Bah Humbug Grab Bag!

The PRU Crew is in a bad mood. Sorry. Not really.


For our faithful PRU readers who look forward to viewing the City Council meeting videos, it appears you may have to wait longer than usual. The City did manage, after 48 hours, to post a 3 minute video of the Special City Council meeting -- aren't they all? -- from Monday night, but hasn't managed to post the video of the regular City Council meeting as of 10:00 AM this morning. We may have thought somebody would get a clue and realize that 3 video views in 24 hours means people aren't very interested in what's been made available, and are instead waiting for something more substantive than the Council rubber stamping approval of the tax levy. Apparently not.

The PRU Crew is wondering if any of the people posing as our representatives in local government have bothered to inquire about the delay.


For our faithful PRU readers who thought there was any hope of city officials getting the message through your majority votes on referendums, guess again. As covered in an online article by one of the local rags, we learn "no" does not mean "no." Just ask the O'Hare Airport Commission people -- they'll explain it!

And remember, way back when, we explained why Police Dept. brass was willing to keep on keepin' on with "the golden fleece boy, who answered the siren's call - hi there, Hoopty Lou, how's it going in traffic? - [who] can be kept safe for future use as a PRPD pitchman; there are not too many coppers with the ability to speak and write impressive sounding bullshit as well as Hoopty Lou can."

A new proposal for renovation and expansion of the Park Ridge Police Dept. was offered for review at the City Council's budget workshop on Tuesday night. And the PRU Crew now understands very well why no supporting documents were included on the City website for review prior to the meeting.

The PRU Crew is again wondering if any of the people posing as our representatives in local government have bothered to inquire about the lack of supporting documents being made available for public review -- and the limited demands of the law should not be an acceptable excuse.


Covered in another online article in one of the local rags is the anatomy of a travesty. While the PRU Crew more than understands the legal questions, as well as the risk of precedence, we cannot get past how thoroughly and completely the City process screwed the Vine Ave. residents.

We don't know what the answer is, but we know we haven't heard it yet. And we strongly encourage the City Council and staff to find a way to make those residents whole. What has happened to them, throughout this saga, is unacceptable and should never be allowed to happen again.


Finally, the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District Board will be meeting tonight (agenda .pdf). They are scheduled to go into closed session, which is expected to last a very very very long time. We hope the discussion includes talking really really really bad about these people!!!

In all seriousness, we wish calm heads and reasoned consideration for the Park Board as they contend with the task ahead -- it's certainly a loss, but not the end of the PRRPD world as we know it.

Good luck.

City Council 12-6-2010 Video!

For the viewing displeasure of our faithful PRU readers!

We suggest viewers pay special attention to the discussion of the vote to override the Mayor's veto of the amended and suspended Facade Improvement Program, which begins @ the 0:23:13 mark of the video. It would seem Mayor Schmidtzkrieg may have made a new frenemy!

Residents Mr. Declan Stapleton and Mr. Ed Berry, of O'Reilly's Public House fame, address the Council beginning @ 0:24:00 mark of the video. And the PRU Crew feels it's very sad how little understanding Mr. Stapleton has not only for general municipal accounting practices, but also that Mr. Stapleton has less than zero understanding of TIF district financing in general, or the Uptown Redevelopment TIF district, specifically.

And despite the PRU Crew's strong suspicions that the Council doesn't understand either municipal accounting or TIF district financing much better than Mr. Stapleton, they somehow managed to vote to sustain the Mayor's veto of the amended and suspended Facade Improvement Program -- which they plan to discuss and amend again at the December 20th Council meeting.

Under Citizens Wishing to Address the Council on Non-agenda items, we hope people will give consideration to the remarks offered by resident and local builder, Mr. Rob Lohens, begining @ 1:14:02 mark of the video. Unfortunately, while Mr. Lohens' comments on public employee salaries and pensions have much merit, his grasp of the Crook County property assessments and the property tax system is lacking.

For others who may not quite get how the whole mess currently works -- as simply as we can state the matter -- property value assessments are created for the purpose of apportioning shares of the property tax burden, within any given taxing district. You can have your property tax assessment reduced and you still may end up paying as much or more in actual property tax dollars. Why? Because until the local taxing bodies actually reduce the tax levies -- the actual total dollars they ask for from the taxpayer pool -- taxes will generally continue to remain the same or rise. Place your bets, people!

Thus concludes our PRU civics lesson for today.

The discussion of the proposed Hoffman Homes project, as recommended to the City Council by the Planning and Zoning Commission, begins @ 1:20:51 mark of the video. And we found the discussion of affordable...er...no...make that, attainable housing very entertaining.

The Aldermen voted 3-yes (Sweeney, Bach and Allegretti) to 3-no (DiPietro, Ryan and Wsol) on the matter. Mayor Schmidtzkrieg attempted to break the tie by voting "no," but the City Attorney advised him his vote was not necessary as a tie vote means the request for approval of the special use dies for lack of receiving a majority.

The project developer, Mr. Hassinger, then took the opportunity to let the Council know he would not be back with a new application. So there!

Enjoy the rest of the show!

COW 11-8-2010 Video!

The Committee of the Whole meeting was again very long, and we again encourage people to make the time to watch the making of municipal sausage.

The Aldermen managed to talk the Tree Preservation On Private Property ordinance to death, for over an hour and a half, without actually doing too much damage to it.

The PRU Crew was pleased to hear Alderman Carey ask City staff exactly what we were wondering about -- explain exactly what sections and which "language in various sections of the Municipal Code related to parkway maintenance responsibilities" the Public Works Department is proposing "to consolidate and clarify." The PRU Crew also got a chuckle out of Alderman DiPietro's having asked if the issue of parkway maintenance was related in any way to the infamous "meatgate" incident. We're hoping everyone in the room took special note of the City Manager's remarks on the subject, despite the Director of Public Works' denial of any relationship between parkway trees and the proposed housekeeping of the municipal code as it relates to parkway maintenance.

And for those who manage to make it through to the end of the COW video, you may find it interesting to hear Police Commander Keller talk about how our Police Chiefski has been "meeting with parties" concerned about more and less enforcement of the truck parking ordinance in the City's zoning code. Some of our faithful PRU readers may be aware that the issue of truck parking arose from the frustration of some of the neighbors surrounding the residents on Bonita Drive directly involved in the "meatgate" incident. The PRU Crew is unaware of a precedent by which the Chief of Police consults residents on their preference for enforcement of any of the City's codes, but we understand there's a first time for everything. And we're finding the dynamic taking place between City staff and the Bonita Drive "meatgate" people very very very...interesting.

Enjoy the show!

There Oughta Be A Law!

In a Friday, September 24th online article from the Journal & Topics, Falling Trees Could Lead To Lawsuit, we read --

"Neighborhood dissatisfaction with the falling of two trees on Bonita Drive in Park Ridge is manifesting itself in other ways and could lead to a lawsuit against the city.

Police received an anonymous complaint about a B class truck parked in a driveway on Greenwood Avenue.

The truck belongs to the parents of the family on Bonita where the two trees were recently removed, explained Police Chief Frank Kaminski.

“The man parks his truck on his driveway a couple days a week,” Kaminski confirmed. “According to the zoning ordinance, that’s illegal."

Of course, now the City will enforce the zoning code ordinance and put an end to this illegal activity. Right?

Wrong.

