South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met Sept. 4

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bennett called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:00p.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, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed

ABSENT: O’Connell, Krasowski

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, August 21, 2025 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Abed. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price

NAY: None

ABSENT: O’Connell, Krasowski 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.

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 presented and read the monthly building report for the month of August 2025 as follows: total permits issued 70, total permit fees $26,684.00, and zero security deposits received or refunded.

Ald. Abed MOVED for consideration of An Ordinance Amending Title 15, Buildings and Construction, by Adding Chapter 15.72, Outdoor Lighting in One-Family Residential Districts, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price, Brachman

NAY: None

ABSENT: O’Connell, Krasowski MOTION CARRIED

City Clerk Nowak assigned number 2025-17 to that proposed Ordinance.

Ald. Donahue MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2025-17. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre

NAY: None

ABSENT: O’Connell, Krasowski MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Abed MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2025-17, An Ordinance Amending Title 15, Buildings and Construction, by Adding Chapter 15.72, Outdoor Lighting in One-Family Residential Districts, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Kleefisch. Upon roll call the following

Ald. voted:

AYE: Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue

NAY: None

ABSENT: O’Connell, Krasowski MOTION CARRIED

Upon request of Ald. Abed, City Clerk Nowak assigned number 2025-18 to An Ordinance Amending Title 15, Buildings and Construction, Chapter 15.04, Construction Codes, Section 15.04.450, Types of Decking and Sheathing, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code.

Ald. Donahue MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2025-18. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue

NAY: None

ABSENT: Krasowski, O’Connell MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Abed MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2025-18, to An Ordinance Amending Title 15, Buildings and Construction, Chapter 15.04, Construction Codes, Section 15.04.450, Types of Decking and Sheathing, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted;

AYE: Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch

NAY: None

ABSENT: Krasowski, O’Connell MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Abed presented An Ordinance Amending Title 8, Health and Safety, Chapter 8.48, Property Maintenance Standards, Section 8.48.230, Reserved, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION:

Ald. Stratton had no report this evening.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES/PARKS:

Ald. Price MOVED to accept the 5 Year Master Plan for Parks amended August 2025.

SECONDED by Ald. Stratton. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Frankowicz, Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton

NAY: None

ABSENT: Krasowski, O’Connell MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Bennett stated that at the next City Council meeting we will have the Resolution

proposing the OSLAD Grant to the state.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

In the absence of Ald. O’Connell there was no report this evening.

E. FINANCE:

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, September 4, 2025 in the amount of $423,269.00. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Abed, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz

NAY: None

ABSENT: Krasowski, O’Connell MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:

Upon request of Ald. Frankowicz, City Clerk Nowak assigned number 2025-19 to An Ordinance Amending Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 10.34, Motorized Scooters and Skateboards, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code.

Ald. Abed MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2025-19. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed

NAY: None

ABSENT: Krasowski, O’Connell MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Frankowicz MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2025-19, An Ordinance Amending Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 10.34, Motorized Scooters and Skateboards, of the Palos Hills Municipal Code. SECONDED by Ald. Lebarre. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed

NAY: None

ABSENT: O’Connell, Krasowski MOTION CARRIED

G. GOLF:

Ald. Donahue reported that there are a couple of small drainage projects that are taking place on the cart path, and resurfacing will take place towards the end of the month. The projected revenue for the month of August is approximately $92,000.00.

H. PLANNING & ZONING:

In the absence of Ald. Krasowski there was no report this evening.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ald. Kleefisch announced that we received a check from Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions in the amount of $525.00.

Ald. Kleefisch reported that he distributed an estimate for the cost of changing out the Christmas decorations in the City, and the total would be $7,713.75 which is a little bit lower than the estimate we received last year. The swags at 103rd and Roberts Road, or anywhere else in the City, will no longer be used as they cannot be hung in the intersections anymore.

Ald. Kleefisch MOVED to accept the bid estimate of $7,713.75 to change out the Christmas holiday decoration bulbs. SECONDED by Ald. Price.

Ald. Lebarre asked if this estimate includes labor as we budgeted $14,000.00 for Christmas decorations this year.

Commissioner Oeffling indicated that labor will be free.

Ald. Frankowicz stated that she wanted it on record that she feels that they should be called seasonal lights.

Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, Donahue, Kleefisch, Stratton, Frankowicz, Abed, Price

NAY: None

ABSENT: Kleefisch, Price MOTION CARRIED

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: Mayor Bennett thanked Police Chief Cucio and the police department for their increased traffic enforcement.

13) ADJORNMENT:

No further business, Mayor Bennett entertained a motion to adjourn. SO MOVED by Ald. Stratton.

SECONDED by Ald. Abed. By voice vote, all voted AYE.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:13p.m.

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