2024-10-07 - Village Board Committee of the Whole - Agenda Packet
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AGENDA
BUFFALO GROVE VILLAGE BOARD
Committee of the Whole: October 7, 2024 at 7:30
PM
Jeffrey S. Braiman Council Chambers
Fifty Raupp Blvd Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-2139
1. Call to Order
a. Pledge of Allegiance
b. Roll Call
2. Village President's Report
3. Special Business
a. Fire Buddy Food Truck Event Update (Trustee Cesario, Lawrence Kane)
b. Public Works Department Reaccreditation Presentation (Trustee Stein, Mike Skibbe)
c. Preliminary 2024 Property Tax Levy (Trustee Bocek, Chris Black)
d. Comprehensive Plan Draft Preview (Trustee Weidenfeld, Nicole Woods)
4. Public Comment
Public Comment is limited to items that are not on the regular agenda. In accordance with Section
2.02.070 of the Municipal Code, discussion on questions from the audience will be limited to 5
minutes and should be limited to concerns or comments regarding issues that are relevant to
Village Board business. All members of the public addressing the Village Board shall maintain
proper decorum and refrain from making disrespectful remarks or comments relating to
individuals. Speakers shall use every attempt to not be repetitive of points that have been made by
others. The Village Board may refer any matter of public comment to the Village Manager, Village
staff or an appropriate agency for review.
5. Executive Session
6. Adjournment
The Village Board will make every effort to accommodate all items on the agenda by 10:30 p.m.
The Board does, however, reserve the right to defer consideration of matters to another meeting
should the discussion run past 10:30 p.m.
The Village of Buffalo Grove, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that
persons with disabilities who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or
participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities, contact
the ADA Coordinator at 847-459-2500 to allow the Village to make reasonable accommodations for
those persons.
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AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
BUFFALO GROVE VILLAGE BOARD
Committee of the Whole: October 7, 2024
AGENDA ITEM 3.a.
Fire Buddy Food Truck Event Update
Contacts
Liaison: Trustee Cesario
Staff: Lawrence Kane
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends discussion.
Summary
Firefighter Jake Senese will provide an update on the Project Fire Buddies food truck event held
this past July.
Strategic Alignment
Guiding Principle
Principle 4: High Performing Village Team
Principle 6: Engages Our Residents
Principle 7: Builds Our Community
Goal
Goal 3: Strengthened Buffalo Grove community identity and pride
Goal 4: Vibrant and innovative community: leading edge
File Attachments
None
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AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
BUFFALO GROVE VILLAGE BOARD
Committee of the Whole: October 7, 2024
AGENDA ITEM 3.b.
Public Works Department Reaccreditation Presentation
Contacts
Liaison: Trustee Stein
Staff: Mike Skibbe
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends presentation.
Summary
Background
Larry Hummel, Director of Region V (five) of the American Public Works Association, will
present the successful reaccreditation of our Public Works Department for 2024-2028. Buffalo
Grove Public Works has been accredited since 2004, marking 20 years of continuous
improvement. BGPW is one of 11 public works agencies so honored in the State of Illinois.
Strategic Alignment
Guiding Principle
Principle 1: Financially Responsible and Sound
Principle 2: Outstanding Village Services
Principle 3: Plan and Invest in the Future
Principle 4: High Performing Village Team
Principle 6: Engages Our Residents
Principle 7: Builds Our Community
Goal
Goal 1: Maintained effective village government: fiscally responsible and providing
outstanding, responsive services
Goal 2: Enhanced, beautiful, safe and sustainable neighborhoods
Goal 3: Strengthened Buffalo Grove community identity and pride
Goal 4: Vibrant and innovative community: leading edge
File Attachments
1. 2024-1006 Ltr of Re-Accred-Buffalo Grove IL
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AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
BUFFALO GROVE VILLAGE BOARD
Committee of the Whole: October 7, 2024
AGENDA ITEM 3.c.
Preliminary 2024 Property Tax Levy
Contacts
Liaison: Trustee Bocek
Staff: Chris Black
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends discussion.
Summary
Staff is proposing a net levy of$17,115,541, which is an increase of 0.0 percent or $0 year-over-
year in property tax revenue. Additional information can be found in the attached
memorandum.
Strategic Alignment
Guiding Principle
Principle 1: Financially Responsible and Sound
Goal
Goal 1: Maintained effective village government: fiscally responsible and providing
outstanding, responsive services
File Attachments
1. COW 10.7.24 Preliminary Tax Levy
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DATE:October 7, 2024
TO:Village Manager Dane Bragg
FROM:Chris Black, Finance Director
SUBJECT:Proposed 2024 Property Tax Levy
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of a total levy prior to abatement of $21,123,080, a 0.3 percent decrease from
the prior year. With the proposed abatements, the proposed net levy is $17,115,541, an increase of 0.0
percent year-over-year.
