Peoria Standard

City of Batavia Committee of the Whole met May 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

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. They are intended to make an official record of the actions taken by the Committee and to include some description of discussion points as understood by the minute-taker. They may not reference some of the individual attendee’s comments, nor the complete comments if referenced.

1. Roll Call:

Present: Barazza, Beck, Pieper, Malone, Solfa, Wolff, Baerren, Leman, Malay, Vogelsinger, Anderson, Fahrenbach

Absent: Lohman*, Lanci

Also Present: Laura Newman, City Administrator; Max Weiss, Assistant City Administrator; Lori Botterman, Communication Manager; Mayor Schielke; Rahat Bari; Wendy Bednarek, Director of Human Resources; Drew Rackow, Planning and Zoning Officer; Scott Buening, Director of Community and Economic Development; Jeff Albertson, Building Commissioner; Peter Gerardi, Recorder.

2. Reminder: Please Speak Directly Into Microphone For BATV Recording

3. Approve Minutes For: April 29th, 2025

Motion: Approve Minutes as Presented

Maker: Solfa

Second: Malone

Voice Vote: 12 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent, Motion Carries

4. Items Removed/Added/Changed

Move agenda item 10 up to item 5a

Motion: To Approve the change in the items

Maker: Pieper

Second: Malone

Voice Vote: 12 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent, Motion Carries

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

None.

5a. Discussion: Adopting the Batavia Community Flag as the Official City Flag Ald. Lehman recognized the winner of the 2023 Batavia Chamber of Commerce community flag design contest, Rachel Agro, a student at BHS. Margaret from the Chamber displayed the flag and noted that discussions were had to make it the official City of Batavia flag. Marty Callahan gave a brief discussion on how the overall design process worked.

Motion: To accept the Batavia community flag as Batavia’s official City flag

Maker: Leman

Second: Vogelsinger

Roll Call Vote

Aye: Barazza, Beck, Malone, Solfa, Pieper, Wolff, Baerren, Leman, Malay, Vogelsinger, Anderson, Fahrenbach

Nay: None

12 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent, Motion Carries

6. Consent Agenda:

a. Resolution 2025-066-R: Approving Early Termination for the Cable Franchise Agreement with Metronet (MW)

b. Resolution 2025-071-R: Approving a contract with Substation Enterprises Inc to Purchase structural components for the Main Substation reconfiguration in the amount of $185,900 which includes 10 percent contingency (ES 5/9/25) PU

c. Resolution 2025-072-R: Approving Task order 6 with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories to Purchase Relay Panel for the Main Substation reconfiguration in the amount of $109,646 which includes 10 percent contingency amount (ES 5/9/25) PU

d. Resolution 2025-067-R: Authorizing the Execution of a Contract for the JDS Government Center Roof Replacement and Fall Protection with Malcor Roofing of St. Charles, Illinois (SH5/5/25) CS e. Resolution 2025-073-R: Authorizing Execution of an IGA with IDOT for Routine Maintenance of Certain State Routes (JB) PU

f. Resolution 2025-074-R: IDOT Resolution for Municipal Construction on State Highways (JB)

g. Resolution 2025-069-R: Hosted Phone System (HC)

h. Resolution 2025-070-R: Phone Upgrade (HC)

Motion: Approve Consent Agenda as Presented

Maker: Beck

Second: Solfa

Voice Vote: 12 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent, Motion Carries.

7. Motion: Approve of a bid to purchase land west of 122 South Van Buren Street (SCB 5/5/25) CD Scott Buening discussed the bidding process to sell off an excess piece of land on Van Buren Street.

Motion: Approve as presented

Maker: Malay

Second: Beck

Voice Vote: 12 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent, Motion Carries.

8. Discussion and Motion: TIF support request for proposed multifamily development in 400 Block of South River Street (SCB 4/23/25) CD

Scott Buening noted the request for $1.2MM of TIF funding to help pay for land acquisition of the old quarry site on Route 25 for a future development. Martell Armstrong of Housing Authority of Elgin, made a brief presentation and introduced the development team noting the official entity developing the property is Fox River Affordable Housing. Ald. Fahrenbach asked about financing and the types of units available in terms of market rate units versus subsidized. Armstrong discussed the financing timeline and Matt Lipoff of Baker Tilly discussed the various percentages of units available up to the maximum of 80%

AMI in Kane County. He asked if local residents would have a preference for units. Tilly noted this is first come first served based on income qualifications but would be marketed within the community. Ald. Wolff noted the City Council would have the ability to provide input on that particular aspect of the project.

Mayor Schielke cautioned that it may be difficult to build on a former limestone quarry which was reiterated by a neighbor at 303 South Van Buren.

* Ald. Lohman arrived at 8:05 P.M.

Ald. Malone asked about the possibility of making the development more pedestrian bicycle friendly. Armstrong noted this is not the final vision and there will be some changes. Ald. Malay noted that efforts to get density downtown haven’t produced much and this could be a good project to get things going especially in the corridor under study.

Motion: To recommend the TIF support request for proposed multifamily development in 400 Block of South River Street

Maker: Wolff

Second: Malay

Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Wolff, Baerren, Leman, Malay, Vogelsinger, Anderson, Barazza, Beck, Malone, Solfa, Pieper, Lohman

Nay: Fahrenbach

12 Aye, 1 Nay, 1 Absent, Motion Carries

9. Resolution 2025-075-R: Authorizing a Master Service Agreement and Task Order #1 with Sustained Ability Construction for GREEN Audit and Grant Program Administration (MW)

Max Weiss gave the staff report noting the program allows residents to get money for an energy audit in order to make homes more energy efficient. Weiss noted that applications will open June 1st and will be open for about a month and the program will continue for the better part of the year. Ald. Wolff noted that we really need to promote this program the best we can so it gets to those residents that need it. Ald. Malone asked about timelines for the program. Craig Schneider indicated it should not be more than a week to get started contacting accepted applicants and so the audits should begin in July with the first audit being returned to the customer August 1st .

Motion: To recommend to City Council Resolution 2025-075-R

Maker: Vogelsinger

Second: Malone

Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Vogelsinger, Anderson, Barazza, Beck, Malone, Solfa, Pieper, Lohman,

Wolff, Baerren, Leman, Malay, Fahrenbach

Nay:

13 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Absent, Motion Carries

11. Project Status

Laura Newman noted that the bond issuance for the upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, lift station and force main will be coming to the City Council next week. Newman noted that the 2025 street and sidewalk replacement program is out for bids and the opening is on May 21st. She said the project to install surveillance cameras downtown is continuing with the goal to have the project done by the Windmill City Fest. Newman gave an overview of the opening meetings act and answered questions.

12. Other

None

13. Adjournment There was a motion, a second and a voice vote. The meeting ended at 8:38 P.M.

https://www.bataviail.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/21856?fileID=16778