MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2004

1. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor LeGant called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Herberts called the roll which was as follows:

PRESENT: Mayor Carl LeGant, Aldermen Robert Conrad, Wayne Straza, Michael Smetana, Joseph Fajdich, Karen Michalczyk, Edward Krzeminski

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Herberts, City Treasurer Stoffels, City Attorney Robert Peck, Police Chief Swanson, City Administrator Bailey, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Bldg. Comm. Krautstrunk, Deputy Treasurer Wenzel, Police/Fire Bd. Member Pondelicek

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes – July 14, 2004.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending July 28, 2004.

4. Treasurer’s Report for period ending June 30, 2004.

5. Application for a general business license from Priority Funding, Inc., 6630 Brainard Ave., #403. Type: Home office. Applicant: Andrea Cahill.

6. Membership: Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project – CDO Muenzer – $430.00

7. Application for a general business license from Ron’s Pro Shop, 6301 Joliet Road. Type: Retail merchant. Applicant: Ronald Pellack.

8. Application for a block party on August 14, 2004 from 3-10 p.m. submitted by Lucy Novak, 103 W. Constance Lane.

9. Subscription: Zoning Practice – CDO Muenzer – $65.

10. Membership: International Assn. Of Emergency Managers – ESDA – $160.

11. Application for a fundraiser for the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation of Cook County being held at Kenny’s Tavern, August 14, 2004 to build a memorial for all slain policemen from Cook County.

12. From the Knights of Columbus requesting permission to solicit at various intersections on September 17-18, 2004

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

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

14. Additions to the agenda were noted by Ald. Smetana.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE – none

MAYOR’S REPORT

15. Mayor LeGant sought Council approval to renew the City Administrator’s employment contract. Mr. Bailey’s only request is one more week of vacation; all other issues remain the same. Council requested that he not take more than two weeks of vacation consecutively. Mr. Bailey agreed. Ald. Smetana moved to approve contract renewal as requested, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FINANCE COMMITTEE – TREASURER STOFFELS, CHAIRMAN presented recommendations from the committee meeting held yesterday:

16. Treasurer Stoffels sought Council approval to utilize financial services of a company known as Rate Quest Investments of Laguna Hills, CA who will supply the Treasurer’s Office with out-of-state banks whose CD rates are superior to those of our local banks at the present time. Ald. Smetana moved to authorize the Treasurer’s Office to proceed, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

17. Treasurer Stoffels presented the request of the Community Nurse Health Association to procure a å_ page ad for $60 in their Lobster Bake program book. Ald. Smetana moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

18. Treasurer Stoffels presented the request of the Center for Independence, 100 W. Plainfield Road, to procure a å_ page ad for $50 in their Annual Benefit Commemorative Program book. Ald. Smetana moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk. Ald. Conrad opposed the minimal amount of the donation. Motion failed – 2/4.
AYES: Smetana, Fajdich
NAYS: Straza, Conrad, Michalczyk, Krzeminski

Ald. Smetana stated that the City donated $500 in February. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve a å_ page ad for $100, seconded by Ald. Smetana. Motion carried – 4/2.
AYES: Michalczyk, Krzeminski, Smetana, Fajdich
NAYS: Straza, Conrad.

19. The Finance Committee discussed non-union employee wages and informed Council that they agree with the wage figures proposed by the City Administrator. Ald. Straza moved to approve non-union employee wages, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

LICENSE COMMITTEE

20. LICENSE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MICHALCZYK, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the committee meeting held last evening. The first three items involve ordinances. Atty. Peck will address these areas in his legal report. The final item, internet kiosks, is still under discussion; no action at present.

BUILDING COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN FAJDICH, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the committee meeting held prior to this meeting.

21. The Building Commissioner recommended creation of a landscape ordinance for commercial and manufacturing districts. This matter should be referred to the PC/ZBA for review. Ald. Fajdich moved to refer this matter to the PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski; carried unanimously.

22. Ald. Fajdich noted the recommendation to institute a reinspection fee for repeat inspections. Contractors report that a site is ready when in fact it is not; inspectors have to go back a second time. The recommended fee for reinspection fee is $50. Ald. Fajdich moved to approve the fee and create the ordinance, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski and carried unanimously.

23. The committee recommended that the city establish a minimum cost for commercial permits. The recommended fee is $50 for commercial; $25 for residential. Ald. Fajdich moved to approve the fee and create the ordinance, seconded by Ald. Smetana, and carried unanimously.

24. The final item is to establish a fee for all single, commercial and manufacturing plan reviews. Recommendation is $100 fee for new single family; improvements from $1000-$10,000 would be $50; over $10,000 would be $100 fee. New commercial and multiple family dwellings would be $200. Ald. Fajdich moved to approve the fees and create the ordinance, seconded by Ald. Smetana. Motion carried by voice vote – 4/2; Ald. Krzeminski and Ald. Michalczyk opposed.

