Thursday, October 18, 2007
7:30 PM
Village of Lombard
Village Hall Board Room
Village Board of Trustees
Village President: William J. Mueller |
Village Clerk: Brigitte O'Brien |
Trustees: Greg Gron, District One, Richard J.Tross, District Two, |
Jack O'Brien, District Three, Dana Moreau, District Four, Laura Fitzpatrick, District |
Five and Rick Soderstrom, District Six |
Meeting Minutes
Village Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes
October 18, 2007
I
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
The Meeting was called to order by President William J. Mueller at 7:30 P.M. Clerk |
Brigitte O'Brien led the Pledge of Allegiance. |
II
Roll Call
Village President Willliam J. Mueller, Village Clerk Brigitte O'Brien, Trustee Greg |
Gron, Trustee Richard J. Tross, Trustee Jack O'Brien, Trustee Dana Moreau, |
Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick and Trustee Rick Soderstrom |
Present:
III
Public Hearings
PC 07-28: 1420 S. Meyers Road (Continued from October 4, 2007) |
A Public Hearing relative to a proposed Annexation Agreement for the property located |
at 1420 S. Meyers Road. (UNINCORPORATED) |
Mr. Bayer opened the public hearing, which was a continuation of a previously opened |
public hearing in regard to the proposed annexation agreement for 1420 South Meyers |
Road, the Fellowship Reformed Church. The annexation agreement provides that upon |
the property becoming contiguous to the Village, the property owner will voluntarily |
annex the property to the Village. At that time, it will be rezoned with the granting of a |
conditional use for the existing religious institution which is located on the property. Mr. |
Bayer invited public comments, and upon hearing none, closed the hearing at 7:37 p.m. |
IV
Public Participation
President Mueller called for a moment of silence to honor the passing of Lester |
Bergman, Lombard Village President from 1960 to 1968. He extended condolences to |
Mr. Bergman's family and announced that funeral services will be Friday, October 19th |
at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Lombard. |
Proclamation - Daniel Tani Day |
President Mueller reported that Mr. Tani will be taking a Village of Lombard lapel pin, |
patch and a copy of the proclamation into space and wished him a safe trip. Upon his |
return, these items will be turned over to the Lombard Historical Society and put on |
display. |
Proclamation - Red Ribbon Week |
President Mueller presented the proclamation for Red Ribbon Week to Dr. Barbara |
Smith and Jay Tovian, Superintendent and business manager of School District 45 and |
Dr. Jim Blanche, Superintendent of District 44. |
Dr. Smith presented the Board with red ribbons, which say My Life, My Choice, Drug |
Free. She described many activities the school district is holding to mark Red Ribbon |
Week, including a play, Scholastic Magazine Choices, an assembly, and poster and |
essay contests. |
Proclamation - Make a Difference Day |
President Mueller introduced Kathy Dunne and welcomed Brenda Patton-Ismail, a new |
Village employee in the Human Resources Department. He reported that Village |
employees are doing projects such as making goody bags for children with cancer. |
Ms. Patton-Ismail thanked the Board for the opportunity and hopes that she can provide |
the service that the Village staff is looking for. |
Proclamation - National Library Week |
President Mueller presented the proclamation to Barb Madigan, President of Friends of |
the Library; Gary Brenniman, Library Trustee; and Bob Harris, Library Director. |
Ms. Madigan reported that in honor of the second annual Friends of Libraries Week, |
there is a coupon in the newsletter for members to receive a free calendar. In |
December, the Friends are encouraging other organizations to donate decorated |
wreaths for the winter holidays which will be on display in December. She invited the |
public to come to hear adult storyteller Jim May on Sunday at 2:00. She stated that |
membership in Friends of the Library is $5 for an individual and $10 for a family |
membership. They also have canvas bags and t-shirts on sale for $7. The library |
phone number is 627-0316. |
Mr. Harris thanked the Friends of the Library for their help fundraising, making displays |
in the library, as well as holding book discussion groups. He stated that Nancy Bolton is |
currently holding a book discussion group which she started 15 years ago. He said that |
our Friends group is a large and active group. |
Mr. Brenniman stated that Lombard is fortunate to have a group like Friends and that |
Barb Madigan is an outstanding individual and that Bob Harris is an outstanding director. |
He said to keep in mind that the library needs more space. |
In lieu of a formal proclamation, President Mueller recognized the Lights On After School |
program, and explained that Lights On After School is a national program providing |
after-school activities for children. Lombard's program is sponsored by the Tri-Town |
