Think!

The PRU Crew has been watching the conversations taking place here and on other blogs with mixed reactions lately. Sometimes our readers shock us with their understanding and insight. Other times we wonder how some people manage to dress themselves every morning.

And when it comes to politicians, we always find their brainstorms highly entertaining.

If you haven't had a chance to do so, check out the Niles Underground post: Blago has another brain fart. While we aren't impressed with the newbie effort at writing, and we would strongly encourage the employment of spelling-check software, the message of the piece is bulls eye right.

Another one bites the dust

The turnover of senior City of Park Ridge Staff moved closer to completion last Thursday (August 7) when Fire Chief Ed Dubowski announced that he will retire from the Department on Sept. 2 after 30 years of service.

Chief Dubowski worked his way up the ranks of the Department and distinguished himself in every position he held. He has won a number of awards and commendations.

No doubt he has earned his right to retire, but we still find his departure disturbing because it follows on the heels of the early retirements Police Chief Jeff Caudill, City Manager Tim Schuenke, and Community Development Director Randy Derifield, along with the resignations of Public Works Director Joe Saccomanno and Human Resources director Mike Crotty. That's the largest exodus of senior people from the City in memory.

The table was set for these departures by the previous city council's early-retirement incentive (ERI) program, which actually made it attractive for Caudill, Schuenke and Derifield to leave city employment earlier than expected. We don't like ERIs because they tend to strip local governments of their most experienced employees on the promise - usually a false one - of cost reductions resulting by the hiring of less-experienced replacements at lower compensation.

We haven't seen any of those savings yet. In fact, from what we've heard and read on the topic, new City Mgr. Jim Hock will be costing the city a lot more than his predecessor, Schuenke - although we can't imagine Hock not being worth it compared to a guy (Schuenke) who seemed to cause more problems than he solved.

Fair Housing Advocates Unmasked!

As our faithful PRU readers know, we've discussed the issue of the Fair Housing ordinance along with the antics of the Fair Housing commissions chairman, Nan Parson. We've also given former third ward alderman, Sue Bell some attention.

In today's Pub-dog posting they've offered some straight-up commentary on the subject that's worth a read and takes the topic to a new level of openness. PRUdos to the Pub-dogs!

Doan Porget To Wahr Yewr Happy Slip!

Have a great long weekend!

note -- until YouTube gets their act together, if you want to view the 'Chill Pill' video, you can use this link

It's For Your Own Good!

Last November we discussed the issue of Red Light cameras being installed at "dangerous intersections" throughout Park Ridge. Alderman Don Bachtard (3rd ward) was reportedly prompted into action on this idea because "a driver running through a red light broadsided the son of one of his constituents at Oakton and Greenwood Avenue."

We criticized the idea as being more about revenue generation for municipalities and less about safety than either elected officials or the red light camera companies are willing to admit. But Ald. Bachtard has pushed the idea forward.

We respect Ald. Bachtard's professed concerns for safety. We expected that after his remarks about safety, and his push for two red light camera companies to conduct studies at various intersections around Park Ridge, we would be able to read about the studies and learn about the anticipated reduction in accident rates at those dangerous intersections, especially the intersection where the son of one of his constituents was broadsided; Oakton and Greenwood Ave.

But so far, we haven't been able to find much in the way of discussion of a hoped for increase in safety or estimated reduction in accident rates at the intersections only one of the two red light camera companies studied and recommended for camera installation. Neither the July 17, 2008 Public Safety Committee meeting minutes, nor the documents available on the city web site for the upcoming Public Safety Committee meeting on Thursday, August 7, 2008 talk about such issues as estimates for reducing accident rates at intersections with red light cameras. And the two companies that conducted the studies did not recommend that cameras be installed at the intersection of Oakton and Greeenwood; the intersection where the T-bone accident happened that has spurred Ald. Bachtard on in his quest to install red light cameras in Park Ridge.

However, we were able to read, in a Herald-Advocate report on the issue, about the maximum amount of fines allowed ($100), the fact that the city can keep a percentage (how much?) of the fine, the monthly maintenance fee charged for each camera ($1500), and that there is also a processing fee (how much?) charged for each violation.

