South Cook News

Village of Alsip Committee met June 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. Clerk Harding called the roll with the following in attendance: Trustees Dalzell, Juarez, McLawhorn, Murphy, Nava- Esparza, Perretta and Mayor Ryan.

BID OPENING: 2020-2021 CDBG/MFT Street Resurfacing Program:

1) Lindahl Brother Inc out of Bensonville, IL, bid bond was included, total cost $562,144.40.

2) K-Five Construction Corporation out of Westmont, IL, bid bond was included, total cost $523,958. 60.

3) Metromex Contractors, Inc out of McCook, IL, bid bond was included, total cost $746,573.15.

4) Iroquois Paving Corporation out of Watseka, IL, bid bond was included, cost $516,497.70.

5) Gallagher Asphalt out of Thornton, IL, bid bond was included, cost $565,716.15.

MAYOR' S REPORT: Mayor Ryan presented: 1) Presentation by Terry Carr regarding a new business within the Village. Mr. Carr has been in business since 1955 and owns a chain called Steak and Egger. He currently has 7locations. They are trying to spin the business off into a gaming cafes. They are looking to go 50/ 50 between the gaming and food business. The proposed location is at 5418 W. 127th in the PS Plaza located west of the Country House Restaurant. The targeted clientele is age 40- 70. Their location in Cicero generated $ 51, 000/ annually for the municipal share. It will be named Cindy' s Cafe after his late mother. They are looking to provide deli sandwiches and light food. They took a huge hit with COVID. Their full restaurants have about 20- 25 employees and the gaming cafes would have about 4- 5 employees. The goal is to have 10 Steak and Egger restaurants in the future but right now it is too hard to staff those establishments. His motto is for food and alcohol sales should be 30- 40% out of the total revenue for an establishment and then the rest would be the gaming. The leasing agent said the location is 1,400 sqft but he thought it was a little smaller. There will be no sit-down dining. It will be takeout and have a small stand- up bar. 2) Presentation from Tarp Haus regarding water retention construction at 3843 W. 128th Place, Alsip. Vlatko (Victor) Manev was present. Paving, water retention and lighting were required to be upgraded to get the building up to code. Last year it was estimated 1 million for those upgrades. Pricing on materials have increased and they are still waiting on the approvals from MWRD. They were working with their GC and engineer to work out the plans for their improvements. When an agreement was finally reached it was to build an above ground water retention for the south end of the property and underground water retention for the north end of the property. As of two months ago they were at 1. 7 million spent in renovations. Unfortunately, MWRD did not approve what they were doing. Currently, there was 8 ft underground where the water table is and that is where they wanted to set the underground detention. MWRD said they have to go 2 feet above the water line which will make the underground detention wider. They are still working with the GC and the engineer to get that issue resolved to get the final approval from MWRD. They are unsure how much those revisions will cost and how long it will take. They were given a year to complete this project for the 6 acres of improvement. MWRD wants there to be a pitch from west to east with the water retention being on the west end. He is asking for an extension of a year to complete all the upgrade work. The Building Commissioner had no issue with it. They have also completed multiple improvements on the interior, the roof and an electric gate. 3) Presentation by Nicor- Next Site regarding a 3year engagement for market analysis, development, recruitment of new retail businesses for the Village of Alsip. Pat Eaves and Nick Crite were present. The end of 2020 Nicor entered a partnership with NextSite to help municipalities to realize their economic development. NextSite has completed over 500 projects, have helped communities realize 23. 3 million square feet of commercial space within their community, and realizing capital investments of somewhere around 4.7 billion. They are a data analytics firm that researches market analysis, support development and redevelopment, and market retention and recruitment. They will see the whole project is complete. They actively go out to shop whatever sites the community has available. They look at trade areas with in a 10- mile radius and then a 30-minute drive time to see where customers are actually going and where they are coming from. An example was given from Albertville, Alabama. They would be able to represent Alsip at any trade conferences/ deal making shows with potential developers. Through the partnership agreement with them communities only