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Burbank, "New Kid on the Block"
Marks 20th Year

Burbank, the new kid on the block among Chicago's suburbs, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

And, as they say, it's "come alongway, baby" in the short span of two decades.

Known as the "City of Champions" for the success of its high school and Little League teams, it has also attracted attention for its low-tax, no-nonsense, pay-as-you-go style of government.

The result is a loyal, stable, working-class population whose growth has been restricted only by the lack of vacant space for building.

Located across the street from Chicago's western border of Cicero Ave., between 75th and 87th streets with a jagged western limit that extends to Harlem Ave. at most points, Burbank was formed as much out of fear as a desire to incorporate.

Before incorporation, the area was sell-served by Stickney Township, which still cooperates with the city to avoid duplication of services, thereby cutting costs. However, towns on its borders — Chicago, Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, Bedford Park — were eager to annex some of the choice commercial sections in the township. With such essential services as water, sewers, streets and fire protection already in place, and desiring to control their own destiny in such matters as zoning, citizens voted 4,071 to 1,552 on April 4, 1970 to form the City of Burbank.

Contrary to common belief, Burbank was not named after "Beautiful Downtown" Burbank, Calif., though having the same name as the town made famous by Johnny Carson on his TV show has not hurt it. In fact, the mayor of Burbank, Calif., was a guest of honor at the local Burbank's 10th anniversary "Decade of Progress" celebration in 1980.

Why Burbank was selected as the name is not clear, though there was a Burbank School and a Burbank Manor Fire Department in the area before incorporation. Maybe the school was named for Luther Burbank, the famous horticulturist.

Perhaps continuity of administration has something to do with the town's success. Its first mayor, John W. Fitzgerald, still holds the office and three of today's aldermen — Eugene O. Mason, Daniel P. Sukel and Frank J. Radochonski — were members of the first council elected on June 13, 1970.

They were all members of the non-partisan Progressive Pioneer Coalition party put together by Louis S. Viverito, Democratic committeeman and Stickney Township supervisor, that won every office. In the 20 years few challengers have run against the administration, and no one has been successful.

It was the Burbank National Senior Little League All-Stars who brought national attention to the new suburb in 1978 when they made it to the World Series and came close to knocking off fabulous Taiwan, a collection of Little League super-stars that had lost only one game. In the decisive contest Burbank led at one point, 2 to 1, but finally lost, 3 to 2.

Both of Burbank's high schools have won the state football championship. St. Laurence captured the title in 1976, capping a run of glory years in which the school claimed five Catholic League titles and three Prep Bowls in addition to the state crown.

Reavis High School kept pace by winning the state title in 1982, after finishing second in 1980 and '81. The championship victory over the elite North Shore school. New Trier, in Dyche Stadium at Evanston was a sweet one for the Rams.

In basketball St. Laurence reached the state semifinals.

Coincidentally, before incorporation Mayor Fitz-

August 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 7


gerald was wrestling coach at Reavis and the school compiled a record that probably still stands nationally. In 20 years his teams amassed a 309-75-5 dual meet record, which was a national high school wrestling mark for a 20-year period. In that time the Rams captured three state titles and were runner-up three times. For three straight years they did not lose a meet. A star in this era was Willy Roy, who later coached the Chicago Sting soccer team and brought Chicago its first world championship in decades.

In taxes, 1989 marked the fourth straight year Burbank lowered its levy. The city's tax rate in 1988 was only 10 cents higher per $100 of assessed valuation than it was in the first year of incorporation. However, it should be pointed out that there was a greater discrepancy in a number of intervening years before the city started receiving substantial sales tax revenue from the shopping center at 75th and Cicero it created with innovative tax increment financing.

Other reasons for the low tax profile are that the city has never tried to live beyond its means, residents have been reasonable in their demands for services and improvements, bold methods have been adopted to cut expenses, and the city has seized every opportunity to obtain state and federal funds and to foster growth to boost its sales tax revenue.

In practicing grass roots government, Burbank's city fathers have followed a policy of putting major issues on the ballot for voters to decide.

For the first 10 years of its existence, Burbank saved a tidy sum by its "rent-a-cop" plan, the first in the county, in which it contracted with the Cook County Sheriff's office to provide police protection. Now the city has its own well-trained, professional force, but the lease plan delayed huge outlays for a building, equipment and laboratory expense until funds were accumulated for that purpose.

Page 8 / Illinois Municipal Review / August 1990


A master stroke was acquisition of 28 acres of vacant, non-tax producing federal government property at 7500 S. Cicero Ave. that has proved to be the most successful tax increment financing district in the state.

In 1983 Burbank authorized the issuance of $1,850,000 in bonds to subsidize the construction of the Burbank Town Center and Cub Foods, their first location in the Chicago area. Bond proceeds were used to demolish old structures on the property, pay for costs of grading due to poor site conditions, provide for street improvements and to bring utilities to the site.

It was contemplated that real estate taxes would be used until 1993 to pay principal and interest on the bonds. Due to the speed of building and the shopping center's success, however, excess funds have become available over and above that currently needed to pay the bonds. A sum of $500,000 was distributed to the 15 taxing districts in which the shopping center is located in 1988, another $500,000 in 1989 and City Treasurer Harry J. Klein has announced another $500,000 will be distributed next December.

It is projected that these payments will continue until 1993 when the full amount of taxes from the property, approximately $720,000, will be available for distribution.

None of these funds would have accrued to the city or the other taxing districts if city officials had not pressed the federal government to make the land available for commercial development instead of using it for some tax-exempt purpose.

Because Burbank's major thoroughfares are either county or state roads, these arteries have been modernized largely with funds from outside the city. Currently the city is in the midst of improving its residential streets.

Special elections have been held to permit citizens to decide if they wanted to change from a volunteer to a paid fire department (they did), reduce the number of aldermen from 14 to 7 (they did), change from the aforementioned leased police department to forming their own Force (they did), extend the city's boundaries to Harlem Ave. in most areas (they did), and to elect aldermen by wards instead of at-large (election by wards won).

Burbank was the first city in the state, and one of the first in the nation, to raise the drinking age to 21, which is now the state law. It was the first suburb in the Chicago area to get cable television.

When incorporated, Burbank's population was 26,608. The most recent census figures available put the population at 28,420, but this figure is expected to rise to over 30,000 when the 1990 census now underway is completed.

What is the key to Burbank's success? "When I look back," answers Mayor Fitzgerald, "I am struck by the over-all cooperation between the administration and the residents. This partnership continues and is reeforced each time issues are brought to the general public. Burbank is fortunate to be served by a dedicated City Council, a conscientious and sincere city clerk, a professionally capable, qualified and successful city treasurer, a fine working relationship with the Township of Stickney and progressive School Districts, Sanitary District, Park District and Library.

"But more than anything is the sincere support and concern of all our residents. All of this makes the entire partnership of government and citizens a pleasant, worthwhile effort." •

August 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 9


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