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Minutes - 03/11/2013 - Committee of the WholeMINUTES OF THE MARCH 11, 2013 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK APPROVED AS WRITTEN OR ON APRIL 23, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of the Committee of the Whole was called to order by President Gopal Lalmalani in the Samuel E. Dean Board Room of the Butler Government Center at 7:03 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was given. 2. ROLL CALL Village Clerk Charlotte Pruss called the roll with the following persons: PRESENT: President Gopal Lalmalani, Trustees Stelios Aktipis, Michael Manzo, Mark Moy, Gerald Wolin, and Elaine Zannis. ABSENT: Trustee Asif Yusuf (arrived at 7:05 pm). IN ATTENDANCE: David Niemeyer, Village Manager; Blaine Wing, Assistant Village Manager; Robert L. Kallien, Jr., Community Development Director; Sharon Dangles, Finance Director, Sue Madorin, Library Director; Michael Hullihan, Public Works Director; Trey VanDyke, Sports Core Director and Marlo Del Percio, Village Attorney. 3. SPORTS CORE REFERENDUM PRESENTATION Manager Niemeyer presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Oak Brook Sports Core Referendum to Sell Land to School District 53. The presentation highlighted the following: • Referendum question to appear on the April 9`s ballot • Why a referendum is necessary • Reasons Village decided to put referendum on ballot when all details have not been worked out • Sports Core land previously sold • Why the School District is also having a referendum • Next steps if both referendums pass • Total acreage needed for school building, parking lot and playground area • Site of the proposed school on Sports Core land • How to determine what the School District will pay Village • School District will pay for all new public improvements needed • School District to receive Village approval prior to selling school site in the future • Existing school sites can be redeveloped only as single family homes • Outcomes if referendum passes and new school building is constructed • Taste of Oak Brook to continue if new school is built • Affect on Sports Core finances • Sports Core internal debt • Reasons why Village cannot make money at the Sports Core • Potential uses of revenues from School District land sale at Golf Club VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK MINUTES Page I of 5 COW MEETING OF MARCH 11, 2013 Resident Peter Huizenga questioned the proposed school building site and stated that the School District will be occupying 100% of the non - designated open space at the Sports Core. 4. RESIDENT COMMENTS Resident John Towers stated that more detailed information should have been available to residents prior to the referendum being put together. He also made recommendations on other sites for a new school building. Resident Kathleen DiGaudio mentioned a flyer she received in the mail regarding the school site. Resident Margaret Murphy mentioned the maximum number of acres recommended by the State of Illinois for schools. Resident Anthony Calandriello stated that he and ten others are spearheading the Saddle Brook annexation process and that he supports the referendum. Resident Rus Strahan stated that he would like to see something regarding what percentage of the open space will be used by the School District. Resident James Pehta discussed the critics of the plan and stated his support of the referendum. Resident Heidi Huizenga stated her concern with the proposed location of the school building. Resident Peter Huizenga stated that the School District should improve the existing school rather than build a new one. He also commented on the finances and the internal debt of the Sports Core. Resident Pat Sidler discussed her support of building a new school on Sports Core property and how it will benefit the Village. Resident Cathy Giangrasse stated that she is concerned that many issues have not been resolved so therefore residents cannot make an educated decision. She also listed ten questions that have not yet been resolved. Resident George Gatto discussed his disapproval of the proposed school building on Sports Core property. Resident Kevin Quinlan stated Oak Brook was built on a comprehensive plan and that residents are being asked to vote on a plan that has not been finalized. Resident Munesh Ahluwalia stated the he is surprised about many things he learned concerning the Sports Core property. He stated that the Sports Core should be able to be VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK MINUTES Page 2 of COW MEETING OF MARCH 11, 2013 profitable and that the conditions of the current schools are suitable. Resident Angie Lopez discussed an issue about the consultants from the University of Illinois and their report on the Sports Core. She stated that it is important for the School District to develop a new school. Resident Al Knuth stressed the importance of citizen participation, encouraged everyone to ask the right questions, and urged everyone to vote. Resident Barry Sadegi stated that this is a very complex issue and the Sports Core is not a safe location for a school. Resident Jan Naborowski stated her support of the passage of both referendums. She also stated that the Sports Core is the perfect location for a new school and that the new school will revitalize the Village and increase property values. Resident Andrea Holt stated that she is in support of the referendum and applauds School District 53. Resident Nicolas Cuda asked questions regarding the value of the sports core property and suggested that an impact study be done. Resident Fatima Hussain stated that Oak Brook needs a school that is comparable or exceeds the neighboring schools. Resident Joseph Mondschean stated his concerns about misinformation about the school issue. Resident Lou Paskalides discussed the opinions of residents against the referendum and the decision of the school district to build a new school. Resident Dr. M. Izhar stated that some of the issues have been blown out of proportion and expressed his support of building a new school on Sports Core property. Dr. Alan Hanzlik asked everyone to visit to the School District 53 website for answers to many of the questions that have been raised. He also discussed themes such as "why change ". He stated that change is inevitable and if you do not change you will perish. He