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March 23, 2017 City Council Meeting Minutes

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March 23, 2017 City Council Meeting Minutes

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Hickory Hills City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Howley on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 7:34 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Mike Howley led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following were present:

  • Mayor, M. Howley
    Aldermen, D. Ferrero
    B. Fonte
    M. McHugh
    J. Szeszycki
    S. Zimmerman
  • City Clerk, D. Catizone
  • City Clerk, G. Perlman
  • City Treasurer, D. Schramm
  • City Engineer, M. Spolar
  • Police Lt, A. Vodicka
  • Public Works Director, L. Boettcher

Aldermen McAvoy, Stachnik, Waight and Building Commissioner Moirano were absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Alderman Fonte moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Police Oath of Office
Police Chief Vodicka
Ken Fonte, Chairman, Board of Police & Fire Commission

At this time, Chief Vodicka asked Sgt. Irwin Wee Sit to join him at the podium. Chief Vodicka read a long list of accomplishments of Sgt. Wee Sit. Mr. Fonte administered the Oath of Office of Lieutenant of the Hickory Hills Police Department. Police Chaplain Father Joe Mol gave a blessing to the new Lieutenant Wee Sit. A small reception followed.

Kristin Haas
8813 S. 85th Avenue

Ms. Haas voiced her opinion on the current ordinance that prohibits food trucks. She would like to see this ordinance overturned and she would like to become a food truck vendor. Mayor Howley stated he has talked with the City Attorney regarding this matter and would like her to explain her business plan. Ms. Haas noted she does not have a set plan due to circumstances with the current ordinance. She would like to have a truck that has a built in kitchen and she would park at a high volume traffic area. Ms. Haas has not purchased the truck yet. However, she would park the truck at her home. Attorney Perlman stated the current ordinance does not allow the sale of food items out of a truck. Also, a food truck would not be allowed to park in a residential area. Alderman Zimmerman mentioned that the City of Chicago has many ordinances concerning food trucks and they are very limited on where they can park and what items they can sell. After some discussion, no action was taken on this matter.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC

Alderman Zimmerman moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of March 9, 2017 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Ferrero second. Correction: Page 3, last sentence on page should read: This will line a metal pipe on 94th Street on 82nd Court.
Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Arbor Day Proclamation – Mayor Howley presented the annual Arbor Day Proclamation. This proclaims May 6, 2017 as Arbor Day in the City of Hickory Hills.

St. Patricia Liquor License – Mayor Howley is in receipt of a request from St. Patricia Request Church for a temporary liquor license on Friday, May 5, 2017 to hold a Parish Ladies Night Out Bunco Party with raffle. Alderman McHugh moved to approve a temporary liquor license for St. Patricia Parish on May 5, 2017 with fees waived. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Legislative Breakfast – Mayor Howley reminded the Council the Southwest Conference of Mayors Legislative Breakfast will be held on Friday, March 24th in Palos Hills.

CITY CLERK

No report.

CITY TREASURER

Treasurer Schramm presented the Treasurer’s Report dated February 28, 2017 for approval. Alderman McHugh moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated February 28, 2017. Alderman Ferrero second. No questions at this time. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ATTORNEY

Attorney Perlman presented Ordinance #17-04, an ordinance amending Chapter 31, Licenses, by adding Section 31-13, License for Sale of Firearms, to the Hickory Hills Municipal Code. Attorney Perlman stated this ordinance prohibits the sale of firearms from a residential property. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Ordinance #17-04. Alderman Ferrero second. Mayor Howley stated Cook County has an ordinance on the books prohibiting sales of firearms out of a residential property and all non-home rule communities are subject to this county ordinance. Alderman Szeszycki asked if current license holders lose their licenses. Chief Vodicka noted when the renewals come up they would be denied. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ENGINEER

NPDES Public Hearing – Mr. Spolar reported a Public Hearing is on the agenda this evening in accordance with General Permit ILR40 issued by the Illinois Environmental Agency under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. The purpose of this hearing is to list the City’s programs to keep storm water clean and pass this clean storm water to towns at lower elevations. Alderman Zimmerman moved to open the Public Hearing. Alderman Szeszycki second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Mr. Spolar began the hearing with the following background information. Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating sewers and ditches and the areas tributary into these sewers and ditches that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States and detention basins.

