December 12, 2000 - Council

1. Call to Order

Mayor Brian Krajewski called the special meeting of the Village Council of the Village of Downers Grove to order at 8:27 p.m. in the Committee Room of the Downers Grove Village Hall.

2. Roll Call

Present: Commissioner Michael Gilbert, Commissioner Thomas Sisul, Commissioner Marilyn Schnell and Mayor Brian Krajewski Non Voting: Village Clerk April Holden

3.Public Hearings

2000-01 Tax Levy Mayor Krajewski called the public hearing to order at 8:27 p.m. He said this public hearing has been called by the Village Council pursuant to the Illinois Truth in Taxation Law to consider the proposed 2000 tax levy of the Village of Downers Grove. Notice of this hearing was published in the Downers Grove Reporter on November 29, 2000. A copy of the notice and the proof of publication have been presented and are made a part of the official record of this hearing.

The Mayor then summarized the procedure for the hearing.

The Mayor then introduced Marty Lyons, Director, Financial Services, to make his report.

Marty Lyons, Director, Financial Services said this public hearing and the property tax levy estimate are requirements of the Truth in Taxation Act. The Village of Downers Grove property tax levies are made to cover Police and Fire Services costs only. Library tax levies will also be include in this presentation as well as the Special Service Area I, II, and III tax levies for those areas only.

The Village portion of the tax levy includes Police and Fire Operating levies, and Police and Fire Pension levies. The Fairview Avenue debt service levy and the downtown debt service levy are abated each year.

Police and Fire Pension levies are determined by an independent actuarial study, and all debt service levies are done according to the original General Obligation Bond ordinances.

Mr. Lyons said that in 1987 the Village Council reduced the Police and Fire Operating levies to a combined $2.5 million. The 2000 levy represents no increase over the 1999 levy of $2.625 million. This amount covers approximately 15% of the total Police and Fire costs. When adjusted for inflation, in 1983 dollars this levy has decreased by almost 50% in its purchasing power. Historically, Police and Fire costs have increased by over 130% after being adjusted for inflation. In 1987-88 the tax levy covered 42.9% of Police and Fire costs, and this year’s levy would only cover 15% of those costs.

He noted that the Fire Pension has experienced more disabilities than the Police Pension.

Mr. Lyons stated that Police and Fire Pension tax levy amounts are determined by our acturial consultant, Tim Sharpe. Some variables that impact these pension tax levies are the number of pension participants, interest rates, disability pensions, and changes in pension benefits. Changes for the 2000 levy reflect salary increases and amortization of the Fire Pension unfunded obligation. The Police Pension levy is $272,918, the Fire Pension levy is $926,396.

Mr. Lyons said that the total Operating and Pension levy has increased mainly due to pension cost increases. The 2000 levy request is $3,862,557, without debt service, which will be abated. This does not include the Library.

Adjusted for inflation, to 1983 dollars, this levy is equal to $2.2 million, or $800,000 less than the 1983 levy. The total Village levy, excluding the Library, represents only a small fraction, 4.86% of a sample tax bill. He provided an example for a property located in Downers Grove Township and in School District 58.

Mr. Lyons then compared the tax levy request of the Village of Downers Grove to neighboring communities. This comparison excludes Libraries and Park Districts. Downers Grove is the lowest tax rate at 0.2833, outside of Oak Brook which does not have a tax rate. Glen Ellyn is the next closest at 0.4063. The other communities range between Glen Ellyn’s rate and the highest rate of 1.549 requested by Aurora.

Mr. Lyons stated that the Village Attorney has prepared tax levy and abatement ordinances.

Mayor Krajewski asked if the tax levies go into the Corporate Fund and Mr. Lyons replied that they did, he added that Council needs to adopt the dollar amount at their meeting December 19.

Attorney Blondin said that Council can abate the tax if it is done by March 2001.

Commissioner Schnell asked if the Police Pension Fund needs to be adjusted due to recent State legislation. Mr. Lyons said no, it does not as the Police Pension Fund is 102.7% funded. There may be changes. The actuarial report shows a credit of $50,000 attributable to the overfunded status.

In reply to a question regarding pension fund investments by Mayor Krajewski, Mr. Lyons said a change in the law was made two years ago allowing pension funds to be invested in equities up to 45%. The previously allowable proportion was 10%. Growth in those funds would allow the Fire and Pension levies to be reduced.

