Billboards Stink!

Not only do we think the billboard deal pushed by 4th ward Ald. Allspaghetti stinks, but now we find out billboards can stink, literally!

According to blog author Jen Aronoff, of What's In Store, the above pictured billboard is a new scent-marketing attempt -- "The Bloom grocery store chain, part of Food Lion, erected the giant sign at 1220 River Highway, between a Shell gas station and a storage facility, to promote its new brand of beef. It'll disperse the scent during rush hour, from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m., every day until June 18, and is visible to drivers heading west, toward Catawba County. It pairs the smell with a big visual, showing a giant piece of steak and a French fry on a giant fork, and is one of the first of its kind in the country."

The PRU Crew expects the people from PETA will pitch a fit and could possibly retaliate with an aromatic billboard of their own -- eau du meat-processing plant? Let the scent-marketing wars commence!

Enjoy your weekend -- we hope it doesn't stink!

C.O.W. PS/PW/PR 4-12-2010 -- Video!

Begins with the usual opening ceremonies.

@ :39 mark -- Citizens who wish to address the Council on non-agenda items -- Resident Andrew Schwartz comments on the city budget.

@ 2:18 mark -- Mayor Schmidt comments on Polish plane crash and the lowering of the City flag to half mast.

@ 3:54 mark -- Public Works begins with discussion and action on forestry appeal for a tree removal.

@20:07 mark -- Discussion and action on custodial cleaning contract for City Hall begins.

@21:19 mark -- Discussion and action on IDOT resolution begins.

@21:52 mark -- Public Works discussion items begin with discussion of parking issues on Busse Hwy.

@45:04 mark -- Discussion of referendum question regarding funding of sewer relief work begins.

@59:36 mark -- Director of Public Works Spring Season Update begins.

@ 1 hour mark -- Public Safety begins with various reports from Chiefski.

@ 1:17:33 mark -- Fire Chief has no report and Public Safety discussions end.

@ 1:17:50 mark -- Procedures and Regulations begins with discussion and action on modification to the liquor ordinance -- several residents address the Council and the Crew hears a lot of the same statements being made in favor of the Irish Pub as were made in favor of Uncle Dan's, may that business R.I.P. But the Crew admits to looking forward to throwing back a few black and tans when the Irish Pub opens.

@ 1:51:24 mark -- And we quote the 6th ward's Unfriendly Ghost, "There needs to be a synergy and if this is the fulcrum of the genesis of the type of establishments we will be supportive of in the future, I believe that there needs to be a synergistic center in which these establishments can feed off of one another." And the PRU Crew is very pleased to hear the 6th ward's Unfriendly Ghost offer this type of quotational specificity. We got a big kick out of it! We thought about offering an equally syllabically laiden push back, but we're still too busy laughing!

@ 2:15:35 mark -- Discussion and action begins on TIF/Intergovernmental agreement, as Mayor Schmidt exits the Chamber, we assume in part, to congratulate the Irish Pub owners and perhaps plan another social rendezvous with the Irish Pub owners before the next Council meeting on this issue?

@ 2:23:37 mark -- Discussion and action begins on Zoning Text Amendment to supermajority voting.

@ 2:27:31 mark -- Residents begin addressing the Council.

@ 2:31:10 mark -- We sincerely offer PRUdos to Alderman Don Bach. Thank you Alderman Bach for your clarity, honesty, and candor on this issue. This moment may rank as your finest in your public service effort to date.

@ 2:38:53 mark -- Procedures and Regulations ends.

@ 2:39:15 mark -- Mayor Schmidt resumes the COW chair.

@ 2:39:22 mark and 2:39:53 mark -- City Manager Hock requests closed sessions.

@ 2:40:31 mark -- New Business begins and includes discussion of Thursday night's budget hearing, supporting budget documents available on the City's website, and other budget related matters.

@ 2:46:50 mark -- Move to adjourn to closed session.

We Recommend --

Lifted from salon.com/story

For those of you paying attention to City Council antics, you'll want to stock-up on some good old fashioned lubrication in preparation for the screwing you're likely to get this week from your representatives -- we use the term really really really loosely.

Tonight's City Council COW agenda (.pdf) is set to cover topics under Public Safety, Public Works and Procedures and Regulations.

Topics to be covered under Procedures and Regulations look to be particularly entertaining.

Once again it appears the 4th ward's Alderman James Allspaghetti has taken some liberty in clarifying the cover memorandum submitted for public review by the City Attorney -- Here's a link to the original cover memorandum and here's a link to the revised cover memorandum regarding Supermajority voting to override denials by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The revised language reads --

Alderman Allegretti states that this change is only directed at the ordinance adopted November 16, 2009, which he believes misstated the intent of the Council by requiring 6 votes instead of 5 votes as intended.