In 2003, the Illinois EPA (IEPA) required all Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4’s) to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) to describe how they were going to comply with the statewide general permit conditions. Each MS4 community was required to obtain a NOI and have a fully implemented program, addressing each of the six minimum controls (as identified by the EPA). The NOI was last updated by the City in 2013. The new 5-year cycle began April 1, 2014 and should run through March 31, 2019.

However, the IEPA recently revised the MS4 permit in which the new permit became effective on March 1, 2016 and will expire on February 28, 2021.

MS4’s have 180 days (or until Sept. 1, 2016) to be in compliance with the new permit requirements. Listed below are the six (6) minimum control measures.

1. Public Outreach and Education (on Storm Water Quality issues)
2. Public Involvement & Participation
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
5. Post Construction Storm Water Runoff Control (in New Developments and Redevelopments)
6. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

How the City meets the six (6) Required Minimum Control Measures (MCM’s):

1. Public Education and Outreach – The City will be providing information on its website for Public Works Duties, Pollution Prevention, Storm Water Management Waste Collection, Water Conservation, and information on Disposing of oils, paints, and other chemicals.
2. Public Involvement and Participation – A) This Public Hearing is one activity under this control measure. B.) The Public Works hotline on the City Website is another example of how the City is satisfying this control measure. C.) City clean up days is another activity under this control measure.
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) – A.) The City has an ordinance that it uses to address these issues. B.) Also included in this control measure is that Public Works has identified all its storm water outfalls and has them shown on an up-to-date Storm Sewer Atlas that indicates all outfalls. C.) The City inspects these outfalls on a recurring basis.
4. Control of Construction Site Storm Water Runoff – A.) The City currently has an Erosion Control Ordinance in place. B.) The City required developments to provide a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
5. Post Construction Storm Water Management – A.) The City has a Post-Construction Ordinance in place. B.) As part of the Post-Construction Ordinance, Final Inspections are required before the developer can leave a site.
6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping – A.) Training of Public Works staff on storm water issues. B.) City conducts a Citywide Street Sweeping during spring, summer and fall. C.) City cleans culverts and ditches of debris. D.) Catch Basins are cleaned, etc.

Annual Activities Moving Forward – A.) An annual report is made to the IEPA each year by June 1st. B.) Ordinances and sewer atlas are reviewed yearly. C.) New Permit requirements: New Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) identification procedures, required annual meeting, new salt handling guidelines, new required training, new monitoring requirements.

The Plan for meeting #6 is scheduled by Public Works. There were no questions or comments at this time.

Alderman Szeszycki moved to close the Public Hearing. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved. Public Hearing is closed.

Mr. Spolar presented Invoice #21318 from AC Pavement Striping Company for approval. This is for work done on the 2016 MFT Microsurfacing (pay estimate #2, final). Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve Invoice #21318 to AC Pavement Striping Company in the amount of $5,076.01. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of March 2017 in the amount of $215,653.72. Alderman Fonte second. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Szeszycki/Finance

Alderman Szeszycki distributed the latest video gaming report to the Council. Revenues are holding at $21,000.00 per month.

Stachnik/Public Safety

Alderman Stachnik was absent. No report.

Zimmerman/Public Works

Mr. Boettcher reported last year, Public Works requested Robinson Engineering prepare a Storm Atlas for our City. The Storm Atlas depicts drainage pipe locations and pipe sizes with mainline manholes. Public Works was disappointed in the limited information depicted. About 40% of the Atlas only depicts the run of storm pipe but without pipe sizes. In addition, he noted our City’s frequent use of corrugated metal pipe (CMP) is not separately depicted. CMP has a limited life span. Mr. Boettcher noted he would like Public Works to establish GIS coordinates of main line manholes and conveyance means to drainage outlets. To accomplish this goal, he is proposing to purchase a Wireless Manhole Pole recording camera. Public Works will be using IPRF funds of $19,000.00 which includes a laptop. This camera will also be used for other condition assessment operations including televising sanitary manholes as required by MWRD I\I Program for their annual report. No objections were noted.

McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

No report.

Waight/Laws & Ordinances

Alderman Waight was absent. No report submitted.

Fonte/Health & Environmental Control

No report.

Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory

No report.

McAvoy/Chamber Business Development

Alderman McAvoy was absent. No report submitted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

None

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Ferrero moved to adjourn the meeting until the next regularly scheduled or specially called meeting. Alderman Zimmerman second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, McHugh, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.