Y.M.C.A. President Mueller introduced Jeannie Horne, Deb Allen and Jerry Lewitso of |
the Y.M.C.A. |
Ms. Horne thanked the Board for their support of the Y-Kids program and especially |
President Mueller for reading to the children. She stated that parents are very |
supportive of the program because it gives them peace of mind to know their child is in a |
safe and caring environment after school. She reported that the Y.M.C.A. has been |
running the program for 21 years and that there are currently 130 children enrolled. |
President Mueller read a letter from the DuPage Senior Citizens Council attached to a |
Certificate of Appreciation thanking the Village for their support. |
President Mueller announced that the International City and County Management |
Association honored Village Manager Bill Lichter with their 2007 Service Award for |
Career Excellence at their annual conference. He also announced that the Village of |
Lombard will be receiving an award from |
the Illinois Arts Association and the Illinois Municipal League for our arts program in the |
community, the sculpture program we have downtown. Accepting the certificate |
tomorrow will be Village President William Mueller, Village Clerk Brigitte O'Brien, |
Trustees Greg Gron, Jack O'Brien, Dana Moreau and Laura Fitzpatrick. |
President Mueller invited the public to speak. |
Mr. Kevin Fitzpatrick of 348 South Lewis, addressed the Board to support the proposed |
idea of term limits for committee members. He stated that the Board should consider |
instead of limiting people, they could limit the terms. He supports the idea that members |
should serve on another committee after serving six years on one committee to become |
a more well-rounded committee member. He also thinks that the Board should address |
the problem of chronic absenteeism of committee members. He suggested creating an |
ongoing list of people wishing to serve on particular committees so that when a position |
becomes available, the Board can invite the best and brightest to serve. |
V
Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Trustee Soderstrom, seconded by Trustee Fitzpatrick, to |
approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 20, 2007 and the |
Regular Meeting of October 4, 2007 as amended The motion carried by the |
following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Tross, O'Brien, Moreau, Fitzpatrick and Soderstrom
6 -
VI
Committee Reports
Community Relations Committee - Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick, Chairperson
Trustee Fitzpatrick reported that the Community Relations Committee met on October |
15th and recapped the Senior Citizens Fair, which was proclaimed a great success. |
The committee approved the sculpture show which will be run as an intergovernmental |
project between numerous not-for-profits and agencies in Lombard. The goals for the |
sculpture show are to provide an opportunity for DuPage artists to show and sell their |
work, to highlight our college and high school students' sculptures, educate the public on |
various sculpture forms and to seek out future candidates for our own public art |
program. The details are yet to be worked out, however, a call to artists and the Arts |
Coalition, who will be jurying the artists, will go out in early November. The next meeting |
will be a special meeting October 29th at 7:00 to hear details regarding the new |
affordable senior housing initiative and discuss a possible recommendation to the |
Village Board. |
Trustee Fitzpatrick stated that she attended a Historic Commission meeting on October |
16th. The commissioners are putting their budget together and making positive steps |
toward restoring the Lombard Pioneer Cemetery. She invited the public to visit the |
cemetery on October 28th from 2 to 4 p.m. for the Cemetery Walk, where figures from |
Lombard's past will return from their graves to talk about their lives. |
Economic/Community Development Committee - Trustee Dana Moreau, |
Chairperson |
Trustee Moreau reported that the committee had not met since the last Board meeting. |
The next meeting would be Wednesday, November 7th at 7:00 p.m. |
Environmental Concerns Committee - Trustee Greg Gron, Chairperson
Trustee Gron reported that the committee has not met since the last board meeting. |
The next committee meeting will be October 23rd. |
He stated that last night at the DuPage Mayors Conference two presenters from the |
Morton Arboretum reported on the state of the Emerald Ash Borer. It is believed that the |
insects were introduced in Detroit from a ship, and that the infestation has spread |
through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky. It has not hit Lombard yet, but it |
is only a matter of time. Lombard has 3,000 ash trees, worth 6.3 million dollars, |
approximately 30 percent of the trees in the village. There are reports that the Emerald |
