Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva City Council met Jan. 21

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: Mike Bruno, Dean Kilburg, Brad Kosirog, William Malecki, Richard Marks, Amy Mayer, Martha Paschke, Robert Swanson.

Mayor Kevin Burns, City Clerk Vicki Kellick.

Elected Officials attending by video or teleconference: Becky Hruby.

Elected Officials absent: Anaïs Bowring.

Others Present: City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins, Assistant City

Administrator Ben McCready, City Attorney Ron Sandack, Public Works Director Rich Babica, Community Development Director David DeGroot, Fire Chief Mike Antenore.

Others attending by video or teleconference: None.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Burns invited Dir. Babica 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 JANUARY 6, 2025 AND SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM JANUARY 13, 2025.

*REPORTS

a. January Revenue Report

b. October Financial Report

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS

*a. Approve Resolution No. 2025-03 Authorizing a Contract with Dahm Mechanical Industries, Inc. for Kautz Road Lift Station Improvements in an Amount Not to Exceed $610,377.76.

*Approve Resolution No. 2025-04 Authorizing the Purchase of Ultraviolet Lamps, Sleeves, and O-Rings from Xylem Water Solutions in the Amount of $30,980.00.

*Approve Resolution No. 2025-05 Authorizing the Purchase of a Bobcat Model PA450 Air Compressor from O’Leary’s Equipment in the Amount of $70,923.07 through Sourcewell Contract 020923-CEC and Declare Unit #1024 Ingersoll-Rand Compressor as Surplus Property.

Moved by Ald. Swanson, Seconded by Ald. Marks.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

MUNICIPAL BILLS FOR PAYMENT: $7,884,118.37

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Kosirog.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Consider Resolution No. 2025-06 Authorizing Declaration of Fire Department Equipment Surplus Property.

Moved by Ald. Kilburg, Seconded by Ald. Mayer.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Consider Resolution No. 2025-07 Authorizing Issuance of a Certificate of Acceptance for 1885 E. State Street (IL 38 Logistics).

Moved by Ald. Mayer, Seconded by Ald. Paschke.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Consider Resolution No. 2025-08 Authorizing Issuance of a Certificate of Acceptance for Flavors of North America Water Main 2018.

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

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Consider Ordinance No. 2025-03 Annexing Parcels 12-05-100-003 and 12-05-100-006.

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

AYES: 10 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson, Mayor Burns)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Consider Ordinance No. 2025-04 Granting a Comprehensive Plan Amendment from Single-Family Residential to Single-Family Attached Residential.

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Malecki.

Ald. Mayer stated that she received correspondence from residents about the ordinance and stated that while she understands residents’ concerns, the proposed townhomes are not high-density housing. Additionally, part of the Strategic Plan’s goal was to provide the community with diverse housing options and these singlefloor units fit the needs of the community. As such, she stated that she supports this development.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Consider Ordinance No. 2025-05 Granting a Zoning Map Amendment from the RR Rural Single-Family Residential District to the R6 Medium Density Two and Three Family Residential District Upon Annexation.

Moved by Ald. Bruno, Seconded by Ald. Marks.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Consider Resolution No. 2025-09 Granting a Preliminary and Final Plat of Subdivision for the Prairie Grove Development.

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

Ald. Bruno stated that he was pleased that these are one-floor homes and that the density is not too high. He noted that it is important to create these types of housing options.

AYES: 9 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Discussion Regarding Public Safety Facilities Bond Referendum.

Mayor Burns read a statement which is also included with these minutes. In that statement, he noted that there was an error in the formula used to determine annual property tax payments which would result from the passage of the Public Safety Facilities Bond Referendum. The actual property tax payment would be double what was originally projected and this amount exceeds the comfort level that property owners expressed a willingness to invest. He stated that as a result of this error, the City Council now has three options:

1. Allow the referendum to advance as written, or

2. Allow the referendum to advance as written with a nonbinding pledge to Geneva property owners that if the referendum passes, the Council will only sell a portion of the bonds necessary for the design and development of a new police station at an estimated cost of $45 mil., understanding that the cost of such a sale of bonds will likely exceed the comfort level expressed by residents, or

3. Rescind the Council’s action of January 13 and move to have the referendum question removed from the April 1 ballot. This would require a motion to rescind, a second, and a 2/3 vote of the corporate majority including the Mayor.

