August 17, 2009

Council Meeting Tonight!



There's a City Council meeting tonight! On the agenda (.pdf) are some interesting items, such as a report on the 2009 Taste of Park Ridge and Council consideration of a text amendment to the City's Zoning Ordinance to allow billboard signs in certain commercial districts.

Does anybody recall hearing about billboards a while back? Oh that's right, former Mayor Howard listed "licensing bill boards" as his first idea for "raising revenue." In fact, former Mayor Howard talked about "licensing bill boards" on his campaign web site -- and the Pub-dogs took note here.

Oddly, we observe the letter (.pdf, pg. 8) written by the law firm of Loss & Pavone, to Procedures and Regulations Committee chairman and loyal Frimark lapdog, 4th ward Alderman James Allspaghetti, is dated June 23, 2009.

And of course Allspaghetti -- along with a majority of the City Council -- thought that the issue of billboards was so important that this zoning text amendment should be sent from the Council to Planning and Zoning on behalf of the applicant, while Allspaghetti seems to have remained stone-cold silent on doing local businesses the same favor, according to the July 13, 2009 COW meeting minutes (.pdf, pg. 4).

At the same COW meeting at which the Alderdopes voted to recommend a text amendment request be sent from the Council on behalf of law firm Loss & Pavone and their client, Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gail Haller made a similar request on behalf of local Park Ridge businesses to allow A-frame sidewalk signs. The Council's answer to Ms. Haller and our local businesses? You're on your own.

Clearly, our PRU readers see the logic in all this! And the PRU Crew is sure Frimark's past mention of billboards and the advocacy position taken by Allspaghetti are just pure coincidence.

As we said, it's just a little odd.

Hope to have video tomorrow at some point!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Text amendments for sale
See you local alderman and make him an offer. No money no special treatment.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:53,

You got it exactly right! The Alderman have made sure that they can get their greasy paws on these zoning issues by taking the decisions away from our zoning commission. I can see how every person applying for zoning changes now just skips applying to the commission and goes straight to their alderman. Beautiful. This town is more and more like Chicago every passing year.

gypsy said...

so Frimark is still controlling City Council?

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

gypsy --

It feels more like residue or a bad after taste than it is an issue of control.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps there was some kind of an "arrangement", but then the voters kicked his ass out. Now it is up to little Jimmy to get the job done. Control or residue it still stinks to high heaven!

Anonymous said...

"M-O-N-E-Y" isn't an automatic translation to "what's good for or in the best interest of the community".

I wish some of these guys would remember that "representing" the people DOES NOT mean telling us what "THEY" think is good for us but rather listening to what we are saying and basing decisions on what 'WE" think is good for us.

I don't recall ever seeing at a voting booth, a "disclaimer" that read "Warning, casting your vote means giving away your voice to the individual you are voting for, and your are now relieved of having to think for yourself. Please be aware that this vote means that you believe this person is far more intelligent than you and knows what's best for you, your family, your money and your community. Having read this and with full understanding please proceed and cast your ballot".

It must have been there and I just missed it because I keep hearing things like "WE are the elected officials" and "we were elected to make these tough decisions" and "as elected officials we should have they last say on things" and we're the elected officials and people should come to us with all the issues".

Hmmmmm...control or residue?

Anonymous said...

Residue from the former control freak.

Anonymous said...

3:22 you missed the small print on the voting disclaimer that said, "It is the obligation of those elected to a legislative body to change laws and/or regualtions for good ole boys, friends, and anyone who provides the promise of money. The term once in a lifetime opprotunity should be used at will."

Anonymous said...

3:44

Oops! I guess I missed the fine-fine print. I must have gotten to the part of relieving myself of having to think and forgot to keep reading.

gypsy said...

if I remember correctly, during the police station funding debate, Allegretti stated that he did NOT think he needed the input of the voters/citizens when making decisions. he felt that since he was "elected" he should be able to make decisions on his own.

GOD HELP US

Anonymous said...

Napoleon Complex

Anonymous said...

Wow! That Frimark guy sure is a powerfull man. Super hu man. He's not even here anymore and he's controlling things?

Why did we ever let a god like that go?

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@5:21 --

Sarcasm noted.

On another subject, are you getting all excited in anticipation of a new Flop House season arriving? Got all your Flop House training reviewed?

Anonymous said...

PRU,

Is there something you know that we should know?

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@5:39 --

Yea, about 457 posts worth -- not all of them packed with great information, but the PRU Crew did think the Bowlingual Voice translator was vital news you should know!

Seriously, PRU Tech was just slagging the previous commenter.

gypsy said...

was last night's meeting a circus, or what?!!!

Anonymous said...

I know that "slagging" has to do with metallurgic alchemy but what's the "Flop House season" and what do they have to do with each other? Ooooo boy. Too inside for me.

gypsy said...

uh...I'm not really "in the know," but I thought that FLOP HOUSE SEASON has to do with the homeless shelters that open in the fall due to the change in weather. Like...you cannot sleep outside when it's cold out!

Anonymous said...

Anon@521-
"...He's not even here anymore and he's controlling things?..."

Did you mean here as in "in office" or here as in "in town"???

He is still around town and may still have someone's ear...