DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met May 6.

Here are the minutes 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 Pete Paulsen, Virginia Sherrod, Chuck Stowe, Alan Bauer, Ben Bumpus, Nancy Copple, and Alicia Cosky. Alderman Jeff Fischer was absent. Attorney Kevin Buick was also present.

INVOCATION led by Alderperson Nancy Copple

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderperson Nancy Copple

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 7-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of April 15, 2024

B. Payment of the Bills for May 6, 2024, in the amount of $1,524,225.37.

MOTION

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

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS

A. A Proclamation Declaring May 5th through May 11th, 2024, as Professional Municipal Clerks Week in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

B. A Proclamation Declaring May 12th through May 18th, 2024, as National Police Week in the City of Sycamore, Illinois. C. Presentation by the Sycamore Police Department of the 2023 Annual Report.

Police Chief Jim Winters gave a presentation from the Annual Report that will be available online the next day, Tuesday, May 7th. He thanked Deputy Chiefs Jeff Wig and Joe Meeks, who are present and thanked Sergeant Binkowski and administrative staff Jen Diehl and Colleen Overton who collaborated on this report for which they used a new format. The report is comprehensive but doesn’t do justice to what all the officers do throughout the year. It does reflect the professionalism and how they put themselves in harm’s way in protecting the community. It also reflects the diversity of what they do and the complexity of the job of a police officer. He highlighted the following pages:

Pg. 12 New in 2023

Pg. 13 Training

Pg. 18 Operations Overview - Calls for Service

Pg. 20 Criminal Statistics (NIBRS*)

Pg. 25-26 Special Events, Community Engagement

Pg. 31 2023 Award Recipients

Pg. 34 Patrol Canine Program

Pg. 35 Moving Forward in 2024

REPORT OF OFFICERS

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance – Alan Bauer – no report

Public Safety – Pete Paulsen – no report

Public Works – Chuck Stowe – no report

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDINANCES

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution No. 991 – A Resolution to Enter into Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with FGM Architects, Inc. to Construct a New Fire Station

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is phase II of the professional services agreement with FGM Architects as phase I was the design phase which was completed and presented in March. Phase II is the development phase that includes the base version and two alternative versions, one with the expanded EOC (Emergency Operation Center), and two with the expanded lobby/museum. This is based on time and material and “not to exceed” fee. The next steps are:

Design – May through July

Detailed Construction Bidding – July through October

Process of Bonds – Borrowing phase - January

Seek approvals for borrowing – March

Start Construction – April 2025 with completion in June 2026.

He added that the city applied for a grant which could cover up to 35% for which they asked for $4.2 million and will be awarded by end of June or beginning of July. They received endorsement letters of support from DeKalb County Sherriff Andy Sullivan, NIU Chief of Police Darren Mitchell, both in support of the EOC, the Sycamore Park District, the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, the Sycamore School District, and Alderperson Alicia Cosky. They are also looking for other grants.

Alderman Bumpus asked when the council makes the decision on the proposed total cost.

City Manager Michael Hall said at the end of the year when the bids come in as the building is $7.6 million, and then contingencies, and the alternate options. Then the numbers will be known. The decision will be made after going to the bond council and deciding how much to borrow in February and March.

Mike Elliott, FGM Architects, said they have designed this in steps and once they finish the design development phase, they will do another estimate at which time a decision can be made if the council wants to pursue the expanded EOC or lobby/museum. There will be checkpoints along the way. If the true desire is to be less than what was initially presented, they will work their best to get there.

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Resolution 991 and Alderman Paulsen seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of a Downtown & Gateway Improvement Program Application from Sycamore Moose Lodge #1506 to Update the Front Exterior of their Properties at 313 and 317 West State Street, Sycamore, Illinois.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this was approved in September of last year as they were not able to get the matching funds until now so with this being a new budget cycle, this is just a re-approval.

MOTION

Alderman Bauer 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 Paulsen, Sherrod, Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, and Cosky voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

B. Consideration of an Administrative Recommendation to Award a Contract in the Amount of $55,396.96 to Corrective Asphalt Materials LLC for the 2024 Rejuvenator Project.

City Manager Michael Hall said that the city works collaboratively with the County to do this project. We have sixteen projects, which is $55,396.96 that came in lower and is a budgeted item.

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderman Bumpus seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

C. Consideration of a Public Works Department Recommendation to Place an Order for a 2024 Ford F250 4x2 Pickup Truck from Sutton Ford Commercial Truck Center, Matteson, IL in the Amount of $43,036.00.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is a budgeted item for $50,000 but the truck part came in at $43,036 from the State bid and the utility box is $13,491 for a total that will be $6,527 over. The Public Works Department also budgeted $25,000 for a scissor lift which was only $5,900 leaving over $19,000. The savings will be used for the truck and service body. He added that this truck will replace a ten-year-old vehicle.

MOTION

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

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

D. Consideration of a Public Works Department Request for Approval of a Change Order to Manusos General Contracting, Inc. for the Well 7 Radium Improvements.

City Manager Michael Hall said that earlier, the council approved Well #7 Radium improvements for which part of the process is seeking approval from IEPA (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) who are now requiring the city to install a chlorine scrubber as part of the project costing an additional $139,373.58 and an additional seven days to complete.

Mayor Braser confirmed that this is a state mandate.

Public Works Director added that it was not required when they went to bid but became required after the bid was already out.

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to approve the Consideration and Alderman Bumpus seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

APPOINTMENTS

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

Alderperson Alicia Cosky announced that 12 planters will be placed at participating businesses on Wednesday 8th. Rose Treml from the Sycamore Chamber helped get the word out. They have received six more requests for which they have received funding so the second phase of planters will be placed May 16th.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:34 p.m. and Alderman Paulsen 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/_05062024-289