makes people less productive. I I've read articles to that. I
Yeah, because of the distractions, I guess. But
» well, and I think we're building this for public safety and for I mean,
» primarily we want this to be >> people make sure
» Yeah, we want to be nice. Yeah, that's that's the those are the spaces that I
least want to >> No one wants a cube
» cut, right? >> We don't want cubes.
» Yeah, cubes are no fun for anyone. Okay,
» I have intentionally been quiet for the time being. I'm not pretending I am a
design expert on anything. Uh Chris can attest to this though I've been through
this before um with with a project similar actually bigger in size uh with
with the public safety thing. And uh I just want to say first off from my
perspective uh the site design was the most important thing operationally uh
administratively it was staff driven in regards to the layouts of everything. So
I think that's the most important thing as long as the designs whether it's one
through four at any point does not um interfere with any of the operations or
with the public engagement. I think I'm fine with that. If you had to ask me for
any type of um design element, I would say make the walkways curvy.
» That's >> meandering. We like to call it
meandering. >> Meandering. Um
» please. >> I think you guys you did a great job.
» Yeah. >> With with with the layout um for the
site because I'm more operational on it. Um and I would defer to the board and
preservation for for their direction as well.
» Thank you. Anything else? >> Very good. Thank you. Well,
» thank you all for such um thoughtful commentary, honest commentary. Um it's
important for us to hear what you like and what you don't like because that
helps us get to the best possible solution. Um I also want to thank um our
entire team in addition to um our um Riverside resident Joe and Kim. There's
another team of folks behind this effort um at at our office that has really um
poured their heart and soul into this. This is a really exciting project for us
to be a part of and we're really looking forward to next steps. So, thank you
very much. >> Thank you.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» We're we're gonna talk about a potential referendum now. So, you might want to
stick around and listen to this. >> How we pay for it
» because that sounds super fun, right? >> So, yes. Next on the agenda is
discussion of regarding public safety facility referendum.
Manager Francis, >> thank you. Um, so as we embarked on this
journey back in November of 2024, it was discussed that to bring this facility to
fruition, we would have to do a referendum. We just didn't have the
capacity to look at alternative ways, no matter how creative we are as a team.
You know, that that's a heavy lift. And so, um, as part of the discussion, we
did reach out to Spear Financial, who is the village's financial advisor, who
we've worked with in the past to issue debt. Um, and so they provided us some
scenarios relative to how much debt the village
could issue. Now, debt is dictated on the village's equalized assessed value,
and you'll see up there. So, um, tells you what the formula is for our limited
for our tax our debt limitation. Um, currently our general obligation bonds
is 1.9 million. That's our limited tax debt that we issued a couple of years
ago. And so, you deduct that and say how much is left for you to issue as debt.
Now, as our equalized assessed value continues to grow, so example, once the
PUD is built, that will go up. Um typically every year your equalized
assessed value as a village continues to increase based on improvements and
reinvestment in the community. Um so that number that 34.9 million won't
remain static presumably you know if staff and the village is doing
everything right that number will continue to go up in future years. So
with that being said, we asked Spear to provide us some examples. Um, and this
was be obviously when we had some ranges and Harbors provided a little bit more
concrete numbers. So we did a max of an issuance amount of 28 million it over 20
years. That's the maximum time frame in which we can do. And then it would show
the financial impact on typical ho households based on the market value of
the home. And so it's broken out on annual cost versus monthly costs. Um
obviously if we were to increase that we would to 29 million you would see an
incremental increase. Um and we will certainly get that for the board. We
weren't sure what was going to be cut or how this discussion was going to where
it was going to go as it relates to size and other eliminations, but we do have
the capacity to increase that issuance amount. Um, now all of these are based
on certain percentages, 4% interest. We're double A+ bond rated community, so
we're not quite at that triple AAA bonding. Um but so we're receiving a
much lower rate than other communities that don't have sound financial
practices, procedures, policies, etc. So we benefit in that respect. And so there
are times even when you go for an issuance amount. Let's say we went for
28 million, but then there's I don't want to get too far in the weeds, but we
get a really good interest rate and it's less and we get a good discount rate. It
could actually be more than 28 million that's issued to us.
Um, and so that's where those numbers look like for that. And so part of the
initial discussion is do you you don't want to ex you don't want to come up
against the maximum amount of your debt limit, right? Because there could be a
need to issue debt to do an additional referendum in the future. And so you
always want to keep that that buffer, right?
you are also paying off debt year after year too as it relates to you know when
I like to manifest when the referendum is approved by our residents um that
number would slowly go down and our debt capacity would continue to to increase.
