2011-05-23 Regular City Council Session

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amendment was to correct Mr. Sharpe’s vote on Bill 9116, where he only voted in the affirmative. F. APPOINTMENTS G. SWEARING IN Robert Preston was sworn in to the I.D.A. Board Robert Gadd was sworn in to the I.D.A. Board in the City Clerk’s office H. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION (Total of 15 minutes allowed) Elsie Beck Glickert, 6712 Etzel Ms. Glickert spoke on her concerns about what is happening to Ackert Plaza/Park, established 45 years ago, which runs from Delmar to Vernon. She said this park was created through a 2 ½ million dollar Urban Renewal Bond Issue in 1962. Ms. Glickert noted that Ackert Plaza was disposed of by the previous City Administration; an action which she said is in violation of the City Charter. She stated that by ordinance all City art monuments such as the Ackert Plaza Arch must go to the Historical Preservation Commission prior to removal, which was not done in this instance. Ms. Glickert asked if the narrowing of Delmar at this location came to the Council for consideration. She asked who had the authority and who was paying for the work in the plaza. Ms. Glickert also spoke against the Chuck Barry statue since this was tax supported property and should not be a tribute to a person of unsavory reputation. Laurie Shrive, 710 Limit Ms Shrive spoke on Bill 9112.As an art educator she noted that young kids just need healthy guidance and not what the bill proposed with a record and a fine. She suggested an idea of closing off the street to pedestrian traffic only. Ms. Shrive also suggested the use of volunteers of parents or community members to help guide and monitor events in the Loop. She also felt the major police presence scared away everybody. John Chasnsoff, 7475 Gannon Mr. Chasnoff stated that when his kids were in the Loop 12 or 13 years ago he felt the police did not handle the situation well at that time so this time he hoped that the community can come up with better approaches. He spoke about a training program for police called “Effective Police Interactions with Youth”, which provides them with the best approach to diffuse difficult situations. Mr. Chasnsoff said he would be happy to speak with the City and Police Department more about this program. th Edward Reggi, 500 N. 13 Street Mr. Reggi noted he was disappointed in Council putting off a decision on Bill 9112 and said he would make a demand that as to why current ordinance in the City’s Municipal Code 9.08.040 Disturbing the Peace, Section 2, is not used. He handed the City Clerk a petition of signatures he collected in the Loop and asked that it be entered into the record. Chad Baker, 6309 Cates Mr. Baker suggested a solution that was instituted in Boston is that they utilized the youth as a resource in order to find ways to get their peers to cooperate in the Loop. He said that closing off an area does not solve the problem as it will just keep moving around the region. Mr. Baker noted that the City should look into using empty or vacant spaces for youth to congregate.