Ash Borer also eats lilacs, which could be devastating for Lombard. Scientists are |
experimenting with wasp larva to control the infestation. It has also been found that |
many people do not know what an ash tree looks like and are reporting sightings |
incorrectly. He stated that you can go to IllinoisEAB.com to see what an ash tree looks |
like. Information received at the conference will be put on the Village access channel, |
as well as a DVD giving information about the Emerald Ash Borer. |
President Mueller stated that the Emerald Ash Borer was originally on that evening's |
agenda but was continued so that both the Public Works and Environmental Concerns |
Committees could review it at the committee level and then each report back to the |
Village Board. |
President Mueller thanked Forestry Superintendent Steve Kremske for his work on this |
subject and reported that his report was used at the Mayors Conference. |
Trustee Gron added that this infestation is spread mostly by transporting firewood. He |
encouraged residents to make sure the firewood they are buying is ash free and not to |
bring in firewood from infested states. |
Finance Committee - Trustee Rick Soderstrom, Chairperson
Trustee Soderstrom reported that the committee had not met since the last Board |
meeting and that the next committee meeting would be held Tuesday, November 20th at |
7:00 p.m. |
Public Works Committee - Trustee Richard J. Tross, Chairperson
Trustee Tross reported that the Public Works committee met on Tuesday, October 9th. |
Action was deferred on the Commercial Backyard Drainage Grant since one member |
who had strong opinions was absent. The mailbox policy was reviewed with regard to |
what is a violation of the public right of way for a mailbox placement. The Public Works |
Committee reaffirmed its position with regard to mailbox replacements that would come |
down during a snowstorm or by acts of the Village plowing. Those mailboxes that come |
down must have met Village Code prior to the incident. He stated that within the next |
two months the Village will be surveyed and every resident will be notified regarding the |
status of their mailbox. |
Under old business, the committee ratified a change order that the committee, for |
purposes of Village Board convenience, had to do a phone poll last month. They had |
concerns with regard to the large change order on Westmore and the $91,000 change |
order for Garfield. They did get some input and gave feedback to Village staff with |
regard to a village wide transportation study before it goes out to bid. The next |
committee meeting would be Tuesday, November 13th at 7 p.m. in the Community |
Room. |
Transportation & Safety Committee - Trustee Jack O'Brien, Chairperson
Trustee O'Brien stated that the Transportation and Safety Committee had not met since |
the last Board meeting and that the next meeting would be November 5th at 7:00 p.m. |
Board of Local Improvements - Trustee Richard J. Tross, President
Trustee Tross reported that the Board of Local Improvements met last Thursday. There |
were two payouts amounting to $15,000 for Engineering Resources and Associates with |
regard to Special Assessment 217, which is basically the Lombard Lagoon area. There |
was a payout in the amount of $7600 to Burns and McDonnell for Special Assessment |
219 for the Ahrens and School area south of Wilson for sewer and water work. That |
would be coming to a conclusion with some final punch lists and final change orders |
sometime before the first of the year. The committee also adopted, by law, the first |
resolution approving the construction for Special Assessment 217A for Joyce and |
Marcus Boulevard and the Lombard Lagoon area, the first three blocks. Including the |
parking around the Lombard Lagoon area, engineers' estimate is roughly $2,825,000. |
The public hearing on that item will be held at the next Board of Local Improvements |
regularly scheduled meeting, which is November 8th. It will be held in the Board Room |
of the Village Hall, and that is the public hearing for Special Assessment 217A, Marcus |
Drive, Joyce north of Sunset and LaLonde north of Sunset. Residents are being notified. |
Community Promotion & Tourism - President William J. Mueller, Chairperson
President Mueller reported that the committee did not meet as there were no items to |
discuss. |
He reminded residents that at the last Board meeting a grant was approved for the |
Lombard Chamber of Commerce for their Annual Business Expo which is going to be |
held next Wednesday, Thursday October 25th at the Westin Hotel from 11:00 am to |
5:00 p.m. with over 50 businesses from the community participating. The public is |
invited. |
President Mueller asked Chief Byrne to state the hours for trick-or-treating on |
Halloween. Chief Byrne reported that hours for trick-or-treating will be from 3:00 to 7:00 |
p.m. |
VII
Village Manager/Village Board Comments
VIII
Consent Agenda
Payroll/Accounts Payable
A.
