Mr.

Mayor, we need to take a role first and establish a quorum and then we can take a motion to allow Councilman Thorne to attend electronically.

All right.

Well call the plea clerk, please call the roll.

Council members alfaro.

Present.

Dixon.

Private.

Good.

Here.

Martinez?

Here.

Ortiz?

Here.

Howell?

Here.

Stefan?

Here.

Thorne?

Mayor Captain.

Here.

Councilman Thorne is uh requested to attend remotely if that's uh okay with the council.

Move for approval.

Second.

And move to second floor approval.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Howell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion's approved 9-0.

Approval of amendments of the previous meeting of February 11th, 2026.

So moved.

Second.

And move the second for approval.

Any corrections or additions.

It says that everyone voting in favor to postpone.

So it just needs to reflect the split vote.

That's right.

Move for approval with the amendments.

Thank you.

Second.

Second.

It's been moved and second for approval with the amendments.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro.

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion's approved the 9-0.

Before we get to Councilman Thorne here, could you ask the audio technician to turn up the output?

I can barely hear you.

Okay.

All right.

Are we good?

Wow.

Before we get started, the uh we have uh uh some uh technical improvements that we'd like to discuss.

And uh Karina, there you are.

I couldn't see it back there.

Gonna explain what's happen what's we're uh uh what we're trying tonight.

We'll add the same over the work.

Yeah.

Um no, but we just want to uh we are testing out a new software.

Oh there we go.

There, okay.

Um we are testing out a new software, an interpretation translation software.

You might have seen the sign on the TVs when you walked in.

There's also a flyer on there.

Um when you scan the QR code, if you want to follow along in English, the transcript will come up or in Spanish.

You'll also see the transcript.

If you had headphones, you can listen to it in Spanish.

Again, we are testing this out.

We welcome your feedback at the end of the meeting.

Um, and uh we just uh ask for your patience and cooperation.

Um we will be um testing this out probably the next few meetings.

We've tested it out with staff, but not in a large audience.

So um please let us know uh what you think.

And now I will say this message in Spanish.

Um interpretación um español.

No sé si vieron uh la information in las televisiones cuando llegaron, pero junta in espanhol si tienen audifonos orden um in the application I manera de seguirla toda la junta in espanhol.

See for favor les pedimos que tenga paciencia porque it's la primera vez que la estamos usando.

Um si tienen alguna algún consejo orienta no sobre su experiencia, for favor encuentrenos uh a me or qualker otra persona uh no les gustó, porque estamos viendo si algo come esto would functional um at uh termino largo aquí para nosotros.

Gracias.

Thank you.

Okay, great.

All right, we have a number of people that have signed up this evening to make a public comment.

Uh as the policy is I'm gonna allow you three minutes, and I'm gonna hold it to that.

We have uh 19 people that signed up.

That means this will take one hour.

Just so you can set your clock.

First person to sign up.

Hank I believe it's Hank Romero.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Right.

Okay, uh I'm talking about the homeless.

The homeless, the uh the same the warming center from 8 o'clock to 6:30, they wake up and they gotta leave the place by 7.

It's a good thing to do that, get them out.

Um season goes over in March 15, they got to sleep in the street.

Um I think we should keep them in there and take the rugs off that that basement because those rugs are like 40 years old or something.

I'm not sure.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but you smell like you got sand in your throat.

Um year round, they can sleep and they can go out and uh and then they can cross the street and they got uh food in the church at 67 645 across the street.

There's food.

The people don't leave Elgin because they got food that all these churches are around, feed them.

So if they go to another town, there may be one church and the place of sleep, but there's no food, so they got to stay in Elgin and leave outs live outside.

Um these people need they don't need Jesus, but they need they need jobs.

You know, jobs are not here in America anymore.

Um they got to uh you know the jobs if the if the village let's make uh Elgin beautiful.

Um we put them in after they got the eating dinner A15, the ones that want to stay for Bible study from A15 to 915 stay there and then go around picking up the garbage.

Uh or if the guys that cut the grass are gonna cut a field, they put them out there to pick up the garbage, and then the guys cut the grass on the van.

Uh if you got a a good uh good worker, you got a military uh guy that stands a chance to live.

Um not only that the town will look better.

Um, you know, they got no hope because where are they gonna go when the sun when the situation calls when the place closes?

Uh maybe the other towns should paid uh Elgin money to run the facilities because they don't have the the churches, they don't have the warming centers.

Um if you get picked up another town, they probably lock you up and give you pills and you can't leave the place.

So I think Elgin is uh more humane.

Um they're trying to help people, and uh you know that's the way to go.

Well, help them maybe maybe never they'll never help if we help two or three, that'd be good.

Um jobs and Jesus together, they they make life a little a little bit easier.

Um but jobs help a lot.

If you got a full stomach, you can think and you can work.

But if you don't have a full stomach, you can't think and work.

You gotta work to eat, but uh you know, if we keep them on the center to sleep, and then they go out, and you know, maybe they oh, and uh another thing, they got these facilities uh okay.

See you guys next time.

Thank you.

Okay.

Vivian Bailey.

Thank you, Mayor, City Council, community members.

This is a single-use plastic bag.

Everybody recognizes these, right?

This bag weighs from five to eight grams, which is approximately one quarter of an ounce.

It cost one cent to manufacture, it costs 17 cents to recycle.

This bag lives from 20 to 1,000 years.

Please pass the single-use plastic bag ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Gary Swick.

Good evening, all.

Thank you for what you do.

I'm here this evening to represent the critters of the Fox River watershed.

Modern humanity has made some regrettable mistakes that we have later realized and then acted upon.

For example, the banning of DDT resulted in the return of the bald eagle, and the banning of most uses of chlorofluorocarbons has resulted in the shrinking of the ozone hole.

Those are truly amazing results to reactions.

Plastics are a complicated and multi-level environmental problem.

Plastics were developed and are used because they're valuable properties.

But we must weigh benefits with risks.

And as we learn more about plastics, impacts upon human and environmental health.

Plastics in various forms are now legacy contamination in our Fox River and in your bloodstream.

Doing what we can do to reduce plastics when practical is essential action.

The bag ordinance under consideration tonight is your opportunity to take such action.

On behalf of Elgin residents and the Fox River watershed, I urge you to take the small step tonight in doing our part as a community to limit plastic pollution.

Waiting for state level action is inappropriate.

When Friends of the Fox River goes out and does cleanups on the river, on shorelines, on roadsides, and pretty much everywhere in the watershed, we find plastic bags.

I have a photo of Council Member John Stefan climbing a tree to get three plastic bags along Duncan Avenue.

I have never found a paper bag or reusable bag floating in the river or hanging in a tree.

You have an opportunity to make a statement about our local culture.

Based upon my experiences with working with youth, I can assure you that making cultural changes to protect human and environmental health is important to them.

Our achievements, but also our mistakes shape their future.

They are ready for change.

Please consider our community's culture and the human and wildlife members of our community, especially the children when you vote for the plastic ban.

Thank you for representing us and leading Elgin forward, and kudos to the Sustainability Committee and your staff.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Christina Agison is Christina Ogison.

