Kane County Reporter

City of Geneva Committee of the Whole met April 21

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Elected Officials Present: Mayor Burns, Ald. Bowring, Ald. Bruno, Ald. Hruby, Ald. Kilburg, Ald. Kosirog, Ald. Malecki, Ald. Marks, Ald. Mayer, Ald. Paschke, Ald. Swanson, Clerk Kellick.

Elected Officials Attending by Teleconference: None.

Elected Officials Absent: None.

Others Present: City Admin. Dawkins, Asst. City Admin. McCready, City Attny. Sandack, Dir. Babica, Supt. Holton, Supt. Van Gyseghem, Dir. Babica, Dir. DeGroot, Dir. Tymoszenko.

Others attending by video or teleconference: None.

Call to Order

Ald. Hruby, serving as chair, called the meeting to order at 8:58 PM noting all council members were present.

Approve Committee of the Whole Minutes from April 7, 2025

Moved by Ald. Swanson, seconded by Ald. Bruno.

MOTION CARRIED by voice vote 10-0.

Items of Business

Consider Draft Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Underground Cable and Material in an Estimated Amount of $221,601.58 through Sourcewell from WESCO/Anixter.

Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Bowring.

MOTION CARRIED by voice vote 10-0.

Consider Draft Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with WBK Engineering in the Amount of $199,199.00 for Phase I Engineering Services for the South Street and South Seventh Street Improvement Project.

Moved by Ald. Bowring, seconded by Ald. Paschke.

On a question by Ald. Kosirog, Dir. Babica explained that in 2016, the project was a resurfacing project. Now this is a transportation enhancement project reconstruction and widening to allow for a dedicated bike path.

MOTION CARRIED by voice vote 10-0.

Consider Draft Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Joint Funding Agreement with the State of Illinois for the East State Street Road Project.

Moved by Ald. Bowring, seconded by Ald. Kosirog.

On a question by Ald. Swanson, Dir. Babica explained that the state tells Geneva what it will pay so the percentages of payments for the maintenance of traffic signals on Rt. 38 can be varied. On a question by Ald. Kilburg, Dir. Babica noted that the city applied for a $3 million grant to reduce Geneva’s obligation, but this must still be negotiated with the state.

MOTION CARRIED by voice vote 10-0.

Consider Draft Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Bollinger, Lach and Associates in the Amount of $2,265,474.00 for the East State Street Phase III Engineering.

Moved by Ald. Bruno, seconded by Ald. Kosirog.

On a question by Ald. Kosirog, Dan Bruckelmeyer of BLA noted that the city accepted the bid and now they are waiting for Springfield to award the contract to Dunteman. Springfield will then provide all the necessary information needed and provide a schedule for the work and BLA will need to know when the work will actually begin. BLA will then provide a presentation to the council of when work will begin. Dir. Babica noted that the corridor map went live on the city website showing the final project.

MOTION CARRIED by voice vote 10-0.

Consider Draft Resolution Authorizing Implementation of a Destination Geneva Grant Program.

Moved by Ald. Marks, seconded by Ald. Mayer.

Ald. Kilburg noted that there is much involved in the resolution and proposed postponing the item into the new year on May 19 so that the new council members can be involved in the decision.

Several alderpersons voiced their agreement with postponement while others voiced their interest in voting tonight.

Moved by Ald. Kilburg, seconded by Ald. Swanson to postpone to May 19.

Roll call:

AYES: 7 (Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 3 (Bowring, Bruno, Paschke)

MOTION CARRIED

Consider Draft Resolution Authorizing Implementation of a Geneva Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Grant Program.

Moved by Ald. Bowring, seconded by Ald. Bruno.

Moved by Ald. Kosirog, seconded by Ald. Marks to postpone to May 19.

Ald. Mayer noted that this resolution is straightforward, and that the committee can vote on it now. Any questions can be answered when this is forwarded to city council.

Roll call:

AYES: 5 (Hruby, Kilburg, Kosirog, Marks, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 6 (Bowring, Bruno, Malecki, Mayer, Paschke, Mayor Burns)

MOTION FAILED

On a question by Ald. Kilburg, Dir. Tymoszenko stated that the funding amounts were part of budget discussions.

Admin. Dawkins stated that $40,000 was identified during the budget process.

Each project has different needs so if more funding is needed, the council could increase the budget.

Dir. Tymoszenko noted that the city is looking for projects that would have an impact on the economic vitality of the city such as the usefulness of structures, and more code and façade upgrades.

Ald. Kilburg stated that he would like to see a more aggressive program that includes the amounts he previously provided.

Moved by Ald. Kilburg, seconded by Ald. Swanson to amend the grant program.

Ald. Swanson stated that the grant program doesn’t include signage which Ald.

Kilburg is adding to the program.

Discussion began regarding ending the meeting at 10:00 PM. A majority of the council chose to continue the meeting.

Ald. Mayer stated that the amendment isn’t necessary as the city will receive estimates of what work needs to be done. She added that the city shouldn’t pay for signage as it is related to the business use, not the building.

Moved by Ald. Bowring, seconded by Ald Mayer to call the question.

Roll call:

AYES: 6 (Bowring, Bruno, Hruby, Malecki, Mayer, Paschke)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 4 (Kilburg, Kosirog, Marks, Swanson)

MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Kilburg noted that he was not contacted since he gave his written proposal to staff in November, and staff developed the document without any input. Admin.

Dawkins stated that the draft of the document was in the October 6 agenda but was not considered that evening. She stated that staff has to take direction from the council as a whole and Dir. Tymoszenko included business’ suggestions in the document presented. Additionally, the program does not specify a maximum award as it is on a case-by-case basis and depends upon the project brought forth.

Discussion continued among alderpersons regarding their belief that an amendment is not needed.

Roll call:

AYES: 3 (Hruby, Kilburg, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 7 (Bowring, Bruno, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke)

MOTION FAILED

Moved by Ald. Kilburg, seconded by Ald. Swanson to increase funding on an annual basis to $75,000.

Ald. Bruno noted that the amount provided in the amendment seems arbitrary. The amount in the proposal can be increased by a budget amendment. Ald. Paschke agreed and

Ald. Kilburg noted that a large figure would create interest in the business district, so it is important to have funding that is aggressive. He stated that $40,000 does not do this.

Dir. Tymoszenko stated that she is comfortable with the $40,000 amount provided.

She noted that this is gap financing to move larger projects forward. If something is exciting, we would not say that no funding is available but would try to find a way to fill the gap. She noted that one must look at the big picture of the investment involved. The point of the program is to be proactive and to have something defined and available so that it is clear to applicants. It helps the city to be more competitive and helps to clearly explain what applicants need to do to gain funds.

Roll call:

AYES: 3 (Hruby, Kilburg, Swanson)

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 7 (Bowring, Bruno, Kosirog, Malecki, Marks, Mayer, Paschke)

MOTION FAILED

On a question by Ald. Kosirog, Dir. Tymoszenko noted that this is not a building maintenance program but an economic development tool to bring forward possible changes and improvements. Admin. Dawkins noted that this is the formalization of a program that would provide funding for projects. In the past, that was through AARPA which has since ended. All that remains is sales tax rebates or TIF agreements. There is no other funding available and without this program, there is no funding available from the general fund.

Roll call:

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

ABSENT: 0

NAYS: 1 (Swanson)

MOTION CARRIED

Public Comment

None.

New Business

None.

Adjournment

On a motion by Ald. Marks, the meeting was adjourned by unanimous voice vote at 11:02 PM. 

https://www.geneva.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05192025-2533