Elgin City Council Meeting, December 3, 2025: Budget, Taxes, and Welcoming City Ordinance Debate

The Elgin City Council held a regular meeting on December 3, 2025, addressing a range of items including approval of previous minutes, public comments, a Truth in Taxation public hearing, approval of various contracts and bids, zoning text amendments, and a lengthy discussion on a proposed welcoming city ordinance. The meeting was notable for a deep divide among council members on the ordinance, resulting in a compromise to direct staff to draft an ordinance based on community input and specific components discussed.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Minutes from the special meeting of November 12, 2025, were approved 8–0 after an amendment noting discussion on inclusivity of Hispanic groups in Fiesta del Elgin. Minutes from the November 19, 2025, regular meeting were approved 7–0–1 (Councilmember Alfaro abstained, having been absent).
• Approval of Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was approved unanimously (9–0).
• Miscellaneous Business: Approved 9–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tracy Howell: Expressed concern about ICE tactics, stating Elgin is a target after Black Hawk helicopters and ICE raids. Called for local leaders to protect residents and not turn a blind eye to federal overreach. Quoted the poem "First they came..." to illustrate the need to protect immigrants.
• Kevin Zaldivar: Commented on the city's budget, criticizing missing fundamentals regarding investment in residents. Argued that city investments mimic private equity, potentially raising costs for working-class families. Noted low voter turnout (10%) and called for better economic connection with residents.
• Edith Palcastro: Represented residents not present for safety. Called for passing a welcoming city ordinance, citing trauma inflicted by ICE raids: in October 2025, Elgin experienced 246 ICE sightings and 105 apprehensions; in November, 70 sightings and 25 apprehensions. Asked for community collaboration.
• K. Gamble: Supported an ordinance for immigrants, arguing that ICE actions (masked agents, violent kidnappings) violate the Constitution and basic human dignity.
• Elijah Stein (second public comment session, special meeting): Argued healthcare is a basic human right and criticized the healthcare system for prioritizing profit over service. Encouraged residents to demand better value.
• Kevin Zaldivar (second public comment session, special meeting): Commented on the welcoming city ordinance debate, urging clear, plain-language ordinances. Highlighted that public safety extends beyond policing to include healthcare and community systems. Questioned why the budget lumps city services together rather than separating police from other departments.