I live at 1029 Poly Court here in Elgin.

Dear Mayor and Council, I am once again advocating for your yes vote in favor of the plastic bag ordinance.

As evidence in the myriad conversations, emails, commission meetings, waste subcommittee meetings, podcast episodes, reports, statements during persons present, and interviews that I have participated in over the last decade.

This is not a new issue.

There are going to be predictable arguments full of logical fallacies, false choices, and confirmation bias that you will hear in opposition this evening, but I ask you to exchange these short-sighted viewpoints for one of obvious value.

Vivian, I also brought a plastic bag.

Um this one's from Walmart.

I don't shop at Walmart.

I found this wound around a branch and a tree in my backyard, and this isn't my bag.

It shouldn't be my responsibility, yet here it is, irrefutably threatening the environment.

Did you know that avian researchers are finding birds that make a crunching sound when they're handled because of all the plastics that they consume?

They often die.

An early death, emaciated and unable to even complete their first flight.

One day last week, I counted 12 plastic bags before I gave up counting.

They were on the ground, caught in the bro caught in the bush or wound around tree branches, just like this one.

It is more than likely just a brief stop before they ultimately make their way toward the river.

I know one of the arguments presented two weeks ago by Mike Warren suggested that we could educate and communicate our way out of this.

No, we cannot.

While it's a charming idea that to think that we all make consistently good choices based on sound research and science, any sociologist, human behaviorist, or economist will tell you that it that is often not the case.

It's why we have whole documents in city administrative offices dedicated to code enforcement and permits to prevent contractors from cutting corners and placing lives at risk.

It's why we tax cigarettes and we get tickets for not wearing seat belts.

Sometimes we have to be nudged into what's better for us rather than choosing what's cheap, easy, or convenient.

This ordinance won't solve the crisis in front of us, but it will make it easier for us to make better choices.

Externalizing the costs of plastic production by placing the responsibility of figuring out what to do with it wholly on the backs of consumers is a nice way for industry to maintain their status quo with no accountability for what happens later.

Many investigations, investigative reports have found that recycling plastic bags is a fairy tale that we're told in the vestibules of our grocers, and with most bags only reaching a meaningful utility of a few minutes, we are left to absorb an enormous impact.

The world produces five trillion of these bags a year.

It is impossible.

And quite frankly, I am tired of being left holding the bag.

This could be stopped to an extent with you all tonight.

I urge you not to wait.

More vags are drifting toward the river as we speak.

That should be on everyone's conscience.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Paul Berlin.

Hello.

Um, I'd like to talk about the fact that 57% of the people voted against the plastic bag ordinance, but this to me is a sign that people are misinformed.

They've been misinformed by the government, the media, and advertisements, and this is a problem.

I would like to talk about what they're misinformed about.

Each plastic bag and even the paper bags have a greenhouse gas footprint.

And when you add it up, it causes greenhouse gas emissions and this as the climate emergency.

And what is not taught is our responsibility for the Mother Earth and helping the environment.

We know that global warming is a problem because you look in the Arctic.

The minimum sea ice extent went from 7.7 million square kilometers in 1980 to 4.7 million square kilometers in 2025.

So we know global warming is a real process.

Over 1.7 billion people have been affected by climate-related disasters over the past decade.

And it has cost $2 trillion for the world in the past decade.

We shouldn't be passing the cost off of the climate emergency on less fortunate communities.

Climate-induced famines in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Southern Africa, Madagascar, Libya, and Sudan, hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, the Carolinas, and the Caribbean, including Hurricane Katrina, which cost 201 billion dollars in damage.

Wildfires in the United States, escalating heat stroke, deaths in India, Africa, and the Middle East.

The plastic bag ban is one of the least economically intrusive measures that the Urgent Sustainability Commission could agree to work on.

It's a small step but an important step in the right direction.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, I wanted to uh comment on uh topic L discussion on adopting uh the ordinance for uh inclusivity and diversity in the city of Algin.

So it was brought to my attention that a member of your council wondered why vulnerable members family uh vulnerable neighbors don't come here to voice their experience.

As a group who serves the vulnerable, many of us can tell you that the silence that you hear is the sound of survival.

The families we've supported are not living in the same timeline as you.

We while we deliberate on budgets and long-term plans, they're living in a in 24 hour increments.

They're not thinking about the next council meeting, they're they're thinking about whether they will be home to see the sunset.

Right now, on in our own neighborhoods, people are in hiding.

They're afraid to step foot outside of their homes to go to work.

They're terrified that a routine uh school drop-off or pickup will turn into a forced abduction in front of their children.

Uh, when a household loses their primary breadwinner to detention or deportation, that family faces potential potential displacement within 60 to 90 days.

They are thinking about keeping a roof over their children's heads.

People are afraid to go grocery shopping or visit food pantries.

Many of these uh families have documentation, they have active legal asylum cases, and they are here.

Uh, they came here seeking the safety that we promised, yet they are here facing and facing persecution.

I have personally witnessed a U.S.

citizen being dragged through their own front yard, maybe a mile from here from this building, even after showing their identification to ice agents.

In fact, the recording that I have in my phone is over five minutes long and much longer than the time that I have to speak uh here with you today.

I've spoken to families who haven't slept because they they know that their loved ones are facing strategic deliberate state sanctioned neglect post-obduction.

One Algin man signed a voluntary departure just to escape the unbearable conditions while he was in custody.

He told me I couldn't take it anymore.

We were in a cell meant for 40 to maybe 50 people, but there were over 90 of us that we counted in the room by the end of the week.

We were chest to chest.

There was no room to sit down, let alone lay down to sleep.

So if you're wondering why the people most impacted by your decisions aren't standing here at this microphone today, it is because they are being hunted in the streets of Algin.

They are not missing the meeting.

They are fighting to remain whole in a system designed to break them.

So I just want to encourage those of you who represent a swing vote today to understand that we encourage you to use some of the taxpayers' dollars that are going towards funding of many of these projects to go back to your taxpayers.

Because while many of us may think that all of these people are undocumented or criminals, they are taxpayers of the city of Algin, and we hope for your support.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I want to thank you for bringing the single use bag ordinance for a first vote this evening.

I want to thank you also for bringing to this agenda the new version of a welcoming city ordinance.

I urge you to adopt the single-use bag ordinance.

I urge you to listen to the needs of Elgin's immigrant community as you consider a new version of a welcoming city ordinance.

As to the single use bag ordinance, I'd like to bring a clarifying thought.

At the meeting two weeks ago, we heard from just a few business people, primarily worried about cost and potential loss of business.

Although there is very little evidence that that will actually happen.

Be assured that plastics pollution is a real threat to us, to our environment and to the Fox River, where we get most of our drinking water.

Here are a few facts from the Center for Biological Diversity and the UN Environmental Program.

Since the 1950s, 9.2 billion tons of plastic have been produced.

7 billion of those tons have become waste.

Two-thirds of the 430 million tons of plastic produced each year are short-lived products that become waste.

Without urgent action, that figure will rise threefold by the year 2060.

Current commitments made by governments and industry will only reduce the annual volume of plastic flowing into the ocean by 8% by the year 2040.

