Chicago City Wire

City of Prospect Heights City Council met Nov. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – at 6:30 PM, Mayor Ludvigsen called to order the November 13, 2023 Prospect Heights City Council Meeting at City Hall, 8 North Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights, IL 60070.

Deputy Clerk Schultheis read the preamble to the meeting. Deputy Clerk Schultheis called roll. A quorum was present.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT - Mayor Ludvigsen, Treasurer Tibbits Aldermen - Dolick, Dash, Cameron, Anderson, Morgan-Adams

ABSENT - City Clerk Prisiajniouk - with prior notification

OTHER OFFICIALS PRESENT - City Administrator Wade, Assistant City Administrator Falcone, Police Chief Caponigro, Public Works Director Roscoe, Director of Building and Development Peterson, Attorney Hess, Assistant Finance Director Tannehill, Digital Communication Technician Colvin, Deputy Clerk Schultheis

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - led by Mayor Ludvigsen

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

A.October 23, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Alderman Morgan-Adams moved to approve the October 23, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes as presented; seconded by Alderman Anderson. There was unanimous approval. 

ROLL CALL VOTE: 

AYES - Cameron, Anderson, Dash, Dolick

NAYS - None

ABSENT - None

ABSTAIN - Morgan-Adams

Motion carried 4 0, one abstention

PRESENTATIONS - None

APPOINTMENTS, CONFIRMATIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS 

A.Reappointment of William Kearns to the Prospect Heights Police Pension Board (2 year Term) - Alderman Dolick moved to approve Reappointment of William Kearns to the Prospect Heights Police Pension Board (2-year Term); seconded by Alderman Morgan-Adams. There was unanimous approval.

ROLL CALL VOTE: 

AYES – Anderson, Morgan-Adams, Dash, Dolick, Cameron

NAYS -  None

ABSENT - None

Motion carried 5 - 0

CONSENT AGENDA - None

OLD BUSINESS 

A.Presentation by ML Development, of Development Plan for 506-508 Camp McDonald Road, Rezoning Property R1 to R2 and Request for Referral to Plan Commission Zoning Board - Project Architect John Schiess said that the developer was conceding to the will of the residents and what he perceived was the feeling of the City Council, and asked that the application be tabled. He said that a different project would be considered in which single family homes would developed. He noted that this decision to table the application was only "minutes old," and that the Staff and Council had not been made aware of this decision previously. – TABLED BY REQUEST OF APPLICANT. 

NEW BUSINESS 

A. Request for 1st Read Waiver O-23-26 Staff Memo and Ordinance establishing a Class B Liquor License for Armanetti Liquors, 1 North Wolf Road, Prospect Heights (1st Reading) – Alderman Dolick moved to approve request for waiver of First Reading O-23-26 Staff Memo and Ordinance establishing a Class B Liquor License for Armanetti Liquors, 1 North Wolf Road, Prospect Heights; seconded by Alderman Cameron. There was unanimous approval. 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES - Morgan-Adams, Dash, Dolick, Cameron, Anderson

NAYS - None 

ABSENT - None

Motion carried 5-0

B.O-23-26 Staff Memo and Ordinance approval establishing a Class B Liquor License for Armanetti Liquors, 1 North Wolf Road, Prospect Heights (2nd Reading) - Alderman Morgan-Adams moved to approve 0-23-26 Staff Memo and Ordinance approval establishing a Class B Liquor License for Armanetti Liquors, 1 North Wolf Road, Prospect Heights (2nd Reading); seconded by Alderman Anderson. There was unanimous approval. 

ROLL CALL VOTE: 

AYES - Dash, Dolick, Cameron, Anderson, Morgan-Adams

NAYS - None

ABSENT - None 

Motion carried 5-0

C.R-23-30 Staff Memo and Resolution for Subdivision, 1418 E. Olive Street, Arlington Heights - Alderman Dash moved to approve R-23-30 Staff Memo and Resolution for Subdivision,1418 E. Olive Street, Arlington Heights; seconded by Alderman Dolick.

Discussion - Director Peterson said that there were a number of lots platted prior to 1998. In 1998, the City Council passed an ordinance that required any sub lots or metes and bounds lots to become their own single lot of record. This lot is one of three lots that made up an entire lot off of Olive Street. As such the building of a new house required the owners to create their own subdivision. It is an administrative requirement and it was passed unanimously by the PZBA. There was unanimous approval. 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES - Dolick, Cameron, Anderson, Morgan-Adams, Dash

NAYS - None

ABSENT - None

Motion carried 5-0

D.O-23-27 Staff Memo and Ordinance Approval a Variation for Reduced Corner Side Yard and Reduced Reverse Corner Side Yard for 408 Nawata Place, Prospect Heights (1st Reading) action taken. 

E.O-23-28 Staff Memo and Ordinance Approving the Addition of a Municipal Tree Ordinance to the Prospect Heights City Code (1st Reading) – no action taken.

STAFF, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND COMMISSION REPORTS 

City Council elected officials wished the residents a Happy Thanksgiving.

Public Works Director Roscoe - said that the City of Prospect Heights has been an award winner for the Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA for over 20 years. There was a recent audit regarding city codes and how they reflect on tree damage. The Foundation has asked the City to make some clerical changes to meet the Foundation profile. He said that the changes requested will not impact the residents or the neighborhood in any negative way. It requires that the City not plant problem trees like weeping or golden willows, and things such as that. That code change will be presented to the Council at the November 27, 2023 City Council meeting.

