Box of Rocks Council Recap!

At last night's City Council meeting, Boy Scout Troop 50 did the honors of the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the Council proceeded through the consent agenda items (.pdf).

Next up, Mayor Schmidtzkrieg read a National Public Works Week proclamation, then he let everyone know the process for selecting his replacement for a 1st ward Alderman is moving right along -- a committee of 1st ward residents will be meeting tonight to discuss the resumes submitted by 4 hopefuls. Mayor Schmidtzkrieg hopes to be able to make a recommendation to the Council on May 28th for Council discussion and questions at the June 1st Council meeting. The PRU Crew is aware of who the 4 hopefuls are, but we would only trade you a cup of warm milk for 2 of them.

Under the portion of the agenda that allows citizens to address the Council on non-agenda items, Ms. Judy Barclay of CURRB repute rose to speak about an upcoming Kalo Foundation event that will take place at the Park Ridge Public Library on June 16th at 2:00 pm.

Next, Mr. Dave Areen, a resident on the 700 block of North Lincoln Avenue asked about the issue of water runoff from the Park Ridge Country Club and if the Council would provide regular updates on flooding issues. Mayor Schmidtzkrieg asked that this item be placed on the next Public Works Committee of the Whole agenda for June 8th.

The last citizen to address the Council on a non-agenda item was Mr. George Kirkland of CORRECTS fame -- George, where have you been hiding for the past two years, man? It seems Mr. Kirkland is now concerned with visibility at intersections and would like to see the City enforce the ordinance governing the limits on height for the growth of bushes and trees. The PRU Crew feels this is a worthy cause and that Mr. Kirkland may find a kindred spirit in the Park Ridge Pedestrian.

The Council then moved on to the Public Works discussion item about the Forestry Appeal for 932 N. Western Ave. (.pdf) The 2nd ward's Lord of the Manor, Ald. Rich DiPietro, moved the appeal be granted under the conditions that, at the residents' expense, they agree to an inch-for-inch replacement of the tree being removed, and that the City Forester determine the number of trees to be replaced and the location of the trees in the community.

The 5th ward's Benedict Ald. Robert Ryan asked Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim whether this would be "an issue of setting precedent" and whether it is "good or reasonable to set this public policy?" Public Work's Director Wayne Zingsheim answered that city staff "follows the rule of law" and that public policy is "up to the Council." And we see once again that Benedict Ryan doesn't know his representative policy-making ass from an unfilled pothole in the ground. Despite what should have been a clear and unequivocal explanation of the respective roles Aldermen and city staff play in municipal government, Benedict Ryan pressed on by then asking Zingsheim if this was a "best practice?" Zingsheim then offered that, "You can't replace a healthy tree of this size."

The 6th ward's Unfriendly Ghost, Ald. Tom Carey, then sought to cover his impending "yes" vote by reiterating that he is "under the impression this is a safety issue" and that he "supports [the removal of this tree] as a safety issue." Seriously. You can never be too careful when it comes to killer trees -- we bet people thought they were safe taking an after dinner stroll through their neighborhoods, but NO! Beware the killer trees!

Alderman and attorney James Allegretti (4th ward) offered that he's "not concerned with precedent" and that he's "a little bothered by an inch-for-inch replacement requirement." The PRU Crew is wondering if Ald. Allspaghetti has ever used legal precedent in his practice of law?

After further discussion about a Tree Ordinance Task Force, not yet in place, the Council voted 5 (DiPietro, Bach, Allegretti, Carey and Wsol) to 1 (Ryan) to approve the removal of this tree on the private property at 932 N. Western Ave.

The next discussion item on the Council agenda was the Finance and Budget Committees increases for the water rates and sewer fees.

On the issue of the water rates, Mr. Kirkland again addressed the Council suggesting that it is a more prudent fiscal practice to pass on the 15% increase in the cost of water to residents. Alderman Don Bachtard again stated his belief that the "City Manager hasn't done his due diligence" and that there are "other ways to make up for the budget shortfalls" and that there are some city departments that have "fewer than 10 people managed by a few managers." The PRU Crew wonders if Bachtard has bothered to consider individual function while he concerns himself with the size of city departments.

Mayor Schmidtzkrieg once again stated that the "City can't afford to absorb" these increases and that he would "love to see an Alderman amend this motion to increase the water rate to 15%" because the Aldermen are "making the [budget] problem worse."

No amendment was forthcoming.

