City Council Planning Sessions

Monday, January 26, 2026 I. Call to Order The Wheaton City Council Planning Session was called to order at 7:21 p.m. by Mayor Suess following the conclusion of a public hearing. The following were: Physically Present: Mayor Suess Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilwoman Brice Councilman Brown Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Weller Absent: Councilman Clousing City Staff Present: Michael G. Dzugan, City Manager William Kolschowsky, Assistant City Manager Dawn Didier, City Attorney Princeton Youker, Chief of Police Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer Erik Berg, Management Analyst II. Approval of Planning Session Minutes – December 8, 2025 The Council approved the December 8, 2025, Planning Session minutes. III. 250th Birthday Mural Wall Proposal City Manager Dzugan stated that the City Council directed the City’s boards and commissions explore options for commemorating America’s 250th birthday. He informed the Council that the Forestry division is planning to plant 250 parkway trees, each featuring a commemorative medallion, and that applications will be available soon. Fine and Cultural Arts Commissioner Randy King presented the Commission’s America 250 proposal for a mural on the retaining wall north of the pavilion. He presented examples of panels, depicting different historical eras in Wheaton in the style of American realism. In response to a Council question, Commissioner King stated that the Commission would manage the selection of the artist; one artist rather than multiple would paint the mural to both simplify the process and create a singular mural. Councilmembers suggested incorporating American flag colors into the mural, using brighter colors, and exploring collaboration with the Historic Commission. Commissioner King stated that he would put out a call for artists and return to Council with visuals, with the goal of beginning work in the spring. IV. Group Care Home Ordinance Additions  CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES Monday, January 26, 2026 City Manager Dzugan stated that staff have amended the group care home ordinance since its initial presentation at the December 8, 2025, City Council Planning Session. He highlighted three significant changes to the ordinance since that meeting. Licenses are required for both single-family and multi- family group care homes; “neighbor” is defined using the 250-foot distance outlined in the zoning ordinance; and a separate process applies to currently licensed group care homes. He stated that staff would bring the ordinance for a first reading at the second February City Council meeting. V. Draft E-bike Ordinance Management Analyst Berg stated that staff have developed a draft ordinance regulating electric devices after meetings with the City Council and the Wheaton Bicyclist and Pedestrian Commission. He stated that the proposed regulation aligns with the values of safety, mobility, and enforceability identified at the October 13 Planning Session. The draft ordinance maintains the Illinois Vehicle Code (IVC) definitions of “low-speed electric bicycle” and “low-speed electric scooter.” The ordinance creates two definitions: “electric scooter” (“e-scooter”), which refers to a device distinct from a low-speed e-scooter that has a maximum speed of twenty miles per hour, and “out-of-class electric vehicle”, otherwise referred to as an “e-moto”, which refers to electric devices that do not fit the definitions of e-bikes or e-scooters. City Attorney Didier stated that, under current Illinois state law, low-speed electric scooters are prohibited from operating in municipalities unless the municipality passes an ordinance explicitly allowing them. Management Analyst Berg stated that the ordinance requires mandatory education rather than registration for all electric device users, which would more effectively promote safe interactions between cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. The City would maintain a list of recommended educational materials on its website; Management Analyst Berg noted that the ordinance could be amended to require only those 16 and under or without a driver’s license. In response to a Council question, Assistant City Manager Kolschowsky stated that the education requirement would most likely be enforced only if an officer were to stop an electric device user for operating unsafely or recklessly. He then discussed the proposed operating standards, which outlines the City’s expectations for behavior on bicycles and electric devices. The ordinance restricts e-moto operators to 16 and older with a driver’s license and e-motos could only operate in the roadway. Bicycles, e-bikes and e- scooters would be allowed on sidewalks, roadways, and the Prairie Path. All electric devices and bicycles are prohibited from operating on sidewalks within the Central Business District and any municipal parking areas. The draft ordinance also includes specific prohibited acts, chief among them being “reckless operation”, and holds both parents and minors accountable for ordinance violations. He stated that, pending Council direction, staff would introduce the ordinance for first and second readings in April 2026. Once the ordinance is approved, the City would implement a public education campaign aimed at informing residents of the regulations as well as educational materials. Councilmembers discussed the feasibility of requiring education for electric device users, the specific locations where electric devices pose safety threats or nuisance to residents, and how the police department would enforce reckless behavior.  CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES Monday, January 26, 2026 In response to a Council question, Police Chief Youker stated that out-of-class electric vehicles, which are currently unregulated at the state and municipal level, are the devices that most frequently violate the rules of the road. Focusing on these devices would be more practical for patrol officers since it would be easier to determine whether these devices are being operated recklessly. Additionally, he stated that police officers would be present in schools as part of the eventual educational campaign. Council directed the staff to simplify the language in the ordinance to focus on out-of-class electric devices. City Manager Dzugan stated that the staff would amend the ordinance accordingly and present a revised ordinance to the Council for review at a future meeting. VI. Public Comment Dalia Sadauskas, 825 Deer Path Road, recommended that the Council further review the decision from the Planning and Zoning Board allowing a variance for 87 Somerset Circle. VII. Council/Staff Comment There was no Council comment. VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m. Respectfully, Erik Berg