City Administrator Wade - state that the Natural Resources Commission asked about a burn of the prairie. He added that NRC President Wojnarski is a burn manager, and this burn has been done for several years. They submit an application to the IEPA that just came in, and they need to have the consent of the Council to conduct the burn. The general consensus of the Council was to allow the burn to proceed. 

Police Chief Caponigro – said that the Police Department with their volunteers will be collecting food for 60-90 families. Food will be collected at Tony's Finer Foods, and sorted at Harper College to be distributed.

Public Works Director Roscoe - noted the November 25 Tree Lighting at the Gary Morava Center at 5 PM. It will feature Santa and carolers, hot chocolate and cookies from the Lions Club and Garden Club.

11. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS 

A. Approval of Expenditures

General Fund $116,650.47

Motor Fuel Tax Fund $0.00

Tourism District $6,541.39

Solid Waste Fund $31,105.00

Drug Enforcement Agency Fund $595.18

Palatine Road Tax Increment Financing $0.00

Special Service Area #1 $0.00

Special Service Area #2 $0.00

Special Service Area #3 $0.00

Special Service Area #4 $0.00 

Special Service Area #5 $0.00

Special Service Area - Constr #6 (Water Main) $0.00

Special Service Area - #8 Levee Wall #37 $0.00

Capital Improvements $181,337.30

Special Service Area - Debt #6 $605.00

Road Construction Debt $0.00

Water Fund $47,277.70

Parking Fund $333.58

Sanitary Sewer Fund $10,669.70

Road/Building Bond Escrow $1,500.00

TOTAL $396,615.32 

Wire Payments 

11/01/2023 LONGEVITY/PUBLIC WORKS SPECIALITY PAY CHECKS $20,163.56 

11/03/2023 PAYROLL $181,771.70 

TOTAL WARRANT $598,550.58 

Deputy Clerk Schultheis read the warrants.

Alderman Morgan-Adams moved to Approve the warrants as presented; seconded by Alderman Cameron to include a TOTAL of $396,615.32; 11/01/2023 LONGEVITY/PUBLIC WORKS SPECIALITY PAY CHECKS of $20,163.56; 11/03/2023 Payroll of $181,771.70; and a TOTAL WARRANT of $598,550.58. There was unanimous approval. 

ROLL CALL VOTE: 

AYES - Cameron, Anderson, Morgan-Adams, Dash, Dolick 

NAYS - None

ABSENT - None

Motion carried 5-0

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA MATTERS (Five Minute Time Limit)/PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS (Five Minute Time Limit) 

Alan Kossof – 11 E Leon Lane - called Prospect Heights "the envy of other communities." He was happy that developer had tabled the Camp McDonald development. He would like 506-508 Camp McDonald to remain R1 zoning. He said that 450 signatures had been acquired by residents to preserve the R1 status. He noted that the issue was density, and that is why he was against the development.

Peter Gittlen - 106 W Elaine Circle - said that the City should consider turning the area into a park. he said that it had a natural grasses and trees.

TH Tuttland - 1581 Cove Drive - said she wanted to address "the power of rezoning." She asked the Council of any members had attended a dam safety inspections meeting. She said the Regulatory Commission gave a presentation. She said that flooding was discussed. She questioned if the City was prepared for potential flooding events. She said that the City had allowed a plastic manufacturing plant in the "the backyard of a populated area.” She noted a multi-family project that she said was not approved by the residents in that area. She said that multi-family would impact the police and fire district in terms of being able to provide protection. She did not believe that people who live in multi-family dwellings are award of community developments. She said "wisdom not tax dollars" should be used a guide to rezoning.

Meaghan Fastert - 504 East Camp McDonald - said she lives right next to where the development was proposed. She thanked her neighbors for their support and the developers for tabling the development. She said that she wanted the area to keep its safe, family-oriented.

Karen Kaspar - 413 Walden Ct - said she represents the history of Prospect Heights, because her parents Dick and June Wolf were founders of Prospect Heights. The founders started the City to save the character of Prospect Heights. She has lived in Prospect Heights for 55 years. Mayor Ludvigsen noted that he has also lived in Prospect Heights for 55 years.

Janet Fuller - 905 E Camp McDonald – said she moved to Prospect Heights in 1983. She thanked the developers for reconsidering the multifamily project. Said that she was on the McDonald Creek Commissions. She said that she understands the flooding issues of the City. She is concerned that if there was a development, there would be more water issues. She said that the City is fortunate that the City has kept trees and quiet spaces. She likes the idea of a park. She wants to keep the area R1. She said Prospect Heights may not have the amount of land of other communities but it does have the beauty.

Rich Tibbits - 209 S Elmhurst Road – Moved to Prospect Heights in 1979. Said he would like to see the City have a unified water system, mostly for fire protection. Took an impromptu survey of the audience, and asked the residents in attendance if they would like to see a unified water system. Only a small percentage of those in attendance raised their hands in support.

Peter Szatko – 702 Greco Court -said that there are three conditions that would make water system practical 1) letting residents keep their wells 2) make it affordable 3) make it voluntary

Mr. Tibbits rebutted that the City has an ordinance that would allow anyone who wanted to keep their well. He added that he did not know what the cost would be.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – (No Items)

ADJOURNMENT - At 7:22 PM, Alderman Morgan-Adams moved to Adjourn; seconded by Alderman Cameron. There was unanimous approval. 

VOICE VOTE: 

All Ayes, No nays.

Motion carried 5-0

Approved by the City Council of Prospect Height this the 27th day of November, 2023.

https://www.prospect-heights.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11132023-1378