Approval of Accounts Payable |
For the period ending September 28, 2007 in the amount of $615,697.97. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
B.
Approval of Village Payroll |
for the period ending September 29, 2007 in the amount of $796,136.84. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
C.
Approval of Accounts Payable |
For the period ending October 5, 2007 in the amount of $933,811.41. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
D.
Approval of Accounts Payable |
For the period ending October 12, 2007 in the amount of $11,750.76. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
Ordinances on First Reading (Waiver of First Requested)
E.
ZBA 06-21: 820 E. St. Charles Road |
Granting a 12-month time extension of Ordinance 5935 relative to the approval of a |
reduction in the minimum required lot area for the property located at 820 E. St. Charles |
Road. (DISTRICT #4) |
This Matter was waiver of first reading and passed on second reading with |
suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda. |
Enactment No: Ordinance 6094 |
F.
Roundhead's Pizza Pub of Lombard, 275 W. Roosevelt Road |
Requests a Class B Coin-Operated Amusement Device License. (DISTRICT #2) |
This Matter was waiver of first reading and passed on second reading with |
suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda. |
Enactment No: Ordinance 6095 |
G.
Declare Village Property as Surplus |
Declaring three Village-owned vehicles as surplus and authorizing their sale at Tri-State |
Automobile Auction of Chicago and declaring one air compressor surplus and |
authorizing its trade to the Park District in return for the Vac-A-Tee Trailer. Waiver of |
first is requested by staff. |
This Matter was waiver of first reading and passed on second reading with |
suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda. |
Enactment No: Ordinance 6095 A |
H.
S.B. 678 - Project Lightspeed/AT&T - Cable and Video Providers |
1. Amending Title 11, Chapter 126 of the Lombard Village Code in regard to |
Cable/Video Service Providers and the Fees to be Imposed by the Village |
2. Amending Title 11, Chapter 126 of the Lombard Village Code in regard to the Cable |
and Video Customer Protection Law. |
3. Amending Title 9, Chapter 97 of the Lombard Village Code in regard to Standards for |
the Construction of Facilities on the Rights-of-Way. |
This Matter was waiver of first reading and passed on second reading with |
suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda. |
Enactment No: Ordinance 6096 - 98 |
Other Ordinances on First Reading
I.
ZBA 07-07: 341 S. Grace Street |
Requests that the Village take the following actions for the subject property |
located within the R2 Single-Family Residence District: |
1. Approve a variation from Section 155.406 (E) of the Zoning Ordinance to |
reduce the minimum required lot width from 60 feet to 40 feet; and |
2. Approve a variation from Section 155.406 (F) (3) of the Zoning Ordinance to reduce |
the minimum required side yard setback along the northern property line from 9 feet to |
6.8 feet. |
The petitioner is also requesting a waiver of public hearing fees. |
This Matter was passed on first reading on the Consent Agenda.
Code Amendment Regarding emerald Ash Borer (This item has been removed from the |
agenda) |
*J.
ZBA 07-13: 375 N. LaLonde Avenue |
Requests a variation to Section 155.406 (F) (3) of the Lombard Zoning Ordinance to |
reduce the minimum required interior side yard setback from 6 feet to approximately 3 |
feet to allow for the construction of an attached garage in the R2 Single-Family |
Residence District. (DISTRICT #4) |
K.
This Matter was denied on the Consent Agenda.
Ordinances on Second Reading
L.
