City of DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes | City of DeKalb, Illinois/Facebook
City of DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes | City of DeKalb, Illinois/Facebook
City of Dekalb City Council met Oct. 13.
Here is the agenda provided by the council:
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
D. PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation: Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October 2025.
2. Proclamation: Recognizing the Placement of the Historic President John Williston Cook Mansion at 411 College Avenue on the National Register of Historic Places.
E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
F. APPOINTMENTS
None.
G. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of September 22, 2025.
2. Accounts Payable and Payroll through October 13, 2025, in the Amount of $5,714,734.99.
3. Investment and Bank Balance Summary through August 2025.
4. Year-to-Date Revenues and Expenditures through August 2025.
5. Crime Free Housing Bureau Report – September 2025.
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Hearing Regarding the First Amendment to an Annexation Agreement as it Pertains to a Donation of Property for the DeKalb Transit Center.
City Manager’s Summary: As City Attorney Matt Rose explains in the attached memorandum, on October 28, 2013, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2013-014, which approved the annexation agreement for the Irongate development shown in the graphic below:
The original annexation agreement required the developer to donate to the City approximately four acres of land that was located at the southwestern corner of the annexed property, which was near the northwest corner of the intersection at Normal Road and Dresser Road. The original agreement referred to this donated parcel as the “Southwestern Entry Parcel.” The owner/developer was supposed to: (1) donate the Southwestern Entry Parcel at the time of the final plat approval or whenever the City made a written request for the donation, whichever occurred sooner; and (2) construct the proposed Normal Road extension from Dresser Road to Bethany Road during certain stages of the phased development. The original agreement did not state the City’s purpose for acquiring the Southwestern Entry Parcel, but the preliminary development plan indicated that part of the Southwestern Entry Parcel might be for the development of a church.
On October 10, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-100, which approved the Transit Site Selection Committee’s recommendation to construct the City’s new transit center at the City’s 35-acre property located north of Dresser Road and directly to the west of the Southwestern Entry Parcel. Since then, the City’s consulting engineers have designed plans for the transit facility development that have an access road connecting the transit center facility to the intersection at Dresser Road and Normal Road, which will be located on the Southwestern Entry Parcel.
Accordingly, City staff negotiated the proposed amended annexation agreement with the current property owner, the Stathis Family Limited Partnership, to facilitate the donation of three acres of the Southwestern Entry Parcel as shown in the Plat of Survey that follows. The City’s plans did not require the City to obtain the entire four-acre Southwestern Entry Parcel.
In the original annexation agreement, the Southwestern Entry Parcel shown on the Plat of Survey was designated as a prime access point to the development. The attached amendment to the annexation agreement calls for a donation of the roughly three-acre, unimproved parcel depicted in the attached plat of survey to the City of DeKalb. The agreement also provides for a public access easement that is 40 feet wide and extends northward on the west side of the survey, like an upside-down flagpole. This easement would be available for a combination pedestrian walkway and bike path connecting the DeKalb County Health Department to the W. Dresser Road corridor.
The proposed amendment also addresses other construction issues relating to the City’s development of the transit center facility, such as the City’s construction of the Normal Road extension on the donated property for the access road to the transit facility and new stormwater management improvements.
Finally, the proposed amendment extends the term of the annexation agreement for an additional 20 years to October 28, 2053.
I. CONSIDERATIONS
1. Consideration: A Revised Proposal for the Reconfiguration of the Intersection at N. First Street and Sycamore Road.
City Manager’s Summary: At the January 13, 2025, City Council meeting, the Council approved an agreement for engineering services (Resolution 2025-007) authorizing Wills, Burke, Kelsey Associates (WBK) to design a reconfiguration of the intersection at N. First Street and Sycamore Road, featuring a roundabout overlapping the south end of the Clinton Rosette Middle School property, as conceptually depicted in the graphic below:
With state and federal safety grant monies funding the major share of the engineering, the City’s share of this exploratory professional work is approximately 10%, or $42,000, out of a maximum grant amount of $420,000. In the months since the initial engineering was undertaken, the roundabout concept has generated considerable community discussion, much of which has been negative or at least doubtful that the roundabout would diminish risky vehicle movements which presently typify northbound traffic through this busy intersection as three northbound lanes converge to two.
