City Council Meetings

Monday, December 7, 2020 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 Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Absent: None City Staff Physically Present: Michael Dzugan, City Manager James Knippen, City Attorney Robert Lehnhardt, Finance Director Holly Schulz, Director of Human Resources Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer Sharon Barrett-Hagen, City Clerk City Staff Electronically Present: John Duguay, Assistant City Manager James Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering Sarah Kallas, City Attorney Daniel Peck, PR Coordinator 2. Citizens to be Heard None. 3. Consent Agenda Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Robbins seconded that the following action be taken on the Consent Agenda items: 1. Approve the minutes of the November 16, 2020 regular Wheaton City Council meeting as submitted. 2. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-37, An Ordinance Amending the Official Motor Vehicle and Traffic Schedule (Chapter 70) for the City of Wheaton – Schedule VII. Roll Call Vote on Consent Agenda: Ayes: Councilman Rutledge WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 7, 2020 Councilman Zaruba Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Fitch Mayor Suess Councilwoman Robbins Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously 4. Approve Reappointment to City Boards/Commissions Mayor Suess moved and Councilman Zaruba seconded that Dottie Mackie be reappointed to the Band Commission 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. Receive Planning & Zoning Board Report Re: ZA #20-08/Text Amendment and Special Use/122 N. Main Street/The Moment on Main Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilman Zaruba seconded that the Planning & Zoning Board Report Re: ZA #20-08/Text Amendment and Special Use/122 N. Main Street/The Moment on Main, be received. City Manager Dzugan stated the City received an application for a banquet facility in the C-2 retail core business district. He stated the Zoning Ordinance allows banquet facilities by special use in all commercial districts except the C-2 district. City Manager Dzugan advised the Planning & Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval of a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to approve banquet facilities in the C-2 district as a special use. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Fitch Mayor Suess Councilwoman Robbins 2 WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 7, 2020 Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-38, An Ordinance Amending the Text of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance - Article 17.4 of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance “Banquet Facility” Councilman Barbier moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that Ordinance No. O-2020-38, An Ordinance Amending the Text of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance - Article 17.4 of the Wheaton Zoning Ordinance “Banquet Facility,” be passed. In response to questions from Councilwoman Fitch, Director Kozik stated the City has no formal valet parking approval process at this time but plans to develop one as part of the City’s parking study. He advised that parking is not required for any type of use in the C-2 zoning district. Director Kozik stated the Planning & Zoning Board encouraged the applicant to get shared parking agreements with other property owners in the area, but the Board did not make it a requirement for this use. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Fitch Mayor Suess Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously 6. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-39, An Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for a Banquet Facility at 122 N. Main Street Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilman Zaruba seconded that Ordinance No. O-2020-39, An Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit for a Banquet Facility at 122 N. Main Street, be passed. City Manager Dzugan reported the Planning & Zoning Board has recommended approval of a special use permit for a banquet facility known as Moment on Main at 122 N. Main Street. He stated the Board initially included a prohibition for valet parking on Main Street. City Manager Dzugan indicated staff is recommending a more flexible approach to allow the City to consider a valet service or loading on Main Street in the future but also included a condition for the applicant to make reasonable efforts to obtain shared parking agreements with adjacent businesses and property owners. Councilman Barbier stated a possible option for valet parking or unloading/loading could be the parking lot behind the building. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Councilman Barbier 3 WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 7, 2020 Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Fitch Mayor Suess Councilwoman Robbins Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously 7. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-40, An Ordinance Amending the Wheaton Liquor Control Ordinance, Chapter 6, Article III of the City Code – Increase in Class I (Restaurants) Liquor License – EMC Eatery, Inc., d/b/a Wheaton House, 133 W. Front Street Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilman Rutledge seconded that Ordinance No. O-2020-40, An Ordinance Amending the Wheaton Liquor Control Ordinance, Chapter 6, Article III of the City Code – Increase in Class I (Restaurants) Liquor License – EMC Eatery, Inc., d/b/a Wheaton House, 133 W. Front Street, be passed. