Special Meeting of the Village Board, April 17, 2018

Topic: Discussion & Determination of Path Forward Regarding Storm Sewer System

Present: Trustees Kathy Dodd, Joel Kurzman, Julie Wolf, Dan Sullivan, Senta Plunkett and Board President: Bob Bielinski.

The meeting on April 17th followed a two-month Village-wide public education and listening initiative to help residents understand the challenges in managing stormwater during heavy rainfalls. The focus of the initiative was on flood damage in the section of Wilmette that is west of Ridge Road. In newsletters and during open houses, residents were introduced to the advantages, challenges, and costs of three very different approaches to reducing the frequency, severity and duration of overland flooding. A comprehensive review of the options can be found on the Village website (www.WilmetteStormwater.com).

The meeting began with a brief history of the engineering studies that led up to the final recommendations. This was followed by a review of benefits and limitations of each of three, divergent plans for relieving flooding. The task at hand on Tuesday night was for the Village Board to decide which of the plans best met the needs of the community and then to prepare official directives for the steps toward implementation.

Three final plans and estimated costs:
Plan 1: Sewer System Expansion - cost up to $108 million Plan 2: Sewer System Expansion & Stormwater Storage Hybrid - cost up to $91 million
Plan 3: Stormwater Storage - cost up to $60 million

Two questions served to frame most of the discussion for the trustees:

1. Was conveyance of stormwater exclusively through sewer pipes to the North Branch of the Chicago River (Plan 1) or holding the stormwater in below grade tanks before conveying it to the river (Plan 3) or a combination of the two (Plan 2) the best way to address flooding in western Wilmette?
   
   
   
2. Given the number of competing demands for Village funds, which of the plans is the most fiscally responsible for the Village as a whole?
   
   After extensive discussion, the trustees decided in a vote of 5 to 1* on Plan 3+.The plus standing for the addition of a relatively small section of large pipe on the discharge side of the holding tanks to temporarily provide additional local storage for stormwater. Three parks were identified as potential sites for the underground tanks: Thornwood Park, Community Playfields, and Hibbard Park. Centennial Park was also mentioned, but was of least interest based on the limited available space.
   
   
   

*Trustee Kurzman was the one negative vote. His objections was that Plan 3+ did not cover all neighborhoods and some homeowners were left out.

The issue of being fiscally responsible was a main decider... here is why:

• The projected cost of Plan 1 (108 million) exceeds the total 2018 Village budget ($70 million).*
• The current Village of Wilmette debt is $83 million of which $49 million is attributable to water and sewer projects.
• Other large Village expenditures are needed: new building for police department ($25 million), upgrades to essential equipment in the water plant ($25 million).
• Other governing bodies in Wilmette have anticipated major expenses (eg, District 39 schools, Wilmette Park District, Wilmette Public Library District).
• Estimates of costs for each household benefited under Plan 1 runs between $270,000 and $300,000.
• Loss of sales tax income (Imperial Motors, anticipate loss from Carson’s in 2019) will reduce working capital.
  
  
  

*This large sum would mean that the construction would need to be spread over 5 or more years, which would delay the much needed relief for residents.

Disadvantages/Potential Compensating Options for the Board’s Choice

• Some residents are in areas that will not benefit.
• Trustee Dodd felt something needed to be done for the residents who would not benefit under Plan 3+. She suggested that the Village consider developing a cost-sharing program for homeowner-based relief (eg, assistance with the installation of check valves, addition of green infrastructure-type solutions like bioswales, dry creeks and rain gardens).*
• Trustee Wolf added that the Village might consider a cost-sharing program for stormwater solutions through not-for-profit advisory groups like the Center for Neighborhood Technology.*
  
  
  

*It was noted that both cost-sharing plans have been used successfully in other communities.

Additional incentives for choosing Plan 3+ were noted

• The concept has been shown to be effective at West Park.
• Work could begin rather quickly, bringing relief faster to beleaguered residents.
• By adding the extension pipe now, there are options to add additional pipe in the future to improve “conveyance” if needed.
• The lower cost reduces the burden of a large tax increase for property owners, and potential reputational damage with respect to Wilmette real estate sales.

Call for follow-up

To assess the effectiveness of Plan 3+, trustees built into the request to staff a requirement to perform follow up evaluations.

The final directions for the staff were to do the following:


“Issue a request for proposal for preliminary engineering for all 3 underground storage facilities and design engineering for the Community Playfield/Centennial, upsize two relief sewer pipes to allow future flexibility to add on Sewer Expansion (Option 1), include green infrastructure as a component of the preliminary engineering design, have the Municipal Services Committee review public/private partnerships for green improvements, include in the 10-year capital improvement plan a study to determine the effectiveness of the improvements once complete and identify additional improvements as appropriate.”


Fiscal Responsibility and Faster Relief Drove the Village Board Decision

Trudy Gibbs - Observer

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