Chicago City Wire

City of Wheaton City Council met Dec. 16

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

MAVOR PHlLlP J. SUESS 

COUNCILMAN MICHAEL BARBIER I COUNCILWOMAN ERICA BRAY‘PARKER i COUNCILMAN SCOTT BROWN COUNCILMAN BRADLEY CLOUSING l COUNCILWOMAN LYNN ROBBINS l COUNCILMAN SCOTT WELLER 

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 rolI call, the following were: 

Physically Present: Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

City Staff Physically 

Present: Michael Dzugan, City Manager 

Dawn Didier, City Attorney 

Robert Brill, Fire Chief 

Jim Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development 

Robert Lehnhardt, Director of Finance 

Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering 

Peter Vassios, Assistant Fire Chief 

Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer 

Andrea Rosedale, City Cierk 

City Staff Electronically Present: None 

2. Citizens to be Heard 

None. 

3. Presentations 

Mayor Suess presided over the swearing-in ceremony for Firefighter Candidate DeWhon A. Gavin, Firefighter Candidate David J. Kelly, and Firefighter Candidate Bryan T. VanDuser, preceded by remarks from Fire Chief Brill. 

4. Consent Agenda 

Councilwoman Bray—Parker moved and Councilman Brown seconded that the following action be taken on the Consent Agenda items: 

1. Approve the minutes of Wheaton City Council Regular Meeting — December 2, 2024, as submitted. 2. Adopt Resolution R-2024-106, A Resolution Approving a Plat of Easement Grant (421 N. West Street). 

3. Adopt Resolution R—2024—107, A Resolution Approving a Plat of Easement for Water Main (900 E. Geneva Road).

4. Adopt Resolution" R-2024—108, A Resolution Approving the Commission on Aging Policies and Procedures Manual Dated November 2024. 

5. Adopt Resolution R—2024-109, A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Agreement No. 511 with H&H Electric Co. for Traffic Signal Equipment Maintenance Services for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $123,796.87 and a 10% Contingency.

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Bray—Parker 

Councilman Brown 

MayorSuess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

5. Pass Ordinance 0-2024-34, An Ordinance Adopting the City of Wheaton Calendar Year 2025 Budget Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilman Weller seconded that 0-2024—34, An Ordinance Adopting the City of Wheaton Calendar Year 2025 Budget, be passed. 

City Manager Dzugan stated the ordinance approves the Calendar Year 2025 budget and referenced the budget framework discussion held in September. He noted the City’s budget is balanced, and any deficits in specific funds are intentional and accounted for. He stated the fund balances will primarily be used to cover capital project expenditures in 2025. He highlighted a major sanitary sewer project to reconstruct a main line serving basins three and four, aimed to address sanitary sewer backups and overflows in the area. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray—Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

6. Pass Ordinance 0-2024-35, An Ordinance Levying Taxes for General and Special Corporate Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025 for the City of Wheaton, Illinois Councilman Brown moved and Councilman Clousing seconded that 0—2024-35, An Ordinance Levying Taxes for General and Special Corporate Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025 for the City of Wheaton, Illinois, be passed.

City Manager Dzugan stated the Council had a first reading ofthe ordinance for the general and special purposes tax levy, at the December 2, 2024, City Council Meeting. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray—Parker 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

7. Pass Ordinance 0-2024-36, An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Three 

Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilwoman Bray—Parker seconded that 0-2024—36, An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Three, be passed. 

City Manager Dzugan stated the Council had a first reading of the ordinance for approval of the SSA three tax levy, for the Streams maintenance, at the December 2, 2024, City Council Meeting. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray—Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

8. Pass Ordinance 0-2024-37, An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Eight 

Councilman Weller moved and Councilman Brown seconded that 0-2024-37, An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Ending December 31, 2025 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Eight, be passed. 

City Manager Dzugan stated the Council had a first reading on December 2, 2024, of the ordinance for approval of the SSA eight tax levy, to fund downtown promotion and certain services. He detailed this is the final year of the SSA eight tax levy which will be reviewed next year.

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

9. Reappointment to City Commissions 

Mayor Suess moved and Councilman Clousing seconded that Shannon Whitmer be reappointed to the Local Liquor Commission and Tobacco Commission for three-year terms through December 16, 2027. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weiler 

Councilwoman Bray—Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

10. Adopt Resolution R-2024-110, A Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Amendment to a Sublease Between the City of Wheaton and Young Oh d/b/a Java Connection 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker moved and Councilman Weller seconded that R-2024—110, A Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Amendment to a Sublease Between the City of Wheaton and Young Oh d/b/a Java Connection, be adopted. 

