Dupage Policy Journal

City of Warrenville Community Development Committee of the Whole met Nov. 11

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

A. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Weidner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

B. ROLL CALL

Physically Present: Chairman Bill Weidner, Mayor David Brummel, and Aldermen: Stuart Aschauer, John Paul Augustynowicz, Clare Barry, Kathy Davolos, Craig Kruckenberg, John Lockett, and Judy Wilkie

Absent: None

Also Present: City Administrator Cristina White, Assistant City Administrator Alma Morgan, Community and Economic Development Director Amy Emery, Public Works Director Phil Kuchler, Senior Civil Engineer Kristine Hocking, Chief Code Official Michelle Lilley, and Executive Assistant and Deputy City Clerk Dawn Grivetti

Also Absent: City Clerk Julie Clark and City Treasurer Maury Goodman

C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Chairman Weidner recognized and thanked all those who have served our Country on this Veterans Day. He recognized Aldermen Lockett and Augustynowicz for their service to the Country and asked them to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

D. CITIZENS COMMENTS

Joe Vogtle, City resident and owner of Voegtle Auto Service, 28W224 Warrenville Rd, thanked the City Council for their efforts in the cleanup of the former Citgo property, and requested the Council consider a permanent shared use of four parking spaces on the Old Town Redevelopment Site (OTRS) #2 property adjacent to their property.

E. OFFICIALS AND STAFF COMMENTS

Mayor Brummel recognized the contributions of all Veterans to society.

Executive Assistant and Deputy City Clerk Grivetti reminded members of the Council and public that candidate petitions for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election can be submitted beginning Tuesday, November 12, at 8:00 a.m. using the Manning Avenue entrance to City Hall.

F. BUSINESS OF MEETING

1. Consideration: City Code Changes to Allow Private Walkways in City Rights-of-Way Public Works Director (PWD) Kuchler stated that City Code does not recognize private walkways as permissible or permitted encroachments in the public right-of-way. As such, each time a property owner applies for a permit to install one, the request must be presented to City Council for approval. He added that staff worked with the City Attorney to draft changes to the City Code that would allow private walkways that are no more than five feet wide, and connect the private property to a mailbox, driveway, or roadway to be permitted encroachments, requiring no special agreements or approvals.

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to recommend the City Council pass an ordinance amending Section 7-2-2 of the Warrenville City Code regarding pedestrian walkways on public rights-of-way.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

2. Consideration of City Code Amendments for Parkway Maintenance

Community and Economic Development Director (CEDD) Emery reminded the Committee that the Council recently amended City Code addressing notification practices for Code Enforcement. As updates were being made, staff identified an additional provision regarding parkway maintenance that requires refinement. She stated, from time to time, City Code Officials encounter issues with residents who feel they are not responsible for maintaining parkways adjacent to their properties. She added that, although property owners do not own the land, it is their responsibility to maintain it. Therefore, staff is proposing a clarification in the City Code detailing the property owner’s responsibility to maintain adjacent parkways.

ALDERMAN KRUCKENBERG MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Davolos, to recommend the City Council pass an ordinance amending Section 6-6-2 of the Warrenville City Code regarding maintenance of public right-of-way.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

3. Consideration of Annual Fee Ordinance

CEDD Emery reminded the Committee that the Council recently approved an Annual Fee Ordinance, which includes fees for planning, zoning, engineering, building, and business licensing. She noted that this process promotes transparency and supports efforts to evaluate and manage fees comprehensively. This year’s Fee Ordinance includes all the previous fees plus Code Enforcement fees and is structured to take effect in January 2025.

Ald. Lockett asked staff if a recommendation to raise fees would be forthcoming. CEDD Emery replied there is an expectation to include additional fees administered by other departments within the City, and to ensure the City’s fees align with those of comparable municipalities, but there is no recommendation for an increase at this time.

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to recommend the City Council pass an ordinance adopting the 2025 Annual Fee

Ordinance, including associated reference changes to the City Code.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

4. Consideration of OTRS #2 Access Easement Agreement

Senior Civil Engineer (SCE) Hocking reminded the Committee that in February, City Council passed an ordinance approving an agreement with JC Holdings, owner of Voegtle’s Auto Service to document the rights and responsibilities of the City and Voegtle’s regarding property exchange, construction of a shared drive aisle, removing certain fences, sheds, gravel, and other materials per an agreement timeline.

SCE Hocking noted that, before the actual property transfer takes place, a plat of subdivision and access agreement must be approved. The original drafted access agreement states that the access easement would only be for pedestrian and vehicular uses and does not contemplate a shared parking easement. Currently, parking on the City-owned side of the drive easement is available for public parking, however, when the property is sold, this parking area would be available exclusively for the use of the then property owner.

SCE Hocking stated that Voegtle’s Auto Service is requesting a permanent parking easement be included with the access agreement for four parking spaces at the northwest end (City-owned side) of the access drive allowing for permanent shared use of the spaces after the property is sold.

SCE Hocking described the positive working relationship the City has had with Voegtle’s during redevelopment of OTRS #2, and noted the current use of overflow parking by Voegtle’s on the City’s property. She stated staff is not opposed to the requested agreement, noting that staff does not believe four shared parking spaces would deter developers from purchasing the property, and would help Voegtle’s with the daily flow of vehicles on their property.

