Kane County Reporter

City of Batavia Committee of the Whole met Sept. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Please NOTE: These minutes are not a word-for-word transcription of the statements made at the meeting, nor intended to be a comprehensive review of all discussions. They are intended to make an official record of the actions taken by the Committee/City Council, and to include some description of discussion points as understood by the minute-taker. They may not reference some of the individual attendee’s comments, nor the complete comments if referenced.

Chair Wolff called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

1. Roll Call

Members Present: Ald. Beck, Ald. Pieper, Ald. Chanzit, Ald. Solfa, Ald. Wolff, Ald. Baerren, Ald. Leman, Ald. Ajazi, Ald. Malay, Ald. Uher, Ald. Cerone

Members Absent: Ald. Miller, Ald. Lanci and Ald. Vogelsinger

Also Present: Mayor Schielke; Laura Newman, City Administrator; Wendy Bednarek, Director of Human Resources; Gary Holm, Director of Public Works; Max Weiss, Management Analyst; Craig Hason, Fire Chief and Karen Morley, Recording Secretary

2. Reminder: Please speak into the microphone for BATV recording 3. Approve Minutes for: July 11, 2023, July 18, 2023, July 25, 2023 and August 22, 2023

Motion: To recommend approval of minutes for July 11, 2023, July 18, 2023, July 25, 2023 and August 22, 2023

Maker: Uher

Second: Solfa

Voice Vote: 11 Ayes, 0 Nays, 3 Absent

3. Items to be Removed/Added or Changed

4. Matters from the Public (For Items NOT on Agenda)

None.

6. Consent Agenda:

(The consent agenda is made up of items recommended by city staff that require recommendation to the full City Council by the Cow. This agenda is placed as a separate item of the COW agenda. The items on the consent agenda are usually minor items, already budgeted, standard non-policy activities or outgrowths of earlier meetings and are voted on as a “package” in the interest of saving time on non-controversial issues. However, any council member may, by simple request, have an item removed and placed on the “regular” agenda.).

a. Resolution 23-106-R: Request For an Extension Of Validity For The Final Plat For Batavia Logistics Center Subdivision – Variation From The Subdivision Regulations (DR) CD

b. Resolution 23-107-R: Request For An Extension Of Validity For The Final Plat For Windmill Place Unit 1 First Resubdivision – Variation From The Subdivision Regulations (ZE 9/07/23) CD

c. Resolution 23-111-R: Authorizing Support of Participation in the 2023 Safe Routes to School Grant Program (CB 8/24/23) CS

d. Resolution 23-114-R: Awarding a sculptural commission for the West Side Cemetery Columbarium (GH 9/08/23) CS

e. Resolution 23-110-R: IDOT Resolution for Construction on State Highways (JPB 08/22/23) PU

f. Resolution 23-112-R: Approving 12kV and 35kV Installation Along Raddant Road (SA 09/06/23) PU

g. Resolution 23-113-R: Approving Directional Bore for 1401 N Kirk 35kV Electric Service (SA 09/06/23) PU

h. Resolution 23-115-R: Approving Task Order #14 with Power System Engineering to provide Design Engineering Services for Main Substation Rebuild for an amount not to exceed $182,750.00 (RB 09/07/23)

i. Approval: Class G Special Use Liquor License – Bar Evolution – Batavia Flag Monument Gala Event on September 30, 2023 (SM 8/18/23)

Motion: To approve the Consent Agenda

Maker: Chanzit

Second: Solfa

Voice Vote: 11 Ayes, 0 Nays, 3 Absent

7. Presentation: Lead Service Line Replacement – Project Update (Emily Conti – Engineering Enterprises)

Project Engineer Emily Conti from Engineering Enterprises discussed the Well #9 Rehab project briefly before discussing the Lead Service Line Replacement Project. They are replacing approximately 280 LSL and most replacements are full replacements. Types of replacements include Partial – Main to Curb Box (B-Box), Partial – B-Box to Meter, Full – Main to Meter. Only replacing lines that are Lead or Galvanized downstream of lead. They are currently replacing 2-3 service replacements per day, with a completion date of February 2024. There have been 178 replacements to date with 10,000 feet of service lines have been replaced.

8. Ordinance 23-35: Repealing Ordinance 09-26 And Creating The Batavia Active Transportation Advisory Commission (MW 8/22/23) GS

Motion: Approve and Amend Ordinance 23-35 with verbiage to include a public transportation component.

