Monday PRU Grab Bag!

#1 -- For our faithful PRU readers interested in more City circuses, you're in luck! There's a COW meeting tonight (.pdf - supporting documents), beginning at 7:00 PM at City Hall. The PRU Crew is looking forward to hearing all about the Public Works Department's plans for Amending Article 9 to include Parkway Maintenance Responsibilities (.pdf), as neither the cover memo, nor the draft ordinance (.pdf), explains 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 tree huggers among our faithful PRU readership may also want to take note of the Tree Preservation Task Force's recommended ordinance for TREE PRESERVATION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY(.pdf) -- it turned out better than we expected it to. But we have every reason to believe our Alderdopes will try their very best to screw it up.


#2 -- For our faithful PRU readers interested in looking deeper into the recent press coverage on School District 64's recent ISAT test results, you can do so here (.pdf), starting at page 89 -- from the supporting documents for the D64 School Board meeting held on October 25, 2010. The PRU Crew also found these results better than we expected, and we appreciate what appears to be continual growth in the number of D64 students who exceed State testing standards. However, we would like to hear somebody explain how this growth in the exceeds category of testing does or does not correspond to the issues raised in an October 18, 2010 report by the Chicago Tibune -- New ISAT lets kids pass with more wrong answers. Think of it this way, we're just asking for the chiiiiildren!

We've also heard some people grumbling about the announced changes to the middle school lunch program -- specifically, the memorandum of information from the District's Purchasing Manager, Betty Lattanzio (page 144 of the supporting documents), letting the Board know the middle school lunch program will no longer be accepting cash payments for lunches beginning January 4, 2010. In other words, chaaaaarge it! RevTrak, the company so graciously offering this new school meal accounting software interface to the District, has got to love the idea of having likely modest but multiple deposits on account!


So there you go, faithful PRU readers -- pick your public policy poison!

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?

Coming to a Foreclosure Near You?

Last week a faithful PRU reader submitted the above photo of a home in the 2nd Ward that was foreclosed and boarded up -- a neighborhood eyesore to be sure.

Our reader informed us that he contacted his Alderman and the City about the house and received a reply from the City indicating that the City could not locate the owner -- the PRU Crew thinks whoever responded in this way probably wouldn't have any better luck finding their own ass with both hands and a flashlight.

Our undeterred faithful PRU reader conducted an internet search and found the ownership information. He then provided the ownership information to the City, at which point our faithful reader was informed that the City has given the owner 90 days to remove the boards, in accordance with the Park Ridge Property Maintenance Code (.pdf).

22-8-12 CLOSING WINDOWS AND OTHER OPENINGS

Any building that is not secured and is abandoned or vacant shall have all unsecured wall openings including, but not limited to, windows, doors, and porch openings boarded up or otherwise closed until the building is properly secured. No building opening shall be boarded up or otherwise closed for more than 90 days unless approved by the Housing Inspector or Building Official. (Ord 2006-01, 1/9/06, S24)

Our faithful PRU reader also contacted the owner about this property and received the following response --

From: "Henry Jones" <jonesrealtyreo.com>
To: xxxx@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 10:41:49 AM GMT -06:00
Subject: RE: xxxx Hoffman Park Ridge

This house is owned and being sold by the Federal Government of the United States of America. They tell me what to do, how to do and when to do….If it sells hey, I make a few bucks. If it don’t. I still got a few bucks…. It is what it is….. Thanks for the inquiry….

Jones Realty Co
329 W 18th Suite 413
Chicago, IL 60616
312.602.9830
Fax 312.829.6340
corporate website: www.itsmyagent.com
Henry Jones Managing Broker

Does anyone else get the feeling that the managing broker doesn't give a shit?

This is the exact type of situation for why our City officials should -- because they are what is supposed to stand between carpetbaggers, chaos, and the health and welfare of our community.

Really? City staff couldn't find the ownership information? Really? Did anyone even try?

We've received a few reports like this now and so we're going to tell everybody that it is not only true that the Good Lord helps those who help themselves, but also that City staff does too.

The economy isn't going to get better overnight, and neither are the foreclosures -- according to one source, Realty Trac (click on the "Bank Owned" tab), there are currently 175 bank owned properties in Park Ridge.

It seems worth everyone's time to know the Property Maintenance Code (.pdf).

To our faithful PRU reader -- the Crew thanks you for sharing the information with us, your effort on behalf of your neighborhood and community, and finally for your patience with us -- we realize it took us longer than it should have to catch on to what you were trying to make us understand.

Caveat Emptor!

Last week a PRU reader posted a comment (#12) and link address to a news piece, on our post "Oh, The Cow Goes...", discussing an unfortunate incident that has resulted in the death of one man and possible murder charges being filed against another man. The alleged offender gave his address as being 1140 E. Northwest Highway in Palatine, which many of you now know is the Journeys from PADS to Hope day center.

