Annual Spring Cleanup Week is May 2 - May 5
Winnetka’s Annual Spring Clean-Up week will be held the week of May 2 – May 5. Scheduled pickups are:
Mon. May 2 – north of Tower Road
Tue. May 3 – Tower Road to Pine Street
Wed. May 4 – Pine Street to Willow Road
Thursday, May 5 – south of Willow Road
Public Works employees will remove from the parkway anything that two men can reasonably lift into a truck.
Yardwaste, dirt, stone, construction materials/debris, logs, liquids and paint will not be picked up.
The rubbish should be placed on residential parkways the evening before the scheduled pickup, or by 7 AM the day of the pickup. There will be no call-backs if the material is not on the parkway by the scheduled time.
If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 716-3568 Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. To see a map of the pickup dates/locations, click here.
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Plan Commission Adopts Housing Report
At its April 12th Study Session, the Village Council initiated its review of the Plan Commission’s Affordable Housing study and recommendations regarding possible amendments to the Village’s existing Affordable Housing plan, which was first adopted, then amended, in 2005. During the Study Session, the Council directed Village staff to:
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Prepare a review of the proposed affordability standards;
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Review options for a Property Maintenance Code;
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Review Zoning amendments regarding coach houses;
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Develop options for preserving residential apartments in the commercial districts.
In addition, the Council directed the Plan Commission to more fully evaluate inclusionary zoning and the concepts of a housing trust fund and land trust.
To review the Plan Commission’s December, 2010, report: Reinvigorating a Tradition of Varied, Moderately Priced and Affordable Housing, and to see other materials regarding affordable housing, click here.
The Village Council thanks you for your interest and participation in this matter.
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Crime Prevention Alert
The Winnetka Police Department would like residents to be aware of recent residential burglaries that took place in Winnetka during daytime hours. Residents are urged to call the Police Department non-emergency phone number at 847.501.6034, to report suspicious activity or people. To read the full Crime Alert, or to schedule a security survey with the Police Department, click here.
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Elm Street Train Station Construction Update
The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Elm Street Train Station is very close to completion! The elevators, delayed due to mechanical and life safety upgrades, are now poised for an April opening - with a May 2011 project completion.
During the final stages, full handicapped access will remain available at the Glencoe, Kenilworth and Wilmette Stations. When complete, this newly renovated station should prove comfortable, attractive and functional, funneling nearly 600 riders daily to and from their destinations.
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Solicitations to Switch Energy Provider
Some residents report receiving phone calls or door hangers from Spark Energy and Constellation Energy to switch energy providers. The Village of Winnetka owns and operates its own municipal electric system; therefore, Spark Energy and Constellation Energy cannot provide electric service to Village residents or businesses.
Investor-owned utilities such as ComEd are required to allow third party suppliers to offer their services to residential customers within their service territory. If you have additional questions, please contact the Water & Electric Department at 847.716.3558.
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Review the 2011 NWMC Legislative Program
As a member of the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC), Winnetka partners with 42 other north and northwest suburban municipalities to ensure that our voices are heard by legislators in Springfield.
The legislative initiatives of the NWMC continue to be responsive to the uncertain economic climate and the financial burdens on local taxpayers. To see the NWMC’s 2011 Legislative Program, click here.
The Village encourages residents to support these efforts by contacting their elected representatives in Springfield. To see the contact information forWinnekta’s State Senator and State Representatives, click here.
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Battery Recycling Program
The Public Works Department is partnering with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) to offer a battery recycling program, Monday through Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM at the Public Works Yards, 1390 Willow.
Rechargeable, NiCd, NiMh, lithium ion, lithium polymer or household alkaline batteries will be accepted. Residents please note: Each rechargeable battery (lithium,NiMh and NiCad) must have masking tape on contact points or be placed in an individual zip-lock plastic bag. If you have any questions, please call 716-3568.
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Winnetka Provides Electronic Recycling Program
The Winnetka Public Works Department is happy to partner with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) to provide free electronic recycling to residents. The program will run until 500,000 lbs. of material has been collected.
