Unfinished Business: Stormwater Management Discussion
Board President Kubiesa opened the discussion of stormwater management with the option to go into Closed Session if the Board should need to discuss the purchase or lease of certain property and/or pricing or valuation of property. Executive Director Rogers gave a slideshow presentation illustrating the land usage opportunity proposed in his position paper dated December 2, 2013 and revised on January 8, 2014 for the Berteau Street former hospital site. The Elmhurst City Council has shown interest in discussing the opportunities listed in the position paper and the School Board plans to discuss it on January 17, 2014.
The position paper proposes land swaps between the developer, City of Elmhurst, the School District, and the Park District, whereas after a developer purchases the Berteau property from the Hospital, the developer exchanges five to six acres on the site with the City in exchange for the City’s current 3+ acres adjacent to the Berteau parcel and financial considerations from the School and Park Districts thus providing for an opportunity for the developer to align its new development with the existing homes to the west. The City would then exchange those five to six acres to the Park District for six acres at Golden Meadows Park to be used for stormwater retention relieving both the Pine Street and Geneva Avenue neighborhoods of flooding and eliminating the need to use East End Park for stormwater detention. The Park District would then operate a soccer field and, potentially, garden plots, on the five- to six-acre Berteau site. In the future, the Park District would swap the five- to six-acre Berteau site with the School District for a mutually agreed upon comparable amount of open space owned elsewhere by the School District so that a new school could be built on the Berteau property “park” site to address the impact of the new Berteau site homes on the Elmhurst community.
Board consensus was that the position paper details a concept that is positive for all involved-developer, City, School District, Park District, and especially the community. Golden Meadows Park would be an ideal location for stormwater retention as it is secluded, does not attract unnecessary attention, difficult to get to, and near railroad tracks. Commissioner Howard made a motion that the Board of Park Commissioners adopt resolution R-01-14 authorizing the Executive Director to explore and negotiate and bring back for final approval any and all plans and/or agreements that he derives with intergovernmental partners that are materially consistent of letter and spirit of the January 8, 2014 position paper and presentation. Commissioner Kies seconded the motion. The Board expressed the desire to vote on Commissioner Howard’s resolution after further discussion in Closed Session on items pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 120/2(C)(5) and 5ILCS 120/2(C) (6) in order to further discuss financial aspects and property considerations. Therefore, Commissioner Spaeth made a motion that the Board of Park Commissioners table resolution R-01-14 voting until after Closed Session. Commissioner Morissette-Moll seconded the motion.
As there was no further discussion, the Board was polled. Ayes: Commissioners Spaeth, Ubriaco, Kies, Morissette-Moll, and Kubiesa. Nays: Commissioners Howard and Pelosi.
Motion passed 5 to 2 to table Resolution R-01-14 for voting until after Closed Session.
Open Session
Commissioner Howard then repeated the motion (aforementioned seconded by Commissioner Kies) that the Board of Park Commissioners adopt Resolution R-01-14 authorizing the Executive Director to explore, negotiate and bring back for final approval any and all plans and/or agreements entered into between the Park District's intergovernmental partners and the District which are consistent with the letter and spirit of the position paper document that was presented to the Park Board on January 8, 2014. Aforementioned, Commissioner Kies seconded the motion. As there was no further discussion, the Board was polled. Ayes: Commissioners Pelosi, Spaeth, Ubriaco, Howard, Kies, Morrissette-Moll, and Kubiesa. The motion passed unanimously.
