Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva City Council met April 15

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER

The Geneva City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Kevin Burns at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Elected Officials present:

Alderpersons: Anaïs Bowring, Becky Hruby, Dean Kilburg, Brad Kosirog, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks (arrived at 7:02 p.m.), Martha Paschke, Robert Swanson.

Mayor Kevin Burns, City Clerk Vicki Kellick.

Elected Officials attending by video or teleconference: Mike Bruno.

Elected Officials absent: Amy Mayer.

Others Present: City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins, Assistant City Administrator Ben McCready, City Attorney Scott Fintzen, Building Commissioner Brian Byrne, Public Works Director Rich Babica, Economic Development Director Cathleen Tymoszenko, City Planner Matt Buesing.

Others attending by video or teleconference: Mike Bruno.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Burns invited Brian Byrne to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS

None.

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

None.

OMNIBUS AGENDA (OMNIBUS VOTE)

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 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM APRIL 1, 2024.

*REPORTS

April 2024 Revenue Report

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS

*Consider Resolution No. 2024-41 Authorizing a Contract with Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. to Complete the FY25 Wetlands Management Services for Eagle Brook and On Brentwood’s Pond Subdivisions in an Amount Not to Exceed $45,200.00.

*Consider Resolution No. 2024-42 Authorizing a Contract with Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. to Complete the FY25 Wetlands Management Services for the City’s Water Treatment Plant Property in an Amount Not to Exceed $23,600.00.

*Consider Resolution No. 2024-43 Authorizing an Agreement with Clark Environmental Mosquito Management, Inc. for the FY25 Mosquito Abatement Program in an Amount Not to Exceed $56,444.

*Consider Resolution No. 2024-44 Authorizing Acceptance of a Proposal to Bind Coverage for Property, General Liability, Automobile, Public Officials’ Employment Practices, Law Enforcement, Crime, Cyber, Excess Liability, and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Effective May 1, 2024.

Moved by Ald. Paschke, Seconded by Ald. Kosirog.

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Mayer)

NAYS: 0

MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT: $3,144,001.14

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Bowring

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Mayer)

NAYS: 0

PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Consider Ordinance No. 2024-16 Granting a Variation to Reduce the Street Yard Setback from 20 Feet to 15.16 Feet for a Proposed Front Porch at 130 S. Harrison Street.

Moved by Ald. Swanson, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Mayer)

NAYS: 0

Consider Resolution No. 2024-45 Authorizing a Waiver of the Bidding Process and Execution of a Contractor Agreement with First Inspections Services, Inc. for Plumbing Plan Review and Inspection Services.

Moved by Ald. Bowring, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.

On a question by Ald. Kosirog, Cmmr. Byrne stated that the consistency of service as well as the overall level of service and knowledge of the plumbing codes is extremely important now, especially since the City is halfway through a large project on the east side that began last year.

While they did consider that this should be bid out, the continuity of service and experience which these contractors bring are important considerations. On a further question from Ald. Kosirog, Cmmr. Byrne noted that there are other providers who do similar work and that he did not know if those providers would bid. He stated that the current contractors have a relationship with the contractors with which the City works and they understand the intricacies of the downtown. Additionally, there have been no delays regarding the work done. Ald. Kosirog stated that because this contractor’s costs will increase, he feels that the responsible thing to do would be to put the work out to bid.

On a question from Ald. Hruby, Cmmr. Byrne stated that most plumbers know the codes where they work and may specialize in the types of properties involved. He noted that this contractor has knowledge of residential as well as industrial plumbing and that it is rare that contractors have such knowledge,

On a question from Ald. Maladra, Cmmr, Byrne explained that a new contractor would experience a learning curve which would be time consuming. He acknowledged that ongoing projects need to be evaluated on an individual basis. This project and the contractor were evaluated to determine what was the best course of action and that resulted in not putting this out to bid.

Admin. Dawkins stated that there was an unfunded state mandate in 2013 requiring a plumbing inspector. Additionally, because of upcoming lead line replacement, plumbing services will be scarce, and there are not enough plumbing contractors currently licensed to do this work so it is in the City’s best interest to keep on the current contractor.

Moved by Ald. Kilburg, Seconded by Ald. Kosirog to amend the current contractor agreement with First Inspection Services, Inc. to one year instead of as presented.

Roll call:

AYES: 3 (Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog)

ABSENT: 1 (Mayer)

Geneva City Council Meeting – April 15, 2024

NAYS: 6 (Bowring, Bruno, Maladra, Marks, Paschke, Swanson)

MOTION FAILED

Roll call on the main motion:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Mayer)

NAYS: 0

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mike Simon, owner of the Little Traveler and representing the Geneva Chamber of Commerce spoke and introduced Neil Johnson of SVN Landmark Commercial Realty. Mr. Simon announced that the Chamber’s Coffee Crawl is taking place this weekend with over 200 attendees, 75% of whom are from out of town. He noted that 22 stores and restaurants will be participating, and that tickets to the event are still available. He also noted that the annual Citywide Garage Sale will be taking place on April 26 and 27 with over 100 residents participating.

NEW BUSINESS

Ald. Kilburg recognized Fermilab as a major economic contributor to the Fox Valley. He noted that investments in scientific research and spending added nearly $1.3 billion to the state’s economic output in 2022 and increased the total household income in Illinois by $530 million.

He noted that Fermilab employs 5,000 people including 2,000 employees and 3,000 subcontractors, making Fermilab a major economic force in the Fox Valley.

ADJOURNMENT

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

MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote of those present.

The meeting adjourned at 7:23 PM.

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04152024-2329