25. Ald. Fajdich recommends amending Sections 8-1-9 and 10-2-14 Disk Antennas to either increase fee or rescind existing fee. This applies to the ten-foot huge dish antennas; today’s antennas are much smaller; this section should be removed from the ordinance. Ald. Smetana moved to concur with the removal, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

26. Ald. Fajdich stated that discussion regarding sump pump discharge code will be tabled at the present time to allow the Building Commissioner to research how other municipalities handle this matter.

27. Ald. Fajdich requested authority for the attorney to develop an ordinance regarding dilapidated unoccupied buildings which become eyesores. He suggested a 12-month period after which time a building may be demolished; this regards both business and residential buildings. Attorney Peck will follow up.

28. Ald. Krzeminski would like to highly commend the DPW for their excellent service during the recent storms; also ESDA and the Police Department. Ward 2 had no power in certain areas for almost three days; numerous trees were downed, streets blocked with debris. DPW came out and did a fantastic clean-up job. Many thanks to them.

29. Ald. Smetana reiterated the sentiments of Ald. Krzeminski; the entire city worked together and by the second day after the storms, the majority of the damage had been cleaned up with no residual problems. All city departments did an excellent job.

30. STREETS AND ALLEYS COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN SMETANA, CHAIRMAN, moved to allow the Administrator to contract with Firemen’s Seal Coating to complete work on the parking lot at city hall; it will be a black surface with yellow parking stalls and blue/white barrier-free handicap parking designations following ADA regulations. The cost is $1,495. Ald. Fajdich seconded the motion. Ald. Krzeminski suggested adding the Annex Building parking lot to the job. Ald. Conrad suggested getting feedback from the Recreation Director before proceeding with any work at that location. Ald. Smetana proposed moving forward with the original motion; Mr. Bailey can add that section afterwards. Motion carried by unanimous Roll Call vote.

LEGAL REPORT

31. City Attorney Peck presented a recommendation from the PC/ZBA on the application of Patrick Williams for Fuller’s Car Wash. A hearing was held on July 6, 2004 for a special use in order to construct and operate a 3-bay oil change facility and gas station at 5620 Brainard Avenue, formerly Breen’s Cleaners. The PC/ZBA found that the applicant met all the criteria for the special use. There were several objections made, both written and oral, during the hearing, including a petition of rejection containing 77 signatures of residents mainly concerned with increased traffic and pedestrian safety. Nevertheless, the PC/ZBA recommended granting the special use. Ald. Smetana moved to concur with the recommendation of the PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Straza, and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-27-O.

32. Attorney Peck stated that regarding the Class S Liquor License, the city has no code provision licensing wholesale distributors of alcoholic liquors. An existing wholesaler wishes to add alcoholic liquor to its inventory. The License Committee recommended creation of such a license with an annual fee of $500. Only one Class S license will be issued. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve creation of a Class S license, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously by Roll Call vote.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-28-O.

33. Attorney Peck discussed creating a license for an import facilitator to cover importation of Italian shotguns. The facilitator’s exclusive role is to prepare the necessary documentation for importation. The recommended licensing fee is $100. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the license, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously by Roll Call vote.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE O4-29-O.

34. Attorney Peck discussed Scofflaws for non-compliant businesses. Some people occasionally refuse to purchase business licenses or register their businesses in the city. He proposed that Council authorize him to file suit against scofflaws who refuse to pay fines after administrative review. He suggested that the city adopt a standard policy to automatically authorize filing suit to recover fines after administrative review. Ald. Krzeminski moved to authorize the attorney to amend the zoning code to establish procedures for scofflaws. Motion seconded by discussion and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-30-O.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

35. City Administrator Bailey presented the request for approval to seek grant assistance via the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to retrofit the traffic signal at LaGrange Road and 58th St with LED illumination at a cost of $1,580 (50% of cost). Mr. Bailey recommends that the City Council accept the grant offer. Ald. Conrad moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Fajdich and carried unanimously.

STAFF REPORTS

36. Police Chief Swanson advised Council that the Abandoned Infant Law went into effect on July 27 which includes police stations as safe havens for placing unwanted newborn infants.

37. City Engineer Fitzgerald brought Council up to date concerning ongoing projects. The Camboni traffic signal work will begin within two weeks. Phase II project surface work will be done tomorrow; they are down to restoration and striping. The water main service has not been transferred. On 58th street they are waiting for the boring crew to jack under LaGrange Road. Ald. Fajdich noted that there is too much debris on 58th St. Bob Fullar stated that his crew cannot run sweepers down the street due to stones and debris; it is a mess. Mr. Fitzgerald will call the contractor.

38. Ald. Conrad reported on Concert in the Park last week; they are getting better crowds. Banjo Buddies put on a great show. Everyone enjoyed a great evening with good music. Another concert is scheduled for tomorrow night featuring 70’s music. Last Friday the movie Grease was shown; roughly 250 people attended.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

SHIRLEY C. HERBERTS, CITY CLERK