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2013 SpringnewsOAK ROOK B Quarterly Newsletter I Volume 65 - Spring 2013 Spring In Full Bloom Sports Core Referendum April Election Info 2013 Polo 2 oak-brook.org 2 VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK ELECTED OFFICIALS/ BOARD OF TRUSTEES Gopal Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A | President Charlotte K. Pruss | Clerk Stelios Aktipis | Trustee Michael Manzo | Trustee Mark Moy, M.D. | Trustee Gerald Wolin | Trustee Asif Yusuf | Trustee Elaine Zannis | Trustee VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK DEPARTMENTS Police, Fire, EMS Emergency: 9-1-1 Butler Government Center General Information: (630) 368-5000 Village Clerk: (630) 368-5052 Village Manager: (630) 368-5026 Community Development: (630) 368-5101 Economic Development: (630) 368-5022 Engineering: (630) 368-5130 Fire Non-Emergency: (630) 368-5200 Library: (630) 368-7700 Police Non-Emergency: (630) 368-8700 Public Works: (630) 368-5270 Water Billing: (630) 368-5090 Sports Core Administration Building: (630) 368-6400 Bath & Tennis Club: (630) 368-6400 Oak Brook Golf Club: (630) 368-6400 CONNECT WITH THE VILLAGE Website | www.oak-brook.org Facebook | “Village of Oak Brook” Twitter | @OakBrookVillage Meetings | Regular meetings of the Village Board are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Broadcasts | Videotaped broadcasts of Village Board meetings air on Comcast Cable Television, Government Access Channel 6 or 110 (Oak Brook Club), Mondays at 7 p.m. and online at www.youtube.com/oakbrooktv A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Have comments or suggestions? E-mail Blaine Wing at bwing@oak-brook.org. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Friends and fellow residents, PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As we say goodbye to the winter blues, and warmly welcome the arrival of spring, we see the flowers starting to bloom and new life is all around. Let us all take this opportunity to enjoy the wide range of entertainment and recreational activities available in our community. Below are some important items to note as we look forward: ELECTION ON APRIL 9, 2013 Besides voting for three trustee seats, there is a referendum question asking whether the Village should sell 8.5 acres of Sports Core land to School District 53. This is such an important issue that several pages of this newsletter are dedicated to answering many of the frequently asked questions. In addition, residents of District 53 will also be voting on whether to authorize the sale of $15 million in bonds to help pay for the new school they are proposing. Thus, I urge residents to vote on April 9! REPORT OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COUNSEL Last year, the Village Board appointed Bryce, Downey and Lenkov to undertake an investigation of the 2005 Police Chief Sheahan’s appointment process, passage of SLEP legislation in 2007, and the 2009 lobbying contract with Robert Molaro and Michael Thomson. The report, which is posted on the news section of the Village’s website, was presented to the Village Board on February 26 by Bill Seith. The report will now be referred to the U.S. and State’s Attorney for any further review or action. ILLINOIS TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (ITEP) GRANT The Village received an ITEP grant for $849,800 for streetscape improvements on 22nd Street from Salt Creek to I-294. The Village Board and I would like to thank Rep. Patti Bellock and Senator Kirk Dillard for their support in securing this grant. MOLINA HEALTHCARE Molina Healthcare recently announced plans to occupy 37,000+ square feet at the Crossings business campus, which will bring 150 new jobs to Oak Brook. Molina Healthcare is a FORTUNE 500 company that has grown into one of the leaders in providing quality healthcare for individuals and families who are on Medicare, Medicaid, and other government funded programs. COURT AFFIRMS BOARD’S DISCHARGE OF POLICE OFFICER PETERSON Former Police Officer Stephen Peterson was terminated by the Board of Fire and Police Commission in 2011 and then sued to get his job back. On March 18, Circuit Court Judge Sheen issued a statement that said, “...this Court finds that Officer Peterson’s conduct, when viewed in its entirety warrants the sanction of discharge.” As always, please know that Village Trustees, our staff, and I are available to you at all times and are here to serve you. Feel free to email, call, or meet any one of us. Let us know how we are doing, and what else we need to be working on, as together we strive to make Oak Brook an even better place to work, live, and play. Respectfully, Gopal G. Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A. Village President oak-brook.org 3 ADMINISTRATION One of our newer committees is the Ad-hoc Residential Enhancement Committee. This Committee was created in July 2012 by the Village Board. Its main purpose is to make recommendations to the President and Board of Trustees concerning ways to entice new families to move to Oak Brook, fill vacant homes, and to revitalize and enhance the Village’s residential properties. The Committee is composed of business, corporate, real estate, educational, and recreation professionals and others that bring a wealth of knowledge to the process. Co-Chaired by Todd Rusteberg and Cristin Jones, this committee has met four times since November. In response to the Committee’s charge from the Village Board, the Committee used the SWOT strategic planning tool to identify key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Several short term and medium term recommendations were developed. The recommendations are as follows: Recommendation #1: Engage a marketing firm to develop a comprehensive approach, plan and strategy to market Oak Brook as a place to live, work, and play. This will be the Committee’s first responsibility and the members will work in concert with the Village to hire a marketing firm to develop a marketing strategy for the Village. Oak Brook has many outstanding attributes and the marketing firm will work with the Committee to market our strengths to potential home buyers with a targeted approach. Recommendation #2: Specifically target private schools and businesses for potential residents and raise awareness through programs for these groups. This program will involve targeting executives of Oak Brook companies and parents of children in local area private schools as potential residents. Recommendation #3: Develop focused plans to address some of the reasons why some families choose other