Dupage Policy Journal

City of Elmhurst City Council met Sept. 2

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Executive Session - Mayor Levin called the meeting to order at 6:55pm.

1.1 Executive Session for the Purpose of Discussing: Purchase of Real Property, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/5 (c)(5) and Pending /Probable Litigation pursuant to the Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11)

Roll call

Present: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Rex Irby, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, Noel Talluto, and Mike Baker

Absent: Mike Brennan, Jennifer Veremis, and Brian Belanger

11 Present, 3 Absent

Also Present: City Manager Grabowski, City Attorney Acker, Treasurer Curran, and Clerk Tamer (entered at 7:05pm)

Alderman Nardini moved to convene into executive session.  Alderman Sienko seconded.

Ayes: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Rex Irby, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, Noel Talluto, and Mike Baker

Nays: None

11 Ayes, 0 Nays, 3 Absent

Motion carried

2. Call to Order - Mayor Levin called the regular meeting to order at 7:37pm.

2.1 Pledge of Allegiance

2.2 Roll Call - Ward 5

Present: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Rex Irby, Brian Belanger, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, Noel Talluto (exited at 8:13pm), and Mike Baker

Absent: Mike Brennan and Jennifer Veremis

12 Present, 2 Absent

Also Present: City Manager Grabowski, City Attorney Acker, Treasurer Curran, Clerk Tamer, Assistant City Manager Johnson, Finance Director Coyle, IT Directory Kravitz, Public Works Director Balicki, Police Chief McLean, and Fire Chief Dufort

3. Receipt of Written Communication from the Public - None

4. Public Forum

• Laurie Buzzell - Spoke in regard to 6.6 agenda item.

• Ellen Greer and Kathy Ratkowski - Spoke in regard to 6.6 agenda item.

• Frank Catanzaro - Spoke in opposition of the pedestrian bike path.

• Olivia Levine - Spoke in opposition of the pedestrian bike bath.

• Tony DeBlasio - Spoke in opposition of the pedestrian bike path.

• Bryce Fisher - Spoke in opposition of the pedestrian bike path.

• Joanne Garcia - Spoke in opposition of the pedestrian bike path.

• Richard Helm - Spoke in support of the bridge project.

• Joel Bernstein - Spoke in regard to speedbumps on Fay Ave.

5. Announcements

• Alderman Virgil announced Ward 5 Town Hall meeting Tuesday 9/9 at 7pm, Elmhurst Library large meeting room.

• Alderman Hill thanked the community for attending Street Eats and Beats last weekend.

• Alderman Bastedo announced Public Works Committee meeting will begin 30 minutes early at 6:30pm next Monday 9/8 to allow more time for the CEB.

6. Consent Agenda

6.1 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Elmhurst City Council on August 18, 2025

6.2 Accounts Payable - September 2, 2025 - $3,991,188.47

6.3 Referral - Citywide Garage Sale

6.4 Report - Cybersecurity Monitoring (F,CA&AS)

6.5 Report - City Phone System (F,CA&AS)

6.6 Report - First Street Parking Restrictions (PA&S)

6.7 Report - Update of Liquor License Fees (PA&S)

6.8 Report - Neighborhood Traffic Study - Area No. 4 (PA&S)

6.9 Report - Neighborhood Traffic Study - Area No. 5 (PA&S)

6.10 Report - 2025 Sidewalk Replacement Program - Construction Bids (PW&B)

6.11 Report - Atrium Sanitary Lift Station Pump 1 Replacement (PW&B)

6.12 Report - Intergovernmental Agreement Addendum - County Line Road, Grand Avenue to Lake Street (PW&B)

6.13 Report - Intergovernmental Agreement Addendum - County Line Road, I -294 to North Avenue (PW&B)

6.14 O-34-2025 - An Ordinance Approving the Execution of a Non-Exclusive License Agreement by and Between Elmhurst University and the City of Elmhurst, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois

6.15 O-35-2025 - An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Non-Exclusive License Agreement by and Between the Spring Road Business Association and the City of Elmhurst, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois

6.16 O-36-2025 - An Ordinance to Approve and Authorize the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and the City of Elmhurst for the Conveyance of Certain Property East of Illinois Route 83 Within the Cricket Creek Forest Preserve

6.17 O-37-2025 - An Ordinance to Approve and Authorize the Execution of a Permanent and Temporary Easement Agreement with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County for a Trail and Bridge Within the Cricket Creek Forest Preserve

6.18 R-78-2025 - A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Local Public Agency Agreement for Federal Participation by and Between the City of Elmhurst and the Illinois Department of Transportation in Connection With the Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Over Illinois Route 83

6.19 R-79-2025 - A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of The Local Public Agency Engineering Services Agreement For the Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Over Illinois Route 83 Project

6.20 R-80-2025 - A Resolution Determining the Estimated Property Taxes to be Levied by the City of Elmhurst for the 2025 Tax Year

Alderman Sienko pulled item 6.7, Alderman Belanger pulled item 6.6, Alderman Baker pulled item 6.8, Alderman Bram pulled item 6.19, and Alderman Irby pulled item 6.5.