pay, depending on size, a maximum of $25,000/ annually. Alsip would be $ 10,000/ annually for the next three years. Nicor is endorsing the NextSite partnership. Nicor will benefit by any new business brought will bring business to Nicor. NextSite will pro- actively recruit developers, tenant reps to position the identified target opportunity list of retailers and restaurants. They identify those looking to aggressively expand their market presence regionally and nationally. They will meet with the retailers and developers in a variety of settings and visits. The success fee options are as follows: restaurants are $6,000/ per location; single and multi- tenant development of less than 10,000 sqft are $10, 000/ per development; multi tenant development or single tenant retailer (s) between 10,001 and 50,000 sqft are $17,000/per development; multi-tenant development or single tenant retailer(s) between 50,001 and 100,000sqft are $ 25,000/ per development; development or single tenant retail of 100,001+ sqft are $35,000/per 71 location; multi-family, hospitality, healthcare, entertainment or senior housing development are $25,000/per location if the developer is introduced to the market by NextSite. Right now there is not any close surrounding municipalities that are using this service. They would also be able to provide insight into business retention. For example, why the TJ Maxx close in Crestwood and reopen in Oak Lawn. 4) Kim Lovely, the new economic development intern, was present. The assignments she has been given correlates with what she is learning in her 2" d year of her masters studies in Urban Planning and Policy at University of Illinois. She has been working on some census information, street light research, and an in-depth survey to hear the voices of the citizens. She has also been looking at the 2013 comprehensive plan. She drafted a letter for the Canadian and Kansas Railroad Merger so the Village had a voice in the process. Community input is imperative in everything that we do. The Mayor read into record the survey Kim was talking about. The following questions will be included: Question # 1: On a scale of 1- 10 where 1 is poor and 10 is excellent, how would you rate the overall quality of life in the Village of Alsip today? Question #2: Which of the following best describes how your quality of life in Village of Alsip has changed in the past 5 years: 1. Much Better 2. Now Somewhat 3. Better No Change 4. Somewhat Worse 5. Much Worse Now. Question # 3: Which of these aspects of the Village of Alsip businesses and community have contributed to improving your quality of life? 1. Parks or recreation centers 2. Bus services 3. Schools 4. Farmer' s market, senior citizens center, library, low crime, places to eat. Question # 4: Are you having issues with the lack or no of streets lights near your business or home? Question #S: Are you having issues with the lack or no sidewalks near your business or home? Question # 6: Which of these aspects of the Village of Alsip community and business have contributed to decreasing your quality of life? 1. Cost of housing 2. Neighborhood traffic 3. Commuter traffic 4. Increased taxes 5. Increased noise 6. Increased development 7. Lack of senior citizens Question # 7: Are there one or more places, structures, or features of the Village of Alsip business areas that you value and would like to see stay the same? Question # 8: Are there one or more areas of the Village of Alsip that you would NOT want to show out- of-town guests? Question # 9: Is there a business or community that the Village of Alsip should pattern itself after? Question # 10: The Village of Alsip economic development attracts warehouse distribution and light manufacturing. Do you feel this type of development should continue to be encouraged? Question #11: Do you want to see more places to have dinners with the family vs fast food? Question #12: What type of new housing would you like to see built in the Village of Alsip? 1. Single- family 2. Apartments 3. Town Homes 4. Mobile Homes 5. Condominiums 6. Senior housing 7. Public housing development. There are some other questions about how often do you buy basic goods like groceries, how often do you go to restaurants, how often do you use basic professional services, how often do you make large expenditures, how often do you buy specialty retail goods, and how often do you go out for entertainment. Those answers are broken down into how many times do you do the before mentioned in Alsip and how many times outside of Alsip and where. This will be mailed out to the residents using the same mailing list that is used for the newsletter. Marigrace Snooks offered to post with the Chamber and suggested reaching out to the School Superintendent to have it emailed considering the current mail situation.