Plastics durability means it can take thousands, hundreds or thousands of years to degrade.

The greenhouse gas emissions linked to the life cycle of plastics represent 3.4% of the global total in 2019.

In a business as usual scenario, plastic could emit 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2040.

Widespread plastic waste results in damage to ecosystems and human health worth 300 billion dollars to 600 billion dollars a year.

Marine litter harms more than 800 species.

More than 90% of all birds and fish are believed to have plastic particles in their stomachs.

In regard to human health, microplastics enter the body and accumulate in organs, including the placenta.

And they have established links between exposure to chemical addictives related to obesity, diabetes, poor brain health, and cancer.

To clarify again, the question is not how much this will cost.

The question is: will we protect to this space our home here in Algin from plastics pollution?

Thank you.

Diana Ortega.

This is why I am glad to read in the draft ordinance to read about the draft ordinance to support and foster inclusivity and diversity.

This may be how the city already operates, but having it codified and expanded in this manner is very assuring to the residents like me who will look to all future city leaders, both elected and non-elected, after you for aligning their future actions with these inclusive values.

To anyone who may have hesitations about this ordinance, because not all Latinos support it, I say this.

Please do not fall for the systemic racist expectation that all people from one ethnic group need to agree on an issue in order to gain credibility and be taken seriously.

The Latino community is itself very diverse.

Do not dismiss the voices and stories of the people who are asking for this ordinance to be approved.

Do not cancel out the people who have been persistent in reaching out to you for support on behalf of the people whose lives have been turned completely upside down.

This ordinance is both symbolic and has important action steps that will move decision making leadership at the city closer to fuller inclusion and positive outreach to residents to feel that they really are valued and that they do in fact belong here.

Lastly, I ask you to please move beyond internal politics and be present to what members of the community are requesting from you today.

It doesn't matter how some of you have voted in the past.

What matters is how you will deliberate and vote today.

What matters is how you prioritize spending of our tax dollars moving forward.

So the experiences vivid for the necessities urgent of these families.

No, ellos canal de Staraki.

No son solos palabras and un papel.

Vote si a las identifications municipales.

So aslo, si gracias.

Bob Johnson.

My name is Bob, and I'm here to interpret what was just said for those who don't speak Spanish.

As a Latina, I am not and should never be treated as the spokesperson for all Latinas.

Our community is not a single uniform voice.

There are Latinos who may oppose this draft ordinance.

Their opposition does not erase the lived experiences of those who do support it.

It does not invalidate the fear, the harm, or the urgent needs of the families.

I'm here to speak about our community and other targeted communities and what they are actually experiencing right now.

Not in theory, not in headlines, but in real time.

So when you do not hear directly from them, do not mistake that for indifference or confirmation of your position.

Do not mistake silence for consent.

Do not mistake absence for lack of support.

The reality is different from yours.

I'm here because they cannot afford to be.

Problems are solved by competent individuals and political will.

It is time for Elgin to exert political will to create the pressure that will coerce the market.

Retailers and their customers to act responsibly because they have chosen not to, and will not, if left to their own choices, as the current market-based solution or situation proves.

After this ban passes, the market will adjust to the new reality.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Losa Dresden.

Hi.

This is a statement from a local support team providing follow-up care to impacted individuals and families in Elgin and surrounding areas.

It came to our attention that some council members have asked to hear more from affected families on this ordinance.

That there is uncertainty as to whether this ordinance is wanted by those most impacted in our community.

As a group who is in daily communication with families impacted by ISIS, indiscriminate and unwanted, unwarranted assault on families.

We are not standing here today to try and speak for the vulnerable families we know.

We believe that if they could, they would speak for themselves.

But so many are not here.

Not necessarily because they do not support an ordinance, but because affected families are not spending their days learning about and then writing to their council person or appearing at a meeting to speak in support or opposition to such an ordinance.

When your very existence is defined by the actions it takes to survive and keep going day to day, this is not how one spends one's time.

Families are in hiding or limiting movement due to fear, prioritizing only work and school.

Families are relocating because the current living arrangements have become too expensive or unsafe with a breadwinner gone.

Families are seeking financial assistance because money that usually goes to rent has had to be used for legal fees.

You are right.

But do we really not know why?

Important provisions like establishing a legal defense fund for residents and ensuring language access, access, and equal equity for city processes will not undo the trauma and instability that has been forced upon so many of our neighbors and communities.

But in a time when some seem to see civil, constitutional, and human rights as optional, this ordinance does take necessary steps towards strengthening a foundation of safety and belonging for all Elgin residents, those in this room and those who cannot be.

Thank you.

Gracie Howell.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Susanna Padilla.

Good evening.

Hi, good evening.

My name is Daisy Samora, and I am a community organizer with community organizing and family issues.

Kofi for short.

A 30-year-old parent leadership and organizing center that works with parents across Illinois and serve as the Elgin branch of Kofi's statewide parent network, PowerPack Illinois, which stands for parents organize to win, educate, and renew.

Policy Action Council.

We are a group of Latino and African American parents that work on different issues in our local community.

Kofi has been in Elgin for the past 12 years and has been advocating for change in our communities.

And we want to make sure we're here today with Susanna and some of our parents back there to make sure that you hear our voices, and we're here to make an impact in our communities.

I'm gonna pass it over to Susanna.

Thank you for the time.

As one of my um close friends wrote this letter.

They work, pay taxes, raise their children here, and strongly believe in education as the path to a better future.

The presence of ice on the streets of Elgin has created fear, chaos, and instability, not only among adults, but most concerning among children and teenagers who are U.S.

citizens and should be focused on learning, not on fearing for their parents' future.

As a mother, I have seen how this fear reaches into our schools.

My daughter has shared with me that many of her classmates in middle school live with constant anxiety, fear that their parents may not be home when they return from home from school.

Fear of being separated, fear of what tomorrow may bring.

How can a child focus on math, reading, or personal growth while carrying that level of emotional distress?

This situation is leading to school absences, lack of concentration, and serious disruption to learning.

Not because families do not value education, but because fear overwhelms everything else.

Keep ice out of the streets of Elgin is not about promoting lawlessness, it is about protecting the stability of our schools, the emotional well-being of our children, and the unity of the community.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Vote yes.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members, and uh my fellow neighbors.

For those who don't know me, my name is Ebenezer Amal Raj.

I'm the owner of the Glass Market Smoke Shop here in Elgin that is now doubled as a space for the community, as a place of sanctuary and providing safety and education.

I employ local residents.

And I love this city.

Let me ask you something.

What kind of city do we want to be?

A city where people live cautiously, or a city where people live confidently.

Because that's what this conversation is really about.

Over the last few weeks, many of us have sat in rooms together and discussed this ordinance.

We even sat with Councilman Corey Dixon and Councilwoman Diana Alfaro, asking hard questions, raising concerns, and unpacking this ordinance line by line.

Not yelling, not dividing, but engaging.

And that matters.

Clarity in how our city operates, clarity for families, clarity for business owners, and clarity for the next generation watching how we lead.

When policy is unclear, fear fills the gaps.

