City Council Minutes - June 27, 2007

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 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 Attorney Erik Peck, City Admin. Bailey, Police Chief Swanson, City Engineer Fitzgerald, ESDA Coordinator Norman

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes of   June 13, 2007.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending June 27, 2007 - $968,579.68.

4. Application for a general business license from COUNTRY FOODS, 19 W. Plainfield. Type: Convenience foods/grocery.  Applicant:  Girish Modia (formerly White Hen Pantry).

5. Subscription:  Suburban Life – Countryside – Treasurer’s Office - $54 (2 yr.)

6. Membership:  National League of Cities - Administration - $1,033.

7. Application for a general business license from. FLYING HIGH GYMNASTICS, Inc., 5400 East Avenue. Type:  Sports & Recreation Services. Applicant: Christine Deck (relocation).

8. Application for a general business license from ROLLING LANES, INC., 6301 Joliet Road. Type:  Bowling alley. Applicant:  Ron Lauterbach.

9. Financial Statement for the month of May 2007.

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

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

11. Two deletions from the Agenda were noted by Ald. Michalczyk.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

12. Ann Leall, representing Dremco in conjunction with the rezoning of 6410 Joliet Road, will make a brief statement when the item comes up on the agenda.

13. Ron Lauterbach has applied for the liquor license for Rolling Lanes; he would like his presence known to Council.

MAYOR’S REPORT

14. Mayor Conrad  presented a motion to approve the application for a Class D Liquor License from Girish Modia in conjunction with the business license for Country Foods, 19 W. Plainfield.  License fee is $400. This was the former White Hen Pantry at Plainfield & LaGrange Road; he will have a small convenience store; it is the identical liquor license as previously held.   Mayor Conrad stated that the address shown as 5540 S. Brainard Avenue is not the correct address; that is another business in the City of Countryside.  The correct residence address must appear on the license application. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the Class D Liquor License subject to the above corrections, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

15. Mayor Conrad presented a motion to approve the application for a Class E Liquor License from Ron Lauterbach in conjunction with the business license for Rolling Lanes, Inc.  License fee is $950.  Ald. Straza moved to approve the Class E Liquor License, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

16. Mayor Conrad sought confirmation of his Council appointments to various committees.  Due to his election as Mayor, his position on several committees was vacated.  Council members appointed to the new positions are:

License Committee – Ald. Von Drasek remains as Chairman.

Ald. Straza will become a new committee member.

Clerk Sweeney will become a new committee member.

Police Committee – Ald. Smetana will become Chairman.

Ald. Michalczyk will become a new committee member.

Recreation Committee – Ald. Von Drasek will become Chairman.

Human Resources Committee – Treasurer Jasinski will replace Administrator Bailey as a committee member.

Ald. Smetana moved to confirm the above appointments, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

17. Mayor Conrad presented the City’s invitation to attend a ribbon cutting and Grand Opening for Flying High Sports & Rec Center, 5400 East Avenue on July 7, 2007 at 10 a.m.  They are relocating their business and cordially invite all interested parties – FYI

COMMITTEE REPORTS

18. HOTEL/MOTEL COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MICHALCZYK, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the committee meeting of June 25, 2007. The following items are donations or sponsorship requests.

19. 07 – Cancer Society – Relay for Life - $500 donation recommended.  Ald.  Smetana moved to approve the donation, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

20. Community Nurse Health Assn. - $175 donation recommended. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the donation, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

21. LaGrange Memorial Hospital – Committee denied that request.

22. Helping Hand Golf Outing – July 16, 2007.  Committee recommended sponsorship in the amount of $600 for two elected officials to attend golf and dinner.  Ald. Smetana moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

23. LTHS Parent & Community Network for “Tell It To Me Straight” – Committee denied that request.

24. Ald. Michalczyk presented the recommendation to approve funding a gallery at City Hall displaying a Perpetual Plaque of Elected Officials, past, present and future to preserve the History of the City at a cost not to exceed $3,000.  She presented a photo of the proposed plaque that will be placed on the wall of the hall corridor.  Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

25. RECREATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VON DRASEK, CHAIRMAN, presented the motion to approve hiring additional summer help for the Recreation Department for Fun in the Park and Playschool.  Enrollment is over 200; they will maintain a teacher/child ratio of ten to one.  Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve hiring the four individuals, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously. 

26. Ald. Von Drasek met with FGM Landscape Architects and provided an update.  Work will begin late summer/early fall on Woodland Ridge and Brancatto Parks.  Woodland Ridge will include native seeding on top of the retaining wall area with erosion control blanket; improvements throughout the park including periodic trees and installation of drain tiles along the top of the wall.  Brancatto Park:  Install new play equipment, safety surfacing, decorative fence, new benches, bike racks, picnic tables and waste receptacles; re-landscape the park, removing barrier curb and installing new handicap-accessible sidewalk ramp.  Installation of the fence at Srejma-Michalek Park may begin in two weeks; it was on a five-week back order.

LEGAL REPORT

27. City Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation on the application to rezone property at 6410 Joliet Road from the current R-1 single family to O limited office.  This action was brought by the City and heard by the PC/ZBA on June 5, 2007.

It was found that all requirements were met for rezoning of the property and it was the recommendation to approve the rezoning from R-1 to O with the requirement that the construction of offices on the subject premises be in conformity with all applicable codes, ordinances and regulations.  Ann Leall, representing Dremco, is pleased that the City has approved the rezoning in accordance with the Consent Decree. Dremco now has the right to proceed with construction and would expect permits to be issued accordingly within the next week.  Ald. Smetana moved to concur with the recommendation of the PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 07-23-O.

28. Attorney Peck seeks Council direction regarding Country Club Hills Condo Assn. It has come to light that half of these condos are within the City and the other half are not.  The County cannot provide an explanation for this.  The easiest way to resolve the issue is to direct the attorney to prepare an ordinance annexing those parcels into the City. There are 12 units in one building that is surrounded by the City. Residents receive two separate tax bills every six months.  Ald. Michalczyk moved to direct the attorney to proceed with annexation, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

29. City Administrator Bailey requests a motion to approve a Resolution appointing Sharon Peterson as Alternate Delegate to IRMA.  Treasurer Stoffels was the former alternate delegate.  Ald. Straza moved to approve the appointment, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 07-14-R.

OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

30. Mayor Conrad stated that although Council approved the rezoning of 6410 Joliet Road, they still must return to the PC/ZBA for approval.  Attorney Peck stated that they may construct offices on the premises provided that they conform to all applicable City codes ordinances and regulations.  They did submit a proposed Plat of Resubdivision.

ADJOURNMENT

31. There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Straza moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ald.      Michalczyk and carried by unanimous voice vote.

Mayor Conrad declared the meeting adjourned at  7:51 p.m.

SHARON SWEENEY, CITY CLERK

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