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Last week Mayor Schmidtzkrieg sent out the following email to his supporters list --

Subject: Meeting videos
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 1:33 PM
From: "Dave Schmidt" dave@parkridgemayor.com
To: supporters (at) electdaveschmidt.com

Good afternoon. I wanted to update you on the situation involving the videos of Council meetings. We were informed last week that motionbox, the company which had been hosting the videos, wanted several thousand dollars to continue doing so. Since motionbox was always meant to be a temporary vehicle for delivering the videos to the community, we immediately began looking for alternatives.

As it turns out, the City purchased a You Tube account in connection with its website upgrade project which may allow us to use the City's website as a host, something we intended to do all along once the new website was ready. The video of last night's meeting will serve as the "guinea pig". I will let you know when I hear it is available for viewing. Just as before when we first started posting the videos on parkridgemayor.com, I ask for your patience while we work out the kinks.

I will let you know as soon as I learn anything more myself. Thanks for staying involved.

So faithful PRU readers, it appears management of the city's YouTube channel may still be kinky at this time -- we had hoped the videos from last Saturday's City Council Budget Workshop would be available by today.

The PRU Crew is pleased Mayor Schmidtzkrieg was recently informed about the city's purchase of a YouTube channel last October, but we hope Mayor Schmidtzkrieg doesn't wait until next October to work out a posting schedule for city videos.

Monday Money Puzzle Twofer!

#1 -- How will they plan to spend your money?

Beginning tonight at 7 p.m. at Park Ridge City Hall, the City Council will hold a Special City Council Meeting & Budget Workshop COW. If you have any interest in watching sausage being made the budget process unfold, as your elected representatives discuss how best to screw up plan for the future of the City of Park Ridge, we encourage you to attend.



#2 -- How have they spent your money?

Some of our faithful PRU readers may have noticed a new link we've added -- Butterly On Education. The PRU Crew heartily welcomes another blogger to the public policy discussion fun!

For Park Ridge taxpayers interested in seeing how School District 64 has spent your money, the Butterly blog has posted a Nine-Year Report – Park Ridge School District #64 for your reading displeasure.

Decisions!

"Decisions" by: *laura242 at deviantart.com


Most of us are predominantly guided by either our heads or our hearts.

Achieving the right balance requires judgement, and the healthy temperance of both.

Have a good weekend.


-- Addendum -- press release

Dave Schmidt dave@parkridgemayor.com
Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 11:35 AM
subject: State income tax receipts
11:35 AM (2 minutes ago)

Good morning. I am writing to set the record straight on my position regarding Governor Quinn's plan to slash the amount of state income tax receipts that the state sends to municipalities like ours. An article in this week's Herald-Advocate misstates my position.

Under Governor Quinn's plan, Park Ridge stands to lose approximately $930,000 which is presently included in our budgeted revenues for next year. A couple weeks ago, I was asked whether we should be factoring the proposed cut into our budget. I unwisely said that I did not believe so, because I viewed it as a political ploy on Governor Quinn's part to push through an income tax hike. However, given the horrendous state of Illinois' own budget situation, I should have taken Governor Quinn at his word.

At the budget workshop last Saturday, I asked our State Representative, Rosemary Mulligan, if she believed we could count on that money. She expressed her view that Park Ridge should plan on the reduction. I then cautioned the aldermen that they should heed Rep. Mulligan's warning. I reiterated that warning on Monday night at the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting during my mayor's report. However, the Herald-Advocate article incorrectly implies that I still do not believe we need to worry about the reduction in state income tax revenue.

Unfortunately, taking the reduction into account is going to necessitate further budget cuts in addition to those already proposed by City Manager Jim Hock. This is not going to be pretty folks, but our long-term financial survival depends a great deal on what we do over the next few weeks. I encourage you all to attend the meetings and stay informed about this process. Have a great weekend.

City Budget Freewheeling Crazy Train!

For anyone who's got a thought or more on any aspect of government related to the Park Ridge City budget, you can share your thoughts and more here. You should feel free to ask questions too.

This coming Saturday at City Hall another budget workshop is scheduled. We again strongly encourage residents to attend and comment.

The PRU Crew has noted the calls for balancing the city budget, the cries for maintaining favored programs and personnel, the moaning over increased taxes and fees, and the complete lack of conscience by those who've called for maintenance of favored programs and personnel without offering suggestions and ideas for either making budget cuts in other areas or honestly calling for still more increases in taxes and fees.