When policy is clear, trust fills the gaps.

And trust is what keeps a city strong.

Now I know that not everyone agrees on every word, and that's okay.

That's participation.

That's people caring enough to show up.

And people have shown up after long work days with their children with real questions and real fears.

That tells me something.

This matters.

So tonight, I respectfully ask this council to move this ordinance forward.

Continue refining it if necessary, continue listening, but show this community that their engagement leads to action.

Because years from now, when people look back at this moment, they won't ask how long it took.

They'll ask whether we had the courage to act.

Let's answer that question tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jocelyn Navarro.

Hello guys.

All right.

Hi guys, my name is Jaslin Navarro.

I am a small business owner here in Elgin.

I have owned and operated my business, Gently Zero Waste for over five years now, and I have serviced the downtown Algin farmers market for the same amount of time.

I started my business because of one specific problem, and that is plastic and plastic pollution.

As we should all know by now, plastic is a substance that affects us all in more than one way.

It has infiltrated our waterway systems, polluted our land, and is now even showing up inside our bodies.

Globally, only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled properly.

It takes over 500 years for a small size piece of plastic to decompose, and I use the term decompose lightly because it does not add any nutrients back into our soils.

Over 100,000 marine animals die from plastic entanglement and ingestion, and humans are buying millions of plastic components, bottles, packaging, and have accumulated the need for plastic bags just for most of this plastic to end up in our oceans just after 12 minutes of use.

By the year 2050, if we don't do anything about this plastic problem now, the oceans will contain more plastic by weight than fish.

If this is continued at the same rate, the plastic industry will account for 20% of the world's total oil consumption.

And we should also know the health and environmental effects of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions.

These are just a few of the facts about plastics that I have at the top of my list.

I haven't even touched on the fact that plastics break down into microplastics and smaller nanoplastics which are small enough to pass through human skin into our bloodstream, into the female placenta, to our unborn babies developing brains, and into the breast milk that we use to feed the future generation.

With that being said, uh banning plastic bags will be just one step in the right direction to protecting our society.

We should all benefit from cleaner air, water, soil, and healthier bodies.

So as a small business owner doing her best, I have div diverted over 300 pieces of plastic packaging from being sent to landfill, and I am just one person.

So if we held every business, not just individuals accountable for the actions, we would be placing human rights at the core of these environmental issues.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Maria Elena.

As a long-standing resident of Elgin, I am compelled to express my deep concern regarding the recent surge in ICE activity within our community.

As a daughter of an immigrant from Mexico and also Native American, a member of the Pueblo tribe from my mother's side, I understand the importance of dignity and respect.

As a single mother of four and a homeowner here in Elgin, I am all too familiar with the struggles faced by the families in our city.

This past year, Elgin has seen numerous instances of harassment, unwarranted detentions and kidnappings, and terrorization of our neighbors by ice.

I am all too familiar resulting in the breakdown of families and businesses.

Even U.S.

citizens of Latino descent are hesitant to venture outdoors due to fear of being apprehended or targeted by ice.

My 72-year-old father, a U.S.

citizen and was a lifelong resident of Algin, has been has been advised by me to avoid visiting Algin due to concerns about racial targeting, and I'm scared that he could be seriously hurt by ice agents because I have seen this firsthand.

My oldest son's safety is also a constant worry as he could be mistakenly stopped and mistreated by ice.

Despite this, the city of Elgin has not taken sufficient measures to safeguard its residents.

Instead, community members have banded together, sacrificing time, resources, and energy to protect our immigrant community.

We have organized food drives, collected funds, patrol the streets to warn of ICE activity, and provided support to families in need.

This grassroots effort is driven by empathy, love, and a strong sense of moral compass.

The detention centers used to hold our families are no different than concentration camps, where detainees are subjected to inhumane conditions.

I have spoken to many people that have been released, and I hear stories of their experiences in the jail.

They are drugged to keep give to keep them quiet.

They put something on their clothing that makes them itch all day and night.

They are given minimal food, and at times it's riot or has maggots in them.

They are being tortured and not giving proper medical attention.

Do you think this is right?

How can we justify this?

The majority of them have no criminal record, are hardworking, and came here to make a better life for themselves.

People will say that the fit the system is failing us, but the system was never working for us.

It was not built for us for people of color.

This country was founded through genocide and built off the black the backs of slaves.

Racial profiling and discrimination has happened since colonization.

People say that they should have come here legally, but the immigration laws are not set up for people from Latin American countries whom the US has single-handedly had um have destabilized many of these countries.

This past year I have earned the trust of many people in our community.

When some when some when ISIS in town, I am one of the first people they contact.

They trust me to go out and verify, warn people, and defend them.

When their loved ones are taking, I'm the person they contact.

Their families, their wives, their families cry to me, their children cry to me.

My heart breaks with them.

I feel helpless.

It's not it's uh resources.

I'm sorry, this thing.

I'm like, we need radical change, and this starts with our local government.

It is imperative that we challenge the status quo and strive for a more compassionate and just system.

This issue transcends party lines.

It's not about being Republican or Democrat.

It is about basic human decency and valuing human life.

I urge our city council members to take proactive measures to support all residents, regardless of their documentation status.

We must work together to create a more inclusive and supportive community.

I implore you to consider how you can contribute to the solution.

The fate of our community depends on the choices that we make.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Paul Miller.

Back to the uh the ordinance for the ban on single-use plastic bags.

I am in favor of that.

I support it.

There are way too many plastic bags floating around in our streets and our open spaces, and way too many plastic bags caught in our trees.

However, I have one concern.

Uh close friend of mine lives on the near west side.

He does not walk very far very well due to serious lower body injuries.

Um he gets 94% of his supplies, his food and his groceries delivered from Walmart.

He orders they drop it off on his porch in plastic bags.

Works just fine when it's raining or snowing, paper sacks at 10 cents each are totally unacceptable in this situation.

Now, having just reviewed the proposed ordinance, there is a section in there that does address this.

Under the exclusions uh item number 12 on page four addresses this.

I guess my speech now is to encourage the council to, when the ordinance is finalized, keep that as it is, so that some people that use delivery services in all sorts of weather can have access to plastic bags.

Um that's all I got.

There's been enough said already about how dangerous plastic is in the environment.

I'm not gonna add to it.

Uh, that's all I got.

Thank you for listening to me.

Thank you.

Mari Clins, Nunez.

I can't.

I am speaking in Spanglish today because of a little phrase called Nidiaki, Nidiaya.

It translates to mean not from here, not from there.

Although I was born in the US and grew up here in Elgin, there are various aspects that make me, along with others in our community, including the directly impacted individuals and families who are not here to speak for themselves because they are only trying to survive and live in fear from separation of their family.

And as of September 2025, even the possibility of death.

The feeling was always there.

That feeling got worse when the Federal Administration started cracking down on immigration in such a harmful and inhumane manner.

And that feeling felt worse when the city of Elgin didn't act for a month because of the fear of being in the spotlight.

This remains true to this day.

From the municipality to the defense fund to all to all of these sections because they are necessary.

And I hope that regardless of what your opinion is today, that you may fight for your community even harder from now on.