villages over Oak Brook as a place to live. This effort is longer term but will look at things creating more gathering areas for families, improving transportation from area train stations, and enhancing current activities like polo and adding new activities to bring the community together. The complete report is online under the Manager’s Office section. From the Manager’s Desk DAVID NIEMEYER The Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce 2013 Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast The Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce 2013 Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast was held on March 13 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The Annual Meeting included an overview of the Chamber’s work over the past year, including Oak Brook and Oakbrook Terrace municipal reports and state legislative updates, presentation of the Chamber’s new board and committee leadership, and a keynote presentation on leadership by Dan Goodwin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Inland Real Estate Group Inc., Oak Brook. The Chamber also presented the business recognition awards. Outgoing Chairman Cathy Bushman thanked fellow board directors for their efforts over the past year. “The Chamber’s directors understand that we all grow and prosper together, and that our combined efforts are what make us strong and successful.” Incoming Chairman John Hrudicka agreed and emphasized how important it will be for businesses to join forces over the next year to push for accountability in our state legislature. “We need to have high energy and a conviction in doing what is right.” The Chamber also presented the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award to Inland Real Estate for encouraging and promoting an environment that facilitates the unlimited growth and advancement of women. The Investing in People Award was presented to Northwestern Mutual Oak Brook for outstanding leadership in growing and developing its most important product – its people. The Work Hard Play Hard Award was presented to SWC Technology Partners for outstanding leadership in encouraging and promoting high work performance in a happy, healthy and fun atmosphere. The Teamwork Award was presented to the Hyatt Lodge for outstand- ing leadership in promoting and nurturing a positive team environment at every level of the organization. 4 oak-brook.org What does the referendum question say? If the referendum is approved, is it certain that the Village will sell the land to the School District? Why does the Village have to have a referendum to seek voter approval of the land sale? Has the Village sold or developed Sports Core land before? Why is the School District also having a referendum? If both referendums are approved, and both the Village and the School District decide they want to enter into an intergovernmental agreement for the land sale, what happens next? How much of the Sports Core land would the school buildings and related properties take? Shall the Village of Oak Brook sell a portion, not to exceed 8.5 acres, of the Oak Brook Sports Core property, in the general area bounded by Bath and Tennis Drive to the west and north, Oak Brook Road to the south, and Grant Street to the East, to School District 53, for the purpose of constructing a school building and related facilities? Yes___ No____ No. If the majority of the voters vote yes, the referendum would only give the Village the authority to sell the land. The Village Board could choose to not sell the land to the school district for any reason even if the referendum is approved. In addition, the School District could decide any time after the referendum not to move forward with the land purchase. The Village purchased the Sports Core land from Paul Butler in 1977. Butler’s intent in selling the land to the Village was that it would remain primarily open space. One of the conditions of accepting the deed is that if the Village decided to sell off or develop Sports Core land, it had to receive voter approval. The deed gives the Village the right to sell up to 80 acres with voter approval. Yes, there have been three occasions where Sports Core land was sold or developed: · In 1996, voters approved the construction of a new library on 3+ acres of land. · In 1998, voters approved the sales of approximately 3 acres of land on 31st for the development of residential homes that funded golf course improvements. · In 2000, voters approved the sale of approximately 4 acres to DuPage County for the widening of 31st Street. The School District needs to sell $15 million in bonds to construct the new school. For more information on that referendum, please go to the District 53 website at www.butler53.com. The School District and the Village would need to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement that would define the terms of the land sale including detailing the specific location of the school, the price, the sharing of facility costs and leasing of land for stormwater detention and sports fields. In addition, the School District would need to get various recommendation and approvals in a number of public meetings from the Plan Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Village Board. The School District would need to seek approvals for a text amendment to permit public schools as a public use in the Sports Core’s current zoning district, which is a conservation/recreation district. The School District would also have to seek approval for a special use to construct the school. Finally, the School District would have to seek approval to officially define the boundaries of the school site as a subdivision. The Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals would review issues such as detention, parking, traffic issues including traffic flow, traffic signal, road improvements, student drop off areas, etc. The Village would sell the school up to 8.5 acres which would include the building, parking lot and playground area. In addition, the Village would lease approximately 2 acres of land for detention, though the exact amount of land will be determined when a full blown engineering study of the site is completed. The School District will also evaluate underground detention. Finally, the School District would rent approximately 7 acres of open space for sports and play areas. SPECIAL FEATURE: Sports Core Referendum oak-brook.org 5 Where would the proposed school go? What will the School District pay the Village for the Sports Core land they want and how will this be determined? Who will be paying for the road and