08-20-2002 Special MeetingJ-36-lOA
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE ELEANOR ROHRBACH MEMORIAL COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, DES PLAINES CIVIC CENTER, TUESDAY,
AUGUST 20, 2002
CALL TO ORDER: The SPECIAL meeting of the City Council of the City of Des
Plaines, Illinois, was called to order by Mayor Anthony
W. Arredia at 6:30 p.m. in the Eleanor Rohrbach Memorial
Council Chambers, Des Plaines Civic Center on Tuesday,
August 20, 2002.
ROLL CALL: Roll call indicated the following aldermen present:
Beauvais, Christiansen, Murphy, Sayad, Becker, Smith,
Argus. Alderman Brookman was absent. Alderman Brookman
arrived at 6:37 p.m.
Also present were: City Manager Miller, Assistant City Manager-EDC
Police Chief Ryan and City Attorney Wiltse. Director Schneider,
CONSIDERAT./
CASINO
GAMING LIC.
FOR
DES PLAINES:
Mayor Arredia gave a brief review of the agenda and the
order of business for this meeting.
City Attorney Wiltse gave a brief update of the status
of the gaming license and recommended that at some point
the City Council rescind Ordinance M-44-99, AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REVENUE PURSUANT TO THE
CALUMET CITY SOUTH SUBURBAN MAYORS AND MANAGERS
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT, inasmuch as there is no evidence
that the City of Des Plaines was ever approved for
membership by the Association.
MAYOR ARREDIA DECLARED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS NOW
RESOLVED INTO A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Alderman Sayad, Chair
Assistant City Manager-Economic Development Director
Schneider reviewed his memo of July 19, 2002, previously
sent to the aldermen regarding whether or not Des Plaines
should be a host community for a casino operator; it is
too late for a referendum on the November 5, 2002 General
Election ballot because Des Plaines may miss the deadline
to submit their intent to be a host community; the
aldermen have been provided with a very detailed
compilation of surveys by the Staff relating to this
subject.
Alderman Sayad requested Police Chief Ryan to review his
finds from his counterparts in communities with casinos
regarding the casino impact on police services. Police
Chief Ryan stated that after speaking to police managers
in Elgin and Joliet, he concluded that the opening of a
casino in Des Plaines would have a negligible impact on
police services; these communities also proved that a
casino had no negative effect on quality of life issues
in their area.
Alderman Sayad questioned Assistant City Manager
Schneider regarding the collection of revenues and who
would control the liquor license. Mr. Schneider stated
that the Illinois Gaming Board collects the revenue and
the Illinois State Liquor Commission controls the liquor
license.
CASINO
(Cont'd.)
DISCUSSION:
CITIZEN
COMMENTS:
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8/20/02
PAGE TWO
Mr. Neil Bluhm and Mr. Greg Carling, Midwest Gaming &
Entertainment LLC, d/b/a Lamb Partners, 900 N. Michigan
Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611, were introduced
and gave a power point presentation about their company
and the various projects they have been involved with,
i.e. Casino Niagara (Canada), Old Orchard shopping
center, Water Tower Place, Four Seasons Hotel; this will
be a first class facility; a casino project has about the
same impact on a city as a shopping mall or an office
complex, with minimal traffic impact, jobs increase, tax
revenues increase and most of the rest of the city is
unaffected by the casino.
Mr. Robert Glitz, 642 Parsons Avenue, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that he represents
Citizens of Des Plaines Against Gambling Expansion; he
grew up here; he chose to live here for family values;
he would not have bought a home here if there had been
a casino here.
Bishop C. J. Sprague, 1182 S. Plymouth
Chicago, IL 60605, addressed the Committee
stating that you promise a quick fix but
economics, bad public policy; does not
community life; gambling is a menace
destroyer of good government.
Court, lNE,
of the Whole
this is bad
improve the
to society;
Ms. Anita Bedell, Executive Director of Illinois Church
Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, addressed the
Committee of the Whole stating that gambling comes with
a high social cost-addiction, bankruptcy, crime and
corruption; compulsive gamblers may use food or rent
money, borrow from friends, pawn possessions or even
steal from the workplace; the effect on families is
devastating.