Maker: Chanzit

Second: Beck

Voice Vote: 11 Ayes, 0 Nays, 3 Absent

9. Resolution 23-109-R: Authorizing Execution of Contract for Water Treatment Iron Lagoon Cleaning with Stewart Spreading for an amount not to exceed $115,000.00 (JPB 08/22/2023) PU

Motion: To Authorize Execution of Contract for Water Treatment Iron Lagoon Cleaning with Stewart Spreading for an amount not to exceed $115,000.00 and to Waive Formal Bidding when it comes before Council.

Maker: Cerone

Second: Leman

Voice Vote: 11 Ayes, 0 Nays, 3 Absent

10. Approval: City Sponsorship of the Flag Day Monument Opening Day Gala Event This event is hosted by the Fox Valley Patriotic Organization and will be held on September 30, 2023 at the monument site which is right outside the City Government Center. The top level sponsorship is the Diamond Sponsorship for $25,000 and includes the city’s name of banners, social media and other advertising as well as 2 tables of 10 at the event.

Motion: To approve City Sponsorship of the Flag Day Monument Opening Day Gala Event

Maker: Solfa

Second: Leman

Voice Vote: 11 Ayes, 0 Nays, 3 Absent

11. Discussion: Use of ARPA Funds to assist Small Businesses Affected by the Pandemic The City Council directed that $200,000 of ARPA funding be used to assist small businesses in Batavia. The Batavia Chamber of Commerce has implemented a Grow Your Business Scholarship program that helps small business owners learn how to grow their businesses. The city could use part of the $200,000 to go toward the Grow Your Business Scholarship Program. Staff recommends utilizing $200,000 in General Fund money which doesn’t have the restrictions or deadlines that come with using the ARPA funds. The Chamber of Commerce could use this money to add one or two additional scholarships a year over the course of several years. The city would designate that our funding will need to be used for a scholarship for a Batavia business.

12. Presentation: Employee Survey

Wendy Bednarek, Human Resources Director, discussed the employee survey taken during the months of May thru June, 2023, using Polco. 104 employees (52%) participated in the survey. The information showed that compared to the benchmarks the City of Batavia consistently compared to high levels or similar in all areas except for one – Access to Technology. Survey follow ups will include employee focus groups, Qualtrics and our Strategic Plan meetings.

13. Project Status

City Administrator Laura Newman shared the following updates:

• Food Pantry Lease signed 9/18 (431 N. Raddant Rd) move in week of 10/2/23 

• RFP Planning Services S. Riverside Corridor Study

• Plan Commission 10/20 Meeting

• COW 10/26 Chillem/Hart Meadow Annexations

• Winding Creek 37 of 163 Housing Permits

• HR Speaker – Marianne Renner Motivational Speaker (Emagine Theatre) 

• Fire Department 10/14 Open House

• Eric Mathewson Retired from PD

• Rich Hall Patrol Sargeant

• 36 Candidates on BFPC List

• Pre Construction Meeting Phase 2A WWTP

• Brick Crosswalks (Wilson, Island, Houston)

• Wilson Street Bridge Repairs

Riverside Pizza would like to open an overflow room like what they have at their South Elgin location. They would lease a space adjacent to their current location, create a bar and utilize the space for people to wait for tables at Riverside or have food delivered to this location. Having video gaming in the overflow space allows it to be a profitable endeavor. The owners would like to introduce this concept in Batavia realizing this would be a tavern license and would need to be operating for one year before applying for a video gaming license. The business would also use this space as a rental for special events. The overflow room would be a separate location and corporation. This will go on the 9/18 City Council agenda as a discussion.

14. Other

• Chris Solfa brought up the Army Corp of Engineers study of the removal of 9 dams in the Fox River Valley.

• Mayor Schielke discussed new possible businesses coming to Batavia. 

• Alderman Chanzit discussed Tri-City Ambulance and welcomed back Alderman Wolff.

15. Executive Session: a. Litigation b. Purchase of Real Estate

Motion: To enter into Executive Session for the purpose of litigation and purchase of real estate

Maker: Solfa

Second: Malay

Roll Call Vote: Aye: Solfa, Wolff, Baerren, Leman, Ajazi, Malay, Uher, Cerone, Beck, Pieper, Chanzit

Nay:

11-0 Vote, 3 Absent, Motion carried.

The COW entered into Executive Session at 9:00 pm and exited at 9:12 pm.

5. Adjournment

There being no other business to discuss, Chair Wolff asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 pm; Made by Solfa; Seconded by Wolff. Motion carried.

https://www.bataviail.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09122023-2152