Village of Lincolnshire Committee of the Whole met Sept. 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Present:
Mayor Brandt
Trustee Hancock
Trustee Leider
Trustee Raizin
Village Attorney Simon
Chief of Police Leonas
Public Works Director Woodbury
Trustee Grujanac
Trustee Harms Muth
Trustee Pantelis
Village Clerk Mastandrea
Village Manager Burke
Treasurer/Finance Director Peterson Assistant Village Manager/Community & Economic Development Director Gilbertson
Planning & Development Manager Zozulya
*This was a remote video-conference meeting*
1.0 ROLL CALL
Mayor Brandt called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m., and Village Clerk Mastandrea called the Roll.
2.0 ITEMS OF GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1 Planning, Zoning and Land Use
2.11 Consideration of an Ordinance Amending the Lincolnshire Village Code Title 6 (Zoning), Chapter 2 (Zoning Definitions), and Chapter 3 (General Zoning Regulations); and Title 11 (Misdemeanors), Chapter 13 (Animals) Pertaining to Temporary Growing Structures, Beekeeping on Non-Residential Property, Chickens, and Accessory Structures (Village of Lincolnshire)
Assistant Village Manager/Community & Economic Development (CED) Director Gilbertson provided a summary and presentation of an Ordinance amending the village code Title 6, (Zoning), Chapter 2 (Zoning Definitions), and Chapter 3 (General Zoning Regulations); and Title 11 (Misdemeanors), Chapter 13 (Animals) pertaining to temporary growing structures, beekeeping on non-residential property, chickens, and accessory structures. The presentation included background of seasonal/accessory structures and a possible pilot program for backyard chickens. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson noted the Zoning Board provided unanimous favorable recommendations to permit the Lincolnshire Marriott resort continue beekeeping activities and to regulate seasonal agricultural structures. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson requested Village Board feedback regarding the maximum number and exceptions for accessory structures, as the Zoning Board expressed interest in increasing the maximum number above the current regulation of two.
A discussion related to accessory structures and owning chickens in the Village followed. Trustee Harms Muth asked for clarification regarding the Zoning Board meeting noting her take from the meeting was that the Zoning Board thought if someone was going to have a chicken coop, this was the only accessory structure a resident could have. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated this is a correct statement, and the Zoning Board contemplated increasing the number of accessory structures if a resident wanted a chicken coop, as these property owners should not be treated differently than other property owners who do not have chicken coops but could have more than one accessory structure. The Zoning Board also contemplated increasing the overall number of accessory structures permissible in residential zoning districts.
Trustee Grujanac asked if people are allowed to have a gazebo, external screen house, or shed. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director confirmed all these structures were allowed in the Village. Trustee Grujanac asked how a shed is required to conform along the back property line. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated if a resident wants a shed, it has to be within 5’ of the principal structure. If it is in the rear yard and side yards, it needs to be within 2’ of the principal structure. Trustee Grujanac asked if a coop would need to follow the same guidelines as a shed. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated the recommended program parameters of the chicken coop is within 10’ of the principal structure. Trustee Grujanac expressed her opinion that the Zoning Board recommendation would make an exception for the chicken coops and treat them differently than other accessory structures. Trustee Grujanac noted she felt all accessory structures should be treated similarly – particularly sheds and chicken coops.
Trustees Leider and Grujanac expressed they were not in favor of increasing the amount of accessory structures on a property. Trustee Leider queried whether the Village Board would want to be even more restrictive than current regulations. Mayor Brandt noted some of the responses from residents have opposed the idea of keeping chickens. Mayor Brandt noted some surrounding communities that have allowed this type of activity are being asked for additional pet allowances.
Trustee Harms Muth stated she was not in favor of chicken coops in R2 & R3 zoning locations. Trustee Harms Muth stated she has heard from many other residents who are not in favor of the chicken coops within residential areas.
Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson continued his presentation with information related to beekeeping and Zoning Board consensus as it relates to beekeeping.
Assistant Village Manager/CED Director provided additional information on backyard chickens including pilot program parameters, coop requirements, nuisance restrictions, property values impact, health considerations, and possible next steps.
Trustee Raizin asked why staff made the recommendation for a coop to be 10’ from the principal structure when sheds currently are required to be 5’ from the principal structure. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated the nature of the use prompted more of a setback away from the home.
Trustee Leider stated, if the Village decides to pursue this, putting guidelines in the code for taking down an inactive coop would be needed.
Trustee Grujanac stated the Village Board took nearly two years to work through changes to accessory structure regulations. She expressed her opinion this review was detailed and thorough and expressed concern about changes to the existing regulations. Trustee Grujanac stated if the Village is going to pursue permitting chickens with a setback different than current regulations, all other accessory structures would need to be reevaluated since a chicken coop has approximately the same dimensions as a shed.