Alderman Nardini moved to accept the consent agenda minus items 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, and 6.19.  Alderman Hill seconded.

Ayes: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Rex Irby, Brian Belanger, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, Noel Talluto, and Mike Baker

Nays: None

12 Ayes, 0 Nays, 2 Absent

Motion carried

6.5 Alderman Talluto moved to accept the report. Alderman Nudera seconded. Alderman Irby stated he is voting "no" because he doesn't know how many phones there are in the report, cost of system is more than currently paying, and doesn't want to go to the cloud and use a company not based in the US. Alderman Talluto reiterated what is in the report that it is slightly more than the current cost but it's a more reliable system for our police, fire, and public works and more efficient for how the city works today. Also, the backup in the cloud is needed as always accessible even if there is an outage.

Ayes: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Brian Belanger, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, Noel Talluto, and Mike Baker

Nays: Rex Irby

11 Ayes, 1 Nay, 2 Absent

Motion carried

6.6 Alderman Sienko moved to accept the report. Alderman Belanger seconded. Alderman Belanger moved to amend the report to remove his signature as he wasn't present at the meeting. Alderman Sienko seconded. A voice vote was taken. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion on the amended report. Alderman Irby spoke in opposition of the report due to him feeling the road is tight by some of the parking spaces.

Ayes: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Brian Belanger, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, Chris Jensen, and Mike Baker

Nays: Rex Irby

10 Ayes, 1 Nay, 3 Absent at vote

Motion carried

6.7 Alderman Sienko motioned to pull the item to a date certain, next council date. Alderman Belanger seconded. Alderman Irby wanted to confirm with Mayor Levin that it's not going back to committee and back to a date certain, next council meeting. A voice vote was taken. Motion passed unanimously.

6.8 Alderman Sienko moved to accept the report. Alderman Belanger seconded. Alderman Baker spoke in opposition of the report and stated he can't support it due to the increase of signs and lack of recommendations. Alderman Bram highlighted it's still problematic on cut through traffic and turns onto North Ave and there still needs to be some work done on some of these streets and the third ward. Alderman Jensen stated he supports the stop signs being added and testing calming speed measures and fully supports the no parking recommendation especially.

Ayes: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Brian Belanger, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Michael Bram, and Chris Jensen

Nays: Rex Irby and Mike Baker

9 Ayes, 2 Nays, 3 Absent at vote

Motion carried

6.19 Alderman Bastedo moved to accept the resolution. Alderman Irby seconded. Alderman Bastedo delivered background information on the resolution since 2019 and stated there has been changes from feedback and open houses. Alderman Bram opposed the resolution stating its a nice to have not a need. Alderman Irby stated he doesn't recall the map that was on the dais. Mayor Levin stated it has been posted since 6/25 and Alderman Bastedo added that staff informed the committee of the changes based on resident feedback. Included are alternative routes to alleviate traffic. Alderman Hill stated the changes were made from the open house.

Ayes: Jim Nudera, Dan Virgil, Guido Nardini, Emily Bastedo, Rex Irby, Brian Belanger, Karen Sienko, Jacob Hill, Chris Jensen, and Mike Baker

Nays: Michael Bram

10 Ayes, 1 Nay, 3 Absent at vote

Motion carried

7. Reports and Recommendations of Appointed and Elected Officials

• Mayor Levin - The Mayor announced he attended Cue for a Cause over the weekend. Rock the Block is the upcoming weekended and the Beerfest is the following weekend.  He announced the passing of Elain Libovecz who served as Treasurer 2013-2021 and City Clerk 1981-1985.

• City Manager Grabowski - City Manager announced garbage pickup delayed one day this week due to Labor Day.

8. Other Business - None

9. Adjournment - Alderman Nardini moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Nudera seconded. A voice vote was taken. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:42pm.

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