Because this is for the immigrant community and elgin and for everyone in the Elgin community to feel like we are not on our own and to feel like we actually belong here.

This will not fix everything that is wrong with the current situation, but this is a step forward to begin acting towards the issue.

Thank you.

Okay.

I don't want you to hear about it.

Most expeditious way to hear everybody.

So what we're gonna do is uh start the uh committee of the whole regular discussion and we'll try to get through the plastic bag ordinance and then we'll take a break.

So the first item, Mr.

Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

As you indicated, uh we have two items that are on both agendas, so I'll just introduce these items and we can go through any discussion during the regular seven o'clock meeting.

The first item is various east side streets 2025 resurfacing project.

This is change order number one and final.

Uh the purpose of this initiative is to compensate the contractor for some additional work that the city did for an alley at 40 to page court and some improvements in Bluff City Cemetery.

Again, this is on both agendas.

Okay.

Item B is uh training mannequins, three of them for the fire department's emergency medical services.

Uh the fire department is going to be purchasing three mannequins to assist in running its in-house paramedic certification class uh that will be conducted in the basement classroom at fire station number one.

The creation of the simulation lab will place the fire department's EMS training program at a level that exceeds the requirements set forth by its resource hospital, advocate Sherman, and also rivals the training provided by teaching hospitals and paramedic programs across the nation.

Okay, uh item C is the purchase of seven supervac supervac battery powered ventilation fans.

Fire department uses ventilation fans during its operations to improve internal building conditions by removing smoke and other byproducts of combustion.

These fans are also used in many non-fire scenarios to remove carbon monoxide or other hazardous fumes encountered inside a building by placing a high-powered ventilation fan outside a doorway, firefighters force fresh air into the structure, pushing out heat and smoke.

This tactic improves visibility, reduces temperatures, removes toxic gases, and mitigates ongoing damage to the structure.

In this instance, the city's current fans are 12 to 15 years old with built-in battery systems that can only hold a charge for a couple minutes, one strain, alternative power sources have to be used to make these fans function.

The new fans use the latest battery technology, allowing a runtime of 60 minutes, and rather than finding an alternative energy source, we just swap out with new batteries.

So this is purchase of seven units for just under 37,000 dollars.

Move for approval.

Second.

It's been moved to second floor approval or any discussion.

Hearing non clerk, please call the roll.

Council members of Dixon.

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion is approved 9-0.

Item D is the continued discussion of the retailer single-use plastic bags ordinance.

This evening, uh sustainability manager Kristen Ifner will provide a brief overview of what occurred at the last city council meeting.

Um, with her is Jessica Van Dyck, the city sustainability coordinator.

Also with us is the executive director of the Elgin Development Group, Tony Lysenko, along with representatives in the retail business community who are providing their comments on the uh regulations being considered by the city this evening.

Miss Ifner, how are you?

Good.

Good evening, council.

So at your last meeting, we presented the retail single use bag ordinance.

We're going to do a quick recap before we get into discussion.

So the ordinance that we are looking at applies to all retailers in Elgin.

There are a few exemptions on business types.

It does not include gas stations, it does not include restaurants.

It also exempts small retail establishments.

The definition for retail establishments is up.

It is reflective of the state legislation, so it's those who have 12 or fewer locations in the state and employ 250 fewer full-time employees nationwide.

If enacted, this would prohibit single-use plastic checkout bags in store in person.

There'd be a 10 cent fee on paper checkout bags and individuals enrolled in SNAP or WIC or similar program would be exempt from the fee.

As we began outreach, we wanted to see who this would potentially impact.

Majority of stores are the big box, but we also wanted to make sure we were looking at other more local retailers in Algin to be thorough with their outreach and getting feedback.

We do realize since we started outreach, there were some stores that either have been sold or closed.

So should this move forward and be adopted, we would make sure to update and verify this list so it's accurate for continued communications.

With that, I'm gonna hand it over to Jessica to give an overview recap of our outreach.

Hi everyone, I'm Jessica Van Dyck.

I'm the sustainability coordinator for the city.

So city staff conducted a multi-channel public engagement process to gather feedback on this proposed ordinance.

Outreach efforts included an engage elgin web page, community survey, social media announcements, and tabling at community events and local businesses.

To the right, you'll see the results of our survey where we received 2,185 responses.

38% expressed support, and 5% requested additional information.

The survey was offered in both online and paper formats and uh in both English and Spanish.

While survey results are not intended to serve as a statistic uh representative, statistically representative sample of the community, they do provide valuable insight into community perspectives and reoccurring themes that were raised during the engagement process, which we'll dive further into on this next slide.

So getting into themes from the survey.

Opposition primarily centered on concerns related to cost, equity, effectiveness, and practical impacts rather than disagreement on environmental goals.

Many respondents noted that checkout bags are often reused at least once before being discarded, and some indicated that they would consider shopping outside of Algin if restrictions were implemented.

Supporters on the other hand emphasized environmental protection, litter reduction, public health benefits in alignment with the city's sustainability objectives.

Approximately 5% of respondents indicated that they needed more information before forming an opinion on the ordinance.

And these comments generally expressed an openness to reducing plastic bag use, but sought clarification on things like policy details, how equity concerns would be addressed, and evidence of effectiveness of bans and fees.

Overall, the feedback from the survey reflects a shared interest in long-term environmental outcomes, even where perspectives may differ on approach.

And this last slide for me highlights uh the community outreach efforts led by staff.

From October through December, we organized and attended eight outreach events across Algin.

These included both larger community events uh such as resource fairs as well as pop-up tabling at retail locations like Walmart and Butterra.

With that, I'm gonna pass it off to Tony Lusenko from the EDG to discuss the business outreach.

Uh as you can see, thank first of all, thank you, Mayor, and thank you, uh City Council for uh postponing uh this discussion until today.

Uh we are out um meeting uh with businesses in the last week.

We had literally gone to all 42 businesses and let them know that there was a meeting happening tonight.

Those businesses that attended the October 9th meeting that we had had that's mentioned up there actually represented about 70% of the total square footage of the 42 businesses that are represented in this ordinance.

Um I'm not gonna take a lot of your time.

There are businesses here who've been waiting to express their opinions.

I just wanted to let you know that there were two letters that we had received since the last meeting, one from Ace Hardware that was in opposition of this ordinance, and one from Target who is in support of the ordinance and staff has both of those those uh letters and and uh emails.

Uh I do want to say one thing that there are always people, as you probably see quite often who come to City Council in opposition.

Um, but there is a large group of people out there who are uh for um excuse me against this this ordinance.

Uh you'll see that also in the business community as a couple businesses that I had talked to who called me.

They're public affairs and governmental affairs people said, you know, we are against it, but we just don't want that to go public.

And there are some pretty substantial businesses in the in the community.

And so with that, I'm gonna not waste your time.

I'm going to uh hand it over to uh the retailers, and we've got several here who are gonna speak.

And I'm gonna start with Roy Coombs.

Roy is the manager at our local Walmart on Randall Road.

He looks thank you.

Hi, good evening.

Uh my name's Roy Coombs.

