Kankakee Times

City of Batavia City Council met Jan. 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

PLEASE NOTE: These minutes are not a word-for-word transcription of the statements made at the meeting, nor intended to be a comprehensive review of all discussions. Minutes are intended to make an official record of the actions taken by the Committee/City Council, and to include some description of discussion points as understood by the minute-taker. Any references to discussion and /or statements are only to provide greater clarity to the public and they may not reference all, some, or any of an individual speaker’s comments.

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schielke at 7:30 p.m.

2. INVOCATION followed by PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Schielke offered a brief invocation. Ald. Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. ROLL CALL

14 of 14 aldermen were present.

Aldermen (by ward): Michael O’Brien (1), Jennifer Baerren (1), Martin Callahan (2), Alan Wolff (2), Elliot Meitzler (3), Dan Chanzit (3), Tony Malay (4), Joe Knopp (4), Mark Uher (5), Abby Beck (5), Nicholas Cerone (6), Michael Russotto (6), Drew McFadden (7), and Keenan Miller (7) were present.

Also present were BATV and members of the press, public and the following:

City Attorney Roman Seckel

 City Clerk Ellen Posledni

City Administrator Laura Newman

Police Chief Dan Eul

Fire Chief Randy Deicke

4. REMINDER: Please speak into the microphone for BATV recording

Mayor Schielke reminded all in attendance to use the microphones.

5. ITEMS REMOVED/ADDED/CHANGED

Mayor Schielke asked that item 12 be moved up before item 7.

Motion by Ald. Chanzit, seconded by Ald. Meitzler, to amend the agenda as requested.

Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

6. CONSENT AGENDA

Ald. Chanzit read the Consent Agenda as follows.

Approvals:

A. December 27, 2019 Payroll $885,401.00

B. Accounts Payable Check Register $3,746,754.80

C. RESOLUTION 19-116-R: Approving Task Order #2 with Siemens for an amount not to exceed $36,384.00 to perform equipment testing at McKee substation (RB 11/1/2019

COW 11/5/19 14/0)

D. RESOLUTION 20-002-R: Agreement with Kane County for Animal Control Services

Motion by Ald. Chanzit, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

12. PRESENTATION: Batavia Access Toy Drive Report – Roy Bailey

Mr. Bailey was present to report on the results of the ACCESS Toy Drive. Mayor Schielke said this year was a tremendous success and offered his thanks to the Bailey and Dubis families for their work to make this a joyous Christmas for Batavia families.

Rudy Dubis shared his thanks and read a long list of many individuals and organizations who supported the Toy Drive. Mr. Bailey also thanked his family and noted the help received from several Geneva organizations, even though the event only benefits Batavia families. Mr. Bailey’s daughter Britney shared photos of the event to show shelves before and after and to showcase the many volunteer groups who contributed to the event.

Mr. Bailey shared a couple of specific stories to highlight the generosity of the community. He encountered an elderly woman who took a cab to the Batavia Police Department to donate $5 for the Toy Drive. A 7-year-old girl stopped by his home to let him know that she was donating all of the toys she got at her birthday party. He said it was a record year for the number of children and families who were served.

Mayor Schielke said fellow mayors often ask him how the city accomplishes this every year, and he says it all comes from the hearts and souls of Batavians.

7. MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC: (For Items NOT on the Agenda)

None.

8. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Margaret Perreault, executive director, noted the annual Chamber Community Guide and Member Directory has been printed and mailed. She shared a list of upcoming events: Jan. 8: Not-for-profit forum, meets monthly

Jan. 8: Breakfast networking event, open to all

Jan. 15: Networking-It at Pal Joey’s 4:30 – 6:30 pm, supporting Batavia RSVP 

Jan. 16: Workplace safety program at Water Street Studios

Jan. 23: Ribbon-cutting for Raising Cane’s, 9 am

Jan. 31: Ribbon-cutting for the new Six+Cypress location

The Inspire Awards will also be held Jan. 23 at 6 pm. Registration is required. Nan Phillips will be honored as the 2019 Citizen of the Year. CHIP-IN Batavia will also be honored. Six OLE Awards will be presented to businesses.

The Chamber is seeking donations for the new Inspire Scholarship Program. Four scholarships will be awarded: to inspire women in business, to inspire a student pursuing a career through a technical or trade school, to honor a student who worked for a Chamber member for at least a year, and to inspire a budding entrepreneur. More details are on the Chamber website.

On Feb. 13, the Chamber will host a meeting at 5:30 at Aquaviva to share details about a trip to Tuscany, Italy, in October. A travel package is being offered through the Chamber.

Chamber member Angela Morris, owner of Assisting Hands Home Care, addressed the Council. The business is located at 115 Flynn Street, Suite A, 630.454.4880. The business provides in- home or facility care for elderly or disabled clients. The business can provide for any non- medical care needs in order to allow individuals to stay in their homes as long as they choose. Services are available 24/7/365, and shifts can be scheduled from 4 to 24 hours depending on need. It is the only five-star rated home care business in Batavia and employs many Batavians. The website is assistinghands.com/batavia.

9. APPOINTMENT: Jamie Saam to the Historic Preservation Commission

Mayor Schielke requested the appointment.

