MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS

HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

1. Mayor Conrad called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. City Clerk Sweeney called the Roll of those physically present as follows:

PRESENT: Mayor Robert Conrad, Aldermen Wayne Straza, Karen Michalczyk, Robert Pondelicek, Sean McDermott, John Von Drasek

ABSENT: Ald. Michael Smetana

ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Sweeney, City Treasurer Jasinski, City Attorney Erik Peck, City Admin. Paul, Police Chief Ruth, Fin. Dir. Drazner, Asst. Admin. Peterson, City. Eng. Fitzgerald, ESDA Coord. Norman, PC/ZBA Member Jasinski

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 9, 2010.

3. STATEMENT OF BILLS through September 22, 2010: $95,296.99.

4. Application for a general business license from Christina Benson, 736 Longview Drive. Type: Home office. Applicant: Christina Benson.

5. Application for a general business license from DISC REPLAY, 5 Countryside Plaza. Type: Retail sales. Applicant: Charles Connolley.

6. Application for a two-day special use for Greater Chicago Postcard Show, November 5-6, 2010 at Local #150.

7. Application for a one-day special use from MAIN STREET WINE & SPIRITS, to hold a wine tasting event at Wm. Tell on 10-24-10 from noon to 5 p.m.

8. Application for a special event from MAIN STREET in conjunction with the wine tasting event (see above) to serve wine on 10-24-10 at the Wm. Tell.

9. Application for a general business license from SALON SPLASH, 1516 W. 55^th St. Type: Hair salon. Applicant: Valerie Andersen.

10. Application for a general business license from FIATTE AUTOMOTIVE ENTERPRISES, INC., 5431 S. 7^th Avenue. Type: Home office. Applicant: Leslie Fiatte.

11. From the Countryside Lions Club requesting permission to solicit on October 10 for Candy Day at various locations within the City.

12. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried by unanimous voice vote.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA

13. One addition to the Agenda was noted by Mayor Conrad.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

14. Edward Krzeminski, 6929 So. Lorraine Drive fully supports the Schwartz Excavating application. He also suggested that increasing parking requirements would prove a hardship for certain area restaurants. He believes that further review is required; current businesses including Popeyes, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Taco Taco would not be allowed under the proposed parking requirements; it strangles businesses in the City.

15. Chuck Connolley, Monee, IL has a pending business license application for Disc Replay and wishes to advise Council of his presence tonight. Mayor Conrad welcomed him to the City.

MAYOR’S REPORT

16. Mayor Conrad stated that the Countryside Lions Club requests October 8, 2010 to be declared Countryside Lions Candy Day. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the Declaration, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

17. Mayor Conrad stated that Mayor Andrews and the Village of Indian Head Park sent a beautiful floral plant to the City in honor of its 50^th Anniversary; the plant is in the Clerk’s Office. Just a reminder that the celebration will take place Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 2-10 p.m. at Countryside Park; everyone is welcome to attend.

TREASURER’S REPORT

18. Treasurer Jasinski announced a Finance Committee meeting next week.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

19. RECREATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN VON DRASEK, CHAIRMAN, presented the committee recommendation to accept the lowest bidder for both fencing and landscaping restoration including playground fencing as it relates to the Ideal School Project. The first item is BFF Erectors for fencing in the amount of $66,495. Ald. Pondelicek moved to approve the contract, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

20. The next item is Allied Landscaping in the amount of $68,450 for landscaping. Ald. McDermott moved to approve the contract, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously. Ms. Peterson stated that demolition will get underway shortly. Ald. Von Drasek, Ald. Pondelicek, Ms. Peterson and the Township representative had a very positive meeting; this is a good example of working together with the Township and the school district. Many thanks to all who participated in the project.

21. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN MICHALCZYK, CHAIRMAN, presented the committee recommendation on overnight parking on Rose Avenue – this item was discussed in committee and requires further review.

22. Ald. Michalczyk presented the recommendation on fee structure if a petitioner removed his request from the agenda after the legal requirements have been initiated. Attorney Peck is reviewing this matter and will prepare a draft ordinance in that regard for the next meeting.

23. Ald. Michalczyk presented the recommendation to enact a disaster hardship for homeowners waiving all costs associated with Zoning Hearings if a fire requires updating rebuilts when the ordinance has changed. The committee decided to take the matter on a case by case basis as done presently.

24. The committee also discussed two sign ordinances; Attorney Peck is working on those matters as well. They will be presented at the next meeting.

