Elmhurst City Council Meets Tonight at 7:30

Elmhurst City Council will meet tonight, March 21, at  7:30 p.m. following an executive session on "security procedures and the use of personnel" at  7 p.m.

City Hall is at 209 N. York St.

After a call to order, the first thing on the agenda is a public hearing on the tentative 2011-12 budget.

The mayor will then issue a proclamation naming Jim Nudera Day. This will be followed by a public forum, during which residents will be given three minutes to speak on the topic of their choice. The council will not respond to comments.

The consent agenda will follow public comments. In addition to approving minutes from previous meetings and accounts payable, the council will consider:

• approving Mayor Pete DiCianni's appointment of William Schanklin to the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission, replacing Dan Hiffman, for a term to expire April 30. Steven Moskal would be appointed to a term to expire April 30, 2012; Nicola Lostumbo to a term to expire April 30, 2013, and Maryann Gorski to a term to expire April 30, 2014
• referring bid results for the paving program to the Public Works and Buildings Committee. Thirteen contractors submitted bids, and bid prices ranged from $1.56 million to $2.05 million.
• referring to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee a request for a push cart from Todd Jones, owner of Every Last Morsel, an edible landscaping service established to help people build and maintain edible gardens
• referring to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee a request for pedicab licensing
• referring to the Public Works and Buildings Committee a request to competitively bid the refuse and recycling contract
• referring to the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee a request for signage in the North industrial area, between Lake Street and Grand Avenue, which will require a change in Elmhurst's sign ordinance
• approving several events: citywide evangelical church community request for a day of worship at City Centre Aug. 28; Spring Road Pet Parade May 24; Memorial Day Parade May 30; Annie Ryan Fun Run May 15; and the York and Vallette farmers market Wednesdays, June 1 through Oct. 26
• approving the purchase of 150 desktop computers and 35 laptops, as well as computer software. Staff recommends upgrading to Microsoft Office 2010 and purchasing 200  licenses to include installation in personal computers and police cars. Total cost: $179,000.
• approving a repayment plan for the working cash fund. As of Jan. 31, the balance due to the fund was $952,000. The plan would repay the loan in five years, with 20 percent of the principal, plus interest, repaid each year.
• approving Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare's request for a 192-foot communications tower at 855 N. Church Court
• approving a request from Timothy Christian School for a six-month extension of its conditional use permit for additions to the building. This is the fourth request for a six-month extension. The work has been delayed due to a poor economy and a change in leadership at Timothy.
• approving an ordinance allowing ElmhurstRunning Club to use city property for its 4 on the 4th Four Mile Run
• approving an ordinance "authorizing the transfer of volume cap in connection with private activity bond issues, and related matters" to allow the issuance of bonds. Each year, by virtue of its home-rule status, the city is allocated private activity bond volume cap by the state of Illinois based on population to be used to issue private activity bonds. If it's not used or reserved by May 1, it reverts back to the state for no value.
• approving yield signs at the eastbound and westbound Wilson Street approaches to Saylor Avenue
• approving no right turn on red when pedestrians are present on northbound Prospect Avenue at Butterfield Road
• granting a conditional use permit for a six-unit townhome development at 357 W. First St.

The consent agenda will be followed by updates from the mayor and a status report on the stormwater comprehensive plan.