But in a report in the Journal & Topics on this subject, Alderman Frank Wsooooolman (7th ward) did manage to work in a quotable sound bite on the subject of safety and "minimizing the number of accidents". After all, the Wsooooolman is the Public Safety Committee chairman.

Addendum: Freewheeling April 15, 2008 -- reader recommended links on red light cameras.

More Freewheeling?

The PRU Crew went back and forth about things last night and again this morning. We aren't sure if today's post should haul off in a new direction on a new topic, or if the conversation from yesterday should be continued here?

The Crew did have a whole new topic for today, but we think we'll just save it for a later date and let PRU readers proceed at will.

The topic of land use has surely not been exhausted, but maybe the discussion has been, though we note the additional comments to it today.

And as Alderman Dave noted, the issue of the R-5 zoning district is on the table.

In addition, yesterday at least one poster raised the question of whether the City should proceed with a zoning amendment without the express blessing of a property owner. That's a good question, irrespective of what the law allows; kind of like a little sibling to the issue of eminent domain.

We would add to these topics the matter of "historic preservation" and how that could be handled.

Good luck today.

It must be like being high all the time!

In our last post, we hoped PRU readers would "critically consider" what was published in last week's Herald-Advocate.

If you read the Herald-Advocate, then you may have read their article What should be on the Napleton Cadillac site, about a meeting between approximately 50 residents and 5th Ward Benedict Alderman Robert Ryan. If you read that article, the following paragraphs may have struck you as something to critically consider:

Residents asked Ryan what they could do to get the land rezoned for townhouses or condominiums which are recommended in the 2002 Uptown comprehensive plan. Ryan said he did not know and would need to ask staff.

Acting Director of Community Development Carrie Davis told the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate that a request to rezone property can only be made by the property's owner.

"The owner is the only party that has the ability to bring forth the request for a zoning change," she said.

Davis also clarified that the Uptown plan's recommendations are not absolute: "It is not something that says, 'this is something that has to happen.' It is something the city uses as guidelines for determining the future land uses," she said.

Apparently Ryan wasn't fully aware of the residents' concerns, at least not enough to have consulted the City's Zoning Ordinance before attending the meeting. It has been reported that Ryan carried with him to the meeting a copy of the City's Uptown plan-.pdf, instead of a copy of the City's Zoning Ordinance.

News Flash for Ald. Ryan!!! Your constituents are already aware of what is contained in the Uptown plan. Didn't you think maybe they would want to know about the Zoning Ordinance too?

But o.k., we know Ald. Ryan is a busy guy with not enough time to show up to all required meetings, let alone look up local zoning laws. So when in doubt, ask a city staffer. And that's what the reporter for the Herald-Advocate did, which brings us to Ms. Carrie Davis, acting Director of Community Development. As noted above, Ms. Davis said, "a request to rezone property can only be made by the property's owner." (emphasis added)

We would like to now take the opportunity to introduce Ms. Davis -- and Ald. Ryan -- to the City's Zoning Ordinance-.pdf. It is a useful tool when conducting the job of Director of Community Development -- or Alderman -- in either a real or merely "acting" capacity.

A quick search of the Zoning Ordinance may even lead someone to the following:

4.8 ZONING AMENDMENT

A. Purpose

The regulations imposed and the districts created by this Ordinance may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Section. This process for amending the Zoning Ordinance text or the Zoning Map is intended to permit modifications in response to changed conditions or changes in City policy. Amendments are not intended to relieve particular hardships or confer special privileges or rights upon any person or party.

B. Initiation

An owner of any property in the City or the City may propose text or map amendments.

Does that say what we think it says? Does that say that an owner or the City may propose text or map amendments? Are "text or map amendments" the same thing as the "zoning change" Ms. Davis talked about?

The last paragraph of the Herald-Advocate article says:

Ryan promised residents he would support their desire to make the properties residential. "I think it's important to follow our [Uptown] plan," he said.

No time like the present to keep that promise, Ald. Ryan.

As for Ms. Davis, by our count she's 0 and 2 in knowing the critical information available in the Zoning Ordinance, and providing that information to those with questions about a zoning issue.

And finally for residents with concerns about zoning issues or anything else...as one of our more friendly correspondents likes to quote, "Trust, but verify."