Our faithful PRU readers can review the videos of the November 16, 2009 meeting here -- the subject of supermajority voting is covered in videos #3, #4, and #5. So how about it PRU readers, do you think after talking the issue of supermajority voting to death, to borrow a phrase Ald. Allspaghetti so often likes to use, can any of the Aldermorons claim to not have been clear on what they were voting for or against?

And as everyone should understand by now, the only reason this issue has come up again is because Ald. Allspaghetti is doing his incompetent best to see to it Park Ridge has the privilege of billboards being erected within our borders. And in light of the legal cites and legal history surrounding the issues of billboards, zoning and fees -- the only question remaining is what exactly is in this for Aldermoron Allspaghetti, personally, because this guy has never worked this hard for any other single piece of City legislation in his entire term in office.

Also under Procedures and Regulations is a cover memorandum (.pdf) from City Manager Jim Hock discussing the District 207 Board of Education's proposal to add nominal interest to the deferred TIF payment from the City of Park Ridge -- and as we bantered back and forth in the comments on this post, it does indeed appear the discussion between the City Manager and the Board was, in fact, interesting.

Hopefully, the videos from tonight's meeting will be available for review at some point in the future!

Videos -- PRCC 1-18-2010! -- Addendum

For our very patient PRU readers --

video #00000.MTS PRCC 1/18/2010


Begins with the usual Council niceties

@01:12 mark -- Council proceeds through consent agenda

@01:34 mark -- Ald. Ryan requests removal of the Preservation Ord. from the consent agenda

@04:55 mark -- Ald. Wsol requests removal of the Dangerous Animal Ord. from the consent agenda

@05:12 mark -- Council votes to approve remaining consent agenda items

@05:28 mark -- Proclamation and recognition of Falcons Football Team begins

@10:40 mark -- Resident Mike Cavallo commandeers the podium microphone to address the Falcon's Football Team


video #00001.MTS PRCC 1/18/2010

Begins with State Senator Dan Kotowski announcing grants being given to the City of Park Ridge for Main St. repairs and the Uptown streetscape project

@02:35 mark -- Senator Kotowski tells a whopper!

@03:00 mark -- Mayor Schmidt channels the character of Oliver Twist

@03:29 mark -- Appointments to Boards and Commissions begins

@04:17 mark -- Council unanimously approves appointments to Boards and Commissions

@04:50 mark -- Mayor Schmidt offers comments on calls, emails and the Park Ridge O'Hare Airport Commission's desire to explore legal action. Mayor Schmidt also offers the PRU Crew's most favorite screwed-up quote of his administration so far, saying he can "guarantee you the City has not been doing anything" on the O'Hare issue.

@06:10 mark -- Mayor Schmidt mentions possible discussions the Park Ridge City Attorney may have in consultation with other attorneys about pursuing legal action against O'Hare expansion

@10:08 mark -- The City Council report begins with Ald. Wsol saying he will move to defer action on the Dangerous Animal Ord.

@11:15 mark -- Ald. Bach provides information from one of his neighbors, who is also a nurse, about free H1N1 vaccinations being available from Resurrection Health Care on January 21st, 29th, February 8th and 26th

@12:05 mark -- City Attorney Buzz Hill reports on requests for him to meet with out-of-State attorneys to discuss legal action against O'Hare expansion

@15:05 mark -- Ald. DiPietro suggests the current City Council be given copies of the Peotone Report, prepared in 2005 by former Aldermen Jim Radermacher and Mark Anderson. Our faithful PRU readers can scroll to the bottom of our post today to read the report. And you're welcome!

@19:30 mark -- Ald. DiPietro inquires as to the IOMA legality of Ald. Ryan's Saturday Budget Workhop suggestion for small-group discussions

@21:11 mark -- City Clerk asks that the February 1st Council meeting be moved to February 3rd

@23:39 mark -- City Manager asks for a motion to adjourn to closed session to discuss the purchase of leased or real property for the use of the public body pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 5 ( c ) 5

@24:18 mark -- Library Board chairman Shlomo Crandus addresses the Council with an update on Library activities

@34:14 mark -- Citizen's comments on non-agenda items begins with Herb Zuegel passing out "talking points" on the dire, urgent, the sky is falling! neeeeed for "senior housing" in Park Ridge

@41:30 mark -- Resident Mike Cavallo inquirs about a missing memorial marker from the Library grounds

@44:48 mark -- Reports of Boards and Commissions begins with Public Safety chairman Ald. Wsol moving to defer action on the Dangerous Animal Ord. until the Park Ridge Park District Attorney can determine what impact the ordinance will have on the Park District's dog park

@46:00 mark -- City Manager suggests the Park District Attorney should attend the next meeting when the ordinance is discussed

@46:40 mark -- Maryann Goebbo and her companion, Baron Von Goebbo, address the City Council


video #00002.MTS PRCC 1/18/2010


Begins with continuation of performance by Maryann Goebbo and Baron Von Goebbo

@01:06 mark -- Council unanimously votes to defer action on Dangerous Animal Ord.

