Robin D. Meier: candidate for Mundelein trustee
Bio
Town: Mundelein
Age on Election Day: 69
Occupation: Retired
Employer: none
Previous offices held: Mundelein Trustee, Mundelein Planning and Zoning Commission
Q&A
Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?
A: Many new multifamily buildings and developments are being built or planned. These may impact traffic, road conditions, village infrastructure, and other village services. In a timely manner, the village board needs to proactively monitor, plan, and implement needed changes to accommodate these developments. Developers pay impact fees to schools, park and library districts, and the village to assist in growth and infrastructure improvements. The village needs to take great care that impact fees are not waived or reduced without clear justification. The village board must work cooperatively with these groups to minimize negative impacts from new developments.There is an opportunity to capitalize on revenue potential with increased density from these developments. With a larger customer base new businesses are more likely to come here, and existing businesses have a better chance to succeed.
Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?
A: Monetary reserves were depleted in previous years. Work needs to continue to build the reserves without putting the financial burden on residents and businesses. Community's finances are fluid. Current health or financial circumstances can impact the community financial stability. The board must continually look for opportunities to improve financial health without creating new fees or added taxes. Existing utility and other fees need to sunset when bonds or projects are paid for and completed.Village departments work diligently to develop and stay within fiscally responsible budgets, this is an on-going process that the board continually monitors and approves annually. Increased housing density meets one business model requirement enabling a new business to finance and open their business in town. Attracting new businesses and helping existing businesses succeed is a high priority. As more businesses are attracted to town this increases community revenues and financial growth.
Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?
A: Prior to talking about spending, you have to have a good grasp and plan for revenue growth and generation that isn't on the backs of residents and businesses.To itemize specific spending priorities without knowing the agreements already made by the board, or learning about any future spending projects is unrealistic. Future spending commitments already made, may impact the ability of a new board to plan new spending priorities.All spending should be within the community budgeting means, and prioritized by importance and value to community. Any spending discussions should be well thought out and have a plan for how they will be financed, before monies are allocated or spent. Financial market and economic conditions are a valued part of any spending discussion. Emergency projects should be a part of the reserve planning to accommodate emergencies as they come up.
Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?
A: As we've seen and experienced unplanned pandemics, economic or market downturns considerably impact planned spending. These types of situations need to be reacted to quickly and decisions on planned spending should be made to defer, reduce, curtail, or permanently cancel unnecessary spending as needed.Prioritizing ongoing, current or future projects is an important part of spending plans. Low priority items should be deferred, curtailed, or cancelled unless there is a clearly defined added value, and/or a justified reason monies need to be allocated to those low priority items.
Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?
A: Municipal roads are an on-going and important infrastructure need. However, with the increased development of multifamily projects, other municipal infrastructure can't be ignored and must also be monitored. Developers pay impact fees to contribute to village infrastructure projects (roads, water, sewer etc.). It is important in the developer negotiation agreements to evaluate the needs before agreeing to waive or lower these infrastructure impact fees. Bridging the gap, planning for, and having the additional resources and monies needed when developers come to the table is crucial. Developers also pay impact fees to school, park, and library districts.There are always projects being discussed and planned which haven't reached the public awareness yet. Once in office, these projects need to be identified and reviewed. Any project deemed to be a low priority, diminished value, or not important to improve and increase revenues/infrastructure should be put on a back burner.
Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.
A: I have 43 years of corporate experience leading industry committees with governments, telecommunications companies, and vendors to resolve existing problems; develop new technologies, policies and standard operating procedures; sensitive negotiating, resolving and determining state and federal regulatory policies and decisions.During my previous tenures as trustee, I assisted staff in writing a new TIF policy and a revised a 2nd hand policy. I chaired the Old Village Hall study meeting all timelines and milestones to develop a comprehensive study for presentation at a village board meeting. The committee, under my leadership, worked cooperatively and each member contributed to the final report and presentation.My style is to listen to others, encourage their participation, do my homework, contribute draft documents, respect the opinions and contributions of all. My actions and decisions are well thought out, researched, respectful, and I'm willing to explain how I reached them.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: My past experience as Mundelein Trustee and service on the Planning and Zoning Commission. I've served in economic downturns, pandemics, weather and flooding emergencies where drastic measures and decisions had to be made. I been involved in numerous developments, projects, and running the village in many different circumstances. I have records of the developments and know what strategies or negotiations worked, what didn't work, and the reasons why some succeeded and some failed. I've served on the CLCJAWA, SWALCO, ETSB committees; negotiations with developers, Groot, and the Old Village Hall Study committee. I volunteer and serve on the Mundelein CERT, and Secretary of the MCPAAA (Mundelein Citizen Police Alumni Academy Association). I have a proven record that shows I am always willing to provide information and explain to the community what is going on in the village. I'm always available to listen and respond to community questions and concerns.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: In one of my earlier campaigns, I advocated for the live streaming of Village Board meetings. Later I asked for the inclusion of live streaming for Committee of the Whole meetings. While it's been discussed, asked for previously, and denied I still push and advocate for the addition of live streaming for Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. Developments are typically first introduced at Planning and Zoning meetings and this is the first opportunity the public has to see them, ask questions, or identify concerns. These meetings are also the first place to see the in-depth details of the project. Once these development projects reach the Village Board for consideration and vote, the public has little to no realistic opportunity to provide meaningful input or requested change to a project. Live streaming Planning and Zoning meetings adds transparency, convenience, and value to the public.