Village of Lombard Legistar System

President Mueller presented the proclamation to Barb Madigan, President of Friends of

the Library; Gary Brenniman, Library Trustee; and Bob Harris, Library Director.

Ms. Madigan reported that in honor of the second annual Friends of Libraries Week,

there is a coupon in the newsletter for members to receive a free calendar. In

December, the Friends are encouraging other organizations to donate decorated

wreaths for the winter holidays which will be on display in December. She invited the

public to come to hear adult storyteller Jim May on Sunday at 2:00. She stated that

membership in Friends of the Library is $5 for an individual and $10 for a family

membership. They also have canvas bags and t-shirts on sale for $7. The library

phone number is 627-0316.

Mr. Harris thanked the Friends of the Library for their help fundraising, making displays

in the library, as well as holding book discussion groups. He stated that Nancy Bolton is

currently holding a book discussion group which she started 15 years ago. He said that

our Friends group is a large and active group.

Mr. Brenniman stated that Lombard is fortunate to have a group like Friends and that

Barb Madigan is an outstanding individual and that Bob Harris is an outstanding director.

He said to keep in mind that the library needs more space.

In lieu of a formal proclamation, President Mueller recognized the Lights On After School

program, and explained that Lights On After School is a national program providing

after-school activities for children. Lombard's program is sponsored by the Tri-Town

Y.M.C.A. President Mueller introduced Jeannie Horne, Deb Allen and Jerry Lewitso of

the Y.M.C.A.

Ms. Horne thanked the Board for their support of the Y-Kids program and especially

President Mueller for reading to the children. She stated that parents are very

supportive of the program because it gives them peace of mind to know their child is in a

safe and caring environment after school. She reported that the Y.M.C.A. has been

running the program for 21 years and that there are currently 130 children enrolled.

President Mueller read a letter from the DuPage Senior Citizens Council attached to a

Certificate of Appreciation thanking the Village for their support.

President Mueller announced that the International City and County Management

Association honored Village Manager Bill Lichter with their 2007 Service Award for

Career Excellence at their annual conference. He also announced that the Village of

Lombard will be receiving an award from

the Illinois Arts Association and the Illinois Municipal League for our arts program in the

community, the sculpture program we have downtown. Accepting the certificate

tomorrow will be Village President William Mueller, Village Clerk Brigitte O'Brien,

Trustees Greg Gron, Jack O'Brien, Dana Moreau and Laura Fitzpatrick.

President Mueller invited the public to speak.

Mr. Kevin Fitzpatrick of 348 South Lewis, addressed the Board to support the proposed

idea of term limits for committee members. He stated that the Board should consider

instead of limiting people, they could limit the terms. He supports the idea that members

should serve on another committee after serving six years on one committee to become

a more well-rounded committee member. He also thinks that the Board should address

the problem of chronic absenteeism of committee members. He suggested creating an

ongoing list of people wishing to serve on particular committees so that when a position

becomes available, the Board can invite the best and brightest to serve.

Trustee Fitzpatrick reported that the Community Relations Committee met on October

15th and recapped the Senior Citizens Fair, which was proclaimed a great success.

The committee approved the sculpture show which will be run as an intergovernmental

project between numerous not-for-profits and agencies in Lombard. The goals for the

sculpture show are to provide an opportunity for DuPage artists to show and sell their

work, to highlight our college and high school students' sculptures, educate the public on

various sculpture forms and to seek out future candidates for our own public art

program. The details are yet to be worked out, however, a call to artists and the Arts

Coalition, who will be jurying the artists, will go out in early November. The next meeting

will be a special meeting October 29th at 7:00 to hear details regarding the new

affordable senior housing initiative and discuss a possible recommendation to the

Village Board.

Trustee Fitzpatrick stated that she attended a Historic Commission meeting on October

16th. The commissioners are putting their budget together and making positive steps

toward restoring the Lombard Pioneer Cemetery. She invited the public to visit the

cemetery on October 28th from 2 to 4 p.m. for the Cemetery Walk, where figures from

Lombard's past will return from their graves to talk about their lives.

Trustee Gron reported that the committee has not met since the last board meeting.

The next committee meeting will be October 23rd.

