Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva City Council met May 6

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, Mike Bruno, Becky Hruby, Dean Kilburg, Brad Kosirog, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Amy Mayer, Martha Paschke.

Mayor Kevin Burns, City Clerk Vicki Kellick.

Elected Officials attending by video or teleconference: None.

Elected Officials absent: Robert Swanson.

Others Present: City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins, Assistant City Administrator Ben McCready, City Attorney Ron Sandack, Economic Development Director Cathleen Tymoszenko, Facilities Manager Pete Adams, Fire Chief Michael Antenore.

Others attending by video or teleconference: None.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Burns invited Admin. Dawkins, Admin. McCready, Dir. Tymoszenko, and Chief Antenore to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS

Proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Moved by Ald. Marks, Seconded by Ald. Mayer.

Mayor Burns welcomed Mental Health Board Chairperson Suzy Shogren. Ms. Shogren introduced Vice-Chair Eleanor Hamilton and board member Jean Gaines.

She stated that the board is grateful that the City Council and staff support Mental Health Month. She noted that the board collaborated with peer leadership at the middle schools and high school on various activities again this year.

MOTION CARRIED unanimously by voice vote of those present 9-0.

Proclaim May as Historic Preservation Month.

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.

MOTION CARRIED unanimously by voice vote of those present 9-0.

Consider Mayor’s Appointments of City Officials and City Attorney.

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

MOTION CARRIED unanimously by voice vote of those present 9-0.

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

Ald. Hruby requested that item 7c (Acknowledge Receipt of Resolution and Recommendation of Joint Review Board Created Pursuant to Illinois Tax Increment Allocation Act for the Southeast Master Plan (TIF 4) Redevelopment Project Area) be removed from the Omnibus Agenda.

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 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF APRIL 8, 2024 AND REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF APRIL 15, 2024.

*REPORTS

*February 2024 Financial Report

*FY2024 4th Quarter Goals Status Report

*COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS

*Consider Resolution No. 2024-46 Authorizing Execution of a Proposal with Baxter & Woodman for the FY25 Bike Plan Classification Study in an Amount Not to Exceed $32,700.

*Consider Resolution No. 2024-47 Authorizing Execution of a License Agreement with MISU, Inc. for 207 James Street.

Moved by Ald. Kosirog, Seconded by Ald. Bowring.

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Swanson)

NAYS: 0

Acknowledge Receipt of Resolution and Recommendation of Joint Review Board Created Pursuant to Illinois Tax Increment Allocation Act for the Southeast Master Plan (TIF 4) Redevelopment Project Area.

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

Ald. Hruby read a statement regarding the Joint Review Board’s April 30 meeting for the TIF process. She noted that there is no recording of the meeting and that the minutes won’t be available until December. As a result, she wanted the community to be able to provide comments and have questions answered at the City Council meeting. Ald. Hruby provided her own questions and stated that she would vote “nay”.

Roll call:

AYES: 7 (Bowring, Bruno, Kosirog, Maladra, Marks, Mayer, Paschke)

ABSENT: 1 (Swanson)

NAYS: 1 (Hruby)

ABSTAIN: 1 (Kilburg)

Geneva City Council Meeting – May 6, 2024

MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT: $2,750,761.37.

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Swanson)

NAYS: 0

PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, PETITIONS, BIDS

Consider Ordinance No. 2024-17 Granting Variations to 1) Increase the Total Allowable Lot Coverage from 45% to 61.36%; and 2) Reduce the Side Yard Setback from 6 Feet to 2.5 Feet for a Proposed Rear Yard Deck at 501 N. 1st Street.

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

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 1 (Swanson)

NAYS: 0

PUBLIC COMMENT

Al Sandrock stated that his concern about the TIF is whether the money is well spent toward seemingly unoccupied warehouses. He noted that this came up to residents suddenly and is an issue of which residents need to be aware. He noted that another burden on taxpayers can be detrimental. Additionally, State Street and Kirk Road are a gateway to Geneva and he wondered if residents want to see warehouses there.

Michelle Rathman thanked the fire department for responding several weeks prior to a foul smell on the East Side. She contacted the City through Facebook and six fire personnel came to her home several hours later to assure her that everything was fine.

Ms. Rathman then noted that she appreciates the service that the City Council brings to the City. However, she noted that she is waiting for the full City Council to listen to the residents. She stated that she appreciates the Strategic Plan but that there are items within it such as affordable housing that are not being addressed.

She noted that the City’s website does not have information regarding TIF 4. She recommends that the Council hold a community presentation and educate the community on this issue.

