MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

1. 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, Ald. Robert Pondelicek, Ald. John Von Drasek, Ald. Michael Smetana, Ald. Sean McDermott, Ald. Karen Michalczyk, Ald. Wayne Straza.

ABSENT: City Administrator Paul

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Sweeney, City Treasurer Jasinski, City Attorney Erik Peck, Police Chief Ruth, Asst. City Admin. Peterson, Fin. Dir. Drazner, City Eng. Fitzgerald, ESDA Coord. Norman, Police Board Members Welch, Burdett, Musilami.

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Minutes of February 9, 2011;

Public Hearing: February 9, 2011.

3. STATEMENT OF BILLS through February 23, 2011: $317,893.81.

3A. Application for a Charitable Games License to hold raffles and a dance as a fundraiser for the CEP Youth Leadership, Inc., at Park Place, 6240 Joliet Road on March 5, 2011.

4. Application to solicit contributions at various intersections on April 29 / 30 from the Misericordia Heart of Mercy Center.

5. Application to solicit contributions at Jewel Foods on March 19 from Fairhaven Baptist Academy.

6. Application for a general business license from Rent-A-Center (RAC) Acceptance #06703, 1 Countryside Plaza, #300. Type: Service merchant. Applicant: Mark Speese.

7. Application for a general business license from ATI Physical Therapy, 705 W. Plainfield Road, #1. Type: PT Clinic. Applicant: ATI Holdings, LLC.

8. Application for a general business license from Lookin Good Hair Salon, 6527 Joliet Road. Type: Hair salon. Applicant: Michael Bratta.

9. From the Robert Coulter Jr. Post #1941 requesting permission to solicit at various locations on May 26-28, 2011

10. From Main Street Wines & Spirits, 5425 S. LaGrange Road requesting a special use to hold a Wine & Food Tasting Show on March 20, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the William Tell, 6201 Joliet Road.

11. Application for a general business license from JSK Merchandising, Inc., 5336 East Avenue. Type: Warehousing. Applicant: Jen Neng Lu.

12. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA – none

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

13. Don Stewart, 6920 Willow Springs Road, is here regarding his fence variance.

14. Alice Smith, 5401 – 7^th Avenue lives two blocks east of Tavern on LaGrange and has a complaint re: parking in front of her residence on weekends. She also noted the lack of ticketing for cars parked too close to the Stop Sign at the intersection. Mayor Conrad asked the police department to keep an eye on the area. There are a number of officers in the audience this evening.

MAYOR’S REPORT

15. Swearing in Paul Klimek as Police Sergeant effective 2-23-11. Mayor Conrad took the opportunity to thank the Police Department and Chief Ruth for doing an excellent job. After the number of changes made throughout the Police Department, he is very proud of the entire force for taking the sergeant’s exam. Congratulations to all of the officers who took the test. Many thanks to our Police Committee as well. Mayor Conrad administered the Oath of Office to Officer Paul Klimek. Chief Ruth presented Sgt. Klimek with his new Sergeant’s badge. The police badge is held sacred by the law enforcement profession and is worn above the heart. Chief Ruth asked Paul’s mother to pin the new badge on his uniform. Many photos were taken. City Council congratulated Sgt. Klimek on his achievement and wished him future success in the job.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT

16. Clerk Sweeney stated that Voter Registration closes on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Early voting begins on March 14, 2011 at five suburban courthouse mini-centers and at the Cook County Clerk’s Office.