Working with WBK, the City staff now present an alternative for informal Council review. The two aerial views that follow encompass the revised “solution” from First Street and Oak Street northward beyond the signalized intersection at N. First Street and Sycamore Road. In the first graphic, below, the intersection at N. First Street and Sycamore Road is in focus.
The new approach will appear very much like what the driver currently experiences. Specifically,
▪ It remains a signalized intersection;
▪ Sycamore Road along the Clinton Rosette Middle School continues to have two southbound lanes, with a right turn option at First Street;
▪ Although the aerial overlay somewhat obscures the existing sidewalk on the Clinton Rosette side, a new sidewalk would be installed to take pedestrians “around the horn”, which will have a slightly revised curvature;
▪ Significantly, a southbound left turn lane will provide more protection to vehicles turning onto Fisk Avenue while allowing two lanes to continue southbound; and
▪ One long northbound thru lane well-aligned with the northbound lane north of the traffic signal will be created, and a northbound, right-turn lane will direct traffic to Sycamore Road.
What is different? The “Daytona” moment when northbound lanes converge is removed from the short block north of First Street and Pine Street, and is moved southward to the two longer city blocks south of the intersection of N. First Street and Pine Street. The graphic below depicts this re-configuration.
The revised features for the 200 and 300 blocks of N. First Street are summarized as follows:
▪ Vehicles heading northbound from the intersection of N. First Street and Locust Street will be well-advised by pavement markings and curbside signs (not shown) that northbound “thru” traffic should stay right and vehicles in the passing lane are approaching a left turn only lane. As the driver proceeds northbound past Oak Street toward Pine Street, the striping for the left turn lane and right thru lane will be very clear. This reconfiguration is similar to the west bound lane markings on Lincoln Highway as motorists approach the intersection with Fourth Street (Illinois Route 23).
▪ Alert drivers following the Illinois Rules of the Road should have no problem navigating this lane reconfiguration. It is significant that the current northbound configuration often surprises vehicles in the passing lane who approach the intersection at Pine Street only to find that a discourteous motorist in front of them has not indicated a left turn and comes to a complete stop to yield to southbound traffic before attempting a left turn on to Augusta Avenue. This unfortunate circumstance creates a predicament for the trailing vehicle that now must go around to the right in a herky jerky fashion or remain, frustrated, behind the driver waiting to turn left onto Augusta Avenue.
Full-sized copies of the proposed alternative striping solution will be available at the Council meeting. City Council comment is invited. Collaborative conversations about this alternative are also in progress with School District officials.
J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution 2025-089 Authorizing the Purchase of Three Medium Duty Paratransit Buses Based on the State of Illinois Bid Contract Pricing through Midwest Transit Equipment Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $416,181.
City Manager’s Summary: The City receives an annual allocation through the Federal 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grant program to fund public transit operating and capital purchases. Transit staff have designated up to $496,153 of this allocation for the purchase of paratransit vehicles in FY2025. Paratransit vehicles are typically defined as ADA-accessible (ramp or lift equipped) transit vehicles, accommodating six to 28 passengers depending on vehicle type.
DeKalb currently has 20 vehicles listed in its City-owned paratransit fleet (see below):
Of these 20 paratransit vehicles, seven are considered past their useful life due to the age of the vehicle. These vehicles continue to operate in service, but as the fleet ages the vehicles require more maintenance and become less efficient.
The three proposed purchases will be made under the State of Illinois Paratransit Consolidated Vehicle Procurement (CVP) contract. The CVP contract ensures all federal and state procurement requirements have been met. Once replacement vehicles are procured, the original vehicles will be utilized as emergency back-up and training vehicles for the transit program until deemed appropriate to retire based on maintenance requirements and peak service requirements.