Staff recommends an abatement of $4,007,539 consisting of $566,925 on the series 2012 bonds, $383,631
on the Series 2016 Bonds, $2,243,900 on the Series 2020 bonds, and $813,083 on the Series 2022 bonds.
BACKGROUND
In conjunction with the development of the FY 2025 Village Budget, staff has developed a recommendation
for the FY 2024 Property Tax Levy to be extended and collected in 2025. The current year’s levy (2023
Tax Levy/collected in 2024) is $21,187,752, minus abatements of $4,072,211, resulting in a net levy of
$17,115,541. The net levy was at the same level as the prior year for an increase of 0.0 percent. The
components of the change were the following:
2023 Levy Purpose Increase/(Decrease)
Corporate Levy 0.0%
Special Purpose/IMRF 0.0%
Public Safety Pensions 0.0%
Debt Service -7.2%
The initial levy request as part of the budget process (prior to abatement consideration) is $21,123,080 or a
0.3% percent decrease. The components of the change are as follows:
2024 Levy Purpose Increase/(Decrease)Amount
Corporate Levy 0.0%$0
Special Purpose/IMRF 0.0%$0
Public Safety Pensions 0.0%$0
MEMORANDUM
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Debt Service -1.5%-$64,672
Corporate Levy
The request of $9,171,988 represents an increase of 0.0% from the prior year for the Corporate Levy which
is used to support public safety operations. The Village uses the Municipal Cost Index (MCI) to measure
inflation. The MCI is a composite index that adjusts to the cost of materials and supplies, wages and
contracted-for services. The composite index includes the Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index,
and a construction cost index. The MCI for the annual period ending August 2024 is 1.31 percent more than
the same month in 2023.
Debt Service
The current year’s debt service requirement was $4,407,480 Next year’s debt service is $4,342,808. The
debt service payment on the Series 2020 Bonds declines $80,000. The components of the debt payments
are as follows:
Purpose
Debt Payment
Percent of Total
Series 2012 – Street Improvements (Various)$566,925 13.0%
Series 2016 – Street Improvements (Various)$383,631 8.8%
Series 2019 – Refunding of Series 2010B Bonds $255,702 5.9%
Series 2020 – Water, Sewer, & Street Improvements $2,243,900 51.7%
Series 2022 – Public Works Facility $892,650 20.6%
The Village will make debt service payments on five existing bond issues in 2025. The Village has
committed a combination of general fund revenue and water/sewer revenue to service both the 2020 Bonds
and 2022 Bonds. When factoring in these abatements, the debt service levy has not increased every year
since 2019.
Pensions
An independent actuary calculates the amount to be levied for both the Police and Fire pension funds on an
annual basis. In the past, the Village has funded above the actuarily required contribution, if financially
feasible, while maintaining a stable property tax levy. The Village’s history of meeting its annual pension
funding obligations and high funding levels is an important element to our AAA bond rating.
The proposed levy is above the actuarily required contribution for the third consecutive year. For the 2023
levy (collected in 2024) the property tax levies for police and fire pension were $554,700 greater than the
required contribution for the two pension funds. For 2024 levy, the proposed Firefighter Pension Levy is
$2,371,240 and the Police Pension Levy is $3,446,992. The total combined amount for the police and fire
pension levies is $5,818,162, the same as the prior year, and $376,700 above the required contribution for
the two funds.
The additional contribution will allow the Village to lessen the impact of reduced investment returns that
may occur in upcoming years and possibly mitigate volatility in future police and fire pension contributions.
The Village Board has successfully used this approach in the past to moderate future tax levy spikes.
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The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) calculates the employer portion of the pension. The IMRF
and Social Security portion of the levy will remain the same as the prior year.
Equalized Assessed Values (EAV)
The Village’s EAV increases by an 5.74 percent for the 2023 levy (collected in 2024). The total EAV in
Buffalo Grove is estimated at $1.93 billion. The change between the two counties was disproportionate as
Lake County increased by 6.46 percent and Cook County is estimated to increase by 3.2 percent.
EAV calculations reside with each county’s assessor’s office. Lake County properties are assigned 80
percent of the total property tax burden for the Village. The final percentage allocation is assigned by the
Illinois Department of Revenue. Below is a graph depicting the growth of EAV over the last ten years.
