September 28, 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, September 28, 2017, at 7:30 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
H. Kman
M. McHugh
J. Stachnik
J. Szeszycki
B. Waight
S. Zimmerman - City Clerk, D. Catizone
- City Attorney, V. Cainkar
- City Treasurer, D. Schramm
- Police Chief, A. Vodicka
- Chief Engineer, M. Spolar
- Public Works Director, L. Boettcher
- Building Commissioner, J. Moirano
There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
Alderman Stachnik moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Zimmerman second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Mrs. Joann Uznanski
8645 S. Kean Avenue
Mrs. Uznanski voiced her concern with the leaves coming into her yard from the forest preserve. She noted she has paid $300.00 a year to remove leaves from her yard.
She is inquiring what can be done by the City. Her suggestion is to put a snow fence next to the sidewalk to collect the leaves. She also stated her house collects most of the leaves on this block. Mayor Howley asked Alderman Fonte to get her telephone number and he will investigate the fence option.
CLOSE TO PUBLIC
Alderman Stachnik moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman Zimmerman second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of September 14, 2017 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Alderman McHugh pass. So approved.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS
MAYOR
Finding of Fact – Mayor Howley presented the Finding of Fact for Dunkin’ Donuts located at 8700 W. 95th Street, Hickory Hills. At the last Council Meeting Mayor Howley acknowledged there was testimony given by neighbors and Hickory Hills residents. They voiced their opinions and concerns on the proposed Dunkin’ Donuts. Mayor Howley stated the zoning applicant will now make his presentation.
Mr. Kal Muhammad of FHS Design & Build, the architect of the project, and Mr. Sadiq Poonawala, Dunkin’ Donuts Marketing Director, distributed a plan for this project. Mr Muhammad explained this is an existing building to which they would like to add a new 1400 square foot Dunkin Donuts store. They are asking for a 5-foot front yard variance and a parking variance reducing the spaces from 34 to 25. There is an arrangement with the City to use 8 spaces for their employee parking in the City Hall lot.
Mr. Poonawala reviewed the proposed site plans with the Council. With regards to the neighbors’ concerns, it was noted directional lighting will shine towards the current building and not into the yards. A fence will help prevent light from shining into yards. The trash enclosure will be moved closer to the drive-thru entrance and would be scheduled for off-peak hours. They noted the Dunkin Donuts would have a sound reducing fence. Mr. Poonawala stated their goal was to not displace the current tenants in the building. He addressed the neighborhood concerns regarding sound. They had measured with a sound meter and compared street traffic and the sound from the menu board. The numbers were not very high and the volume of the menu boards can be reduced. Mr. Poonawala stated this new store can alleviate the traffic congestion at the store farther down on 95th Street. Right now the current Dunkin’ Donuts has 8 car stacking and this new location would have 14 car stacking capabilities in the drive-thru. Mr. Poonawala also stated this would hurt the current business by opening the new one, but they feel this project would assist with the traffic congestion at the present location. The existing location has 20 seats and the proposed location has 8 seats. Mayor Howley questioned the drive-thru widths. The proposed location would be 16 feet and the standard for Dunkin’ Donuts is 12 feet on the west side. On the north side, there is 24 feet minus the air conditioning units which would be 17 feet. Mr. Muhammad explained there would be a brick enclosure for the trash.
Alderman Waight voiced his concern with fumes from the cars in the drive-thru and emergency exits in the rear of the building. Alderman Szeszycki voiced his concern regarding the shortage of nine (9) parking spaces and snow removal. The side and rear setbacks do not meet the current ordinance. He noted there was a flooding issue at 8700 W. 95th Street when the previous owner placed rock in the parking lot that caused flooding for the neighbors. Alderman Szeszycki noted these items would need to be addressed and corrected. He also stated this location worked well as an office building, but he does not feel it would work as a drive-thru.
Alderman Ferrero stated she has heard from many of the neighbors and concerned residents and felt she is prepared to make a motion.
Alderman Ferrero moved to reject the Finding of Fact for the Dunkin’ Donuts location at 8700 W. 95th Street, Hickory Hills. Alderman Szeszycki second. Alderman Waight also voiced his concern for the safety of children with bus stops on this street. Alderman Szeszycki noted he could agree with the Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant but not the drive-thru. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Mayor Howley thanked the gentlemen for their presentation. and stated the Council has rejected the proposal.
