City of Wheaton City Council met Aug. 3.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
The regular Wheaton City Council Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Philip J. Suess.
Upon roll call, the following were:
Physically Present: Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Absent: Councilman Barbier
City Staff Physically Present: Michael Dzugan, City Manager
John Duguay, Assistant City Manager
James Knippen, City Attorney
James Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development
Robert Lehnhardt, Finance Director
Betsy Adamowski, Library Director
Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer
Sharon Barrett-Hagen, City Clerk
City Staff Electronically Present: Sarang Lagvankar, Senior Project Engineer
2. Citizens to Be Heard
None.
3. Consent Agenda
Councilwoman Bray-Parker moved and Councilwoman Fitch seconded that the following action be taken on the Consent Agenda items:
1. Approve the minutes of the July 20, 2020 regular Wheaton City Council meeting as submitted.
Roll Call Vote on Consent Agenda:
Ayes: Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
4. Appointments to City Boards/Commissions
Mayor Suess moved and Councilman Rutledge seconded that Jennifer Sever be appointed to the
Community Relations Commission and Diane Burant be appointed to the Historic Commission, each for a three-year term.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
5. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-28, An Ordinance Approving Extension of the Declaration of Emergency and Executive Order of the Mayor of the City of Wheaton Suspending Enforcement of Portions of the City’s M-1 Zoning Ordinance Based Upon Wheaton College’s Need to Provide CIOVID19 Quarantine Facilities for Wheaton College Students in the 2020-2021 Academic Year Councilman Zaruba moved and Councilwoman Robbins seconded that Ordinance No. O-2020-28, An Ordinance Approving Extension of the Declaration of Emergency and Executive Order of the Mayor of the City of Wheaton Suspending Enforcement of Portions of the City’s M-1 Zoning Ordinance Based Upon Wheaton College’s Need to Provide CIOVID-19 Quarantine Facilities for Wheaton College Students in the 2020-2021 Academic Year, be passed.
City Manager Dzugan advised the City received a request from Wheaton College re their ability to quarantine students at the facility they own at 1825 College Avenue. He indicated the facility is located half in Wheaton and half in Glen Ellyn and advised the Glen Ellyn Zoning Ordinance allows use of the portion of the facility in their jurisdiction to be used for residential purposes. City Manager Dzugan stated the proposed ordinance would ratify the Mayor’s Executive Order to temporarily suspend a portion of the City’s M-1 Zoning Ordinance to allow residential use of the facility at 1825 College Avenue.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilman Zaruba
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
6. Adopt Resolution R-2020-59, A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the County of DuPage and the City of Wheaton for the Reimbursement of Eligible COVID-19 Expenses
Councilwoman Fitch moved and Councilman Rutledge seconded that Resolution R-2020-59, A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the County of DuPage and the City of Wheaton for the Reimbursement of Eligible COVID-19 Expenses, be adopted.
City Manager Dzugan stated the proposed intergovernmental agreement with DuPage County is for the reimbursement of expenses related to COVID-19 through the CARES Act up to a maximum allocation of $2.7MM (or $51.84 per capita) incurred between March 1 through December 30, 2020. He stated the County will receive $161MM and has allocated $47MM to municipalities based on population. City Manager Dzugan stated staff has prepared a list of what they believe to be eligible expenses based on the U.S. Treasury’s guidelines which are set forth in the his memorandum to Council. He stated expenses for salaries still need to be calculated and staff will update the Council before making application for reimbursement to the County. City Manager Dzugan recommended the Council adopt the resolution to allow the City to seek reimbursement of the full $2.7MM.
In response to Councilwoman Fitch’s questions, City Manager Dzugan stated:
The City has contributed to the costs for all the tents being used by restaurants throughout the City
The City has received requests for additional funding for extended use of the tents during the winter season
The City has granted rent forgiveness for the coffee shops in the two train stations
Any possible extension of the December 30 deadline to submit expenses would depend on discussions and decisions made at the Federal level
Councilwoman Fitch questioned if the funding could be used for grants for small businesses or individuals as that seems to be allowed under the U.S. Treasury guidelines. City Manager Dzugan stated the first step is to approve the IGA and then work through an allocation process after that.
Mayor Suess stated funds have been set aside for park districts, fire protection districts and non-profit organizations. He feels the key point is that the County initially indicated they had no obligation to share the CARES Act funding with municipalities but worked with the DuPage Mayors and Managers Association and voted to allocate funds on a per capita basis by a unanimous decision by the County Board. He feels any reimbursement the City receives will benefit the City’s residents.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
7. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-29, An Ordinance Amending the Calendar Year 2020 Budget Contained in Ordinance No. O-2020-60
Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilman Zaruba seconded that Ordinance No. O-2020-29, An Ordinance Amending the Calendar Year 2020 Budget Contained in Ordinance No. O-2020-60, be passed.
City Manager Dzugan stated the proposed budget amendment relates to certain work the Library would like to do to address safety and social distancing for the public and staff before they open. He indicated the project would be paid out of the Library’s Capital Equipment Replacement and Capital Projects Funds. City Manager Dzugan recommended the City submit this project to the County for reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses.
Councilwoman Fitch asked if the Library would continue their “Grab & Go” program and if they would need to close in order to complete this work.
Library Director Adamowski stated this work is part of a much larger master plan but they pulled certain aspects of the plan out to address COVID related issues. She feels it is fiscally responsible to do the work now in order to submit it for reimbursement.
In response to Councilwoman Fitch’s questions, City Manager Dzugan stated while the work has been planned, it was not included in the 2020 budget; the only portion of the work budgeted was the engineering analysis. Director Adamowski stated she is asking for a budget amendment in order to complete the work this year. City Manager Dzugan confirmed the Council is only being asked to approve the budget amendment at this time and is not agreeing to submit the project for reimbursement.
City Attorney Knippen advised that since this project was not approved in the budget, it is his opinion it would qualify for reimbursement under the CARES Act. He believes the City is doing what the law allows the City to do at this time.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
8. Council Comment
Mayor Suess wished City Clerk Barrett-Hagen a happy birthday.
9. Approval of Warrant
Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Fitch seconded that Warrant No. 781 in the amount of $891,571.32, be approved.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
10. Adjournment
Councilwoman Fitch moved and Councilwoman Robbins seconded that the regular Wheaton City Council Meeting be adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Nays: None
Absent: Councilman Barbier
Motion Carried Unanimously
https://www.wheaton.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08032020-1417
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