Joliet alley policy gets a nod

A step was taken this week that could eventually lead to the re-closing of an alley that was reopened in September in what appeared to be a clash between the mayor and one of his critics.

The Joliet City Council Land Use and Legislative Committee voted 3-0 in favor of a formal policy that largely follows the policy that was used in 2012 to partially close the alley in the Cunningham Neighborhood at the request of residents. The policy next goes to the full council for a vote.

The alley was opened again last year after Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said he received complaints from neighbors about it being closed.

John Sheridan, an occasionally public critic of the mayor who lives along the alley and is president of the Cunningham Neighborhood Council, said he does not know of anyone who lives there who wanted the alley reopened.

Sheridan said a petition was passed last year, like it was in 2012, to get support for re-closure of the alley. Four people did not respond, but 16 of the 20 residents signed the petition. Sheridan said the block should not need to go through the process again once the policy is approved.

“I think they’ll play this game for a third time, but I don’t think it’s needed,” he said.

City officials decided to create a policy on alley closures after the second petition was turned in last year.

The alley behind Center Street was partially closed on one end to prevent quick getaways after residents grew weary of garage burglaries, thefts and marijuana smoking by youths behind their homes. It remained open on the other end to provide access to garages.

The policy outlined to the Land Use and Legislative Committee on Thursday would allow residents to petition to have an alley closed if city staff did not see any issues with the closure.

“In a previous case we went through this process,” Public Works Director Greg Ruddy told the committee when asked if such closures would be permanent. “It was considered a permanent closure, and then the alley was reopened.”

Ruddy avoided mentioning the specific location at first but as discussion continued it was apparent he was talking about the Center Street alley.

It was the only case in his 22 years as a city employee that residents petitioned to have an alley closed, said Ruddy, who handled the original closing.

He noted it was different from an alley being vacated in which people who live along the alley actually buy it. The city retained ownership of the Center Street alley when it was closed.

Committee members wanted two additions to the policy that would require that 75% of the residents who live along the alley support the closure and that it only be permitted for reasons of public safety.

Sheridan said the Center Street alley closure meets both requirements.