City of Palos Heights City Council met May 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Mayor called to order the regular meeting of the City of Palos Heights City Council at 7:00 p.m. in the City Administrative Center, 7607 W. College Drive, Palos Heights, IL
II. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Mayor led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Roll call indicated the following were present:
Mayor Robert Straz Ward 1 Jeffrey Key & Donald Bylut
City Clerk Thomas Kantas Ward 2 Jack Clifford & Robert Basso
City Treasurer James Daemicke Ward 3 Heather Begley & Brent Lewandowski
City Attorney Tom Brown Ward 4 Jerry McGovern & Michael McGrogan
V. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS None
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes: City Council Meeting – May 3, 2022
B. Approval of Payroll and Voucher List for the period ending May 13, 2022.
Alderman Clifford moved to approve the consent agenda seconded by Alderman Bylut.
On roll call, the motion to approve the Consent Agenda was:
Ayes: (8) Begley, Basso, Bylut, Clifford, Key, Lewandowski, McGovern, McGrogan
Nays: (0) None
With eight (8) affirmative votes the motion carried.
VII. OPENING OF SEALED BIDS
None
VII. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS
A. Mayor: Reported that the annual Memorial Day service will take place at City Hall on Memorial Day at 11 AM. On May 23rd the median removal project on Ridgeland Avenue will begin. The funding for the project will be reimbursed by the County.
B. Clerk: No Report
C. Treasurer: Presented the Treasurer’s Report for the period ending April 30, 2022.
General Fund:
Beginning cash balance $5,886,824
Revenues $935,253
Expenses $897,129
Other $42,660
Ending cash balance $5,967,609
Total of All Funds:
Beginning cash balance $23,506,144
Revenues $1,987,824
Expenses $1,467,042
Other $29,839
Ending cash balance $23,997,086
Alderman McGrogan moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report seconded by Alderman McGovern. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
D. City Attorney: No Report
VIII. COMMUNICATIONS
● Alderman McGrogan raised an error with the month of May on the garage and recycling schedule which was a typographical error.
IX. CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL
Katie Peiser 12423 South 69th Court spoke in favor of removing the bushes at Community Park and urged the Council to take residents' concerns into consideration and remove the bushes.
Tracy Fioretti, who lives on 75th Court, spoke in removing the fence and bushes along Community Park in order to provide greater access and safety to pedestrians.
Jennifer Schroeder 12034 S. Richard spoke in favor of removing the fence and bushes and that it obstructs pedestrian access to the park and favors a crosswalk to the park.
Alderman McGovern disseminated photos depicting a traffic accident along the fence and bushes along Community Park from 2016 and does not support removing the fence and bushes.
X. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
A. Finance—Chairperson Alderman McGrogan:
● Alderman McGrogan moved to approve the Extension Of And Amendment To Voluntary Payment Agreement with Trinity Christian College seconded by Alderman Bylut.
On roll call, the motion to approve the agreement was:
Ayes: (8) Begley, Basso, Bylut, Clifford, Key, Lewandowski, McGovern, McGrogan
Nays: (0) None
With eight (8) affirmative votes the motion carried.
B. Public Safety—Chairperson Alderman Basso: Reminded residents that schools ends soon and urged residents to use caution while driving and to observe a greater number of pedestrians on the street.
C. Municipal Grounds and Property—Chairperson Alderman Begley:
● Alderman Begley commended public works and recognized their considerable efforts in this area. Alderman Begley stated her rationale for removing the fence and bushes along Community Park noting that the area is not maintained adequately and has become muddy and unsightly and that the fence itself is coming apart. Alderman Begley stated that the Director of Public Works is present for any questioning. The residents have expressed their concern that the bushes and fence be replaced and the City should consider their wishes and urged the Council to take a fresh look at the issue.
● Alderman Begley moved to approve removal of the split-rail fence and 16 bushes on the east end of Community Park between 121st Street and 120th Street seconded by Lewandowski.