LEGAL REPORT

25. Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation for a special use to Greenside Design Build to operate a contractor’s office and indoor storage of building materials and equipment at 6475 Joliet Road. At the hearing held on September 7, 2010, after hearing all testimony and considering all evidence, the PC/ZBA recommendation was to permit the special use with certain conditions. There were several objections from residents of LaGrange Highlands concerned about overnight truck parking, business unsuitable for a residential area, outdoor storage and drainage. Despite those objections it was the PC/ZBA recommendation to approve the special use subject to the following conditions: 1) no overnight truck parking on the property; 2) no outdoor storage of materials on the property; 3) business hours are from 8 am to 5pm; 4) all vehicles with logos must be parked indoors at night. Ald. Von Drasek moved to concur with the PC/ZBA recommendation, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried by unanimous Roll Call vote – 5/0/1.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 10-45-O.

26. Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation for a special use to Schwartz Excavating, Inc., to operate an excavating office at 7023 Willow Springs Road. At the hearing held on September 7, 2010, after hearing all testimony and considering all evidence, the PC/ZBA recommendation was to permit the special use with certain conditions: 1) that the office is restricted to the back portion of the building only. There were no objections to the special use, either written or oral. Ald. Michalczyk moved to concur with the PC/ZBA recommendation, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek. Ald. McDermott asked whether the rear stairway problem had been corrected. Ms. Peterson will investigate and report back to Council. Motion carried by Roll Call vote – 5/0/1.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 10-46-O.

27. Attorney Peck presented the PC/ZBA recommendation to consider a revision to Section 10-10-5, Schedule of Parking (B) to increase the parking requirements for establishments dispensing food or beverages for consumption on the premises. On September 7, 2010, the Building Department suggested that the schedule of parking requirements be updated. The recommendation was that new establishments are required to comply or if current establishments are increasing in size, they must comply. Current establishments constitute a pre-existing non-conforming use and need not comply with the new ordinance until such time as major remodeling takes place or the building is destroyed. New businesses coming into town would be required to comply. The suggestion is one parking space for every three seats plus one space for each shift employee. There were no objections at that time. Ald. Straza asked how this affects the new proposed development. Atty. Peck stated they must comply or seek a variance. Ald. Pondelicek stated that the example used was Orland Park, a community with ample open space, unlike Countryside, which is fully built out. This requirement would impose a hardship on the majority of businesses. Atty. Peck stated that no current business would be affected; only expansion or destruction of the business is grounds for compliance. They can always seek a variance. Ald. Pondelicek asked Mr. Swanson to do further research on parking restrictions within local communities. He suggested tabling this matter for that reason. Ald. Von Drasek agrees and suggested cross-checking this information with the proposed development. Ald. Von Drasek moved to table this matter to the next meeting, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

STAFF REPORTS

28. City Eng. Fitzgerald presented the recommendation to award the 2010 MFT Street Rehabilitation project to the low bidder, Central Blacktop, pending completion of the eight-calendar day bidder protest period, in the amount of $454,303. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the contract pending completion of the 8-day bidder protest period, seconded by Ald. McDermott and carried unanimously.

29. Mr. Fitzgerald presented pay estimate #2 for the LaGrange Road Street Lighting Improvements to H & H Electric in the amount of $19,447.74. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

30. Mr. Fitzgerald presented pay estimate #3 for the LaGrange Road Street Lighting Improvements to H & H Electric in the amount of $9,270.50. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

31. Mr. Fitzgerald stated that a pre-construction meeting will take place tomorrow on the Sunset Avenue project; work is expected to begin next week.

32. Asst. Administrator Ms. Peterson presented the recommendation to renew the Intergovernmental Agreement with Cook County for a one-year term effective 12-1-10 to 11-30-11 to provide health inspections relating to food service and sanitation with cost to remain the same at $60 per inspection. Ald. Straza moved to approve the agreement, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

33. Ms. Peterson presented IDOT invoice #103875 dated 9-9-10 for reimbursement of $46,388.38, the City’s share for the LaGrange Road ITEP project. Ald. McDermott moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried unanimously.

OLD & NEW BUSINESS

34. Ald. Pondelicek stated that the infamous bump is back on East Avenue between 56^th and 57^th Streets, it is very noisy when empty dump trucks drive over it. Mr. Fitzgerald has no further information; he said Jim Essig brought the maintenance man to review it. He more or less refused to do anything without going through proper channels. Mr. Fitzgerald will follow up with a phone call within a week.

35. Ald. Von Drasek announced that the Aging Well Leaf Raking Program for seniors will take place on November 13 – they are seeking volunteers; Chief Ruth offered his services. He is seeking other enthusiastic volunteers – many teens have volunteered.

ADJOURNMENT

36. There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Pondelicek moved to adjourn to Executive Session under Section 2B1 of the Open Meetings Act to discuss personnel matters, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried by unanimous Roll Call vote – 5/0/1.

Mayor Conrad declared the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

SHARON SWEENEY, CITY CLERK