stated that the School District has done thousands of hours of homework before coming to the conclusion that a new school is needed. He further stated that this is the only time that residents will have to build a one Oak Brook school system. Resident Karen Bushy discussed the policy question of whether or not the Village should sell Sports Core property. She also discussed the importance of the zoning code. She stated that the Sports Core property was intended to be an amenity and a benefit to all the residents of Oak Brook. She also stated that the commercial district and residents outside of District 53 will also pay for the new school. She also asked everyone to please vote on VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK MINUTES Page 3 of COW MEETING OF MARCH 11, 2013 election day Manager Niemeyer and Dr. Alan Hanzlik responded to questions raised about the presentation regarding zoning, parking, location, height, square footage, and security features of the proposed new school. Community Development Director Kallien responded to a question regarding the conservation recreation district. He stated that this is designed for non- commercial and non - residential open space. He also stated that the zoning code would need to be amended if the referendum passes. Trustee Yusuf urged everyone to vote and that seeking feedback from residents is the right decision. He discussed the proposed building and stated that the building will only take 1.5 acres of the proposed 8 acres. He asked everyone to make a decision on good and accurate information. He further stated that he will present accurate information regarding the Village's finances at tomorrow night's Board meeting. President Lalmalani asked the Trustees questions raised at the Civic Association meeting. One of the questions is whether or not the referendum question can be removed from the ballot. Clerk Pruss stated that it can but it will cost the Village $30,000 to remove it. Trustee Zannis stated that the current school board earned her trust and that is why she agrees with the building of a new school but is torn about the location. She also stated that if the referendum passes there is no guarantee that the school will be built on Sports Core property. She feels that a new school is a great benefit to Oak Brook and will bring in younger families. She further stated that everyone's voices need to be heard and that the new Board will make the final decision. Trustee Moy stated that the Trustees made a decision to bring this issue to referendum to allow the dialogue to continue and let the residents tell the Board whether or not to consider selling Sports Core property. His view is that a state of the art school will attract vitally needed younger families to Oak Brook. He further stated that the Village needs to progress and needs to change. A question was asked regarding the impact of a new building on Sports Core property on the aviation facility. Public Works Director Hullihan stated that the aviation facility is no longer functional and Community Development Director Kallien stated that the question may also refer to the flying of model airplanes. Resident Karen Bushy stated that the question refers to the McDonalds helipad. Community Development Director Kallien answered a question regarding the difference between R3 and R4 zoning districts. Attorney Del Percio answered the question regarding rescinding the Butler deed. Manager Niemeyer answered the remaining questions regarding the Taste of Oak Brook VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK MINUTES Page 4 of 5 COW MEETING OF MARCH 11, 2013 offsite parking, appraisals of the Sports Core property, and the retention pond cost Trustee Aktipis asked if the Village will approach the Butler Corporation about amending the deed. Attorney Del Percio stated that there are different interested parties and elements to the deed and that it may be a cumbersome task to do. Trustee Aktipis stated that he has high respect for the school board and that they have represented the community well. He stated that we are at the first step of a long series of hurdles. He questioned the size of the proposed school. Dr. Alan Hanzlik stated that the proposed school will be 20% larger than the current school. Trustee Aktipis encouraged every resident to vote and stated that this is an issue that clearly divides the community. Trustee Manzo stated that the Sports Core shared space will be accessible to the public. He also stated that the ultimate goal of all residents is to see Oak Brook prosper in the future. He also stated that he would like to see Oak Brook purchase more open land with the proceeds from the sale of Sports Core property. He feels that building a school on Sports Core property is a good idea and the hope is to create a win -win scenario. He also stated that he loves open space but that the future of Oak Brook is more dependent on a new school system than it is on open space. He further stated that the covenant states up to 80 acres of Sports Core land can be sold via referendum and discussed issues he has with the study conducted by the University of Illinois. Trustee Wolin stated that non District 53 residents will not have a tax increase if the referendum passes. He discussed his doubts on the issue of selling Sports Core property to the School District. He stated that it was premature to go to referendum and gave the reasons, in his opinion, why. He stated that District 53 needs to continue to be an advocate for one Oak Brook if the referendum passes. He suggested that the School District update the current schools and technology and decide at a later date if a new school is needed. He further stated that he remains skeptical, that the referendum is premature, and that the School District should revisit this in the future. Clerk Pruss reminded everyone to vote and stated that tomorrow is the last day that the Village can register residents. She also stated that early voting locations are at the same locations as last year. 5. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Trustee Manzo, seconded by Trustee Wolin to adjourn the Special Meeting of the Committee of the Whole at 10:34 pm. VOICE VOTE: Motion carried. ATTEST: /s /Charlotte K. Pruss Charlotte K. Pruss Village Clerk VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK MINUTES Page 5 of 5 COW MEETING OF MARCH 11, 2013