The commenter queried, "I'm also wondering if the 4 "tree trimmer wannabes" in the news story are also part of the much ballyhooed "Lawn Service" run by the service provider in question?" The PRU Crew is wondering about that too. We have no proof that the men in the news piece are in any way connected with the Journeys Lawn Service. But the following ad, featured in this past Sunday's St. Paul of the Cross church bulletin --



-- gave us pause, and a chance to once again remind Park Ridgians of the need to be cautious about whomever you hire to do work around or inside your home.

We did not find any business registration for Journeys Lawn Service with the Illinois Secretary of State office. In fact, the only mentions we've seen of the Journeys Lawn Service is on their web site and in the St. Paul bulletin.

We also do not believe the Journeys Lawn Service would be subject to licensing demands by the City of Park Ridge because they would probably qualify as a charitable organization under article 12.pdf of the city's municipal code.

The PRU Crew feels that trying to provide the homeless with "job skills, time management, cooperation and responsibility" are admirable goals. However, the questions about Journeys from PADS to Hope's screening process and background checks remain -- and whether or not the men in the news story were a part of the Journeys Lawn Service or just "freelancing".

We caution Park Ridgians to ask any business they engage for work on their property some very basic questions --

1. Is the business licensed in any way?

2. Is the business insured?

3. Are the employees background checked?

4. Are the employees bonded?

5. Is there an available list of references that can be checked?

Remember, caveat emptor.

A Quickie Council Recap!

Unlike James Patterson's 384 pages of 'The Quickie', ours is going to be much shorter.

In yesterday's post, Busy Bees!, we highlighted six items of interest on the City Council agenda that we hoped would get attention from the Park Ridge populace. We hear some items drew a lot of attention, while other items were referred to committees or ignored entirely.

Below is our quickie recap of those six agenda items:

1) A City Council discussion of off street parking (.pdf) for a property at 14 Main St. -- this item is on the agenda at the request of Benedict Alderman Robert Ryan (5th Ward); it seems Ald. Ryan is always eager to see to it the Real Estate company of his campaign treasurer, Owen Hayes, gets plenty of special attention.

While Benedict Alderman Robert Ryan (5th Ward) attempted, weakly, to speak in general terms about the zoning code requirements and process for requesting a zoning code variance for properties that remain vacant for 180 days or more, it was fairly clear to those present and familiar with Ald. Ryan's nonsense that his goal was to provide assistance to a particular property, 14 Main Street, that just happens to be a commercial property listing out of the McClennan Real Estate office; the same real estate office from which Ald. Ryan's campaign manager, Owen Hayes, operates. Mr. Hayes also has a listing, 104 Main Street, which is said to have off street parking issues as well.

The issue of the City's zoning code requirements for off street parking was referred to committee for review.

2) Under the City Manager's report, a discussion of the proposed extension of Cumberland Ave. (.pdf) under the train tracks; this isn't the worst idea we've heard come out of City government, but couple it further with a proposal to close Greenwood at the train tracks, and it becomes perhaps the most boneheaded proposal we've heard come out of City government.

Alderman Dave Schmidt (1st Ward) offered that he could immediately save the City the cost of consulting fees by letting everyone know that the idea of extending Cumberland Ave. under the train tracks and then closing Greenwood at the tracks was considered insanity by everyone he's heard from on this issue. Several residents also addressed the Council and expressed their displeasure with this idea.

However, our sources tell us this item provided the highlight of the evening when those in attendance were given a glimpse into the void, otherwise known as the mind of Mayor Howard Frimark. Mayor Howard let everyone know that the money spent to study the extension of Cumberland Ave. is not "our money" but rather it is "Federal money". The PRU Crew isn't sure about Mayor Howard, but Crew members recall recently reviewing some very large amounts of "our money" going into the Federal coffers.

Mayor Howard's mindset reminded us of the District 64 School Board thinking on money matters related to the City's offer to buy their district headquarters building.

Mayor Howard also let everyone know that he is unfamiliar with the area North of the train tracks because during the 30 years he's lived in Park Ridge he "doesn't go that way".

3) Also under the City Manager's report we see that an amendment to the separation agreement with former Chief of Police, Jeff Caudill, is up for discussion. We're going to bet this has something to do with the Pension Board's denial of a portion of the compensation package Caudill received.

A motion was made to set aside this issue until Ekl Williams could confirm for the City that former Chief Caudill had cooperated with the internal investigation of the police department. Ald. Ryan offered that doing such a thing seemed like "negotiating after the fact." Ald. Schmidt offered his agreement and this matter was referred to the Finance and Budget committee for number crunching.

4) Under Planning and Zoning is a first reading of the rather extensive changes to the year-old zoning ordinance that includes language we believe allows for more development of R-5 projects (.pdf); the densest and tallest residential projects that can be built. We're also wondering how much the City has paid out in consulting fees on the zoning re-write and why these changes weren't recommended or corrected by the consultant during the re-write process.

This item was referred to committee for discussion of language concerning the B-4 area of the central business district; the hope is to determine language that would define the B-4 business district as a geographic area, then assign the R-5 zoning code to that area.