SPEAKING "FOR" DES PLAINES BECOMING A HOST COMMUNITY FOR
A GAMING CASINO WERE:
Former Mayor Mike Albrecht, 1368 Henry Avenue
Mr. Rick Ornberg, Executive Director, Des Plaines
Chamber of Commerce, 1401 Oakton Street
Mrs. Johanna Seranella, 1985 Busse Highway
Mrs. Ann Bahnsen, 321 Lynn Court
Mr. Art Lukowicz, 445 W. Millers Road
Ms. Mary Peglow, 2103 Sherwin Avenue
Mr. George Georganas, 481 Radcliffe Avenue
Mr. Michael O'Malley, 1395 E. Algonquin Road
Mr. Dave Jenkins, 917 North Avenue
Mr. Carl F. Kowalski, 156 Kathleen Drive
Mr. Ray Behnke, 1018 E. Grant Drive
Mr. Patrick D. Gillespie, 1038 Everett Lane (who also
presented to the City Clerk petitions gathered
at his place of business which showed 420
people for the casino and 80 against)
Mrs. Dawn O'Toole, 1838 Spruce Avenue
Ms. Helen Tipton, 1311 Prairie Avenue
Mr. Mike Stewart, 880 Lee Street
Mr. Tom Dore, 606 Berkshire Lane
Mrs. Edith Behnke, 1018 E. Grant Drive
Mr. Paul Saletnik, 320 Oxford Road
Mr. Mike Charewicz, 1375 S. Elmhurst Road
Mrs. Irene Serwa, 1011 Crabtree Lane
Mr. Steve Vels, 1019 Wicke Avenue
Mr. Terry Langan, 830 E. Algonquin Road
Mr. Rhys Read, 175 Lancaster Lane
Mr. Joe Tomsyck, 336 Radcliffe Avenue
Mr. Don Baron, 1022 Margret Street
Mr. Sam Seranella, 1985 Busse Highway
Mr. Chris Provenzano, 811 S. Lytle Street, Chicago
CASINO
(Cont'd. )
DISCUSSION:
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8/20/0 2
PAGE THREE
SPEAKING "AGAINST" DES PLAINES BECOMING A HOST COMMUNITY
FOR CASINO GAMING WERE:
Ms. Peggy Fergus, 1689 Estes Avenue
Mr. Brian Fergus, 1689 Estes Avenue
Mr. Mark Palmeri, 595 Webford Avenue
Ms. Lorraine Swanson, 1700 Woodland Avenue
Mr. Garry Danfield, 655 River Road
Mr. Vince Powers, 862 Webster Lane
Mr. Hub Dodge, 815 Pearson Street
Mr. Graham Hills, 301 Harvey
Mr. Harry Eisfeldt, 641 S. Sixth Avenue
Mrs. Wanda Glitz, 642 Parsons Avenue
Mr. Conrad Wojnar, 1394 Algonquin Road
State Representative Rosemary Mulligan, 856 E. Grant Dr.
Mr. Tom Tobin, 627 Parsons Avenue
Mr. Shawn Newman, 399 S. Cumberland Parkway
Ms. Betty Lonsby, 305 Stratford Road
Mr. Rick Bohan, 856 Margret Avenue
Mr. Robert Glitz, 642 Parsons Avenue
Mrs. Nancy Hoth, 1966 Birch Street
Ms. Cindy Ciero, 2591 Parkwood Lane
Mr. Jim Blue, 1771 Sherwood Road
Mr. Jay Stewart, Betty Government Association, Chicago
An IRS Agent (Bob), Lisle
Mr. Chris Anderson, 1889 Maple, Evanston (Gamblers
Recovery Center)
Mr. Tom Grey, 1631 Harlem Blvd., Rockford
Alderman Sayad asked Mr. Bluhm about job opportunities.
Mr. Bluhm said about 1,500 job will be created by this
project, but there may be more; they will try to hire Des
Plaines residents whenever possible.
Alderman Sayad asked Mr. Bluhm about setting up a charity
foundation. Mr. Bluhm said that he will certainly
consider that and they will give residents preference
when hiring; there will be an investment of $300 million
and they have to reimburse the present owner of the
license.
Alderman Argus thanked all the residents for coming to
the meeting and thanked the Staff for all their efforts;
people in her Ward are overwhelmingly for this project;
she pledged her commitment to be very responsible with
the money the City will receive.