Transit staff have worked with the approved vendors, Midwest Transit Equipment Inc. of Kankakee, Illinois, and Southern Bus & Mobility of Breese, Illinois, to develop orders for the three paratransit buses (see attached Transit report). By utilizing a State of Illinois Transportation Development Credit (TDC) in the amount of $97,537, the purchase of the three buses will be fully funded with Federal 5307 grant funds. TDCs are a federal transportation funding tool used to meet federal fund-matching requirements. State credits are accrued when toll revenues are used for capital investments such as building, improving, or maintaining highways, bridges, or tunnels that serve the public purpose of interstate commerce. TDCs function as a form of "soft match," allowing transit agencies to meet the non-federal share of a project’s cost with credits rather than actual funds effectively allowing up to 100% federal funding for a project.
The procurement of the transit vehicles is included in the FY2025 City budget within Fund 200. The vehicles will replace existing Paratransit public transit vehicles whose useful lives have been exceeded.
City Council approval is recommended.
2. Resolution 2025-090 Authorizing the Purchase of One 2025 Chrysler Voyager ADA Accessible Mini-Van Based on the State of Illinois Bid Contract Pricing through Southern Bus & Mobility in an Amount Not to Exceed $71,502.
City Manager’s Summary: As Transit Manager Michael Neuenkirchen writes in his background memorandum, in addition to the three paratransit bus purchases outlined in Resolution 2025- 089, the FY2025 Transit Department budget also sought bids for one 2025 Chrysler Voyager LX Paratransit Minivan in an amount not to exceed $71,502. Funding for this purchase will also be provided by Federal 5307 grant funds. Again, by utilizing a State of Illinois Transportation Development Credit (TDC) no local funds are required.
City Council approval is recommended.
3. Resolution 2025-091 Authorizing the Drilling of a Test Well by Prairie State Water Systems Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $44,900.
City Manager’s Summary: On September 22, the Council approved a license agreement with PAI Belvidere Farms, LLC, which established the terms for drilling a test well on their W. Lincoln Highway property (1520 W. Lincoln Highway), and also provided reciprocal responsibilities for the drilling of a permanent well (Well #18) if the test well establishes a suitable well capacity and water quality. The attached resolution provides for the drilling of a six-inch, 300-foot, test hole by Prairie State Water Systems for a not-to-exceed price of $44,900. The Prairie State proposal includes a 24-hour test pump to certify the pumping capacity and ability of the location to support a shallow well.
Prairie State Water Systems, Inc. submitted the lowest responsive bid. The next nearest bid was submitted by Albrecht Well Drilling at $45,500.
City Council approval is recommended.
4. Resolution 2025-092 Authorizing a Grant of Easement to Commonwealth Edison Company Along Barber Greene Road Adjacent to Certain City-Owned Parcels.
City Manager’s Summary: As Public Works Director Andy Raih writes in his attached background report, ComEd plans to upgrade utilities along the Barber Greene Road corridor (east of Peace Road) to accommodate new power loads and bring three-phase power to areas currently served by two-phase capabilities. This upgrade is necessary to interconnect a community solar farm being built east of Somonauk Road in unincorporated Cortland, Illinois. Since documentation for existing easements couldn't be located, ComEd is requesting a new easement within the existing right-of-way to ensure regulatory compliance. This new easement will run adjacent to four city-owned parcels (0908300012, 0917100015, 0917100002, and 0917100022), as detailed in the aerial below and is projected to have no negative impact on adjacent properties.
City Council approval is recommended.
5. Resolution 2025-093 Authorizing the Purchase and Installation of a Caterpillar D400GC Diesel Engine Generator at the W. Lincoln Highway Water Treatment Plant from Altorfer Industries Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $349,792.
City Manager’s Summary: The FY2025 budget allocated $505,000 for the purchase and installation of a generator at the W. Lincoln Highway water treatment plant (620-00-00-86100). The Water Division requests approval to contract with Altorfer Industries Inc. for the purchase and installation of a Caterpillar D400GC diesel engine generator. This purchase falls under the Sourcewell Procurement participant contract (#092222-CAT) and ensures compliance with state purchasing requirements. The Altorfer Industries Inc. quote of $349,791.80 also falls well below the budgeted estimate of $505,000.