This item was also referred to committee to determine whether it is the City Council or the Planning and Zoning commission that has the authority to determine procedures and policies. The PRU Crew feels elected officials on the City Council should determine procedures and policies, but we know there are commissions out there that would prefer to operate freely and not be subject to the scrutiny of elected officials.

5) Under the Procedures and Regulations Committee report, the City Council is set to give a first reading to a new ordinance (.pdf) allowing Mayor Howard to control all appointments of the City Council.

To the PRU Crew's surprise, this item was referred back to the Procedures and Regulations committee for further discussion. It is our hope that committee and council members choose democracy over dictatorship, but we're not holding our breath.

6) Finally, under the Finance and Budget Committee report, we read that the City Council plans to authorize Mayor Howard to sign a lease agreement (.pdf) for parking spaces at 20 S. Fairview Ave. We are pleased to see that the City will pass through all parking space rental costs to those leasing the spaces, but we do wonder why the City will be providing bookkeeping and secretarial services to SCH Real Estate LLC, free of charge. We also wonder why the City's required disclosure of ownership (.pdf) documents have not been provided by SCH Real Estate LLC in accordance with the City's ordinance.

Finally, the City Council adopted the lease agreement for the parking spaces at 20 S. Fairview, and will now be providing SCH Real Estate LLC with free bookkeeping and secretarial services.

A member of the audience asked Mayor Howard if the long rumored participation of his wife, Nancy Frimark, as a beneficiary in the trust and/or SCH Real Estate LLC that holds title to this property is true. Mayor Howard stated that the rumor is "absolutely false." Certainly, Mayor Howard wouldn't lie about such a thing.

We look forward to seeing the required disclosure of ownership documents for this agreement; the City law is very clear -- disclosure of ownership interest is required.

There you go folks! A quickie recap of 1,137 words for your reading enjoyment!

Busy Bees!

Tonight's City Council agenda (.pdf) is pretty full. The PRU Crew is wondering how badly the taxpayers and citizens of Park Ridge will get stung.

A few items have caught our attention:

1) A City Council discussion of off street parking (.pdf) for a property at 14 Main St. -- this item is on the agenda at the request of Benedict Alderman Robert Ryan (5th Ward); it seems Ald. Ryan is always eager to see to it the Real Estate company of his campaign treasurer, Owen Hayes, gets plenty of special attention.

2) Under the City Manager's report, a discussion of the proposed extension of Cumberland Ave. (.pdf) under the train tracks; this isn't the worst idea we've heard come out of City government, but couple it further with a proposal to close Greenwood at the train tracks, and it becomes perhaps the most boneheaded proposal we've heard come out of City government.

3) Also under the City Manager's report we see that an amendment to the separation agreement with former Chief of Police, Jeff Caudill, is up for discussion. We're going to bet this has something to do with the Pension Board's denial of a portion of the compensation package Caudill received.

4) Under Planning and Zoning is a first reading of the rather extensive changes to the year-old zoning ordinance that includes language we believe allows for more development of R-5 projects (.pdf); the densest and tallest residential projects that can be built. We're also wondering how much the City has paid out in consulting fees on the zoning re-write and why these changes weren't recommended or corrected by the consultant during the re-write process.

5) Under the Procedures and Regulations Committee report, the City Council is set to give a first reading to a new ordinance (.pdf) allowing Mayor Howard to control all appointments of the City Council.

6) Finally, under the Finance and Budget Committee report, we read that the City Council plans to authorize Mayor Howard to sign a lease agreement (.pdf) for parking spaces at 20 S. Fairview Ave. We are pleased to see that the City will pass through all parking space rental costs to those leasing the spaces, but we do wonder why the City will be providing bookkeeping and secretarial services to SCH Real Estate LLC, free of charge. We also wonder why the City's required disclosure of ownership (.pdf) documents have not been provided by SCH Real Estate LLC in accordance with the City's ordinance.

Those are just a few of the items we hope residents will be paying attention to, but we admit we haven't checked tonight's t.v. listings; though we all know that the City Council meeting won't be among those t.v. listings.

Oh No!

We found the following photo and caption in today's Journal & Topics. We've underlined the distressing passage in the photo's caption.



We feel that with the right combination of therapy and tlc, these second and third graders will recover from this unfortunate incident.

After all, if you've been paying attention to what Mayor Howard and his Council lapdogs have been up to, you know that Mayor Howard believes the role of the City Council is to do exactly as he commands.

In fact, the City Council Procedures and Regulations Committee has been discussing a new ordinance that will give Mayor Howard all the power and authority he could possibly ever have wished to call his own.

Addendum for our inquisitive friend: The current ordinance language

3-1-1 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

The Mayor shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the City Council, all officers of the City whose appointment is not otherwise provided by the laws of this State or the provisions of this Code. The City Manager shall recommend and the Mayor shall appoint department heads with the advice and consent of the City Council. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any office, which by law the Mayor is empowered to fill, the Mayor shall within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such vacancy, communicate to the City Council the name of his appointee to such office. The name of the appointee shall be submitted to the members of the City Council two (2) weeks prior to the request for the approval and consent of the City Council to such appointment.

If you are really bored, you can read the rest of the municipal code here.