Motion by Ald. Wolff, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the appointment as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

10. APPOINTMENT: Jennifer Ress to the Batavia Bicycle Commission

Mayor Schielke requested the appointment.

Motion by Ald. Beck, seconded by Ald. Malay, to approve the appointment as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

11. PROCLAMATION: 100th Anniversary League of Women Voters

Mayor Schielke noted that the League of Women Voters has been at the heart of Batavia for 100 years and has always been on the right side of every issue. They played an instrumental role in ensuring housing was available when Fermilab was built and helped ensure that Fermilab’s impact on the city was positive.

Ald. Chanzit read the proclamation declaring February 14, 2020, as League of Women Voters Day in Batavia.

Motion by Ald. Chanzit, seconded by Ald. Meitzler, to approve the proclamation as read. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

The Mayor presented the proclamation to several representatives from the organization. They will host several candidate forums in Batavia in the next month.

13. PRESENTATION: BPS 101 Hall of Honor Nomination submittals – Holly Deitchman

Ms. Deitchman, Communications Manager for the Batavia Public School District, said the district is now accepting nominations for the 6th annual Hall of Honor ceremony, which will be held in October at the Batavia Fine Arts Center. Mayor Schielke was inducted at the first ceremony in 2015. Other inductees include Ken Anderson, Dan Issel, Don Cramer, Craig Sager and Tim Schmitz. Nominations are due February 1 and can include Batavia High School alumni for personal achievement, BHS alumni for service, a non-alum friend of the district and a BPS staffer. Nominations can be submitted online or in the office. Call 630.937.8800 with questions.

Mayor Schielke thanked Ms. Deitchman for sharing this information and wished her luck on the process.

14. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Administrator Newman shared a list of capital projects underway in Batavia:

- Prairie Street reconstruction, including adding a signal at Prairie and Wilson, through grant money. This will also include water main replacement.

- Ward 1 water infrastructure improvements and addressing flooding issues in Area 3.

- Replace a fire engine.

- Renovations at City Hall.

- Roof repair at the Public Works building.

- Rebuilding a substation.

Projects can be reviewed on the city website. People can also sign up for a weekly email to stay informed about projects and everything happening at the city.

Council chambers have been upgraded with new, larger screens and new projectors that will interface with BATV. Still to come are the addition of a monitor to the podium and another for easier viewing from the back of the room.

Staff had a conference call with officials from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources regarding renewed funding for dam removals. The IDNR encouraged city staff to work with the Batavia Park District on specific future plans for dam removal.

Shodeen is asking for more information to supplement their financing application for One Washington Place. The city is eager to work with the Chamber and Batavia MainStreet to support downtown businesses during construction and minimize disruption to their businesses.

The 2020 budget has been printed and copies can be picked up from the city’s receptionist or reviewed online. Staff is also creating a Budget in Brief, an easier-to-digest, abbreviated version of the full budget. Anyone who has questions about the budget is encouraged to call the city.

The January 14 COW will revisit the topic of legalizing cannabis dispensaries in Batavia.

Christmas trees will be collected on the regular garbage collection dates this week: January 8, 9 or 10. Trees do not need stickers on those dates.

Ald. O’Brien asked if Shodeen has authorized any plan development for One Washington Place. Administrator Newman said she expects a submittal in February, and they are in regular communication with the developer.

Ald. O’Brien asked if the roofing project on the Public Works building will affect the solar panels. Administrator Newman said the solar panels will be kept intact, and that the resurfacing of the roof is expected to extend the life of the roof for another 30 years.

15. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Ald. Chanzit noted there will be a discussion of wages and salaries for non-collective bargaining employees at the next COW meeting.

16. OTHER BUSINESS

Ald. Uher noted that a resident of his ward is currently renting a duplex and has three cars but only space for parking two in the driveway, so he has to call the city every three days for a parking pass. He plans to move in June and is asking that the city offer some variance for him to relieve the burden of calling the Police Department every three days. Mayor Schielke said he does not want to encourage people to park on the streets overnight and would not support a change in the parking ordinance. Ald. Uher explained he is asking for an exception in this one instance. Ald. Chanzit offered to join Ald. Uher to bring the subject up for discussion in committee.

17. MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Schielke noted he’s never seen so much interest in downtown business expansion. Many restaurants are looking at available spaces and he is hearing rave reviews about downtown businesses. He will be meeting with city staff to discuss possible changes in liquor license laws to accommodate some unique requests that may be presented from new businesses.

The Mayor also noted that considerable federal grant money has been awarded for street work in Batavia, but the projects must be physically in process by October 2020 or the funds will be forfeited. He said the Engineering staff is on top of these projects, even with the late addition of the Prairie-Wilson intersection, which will include a new stoplight and gated railroad crossing. This is one of the busiest intersections in the state that is not yet gated.

Lead in water pipes may becoming a growing topic of conversation. Older pipes are being replaced during street projects, but not all pipes have been replaced.

Ald. O’Brien noted that the City Council has had many discussions about streetscapes over the years and the One Washington Place project, and he feels the robust interest in downtown Batavia is the result of that forward-thinking work.

18. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Ald. Chanzit, seconded by Ald. O’Brien, to adjourn. Motion carried by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

http://www.cityofbatavia.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01062020-1484