He noted that the present referendum language cannot be amended as the dates to vote upon and file the referendum language has passed. Additionally, the deadline to have the referendum removed from the ballot is January 23.

On a question by Ald. Bruno, Admin. Dawkins stated that the second option would be communicated to the public by all possible means and that if that option were chosen, the Council could pass a resolution that, while nonbinding, would express the Council’s intent.

Ald. Bruno noted that he, like other alderpersons, would like for the second option to succeed. He did express concern about the public perception of such an option as it related to any future actions.

On a question by Ald. Swanson, Mayor Burns stated that the next referendum date would be March of 2026. Ald. Swanson stated that he approved of waiting for a year as a non-binding resolution seemed weak.

Motion to rescind the January 13, 2025 action taken by the City Council to advance the referendum question for publication on the April 1, 2025 ballot made by Ald. Swanson, Seconded by Ald. Kosirog.

Ald. Hruby noted that the second option wasn’t much of a solution and felt rushed.

Ald. Kosirog noted that the Council should not ask taxpayers for more money as that would lose credibility with residents.

On a question by Ald. Kilburg, Mayor Burns stated that data indicated that residents’ comfort level with a property tax increase for the bond referendum was at approximately $200 per property per year. But even if only $45 mil was bonded, that amount still would exceed property owners’ comfort level. Ald. Kilburg questioned when, if the second option was chosen, the Council would be able to move forward with the bonding of the fire station.

Ald. Marks stated that the pledge to limit the bonds seemed awkward and that it may be best to wait for a year to propose a referendum. Ald. Kosirog noted that if the Council wants the referendum to succeed, the best way is to have the trust of the voters which means putting it off one more year.

Ald. Mayer did not believe that the referendum could succeed if the entire Council did not support it. While the survey found that people are willing to increase the amount they pay to increase the improvement of public safety, she was not sure that this referendum would succeed.

Ald. Mayer moved to recess for 10 minutes. Seconded by Ald. Marks.

MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote of those present to recess at 8:00 p.m.

Mayor Burns called the meeting out of recess at 8:10 p.m.

On an earlier question by Ald. Kilburg, Mayor Burns, advised by Attny. Sandack, stated that because the language to consider rescinding was not published for this agenda, a rescinding motion would only require 2/3 of the corporate authorities present to pass. This would including the Mayor and Ald. Hruby who was present but attending virtually.

Ald. Kilburg called the question. Seconded by Ald. Swanson.

AYES: 3 (Hruby, Kilburg, Swanson)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 6 (Bruno, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke)

Vote on the original motion to rescind:

AYES: 10 (Bruno, Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke, Swanson, Mayor Burns)

ABSENT: 1 (Bowring)

NAYS: 0

Mayor Burns noted that it was the direction of the Council to direct the Mayor and Admin. Dawkins to prepare the necessary documents to advise the Kane County election division to remove the ballot decision from the April 1 referendum.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Brad, a resident living near the Prairie Grove development, stated that he was disappointed that the Council approved the development. He noted that the consequences of the vote included lower home values, flooding, and increased traffic which would not affect the City Council members but the residents in the area. He wondered what the point of speaking up is when, while residents voiced their concerns, the Council sided with the developer. He noted that the decisions of the Council are not leadership but paternalism.

Chamber of Commerce Communications Director Johanna Patterson stated that it is the middle of Restaurant Week with another weekend remaining. The next Chamber event is the Coffee Crawl in April. Chamber members can attend an Illinois employment and labor law update seminar at the library this Thursday at 8:00 a.m. A membership boot camp to help all members get the most out of their membership will be held soon. Additionally, all 2025 events are listed on the Chamber website.

A Geneva resident who lives behind the Prairie Grove development stated that residents were notified of the PZC meetings but it felt as if residents came in quite late to the discussion. If residents were notified sooner, it would have been better for those who already live in the area. He felt that there was nothing at that point that residents could do about the development. He also felt that it seemed that while politicians were against the development, they voted in favor of it.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

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 8:25 PM.

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01212025-2476