People, you cannot have it both ways. We either spend within our means or we buy on credit and shift the burden down the road. But make no mistake about it, all bills eventually come due. If anyone thinks there's some magic bullet as yet undiscovered and which will make the city budget magically balance without anyone incurring any pain, we welcome you aboard the crazy train.

To City Manager Jim Hock, the PRU Crew expresses appreciation for the effort you've made in suggested cuts and revenue increases so far, while we remain disappointed in the lack of your offering a preliminarily balanced budget -- we are looking forward to further suggestions from you at this Saturday's budget workshop.

Park Ridge Goes YouTube!

If you missed the Monday night City Council COW --

For your viewing pleasure! The City of Park Ridge has a YouTube Cannel!

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING 3-22-2010 Part1



COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING 3 22 2010 Part2



COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING 3 22 2010 Part3



COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING 3 22 2010 Part4



COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING 3 22 2010 Part5

H-Apocalypse Now!

On March 11, 2010 the H-A -- a.k.a. the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate -- published an article headlined, "Crossing guards could be crossed off budget," written by the PRU Crew's favoritest local reporterette.

The opening line of the article says, "As many as a dozen school crossing guard positions could be eliminated in Park Ridge under a proposal to cut costs by more than $100,000."

The horror! The horror!

The article goes on to report, "Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski said the department's crossing guard budget is $62,100 for the 2010-11 fiscal year, considerably less than the $190,000 the city spent the current year. Kaminski said 12 intersections now staffed by crossing guards before and after school may have to be eliminated unless an alternative plan can be agreed upon. "I don't want to say all 12 intersections will definitely be cut," Kaminski told the Park Ridge City Council during a Sunday budget workshop, calling the list of impacted intersections "preliminary" until the department can discuss the matter with the crossing guards themselves."

The horror! The horror!

The article further reports, "Each crossing guard now is paid the equivalent of three hours of work per day, though they work closer to an hour per day, Kaminski said. Paying the crossing guards for just the hour they work could save the positions, but Kaminski questions whether this proposal would generate enough interest from community members. "The issue is getting a core group of people to work as guards on one hour pay per day," Kaminski said. He added that the department has not yet met with the crossing guards to discuss the situation."

The horror! The horr...er...wait...what???

Did we read that right? The issue isn't that "Crossing guards could be crossed off [the] budget," but rather, whether or not the crossing guards will agree to be paid for...wait for it...wait...only the time they actually work??? So instead of padding the crossing guards' pay with two extra hours beyond what they may actually work, as an inducement to get them to do the job of seeing school children across roads safely, the crossing guards would have to agree to doing the job and getting paid only for the time they actually do the job???

The horror! The horror!

We just love the H-A's reporting!

Reminders!

Reminder #1 -- If you're up for bearing witness to another municipal mad COW meeting, you can do so tonight, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall! The revised agenda (.pdf) promises something for everyone -- if the something you're into is Public Works, Finance and Budget, or Procedures and Regulations.

The PRU Crew enjoyed reading the two, count 'em!, TWO cover memos concerning supermajority voting! We've downloaded copies of both should something funny happen to either one of them. And we can't wait to hear the twisted explanations about why a change to a zoning ordinance isn't a change, it's just correction of a "drafting error," despite the lengthy discussions and vote which took place on the original supermajority zoning ordinance.


Reminder #2 -- Public policy is never about a politician, public policy is about the public. So the Crew got a big kick out of Mayor Schmidtzkrieg's personal email to personally appeal to his supporters for their personal support of him, personally.

From: Dave Schmidt dave@parkridgemayor.com
Date: Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:32 AM
Subject: Attempt to diminish mayoral powers
To: supporters(at)electdaveschmidt

Amidst the very real problems associated with the budget, another danger is lurking beneath the surface that you should be aware of.

You may recall Alderman Allegretti was pushing a zoning ordinance amendment which would allow billboards in Park Ridge. It first went to the Planning and Zoning Commission which voted unanimously against the billboard amendment. Meanwhile, Alderman Bach pushed through a change in the zoning ordinance allowing the City Council to override the Commission by a supermajority vote. However, to the chagrin of Aldermen Bach and Allegretti, when the billboard issue made it the Council, the City Attorney correctly interpreted the term"supermajority" to be two-thirds of the aldermen AND the mayor, meaning 3 "no" votes for an override would be enough to sustain the Commission's rejection of billboards.

