City Council Planning Sessions

Monday, February 23, 2026 I. Call to Order The Wheaton City Council Planning Session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Suess. 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 Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering Kris Dunn, Development Engineer Andrea Rosedale, City Clerk Erik Berg, Management Analyst Halie Cardinal, Public Relations Coordinator II. Approval of Planning Session Minutes – January 26, 2026 The Council approved the January 26, 2026, Planning Session minutes. III. Stormwater Programming and Funding Discussion City Manager Dzugan reviewed the City’s efforts to study and fund stormwater mitigation projects and stated that these efforts prompted a renewed review of the storm sewer fund. Director of Engineering Tebrugge reviewed the Storm Sewer Fund. He stated that the storm sewer fund functions like the other enterprise utility funds, but, in contrast to the water and sanitary sewer fund, has historically relied on interfund transfers, the Capital Improvement Projects fund, and grant funding to complement the stormwater utility fee. Annual utility fee revenues have remained steady at approximately $1.7 million; however, annual projected expenditures typically exceed revenues due to increased capital projects and expanded mitigation programs over the past five years. Director of Engineering Tebrugge reviewed the City’s current and proposed stormwater programs and explained that staff has ranked them by priority. Currently, revenues from the storm sewer fund primarily cover personnel and resident outreach programs; staff views these as the highest priority. Stormwater capital projects, which include storm sewers replaced through the Road, Sewer, and Water program, the storm sewer lining and replacement programs, and outfall maintenance, have been funded through either grants or interfund transfers. Staff ranks these projects second. Ranked third are existing stormwater maintenance projects like periodic dredging and pump station repairs. Finally, an enhanced maintenance program, which would address the backlog of storm manholes and CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES Monday, February 23, 2026 catch basins in need of replacement, is ranked fourth by staff. Programs such as the detention basin inspection program, and Springbrook Reclamation #1, are ranked lower on the list. In response to a Council question, Director of Engineering Tebrugge replied that the operations portion of the storm sewer fund supports daily maintenance activities such as storm sewer and catch basin cleaning and televising. The City’s stormwater utility rate is based on a property’s impervious area, expressed as an Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU). The current rate per ERU is $5.30 a month. Single-family residential properties are assigned to tiers based on impervious area, while commercial and institutional properties are billed based on the total impervious area divided by the ERU factor. The current $5.30 a month rate funds personnel and resident outreach programs. When interfund transfers, capital projects, and grant-funded expenditures are incorporated into the calculation, the effective spending level over the past five years equals approximately $10.16 per ERU per month. To fully fund operations, maintenance, and the Streams Lakes Meander, the rate would need to increase to approximately $11.45 a month. As additional programs are included, the required ERU rate would increase accordingly. Staff recommended that the Council approve of the staff’s ranking of stormwater projects, prioritize funding existing maintenance, resident outreach programs, and the Streams Lake Meander, and refrain from considering additional stormwater projects or programming unless they receive more than 50% in grant support. In response to a Council question, Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated that the 5-year revenue average accommodates funding through the American Rescue Plan Act. City Manager Dzugan added that while all municipalities manage stormwater comparisons are difficult due to the varying funding methods used to fund projects and programs. He stated that stormwater projects in the City of Wheaton were originally funded through the sanitary sewer fund through a rate based on water usage, but sanitary and storm sewer funds separated because of increased Council focus on stormwater projects. Councilmembers discussed potential modifications to the rate structure, including increasing rates for properties with more impervious area, phasing in a rate increase, and exploring alternatives to the City’s pay-as-you-go approach to stormwater capital projects. In response to a Council question, City Manager Dzugan stated that the proposed $11.45 monthly rate is flexible and staff can evaluate alternative funding options for capital projects. Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated that two projects have been completed addressing the fifteen flood prone areas. Staff is awaiting easements on the third project; Pershing and Turf, Countryside, and Ranch would be the fourth and fifth project. He noted that securing easements will complicate subsequent flood prone projects. In response to a Council question, Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated that, compared with the Streams Lake Meander Project, the Springbrook #1 Channel Rehabilitation is estimated to cost $30 million and would be challenging since the City does not hold property rights along the length of the channel. Furthermore, he stated that a detention basin inspection program ranked lower on the recommended staff list since most detention basins are located on the periphery of the City and would have a limited impact on Wheaton residents.  CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES Monday, February 23, 2026 The City Council concurred with the staff’s recommendations and directed the staff to research the effects of fee increases for discussion at a future City Council Planning Session. IV. Council Chambers and Gamon Room Use Policy and Conley Room Use Policy City Manager Dzugan stated that, considering the amount of requests to reserve the meeting rooms in City Hall, City Clerk Rosedale has prepared a draft policy addressing the purpose, allowable uses, and priorities of each meeting room. He informed the Council that a resolution codifying the policies would appear before the Council for approval at a future meeting. In response to a Council question, City Clerk Rosedale stated that the policy would allow elected officials or partisan candidates to use the meeting rooms if the purpose is to provide services to Wheaton residents. V. Public Comment There was no public comment. VI. Council/Staff Comment Councilman Brown commended Chief Youker and the Wheaton Police Department for their response to the recent incident at Wheaton North High School. VII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. Respectfully, Erik Berg