Um that isn't to say that we want to utilize all that debt capacity.
Obviously we are very much below um even the halfway point of our debt capacity.
We're actually less than 1% of our maximum capacity. So, um I'm sorry, less
than 10%. So, all those being equal, you'll see
kind of the different breakdown of that. Are there any questions relative to
that? >> If somebody is at home watching this and
can't really read that type, do you want to give some examples?
» Sure. No potential examples. So for the $28 million issuance, I would say on
average a typical household in Riverside is valued at $500,000.
And so you would look at an annual cost increase of $720.32
and what that looks like monthly is $60.3
per month. >> Thank you.
» You're welcome. Thank you. And once again, that's subject to
somewhat change. Another example is if our EAV continues to increase, then that
impact per household then gets redistributed too. Similar with with
property tax. Um, if we have new developments,
the spread of that property tax burden gets redistributed.
» And so that in impact could be slightly different. I don't want to say it would
be substantially different but uh just to provide a little bit of context.
» Very good. And >> so we will uh we don't have to uh file
the referendum question till late in the year. Right.
» Correct. So we we'll start the process later this year and interally.
» And from my understanding the referendum question can be a little bit more direct
than the last one. Oh yes, 100%. >> I could basically just say, you know, do
you approve of the village borrowing this amount of money for a public safety
facility more or less >> and to equip the public safety
» to equip Yeah. Yeah. So >> So which election? The presidential
election? >> No, it would be
» uh April of 2027. >> Consolidated.
» Yeah. >> Yeah.
» Yeah. So, I know the trustees know this, but
I'm and I've said this to you before, but I'm going to say it again and again
and again and again. Um, this is the most important thing any of
us will do as an elected official in this village.
Um, our number one obligation is public
safety and to maintain that the the great level
of public safety this village has always had, our first responders need
facilities that are appropriate and support a top-notch
police and fire public safety uh department. So, uh, it is incumbent upon
all of us to do everything we can to educate the public about this.
Um, and we'll be working on educational information and strategies.
Um, and that will come soon. Uh, but I would say it's not too early to start
talking to your neighbors, make people aware of this.
Um because I strongly believe that if people
understand the need for this, it will be approved. Uh
» I agree. >> Riverside residents
value our police and fire departments uh and they know that uh they have to
they have to support them financially.
» With that, any other questions, comments? M manager Francis, did you
have some additional comments? >> Um, so with regard to community
engagement, Williams Architects also has built in um some future community
engagements. Um, one being creating an open house to solicit feedback on the
different design, see what additional feedback residents have, bring that back
to the village board. Um, and then they would also do a second round of
community engagement. Right now, we have tentatively in our schedule July of
2026, but that could be subject to change because obviously going from that
second engagement period to April of the following year for the election, I don't
know that if we want that long of a time span to occur with not that the board
and staff wouldn't push out additional education and answer questions and do
open houses, but that may be something that we would look to the board to have
further discussion. and and work with Williams to maybe change that timeline
for that second engagement piece. Um, additionally, um, there there would be
subsequent presentations to the village board. Once we have the community, the
initial community engagement and the openhouse, feedback from preservation,
modifications to the design, then Williams will be firming up their
designs further to get closer to what some what this building will look like.
Um so in the past I also wanted to make a note how we handled community
engagement when we were having referendums right we've always had the
discussion that we can educate we cannot advocate um as staff village resources
cannot be put towards advocating a resident calls us and asks questions we
can ask answer those questions if a resident calls and asks us how should I
vote we can't answer that question um in the past what we have done is we've
created postcards and redirected uh residents to a main landing page on the
website. We've done engagement. Both village board members and staff have
been present present at different community events, whether it's the
farmers market or other events. We've created videos from Riverside TV to to
outline the different items and issues, answer questions. Additionally, what um
staff has put together and flagged as additional opportunities, uh Director
Buckley and I have already spoken about doing public safety tours. Um
Absolutely. >> So, Director Buckley would it would be
sign up because we we would want him to be able to answer questions. So, it
would be smaller groups, more uh tours, but being able to have that engagement,
answer those questions. Um we would also um in speaking with other communities
what they've done um when they have a large referendum is presenting to other
taxing bodies. So staff or the a board member presenting just FAQs and
information at a school district. So, district 96 at one of their meetings or
district 208 or even going to the library at one of their meetings and
presenting or township, right? Township covers a little bit more than Riverside,
but it offers that additional opportunity for engagement. Um, and then
finally, I think there have been some questions of whether or not to hire a
consultant for um, further engagement. And um, I'm doing some additional
research. Williams is going to provide us um, some consultants that they've
worked with in the past. Um and then we would get some different proposals
costing of those different services and what the village would be receiving and
then making that evaluation of whether or not these services can be done
in-house effectively or if we would need some support from an outside party.