SCE Hocking clarified that the proposed four shared parking spots would be considered first-come, first-served with no contemplated time restrictions. Joe Voegtle commented on his company’s need for after-hours parking by stating that after the shop closes, vehicles continue to be dropped off on the property by tow trucks as well as customers with scheduled service the following day.

Ald. Barry stated a concern for selling the OTRS #2 property for an unknown development use with the encumbering agreement of permanently shared parking spaces.

There was discussion regarding the recommended number of parking spaces needed for the potential uses of the OTRS #2 property and the available space on Voegtle’s property for use as private parking. CEDD Emery stated that, without knowing the preferred use of the property, it is staff’s belief that there are a sufficient number ofparking spaces available on and around OTRS #2 for a variety of mixed uses. She noted that given the location of the requested four parking spaces, staff believes they would be the least desirable spaces for the development.

There was discussion regarding adding an end time to the proposed agreement or limiting the times the shared spaces would be available to either party.

There was a consensus that the current shared use of the parking spaces can continue at least until a new property owner purchases the property, however, there was concern that a permanent easement would limit development potential.

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to recommend the City Council continue to allow JC Holdings to use four shared parking spaces until the OTRS #2 City-owned property is sold at which time JC Holdings would negotiate with new owners to maintain the four shared spots.

A Voice Vote indicated one Alderman voted against the motion.

Staff clarified that the recommendation was to add permanent sharing of four parking spaces to the access agreement currently in negotiation with JC Holdings (Voegtle’s).

The existing license agreement with Voegtle’s allows them shared use of all the parking spaces along the access drive currently and for as long as the City owns the property.

After some discussion, Ald. Lockett struck his motion, and Ald. Wilkie struck her second to his motion.

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to recommend the City Council include adding four shared parking spaces to the Access Easement Agreement and continue to negotiate the agreement with JC Holdings.

A voice vote and show of hands indicated three Aldermen in favor and five against.

MOTION FAILED VIA VOICE VOTE AND SHOW OF HANDS

5. Consideration of Next Steps for City Entry Signs

SCE Hocking stated bids for the City entry monument sign at Everton Subdivision were opened on October 7, 2024. The City received one bid that was approximately $32,000 over budget. The City’s consultant reviewed the bid and concurred that the bid seemed excessive, and staff decided to reject the bid. Staff then asked the contractor for the price for a faux-stone sign of similar size and appearance which resulted in a price within the City’s budget.

SCE Hocking stated there are four additional City entry signs that need replacing, all within either the IDOT or DuDOT right-of-way, and required to be made of breakaway materials. Staff’s recommendation is for the consultant to design new signs using faux stone or break-away materials for all the signs. Staff would then acquire proposals to install the newly redesigned monument entry sign at Everton Subdivision, then consider recommending the replacement of the other signs with the new design.

Ald. Davolos requested the contractor draft a sign to include the full City logo including the word “Naturally” with the City name.

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to direct staff to proceed with the City entry signs next steps as outlined in SCE Hocking’s November 6, 2024 memo.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

6. Consideration of Permeable Improvement Maintenance Requirements

CEDD Emery stated the proposed ordinance amending the Zoning Code regarding permeable improvement maintenance requirements is intended to set expectations and inform future property owners about their responsibilities regarding installation and maintenance of permeable surfaces. She noted there are a handful of property owners who have used exceptions to the City Code to install pavers in excess of lot coverage maximums. Permeable systems require routine maintenance to remain permeable and compliant with intended lot coverage exceptions. In cases where permeable systems are intentionally installed in excess of lot coverage maximums, they cannot be replaced with impermeable systems without approval of lot coverage reductions. Therefore, staff is recommending the City Code require a Maintenance Agreement and Covenant for the permeable systems to be permanently recorded against the property to ensure future responsibility and maintenance.

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to direct staff to prepare an ordinance to amend the Zoning Code to require a Permeable Improvement Maintenance Agreement and Covenant when installations exceed lot coverage requirements.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

7. Consideration of a Cloud Municipal Site License Agreement for Laserfiche Document Management Software

Assistant City Administrator (ACA) Morgan stated that the City has used Laserfiche as its electronic document management system since it was initially approved by the City Council in 1999. Over the years, the system has been enhanced with additional features to improve functionality. With the implementation of the new ERP system, specifically BS&A software for Community Development and Finance Departments, transitioning Laserfiche to a cloud-based platform has become essential to ensure optimal integration and efficiency. She added that improvements to the system would make access to public records easier as well.

ACA Morgan discussed the terms and costs of the agreement over the next several years.

ALDERMAN KRUCKENBERG MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, recommend the City Council pass a resolution to approve an agreement for a Cloud Municipal Site License for the Laserfiche document management software requirements.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

8. Review and File Informational Report on 2023 TIF District School and Library District Reimbursement Payments

The informational report was presented. There was no discussion.

9. Review and File Bi-monthly Code Enforcement Activity Report

The informational report was presented. There was no discussion.

10. Review and File FY 2025 Community Development Work Plan Program Report

The informational report was presented. There was no discussion.

G. MISCELLANEOUS

H. CLOSED SESSION

I. ADJOURN

ALDERMAN LOCKETT MADE A MOTION, seconded by Ald. Wilkie, to adjourn.

MOTION ADOPTED VIA VOICE VOTE

The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.

https://www.warrenville.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11112024-1433