ANALYSIS
The tentative proposed levy based on the first scenario detailed earlier in the memo, prior to abatement, of
$21,123,080 or a 0.3 percent change. At this point in the process the gross levy appears as follows:
Estimated Distribution of 2024 Property Tax -
Before Abatement
Cook County
Levy
Lake County
Levy
Total Levy
2023
Total Levy
2024
County Tax Burden 20.00%80.00%100.00%100.00%
Tax Levies:
Police Protection $733,759 $2,935,036 $3,668,795 $3,668,795
Fire Protection 1,100,639 4,402,554 5,503,193 5,503,193
Sub-Total: Corporate Levy 1,834,398 7,337,590 9,171,988 9,171,988
IMRF/Social Security 358,024 1,432,098 1,790,122 1,790,122
1,425 1,476
1,614 1,660 1,687 1,816 1,785 1,749 1,822 1,926
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
EAV 2014 - 2023
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
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Corp. Purpose Bonds Roads (2012)113,385 453,540 555,925 566,925
Corp. Purpose Bonds Roads (2016)76,725 306,905 379,931 383,631
2019 Series GO Bonds 51,140 204,562 255,074 255,702
2020 Series GO Bonds 448,780 1,795,120 2,323,900 2,243,900
2022 Series GO Bonds 178,530 714,120 892,650 892,650
Police Pension 689,384 2,757,538 3,446,922 3,446,922
Fire Pension 474,248 1,896,992 2,371,240 2,371,240
Total $4,424,614 $16,898,465 $21,187,752 $21,123,080
Staff recommends an abatement of $4,007,539 consisting of $566,925 on the series 2012 bonds, $383,631
on the Series 2016 Bonds, $2,243,900 on the Series 2020 bonds, and $813,083 on the Series 2022 bonds.
With the proposed abatements, the proposed net levy is $17,115,541, an increase of 0.0 percent or $0 year-
over-year.
It should be noted a percentage increase or decrease in the levy does not equal the change in a homeowner’s
tax bill, depending upon growth in EAV and redistribution of assessed values across different real estate
types (residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural).
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed net levy is $17,115,541, provides an increase of 0.0 percent or $0 year-over-year in property
tax revenue.
NEXT STEPS
This proposed tax levy request will be formally made at the November 4th board meeting as part of the
truth-in-taxation resolution. The truth-in-taxation levy growth (which excludes debt service) is estimated to
be 0.0 percent. A public hearing will not be required.
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AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
BUFFALO GROVE VILLAGE BOARD
Committee of the Whole: October 7, 2024
AGENDA ITEM 3.d.
Comprehensive Plan Draft Preview
Contacts
Liaison: Trustee Weidenfeld
Staff: Nicole Woods
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends discussion.
Summary
Staff will be seeking comments and questions from the Village Board on the key concepts of
the Comprehensive Plan Recommendations. Addtional information can be found in the
attached memorandum.
Strategic Alignment
Guiding Principle
Principle 3: Plan and Invest in the Future
Goal
Goal 1: Maintained effective village government: fiscally responsible and providing
outstanding, responsive services
Goal 2: Enhanced, beautiful, safe and sustainable neighborhoods
Goal 3: Strengthened Buffalo Grove community identity and pride
Goal 4: Vibrant and innovative community: leading edge
Goal 5: More livable Buffalo Grove community with leisure experiences for all
File Attachments
1. Comp Plan Memo
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DATE:October 7, 2024
TO:Village Manager Dane Bragg
FROM:Nicole Woods, Director Of Community Development
SUBJECT:Preview of Comprehensive Plan Draft
BACKGROUND
Building off of the Existing Conditions Report, Staff presented the Comprehensive Plan’s
2050 Vison and 4 Guiding Principles at the June COW. The 2050 Vision paints a picture of
the Village’s future in 20-25 years. It is synthesis of outreach findings and market and
development realities.
The Vision includes neotraditional planning principles, such as welcoming neighborhoods,
walkability, livability, open and green spaces, mix of development and uses, and central
gathering places. At the same time, the vison integrates modern and progressive principles
that revolve around technology, aging-in-place, redevelopment, market demands,
infrastructure, and environmentally sustainability. These dynamics collectively paint a
picture of a community that is committed to being Smart. With Heart. so that Buffalo Grove
will continue to be a leading community where families and businesses thrive.
MEMORANDUM
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To help build the roadmap to achieve this vision, the 2050 Vision was distilled into four key
principles. These principles guided the development of the draft recommendations and strategies
to be featured in the Plan. The Four Guiding Principles are shown below:
Guiding Principle 1. Nurture Our Assets (residential neighborhoods, parks, industrial corridor, open
space, and community character).
