Sandack wasn’t there, Schnell wasn’t there, Beckman was a late no show so the four council commissioners left, led by senior member Bill Waldack, really had to put off any meaningful budget discussion until next week. So it goes. The levy is a highest case estimate of how much money the village needs, then some of that levy is abated. The bond debt (that usually has payment sources already fixed to them) are what normally gets abated. Abated means they get removed from the levy, reducing how much money is needed.
The next two meetings get pushed back a week each, but final budget approval is still scheduled for 12/15/09. Barnett spoke often and at length about core services and where does the money get spent, and the general Roberts Rules broke down because Waldack wasn’t keeping a tight ship running the meeting. He tried bringing up some ideas, and Barnett and Durkin jumped in without being recognized or following order. Not incoherent like some D99 meetings I’ve attended (and now I can listen to thank you very much), but off track for a council meeting. If Waldack was looking for more informality, he got it.
Council was in favor of trying restrictions on left hand turns from eastbound 55th onto northbound Washington, and restricting left hand turns from Southbound Washington to westbound 55th Street. There were five accidents at the intersection of 55th and Washington last year, and Public Works is seeking to make that a safer intersection.
Click on image for larger version.
Council also seemed in favor of approving yet putting off building a traffic calming measure, five traffic calming speed humps along Blodgett between Maple and 55th. Whittier is along that route, and most kids walk or are driven by parents to school. No buses. There’s a ton of bypass traffic firing down Blodgett in the morning and evening, and it’s at speeds that are lethal when involving accidents with pedestrians. Too fast when there’s plenty of kids walking to and from school,and it’s a lot of cut through (hence the high speeds). Resident Bill Wroble, who has championed traffic calming, asked council to find the dollars to get this done next year, that it was not that much money in the first place. Barnett indicated he would probably vote against the project if it wasn’t going to be done, but he wanted the project done, saying it was a core service to make this street safer, which Durkin and Waldack seemed to agree to.
The two traffic calming measures will probably get approved next week.
Waldack tried to initiate discussion on two items based on council wrangling with the grim job of cutting programs and raising taxes while being aware of the tight economic times many residents face. The first suggestion was to consider the tax levy at a level that could restore most of the lost programs already decided on being cut by council. That went nowhere.
The second was to provide a mechanism to rebate the village portion of Real Estate taxes to those homeowners who could prove they were unemployed. That went nowhere also. He might try and bring those up again next week. The rebate idea is kind of innovative and could put council on the spot; they all have said they are mindful of tough times for residents.
Waldack gave them a chance to walk the walk when it comes to empathy but it’s pretty late in the process for such an idea. Neustadt wanted to know why Waldack had kept it until now, and Waldack said he hadn’t thought about it until now. If you recall, Waldack also came up with a plan to use PACE to provide funding for the commuter shuttles that might have lowered cost and increased service that council also took a pass on. That was a maybe/might/could type of idea. the tax rebate seemed much simpler, but underwriting residents ihas clearly been classed as not a core service. Still, the guy is clearly thinking things through to get to those kind of ideas.
Council will also approve next week an asset maintainance management software (AMMS) package that will let staff further move information into a data set that will allow them to better track and manage infrastructure. Information is a critical need for planning, so this is a pretty big deal. Staff is trying to get to a point where they are doing things to infrastructure at a point when it is most cost efficient. right now, it’s still in a more expensive catch up mode, as it has been for decades. This module will track information on the water system and tie it into the GIS mapping system the village employs to track and describe village assets.
I am sick and tired of Waldack getting on his soap box. I am not paying more taxes so some well meaning and well intended program can get a grant. Where is my flippin grant? That’s right I don’t get one. I am tired of it. It is time more Downers Grove residents stood up and went to a meeting and told the council the same thing. Government was created to keep us safe and secure. If you can’t tie a village service to either of these two ideas then it should get cut.
So a portion of my real estate taxes go to a ‘pool’ to pay a resident that’s unemployed? Someone I don’t know?
Can’t see this hair brained thought gaining any traction.
Not to correct you again, but the satellite photo has Whittier School circled, not Whitlock.
Chalmer Elementary. Got it…LOL
Originally I thought it might be a reprieve from the increased village levy. If so, would $4-5/month be worth pursuing? Would that be a make or break for someone? The discussion sounded like he was suggesting a total village amount.
Waldack may have this further fleshed out next week, but so far there were three council commissioners not buying the idea.