@01:35 mark -- Ald. Sweeney begins Planning and Zoning report and moves to approve the Planning and Zoning recommendation on the the City's application for a Text Amendment to allow billboards in Park Ridge

@02:04 mark -- Ald. Allegretti speaks on behalf of Mr. Joseph Loss and Generation Group, Inc.

@02:20 mark -- Ald. Allegretti motions to withdraw the City's application for a Text Amendment

@02:30 mark -- Ald. DiPietro dons his parliamentarian hat

@03:13 mark -- Ald. Allegretti asks Ald. Sweeney to withdraw his motion

@03:43 mark -- Ald DiPietro again explains proper parliamentary procedure to the mopes who, as yet, don't have a clue what the hell they are doing

-- yakkety yakkety yak yak yak yakkety yakkety --

@07:12 mark -- City Attorney shows pity on a particular Council mope and offers appropriate procedural language for a motion

@07:27 mark -- Aldermope Allegretti motions to substitute for the whole his own motion to withdraw the City's appliation for a Text Amendment

@08:30 mark -- Resident Pat Livensparger addresses the Council

@09:40 mark -- Resident Dan Knight addresses the Council

@10:44 mark -- Generation Group's Joe Loss addresses the Council

-- yakkety yakkety yak yak yak yakkety yakkety --

@14:03 mark -- We know what Allegretti is, the only question left is, at what price?

@17:10 mark -- Council votes 4 (Ryan, Carey, Bach and Allegretti) to 3 (DiPietro, Sweeney and Wsol) to accept the motion to substitute for the whole a motion to withdraw the City's application for a Text Amendment

@18:14 mark -- Council votes unanimously to withdraw the City's application

@18:57 mark -- Schmidt reports on the Liquor License Review Board's meeting

@20:25 mark -- Procedures and Regulations discussion begins with motion to approve Preservation Ord.

@21:02 mark -- Note: Ald. Allegretti leaves the Council chamber

@24:15 mark -- Ald. Ryan moves -- sort of -- to amend the Preservation Ord.

@25:36 mark -- Resident Joan Sandrik addresses the Council

@27:04 mark -- Resident Judy Barclay addresses the Council

@28:30 mark -- Council would like to vote on the Preservation Ord. as amended by Ryan, but they must call Ald. Allegretti into the Counil chamber. Why? We aren't sure. It's not like he was present and paying attention to the discussion, or aware of the amended motion he would be voting on.

@29:29 mark -- Council votes to unanimously adopt the Preseration Ord. as amended

@30:25 mark -- Public Works discussion begins with Public Works Director Zingsheim detailing the glories of salting and plowing

@44:02 mark -- "The Council Pro" announces his departure from the chamber

@45:01 mark -- Ald. Bach motions to adjourn to closed session



Peotone Expenditure Report



Addendum -- It's come to our attention that after last evening's meeting a very thoughtful gesture was made by a resident, through a third party, for our benefit. The PRU Crew and I are touched and we offer our sincerest thank you.

Kindest regards to our unknown fan,

PRU.ADMIN

Budgets And Billboards And Other Business!

#1 -- City Council Budget Workshop!

We're told a handful of residents showed up at the City Council's Saturday Budget Workshop to take advantage of their first-ever opportunity to comment on planning of the City budget for the coming fiscal year. That's good! But -- just a handful? That's bad!

For those who didn't show up, Cecil B. deMelidosian's Motionbox magic can be viewed below. Unfortunately, somebody forgot to make sure the podium microphone was on and in working order, so it's very difficult to hear the presentations. However, the videos are still worth your time. And if your viewing time is limited, we suggest you begin with video #00002.MTS -- there's some very basic and understandable economic information offered by City Manager Jim Hock. The PRU Crew is hoping it was basic enough for the Aldermopes to understand.

PRCC Budget Workshop -- 1/16/2010 -- video #00000.MTS


PRCC Budget Workshop -- 1/16/2010 -- video #00001.MTS


PRCC Budget Workshop -- 1/16/2010 -- video #00002.MTS


PRCC Budget Workshop -- 1/16/2010 -- video #00003.MTS



#2 -- City Council Meeting Tonight!