Alderman Smith stated that this is a very important and
difficult issue before the aldermen tonight; he has
talked to a lot of people and found that most are for
this project; he did a survey and received 500 responses;
58% were in favor and 42% were opposed; reasons for
support were because of location and economics; but he
feels these are not good enough; he is not against this
on a personal level but this is not the direction he sees
for Des Plaines or what is good for Des Plaines; we have
done a poor job of managing this City for many, many
years; this would be very short sighted-a quick fi x for
solving our problems; is this the best we can do?; this
would not be a step forward.
Alderman Becker thanked all the residents that gave their
input tonight; this will be a long term investment for
Des Plaines; the citizens of the Sixth Ward have made
their wishes known to me; he is in favor of this project.
Alderman Brookman thanked all the residents here tonight
and those that sent E-mails to let the aldermen know how
they feel; this is a very complex and serious issue that
the City Council will ever consider; we must make a value
judgement that this is in the best interest of the whole
City; we take our jobs very seriously; based on the
survey she took in the Fifth Ward, if there was a
referendum, it would win overwhelmingly; we have t~~
listen to our residents. ~·
CASINO
(Cont'd.)
RESOLUTION
R-86-02
GAMING
LICENSE IN
DES PLAINES:
RESCIND
ORDINANCE
M-44-99
REVENUE
SHARING/
CALUMET CITY:
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8/20/02
PAGE FOUR
Alderman Sayad stated that he talked to many people in
his Ward and received E-mails and telephone calls; 375
were for the project and 31 were against.
Alderman Murphy thanked everyone involved in thi s
process. She asked Mr. Bluhm where the casino would be
located. Mr. Bluhm said that would be a decision between
the City and them; they have looked at various locations;
the site would be agreed to by all parties; it would not
be adjacent to a residential area.
Alderman Murphy stated that she did have some
reservations about this but she has gone door to door
(about 1,200 households); there was a common element in
those surveyed in that people felt that they voted no on
the referendum eight (8) years ago because they didn't
know that much about casinos; her survey showed a 3 to
1 ratio in support of the casino; they feel it will
provide economic relief; the tenth license is going to
be issued somewhere, why not Des Plaines?
Alderman Christiansen stated that he went door to door
in his Ward and 62 and a half said yes and 37 and a half
said no; a business located in his Ward did a survey and
out of 130, 82% were in favor of the project; we are
looking at $2 million in property taxes because of the
O'Hare Airport expansion; people using our food pantry
are growing in number; Mr. Bluhm comes with high
credentials; people against this project should not hold
it against the aldermen who vote for it; we will still
be your neighbors; even though people voted no on the
referendum, times have changed; everyone wants to see us
progress; the money will be phenomenal for the City; he
is going to be in favor of this.
Alderman Beauvais stated that she feels the aldermen are
not failing to do their jobs; Mr. Bluhm has come to us
because of our location to O'Hare Airport; Des Plaines
needs to start taking care of itself; she voted against
this in 1994, but too much has changed; she did a survey
from the telephone calls, petitions, etc., she has
received and 352 said yes and 118 said no; she will
support this because of the direction she has received
from her Ward.
Alderman Argus thanked Alderman Sayad for all his efforts
with this project.
Mayor Arred.ia stated that he is so proud to be mayor of
this City; we have had two ( 2) major issues face our
City-the NRA and this casino; he would like to invite the
opponents of the casino to help with guidelines for this
project; he thanked the aldermen for their efforts.
Moved by Becker, seconded by Sayad, to adopt Resolution
R-86-02, A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE CITY OF DES PLAINES
TO PROCEED WITH THE NECESSARY STEPS TO OBTAIN A GAMING
LICENSE FOR A SITE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY OF DES
PLAINES. Upon roll call, the vote was:
AYES: 7-Beauvais, Christiansen, Murphy,
Sayad, Brookman, Becker, Argus
NAYS: 1-Smith
ABSENT: 0-None
Motion declared carried.
Moved by Christiansen, seconded by Brookman, that City
Attorney be authorized to draft necessary ordinance to
rescind Ordinance M-44-99, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
ACCEPTANCE OF REVENUE PURSUANT TO THE CALUMET CITY SOUTH
SUBURBAN MAYORS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT.
Motion declared carried (further action on this matter
under Consent Agenda on September 3, 2002).
ADJOURNMENT:
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8/20/02
PAGE FIVE
Moved by Sayad, seconded by Becker, that the SPECIAL
meeting of the City Council adjourn. Motion declared
carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
onnaMCAlliSter, MMC -CITY CLERK