traffic improvements, parking and detention needed to service this new school? The illustrative map on the right shows approximate acres and estimated percentages of the Sports Core property. The current proposed site is just east of the library. However, this could change after further studies are completed if the referendum is approved. The property would need to be located within the boundaries of the property that are listed in the referendum question. The proposed site was chosen by the Village. The advantages to this site are that it allows the library and school to share parking, separates the library and school on Sports Core land from rest of Sports Core open space, does not require relocation of the maintenance building, minimizes the number of trees that need to be removed, and is the easiest site to connect to utilities. The Village is in the process of getting appraisals that will help determine the value of the site. The first appraisal’s value was $445,238 per acre. The second appraisal’s value was $478,823 per acre. The final price for the 8.5 acres will be negotiated with the School District if the referendum is approved. The price for the detention area will be an annual charge based on fair market value. The price for renting the 7 acres of open space is more complicated. The School District will require the space during the school year and the hours will vary. Renting the 7 acres to the School District will reduce the amount of revenues the Village will receive from soccer on all of the open spaces. One option is that the Village must be made whole for any lost soccer revenues it currently receives from the open spaces. Another option is that the 7 acres could be leased at fair market value. School District 53 will be paying for all new public improvements that are needed to service their development. However, if there are improvements that can be shared by both the School District and the Village, the Village may contribute a portion of the costs. Commonly Asked Questions and Answers 6 oak-brook.org How do we know that the School District won’t sell the Sports Core land somewhere in the future to a use the Village doesn’t want? Will the Village have a say in what the Brook Forest and Butler schools could be sold for? If the referendum passes and the new school building is constructed, what will be some of the outcomes? Will the Taste of Oak Brook continue if the school is built on the Sports Core? How does this affect the finances of the Sports Core? What’s all this discussion about the $2.3 million debt of the Sports Core? The Village would include language in the agreement with the School District that would require the School District to receive Village approval if they desired to sell the school site. Yes. Both the Village and the School District agree that the two school sites should only be sold for single family homes. If the referendum is approved, the Village will make appropriate changes to the zoning code that would ensure only single family homes could be built on the site. Butler School is zoned R-3, which means single family lots must be at least 25,000 square feet. Brook Forest School is zoned R-4, which means that single family lots must be at least 18,000 square feet. The Village will receive significant funds for Sports Core capital improvements and other Village needs. The Village could also receive funds from the School District to share in the maintenance of the Sports Core facilities. The new school could create synergies with the library and other parts of the Sports Core. The Village would lose open space and soccer teams would lose the use of some of the fields unless the Village relocates them elsewhere. The plan will be developed without a final master plan for the Sports Core. The recreation consultants who are completing the research phase of a master plan do not recommend including the school in the Sports Core plan, citing the preservation of open space as a priority of survey respondents. Putting the school buildings on the site could preclude other uses on the site. There would be additional traffic and could be potential conflicts with other uses on the site. Yes. The Village will have to seek more off-site parking for the event, as some of the Taste parkers would normally park on land where the school will be built as well as Butler School. The funds from the School District would significantly help the Sports Core finances, especially the need for capital improvements. The Village is not able to make enough money in the Sports Core each year to put aside enough funds for significant capital improvements. In fact, it usually loses money. Over the next 10-20 years, the Village could need several million dollars to maintain and upgrade its current facilities. The funds could be used for upgrading the golf course drainage system to reduce the number of days it is closed and therefore stabilize its revenues, adding new amenities such as walking paths or nature areas, improving the 43-year-old swimming pool, modernizing the bathhouse, and adding a 3 hole practice golf course. The Village’s Sports Core currently owes the Village’s General Fund $2,362,000. There is no outstanding external debt on the Sports Core. Every year the Sports Core does not make money, it needs to borrow funds from the General Fund to pay its bills. This debt has accumulated over 20 years. The General Fund is used to fund police, fire, library and administrative functions, so if these funds were not loaned to the Sports Core, they could have been used either for operations and capital purchases in these departments. However, there is no requirement that the internal debt to the General Fund be paid back. In addition, up until 2008 the Village’s General Fund subsidized the Sports Core by over $100,000 per year. SPECIAL FEATURE: Sports Core Referendum oak-brook.org 7 The Sports Core is unique in that it was set up as a fund that was expected to generate enough revenues to pay its own expenses. Typically, parks and recreation programs are subsidized by property tax revenues by Park Districts or Villages. The Village of Oak Brook does not levy property taxes. Part of the challenge is that all of the Sports Core facilities, with the exception of the clubhouse, are only open during warmer weather months. In recent years, the Village has focused very hard on increasing revenues and decreasing expenses at the Sports Core. The membership revenues from the pool are at a 15-year high even though membership rates are lower than in 1996. In addition, the management of the pool was outsourced and our costs for