Loading...
Minutes - 09/13/2013 - Streetscape CommitteeSUMMARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 MEETING OF THE OAK BROOK STREETSCAPE COMMITTEE OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK OFFICIAL AS WRITTEN ON MAY 5, 2014 1. CALL TO ORDER: The special meeting of the Oak Brook Streetscape Committee of the Village of Oak Brook was held in the Upper Level Conference Room of the Butler Government Center and called to order by Chairman Jeff Kennedy at 9:05 a.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Secretary Linda Gonnella called the roll with the following persons: PRESENT: Chairman Jeff Kennedy, Secretary Linda Gonnella, Members Mort Kouklan, Kathy Manofsky, Jeff Shay and Dan Wagner. ABSENT: Chuck Fleming and Harry Peters. IN ATTENDANCE: David Niemeyer, Village Manager; Bob Kallien, Community Development Director and Sue Gorden, Oak Brook Civic Association. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 2, 2013 Motion by Member Manofsky, seconded by Member Kouklan to approve the Minutes of April 2, 2013 as.presented. Motion carried. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None 5. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS PROJECT Chairman Kennedy explained that there were 8 original projects. Two of those projects have been canceled with one being the GGP internal project and the other is Residence Inn who has a new General Manager who does not wish to participate in this project. Some of the projects have not received corporate approval and have been delayed. A. Update on Award of Contract for Spring /Commerce Pedestrian Access Project E Two projects were approved by the Village Board for 2013, which are Spring /Commerce and the Oak Brook Club. The Village put out to bid in August with the first project coming close to estimate. The Village Board approved the engineering supervision contract for the Spring /Commerce project which is one of the most important of the projects. This project should be completed this November. Once this is built Chairman Kennedy believes this will help the other businesses to determine how important these pedestrian access projects are to the commercial area. Once this is built, Chairman Kennedy believes that this high profile project will encourage other entities to follow suit with their proposed projects. B. Update on Plans for Rebidding 16t" Street /Oak Brook Club Project B for Next Year The Oak Brook Club Project's bid was 75% more than projected. This project has Streetscape Committee Page 1 of Mtg. of September 13, 2013 been deferred until next year, hopefully with the Harger /Spring project with Doubletree. C. Status Report on Spring /Hanger Pedestrian Access Project — (Doubletree) The Harger /Spring project has been deferred at this time by the new owners of the Doubletree but it is hopeful to re -bid next year. D. Any Status Reports on other Pedestrian Access Projects — Marriott, etc. The General Manager of the Marriott, Managers of Regency Towers and Executive Plaza are all agreeable to the project but they haven't notified their corporate offices of how they would share the 25% shareholders cost to pay for these projects. Member Manofsky asked if the Village could at least place signage and striping on 22`d Street to ensure the safety of pedestrians until the stakeholders agree to proceed with this project. The 16t1' Street entrance to the Center has been problematic with Sears and General Growth Properties of how to proceed with this. With the shopping center to the north being close to becoming vacant, who would be the stakeholders? Oak Brook Bank and J. Alexander's would be stakeholders in this project also. Regarding the Spring Road /Harger Road project, the 1900 Spring Road property belongs to General Growth and they will be responsible for 50% of the cost to build the project on GGP property. Member Shay suggested that the hotels be given a deadline to decide if they are willing to support these projects and get their portion of the costs because costs escalate over time with the delay of these projects. If Doubletree declines to participate in the Spring /Harger Road Project, then costs could be reduced by a third with their sidewalk not being installed. This could enable the other stakeholders to agree to participate with the lower costs of the project. Member Wagner remarked that Graycor would like their employees to be able to access the Center from Oakbrook Terrace. Manager Niemeyer explained that they have spoken with a Graycor Vice President six months ago and he would contact his company, he had spoken to Dennis Hiffman, their tenants and Oakbrook Terrace. He would contact Manager Niemeyer with their response which has not occurred to date. Manager Niemeyer will contact him again to see how things are proceeding. IDOT would need to approve of this pedestrian cross walk on Route 83 as well as Oakbrook Terrace's approval. Chairman Kennedy recommended conferring with Dan Wagner, Manager Niemeyer, and Mayor Ragueci of Oakbrook Terrace and himself on how to proceed. If the medians are done on Route 83, then it will be a Village project and an intergovernmental agreement would be necessary with IDOT and Oakbrook Terrace to do work on their property without any cost to Oakbrook Terrace. Manager Niemeyer will meet with the General Manager of Graycor explaining a need of a deadline of December 1st, 2013 to decide if they would participate as Public Works Director Hullihan plans on going out to bid in January for the pedestrian access projects. Notification will also be given to Doubletree regarding a deadline if they wish to participate in the Spring /Harger project. Member Kouklan indicated that the hotels do not wish to spend more of their funds on Streetscape Committee Page 2 of 4 Mtg. of September 13, 2013 these projects since they have the hotel tax fund that the Village uses. A business plan was suggested to give to the hotels to show the benefits of the pedestrian access projects. Member Shay offered to contact the entities south of 22nd Street to encourage them to participate in the project. Manager Niemeyer will give him the information as they had previously received information at a meeting of the cost estimates of the stockholders involved. 