Discarded electronics will be accepted at the Public Works Yards at 1390 Willow from 10AM – Noon on Tuesdays, and from 1 – 3PM on Thursdays.
Items that will be accepted include: computers and peripherals, DVD players, fax machines, mobile phones, MP3 players, game consoles, zip drives, printers, televisions and VHS players.
Further details are available by clicking here. For additional recycling and waste reduction programs or events, visit www.swancc.org or call 847.724.9205.
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Help Physically and Developmentally
Disabled Individuals Earn Income by
Dropping Off Your Small Electronics at Village Hall
The Village of Winnetka is partnering with Recycling Avenue to collect small used electronic devices for recycling.
You can bring your used small electronics to Village Hall 510 Green Bay or thePublic Works Yards at 1390 WIllow during normal business hours; donations are tax-deductible. Large items such as printers, monitors, toner cartridges, desktop computers, TV's, VCR's or stereos will not be accepted. Recycling Avenue is run by and for persons who are physically and developmentally challenged. Learn more about Avenues to Independence recycling activities by clicking here.
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Crime Prevention Videos
Click here to view the videos.
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Winnetka Police Department Does not Solicit Donations
Some residents report receiving calls for donations from the Winnetka Police Department. These calls are in fact coming from the police union, and the Winnetka Police Department does not benefit from these donations. For more detailed information, click here and then scroll down the page for information about "Police" telephone solicitations.
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Village Provides Interactive Mapping
The Village is proud to make an internet mapping service available on its website. The service allows users to search for information in Winnetka regarding school districts, recycling day pickup, voting locations, etc. Aerial photography is also available, plus links to Google Maps Street View and Microsoft Live mapping. The mapping service can be accessed in the Quick Links section under 'Interactive Village Map,' or by clicking here.
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Emergency Notification via Telephone
The Winnetka Police and Fire Departments have contracted with a rapid response phone network that allows the Village to quickly send messages to the phone numbers of any Winnetkan in case of emergency, such as the August 23, 2007, storm. To make register your landline and cell phone numbers for Village emergency calls, please click here. For more information please call the Police Department at 847-501-6034.
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Streetscape
To review the Revised Streetscape Report, click below.
Executive Summary
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Priority 1 Plans
Priority 2 Plans
Section 4
Section 5
Appendix A
To review the Implementation Plan, click here
To read the Village President's February 15, 2010 Streetscapeletter, click here.
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Explore the Willow Road Study Website
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is undertaking a Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study of the Willow Road corridor between I-94 (Edens Expressway) and Illinois Route 43 (Waukegan Road), due to be completed in the fall of 2011. The study seeks to implement IDOT's Context Sensitive Solutions policy. To that end, IDOT has established a Community Advisory Group consisting of representatives from Northfield, Winnetka, Glenview and Northbrook, to discuss Willow Road problems and possible solutions. Its meetings are open to the public, and all Winnetka residents are invited to attend and express their own views. To keep the public informed about the many different aspects of the study, IDOT has created a website -- click here -- and a separate website for the Community Advisory Group with information about the process, meeting schedule, data provided and results -- click here.
In 2007-208 Winnetka and Northfield representatives undertook their own study of Context Sensitive Solutions. A copy of the group's final comprehensive report (sometimes called the Lakota Report) can be accessed by clicking here.
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Visit Websites of the Village's Other Taxing Agencies
Winnetka Park District
New Trier Township
Winnetka/Northfield Library District
New Trier High School
Winnetka School District 36
Avoca School District 37
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Council Meetings Rebroadcast on Cable TV
Winnetka viewers with Comcast service can watch regular Council Meetings on Channel 18 on Monday, Friday and Sunday at 7AM and 7PM or on Channel 10, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7;00 PM. Meeting videos may also be viewed on demand on this website by clicking on the "Council" tab and selecting "Meetings Webcast."
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Proposed State Budget Cuts Will Adversely Affect Local Governments
The Village Council recently passed a resolution informing State legislators that the Village is vehemently opposed to a proposed reduction in income tax revenue to Winnetka, as these locally-generated funds are guaranteed to be collected for municipalities by the Illinois Constitution of 1970. Residents are urged to join their voices with the Village Council in opposing this State budget cut.
