City Council Minutes - June 13, 2007, Info Resources, City of Countryside, Illinois (IL)

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2007

1. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor Conrad called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Sweeney called the Roll of those physically present as follows:

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

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Sweeney, City Treasurer Jasinski, City Atty. William Raysa, Asst. City Admin. Peterson, Police Chief Swanson, City Engineer Fitzgerald, CDD Onderdonk, MBA Hudson

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes of May 23, 2007.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending June 13, 2007: $363,223.22.

4. Subscription: Des Plaines Valley News – City Clerk - $24 (2 yr.)

5. Application for a block party request for the 5800 block of Longview Drive on 7-7-07 – rain date 7-8-07.

6. Application for a special use from the Illinois Numismatic Assn. to conduct a coin show on September 6-9, 2007 at Park Place, 6240 Joliet Road.

7. Application for a general business license from Yong In Martial Arts U.S.A., 5404 LaGrange Road. Type: Martial arts school. Applicant: John Y. Jeon.

8. Application for a general business license from CarX, 5601 LaGrange Road. Type: Auto repairs. Applicant: Michael B. Weber.

9. Membership: Illinois Parks & Recreation Assn. – Asst. Administrator - $240.

10. Membership: Illinois City/County Management Assn. – Asst. Administrator - $169.75.

11. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

12. Two additions to the Agenda were noted by Mayor Conrad.

13. Mayor Conrad acknowledged a donation of $25,000 from Vulcan Materials Company in support of Countryside’s CELEBRATE 2007 events program – concerts, movies, etc. Other businesses in the city are also pledging donations. Many thanks to all the contributors.

14. Congratulations to Dudley Onderdonk who was elected to the Route 66 Heritage Byway Association; he will represent the City in that capacity.

15. The Mayor announced that a concert took place Thursday; the turnout was great. Thanks to Sharon Peterson who did a terrific job. Eddie Korosa will perform on Thursday with the Boys from Illinois.

16. Mayor Conrad announced that he will not be in town Friday evening June 22 to Sunday evening, June 24, and is appointing Alderman Mike Smetana as Mayor Pro Tem for that period of time. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve the appointment, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

17. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN SMETANA, CHAIRMAN presented recommendations from the committee meeting of 6-5-07--recommendation to amend Title 8 Chapter 4 - covering swimming pools – to delete the entire chapter allowing the previously adopted model codes to govern. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the change, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously. Attorney Raysa stated that he will discuss this ordinance under his portion of the agenda.

18. Ald. Smetana moved to direct the PC/ZBA to consider relocating Section 8-4-6 to a new section (10-2-9) of the Zoning Ordinance, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

19. Ald. Smetana moved to consider the creation of a new section 6-3-1.38 (nuisances enumerated) to maintain an abandoned pool upon any premises, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously -- ordinance to be approved later.

20. Ald. Smetana moved to refer to the PC/ZBA for consideration of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, Section 10-1-3, definitions covering floor area ratio – for the purpose of determining floor area ratio - deleting A.2, seconded by Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

21. Ald. Smetana moved to refer to the PC/ZBA for consideration amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding floor areas, open or green space, floor area coverage, storm water management and other related issues, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

22. Ald. Smetana moved to approve an elevator safety ordinance in response to the Illinois Elevator Safety Act, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

23. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the DPW Director’s memo to reset pavers in an area at Memorial Park repairing a section of walkway and rebuilding wooden pillars at Countryside Park at a cost of $14,852, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

24. Ald. Smetana moved to consider possible amendments to 10-10-3 – off street parking regulations – with the proposed action of referral to PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

25. Ald. Smetana moved to proceed to draft ordinance requiring non-building contractors to obtain a contractor’s license only and furnish certificate of insurance, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

26. Ald. Smetana moved to recommend directing the PC/ZBA to consider increasing fees for zoning and related items, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

27. RECREATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MICHALCZYK, presented recommendations from the committee meeting of 6-6-07 regarding the OSLAD Grant funding. At the April 24, 2007 committee meeting, the city decided to apply for an OSLAD grant for park renovation; proposals must be for a single site. At the June 6 meeting the committee determined that Hollands Park would be the best park to apply for the OSLAD Grant. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve applying for the OSLAD Grant for Hollands Park, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

28. Ald. Michalczyk moved to allow Brainard Avenue Baptist Church to use Countryside Park and Ideal School Park in conjunction with their summer camp. Ald. Straza moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

29. POLICE COMMITTEE - ALDERMAN PONDELICEK, presented recommendation from the committee meeting of 6-6-07. Ald. Pondelicek moved to approve continuation of the annual maintenance agreement for Advanced Public Safety, Inc., in the amount of $4,207.68, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

30. Ald. Pondelicek moved to approve continuation of the annual maintenance agreement for the City Watch Reverse Calling System in the amount of $3,569, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

31. Ald. Pondelicek moved to allow the Police Chief to attend the International Chiefs of Police Training Conference from October 13-17, 2007, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

32. Ald. Pondelicek moved to allow purchase of a Harley Davidson motorcycle to replace the leased unit in the amount of $15,995, from forfeiture funds, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

33. Ald. Pondelicek moved to allow purchase of a replacement vehicle for the K-9 squad from forfeiture funds in the amount of $20,500 from Westfield Ford (this is actually below state purchase price). Motion seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

34. Ald. Pondelicek moved to pursue implementation of the digital red light photo enforcement system – the resolution will be addressed under the legal report – Motion seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

35. City Attorney William Raysa presented a draft ordinance covering two items -- providing for automated traffic law enforcement systems and for administrative adjudication of automated traffic law violations. Police Chief Swanson stated that this ordinance is required in order to move forward with the contract for the Red Flex Systems for three intersections. A secondary survey is required to ascertain whether a fourth intersection is needed. Ald. Von Drasek moved to adopt the Ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously. The ordinance will be left somewhat open-ended to add a possible intersection without the necessity of drafting a new ordinance.