managing the pool are 26% less than 2006. Tennis revenues have increased by 15% since 2010. An agreement with Butler National Golf Course to add target greens to their lease is currently netting an additional $40,000 in 2013. Revenues from soccer are 491% higher than 5 years ago. However, golf, which is the one division of the Sports Core that almost always makes money and offsets losses in other areas, has seen revenues dip in the last five or so years, mostly due to the economy and weather. In addition, the clubhouse profits have been reduced in the last few years, mostly due to an unfavorable outcome the Village had with a private caterer. However, in the last two years, revenues in the clubhouse have rebounded significantly from its low point a few years ago. In fact, in 2013, we are already projecting more revenues from events at the clubhouse than in all of 2012. Finally, the Village just finished paying the last year of a 10-year bond issue to expand the clubhouse, which will take a $100,000 annual liability off the books of the clubhouse in future years. The Village Board will develop a priority plan if the referendum is approved. One option would be to use the funds for one-time projects and not recurring expenses. Another option would be to get an annual payment rather than a lump sum payment from District 53 or use some of the interest from the lump sum proceeds to fund some Sports Core operations. Funds would not be used to reduce Village pension liabilities, as has been rumored. The Village has just completed a survey on improvements our residents and Sports Core members would like to see at the Sports Core and this would help guide the Village Board on setting priorities. For more information go to the Village’s website (www.oak-brook.org/2013ref) or call the Village Manager’s Office at (630) 368-5026. Why can’t the Village make money at the Sports Core? How will the Village spend the money it receives from the land sale? Where can I get more information? Commonly Asked Questions and Answers TASTE OF OA KBROOK P R E S E N T ED B Y McDonald’s 201131313 TASTE OF OAK BROOK Wednesday, July 3, 2013 Oak Brook Polo Fields Join us for Food, Fireworks, & Fun! POLICE From the Chief’s Desk JAMES KRUGER Over the last quarter, the Oak Brook Police Department has been working on several projects to continue to offer our community the very best law enforcement services in the region. Many of these activities are highlighted in our 2012 Annual Report now posted on our website. This is the first Annual Report since I became Chief and I hope that you take a moment and look through it to see what I have found in my first year here, our staff is the best around. The Police Department is hosting another session of the Citizen’s Police Academy, which began March 13th. Each session lasts approximately 2 ½ hours for ten weeks. We encourage all residents over the age of 18 and those who work in Oak Brook to attend. Our first group last November found the experience to be very rewarding. One of the benefits of this program is for our customers to really get to know our staff on a closer level. We also want to encourage a partnership with our alumni to remain part of the organization and assist us with some our community projects as well. During 2012 the Oak Brook Police Department began a renewed commitment to the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Due to your generosity, we raised over $11,000 and met Silver Medal status. Our Special Olympics Committee attended the 2013 kickoff in Bloomington last month to receive our award. The award was presented to President Lalmalani at the February 26th meeting of the Village Board. A Special Olympics Global Messenger, Ms. Kristen McInerney, a medalist in swimming and bocce of Willowbrook, spoke at the Board Meeting. The Special Olympics State Committee called Oak Brook the “One to Watch” for 2013 due to our staffs’ efforts. With your help, we hope to achieve Gold Medal status for 2013. While this article is being written in the doldrums of Winter, the Police Department would like to remind you that Spring is soon upon us and with that more pedestrians (joggers and walkers) as well as bicyclists. Please be careful driving and slow down in residential areas. We would also like to remind our walkers to please wear reflective clothing if going out at night, and carry a flashlight to alert on coming motorists. There is also a red flashing strobe attached to an armband available in some sporting good stores that is a great option. Lastly, the Police Department has been working diligently with the staff of Butler District 53 after the horrific events of Sandy Hook Elementary School last December. I am pleased to say the open lines of communication and the collaboration that the Police and Schools had maintained prior to that event made this seamless. The Police Department has been conducting frequent walk throughs of the schools, performed updated security analyses and had discussion with school administrators to insure these open lines of communication remain. We will also be conducting additional training for both staffs later this year. I would like to thank Dr. Martin and her staff for their continued support of our efforts insuring our children’s safety. In a continued effort to expand community policing, Alive @ 25 is a defensive driving course developed by the National Safety Council that targets young drivers and passengers ages 15-24, the group most likely to be involved in fatal collisions. Preventing deaths among teen drivers and young adult drivers is the mission of Alive @ 25. Recent studies suggest teen driving accidents account for up to 44% of all teen deaths, making it the leading cause of teenage deaths in the United States. The program consists of a highly interactive 4 ½ hour classroom driving course focusing on decision making, responsibility, and risk assessment. This program uses workbook exercises, interactive media segments, group discussions, role-playing and short lectures to help young drivers develop convictions and strategies that will keep them safer on the road. The Oak Brook Police Department, along with neighboring police departments including Hinsdale, have hosted and instructed numerous Alive @ 25 classes, training as many as 2,500 students since 2008. Placing this much-needed, life saving curriculum in the hands of experienced law enforcement professionals has brought this course to life in a way that has affected meaningful change in the attitudes and behaviors of young drivers. Our next Alive @ 25 class is scheduled for April 27, 2013 from 9:00am-1:30pm