With the addition of this generator, emergency pumping capacity will increase by over three million gallons per day and increase the total emergency pumping capacity from 6.7 million gallons per day (MGD) to over 9.7 MGD. This essential infrastructure investment secures uninterrupted power to maintain continuous operation of the City's water distribution system.
City Council approval is recommended.
6. Resolution 2025-094 Authorizing Subrecipient Agreements in the Amount of $60,100 with Local Agencies for Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2025 Public Services Funding from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
City Manager’s Summary: The attached resolution authorizes the execution of agreements for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Service funding for Program Year 2025 (CDBG Year 32). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allows up to 15% of the City’s annual CDBG allocation for Public Services Funding. The use of CDBG funds for Public Services was approved by the Council on January 27, 2025, via
Resolution 2025-011, as part of the CDBG Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2025 (April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026). The HUD funding agreement was only recently received, making it possible for the Council to proceed with these allocations:
| Agency | Program Description | Funding Requested | Recommended Funding |
| Children’s Learning Center (CLC) | Subsidies to low-income families for transportation of children between their homes and/or school and daycare. | $12,500 | $7,500 |
| Elder Care Services (ECS) | Operating funds for the Choices for Care program for elderly individuals to assess their needs and link them with appropriate agencies, benefits, and services. | $15,000 | $ 11,546 |
| Hope Haven | Operating funds for emergency shelter services for homeless individuals and families. | $20,000 | $15,375 |
| Safe Passage | Operating funds for emergency shelter services for victims of domestic violence and their children. | $20,000 | $15,476 |
| Voluntary Action Center (VAC) | Funds to provide cold, frozen, and/or shelf stable meals and/or supplements for low income seniors who reside in subsidized housing in the City. | $10,500 | $10,203 |
| Total | $78,000 | $60,100 | |
All Public Services subrecipients who could receive rewards through the attached resolution operate programs that meet HUD eligibility requirements, address a national objective, and align with local priorities identified in the City’s 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan. Applications were reviewed and scored by an application review committee, with final awards determined based on priority and demonstrated need. The selected subrecipients are longstanding partners of the City, providing essential services that directly benefit DeKalb residents.
Applications for 2025 CDBG Public Services funding were provided to the agencies that received funding in Program Year 2024 and were also sent to over 65 local social service agencies. A Request for Proposals was also posted on the City’s website to solicit new applicants. Information was posted on the City’s Facebook page, and a general press release was sent to the media to advise the community at large of the availability of this funding. Seven agencies responded to the Request for Proposals, including two new applicants.
City Council approval is recommended.
7. Resolution 2095-095 Approving the Purchase of One 2025 Ford Ranger XL from Brad Manning Ford in an Amount Not to Exceed $37,998.
City Manager’s Summary: The attached resolution authorizes the purchase of a mini-truck for the Building Division. The purchase allows each of the three inspectors to have a vehicle without having to “double up”, which slows responses during the much busier daily schedule that has been typical in recent years. The small truck bed also allows for the transport of wood stakes, a sledgehammer, and other tools used regularly for establishing setback lines in new construction and allows the nuisance inspector to pick up annoying debris on parkways that might be the subject of a complaint but might not be cleaned up for a week or more by an unneighborly property owner.
The Division received three bids:
▪ Morrow Brothers Ford (State Purchase) - $38,863 with running boards and licensing.
▪ Prescott Brothers Ford - $38,318 with running boards but without licensing.
▪ Brad Manning Ford - $37,997.70 with running boards and licensing.
The purchase will be funded by the Capital Equipment Replacement Fund (420-00-00-87000). City Council approval is recommended.
K. ORDINANCES – SECOND READING
None.
L. ORDINANCES – FIRST READING
1. Ordinance 2025-043 Authorizing a First Amendment to Annexation Agreement Regarding the Donation of Property for the DeKalb Transit Center.