Knowing that two aldermen and I had expressed opposition to the billboard ordinance, Alderman Allegretti saw the writing on the wall and withdrew his billboard amendment. But he has found a new angle. Alderman Allegretti is the Chairman of the Procedures and Regulations. He went behind the scenes and asked the City Attorney to draft an amended city ordinance which would strip the mayor of his vote when a supermajority vote is required. Alderman Allegretti claims he is only"clarifying" the ordinance. The timing belies that claim.

If Alderman Allegretti gets his way, there is every possibility that the billboard issue will resurface, and that when the time comes for the Council to vote on whether to override the Commission, I would be forced to sit idly by while Alderman Allegretti and his Council allies maneuvered through a billboard amendment. And even more importantly, it would set a dangerous precedent where a group of only 4 men would be able to unilaterally make any and all zoning changes they desired, gutting the carefully balanced distribution of authority between the Commission, the Council and the mayor which has served this community well for many years.

The residents should be very concerned about this unwholesome attempt led by Alderman Allegretti and Alderman Bach to concentrate authorityamong a few aldermen. Please contact your aldermen and the newspapers to let them know how you feel about it. And also please pass this along to others. This is about more than just billboards. This is a major power play which is bad for our community. Thanks.

Not to rub anyone's nose in their own short-sighted stupidity, but isn't concentrating power in as few as 4 aldermorons' hands exactly what Mayor Schmidtzkrieg supported when he supported cutting the City Council from 14 to 7 aldermen?

Don't look now Mayor Schmidtzkrieg but we think that loud roaring sound behind you is the Karma Bus coming your way!


Reminder #3 -- Any man is only as good as his word, so when we heard Mayor Schmidtzkrieg promise not to take his $1,000 per month mayoral salary, we took him at his word. As it turned out, the law wouldn't allow the Mayor not to take his salary, but we expected Mayor Schmidtzkrieg would keep his word and find some way to return his salary for the benefit of the community.

As it also turns out a perfect opportunity to return that mayoral salary back to the community for community benefit has arisen in the form of Motionbox demanding payment for hosting meeting videos. It seems Motionbox's virtually unlimited storage has its limits. And Motionbox may be looking for payment as high as $6,000.00

The PRU Crew is wondering what the Mayor has done with his mayoral salary over the last year. We suppose buying ads in various ad books and buying tickets to attend various community events could be very generously characterized as returning his salary to the community for the benefit of the community. But we have to admit, self-promotion, paid for with tax dollars provided in the form of a mayoral salary, doesn't strike us as all that beneficial to the community.

Guest Essay and Report

Open Letter
to
Maine Township School District #207 Taxpayers

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

This is my third “Open Letter” addressing District #207’s current financial crisis.

In the first letter, I posted a four-year study covering teacher salaries for 2005 through 2008 and asked school board members to hold the line on future payroll increases. The second letter criticized the teachers union for refusing to renegotiate scheduled 2011 and 2012 pay increases in order to save young teachers’ jobs. This third letter clearly prompts a call to action.

In attempting to resolve financial problems in the last few years, some of our neighboring school districts, resorted to tax increase referendums or the issuing of bonds to bring revenues and expenditures back into balance. Recently, District #207 found itself facing its own financial crisis. Rather than continuing to increase the District’s deficit further, the Board has chosen instead to address their financial issues in an aggressive, professional and timely manner… now.

Last week, Maine Teachers Association (MTA) members voted 345-224 to reject the District’s offer to save teacher jobs.

Surely MTA leadership was well aware of their vital role in resolving the district’s financial problem. Additionally, the union leadership was aware of the consequences to its most vulnerable members, the younger untenured teachers, when it refused to accept the District’s latest proposal. Moreover, at the time of the vote, union brass already knew MTA had lost a great deal of public support over this issue.

Before that vote, the tax-paying public wanted to know: Is the Teachers Union interested in saving jobs or more interested in their lining pockets? Now they know.

I have posted an updated five-year version of the payroll analysis, which includes additional information not available before. An additional document on how to read the report is also included. I urge you to study the analysis carefully. Upon completion, please tell your friends about these letters and reports and most importantly, communicate firmly, your thoughts and feelings about this subject to the District #207 School Board;

Joann Braam, jbramm@maine207board.org

Eldon Burk, eburk@maine207board.org

Eric Leys, eleys@maine207board.org

Margaret McGrath, mmcgrath@maine207board.org

Edward Mueller, emueller@maine207board.org

Donna Pellar, dpellar@maine207board.org

Sean Sullivan, ssullivan@maine207board.org

and the leadership of the MTA Teachers Union;

Emma Visee, President, maineteachersassociation@gmail.com.