To read more about the proposal and its effects on local governments, click here. http://www.nwmc-cog.org/News-and-Events/Mayors-Oppose-budget-cuts.aspx
To read the Winnetka Village Council’s Resolution opposing the measure, click here.
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
CONTACT GOVERNOR QUINN NOW!
The Chicago Tribune reported on April 28th that Governor Quinn wants to stop paying the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) to cities and counties. Currently, the State owes 3 months’ worth of payments. The governor's plan is to force mayors and municipal officials to “help the State get borrowing authority to pay the State’s unpaid bills.”
This complete stoppage of LGDF is unacceptable and will destroy municipal budgets and force substantial financial chaos across Illinois. The plan needs to be stopped immediately.
This latest scheme comes on the heels of the Senate Republic Caucus plan to reduce state collected local government revenues by $300 million as the state looks for ways to resolve its budget crisis.
The Village strongly encourages residents to contact the Governor and his staff IMMEDIATELY (contact information below) to state your strong opposition to withholding revenues owed to local governmens in order to allow the state to borrow more money. SEND EMAILS! MAKE PHONE CALLS!
Governor Pat Quinn – pat.quinn@illinois.gov
Springfield: 217-782-0244
Chicago: 312-814-2121
David Vaught, Director, Office of Management & Budget – david.vaught@illinois.gov
Springfield: 217-782-6830 or 217-558-1026
To see the contact information for your state elected officials, click here.
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IDOT to Host Willow Road Improvement Open House
When: Monday, May 16
5 PM – 8 PM
Where: New Trier West
7 Happ Road, Northfield
Main Cafeteria, Bldg. C
The purpose of the meeting is to provide a comprehensive review of transportation needs and the initial evaluation of alternative solutions. To see the invitation, click here. To see the latest Willow Road Study Newsletter, click here.
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Metra Bridge Reconstruction Project
Metra has informed the Village that plans are in place to begin a bridge reconstruction project on the UP North Line this spring. The existing two-track operation will be maintained throughout construction, meaning that the current UP North schedule will remain unchanged.
The project will be divided into two phases. The first phase of work is scheduled for completion in November 2015 and Phase 2 is slated to be complete in November 2019.
Residents can go to Metra’s website, metrarail.com, for regular updates or to my metra to sign up for construction alerts. To see a more detailed plan of the project, click here.
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Village Appoints New Fire Chief
On April 4th, the Village formally announced the appointment of Alan J. Berkowsky as the next Winnetka Fire Chief. Mr. Berkowsky succeeds Fire Chief Scott T. Smith, who retired in November after 33 years of service to the Department.
Chief Berkowsky comes to Winnetka from the City of Evanston, where he served for 28 years, most recently as Fire Chief from 2004 to 2010. While in Evanston, Chief Berkowsky also held the positions of Division Chief of Fire Prevention & Technical Services and Division Chief of Administrative Services. Chief Berkowsky holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Management from National-Louis University. Chief Berkowsky will officially begin his duties on April 4, 2011.
Chief Berkowsky brings extensive experience and expertise to the Winnetka Fire Department and will lead our already exceptional Department forward to the next level. We welcome Chief Berkowsky to our Village.
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Historical Consumption Data added to Utility Bills
Beginning in March 2011, customer utility bills will contain a bar graph showing the present and past year’s usage of water and electricity. The new design is intended to provide customers with more information to assist them with their water and energy management and conservation efforts. This improvement resulted from a recommendation from the Winnetka Environmental and Forestry Commission.
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Buildings Research Project
The Landmark Preservation Commission has begun a Buildings Research Project, scheduled to run through the summer, to compile information about the building stock of the Village. You may notice graduate students from Loyola University out working on the project, which includes taking a photograph of each structure in the Village.
The final report will be made public. Questions about the project may be directed to Ann Klaassen in the Dept. of Community Development at 847.716.3525 or aklaassen@winnetka.org.