Discussion Items

• Truth in Taxation Public Hearing: The city's proposed aggregate property tax levy for 2025 is $65,611,940, a 13.2% increase over the 2024 extension of $57,968,790. The corporate and special purpose levy increases 13.7%. The debt service levy decreases 1.1%. No public comments were made, and the hearing was closed.
• Resolution for Cook County Class 6B Tax Incentive (301 Ramona Avenue): Vital RE LLC intends to purchase the property contingent on receiving the incentive. The project includes $500,000 in improvements to a vacant industrial building (24,500 sq ft on 5.5 acres). Vital Truck & Van will move from Batavia to Elgin, bringing 7 current employees and plans to hire 10 more. Over 12 years, the incentive is estimated to generate $1.4 million in property taxes (vs. $3 million without the incentive; if vacant, only $820,000). Approved 9–0.
• Change Order for Wing Park Family Aquatic Center ($33,000): Covers additional concrete removal/restoration, caulk replacement, and a new toddler slide. Approved 9–0.
• Independent Fitness Contractor Service Agreement (2026): Approves a contract for one contractor exceeding $25,000. The city partners with about 11 contractors, generating $60,000 net revenue in 2024 and projected $65,000 in 2025. Approved 9–0.
• Engineering Services Agreement (Trotter & Associates, Amendment 4): Supports the sewer lining program and other infrastructure projects. Approved 9–0.
• Year 5 Lead Service Line Replacement Program (IEPA Loan): Authorizes borrowing $15 million from IEPA, including $2.5 million in principal forgiveness. The program replaces lead service lines in advance of road resurfacing projects. Approved 9–0.
• Welcoming City Ordinance Discussion (Councilmember Dixon, seconded by Councilmember Alfaro): This was a major discussion item. Councilmember Dixon noted the existing ICE Free Zone Resolution passed on November 5, 2025, but argued a broader ordinance is needed to protect people rather than just spaces. He cited ICE's stated plans to scale up operations. Councilmember Ortiz moved to postpone the discussion indefinitely, citing concerns that a formal ordinance could put a larger target on Elgin, noting the city already practices welcoming values (e.g., EPD's community events, translation services on YouTube). Councilmember Good echoed concerns, stating community members are already planning to leave. Councilmember Stefan opposed postponement, arguing the agenda item was only a discussion and a specific ordinance hadn't been drafted yet. Councilmember Powell supported moving forward, stating the city needs to be on the right side of history and that a target already exists. Councilmember Martinez supported postponement, arguing the discussion was rushed and she wanted to be fully informed. The motion to postpone was defeated 5–4 (5 no votes: Alfaro, Dixon, Good, Powell, Stefan). A subsequent motion to direct staff to develop an ordinance was approved 9–0 after amendments to include specific components: a language access plan, a civil engagement component, an economic component, supplier diversity, and continuation of EPD policies. The ordinance will be modeled after Evanston's ordinance and brought back for consideration in the second meeting of January 2026.
• Zoning Text Amendments (5 items): All approved 9–0: (1) Accessory package liquor sales moved to permitted use in CC-1 district; (2) Murals allowed in AB (Area Business) districts; (3) Removal of arterial road corridor overlay on northernmost portion of Dundee Avenue (north of I-90); (4) Commercial operations yards allowed in ARC district under specific conditions (not visible from street); (5) New land use category for transitional housing facility created (conditional use in GI district).
• Petition for Kimball Middle School Sign and Refuse Enclosure (451 N McLean Blvd): Approved 9–0 (subject to conditions) for a larger monument sign and a new refuse enclosure in a street yard.
• Petition for Adaptive Reuse of 890 N State Street (Wayside Cross Ministries): Approved 9–0 for a conditional use to convert an existing office building into a transitional housing facility (up to 126 persons), consolidating operations from Berkeley Street.
• Bids Awarded: Bose Creek Golf Club entrance sign ($32,060); 2025 traffic signal capital improvements ($424,996); 2025 sewer cleaning and lining project (not to exceed $584,000). All approved 9–0.
• Tax Levy Resolution: Approved 8–1 (Councilmember Alfaro voted no).
• Public Hearing on 2026 City Budget: Opened and closed with no public comments. Councilmembers expressed gratitude to staff for developing the budget, noting it's the first general fund levy increase in over a decade.

Key Outcomes

• Tax Levy: The 2025 property tax levy resolution was approved (8–1), with the aggregate levy increasing 13.2% to $65,611,940.
• Welcoming City Ordinance: The council directed staff to draft an ordinance, modeled on Evanston's, incorporating components such as language access, civil engagement, economic inclusion, supplier diversity, and continuation of EPD's non-discriminatory policies. A draft is expected by the second meeting in January 2026.
• Transitional Housing Facility: Wayside Cross Ministries received approval to convert 890 N State Street into a transitional housing facility for up to 126 people.
• Next Meetings: Committee of the Whole and regular City Council meetings scheduled for December 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

Announcements from Council

• Councilmember Thorne’s birthday was noted (December 6).
• Upcoming event: Do-It-Yourself Messiah on December 4, 7 p.m., at Second Baptist Church (proceeds benefit Wellchild Center's food pantry).
• Sidewalk improvement input session on December 11 at the Centre.
• City snowplow drivers were thanked for working through the holiday weekend; leaf pickup will not resume this season due to snow.
• Councilmember Stefan noted the tree lighting event was canceled but will return next year.
• Residents can pick up "no trespassing" yard signs supporting the ICE Free Zone at City Hall.