Kenneth Butterly, Taxpayer

How To Read This Report

Maine Township District #207

In order to read the full report, click on Fullscreen view. Move your mouse over, and to the sides of the document. A cursor hand will appear. Click your mouse and you will be able to page through the report.

Set A Spell!

"Wild Acres" by kev on pixdaus.com

Have a beautifully peaceful weekend!

PRU Potluck! *Addendum*

For our faithful PRU readers who appreciate a little ADHD --


From the Humpty Dumpty file of municipal management comes the following story -- Arlington Heights development falls into foreclosure. The article opens with "(Crain’s) — A foreclosure suit seeking nearly $20 million has hit Arlington Town Square, a publicly subsidized mixed-use project that sparked a revival of the northwest suburb’s downtown."

And what's another way of saying "publicly subsidized mixed-use project?" If you said "TIF district" you would be right!

The article goes on to point out the investment group for the Arlington Town Square has been accused of fraud. However, it doesn't take accusations of fraud to cause a foreclosure filing -- missing mortgage payments is what it takes.

And as somebody once pointed out, TIF districts are no gurantee of redevelopment success -- TIF districts are as subject to economic forces and their own special problems as the rest of the real estate market.

Watch your pocketbooks and wallets, ladies and gentlemen!



Will the Park Ridge Park District Board agree to the proposed T-Mobile erection of two cell towers?

At the last Park Ridge Park District Board COW meeting, the Executive Director's discussion included a proposal for "T-Mobile Cell Towers at Northeast and South Park."

The PRU Crew has been told T-Mobile may be willing to pay a hefty sum per month to the Park District for the privilege -- perhaps as much as $20,000.00 per month year.

Cell towers aren't pretty, but considering the revenue constraints on the Park District and the fact that cell towers aren't all that different from utility poles, the Crew feels this is a revenue generating idea worth serious consideration.

We also feel cell towers don't suck as much as billboards!

The Park Ridge Park District Board will probably be discussing this issue at their next regular meeting Thursday, March 18th, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 Sibley.

*Addendum* -- Anonymous said...

Cell towers do not have to be unsightly. I was fortunate to be in Colorado a few weeks ago and noticed that the cell towers were disguised as evergreen trees. They blended in quite well, and it was a local who pointed it out to me. Seems like a workable solution in our parks that we require that as well.
March 10, 2010 1:53 PM



Anon@1:53 -- You weren't joking!

We found the photo at left on the website Destination Knowlton.com

Gotta love those crazy Canucks!







In an online article published by the Herald-Advocate, we learn "a majority of the Maine Teachers Association membership voted "no" today (March 9) on a board request that the teachers open their contract, a district news release stated.

The Board and Administration had proposed salary adjustments that would have facilitated the recall of some or all of the 75 teachers laid off in response to a current and projected structural budget deficit, the release stated. "

"Salary adjustments" translated means less of a pay raise than originally contracted.

And again to the MTA rank and file we say, WTF?!?!

For those interested in an editorial analysis of the subject, check out the Pub-dog's post today -- Teachers Union Betting District 207 Blinks First.

One Year Ago --

The PRU Crew asked, "Are You Paying Attention?"



What we offered to our faithful PRU readers a year ago was --

"In just five days, the Park Ridge City Council will meet in their annual budget workshop. We are hoping our elected officials do not give in to the temptation of political appeal, and show themselves willing to make the hard sacrifices that may help carry this town through what will probably be a very rough economic year.

We are aware that City Manager Jim Hock has suggested some deep cuts. The PRU Crew would suggest the cuts be made deeper.

As distasteful as it may be to certain special interests in the community, we would suggest that any program that is not essential to city functioning and citizen welfare be cut to the bone."

We meant it then and we mean it today. And today, taking a principled and responsible position on the management of taxpayer dollars is more crucial to the financial health -- and ultimately, the physical health -- of our community than it has been at any time in recent memory. We expressed that opinion here, when we said --

"Everything the City strives to achieve, with any lasting competence, is a direct function of the City budget. If the City budget is unhealthy, everything the City strives to achieve is in jeopardy. Everything. Absolutely everything."

We fully admit to generally nagging and nagging and nagging and nagging residents and taxpayers of Park Ridge to start paying attention and participate in the democratic process of local government, especially where the city budget is concerned.

We're very pleased to see citizen participation improving and we believe Mayor Schmidtzkrieg's change to budget workshops to allow residents to comment should get the lions share of PRUdos, though we find it very unfortunate that our community has had to come to the brink of a financial disaster to get a fire going under people's backsides.

