City of Naperville City Council met Nov. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
A. CALL TO ORDER:
Chirico called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Present: 8 - Mayor Steve Chirico
Councilman Jennifer Bruzan Taylor
Councilman Paul Hinterlong
Councilman Ian Holzhauer
Councilman Patrick Kelly
Councilman Paul Leong
Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan
Councilman Benjamin White
Absent: 1 - Councilwoman Patty Gustin
Also Present
City Manager, Doug Krieger; Deputy City Manager, Marcie Schatz; City Attorney, Mike DiSanto; Director of Community Services/City Clerk, Pam Gallahue; Fire Chief, Mark Puknaitis; Police Chief, Jason Arres; Director of Finance, Rachel Mayer; Director of Human Resources, James Sheehan; Director of IT, Jacqueline Nguyen; Director of TED, Bill Novack; Deputy Director of TED, Jennifer Louden; Deputy Director of TED, Allison Laff; Director of Public Utilities - Electric, Brian Groth; Director of Public Utilities - Water, Darrell Blenniss, Jr.; Director of Public Works, Dick Dublinski, Director of Communications, Linda LaCloche; Budget Manager - FSD, Ray Munch; Senior Budget Analyst, Kyle Moss; Budget Analyst, Sherrian Kelly; Budget Analyst, Michael GertonFacilities and General Services Manager - DPW, Beth Lang; Naper Settlement President and CEO, Rena Tamayo-Calabrese; Naper Settlement Chief Operating Officer, Harriet Pistorio; Library Executive Director, David Della Terza Daily
Herald, Naperville Sun, NCTV-17
B. INTRODUCTION:
C. PUBLIC FORUM:
WRITTEN COMMENT ONLY
Julie Fessler
Please allow the affordable housing program
D. PRESENTATION:
2022 Annual Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program Workshop #2
WRITTEN COMMENT ONLY
Marilyn L Schweitzer
1) A major portion of the projects listed under "Beautification" are needed for sustainability, accessibility, safety, and wayfaring. Titling this "beautification" makes it far too easy to dismiss these needed efforts. "Hospitality" would be more appropriate as it implies a welcoming environment rather than a dangerous or uninviting environment. 2) A 20.6% increase in Naperville Settlement Salaries and Wages seem quite high. Please explain. 3) It is hard to tell what the exact nature of this project is, but the installation and maintenance cost for prairie grass compared to turf grass seems way off compared to both literature on the matter and installations that I know have been done by other organizations. Peggy Motta oversees the Park Meadow project for the Naperville Park District. Please confirm with her that the numbers quoted for Naperville Park District are accurate. Her contact information is 630-848-5013 and pmotta@napervilleparks.org <mailto:pmotta@napervilleparks.org>.
Danielle Tufano (Downtown Naperville Alliance)
Official letter emailed to Miranda Barfuss. Thank you!
Krieger stated the presentation will include a recap of the City’s budget growth over the past five years, as well as a discussion on capital infrastructure needs, presentations by Naper Settlement and the Naperville Public Library and a discussion on community.
Mayer detailed the increases in budgeted expenses since 2017, highlighting the impact of capital needs on the $99.01 million increase over five years. She also discussed the population increase during the 1980s through 2000s and that it resulted in several additions in infrastructure, which are now nearing end-of-life.
Schatz provided an overview of capital needs, outlined two projects related to North Aurora Road totaling $23.6 million, as well as a $2.6 million project to rebuild the Washington Street bridge, and detailed the annual street maintenance program budgeted for $12 million. She continued with an overview of the proposed downtown streetscape projects impacting Jefferson, Main and Jackson streets.
Council asked for more details regarding the proposed traffic signal project on Book Road and 95th Street.
Novack explained that staff continues to assess the project, that it is not planned for 2022, and that it will remain in the long-term CIP until a resolution is found. He also explained the signal would assist with turns out of the subdivision, that the project meets criteria in the warrant study, and that half the project will be paid for by the Wheatland Township.
Schatz discussed projects related to public facilities.
Council discussed project coordination with the utilities, the fake grass located along Main Street, and marketing costs for the businesses impacted by the streetscape project.
Schatz confirmed all street resurfacing projects are coordinated with the utilities.
Krieger explained funds for marketing has not been included in the budget. Schatz presented public facilities upgrades including security renovations to the Police Department as well as citywide roof, window and door replacements, a generator and transfer switch replacement, and repairs at the Van Buren parking deck.
Council asked for more details on the security enhancements, if the costs for the parking deck were unique, and more details on the door replacement costs.
Arres explained the improvements would include a security gate along the rear of the building as well as footings if additional security measures were needed.
Lang explained the door replacement program will focus on the front doors at the Police Department, which are original to the building, and detailed the City’s ongoing efforts to improve compliance with ADA standards.
Council asked for clarification on the list of replacement/new vehicles, how the City manages old equipment, and the incorporation of electric vehicles.