City Manager Dzugan explained the amendment authorizes a six—month extension of the lease with the current coffee vendor at the Wheaton Main Metra Station, as the existing lease is set to expire at the end of the month. He noted that, due to the impact of COVID—19, the lease was amended in 2020 to calculate rent based on ridership levels. He stated the extended lease continues the arrangement, with rent tied to a percentage of the base ridership levels from 2019. He also stated that City staff plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to assess the current value of the space more accurately, considering the current ridership levels. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

11. Receive Planning and Zoning Board Report Re: ZA #24-16/ FAR Variation / 521 E. Oak Avenue/ Design First Builders LLC 

Councilman Brown moved and Councilman Clousing seconded that Planning and Zoning Board Report Re: ZA #24-16/ FAR Variation / 521 E. Oak Avenue / Design First Builders LLC, be received. 

Roll Cail Vote: 

Ayes: Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

Pass Ordinance 0-2024-38, An Ordinance Granting a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Variation on a Certain Piece of Property Commonly Known as 521 E. Oak Avenue - Design First Builders LLC 

Councilman Brown moved and Councilman Clousing seconded that 0—2024—38, An Ordinance Granting a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Variation on a Certain Piece of Property Commonly Known as 521 E. Oak Avenue — Design First Builders LLC, be passed. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

12. Pass Ordinance 0-2024-39, An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of Charles Street Right-Of-Way Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilman Weller seconded that O-2024—39, An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of Charles Street Right-Of-Way, be passed. 

City Manager Dzugan stated City Council held a public hearing on December 9, 2024, to consider a petition to vacate a portion of the Charles Street right-of-way which is south and adjacent to the petitioner’s property located at 165 Page Street.

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Councilman Brown 

MayorSuess 

Councilman Clousing 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously

13. Adopt Resolution R-2024-111, A Resolution Ratifying the City Manager’s Change Orders and Authorizing the Execution of Change Order #4 to Agreement No. 428 with John Neri Construction Co., Inc. for Cadillac & Wakeman Flood Improvements for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $330,478.42 

Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilwoman Bray—Parker seconded that R—2024—111, A Resolution Ratifying the City Manager’s Change Orders and Authorizing the Execution of Change Order #4 to Agreement No. 428 with John Neri Construction Co., Inc. for Cadillac & Wakeman Flood Improvements for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $330,478.42, be adopted. 

City Manager Dzugan explained that the resolution ratifies the City Manager's approval of a change order and authorizes the execution of the fourth and final change order to Agreement No. 428, which exceeded the approved contingency. He detailed, of the total $330,478.42, approximately $146,000 was attributed to addressing poor soil conditions, $139,000 was used for full pavement replacement on streets impacted by construction traffic, and $44,000 was spent rerouting the storm sewer to avoid an existing sanitary sewer line. 

He stated the City’s Procurement Policy allows for the approval of change orders in such situations as this approval was necessary due to the urgency of the construction timeline imposed by the ARPA grant conditions from DuPage County and unforeseen site conditions, none of which involved an expansion of the project’s scope. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Councilman Brown 

MayorSuess 

Councilman Clousing 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

14. Council Comment 

Councilman Weller expressed his gratitude to the residents, City staff, and fellow Councilmembers, recognizing their collective efforts in making the community an exceptional place to live and work. He also extended his best wishes to everyone. 

Mayor Suess thanked the Councilmembers for their dedication and contributions to the community. He expressed appreciation to the City staff for their daily efforts to enhance the quality of life in Wheaton and acknowledged the members of the City’s Boards and Commissions for generously volunteering their time and expertise. He concluded by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 

15. Approval of Warrant 

Councilwoman Bray—Parker moved and Councilman Brown seconded that Warrant No. 886 in the amount of $4,962,911.49, be approved. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Bray—Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

16. Adjournment 

Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilwoman Bray—Parker seconded that the regular Wheaton City Council Meeting be adjourned at 7:24 p.m. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins 

Councilman Weller 

Councilwoman Bray-Parker 

Councilman Brown 

Mayor Suess 

Councilman Clousing 

Nays: None 

Absent: Councilman Barbier 

Motion Carried Unanimously 

https://www.wheaton.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12162024-2708