If our faithful PRU readers have been paying attention, then you know at last night's City Council COW, staff proposed a housekeeping ordinance change action item for approval -- Parking of Commercial Vehicles in Residential Areas (.pdf). The memo states --

"The City Attorney has recommended moving the attached language from the Zoning Ordinance to the Municipal Code. Paragraph 13-10-11 B has been added to the Municipal Code to address off-street parking. This change will result in a violation being fined a $50 fine, not $250 as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance."

Please note -- "from the Zoning Ordinance to the Municipal Code."

Additional language in the City staff memo suggests the weight and size of commercial vehicles that qualify for a waiver from the parking restrictions, specifically --

c. Exceeds twenty (20) feet in length, eight (8) feet (6) six inches in height or seven (7) feet six (6) inches in width, or has more than four (4) wheels.

We again remind our faithful PRU readers of the memo language -- "from the Zoning Ordinance to the Municipal Code."

Setting aside for a moment the questionable wisdom of essentially removing a land use ordinance from the zoning code, we're wondering why the newly proposed language seems to have expanded the size for which a commercial vehicle may qualify for a waiver. The existing zoning code ordinance (.pdf), section 12, 11-A-3 states --

"A. No truck of eight-thousand (8,000) pounds GVW or less (i.e., Class B license) shall be permitted to park in the front or corner side yard of any residential lot, if the truck:

3. Exceeds twenty (20) feet in length, eight (8) feet in height or seven (7) feet in width, or has more than four (4) wheels."

It appears the more restrictive zoning code language, governing the size of commercial vehicles, is being eased in the proposed language for addition to the municipal code.

The Journal & Topics article goes on to report --

"...resident Tom Bernick says the trucks don’t qualify for a waiver.

He said three vehicles, two cargo vans and a straight truck, are being parked at the address.

He claims one of the vans has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds, the other is 8,900. “The straight truck is 14,500 pounds,” he said.

Bernick said the family has parked the trucks for about three years and said he has also seen the resident allegedly dumping food waste products down the storm drain. “We’re going to sue the city for not enforcing its ordinance,” he said. Referring back to the tree decision, he added, “It’s the same favoritism that’s going on."

It took three years for someone to alert the proper authorities? The PRU Crew is pretty confident the commercial vehicle parking problem wasn't viewed as much of a problem until neighbors in the area got the idea that for some people no doesn't mean no, especially when it comes to buying and removing City property -- which is precisely what we feel occurred in the continuing saga of the Meatgate trees.

The PRU Crew can't say for certain if Mr. Bernick is correct in his assessment of favoritism. But we sure do wonder what the hell is going on over at 505 Butler Place these days.

Anyone know a municipal attorney willing to issue a cease and desist order on bullshit from City staff?

Anyone know a zoning attorney willing to submit a map amendment to the zoning code designating City Hall a No Bullshit zone?

An Offer You Can't Refuse!

Available from -- kropserkel.com

In today's Herald-Advocate you can read a letter to the editor authored by local attorney and Morningfields Market owner, Frank DiFranco.

In his letter Frankie DiFranco lets us all know Generation Group, Inc. and Mr. Joseph Loss are willing to negotiate a change to our local zoning code-- "How can the Park Ridge mayor and City Council refuse to even negotiate with the sign company when more than a half-million dollars is at stake?" Frankie writes in his opener.

Negotiate what, exactly, Frankie? The Park Ridge Zoning Code doesn't allow for off-premise billboards, 80 feet tall with 1200 SF of sign faces. The City attorney has said court decisions have found impact fees for billboards unconstitutional. Des Plaines' jolly joy ride on the billboard bandwagon turned out rather badly for them -- Des Plaines' City Council voted to eliminate all fees relating to billboards, after a very lengthy court battle.

Speaking of court battles, Frankie's letter to the editor concludes with, "Do you want the company to sue like McDonald's did after Planning and Zoning refused to give them a permit. Wake up, City Council and Mayor!"

Hey Frankie, is that a threat of litigation? Sure sounds like a threat of litigation. Maybe nobody in our local government should be talking to either you or Joseph Loss about this billboard nonsense, since it sure sounds as if you've threatened litigation. Does 4th ward Alderman Allspaghetti know you may be threatening litigation?

By the way Frankie, you sure you don't have skin in this game?

Chumbolones And Billboards, Baby!

Available from -- Carnival source.com

Chumbolone! The Urban Dictionary defines the word as --

1. chumbolone

idiot, stupid - Popularized by Chicago newspaper columnist John Kass after first hearing the word spoken in testimony by mob messenger boy Anthony "Twan" Doyle during a 2007 federal trial. While working for the mob, Doyle got himself hired into the Chicago Police Department evidence department in order to remove or destroy DNA and other evidence of mob homicides.

Actual example: "I gave him lip service," Doyle said. "I didn't know what he was talking about. I don't wanna look like a chumbolone, an idiot, stupid," Doyle said from the witness stand.

Wise guys count on the majority of people to be chumbolones, idiots, stupid -- it makes getting what they're after a lot easier.

And chumbolones are exactly what the wise guy billboard brigade -- 4th ward Ald. Jim Allspaghetti, local attorney Frank DiFranco, and Generation Group agent Joseph Loss -- seem to think Park Ridge is full of; nothing but chumbolones.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who put on cheap carnival dollar-sign glasses when reading fliers, like the one distributed at Frank DiFranco's Morningfields Market, and believe it.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who believe the only way for the City of Park Ridge to get back to a healthy financial position is to sell-out the character of our community over the next 20 years for a quick $400,000 down and another $200,000 in installments -- chumbolones believe in a quick fix that isn't.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who think wise guys like Joseph Loss of Generation Group, Inc. are just entrepreneurial businessmen with nothing to hide and who didn't look for a way to avoid the City's disclosure demands for applicants seeking special consideration for zoning changes.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who feel if something doesn't happen on their property, their block, or in their ward then it doesn't affect them.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who believe every deal is on the up-n-up because this is Park Ridge, not Chicago, and the volunteers on the City Council always look out for their best interests.

The PRU Crew doesn't believe for a minute that the whole of Park Ridge is full of chumbolones. But we're not too sure that holds true for the whole of the City Council.

Redevelopment And Billboards, Baby!

As some of our more astute and faithful PRU readers may be aware, any changes to the Park Ridge zoning code will cover the entire town -- as has been previously mentioned, anything less is spot-zoning and likely to get us into trouble.

Which brings us to the proposed text amendment offered for consideration by 4th ward Alderman Jim Allspaghetti -- The PRU Crew strongly believes Ald. Allspaghetti was doing favors for either Joseph Loss and his Generation Group, Inc. or his close legal associate, Frank DiFranco -- or both.

In typical fashion, Ald. Allspaghetti looked no further into the issue than the money on (maybe under?) the table. And he, along with his buddies, prefer the people of Park Ridge look no further either.

But we can't help ourselves. We like wide open vistas. We especially like those vistas uncluttered with billboards.

We've taken a look at the zoning map(.pdf) of Park Ridge and some of the laws governing the placement of billboards and what we've found is billboards, once allowed, are only limited in placement to areas zoned commercial and--or industrial.

It necessarily means any commercial property could conceivably ask for and receive a permit to construct a billboard.

We've also found one of the next likely places for permit requests for billboards 80 feet tall with 1200 SF faces is probably somewhere along what's known as the Higgins corridor.

So what, you may say? Take the (court-determined unconstitutional) impact fees offered and head to the bank, you may say?

