MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 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 Administrator Bailey, City Attorneys Robert & Erik Peck, Police Chief Swanson, Deputy Treasurer Wenzel, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Police/Fire Bd. Member Pondelicek, ESDA Coordinator Norman

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes – May 12, 2004.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending May 26, 2004.

4. Application for a general business license from K. Hoving Recycling & Disposal Inc., 3 N.551 Powis Road, West Chicago. Type: Scavenger truck. Applicant: K. Hoving.

5. Application for a general business license from Jan Smid Decorating, 705 Longview Drive. Type: Home office. Applicant: Jan Smid.

6. Application for a general business license from Welch Packaging, Inc., 5320 Dansher Road. Type: Manufacturing. Applicant: Scott Welch (name change only, formerly Kendal Pkg.).

7. Treasurer’s Report for the period ending April 30, 2004.

8. Subscription: Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers – Treasurer’s Office – two-year subscription – $54.

9. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

10. One addition to the Agenda was noted by Mayor LeGant.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

11. Diana Brandt, resident of Country Club Condominiums on Brainard Ave. described a continuing vandalism problem perpetrated by teenagers living in the trailer court. They throw big rocks over the fence late at night damaging cars parked near the north side fence; it has escalated to burning bushes near the building; sparks could spread to the forest preserve. There is Graffiti on the building; residents feel they live in an inner city ghetto; they need police protection. She asked the City to annex the area. Police Chief Swanson is familiar with the problem and will contact Lyons Twp. and Indian Head Park to do extra patrolling of unincorporated Cook County. The City will contact the management company to discuss the situation and suggest installation of an 8-foot fence. The City will also contact IHP to ask for additional staffing on the late night shift. Ald. Krzeminski suggested installing a security camera and posting signs to deter vandals. Chief Swanson asked Ms. Brandt to call his office.

MAYOR’S REPORT

12. Mayor LeGant read a letter from the American Legion, Robert Coulter Post, 900 S. LaGrange Road. They are sponsoring a ceremony on Saturday, May 29, 2004 honoring Veterans and dedicating the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. The local ceremony will commence at 11:00 a.m. with the flag raising; they are asking area churches to ring their bells at the same hour. A 21-gun salute will follow. The Post will also hold a memorial service on Monday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Park, 55th & Plainfield Road. All are invited to attend.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

13. FINANCE COMMITTEE – TREASURER STOFFELS, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the Finance Committee including the purchase of six tickets @ $25/person ($150) for officials wishing to attend Breakfast With Your Legislators on June 18, 2004 at the William Tell Holiday Inn. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

14. Treasurer Stoffels recommended purchase of eight tickets @ $25/person ($200) to a Welcome Breakfast for new teachers and administrators on August 24, 2004 at 7:30 a.m. at Park Place Banquets. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

15. Treasurer Stoffels recommended purchase of four tickets @ $30/person ($120) to the Betty Scheck Memorial Fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society on June 22, 2004 at Rascal’s Restaurant, from 6-9 p.m. Ald. Straza moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

16. STREETS & ALLEYS COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN SMETANA, CHAIRMAN, discussed the 5th Avenue Cutoff Jurisdictional Transfer from Cook County to the City of Countryside. A survey was sent out to all residents; they chose Option 2 – reconstructing 5th Avenue Cutoff to a Rural Cross Section including a two-lane road (currently existing) with underground storm water management system. Additional comments included installing two four-foot wide bike lanes; add a center turn lane at the intersection with Willow Springs Road, an intersection study to determine whether the area qualifies for a traffic light; also gate and close 71st St. west of Burr Oak Lane but continue paving beyond that point to preserve the rural character of the area. Ald. Smetana moved to proceed to discuss these requests with Cook County, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski and carried unanimously.

17. Ald. Smetana presented the request of the DPW Director to add a fourth individual as a summer hire, John Rudick, whose application came in late. Ald. Smetana moved to approve hiring, seconded by Ald. Fajdich and carried unanimously.

18. Ald. Smetana presented the request of ESDA Coordinator Norman to purchase a replacement generator for the one that was stolen at the car show at William Tell. This is a 6600-watt generator; the cost is $1,200 to be purchased from Highland Yamaha. This will also serve as a backup generator for the ESDA HQ building on Willow Springs Road. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the purchase, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski and carried unanimously.

LEGAL REPORT

19. City Attorney Peck presented the recommendation of the PC/ZBA regarding Advanta Financial Group, Inc., request for rezoning with a special use at 6510 Joliet Road. Representatives of Advanta are present tonight – Attorney Steven Rakich and Mr. Zarika, President. Mr. Rakich stated that their petition to the PC/ZBA on May 4, 2004 was denied. They would like the opportunity to substantially supplement that presentation with additional professional noise/sound studies; issues were raised that were not anticipated prior to the meeting. They ask City Council to defer any decision on this matter until another presentation is made in July. Mr. George Angelillo sent a letter to Council stating that full architectural drawings will be completed including site drainage, entrance/exit and setback information, as well as leases and proposed revenue and sales tax projections for each business. Mr. Peck advised them to submit a petition for reconsideration to the PC/ZBA for placement on the July agenda and to legally re-notice surrounding neighbors. Mayor LeGant advised the petitioner to send copies of any plans to City Engineer Fitzgerald. Ald. Krzeminski moved to postpone consideration on the PC/ZBA recommendation at this time, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

20. Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation on the petition of VeePak for a variance in order to allow parking in excess of 600 feet from 5321-5331 Dansher Road. There were no objections noted at the hearing on May 4, 2004. The PC/ZBA Recommendation is to permit the variation subject to petitioner returning the property to its current parking configuration should they sell or cease using the premises; that there be no parking permitted in the public parkway; and that the petitioner conform with Petitioners Exhibit A, the site plan presented at the hearing. Ald. Smetana moved to concur with the PC/ZBA, seconded by Ald. Fajdich and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-23-O.

21. Attorney Peck presented the recommendation of the PC/ZBA to adopt a zoning code amendment to create an R-7 Rural Residential Zoning District. Ald. Krzeminski moved to adopt the amendment creating the R-7 Rural Residential Zoning District, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

Clerk Herberts declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 04-24-O.

22. Attorney Peck stated that the appropriate procedure is for the PC/ZBA to entertain the proposition to rezone and to define the area to be rezoned. After lengthy discussion, Ald. Krzeminski moved to allow the PC/ZBA to define locations that qualify for and decide the boundaries of the R-7 zoning district, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

23. Attorney Peck presented a letter to Council regarding pending litigation to be discussed in Executive Session after the next meeting.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

24. City Administrator Bailey requested authorization to hire a community development intern. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Krzeminski and carried unanimously.

25. Mr. Bailey presented engineer’s pay estimate #2 for the Master Supervisory and Pump Control Modifications to Automatic Control Services in the amount of $21,153.30. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

26. Mr. Bailey suggested postponing the Executive Session until dates can be coordinated with the labor attorney.

STAFF REPORTS

27. City Engineer Fitzgerald advised that Phase II street program and Camboni signal went out for bids; bids will be opened next Thursday.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Krzeminski moved to adjourn, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

SHIRLEY C. HERBERTS, CITY CLERK