» I have a question. I'm pretty sure I know the answer to
this, but I just want you to say it again out loud. So as village trustees I
know that you cannot say anything about um not how to but like you can't give
opinion what are the rules regarding what we can
say and how we can interact with this referendum.
» So you can certainly provide information and you are a private citizen so you can
also say what your thoughts are relative to
that. Staff cannot do that. Um and so I I will make sure that attorney pickrol
provides additional guidelines for the board as we begin on this journey.
» Okay, great. >> And just put it another way, we as
trustees on our own time >> can advocate all we want
» as private citizens, not as trustees. Yep.
» Right. >> Because we're not spending village res
the key is you can't spend village resources to advocate.
» Yep. staff time or money for flyers that say
vote no or vote yes. >> Sure,
» those kinds of things. So, >> yeah,
» I know it is a little outdated, but 12 years ago, wasn't there a video that was
made of our facilities that were crumbling and deteriorating?
» We do have those as well. >> Put that out for public education as
well. I know it's a little outdated, but it's
» we would and we would create new videos. So, in speaking to a couple of village
managers that recently did referendums, um they did much shorter videos um that
were less than like the target was 30 seconds or less essentially um and
sharing that information. And I think also the engagement within the police
department and the fire department and providing those tours um because a lot
of these areas are they're they're not accessed by residents and so residents
don't know what are behind these different doors. And so I think that can
be also very eye opening. >> Okay. And I think we all know that Chief
Buckley is not shy in front of a camera. So, I think we can get him to do some
great videos for us.
» You're welcome. >> Very good.
» Anything else? >> The final item um within the packet, it
talks about the business district. So, Ryan LLC
um acquired Kain McKenna, who was the previous firm that created the business
districts, the three business districts along Harlem Avenue. And so we did have
the discussion previously about creating a business district overlay over the new
facility um simply for the assessing the 1%
business district tax and that money can then be used to be reinvested within the
facility or anything within the boundaries of the facility or actually
helping to pay off some of the debt that is issued. Um, in speaking with them,
they had recommended that the first step would be to actually do an evaluation of
the revenue that could be derived from a space of that size um to make sure that
it it makes sense to make the larger investment. So, the cost of just doing
that evaluation is 2500. And then if if it did make sense then creating the
business district plan and doing the evaluation and conducting the process
that would be 20,000. So
» but right now do you want direction from the village to proceed with the $2,500
to do the analysis? >> Yes.
» I know that's in your spending authority but we should have direction from the
board. I was just wondering if you could
provide residents with some examples of sales tax generating opportunities and
this is precisely going to do that. So I'm all for it.
» Yes, please. >> So right now how the site plan is laid
out there is the main space with the kitchen. So presumably any so we could
contract with individuals to then assess the 1% business district tax on any
catering services that are done out of that room. And then there's the other
smaller space that I'll refer to as the cafe that was left open. um that then
whatever pro services are provided out of there
or products rather um so smoothies, coffee, whatever it may be then that 1%
tax would be also assist there. Also, in addition, the business district tax, it
would not just be that, but you'd also have the opportunity to, you know, any
sales that are generated would be the 1% regular sales tax and then the 1% uh
non-home roll sales tax. >> Yep.
» So, non-home rule sales tax would go directly to streets, the 1%, and I take
that back. Also, places for eating tax, which would be 1%.
» Nice. Thank you. Anything else?
» No, I just need direction on the >> Oh, yes. Please proceed.
» Yes. >> Okay.
» Trustees, any other comments, questions on referendum or public safety
facilities. >> Just want to thank staff for all the
work >> it's this is really big and very
exciting, but it's done a lot of work and heavy lifting and appreciate it.
» Thank you. >> Thank you. Awesome.
» And thanks to previous boards too and presidents who have championed this
endeavor as well. Uh so we do not have need for an
executive session. I'd like to ask for a motion and a second to adjurnn.
» So moved. >> Second.
» All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? I know you there tonight.