I am the store manager at the uh local Walmart on South Randall Road.

Um I have been with Walmart for almost 30 years now, and I spent most of my career in the Southern California area.

Um I ran stores in the Lancaster area, Lancaster, California, and we actually uh did this single use bag thing about 15 years ago in Southern California.

So I know it firsthand.

Uh so the Lancaster City Council decided to pass a very similar thing, uh, but the neighboring community uh in Palmdale uh did not pass a similar thing.

Um so what tended to happen is uh the it's really the outlying areas.

Uh the many outlying communities uh back where I lived in uh California, Rosemar, Quartz Hill, Lake LA, Mojave, and what would happen is uh my customers that were traditionally my customers coming to my Lancaster store, uh, because they were now being given a an additional choice to have to make a decision on, uh they would drive right past my store and go down to the Palmdale store.

So it was actually chasing revenue away from the Lancaster community.

Um and so what tended what happened is Palmdale eventually also uh took on uh a bag ordinance, but those people's shopping habits had already changed.

Uh they weren't coming back to my store.

Uh they uh frequented the Palmdale area, and it wasn't that they even just stopped with the the retail sales that we were doing.

It changed their shopping habits completely.

Uh they're getting gas in Palmdale, they're visiting restaurants in Palmdale.

Um so I think of the same thing here.

Uh you know, I think of people in like Pingree Grove that will come down to 20 and they have the the choice of taking a left to go to Algonquin or a right to come into Algin, and I fear that this is going to chase those people to go to a different location.

And um to my understanding, I think the the state of Illinois is supposed to be uh instituting something very similar, at least if the state of Illinois does it, it puts us all on a level playing field.

It's not uh a choice for uh the consumer that they have to pick one place or the other.

Uh we'll be on a level playing field all in the same boat, having to deal with all the same things.

Um my concern is that we're gonna chase those people in the outlying areas to neighboring markets to go and spend their money, and I don't want to have that happen.

I don't want to have that happen for the people that work for me.

Um that affects their pocketbook, and I don't want that to happen for the people here in Algin, whether that's a restaurant, a gas station, or whatever that may be.

And I I don't dislike Algonquin.

I just don't want them to get my my customer.

So that's what I got.

Thank you, guys.

Thank you.

I apologize I wasn't here for the last one.

I was in Houston, Texas, so sorry about that.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Keith Rochford.

I'm the store manager of the Blaine's Farm and Fleet on Randall Road.

I'm gonna come at this from a different angle.

I'm gonna agree with many of the things that Roy said, but Blaine's has been around for 70 years.

It's a family-owned business.

We believe in community involvement.

We believe in building communities up.

What our consumer is going to be confused on is they come into our store or a larger store, they can't get certain plastic bags when they make a store purchase.

But if they buy it online, they're going to get a bag, and some of those people come in the store for their online pickup, and then they come in to buy more things.

So they only have one bag, but they don't have a bag to put the other stuff that they have in.

And if it's still a bag from my store, Walmart, or a gas station or a restaurant for take home food, and it's in a styrofoam container.

I understand all of the numbers and all of the criteria that we have heard this evening about the damage that plastic bags can do.

It doesn't matter whether it's from a big box consumer or a small restaurant or a gas station.

It is still a plastic bag.

If we're going to do this, we need to have it a level playing field and get rid of it completely, not just single out the big box retailers.

That's what I have by saying it.

Thank you.

So like the guy.

Good evening.

I want to thank everybody for being here tonight.

I'm Bob from Elgin Fresh Market.

I've been working in the Elgin community since the late 90s.

Question I have is comment question.

Yes, bags is a problem going into landfills.

So is this cup right here that has a plastic lining?

So is the aluminum can that has a plastic lining, so are many of the retailers that have plastic linings inside their styrofoams.

When you look at Starbucks, all the ice coffee, all the paper cups, they all have plastic linings on the inside.

So you're speaking.03% of what goes into a landfill.

This is on the internet.

I don't know if it's true or not.

I gave you guys some study that talks about uh plastic bags in municipalities or counties that have been banned.

There's actually more plastic that goes into uh thicker plastic that actually goes into the landfill because people then go buy bags to throw out their trash.

Um we are exempt from this the way the law is written because of the amount of employees we have.

So for me, it's more if this passes, is the law ever gonna get amended?

City of Chicago passed this in 2017.

I think it was a five or seven cent fee, and it was two cents for the retailers, five cents for the city as of January 1st.

They just raised it, I think for the second or third time.

They're 15 cents a bag, one penny for the retailers, 14 cents for the city of Chicago.

Uh a plastic bag costs under two cents.

A good paper bag with handles costs about 45 cents.

So the cost is huge.

Um the one challenge is 25% of our revenue, roughly, depending on the store, is food stamps, SNAP program.

So a snap customer not being able to come in, or a snap customer coming in and not.

I don't know what the I didn't know if there was any changes made since the last month, but what's gonna happen?

Is the customer gonna be paying for that?

Is the retailer gonna be bang for that?

And then also on all snap transactions, it's usually part snap payment and part credit card payment or part cash.

So if you're buying your produce, raw meats, and then you buy something from hot foods, it's not on Snap.

If you buy something from the non food aisle, it's not Snap.

So it's one transaction with two different payment forms.

How's the retailer gonna handle that?

Um a lot of our customers on the west side of town uh come from outside of town.

We'd say about 15% of our business on the rewards customers we have.

So losing that business would be huge to us, and then about 20% of our customers on the west side of town walk to the store and back.

And how would that be if you have to carry one bag now, you know, with 22 pounds in it, opposed to carrying three, four bags with four to five pounds in each bag.

So say I mean so your one hand holds through two hands.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

It's not a discussion here.

Okay.

Okay.

And then just part of the recap, um, we are recommending to either defer action pending state legislation.

Um at this time, it timeline with the state is uh unknown, and we're not sure if it's gonna be picked up, or um, we're also recommending to adopt the proposed ordinance.

Um as mentioned since the last meeting, we did get um feedback from Target who was um in support.

They did um also request um a modification to the definition for reusable bag.

One of the one part of the definition is for the um reusable bag handle to be stitched.

They're requesting the stitch be taken out.

Um there are some reusable bags that uh seams or handles can be um put together with heat and glue.

We are um recommending to leave the ordinance as is because the stitch does help um provide a more durable product.

Also, as you're considering this, if um the decision is made to adopt, I'd also recommend in the motion to um include this be in effect um for June 1st, 2027 to allow staff um the community and retailers to prepare for implementation.

With that, I will turn it over to discussion and questions.

Okay, well, we need a motion.

So moved with condition of uh June 2027.

It's been moved and seconded for uh discussion for uh uh enactment of this ordinance on June 1st, 2027.

Any discussion, Mr.

Good.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, to the shout-outs, everybody's contributed time, staff, uh commission.

It's been a long road to get here.

Um and so just to not bury the lead, I am in support of this.

Um, you know, the way that we got here was you know, council had a discussion.

Uh I think we put our heads together and said, you know, there is action at the state uh to the points that were made about a level playing field.

Um, you know, we pointed to that, and the commission started crafting uh something that mirrored that.

