City of Oak Forest City Council met March 28
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
City Clerk, Nicole Tormey called the City Council meeting to order at 7: 30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Roll Call as follows:
Present: Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Absent: Mayor Kuspa
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
City Clerk, Nicole Tormey, asked for a motion to appoint pro tern mayor for the evening.
Alderman Emmett made the motion.
Alderman Danihel seconded.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Gray
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Wolf
Alderman Selman
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
The motion to appoint carried 5/ 5.
Clerk Tormey asked Alderman Hortsman to be mayor pro tem and was seated.
Alderman Hortsman made the following announcements:
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
➢ The 2023 Oak Forest Fleadh 5K and parade are streaming on the City' s website by clicking on CIC-TV programming or viewing on cable TV, Comcast channel 4, Astound channel 6 or AT& T channel 99.
➢ Early voting for the consolidated election is happening now at City Hall from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p. m. on Sundays. Please note City Hall is not a polling place on Election Day, which is Tuesday, April 4th
➢ Beginning April 1St yard waste can be placed curbside in brown paper yard waste bags, reasonable- sized bundles tied with twine or string, or a Homewood Disposal yard waste cart on your scheduled garbage day. " Yard waste only" stickers are only needed on the regular 35- gallon garbage carts. Stickers are available at City Hall.
➢ Spring cleanup week is April 24th through the 28th. Residents of single- family homes may dispose of multiple bulk items, including furniture, carpet and appliances at the curb on their regular pickup day. Public Works chipping crews will be following Homewood Disposal pickup schedule. Please leave your branches at the curb by 7: 00 a. m. on your pickup day.
➢ The Citywide garage sale is Friday, June 2ndand Saturday, June 3rd. In order to be included on the master list of participating homes, you must register by Wednesday, May 24th
➢ Alderman Selman made an announcement that tomorrow, March 29th is Vietnam Veterans War Remembrance Day. It is also the 50th anniversary of U. S. troops leaving South Vietnam in 1973. If you know of a Vietnam Veteran, be sure to say welcome home.
➢ The City of Oak Forest has been successful with many of our new projects coming into town. We want to congratulate and credit our Administration, Economic Development team, all the departments and employees that make Oak Forest a great place to live. You can see some of these new projects on the City' s website.
4. MOTION TO ESTABLISH CONSENT AGENDA
Alderman Emmett made the motion to establish consent agenda.
Alderman Danihel seconded.
RAYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Danihel
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
The motion to establish consent agenda carried 5/ 5.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes:
1. City Council March 14, 2023 B. Consideration of the following Lists of Bills dated:
1. Regular Bills FY 2022- 2023 2. Supplemental Bills FY 2022- 2023
C. Consideration of the following minutes:
1. Fire and Police Commission meeting March 4, 2023
2. Fire and Police Commission meeting March 7, 2023
3. Cable Commission meeting February 12, 2023
4. Veterans Commission meeting February 16, 2023
Alderman Danihel made the motion to accept consent agenda.
Alderman Selman seconded.
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Selman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
The motion to accept consent agenda carried 5/ 5.
6. FINANCE
A. Approval of contract for auditing services with Sikich LLP for fiscal years 2023- 2027.
Alderman Emmett made the motion to approve.
Alderman McCarthy seconded.
Finance Director Colleen Julian stated the City is at the end of their contract with Sikich, the City' s auditor. The financial statements are audited yearly. A request for proposals was sent out. We received two proposals. Our auditors were the lowest bid. In addition, she believes their organizational knowledge and experience with the City is a value. She proposes accepting their bid.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Emmett
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
The motion carried 5/ 5.
7. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
A. Approval of Ordinance 2023- 03- 09600 authorizing a purchase and sale agreement with Nima Properties, Inc ( Car Wash) for 0. 97 acres of City owned property located at 15426 S. Cicero Avenue.
Alderman Emmett made the motion to approve.
Alderman Danihel seconded.
Economic and Community Development Director Ed Cage reported this property was formerly the Numero Uno site. The City had a letter of intent with this group and they followed through with a preliminary site plan. They have requested to move forward with the purchase and sale. Mr. Cage clarified they will have to go through Planning and Zoning for a Special Use Permit for a car wash and come back to City Council for the formal site approval. Mr. Cage remarked the Mayor is out of town. This group has been working well with the City. They like the efficiency that the City has in terms of working with them with the letter of intent. Mr. Cage asked to designate someone to sign the purchase and sale agreement, either the Clerk or himself on behalf of the Mayor. The Mayor will sign it when he gets back in town.
Alderman Selman asked about the physical location of the car wash. Are they going to have a drive-off of Cicero into the car wash or is it going to be down the hill there?
Ed Cage stated there is some significant engineering to be had at this site. There is a significant grade difference between Cicero and the site itself. The preliminary site plan they sent us shows an entrance to the north of the property, closer to the pizza restaurant. There would be significant stacking around into the car wash itself to get people off of Cicero. The preliminary
plan had three drive lanes. We do not want anyone backing up on Cicero. With the three lanes, they calculated about 50 or 60 vehicles. There will be some significant engineering to bring the grade up so it is level and there be no issues with line of sight or any safety concerns.
Alderman Selman stated he is looking forward to more positive changes at that location.
