DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council Met March 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: Alan Bauer, Steve Braser, Nancy Copple, Josh Huseman, Pete Paulsen, Virginia Sherrod, David Stouffer, and Chuck  Stowe. City Attorney Keith Foster was also present. 

INVOCATION- by Pastor Dan Swinson, Sycamore United Methodist Church 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Alderman Steve Braser 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA 

MOTION  

Alderperson Braser motioned to approve the agenda and Alderperson Huseman seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS 

CONSENT AGENDA  

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 15, 2021. 

B. Payment of the Bills for March 1, 2021 in the amount of $436,113.35. 

MOTION  

Alderperson Bauer motioned 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 Bauer, Braser, Copple, Huseman, Paulsen,  Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.  

APPOINTMENTS 

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS 

REPORT OF OFFICERS  

Acting City Manager – Maggie Peck thanked the emergency responders for what was a difficult weekend for the community.  

Police Chief – Jim Winters said that they are approaching 60 days of the body cam rollout and all is going well. He showed  one of the body cams to the council and invited anyone else who wanted to see it to do so after the meeting. He said they  have over 2,000 officer recordings. He expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones over the last week.  Thoughts and prayers go out to them for strength going forward.  

Fire Chief – Pete Polarek reported two structure fires on Friday and Saturday night where unfortunately, they had fire victims  from each fire. Their hearts go out to the families. He said the complexity of these incidents are very challenging and quickly  overwhelm their modest resources, however, they are grateful for the support systems and valued assistance of the Police  Department and mutual-aid partners. The investigators worked well into the night and as they move into recovery, the  Community Development team is the lead agency working with insurance companies and various trades. Their thoughts and  prayers go out to the families for those who lost a loved one. He said that out-pouring from the council and the community has  been gratifying. 

City Treasurer Dan Prombo reported that the City of Sycamore has received the 2019 medallion for the Certificate of  Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for the Comprehensive  Annual Financial Report (CAFR). He thanked the Mayor, Council, City Manager, and Department Heads for all their help. He  gave a special thanks for all the past and present financial teams for helping make the CAFR possible as it is the fourth year in  a row.  

Director of Community Development John Sauter said they’re reviewing plans for a conversion of the former Hardee’s  restaurant on DeKalb Avenue into a Wendy’s. They’re still early in the review process but anticipates that work will begin this  spring. They’re at six single family permits as of the end of February. Last year at this time, they were at two, so they’re off to  a good start for the year. 

Director of Public Works Matt Anderson said as the weather has been changing, there have been a couple main breaks.  He said that the Public Works and Treatment Plant staff was able to facilitate some water samples for the 7th grade science  class as part of their life science unit of organisms in action. He reported that there is a “Notes” tab on the Public Works page  of the website that City Engineer Mark Bushnell was instrumental in adding. They plan to update with news and pictures on a  semi-regular basis. They are excited to welcome Matt Schroeder who started today in the Public Works Department.  

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES  

Finance – Alan Bauer said - no report.  

Public Safety – Pete Paulsen no report. 

Public Works – Chuck Stowe no report. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS - None 

ORDINANCES 

A. Ordinance No. 2020.27—An Ordinance Amending Title 6, “Motor Vehicles and Traffic,” Chapter 1, “General Traffic  Provisions,” Section 7, “Distracted Driving,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second  Reading.  

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck said that this comes from the Police Department as an administrative clean-up to the city  code. The words, “using an electronic communication device” has been struck as this is now a moving violation as well as  revising Title 6-1-7 by striking all language pertaining to defining or using electrical communication devices.  

MOTION  

Alderperson Copple motioned to waive First Reading for Ordinance 2020.27 and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.  

VOICE VOTE 

Mayor Lang called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.  

MOTION  

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Ordinance 2020.27 and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

RESOLUTIONS 

A. Resolution No. 855—A Resolution Approving an Extension to the Contract Between the City of Sycamore and  Municipal Engineering Corporation for Contractual Engineering Services During the Period May 1, 2021 Through April  30, 2022.  