Here's the so what -- the Higgins corridor has long been discussed as one of the next areas in Park Ridge which is "ripe" for redevelopment. In fact, we know of at least one entity which has been discussing a large development along the Higgins corridor. We are also aware of that entities likely need for either the Sate and--or the City to employ the use of eminent domain for such a large development.

And here's where billboards come in --

If either the State and--or the City were to engage in a "taking" of any property along the Higgins corridor, and if any of those properties have leases with any billboard companies, then those billboards become part of the "taking."

So what, you may say again?

Here's the so what -- courts have increasingly determined that billboard companies should be "fairly compensated" for such a "taking" and the value of the billboards are increasingly appraised based on the income approach, which is far greater than the mere cost of constructing a billboard -- the cost approach.

The income approach could add hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to the expense of a "taking" in the use of eminent domain.

And we hope everybody understands the employment of eminent domain means taxpayers foot the bill for any and all costs involved -- which necessarily includes compensating billboard companies for any lost income from a taking of their property.

So, if by some miracle the City of Park Ridge actually can receive and keep any (court-determined unconstitutional) billboard impact fees, we suggest keeping those fees in the bank because you're going to need them for any future litigation and compensation to the billboard companies in the event of a redevelopment which may require the employment of eminent domain.

Did anybody really think a change in the zoning ordinance to allow billboards on the Renaissance property wouldn't affect the entire town of Park Ridge? Somewhere? Some way? Down the road?

Billboards And Bullshit, Baby!

Some of our faithful PRU readers may remember the shock, SHOCK, former Mayor Howard offered about local businesses becoming involved in local political matters -- we discussed the topic here.

We noted in the linked piece above that former Mayor Howard launched his 2009 mayoral campaign inside Morningfields Market on Devon Avenue in Park Ridge. We've also noted the first mention of billboards was on former Mayor Howard's campaign website -- in our post here, we said, "And we hope Mayor Howard isn't serious about licensing billboards in town!" Looks like former Mayor Howard was very serious.

And now it looks like close associates of former Mayor Howard are still very serious about billboards in Park Ridge.

As some of you may be aware, the owner of Morningfields Market, where former Mayor Howard launched his 2009 campaign, is none other than local attorney, Frank DiFranco --



Our faithful PRU readers may also have taken note of Mr. DiFranco's recent public interest in the topic of billboards. In an article posted on the Herald-Advocate website, it is noted -- "Other residents, including Park Ridge attorneys who share a law office with Allegretti, expressed support for the billboards, saying the city needs the revenue at this time.

"$600,000 is a substantial amount of money," said attorney Frank DiFranco. "I think the city needs to find more ways to get revenue other than through property tax."

Aw Frankie, you are a real good guy to show up and support your pal, 4th ward Alderman Jim Allspaghetti in his fervent quest to see to it the City of Park Ridge gets back on its financial feet!

And the PRU Crew thinks the fliers being distributed at your Morningfields Market are positively priceless!
Morning Fields Billboard Flier

Absolutely priceless! Absolutely bullshit, too!

But Frankie, we do have to confess -- we sure hope you didn't write up that flier! Do your briefs read like that? Shocking!

You are right, Frankie, Park Ridge residents should care about the City of Park Ridge running multiple year budget deficits in multiple millions. Hey Frankie, where you been for the last 5 years, buddy?

Frankie, we hate to break it to you but...the $400,000 offered up front won't make a dent in the budget deficit and because of the very fact that there is a budget deficit, that $400,000 won't do a thing to cap property taxes, even if the City of Park Ridge can find some way around the court ruling that impact fees for billboards are unconstitutional.

We've got some other bad news for you, Frankie. The $200,000 over the next 20 years of living with billboards would barely go beyond the costs of covering city staff efforts for inspections.

On the Pub-dog's blog, somebody commented, "It’s interesting that guys who would never be caught dead at a PR Council meeting were there; Frank DiFranco, Dave Nelli, Jim Debruzzi. Now I get that there are many family relationships in place but still, why would they all show up for this particular issue if they didn't have skin in the game?"

Hey Frankie, you're working your attorney tail off on this one, buddy, though we have to confess, we aren't impressed with the effort.

Hey Frankie, you got some skin in the game?

PRCC Videos 12-7-09!

video #00000.MTS PRCC 12-07-09


Abruptly begins with approval of consent agenda items -- without discussion, a roll call vote is taken to unanimously approve the Council consent agenda

@02:33 mark -- Proclamation (and performance) - Emerson Middle School Jazz IMEA Trumpets begins and we learn either the Council chamber audio system or the video camera microphone were not designed to deliver concert-quality sound.

@12:28 mark -- Resolution 2009-84 – for Thomas Higgins of Lutheran General Hospital begins

@17:40 mark -- Recognition of District 207 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists begins

@21:15 mark -- Mayor Schmidt begins his Statement regarding Amendment to Zoning Ordinance and the PRU Crew is forced to conclude not only is the Mayor's head half full of hair but also the Mayor's thinking is half full of bullshit. But we do commend the Mayor for speaking with "more than half" of the Planning and Zoning commissioners about this issue.

@23:54 mark -- Report on Executive Plaza begins

@33:50 mark -- Zero-based budgeting discussion begins

@34:32 mark -- City Manager Hock suggests budgeting by objectives, results, and performance is the most successful budgeting method. Translation = we don't want to have to justify every dollar we are spending.

@38:04 mark -- Alderman Bach says he wants to see "a business case" made for every expenditure. And we laaaaauuuuughed as we recall previous votes cast by Ald. Bach to increase funding amounts -- over budgeted amounts -- for community groups.

@40:19 mark -- Mayor Schmidt says he "won't accept an unbalanced budget" and promises to veto any unbalanced budget. The PRU Crew hopes Mayor Schmidt will manage to keep his word this time.

@41:05 mark -- Alderman Wsol not-so-fondly recalls Governor Jimmy Carter's efforts with zero-based budgeting and suggests a "modified" method

@42:16 mark -- Mayor Schmidt agrees with using a "modified approach" to budgeting
@43:12 mark -- Alderman Ryan says he doesn't understand zero-based budgeting and the PRU Crew is wondering if Ald. Ryan was an English major instead of an Engineering major

@45:13 mark -- Alderman Bach reveals he's a classist

@47:46 mark -- Alderman Bach continues to make frenemies with AFSCME


video #00001.MTS PRCC 12-07-09


Begins with continuing discussion of zero-based budgeting

@06:18 mark -- Alderman Sweeney inquires about the livability of the Heinze property and Director of Community Development Ms. Davis responds

@08:39 mark -- Mayor Schmidt says he "would like to see us enforce our ordinances." And we laaaaauuuuughed...really really really hard.

@15:08 mark -- Alderman Wsol suggests discussion of the Heinze property should be a listed agenda item before discussion continues

@16:06 mark -- City Attorney Buzz Hill makes a disclosure on behalf of Ald. Bach

@17:23 mark -- Alderman DiPietro inquires about billboards and the new zoning ordinance

@18:53 mark -- Mayor Schmidt thanks the Public Works Department for their efforts in regard to the Maine South Hawks parade

@19:38 mark -- City Clerk Henneman suggests cancellation of the January 4, 2010 meeting

@21:06 mark -- City Manager Hock tells the Council Wideopen West is interested in providing telephone and internet service in Park Ridge

@22:09 mark -- Mayor Schmidt reports the Liquor License Review Board voted to renew all but 1 liquor license, because one of the applicants packets was woefully inadequate

@23:15 mark -- New Business begins with Ald. Wsol requesting accommodation for election judges' access to the South Park polling place

@24:29 mark -- Alderman Ryan discusses his concerns about the development review process and homes being built "higher" than they should be. Ald. Ryan also inquires about the City's policy on signs and maintenance, as well as the inability of certain property owners to rent out ground floor space in the B4 zoning district

@28:28 mark -- City Clerk Henneman reminds people about voter registration

@28:54 mark -- Motion to adjourn

The Write Stuff!