Trustee Hancock expressed his opinion there has not be a significant push from residents to permit keeping chickens in residential areas. He stated there should be a certain number of residents that want to allow this in the code in order for the Village Board to consider a change to the code. Trustee Hancock expressed his opinion it appears the consensus of the Village Board is not to permit keeping chickens in residential areas, and asked what the Village will do about the people who already have chickens.
The consensus of the Board was to not pursue allowing chickens in the Village.
The discussion regarding beekeeping ensued. Trustee Raizin asked if there is a limit to how many bee hives that can be maintained at the Lincolnshire Marriott. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated he did not think this was expressed in the language of the proposed ordinance, but according to the General Manager of the Marriott, they would not have more than 12 at any given time. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson noted a provision regarding the maximum number of hives permissible would be added to the code.
Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated the code would remain the same for accessory structures. Trustee Leider asked if the Board had any interest in considering lowering the accessory structures permitted cap from two to one. There was no interest in changing the code at this time.
It was the consensus of the Board to place this item, less the allowance of residential chicken keeping, on the Consent Agenda for approval at the next Regular Village Board Meeting.
2.2 Finance and Administration
2.21 Consideration of Annual Police Pension Fund Report (Village of Lincolnshire Police Pension Fund)
Treasurer/Finance Director Peterson thanked Mr. Steve Lee, President of the Police Pension Fund and provided a brief summary of the annual Police Pension Fund Report and funding policy.
Mr. Lee noted the Police Pension Board is created under the Illinois Pension Code and run differently from the other Advisory Boards. Mr. Lee thanked the Village Board for their ongoing support of the fund.
Mr. Lee provided a presentation regarding the Police Pension Fund including annual actuarial process, 2019 highlights, summary of 2020 actuarial valuation, financial condition indicators, recommended versus actual contribution, trend in participants and payroll, benefit payments vs. contributions, 10-year projections, projected funding policy contribution, projected financial condition indicators, funded status of Lincolnshire versus other downstate police pension plans.
Trustee Hancock asked Mr. Lee if he foresaw any significant changes to the investment policy in the next few years as a result of pension consolidation at the state level. Mr. Lee stated consolidation should permit the Lincolnshire funds to generate a better return because the state will be less restrictive on what they invest in due to the size of the consolidated fund compared to Lincolnshire’s smaller fund. A discussion regarding consolidation of police pension funds into a state system and the potential for higher rates of return followed.
Mr. Lee noted the Police Pension Board requests $1,078,136 in contributions for 2021.
It was the consensus of the Board to discuss this request during Special Committee of the Whole Budget Workshop Meetings.
2.22 Consideration of Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Northfield Township Technology Consortium for Internet Services (Village of Lincolnshire)
Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson provided a summary of a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement with the Northfield Township Technology Consortium for internet services due to challenges with Comcast internet services. There is a need for increased bandwidth which the Northfield Township Technology Consortium can provide.
Trustee Leider noted the Village currently has onsite data storage, and asked if sometime in the future we decide to change that, would this service allow for the Village to modify this approach. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated the agreement would allow for this type of modifications.
Trustee Pantelis asked what the difference in price was for the proposed service compared to Comcast. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson stated the price difference is roughly $1,100 per year. Assistant Village Manager/CED Director Gilbertson noted the internet speed would be 25 – 50 times faster than what the Village currently receives.
Village Manager Burke noted one of the biggest problems the Village has is with the data storage being onsite and the backup at Public Works. There is currently not enough bandwidth to do as robust backups as staff deems necessary. The volume of data the village has is growing year after year, so the speed is needed to accommodate regular backups. Increased speed would also enable staff to consider moving to a cloud-based service at some point in the future.
It was the consensus of the Board to place this item on the Consent Agenda for approval at the next Regular Village Board Meeting.
2.23 Consideration of Requests from Citizens and Village Organizations Regarding Proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget (Village of Lincolnshire)
Village Manager Burke provided a summary of requests from Citizens and Village Organizations regarding proposed fiscal year 2021 budget. Staff has not received any formal requests from the organizations related to the 2021 budget. There has been some conversations staff has had with residents regarding ongoing drainage problems which will be further discussed in the budget workshops along with prioritization of drainage projects brought about by the Village-wide drainage study. Village Manager Burke noted staff is working with the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce as they are having some financial challenges and have requested some type of stipend or contribution from both Lincolnshire and Buffalo Grove. Both communities are working through their request but need to be further vetted before this can be brought back to the Board.
It was the consensus of the Board to discuss further if necessary during Special Committee of the Whole Budget Workshop Meetings.