PC 07-30: 345 W. Roosevelt Road |
Requests that the Village approve the following actions for the subject property located |
within the B4 Corridor Commercial District: |
1. A conditional use for a planned development, with a deviation from Section 153.505 |
(B)(19)(a)(2) of the Sign Ordinance to allow for more than one wall sign per street |
frontage. |
2. A conditional use, pursuant to Section 155.415 (C)(2) of the Zoning Ordinance for a |
motor vehicle service establishment. |
3. A conditional use, pursuant to Section 155.415 (C)(17) of the Zoning Ordinance, to |
allow for outdoor display and sales of products. (DISTRICT #2) |
This Matter was passed on second reading on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Ordinance 6099 |
M.
Ordinance Amending Title 11, Chapter 112 of the Lombard Village Code |
Increasing the Class "A/B II" liquor license category for Roundhead's Pizza, 275 W. |
Roosevelt Road. (DISTRICT #2) |
This Matter was passed on second reading on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Ordinance 6100 |
N.
Vacating a portion of the unnamed public alley between Lodge Avenue and Lewis |
Avenue and granting of a public utility easement. (DISTRICT #5) |
This Matter was passed on second reading on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Ordinance 6101 |
O.
Lincoln (Wilson to Graham) |
A request to install "No Parking, Standing or Stopping, School Days, 9AM-3PM". |
(DISTRICT #2) |
This Matter was passed on second reading on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Ordinance 6102 |
Resolutions
P.
Interoperability Resolution |
Providing for support of the Village of Lombard for the Interoperable Radio System for |
DuPage County. |
This Matter was adopted on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Resolution 36-08 |
Q.
Agreement with Roger C. Marquardt & Co., Inc. |
Authorizing the Village President to sign an Agreement with Roger C. Marquardt & Co., |
Inc. to represent the Village in the capacity of lobbyist/consultant in an amount not to |
exceed $24,000. |
This Matter was adopted on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Resolution 37-08 |
R.
Intergovernmental Agreement with Lombard Park District |
Authorizing signatures of the President and Clerk on an agreement regarding the |
installation of a Village entry sign at Sunset Knolls Park and related landscaping. |
(DISTRICT #2) |
This Matter was adopted on the Consent Agenda.
Enactment No: Resolution 39-08 |
Other Matters
S.
Request for a waiver of bids and award of a contract to North American Salt Company in |
the amount of $160,600.00. Public Act 85-1295 does not apply. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
T.
Request for a waiver of bids and award of a contract to Dell in an amount not to exceed |
$63,328.80 for the purchase of 60 PC's that includes a three year on-site warranty. |
Public Act 85-1295 does not apply. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
U.
2010 Decennial Census Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program |
Request authorizing the Village President to sign the LUCA registration materials and |
select Option 1 as it relates to participating in the review and update of the Census |
Bureau's address list. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
V.
Recommendation of Transportation and Safety Committee Regarding Fairfield |
Avenue and Harding Road |
Resident request to install a multi-way stop. |
This Matter was approved on the Consent Agenda.
Passed The Consent Agenda
It was moved by Trustee Gron, seconded by Trustee Moreau, to approve the |
Consent Agenda. This approval includes suspension of the rules, waive first |
reading and pass on second reading, waive competive bidding and award |
contracts, approve and adopt resolutions as needed for the preceding items as |
read by the Clerk on the Consent Agenda |
The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Tross, O'Brien, Moreau, Fitzpatrick and Soderstrom
6 -
IX
Items for Separate Action
Ordinances on First Reading (Waiver of First Requested)
Other Ordinances on First Reading
A.
PC 07-28: 1420 S. Meyers Road |
Requesting that the Village: |
1. Execute an Annexation Agreement (2/3 of Corporate Authorities Vote Required) and |
take the following actions associated with the agreement: |
2. Annex the property to the Village of Lombard immediately following contiguity |
between the Village corporate limits and the subject property; and |
3. Grant a conditional use upon annexation for an existing religious institution located |
on the subject property. (UNINCORPORATED) |
It was moved by Trustee Soderstrom, seconded by Trustee Tross, that this matter |
be passed on first reading an ordinance approving an annexation agreement. The |
motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Mueller, Gron, Tross, O'Brien, Moreau, Fitzpatrick and Soderstrom
7 -
It was moved by Trustee Soderstrom, seconded by Trustee Tross, to pass |
ordinances annexing the property to the Village of Lombard immediately |
following contiguity between the Village corporate limits and the subject |
property; and granting a conditional use upon annexation for an existing |
religious institution located on the subject property. The motion carried by the |
following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Tross, O'Brien, Moreau, Fitzpatrick and Soderstrom
6 -
Ordinances on Second Reading
*B.
