DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met June 1.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Lang called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and City Clerk Mary Kalk called the roll. Those Alderpersons present were: Pete Paulsen, Virginia Sherrod, Chuck Stowe, Alan Bauer, Steve Braser, Nancy Copple, Josh Huseman, and Rick Kramer. City Attorney Keith Foster was also present.

INVOCATION- Led by Larry Mix

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Alderman Josh Huseman

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Kramer motioned to approve the agenda and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS - None

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 in the amount of $290,177.40.

MOTION

Alderperson Bauer moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS

Alderman Kramer thanked everyone involved for helping get the small businesses open and said that he is so proud to be a part of this community.

REPORT OF OFFICERS

City Manager – Brian Gregory said as last week marked the beginning of Phase III of the Governor’s Restore Illinois Plan, which means that several businesses that hadn’t been able to open could open. The City will continue to work on ways to help in any way they can and continue to be a source. Starting today, several City building lobbies are open and plan to walk backwards the steps taken from the shelter-in order to locked buildings. He’s not sure of the timeline but still prefer to see customers on an appointment basis just to make sure that the interaction is controlled to protect the employees and residents safety while providing service. He echoed the comments about Team Sycamore and everyone who is involved in this meeting and to many more that have given ideas and made things happen. He said he wouldn’t expect anything less of our organization and our community. Trying to understand the outdoor dining guidelines and working with the businesses on the fly to use adjacent property to get restaurants and bars opened creating some space where people can bring take-out, has all been a team effort. He gave a shout-out to the Public Works Department who gets the big picture and always make things happen. He said the Safety Shield program has been well received by the businesses and reported that Upstaging has donated 600 face shields which are being distributed through the program. Fire and Police already use them but this will allow Public Works to use them, too. He thanked our Police Department with the events that are happening across the country and for partnering to help our neighboring community to ensure that those that want to exercise their first amendment right of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly can do so in a safe and peaceful way. He reported that there will not be a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting next week. He plans to have a Zoom Council Meeting on June 15th, and will assess for July. Attorney Foster mentioned that beginning July, all votes should be roll call votes when electronic means are used.

Police Chief – Jim Winters said there have been various peaceful protests in the last week across our country as well as locally, but unfortunately some have turned violent with many cases of property destruction. There has been some incidents within the county but not on the scale you may have seen on the news in large cities. They have partnered with DeKalb Police Department (PD), NIU PD, and the Sheriff’s office as a joint effort to focus on the safety of all our residents, communities, and business, as well as the protestors. He thanked the Council and those in the community that sent thanks and words of support to our officers. He said, on a brighter side, they were awarded a grant from the Bayer Fund, formerly known as Monsanto for $5,000. The funds will be used to purchase a special events vehicle that is similar to our utility vehicle but more suitable for city streets in that it can safely navigate special events in areas where a patrol car is too large. Lastly, as we enter Phase 3 of Restore Illinois, the PD is taking steps to gradually return to normal operations while continuing to balance a high level of service for the safety of our employees and residents. One of those steps was the re-opening of our lobby.

Fire Chief – Pete Polarek said retired Fire Chief Larry Haeffner passed away and was laid to rest last Tuesday where the Fire Department (FD) played a small part in helping his family with his internment. Larry was a valued member of the FD for over 27 years serving the last six years as Chief. He was a big part of the community and will be missed.

Director of Public Works – Fred Busse absent

Treasurer/Asst. to the City Manager – Adam Orton said Accountant Dan Prombo announced that he has taken a new position and will be leaving June 5th. He has been here for seven years and has been “my right-hand guy”. We will miss him but we do wish him well. An auditor was onsite two weeks ago with a mask and using social distancing for some preliminary work to prepare for full field work in July.

Building & Engineering Director – John Sauter said that Jiffy Lube broke ground out at the Meijer site and foundation work is underway. They’re reviewing plans for a renovation to the second floor at Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry at 124 North California Street. The business is under new ownership and they plan to utilize the second floor as part of the business. He anticipates that work will begin later this month.