#1 -- Guest Essay

Dear Friends:

We have seen some changes since that day in November of 2008' when our air space was invaded from east to west involving the new north runway 9L27R.

Most here who are living in the glide path - support the return of the "Cap" that was ripped away by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).

We are now seeing 200-300 jet air craft per day since that day and the non governmental organizations - continue to grow with the home spun leadership factor.

Yes, many have said , " We tried to fight it, it cost us approximately over 2 million plus and where did it get us "?

We also saw first hand, the city council members split there votes and moved towards the ONCC side. Some supported the people, some did not and many slept through the warning signs.

Additionally, the runway usage has not let up since and more air traffic is on the way with runway 9 Center set to have its ribbon cutting by next year. This will additional east to west runway will follow Granville and into O'Hare.

We have sought meetings, received form letters, formed committees, neighborhood - ward groups and so on.....with no results.

Unfortunately, we have even seen a few of the alderman play the good guy with this very important health and air safety issue while an area school lost out on it's sound proofing.

Recently, and through the Freedom of Information Act - request made , I personally was able to view the records kept involving the airport issues, meeting minutes, contact between city council members back then and now. I was not able to view any of the closed door meeting mins.

My observation is: Former Mayor Howard Frimark never lifted a finger ( prior ) to September 2005' and the sign off on the re-configuration of the runway system at O'hare.

Mr. Terrance Brunner's 2004' OMP Corruption Report is very explicit and goes into further detail involving all of the key O'Hare towns that were targeted by Mayor Daley's office back then and now by ONCC.

There was NO prior documentation to support that former Mayor Frimark took it upon himself to fight for the people here in setting up any meetings with Mayor Daley forces.

Now, we are faced with an even higher level of jet fuel - toxicity within the 5 mile marker - which by the way reaches out to cover all of the City of Park Ridge and more.

The current Federal investigation into the " OHare Case" continues with some key players in the pay to play scandal.

Yet, we now see the for sale signs springing up through the glide path from the 41st ward and through our city's - south ward areas.

They call it the "trail of fear" from the cockpit view while inbound on final approach. Some sadly, have already moved out. Others are waiting until their kids are through with school.

In another most recent development - a team of aviation expert attorneys - have been contacted to further review - if we in fact have a civil case before the clock runs out.

Only the FAA and the City of Chicago have the complete authority of what flys through our air space and at what altitude we might add.

Changes are coming with the most recent change in our air space that has been upgraded to class B". The Ad-Hoc FAA committee and their report # 148 also points to lowering the altitudes for many aircraft across the nation's air space.

Next Gen is currently being reviewed prior to its application across the national grid by the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force command staff.

In closing, the comment , made by the chief officer and pilot who holds the office of accident analysis for the country through the Airline Owners and Pilots Association - was on the mark:

" Air space redesign was formed to manage and compress the key air routes across our Grid".

This means more planes through the efforts of Mr. James C. May who is the president of the American Transportation Association that is based in Washington, D.C.

Mr. May is the chief lobbyist for the commercial airlines and wants more planes in our air space. He has been known to also testify on the "Hill" in front of the U.S. Commerce and Infrastructure committee.

In closing, we have been let down by those politicians who took it upon themselves to respond to a market that is in demand for constant and increased revenues.

Somehow, they lost sight and unfortunately, our local, state and federal system has let us down.

We know the problems, we just need to find the proper leadership to help locate and identify the right solutions.

People should always be first, property then comes second.

Our country is facing many challenges as we speak and never before has your input and participation been needed more.

We can't afford to sit back and allow this massive take over of our skies, our lives, our property values to all go down the drain.

Stay involved!

Thank you.

Gene Spanos
Resident-Volunteer
6th Ward
Park Ridge


#2 -- From the Comments

Steve Schildwachter said...

Neighbors: It seems to me that we are long overdue for a serious, public conversation about what we want Park Ridge to look like 20 years from now.

This is not about blue-ribbon commissions and visioning projects where a consultant leads the city council and city staff down a primrose path of vague language.

This is about how many primrose paths we want, how many national chain drugstores, how many local merchants, how many trees and parks -- and yes, how many historically preserved homes.

An alderman -- I don't remember which one -- said publicly a couple of years back that he wanted Uptown to resemble the Lincoln Park area of Chicago, with the same types of restaurants and businesses. I don't happen to agree, but at least he put a stake in the ground.

A related point is the discussion about how tax revenues generated from business development are supposed to keep residential property taxes lower. (Uptown has been in "business" for a while now and I don't see my property tax bill going down, folks.) Rather than seek revenue -- which is elusive anyway -- we should seek a consensus about what kind of community we want to have.

The zoning code re-write of the past year could have been such an opportunity, but frankly the city council disregards the code so frequently that it seems a poor substitute for a community model.

This is the kind of conversation we need to have; otherwise we will handle each situation individually with no clear path, primrose or paved. What do we want Park Ridge to look like 20 years from now?

September 23, 2009 8:29 AM

To The Gills!

Hello PRU readers -- we apologize for the delayed posting today and appreciate your patience.

In today's online Herald-Advocate, we read 'Commission suggests changes for Touhy condo developer'. The article begins --

A developer looking to construct a 32-unit condominium building in Park
Ridge received some advice from the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission on Aug. 25 asked that Hoffman Homes, Inc. consider
reducing the height and "softening" the look of the building, which is proposed for three properties from 1963 W. Touhy Ave. to 1975 W. Touhy. Commissioners also said the density of the building should be examined, and the project (.pdf) should meet parking requirements under the city's Zoning Ordinance.

The proposed height of the building is 42 feet, which exceeds the
40 feet allowed for under R-4, high density residential, zoning. Plans call for eight fewer parking spaces than the Zoning Ordinance requires, and 32 units are proposed although the density allowed for the size of the property is just 12 units.

Everybody got that? 32 units on a site that currently contains 3 single family homes, but even with a zoning change, the maximum allowable density would be 12 units.

Think think. Think think.

Why would a developer believe he could ask for and expect to receive a zoning variance of that magnitude? Precedent, perhaps?

The zoning code does allow the city to grant variances for certain public amenities. If you're interested, you can read about all those amenities in the zoning code -- Section 5 Planned Developments (.pdf)

It could be possible that the public amenities the developer plans to offer are --

6. Community amenities including plazas, malls, formal gardens, places to
congregate,outdoor seating, public art, and pedestrian and transit facilities.

But the PRU Crew feels it's more probable that the public amenities the City of Park Ridge will be offered will be --

11. An affordable housing set-aside of twenty percent (20%) or more of all units as either rental or for-sale, according to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) guidelines.

Okay, everybody got that? From 3 single family homes to a building 42 feet high with 32 units -- in exchange for the public amenity of having 6 more affordable housing units in the City of Park Ridge.