Alderman Clifford stated that the fence was installed for safety considerations.
The Mayor stated that the removal of the fence and bushes doesn’t resolve the problem because access whether in the form of a crosswalk or some other means of ingress into the park should be taken under consideration.
Alderman Key stated that the issue is not one of entrance into the park but one of safety for residents using the bike path and generally for residents inside the park. Alderman Key suggested that a number of different committees could examine the issue but that one proper committee should be designated to examine the issue and make recommendations.
Alderman Lewandowski stated that Chief Yott stated to him that the Police Department does not have a specific recommendation and would defer to the assessment of Public Works.
Alderman McGrogan inquired whether or not the committee has considered alternative approaches to the issues raised by the residents.
The Mayor stated that pending the outcome of the vote, he will assign the issue to one specific committee to take a broad view of the issue and make specific recommendations.
Alderman Clifford suggested that Recreation would be an appropriate committee to consider the issue.
On roll call, the motion to approve the removal was:
Ayes: (2) Begley, Lewandowski
Nays: (6) Basso, Bylut, Clifford, Key, McGovern, McGrogan
With two (2) affirmative votes the motion failed.
D. Planning and Zoning—Chairperson Alderman McGovern: No Report E. Recreation—Chairperson Alderman Key:
● Alderman Key moved to approve the 1st payment to George’s Landscape in the amount of $6,407.10 for work completed on the Misty Meadows Park Project seconded by Alderman Bylut.
On roll call, the motion to approve the payment was:
Ayes: (8) Begley, Basso, Bylut, Clifford, Key, Lewandowski, McGovern, McGrogan
Nays: (0) None
With eight (8) affirmative votes the motion carried.
F. Roads and Construction - Chairperson Alderman Clifford
● Alderman Clifford moved to approve payment to Morris Engineering for engineering services for various projects in the amount of $8,276.50 seconded by Alderman McGovern.
On roll call, the motion to approve the payment was:
Ayes: (8) Begley, Basso, Bylut, Clifford, Key, Lewandowski, McGovern, McGrogan
Nays: (0) None
With eight (8) affirmative votes the motion carried.
● Alderman Clifford attended a meeting regarding area construction specifically on Ridgeland Avenue from Route 83 to 135th Street.
● Alderman McGrogan commented on the convergence of road construction projects taking place at the same time. The Mayor stated that the Ridgeland construction is scheduled to take place during the summer when students are not in school. Adam Jasinski provided some background regarding the necessity, planning and scheduling of certain projects.
G. License, Permits & Franchises: Chairperson Alderman Lewandowski: Reported that the committee will not be pursuing further efforts to allow video gaming following its work considering the issue.
H. Water and Sewer—Chairperson Alderman Bylut: No Report
XI. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES
A. Business/Economic Development: Alderman Key Reported that Take Five Oil Change at 128th and Harlem is now open and wished them well in their endeavors.
B. Ad Hoc Cable TV: Alderman McGovern No Report
XII. OLD BUSINESS
● Alderman Begley stated that she had intended to ask Adam Jasinski to remark on the issue involving the fence and bushes but that in lieu of him speaking made the following points: the State of Illinois did not recommend the placement of the fence or bushes or any obstructions to that portion of the park, the Illinois Department of Transportation recommended the placement of two ADA compliant crosswalks at 120th and 121st Streets. The curb of the bike path at the southeast end of the park is further in distance to 76th Avenue street than the curb of the bike path where there is actual open access. No expert or agency has recommended the placement and that the City Council has not voted on the placement of the obstruction.
XIII. NEW BUSINESS
None
XIV. CITIZENS ASKING QUESTIONS REGARDING THE EVENING’S BUSINESS
A resident inquired asked about Adam Jasinski’s inability to offer remarks and stated that the fence is a decorative and does not assist pedestrian traffic.
XV. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:33 p.m. the Mayor requested a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.
https://palosheights.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05172022-672
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