So just hats off to everybody for trying to find alignment.

Um what I'm at least seeing is that that uh is likely not going to pass at the state.

Uh what I've gathered about state level action, the committee that it's in is typically not a place where things persist on.

So it looks like we're here uh doing this on our own.

So I say that because there are um areas that you know, at least in doing research, I see where we could have variables that we could discuss or consider.

I don't want to uh draw this out, but I do want to just say that you know what we've seen in other communities, whether they've continued to iterate on what they present, or if they in some cases what was just provided here, and this is research I did find is that some communities actually repealed it.

Um we see that this is a living action that we're taking here.

The goal is to try and clean up the environment as much as possible, um, to uh do this as fairly as possible, but as was just laid out, there are some uh exemptions to this, so that's gonna be an ongoing moving target as to how this rolls out progressively.

Do we keep the parameters as they are?

Um, or do they expand, do they constrict?

So I just wanted to throw out some of those comments.

I don't know if we're gonna get into any variables here from my colleagues, but um, as it currently stands, I support it with the caveat of knowing that there are some things that that beared out that um you know I think we backed away from originally.

I think originally the conversation was a fee on plastic and fee on paper.

Um, I'm happy to see if the goal is to reduce plastic that the fee on paper was proposed because research says if you do a fee on plastic with nothing else, it just explodes usage of paper.

Um also the little caveat that you just shared about target.

Um that's one thing to consider is that you know the bags that are going to be uh replacing this reusable bags, those also at some point end up in a landfill.

So it's not a perfect situation, but uh it's something that you can reuse hundreds of times, which you know my family does.

So that's all I have for right now.

Okay, Ms.

Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I was thankful that um this decision on plastic bags was delayed slightly.

Um because when I looked at uh the survey here, people that were opposed was 57%, and people that support it was 38%.

And the 38% that support it, you know, we always hear about the litter, the pollution, the uh to protect the wildlife, those are common sense things.

We know there's a problem.

Nobody's not denying that they don't understand this.

But I'm gonna be honest, just because I eat at a restaurant doesn't mean I can run the restaurant.

Same way, just because I shop at your store doesn't mean I can run your store.

What's amazing is how many decades you guys have been running your stores or doing something right.

Uh I applaud the enthusiasm and forward thinking of the sustainability commission and the work that they have done on this proposal.

At the same time, it feels like the commission once again the people out that uh are most affected in this conversation, and they provide they provide very little notice that this was being revisited.

Uh but you know, I get it.

You know, we announce it and announce it, and still people didn't know, you know.

Uh I can't stress enough how much I support the effects to make Algin stand out and be viewed positively.

I believe the only way Algin will be recognized for our green initiatives is to launch a large community campaign to educate and inform Algin about the value of recycling.

I believe the only way Algin will be recognized for our green um uh initiatives is when you get everybody involved.

Uh we always talk about changing human behavior.

I would like to see the sustainability commission reach out to U46 and provide education and excitement and the young people.

You know, I have my neighbor here who's always this rival thing between Elgin and Larkin.

You know, it can be the same thing with middle school.

Uh, but when you do this with children, you know, it's an educational thing for them.

And I'm telling you, um children are funny.

Yeah, if they can scold their parents, they would love to do it.

You know, you have three little kids telling parents you need to recycle, and this is why you need to recycle.

Um, and I think that when you have a campaign that engages the community that that excites everybody, you know.

Um the sustainability commission could allocate part of their budget to print reusable bags and include recycling guidelines and best practices.

And just because I know the sustainability commission, I'm not saying that I know how to run it either.

You know, I'm just giving ideas.

Uh banning plastic bags is a good idea, but it should be done at a state or higher level.

When we make decisions like this as a council, sometimes we forget how close we are to adjacent municipalities, mostly um maybe one that has no bag fees.

Uh I understand my fellow council members want to find ways to keep businesses and customers happy in Algin, and I don't think this proposal will do anything for that.

We need to help drive change in human behavior.

What I want for Algin is to be the most thoughtful counsel in the decisions we make, not the first one to cross some invisible line.

We need to make smart decisions that serve all of Algin.

This is not a race, but if it's not done correctly, we all lose.

Thank you.

Okay.

Anything down this way.

Ms.

Alfaro.

Thank you.

Thank you to the Sustainability Commission.

Thank you to staff.

Uh thank you for everyone that came out tonight.

Greatly appreciate it.

I have a couple of questions.

Um thank you for clarifying the implementation date will be June 1st of 2027.

Um why full-time employees?

A lot of uh the big box stores have a lot of part-time employees, and so the caveat was 12 or fewer locations or 250 full-time employees.

Um, why full-time employees?

Thank you for your question.

So the original draft was uh mirrored after state legislation, and the state did not include a definition, and that was a question we received, so we looked to defined it.

Um this ordinance is looking to get the big box stores and not our smaller retailers.

So by having employees be defined as full-time and not full-time equivalent or part-time, that kind of helps keep it targeted at the bigger box stores where we'll see a bigger impact.

This ordinance was shared with the commission, and they are in agreement with that.

Yeah, okay.

And then my other um question is on page 61 or page five of the proposed ordinance under penalties B number three says the third in any subsequent offenses within a 24 month period shall be punishable by a fine of not less than 750 dollars.

Um was there a reason why we stopped at three?

I feel like there should be a fourth one.

It's like three times you're out.

There's a fourth one, it should be about a thousand dollars.

So I was just curious on how that was determined.

Um so the penalties in general, um, so they occur each day if it's not corrected.

So um we did have this escalate.

It could be adjusted to a thousand, just um this is what yeah, I just feel like there should probably be a fourth that says a fourth in any subsequent offenses within a 24 month period.

Yeah, if the council agrees.

I mean not I'll I can just say briefly.

I don't I don't think that the state statute had a penalty provision.

This is fairly consistent with the other penalty provisions within the LG Municipal Code, so we kind of try to stay consistent.

There's usually a first violation, second violation, any third or subsequent violations are um the amount in this case $750.

It could be you could go as high as you want with the number of violations, but typically we stop at three.

So that's just it's consistent with our other ones.

Okay, I'm fine with that then.

I think this is a good starting point.

I do agree with other um what other individuals have stated.

I think we need to go further than this, um, but this is a good starting point.

Okay, way down here.

Ms.

Powell.

Thank you.

Um I want to thank the folks that came here um two weeks ago to speak, um, as well as staff, uh Tony from EDG, uh, thanks to the retailers that are here and were here um two weeks ago as well.

Um I'm I'm in favor of moving forward with this.

We we've been discussing this for a long time.

The the Sustainability Commission has been discussing this for a long time.

But I do agree that there's some disparities here.

Um I I look at this as a starting point.

I think one of the uh retailers, uh gentlemen from from Blaine's, which right around the corner from me, come to your store.

Thank you.

Um I I think you brought up a valid point that I mean a plastic bag is a plastic bag, it doesn't matter if you get it from a grocery store, a um a gas station, you get it from Blaine's or you get it from Target.

It's still a plastic bag.

And if the goal is to reduce plastic bag use, you know, why are we only targeting you know certain stores?