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Fitch Mayor Suess Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously 8. First Reading of an Ordinance Levying Taxes for General and Special Corporate Purposes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 21, 2021 for the City of Wheaton, Illinois City Manager Dzugan stated the next eight items relate to the City’s four property tax levies. He reported the proposed ordinance contains no increase in the levy, resulting in a total levy of $20,459,855. City Manager Dzugan stated all the ordinances appear as a first reading with formal consideration to be taken at the December 21 City Council meeting 9. First Reading of An Ordinance Amending the 2020 Tax Levy Contained in Ordinance No. O-2019- XX City Manager Dzugan stated the proposed ordinance would abate about $540,000 from the previous ordinance related to debt service on two bond issues. 10. First Reading of An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 31, 2021 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Two City Manager Dzugan stated the levy is for parking service expenses in the central business area. He stated that based on the City Council’s discussion on November 2, plans are to fully abate this amount in 4 WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 7, 2020 March 2021, dissolve Special Service Area Number 2 and move the parking expenses to Special Service Area Number 8. 11. First Reading of An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Two for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 31, 2021 City Manager Dzugan indicated this ordinance would appropriate $39,798 in taxes for Special Service Area Number Two, which includes the 1% the County places on the levy, known as the extended levy. 12. First Reading of An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 31, 2021 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Three City Manager Dzugan stated the levy of $12,000 relates to maintenance of open spaces within the Streams Subdivision. In response to Councilwoman Fitch, City Manager Dzugan stated there is no expiration date for this special service area. 13. First Reading of An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Three for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 31, 2021 14. First Reading of An Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 31, 2021 in and for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Eight City Manager Dzugan stated the levy amount of $159,140 for Special Service Area Eight will generate a total of $275,372, which includes $116,000 from the TIF 2 increment, and will fund the services provided by the Downtown Wheaton Association in an amount requested in their 2021 budget. 15. First Reading of An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the City of Wheaton Special Service Area Number Eight for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2021 and Ending December 31, 2021 16. Pass Ordinance O-2020-41, An Ordinance Amending Portions of City of Wheaton Employee Rules and Regulations Councilwoman Fitch moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that Ordinance O-2020-41, An Ordinance Amending Portions of City of Wheaton Employee Rules and Regulations, be passed. City Manager Dzugan stated an annual review of the City’s employee manual has been completed, resulting in minor changes to keep current with state and federal laws. In response to Mayor Suess, Director Schulz stated holiday pay is for the entire year. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilwoman Fitch Mayor Suess Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker 5 WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 7, 2020 Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously 17. Council Comment Councilwoman Fitch feels it is critical for the community to support local small businesses and charities. She complimented the various organizations holding such successful toy drives this year and expressed her appreciation for the community’s response to these efforts. Mayor Suess reiterated those comments. He believes Wheaton is a very giving community, and it is important to support businesses and charitable organizations during these challenging times. He listed the various activities going on around the City during the holidays, such as the holiday lighting in Adams Park, the “Light Up Wheaton” campaign, the display of reindeer and holiday window painting throughout the downtown and encouraged everyone to participate and show their support. Mayor Suess also noted a recent study conducted by Wallet Hub rated Wheaton 17th out of 1,200 communities throughout the United States with populations between 25,000 and 100,000, based on 43 different criteria for livability. 18. Approval of Warrant Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Fitch seconded that Warrant No. 789 in the amount of $7,043,322.50, 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 19. Closed Session: Personnel – Review of Closed Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (21) Councilwoman Robbins moved and Councilman Rutledge seconded that the Wheaton City Council adjourn to closed session at 7:38 p.m. for the purposed of review of closed session minutes – 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (21). Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Rutledge Councilman Zaruba Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Fitch 6 WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 7, 2020 Mayor Suess Nays: None Absent: None Motion Carried Unanimously The City returned to the open portion of their meeting at 7:41 p.m. 20. Adjournment Councilwoman Fitch moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that the regular Wheaton City Council Meeting be adjourned at 7:41 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 Respectfully submitted, Sharon Barrett-Hagen City Clerk Submitted for Approval: December 21, 2020 7