June 20, 2000 - Workshop

Mayor Krajewski called the Workshop meeting of the Village Council of the Village of Downers Grove to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall.

Present:Mayor Brian Krajewski; Commissioners Marilyn Schnell, Thomas Sisul, Michael Gilbert, Sue McConnell; Village Manager Michael McCurdy; Village Attorney Daniel Blondin; Village Clerk April Holden

Absent:None

Visitors: Press: Jason Bramwell, Downers Grove Reporter Residents: Christine Fregeau, 1918 Elmore Staff: Jerry Sprecher, Deputy Village Manager; Ken Rathje, Director, Planning Services; Dave Conley, Director of Engineering, Public Works; Bob Miller, Acting Director, Public Works

Mayor Krajewski said normally Village Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month and will be this evening; however, a short Workshop meeting would also be held this evening to discuss one item.

The meetings are video taped for later cable cast over cable channel P/21.

The Workshop meeting is intended to provide Council and the public with an appropriate forum for informal discussion of any items intended for future Council consideration or just for general information. No formal action is taken at Workshop meetings.

The public is invited to attend and encouraged to comment or ask questions in an informal manner on any of the items being discussed or on any other subject. The agenda is created to provide a guideline for discussion.

MANAGER

1. Bid: Sidewalk Improvement Project #02-00. Village Manager Mike McCurdy said the one item to be discussed is the selection of a contractor for the sidewalk construction projects this year. He said four bids were received that were quite competitive. The low bid was submitted by M&C Scavelli, Inc. The Manager asked Bob Miller, Acting Director, Public Works to make a presentation.

Bob Miller , Acting Director, Public Works, said there are three issues for Council consideration. The first is the award of the contract to the low bidder – M&C Scavelli, Inc.

The second issue is the consideration of Alternate #2, which is the installation of a bituminous sidewalk. The low bid was $29,500 more for installing a bituminous sidewalk than for installing a concrete sidewalk. The reason for the higher bid is in the difficulty of placing asphalt. It would be very difficult for them to do and resulted in the higher bid. Staff’s recommendation would be to stay with Alternate #1, the concrete sidewalk. It is cheaper, will last longer, and the lifecycle costs would be substantially lower.

The third item for consideration is adding sidewalks to the contract. Council has budgeted $600,000 for the installation of new sidewalks. The bid amount for the sidewalks listed in this year’s contract including a contingency is approximately $385,000 which is approximately $200,000 under the approved budgeted amount. Mr. Miller suggested selecting additional streets for sidewalk installation to bring the total work up to the approved $600,000 amount. He said there are two methods Council could consider for awarding the additional sidewalks: one is to go out to bid again. This would take some time to prepare the bids, put out the notice, receive the bids, etc. The faster method is to add locations to the existing contract, which is staff’s recommendation. Mr. Miller distributed a map depicting the sidewalks in the original contract. He said staff has met with the homeowners in those locations and has resolved most if not all of the concerns of the residents. The additional locations staff is asking the Council to consider were also depicted on the map. These locations are high on the matrix, and in some cases, are in locations where homeowners and residents have requested the installation of sidewalks. There are also some locations were they are filling in gaps. In addition, the map depicts a few locations that could be considered as alternatives in the event some of the other locations need to be pulled. This will enable staff to fulfill the total $600,000 budgeted amount. Mr. Miller said that staff will send out notices and will meet with all the residents on the additional streets prior to proceeding with the construction of any sidewalks in order for the residents to have an opportunity to express their concerns and for the staff and Council to hear about any concerns.

Commissioner Schnell complimented Mr. Miller on including alternatives in order to put in as much sidewalk as possible. She said she was also pleased that staff is addressing both Carpenter and Downers Drive, which are two areas where residents have expressed a desire to have sidewalks.

Commissioner Schnell asked about the status of the pedestrian plan for the Village. The Manager said he would get a report. Commissioner Schnell also asked if the consultant would be considering the sidewalk matrix and the TCD II report or other resources.

The Mayor asked if the four proposed additional sidewalks would be at a cost of $215,000. Mr. Miller said that was correct. The Mayor said it did not seem that the footage would accumulate to $215,000. Mr. Miller said there are a few other gap sections that are not on the matrix, one of which is 1,500 feet on Williams.

Christine Fregeau , 1918 Elmore, asked if the matrix and map described tonight would be available in the Library. The Mayor said it would be available later this week.

The Manager said the sidewalk contract award to M&C Scavelli, Inc. is on this evening’s Active Agenda.

Village Attorney Dan Blondin said Council would be asked to waive the one week waiting period on this item as well as the resolution to amend the taxi fare subsidy.

Commissioner Schnell moved to adjourn into Executive Session subject to Section 2©(11) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to consider litigation matters. Commissioner Sisul seconded the motion.

VOTE : YEA : Commissioners Schnell, Sisul, Gilbert, McConnell, Mayor Krajewski NAY : None

The Mayor declared the Motion carried and Council moved into Executive Session at 6:10 p.m. April K. Holden Village Clerk