Peoria Standard

City of Batavia City Council met Sept. 8.

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. Russotto led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. ROLL CALL

14 of 14 aldermen were present at roll call. Aldermen (by ward):

Jennifer Baerren (1), Michael O’Brien (1), Alan Wolff (2), Dan Chanzit (3), Joe Knopp (4), Abby Beck (5), Mark Uher (5), Michael Russotto (6), Nicholas Cerone (6) and Keenan Miller (7) attended in person.

Martin Callahan (2), Elliot Meitzler (3), Tony Malay (4), and Drew McFadden (7) attended by phone.

Also present were members of the public and the following:

City Attorney Roman Seckel

City Clerk Ellen Posledni

City Administrator Laura Newman

Public Works Director Gary Holm

4. REMINDER: Please speak into the microphone

Mayor Schielke reminded everyone to use their microphones.

5. ITEMS REMOVED/ADDED/CHANGED

None.

6. CONSENT AGENDA

Ald. Chanzit read the Consent Agenda as follows.

Accept and Place on File:

A. Committee of the Whole Minutes August 11, 2020 and August 18, 2020 

B. Plan Commission Minutes July 1, 2020

C. Building Report August 2020

Approvals:

D. August 21, 2020 Payroll $900,335.81 and September 4, 2020 Payroll $889,239.89

E. Accounts Payable Check Register $4,429,423.48

F. July 2020 City Council Financial Report

G. APPROVAL: COW Executive Session Minutes July 14, 2020

H. ORDINANCE 20-55: Annexing Roads Across NICOR Right-of-Way (SCB 8/17/20 COW 8/25/20 9/0) CD

I. ORDINANCE 20-56: Amending the Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Batavia - 2041 Stiers Court (DR 8/30/20 COW 9/01/20 11/0) CD 

J. ORDINANCE 20-57: Amending the Official Zoning Map – 950 Moorehead Drive, 734 Ridgelawn Trail, 2041 Stiers Court, 960, 970, 1101 and 1106 Wind Energy Pass, City of Batavia Applicant (DR 8/30/20 COW 9/01/20 11/0) CD 

K. RESOLUTION 20-098-R: Variation from the Subdivision Regulations for an Extension of The Expiration of the Final Plat for Menard Second Batavia Resubdivision (DR 8/27/20 COW 9/01/20 11/0) CD

L. RESOLUTION 20-106-R: Authorizing Execution of Task Order #21 with Engineering Enterprises Inc. for Carriage Crest Recharge Basin Dewatering Well Analysis Phase I, Part B (GH 8/26/20 COW 9/01/20 11/0) CS

M. RESOLUTION 20-105-R: Amending the Intergovernmental Agreement for Tri-Com Central Dispatch (7th Amendment). (DME 8/25/20 COW 9/01/20 11/0) CS

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

7. MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC: (For Items NOT On The Agenda)

None

8. APPOINTMENT: Appoint Brett Garrett and Jared Heck to the Batavia Bicycle Commission - Term Expires 9/8/23

Mayor Schielke requested that the City Council approve the appointments as presented.

Motion by Ald. Beck, seconded by Ald. Wolff, to approve the appointments as requested. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

9. CHAMBER

Chamber President and CEO Margaret Perreault said the Chamber is working with the League of Women Voters to host two upcoming virtual candidate forums with a variety of local and statewide candidates. The events will stream live on BATV.

Chamber collaborative groups continue to meet both virtually as well as outdoors.

Ms. Perreault shared details on upcoming Chamber events; details can be found at bataviachamber.org.

The Harvest Celebration will be held October 7 at Oscar Swan in Geneva from 6 to 8 pm. Harriet Parker will receive the Donna Dellasasse Award. The event is limited to 50 guests, and tickets can be purchased online.

Chamber Bucks are still available through the Chamber office.

Ald. Beck asked if people can submit questions for the candidate forums. Ms. Perreault said questions can be submitted to the League of Women Voters; details can be found on their website.