Director of Human and Administrative Resources (DHAR) – Maggie Peck reported that they have given out 73 of the 150 safety shields that they ordered from Upstaging. She gave a special thank you to two Public Works employees and to the two newest police officers who helped her and the city manager deliver the shields to businesses. She said the city manager and she have spent a great deal of time putting the sycamore strong stickers on the first 150 face shields and thanked Upstaging for offering to put the remainder of the stickers on the shields. As there have been some employees that have left the city, some prior to COVID, she gave a “shout-out” to the administration and employees who have stepped up and filled in those gaps for the time being. They are looking at every position as they go forward and will keep the council posted on what that looks like in the near future.

City Engineer – Mark Bushnell said the Street Program Map has been posted to the City’s website and Facebook

Page. This outlines all the projects scheduled for this summer. The final paving of Townsend Woods is scheduled for tomorrow. The large SBR (sequencing batch reactor) equipment is starting to be delivered to the WWTP. This will result in large bills to be paid for about $1.7million. The schedule for the IL Route 64 project has not been set, but it will be completed by Curran, who is a local contractor. The project is a mill and overlay so it will have a smaller disturbance than work that involves curb and gutter.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance – Alan Bauer - no report

Public Safety – Pete Paulsen - no report 

Public Works – Chuck Stowe - no report

PUBLIC HEARINGS

A. Public Hearing on Applications to the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program.

City Manager Brian Gregory said there are certain formalities that need to be read into the record. In order to not forget any point, he read the following:

The City is applying to the State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program on behalf of several local business. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the state’s federal Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). One component of which is the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program.

One of the grant program’s requirements is this public hearing, which includes a public notice in the local paper as well as a list of those in attendance at the public hearing. Additionally, the agenda also includes resolutions of support and participation agreements for each benefiting business.

The Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program has $20,000,000 available for working capital funds to a community’s businesses that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The program makes funds available for 60 days of verifiable working capital up to a grant ceiling of $25,000. This program is primarily geared toward businesses classified by the State of Illinois as “non-essential businesses” without the ability to work remotely. These businesses also must have been in operation by the same owner for the past three years, have more than one but less than 50 employees, and be able to demonstrate the need for the assistance. Additional eligibility criteria apply.

The City is applying for grant funds through CDBG Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program to be used to provide working capital for the operating needs and benefit of the following businesses:

1.) UTC Group Inc. (Bill Cho United Taekwondo Center) located at 1598 DeKalb Avenue. The grant request for this business for 60 days of working capital has been determined to be $25,000.

2.) Darken LLC, DBA Sycamore Theatre located at 420 West State Street. The grant request for this business for 60 days of working capital has been determined to be $25,000.

These funds will address urgent needs of the businesses due to the COVID-19 emergency. In order to receive these grant funds, the businesses cannot declare bankruptcy and they must re-open within one year. If they fail to meet these performance standards, they may be in default of the terms of the participation agreement.

The CDBG grant is funded by the federal government and is administered by the State. The State allocates the funds to various local government units through a competitive application process. For the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program, applications will be accepted until the grant funds are exhausted.

A copy of each grant application is on file at the City of Sycamore, 308 West State Street, Sycamore, Illinois and may be obtained by emailing Adam Orton at aorton@cityofsycamore.com.

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) requires this public hearing to include the City’s short- and long- term housing and community development needs and activities. The City’s planning goals as described in the Comprehensive Plan are as follows:

1.) Preserve a small town identity while promoting expansion of the tax base and community-oriented services and jobs;

2.) Maintain a primarily single family character of the community’s housing stock, but evaluate the potential to introduce more diversity in housing options in order to attract a variety of residents;

3.) Promote community-oriented commercial retail and service outlets;

4.) Retain Sycamore’s quality industrial firms and diversify the community’s industrial base by attracting new industry to Sycamore;

5.) Enhance the vitality and sustainability of the downtown in terms of aesthetics and commercial activity;

6.) Enhance the local economic climate to ensure that Sycamore is a desirable community in which to live, work, and conduct business;

7.) Provide exemplary, efficient, and cost effective public services and facilities to maintain and enhance the health, safety, and welfare of Sycamore residents;

8.) Preserve the natural environment as much as reasonably possible during the planning and development of urban land uses and infrastructure;

9.) Reinvigorate the transportation system through a capital program that measures success in terms of traditional transportation objectives such as uncongested traffic flow as well as contemporary aspirations for aesthetically pleasing and pedestrian-friendly rights-of-way.