For those interested in other topics of city business, you can view the Council's agenda and supporting documents for this evening's fun on the City website here.

The City Attorney's memo regarding billboards (.pdf) is a cite-ful joy to behold -- we can only hope nobody's thinking gets disrupted on the way to kicking this billboard bullshit out of town.

But just to demonstrate that the PRU Crew isn't opposed to all signage -- we feel we would have no objections to a sign displayed over the entrance to the City Council chamber.

Specifically...Primum_non_nocere. Why should only the medical profession be held to the highest ethical standards?

Minding The Store!

The PRU Crew has appreciated the many expressions of worry and relief we have received this week due to our choosing not to post anything Monday through Wednesday. We assure our faithful PRU readers that nothing was wrong -- PRU.ADMIN simply made the choice not to duplicate or distract from what the Pub-dogs seemed to be covering very well -- discussion of the City's budget in both their Monday and Wednesday posts.

And sometimes it's simply better to sit back and listen, rather than speak.

Our readers did as we expected and began clicking out to visit the Pub-dog's blog more frequently, and our meter tells us the Pub-dogs have picked up at least 5 more dedicated first-visit readers -- meaning people who read there first then come to PRU.

We don't mind.

On the issue of the City budget, one commenter to the Pub-dog's Monday posting offered, "This is the major issue facing this city right now." And we agree. Wholeheartedly.

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

Tomorrow the City Council will be meeting from 9 a.m. to noon in the City Hall Council Chamber for their first budget workshop to begin planning the City budget for the next fiscal year. The agenda (.pdf) for the meeting has a new, never-before-included line item -- IX. Resident comments.

The PRU Crew is hoping beyond hope the residents of Park Ridge take full advantage of this new opportunity to participate in democracy and our local government. We have our own ideas and opinions on the City budget but we are eager to hear yours.

And the PRU Crew is really really really looking forward to hearing what local resident and attorney Frank DiFranco has to say about his deep concern for the City budget, you know, beyond the issue of billboard revenues.

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?

Big Bucks and Billboards, Baby!

By now, anyone paying attention to the issue of a proposed zoning change to allow billboards to be put up in Park Ridge has also heard 4th Ward Aldermope James Allspaghetti chant, "I did want the City Council to have the final say on it because it's a substantial amount of revenue."

"...it's a substantial amount of revenue...it's a substantial amount of revenue..." echo echo echo

According to an online article in the Herald-Advocate -- 'Zoning panel's message: Don't place your ad here' -- "Allegretti said the city stands to receive $400,000 if the billboards are installed, with another $200,000 to be paid over 20 years" despite the fact the article also reports, "There is no proposed, written agreement stating how much revenue the city would actually receive, said City Manager Jim Hock."

Ignoring for the moment Ald. Allspaghetti's dangling of dollars before the dolts on the City Council -- with very few exceptions, those amounts aren't chump change, until you take a closer look at those amounts in the context of the City budget and the proposed 20 year permit term.

Last Spring, the City Council reviewed and passed a City budget of nearly $50 million with a planned-for deficit of roughly $2 million. After the City Council planned to spend more money than it took in, the Aldermopes promptly got down to the task of further subsidizing water usage by refusing to pass along the full amount of water rate increases from the City of Chicago to Park Ridge water users. Then the Aldermopes really got serious about the budget, after voting for more water usage subsidies, by immediately voting to exceed the budgeted amounts of taxpayer dollars annually gifted to various community groups -- an amount that totals almost $250,000.00.

One thing we can say, nobody is ever going to accuse the members of the City Council of being "conservative to a fault," at least not where fiscal management comes in.

So now Ald. Allspaghetti is very very very concerned about opportunities to bring in revenue for the City of Park Ridge, and he believes a one-time payment of $400,000.00 is so important that the entire Planning and Zoning process for independent review of land use matters should be altered.

Here we suggest the English majors skip ahead --

Let's do the math: ($2,000,000.00) + $400,000.00 = ($1,600,000.00)

Looky there. After receiving a one-time payment of $400,000.00 to allow billboards in Park Ridge, the City budget -- assuming nothing else changes -- would still have a budget hole of $1.6 million. And we get these billboards for 20 years.

And brush pick-up will still have been eliminated. And Public Works employees will still have been laid off. And Park Ridge will still experience flooding. And the Park Ridge sewer system will still need major upgrades. And Park Ridge streets, curbs, and gutters will still be in disrepair. And the Aldermopes will still spend our tax dollars like drunken sailors on shore leave.

