Council Will Vote on Tax Levy, Vehicle Purchases, Bike Parking, Street Work and More Monday

Elmhurst City Council will hold its regular business meeting at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Monday, Dec. 18, at , 209 N. York St. The public meeting will be preceded by an executive session at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing and the appointment, employment or compensation of a city officer or employee.

The first order of business in the public meeting will be the swearing in of police Cmdr. Michael Burroughs and Sgt. Michael Wiehe.

This will be followed by the presentation of a from Metra to the city. The grant, first authorized in 2009, will help pay for the city's at First and Larch streets. As a condition of the grant, Elmhurst must lease to Metra 125 parking spaces for commuter use from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays for the next 40 years.

The City Council will then recognize three Star Award teachers: Patricia Fox, Jefferson School; Michelle Quinn, Emerson School; and Gretchen Boerwinkle, Field School. The board also will recognize the Turkey Trot Committee and present an Excellence Award to the Operation Lifesaver Enforcement Committee, which works to promote railroad safety in town.

The public will then be invited to speak for up to three minutes.

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

• bids for police interceptor vehicles will be referred to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee
• discussion about precious metal dealers will be referred to the PAS Committee. Police Chief Steve Neubauer has requested an ordinance regulating precious metal dealers. He believes individuals in town are stealing jewelry, coins, etc., and turning it into cash at these businesses. He is asking for an ordinance to require identification of individuals selling precious metals, certification of the businesses' scales, photographing of any jewelry purchased, that precious metals remain on the site for 14 days before being melted down, and that dealers share records and customer lists with the police department on demand.
• approval of a bid from TranSystems Corp in an amount not to exceed $102,500 for streetscape improvements at various locations in the downtown area
• acceptance of a $85,230 bid from Roesch Ford in Bensenville for four 2013 Ford Explorers
• approval the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee's request to hold the parade on Saturday, March 10
• acceptance of the financial auditor's management letter. There were no comments in the letter indicating any deficiencies or material weaknesses in the city's financial operating efficiency
• approval of staggered terms for commissioners on the Youth Commission
• approval of a zoning ordinance text amendment at new properties in the C2 and C3 business districts
• approval of a series of ordinances
• authorization to sell two city vehicles
• approval of an amendment to the city code to allow for an for all users. Residents will see their rate increase from $5.34 per thousand gallons to $6.41.
• approval of an ordinance to allow a 192-square-foot wall sign at
• an ordinance to allow an increase in the number of total units at from 362 to 390 and to allow the creation of assisted living units in the independent living building
• approval of an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District for the discontinuance of water service for residents in the unincorporated area who have not paid their water bill
• approval of an agreement between the city and Transystems Corp. for professional consulting services for York Street improvements
• approval of an agreement between the city and Assurance Agency Ltd. for employee health insurance consulting services for $42,000 per year. The firm will analyze the city's insurance needs, negotiate with insurance providers and act as liaison between the city and the insurance carrier, among other things.

Mayor Pete DiCianni will give any updates, and the City Council will vote on the proposed tax levy ordinance.