Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva Joint Committee of the Whole/Strategic Plan Advisory Committee met July 22

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Committee of the Whole Members Present:

Mayor Kevin Burns, Alderpersons Anaïs Bowring, Mike Bruno, Becky Hruby, Dean Kilburg, Craig Maladra, Richard Marks, Amy Mayer, Robert Swanson

Committee of the Whole Members Absent:

Alderpersons Brad Kosirog and Martha Paschke

SPAC Members Present:

Brad Considine, Winnie Frankel, James Kafer, Billy Malecki, Melanie Mannon, David Monaco

SPAC Members Absent:

David Ellett, Lisa Goodenough

Staff Attending: City Admin. Dawkins, Asst. City Admin. McCready, Dir. Babica, Dir. Tymoszenko, Dir. DeGroot, Chief Antenore, Chief Passarelli, Dir. Kruse, Exec. Asst./Dep. Clerk Fornari

1. Call to Order

Mayor Burns called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm noting all COW members were present save for Kosirog and Paschke. SPAC Chair Frankel noted that Ellet and Goodenough were absent. A motion to suspend the rules was made by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bowring and approved by unanimous voice vote.

2. Discussion Items

a. SPAC-Led Discussion Regarding City of Geneva Strategic Plan

McCready provided an overview of what they hoped to accomplish that evening, and reviewed the work SPAC had completed to date regarding the updates plan. SPAC chairperson Frankel then thanked the Committee of the Whole for their time and collaboration on the task at hand and presented their draft plan document, noting that the goal was for the document to be both a communications tool and a living document. Alderpersons spoke of how they have used the current document in helping them understand priorities and goals, and how it served as a guidebook for alderpersons through different terms of office in some cases. Some voiced a desire to include more specific goals in the plan, while others understood that it was more of a guidebook than a checklist. On a question regarding staff input into the final plan, McCready noted that staff had and will be consulted once again before the plan document is finalized.

Frankel began a discussion on public engagement of the plan. Suggestions included more interactive opportunities via the City’s website, or taking time at a public meeting to discuss plan progress. It was noted that the council currently received quarterly reports on goal status each fiscal year. SPAC member Mannon suggested that an action plan could be created for communicating the City’s priorities and goals. SPAC members then asked for and received consensus on the continuation of including the affordable housing language in the plan document. Additional discussion on including housing/density language, and possible federal/state-mandated environmental mandates were heard. McCready suggested that alderpersons email him with additional requests before SPAC meets again in August to finalize and present the plan.

3. Public Comment (none)

4. New Business (none)

5. Adjournment

On a motion by Ald. Bowring, the meeting was adjourned by unanimous voice vote at 8:57 pm.

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07222024-2387