Be still our beating, bleeding hearts!

Remember this PRU post? Density. Density. Density.

And who is the great guy from Hoffman Homes who will offer Park Ridge this great public amenity? President and owner of Hoffman Homes Inc., Mr. Norman Hassinger.

The PRU Crew read about Mr. Hassinger here. Doesn't Mr. Hassinger sound like a real great guy?

Be still our beating, bleeding hearts!

Freewheeling Recap!

Anyone wanting to share what they observed at last night's Council meeting can do that here!

Venice Ridge? Council Recap!

According to our faithful sources, last night's City Council meeting lasted 5 1/2 hours.

The first half of the meeting was dedicated to listening to a long parade of residents detail their recent experiences with flooding, residents' concerns and ideas for addressing the problem, and marginal updates provided by city staff.

According to one of our sources, there was a disturbing pattern of people who related that they had never experienced any flooding until last September and then again this past June 19th. The most frequently asked question was, "What changed?" The PRU Crew is wondering the same thing, and hoping the learned engineers on the Flood Control Task Force, along with the consultants hired to study the problem, will answer that question.

Many people addressing the Council used the word "emergency" to convey their belief that the City must address this issue immediately. The Crew believes people have paid enough attention to know that without the problem being given "emergency" status, the likelihood of approval for spending any money to mitigate the problem is nil. We're told even Mayor Schmidtzkrieg characterized the problem as an "emergency", so we feel confident in believing the Mayor would not veto a spending ordinance approved for this matter by the Council.

One of the exasperating circumstances for residents seems to be the snail's pace at which information is being gathered, by both the consultants hired to study the issue and the Flood Task Force formed to discuss the issue to come up with recommendations, and formulation of a final plan. We hate to tell you this people, but things can only move as fast as they can move -- and then the search for money begins. And make no mistake about it, whatever plan is eventually settled on will require gobs of money. We hope a majority of residents will be prepared to pay for what it is they say they need and want.

In the meantime, people may want to keep Service Master on speed dial.

The second half of last night's Council meeting was devoted to discussions of zoning changes for commercial parcels along Northwest Highway.

The zoning for the Napleton Cadillac parking lot property was changed from a B1 zoning designation to an R3, which means residential, despite the recommendations made by the Planning and Zoning Commission. We trust the neighbors in the immediate area are pleased with this change. We also trust that nobody will be surprised if Mr. Bill Napleton becomes totally pissed off about the change and files a law suit. The Crew hasn't heard any rumors about such a thing, as we try to avoid moving in the same circles as the likes of Mr. Napleton, but we're just saying we wouldn't be surprised by such a move.

The old Audrey's property was left as-is in terms of the zoning designation, but should the owner wish to place a generator 5 feet from the sidewalk, that could now be done, as the Council voted on an amendment offered by 3rd ward Alderman Don Bachtard that allows generators to be placed as close as 5 feet from any property lot line.

We hear this change to the zoning code for the placement of generators is a particular triumph for one particular resident. We also hear this particular resident thinks his shit doesn't stink and he has the right to act obnoxiously at Council meetings -- throwing a stack of petitions at the Director of Community Development and demanding that she pass the petitions around to the Council.

We're told Mayor Schmidtzkrieg got all up in the guy's grill. Good.

As for the PRU Crew, we generally feel Ms. Davis operates at a level barely above incompetence but, nevertheless, she's still the Director of Community Development -- required to attend public meetings for the benefit of the public. Be careful, sir, at whom you throw things or we may be tempted to see to it you go home wearing whatever it is you chose to throw at a city staff member.

As for Alderman Bachtard and the other Alderidiots, your silence on the matter was duly noted.

There you have it people, an admittedly lite recap.

The Crew has decided to take the month of July off -- off meaning an irregular posting schedule, if any -- we'll see you again in August.

Special Meetings for Special People!

We're wondering if the special people on the Park Ridge City Council will be "going green" and taking public transportation to their special meeting tonight! The PRU Crew suggests the above --

We hope to be able to provide PRU readers with a recap tomorrow!

Aces and Eights! Recap!

Good morning PRU readers! We understand the meeting last night was very long and arduous. We're waiting on a couple of things and we'll have a recap ready for you in a little bit. In the mean time, we thank you for your patience and feel free to post your own report comments to this post.

Recap!

We've compiled the reports and sorted through notes and we've finally got a recap ready. We're going to try to cram 5 hours of discussion into a blog post here, but we do want to try to also provide PRU readers with a taste for the flavor of the meeting, so this is a lot longer than we would normally prefer our posts to be.

Again our sources report that Mayor Howard did his best to promote the interests of the Park Ridge Ministerial Association and PADS organization over the interests of Park Ridge residents and St. Paul of the Cross parents. By some miracle, Mayor Howard wasn't able to completely neutralize the ordinances regulating homeless shelters. Yet.

First to offer up changes to the zoning text amendment to allow homeless shelters to open and operate in Park Ridge was the 2nd Ward's Lord of the Manor, Rich DiPietro. DiPietro moved to amend the zoning text to allow not more than one shelter in each ward and not within 1000 ft. of each other. Audience member, Jennifer Conlon, spoke to the amendment saying that the council was talking about church property rights and that she felt it was wrong to tell one property owner what to do because of where they "live", and that the amendment is "arbitrary and deprives churches of their rights." We're not sure about anybody else, but the PRU Crew feels pretty strongly that churches have no more property rights than anybody else. And when churches start paying their fair share of property taxes to support the infrastructure provided to them, then and only then will we be willing to listen to anybody moan and groan about Church's property rights; especially when their desire to use their property for their pet social causes may bring harm to the rest of the community that does pay its fair share.

In a roll call vote, the amendment passed unanimously.

DiPietro then motioned to add language that would not allow shelters to operate more than one night per week from October through April.

In a roll call vote, the amendment passed unanimously.

Next up, it was the 7th Ward's Frank Wsooooolman's turn at bat. Wsol moved to add language to the area of the zoning text amendment regarding the 500 ft. restriction; Wsol left the 500 ft. language in the text but added that shelters may not operate "within 60 minutes of children being present." The ensuing discussion of this amendment was the longest of the evening, with Mayor Howard unable to directly answer a question about whether or not shelter "guests" would be prohibited from returning to a church property for services of the ecumenical variety. When repeatedly asked if shelter "guests" would be prohibited from attending mass with the school children, Mayor Howard kept repeating that "guests" would have to "leave the premises." The matter was later clarified by the City Attorney; shelter "guests" could not be prohibited from returning to church property to attend mass.

During discussion of whether or not to allow homeless shelters to operate inside schools, resident and city benefactor, Tony Svanascini, reported that he conducted an email poll of 380 St. Paul parents -- asking them to vote on whether or not they wanted a homeless shelter to operate inside their school. Half of those emailed responded, and the results showed that 79% of those who chose to exercise their right to vote, voted "no" to the question of allowing a homeless shelter in their school.

Many of those speaking from the audience also brought up the matter of Mayor Howard's Public Works Service Center compromise, discussed in a press release (.pdf) late last week, saying that they believed it was a good idea and that they didn't understand why the council would vote to nullify the 500 ft. restriction in the zoning text.

But when the question was called, nullification of the 500 ft. restriction is exactly what the City Council did. In a vote of 5 (DiPietro, Bach, Allegretti, Ryan, and Wsol) to 2 (Schmidt and Carey) ~~THUD!!!~~ Carey??? You betcha!!! PRUdos and thanks to Schmidt and Carey! Your votes on this matter won't be forgotten.

