South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met June 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bennett called the City Council Meeting to order at 6:56p.m.

2) PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Mayor Bennett led everyone in the Pledge to the Flag.

3) ROLL CALL: Upon roll call the following Aldermen responded:

PRESENT: Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak

ABSENT: None

4) QUORUM: Mayor Bennett declared a quorum was present.

5) READING OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:

Ald. Kleefisch MOVED to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes dated, June 1, 2023 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

6) CITIZENS PETITION: None this evening.

7) CITIZENS HEARING:

Mayor Bennett, the meeting is open to the public for any comments or questions.

A resident from 11240 Sycamore Lane approached Council with questions how permit fees for residential, commercial, and HOAs are configured. Commissioner Lesnicki responded briefly with how they are structured. Discussion took place between the resident and Council members regarding potential exemptions, and tiers for residential, commercial, or HOA. Mayor Bennett clarified that there are two tiers: residential, and commercial.

There were no comments or questions from the public; the public portion of the meeting was closed.

8) REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS:

A. CITY CLERK: No report this evening.

B. CITY ATTORNEY: No report this evening.

C. MAYOR: No report this evening.

9) PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND ORDINANCES BY ALDERMEN:

A. BUILDING & LICENSING:

Ald. Abed had no report this evening.

Ald. Lebarre requested an additional meeting to go over the Building Code Ordinance so that there is an opportunity to get any final questions answered.

Ald. Abed scheduled a Building & Licensing Committee Meeting for 5:45pm on Thursday, July 6th.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION:

Ald. Stratton had no report this evening.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Ald. Price announced that Friendship Fest will be taking place July 13th through July 16th and Megabands are being sold at the Palos Hills Community Center and are $50.00 each.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

Ald. O’Connell had no report this evening.

E. FINANCE:

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, June 15, 2023 in the amount of $459,840.14. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek.

Ald. Kleefisch corrected the amount as $495,840.14. Mayor Bennett stated that the Chair recognizes the correction.

Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: Donahue MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:

Ald. Donahue had no report this evening.

G. PARKS:

Ald. Nowak reported that the Recreation Department will be hosting a picnic in Bennett Park this Saturday from 11:00am to 2:00pm, there will be an inflatable, acoustic music, and free hot dogs.

Ald. Nowak announced that Touch A Truck will be held July 21st from 10:00am to 12:00 noon at the Town Square Park.

GOLF:

Ald. Pasek had no report this evening.

H. PLANNING & ZONING:

Ald. Nowak requested an update on Hong Min. Commissioner Lesnicki responded that there is nothing yet on the permit, and the Ordinance officer has been in contact with the owner weekly regarding maintenance of the property.

Ald. Nowak asked for an update on the garbage enclosures. Commissioner Lesnicki said that they are following up and making progress on getting everyone into compliance.

Ald. Nowak stated that she has another list of 14 dumpsters that are not compliment as well. Mayor Bennett said that the list should be given to the Ordinance officer.

Ald. Lebarre mentioned that the Ordinance officer was to go to all commercial properties on a weekly basis to observe the trash enclosures.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ald. Kleefisch MOVED for consideration of An Ordinance Amending Title 9, Public Peace, Morals And Welfare, Article IV, Offenses Against Public Peace, By Adding Chapter 9.26, Helicopter Operations, Of The Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: O’Connell MOTION CARRIED

City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 2023-12 to that proposed Ordinance.

After the reading of proposed Ordinance number 2023-12 entitled An Ordinance Amending Title 9, Public Peace, Morals And Welfare, Article IV, Offenses Against Public Peace, By Adding Chapter 9.26, Helicopter Operations, Of The Palos Hills Municipal Code, Ald. Kleefisch MOVED for its PASSAGE of same. SECONDED by Ald. Stratton.

Ald. Brachman said that a fine of $750.00 is not enough. City Attorney Cainkar responded that we are not home rule; we are limited by statute to a fine of $750.00.

Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue

NAY: None MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Kleefisch presented and read the Palos Hills Police Department Activity Report for the month of May 2023 as follows: 189 traffic tickets were issued, 87 parking tickets, 20 misdemeanor complaints and 2 felony complaints, there were no criminal homicides, there were no robberies, there was 1 aggravated assault and battery; there were 6 burglaries, there were 7 thefts, there were 3 motor vehicle thefts, no arsons, and our CID Division handled a total of 67 cases.

Ald. Kleefisch announced that we received two checks; one check from Saint Constantine & Helen Orthodox Church in the amount of $173.52, and a check from Carfax in the amount of $165.00.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER:

Ald. Brachman had no report this evening.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None this evening.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: None this evening.

13) ADJORNMENT:

No further business, Mayor Bennett entertained a motion to adjourn. SO MOVED by Ald. Stratton. Ald. Kleefisch asked if we were going to go through Miscellaneous Business. Mayor Bennett stated that Chair will hold his own motion.

Ald. Kleefisch wanted to mention that he supports Ald. Nowak in her efforts to address this issue that has been an ongoing issue for years.

Mayor Bennett stated that there is no doubt that the number one violation is those that don’t have the proper enclosure; the second is making sure their gate is closed, and the third is the containers that should be within the enclosure.

Ald. Nowak said she is looking for the Ordinance officer to make rotations and for a list to be provided of what has been looked at, who is in compliance, and who is not.

Ald. Kleefisch announced that the deadline for nominations for the Beautification contest is August 4th, and the judging will take place the week of August 7th.

No further business, Mayor Bennett entertained a motion to adjourn. SO MOVED by Ald. Stratton. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. By voice vote, all voted AYE.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:52p.m.

https://www.paloshillsweb.org/docproxy?docId=3174262