He stated that last night at the DuPage Mayors Conference two presenters from the

Morton Arboretum reported on the state of the Emerald Ash Borer. It is believed that the

insects were introduced in Detroit from a ship, and that the infestation has spread

through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky. It has not hit Lombard yet, but it

is only a matter of time. Lombard has 3,000 ash trees, worth 6.3 million dollars,

approximately 30 percent of the trees in the village. There are reports that the Emerald

Ash Borer also eats lilacs, which could be devastating for Lombard. Scientists are

experimenting with wasp larva to control the infestation. It has also been found that

many people do not know what an ash tree looks like and are reporting sightings

incorrectly. He stated that you can go to IllinoisEAB.com to see what an ash tree looks

like. Information received at the conference will be put on the Village access channel,

as well as a DVD giving information about the Emerald Ash Borer.

President Mueller stated that the Emerald Ash Borer was originally on that evening's

agenda but was continued so that both the Public Works and Environmental Concerns

Committees could review it at the committee level and then each report back to the

Village Board.

President Mueller thanked Forestry Superintendent Steve Kremske for his work on this

subject and reported that his report was used at the Mayors Conference.

Trustee Tross reported that the Public Works committee met on Tuesday, October 9th.

Action was deferred on the Commercial Backyard Drainage Grant since one member

who had strong opinions was absent. The mailbox policy was reviewed with regard to

what is a violation of the public right of way for a mailbox placement. The Public Works

Committee reaffirmed its position with regard to mailbox replacements that would come

down during a snowstorm or by acts of the Village plowing. Those mailboxes that come

down must have met Village Code prior to the incident. He stated that within the next

two months the Village will be surveyed and every resident will be notified regarding the

status of their mailbox.

Under old business, the committee ratified a change order that the committee, for

purposes of Village Board convenience, had to do a phone poll last month. They had

concerns with regard to the large change order on Westmore and the $91,000 change

order for Garfield. They did get some input and gave feedback to Village staff with

regard to a village wide transportation study before it goes out to bid. The next

committee meeting would be Tuesday, November 13th at 7 p.m. in the Community

Room.

Trustee Tross reported that the Board of Local Improvements met last Thursday. There

were two payouts amounting to $15,000 for Engineering Resources and Associates with

regard to Special Assessment 217, which is basically the Lombard Lagoon area. There

was a payout in the amount of $7600 to Burns and McDonnell for Special Assessment

219 for the Ahrens and School area south of Wilson for sewer and water work. That

would be coming to a conclusion with some final punch lists and final change orders

sometime before the first of the year. The committee also adopted, by law, the first

resolution approving the construction for Special Assessment 217A for Joyce and

Marcus Boulevard and the Lombard Lagoon area, the first three blocks. Including the

parking around the Lombard Lagoon area, engineers' estimate is roughly $2,825,000.

The public hearing on that item will be held at the next Board of Local Improvements

regularly scheduled meeting, which is November 8th. It will be held in the Board Room

of the Village Hall, and that is the public hearing for Special Assessment 217A, Marcus

Drive, Joyce north of Sunset and LaLonde north of Sunset. Residents are being notified.

Mr. Heniff introduced Tam Kutzmark, Transportation and Planning Director working with

the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, reporting on the Circulator Study.

Ms. Kutzmark gave the Board an overview on the progress of the Circulator Study. She

complimented the Board and staff for their stakeholder engagement and community

involvement in the process.

Ms. Kutzmark explained why the study is being done and what has been done to date.

Recognition of the high quality of life enjoyed by residents and businesses of the Village

creates an increased interest regarding access to destinations throughout the

community. As a result of this interest, transit ability has become a key priority for the

Village, and is critical to the success of the Village's economic development strategy. In

2002, the DuPage Area Transit Plan was jointly adopted by the DuPage Mayors and

Managers Conference and the County Board. One of the number one priorities was

local bus service for trips within communities, the idea of bridging the gap and going the

first and last mile. She stated that's exactly what circulators do. In 2005 the local

circulator study was initiated. Funding was received from IDOT. Lombard and 12 other

communities were selected for participation in this study. In 2006, following a market

analysis and a service analysis, the study was narrowed down to four communities,

including Lombard, because these communities showed the greatest promise for

success in circulator service due to the strength of Lombard's market, the number and

variety of origins and destinations, or trip generators and, very importantly, the level of

support that was shown by the Village through its actions, its partnerships and its

outreach.