Lorena Reeder from Reeder Translations addressed the City Council as a member of the Chamber. Her business offers translation services for individuals and businesses. The company can be reached at 630.253.1776, Monday through Saturday 7 am to 7 pm, and its website if reedertranslationservices.com. She plans to grow the business over the next five years and rent space in order to help more people grow their businesses. The company currently can translate Spanish, French, Bulgarian and English. The company can translate written documents as well as facilitate conversations.

10. ORDINANCE 20-53: Establishing a Date, Time and Place for a Public Hearing and Convening a Joint Review Board pertaining to the Near East Downtown Tax Increment Financing District (LN/CA 8/18/20 COW 8/25/20 10/1) GS

Ald. Chanzit introduced the item related to the Near East TIF. A Joint Review Board will consider the item, and a Public Hearing will be held November 2 at 7:30 pm.

Motion by Ald. Chanzit, seconded by Ald. Cerone, to approve the ordinance as presented. Motion carried 13 yea/ 0 nay/ 1 absent.

11. ORDINANCE 20-54: Authorizing the Establishment of Tax Increment Financing “Interested Parties” Registries and Adopting Registration Rules and Form for such Registries (LN/CA 8/18/20 COW 8/25/20 10/1) GS

Ald. Chanzit introduced the item that would establish a registry for interested parties in the TIF.

Motion by Ald. Chanzit, seconded by Ald. Cerone, to approve the ordinance as presented. Motion carried 13 yea/ 0 nay/ 1 absent.

12. RESOLUTION 20-104-R: Intergovernmental Agreement with Batavia Library into IPBC (WB 8/25/20 COW 8/25/20 11/0) GS

Ald. Chanzit introduced the item related to an IGA with the Batavia Public Library to join the city’s healthcare risk pool. The library will pay for their own staff portion of the cost.

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

13. APPROVAL: Waive Formal Bidding to Award a Contract with Siemens Industry to Process Oil Dehydration and De-Gasification on McKee Substation Transform #1.

Ald. O’Brien introduced the item noting that the work to be done is routine but highly specialized and the city trusts Siemens to accomplish it.

Motion by Ald. O’Brien, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the item as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

14. RESOLUTION 20-101-R: Approving Task Order#11 with Siemens Industry to process McKee Substation Transform #1 oil for Oil dehydration and de-gasification for an amount not to exceed $26,388.00 (RB 8/21/20 COW 8/25/20 11/0) PU

Ald. O’Brien introduced the item.

Motion by Ald. O’Brien, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the resolution as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

15. APPROVAL: Waive Formal Bidding to Award a Contract with Siemens Industry to Provide Equipment Testing and Inspection at Main Substation.

Ald. O’Brien introduced the item noting that the work to be done is routine but highly specialized.

Motion by Ald. O’Brien, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the item as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

16. RESOLUTION 20-102-R: Approving Task Order#12 with Siemens Industry to provide equipment inspection and testing at Main Substation for an amount not to exceed $27,959.00 (RB 8/21/20 COW 8/25/20 11/0) PU

Ald. O’Brien introduced the item.

Motion by Ald. O’Brien, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the resolution as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

17. APPROVAL: Waive Formal Bidding to Award a Contract with Siemens Industry to Perform Tap Changer Maintenance for Transformers at Northeast and Southeast Substations. Ald. O’Brien introduced the item noting that the work to be done is routine but highly specialized.

Mayor Schielke noted that all of these items were discussed extensively at the Committee of the Whole meeting. Ald. Knopp noted that the aldermen had the opportunity to tour the new substation with its state-of-the-art equipment. He said the previous equipment lasted 60 years, and they want the new equipment to last at least that long.

Ald. O’Brien added that maintenance is also key to avoiding bigger and more expensive problems down the road, so all of these items add up to money well spent.

