Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva City Council met Nov. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER 

The November 6, 2023 meeting of the Geneva City Council was called to order at 7:07 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, Brad Kosirog, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Amy Mayer, Martha Paschke, Robert Swanson.

Mayor Kevin Burns, City Clerk Vicki Kellick.

Elected Officials attending by video or teleconference: None.

Elected Officials absent: None.

Others Present: City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins, Assistant City Administrator Ben McCready, City Attorney Ron Sandack, Electric Division Superintendent Aaron Holton, Public Works Director Rich Babica, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Fire Chief Michael Antenore.

Others attending by video or teleconference: None.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The pledge was led by Battalion Chief Chad Clark.

PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS Fire Department Promotion Ceremony for Battalion Chief Chad E. Clark B.C. Clark introduced his family to the Chamber. His father was a firefighter and fire chief. B.C. Clark grew up in Geneseo and received his B.A. from ISU. He worked as an EMT in the Quad Cities and joined the Geneva Fire Department in 1996. He noted that what hasn’t changed in his time with the department are the people, the camaraderie, and the desire to serve the community.

Proclaim November 26, 2023 as “Small Business Saturday”

Moved by Ald. Swanson, Seconded by Ald. Mayer.

MOTION CARRIED by voice vote 10-0.

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 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 9, 2023 AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 16, 2023 

*REPORTS

*August Financial Report

*2nd Quarter FY2024 Goals Status Report

*COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS

*Approve Resolution No. 2023-110 Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Petroleum Technologies Equipment for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $291,500 for Fuel System Upgrades.

*Approve Resolution No. 2023-111 Authorizing the City Administrator to Execute All Required Agreements Related to the General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2024.

*Approve Resolution No. 2023-113 Appointing the Human Resources Manager as the Illinois Retirement Fund Authorized Agent for the City of Geneva. 

*Approve Resolution No. 2023-114 Authorizing Adoption and Implementation of Classification and Compensation Plan.

Ald. Swanson noted that Omnibus Item 9c. (Approve Resolution No. 2023-112 Authorizing Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Interface Engineering for the Study of Utility Scale Solar, Storage and Carbon Offsets in the Amount of $139,250) was not unanimously approved at the most recent City Council meeting. Mayor Burns noted that this was included on the consent agenda in error and as there was no objection, it would be removed and discussed at the meeting in the order required.

Moved as amended by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Mayer.

Roll call:

AYES: 10 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 0

MOTION CARRIED

MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT: $1,662,068.51. 

Moved by Ald. Marks, Seconded by Ald. Bowring.

Roll call:

AYES: 10 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 0

MOTION CARRIED

*Approve Resolution No. 2023-112 Authorizing Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Interface Engineering for the Study of Utility Scale Solar, Storage and Carbon Offsets in the Amount of $139,250. Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Bowring.

On a question from Ald. Swanson, Supt. Holton introduced Craig Burton and Tom Voltaggio from Interface Engineering. Mr. Burton explained that the majority of work during Phase 1 consists of engagement with the City and the Utility Department to understand the goals of the project and the functioning of the utility system. The goals and findings of that Phase provide a necessary step to delivering Phases 2 and 3.

Roll call:

AYES: 9 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Paschke)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 1 (Swanson)

MOTION CARRIED

PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Consider Resolution No. 2023-115 Authorizing Issuance of a Certificate of  Completion for “Old Kirk Water Main.”

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Mayer.

Roll call:

AYES: 10 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 0

MOTION CARRIED

Consider Ordinance No. 2023-24 Amending the East Gateway Preliminary  Planned Unit Development for the Property Generally Located at the Southwest  Corner of IL-38 and Kirk Road to allow Gas Stations as a Special Use and  Eliminate Proposed Street Layout for Parcels A-C.

Moved by Ald. Kosirog, Seconded by Ald. Mayer.

Roll call:

AYES: 2 (Kosirog, Marks)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 8 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Maladra, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson) MOTION FAILED

Consider Resolution No. 2023-116 Authorizing Execution of a Consent, Release, and Indemnification Agreement Regarding Termination of the Nottolini Trust. Moved by Ald. Mayer, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.

On a question from Ald. Kilburg, Dir. Babica stated that a trained volunteer group would be contacted for restoration work should there be vandalism to the mausoleum. He also stated that regarding maintenance of the mausoleum, the remaining funds will be allocated for that purpose. On another question from Ald. Kilburg, Admin. Dawkins noted that the current fiscal year cemetery budget is $139,510 less $60,000 for planned improvements.

Roll call:

AYES: 10 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 0

MOTION CARRIED

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Resident Nancy Hayhurst is part of a group of several citizens who live along the Fox River and are concerned about the removal of nine dams along the river. The group researched the removal of the dams and presented 22 questions to which they would like answers. Ms. Hayhurst will provide the City Council with these questions and noted that she would like to return before the City Council later with a further presentation on the removal of the dams.

Resident John Mazur spoke regarding the fact that water quality is dependent upon the degree of urbanization along rivers. He presented information from a study comparing a central Virginia urbanized and rural watershed. The study showed that the reservoir mitigated pollutants. When the reservoir was temporarily drained, the water quality downstream worsened significantly. Mr. Mazur noted that urbanization such as that which has occurred in Geneva affects water quality and that removal of the dam will decrease water quality here.

Resident Bill Koehl spoke on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Kane County to invite the public to an educational program in St. Charles on November 15 at 7:00 pm. The program will focus on St. Charles’ IMEA electric contract and provide information for Geneva residents about upcoming energy transactions. He suggested that the City advocate to become an electric City and move away from gasoline and natural gas.

NEW BUSINESS 

NONE

ADJOURNMENT 

There being no further business, moved by Ald. Marks to adjourn the Geneva City Council meeting.

MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote of those present. The meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM.

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11062023-2250