President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302 www.oak-park.us Meeting Minutes President and Board of Trustees Monday, September 21, 2020 6:30 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Abu-Taleb called the Meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. A statement was read clarifying that the meeting is being held remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions and that it is not prudent to have people present at the Village Board's regular meeting location due to public health concerns related to that outbreak. II. Roll Call Present: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla Absent: 1- Village Trustee Moroney III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Potential Litigation It was moved by Village Trustee Boutet, seconded by Village Trustee Andrews, to enter into executive session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) - approval of executive session minutes; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11), to discuss litigation. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney V. Reconvene to Regular Meeting in Council Chambers and Call to Order The Regular Meeting was reconvened at 7:05 P.M. II. Roll Call Present: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla Absent: 1- Village Trustee Moroney VI. Agenda Approval Village Trustee Boutet asked that item N be removed from the Consent Agenda. Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 It was moved by Village Trustee Boutet, seconded by Village Trustee Andrews, to approve the Agenda as amended. AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney VII. Minutes A. MOT 20-059 Motion to Approve Minutes from Regular Remote Meeting of September 8, 2020 and Special Remote Meeting of September 14, 2020 of the Village Board. Moved by Village Trustee Andrews, Seconded by Village Trustee Buchanan, to approve the minutes for September 8, 2020 and September 14, 2020 as presented. The motion was approved the roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney VIII. Non-Agenda Public Comment There was no Non-Agenda Public Comment. Village Manager Reports Village Manager Pavlicek reminded the Village Board and the Village Clerk that Racial Equity Training will take place Wednesday and Thursday of this week 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. The training is not subject to the Open Meetings Act. Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla asked if Village Trustees are able to speak to one another during the training. Village Manager Pavlicek clarified training will not include policy deliberation which will all be held in public meetings. Village Trustee Boutet suggested televising or live streaming the training to promote transparency with Village residents. Village Manager Pavlicek confirmed the Village is not setup to televise multiple public meetings through VOP-TV. Village Trustee Andrews asked if the Village could record the training, to which Village Trustee Boutet agreed. Village Manager Pavlicek will contact National League of Cities (NLC) to inquire. X. Second Reading B. ORD 20-081 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 1 (“Building Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2018 International Building Code Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 It was moved by Village Trustee Andrews and seconded by Village Trustee Boutet to approve the ordinance as presented. A roll call vote was called. The motion was approved. The roll call was as followes: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney C. ORD 20-066 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 2 (“Existing Building Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2018 International Existing Building Code It was moved by Village Trustee Buchanan and seconded by Village Trustee Andrews to approve the ordinance as presented. A roll call vote was called. The motion was approved. The roll call was as followes: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney D. ORD 20-082 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 3 (“Electric Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2017 National Electric Code It was moved by Village Trustee Andrews and seconded by Village Trustee Boutet to approve the ordinance as presented. A roll call vote was called. The motion was approved. The roll call was as followes: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney E. ORD 20-079 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 4 (“Mechanical Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2018 International Mechanical Building Code It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee Buchanan, that this Ordinance be adopted. A roll call vote was taken. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney F. ORD 20-083 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 5 (“Fire Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2018 International Fire Code It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee Buchanan, that this Ordinance be adopted. A roll call vote was taken. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney G. ORD 20-080 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 6 (“Residential Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2018 International Residential Code It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee Boutet, that this Ordinance be adopted. A roll call vote was taken. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney H. ORD 20-078 Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 11 (“Fuel Gas Code”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee Boutet, that this Ordinance be adopted. A roll call vote was taken. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney XI. Consent Agenda It was moved by Village Trustee Andrews and seconded by VIllage Trustee Walker-Peddakotla to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion was approved. A roll call vote was taken the roll call was as follows: Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney I. RES 20-204 A Resolution Approving the Village of Oak Park, Illinois Becoming a Dementia Friendly Community as Designated by Dementia Friendly America This Resolution was adopted. J. ORD 20-073 An Ordinance Temporarily Reducing Alarm Registration, Multi-Family Rental License, Small Rental License and Condominium Services and Inspection Fees This Ordinance was adopted. K. RES 20-205 A Resolution Approving an Amendment to a Professional Services Agreement and Software License and Support Agreement with Passport Labs, Inc., a Division of Passport Parking, and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was adopted. L. RES 20-208 A Resolution Approving a Contract with Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. for Project 20-2 Resurfacing of Various Streets, in an Amount not to Exceed $571,345 and Authorizing its Execution. This Resolution was adopted. M. RES 