6. MEDIAN BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS A. Status Report on Spring -to -Salt Creel, Median Project (Including Latest Finish Date) Chairman Kennedy gave an update of the median project indicating that the planters, dirt and controllers were in place. Unfortunately the contractors have had difficulty finding the species needed to be planted so that the plantings may be delayed until spring if they are not available. It was suggested that some plantings be installed rather than none installed. Manager Niemeyer will speak with Public Works Director Hullihan to contact Hitchcock Design to determine if there are alternate plantings that could occur. B. Status Report on Salt Creek -to -I -294 Median /Streetlight Project (Including Projected Start) Hitchcock has 90% of the design and engineering completed and they will submit everything for approval by the end of this year. It is hopeful that IDOT will approve and hopefully construct it in 2015 with help of a federal state grant of $850,000 of the $2,500,000 project. 7. OTHER A. Discussion of Need for Way- Finding Signage The Gateway signage at York and 22 "d Street will be re -bid early next year as no bids were received due to contractors being busy this year. Dennis Hiffinan's signage on ComEd's property on 22nd Street has been delayed due to ComEd's need for approval of an easement to build it on their property. Dennis Hillman has been notified that senior officials from ComEd will give their approval. The third Gateway signage is at the south end of York Road is a historical sign indicating Oak Brook's historical district. Oak Brook Historical Society President Kathy Maher is working on this project with the Forest Preserve District Commissioner Joe Cantore to have it installed next year on their property. The Zoning Board of Appeals and the Plan Commission are extending the Village's signage ordinance to include government signage. Community Development Director Kallien suggested that the Village partner with all of the entities to be mindful of what they would want. Chuck Fleming has indicated that they will not do signage until the Center develops plans for renovations and completes them within the parking area and landscaping around the Center. Chairman Kennedy stated that the Village Manager has suggested that way - finding signage be considered for specific areas such as the Oakbrook Center, Sports Core, Village Library, Park District, Golf Course, Oak Brook Promenade, Clearwater and the Library. Also include attractions such as the Graue Mill and Peabody Mansion. It Slreoscape Committee Page 3 of 4 Mfg, of September 13, 2013 was a consensus of the Committee that the first year identifies two or three areas in the government districts to be consistent with style and appearance of signage. Manager Niemeyer explained that the Village has a Residential Enhancement Committee that is branding a plan of how to better define Oak Brook. He explained that the Village is working with the Tollway to change the name of Spring Road to Oakbrook Center Road due to the public having difficulty finding the correct street to the Center from the toll road. Member Wagner stated that there is a new Director at DuPage County for the trail system. He hopes that they would enhance the trail from Inland over the bridge on Meyers Road for pedestrian and bicycle usage. B. Update on Possible Communications with Oakbrook Terrace on Route 83 & West 22 n Street Streetscape Improvement Projects Member Manofsky concurred with Chairman Kennedy that improvements should occur on Route 83 from 31st Street to 22 ad Sheet with the weeds in the right -of -ways and shoulders of the roadway. IDOT would need approval for any work or improvements done on Route 83. Chairman Kennedy asked that prior plans of improvements of plantings by Hitchcock Design be resurrected for review again to determine if some of those plantings around the overpass 31st Street could be done. He recommended talking with the Village Attorney Friedman about whether hotel funds could be used for public right -of -ways within that area. C. Future Projects 8. ADJOURNMENT In accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any individual who is in need of a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in or benefit from attendance at a public meeting of the Village of Oak Brook should contact Blaine Wing, Assistance Village Manager, at (630) 368 -5000 as soon as possible before the meeting date. ATTEST: Rick Ginex Village Manager May 5, 2014 Date VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK Streetscape Committee Page 4 of 4 Mtg. of September 13, 2013