Peoria Standard

City of Batavia City Council met Feb. 1.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schielke at 7:30 p.m. The meeting was held remotely on GoToWebinar due to restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. INVOCATION followed by PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Schielke offered a brief invocation. Ald. Callahan led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. ROLL CALL

13 of 14 aldermen were present at roll call.

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

Also attending were the following:

City Clerk Ellen Posledni 

City Attorney Roman Seckel 

Public Works Director Gary Holm

City Administrator Laura Newman 

Community and Economic Development Director Scott Buening 

Human Resources Director Wendy Bednarek

4. REMINDER: Please speak into the microphone

Mayor Schielke reminded everyone to use their microphones.

5. ITEMS REMOVED/ADDED/CHANGED

None. The Mayor noted that a discussion on a new Public Works building is on the agenda for tomorrow night’s Committee of the Whole meeting. He added that agendas note whether a meeting is remote or in person.

6. CONSENT AGENDA

Ald. Chanzit read the Consent Agenda as follows.

Accept and Place on File:

A. Committee of the Whole Minutes January 5, 2021

B. Plan Commission Minutes December 16, 2020

Approvals:

C. January 22, 2021 Payroll $1,026,130.30

D. Accounts Payable Check Register $1,907,627.80

E. City Council Minutes for January 19, 2021

F. RESOLUTION 21-001-R: Extension of Police Officer Eligibility List. (DME 1/11/21 COW 1/26/21) CS

G. RESOLUTION 21-002-R: Authorizing the Purchase of One (1) 2021 Ford Utility Police Interceptor All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle as part of the on going Vehicle Replacement Program (GA 1/12/21 COW 1/26/21) CS

H. RESOLUTION 21-005-R: Authorizing the Extension of the FFCRA Sick Leave (WB 1/22/21 COW 1/26/21 10/0) GS

I. RESOLUTION 21-003-R: Adopting the 2021 to 2023 Strategic Action Plan (LN 1/21/21 COW 1/26/21 10/0) GS

J. RESOLUTION 21-004-R: Approving Task 4 with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) in the amount of $204,200 to develop wiring diagrams and procurement of five fabricated control and relay panels for Paramount Distribution Substation (RB 1/21/21 COW 1/26/21 10/0 ) PU

K. ORDINANCE 21-11: Approving Purchase of Real Property Comprised of Approximately 6.6 Acres; Identified by Permanent Index Numbers of 12-18- 100-012, 12-18-100-013 and 12-18-100-023 (GH 1/21/21 COW 1/26/21 10/0) PU

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

7. MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC: (For Items NOT on the Agenda) None.

8. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

• Chamber President and CEO Margaret Perreault reported that the 2021 Community Guide and Membership Director has been delivered to homes in Batavia and North Aurora.

• The Chamber will once again award four Inspire Scholarships to students from Batavia High School. Scholarships are $500 each, and applications are available online. 

• Chamber Bucks continue to be spent in the community and can be purchased for any gift giving occasion.

• The Chamber continues to support the We Side With Batavia Restaurants promotion pitting the East and West Sides against each other in a friendly competition to order food from local restaurants. Limited dine-in options are now permitted by the state.

• In-person and virtual networking opportunities continue to be offered through the Chamber.

• A number of upcoming events were listed, including the March 10 aldermanic forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Eric Strand of School Street Posters introduced his business to the Council. He designs and prints maps of college towns and also offers maps of Batavia. Products are sold via retail stores and online at schoolstreetposters.com. The business is renting 2,000 square feet of industrial space. Strand has been in business for seven years, and moved to Batavia with his family last summer.

Mayor Schielke invited Mr. Strand to visit the mayor’s office to see aerial maps of Batavia from different points in history.

9. ORDINANCE 21-10: AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City of Batavia, Kane and DuPage Counties, Illinois, to issue Waterworks Revenue Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $4,425,000 in evidence of loans issued pursuant to the Public Water Supply Loan Program. (Peggy Colby 1/22/21, COW 1/26/21 10/0) GS

Ald. Chanzit introduced the item, explaining that costs for this project could be higher than anticipated, and staff recommends increasing the amount of funding requested. The state has indicated funds are available. The impact on the budget is $32,000/year, and the interest rate offered is very low.

Mayor Schielke praised the Public Works Department for the high quality of work they do and the stellar reputation they have built that makes it easier for the city to get this type of funding.

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

10. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Administrator Newman said city staff met this morning via Zoom with property owners and tenants adjacent to the One Washington Place project. They unveiled the project’s website and shared the details that they know about the project at this time. The website is at onewashingtonplaceproject.com, and includes detailed information about the project. Staff fielded questions and addressed concerns. Garbage collection will be an issue for some, and that will need to get worked out. Some businesses didn’t exist in 2016 when the initial garbage discussions happened, and they may want to be part of the community garbage collection in the new parking garage. Questions can be sent to OWP@cityofbatavia.net. Residents can also sign up for email alerts on the website. As a reminder, residents can also sign up for weekly email alerts from the city. This weekly email now includes a button that links you directly to the agendas and minutes for city meetings.

Tomorrow is a kick-off meeting with Hitchcock Company, the consultant hired to oversee the Fox River Master Plan.

Public Works: The deadline to submit qualifications for the Mahoney Creek Tributary and West Main Street projects is this week. Staff will review qualifications and provide recommendations to the Council.

Electric crews are working to complete a new line along Pine Street from Hart to Raddant. It’s part of a multi-year, phased construction of a new 34kV finger.

Water crews continue to identify lead service lines to be part of the removal program through the IEPA. Postcards have gone out to homes with potential lead service lines, and they are encouraged to complete the instructions to have lead service lines removed.

11. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Ald. Wolff reminded residents to clear snow away from fire hydrants and clean snow out of drains.

12. OTHER BUSINESS

Ald. Beck offered thanks and praise to the Water Department for their handling of the lead pipe replacement program, which she participated in as a homeowner. She said the process was smooth and efficient.

13. MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Schielke shared that he was in the meeting this morning with Administrator Newman and complimented her on her handling of the meeting. He said she clearly had spent hours preparing, fielded all questions and is working on getting answers. She is handling the project with the utmost care and concern, and he is very proud of her.

The mayor also shared that Robert Krawczyk, who was a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, recently passed away. Krawczyk had a strong background in architecture, having taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology in the area of using technology to assess buildings and styles. He was dynamic member of the HPC and his service is appreciated. He will be missed.

Mayor Schielke agreed that it is important to dig out fire hydrants, having experience digging out hydrants when responding to fires.

Three to five new restaurants plan to open in Batavia in the coming year. New owners often say they keep hearing good things about the Fox Valley, and specifically how nice the people in Batavia are and how easy the city is to work with. Batavia has a reputation for being a friendly place to do business. When the Fermilab construction project is complete, thousands of visitors are expected every year, and they will need to eat in restaurants.

The Boardwalk Shops also has a list of new applicants for the next season. Other Northern Illinois cities are noticing and asking questions about the shops. This project continues to make a positive impact.

14. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Ald. Wolff, seconded by Ald. O’Brien, to adjourn. Motion carried 13 yea/ 0 nay/ 1 absent. The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

http://www.cityofbatavia.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02012021-1676