City Council Meetings

WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS MAYOR PHILIP }, SUESS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL BARBIER i COUNCILWOMAN ERICA BRAY-PARKER i COUNCILMAN SCOTT BROWN COUNCILMAN BRADLEY CLOUSING I COUNCILWOMAN LYNN ROBBINS [ COUNCILMAN SCOTT WELLER WHEATON CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 303 W WESLEY STREET, WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60157 Monday, July 15, 2024 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 Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray—Parker Electronically Present: Councilman Brown Absent: Councilman Weller Mayor Suess announced the City Clerk had received notice from Councilman Brown, in accordance with Wheaton City Code Section 2-42 to attend the meeting electronically. No objections were received, and Mayor Suess confirmed authorization for Councilman Brown to attend and participate electronically. City Staff Physically Present: Michael Dzugan, City Manager John Duguay, Assistant City Manager Dawn Didier, City Attorney Jim Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer Andrea Rosedale, City Clerk City Staff Electronically Present: None 2. Citizens to be Heard None 3. Consent Agenda Councilman Barbier moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that the following action be taken on the Consent Agenda item: 1. Approve the minutes of Wheaton City Council Regular Meeting —July 1, 2024, as submitted. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilman Brown WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Monday, July 15, 2024 Mayor Suess Councilman Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Nays: None Absent: Councilman Weller Motion Carried Unanimously 4. Reappointment to City Commissions Mayor Suess moved and Councilman Barbier seconded that Eileen Pearse be reappointed to the Local Liquor and Tobacco Commissions for three—year terms from July 15, 2024 through July 15, 2027. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Suess Councilman Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray—Parker Councilman Brown Nays: None Absent: Councilman Weller Motion Carried Unanimously 5. Pass Ordinance 0-2024-21, An Ordinance Granting an Amendment to a Special Use Permit on Property Commonly Known as 1225, 1295, 1303, 1307, 1313, 1325 and 1351 N. Gary Avenue — Wheaton Park District Councilman Barbier moved and Councilwoman Robbins seconded that 0—2024-21, An Ordinance Granting an Amendment to a Special Use Permit on Property Commonly Known as 1225, 1295, 1303, 1307, 1313, 1325 and 1351 N. Gary Avenue — Wheaton Park District, be passed. City Manager Dzugan stated the City Council directed the City Attorney to prepare an Ordinance approving an application submitted by the Wheaton Park District seeking an amendment to an existing special use permit at the July 15‘ City Council meeting. He reported the Ordinance has been placed on the agenda for consideration to permit an increase in the number of parking spaces from 30 to 93, a net increase of 63 spaces, at the property located on the east side of Gary Avenue with the inclusion of 8 conditions. Tom Johnson, 325 W. Harrison Ave., voiced opposition to the Wheaton Park District’s application expressing safety concerns. Chuck Smith, 0N236 Woodland Dr., expressed disappointment in the Council’s decision to proceed with approval ofthe Wheaton Park District’s application ahead ofthe November election results from the advisory ”No” question initiated by petition from the Vote on Cosley Zoo Expansion Committee. He voiced opposition to the Wheaton Park District’s application and cited various testimonies presented at the hearings. Joan Wegrzyn, 218 W. Forest Ave., voiced opposition to the Wheaton Park District’s application and expressed property value concerns and questioned the Park District’s use of current parking and the need for additional parking. WH EATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Monday, July 15, 2024 Sharon Beiersdorf, 766 Ralph Ct., voiced opposition to the Wheaton Park District’s appiication expressing concerns reiated to speciai use standards one, two and six. She questioned the Wheaton Park District’s use of current parking and the need for additional parking. Stacey Wecker, 1704 N. Washington St., voiced opposition to the Wheaton Park District’s appiication and urged the City Councii to postpone approval pending the results ofthe advisory question initiated by petition. Counciiman Barbier acknowledged the Wheaton community’s common goal of being the best place. He noted he beiieved the word outsiders, spoken in comments by those in opposition of the Park District application, was used to define park attendees who reside outside of the taxing boundaries. Councilwoman Bray—Parker noted the Council’s concern for safety and highlighted residents residing on Roosevelt Road advocating for a traffic signal to enhance safe crossing. She noted as a resident she hopes the Wheaton Park District will continue ongoing discussion and dialogue with all stakeholders regarding the future of the zoo since the Master Plan was rescinded. Councilwoman Robbins thanked everyone for their time and energy spent on the Wheaton Park District application issue and affirmed City Council decisions are based upon facts, city ordinances and city codes. She confirmed the Wheaton Park District is not run by the City. She urged everyone to work cooperatively and collaboratively. Councilman Brown expressed disagreement and detailed the governance of the City resides with the City Council. He stated the Councilmembers are the ultimate representatives of the direction and tone relating to the City. He stated acquiescing to the legalities of the Park District not being in the jurisdiction of the Council misses the point. He stated the Council should pause on the legalities of the application failing standards one, two and six. Mayor Suess reported zoning issues are the most contentious issues reviewed by the Council. He detailed parks are a permitted use in R3, which the property is zoned, and confirmed that parking lots are part of parks. He reflected upon the modifications made to the project by the Park District. He reviewed the application process and reported four meetings were held by the Planning and Zoning Board to review the application and testimony, resulting in a recommendation to the City Council. He noted the Council reviewed the record established by the Planning and Zoning Board and ensured everyone’s voice was heard. He confirmed the direction to the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for application approval resulting from the process. He confirmed the City Council’s discretion and discussion is limited in the context of a zoning issue and not a policy issue. He reported the policy issue remains that of the Wheaton Park District. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray—Parker Mayor Suess Councilman Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Nays: Councilman Brown Absent: Councilman Weller Motion Carried WHEATON CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Monday, July 15, 2024 6. Council Comment None 7. Approval of Warrant Councilman Barbier moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that Warrant No. 876 in the amount of $1,096,926.85, be approved. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilman Brown Mayor Suess Councilman Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Nays: None Absent: Councilman Weller Motion Carried Unanimously 8. Adjournment Councilwoman Bray—Parker moved and Councilwoman Robbins seconded that the regular Wheaton City Council Meeting be adjourned at 7:36 p.m. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Councilwoman Bray—Parker Councilman Brown Mayor Suess Councilman Clousing Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Barbier Nays: None Absent: Councilman Weller Motion Carried Unanimously Respectfully submitted, Andrea Rosedale City Clerk Submitted for Approval: August S, 2024