Kane County Reporter

City of Batavia Committee of the Whole met March 25

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Roll Call

Present: Barazza, Lanci, Beck, Pieper, Malone, Solfa, Wolff, Baerren, Leman, Ajazi, Malay, Uher, Cerone, Vogelsinger

Absent: None

Also in Attendance: Scott Buening, Jeff Albertson, Drew Rackow, Max Weiss, Gary Holm, Andrea Podraza, Rahat Bari, Chief Eric Blowers, Chief Craig Hanson, Laura Newman, Mayor Schielke, Ellyn Theis

2. Reminder: Please Speak Into The Mic for BATV

3. Items Removed/Added/Changed

None

4. Matters From The Public (For Items NOT On Agenda)

None

5. Consent Agenda:

a. Approval: Cow Executive Sessions from February 25, 2025 - Personnel

b. Resolution 2025-046-R: Authorizing the Sale of Municipally Owned Real Estate West of 122 S Van Buren Street (SCB 3/14/25) CD

c. Ordinance 2025-019: Amending City Code Relating to Construction of Utility Facilities in ROW (GPH 3/17/25) CS

d. Resolution 2025-047-R: Authorizing the purchase of a Digital Backup and Recovery System, (HC 3/19/25)

Motion: Approve Consent Agenda as Presented

Maker: Beck

Second: Solfa

Voice Vote: 14-0, 0 Absent, Motion Carries.

6. Ordinance 2025-022: Amending The Text Of The Zoning Code For Chapter 2.6 For Ambulance Service (DR 3/20/25) CD

Drew Rackow reviewed a zoning change to allow ambulance services in certain industrial areas. The change was requested to help a potential tenant move into a space at 1183 Pearson Drive, but it would apply to all properties in the Light Industrial (LI) and General Industrial (GI) districts. Under the proposal, ambulance services in buildings 3,500 square feet or smaller would be allowed without special approval, while larger facilities would need a conditional use permit. The Plan Commission supported the change and recommended removing ambulance services from the Service Business (SB) district, as it’s a transitional area and might not be a good fit due to noise or fleet size. Most ambulance services use the space as offices or garages, and they don’t dispatch emergency calls directly from the site.

Motion: Approve Ordinance as Presented

Maker: Uher

Second: Malay

Voice Vote: 14-0, 0 Absent, Motion Carries.

7. Ordinance 2025-021: Declaring Certain Property To Be Surplus And Authorizing Sale (SH 3/20/25) CS

Gary Holm discussed Ordinance 2025-21, which declares several old city vehicles as surplus property so they can be sold at auction. This follows a recent purchase of new dump truck chassis from the state. The surplus list includes three dump trucks: two of which are about 20 years old, and one from 2010, which is a typical lifespan for heavy-duty trucks. Some older trucks remain in use longer if they’ve been customized for specific tasks, such as pothole patching. One such truck, used with a Dura patch trailer, is now being replaced, and the new truck will be similarly modified. The list also includes a 2007 Dodge Dakota pickup, recently replaced with a hybrid Ford Maverick as part of the city’s effort to electrify its fleet.

Motion: Approve Ordinance as Presented

Maker: Malay

Second: Lanci

Voice Vote: 14-0, 0 Absent, Motion Carries.

8. Resolution 2025-048-R: Authorizing The Execution Of A One-Year Renewable Contract For The 2025-2029 Janitorial Services For City Of Batavia Facilities With Bravo Services, Inc. Of Mt. Prospect, Illinois (SH 3/20/25) CS

Gary Holm reviewed Resolution 2025-048R, which authorizes a one-year renewable contract with Bravo Services Inc. for janitorial work at Batavia city facilities. The city had originally awarded the contract to another company in late 2024, but that agreement was later canceled when the contractor failed to meet all city requirements. Bravo Services, based in Mount Prospect, met all the necessary criteria and is now recommended for the job. The contract can be renewed annually for up to five years. In the meantime, the city’s previous janitorial contractor continued services to ensure coverage.

Motion: Approve Resolution as Presented

Maker: Uher

Second: Malay

Voice Vote: 14-0, 0 Absent, Motion Carries.

9. Discussion: Update On The Surveillance Camera Project

Max Weiss and Police Chief Blowers introduced updates on the surveillance cameras at downtown locations, fire stations, and public buildings. There are plans to go live by late April or early May, ahead of festival season. Cameras will cover public and equipment areas only, not private spaces like offices or sleeping quarters. A draft policy is in place to control who can access live and recorded footage, with all activity logged and limited by role. The system will be centrally managed, and staff will conduct an annual review to evaluate effectiveness and privacy concerns.

10. Project Status

Ald. Cerone inquired about the status of the proposed mixed-use development on Shumway. Laura Newman informed the council that the project failed to move forward after the developer requested that the city cover 30% of the project’s $45 million cost. City staff considered the investment too risky, citing that the project wouldn’t generate a sufficient return. The matter was not brought back to the council for discussion before being dropped.

Key obstacles to downtown development include limited financing opportunities and unattractive site conditions. Newman explained that banks are hesitant to finance projects like Shumway due to its low-traffic location and lack of a nearby train station. Additionally, uncertainty in federal and state funding has made it difficult to rely on outside grants or incentives, further stalling potential projects.

Several council members voiced strong frustration about being left out of the decision to halt the Shumway project. Many agreed that even if a project falls through, the council should be informed early in the process. Council members urged for more transparency and collaboration between city staff and council.

Aligning city efforts with what developers and banks are actually looking for, such as high-traffic locations and financially viable projects, will be essential to moving forward.

Police Chief Blowers confirmed that preparations are in place, including coordination with regional law enforcement, in the event of any reckless behavior or demonstrations at the new Tesla dealership. The Mayor added that local mayors have contacted him with similar concerns, referencing unrest along Randall Road.

Ald. Beck summarized a kick-off meeting about starting energy studies with the Brattle Group. To help guide the work, the city needs to decide on its energy goals, like using more renewables or reducing coal.

Council members agreed that they need to give clear direction and be ready to make decisions as the studies move forward. They also want to hear from residents about what they want, like easier rooftop solar or support for electric cars.

11. Other

None

12. Adjournment

Motion: To Adjourn the Meeting 8:30pm

Maker: Solfa

Second: Malay

Voice Vote: 14-0, 0 Absent, Motion Carries.

https://www.bataviail.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/21713?fileID=16675