Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva Committee of the Whole met Jan. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Elected/Appointed Officials Present:

Mayor Kevin Burns, Ald. Mike Bruno, Ald. Anaïs Bowring, Ald. Becky Hruby, Ald. Dean Kilburg, Ald. Brad Kosirog, Ald. Craig Maladra, Ald. Richard Marks, Ald. Martha Paschke, Ald. Amy Mayer, Ald. Martha Paschke, Ald. Robert Swanson, Deputy Clerk Jeanne Fornari, City Attorney Scott Fintzen

Staff Present: Administrator Dawkins, Finance Director Kruse, Economic Development Director Tymoszenko, Assistant Administrator McCready

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

Mayor Burns called the special meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. noting all alderpersons were present in Geneva City Hall Council Chamber.

2. Items of Business

a. Policy Discussion on Grant Programming

Dir. Tymoszenko provided background on previous discussions beginning in 2020 on current and potential new grant funding mechanisms. She reviewed the statutory provisions that could be used by a non-home rule community such as Geneva. Tymoszenko noted the FY22 distributions and how those existing funding levels would negatively affect future budgets. The presentation concluded with staff requesting emphasis on first evaluating current agreements and programs, then empowering the Economic Development Department to achieve goals, and then lastly looking at funding grant requests for projects that advance City goals.

Attorney Fintzen provided an update on his work in researching grant programs and how the program could be implemented. He also laid out the parameters of what funds could be expended for the programs. Discussion on joining a Convention and Visitors Bureau were heard.

Tymoszenko and Fintzen explained what the role of a CVB was and how it could be an additional tool in Geneva’s toolbox. They also explained the difference between a CVB and a Chamber of Commerce. There was interest by the committee in investigating costs of joining a CVB.

Discussion by alderpersons was generally supportive of reviewing current agreements to aid in meeting internal goals before providing any additional funding to outside agencies; with some still interested in implementing a grant program and others voicing opposition to a grant program. There was also support for joining a CVB, but more information was requested. There was also general agreement that if the City provides funding the agencies need to account for how the money was used each year.

Dawkins then clarified and received consensus from the Committee for staff to evaluate current agreements with the knowledge that there would be the potential for a reallocation of current funding levels, and then to formulate more details on the steps outlined in Tymoszenko’s presentation to meet the current Economic Development Department’s goals for Economic Vitality.

b. Continued Discussion on FY 2025 Budget and FY 2026 Forecast

Ald. Marks thanked staff for continuing with the 2-year cycle. On a question from Ald. Swanson on the increases in the Water Fund, Dawkins noted several of the General Mills projects.

Swanson then requested that the lobbyist budget of $55,000 be eliminated. Dawkins and Mayor Burns noted the recent work JLD Consulting had done on behalf of the City, in particular securing $2 million returned from IDOT for the East State Street reconstruction project. Swanson requested to receive more updates and communication on their work going forward. Swanson thanked staff for the preliminary budget meetings with council members. Ald. Hruby also preferred to receive regular updates on the work of the lobbyist for next fiscal year.

Dawkins stated that the public hearing for the FY25 budget was scheduled for February 5, and no additional budget meetings would take place prior to the hearing unless the Council wanted to meet next Monday, January 29. No one expressed a desire to meet, so the next meeting would be the regular City Council meeting on February 5, 2024.

3. Public Comment

None

4. New Business

Mayor Burns provided an update on information he had received from the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus related to asylum seekers.

5. Adjournment

On a motion by Ald. Bowring, the meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote at 9:21 p.m.

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01222024-2283