Village of Lombard Board of Trustees met Nov. 4

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jan 12, 2022

Village of Lombard Board of Trustees met Nov. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

The regular meeting of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Lombard held in the Board Room of the Lombard Village Hall was called to order by Village President Keith Giagnorio at 6:00 pm. Director of Public Works Carl Goldsmith led the Pledge of Allegiance.

II. Roll Call

8 - Keith Giagnorio, Elizabeth Brezinski, Brian LaVaque, Anthony Puccio, Bernie Dudek, Andrew Honig, Dan Militello, and Bob Bachner

Staff Present:

Village Manager Scott Niehaus

Director of Finance Tim Sexton

Director of Community Development Bill Heniff

Director of Public Works Carl Goldsmith

Chief of Police Roy Newton

Fire Chef Rick Sander

Assistant Village Manager Nicole Aranas

Village Attorney Tom Bayer

Assistant Village Attorney Jason Guisinger

Executive Coordinator Carol Bauer

III. Public Hearings

210334 FY 2022 Budget Public Hearing

A Public Hearing for the purpose of taking written and oral comments from the public concerning the proposed Village of Lombard Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning January 1, 2022 and ending December 31, 2022.

Village Attorney Tom Bayer opened the Public Hearing at 6:01 p.m. and stated as follows:

1. The Public Hearing is in regard to the Village’s proposed January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 Budget.

2. The proposed Budget document has been available for inspection at the Village Hall, and posted on the Village’s website, since October 20, 2021.

3. Notice of the Budget Hearing was published in the Lombardian newspaper on October 21, 2021.

4. The process for the Budget Hearing will be as follows:

A. Village Manager, Scott Niehaus, and Village Finance Director, Tim Sexton, will make a presentation relative to the proposed Budget, as well as a presentation relative to the proposed tax levy for 2021.

B. After the presentation is complete, the public will be allowed to make any comments, or ask and questions, relative to the proposed Budget.

C. After the members of the public have made their comments and asked their questions, the members of the Village Board will be allowed to make any comments or ask any questions, relative to the proposed Budget.

D. Finally, once all comments have been made, and all questions have been asked, the Village President will ask for a motion to close the Public Hearing.

Village Attorney Tom Bayer then turned the Budget Hearing over to the Village Manager and the Finance Director.

Village Manager Scott Niehaus provided an overview as follows: thanked the Finance Committee members, Village Board and staff for their work in preparing the proposed budget; will review the following: budget objectives, multi-year financial forecast assumptions, 2022 budget overview, General Fund (unrestricted and uncommitted) operating budget, top 10 General Fund 2022 revenues and top 5 expenses; Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, Water & Sewer (W&S) Fund operating budget; budget prepared based on 0% growth in revenue assumptions and 3% in expense assumptions; total budget of $104,563,250 with overall expenditures to total $98,384,642.

Director of Finance Tim Sexton provided an overview as follows: reviewed the top ten General Fund 2022 revenues, the top five General Fund 2022 expenses, the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, the Water & Sewer (W&S) Fund operating budget.

Village Manager Scott Niehaus provided closing comments including the Village will need to remain watchful and flexible to respond to circumstances beyond the Village's control such as the possible downturn in the general economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts from the State of Illinois as it works to address its financial issues. As the Village moves forward, we will continue to balance services with available resources.

The Finance & Administration Committee, at their October 25, 2021 meeting, unanimously recommended the Village Board approve the proposed 2022 budget. The ordinance is listed on the agenda on Separate Action with a second reading to be held on November 18, 2021. The budget is on the Village website and residents can also view the budget at the Village Hall, or meet with staff if they have questions.

Director of Finance Tim Sexton provided the following overview: the Village is able to raise property taxes each year by the lessor of 5% or Consumer Price Index plus new growth without a referendum; the Village proposes a 3.74% increase for the 2021 property tax which translates to an increase of approximately $7.30 for the owner of a $300,000 home; reviewed the communications schedule relative to the tax levy and budget.

The Finance & Administration Committee at their September 13, 2021 meeting voted unanimously to recommend the proposed statutorily permissible 2021 tax levy to the President and Board of Trustees. The ordinance is listed on the agenda on Separate Action with a second reading to be held on November 18, 2021.

Village Attorney Tom Bayer asked if the Village Board had any questions relative to the proposed tax levy and proposed budget.

Director of Finance Tim Sexton responded to a question from Trustee Bernie Dudek relative to the Hotel/Motel Tax and its uses.