2.24 Consideration and Discussion of Proposed Goals for Fiscal Year 2021 (Village of Lincolnshire)
Village Manager Burke provided proposed goals for fiscal year 2021 for feedback from the Board. Due to the pandemic, a number of the projects have been carried over from this year to next.
It was the consensus of the Board to discuss the proposed 2021 goals during Special Committee of the Whole Budget Workshop Meetings.
2.3 Public Works
2.31 Consideration of Acceptance of Public Improvements for Camberley Club Subdivision (Pulte Homes)
Assistant Public Works Director/Village Engineer Dittrich provided a summary of the request for acceptance of public improvements for Camberley Club Subdivision.
It was the consensus of the Board to place this item on the Consent Agenda for approval at the next Regular Village Board Meeting.
2.32 Consideration of Acceptance of Public Improvements for Lincolnshire Trails (MI Homes)
Assistant Public Works Director/Village Engineer Dittrich provided a summary of the request for acceptance of public improvements for Lincolnshire Trails.
It was the consensus of the Board to place this item on the Consent Agenda for approval at the next Regular Village Board Meeting.
2.4 Public Safety
2.41 Consideration of Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the State of Illinois, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Village of Lincolnshire for Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant for Federal Fiscal Year 2021 (Village of Lincolnshire)
Chief of Police Leonas provided a summary of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the State of Illinois, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Village of Lincolnshire for Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant for Federal fiscal year 2021.
It was the consensus of the Board to place this item on the Consent Agenda for approval at the next Regular Village Board Meeting.
2.5 Parks and Recreation
2.6 Judiciary and Personnel
3.0 UNFINISHED BUSINES
3.1 Rescheduled Spring Clean-Up
Village Manager Burke noted as a follow up from the Regular Village Board Meeting related to the rescheduled spring clean-up. This information has been shared in the monthly utility bills but staff will look into some other methods to try to get the word out.
4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Highway Noise
Trustee Hancock stated he has received some concerns from residents regarding noise from Illinois Tollway 94. Trustee Hancock asked if the Village could research possible sound walls in the future.
Mayor Brandt stated this was requested when North Park was developed, and the Village was not successful in their request. Mayor Brandt stated there might be some validity in requesting this again.
Assistant Public Works Director/Village Engineer Dittrich stated he knows the process with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and could walk the Board through it. Assistant Public Works Director/Village Engineer Dittrich stated once IDOT does an improvement and widens the pavement closer to a strip of residential properties, they do an analysis on increased noise levels to see if noise barriers are needed. Assistant Public Works Director/Village Engineer Dittrich stated he is uncertain as to the process for addressing existing pavement areas need for sound barrier, but would look into this and report back.
Village Manager Burke stated some of the work that was done in the past with North Park may be in the files, so staff could go through what we currently have to supplement the report. Mayor Brandt noted her memory was that there was not enough residential uses in close proximity to the tollway at the time to warrant the noise barrier. Mayor Brandt suggested reaching out to State Representative Didech to question why other areas along there have it but the Lincolnshire area does not.
Trustee Raizin asked if the increased speed limit on the tollway could have added to the sound. Assistant Public Works Director/Village Engineer noted the speed does not typically impact the sound; it is the pavement composition and proximity of homes to the roadway.
4.2 The St. James Place Project
Trustee Hancock asked if there has been any update from the developer on The St. James Place project.
Village Manager Burke noted the only update staff has is that they have been holding off on their architectural design until they see what updates need to be done regarding hygiene and health as a result of the pandemic. They do have until the first meeting in March of 2021 to have their final planned unit development (PUD) approved. Staff will reach out to see if there is any new information.
4.3 Coal Tar Sealants on Driveways
Village Manager Burke noted he had received some questions on the use of coal tar sealants on driveways and staff will report back to the Board regarding ordinances neighboring communities have regarding this use.
4.4 Florsheim Property
Village Manager Burke noted an email went out the Board regarding the Florsheim estate. The property is still being marketed for sale. The attorney from the estate is working on a possible land transaction that may come to be in the next few weeks, but this is all staff knows at this time.
4.5 Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar
Mayor Brandt noted Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar is now open for lunch and will be open for brunch. They had approached staff and the Mayor at the ribbon cutting for the desire to install heated tables and other improvements.
4.6 Lincolnshire Marriott
Mayor Brandt noted the Lincolnshire Marriott is currently having concerts outside and converted the theater to provide for training sessions. They also have virtual learning labs for children to go in to learn.
5.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION
6.0 ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Grujanac moved and Trustee Harms Muth seconded the motion to adjourn. Upon a voice vote, the motion was approved unanimously and Mayor Brandt declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
https://www.lincolnshireil.gov/government/about/agendas-minutes-packets-video?format=raw&task=download&fid=2527
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