Next the Wsooooolman offered another amendment designed to clarify the matter of "significant support" being provided for shelter operations and require co-application for licensing. Wsol defined "significant support" as including security, health screening, and background checks. This amendment was clearly intended to make shelter organizations subject to licensing. This amendment brought Benedict Alderman Ryan (5th Ward) out of his reverie to offer that, from his perspective, the PRMA is the shelter operator. The audible gasps and grunts of disgust from audience members didn't seem to distract Ryan from his perspective. Again, audience member Jennifer Conlon spoke about the PADS franchise being only a provider of support for shelter operators. CURRB spokesperson, Judy Barclay, rose to offer the council a view of a PADS booklet detailing the business of providing shelter offered by the organization and said, "PADS is not merely a provider" of "support" for shelter operators.

During this portion of the discussion, Mayor Howard stated that in his view, if a shelter were to operate on city property, the city would be a co-applicant for the special use permit, the PRMA would be considered the operator, and the PADS franchise would be the consultant. To paraphrase the words of one audience member, the PRU Crew too is "dumbfounded" by Mayor Howard's twisted spinning of this issue.

Benedict Alderman Ryan asked if PADS would agree to be a co-applicant for a special use permit and license, to which many members of the audience shouted variants of "who cares?" and "so what if they dont?" Ald. Wsol responded to Ryan's question by simply saying that the question "isn't relevant." Ryan chose to then take a different angle of approach and said that he "trusts the PRMA to bring in the right people."

The PRU Crew will wait for everyone to stop laughing.

In a roll call vote on the amendment, the council voted 5 (DiPietro, Bach, Carey, Wsol, and Schmidt) to 2 (Allegretti and Ryan) in favor of the amendment.

Then it was Alderman Don Bachtard (3rd Ward) who offered still another amendment to the zoning text. Bach moved to limit the number of shelters that can operate simultaneously to two. Ald. Allspaghetti (4th Ward) asked why limit the number to two? Bach responded that his intention was to limit the number of shelters operating simultaneously and to limit the help being provided to helping those here in Park Ridge. Allspaghetti then said he "didn't get a chance to comment on Wsol's earlier amendment, but thought it was too restrictive." The PRU Crew believes Allspaghetti has been paying careful attention to recent political debates where candidates ignore a question or previous statement and babble on about something else they prefer to talk about, otherwise we have no way of explaining Allspaghetti's disjointed and unconnected response to Ald. Bach's statement.

Ald. Ryan insisted that the PRMA is "only interested in opening one shelter" and that for 30 years there has been "trust in each other" so "if they say one" we should all trust them.

During the audience participation portion of the discussion of this amendment, pastors Larson and Morello both spoke. Pastor Larson, from St. Lukes, reiterated Ryan's comment that the intention is to only open one shelter, he is concerned with the polarization in the community, he feels the process must be transparent, PADS is not a money-making franchise, Journeys is only part of the process and that it is Park Ridge that will be providing the volunteers, food, and care, and that PADS is concerned because no other community has required PADS to apply for a special use permit or license. For his part, Pastor Carl Morelleon, from St. Paul of the Cross, took great pains to remind those at the meeting that the "parish is first, then the school is part of the mission of the church." Most of the responses to this among Crew members are not fit to print, even on this blog! We will say, Morello pull your head out of your ass. You've proven yourself to be a dictator with very little concern for the school children you and others have attempted to use as pawns to bludgeon your parishioners. It is painfully clear that when it comes to prioritizing parish concerns and church missions, the kids take a backseat to everything. May your God have mercy on your soul.

In a roll call vote on the amendment to limit the number of shelters operating simultaneously, the council voted 4 (Bach, Carey, Wsol, Schmidt) to 3 (Allegretti, Ryan, DiPietro).

Next came what one of our friendly correspondents has described as Mayor Howard's "October Surprise". The mayor read a statement to the council wherein he proposed that the city enter into a written contract with the PRMA and PADS for use of the Public Works Service Center as a homeless shelter site. The PRMA and PADS would sign a contract with the city that waives the portion of the ordinances that would require either the PRMA and/or PADS to co-apply for special use permits and a license in exchange for agreeing not to file any lawsuits against the city for "x number of years."

Mayor Howard asked for a motion from the council so that his "October Suprise" could be added as language to the zoning text amendment being discussed. The Lord of the Manor obliged him.

Most of the aldermen, by nearly all accounts, looked stunned by this eleventh hour surprise. Bach asked if the city would incur any greater liability and what precedent such a scheme would set. Schmidt said he just didn't get this at all. Carey asked what value there was in eliminating the ordinance requirements and why a term would be set for a time limit. Carey went on to say that he found it "extremely suspicious" that this sounds like a "cloak for PADS" to avoid co-applicancy. ~~THUD!!!~~ WHO IS THIS GUY??? AND WHERE HAS HE BEEN HIDING FOR THE PAST 17 MONTHS???

As discussion of Mayor Howard's "October Surprise" continued, Ald. Bach said that he feels the Mayor has the authority to try to negotiate a contract with the PRMA and PADS but that he "doesn't see what a contract offers that the ordinances and co-application process doesn't." Mayor Howard insisted that he needed the council's authorization to mooove forward, at which point Ald. DiPietro asked the City Attorney if the mayor did, in fact, need the council's express authorization. City Attorney, Buzz Hill, stated that the mayor did not need the language to go ahead. DiPietro then withdrew his motion. Ald. Allspaghetti offered that he felt it was a mistake to withdraw the motion. Bach stated that this amendment has been "relatively undiscussed" and that the mayor should "go ahead" and try to negotiate a contract.

Alderman DiPietro then moved for the City Council to consider the zoning text amendment in its entirety. In a roll call vote on the first reading of the zoning text to be added to the zoning code the City Council voted 6 (Allegretti, Ryan, Carey, Wsol, DiPietro, and Bach) to 1 (guess who?) to adopt the code that will allow homeless shelters to operate in Park Ridge.

Then it was on to the licensing ordinance portion of the homeless shelter discussion! What fun!

Again, DiPietro was first up and moved to add language that would require the City Manager to issue reports on the number of shelters operating, the location, and any police calls. The additional language passed unanimously.

Ald. Dave Schmidt offered an amendment that would require the director of community development to make a recommendation to the City Council on the licensing of a homeless shelter and that the City Council be required to vote on the matter -- because he believes the issue is important enough that the City Council should not leave oversight to staff. After even more complaining from the usual suspects, the city council voted 5 (Carey, Wsol, Schmidt, DiPietro, and Bach) to 2 (Allegretti and Ryan) to adopt the amendment.

Schmidt then offered another amendment to the licensing ordinance that the guidelines for shelter operation plans allowing entry of "guests" would include health screening, criminal background checks, and identification cards. Again, audience member Jennifer Conlon objected to the regulation saying that PADS allows first time shelter "guests" to access their shelters "temporarily" with a call to the police department. Schmidt responded that he wasn't talking about PADS. One of our sources reports that this is the first time "blabber mouth" was at a loss for words, but she did manage to recover and gripe on about this requirement in the guidelines. We don't have much respect for Ms. Conlon, ourselves. We also think she is a blabber mouth without much gray matter to back-up her statements. We do have to give her a nod though for taking part in this long process and for doing it somewhat more intelligently than her holy rolling brethren.