Village Attorney Tom Bayer asked if the audience had any questions relative to the proposed tax levy and proposed budget.

There were no questions.

A motion was made by Trustee Andrew Honig and seconded by Trustee Anthony Puccio that the Public Hearing relative to the FY 2022 Budget be adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

Ayes: LaVaque, Puccio, Dudek, Honig, Militello and Bachner

Nays: None

Motion Carried

IV. Public Participation

210346 Presentation - Beth Marchetti, DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau

Beth Marchetti, Executive Director of the DuPage Convention & Visitors

Bureau, provided a Power Point overview as follows:

DCVB founded in 1985, and certified in 1987; Village of Lombard and DCVB partnership formed in the early 1990's; the Village pledges annual support of local hotel tax to match state grants; Village issues promissory note for the DCVB state grant application; DuPage Sports Commission founded in 2019 and received 43 sports leads in FY 22; the Intelligentsia Cup Lombard Cycling Class was held in 2019 and 2021; and resulted in 321 room nights in Lombard, 472 athletes from around the world, 3 of 9 days in DuPage County, and 123 family riders; downtown businesses reported positive economic impact as a result of race; the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship 2021 is scheduled to take place December 7th thru 12th at Cantigny Park; Grant programs FY 22-24:(1) highly utilized by Lombard hotels; (2) 20,337 room nights on the books - supported by grant applications; (3) $19 million in estimated economic impact; (4) $58,110 investment, split between DCVB and Village of Lombard; (5) positive sign for recovery despite industry forecast; highlighted the importance of Chicagoland tourism; reviewed ARPA's aid to tourism while Illinois hotels saw revenue fall $2.4 billion or 80%; Lombard will hold a tourism meeting and a new hotel meeting in January; thanked the Village of Lombard for their continued support.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Village President Keith Giagnorio reminded everyone there was a three-minute limit for each person to speak during Public Participation.

Village Clerk Liz Brezinski read e-mail comments that had been submitted in support of Prairie Food Co-Op from Sarah Campagna, Roxanna and Andy Hayes and Tom Novickas.

The following residents spoke in support of Prairie Food Co-Op: Melissa Gonzalez; Jeff Gahris; Emily Shultz; Kate Pierson; Jerry Nash; Liz Chaplin; Audrey Schuurmann; Gerry Haptas; Jessica Stratton; and Megan Harte (architect of record).

Trustee Anthony Puccio noted that the Village has helped Prairie Food Co-Op and is supporting PFC.

V. Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Trustee Andrew Honig, seconded by Trustee Anthony Puccio, that the minutes of the regular meeting of October 21, 2021 be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 6 - Brian LaVaque, Anthony Puccio, Bernie Dudek, Andrew Honig, Dan Militello, and Bob Bachner

VI. Committee Reports

Community Promotion & Tourism - Trustee Bernie Dudek, Chairperson

Trustee Bernie Dudek, Chairperson of the Community Promotion & Tourism Committee, reported the following:

The Community Promotion and Tourism Committee met this past Tuesday.

We welcomed new committee member Gail Kankovsky and we are looking forward to having our other two new members join us next month.

We are finally at full strength!

Staff presented the committee with an update on the Hotel/Motel tax fund budget for 2022. I won’t rehash those specifics since we just held the Budget Public Hearing, but we are excited to hopefully replenish those reserves.

The Committee also continued discussion on the use of ARPA funds to create a grant funding program for hotels. A meeting with local hotels will be scheduled through the DuPage County Convention and Visitors Bureau to solicit their feedback and needs relative to possible grant funding.

Finally, the committee discussed the 2022 Local Tourism Grant program in preparation for review of applications in the first quarter of 2022.

Deadlines to submit proposals for 2022 Tourism Grants is December 10, 2021, so anyone thinking of applying should start typing now!

Community Relations Committee - Trustee Dan Militello, Chairperson

No report

Economic/Community Development Committee - Trustee Anthony Puccio, Chairperson

No report

Finance & Administration Committee, Trustee Andrew Honig, Chairperson

No report

Public Safety & Transportation Committee - Trustee Brian LaVaque Chairperson

Trustee Brian LaVaque, Chairperson of the Public Safety & Transportation Committee, reported the following:

the committee met on November 3rd; welcomed new member; staff reviewed a proposal relative to stop sign highlighting and visibility; the committee reviewed a request for stop signs at Church and Morris; the Fire Department and Police Departments provided monthly reports to the committee.

