Dupage Policy Journal

City of Elmhurst Finance Council Affairs & Administrative Services Committee met Sept. 23

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order

Chair Talluto called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

2. Roll Call 

Committee Members Present: Talluto, Jensen, Nudera, Irby

Committee Members Absent:

Other Elected Officials Present: Curran, Levin

City Staff and Others Present: Coyle, Bruns, Kravets, McLean, Grabowski (7:38); David Giuliani, Dan Virgil, Pacela Wolf, Melinda Josephs, Susan Hoerster, Joyce Okal, Michael Markazie

3. Public Comment – Several residents attended the meeting and made comments on the proposed new Police Station and the funding options under consideration.

4. Receipt of Written Communication – None.

5. Business Before the Committee

A. Minutes of the September 9, 2024, meeting of the Finance, Council Affairs & Administrative Services Committee

A motion to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2024, FCA&AS Committee meeting was made by Alderman Jensen and seconded by Alderman Irby. A voice vote was taken, and the minutes were approved unanimously.

B. Police Station Funding

Director Coyle presented a revised memo which provided new information requested by the Committee at the August 26, 2024 meeting. Based on the Committee’s prior feedback the following revenue sources were removed from consideration: utility taxes, food and beverage tax, cannabis tax, video gaming tax, and stormwater fee. The Committee discussed the newly presented information including a community comparison of the remaining revenue streams, an analysis of the resident impact of the remaining revenue sources, an updated asset analysis City-owned building 180 W Park, and a review of property tax statistics from the 2023 tax levy. Director Coyle noted that the City’s property tax rate ranks as the third lowest of 34 DuPage communities.

Chair Talluto explained for the benefit of the public present, as well as the Committee members, that the final decision on the police station will rest with City Council after the Finance Committee and the Public Affairs & Safety (PAS) Committee make their recommendations.

Chair Talluto asked the Committee members to also consider which revenue sources philosophically align with the project being funded by them, and emphasized that all who live, work, and visit the City benefit from the public safety services which our Police Department provides.

After continued discussion of the remaining revenue sources, the Committee requested that staff evaluate a potential delay in constructing the new police station, timed with the roll off of existing debt and considering estimated future interest rates. Staff will prepare additional information for consideration at a future meeting. The Committee will continue to consider funding the project on the current timeline in addition to the alternative delayed timeline requested.

6. Other Business

The Committee noted the next City Council Meeting will be on October 7th, and the next meeting of the Finance Committee will be on October 15th.

7. Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Nudera and seconded by Alderman Jensen. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/coe/Board.nsf/Public