In a roll call vote, the council unanimously adopted the amendment to the licensing ordinance.

Alderman Bach then moved to amend the licensing ordinance to remove the word "may" and insert the word "shall" in mandating that, if any regulations were violated in the operation of homeless shelters, the director of community development "shall revoke a temporary overnight shelter license." Ald. Allspaghetti offered that he didn't think it was right to require the director of community development to revoke a shelter license for minor infactions and he wants to leave discretion for revoking licenses of shelter operators who violate regulations to city staff. In a roll call vote, the City Council defeated the amendment 5 (DiPietro, Allegretti, Ryan, Carey, and Wsol) to 2 (Schmidt and Bach).

Finally, Benedict Alderman Ryan took his turn at carrying water for the PRMA and their homeless legions, and attempted to amend the licensing ordinance by removing language that prohibits non-emergency medical care from being provided in temporary homeless shelters. Ald. Wsooooolman asked if the ordinance was written this way to avoid creating a "clinic atmosphere"? The City Manager, Jim Hock, replied that was "correct" and that the portion of the ordinance probably came from what other municipalities do, but it could be "softened" if the council wanted to do that. Ald. Carey offered that the section needed work, while DiPietro offered that since this was only the first reading of the ordinance, Ald. Ryan could work on his amendment and then "come back on the 29th" of October with a new amendment.

Ryan then withdrew his motion.

With that the City Council took its final roll call vote of the evening and unanimously adopted the first reading of the licensing ordinance for homeless shelters as amended.

There you have it people -- Your government in action.

The PRU Crew would like to add a special note here -- while we are disappointed that the council did not adopt the zoning text amendment as it was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission, and while we would have really liked to see at least one alderman offer a resolution to the council to have the matter voted on in a referendum, we could not be happier about the participation of so many Park Ridge residents and local church parishioners.

What you have done is no less than carry on the greatest tradition of democracy ever known. You participated -- deeply, consistently, and unwaveringly. You have stepped up, taken hold of the microphone and spoken your views -- more eloquently and ably than many of you give yourselves credit for. Without each and every one of you, even the people we feel have been totally stupid on this issue, there would be no democracy. Without debate and consideration there is no democracy. To those of you who so diligently did your homework on this matter, you should take tremendous pride in seeing that much of what you researched on the matter and demanded from your representatives has been made part of the legislation governing this issue. We agree that the most important demand, the 500 ft. regulation that would have kept homeless shelters out of elementary schools, is a tough and heartbreaking loss. Nevertheless, you should view this entire process as a win. You worked for it. You earned it. Don't let Mayor Howard's "October Surprise" thwart you. Continue to demand that your elected officials respond to your concerns and represent your best interests.

For the PRU Crew's part, we're damn glad to know ya.

For Mayor Howard's part, we think he's holding a hand full of aces and eights, politically speaking.

The Show Must Go On!

Once again, our City Council will be meeting tonight to discuss matters of great import for the public good. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM at Washington School, 1500 Stewart Ave., Park Ridge.

As PRU readers know, the council will be discussing the requirements for regulation of homeless shelters. The related documents for tonight's meeting can be reviewed on the city website, here. The PRU Crew and others have noted that the documentation published for review by the city is incomplete -- the minutes of the City Council discussion portion of the C.O.W. are conspicuously absent. However, a news release (.pdf) issued by the city on behalf of Mayor Howard late last week tells everyone that Mayor Howard has been thinking overtime to try to find a solution to the burning problem of homelessness here in Park Ridge.

As one of our friendly correspondents put it, "Even the clown in the big chair seems to be getting a clue on this...homeless shelters do not belong inside schools." And that is why the PRU Crew is hoping the members of the City Council will vote to adopt the zoning text amendment as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. We are also hoping the members of the City Council will adopt the other reasonable regulations being suggested by their constituents.

Oh, The Cow Goes...

Mooooooooove forward!



Thanks for your patience PRU fans -- we've had some technical glitches today.

The highlights of the City Council COW can be summed up by saying that Mayor Howard is a pandering coward and most of his council alderhacks are firmly under his control.

Also under Mayor Howard's control is ooh, pick me! pick me! I wanna be police chief real real bad, Tom Swoboda, who offered a not-so-cleverly spun recitation of how PADS sites in other towns haven't posed a serious problem, on site, for police departments in those towns. When questioned by Alderman Dave Schmidt (1st Ward) about information Swoboda has been given by a Chicago Police Dept. 16th District Commander, regarding the 513 arrests of PADS clients outside of PADS shelters, Swoboda offered that the information would have to be looked at more closely and broken down, which is another way of saying, "Give me time and I'll find a way to dismiss these facts in favor of the position preferred by Mayor Howard."

For his part, Mayor Howard tried to be clever and ask the city attorney that if the 500 foot restriction remains in the ordinance along with the demands of city building codes regarding sprinklers, how many churches would qualify to be homeless shelters. City attorney Buzz Hill said he couldn't answer that, to which Mayor Howard replied, "I can answer! The answer is zero!" Mayor Howard also stated that PADS gives "health exams" and remarked that the city is "constitutionally on thin ground with regard to fingerprinting". At which point the city attorney said, "No. I never said that." Mayor Howard also stated that he had "called 14 Mayors of other towns today" -- today? Jeeze Howard, what's your hurry? -- and that the 6 that responded to him all said that, in short, PADS is terrific! The PRU Crew would suggest that no other response could possibly be forthcoming from those Mayors, since those Mayor's would then have to answer to their constituents about why they aren't doing anything to address the issues surrounding PADS shelters in their towns.

Alderman Don Bachtard (3rd Ward) said he does not believe that a 500 foot restriction that prevents homeless shelters from operating inside schools will have any effect, and that children do not play within the "little circles" that comprise the 500 foot buffer. Ald. Bachtard also let everybody know that he is tired of listening to arguments over the constitution and didn't want to hear any more. Later, as if to demonstrate his disinterest in hearing anything about constitutional rights, Bachtard suggested that "security escorts" be provided during PADS shelter exits to "escort" PADS clients to buses and trains. And as we can see, Park Ridge's very own Constitutional UNscholar seems to not have gotten past the First Amendment to take a look at all those other pesky constitutional amendments, or this piece of stunning idiocy would never have left his mouth. But we're only speculating on that since that requires the assumption of his ability to understand information.

Alderman Frank Wsooolman (7th Ward) offered that he would like to see the 500 foot restriction language in the ordinance left as-is, with the addition of language stating "while children are present". He also seemed to indicate his support for limiting the hours of shelter operation, and months of operation, as well as shelter operators being required to co-apply for either special use or licensing. Ald. Wsooolman's best question of the evening came when he confirmed that shelters will be allowed in all residential zoning districts, and then he asked why the B4 (business district) zoning district was excluded for special use by homeless shelters. Acting Director of Community Development, Carrie Davis, responded that the purpose of that exclusion was to "limit the impact" of homeless shelters on the business district. And people, we have to tell you, when we read that in our various reports this moring...well...we just don't know what to say about that -- the total disregard for the impact on residents of Park Ridge is so unbelievable, we are left virtually speechless.

Alderman Tom Carey (6th Ward) was the only alderman to address the issue of whether or not the question of Park Ridge supporting the opening of a homeless shelter could go to referendum. Ald. Carey also indicated that it is the City Council's responsibility to find a "healthy balance" between the desires of the community and constitutional laws, and this issue has been very divisive to the community.