PC 07-29: Text Amendments to the Lombard Zoning and Sign Ordinances and |
The Village of Lombard requests that the following actions be taken: |
1. Approve text amendments to Chapter 155 of the Village Code (the Zoning |
Ordinance) and Chapter 153 of the Village Code (the Lombard Sign Ordinance) to |
create an R-0 zoning district and establish development regulations for the proposed |
district. This amendment shall also include any necessary companion codification |
amendments required for clarity or consistency. |
2. Approve amendments to the Village Comprehensive Plan as needed. |
It was moved by Trustee Soderstrom, seconded by Trustee Moreau, that this |
matter be passed on second reading. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Tross, O'Brien, Moreau, Fitzpatrick and Soderstrom
6 -
Resolutions
Other Matters
X
Agenda Items for Discussion
A.
Presentation and overview by DuPage Mayors & Managers Conference of the Circulator |
Study to date. |
Mr. Heniff introduced Tam Kutzmark, Transportation and Planning Director working with |
the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, reporting on the Circulator Study. |
Ms. Kutzmark gave the Board an overview on the progress of the Circulator Study. She |
complimented the Board and staff for their stakeholder engagement and community |
involvement in the process. |
Ms. Kutzmark explained why the study is being done and what has been done to date. |
Recognition of the high quality of life enjoyed by residents and businesses of the Village |
creates an increased interest regarding access to destinations throughout the |
community. As a result of this interest, transit ability has become a key priority for the |
Village, and is critical to the success of the Village's economic development strategy. In |
2002, the DuPage Area Transit Plan was jointly adopted by the DuPage Mayors and |
Managers Conference and the County Board. One of the number one priorities was |
local bus service for trips within communities, the idea of bridging the gap and going the |
first and last mile. She stated that's exactly what circulators do. In 2005 the local |
circulator study was initiated. Funding was received from IDOT. Lombard and 12 other |
communities were selected for participation in this study. In 2006, following a market |
analysis and a service analysis, the study was narrowed down to four communities, |
including Lombard, because these communities showed the greatest promise for |
success in circulator service due to the strength of Lombard's market, the number and |
variety of origins and destinations, or trip generators and, very importantly, the level of |
support that was shown by the Village through its actions, its partnerships and its |
outreach. |
The set of alternatives was generated in this first part of 2007. It was a way to outline |
alternatives, describe route destinations, hours of operation frequency and really set a |
framework in helping the communities select the preferred alternative. This was not just |
statistical data. That was qualitative data and community input, and people came to |
meetings, and provided and took surveys. For example, just in the March 2007 |
community survey, which was |
surveying the people along the route, there were over 400 responses to that survey. |
Even people who couldn't attend meetings were givin slips of paper to people that they |
knew would come to the meetings, so input would be provided. There was a really high |
level of involvement that was good to see. |
One of the key things that this study introduced to Lombard was the idea of a flex route |
service. Flex route is a very cost effective way for a community like Lombard to |
expand its transit service because it follows a fixed route, but it allows the transit vehicle |
to deviate or move off from that route within a three-quarter mile buffer. It lets you serve |
a wider market, and it eliminates the need for complementary paratransit, which is |
necessary for a fixed route. The four alternatives that were generated differed in the |
routes that were picked and also the frequency of service and, finally, most importantly, |
whether they were fixed or flex route. What is being talked about are two routes, one |
that's serving the northern part of Lombard and one that's serving the southern part. |
Major destinations include Lombard Industrial Center, Metra Station, various parks, |
Yorktown Center, hotels and businesses along Butterfield, Montini High School, and |
Eastgate Shopping Center. This is the crux of the study to date. |
The recommended service design looked at those four alternatives and measured them |
based on a number of key indicators, such as the market served, operating costs, |
capital cost, cost per passenger, number of passengers' connections, input that was |
received at the forum and at the surveys and those trip generators. What we found is |
that alternative four was the clear winner of those. This would be an operating cost of |
$650,000 a capital cost of $850,000, cost per passenger of $13 serving about 49,000 |