Okay, we know what some of our faithful PRU readers may be thinking, "But PRU, what about the $200,000.00 over the next 20 years?" Okay, what about it? For an annual fee of $10,000.00 for billboards, fees that are supposed to cover annual inspection costs to the City, we're supposed to believe this billboard deal is some kind of good deal for Park Ridge, for the next 20 years?

We don't.

We don't feel Park Ridge's zoning ordinance should be for sale. We don't feel Park Ridge should be for sale. We used to feel it was bad enough when we thought City Hall was for sale. We would never have guessed we would be saying, "We miss those bad old days."

Try to enjoy the weekend.

The First Amendment and Billboards, Baby!

The PRU Crew has decided to cover the issue of billboards in Park Ridge with a slow and easy beginning. We will be attempting to address the many related issues over our next few posts.

Today we will be narrowly addressing the issues of billboard content and the First Amendment -- somebody may want to notify Park Ridge's Constitutional UNscholar, Ald. Don Bachtard.

For this week's edition of the Herald-Advocate, we're going to give PRUdos to our favorite local reporterette for coverage of the topics of billboards and the first amendment.

In Ms. Jennifer Johnson's article -- 'Officials mull how to keep control of billboards' content' -- we read, "If the Park Ridge City Council overturns the city's law prohibiting billboards it may have very little say about the type of advertisements that appear on them should the signs be erected along Interstate 294 as proposed.

City Attorney Everette "Buzz" Hill said that if the city changes its Zoning Ordinance to allow billboards, it cannot prohibit certain types of advertisements on the signs."

And there in lies the rub with the first amendment and free speech -- in short, if the speech is legal, then government must abide by "content neutral" standards in any attempt to regulate speech.

Ms. Johnson's article includes, "You're opening it up for a big gentlemen's-club sign at the entrance to Park Ridge," Planning and Zoning Commissioner Joe Baldi said last week."

Oh, Joe! Say it ain't so!

Oh, wait. Local zoning czar, Jack Owens, says it ain't so -- "Attorney Jack Owens, representing Joseph Loss and his company, Generation Group Inc., said his client's proposed billboards for Park Ridge would not contain any "salacious ads" or ads for adult entertainment.

"Generation Group includes in its legal arrangements with property owners that it will not advertise adult entertainment or any visual advertising of a salacious nature," Owens wrote in a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission. In addition the company "refuses to allow advertising for gentlemen's clubs, massage services, adult book store, sexual toys or DVDS," Owens wrote."

Phew! What a relief! No "gentlemen's clubs, massage services, adult book store, sexual toys or DVDS"

And in case anybody isn't familiar with "gentlemen's club" billboard advertising, here's what some of those billboards look like --

This photo accompanied another recent article in the Herald-Advocate


Hey! That's not nearly as steamy as we expected "gentlemen's club" billboards to be. We're not sure, but we just can't muster any real sense of offense at this billboard. "Gentlemen's clubs" are legal and this billboard is advertising a legal...uh...service?

Well, let's see what else is out there in the way of "gentlemen's club" billboard advertising.









Okay! That's more like it! Er, sorry -- what we meant to say is, yes, those are just terrible. Who wants to look at that while they're stuck in traffic.

Seriously, people -- while zoning czar Jack Owens and Commissioner Joe Baldi prattle on about billboard advertising for "gentlemen's clubs" and other advertising of an "adult nature," the PRU Crew is wondering if any of the following would be acceptable?

Better than an auto parts and tools calendar!


Your social conscience will be "lovin' it!"


It looks like liquor is quicker!





It's the real estate market that's gone cold!


Doctors, doing the work God forgot!


The ultimate in good hygiene!


Everybody hates lawyers, until they need one!


Don't forget what your mother said about underwear and accidents!




And borrowing a cue from Hustler Magazine, some for the ladies!





But rest assured people, zoning czar Jack Owens, attorney for Mr. Joseph Loss and Generation Group, Inc. promises "Generation Group includes in its legal arrangements with property owners that it will not advertise adult entertainment or any visual advertising of a salacious nature," Owens wrote in a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission. In addition the company "refuses to allow advertising for gentlemen's clubs, massage services, adult book store, sexual toys or DVDS."

Has anyone reviewed any of those "legal arrangements with property owners?"

What happens if and when Generation Group Inc. is sold to another company?

Addendum, for the searchers -- site map for proposed billboard locations (.pdf), last page of the Jack Owen's letter; note, Haeger Engineering's banner is conveniently placed over the homes along Manor Ln., and the site map does not include the residences to the north.

For those interested, you can view the Renaissance NW Highway LLC‎ property and the surrounding area through Google Maps.