City of Wheaton City Council met Aug. 17.
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
Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba – arrived at 7:01 p.m.
Electronically Present: Councilwoman Robbins
Absent: None
City Staff Physically
Present: Michael Dzugan, City Manager
John Duguay, Assistant City Manager
James Knippen, City Attorney
James Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development
Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering
Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer
Sharon Barrett-Hagen, City Clerk
City Staff Electronically
Present: Sam Webb, Public Works Fleet Superintendent
2. Citizens to Be Heard
Ms. Deb Cartwright, 1514 Center Avenue, expressed concerns about the proposed installation of sidewalks on the south side of Center Avenue. She stated the neighbors are in favor of a sidewalk, but would like to ensure it is installed in the safest way possible. Ms. Cartwright said cars line up on the north side of Center Avenue for student pick up and if the sidewalk is installed on the south side, families would need to move through the street to get to their cars. She asked that the project be put on hold to allow further consultation with Madison Elementary School and the neighbors on the north side of Center Avenue. She presented a petition signed by residents of the neighborhood asking the Council to put the sidewalk installation on hold.
3. Consent Agenda
Councilman Barbier moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that the following action be taken on the Consent Agenda items:
1. Approve the minutes of the August 3, 2020 regular Wheaton City Council meeting as submitted.
2. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-30, An Ordinance Amending the Wheaton Liquor Control Ordinance, Chapter 6, Article III – Decrease in Class I (Restaurants) Liquor License/Cozymels/311 East Loop Road
3. Adopt Resolution R-2020-60, A Resolution Approving ROA’s Plat of Consolidation
4. Adopt Resolution R-2020-61, A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Certain Construction, Use, and Indemnification Agreement (301 Oakwood Court)
5. Adopt Resolution R-2020-62, A Resolution Authorizing Tree Debris Cleanup in Response to August 10, 2020 Severe Weather
Roll Call Vote on Consent Agenda:
Ayes: Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion Carried Unanimously
4. Appointment and Reappointment to City Boards/Commissions
Mayor Suess moved and Councilman Rutledge seconded that Brian McKee be appointed to the Environmental Improvement Commission and David Horton be reappointed to the Housing
Commission, each for a three-year term.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion Carried Unanimously
5. Adopt Resolution R-2020-63, A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Emergency Vehicle Upfitting Equipment from Fleet Safety Supply for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $37,707.82
Councilwoman Bray-Parker moved and Councilman Zaruba seconded that Resolution R-2020-63, A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Emergency Vehicle Upfitting Equipment from Fleet
Safety Supply for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $37,707.82, be adopted.
City Manager Dzugan advised the City received three bids to upfit equipment on five emergency vehicles.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilman Barbier
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion Carried Unanimously
At 7:06 p.m. Councilman Barbier recused himself from discussion on Regular Agenda Item No. 3, A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign and Directing the City Clerk to Attest to that Certain Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Wheaton and the County of DuPage due to a possible conflict of interest.
6. Adopt Resolution R-2020-64, A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign and Directing the City Clerk to Attest to that Certain Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Wheaton and the County of DuPage
Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Fitch seconded that Resolution R-2020-64, A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign and Directing the City Clerk to Attest to that Certain Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Wheaton and the County of DuPage, be adopted.
City Manager Dzugan stated the City received a request from DuPage County to expediate their construction of certain improvements at the County complex for COVID-19 mitigation efforts. He stated the intergovernmental agreement would allow DuPage County to use its own building department to issue the permits and perform required inspections of the work.
In response to Mayor Suess, City Attorney Knippen confirmed the City is comfortable with the language in the agreement concerning indemnification.
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
Councilman Barbier returned to the meeting at 7:09 p.m.
7. Comprehensive Plan/Market Study/Zoning Ordinance Update – Roosevelt Road Corridor Study – Approach to Utilize Virtual Engagement
City Manager Dzugan stated staff Is seeking input from the City Council on a method to move ahead with the Roosevelt Road Corridor study as the Council has expressed the desire to get policy discussions back on track which were put on hold as a result of the pandemic.
Director Kozik stated staff is looking for direction from the Council on a plan for virtual engagement with the public rather than public open houses originally contemplated. He advised Camiros has proposed creation of an online resource portal, online surveys and a series of topic discussions conducted via Zoom meetings. Following this engagement period, Camiros will make revisions to the plan as needed and present it to the Council for review.
Councilman Barbier stated he would like to see this matter pushed back until January 2021, citing the difficulty in holding virtual meetings with potentially a large audience. He also expressed concerns aout going forward without the Council having seen the second version of the draft. He feels a sense of normalcy is needed before the City can move forward on this productively.
