DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met May 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

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

INVOCATION Led by Alderperson Virginia Sherrod

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Steve Braser

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve the agenda and Alderperson Fischer seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

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

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of April 18, 2022.

B. Payment of the Bills for May 2, 2022 in the amount of $532,014.69.

MOTION

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

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS

A. A Proclamation Declaring May 1st through May 7th, 2022 as Public Service Recognition Week in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

B. A Proclamation Declaring May 2022 as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

REPORT OF OFFICERS

City Manager Michael Hall said there is a swearing-in on June 2nd for the new Deputy Police Chief, the new Sergeant, and the therapy and comfort dog Jax. Deputy Chief Steve Cook will also be honored in celebration of his retirement after 30 years of service with the Sycamore Police 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

ORDINANCES

A. Ordinance No. 2022.01 – An Ordinance Amending Title 1, “Administration,” Chapter 10, “Personnel Rules,” Section 3, “Residency Requirements,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.

City Manager Michael Hall said this is to create more flexibility in the residency requirements. The union contracts currently have a residency requirement specifically for Fire and Police which are the First Responders and he is not looking to change anything there as that would be union. This is looking at the non-first responders to add more flexibility within the residency requirement which is currently 20 miles. There is now an excellent candidate that is 22 miles from the residency requirement.

They would like to change it so it is by policy which will be brought before the City Council listing off what is considered as First Responders and listing the areas like finance, secretaries, building maintenance workers, those that don’t really require having a residency of 20 miles, looking for flexibility in hiring because they are having some difficulties.

Alderperson Copple referred to the Employee Handbook, noting the unions and exempt employees, clarifying for those not under a union contract. She asked if there would be a fifth provision stating non-exempt employees that are not first responders or by union contract can live outside the 20 miles. She confirmed, though that the City Manager is required to still live in within the 20 mile requirement.

City Manager Michael Hall said yes, to the provision and yes, he is required to live within the requirement by contract, he does, and that would not change.

Alderman Stouffer suggested instead of waiving the requirement but extending it out to 25 miles or even 30 miles still keeping some kind of mileage requirement instead of opening it up to just policy. He did add though that he thinks living within a residency requirement lends itself to a more invested employee in the community and having the requirement would be beneficial for the city.

City Manager Michael Hall said it would be by policy, they are allowing flexibility on non-first responders or job title rather than setting a hard and fast 20 or 30 miles. By policy, they will lay out positions for the council to approve.

Alderman Huseman confirmed that this would be reflected in the employee handbook where it lists out management and unions. He asked how the employee handbook is modified. He also said that he would be supportive of this as he was surprised to see that every employee has the 20 mile requirement, but would first want to see the updated employee handbook to review the policies before approving it.

City Manager Michael Hall said that changes to the handbook would be brought forward to be approved by City Council. He said it could take several months for the handbook to be fully updated and there is an applicant that they want to hire as the Assistant Finance Director, who is head and shoulders above the rest, but is at 22 miles.

Alderman Bauer asked how the fairness is going to be handled as they could end up with a problem with someone that had to move to comply.

City Manager Michael Hall said that happens quite often, for example compensation time. Anybody that was hired prior to 2017, gets the entire comp time paid at separation, however, anybody hired after 2017, doesn’t get any.

Alderman Copple confirmed if a fifth category would just be added in the handbook for non-first responders.

Alderman Huseman said that if they approve this tonight, the handbook still exists with no changes. He said that we live in a world where there is extremely difficult recruiting.

City Manager Michael Hall said that that is correct so next meeting he could bring forward the change in that policy. He said they would leave it on First Reading and bring the policy forward to the next meeting.

B. Ordinance No. 2022.02 – An Ordinance Amending Title 3, “Business and License Regulations,” Chapter 24, “Mobile Food Vendors,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.

City Manager Michael Hall said that Council may want to leave this on First Reading, too, if there are any changes the council wants to see. This is something that staff has been looking at to make it easier for food truck vendors to come into the city.

This is basically removing some of the requirements including fingerprinting and backgrounds, and the three Sycamore resident references. This is broken down to health, life, and safety requiring the DeKalb County Health Department certificate and the Fire Department inspection. For the fixed-point food trucks, zoning and set-backs to name a few will be reviewed.

Staff has reviewed this quite heavily. Chamber Executive Director, Rose Treml told him that she is very much in support of this especially for having food trucks at the Farmer’s Market.

MOTION

Alderperson Stouffer motioned to waive First Reading on Ordinance 2022.02 and Alderperson Huseman seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

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

MOTION

Alderperson Stouffer motioned to adopt Ordinance 2022.02 and Alderperson Huseman seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution No. 911 – A Resolution Requesting Permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to Close Illinois Route 64 from Main Street to Sacramento Street from 5:00 AM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 31, 2022 to Allow for the “Turning Back Time” Car Show in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe motioned to take Resolution 911, 912, 913, and 914 in omnibus fashion and Alderperson Bauer seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

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

B. Resolution No. 912 – A Resolution Requesting Permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to Close Illinois Route 64 from Governor Street to Sacramento Street from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 to Allow for the Sycamore High School Homecoming Parade in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

C. Resolution No. 913 – A Resolution Requesting Permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to Close Illinois Route 64 from Kingsway Drive to Sacramento Street from 8:30 AM until 10:00 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2022 to Allow for the “Pumpkin Run” as Part of the Pumpkin Festival in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

D. Resolution No. 914 – A Resolution Requesting Permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to Close Illinois Route 64 from Locust Street to Sacramento Street from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2022 to Allow for the Pumpkin Festival Parade in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Resolution 911, 912, 913, and 914 and Alderperson Fisher seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

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

E. Resolution No. 915 – A Resolution to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Trotter and Associates, Inc. to Prepare Final Engineering Documents and Complete Bidding Services for the Proposed 2023 Watermain and Street Improvement Project.

City Engineer Mark Bushnell said that they are doing a watermain and street project. On the street project, they are able to use our STU (Surface, Transportation, and Urban) money so 80% of the roadway improvements will be paid with federal funding.

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe motioned approve Resolution 915 and Alderperson Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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