Dublinski explained the majority of the list included in the 2022 budget are replacements, that the City tries to resell items when possible but must assess the value of the equipment, and that some items are held to ensure equipment is available for staff if there is a delivery delay. He went on to state that six hybrids are budgeted out of 56 vehicles for 2022.
Krieger stated that when an item comes due for replacement, the City evaluates electric and hybrid options and is exploring CNG and propone options for larger pieces of equipment.
Council asked if the Park Addition project is being coordinated among departments.
Novack stated that TED partners with the Water Utility for drainage and water main initiatives and that no funding is being provided from outside agencies.
Schatz presented how capital projects impact staff from different departments and cited Julian Street Road Reconstruction & Storm Sewer Improvements and the Water AMI project as examples.
Mayer discussed funding for the capital program.
Tamayo-Calabrese provided an overview of the Settlement’s 2022 Budget request including 1.5 FTEs and explained the full-time position will be permanently dedicated to digitization efforts by the museum. She went on to outline revenue changes including an increase in the property tax request.
Council discussed the increase and questioned what is being done to control expenditures.
Tamayo-Calabrese explained that the Settlement has maintained a flat property tax request since 2007 resulting in $20 million of deferred repairs to the buildings and Pistorio provided a list of recent cost reductions.
Council further questioned charges for services and the continued increase in costs.
Tamayo-Calabrese explained the process to manage the budget, including reviews by a finance committee, as well as the Heritage Society and Naper Settlement boards, clarified the museum is owned by the City and the ultimate responsibility of maintenance lies with the City, and that staff is managing expenses.
Della Terza detailed an increase in the Library's property tax request as necessary to capture the growth within the community, explained the actual rate will decrease based on projections, and stated the projects included were initially planned in 2020 but were delayed due to the pandemic.
Mayer explained that utility bills for City facilities are processed through an internal transfer and began the presentation of community support efforts, including the Community Development Block Grant, Special Events and Cultural Amenities, and partnerships with the Naperville Development Partnership, Naperville Community Television and Downtown Naperville Alliance.
Council asked if the CDBG amounts were determined based on the population and, if so, how many additional residents would be needed under that category to generate more funds.
Gallahue explained the money comes from the federal government, is based in part on the percentage of low-to-moderate income residents, and more research would be needed to determine exactly how much of an increase would be needed to add to that dollar amount.
Mayer presented the proposed 2022 beautification efforts.
Council discussed the need to commit more than $100,000 for the efforts, requested a list of 10-15 potential projects and associated costs, and that more direction should be given to staff.
Dublinski explained the work on Washington, the plan to improve city boundary entrances, and that the $100,000 was included as a starting point with the intent to increase in future years. He also stated that staff worked with a consultant to learn the details required to maintain native grass and that costs were significant.
Council requested staff do a comparison to other communities and noted benefits of native grass including flood prevention and sustainability.
Mayer continued with an overview of three projects related to Riverwalk improvements, sustainability initiatives, and transitioned into a discussion of the Sustainability Assistant and Communications Specialist personnel requests.
Novack explained Riverwalk improvements will assist in providing more safety to the pedestrians in the area.
Council discussed federal financial support for sustainability efforts, asked for details on the impact of the current sustainability employee, questioned how the City can be confident additional support is needed, proposed salary, and whether any consultants would be needed if the new position were added.
Gallahue provided a detailed list of current Sustainability Coordinator responsibilities and said consultants could still be necessary because the City lacks some of the specialty skills and knowledge to undertake approved initiatives.
Mayer explained the position cost is an estimate and includes salary/benefits for a six-month period but would double in future years to reflect a full year for the position.
Council discussed the Communications Specialist request, whether it is solely tied to sustainability, what other duties would be performed, that communication is the key to leadership, and that communication is one area the City routinely receives criticism.
LaCloche detailed the breadth of communications efforts in the City, explained the various media outlets assigned to staff, and the percentage split between sustainability, capital projects, and other City initiatives.
Council requested information on the number of employees per 1,000 residents over the years compared with other communities.
Mayer gave an overview on the status of various local taxes, including food and beverage, real estate transfer, hotel/motel and home rule sales taxes.
Council discussed property taxes, property rate, the Assistant to the City Manager position, a 10-20 year history of infrastructure investment, status of four police officers hired in 2021 and how they will impact the department, and when the actual EAV will be received.
Mayer explained the original proposed rate included a significant rate reduction, that the reduction is lower now due to the amended request from Naper Settlement, and that all City operations, including the Library, Naper Settlement, debt and pension requirements are included in the proposed rate.
Krieger confirmed the Assistant to the City Manager position request has been withdrawn and responded that the EAV will be received in March.
Arres confirmed the additional officers are still completing training and any need for additional officers will be evaluated next year.
Krieger summarized the presentation and discussed the upcoming workshop and Council meeting dates of November 22, December 7 and 21.
Q. ADJOURNMENT:
The CY22 Budget Workshop #2 was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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