Aldermen want City to Come Up with Downtown Design Guidelines

Elmhurst City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 4, at City Hall, 209 N. York St. The public meeting will be preceded by a closed session to discuss acquisition of real property, pending/threatened litigation and collective bargaining.

The first order of business will be a proclamation by Mayor Pete DiCianni declaring Matthew Mandarino Day. The council will then present the Kick Off for Kids Star Educator Award-winners: Valerie Baxter (Emerson School), Catherine Equi (Edison School), Jackie Osterhut (Visitation School), Susan Grote (Lincoln School) and Michael Lee (Lincoln).

Members of the public will then be invited to speak for up to three minutes on any topic.

In addition to approval of minutes and accounts payable, the consent agenda includes the following items:

• First Ward aldermen Paula Pezza and Diane Gutenkauf are requesting the City Council develop design guidelines for the downtown business district. "Elmhurst is at a critical moment of downtown development, with one project (Addison St. LLC Parking Deck) moving forward and others pending. We believe this is the pertinent point to discuss our community's lack of downtown architectural design guidelines, especially for potential structures over the permitted 4 story/45 ft height," the aldermen's request reads. The request is expected to be referred to the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee.
• Authorization to refinance the 2006 general obligation bonds and issue $2.9 million more in bonds to finance long lived capital assets
• Comprehensive plan amendment to add a bicycle plan for the city
• Addition of three members to the Economic Development Commission
• Approval of an ordinance adopting revisions in the DuPage countywide stormwater and floodplain ordinance
• Approval of an ordinance allowing an electronic sign at
• Approval of the demolition of 135 N. Addison by DMD Services Inc., the lowest of nine bidders, for $134,414
• Approval of a bid for engineering services from Transystems Corp for the York Street repaving program at a cost not to exceed $78,000. Work will be done on York between Vallette to Robert Palmer Drive.
• Approval of a resolution proposing a redevelopment plan for and designation of a new North York Street tax increment financing district. A public hearing will be scheduled. The properties in the proposed new TIF are located along York from about North Avenue to Grand Avenue.
• Approval of a resolution amending the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act
• Approval of the purchase of fire hydrant materials from Mid-American Water Inc. for $84,612
• Approval of the purchase of computer equipment and software from CDWG for an amount not to exceed $26,070

Aldermen will then hear updates from Mayor DiCianni. They also will vote to approve stop signs at Vallette Street and Fairfield Avenue.