TREASURER’S REPORT

17. Treasurer Jasinski stated that the City Council has been working very hard to bring new business into our City. He is pleased to announce that the Grand Opening of the new Continental Mitsubishi Dealership will take place tomorrow evening – a great addition to our town – it’s great to have them coming back. They realize the strength of our City and the strength of our City Council. He asked that residents drop in to say Hello and thanks to Cheryl Nelson for picking the City of Countryside for a new car dealership.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

18. RECREATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VON DRASEK, CHAIRMAN, presented the committee’s recommendation to contract with Designer Events of Chicago for the 2011 Summer Concert Series for $22,490. Ald McDermott moved to approve the contract, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

19. Ald. Von Drasek presented the committee’s recommendation to approve the YMCA’s Cooperative Programming for the Summer Season 2011 totaling $800. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

20. On a personal note, Ald. Von Drasek stated that Ward 2 will have a new resident this weekend. His Mother is moving back to Countryside; she was born on the 5^th Avenue Cutoff. She is anxious to return to Countryside. Thanks for all the support.

21. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MICHALCZYK, CHAIRMAN, seeks authorization to advertise for bids for the Landscaping Program. Ald. McDermott moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

22. Ald. Michalczyk presented the request from Continental Mitsubishi for an extension of their temporary sign from March 6 through March 14 to advertise the Grand Opening for the beginning of the car-buying season. Ald. Straza moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

23. Ald. Michalczyk stated that an Infrastructure Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m.

24. Ald. Straza stated that the Water Committee meeting is on the horizon; possible future dates are being discussed.

LEGAL REPORT

25. City Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation approving a fence variation at 6920 Willow Springs Road. The applicant, Donald Stewart, appeared at the hearing on February 7, 2011, requesting a variance to construct a fence that has 33% open air space instead of the required 80% open air space, to screen a garbage facility on the property commonly known as 6920 Willow Springs Road. The PC/ZBA found that the applicant met all requirements and granted a variance in substantial compliance with Petitioner’s Exhibit A, which is a Plat of Survey showing where the proposed fence will be placed. Ald.Von Drasek moved to concur with the PC/ZBA recommendation, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 11-10-O.

26. Atty. Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation amending the zoning ordinance to Section 10-6A-1 plus an addition to the City License Code to provide for Christmas Tree Sales. The PC/ZBA took it upon themselves to renew the City’s Code with regard to Christmas Tree Sales; their recommendation was to make Christmas Tree Sales permitted uses in the B-1, B-2 and B-3 zoning districts. After hearing the testimony and all the evidence, the PC/ZBA recommended amending the Code accordingly. Ald. Straza moved to concur with the PC/ZBA recommendation, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried by unanimous Roll Call vote – 6/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 11-11-O.

27. Atty. Peck presented the draft ordinance amending the business license to permit Christmas Tree Sales with certain restrictions – no trees/merchandise may be displayed within the sight triangle adjacent to a public street. The license for Christmas tree sales will only be valid for 60 days; trees can only be located on an empty lot of an existing and licensed business within the City. Ald. Straza moved to adopt the ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 11-12-O.

28. Atty. Peck presented the draft ordinance regarding acquisition of property at 5539 Peck Avenue in the amount of $249,000, anticipated to be a park in Ward 3. It is a standard real estate closing; there are a few conditions in the contract – the seller would like to remove some shrubbery, also storage units and shelves from the house. Mayor Conrad stated that this land is in the Triangle Area of Ward 3 and is much needed as a passive park; it may alleviate some of the floodway issues in that area. Ald. McDermott moved to approve the contract as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 11-13-O.

STAFF REPORTS

29. Chief Ruth has no report tonight.

30. Engineer Fitzgerald has no report; the item listed on the agenda is a clerical error and has been previously addressed.

31. Asst. Administrator Peterson has no report tonight.

32. ESDA Coordinator Norman updated the Council re: submittal for public assistance for the 2011 blizzard. Cook County tabulations totaled $21.9 million submitted to IEMA; they will submit it to the federal government to determine whether any reimbursement is due. The breakdown of the 14 communities in our area shows that Countryside had the 5^th highest ranking in submittals.

33. Mayor Conrad thanked the Police Board members Jerry Welch, Mark Burdett and Scott Musilami for doing a great job with the Sergeant testing. Congratulations!.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Mayor Conrad declared the meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

SHARON SWEENEY, CITY CLERK