In just another five days, the City Council will be holding another budget workshop (.pdf). The PRU Crew is hoping residents continue to participate. We also hope residents beyond those personally interested in any given area of municipal business will choose to participate.

Another Monday Two-fer!

#1 -- For those of you who can't get enough of municipal meetings, you're in luck! Once again this evening, there is a City Council COW -- the agenda (.pdf) is set to cover Public Safety and Public Works.


#2 -- If you didn't have a chance to attend the City Council Budget Workshop this past Saturday, you're in luck! Below are the videos with minimal indexing!

video #00000.MTS Budget Discussion 3/6/10


@ 2:00 mark -- Ald. DiPietro reiterates current budget deficit is at $227,600

@ 2:50 mark -- City Manager Hock begins review of revenue projections

@ 6:50 mark -- City Manager Hock notes the request for 5% property tax increase

@ 7:58 mark -- City Manager Hock comments, "Home values in Park Ridge seem to be holding"

@ 10:00 mark -- City Manager Hock notes the Uptown TIF is not generating enough income to cover the bond this year


video #00001.MTS Budget Discussion 3/6/10


Begins with continuing discussion of revenue projections

@ 17:15 mark -- Residents comments begin

@ 31:33 mark -- Police Dept. presentation begins


video #00002.MTS Budget Discussion 3/6/10


Begins with continuation of Police Dept. presentation

@ 12:30 mark -- Aldermanic Q & A begins

@ 25:15 mark -- Ald. Wsol makes sure the record reflects suggested cuts are not Council ideas

@ 39:50 mark -- Resident comments begin


video #00003-2.MTS Budget Discussion 3/6/10

-- replaces previous video

Begins with continuation of resident comments

@ 11:55 mark -- Ald. DiPietro calls for a short recess before Fire Dept. presentation


video #00004.MTS Budget Discussion 3/6/10


Begins with Fire Dept. presentation

@ 33:15 mark -- Review of "staffing matrix" begins

@ 42:50 mark -- Aldermanic Q & A begins


video #00005.MTS Budget Discussion 3/6/10


Begins with continuation of Aldermanic Q & A

@ 8:58 mark -- Fire Dept. presentation concludes

@ 10:11 mark -- Resident comments begin

@ 37:58 mark -- Mayor Schmidt comments

@ 38:51 mark -- Ald. Wsol comments

@ 40:19 mark -- Ald. Ryan comments

@41:11 mark -- Motion to adjourn

Whipa--what?

Whipahol! -- A.K.A. Whipped Lightening!

We imagine drinks topped with whipahol are probably something more appealing to the ladies in our reading audience. We expect our gentlemen readers can't imagine ordering a drink with whipahol. Though we expect our gentlemen readers don't lack imagination.

Have an imaginative and enjoyable weekend!

The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Fallilng!

Most people are familiar with the fable of Chicken Little. In most versions of the story, things don't end well for the characters who allow themselves to be whipped into mass hysteria.

This week, beginning with the power point presentation given by the Park Ridge O'Hare Airport Commission and continuing with reports in the local rags, we've had the dubious pleasure of watching the beginnings of the story of Chicken Little take root.

As reported in an online article in the Herald-Advocate, PROAC chairman Jennifer Perry "acknowledged the city's current economic challenges and cuts being made to the city's budget, but said that if the city does not look at "solutions" in the coming year, property values will plummet.

"We can't afford not to protect our home values," Perry said. "And putting any more airport expansion on this city is going to destroy the fabric of our town."

In other words, the sky is falling! Or more accurately, the values are falling!

Well, property values have fallen. That's not an unusual happening during economic downturns and severe credit market crunches. And the current economic climate is just about as severe as it's ever been. Falling values are also not an unusual happening when speculative bubbles begin to burst.

Unfortunately for Ms. Perry and other members of the PROAC, we can't find much in the way of support for her claim that, without $500,000 to begin a legal fight against O'Hare modernization, "property values will plummet...destroy(ing) the fabric of our town."

What the PRU Crew has been able to find is that very high-end real estate may lose 25% of it's value, in a worst case scenario. Another study we read attempted to assign a dollar amount (loss in value) to increased decible levels -- that study (.pdf) concluded, "Hence, a given property located at 55 dB would sell for about 10-12 percent less if it was located at 75 dB, all other things held constant. Stated differently, under these same circumstances, a $200,000 house would sell for $20,000 to $24,000 less, which yields a hedonic price of $1000 to $1200 per dB."