~~THUD!!!~~ Who is this guy??? This can't possibly be the same guy who took office just 17 short months ago!!! Has anyone checked under this guys bed for a pod?

What a concept! Send to referendum what 2nd Ward Alderman Rich DiPietro himself described as "the most controversial issue" he's seen in his fourteen years of council service.

Alderman Carey, we can only hope that you will pursue this matter by proposing a resolution of the City Council approving a referendum that asks the voters whether or not they support the opening of a homeless shelter in Park Ridge, and if appropriate, under certain restrictions.

Speaking of Ald. DiPietro (2nd Ward) -- his suggestions were that St. Paul of the Cross erect a partition that will keep PADS clients from accessing other areas of the SPC building. DiPietro also wants bike racks installed for PADS guests who are into pedaling their way from shelter to shelter, from town to town.

Benedict Alderman Robert Ryan (5th Ward) was...can you guess?...absent from the meeting. But he did submit a statement to Mayor Howard to be read at the meeting. Essentially, Ald. Ryan believes there is a need in the community for a homeless shelter and that Journeys from PADS to Hope has a proven process for addressing the issue of homelessness. Benedict Ald. Ryan also wants to eliminate the 500 foot restriction on where shelters can open, wants St. Paul of the Cross to be the only applicant in the special use and licensing, wants to allow medical services to be provided inside shelters, adjust the ordinance to add that temporary overnight shelters provide continuous parking on site or adjacent to the shelter property, and that to address the issue of loitering, shelters not operate within a 1/4 mile of each other in the Uptown area.

Alderman James Allspaghetti (4th Ward) let it be known that when dealing with the constitution, it "puts religion in a special place". Allspaghetti went on to say that when he talked about what the Park Ridge Police Department was doing in enforcing the zero tolerance law, that what they were doing the constitution says they can't do, which may explain why then Chief of Police Caudill issued a memo to his department that zero tolerance was not to be enforced as they have been doing. But of course, this leads the PRU Crew to wonder why Allspaghetti's buddy, Terry Ekl, so strongly suggested that the directives in that memo from then Chief of Police Caudill be immediately rescinded? Anyone? We can't make heads or tails of this "logic".

Finally, Alderman Dave Schmidt (1st Ward) was once again the champion of the residents of Park Ridge, and the representative who challenged his fellow council members to answer the mandates in the zoning code which address the fundamental considerations and purpose for zoning text amendments. Schmidt's council peers were stunningly silent on that issue. Schmidt also read from a rather long dissertation on health issues in the homeless population, pointing out that there are reasonable concerns among those who question whether or not opening a homeless shelter inside a school could expose children to air borne illnesses. Schmidt also questioned the costs that would be undertaken by the city in regard to providing police and ambulance services to a shelter.

Mayor Howard addressed that issue later by pointing out that residents are not charged when police vehicles answer their calls, which of course ignores who it is that provides all the tax revenue used to fund services like police and fire departments -- but, the PRU Crew has come to understand that Mayor Howard doesn't know much about who is actually funding the government he's running. Mayor Howard also presumed that residents of the Youth Campus are not charged for ambulance services, but Chief Gjelsten corrected him on that point, so Mayor Howard offered that maybe the city could charge for ambulance services to any homeless shelter.

Schmidt went on to try to refute much of the unfounded claims of his fellow council members, such as Ald. Allspaghetti's incorrectly stating the City Attorney's position on the 500 foot restriction, and Ald. Bachtard's hair brained idea of "security escorts" out of town for shelter clients. Finally, Ald. Schmidt supported Ald. Carey's question of putting the issue to a referendum vote before the people of Park Ridge.

After Mayor Howard had his final say on the issue of homeless shelters, Ald. DiPietro moved that the matter be referred as an action item on the next City Council agenda.


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And now, a recap of the highlights of last night's City Council regular meeting, which was held at its usual time, interrupting the committee of the whole meeting that took place before and after the regular City Council meeting --

The City Cluck, Betty Henneman, asked the council to vote on a change of venue for the October 20th and 29th meetings of the City Council; those meetings will take place at Washington school.

Next, City Manager Jim Hock offered that he had reviewed the details of the interviews conducted by attorney Terry Ekl in his audit of the police department. Mr. Hock assured the council that the background interview material used by Ekl to write his final report looked okay, and the council can now pay Ekl's outstanding bill. It was moved by the Lord of the Manor, 2nd Ward Ald. Rich DiPietro, that the council pay Ekl $52,381.25 -- seconded by 4th Ward Ald. James Allspaghetti.

First ward Alderman Dave Schmidt moved to demand that Ekl not be paid the balance of his bill to the city, and that fees already paid to Ekl be refunded to the city. That motion died for lack of a second.

Schmidt went on to say that Ekl had stonewalled the council on every issue and that he would not be voting to pay Ekl his final bill.

On a roll call vote, the council approved final payment of the Ekl bill by 4 (Bach, Allegretti, Carey, and DiPietro) to 2 (Wsol and Schmidt).

The next item was a discussion of how to best proceed with accomplishing the needed improvements in the air quality system at the award winning Public Works Service Center. The council had to reject all the bids received in order to eliminate having to accept the lowest bidder, because the lowest bidder provided an inconsistent and incomplete bid; in addition to not meeting the standards required in the staff's reference checks. The city has been actively engaged in this issue, regarding the physical health of city employees, since January, 2007, and at one point it seemed a correction of the Public Works air quality would be deep-sixed due to budget constraints. So the PRU Crew will not stand for even an ounce of whining from any PADS asshats who think the city hasn't moooooooooved forward fast enough on some dumbass homeless shelter, while our own city employees have endured another nine months of talk talk talk over matters surrounding their personal health.

The next item on the city agenda was a discussion of the purchase of four new trucks for the Public Works department. Ald. Schmidt (1st Ward) asked why the city should purchase these trucks now, in light of the city budget deficit of approximately $1.7 million? The answer was that the vehicles are old, 19 years old, and their maintenance costs could skyrocket, and the city may not "get lucky" next year and have these trucks operable. Schmidt then asked City Manager Hock if the city could wait on this nearly $500,000 purchase. Mr. Hock responded that the funds set aside for the purchase of new trucks can't be used for certain things such as payroll, but that it could be spent on things such as fixing roads, to which Schmidt responded that fixing roads in town are a need and that he believes these trucks are a want. Hock then remarked that the longer the city waits to purchase new trucks, the lower the trade-in value for the older trucks become. Several remarks from the audience seemed to suggest that it would be best for the city to either wait on this purchase or find alternatives to buying new trucks, but in the end the City Council voted 5 (DiPietro, Bach, Allegretti, Carey, and Wsol) to 1 (Schmidt) to purchase the new trucks.

Then under the Public Safety agenda line item, the city council voted to finalize raising ambulance fees.

Finally, City Cluck Betty Henneman reported on her recent trip to Park Ridge's sister city of Kinver and Ald. Schmidt reported that he is going on a trip to Fatima Portugal where he has promised to offer prayers for his City Council peers. We would suggest that Ald. Schmidt not waste his energy on his council peers and instead pray for the residents of Park Ridge who are suffering the idiocies of his council peers.

And shortyly after that, the city council adjourned their regular meeting and got back to moooooooooving forward on discussing the issue of regulations for homeless shelters in Park Ridge.