Dupage Policy Journal

City of Elmhurst Finance Council Affairs & Administrative Services Committee met Feb. 10

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order

Chair Talluto called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2. Roll Call 

Committee Members Present: Talluto, Nudera, Irby, Belanger

Committee Members Absent:

Other Elected Officials Present: Curran

City Staff and Others Present: Coyle, Bruns, Kravets; Tom Paravola, Elmhurst City Centre

3. Public Comment

None.

4. Receipt of Written Communication

None. 

5. Business Before the Committee

A. Minutes of the January 27, 2025, meeting of the Finance, Council Affairs & Administrative Services Committee

A motion to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2025, FCA&AS Committee meeting was made by Alderman Nudera and seconded by Alderman Irby. A voice vote was taken, and the minutes were approved unanimously.

B. SSA Appropriation Ordinances

Director Coyle presented the appropriation ordinances for Special Service Area’s (SSA) #6, #13, and #16 for the Committee’s review. The appropriation ordinances are required to be filed with the County by March 31st each year. Chair Talluto explained to the Committee that SSA #6 is levied on behalf of Elmhurst City Centre, allowing them to tax their own member businesses to fund City Centre services. Tom Paravola, Executive Director of the Elmhurst City Centre, was also in attendance and provided historical background of the SSA overlays and how the funding from the SSA is utilized in the City Centre budget, along with other cost sharing and grant dollars contributed by the City. No action is required of the Committee, and the ordinances will be on the next consent agenda for Council approval.

C. Referral - Sidewalk Improvement Funds Accrual

The Committee reviewed a referral regarding dollars budgeted on an annual basis, for funding new sidewalk in the event of a successful petition through the Special Service Area (SSA) process. $50,000 is budgeted annually and the referral asks whether any unspent funds should accrue over time, as a long-term option to cover costs related to new sidewalk projects. The Committee determined that this approach would not represent sound financial planning, and that the current process should remain in place. They also discussed the Sidewalk Master Plan currently in Public Affairs & Safety Committee and their hope that it addressed funding the plan.  However, the Committee noted that the referral requested was not about the master plan. A motion was made by Alderman Belanger and seconded by Alderman Nudera to draft a report recommending the closure of the Sidewalk Accrual Referral. Roll Call vote: 4 ayes, 0 nays. Motion duly carried.

D. FCAAS Committee Overview

Director Coyle provided an overview of recurring topics that are reviewed by the Committee every year, with a tentative timeline for each topic.

6. Other Business

Alderman Nudera inquired whether fixed Capital Investment Recovery Charges (CIRC) and increases to volumetric water rates would ever be sunset at a future date. Director Coyle and Chair Talluto explained how the Municipal Utility Fund operates like a business and relies on a user fee model. The Committee evaluates rates annually to ensure revenue generated can fully support budgeted expenditures. CIRC fees are tied to debt service associated with capital projects and would only be sunset when the debt is extinguished, and if no new debt is established for future capital projects.   Most large water/wastewater projects are funded by 20-year IEPA loans.  Once a loan is paid off, that loan’s portion of the CIRC rate would be removed.

7. Adjournment

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

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

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