A. Upon receipt of any application or petition for Village consideration, review, or action, including approvals required under the Winnetka Zoning Ordinance, that will require the Village to obtain professional services, the Village Manager, or the Manager's designee, shall estimate the cost of the professional services based upon the nature and complexity of the required services by the Village Code, the rates established by the Village Council for reimbursement of professional fees, and any other factors that may be relevant to estimating the cost of the required professional services. The Village Manager or designee shall send written notice to the applicant or petitioner of the estimated cost of professional services required by the Village Code and shall require the applicant or petitioner to: (1) execute an escrow agreement in a form to be provided by the Village Manager, and (ii) deposit the estimated amount with the Village within 14 days of receipt of the notice. The Village will not be required to take any official action on the application or petition before the applicant or petitioner executes and delivers the escrow agreement and makes the required escrow deposit. The escrow agreement will include provisions for the deposit, withdrawals, and closing of the escrow consistent with the provisions of this section and Sections 15.74.050 and 15.74.060 of this chapter.
B. Upon receipt of the executed escrow agreement and the amount equal to the estimated cost of the required professional services, the Village Manager, or the Manager's designee, shall deposit this amount into a separate escrow account established to defray the cost of professional fees incurred by the Village during its review of, and any action in response to, the application or petition. No interest shall be payable on any funds deposited in the escrow account. (MC-6-2014 § 2, 09/02/2014)