City of Waukegan City Council met March 2
Here is the agenda provided by the council:
1. Opening Items
A. Roll Call
B. Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
C. Mayor’s Comments
2. Resolutions/Proclamations/Presentations/Appointments
A. Proclamation – “March is Women’s History Month in Waukegan”
B. Motion to approve the appointment of Nestor Sagun to the CDBG Stakeholder Participation Panel
C. David Marks – WPS60 Career and Technical Education Presentation
3. Audience Time
4. Consent Agenda (Items under the Consent Agenda are considered routine and/or non-controversial and will be approved by one motion. If any one board member wishes to have a separate vote on any item, it will be pulled from the Consent Agenda and voted on separately)
A. Motion to approve and ratify Regular Payroll dated February 20, 2026, in the total amount of $2,153,349.71.
B. Motion to approve and ratify Miscellaneous Payroll dated February 20, 2026, in the amount of $65,706.89 (for Police Department Holiday Buy Back and Compensation Time Cash Out, Elected Officials and Civil Service Commission Stipend, Retroactive Payments and Payout).
C. Motion to approve vendor payments dated March 2, 2026 in the total amount of $4,257,158.71.
D. Resolution approving the rebuilding of a pump for the Water Plant from Illinois Pump, Inc. per Sec. 2-458(i)(7)(Good Faith Waiver) for a not to exceed amount of $39,214.00.
It is requested that City Council approve the rebuilding of a pump for the Water Plant from Illinois Pump, Inc. per Sec. 2-458(i)(7)(Good Faith Waiver) for a not to exceed amount of $39,214.00. A pump at the Water Plant failed and has to be rebuilt as this is used as a backup pump. Funds to be charged to line item 555 916027090 .
E. Resolution seeking approval to enter into OSLAD grant agreement with Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the construction of the Waukegan Dunes and Beach Access Project. The award is for $573,000 and the City match is $573,000, for a total project cost of $1,146,000. [This Item was approved at the February 17, 2026 Finance and Purchasing Committee.
F. Ordinance establishing “No Mow May” within the City of Waukegan. [This matter was presented to the Environment & Sustainability Committee on February 2, 2026.]
G. Resolution approving an anchor agreement authorizing the execution thereof by and between the City of Waukegan and Solstice Power Technologies, LLC. [This matter was presented to the Environment & Sustainability Committee on February 17, 2026.]
The City is approving a 20-year agreement with a solar energy provider Solstice Power Technologies LLC for the Cultivate Solar LLC site in Elgin, Illinois. Waukegan would receive community solar credits towards the City’s energy bill, estimating annual savings of over $60,000 at a minimum.
H. Ordinance amending by adding additional incentives to “Ordinance 05-O-202 Creating an Enterprise Zone within the City of Waukegan and the City of North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois.” [This Item was approved at the February 17, 2026, Finance and Purchasing Committee.]
This Ordinance amends Section 6 of the original ordinance to match the language of the North Chicago ordinance offering exemption of the State of Illinois sales tax on building materials sold in Illinois and affixed to real estate located within the Enterprise Zone, subject to issuance of the required building permits.
I. Ordinance repealing “Ordinance 21-O-60 Allowing the City of Waukegan to add territory to the Waukegan/North Chicago Enterprise Zone and amend the Intergovernmental Agreement accordingly.” [This matter was presented to the Environment & Sustainability Committee on February 17, 2026.]
In 2021, the City adopted an ordinance amending the Waukegan/North Chicago Enterprise Zone and IGA to facilitate the development of the BQ Energy Yeoman Creek solar project. In the end, the project received financing through another state initiative and the amendments were never finalized. We have received confirmation from BQ’s attorney that the Enterprise Zone  amendments are no longer needed and can be repealed. As neither Waukegan nor North Chicago ever filed their ordinances with the state, all that is required to undo this process is an ordinance from both cities repealing their 2021 approvals. North Chicago has already approved their repealer ordinance.
5. Reports & Communication
6. Old Business
7. New Business
A. Motion to approve a Resolution for the IT Department to increase purchasing authority with GHA Technologies, Inc for not to exceed $35,000.00for upgrading and replacing the City’s current battery backup system.
Staff recommends approval of the resolution to authorize the IT Department with purchasing authority exceeding $25,000.00 from GHA Technologies, Inc. to $35,000.00 for upgrading and replacing the City’s current battery backup system, which is fully depreciated and no longer supported. Funding is budgeted for and will be provided from the FY26 IT Services & Equipment GL# 100 103724801.
B. Motion to approve a Resolution for the IT Department to increase spending authority for Professional Services for Impact Networking, LLC for not to exceed$39,979.17 monthly over a five-year contract for a total of $2.4 million, to provide comprehensive security monitoring and threat detection across our entire IT environment.
Staff requests a resolution increasing spending authorization for Professional Services for Impact Networking, LLC to provide comprehensive security monitoring and threat detection across our entire IT environment. This service is designed to enhance the City’s security posture by integrating multiple security tools and providing a unified view of potential threats. Funding is budgeted for and will be  provided from the IT Other Professional Services Fund, GL 100 103724438 and paid monthly over a five-year contract at the amount of $39,979.17 for a total of $2.4 million overall.
8. Ordinances
9. Closing Items
A. Alderperson Time
10. Adjournment
A. Motion to Adjourn
11. Committee Times
A. 5:45 PM – Finance & Purchasing Committee
B. 6:00 PM – Environment & Sustainability Committee
C. 6:15 PM – Community Development Committee
D. 7:00 PM – Regular City Council Meeting.
https://city-of-waukeganil.community.highbond.com/document/49453/43ity25323043ouncil2532304Deeting2532302D2532304Dar253230303225323032303236/?printPdf=true&lastModified=639080920921030000