at the Butler Government Center. The class is free and lunch will be provided. Attendance for all 4½ hours is mandatory to receive credit and the final certificate, which may be used to obtain a discounted auto insurance rate. To register for this class, contact Officer Erica Huff at ehuff@oak-brook.org or (630) 368-8734. Alive @ 25 8 oak-brook.org From the Chief’s Desk TOM MCELLIN Spring is upon us and what better way to feel safe than to have a fire inspector come to your home. As a courtesy to Oak Brook residents, the Oak Brook Fire Prevention Bureau will be offering free home fire safety inspections. Fire Prevention personnel will check your place of residence for fire hazards and potential problem areas. All information is completely confidential with no obligations. This informa- tion goes no further than to the homeowners. Inspections should take approximately one hour. To schedule an appointment call (630) 368-5220. The Fire Department also offers fire and injury prevention education, such as: First-aid, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automatic external defibrillators) classes, fire extinguisher use, fire safety classes, EDITH classes (Exit Drills In The Home), and disaster preparedness. To schedule an inspection or for more information on fire safety programs, contact the Fire Department at 368-5200. Lastly, I would like to let everyone know that the 2012 Annual Report is available for viewing on the Village of Oak Brook website at www.oak-brook.org. oak-brook.org 9 FIRE Spring Safety Keeping a few safety thoughts in mind will help you make your spring experience much more enjoyable. Lightning Safety · If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning. · Fully enclosed metal vehicles such as cars, trucks and vans with windows rolled up provide good shelter. · You don’t have to be directly hit by lightning to be affected. Lightning can travel along the ground from a nearby strike to you. It can also jump from nearby objects that are struck. · Avoid all metal objects, including fences, electric wires, machinery, motors, power tolls, flag poles, etc. · Unsafe places include underneath canopies, small picnic or rain shelters or near trees. · Avoid being the tallest object. Seek ditches, trenches or low ground. · At the first sign of lightning or thunder, swimming pools and beaches should be evacuated. Seek shelter in a safe area. · Stay away from doors and windows. Electrical Safety · If your home has sustained flood or water damage, and you can safely get to the main power source, turn off the power. · Appliances that have been exposed to water can short and become a fire hazard. · Assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. · Be aware of and avoid downed utility lines. Report downed or damaged power lines to the utility company or emergency services. · Have a licensed electrician check your home for damage. Gas Safety · Smell and listen for leaking connections. If you believe there is a gas leak, immediately leave the house and leave the door(s) open. · Never strike a match. Any size flame can spark an explosion. · Have the gas company check the system before turning the gas on. Generator Safety · Generators are often used during power outages. Generators that are not properly used and maintained can be hazardous. · Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when using the generators. · Use the generator or other fuel powered machines outside the home. CO fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors. · Use the appropriate type power cords to carry the electrical load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires. · Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up. · Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors · Check your fire extinguishers · Check for overloaded or damaged cords · Prepare for storm related outages (make sure your flashlights and portable radios have batteries and that other supplies, such as bottled water, are stocked and available) · Practice exit drills with your family so everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency Home Safety As the weather warms Public Works and Engineering are gearing up for an active construction season. Road improvements include repaving the streets in York Woods that were affected by last year’s water main replacement project. Croydon and Chatham will be repaved along with parts of Sheffield and Windsor. We will also be starting pedestrian access projects around the Oakbrook Center. Features such as enhanced crosswalk markings, improved pedestrian signals, and sidewalks will make walking to the mall safer and easier. The first phase of streetscape improvements along 22nd Street will also be accomplished. Median planters and irrigation systems will be installed between Spring Road and Salt Creek. Our water system will also receive some attention. Work on pumps, valves, and the 22nd Street water main is scheduled. Public Works crews will be busy with drainage issues, street signs, pavement markings, as well as a good amount of forestry work. As Ash trees are lost to the Emerald Ash Borer, we will be replacing them with a variety of trees. The objective is to increase the species diversity and reduce the risk of future issues. PUBLIC WORKS 2013 Infrastructure Projects The Village of Oak Brook is currently working with the County Staff to resolve difficulties in the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) data. The difficulties arise from two areas: (1) The elevation data used by the County to produce the draft FIRM panels is not as accurate as data collected by the Village. (2) The assumptions used in the hydraulic modeling in the southern portion of the Village is not consistent with those used in other parts of the watershed. The Village of Oak Brook is confident that these slight discrepancies can be resolved. In order to resolve these issues we have two initiatives underway. Our aerial survey provider is verifying the accuracy of Village elevation data using accepted “ground truthing” protocols. Du Page County has agreed to use verified elevation data to correct their maps. We also had the computer hydraulic models re-run for the southern portion of the Village. The County has agreed to use the results to correct FIRM panels. Our objective is to insure the most accurate flood risk information is depicted on the maps currently being constructed by the Illinois State Water Survey. The draft flood plain maps should be available for public review and comment by November 2013. Should there be remaining discrepancies; Village Staff will use a number