Commissioner Schnell said the property tax bill was historically designated for Police and Fire and citizens understand that those taxes are going for things that directly affect their lives.

Since there were no further questions, Mayor Krajewski declared the public hearing adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

4.Consent Agenda

BIL00 -00273 List of Bills Payable: No. 5358, December 12, 2000 Sponsors: Accounting Indexes: N/A Passed The Consent Agenda

A motion was made by Commissioner Schnell, seconded by Commissioner Sisul, that the consent agenda be passed. The motion carried by the following vote: Votes: Yea: Commissioner Schnell, Commissioner Sisul, Commissioner Gilbert and Mayor Krajewski

5.Attorney’s Report

Attorney Blondin said he was presenting the following items: an ordinance amending the vehicle code fine provisions of the Downers Grove Municipal Code; an ordinance authorizing right-of-way vacation for a portion of Turvey Road Court; an ordinance re: lot split with lot width exception at 4826 Stonewall Avenue; an ordinance re: lot reconfiguration with lot area exceptions for 436-442 Davis Street; a resolution authorizing Block 117 relocation reimbursement for Quality Camera; an ordinance authorizing a stop sign at the intersections of Walnut Avenue and Curtiss Street, and at Walnut Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue; an ordinance amending the wetland banking provisions of the Downers Grove Municipal Code; a resolution authorizing a 2001 transit grant agreement with Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (Pace); an ordinance reserving the 2001 bond allocation cap; a resolution authorizing an agreement extension with Orchard Brook Homeowners Association re: Orchard Brook Wetlands Restoration Project; a motion authorizing a scavenger license with BFI Disposal Services; a resolution authorizing a lease extension between the Village of Downers Grove and the First United Methodist Church; an ordinance for the 2000 tax levy – corporate; an ordinance for the 2000-01 tax levy for Special Service Area #1 (Brick Streets); an ordinance for the 2000-01 tax levy for Special Service Area #2 (Downers Grove Downtown Special Service Area); an ordinance for the 2000-01 tax levy for Special Service Area #3 (Prince Pond Special Service Area); an ordinance abating debt service indebtedness for Fairview Avenue; an ordinance abating debt service indebtedness for General Obligation Bonds Series 1999; and an ordinance abating debt service indebtedness for General Obligation Bonds Series 2000.

6.Council Member Reports and New Business

Commissioner McConnell said an update of the smoking prevention program was presented at the Partnership for Healthier Communities meeting last week. As as result of the tobacco settlement, funds were provided for a compliance program. The first compliance buys have been conducted and the results were dismal. The Partnership discussed looking at having some mechanism to bring repeated failures to an education program similar to the one the Liquor Commission has for establishments that fail the controlled liquor buy program.

The Mayor suggested talking to Carol Conforti as she conducts the seminars for the Liquor Commission. He said police officers went to all the establishments that sell cigarettes and distributed literature, and still there was a 50% failure rate.

Commissioner Gilbert said the Heritage Festival meeting was cancelled last night due to the weather. It has been rescheduled for December 18, 2000. He complimented the staff on the snow removal effort.

Commissioner Schnell agreed that Public Works did a great job.

Mayor Krajewski agreed with Commissioners Gilbert and Schnell.

The Mayor suggested that sometime before the end of the year the Council members present information from the conferences they recently attended.

The Mayor said the RFP for the CAD system is available. He said it will be presented to the Technology Committee on December 14, 2000. He said it will be on the web site that vendors can download.

The Mayor said there will be no Council Workshop meeting December 26, 2000.

The Mayor said over 75 children from Autumn Grove and Arbor Park participated in a Christmas party. The children submitted wish lists to the Village and Village employees contributed gifts. He thanked those who organized the party and the employees who participated in the program.

Commissioner Gilbert said the Downers Grove Junior Womans Club is in charge of the Holiday Decoration Recognition Program this year and is looking for nominations. Anyone wishing to nominate a house can call 434-5555.

7.Adjournment

Commissioner Schnell moved to adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to Section 2©(5) of the Open Meetings Act to consider Real Estate and Section 2©(11) to consider litigation. Commissioner Sisul seconded.

VOTE : YEA – Commissioners Schnell, Sisul, McConnell, Gilbert, Mayor Krajewski

Mayor Krajewski declared the motion carried and the Council convened into Executive Session at 8:55 p.m.