Guiding Principle 2: Facilitate Growth and/or Transition for Key Elements (housing and office space)
and Areas (Prairie View, Lake Cook Corridor, Civic Triangle, Dundee Corridor, Milwaukee Corridor,
and Aptakisic Corridor).
Guiding Principle 3: Modernize Planning and Development Tools (zoning and building code,
appearance guidelines, and related planning tools such as PUDs and mixed-use land uses).
Guiding Principle 4: Monitor and Lean into Technology and Real Estate Market.
DRAFT STRATEGIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Building off the Existing Conditions Report, the 2050 Vision and 4 Guiding Principles, and comments
and feedback from Steering Committee, PZC, Village Board, stakeholders, and other public outreach
findings, staff has drafted strategies and recommendations to help achieve BG’s vison for the future.
These recommendations are organized under the themes of Land Use, Subareas, Dundee and
Milwaukee Corridors, Housing, Economic Development, Transportation and Accessibility, and Open
Space and Natural Resources. The key concepts for these strategies are shown below and will be
presented at the October COW for feedback.
LAND USE
•Update Zoning Code to reflect the future vision
as well as contemporary uses, building
typologies, and other development practices.
•Modernize other code chapters and related
guidelines, including the Development Code
(signs, parking, landscaping, and other related
regulations), Building Code, and Appearance
Guidelines.
•Explore a Unified Development Ordinance
(UDO) to combine zoning, subdivision, and
signage regulations into a single, “user-friendly”
document.
•Continue to enforce the Illinois Accessibility
Code to help ensure that the built environment
is accessible to and usable by all, including
individuals with disabilities.
Zoning, Development and Building Codes need to be
modernized to implement BG’s future vision as well as reflect
the current demands, materials, uses and development
patterns.
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SUBAREAS
Prairie Grove Metra Station Area
•Continue to implement the Prairie Grove Metra
Station Area Plan.
Industrial Corridors
•Preserve the industrial corridors for primarily
uses revolving around industrial, advanced
manufacturing, technology, warehouse,
distribution, and related uses.
•Cultivate and maintain relationships with
industrial businesses and adapt the Village’s
planning and permit processes to meet the
unique needs and demands of advanced
manufacturing and modern industrial
development.
Civic Triangle/Heart of BG
•Continue to implement the Lake Cook Corridor
Market Study and Plan, this includes:
o Integrating old and new
landmarks/building/development
o Improving walkability/trails/access
o Enhancing and incorporating public
open space and natural resources
o Growing the identity and place-making
qualities
Aptakisic Corridor
•Work with development and
transportation partners to
implement the proposed
future land use and access as
presented in the Vision. This
framework works off of
surrounding land use
patterns and development,
while examining potential
points of access.
Buffalo Grove’s Key Subareas
Vision for Aptakisic Corridor
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DUNDEE AND MILWAUKEE CORRIDORS
•Introduce Mixed-Use and Commercial Mixed-Use Land use designation for certain areas, which
face annexation/jurisdiction, environmental, infrastructure, market demands and/or land
assembly challenges in being developed/redeveloped, as flexibility in their future land uses can
help overcome these challenges. To balance this flexibility, the new
development/redevelopment should meet various key principles as shown below:
o Meet the needs of BG’s growing pop and housing needs
o Exhibit neotraditional livability principles as well as modern planning practices
o Contribute or complement nodes and serve the surrounding land uses
o Maintain or enhance accessibility, infrastructure, and natural resources
o Improve BG’s strong economic environment
Dundee Corridor
•Embrace the Corridor’s character as an evolving commercial highway.
•Designate the commercial mixed-use as the future land use for the Dundee Road TIF District
and the Buffalo Grove/Dundee Road node.
•Focus on building synergy within the Corridor’s two key nodes (Arlington Heights and Dundee
as well as Buffalo Grove and Dundee intersections) and allow stretch of properties between the
nodes to draw from its activity.
•Facilitate reinvestment/redevelopment for older/underutilized properties including Cambridge
Commons.
•Implement best practices for land use and development along the Corridor.
•Enhance the Dundee Road Right-of-Way
o Improve the pedestrian/bicycle connections with a focus on Dundee’s civic and
commercial nodes
o Continue to work with transportation property owners, property owners, developers and
other partners to better align and enhance access points and as redevelopment occurs, and
improve street infrastructure including sidewalks, landscaping, bus shelters, etc.