36. Attorney Raysa presented the draft ordinance regarding elevator licensing and safety inspection program. A revised draft was presented on June 11, 2007 including license fee and penalty section - $35. Ald. Smetana moved to adopt the revised draft ordinance, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

37. Attorney Raysa presented the draft ordinance amending annual business license fees for contractors. Mr. Hudson stated that this ordinance removes the bond requirement for contractors doing business in the city for work not requiring a permit..

Ald. Von Drasek moved to adopt the Ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

38. Attorney Raysa presented the draft ordinance increasing fees for late payment of business licenses. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve the ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

39. Attorney Raysa presented the draft resolution adopting the prevailing wage rate for 2007. This is required pursuant to Illinois Statute. Ald. Straza moved to approve the Resolution as presented, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

40. Attorney Raysa addressed the item regarding swimming pools – pursuant to Council direction, two draft ordinances were prepared. The first ordinance deletes and rescinds in its entirety all of Chapter 4, Title 8 (on recommendation of the Infrastructure Committee). Ald. Von Drasek moved to adopt the Ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

41. Attorney Raysa presented the previous item discussed at the Infrastructure Committee section, to consider the creation of a new section 6-3-1.38 to add pools and structures to the definition of nuisances. Items 9 and 10 are duplicative of international codes and will not be included in the draft ordinance. Ald. Straza moved to adopt the ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

42. Assistant Administrator Sharon Peterson presented pay estimate #1 for the 2007 Water Main Replacement to Gerardi Sewer & Water Co. in the amount of $527,710.05. Ald. Straza moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously. The job area extends from Kensington, 55^th to 61^stSt. Residents are happy with the way the workers are doing their job.

43. Admin. Peterson presented pay estimate #4 for the 2006 Water Main Replacement, Phase 2, to Swallow Construction in the amount of $164,938.56. Ald. Straza moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

44. Admin. Peterson requested Council authorization to hire replacements for the summer recreation program, including ponytail softball coaches and umpires. Additional staff is requested for Fun in the Park since two instructors resigned last week. The staffing level is now at 16. Ald. Smetana moved to approve hiring additional summer replacements, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

44. Admin. Peterson requested Council authorization to hire McFarlaneDouglass & Co. to decorate for the Holiday Season 07/08; a 50% deposit is required - $6,037.50. Ald. Smetana moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

45. City Engineer Fitzgerald reported on the 2007 Sidewalk Replacement Program. Bids were opened on June 11, 2007. The low bidder was MSC Concrete, Inc., in the amount of $74,795.50, which is more than $10,000 above the engineer’s estimate of $64,600. They have tried twice to bid the job; this is a very small project with portions scattered throughout the city. Concrete prices have spiked upwards in the past year. After further discussion, Ald. Smetana moved to accept the low bid and proceed with the project, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

46. Community Development Director Onderdonk requests authorization to file an application for a Technical Assistance Panel from the Chicago Chapter of the Urban Land Institute and the Campaign for Sensible Growth. The panels are typically two-day intensive working sessions where experts address a problem – in this case, what can the city do to enhance and redevelop the LaGrange Corridor between Joliet Road and Plainfield Road. Mr. Onderdonk is particularly interested in the economic development aspect – what is the best vehicle to attract new businesses. The administrative charge would not exceed $10,000; in essence the city would be buying outside professional expertise to assist in implementing our plans primarily dealing through financial mechanisms – TIF or other incentives like sales tax sharing, or a façade rebate program. After further discussion, Ald. Smetana moved to authorize CDD Onderdonk to file the application for a Technical Assistance Panel at a cost not to exceed $10,000, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

47. Mr. Onderdonk requested authorization to hire a GIS intern to support the City’s computer mapping program. Part-time college students are hired to assist with the necessary data entry work to update the system. Ald. Smetana moved to authorize hiring a GIS intern, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

48. Ald. Smetana directed Asst. Administrator Peterson to advise DPW Supt. Fullar to schedule Serrano Landscaping for work on the park to be done between August 17 and October 13, 2007, so as not to interfere with park activities such as Movies in the Park and the HarvestFest Celebration. Ms. Peterson will do so.

49. Mayor Conrad stated that the Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the first Countryside Classic Car Show; about 100 cars participated in the event. It was a beautiful day and they had a good turnout. Kudos to the Chamber folks for their hard work and to the Hotel/Motel Committee for funding; also thanks to the Police Department and ESDA for their assistance.

50. There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Smetana moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

City Council Minutes - June 13, 2007

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