Give Waldack points for creative thinking, but any sort of rebate plan would not just raise the hackles of working residents, but also seem to be a logistical and administrative nightmare.
I am not going to give Waldack any credit. He feeds off peoples emotions! He knows how apathetic people are and knows that he can drum up support by trying to make the village look like the big bad wolf. He may have the best interests of these groups of people in mind. However, that is not how you reduce costs and create a budget that is sustainable now and into the future. I would follow Barnett’s lead on the budget, he knows what it will take to make Downers Grove a leaner more efficient village moving forward.
Editor’s note: Waldack is in a non-partisan position and to my knowledge doesn’t participate in high-profile partisan activities (if I’m wrong feel free to correct me) so I’m cutting the reference to his party.
I’m not interested in Waldack’s political affiliations or any presumptions based upon that particular ideology, but his idea sucks. Moreover, I’m floored that this man would use the pulpit to float something so outrageous.
Can you imagine what an administrative nightmare this would be for the village? How can the village prove that your unemployed? Are you currently looking for work? If so, do you get a smaller percentage? Does that percentage shrink after your unemployment stretches out over a designated amount of time? How long? What if I moved to the village while I was unemployed in order to take advantage of the kickback, can I do that? Can you prove I didn’t?
I’m certain the man’s heart is in the right place but really? Really?
Too complicated, but it’s good to know he’s got a heart. We all currently have our wealth redistributed plenty by the fed and state, DG can take a pass.
Hey MT when you gonna write about the cell tower going in at Whittier Park? You’re on a roll with wrong names lately.
Just kidding you.
Here’s one thing that we can get rid of, and might actually increase revenue in the long run, the bicycle races in August.
Think how much the Village spends to close off the streets, direct traffic, and such. For all of the spectators who do come to watch, think how much revenue the businesses downtown lose, because residents can’t get anywhere.
You can’t even get to the Post Office, and churches downtown will tell you that Sunday is one of their worst for attendance.
It seems to me that in the long run, the sales tax revenue for that weekend might increase, because downtown streets are open.
The bike races are synonymous with Downers Grove, its an event that is uniquely ours. Heritage Fest is the same lame carny/bad 80’s hair band/something-on-a-stick fest that every town has in the summer.
The Bike Race is an event that is broadcast nationally. If the Village and the Businesses actually put their heads together they could really benifit from this event. I have seen pictires and articles in major publications across this country covering this event. I have Family out of state that have watched coverage of this event on TV. As far away as Hawaii……………….
Good Bye Heritage Fest and the bad carnival food and rides!
I never saw the bike race on TV. Show me the link JJ!! Please don’t tell me it was on Ch6 so 2 people in DG watched it.
The annual National Championships of Cycling held in DG have appeared in the past on ESPN and Comcast SportsNet.
No question, deep cuts should be made in many areas. But keep in mind that: (i) the bicycle races are conducted under multi-year agreements with third-parties, such as Chicago Special Events; and (ii) other communities have vigorously competed with DG to host this event. Thus, unlike other events that the Village can skip and resume whenever it wants, this one really can’t be turned on and off like a light switch. If the bicycle race moves elsewhere, everyone should understand that it might be a long time (if ever) before it sees the streets of DG again. Not second-guessing anyone, I’m just sayin’.
As of 11/13 the funding for the annual USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship held here has been taken out of the budget. That does not mean it is gone, just that the item was de-funded. There may be efforts to find alternate support to keep it here.
The race had an expense to the village of $37,000, and direct revenues of $2,500. The decision was made knowing a downside was:
Thank you Martin for the larger background information.
Meat,
Yes, there are other corney, lame, hair-band events around, but I like having one in DG. I used to go to Ribfest in Naperville. However, the parking is far worse than for Heritage Fest in DG. The cost of just getting into the park is pricey, whereas Heritage Fest is free. And as much as I love ribs, I do enjoy the variety of food at Heritage Fest.
Plus, Ribfest has no craft show.
I think only “cyclists” really care about the bike race, we have had people ask us to park at our house etc. but on the whole I could live without it. Heritage Fest includes more of the overall community and could stand to be scaled back to a less carnival cheesy event and more of a taste of event with rides, booths and activities from local businesses, churches, and the like – without 4 carny food stands and 20 rides and a midway. Some fests only charge admission to non-locals. Charging admission and/or parking keeps some of the riff raff out.
Why not make it a taste of Downers Grove. You can still call it HF. It would be a good way to show case our food and beverage establishments!!