of procedural tools to insure that the final maps are accurate. These include applications for Letters of Map Adjustment (LOMA) and Letters of Map Revision (LOMR). Flood Insurance Rate Map Update From the Director’s Desk MICHAEL HULLIHAN 10 oak-brook.org These and other infrastructure projects will occur this year within the Village of Oak Brook. Please contact the Engineering Department with any of your questions or comments (630) 368-5130. Water Main Project (22nd Street frontage road from Salt Creek to Clearwater Drive). During spring, this project replaces eight hundred feet of breaking old water main. 22nd Street Median Enhancement Project During spring and summer, this project will enhance grassy medians within the State right-of-way of 22nd Street by installing various landscaping along with irrigation. It is mostly funded by a grant from the Illinois Trans- portation Enhancement Program, but is being coordinated by the Village. I-88 Ramp Reconstruction Improvements (at Spring Road and at York Road). During spring and summer, the Tollway will reconstruct two of their I-88 ramps within the Village which are at Spring Road and at York Road. There are no realignments and the work will be done primarily at night while still maintaining access. Paving Project (parts of York Woods Subdivision and other miscellaneous areas). During summer and fall, this project resurfaces parts of York Woods Subdivision including Chatham Lane, Croydon Lane, Sheffield Lane (from north Brighton Lane going southwest to Windsor Drive) and Windsor Drive (from Dover Drive to the cul-de- sac). These streets will also have significant drainage improvements and replacements of curb and gutter. This project also resurfaces parts of the streets affected by the water main project described above. Route 83 Resurfacing (Butterfield Road to south of 55th Street). During summer and fall, the Illinois Department of Transportation will resurface, with asphalt, Route 83 within and beyond the Village limits with all work being done at night. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT From the Director’s Desk ROBERT KALLIEN Development Update There is a lot of activity in Oak Brook. Here are a few of the developments and redevelopments you should know about: Oakbrook Center: · There are many changes and improvements now underway at Oakbrook Center. All interior areas of the Center are being completely redone (half 2012) and the rest in the coming year. The improvements include pavers/pavement, landscaping, signage, interior lighting and water features. · General Growth Properties Inc. has sold the Renaissance Hotel (2100 Spring Road) next to Oakbrook Center to an investment firm that plans to renovate and reopen the property as a Le Meridien hotel. The new owners, RockBridge Capital LLC plans a $21 million revamp of the 172-room hotel as a four-star facility. The Columbus, Ohio- based hotelinvestor said it expects to reopen in early 2014. · Renovations are underway in several of the large anchor stores including Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, and Nieman Marcus. Finally, the Sears anchor store is now undergoing interior and exterior renovations to make some of their building space available to other retailers. Sears will continue here in Oak Brook, but now in smaller, more efficient space. · The former Bloomingdale’s Home store space is now being prepared for a number of new retail tenants. Warm Weather Encourages Door-to-door Solicitors The season of door-to-door sales people is upon us. The Village of Oak Brook requires that all Commercial Solicitors must apply for a permit from the Village. A background check for local violations is completed for each individual that has requested permission to solicit door-to-door in the Village of Oak Brook with the intent to protect the residents of the Village. Non-Commercial Solicitors must register with the Village for the purpose of identification. The Village does not regulate solicitors distributing handbills as long as they do not participate in personal contact with residents. Federal litigation has specified that religious organizations and political parties are exempt from any Village requirements of licensing or registration. Many religious organizations do cooperate and at least provide us with information and are willing to wear our badges. For further information or for a solicitors application contact the Village Clerk’s office at (630) 368-5052. Clearwater: · The John Buck Company has been issued permits for the construction of an 8,000 sq.ft. building to be located on a vacant out-lot located near the corner of 22nd Street and Clearwater Drive. At least two restaurants including Chipotle Mexican Grill and Roti Mediterranean Grill have been announced as future tenants. Hub Group: · Work continues on Hub Group’s, 140,000 sq.ft. corporate headquarters facility at 2000 Clearwater Drive. The steel super-structure has been installed. Construction of the new building should be complete by late 2013. Lewis University: · Lewis University has completed its move from 2122 York Road to its new home in the building located at 1111 22nd Street. At the new location, Lewis’s presence in Oak Brook will nearly double in size and will occupy in excess of 28,000 sq.ft. of space. Located at 2040 York Road, the Protein Bar has breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, healthy catering, PLUS a chef-designed Kid’s Menu. For hours and other info visit: www.theproteinbar.com Introducing Protein Bar Oak Brook oak-brook.org 11 SPORTS CORE From the Director’s Desk TREY VANDYKE The Village is excited to announce that the 2013 season will have a total of six (6) events and until April 30, 2013, the Oak Brook residential General Admission season pass will cost $75 each and the VIP season pass will cost $625 each. The VIP season pass will include tented field-side seating, a VIP parking space at the Golf Clubhouse, and more! Individual Oak Brook residential General Admission tickets will still be available for $15 (instead of the normal $25 pre-event/$30 event-day price) and individual VIP tickets will also be available for $125 each. Ticket Information: Pre-Season passes are available for purchase online at www.oak-brook.org/polo. Please order your tickets prior to ticket prices increasing. After the Pre-Season sale ends, Oak Brook will start selling both General Admission and VIP tickets by phone, online, and at the following locations: • Village Hall: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Oak Brook Public Library: Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Oak Brook Golf Clubhouse: Monday – Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Tickets may also be purchased prior and during the polo matches at this location.) Group Tickets: Contact Blaine Wing at bwing@oak-brook.org or (630) 368-5022. Match Information: Following the special match on Friday, July 19th at 3:30 p.m., details will be posted online shortly, the remaining events will be held on: • Sunday, July 28th (1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. matches) • Sunday, August 18th (1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. matches) • Sunday, August 25th (1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. matches) • Sunday, September 15th (1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. matches) • Sunday, September 22nd (1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. matches) *Rain date of October 6th, if any of the above is canceled because of weather. 