MINUTES OF INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE – CITY HALL
JANUARY 18, 2011 – 6:00 PM CHAMBER ROOM
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

1. Meeting called to order at 6:01 P.M. Present: Chair Michalczyk, Aldermen Straza. Absent: Ald. John Von Drasek. Also present: Mayor Robert Conrad; Alderman McDermott; Assistant Administrator Sharon Peterson; City Planner Bryan Swanson; Building Official Steve Tisinai; City Engineer John Fitzgerald; PLAN/ZBA member Jim Jasinski.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2. The minutes of the November 8, 2010 were approved as submitted.

DISCUSSION ON CDBG PROJECTS TO APPLY FOR IN 2011

3. City Planner Swanson explained a condition of the Community Development Block (CDBG) Program is it must service 49.2% of the population with low/moderate income. The 5^th Avenue Cutoff and the area around Ideal Elementary School meet this condition. The City is able to apply for two projects with a combined maximum of $200,000. Although, the City requested $110,000 last year for the Prescott Road rehabilitation project, it was not rewarded. A formal denial letter is pending and required by the City.

Staff recommended to re-apply for the Prescott Road rehabilitation project and to update the ingress and egress to City Hall to make it ADA accessible. An evaluation will be conducted, but the approximate cost is $40,000.

Committee members concurred with staff recommendations.

DISCUSSION ON COLLECTION BOXES THROUGHOUT THE CITY

4. Building Official Steve Tisinai reported while collection boxes are not permitted in the City some are for a worthwhile cause. The committee members want the boxes regulated. Discussion continued questioning if the property owner should be responsible for the boxes and is it possible to apply for a special permit allowing the boxes temporarily. Staff will research the issue and make a recommendation at the February meeting.

DISCUSSION ON THE FENCE BETWEEN THE OIL LUBE BUSINESS AND SUFFECOOL PROPERTY

5. The Oil Lube business inquired if the fence bordering their property to the west could be repositioned farther back from the street. The business believes their business is suffering because they cannot be seen by the traffic on the street. It is an 8-foot fence separating residential from commercial property. Staff has not heard from either party in the last year. This matter will be considered closed.

DISCUSSION ON OLD CODES AND ADDRESSING THE OLD CODES

6. There is information in the building codes that does not apply to the City. Mayor Conrad suggested contacting Sterling Codifiers to inquire if an electronic version is available for the City to review and edit large sections at a time. The committee members recommended editing obvious sections and bringing the results back to the committee. Since this could be a time consuming project, a time assessment will be done following the completion of a few sections.

UPDATE ON FLOODING ISSUES AT 5615 ASHLAND AVENUE

7. This is a follow-up from the November 8, 2010 meeting. City Engineer Fitzgerald offered to meet with the homeowners and work with their engineers. The residents have his contact information, but there has been no contact. Building Official Tisinai reported they have eliminated their sunken patio and an increase in elevation of a berm will greatly reduce water from entering their home.

UPDATE ON FLOODING ISSUE AT HALLOWELL AND JAMES PROPERTY

8. This is a follow-up from the November 8, 2010 meeting. Residents behind Hallowell and James Funeral Home have complained about surface runoff water that drains directly from the funeral home’s parking lot onto and through their property. A letter was sent to the owners of Hallowell and James Funeral Home on September 23, 2010 with a recommendation on how to solve the issue; there has been no response as of today. A follow-up certified letter was mailed and Mr. James contacted Building Official Tisinai to say he would contact the City after the Holidays. Building Official Tisinai has not heard back as of today, but will contact Mr. James in the next few days.

This will be followed-up at the next meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

9. Chair Michalczyk reported all the past issues have been addressed and thanked all the parties involved.

10. The City received a $25,000 grant from Cook County Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work. The funds will be used to design a bike plan for the City. Mr. Tony Giron, a former resident of Countryside, works for a non-for-profit called Active Transportation Alliance. Mr. Giron contacted Mayor Conrad via email to express his interest in being part of a bike committee. Mr. Giron will be invited to a future recreation committee to discuss this possibility.

11. Engineer Fitzgerald reported the request for funds to install a sidewalk along Brainard Avenue through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) did not get approved; however, CMAQ is another funding opportunity available. The type of paths requested should be considered since certain agencies will not fund sidewalk installations, only bicycle paths.

ADJOURNMENT

12. The meeting is adjourned at 6:56 PM.

Karen Michalczyk, Chair