The Council then voted 4 (Allegretti, Ryan, Carey, and DiPietro) to 2 (Bach and Wsol) to increase water rates by 5%. The estimated annual cost to the average Park Ridge household is $20.00

The Council then moved on to the establishment of a sewer enterprise fund. Alderman Allspaghetti said that "Park Ridge is an older suburb with a combined sewer system" and that he hopes this "fund will allow us to begin to set aside money and begin to have a separate system." Allspaghetti also offered that he believes the sewer enterprise fund was "originally Alderman Wsol's idea." Wrong-o Jimbo -- Ald. Wsooooolman has never had an original fiscally conservative idea during his entire term on the Council, but we expect that if, more likely when, Wsooooolman announces his intention to run for Mayor, you'll be behind him all the way.

The Aldermen voted 5 (Allegretti, Ryan, Carey, Wsol, and DiPietro) to 1 (Bach) to establish a sewer enterprise fund. The estimated annual cost to the average Park Ridge household is $40.00

Then it was on to the PRU Crews favoritest subject of all -- contributions to community groups (.pdf). Procedures and Regulations Committee chairman Ald. DiPietro asked Ald. Wsol to motion the matter for debate and approval.

For those readers who may not be aware, according to Roberts Rules of Order, it is a committee chairman who usually motions an item for debate and approval, unless he disagrees with the motion. The reason being, also according to Roberts Rules of Order, all motions are to be made in the affirmative. In other words, a motion is never made thusly -- "I move taxpayers not be allowed to take the Aldermorons out back to the woodshed and beat some sense into them."

The Lord of the Manor went on to explain that he is "concerned with going over budget" and that he believes there is "no question each group deserves and need these funds." DiPietro also went on to express that "residents have been told things like alley paving has to be put on hold and city staff has also been asked to pitch in" and further that telling residents and staff these things and then going over budget isn't wise.

Benedict Ryan said that "We've voted twice on this," proving yet again that Benedict Ryan doesn't get how government works, procedurally. Benedict Ryan also stated again, more specifically this time, that for "every $1 we give we get $20 in return" and that these groups "fulfill what government would normally do."

~~ If you'll excuse the Crew for a moment, we need to catch our breath and wipe the vomit from our mouths -- we thank you for your patience. ~~

We're not sure about what most other people believe, but the PRU Crew is certain that it has never been the intended role of city government to provide a Fine Arts Society, Civic Orchestra, Teen (recreation) Center, Youth (activities) Commission, Senior (recreation) Center, Historical Society, Cultural Arts Council, Kalo Foundation, Brickton Arts Center, Taxi Subsidies, or worthless noise monitors under the flagrantly fraudulent moniker of "Noise Abatement." But maybe that's just us, and we willingly admit we're curmudgeons about these sorts of things.

Despite the fact that only 5 of the 16 (do your own math!) community groups receiving funding have anything to do with "human needs", like food and shelter, the Aldermen vehemently discussed the necessity of funding for "human needs" and not once mentioned human hobbies.

Three residents rose to address the Council on this issue -- Mr. Mike Cavallo, Mr. Lloyd Godfrey and Ms. Bridgette Murphy -- and encouraged the Aldermen to reconsider these expenditures and stay within the budget.

Ms. Mary Shurder, Executive Director for the Center of Concern addressed the Council and let them know that the Board of Directors was aware of the City's budget issues and the alternative plan -- the one within the budget -- previously offered, and were "happy with that" but that the "need isn't going away."

The box of rocks, otherwise known as our very own City Council, even ignored the message implied in Ms. Shurder's address and carried on their lamentations of the "human needs" within Park Ridge.

Finally, Mayor Schmidtzkrieg said that he was the one who took this item off the City Council's consent agenda so that they could discuss this matter "one more time." Mayor Schmidtzkrieg went on to say, "The issue is, does the City have room for this increase and the answer is an emphatic no."

With that the Council voted 5 (Ryan, Carey, Wsol, Bach, and Allegretti) to 1 (DiPietro) to increase funding for community groups in an over-budget amount of $38,900.

Under new business, Ald. Bachtard said he hoped people would express their appreciation for our Police and Fire department personnel, in light of the two recent accidents that took place in town -- one of which cost one of his constituents his life.

In a more light-hearted moment of new business, Ald. Carey said the Youth Commission is undertaking its first fundraiser in an effort to provide self-support of its group. Ald. Carey stressed that, despite the number of Cubs fans in town, the Youth Commission will be holding a Sox Night on July 8th, and he hoped people would come out and support it. Mayor Schmidtzkrieg inquired if the reason the Youth Commission was holding a Sox Night was because "Sox tickets are easier to get than Cubs tickets?" Ald. Carey laughingly declined to answer.

With that, the Council adjourned the meeting.