July 19, 2022
1. Call to Order
Mayor Barnett called to order the Village Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. and led those in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. He explained the protocol for the meeting and the guidelines to submit public comment.
2. Roll Call
Council Attendance (Present): Mayor Barnett, Commissioner Hosé, Commissioner Kulovany, Commissioner Gilmartin, Commissioner Glover
Council Attendance (Remote): Commissioner Hosé
Council Attendance (Not Present): Commissioner Walus
Non-Voting: Village Manager Dave Fieldman, Village Attorney Enza Petrarca, and Village Clerk Rosa Berardi
MOT 2022-9517- A. Motion: Allowing for Electronic Participation for the July 19, 2022 Village Council meeting.
Summary: This motion allowed for Commissioners Hosé to participate via electronic participation in the July 19, 2022 Village Council Meeting.
MOTION: To allow electronic participation for the July 19, 2022 Village Council Meeting, as presented.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
3. Minutes of Council Meetings
MIN 2022-9526 - A. Minutes: Village Council Meeting Minutes - July 12, 2022
Summary: Village Council Meeting Minutes -July 12, 2022
MOTION: To adopt the meeting minutes of the July 12, 2022 meeting, as presented.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
4. Consent Agenda
BIL 2022-9507 - A. Bills Payable: No. 6676 - July 19, 2022
Summary: No. 6676 - July 19, 2022
COR 2022-9508 - B. Claims Ordinance: No. 6465, Payroll - June 17, 2022
Summary: No. 6465, Payroll - June 17, 2022
MIN 2022-9531 - C. Minutes: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes Summary: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes: Fire Pension Board, 2-17-22; Library Board of Trustees, 5-23-22.
RES 2022-9543 - D. Resolution: Approve the Final Loan Closing Amendment with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Summary: This resolution approves the final loan closing amendment to loan L175338 between the Village of Downers Grove and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
RESOLUTION 2022-61
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A FINAL LOAN CLOSING AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE
MOT 2022-9542 - E. Motion: Approve a Contract with Doland Engineering, LLC in the Amount of $160,800.00 for Construction Engineering Services Related to the Lyman & 62nd Stormwater Improvements (SW-094) and the Otis, Grant and Florence Stormwater Improvements (SW-096)
Summary: This motion approves a contract with Doland Engineering, LLC in the amount of $160,800.00 for construction engineering services related to the Lyman and 62nd Stomwater Improvements (SW-094) and the Otis, Grant and Florence Stormwater Improvements (SW-096).
RES 2022-9545 - F. Resolution: Approve a Second Extension to the Contract with H&H Electric Company of Franklin Park, Illinois, in the Amount of $81,600.00 for Traffic Signal Maintenance of Village Maintained Traffic Signals
Summary: This resolution approves a second extension to the agreement with H&H Electric Company of Franklin Park, Illinois, in the amount of $81,600.00 for traffic signal maintenance of Village maintained traffic signals.
RESOLUTION 2022-62
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A SECOND EXTENSION TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE AND H&H ELECTRIC COMPANY
*MOT 2022-9552 - G. Motion: Authorize Staff to Proceed with the Completion of all Obligations in Connection with the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, Including the Execution of All Required Documents and Payment of all Required Fees in Connection Therewith
Summary: This motion authorizes staff to proceed with the completion of all obligations in connection with the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, including the execution of all required documents and payment of all required fees in connection therewith.
*Mayor Barnett removed Item G (MOT 2022-9552) from the Consent Agenda and moved it to the Active Agenda.
MOTION: To adopt all items on the Consent Agenda absent Item G, as presented
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
5. Active Agenda
**MOT 2022-9552 - G. Motion: Authorize Staff to Proceed with the Completion of all Obligations in Connection with the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, Including the Execution of All Required Documents and Payment of all Required Fees in Connection Therewith
Summary: This motion authorizes staff to proceed with the completion of all obligations in connection with the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, including the execution of all required documents and payment of all required fees in connection therewith.
**Mayor Barnett removed Item G (MOT 2022-9552) from the Consent Agenda and moved it to the Active Agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
VILLAGE COUNCIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Commissioner Kulovany stated he asked to have the item removed from the Consent Agenda and moved to the Active Agenda. He explained it was important for residents to understand what it takes for the Village to earn a AAA bond rating. He said only about 50% of the bonding rating was due to activities within the Village of Downers Grove. Commissioner Kulovany asked Village Manager Dave Fieldman to provide additional information regarding the bond rating process to the public.
Manager Feldman stated there was a seven category system, each category with its own weighting system, that S&P Global (Standard and Poor's) used to assign a financial rating. He said half of the score was based on the management and finances of the Village, but the other half was based on things beyond the Village's control. This included the general economy, institutional framework and a category called debt and contingent liabilities. Manager Fieldman said the institutional framework and contingent liabilities categories spoke to the overall financial condition of the State. He explained that though the State has improved its own bond rating over the last couple of years, the S&P Global ratings still didn't look favorably upon those two categories for any municipality within the State. This made it difficult to achieve top scores in those areas. Manager Fieldman concluded by stating that the Village controls half of the points on the rating directly, while the other half of them are dependent on the State of Illinois.