•Collaborate with civic partners (Park District and BG High School) as their land use and
development needs evolve along the Corridor.
Introduce the Commercial Mixed Use (pink) as a future land use designation for specific
areas in the Corridor.
Future Land Use
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Milwaukee Corridor
•Leverage the commercial activity and energy from the
Deerfield and Milwaukee Commercial node to help spur
redevelopment along the corridor
•Designate the following areas with the future land use
designations and look to facilitate
development/redevelopment:
o Land and Lakes –-Mixed-Use
o Flanagan – Commercial mixed use
o Riverwalk Area– Commercial Mixed use
•Integrate environmental opportunities (proximity to
Des Plaines River) and challenges (floodplain) in
developing/redeveloping area.
•Incorporate and enhance connections, especially trail
connections across Milwaukee Corridor’s future
development to the Des Plaines River
•Explore green design/sustainability practices for
building and larger site design to accommodate for
environmental sensitivity
•Leverage the Village’s capacity to facilitate large,
challenging development projects to attract
annexation and redevelopment projects
•Use creative and innovative solutions to implement
land use and development best practices
HOUSING
•Continue to diversify BG’s housing via varying densities, types,
and site designs while retaining high-quality housing
•Explore aging-in-place concepts including
housing/improvements for seniors and empty nesters as well
as multi-generational living
•Maintain enforcement of property maintenance codes and
continue to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of
property maintenance initiatives
•Discourage home improvement/construction performed
without a permit
•Preserve the parkway trees, buffering and screening in areas
of transition to other land uses
Future Land Use
Introduce Mixed-Use (pink and black polka dots) and Commercial Mixed
Use (pink) as a future land use designation for specific areas in the Corridor.
Link Crossing Residential Development
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
•Maintain Buffalo Grove’s role as a proactive municipality in the Economic Development trio of key
players (willing property owner, viable business, and proactive municipality)
•Continue to explore and evaluate offering economic development
incentives when warranted to fill potential financial gaps and that
would be economically advantageous for the Village.
•Strive to maintain a diversity of industries and businesses in the
local economy.
•Continue to engage in cost-effective economic development
practices such as building partnerships, streamlining processes, and
innovative/flexible problem-solving.
•Consider redevelopment concepts and alternative uses for office
developments including residential, medical retail, and other
appropriate uses.
•Work with local and regional partners including Chamber, Lake
County Partners, Cook County, CMAP, College of Lake County and
DCEO.
TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESSIBILITY
•Adapt to the evolution of the current and future services of
Metra’s NCS line and stations.
•Implement the recommendations of the 2023 Multi-Use Path
Plan, which aim to improve bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure connectivity and conditions.
•Prioritize and integrate walkability in key subareas of the
community including Clove and Lake Cook Corridor, Prairie
View Metra Station Area, as well as around schools.
•Improve signage and wayfinding with new branding concepts
with a focus on gateways.
•Continue to work with transportation and development
partners on grants, funding, and projects for improved road,
ROW, intersection, pedestrian/bicycle and related
infrastructure improvements
•Monitor and accommodate for the continued innovation in the
transportation field including, electric vehicles, shared
scooters/bicycles, driverless cars, and drones
Willing
Property Owner Proactive
Municipality
Viable
Business
Economic Development’s
Key Players
Buffalo Grove Rd and Deerfield Rd Intersection
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NATURAL RESOURCES
•Embrace’s BG’s symbiotic relationship with open space and
natural resource as memorialized in Buffalo Grove’s new logo
and brand
•Integrate land use and development patterns/practices that
promote higher levels of sustainability where appropriate. This
includes higher density, cluster development, smaller building
footprints, and native landscaping.
•Continue to incorporate and accommodate for BG’s
watercourses and related wetlands, and floodplains
•Collaborate with the Park Districts to help them maintain and
modernize the quality, quantity, and overall utility of parks and
open space
•Explore and accommodate technology and sustainable
materials, uses, practices and measures to help reduce carbon
emissions, waste in both public and private development
and operations.
•Work with regional, county and state leaders in reviewing
and exploring appropriate and feasible climate adaption
initiatives and concepts.
NEXT STEPS
Staff will be seeking comments and questions from the Village Board on the key concepts
of these Comprehensive Plan Recommendations at the October COW. Staff will then
incorporate this feedback and draft the full Comprehensive Plan for review and comments
by the Steering Committee, stakeholders, the public as well as the Village Board. Staff will
then look to begin the public hearing and adoption process, which includes additional
opportunities to collect feedback and refine the plan before its adoption.
BG has a symbiotic relationship with open space and
natural resources.
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