City Council Will Vote Monday on Releasing Closed Session Minutes Related to Addison Development

Elmhurst City Council has a lot to discuss Monday night, including the release closed-session minutes from two meetings in September.

A draft resolution that approves the release of closed session minutes from Sept. 10 and 17 is before the council and will be voted on Monday.

"It is hereby determined that there is no need for confidentiality in connection with the redacted closed session minutes of Sept. 10, 2012, and Sept. 17, 2012," the resolution states. If approved, those minutes will be made part of the public record. The resolution makes no mention of an audio record of the meetings.

The issue was prompted by a determination last week by the Public Access Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General's Office that the council had violated the Open Meetings Act by improperly discussing the development of the Addison Avenue property in closed session.

The complaint was filed with the Attorney General's Office by 1st Ward Alderman Paula Pezza.

The Addison development was the subject of a public hearing held Feb. 28. With many unanswered questions about the OMA violation and other matters, Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission decided to continue its discussion to March 14.

Here is what the City Council agenda for Monday, March 4, looks like in total:

Deputy Chief James Kveton and Cmdr. Robert Tannehill will be sworn in to the police department. This will be followed by public forum and announcements from aldermen.

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

• referral to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee a request to hold the annual Farmer's Market every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 5 through Oct. 25 at York and Vallette
• referral to the PAS Committee a request for a liquor license for Mariano's
• referral to the Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee the rules of order with respect to meeting attendance by electronic means
• referral to the Committee of the Whole a request for a presentation on the history and life-cycle status of each tax increment financing district in the city. The request was made by aldermen Chris Healy, Dannee Polomsky and Kevin York
• referral to the PAS Committee a request for a four-way stop at Emroy and Frontage Road
• approval of the 2013-15 contract for turf and landscape maintenance. Public Works Committee recommends the lowest bidder, Alaniz Landscape, at $131,200
• approval of the 2013-15 contract for custodial services. Public Works Committee recommends the lowest bidder, Best Quality Cleaning, at $5,418 per month.
• request that the DuPage Council of Mayors recommend approval of adding certain roads to the Federal Aid Urban system to allow staff to apply for federal funding. The move requires re-classification of sections of Industrial Drive, and Larch, Wrightwood, Diversey and Spangler avenues from "local roads" to "collector—urban" by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
• approval of the Spring Road Pet and Bike Parade for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18
• approval of the Annie Ryan Fun Run for 9 a.m. Sunday, May 19, at Arlington and South
• approval of a compensation study to be conducted by Pontifex Consulting Group at a cost not to exceed $56,500
• approval to rescind qualification of the positions of city treasurer and alderman for membership in Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. IMRF has requested documentation of compliance with the 1,000-hour work rule for the city treasurer and alderman positions, even though no current alderman nor the treasurer participate in IMRF. These positions do not meet the 1,000-hour rule standard of hours worked in a calendar year
• approval of Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. May 27
• approval of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference 2013 Legislative Action program
• approval of an agreement with RJN Group for the Southwest Elmhurst wet weather control facility final design
• approval of capital expenditures to be reimbursed from proceeds of an obligation bond to be issued by the city

The council will then hear a report on the determination of tax-exempt status for Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.

Aldermen will then discuss the Attorney General's Public Access Bureau opinion that the city violated the Open Meetings Act twice last September by improperly discussing the Addison Avenue development project in closed session. They will then vote on a resolution regarding the release of the minutes of those closed session meetings.

After one more vote, on an ordinance abating a portion of the tax levy for 2012 due to Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare's tax-exempt status, the meeting will adjourn. But the work of the council will continue in Committee of the Whole to discuss the fiscal year 2013 budget.

Committee of the Whole will begin around 8 p.m. and will include the following line items in the 2013 budget:

• Fire protection
• Wireless radio
• ESDA-Civil Defense
• Public Works
  • streets and bridges - administration
  • street and alley maintenance
  • snow removal and ice control
  • forestry
  • electrical
  • rubbish disposal
  • municipal buildings
  • central maintenance equipment
  • public benefits
• Motor fuel tax fund
• Parking system fund
• Elmhurst Public Library funds
• Elmhurst Historical Museum
• Visitor and tourism
• Legal
• Municipal utility fund
• Police Department
• Administration/elected officials
• Finance
• Claims
• Senior services
• Health services
• Contingent
• Cable television