Politics & Government

Vehicle Use Policy, Rifle Purchase, Mariano's Liquor License and More on City Agenda Monday

City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 209 N. York St.

Now that City of Elmhurst budget talks are complete, aldermen have been focusing on a number of other items, including a sewer rate increase and acquisition of property in the North York tax increment financing district, both of which are on the agenda Monday, April 15.

Before the regular City Council meeting, aldermen will meet in executive session at 7 p.m. to discuss pending litigation, purchase or lease of real property and appointment, employment or compensation of a city officer or employee.

The regular meeting will be called to order at 7:30 p.m., and will begin with a proclamation recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month. The meeting will then open to residents who wish to make comment. Members of the community are 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 topics:

  • Bid results for the 2013 contract paving program—referral to the Public Works and Buildings Committee. Six companies submitted bids ranging from $2.34 million to $2.77 million.
  • Sustainability goals—referral to the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee. Alderman Dannee Polomsky is requesting the city commit to new goals in line with the 2015 Illinois Cool Cities local sustainability protection agreement.
  • Churchville Middle School special event—referral to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee. The Churchville PTA is requesting use of city property for a fund-raiser, The Churchville Charge: An Amazing Race for an Amazing School, on Aug. 24. Teams will compete in events at 12 businesses and landmarks throughout the downtown.
  • approval of the purchase of a Ford F250 with service body for $41,828
  • approval of the 2013 tree purchase and planting program; 576 trees are scheduled to be purchased for $92,224.50 and planted for $97,920.
  • approval to hire Robinson Engineering Ltd. at a cost of $52,000 to perform engineering services prior to replacement of samplers at the effluent sampling station at the Water Reclamation Facility, 625 S. Route 83.
  • approval of the 2013 paving contact with Brothers Asphalt Paving, the lowest of six bidders, for $2.7 million. The program involves grinding and overlay of about 9 miles of asphalt and concrete streets and removal and replacement of about 14,000 feet of curb and gutter, as well as other work.
  • approval of a four-way stop sign at Emroy Avenue and Lake Street Frontage Road
  • approval of a new liquor license classification, GSWC, for Mariano's. The new classification would allow the retail sale of packaged alcohol for consumption off the premises and the sale of beer, wine and sake for consumption within the store.
  • approval of a liquor license request for Mariano's
  • approval of the 2013 ONE combined worship service to be held at the Addison Street parking lot on Aug. 25
  • approval of the 2013 Elmhurst Jaycees Carnival to be held on Park Street, between Myrtle and Prospect, from Thursday through Sunday, June 13-16
  • approval of the purchase of 17 Colt Law Enforcement carbine semi-automatic rifles from Kiesler's Police Supply at a cost if $18,768. The purchase will be funded from the police department's state forfeiture account, not through tax dollars. The purchase will provide a patrol rifle for every marked squad and will allow for training of all full-time sworn officers. Police must be equipped to respond to "active shooter" incidents, which are on the rise nationwide, according to a memo from the Public Affairs and Safety Committee, which reviewed the request for purchase. Currently, the department has 14 Vietnam War-era rifles on loan from the federal government, and only a few officers are trained in the use of patrol rifles.
  • approval of the assigned vehicle use policy, which provides guidelines for regularly and temporarily assigned vehicles, and states the employee's responsibility when operating a city-owned vehicle. The policy does not address whether a vehicle should be added to or remain in the city's fleet. The Finance Committee is recommending the current practice of adding a vehicle through the budget process continue, and that the current practice of determining the need for a vehicle during the vehicle replacement process also continue. The policy also does not identify which city positions should be assigned vehicles. The city manager is provided flexibility to assign vehicles as he determines is appropriate.
  • approval of variations for 141 N. Larch and 310 S. Prospect
  • approval of an ordinance authorizing the transfer of volume cap in connection with private activity bond issues. Each year, the city is allocated private activity bond volume cap by the state based on population. It can be used to issue private activity bonds or can be transferred (generally for value) to another municipality. If the volume cap is not used or reserved by May 1, it reverts to the state.
  • approval of an agreement with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services for insurance broker services

Following approval of the consent agenda, aldermen will hear a report on the proposed sewer rate increase. The Finance Committee is recommending a rate increase for 2013 of 4.5 percent, to $5.34 per thousand gallons of water from the current $5.11. The impact to the average four-person household using 12,000 gallons per month is about $2.76 per month, according to a memo from the committee.

The council then will hear reports from Acting Mayor Scott Levin and City Manager Jim Grabowski.

Final votes will then be taken on three ordinances:

  • approval of the 2013 budget and appropriations ordinance
  • approval of an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of Pauli's Marathon, 260 N. York, by purchase or eminent domain, for the North York Street redevelopment plan
  • approval of an ordinance granting a liquor license Class GSWC for Mariano's

The meeting will conclude with recognition of outgoing council member Paula Pezza and treasurer David Dyer.

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