The set of alternatives was generated in this first part of 2007. It was a way to outline

alternatives, describe route destinations, hours of operation frequency and really set a

framework in helping the communities select the preferred alternative. This was not just

statistical data. That was qualitative data and community input, and people came to

meetings, and provided and took surveys. For example, just in the March 2007

community survey, which was

surveying the people along the route, there were over 400 responses to that survey.

Even people who couldn't attend meetings were givin slips of paper to people that they

knew would come to the meetings, so input would be provided. There was a really high

level of involvement that was good to see.

One of the key things that this study introduced to Lombard was the idea of a flex route

service. Flex route is a very cost effective way for a community like Lombard to

expand its transit service because it follows a fixed route, but it allows the transit vehicle

to deviate or move off from that route within a three-quarter mile buffer. It lets you serve

a wider market, and it eliminates the need for complementary paratransit, which is

necessary for a fixed route. The four alternatives that were generated differed in the

routes that were picked and also the frequency of service and, finally, most importantly,

whether they were fixed or flex route. What is being talked about are two routes, one

that's serving the northern part of Lombard and one that's serving the southern part.

Major destinations include Lombard Industrial Center, Metra Station, various parks,

Yorktown Center, hotels and businesses along Butterfield, Montini High School, and

Eastgate Shopping Center. This is the crux of the study to date.

The recommended service design looked at those four alternatives and measured them

based on a number of key indicators, such as the market served, operating costs,

capital cost, cost per passenger, number of passengers' connections, input that was

received at the forum and at the surveys and those trip generators. What we found is

that alternative four was the clear winner of those. This would be an operating cost of

$650,000 a capital cost of $850,000, cost per passenger of $13 serving about 49,000

passengers. So this was a very cost effective option, which allows the opportunity to

grow over time. They are recommending selecting alternative four and considering how

we could contract with Pace for operations. We are moving into phase four which is the

implementation strategy. This what we are recommending that the Village consider.

What we do in phase four is set out the how we could do it. That's who would be

involved in a partnership, how it would be funded, what kind of resources could be

leveraged, the time frame for doing all of this and walking hand in hand with the village

and our planning team to figure out how to make this thing happen. So we are offering

you our recommendation, and we are going to work with you to see how we can make it

happen.

We are going to be working in November and December of this year to create a local

circulator task force, see the stakeholders that the Village feels are the important people

to have at the table, local government officials, business leaders or civic groups helping

the Village, along with our group, to form that implementation strategy. In February or

March we are going to begin developing that strategy. In April and May of next year we

are going to be developing a marketing plan and a monitoring plan. In June and July we

are tentatively looking toward implementing this. This is all touching base with the

Village at various points in the process, working with the steering committee

representatives here at Lombard, which has been Dave Hulseberg and Jennifer

Backersto, to make sure what we are offering is something that we could move forward

with.

Ms. Kutzmark thanked the Board and encouraged them to visit the circulator study

website at www.getarounddupage.org and promised to continue to work with the Village

on this to answer questions, to modify this to make it meet the Village's needs and make

it something that the Village will feel comfortable embracing as it gets closer to

implementation.

Trustee Moreau asked why the flexible route, Route 4, was more cost effective than the

other options.

Ms. Kutzmark explained that what it means is the very same bus and the very same

driver who is right along the route, the fixed part of it, can move off the route within that

three-quarter mile buffer to pick up anyone who would like to schedule a ride. What that

means is that Americans with Disability riders can be served with that one bus, that one

driver, as opposed to running a complementary paratransit service with additional

vehicles, additional drivers. That's extremely cost effective. It serves not only ADA

riders, but also senior citizens and others who might have infrequent use but are within

that three quarter-mile buffer and are able to schedule something.

Trustee Fitzpatrick asked how the resident would go about making the schedule.

Ms. Kutzmark explained that someone would begin with the notion that about 24 hours

in advance to assure pick-up at a particular time. They would want to put in a call to the

dispatcher. What happens is the route has been designed with some flexibility to allow

them arriving at a destination a few minutes before or a few minutes after. So when

there is a schedule for a flex route, the schedule will say the bus will be here within five

minutes before the hour or five minutes after the hour. It's sort of a range based

schedule. When a person calls ahead, the dispatcher would check how maxed out the

route is and the dispatcher would say “I can pick you up; I can serve you on that run, or I

am full -- can you wait a half an hour? Can you wait an hour?” That's how a schedule

could be done in advance.

Trustee O'Brien asked what phase the program is in.