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VILLAGE PASSES 2011-12 BUDGET
With a Conservative and Fiscally Sound Budget
Overall Budget Down 2.8%
The Village Council passed the FY2011-12 budget at its March 22nd meeting. An overview of the budget shows that the Village continues to manage its finances in a conservative and fiscally sound manner with balanced operating budgets.
The Village's main operating fund is the general fund, which includes police, fire, public works, community development, and administrative operations. Because of staff turnover, cost reductions, and changes to our health care plan, operating expenses in the general fund are down 2.8%.
A typical Winnetka homeowner will pay about $125, or 2.1%, more for Village services in 2012, consisting of higher property taxes (+ 1.4% or $37 increase), electric charges (+ 1.5% or $35) and water charges (+8.0% or $53) . The water rate increase will be used to pay for needed repairs at the Water Plant. The projected 1.5% electric cost increase is the result of a 5.8% increase in the cost of power purchased by the Village offset somewhat by budget reductions in other expense line items.
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Emerald Ash Borer Update
After surveying the Village for Ash trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer, Village Arborists have found a significant number of trees on both public and private property to be heavily infested.
Symptoms of infestation include: Woodpecker Holes, Chipping or Cracking of Bark, Suckering Sprouts, Dieback of Tree, etc.
Infested Ash trees have been identified in all areas of Winnetka. Residents who have Ash trees on their property, especially if the tree is showing symptoms of infestation, are encouraged to contact the Forestry Department at 716-3535.
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2010 Tax Levy and Pension Funding Update
At its meeting on December 14th, the Village Council decided to reduce the Village’s 2010 tax levy by 1.3% from the amount initially considered at its December 7th meeting. The total 2.8% tax levy increase reflects a property tax change for an existing homeowner of 1.4%, or approximately $37 on an existing $20,000 tax bill. The levy also reflects a 1.4% increase based on estimated new development. The 2010 levy continues the Village’s long-held policy of increasing property taxes at or below the rate of inflation.
One item reflected in the property tax levy is the cost of police and fire pensions. The Village annually requests property taxes to pay for its share of the police and fire pensions. This cost has gone up considerably in recent years due to lower investment returns. In 2008, the stock market declined significantly, which hurt pension plans that invested in equities. As a result, the police and fire pension tax levy increased 38% from $1,405,000 in 2007 to $1,943,000 in the 2009 tax year. The $1,943,000 represented about 15% of the Village’s total 2009 property tax levy of $12,480,000.
Because the stock market has partially recovered, the 2010 property tax levy for the police and fire pensions was calculated to fall by 9% to $1,766,000. This assumed no change in the Village’s investment earnings assumption of 6.5%.
In December 2010, the Council debated the impact of lowering the investment return assumption. Ultimately, a reduction of 0.25% to 6.25% was approved which resulted in a $133,000 increase in the property tax levy dedicated to police and fire pensions. In total, the 2010 property tax levy included $1,889,000 for police and fire pension purposes. The reduction in the investment return assumption from 6.50% to 6.25% was based on the estimated future earnings rate for the police and fire pension plan investments. These pension plans invest up to 45% in equities, with the balance invested in high quality bonds.
It is important to remember that unlike some municipalities in financial distress, the Village has always contributed 100% of the amount recommended by the Actuary. Using a realistic earnings rate assumption will help the Village pay off our pension obligations in a timely manner without deferring this liability to future generations.
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Web Site HIGHLIGHTS
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Village Council Passes Pension Reform Resolution
At its meeting on November 16th, the Village Council passed Resolution No. R-38-2010 urging the Illinois General Assembly to adopt pension reforms to assure the long-term sustainability of public employee pensions. To read this Resolution, please click here.
Residents who want to voice their opinions on this important subject are urged to contact their State representatives:
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Passage of Police and Fire Pension Reform
a Solid First Step in Addressing Crisis
On December 30th, Governor Quinn signed the agreed upon bill for public safety pension reform. The Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition, a coalition of municipalities, counties and employer groups around the state, including the Village of Winnetka, applauds the enactment of this bill, which is an important first step towards meaningful police and fire pension reform.
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