City of Geneva City Council met July 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
The July 17, 2023 meeting of the Geneva City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall by Mayor Kevin Burns.
Elected Officials present:
Alderpersons: Anaïs Bowring, Mike Bruno, Becky Hruby, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Martha Paschke, Robert Swanson.
Mayor Kevin Burns, City Clerk Vicki Kellick.
Elected Officials attending by video or teleconference: None.
Elected Officials absent: Brad Kosirog, Richard Marks, Amy Mayer.
Others Present: City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins, Assistant City Administrator Ben McCready, City Attorney Ron Sandack, Electric Division Superintendent Aaron Holton, Street Division Superintendent Nate Landers, Water Division Superintendent Bob Van Gyseghem, Public Works Director Rich Babica, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Finance Director Rita Kruse, Economic Development Director Cathleen Tymoszenko.
Others attending by video or teleconference: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge was led by robotics mentor Mr. Wilson and members of the Geneva Robovikes team.
PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS
Geneva High School Robotics Team Presentation
Mayor Burns welcomed the Geneva Robovikes robotics team to the meeting. Soren Larson, Alex Kellick, Nick Svoboda, Reava Kakadiya, and Catelyn Schleyer to the meeting. These students and 2023 graduates provided information about the Robovikes team at Geneva High School. The team was first established in 2009, is comprised of approximately 25 members, and is 100% student-run. Ms. Aceto is the teacher who currently serves as advisor, and Mr. Wilson is the mentor who helps to advise the team.
The students provided a presentation in which they explained that each year, the team competes at the First Robotics Competition. This is an international competition for high school students in which 26 countries compete. Teams have three months to design, build, and code a 120-lb. robot from scratch. The rules of the competition are released in January and the team has nine weeks to complete the robot. The team members then had the robot, named Valkyrie, exhibit its skills by picking up cones and cubes and placing them into designated positions on the Chamber floor.
Team members explained that the team requires at least $20,000 each year to build and compete with the World Championships costing an additional $20,000- $30,000. The team receives no funding from GHS but raises money from team fees, fundraisers, and community support. The team noted that the community can help the Robovikes by providing mentorship from community members, financial donations and sponsorships from local businesses, and in-kind donations of tools and equipment. The team asks interested individuals and businesses to contact them at robovikes@geneva304.com or visit their website at genevarobovikes.com.
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None.
OMNIBUS AGENDA
All Items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a council member so requests in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda. All items on the Omnibus Agenda require a simple majority vote unless otherwise indicated.
*APPROVE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM JULY 3, 2023
*REPORTS
*July Revenue Report
*COUNCIL COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
*Approve Resolution No. 2023-75 Authorizing City Administrator to Purchase a Bobcat Skid Steer Loader in an amount not to exceed $70,013.00. *Approve Resolution No. 2023-76 Awarding Bid to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Engineering Services, Inc. for Replacement Generator and Line Protection Relays and Engineering Support in the amount of $176,034.00. Moved by Ald. Bowring, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.
Roll call:
AYES: 7 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Maladra, Paschke, Swanson)
ABSENT: 3 (Kosirog, Marks, Mayer)
NAYS: 0
MOTION CARRIED
OTHER ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE
None.
MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT: $4,600,484.63
Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Kilburg.
Roll call:
AYES: 7 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Maladra, Paschke, Swanson)
ABSENT: 3 (Kosirog, Marks, Mayer)
NAYS: 0
MOTION CARRIED
PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT / NEW BUSINESS
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jay Rule appeared before the Council to state that he had contacted Chelsea Freeman at Sedgwick who stated that the tree fell at his home because of the wind. Mr. Rule had questions for Ms. Freeman which he stated she did not answer. He commented that she did not fully explore the cause of the falling tree. He stated that it is not his desire to “drag your and my town through the mud publicly” and asked for a meeting with a ranking public official and will contact the media if he does not receive such a meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Ald. Bruno stated that he had received a complaint from a resident with a small lot regarding a concern about a beekeeping neighbor. As the City ordinance is mute on the issue, he asked for a consensus to bring the topic of introducing wording to address residential beekeeping to the City. In response to a question on the matter by Ald. Bowring, Mayor Burns stated that the code enforcement officer verified that the owner of the hives had moved the hives and further from the property line. Upon a question by Mayor Burns, no alderpersons objected to further consideration of the topic.
Ald. Kilburg stated that recently, three youths tried to break into unlocked cars on the East Side of the City. He asked residents to lock vehicles parked in driveways and on streets.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, moved by Ald. Bowring to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting.
MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote of those present. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 PM.
https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07172023-2181
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