12 oak-brook.org Spring is in the air, the grass is trying to grow, and it won’t be long before the Sports Core outdoor activities are in full bloom. In the meantime, our staff is busy developing plans for summer fun. We are happy to announce that all of our top sports coaches will be returning: Cindy Jones, Head Swim Coach, Greg Spencer, Head Tennis Professional, and PGA instructors Claudine Boettger, Ian Grant, Jeff Kawucha, Dan Kochevar, and Gary Pinns. Below are a few dates that should make your 2013 calendar: Golf Course Opening Day Expected Date - Monday April 1 Golf Club Driving Range Opens Monday, April 1 Bath & Tennis Club Courts Open Saturday, April 13 Bath & Tennis Club Discount Deadline Wednesday, May 1 Giant Golf Demo Day Wednesday, May 8 Bath & Tennis Club Pool Opens Saturday, May 25 Taste of Oak Brook Wednesday, July 3 2013 Polo Season July 19 - September 23 Finally, this season’s first Polo match is on July 19th at 3:30 p.m. and will be followed by a special opening event. 2013 OAK BROOK POLO Sundays: July 28; August 18 & 25; September 15 & 22 LIBRARY Spring PROGRAMS From the Director’s Desk SUE MADORIN With personal and mobile computer use higher than ever, many people wonder how public libraries stay relevant. But the facts show that libraries gain relevance every year, with usage and circulation steadily increasing. Computers and mobile devices offer worlds of information and entertainment, and libraries make valuable contributions to what is available for everyone. Recently, the Oak Brook Public Library acquired a new database called Zinio. This database flaunts the tagline of “The World’s Largest Newsstand”. The library currently subscribes to 35 of the most popular magazines that are available for any computer, eReader, or mobile device with internet access and an Oak Brook Public Library card. The images are just as crisp as the print editions, and some have added features such as video, audio, and live links. Zinio is a resourceful database for travel buffs who have earned many frequent flier miles. Not only does it come without the bulk of several magazines, but issues can be downloaded for offline viewing, which will please any flight attendant. For more information on how to utilize this database, the Oak Brook Public Library has another great resource: its librarians! They can tell you all you need to know to access this database and others on your eReader or mobile device. Stop in the library and have your favorite magazines available at the touch of a button. Coming Soon... The Library will shortly have two (2) new iMac computers, thanks to a generous donation by the Friends of the Library. oak-brook.org 13 APRIL Saturday, April 6th 2:00 pm Gaining Financial Control of your Divorce The decisions you make during your divorce will affect the rest of your life. In these tough economic times, it is crucial that you get the right information so that you can make sound financial, not emotional, decisions. This workshop will show you how to avoid some of the most common financial mistakes people make during the divorce process – as well as show you the sources of money that may be available to you as a result of your divorce. Join Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ Graham Craig for crucial information on how to take control of your finances during your divorce. Sunday, April 14th 2:00 pm Amazing Women History Theatre: Romancing the White House Amazing Women History Theatre presents this lively portrayal of first ladies Dolley Madison and Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as Lucy Mercer Rutherford, the “other woman” in President Roosevelt’s life. Tuesday, April 23rd 8:00 pm OBPL Book Discussion Behind the Beautiful Flowers by Katherine Boo The dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking story of families striving toward a better life in one of the twenty-first century's great, unequal cities. In this fast-paced book, based on three years of uncompromising reporting, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made human. MAY Monday, May 6th 3:00 pm Dr. Mark Moy: Poisoning Dr. Moy continues his series of programs on Medical Emergencies with Poisoning. He will discuss different types of poisoning (drugs, gases, household products, metals, pesticides, etc.), overdoses, how poison affects the body and brain, and how the ER doctors treat poisoning incidents. Sunday, May 19th 2:00 pm Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman Come meet Jenny Riddle as Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. Jenny brings this fascinating woman to life in her latest dramatic book review, Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Massie. "Catherine" has lots of secrets to tell about her dramatic rise to power from a little-known German princess to her thirty-four-year reign as the Empress of Russia. Learn how Catherine's passion for books and learning, her ability to keep her cool, her famous liaisons, and her enlightened philosophy made her one of the most successful women of all time. It's a riveting story that you won't want to miss. 14 oak-brook.org FINANCE BUDGET APPROVED Finance Director SHARON DANGLES The Village of Oak Brook is pleased to announce that water customers can sign up to receive their water bill electronically by email. The electronic bill generated looks just like the bill a customer would receive in the mail. Customers will receive their bill one to two days earlier since the bill does not have to be forwarded and processed for mailing. Delinquent Notices will still be processed, printed and mailed. If you would like to participate in this program, please email waterbilling@oak-brook.org and include the following information: • Service Address • Water Account Number • Telephone Number • Email Address The 2013 Municipal Budget was approved by the Village Board on December 11, 2012. The President and Board of Trustees worked in unison by providing a common view of the goals, revenues, costs and other elements connected in pursuing the community vision. The Village’s General Corporate cash reserve balance deserves some special mention as it continues to be an important aspect in the Village’s position of fiscal strength. The financial policy of the Village is to maintain a cash balance reserve of at least six months of operating expenditures in the General Corporate Fund. The projected ending cash balance for 2013 in the General Corporate Fund of $11,417,959 is equal to 7.4 months of operating expenses, which is $1.3 million above the six month operating reserve requirement. 