In light of what we've been able to find, we would ask Ms. Jennifer Perry and the Park Ridge O'Hare Airport Commission to either support their claims of the potential for plummeting property values as a direct result of increased jet noise, or stop the panic peddling.

You Count!

'The Census Taker' -- Harper's Weekly (1870)

In lieu of what PRU.ADMIN had hoped to assemble for today's post -- we are instead tossing out a reminder to our faithful PRU readers about the 2010 census.

According to the Census Bureau, forms should be arriving in mailboxes beginning in mid-March and is "One of the shortest forms in history - 10 Questions in 10 Minutes." We encourage Park Ridgians to answer and return the forms in the pre-paid postage envelope provided, since "Each question helps to determine how more than $400 billion will be allocated to communities across the country."

The National participation rate, meaning the percentage of forms returned, was 72% for the 2000 census -- Illinois' participation rate was 73%, and according to the Census Bureau map, Park Ridge's participation rate appears to have been even better.

We've always known Park Ridgians are well above average!

We would like to remind our friends and neighbors to be cautious about anyone who may come knocking on their doors -- recent incidents of ruse entries serve as cautionary tales. And while the Better Business Bureau also strongly encourages participation, the BBB also advises being cautious, "so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft."

Indexed Videos - PRCC 3/1/10

Alright faithful PRU Readers, we get the idea some of you like the hand-holding provided by the indexing of Council videos and we really feel you should give your attention to the latest set of Melidosian Motionbox magic -- for your viewing displeasure:

video #00000.MTS PRCC 3/1/10


Begins with the usual City Council opening festivities

@ 17:37 mark -- Park Ridge O'Hare Airport Commission report begins


video #00001.MTS PRCC 3/1/10


Begins with continuation of Park Ridge O'Hare Airport Commission report

@ 27:40 mark -- PROAC report ends -- Aldermanic Q&A begins

-- and it's deja vu all over again.

@ 43:17 mark -- Public comment on PROAC report begins

-- and it's deja vu all over again.


video #00002.MTS PRCC 3/1/10


Begins with continuation of public comment on PROAC report

-- and the PRU Crew is wondering who purchased the home referenced and for how much?


video #00003.MTS PRCC 3/1/10


@ 1:09 mark -- City Manager Hock requests closed sessions

@ 2:11 mark -- Citizens wishing to address the Council on non-agenda items -- resident Joan Sandrik asks the Council to consider a resolution to place a referendum question on the next ballot to return the City Council to two Aldermen per ward

@ 4:15 mark -- Reports on Boards and Commissions begins and Council votes to approve --

a. First reading of Ordinance for text amendments to Section 11.4.I.1 and Section 11.5, Table 8 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding the location of mechanical equipment, Zoning Case TA-09-04

b. First reading of an ordinance for a text amendment to Section 11.4.G.2 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding the size of pergolas, Zoning Case TA-09-05

@ 20:05 mark -- Procedures and Regulations begins and Council votes to approve --

b. First reading of Ordinance to modify 5-16-1, 14-13-1, 15-1-21, 22-14-3 and 22-8-12 of the Municipal Code regarding penalties and boarded up windows in the Health and Property Maintenance Codes

*c. First reading of Ordinance to modify Article 13, Chapter 20, Section 4 and Article 20, Chapter 1 regarding tickets

@ 24:58 mark -- Finance and Budget begins discussion water rate ordinance --

b. First reading of Ordinance that establishes the following water rates:

Up to, but not exceeding 5,000 gallons: $26.96

Over 5,000 gallons but not exceeding 30,000 gallons: $ 4.55 per 1,000 gallons

Over 30,000 gallons: $ 6.00 per 1,000 gallons

@ 28:36 mark -- Ald. Bach motions to defer water rate ordinance

-- Aldermoronic discussion continues and PRU.ADMIN says it's o.k. to keep in mind it's 5 o'clock somewhere --


video #00004.MTS PRCC 3/1/10


Begins with continuation of discussion on water rate ordinance

@ 4:36 mark -- Public comment begins and some people may want to cut back on their caffeine intake

@ 7:15 mark -- Discussion returns to the Council

@ 7:55 mark -- Vote on motion to defer is 1 (Bach) to 6 -- motion to defer is defeated

@ 9:00 mark -- Vote on motion to approve the first reading of the water rate ordinance is 1 opposed (Bach) to 6 -- motion carries

@ 9:20 mark -- New Business begins with Ald. Ryan asking the Council to consider holding discussions with a California law firm regarding litigation against O'Hare expansion

@ 11:10 mark -- Ald. Allegretti suggests a way around the Illinois Open Meetings Act to allow discussion with California law firm to take place out of public arena

-- other items of New Business are raised for suggestion and consideration --

@ 14:13 mark -- Motion to adjourn to closed session and video ends

Our Briefs Runneth Over!