And finally, as also required by the grant, it needs to be noted that the City does have a Fair Housing Ordinance.

He turned the meeting back over to the Mayor to open the floor up for any questions or comments from the audience. He said that the discussion should be focused on one business at a time in the order listed.

Mayor Lang opened the public hearing for the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program at 7:26 p.m. to anyone who wanted to address the Council.

Alderperson Copple said that she thought the theatre was selling.

City Manager Brian Gregory said the business is required to re-open within one year and said he is not sure how the state would view it if the theatre were to sell and re-open within a year as if not, it would not be in compliance with the participation agreement.

Hearing no other comments, Mayor Lang closed the public hearing for this item at 7:28 p.m.

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.

City Manager Brian Gregory gave a brief background per the agenda and said that this ordinance is looking to add land to the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone as the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) allows for the Enterprise Zone, which is 14 square miles, to be expanded. There is capacity to add as 15 square miles are allowed. Dubbed Project Buffalo, 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 near Malta in unincorporated DeKalb to open a 96,000 square foot campus in DeKalb County. All the units of government are required to pass ordinances in order to amend the Enterprise Zone and then application is made to the Illinois DCEO to make those changes. Like the project that came before in DeKalb, it is likely that at some point, Sycamore will have a project or property that wasn’t included in the Enterprise Zone, that we will be doing the same and asking other communities to support our request. This is positive for DeKalb County to see development and new jobs. Paul Borek from DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation is on the call to answer questions.

Paul Borek said that he is pleased to present Syngenta, a global agribusiness company and their request to expand the enterprise zone to develop a research and development campus and customer experience center on Route 38, west of Kishwaukee College Campus. This facility will allow Syngenta to showcase their seeds and technologies to agricultural producers. Employment will include research & development scientists, managers, and team leaders. Rachel Gradner, Syngenta representative, is on the call to answer any questions.

Alderman Bauer said being in agribusiness, he really supports this wholeheartedly.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to waive First Reading of Ordinance 2020.03 and Alderperson Bauer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Ordinance 2020.03 and Alderperson Bauer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

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.

City Manager Brian Gregory said, as stated in the public hearing, a resolution of support is required as the city is a co- applicant. He recapped that there is $20 million toward the program that is on a first come, first serve basis. Each grant applicant must meet criteria to get consideration. The City Treasurer has called downstate to get a status on the first three applicants and was told not to call for 30 days so we should hear by the next Council meeting. They will continue to work with business who want to apply as they will help as long as funds are available.

MOTION

Alderperson Kramer motioned to approve Resolution 833 and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

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.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Resolution 834 and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

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.

City Manager Brian Gregory said that public works crews are going to replace some water services that run under Route 64 in and around the downtown area. He said that there have been some issues over the years where lines have cracked and ultimately leads to water in some of the basements of some of the downtown storefronts. The State of Illinois Department of Transportation requires a permit 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. He made note that in the prepared ordinance, it says that the City of Sycamore employees will NOT be performing the work and so the word” NOT” should be struck. Please, include amending the ordinance to strike the word “NOT” in the motion to approve the resolution.

MOTION

Alderperson Braser motioned to approve the amended Resolution 835 as stated and Alderperson Kramer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of a Recommendation by the Director of Human and Administrative Resources to Designate Resource Bank as the City’s Insurance Broker.

City Manager Brian Gregory gave a brief background per the agenda. After soliciting proposals, three firms responded. He and the Director of Human and Administrative Resources (DHAR) interviewed them and while they all had comprehensive package of services, they have familiarity with Resource Bank. They have been the broker for the past few years and so they are recommending to continue with Resource Bank for brokerage services.

Alderman Bauer asked, for transparency, who the other agencies were that solicited proposals. DHAR Maggie Peck said that Gallagher and First Insurance Group applied.

Alderwoman Copple gave a “shout-out” to Maggie for how hard she worked on this.

MOTION

Alderperson Kramer motioned to approve the consideration and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye with Alderperson Braser abstaining. Motion carried 7-0-1.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS 

APPOINTMENTS

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 p.m. and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Lang called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, and Kramer voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.

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