DeKalb Times

City of Sycamore City Council met Feb. 17.

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 Chuck Stowe, Alan Bauer, Ben Bumpus, Nancy Copple, Alicia Cosky, Jeff Fischer, Pete Paulsen, and Virginia Sherrod. Attorney Keith Foster was also present.

INNVOCATION led by Alderperson Nancy Copple

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderperson Nancy Copple

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Cosky motioned to approve the agenda 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 8-0.

AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 3, 2025.

B. Payment of the Bills for February 17, 2025, in the amount of $677,144.15.

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 Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, and Sherrod voted aye. Motion carried 8-0

APPOINTMENTS

PRESENTATION, PETITIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS

REPORTS OF STAFF, COMMITTEES, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

A. Monthly Financial Report

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDINANCES

A. Ordinance No. 2025.01 – An Ordinance Approving Amendments to Article 6.8.3., “Definitions,” and Article 6.8.8., “Permitted Signs,” of the Sycamore Unified Development Ordinance, Adopted May 1, 2005, in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

City Manager Michael Hall praised Community Development Director John Sauter and Carter Moran for all the work done on this by looking at other cities to find “best practices” to fit Sycamore. In summary, the two points to this are objective standards which this ordinance covers looking at size and colors. The subjective points will come to the City Council. It is important to understand “what fits into the community” will come from the council.

Community Development Director John Sauter added that with a mural being another sign type, the chapter has a list of prohibited signs including obscene, indecent, and immoral signs noting that there is a mechanism in place.

Alderperson Cosky said that this is the second or third iteration of this as the Beautification Committee had concerns, but everything has been worked out. She thanked Mr. Sauter for his work on this too.

Alderperson Copple said the language was well-written and appreciates all the work that staff did. Asked friends about their thoughts on murals, she reported that 16 said they had “no opinion on them”, 26 said “yes, they are great”, and four said they “don’t like them” showing that everyone has different tastes. A lot of them wanted to use local artists, support the message of the city, and reflect the spirit of the community. Other concerns were not wanting the murals to look like “rush graffiti”, that none of the tax dollars are used, and that no more than 2 murals allowed. She said it is currently listed as six so they may need to talk about this.

Alderman Stowe said that this is amazing, and that John Sauter did a great job. It’s nice that he has measurable standards to go by. It’s the non-measurable standards that will come to the City Council.

Alderman Fischer asked if they came up with six potential walls to get the number.

Community Development Director John Sauter said yes that a mural is 64 square feet or larger, so they looked at different walls in the city. That’s the number they started with and said that they are open to suggestions if it’s too many or not enough.

MOTION

Alderperson Cosky motioned to waive First Reading on Ordinance 2025.01 and Alderman Bumpas seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

MOTION

Alderperson Copple motioned to approve Ordinance 2025.01 amending it to allow only three murals. Alderman Stowe suggested allowing two murals and changing it if there’s a lot of interest.

Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

Alderman Bumpus asked to restate what they are doing.

City Manager Michael Hall said the amendment is changing the number of murals allowed from the proposed six to three.

Alderman Bumpus said that he is of the mindset that the research John Sauter did led to six murals. He is comfortable with six but asked what the data point is to suggest something other than that.

Alderperson Copple said because of people she had talked with and who called her said “no more than two”.

City Attorney Keith Foster said he interpreted this as a motion to amend approving the ordinance as written to approve it with three murals, not six.

Alderperson Cosky brought up that murals are not allowed on the front or back of buildings, “limited there”. You won’t see mural after mural downtown because they are not allowed there. She did note that she doesn’t think three murals will be a problem because they are expensive but said to be very cautious about limiting the number because of all the cross streets that are eligible.

Alderman Bumpus asked to restate what they are voting on.

City Attorney Keith Foster said you are voting what is on the document but modified to be three murals allowed - “passing the ordinance but with three”.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Fischer, and Sherrod voted aye while Alderpersons Stowe, Cosky, and Paulsen vote nay. Motion carried 5-3.

B. Ordinance No. 2025.02 – An Ordinance Providing for the Retirement of Certain Outstanding General Obligation Bonds of the City of Sycamore, DeKalb County, Illinois, and the Execution of an Escrow Agreement in Connection Therewith.

City Manager Michael Hall said passing this ordinance was a recommendation from the bond council to simply put the three remaining payments on the police station bond into an escrow account which will help get a lower interest rate when they borrow for the new fire station.

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to waive First Reading on Ordinance 2025.02 and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to approve Ordinance 2025.02 and Alderman Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

RESOLUTIONS

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of a Public Works Department Request to Authorize an Agreement with Municipal Well and Pump for the repair of the well motor at Well 10 in an Amount of $26,340.

City Manager Michael Hall said that the motor in Well #10 failed in December leaving the options of buying a new one or rebuilding it. They believe that the motor is in good shape to rebuild and do not need to buy a new one. He noted that this is an unplanned expense for 2025 but there is enough in the fund to take care of it.

MOTION

Alderman Fischer 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 Stowe, Bauer, Bumpus, Copple, Cosky, Fischer, Paulsen, and Sherrod voted aye. Motion carried 8-0

B. Consideration of an Administrative Recommendation to Award a Contract in an Amount up to $600,000.00 to Curran Contracting Co. of Crystal Lake, IL for the 2025 Subdivision Paving Project.

City Manager Michael Hall said that the City Engineer received bids for the 2025 Subdivision Paving Project which included Camden Crossings and Sycamore Creek to be completed before September 30th. The city received six bids with the initial low bid being Peter Baker & Son, but with the competitive bidding procedure, it allowed Curran Contracting to match the bid.

MOTION

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

ROLL CALL VOTE

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

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderman Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:22 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 8-0.

https://www.cityofsycamore.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03032025-343