1. -- H.S. District 207 Board Meeting tonight!

The agenda for tonight's meeting is here (.pdf). Older minutes for District 207 Board meetings are here. We posted an open letter to the District Board here.

And unfortunately, after tonight's meeting, many of our younger, energetic, non-tenured teachers may find themselves here.


2. -- City Council Meeting tonight!

The agenda (.pdf) for tonight's meeting looks fairly full -- we expect the real meat and potatoes of Council discussion will take place behind closed doors, as the City Manager has two line items asking the Council to adjourn to Executive Session. We also expect that, given the thinking caps worn by a super majority of the Aldermorons, Executive Session won't be any more enlightening than open sessions. But the Aldermorons won't be as subject to public embarrassment and ridicule.


3. -- Videos and Documents!

The PRU Crew finds Mayor Schmidtzkrieg's promotion of his campaign web site very entertaining. We aren't eager to promote any politician's personal web site, but in this instance we're making an exception.

The budget documents provided to the City Council for the workshop are available for viewing on Mayor Schmidtzkrieg's campaign web site here. The City of Park Ridge web site also contains a 2010/2011 budget message document (.pdf) for public review.

As usual, faithful PRU readers can view the videos from the City Council Budget workshop at the Melidosian Motionbox web site -- here's the link to all the budget discussion videos. There are only 3 videos and each are well worth your time.


4. -- Master Blaster!

A member of the Park Ridge O'Hare Airport Commission sent out the following email and a faithful PRU reader was kind enough to forward a copy to us --


Dear Neighbor,

As you are a neighbor and resident of the City of Park Ridge, it is important that you carve out a little time to make your voice heard.

On Monday March 1, 2010, the O’Hare Airport Commission will be making their recommendations to the Park Ridge City Council. The Commission is FIRST ON THE AGENDA and the O’Hare Commission report should be finished within an hour. The meeting begins at 7:30 PM.

The Mayor and Aldermen need to hear from YOU that you want action !
Our elected officials need to support solutions for relief from the airport expansion.

There has been much discussion over the past few weeks ways to resolve out of control growth at O’Hare. Reports made by the City Council members have been inaccurate and presumptuous. The O’Hare Commission will be making a series of recommendations that are solid and viable to work toward resolution. These recommendations are based on FACT, not politically motivated conjecture.

Time is of the essence.
THE MAYOR and CITY COUNCIL MUST HEAR YOUR VOICE AND YOUR DEMAND THAT THEY SUPPORT THESE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS –
AND THEY MUST HEAR THIS FROM YOU ON MONDAY, MARCH 1ST.

The full report will be presented by OAC Chairman, Jennifer Perry, at the City Council meeting. Please come (and bring a neighbor!) to hear the plea for support from our City leaders. It is their responsibility to PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY – these recommendations will allow them to do just that. To review the report in advance of the meeting, please go to: http://www.parkridge.us/events/event.asp?EVENT_ID=1794&F_DATE=3%2F1%2F2010 and click on Cover & Documentation - O'Hare Airport Commission Report. This will allow you to understand the overview that will be presented and the goals and recommendations by the commission.

So far – the City of Park Ridge is DOING NOTHING to resolve the issues.

AND IN CASE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE – HERE’S A SHORT LIST:
· O’Hare manages approximately 2200 flights daily today.
· Construction of any southern runways will not give us relief. They will only allow for MORE flights to be managed.
· There are no flight caps at O’Hare meaning that the number of DAILY, could increase to over 5000 with the airport expansion
· Park Ridge gets no financial benefit from airport operations.
· Park Ridge is NOT part of the “economic engine that is produced by O’Hare”.
· Park Ridge has virtually no hotel, industrial, transportation or other business that is driven by O’Hare.
· A minimum of 68% of all flights in and out of O’Hare will travel over Park Ridge air space
· This equals a MINIMUM of 1600+ flights daily over Park Ridge air space
· Prior to the opening of the north runway, south Park Ridge experienced about 200 flights daily on the Higgins runway.
· Another 400+ flights daily will use the yet to be built Granville Runway over the south end of town.
· The construction and use of the Granville Runway will NOT decrease use on the new North runway (9L/27R). They will use both.
· The two northwest runways will be decommissioned; the traffic from those runways will be diverted to the two northeast runways, 9L/27R and the Granville runway
· When the build out of the OMP is completed, air traffic paths will increase on the north/northwest side of Park Ridge significantly.
· Park Ridge OVERALL real estate values were estimated to drop by 27% in the Environmental Impact Study of the O’Hare Modernization Plan. This number was exclusive of any economic downturn