St. Patricia Requests – Mayor Howley is in receipt of requests for three temporary liquor licenses from St. Patricia Parish. They include St. Patricia Parish Spirits of the Season Event on November 11, 2017, St. Patricia HNS Super Bowl Party on February 4, 2018 and St. Patricia Parish HNS Fish Fry on February 16, 2018. Alderman McHugh moved to approve three liquor license requests with fees waived for November 11, 2017, February 4, 2018 and February 16, 2018. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Trick or Treat Hours – Mayor Howley noted Halloween will be on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 and is seeking the Council’s concensus on the hours for trick or treating. After some discussion, the hours this year will be 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hickory Herald – Mayor Howley announced the City Newsletter will be mailed out the beginning of next week.
Howl Through The Hills 5K Race/Walk – Mayor Howley reminded the Council the Howl Through The Hills 5K Run and the Children’s Halloween Party will both be held on Saturday, October 21st. Currently, over 100 runners have registered and over $3,000.00 has been committed for sponsorship.
CITY CLERK
Clerk Catizone reported she is in receipt of a request from Stagg High School to put up advertising signs for their Fall Arts and Crafts Show on November 11th and November 12th.
The signs will be placed at 87th Street and Roberts Road, 95th Street and Kean Avenue, and 95th Street and 88th Avenue. No objections were noted.
CITY TREASURER
No report submitted.
CITY ATTORNEY
Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance #17-10, an ordinance amending Chapter 34, alcoholic beverages of the Hickory Hills Municipal Code by increasing by one the number of Class F Liquor Licenses. This would provide a Class F Liquor License for Bella’s Bistro. Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve Ordinance #17-10, increasing Class F Liquor Licenses by one. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
CITY ENGINEER
No report submitted.
COMMUNICATIONS
BILLS PAYABLE
Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of September 2017 in the amount of $268,232.53. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Szeszycki/Finance
Alderman Szeszycki distributed a report with the current revenues from video gaming in the City. An additional business has added 5 video gaming machines.
Stachnik/Public Safety
No report submitted.
Zimmerman/Public Works
Mr. Boettcher reported Public Works has installed a sample LED white light at 8212 W. 91st Street for the Council to view. Commonwealth Edison has a program to reimburse cities 75% of the cost of material and installation by the year end. Roberts Road has 45 fixtures and the neighborhood has 120 fixtures. The City cost to retrofit is $53,600.00. Com Ed’s current rebate (ending December 2017) is $40,200.00. Public Works would complete the install. The City cost would be $13,400.00. Public Works would like to notify ComEd and complete the project before year end. Mr. Boettcher suggested the Council take a look at this sample and give their feedback to him as soon as possible. Mr. Boettcher stated another example are the lights on 93rd Street. He asked the Council to look at the wattage of these lights and brightness.
Mr. Boettcher introduced the Colonial Complex main storm drain discussion. Some of the drainage easements have been found. The previously televised double run 36-inch metal (CMP) pipe starts on the west side of 85th Court and runs on a diagonal through the Colonial Complex – Kroon #2-#3. Two (2) subdivisions to past 84th Court and then east ROW (right of way) for about fifty (50) feet before termination into a concrete storm water vault just north of the Presbyterian Church. The total travel length is 900 lineal feet, but the double run (2 x 36”) CMP pipe involves about 1,800 lineal feet of pipe. In addition, this is contiguous pipe with only a few frame openings cut into the top of the metal pipe. The pipe is located under the parking lot. The local storm inlets pipe in the parking lot ties directly into the existing 36” CMP. At this time, ownership of the pipe remains unknown. Mr. Boettcher stated there is an alternative to bypass or go around Colonial Complex which would then involve using Coey Lane and three new easements. He noted Robinson Engineering has completed preliminary surveying but are on hold until all easements are resolved and if the City decides to go around Colonial Complex. If the option to go around is used it would involve more easements City would need to obtain. Mr. Boettcher is seeking direction from the Council as to how they would like to proceed with this main storm drain project. He noted this parking lot will have more problems in the future. Mr. Boettcher stated this building was constructed in 1962 and he has investigated the construction through the past Council minutes.
More discussion on this matter at future Council meetings.
McHugh/Bldg./Facilities
Alderman McHugh reported there is one vacancy at Parkview Apartments.
Waight/Laws & Ordinances
No report submitted.
Fonte/Health & Environmental Control
Alderman Fonte reported Cravens located at 8833 W. 87th Street would like permission to hold an outdoor event on October 21st from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the parking lot. No objections were noted.
Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory
No report submitted.
Kman/Chamber Business Development
No report submitted.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Ferrero moved to adjourn until the next scheduled or specially called meeting. Alderman Fonte second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.