City of Sycamore City Council met May 11.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
5. AUDIENCE TO VISITORS
6. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of May 18, 2020.
B. Payment of the Bills for June 1, 2020.
7. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS
8. REPORTS OF OFFICERS
9. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Public Hearing on Applications to the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program.
The State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has made available $20,000,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds for the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program. Under this program, funds are granted to local governments to provide financial assistance to businesses within its jurisdiction that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To be eligible for assistance, businesses must meet certain criteria, including being deemed non- essential without the ability to work remotely, having more than one but less than 50 employees, and being able to demonstrate the need for the assistance. The Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program makes funds available for 60 days of a business’ working capital up to a maximum of $25,000.
While the City would serve as the grant applicant on behalf of each benefiting business, the DCEO will make the final determination if grant funds will be awarded and the amount. If a grant is awarded, the City would administer the grant and distribute funds to the benefiting businesses. The City and the benefiting business will enter into a participation agreement that outlines the responsibilities of each as it pertains to the grant funds.
A public hearing is required prior to both the submission of each application and the passage of a resolution of support from the City Council. The City of Sycamore will be submitting applications on behalf of the following local businesses:
| Local Business | Grant Amount Requested |
| UTC Group, Inc. | $25,000 |
| Darken, LLC DBA Sycamore Theatre | $25,000 |
11. ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance No. 2020.03—An Ordinance Authorizing Boundary Modifications to the Area Known as the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone by the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.
The DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), administrator of the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, has presented a request by the codenamed Project Buffalo for an Add-Territory Enterprise Zone Boundary Amendment to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone.
Project Buffalo is Syngenta, a global Agribusiness company with 28,000 employees in 90 countries around the world. Syngenta is proposing to develop a 96,000 square foot campus consisting of office space, a customer experience center, laboratories, greenhouses, and warehousing on a 24-acre site located on the northeast corner of Route 38 and Willrett Road, west of Kishwaukee College, in unincorporated DeKalb County. The company intends to invest in R&D Innovation and Customer Experience Center in DeKalb County. This would allow them to showcase leading seeds and technologies and collaborate with farmers in U.S. Corn Belt.
Syngenta has requested that a Project-Specific Add Territory Boundary Amendment be approved for a 24+ acre building pad on their site and a 2.7 acre connecting between the current zone and the new site. Ample capacity exists within the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone to accommodate this request. Currently, territory totaling 13.93369 square miles, of a maximum 15 square miles, is included within the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, with capacity available for an additional 682.4 acres.
Agribusiness Research & Development is a Target Industry in the DeKalb County Thriving! Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS Plan). Knowledge-based Industries are also identified as a specific preferred category within the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone Interstate Commerce Market (ICM). While Syngenta has purchased the 88-acre site, the proposed development project is contingent approval of the Enterprise Zone Boundary Amendment by the seven Designating Units of Government as well as the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
Attached for consideration is an Ordinance amending City of Sycamore Enterprise Zone Designating Ordinance by adding the 24 acre development site and 2.7 acre connecting strip defined by the attached Legal Description (Exhibit A) and Map (Exhibit B), as well as an Amendment to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone Intergovernmental Agreement (Exhibit C).
The Add-Territory Boundary Amendment will require the following:
- Approval of Boundary Amendment to the Designating Ordinances by the Units of Government sponsoring the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone;
- Amendment to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone Intergovernmental Agreement between the Designating Units: DeKalb County, City of DeKalb, City of Genoa, City of Sandwich, City of Sycamore and the Town of Cortland and Village of Waterman; and
- Approval of an Add Territory Boundary Amendment Application by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
The DeKalb County Enterprise Zone Advisory Board unanimously recommended approval of the Project Buffalo/Syngenta Add-Territory Boundary Amendment on December 19, 2019.
City Council approval is recommended.
12. RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution No. 833 – A Resolution of Support for the City of Sycamore’s Application to the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program on for the Benefit of UTC Group Inc.
The City of Sycamore will be submitting an application for the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program on behalf of UTC Group, Inc (Bill Cho’s United Taekwondo Center). A resolution of support from the City Council and the accompanying participation agreement are required components of the grant application. The participation agreement outlines the responsibilities of both the City and the benefiting business as it pertains to the grant.
City Council approval is recommended.
B. Resolution No. 834 – A Resolution of Support for the City of Sycamore’s Application to the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program on for the Benefit of Darken, LLC DBA Sycamore Theatre.
The City of Sycamore will be submitting an application for the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program on behalf of Darken, LLC DBA Sycamore Theatre. A resolution of support from the City Council and the accompanying participation agreement are required components of the grant application. The participation agreement outlines the responsibilities of both the City and the benefiting business as it pertains to the grant.
City Council approval is recommended.
C. Resolution No. 835 – A Resolution Requesting a Permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation to Allow for the Replacement of Water Services on IL Route 64 as performed by the City of Sycamore.
This resolution is required for the State of Illinois Department of Transportation to allow the City of Sycamore to replace existing water services and complete pavement patching on IL Route 64. The City is responsible for guaranteeing that all work performed is in compliance with conditions of the permit.
City Council approval is recommended.
13. CONSIDERATIONS
A. Consideration of a Recommendation by the Director of Human and Administrative Resources to Designate Resource Bank as the City’s Insurance Broker.
The City requests proposals every three to four years for insurance broker services. The last RFP for these services was done in 2015. The City’s Director of Human and Administrative Resources led the process to review broker needs given the ever-changing Health Care and Affordable Care Act rules and provisions.
After soliciting proposals, three agencies expressed interest. The three brokers were interviewed by the City Manager and Director of Human and Administrative Resources. All three of the agencies interviewed offered comprehensive broker services, however the proposal that demonstrated the best fit was to continue with Resource Bank.
Some highlights of the proposal include:
• Familiarity with the City’s insurance offerings • Claims expert on staff
• Access to claims reporting
• Proactive planning
• Plan document review
• Compliance guidance
• Notifications on upcoming requirements
Having a local day-to-day contact at Resource Bank will continue to provide a significant benefit to the City’s staff and employees.
City Council approval is recommended.
14. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
15. APPOINTMENTS
16. ADJOURNMENT
https://cityofsycamore.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cc20200601a.pdf
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