Alderman Emmett asked if there has been any interest in the lot to the south? Have they showed any interest to purchase it so we can have a road running out to 155th?
Ed Cage stated, in his opinion, the lot is overpriced. It is privately owned. The City has not had any discussions with anyone. He believes it will either be priced accordingly, or this site will be developed and then we will have some more activity in that area of Cicero. I think that conversation is going to come up fairly soon.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Danihel
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Selman
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
The motion carried 5/ 5.
Ed Cage asked for clarification regarding signing on behalf of the Mayor to move this forward and if so, who is more appropriate the Clerk or someone else to sign on behalf until the Mayor gets back into town?
Mayor Pro Tern Hortsman stated he believes either he can sign or the Clerk would be most appropriate.
8. PUBLIC WORKS
A. Presentation of the City of Oak Forest National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) Program— Storm Water Update.
Director of Public Works Michael Salamowicz stated the City is required by the Illinois EPA to apply for a permit through their MS4 Permitting Process, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. Logan Gilbertson from HR Green is here today. HR Green is the engineering firm that updated our permit. We are required to do that annually. He is here to give a brief presentation on the program itself.
Logan Gilbertson, Civil Engineer of HR Green has spent the last 12 years working on storm water projects, flood control and different types of stream restorations.
Logan Gilbertson presented The City of Oak Forest NPDES Phase II presentation.
Mr. Gilbertson stated by June 1stthey need to file the annual report to the EPA. After that, it is just the remaining compliance for the remainder of the year.
Alderman Emmett remarked about the community to the west, there is a parking lot that is full of salt. It looks like semi- trucks and they tarp it. If it is raining, that would be going into our sewer system. Are there any laws? Are they supposed to be in corrals or something? Businesses have private companies come with a dump truck and they tarp it but the sewers are also going directly into our streams too, correct?
Mr. Gilbertson stated yes.
Alderman Emmett asked who would we report that to? The tarp is not working because it has been blown off The salt is being washed into the system.
Mr. Gilbertson replied to call the store manager or the Public Works Director and they will go out and talk to them.
Alderman Emmett asked if it is illegal to have it just lying on the asphalt covered with a tarp?
Mr. Gilbertson stated that for private businesses that is what they do. It is not considered permanent. The City' s salt piles are required to be permanently covered. Businesses are in a gray area. Normally, it is up to the municipality to go out there and enforce the salt being covered.
Alderman Selman asked if the report has to go to the Federal EPA?
Mr. Gilbertson answered the Illinois EPA.
Alderman Selman asked if the MWRD are involved?
Mr. Gilbertson stated the City reports directly to the Illinois EPA as a MS4 community. The City has MWRD' s ordinances in place. So, if you need to enforce something, you are technically enforcing their ordinances or asking them to help with enforcement.
B. Approval of contract with Dutch Valley Landscaping for the 2023 planter box plantings and maintenance, city hall flower pots and Metra lots and City entry way signs in the budgeted amount of$ 41, 943. 40.
Alderman Emmett made the motion to approve.
Alderman Selman seconded.
Director of Public Works Michael Salamowicz stated they are getting ready for the spring season. The City has a contract with Dutch Valley. They have been preparing and planting the planter boxes along Cicero Avenue and City Hall. They do seasonal maintenance of our commuter parking lots, landscaping and maintenance for the entry signs and the right away planter beds. They also do all of the watering of this as well. The original contract allowed for extensions with conditions that the cost not exceed the CIP Urban or 5% whichever was less. Dutch Valley has agreed to match their existing prices from last year. There is no cost increase.
We are requesting approval of the contract with Dutch Valley. They do a very good job of the planters.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Selman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
The motion carried 5/ 5.
9. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Iris Huisenga approached and wanted to comment on the planter boxes. She asked if someone could ask if they could take out the dead bushes. There are evergreens that have been there forever. She does not believe they do that great of a job. They could clean up and take some of the grass, thin it out a little bit. Make it look nicer. Most of the bushes are dead.
12. OLD BUSINESS
Alderman Emmett wanted to thank Tim Kristin and Mike Salamowicz for getting IDOT out between Ridgeland and Oak Park with four trucks and nine men picking up garbage. He is going to continue on them until he sees 159` h Cicero to 167` h clean and until we see some lights under our viaducts.
Alderman McCarthy asked if the median on Cicero is county property. People are complaining about the garbage blowing down the median. It was blowing over by Twin Lakes.
Alderman Emmett stated he believed it is the State of Illinois.
Mike Salamowicz stated that the median on Cicero is IDOT' s jurisdiction.
13. NEW BUSINESS
None.
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The purpose is to discuss current, pending litigation, the purchase or lease of real property for use by the City of Oak Forest, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired, and to discuss the setting of a price for the sale or lease of real estate owned by the City of Oak Forest.
No executive session.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Danihel made the motion to approve.
Alderman Selman seconded.
Roll Call vote was taken as follows:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
Alderman Danihel
Alderman Selman
Alderman McCarthy
Alderman Emmett
Alderman Hortsman
Alderman Gray
Alderman Wolf
The motion carried 5/ 5.
Meeting adjourned at 8: 02 p. m.
http://www.oak-forest.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03282023-1699
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