Ciesla: Northbrook 'efficient' in budgeting through pandemic

Northbrook Village President Kathryn Ciesla conducted her first State of the Village address over Zoom, a further reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Installed as Sandy Frum's successor as board president last May, Ciesla spoke from behind her desk at Village Hall last week, not at the Northbrook Public Library as intended.

Ciesla's engaging personality was muted remotely, but her positivity remained firm.

"Northbrook is an outstanding community, and I think we all know that and we believe that," she began.

"We have a really excellent foundation. Our residents are top-notch, our business people are leaders and the staff that works all across the village - in our schools, in our park district, in our library and even in our village hall - are just second to none," Ciesla said.

On-screen graphics accompanied some 10 minutes of facts and figures spanning life in Northbrook in 2021. Several had ties to the pandemic. Some were surprising.

Ciesla said sales tax revenue was at a five-year high and 30% over budget the last fiscal year. She said the Development & Planning Services Department, now headed by Michaela Kohlstedt with the 2021 retirement of Rich Narstedt (one of several ledger-boosting retirements within administration), received 3,185 building permits. Ciesla said that was more than in the last three years combined.

The village was due to receive $4.5 million in funds for COVID relief, a large chunk of the $5 million in revenues Ciesla said the village lost to the pandemic.

"We didn't touch a single dollar of reserve money (due to the pandemic). We shifted, we budgeted, we were efficient and we got through it very, very well," said Ciesla. She credited Chief Financial Officer Iwona Petrysak, another village employee promoted after a staff retirement.

Still waiting for a definitive development plan for Northbrook Court, Ciesla acknowledged the several crimes that occurred at the mall in 2021. She said license plate readers had been installed around the mall that will notify police of stolen vehicles, vehicles involved in crime, and aid with Amber and Silver alerts for missing people.

"We hope it's a safety measure, and also a deterrent," said Ciesla, who added that overall crime in Northbrook was flat or below 5-year averages.

Once Tensley Garris, president of the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry, annual State of the Village host, opened up the Zoom to submitted questions, people's most popular topic was progress and timelines on developments and businesses.

Ciesla hoped to have something finalized on the available Grainger property by summer, she said. Asked about the possibility of an overpass at Shermer and Techny roads, that would cost "multimillions" and is not being considered, she said.

Ciesla said the village had received a petition for the 127-acre Green Acres site at 916 Dundee Road. In October the board reacted favorably to a proposal from Erickson Senior Living. Development & Planning will review that, Ciesla said.

Questions, questions ...

Our Lady of the Brook Catholic Church Worship Center, 3700 Dundee Road? It's up for sale.

At its last meeting, the village board did preliminary review of a proposal for 53 townhouses at the former Maurice Sporting Goods property, 1825 Shermer Road.

The special oven for the Napolita Pizzeria and Wine Bar, 1349 Shermer Road, has arrived in the United States. The place will soon open.

The space next to Graeter's Ice Cream, 1347 Shermer Road, will be administrative offices and a training center for The Cove School.

The Gateway Northbrook townhouse development, 1179-1297 Shermer Road, should finish construction within a year, Ciesla said.

Ciesla reminded the viewing audience of the December creation of an ad hoc Downtown Committee. Also, she said on Jan. 25 the village contracted with consulting firm The Retail Coach to "mine" consumer data to attract business.

She spoke of a comprehensive review of village facilities, and committed to revising village zoning codes, though "it's going to take two years ..."

"Next year, when I speak to you about the state of the village, I am convinced I'm going to be able to show you public art, more lighting, better landscaping, outdoor dining, and tell you about outdoor events that we've had that have been successful in our downtown," Ciesla said.

Happy with how events such as Northbrook Days and Illuminate Northbrook went in 2021, this year Ciesla expects some sort of spring event, a Fourth of July parade and fireworks.

She said a leg of the Intelligentsia Cup bicycle race is scheduled to run downtown on July 28, drawing 400-500 cyclists and "thousands of spectators."

A Zoom viewer hoped the World Clown Association Convention, March 7-11 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago-Northbrook, wouldn't get out of hand.

"Lots of folks have sent that to me," Ciesla said. "I trust that the Clown Convention will be successful and I appreciate them coming to Northbrook - and I would encourage them to dine in Northbrook restaurants and shop in Northbrook businesses."