Public Works & Environmental Concerns Committee - Trustee Bob Bachner, Chairperson

No report

Board of Local Improvements - Trustee Bob Bachner, President

No report

Lombard Historic Preservation Commission - Village Clerk Liz Brezinski

No report

VII. Village Manager/Village Board/Village Clerk Comments

Trustee Bernie Dudek reported that he attended the Citizen Public Works Academy. He stated the academy was very informative and provided those participants with a lot of background information on the work that is performed by our Public Works staff each and every day. He noted that Police, Fire and Public Works Departments hold citizen academies. A ceremony was held tonight before the Village Board meeting for the graduates of the academy. He thanked the Public Works staff.

Village Clerk Liz Brezinski read the following announcements:

The Lombard Christmas Mart is Saturday, November 6th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Participants include churches on Maple from Elizabeth to Main Street as well as the Lombard Historical Society Museum/Gift Shop. Start your holiday shopping early from an assortment of arts, crafts, holiday foods, vintage items and gifts.

The November 10th Blood Drive honors our Veterans and thanks them for their service to our country, as well as recognizes Village President Bill Mueller. The Blood Drive will be at Yorktown Center from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and at the First Church, 220 S. Main Street from 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm. With the upcoming holiday season approaching, donating blood is yet another way to give and help save a life. Donating blood is safe, simple and saves lives. Be a hero, donate blood.

The Veterans Day Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, November 11th beginning at 11:00 am and will be held at the Lombard Common Park Sunken Garden. Please join us as we honor our Veterans who have unselfishly placed their lives on the line to protect our country’s freedom.

For additional information on these events, please check the Village website at www.villageoflombard.org.

VIII Consent Agenda

Payroll/Accounts Payable

A. 210332 Approval of Accounts Payable

For the period ending October 22, 2021 in the amount of $785,827.18.

This Payroll/Accounts Payable was approved on the Consent Agenda

B. 210343 Approval of Village Payroll

For the period ending October 23, 2021 in the amount of $846,070.61.

This Payroll/Accounts Payable was approved on the Consent Agenda

C. 210344 Approval of Accounts Payable

For the period ending October 29, 2021 in the amount of $1,570.978.34.

This Payroll/Accounts Payable was approved on the Consent Agenda

Ordinances on First Reading (Waiver of First Requested)

D. 210147 Text Amendments to Title III, Chapter 36 Section 36.30 of the Lombard Village Code: Downtown Area Improvement and

Renovation Grant Program

The Economic & Community Development Committee submits its recommendation to approve amendments to Section 36.30 of the Lombard Village Code in regard to the Downtown Area Improvement and Renovation Grant Program. The proposed amendments addresses fund dispersals as well as policy changes that clarify funding limitations for multiple tenant buildings.

This Ordinance was waived of first reading and passed on second reading with suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda

Enactment No: Ordinance 7993

E. 210341 Amending Title XI, Chapter 112, Section 112.13(A) of the Lombard Village Code - Alcoholic Beverages

Ordinance decreasing the number of authorized liquor licenses in the Class "C" liquor license category by one to reflect Louisiana Crab Shack no longer conducting business at 275 West Roosevelt Road. (DISTRICT #2)

This Ordinance was waived of first reading and passed on second reading with suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda

Enactment No: Ordinance 7994

F. 210342 Amending Title XI, Chapter 121, Section 121.03(A)(2) of the Lombard Village Code - Public Passenger Licenses

Ordinance decreasing the number of Public Passenger Licenses from four (4) to three (3) to accommodate the non-renewal of the license held by 303 Taxi, LLC d/b/a 303 Taxi located at 5200 N. Otto Avenue, Chicago, IL.

This Ordinance was waived of first reading and passed on second reading with suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda

Enactment No: Ordinance 7995

F-2. 210349 Village Equipment to be Declared Surplus Ordinance approving the request of the Police Department to sell and/or dispose of surplus equipment as more specifically detailed in Exhibit "A" attached to the ordinance, to be sold at auction, sold for scrap, or recycled as these items have extended beyond their useful life or are obsolete to include: seven (7) Hon cubicles with desks and Hon cabinets and eleven (11) office chairs (variable manufacturers/no serial numbers or models). These items to be sold at auction.

This Ordinance was waived of first reading and passed on second reading with suspension of the rules on the Consent Agenda

Enactment No: Ordinance 7996