20-209 A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Settlement Agreement in Workers’ Compensation Case Number 2015 WC 29820 This Resolution was adopted. O. ORD 20-084 An Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Budget This Ordinance was adopted. XII. Regular Agenda P. ORD 20-067 An Ordinance Providing for the Issuance of $11,120,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds Series 2020A of the Village of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois and Providing for the Levy and Collection of a Direct Annual Tax for Payment of the Principal and Interest on Said Bonds Chief Financial Officer Steven Drazner provided an overview. The 2020A issue will be used to finance certain projects totaling $11,120,000 in the FY20 capital improvement plan. The two projects which will be funded by Series 2020A are: 1) Lake Street project, 2) Fiber optic infrastructure This will be a tax exempt, Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 non-bank qualified issue (since it exceeds the $10M threshold). Furthermore, the sale of the bonds will close on October 13, 2020. Village Trustee Boutet would like to know why we are proposing an interest only bonds. Chief Financial Officer Drazner explained the debt structure was analyzed as a whole. The Village wants the debt to be level. In 2032 one of the Village’s largest debt issues (2016A) will drop off. Chief Financial Officer Drazner locking in low rates, can structure future bond issuance the way we choose to structure. Financial Advisor Ms. McKenzie The interest rate is not impacted, instead it is the length of the bond issued. Trustee Andrews expressed that this structure will defer the tax burden to future tax payers. He would rather pay interest and principal down together. Village President Abu-Taleb is considering the current conditions and the financial short-falls which are impacted all over. He mentioned deferring the principal payment to the future date makes financial sense. Trustee Andrews wants to place the future Village Board and residents in a better financial position. Village Trustee Boutet expressed her concerns about the impact of the cost of the bond over the designated amount of years. Village Manager states the eight-year call date is common. Chief Financial Officer Drazner locking in the long-term debt with very low interest rates is the best financial option for the Village. It was moved by Village Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Village Trustee Andrews, that this Ordinance be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 1- Village Trustee Andrews ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney Q. ORD 20-068 An Ordinance Providing for the Issuance of $3,810,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose Refunding Bonds, Series 2020B of the Village of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois and Providing for the Levy and Collection of a Direct Annual Tax for the Payment of the Principal and Interest on Said Bonds The General Obligation Series 2020B issue of $3,810,000 will refund the remaining outstanding principal of Series 2011B. The estimated present value savings has been calculated at $232,000. The sale of the refunding bonds will close on October 13, 2020. Village Manager Pavlicek provided an overview. Staff regularly communicate with Financial Advisors to evaluate any existing bond issue which may be callable and determine if we have sufficient cash to retire those bonds or when we do not can we refinance them based on market conditions and achieve interest savings without extending the total time period of the bond. This bond is callable on January 2021. Chief Financial Officer Drazner explains that refunding is similar to doing a refinance on one's mortgage net present value savings to the Village is $206,000 by completing this refunding. Village of Oak Park Page 6 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Village Trustee Boutet asked if there are other bond issuances that we should be refinancing to take advantage of the current low interest rates. Village Manager Pavlicek confirms there are no other bond issuances which are eligible or open for a call date. They have to be within the time period that we are able to recall the bonds and retire them to issue new bonds. It was moved by Village Trustee Taglia, seconded by Village Trustee Andrews, that this Ordinance be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 1- Village Trustee Andrews ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney R. MOT 20-052 A Motion to Accept Staff’s Recommendation Regarding Changes to the Overnight Parking Ban and Direct Staff to Prepare the Necessary Ordinance Amendments Anne Paezella: Anne Pezalla wrote urging the Board to consider permanently lifting the overnight parking ban. Austin Johnson: Austin Johnson wrote asking the Village Board to value residents who live in apartments equally to those who have a garage and permit overnight parking. Kristen Woods: Ms. Woods wrote thanking the board for revisiting the issue of overnight parking and the challenge it poses for those of us who reside in areas of the village that are not zoned for overnight parking permits and as a result have to walk long distances to designated lots. She appreciates the suggestion of allowing a certain number of overnight permits for renters in the aforementioned areas. Sandy Pederson: Ms. Pederson wrote cautioning the Village board to not make changes to the overnight parking ban suggesting too many cars on our streets overnight will be a detriment. Development Customer Services Director Tammie Grossman provided an overview. Option 1) expand the zones from 500 to 750 feet in the R7 zones, Option 2) expand number of overnight passes 3 free passes with 7 paid each month up to 10. Staff recommend 15 passes a month 5 free with 10 paid at $7 each, and staying with 10 passes November through March so streets can be cleaned and leaves removed. Summer, Fall and Spring go back to 15 passes. Director Grossman also noted there is a steady and concerning decrease in parking revenue since the overnight parking ban has been relaxed since March with a roughly 80% decrease in revenue. Staff expect the Parking Fund will end the year in a deficit position. Village Trustee Boutet asked what is the demand for overnight parking. Director Grossman said there is not a group of people who aren’t getting parking permits, they are not getting the parking permits in the location where they want to park. Village of Oak Park Page 7 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Village Trustee Buchanan stated the options do not fix the revenue problem, it instead expands the areas where people can park. Director Grossman states it does fix the revenue problem because people are not currently buying parking permits. Village Manager provided an overview of shared parking strategies used on Washington Blvd. and the shared