DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met Jan. 16.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Braser called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and City Clerk Mary Kalk called the roll. Those Alderpersons present were Virginia Sherrod, Alan Bauer, Ben Bumpus, Nancy Copple, Alicia Cosky, and Jeff Fischer. Alderman Pete Paulsen was absent, and Alderman Chuck Stowe arrived after roll call at 6:24 pm. Attorney Keith Foster was also present.

INVOCATION led by Alderperson Virginia Sherrod

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderperson Virginia Sherrod

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

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

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

Bill Davey, 1830 Perry Court, thanked Police Chief Winters and Alderperson Copple for bringing up the first ordinance on discharging arrows. He also mentioned that Ideal Industries and the Juday's are donating land for the fire department which is much needed.

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of December 18, 2023

B. Payment of the Bills for January 16, 2023, in the amount of $1,140,188.45.

MOTION

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

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS

A. Presentation by Nicole Juday of Ideal Industries Regarding Partnership for Future Fire Station 1 Campus.

Nichol Juday, (Kent Wrenn was also present) said that this is fitting and timely and a great way for Ideal Industries to demonstrate their commitment to Sycamore and appreciation of Sycamore as they celebrate their 100 years in business. She is pleased to represent the company in the conveyance of this land from Ideal to the city and for a purpose that is only going to improve the well-being and safety of the residents of the City of Sycamore. She also reported on another project separate from the fire station in honor of the 100th anniversary. They are undertaking a re-envisioning and total activation of an existing retaining pond at the intersection of Bordan Avenue and Prairie Drive adjacent to the fire station land. It will include a walking path in the first phase, and an ecological landscape, meadow, trees, butterfly habitat, etc. and hopes this project becomes a hub for civic engagement.

REPORT OF OFFICERS

City Manager Michael Hall reported another advantage of moving to a calendar budget year regarding the recent bid opening. There were 10 companies who bid on the project for which the lowest bid came in 20% under budget.

Fire Chief Bart Gilmore thanked everybody who came out for Brad Balenger's memorial, especially the Police and Public Works who helped handle that. They are grateful!

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES Finance - Alan Bauer - no report

Public Safety - Pete Paulsen - absent

Public Works - Chuck Stowe - absent, arrived at 6:24 pm.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDINANCES

A. Ordinance No. 2024.01 - An Ordinance Amending Title 5, "Police Regulations," Chapter 4, "Miscellaneous Offenses," to Create a New Section 7-1 Entitled "Shooting or Discharge of Arrows," in the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. First and Second Reading.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this was a request from Alderperson Copple to the Chief because of an incident. A draft was created but one change is needed to eliminate exception #4 in the ordinance. This change will be eliminated as the city doesn't have a license an archery range.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to waive First Reading for Ordinance 2024.01 and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Ordinance 2024.01 and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution No. 968 - A Resolution Accepting a Land Donation from Ideal Industries Inc. in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this resolution is for formalization and acceptance.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer made a motion to approve Resolution 968 and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0

B. Resolution No. 969 - A Resolution to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Trotter and Associates, Inc. to Complete the 2024 Water Master Plan Update.

City Manager Michael Hall said the city hired Trotter in 2019 for the current Water Master Plan which was a necessary step for the IEPA (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) loan process. By having this document, the city has been able to secure $11.16 million in funding of which $6.8 million being debt forgiveness. The document is now five years old and needs updating to identify new priorities. Updating will be critical to one of the largest proposals for the 2025 water main project and radium removal contracts that are expiring in 2027.

Scott Trotter, Trotter and Associates, Inc. said updated regulations are typically included in the scope of the study to address all regulation changes that have happened since the 2019 plan as well as develop recommendations and projects if necessary.

Alderman Bumpus asked how the city will engage the community in this.

City Engineer Mark Bushnell said that when they were evaluating the water main projects during the original master plan, it was on the heels of a large fire at that time, priority was put on fire flow. There is a decision matrix that is used for water main projects where the criteria can be weighted differently based on staff, council, and community input.

MOTION

Alderman Bumpus made a motion to approve Resolution 969 and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

B. Resolution No. 970-A Resolution Approving a Plat of Easement for a Public Water Main at the Property Commonly Known as 1705 Mediterranean Drive in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

City Manager Michael Hall said this is required to allow access to the water main.

MOTION

Alderperson Sherrod made a motion to approve Resolution 970 and Alderperson Cosky seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

C. Resolution No. 971 - 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 2025 Watermain and Street Improvement Project.

City Manager Michael Hall said the city has completed $5 million in water main improvements in 2022 and 2023 as part of the Water Master Plan. They are now preparing final engineering documents for the 2025 project which is $5.7 million for work on the referenced streets as per the agenda. The plan is to replace 7,000 feet of linear main and known private lead service lines which will require 1,300-man hours with a fee not to exceed $248,100 which includes a $15,000 contingency.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer made a motion to approve Resolution 971 and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of a Public Works Request to Authorize the Purchase of a Replacement ATAD Pump and Installation

Components in the Amount of $80,439.95 from Thermal Process Systems.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is a fifteen-year-old pump that was installed in 2009 that needs replacement as part of the 2024 Capital Plan. It was budgeted at $100,000 but the quote came in at $80,439.95.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderperson Cosky seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.

B. Consideration of a Public Works Request to Authorize the Execution of an Agreement with Municipal Well & Pump for the Maintenance Inspection and Recommended Repair of Well #7.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is also a planned Capital Project budgeted for not to exceed $265,000. As per the agenda, the base quote is for $80,000 for pulling the pipe but does not include the additional costs of anticipated repairs that may be needed.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderman Bauer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky and Fischer voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

C. Consideration of an Administration Request for Closed Session in Accordance with 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) to Discuss Pending Litigation.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer motioned to go into Closed Session at 6:27 pm and Alderperson Copple seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

MOTION

Alderman Bauer made a motion to go back into Open Session at 6:49 pm and Alderperson Cosky seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

APPOINTMENTS

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:51 p.m. and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

https://www.cityofsycamore.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01162024-262