Councilwoman Bray-Parker indicated it is her understanding the second draft took into account many of the tough discussions held previously. She supports one central location for comments and information on the project, but would like more details on how the interactive technology would work. She stated it will be important to advertise this as much as possible.
Councilwoman Fitch is agreeable to delaying this until 2021 so the meetings could be conducted in person, as she has concerns about the virtual engagement. She feels notices should be sent out to as many property owners as possible, going beyond what is legally required. She feels it will be important for property owners to provide their full name and address when participating in the survey to ensure important stakeholders are not left out and the process is not hijacked by someone outside of Wheaton. With regard to specific topic
discussions, Councilwoman Fitch feels participants should be able to comment on any part of the project regardless of the topic discussion they are participating in.
Mr. Chris Jennette, Camiros, stated they would require people to pre-register in order to attend. He stated they do not know the specific topics to be discussed in topic sessions as that will be determined by the online survey responses.
In response to Councilman Zaruba, Mr. Jennette stated their current Zoom meeting capacity is up to 100 participants, but they could upgrade capacity to up to 500 people if so desired.
In response to Mayor Suess, Mr. Jennette stated the overall goal is to involve people in the process by establishing a website portal to allow people to review information, provide comments and be directed to online surveys and information on the virtual topic discussions. Mr. Jennette stated he has had Zoom meetings with 30-50 participants and stated instructions on how to participate in larger meetings would need to be clear up front to ensure the meetings are conducted in an orderly fashion.
Councilwoman Robbins also would like to see the second draft. She stated because so many things have changed in people’s lives, and restaurants and businesses have closed, she would like to pause this and revisit it in a few months.
Councilman Rutledge stated he would like to move forward and would like to see the second draft. He would like to give the virtual engagement a try and if it does not work out, pause the process until a later time.
Councilman Zaruba questioned what the schedule would be if the Council decides to move ahead. Director Kozik responded there is a lot of work to do before they can move ahead, and the process would probably start in the late fall.
Mr. Jennette advised that given the concern about bringing as many people in the process, it may be prudent to move a bit slower. He suggested the draft would be put out for a few weeks giving people time to digest it, followed by discussions as to what the City would like to see moving forward.
Councilman Zaruba proposed releasing the second draft, putting the results of the online survey out and then schedule the Zoom meetings. He indicated he is not opposed to starting the process, but also understands it is a process that will need to be worked through. He stated he is not so concerned about holding the Zoom meetings, especially since there is an ability to increase the number of participants.
City Attorney Knippen noted the City will need to ensure it complies with the Open Meetings Act during this process. He also stated participants can be requested to provide their address, but cannot be required to provide it in order to participate in the process.
Councilman Barbier believes it will be hard to have a discussion when the Council has not yet seen the second draft.
City Manager Dzugan stated staff initially felt the City Council would not be part of the community meetings, which are meant to create conversations with the public. Once public comments are received, he stated the draft would be revised based on those comments and brought back to the Council. He confirmed the second draft would be provided to the City Council and the public at the same time.
Mayor Suess indicated he would like to see a proposed schedule of events and questioned the likelihood that meetings would happen before the end of the year. He likes the idea of the online surveys and an online portal providing one place for information and comments, but feels it is too much to push to get this done this year.
City Manager Dzugan stated once the City was done with the community engagement effort, public comments would be incorporated into the document which would then be presented to the City Council during a planning session. He said after Council comments were included in the document, the City would hold a public hearing on the matter.
The Council requested a proposed schedule to review.
8. Council Comment
Mayor Suess expressed his appreciation to the City’s Public Works and Public Safety employees for their work after the storm event last week. He said it was fortunate no one was hurt, and, except for tree damage, there was limited damage to the City.
Mayor Suess announced the City started picking up tree debris today and would continue those efforts throughout the City. City Manager Dzugan stated 40% of the City was picked up just today and anticipated completion of this effort by the end of the week.
Mayor Suess announced a planning session will be held on August 31 to replace the cancelled August 10th planning session.
9. Approval of Warrant
Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Fitch seconded that Warrant No. 782 in the amount of $2,425,501.43, be approved.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion Carried Unanimously
10. Adjournment
Councilwoman Fitch moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that the regular Wheaton City Council Meeting be adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Councilwoman Fitch
Mayor Suess
Councilwoman Robbins
Councilman Rutledge
Councilman Zaruba
Councilman Barbier
Councilwoman Bray-Parker
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion Carried Unanimously
https://www.wheaton.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08172020-1429
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