parking with Fenwick High School, as it is a high-density area. Considering the users during the day and the users at night. We have less street space than we have cars. Due to covid, the shared parking strategies aren’t the same. During the pandemic, Fenwick and OPRF do not bring the same amount of density, which has allowed people to park in spaces for 24-hours. Village Trustee Buchanan clarified the two options staff presented are not fixing the Village's fiscal issue anymore than ending the parking band and going back to the Village's previous parking band. Director Grossman understood that the Board also requested to give expanded options to people so they can park closer to their homes, and to those who may not need to buy a permit, to provide them with additional options each month. Village Trustee Buchanan clarified this does not change the prices, this just increases parking options. Director Grossman confirmed she is correct. Village Trustee Taglia would like to hear the recommendation the Transportation Commission. Village Trustee Andrews agrees with Village Trustee Taglia. Village Trustee Boutet would like to see an assessment of the need for additional overnight parking, and what the Transportation Commission would recommend. Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla does not think these options resolve the equity issues posed by parking. It was originally moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla and seconded by Village Trustee Andrews to approve the motion on the agenda as presented. The motion was not voted on. The motion died. It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla and seconded by Village Trustee Boutet to approve the agenda item as amended, for all discussion to be referred to the Transportation Commission for review. A voice vote was taken. The motion was approved. The voice vote was as follows: AYES: 4- Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 2- Village President Abu-Taleb, and Village Trustee Taglia ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney N. MOT 20-058 A Motion to Refer to the Plan Commission for Public Hearing and Recommendation a Text Amendment to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance to Allow the Village Board, in addition to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission, the Ability to Hold Public Hearings for Zoning-Related Applications Robert Elder: Robert strongly opposes the changes to the Plan Commission, as it seems to be undemocratic. Sandy Pederson: Urged the Village Board to vote “no” on permitting the Village Village of Oak Park Page 8 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Board to act as a hearing body in place of the plan commission and respect the role of the plan commission in reviewing developments. Colette Lueck: Colette shared from her experience on the Plan Commission as Chair and the importance of valuing the expertise and experience of those on the Plan Commission and the process for leading to the best version of development. Jeremy Olson: Jeremy Olson sent in comments stating his opinion that making changes to the zoning or plan commission ordinance is unwise and brings to question why the Village Board would be wanting to. Board Discussion: Village Trustee Boutet and Buchanan requested more information to understand this agenda item. Village President Abu-Taleb stated this agenda item is only to provide an option in the case of an emergency so that development opportunities are not lost unnecessarily. He expressed his disappointment that members of the Village board would share incorrect information that brings question to action that is unwarranted. Village Trustee Boutet questioned why it would be that the Plan Commission is not meeting more often. She strongly shared her opinion that the commissions should be valued more. Village Trustee Andrews clarified that this agenda item is simply to remand an idea to the Plan Commission and not to abolish the commission. He “called the question”, which is requiring an immediate vote. After Village Trustee Boutet and Walker-Peddakotla insisted that the discussion continues Village Trustee Andrews removed his “call to question” motion. Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla suggested more information should have been provided to better understand the motion. She is not in favor without more information. Village Trustee Taglia is supportive of sending the motion to the Plan Commission for consideration. He does not feel the motion is complicated. Village Trustee Buchanan is not supportive of remanding this to the Plan Commission; she feels the suggestion is not worth remanding. Village Planner Craig Failor responded to questions on the planned development process versus zoning review. Director of Development Customer Services Tammie Grossman explained the recommended language change for the purposes of the motion from the legislative text, which had previously existed in 2016. The motion was to clean up language, permit the option that the Village Board could act as a public hearing body - intended for minor variances. Public notice and a public hearing is necessary for any zoning code text change. Village Trustee Boutet remains strongly opposed to this agenda item. Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla agrees. It was motioned by Village Trustee Andrews, seconded by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, to approve the motion. A roll call was taken. The motion was denied. The roll call vote was as follows: AYES: 3- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 3- Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney XIII. Call to Board and Clerk Village of Oak Park Page 9 Printed on 10/12/2020 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 21, 2020 Village Trustee Buchanan mentioned the ad-hoc climate change group is meeting. Goal is to work with Mindy to put together a climate action plan and to make concrete recommendations for the use of the environmental sustainability fund. Meetings are not closed and following the Open Meetings Act guidelines, with Village Trustee Boutet and Village Trustee Buchanan both involved. Laura Derks, chair of the Environment & Energy Commission, and the Environment & Energy Commission is highly involved. Village Trustee Boutet would like to discuss the budget as soon as possible and obtain reports regarding Capital Improvement Projects. Village Walker-Peddakotla encouraged Clerk Scaman to share out information about Early Voting and people to complete the 2020 Census. Village Clerk Scaman provided information about mail ballots, early voting and gives caution to people to be mindful of the confusion behind advertisements in the mail. XIV. Adjourn It was moved by Village Trustee Andrews, seconded by Village Trustee Boutet, that this be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Moroney Village of Oak Park Page 10 Printed on 10/12/2020