Submitted By
Shatonya Johnson, Chief of Police and Paul L. Stephanides, Village Attorney
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (“Motor Vehicles and Traffic”), Article 1 (“In General”) and Article 10 (Towing, Immobilization and Impoundment of Motor Vehicles of Motor Vehicles Containing Unlawful Firearms”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Designate Certain Streets in the Village as Tow Zones as Discussed by the Village Board at the May 8, 2023 Board Meeting
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Overview
Overview
The proposed Ordinance establishes tow zones in the Village at the 1150-1200 blocks of South Cuyler, Highland, and Harvey Avenues from 10:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., seven days a week. The ordinance would allow residential-only parking during these times, including guests of residents through the Village’s parking permit system. The Ordinance is in response to long-standing resident complaints regarding the unruly late-night behavior of patrons of Mike’s Place Sports Bar and Grill, located at 6319 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, Illinois.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Background
The business at 6319 Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn known as Mike’s Place Sports Bar and Grill has been the source of numerous late-night disturbances that have spilled over into Oak Park on the 1150 blocks of S. Cuyler, S. Harvey, and S. Highland Avenues. Over the years, the Police Department has implemented various strategies to address the quality of life calls for services, including public intoxication, fighting, littering, urinating, and other inappropriate behavior.
Initially, while maintaining regular communication with the residents, the Police Department made the following efforts:
1. Communicating with the owner of Mike’s Place;
2. Mike’s patrons were initially parking in the Dollar Tree’s parking lot located at 6226 Roosevelt Rd;
3. Implemented ‘Resident Only’ parking restrictions on the 1150 blocks of S. Cuyler, S. Highland Ave, and S. Harvey Avenues;
4. Deployed the speed trailer and displayed “Resident Only Parking;”
5. Strictly enforced parking restrictions;
6. Met with residents from the 1150 block of S. Cuyler Avenue;
7. Met with Berwyn Police Department’s leadership;
8. Obtained advanced notice of special events from the management staff at Mike’s Place; and
9. Closely monitored the area on the night of special events.
These strategies were short-lived solutions to a problem that has been developing into more serious with the occurrence of violent incidents. In early February, the Police Department held a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the temporary solution that was instituted until a permanent plan could be implemented. Effective January 2023, the Police Department initiated an overtime detail designed to provide a consistent, sustained, and highly visible police presence on weekends near Mike’s Place. Three officers were assigned to stationary posts on the 1150 block of S. Cuyler, Highland, and Harvey Avenues from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The officers’ primary responsibilities were to advise patrons of the parking restriction and direct them to park elsewhere. While the feedback from both officers and residents has been positive, this practice is not sustainable and cost prohibitive.
The Police Department would contract with the current towing company at no additional cost to tow all non-residential vehicles violating the parking restriction pursuant to the Ordinance. Block residents would override the tow zone restriction by possessing an active annual Village vehicle license. Block residents with an active Village vehicle license could also obtain guest passes through the new ParkOakPark application to override the tow zone restriction. No physical permits or passes would be issued and compliance would be enforced via a vehicle’s license plate number.
Fiscal Impact
N/A
DEI Impact
The Ordinance is in response to multiple complaints from residents regarding patrons of a minority-owned business, Mike’s Place Sports Bar and Grill at 6319 Roosevelt Road in Berwyn. The Department has identified an increased number of calls for service requiring police response associated with this business (disturbances, public urination, fights). In addition, there have been several high-profile incidents, including 2 shootings (one in May 2022 and one in November 2022). This is despite previous efforts to address these issues with a resident-only parking restriction that allowed police officers to cite, but not tow, vehicles parked on the applicable blocks that were not registered to residents.
The resident-only restriction has largely been ignored, with only 36% of citations actually being paid as of December 2022. The Police Department has engaged in outreach with impacted residents and the business owner as well. A widely attended community meeting was held in early February 2023. At this meeting, was not only concerned Oak Park residents, but the owner of Mike’s place as well. There will be continues engagement in every aspect of this process. This proposal also takes into consideration the environmental impacts of an increased tow truck presence in Oak Park.
Alternatives
Not adopt the Ordinance.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
• Public notice through the install signage.
• Community engagement - Notify the residents of the adoption of the Ordinance and the applicable tow zones.
• Police Department presence during the initial implementation of the tow zones.
• Proactive communication - Notify Mike’s Place and request it warn its patrons of the tow zones.
• Staff will continue to monitor the impacted blocks and evaluate the effectiveness of the tow zones on those blocks.
• The installation of the speed table at the 1150 block of S. Cuyler Ave. by the Public Works Department is scheduled for summer 2023.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A