2013 budgeted revenues are $49.8 million, including $20.2 million in the General Fund, which is where many of the Village’s day-to-day operations are funded. Sales taxes for the General Fund account for more than half of the General Fund revenues. They are projected to be $10.9 million or 2% higher than last year. This will be the first full year of sales tax generation from Pinstripes and we should start seeing some sales from Tesla, the electric car dealer in the mall too. Total Expenditures for 2013 are $46.9 million. This is 2% lower than last year due to fewer capital projects as compared to last year. The budget includes the final payment of $1.7 million for the Village’s one- third share of the I-88/22nd Street Bridge project. The Police Department budget decreased primarily due to the consolidation of the Village’s emergency communication center with DuComm. Finally, a new ladder truck is being purchased for just under $1 million. The City of Chicago is passing on the cost of infrastructure improvements to the suburbs that use Lake Michigan water. Subsequently, the DuPage Water Commission (DWC) raised our bulk water purchase rate by 20 percent in 2013, and future increases are expected to range from 17 percent in 2014 and 18 percent in 2015. As a result, resident rates were increased from $5.65 to $6.28 per 1,000 gallons, while non-resident rates increased from $7.05 to $7.68. New and existing customers can sign-up to have their water payment automatically deducted from their designated bank account on the bill due date. You will also be rewarded for using this convenient option with a $1.00 per month discount on your bill. Download the Enrollment Form, which can be located via the Finance page on the Village website. Water Rates, Billing Improvements RATE INCREASESE-BILLINGAUTOPAY DISCOUNTThe Village’s 2008 – 2012 check registers are now available online. The check register shows the Payee name, check date, check number and amount. To access this information, visit the Finance section of the Village website. Check Registers Available 2013 oak-brook.org 15 ELECTION INFORMATION There will be a Consolidated Election on April 9, 2013. If you have recently moved, be sure to Register to Vote. After March 12, residents may register to vote at the DuPage County or Cook County Election Offices. The final registration deadline is April 6, 2013. Early Voting began on Monday, March 25, 2013 and will run thru April 6, 2013. Early Voting sites and information is posted on the Village’s site at www.oak-brook. org or you may go the DuPage County Election Commission’s website located at www.dupageelections.com to confirm the location where you should vote. OAK BROOK BRIEF 2013 DUPAGE RIVER SWEEP Take an active interest in water quality. Participate in the 22nd Anniversary of the DuPage River Sweep on Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. The Conservation Foundation along with the Illinois Environment Protection Agency, DuPage Stormwater Management Division, and Waste Management are working to remove trash from detention ponds, creeks, tributaries, and main river branches in our area. Last year, 620 volunteers attended the event and collected more than nine tons of debris. For more information, visit www.theconservationfoundation.org. ELECTRIC AGGREGATION UPDATE In October 2011, the Village Board awarded a contract to Integrys Energy Services, Inc. to provide electricity supply through December 2013 for the Village’s electric aggregation program. The Village secured a fixed rate of 5.52 ¢/kWh for eligible residential customers and 5.45 ¢/kWh for eligible small business customers. These rates represent a 29% savings for residential customers and a 27% - 30% savings for small business customers compared to ComEd’s summer rate for electrical supply. If you initially chose not to participate in this program or if you are new to the Village, there’s still time to join. You can sign up online at www.integrysenergy.com/oakbrook or by calling 1- (877) 548-8795. Remember, ComEd will still respond to all service calls and you will continue to receive one monthly bill from ComEd. NEW VILLAGE TRUSTEES The new trustees that are elected on April 9 will be sworn into office in a public ceremony on May 14, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Clubhouse. These trustees will serve a four year term starting in May 2013 through April 2017. VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS AND SERVICES From time to time, vacancies occur on the various Village boards, commissions and committees. If you are interested in volunteering your time to serve as an appointed member, please complete an “Application for Appointment” form, which can be downloaded from the Village of Oak Brook’s website at www.oak-brook.org. CONSOLIDATED ELECTION BALLOT The ballot placement for the April 9, 2013 Consolidated Election is as follows: Three Trustees to be Elected for a four year (full term) John Baar Mark M. Moy Donald N. Adler William Denton Phil Cuevas Steven Young Public Question: Shall the Village of Oak Brook sell, or otherwise dispose of, a portion, not to exceed 8.5 acres, of the Oak Brook Sports Core property, in the general area bounded by Bath and Tennis Drive to the west and north, Oak Brook Road to the south, and Grant Street to the east, to School District 53, for the purpose of constructing and operating a school building and related facilities? YES NO FINANCE PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID OAK BROOK, IL PERMIT NO. 19 2013 OAK BROOK POLO Sundays: July 28; August 18 & 25; September 15 & 22 Oak Brook Polo. Feel the excitement! Special Match: Friday, July 19 @ 3:30 p.m. Village of Oak Brook 1200 Oak Brook Road Oak Brook, IL 60523-2255