passengers. So this was a very cost effective option, which allows the opportunity to |
grow over time. They are recommending selecting alternative four and considering how |
we could contract with Pace for operations. We are moving into phase four which is the |
implementation strategy. This what we are recommending that the Village consider. |
What we do in phase four is set out the how we could do it. That's who would be |
involved in a partnership, how it would be funded, what kind of resources could be |
leveraged, the time frame for doing all of this and walking hand in hand with the village |
and our planning team to figure out how to make this thing happen. So we are offering |
you our recommendation, and we are going to work with you to see how we can make it |
happen. |
We are going to be working in November and December of this year to create a local |
circulator task force, see the stakeholders that the Village feels are the important people |
to have at the table, local government officials, business leaders or civic groups helping |
the Village, along with our group, to form that implementation strategy. In February or |
March we are going to begin developing that strategy. In April and May of next year we |
are going to be developing a marketing plan and a monitoring plan. In June and July we |
are tentatively looking toward implementing this. This is all touching base with the |
Village at various points in the process, working with the steering committee |
representatives here at Lombard, which has been Dave Hulseberg and Jennifer |
Backersto, to make sure what we are offering is something that we could move forward |
with. |
Ms. Kutzmark thanked the Board and encouraged them to visit the circulator study |
website at www.getarounddupage.org and promised to continue to work with the Village |
on this to answer questions, to modify this to make it meet the Village's needs and make |
it something that the Village will feel comfortable embracing as it gets closer to |
implementation. |
Trustee Moreau asked why the flexible route, Route 4, was more cost effective than the |
other options. |
Ms. Kutzmark explained that what it means is the very same bus and the very same |
driver who is right along the route, the fixed part of it, can move off the route within that |
three-quarter mile buffer to pick up anyone who would like to schedule a ride. What that |
means is that Americans with Disability riders can be served with that one bus, that one |
driver, as opposed to running a complementary paratransit service with additional |
vehicles, additional drivers. That's extremely cost effective. It serves not only ADA |
riders, but also senior citizens and others who might have infrequent use but are within |
that three quarter-mile buffer and are able to schedule something. |
Trustee Fitzpatrick asked how the resident would go about making the schedule. |
Ms. Kutzmark explained that someone would begin with the notion that about 24 hours |
in advance to assure pick-up at a particular time. They would want to put in a call to the |
dispatcher. What happens is the route has been designed with some flexibility to allow |
them arriving at a destination a few minutes before or a few minutes after. So when |
there is a schedule for a flex route, the schedule will say the bus will be here within five |
minutes before the hour or five minutes after the hour. It's sort of a range based |
schedule. When a person calls ahead, the dispatcher would check how maxed out the |
route is and the dispatcher would say “I can pick you up; I can serve you on that run, or I |
am full -- can you wait a half an hour? Can you wait an hour?” That's how a schedule |
could be done in advance. |
Trustee O'Brien asked what phase the program is in. |
Ms. Kutzmark stated that they have just concluded Phase 3, the detailed service plan. |
Phase 4 is the implementation strategy; the detail of the how we would make this |
happen, who from the Village community needs to be involved in helping to make that |
happen, what role do the service boards play based on the Village's wishes in involving |
them, what's the time frame and what are the resources that we are looking for. She |
stated that they plan to maximize whatever grants might be available at the federal or |
state level. What they'd like to do is spend the better part of 2008 setting everything up, |
finding the sources, figuring out how this would be operated so that in 2009 we could |
begin operating something. Those budgets that are in the service specifications report |
are based on operating in 2009. |
Trustee Tross complimented the DuPage Mayors and Managers for having the foresight |
to look into this. He remarked that he had some real reservations at this economic time |
suggesting that Lombard enter into its own flexible transit program within 60148. He |
stated that financially, he is not prepared to support this. He observed that on map page |
V-12, Alternate 4 shows mostly the western border of town. He asked who this plan is |
supposed to serve. |