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck said that this is a one year extension to the contract with Municipal Engineering Corporation  Principle John Brady who has been vital to the City of Sycamore. The attached contract includes an extension with the following  terms: 

• A monthly retainer of $4,000 that includes ten hours per week for general engineering and development related  services.  

• Services related to the engineering design and fieldwork for the City’s Street Maintenance program under the MFT  contract. Compensation will be based IDOT’s formula for these services.  

MOTION  

Alderperson Stowe motioned to approve Resolution 855 and Alderperson Bauer seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

B. Resolution No. 856—A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Lease Agreement Between the City of Sycamore  and Law Office of Stephanie P. Klein, P.C., for Suite 101B the Retail Space in the Sycamore Center. 

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck said that the attached agreement includes a one-year lease for Suite 101B that commences  on March 1, 2021, with a monthly rent of $600 inclusive of utilities and taxes, with annual renewal options. She reminded the  council that the rental money received from these retail spaces is used for the Public Buildings Fund. Stephanie P. Klein is on  the call if anyone has questions.  

MOTION  

Alderperson Huseman motioned to approve Resolution 856 and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

CONSIDERATIONS 

A. Consideration of an Administration Presentation of the FY22 Special and Bond Funds. 

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck said this is the last two fund categories before presenting the entire budget on March 15th.  The Special Funds are comprised of connection fee funds, fire and police pension funds, funds for specific fees, taxes and  escrows and funds for obligations such as radium removal decommissioning or accrued leave payments. These funds total  $3,956,973 in combined expenditures. Preliminary pension disbursements are expected to reach $2,161,873 as the city  continues to meet its funding obligations and will again this year. There are no major changes planned for this year. She  continued referencing the following: 

Debt Service Funds 

The Debt Service Funds are made up of general obligation bond issues and loans to support water and sewer operations. In  FY22, the debt service obligations are as follows: 

2003 EPA Loan     2005 EPA Loan    2006 EPA Loan     2009 EPA Loan 

$49,737                $55,022               $66,697                $194,852 

2012 Refunding     2017 Refunding   2019 EPA Loan 

$265,150             $326,936         $1,252,000 (est.) 

She said that the 2019 EPA Loan will be funded for a period of 20 years and said once they have the repayment schedule, they  will amend this portion to reflect the repayment amount. She does not anticipate any general obligation borrowing in the future.  

Alderman Huseman asked if the city is paying anything on the 2019 EPA Loan.  

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck said no, not at this point. 

B. Consideration of an Administration Request for Direction Regarding the Sale of Property Located at 258 Lucas  Street. 

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck gave background on the property reflected in the agenda and said that structure has been  removed, but still need to terminate the water and sewer services and put the final seeding down. The city has roughly $18,000  into this project and said that staff recommends putting the property up for sale through a sealed bid process with the goal to  recoup the money that was put into this project. The consulting engineer MEC would help with the bidding process.  

Alderman Stouffer asked if the goal is to have another house built in its place.  

Acting City Manager Maggie Peck said to refer to Director John Sauter for the zoning but that it’s the plan to just sell the property.  She added that as long as someone is meeting the zoning expectations, they can do whatever they want.  

Director John Sauter said he is not 100% sure but said some of the homes down there are zoned manufacturing so if someone  wanted to put a residential structure on it, they would have to seek to rezone the property.  

Alderman Paulsen said it will be an improvement to the neighborhood. He said he appreciates all the efforts.  

MOTION  

Alderperson Paulsen motioned to approve the consideration to sell the property and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

C. Consideration of an Administration Request for a Closed Session to Discuss Pending Litigation.  

MOTION  

Alderperson Stouffer motioned to enter into Closed Session at 7:25 pm and Alderperson Huseman seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

MOTION  

Alderperson Stouffer motioned to return to Open Session at 7:48 pm and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

OTHER NEW BUSINESS 

ADJOURNMENT  

MOTION  

Alderperson Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m. and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.  

ROLL CALL VOTE  

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

https://cityofsycamore.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cc20210301.pdf