City Council Minutes - January 10, 2007

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2007

 1. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor LeGant called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.  City Clerk Herberts called the Roll of those physically present:

PRESENT: Mayor Carl LeGant, Aldermen Robert Conrad, Wayne Straza, Karen Michalczyk, John Von Drasek, Michael Smetana, Robert Pondelicek

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Herberts, City Treasurer Stoffels, City Attorney Erik Peck, City Admin. Bailey, Police Chief Swanson, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Fin. Director Filinovich, ESDA Coord. Norman, CDD Onderdonk

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes of December 13, 2006.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending January 10, 2007: $643,558.84.

4. Application for a general business license from. DELA NISIS SALON, 5512 Brainard Avenue.  Type:  Hair Salon.  Applicant: Danita Hernandez & Juanita Herrada.

5. Application for a general business license from DATA MEDICS, 24 E. Plainfield Road. Type:  Computer sales.  Applicant: Vince Zemulys (relocation 5402 LaGrange Rd).

6. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Conrad minus an item on page 11 (FGM ) and minus the Cummins & Power bill of $247,948 (Admin. Bailey - backup generator). Amended Omnibus Agenda approved - minus two items -- carried by unanimous voice vote.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

7. Additions to the Agenda were noted by Mayor LeGant and Ald. Von Drasek.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE – none

MAYOR’S REPORT

8. Mayor LeGant stated that the resolution regarding Heritage Corridor Visitors Bureau will be continued to a later meeting.   

9. Mayor LeGant appointed Alderman Karen Michalczyk as the third member of the Golf Course Administrative Board from Countryside.  Ald. Conrad moved to approve the appointment, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT

10. At the 12-23-06 License Committee meeting, the recommendation was to discontinue distribution of nominating filing petition forms to the public.  After discussion among Council members, it was agreed that all forms are posted on the Internet.  Two residents have asked for these materials. No other communities perform this service. Ald. Smetana moved to keep the service available to residents; motion died for lack of a second.  Ald. Straza moved to discontinue the service by the Clerk’s Office, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried by Roll Call vote – 5/1. Ald. Smetana opposed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

11. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN SMETANA, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the meeting held earlier this evening.  Items A, B and C referring to Section 10-6A-2 Special Uses,  Section 1106.1.1 and 1106.1.2, amend parking requirements, and Section 10-7A-2 and 10-7A-3, permitted uses and special uses, will be referred to the PC/ZBA for further discussion.

12. Ald. Smetana discussed the recommendation to create an ordinance prohibiting driving over curbs, sidewalks or unpaved parkways.  This relates to trucks damaging residents’ property in the Dansher Park area.  The present Ordinance is not strong enough to deter drivers from continuing this practice.  The onus will shift to the business owners receiving shipments to keep drivers off residents’ property. City Attorney Peck read the ordinance aloud. It basically designates the delivery person as an agent of the customer, thus making the customer responsible for any damage caused to private property by the delivery person and subject to the applicable fines and repair costs.  Ald. Smetana moved to adopt the Ordinance as presented and waive the second reading, seconded by Ald.  Conrad and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 07-01-O.

13. Ald. Smetana stated that delivery drivers be advised to not run their truck engines in front of residents’ homes all night long. They should park inside Dansher Park rather than on 9^th Avenue. Chief Swanson stated that drivers have been cited for this practice in the past.

14. Ald. Smetana presented the committee recommendation to direct the Community Development Director, Mr. Onderdonk; to pursue a Community Development Block Grant – CDBG – to install ADA approved sidewalk ramps. 

15. POLICE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN presented the recommendation to auction six seized vehicles in a sealed bid offering on January 26, 2007 at 12 noon.  Ald. Conrad moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

16. WATER COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN STRAZA, CHAIRMAN, noted that the water contract with the surrounding communities of LaGrange Highlands and Indian Head Park will expire in March.  He requests a written report with the status and current update; he also requests copies of all related documentation and correspondence.

17. LICENSE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VON DRASEK, CHAIRMAN, presented the annual business license fees and regulations.  Mr. Hudson has reviewed the document and it will now go to Attorney Peck for his review and placement into draft ordinance form.

LEGAL REPORT

18. City Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation made at the December 4, 2006 hearing to revise the Building Code with regard to accessory buildings -- Sections 10-2-9 and 10-5F-8.  Mr. Hudson combined the two Code portions into one with very few exceptions, which were read aloud.  The recommendation was to amend the Building Code pursuant to the suggested revisions.  Ald. Smetana moved to concur with the PC/ZBA recommendation, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 07-02-O.

19. The second agenda item, regarding adult uses in the M1 or M2 zoning district, has been previously addressed.

20. Attorney Peck presented a draft ordinance to update all classes on the number of liquor licenses currently assigned.  The ordinance regards no more than one Class K liquor license issued, no ore than five Class M liquor licenses issued and no more than four Class T liquor licenses issued.  Those that have not sought renewal are no longer in existence.  Ald. Smetana moved to adopt the Ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 07-03-O.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

21. City Administrator Bailey sought approval of payment of sick pay funds previously accumulated by Sue Wilson, former Recreation Director, in the amount of $49,018.11. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the payment, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

22. Mr. Bailey recommended payment of the 2007 annual contribution to IRMA – the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency in the amount of $180,976. This is the City’s liability insurance.  Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve payment to IRMA, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

23. Mr. Bailey sought approval for the use of MFT funds for the 2007 MFT Street & Alley Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $420,000. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the Resolution, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 07-01-R.

STAFF REPORTS

24. Police Chief Swanson spoke to Ald. Conrad to schedule a Police Committee Meeting on January 17, at 7 p.m.  He requested discussion of other business involving personnel and security in Executive Session tonight.

ADJOURNMENT

25. There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Smetana moved to adjourn  into Executive Session under Section 2Aa and 2B1 for the purpose of discussing personnel and possible litigation, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried by unanimous Roll Call vote. 

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.

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