Ms. Kutzmark stated that they have just concluded Phase 3, the detailed service plan.

Phase 4 is the implementation strategy; the detail of the how we would make this

happen, who from the Village community needs to be involved in helping to make that

happen, what role do the service boards play based on the Village's wishes in involving

them, what's the time frame and what are the resources that we are looking for. She

stated that they plan to maximize whatever grants might be available at the federal or

state level. What they'd like to do is spend the better part of 2008 setting everything up,

finding the sources, figuring out how this would be operated so that in 2009 we could

begin operating something. Those budgets that are in the service specifications report

are based on operating in 2009.

Trustee Tross complimented the DuPage Mayors and Managers for having the foresight

to look into this. He remarked that he had some real reservations at this economic time

suggesting that Lombard enter into its own flexible transit program within 60148. He

stated that financially, he is not prepared to support this. He observed that on map page

V-12, Alternate 4 shows mostly the western border of town. He asked who this plan is

supposed to serve.

Ms. Kutzmark stated that one thing that was learned when they looked at existing

service among DuPage communities is that commuters are very well served, but riders

who would choose to travel throughout the day are less well served.

Trustee Tross asked if this plan was not geared toward commuters.

Ms. Kutzmark stated that he was correct. It is flexible enough to serve them, but since it

provides service throughout the day in a very cost effective manner through the flex

route, it allows transit dependent populations to be served, senior citizens, even youth

have been accounted for in the markets that could be served by this. A heavy emphasis

has been on making the Butterfield Road corridor more accessible. Along with the

transit service that is proposed, they have also looked at what could be done to make

the pedestrian environment even better for people to be riding those buses there.

Trustee Tross observed that the places to be served mentioned in the plan are our

youth centers, our low-income employment centers, blue-collar worker centers and our

senior citizen centers. He stated that trip generators for non-drivers would be extremely

high.

Ms. Kutzmark explained that they have built into this, access to the Metra station and

also access to Addison circulator service and Downers Grove circulator service. So the

hope is that they have got primary markets that they are trying to serve, but they are

also creating a service that is flexible enough to serve a variety of users.

Trustee Tross stated that Lombard has many Pace routes coming through town, as well

as a wonderful paratransit system in DuPage County for people with special needs.

There is also a senior citizen taxicab program that the Village underwrites, as well as a

township program, all at very reasonable costs. He questioned the reasonableness of

$13.50 per ride.

Ms. Kutzmark explained that the cost for the passenger would be $1 and that $12.50

would be subsidized and that $13 per passenger is a very cost-effective figure. In a

sense, this is a different kind of service for the region, because the region has been

primarily based on fixed routes or what they call feeders, which is primarily serving the

commuter population. So what they are looking for is something that would serve a

greater variety of passengers. She stated that Pace cannot serve the market that a

local circulator service could.

Trustee Tross stated that this is something that needs a lot more discussion before

implementation in 2009.

President Mueller stated that the Board started talking about transit back in the 1990s.

He thanked the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference for working diligently on

transportation. He also thanked Trustee O'Brien for attending a presentation on the

update to the transit plan last week. He said that based on public hearings held in the

past, the need is definitely there. He reminded everyone that this is in the planning

stages and that there will be revisions made to it.

Trustee Soderstrom stated that other than our Metra service, which takes you from point

A to point B, and our fixed Pace routes, residents, businesses, ourselves have been

crying for something for years. He acknowledged that there are details to work out and

items to iron over, but it's a step in the right direction. He stated that this is a customized

service and that you will not be able to get it for $1 a ride.

Ms. Kutzmark stated that they are rather on the cutting edge here. They are looking for

a way to expand suburban bus transit service. She said the Board's questions are

exceptional but that she is not a Pace bus planner, that they are coming at it from a

different perspective. This is municipalities grabbing their transit future and saying they

are not going to be completely at the whims of what's happening at the state or even

what limitations the service boards might have because they have budgets that they

need to meet and indicators that they need to use to measure their routes. This is

saying there are needs that can be measured differently and enabled differently. They

are going to play an active role in developing our transit future. It's a different role for

municipalities to play, so those questions absolutely need to be answered, because

when we move into the how, that's exactly what will determine the ultimate success of

the route. She added that Addison, Lombard and Downers Grove are the three

contiguous communities in the study and that Wheaton is not contiguous. They are

working on how to get them into the system.

President Mueller stated that this would conclude business for the meeting