Public Safety Minutes 2005 08-11-05 A
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APPROVED 9/8/05
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Thursday,August 11,2005
6:30 pm
City Conference Room
Present:
Mayor Art Prochaska Police Chief Harold Martin
Alderwoman Rose Spears Tanya Riva,resident
Alderwoman Wanda Ohare Jorie Johnnic,resident
Alderman Dean Wolfer Sandra Adams, Planning Commission
Alderman Joe Besco Jeff Lacey,resident
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm by Wanda Ohare
1. Approval/Correction of Minutes: None
2. Police Reports for July 2005—There was an increase in the burglary of vehicles and
criminal damage of property to vehicles and on construction sites. 4 new officers are
scheduled to be hired. 2 in November and 2 in April.
Some residents are requesting a stop sign be put in at Walsh Dr. and Walsh Cir. A
warrant study would have to be done, and because of the sight distance,maybe some kind
of sign would be allowed. This will be taken to Public Works, and in the meantime, a
speed trailer could be used there occasionally.
Restrictive Parking Ordinance - Sandra Adams, a resident on Bruell St. would like
to see the ordinance put in place and enforced. The truck and trailer in question on
Bruell St. normally parks in front of the Fire Hydrant. The truck is a B plate and the
trailer is a D plate. The truck is now parking in the Swim Club parking lot,backing
the trailer into the trees. The current ordinance is for off street parking, not allowing
commercial vehicles in a private drive. Non-commercial vehicles or trailers are
allowed in the drive. Off street parking spaces may be located in any yard, except the
front yard. There was discussion that if a B plate is allowed in the street,that it should
also be allowed in the driveway. The Wire Wizard, located on Center Parkway and
Blackberry Lane has 4 vans in his driveway, and the vehicles block the sidewalk, and
violate the current ordinance. The vehicles do not belong there according to current
ordinance, and customers coming to purchase his product also cannot park in his
driveway. There are a lot of residents who block the sidewalk with their vehicles.
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Chief Martin said that nowadays there are so many ordinances,that you can pretty
much write anybody a ticket for anything, and the police enforce things of this nature
when it is brought up to them. Alderwoman Spears pointed out that in the past the
police have issued the Wire Wizard a citation or warning, and the Wire Wizard drove
around the neighborhood and compiled a list of all the people who violated an
ordinance, their address, and what the violation was. Since B plates are currently
allowed on the street, a provision should be added to allow B plates and under in the
driveway or front yard in accordance with the building code and the rest of the parking
ordinance. Bill Dettmer in Building and Zoning will be contacted to make sure that
ordinance will be able to allow this. Boats and other vehicles are allowed if there is a
paved surface for them to park on. This will come back to the next Public Safety
meeting.
3. DVD System for M-12—This was in the 04/05 budget, and it was discovered the
funds were not in the Capital Fund after all. Chief Martin is requesting the funds
come from the Capital Reserve Fund. This system is for Officer Delaney's vehicle for
accident reconstruction and Truck Enforcement. He has no equipment in his vehicle
currently for this. The COPS Grant for$24,000 was put into the Capital Reserve
Fund. This will move on to COW.
4. Purchase of Chevy Tahoe - It was in the budget to purchase an Expedition,but Ford
will not sell to the City of Yorkville. $26,000 was budgeted, and the Tahoe will cost
$28,709. The difference in price can come from the reserve. The Aldermen voted,
and they agree to the additional expense.
6. K-9 Bomb Dog—Cook County's Master Trainer has a 1 %Z year old German Shepherd
he is willing to donate to the City of Yorkville. The Master Trainer is also willing to
train the dog and handler at no cost. The dog will be certified by the Training Board.
Yorkville already have drug and tracking dogs. A drug dog cannot be crossed with a
bomb dog. Both dogs can track. This will be the only bomb dog in the county. Both
of Yorkville's drug dogs are in the twilight of their careers. A dog's career only lasts
about 8 years. This proposal would mean maintaining 3 dogs until another dog retires.
Chief Martin will look into whether or not the Moose or other places would be willing
donate money for this dog, or the school could do a fund raiser, or a sponsorship could
be looked into. The committee recommends accepting and maintaining this dog. This
will move on to COW.
7. Generator and Air-Conditioning Enclosure—FYI—Chief Martin is waiting to hear
back from Eric Dhuse on this issue. This would be to fence in the generator and the
Air Conditioning unit. It was asked if the fencing would be solid or chain link. Chain
link would not block the airflow to the equipment. It is not known at this time what
kind of fence Eric Dhuse is inquiring about,but when the quotes come back, it will be
found out.
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8. Crossing Signs—FYI—Chief Martin had the officers inspect the railroad signs and
gave the General Manager at Illinois RailNet a list of the ones that needed replacing.
The Train Master will have to look at the signs and see what they will do. The
Railroad is responsible for the signs. This will come back as an FYI.
9. Additional Business—Alderman Wolfer wanted Chief Martin to thank Barry Groesch
for his work on camp 911.
Alderman Besco said with the West Nile Virus popping up,he would like to have
Clark spray for mosquitoes and drop the briquettes in the sewer. He would like the 2nd
application to be done now, and then have a 3`d application be done later, and possibly
have the contingency fund pay for this extra cost. This will move on to COW in
conjunction with Public Works. Alderman Besco also stated that Wholesale Tires has
a pile of tires lined up behind their building which is a fire hazard as well as a
mosquito magnet. They charge a tire disposal fee to their customers, so this should be
taken care of Bill Dettmer will be contacted and he will have this taken care of
ASAP.
Alderwoman Ohare would like to have an update on the new Cadet, and would like to
meet him at the City Council meeting on August 23rd. Chief Martin said his name is
Behr.
Alderwoman Ohare also wanted to ask about proper lighting and signs in private strip
malls. Alderwoman Spears asked if there was anything in the building codes where
they would have to keep up the equipment as well as the signs. This is Bill Dettmer's
department. Bill will be asked to come to the next Public Safety meeting.
Alderwoman Ohare also wanted say now that the alarm fees have been addressed, she
would like to address the business registration fees. This will come back in the future.
The alarm fees will be published in the city newsletters, neighborhood watch
newsletters, newspapers, and possibly on TV or on the radio. Also someone should sit
down with the school district and discuss with them that they are not affected with the
fees, but stress the fact they are setting off the alarm so many times every month.
There is an old chair on the tennis court at the Pool/ Swim Club that needs to be
removed. There is a disagreement about who owns that property, if it is the city, the
Lions Club, or the YMCA. Maybe Public Works could get the trash to pick it up?
They will be contacted to have it removed. Also there are many vehicles parking there
that maybe should not be. If there is still work being done there the vehicles are fine.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Minutes,.submitted by Laura Leppert.