Commissioner Kulovany asked how Manager Fieldman felt about the Village's performance and the things they could control.
Manager Feldman stated that the Village prides itself on its financial sustainability and staff works very hard to achieve that, which has been reflected in the bonding rating. He said that on the last bond rating report, Village staff set out to improve upon areas that could be improved. The Village had achieved surplus General Fund Budgets in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and was on track to do it again in 2022. Manager Feldman stated the Village responded to the pandemic successfully by reducing expenses and obtained almost $7.5 million of state and federal grants. He said on the technical side of things, the Village addressed a liability that was accruing and in 2019 created an OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) Fund, which has been funded since its creation. Manager Feldman added that they had also increased the funded ratio of public safety pensions for fire and police, enhanced revenue sources by increasing the food and beverage tax rate, received additional federal dollars through ambulance fee revenue by participating in a grant program, and lastly the Village retired the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. He said most importantly, from the ratings standpoint, the Village paid off bonds associated with the TIF district. Manager Fieldman concluded by stating that staff felt with all of the improvements that had been made, they were hopeful that it would be reflected in their bond rating.
MOTION: To adopt a motion to proceed with the completion of all obligations in connection with the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, including the execution of all required documents and payment of all required fees in connection therewith.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
ORD 2022-9519 - A. Ordinance: Amending Sections of Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code Concerning Traffic Control Provisions at Certain Intersections ORDINANCE 5937
Summary: This ordinance amends sections of Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code concerning traffic control provisions at the following intersections: Douglas Road and Grant Street; Franklin Street and Elm Street; Franklin Street and Washington Street; and Lyman Avenue and Kenyon Street.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
VILLAGE COUNCIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Commissioner Gilmartin thanked the residents who brought the desire to have the stop signs put in to the Village's attention. He also thanked the staff for their willingness and ability to take a look at the intersections and make good decisions.
MOTION: To adopt AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 14 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING TRAFFIC CONTROL PROVISIONS AT CERTAIN INTERSECTIONS, as presented ORDINANCE 5937
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
ORD 2022-9541 - B. Ordinance: Authorizing the Extension of Special Use Ordinance No. 5817 to Permit an Accessory Parking Lot Use Before the Principal Use is Established at 3131 Finley Road to July 7, 2023 ORDINANCE 5938
Summary: This ordinance authorizes the extension of Special Use Ordinance No. 5817 to permit an accessory parking lot use before the principal use is established at 3131 Finely Road to July 7, 2023.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jim Kelly, resident, asked what the Special Use permit was for.
Mayor Barnett stated it was for the use of a parcel as a parking lot without the establishment of a principal use. He stated they generally would not let people just build parking lots unless it was associated with another primary principal use on the parcel.
VILLAGE COUNCIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Commissioner Kulovany said he would be voting in favor of this item. He stated that a large commercial real estate company purchased the property and had yet to secure a tenant. He further stated that having the parking lot was one of the big draws of the property and with so many people currently working from home, the rationale for the extension made perfect sense.
MOTION: To adopt AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF SPECIAL USE ORDINANCE NO. 5817 TO PERMIT AN ACCESSORY PARKING LOT USE BEFORE THE PRINCIPAL USE IS ESTABLISHED AT 3131 FINLEY ROAD TO JULY 7, 2023, as presented ORDINANCE 5938
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
6. First Reading
There were no First Reading items.
7. Public Comment
Jim Kelly, resident, stated he was excited that Popeye's Chicken was coming to Downers Grove. He also said he was in the process of obtaining an Occupancy Permit in Downers Grove. He further stated that he was looking to opening a newsstand in a shopping mall and was in negotiations.
George Swimmer, resident, 7041 Creekside Rd, a member of the DuPage Railroad Safety Council stated that there have been too many train accidents in Downers Grove and that time was of the essence in getting someone to the hospital during an emergency situation. Mr. Swimmer spoke about his wife's stroke and the short window of time there was for a successful outcome - he added that she is doing well today. He said that vehicles often got stopped at
the Main Street tracks and suggested raising the track bed and creating an underpass. He added that he believed planning should begin now.
8. Mayor's Report
There was no Mayor's report.
9. Council Member Reports
Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt reminded everyone to save the date for the Grove Foundation's Annual Golf Outing scheduled for September 10th. She said more information would follow shortly.
10. Manager's Report
INF 2022-9553 - A. Information: 2021-2023 Long Range Planning - Water Fund Sustainability and Parking Fund Sustainability
Mayor Barnett announced that the Manager's Report - the 2021-2023 Long Range Planning - Water Fund Sustainability and Parking discussion would be postponed to another meeting since Commissioner Walus was absent from the meeting and Commissioner Hosé was communicating by phone.
11. Adjournment
Mayor Barnett asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
MOTION: To adjourn the July 19, 2022, Village Council meeting. RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Kulovany
AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Kulovany, Hosé, Gilmartin, Glover and Mayor Barnett
NAYES: None
Mayor Barnett declared the motion carried by voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosa Berardi
Village Clerk
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