These are FACTS. Not propaganda. Not spin. Fact. Sounds bad, doesn’t it? It is. Fact is that over the next five years, the essence of our community will be altered forever. But, you can make a difference by asking your local elected officials to help support a solution.

Many people in this community have been heard saying, “… there’s nothing we can do…”.
THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
If you think there is nothing we can do, think again -. In other cities near airports across the country, communities like ours have been able to get a variety of concessions that seriously improved the quality of life under the flight paths. These solutions have included:
· Modification to flight paths
· Use of new technology to alleviate noise
· Mandatory No Fly Zones (near schools)
· Mandatory Fly Quiet Programs
· Increased Sound Insulation Requirements
· And more…

The OAC has identified a number of action items that can move us toward solution.
Your voice is critical in making sure our City Council know your thoughts.

SO:
Make the City Council meeting this Monday.
Make attending the meeting a PRIORITY.
If you can absolutely not make this meeting, take three minutes and write a note to your Alderman and Mayor Schmidt. Tell them that you hate how the airport expansion has impacted our town and that you want them to support potential solutions environmentally, politically, and legally. They NEED to hear that the city NEEDS to address this growing problem. Without hearing from you, they will not be able to support working toward resolution.

To identify your Ward and Alderman, consult the Ward maps which can be found at: https://www.parkridge.us/assets/city-ward-street-schools-pub-fac-pkg.pdf

Mayor and Alderman addresses are:
Mayor David Schmidt - 847/430-3165; dschmidt@parkridge.us
First WardJoseph F. Sweeney -847/823-5552; jfsweeney1stward@sbcglobal.net
Second WardRichard A. DiPietro - 847/698-2471; richd@crosstechinc.com
Third WardDonald Bach - 847/698-3654; docboc7957@ameritech.net
Fourth WardJames Allegretti – 847/825-8080; jallegretti@sbcglobal.net
Fifth WardRobert Ryan - 847/692-7328; bibandrobert@comcast.net
Sixth WardThomas Carey- 847/975-9474; carey407@comcast.net
Seventh WardFrank Wsol - 847/823-6247; frankwsol@juno.com
Your letter could read something like this: (feel free to cut and paste):

Dear Mayor Schmidt/Alderman_______:
I am writing to you today to express my concern over the City of Park Ridge’s position on finding resolution for the problems we are experiencing as a result of O’Hare Expansion. My concerns include safety, noise pollution, air pollution, disruption of education in our classrooms, night time noise and my inability to enjoy my property. I would like to make it clear that I would like you to stand up for me and my neighbors. I support the recommendations of the O’Hare Commission and request that you approve these efforts and move to action IMMEDIATELY. Make room in our City budget to address this problem in ways that will fully explore our constitutional, environmental and legal rights.

Sincerely,
Name
Address

In closing, I will encourage you to forward this message to your friends, neighbors, parents from school/church/
community groups/merchants/work
and encourage them to do the same:

1. Attend the meeting Monday March 1st at 7:30 PM.
2. Email the Alderman and remind them that this is a serious problem that will continue – 10, 20, 30 years into the future – altering the fabric of our community forever.
3. PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
4. The time to act is now… or forever hold your peace.

I look forward to seeing you at the City Council meeting this Monday evening.

Sincerely,

Christine Kutt
200 Belleplaine Avenue
Park Ridge IL
Tele: 847-571-1010
Email: christinekutt@gmail.com

And we offer a bit of free advice to Ms. Kutt -- too many words! Way way too many words! We won't even begin to address the lack of cites and substantive support for the statements made in the email, but good luck. Water from rocks -- blood from turnips -- but we won't be surprised if certain Aldermorons attempt to perform some kind of financial miracle! Or claim to have located a really really really big couch!


5. -- Finally, our usual nod to the Pub-dogs!

City Budget Requires Will To Say "No!" -- all in, a pretty good write-up! We wish they would have asked 3rd ward Ald. Bachtard the obvious question, "If the cuts proposed by City Manager Jim Hock are the wrong cuts, what are the right cuts?"