Motion by Ald. O’Brien, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the item as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

18. RESOLUTION 20-103-R: Approving Task Order #13 with Siemens Industry to perform Tap Changer Maintenance for three transformers at Northeast and Southeast substations for an amount not to exceed $34,049.00 (RB 8/21/20 COW 8/25/20 11/0) PU

Ald. O’Brien introduced the item.

Motion by Ald. O’Brien, seconded by Ald. Knopp, to approve the resolution as presented. Motion carried 14 yea/ 0 nay/ 0 absent.

19. PRESENTATION: National Community Survey Results (GP)

Communications Coordinator Griffin Price presented results of the National Community Survey conducted this summer. Response rate was 39%, while the typical response rate is 25% to 30%. A sample of 3,000 households was surveyed. In general, respondents said Batavia was a desirable place to live with a sense of community, a safe community and a community with appropriate mobility. Economy is a priority, and building a second bridge still garners a split vote.

Mr. Price recommended repeating the survey every two to three years to track trends.

Ald. Knopp asked what surprised him most. Mr. Price said he was not surprised but interested in the level of data obtained. He noted areas affected by the pandemic, and said Fire and Police were rated very high.

Ald. Beck asked if the data would be released to the public. Mr. Price said it could be released with FOIA.

Ald. Cerone asked what comparisons were used. Mr. Price said the data is compared to national results as well as to communities with a comparative population.

Ald. Chanzit said he would like to spend more time discussing the data, and he recommended posting the survey results online for the public. He was surprised that there is not more interest in bringing a hotel to Batavia and surprised there is not more support for the Depot Pond.

Ald. Russotto said it was exciting to see so many people interested in economic development, which is a sign that the city is on the right track. Ald. O’Brien said renovating downtown has always been important in Batavia, and the survey responses reflect that.

Ald. Wolff agreed that the public should have access to the data online. Mr. Price noted that they may want to highlight key areas to help residents understand the information. Ald. Baerren asked if tonight’s presentation could be shared online. Mr. Price said he could make the PowerPoint and a press release available and offer access to the full data.

Mayor Schielke said there continues to be high interest in real estate in Batavia. People interested in relocating to Batavia note the cleanliness of the city, have asked if the movie theater will be reopening, want to know if the Batavia Public Library is as impressive as it looks, and appreciate the visibility of the Police and Fire Departments.

20. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Administrator Newman said with the survey results, the city can now revisit the Strategic Action Plan, as 2021 will look very different than what they were expecting when they were planning in 2018. This would be a good time to do a new SWOT analysis, and suggested scheduling a 3-hour COW workshop in October to update the Strategic Action Plan.

At the last meeting, members of the South Batavia Avenue business community shared concerns about issues they were dealing with in their area. The city has changed the lights in the parking lot and police presence has been increased. Businesses have appreciate the actions taken to date. City staff is also working out the ownership of the parking lot and how to handle maintenance.

Last week, the U.S. Treasury confirmed that federal COVID grant money can be used for public safety payroll. The state has now updated their FAQ affirming that is an appropriate use of the funds.

Ald. Uher noted that in 2013 or 2014, the city worked out easements for the entire parking lot. Administrator Newman noted the easements were established in 1994 for 20 years. When Scott Buening came on board, he renewed the agreements and removed the sunset clause. The agreement says the city has the right to do maintenance on the parking lot but doesn’t say specifically it is the city’s responsibility. The city will survey the entire parking lot to determine ownership. The city will then need to determine how paving and future maintenance will be funded.

21. COMMITTEE REPORTS

None.

22. OTHER BUSINESS

None.

23. MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Schielke said that many people are asking how they can help the community during the pandemic. He noted that the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry has taken on many new clients this year and suggested that it would be a good cause to support.

24. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Ald. Wolff, seconded by Ald. O’Brien, to adjourn. Motion carried by voice vote.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.

http://www.cityofbatavia.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09082020-1603