Ms. Kutzmark stated that one thing that was learned when they looked at existing |
service among DuPage communities is that commuters are very well served, but riders |
who would choose to travel throughout the day are less well served. |
Trustee Tross asked if this plan was not geared toward commuters. |
Ms. Kutzmark stated that he was correct. It is flexible enough to serve them, but since it |
provides service throughout the day in a very cost effective manner through the flex |
route, it allows transit dependent populations to be served, senior citizens, even youth |
have been accounted for in the markets that could be served by this. A heavy emphasis |
has been on making the Butterfield Road corridor more accessible. Along with the |
transit service that is proposed, they have also looked at what could be done to make |
the pedestrian environment even better for people to be riding those buses there. |
Trustee Tross observed that the places to be served mentioned in the plan are our |
youth centers, our low-income employment centers, blue-collar worker centers and our |
senior citizen centers. He stated that trip generators for non-drivers would be extremely |
high. |
Ms. Kutzmark explained that they have built into this, access to the Metra station and |
also access to Addison circulator service and Downers Grove circulator service. So the |
hope is that they have got primary markets that they are trying to serve, but they are |
also creating a service that is flexible enough to serve a variety of users. |
Trustee Tross stated that Lombard has many Pace routes coming through town, as well |
as a wonderful paratransit system in DuPage County for people with special needs. |
There is also a senior citizen taxicab program that the Village underwrites, as well as a |
township program, all at very reasonable costs. He questioned the reasonableness of |
$13.50 per ride. |
Ms. Kutzmark explained that the cost for the passenger would be $1 and that $12.50 |
would be subsidized and that $13 per passenger is a very cost-effective figure. In a |
sense, this is a different kind of service for the region, because the region has been |
primarily based on fixed routes or what they call feeders, which is primarily serving the |
commuter population. So what they are looking for is something that would serve a |
greater variety of passengers. She stated that Pace cannot serve the market that a |
local circulator service could. |
Trustee Tross stated that this is something that needs a lot more discussion before |
implementation in 2009. |
President Mueller stated that the Board started talking about transit back in the 1990s. |
He thanked the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference for working diligently on |
transportation. He also thanked Trustee O'Brien for attending a presentation on the |
update to the transit plan last week. He said that based on public hearings held in the |
past, the need is definitely there. He reminded everyone that this is in the planning |
stages and that there will be revisions made to it. |
Trustee Soderstrom stated that other than our Metra service, which takes you from point |
A to point B, and our fixed Pace routes, residents, businesses, ourselves have been |
crying for something for years. He acknowledged that there are details to work out and |
items to iron over, but it's a step in the right direction. He stated that this is a customized |
service and that you will not be able to get it for $1 a ride. |
Ms. Kutzmark stated that they are rather on the cutting edge here. They are looking for |
a way to expand suburban bus transit service. She said the Board's questions are |
exceptional but that she is not a Pace bus planner, that they are coming at it from a |
different perspective. This is municipalities grabbing their transit future and saying they |
are not going to be completely at the whims of what's happening at the state or even |
what limitations the service boards might have because they have budgets that they |
need to meet and indicators that they need to use to measure their routes. This is |
saying there are needs that can be measured differently and enabled differently. They |
are going to play an active role in developing our transit future. It's a different role for |
municipalities to play, so those questions absolutely need to be answered, because |
when we move into the how, that's exactly what will determine the ultimate success of |
the route. She added that Addison, Lombard and Downers Grove are the three |
contiguous communities in the study and that Wheaton is not contiguous. They are |
working on how to get them into the system. |
President Mueller stated that this would conclude business for the meeting |
XI
Executive Session
XII
Adjournment
It was moved by Trustee Gron, seconded by Trustee Moreau, to adjourn the |
Regular Meeting of the Presdient and Board of Trustees of October 18, 2007 at |
9:03 P.M. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Tross, O'Brien, Moreau, Fitzpatrick and Soderstrom
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