Pat Dickinson noted that when he moved to Geneva 25 years ago, Geneva reminded him of New England but that it now reminds him more of Chicago. He stated that he can smell FONA from East Side Drive and worries what smells and issues warehouses may bring. He noted that Geneva is a small community but that it feels less so now. He stated that there is a pace of business and government that has become fast and furious. He feels that residents are not being listened to and that something is happening that is not making Geneva as attractive to him as it was when he moved here.

John Dashner stated that he has been a Geneva resident for over 30 years. He noted that he had questions regarding the TIF district that he asks City Council to bring to staff. He first stated that the “but if” question was never brought up in the Joint Review Board. Regarding the meeting minutes from the last City Council meeting where Dir. Tymoszenko stated that this would be a public/private partnership, he questioned how much private equity the developer would bring to the table. He also asked if City staff would provide a breakdown of how the income streams would be spent to make the TIF district work. He asked how much the development fees would be reduced for MIF and if that was fair to the other developers within the City. He asked how to increase oversight on this TIF district when prior TIF districts cost less. He questioned if the developer doesn’t receive TIF district designation to finance this development, will the land be developed?

He noted that Dir. Tymoszenko has stated that this is a business park, but that the developer at the Planning and Zoning Commission stated that he builds industrial parks. He noted that he doesn’t feel that the developer has been honest in what he’s bringing to the table. Finally, he asked the City Attorney to explain how the Illinois Statute that provides for the creation of a commission appointed by the Mayor and City Council works with Planning and Zoning rules and regulations. He stated that he believes that this is a loophole and questioned if this district is under the auspices of Planning and Zoning.

Carl Bochke stated that the developers noted at the Planning and Zoning meeting that this project could not happen without the Kautz Rd. extension. He noted that DuPage County, St. Charles, and Geneva had put forth funding toward infrastructure projects including rebuilding and extending Kautz Rd., and widening Fabyan Parkway. He asked what happened to this 2019 project and why that extension isn’t happening and isn’t independent of this TIF.

Maureen McKeough asked the City Council to step back and consider how proud they would be of this project in the future. She noted that residents will wait 20 years to reap the rewards of this project. She stated that TIFs are an instrument to promote economic development, especially in blighted areas. She stated that blighted areas must meet 5 of 13 criteria and that Geneva does not have such areas to justify the TIF. She noted that it is unsure if the bonds will be paid from the incremental revenue. She stated that for this to be a private/public partnership, one must trust a partner and that she has no trust for a partner who cut down 130-year old oak trees against public wishes. She asked why so much public money would be spent on private entrepreneurs.

Brian Maher stated that slowing this project would be a good idea considering its gravity and size. He stated that the property has been in the Bork family since the 1940s before being sold in 2009 to a developer. It was purchased in 2017 by MIF.

He noted that the TIF requires that the land not be farmed for five years. However, he doesn’t believe that there has been any effort to develop this property since it was originally sold. He believes that the $185 mil could pay up to 30% of the developer’s interest payments. He stated that the JRB meeting was insulting to those who attended.

June Maher stated that she did not want to be there but that it was her civic duty to let the City Council know that she was at the JRB meeting and that it was insulting.

She stated that the consultant provided incorrect documents at the meeting. She stated that the photos that were used to show that the area is blighted were questionable but that she could not review them afterward because they were unavailable. Although the consultant said that the property had not been farmed, she claimed that it had been continually farmed as recently as last fall.

NEW BUSINESS

On a question by Ald. Hruby, Mayor Burns stated that he would work with Admin.

Dawkins and Dir. Tymoszenko to answer questions posed during public comment if those answers were not already in the reports. He noted that any information not already provided will be provided ASAP.

Ald. Kilburg stated that he had the opportunity to participate in the mock City Council meeting a few weeks prior. Approximately 20 GHS students participated and he believes that this is a good exercise for students to meet staff and elected officials, and to understand topics that are relevant to the City.

Ald. Mayer stated that this is her third year serving on the City Council and that several items stated during the meeting left a bad taste in her mouth. She noted that ever since she joined the City Council, questions that have been asked have always been answered. She stated that the Council would not be railroaded or told what to say or do. She noted that public service is important and the people who are doing their civic duty should not be berated.

Ald. Kilburg stated that no discussion or debate was allowed during public comment. While he respects Ald. Mayer, discussion of public comment should not be allowed during new business. Mayor Burns stated that discussion used to occur during public comment but that such a practice took meetings off of the topic at hand. He noted that comments may be made under new business, and if beneficial to the community, such comments should be directed to the Chair.

Ald. Bowring requested that the Chair remind the public to address the Chair and not Council members or staff. Mayor Burns noted that several meetings are coming up which are not public hearings and which may be impassioned. He noted that the Council has the ultimate authority and if it chooses to overrule the Chair, it may do so.

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 8:03 PM.

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05062024-2339