City Manager’s Summary: As explained in the Public Hearing at the top of the agenda, on October 28, 2013, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2013-014, which approved the annexation agreement for the Irongate development. The original annexation agreement required the owner/developer to donate to the City approximately four acres of land that was located at the southwestern corner of the annexed property, which was near the northwest corner of the intersection at Normal Road and Dresser Road. The original agreement referred to this donated parcel as the “Southwestern Entry Parcel.” The owner/developer was supposed to: (1) donate the Southwestern Entry Parcel at the time of the final plat approval or whenever the City made a written request for the donation, whichever occurred sooner; and (2) construct the proposed Normal Road extension from Dresser Road to Bethany Road during certain stages of the phased development. The original agreement did not state the City’s purpose for acquiring the Southwestern Entry Parcel, but the preliminary development plan indicated that part of the Southwestern Entry Parcel might be for the development of a church.
On October 10, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-100, which approved the Transit Site Selection Committee’s recommendation to construct the City’s new transit center at the City’s 35-acre property located north of Dresser Road and directly to the west of the Southwestern Entry Parcel. Since then, the City’s consulting engineers designed plans for the transit facility development that have an access road connecting the transit center facility to the north side of the intersection at Dresser Road and Normal Road.
Accordingly, City staff negotiated the proposed amended annexation agreement with the current property owner, the Stathis Family Limited Partnership, to facilitate the donation of three acres of the southwestern Entry Parcel as shown in the Plat of Survey that follows. The City’s plans did not require the City to obtain the entire four-acre Southwestern Entry Parcel.
In the original annexation agreement, the Southwestern Entry Parcel shown on the Plat of Survey, above, was designated as a prime access point to the development. The attached amendment to the annexation agreement calls for a donation of the roughly three-acre, unimproved parcel depicted in the attached plat of survey to the City of DeKalb. The agreement also provides for a public access easement that is 40 feet wide and extends northward on the west side of the survey, like an upside-down flagpole. This easement would be available for a combination pedestrian walkway and bike path connecting the DeKalb County Health Department to the W. Dresser Road corridor.
The proposed amendment also addresses other construction issues relating to the City’s development of the transit center facility, such as the City’s construction of the Normal Road extension on the donated property for the access road to the transit facility and new stormwater management improvements. Finally, the proposed amendment extends the term of the annexation agreement for an additional 20 years to October 28, 2053.
City Council approval is recommended.
2. Ordinance 2025-044 Approving the Final Plat of the DeKalb Gas Resubdivision for 802 S. Fourth Street (Amoco Food Market, Inc.).
City Manager’s Summary: On August 11, 2025, the City Council approved Ordinance 2025- 037, rezoning 802-810 S. Fourth Street (southeast corner of S. Fourth Street and Taylor Street) from the “GC” General Commercial District to the “PD-C” Planned Development Commercial District to accommodate an Amoco gas station and convenience store. The ordinance also approved a Preliminary/Final Development Plan for the .67-acre site and required the submittal of a Final Plat of Resubdivision. There will be three fuel islands (six gas pumps) west of the convenience store, which will comprise about 4,000 square feet. The Final Plat will resubdivide the current Gahagan’s Subdivision and Profit Subdivision into one lot called the DeKalb Gas Resubdivision. The approval of the final plat will allow for the sale of the property to the new owner.
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the Plat of Resubdivision at their meeting on October 6, 2025. By a vote of 5 to 0 (Commissioner Maxwell was absent) the Commission recommended City Council approval of the Final Plat of the DeKalb Gas Resubdivision dated 9-29-25 for 802 S. 4th Street as shown on Exhibit A of the staff report (attached).
City Council approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation is requested.
M. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Council Member Reports.
2. City Manager Report.
N. EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Approval to Hold an Executive Session Meeting to Discuss Executive Session Minutes as Provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21).
O. ADJOURNMENT
www.cityofdekalb.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132025-2756
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