CLERK' S REPORT: Clerk Harding presented: 1) Presentation of the Apri12021 FOIA Report. 2) Presentation of the May 2021 FOIA Report. 3) Presentation of the May 2021 IDOT Motor Fuel Tax Allotment in the amount of$ 62, 987. 66 4) Presentation of the May 24, 2021 Committee Meeting Minutes. 5) Presentation of the May 24, 2021 Special Board Meeting Minutes. 6) Presentation of the June 7, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes.

PUBLIC FORM: No one came forward.

FINANCE AND INFORMATIONAL TECHNOLOGY REPORT: Trustee McLawhorn presented: 1) List of payroll and accounts payable. 2) There was information in the budget packet about the phone system upgrade at a cost of$60, 000.00. We are also lacking in regards to a fire suppression system for the server room. The cost for that would be $ 20,000.00. The RFPs are being prepared and approval to post those RFPs will be on the consent agenda next week.

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Trustee Murphy presented: 1) No report. 2) Background checks have begun a new hire candidate.

POLICE AND TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORT: Trustee Dalzell presented: 1) Presentation of the Police Department May 2021 Activity Report. 2) Request for approval to promote James Kelly to fill a vacant Sergeant position. Vacancy was created with retirement of Scott Zablotny. Promotion with board approval will take place June 21St at 7: 30pm at the regular Board Meeting by the Police and Fire Commission.

PUBLIC WORKS AND BOAT LALJNCH REPORT: Trustee Juarez presented: 1) Presentation of the Public Works Department May 2021 Monthly Activity Report. 2) Request for approval from the Board to purchase one SCAG/ Cheetah II riding mower from Russo, 21660 S. LaGrange Rd, Frankfort, IL in an amount not to exceed $10,933.00.

SEWER AND WATER: Trustee Nava- Esparza presented: 1) Discussion of recommendation to award the contract for the replacement of water mains to the low bidder, H. Linden& Sons Sewer and Water Inc., in the amount of Two Million Seven Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Two Hundred Forty Dollars and Zero Cents ($2,765,250.00). 2) Discussion of filing Illinois Public Water Supply Loan Program Loan Application in the amount of Two Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($2,600,000. 00). The job came in over that amount. The job can be scaled back to bring it to the amount of the loan. They Water Department will be getting some funds and has capital funds available. The work will eventually have to be done. The project was advertised for 30 days and only one bid was received. Material prices have increased so if we go out to BID again there is a chance that it could up even more. 3) The Mayor will provide a report next week regarding the Southland Water Agency.

BUILDING AND HEALTH REPORT: Trustee Perretta presented: 1) Request to approve the Knights of Columbus to solicit donations for their annual Tootsie Drive on Sept 17th & 18th, 2021 in support of Intellectual Disabilities, at the corners of 115th & Cicero and 115th & Pulaski. All volunteers will be over 18yrs old and will wear a yellow& red safety vest.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND INSURANCE: Trustee Murphy presented: 1) Discussion of the sexual harassment training update. There will be a separate training for elected officials. To date there are 10 people taking the requires class and 2 have completed it.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Trustee Nava- Esparza presented: 1) Further discussion regarding the " It' s on Pulaski" signage on Pulaski Road. She decided to pull this topic at this time since the Mayor' s Office was also working on this. She also thought the community should have input. She was willing to have further conversation about other options. The Mayor explained they are still waiting for some quotes to come back in. There are 16 signs total. The Village spent roughly $ 67,000 for" It' s on Pulaski" signs and the directional signs back in 2013. They are looking into repurposing the signs. He is still looking at implementing the Alsip Community Improvement Committee and calling a Town Hall Meeting that this could be discussed at. There could be collaboration among other entities for the betterment of the community. 2) There was a Pulaski Road Corridor ZOOM call facilitated by the Cook County Department of Transportation/ Highways. They did talk about community input. The Mayor explained they will be resurfacing and reconstructing Pulaski Road from 127th to 159th Street. With the stakeholders they started south and worked their way north. When they spoke with Alsip they talked about when they get to the bridge over the Cal Sag they need to replace that bridge. They could replace it was no trussell on top or the trussell could saved and placed back on the new bridge. They also said they could work around the bridge that no one was really in favor of. He requested more space for pedestrians and bike traffic. He also explained the route people have to take for bike trail because there is no bike path from around Kedzie to Cicero. It is not easily accessible. They also suggested connecting sidewalks behind Apollo Park to bring that back to Pulaski to tie everything together.

VILLAGE PROPERTIES: Trustee McLawhorn presented: 1) No report.

ORDINANCE AND LEGISLATION: Trustee Perretta presented: 1) No report. 2) The Mayor will be sending him some ordinances that need to be looked at updating some language.

PLANNING & ZONING AND LICENSES: Trustee McLawhorn presented: 1) Presentation of a list of licenses dated May 24, 2021 through June 4, 2021.

PRESENTATIONS PETITIONS, COMMLTNICATIONS: There was none.

LTNFINISHED BUSINESS: There was none. 194 195 NEW BUSINESS: There was none.

COMMITT E MEF.1'ING JUNF, 14, 2021

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Trustee McLawhorn to adjourn and; seconded by Trustee Murphy.

All in favor; none opposed. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9: OOpm.