I understand that this was crafted based off of the state law that or the state, you know, the proposed legislation that hasn't passed, probably at this point will never pass.

Um I understand that, but I I want this to be a starting point.

I just want to make this very clear that I want to plan for how we phase folks that are left out of this into the mix.

I think that's only fair, and I think that accomplishes what we're saying our true goal is to reduce plastic bag usage.

Um I want to also address I think something that Mr.

Lasinko said about some of the companies not wanting to come and publicly speak.

I I'll be honest, I'll just call BS on that because if you know corporate America, if if something's really really a problem for them, they have no problem coming out and speaking, whether it's locally at the state level with their lobbyists.

If this is really a problem for them, they would let us know.

Target let us know where they stood.

So if this was really going to affect their operations negatively, you can best believe they would be at that podium right now.

So I just wanted to make make that comment.

Um speaking of the uh information that you receive from Target.

I I'm open and and I would like to see us incorporate what they've asked for.

Um I think it's a legitimate ask around the stitched versus non-stitched handle.

I I think that's important for us to look at, and I would like to I want to hear what everyone else has to say, but if if we're going to move forward with adopting this, I would like to adopt it with that that caveat that change.

On these so at the in-person checkout, there's no plastic bags, there's a ten um at least a 10 cent fee on paper, and then reusable bags, it's um up to the store and what they charge.

But the I'm saying with the paper bags, that 10 cent charge for the paper bags, is that only 10 cents, or is it 10 cents plus I believe it's just 10 cents, but I can clarify clarify that and get back to you.

Okay.

And I'll just say, I you know, I would I want if we're gonna charge people this, I'd I want that to be that should be tax exempt.

So that's just one comment.

Um, well, probably several comments obviously I made back to the folks that are exempt.

Um I I encourage us to reach out and be proactive and educate these exempted businesses to potentially voluntarily participate with the understanding that our plan is to eventually phase them in over time.

I think that's only fair.

Um I don't see anything in here about measurement and assessment, and I I want to see how we're planning to measure the impact, both um negative and positive over time so that we can make adjustments to this as necessary.

And finally, a gentleman got up and um talked about I think it was Paul.

Hey, you mentioned um access to delivery services, you know, and people those delivery services.

If you order something from Walmart or someone bringing it in the same plastic bags that we're trying to ban, does this ordinance prohibit that or no?

So carry out or order online pickup, those bags are exempt.

The way this is designed is to um ban or how it's written is to ban the in-person checkout bags with the thought that that's where you're gonna have the most impact.

So the ban removes the plastic, and then the 10 cent fee is the nudge to get people to change their behavior.

And so again, this is where the ordinance is starting, and where they could have the biggest impact in changing behavior and decreasing plastic waste.

Okay.

Um again, I'll add that in the same list as we I know this is a basis, this is a start.

We need to phase that in.

Um I'm I'm thinking in terms of probably the only time I really used delivery services was during COVID for my mom who's a senior out of state.

And when they delivered stuff to her, it was in the big reusable totes a lot of times.

So it doesn't have to be the reusable uh single-use plastic bags.

A lot of times it's the reusable big tote plastic um uh plastic bags or or the reusable um uh fabric bags, and they just charge you for that along with your you know, with your online purchase.

So again, we've got all of these carve-outs that I agree with the retailers, make this a little inequitable and a little problematic.

Um I am going to support this with the understanding that our goal is to close those gaps over time and and sooner rather than later.

Because I think folks have made some um some valid arguments about why are we exempting SNAP purchases, why are we exempting small um some of the smaller stores, why are we exempting delivery services?

Plastic bag use is plastic bag use.

And my statement at the last meeting, talking about environmental uh racism and environmental justice, plastic bags more directly impact some of these very folks that we're um we're trying to exempt from having to make better decisions.

I when I go when I went to Aldi's this weekend and I actually remembered to get my my reusable bag out of my trunk before I went in the store.

I saw people that were you know using reusable bags or making whatever decision they needed to make in there that came and spoke at this meeting against it.

How ironic.

So I'm in favor of this.

Um and I really want to thank you all for the work that you've been doing.

Um, but I just want to make it clear that this is not everything that needs to be done here.

Okay, it's done.

Anything else done here, Mr.

Dixon.

Thank you.

Uh I want to first say uh a specific thank you to the commission and not just the current commission, but this has been a conversation going on for the better part of about a decade.

So we're talking about multiple commissioners from the city who will volunteer at their time over that over these years who have been pushing for this plastic bag ordinance.

And um, thank you specifically to all the folks who will showed up here who spoke in favor of it from uh you know who were here, Tom Armstrong to Tia to Vivian and Cheryl and all the work that you're doing in the subgroups, Paul uh was back there earlier too, Gary as well.

And if I'm missing somebody, it's you know, charge it to my head, not to my heart.

Um, but thank you for for the continued work that uh and advocacy that you've done.

Um you're the reason why we're here now.

It's not because of the the folks who's sitting up here, it's because of your work.

Um thank you to Kristen, city staff for doing the work of yes, absolutely, all of you for doing the work over the years and and just give like you know, just a quick timeline.

We I think we probably first like officially had the conversation in 23, right?

Something like that, 23, 24, right?

Um, and there were a lot of questions and a lot more information that we needed to gather, and so we essentially took a pause and we regathered ourselves and solicited more feedback from the business community in that instance and also in this year.

Thank you, Tony, um, for helping uh facilitate that.

Um I know that I personally took time to not just talk to community members um to meet with Kristen to talk about this in detail, uh, but also business owners too as well, because I value getting all of the information and making the decision.

And so I don't mean to bear the lead, uh, as my colleague just said here.

I am in support of this, but I'm also cognizant of the of the issues that were being raised by some of my colleagues because I would rather have a plastic ban period.

But I also understand we have to crawl before we before we walk.

Um we have a climate action plan that lays out some of the things or many of the things that we actually could execute on.

Um my hope is that this is the start of accomplishing more of that action plan as we go forward here in the in the next few years.

So uh with that being said, I do have a question about um education.

So does staff currently if this does pass and I'm you know hearing that it probably will.

Can you um talk to the public about what the action plan is for educating the community?

Sure, and this is high level, and um I've talked a lot with Jessica about this in our new communications team.

Um so should this move forward, we would take steps to develop a robust communication engagement plan um geared towards uh communication with staff um leadership, so it's clear on what is in this ordinance, as well as obviously with retailers and the community.

Um so there's components in the plan of making sure we're uh doing what we can to support our retailers in the rollout from the survey responses.

We have an idea of where topics that we would want to educate the community on, where maybe there's some misconceptions or things that we'd want to emphasize in messaging.

So we'd want to develop that.

Um again, should this be adopted?

Um, and we would aim to have that start being implemented towards the end of the year, definitely by the beginning of 2027, where we really start ramping up communications and take that beginning of the year to help the community prepare so that we're ready for the um June 1st effective date.

Okay, all right, thank you.

And I think that, and we all would agree the education component is really really important in the timeline in which we do it went on.

Um, and then the June start date, June of 2027 start date, which you know hopefully will allow the retailers time to adjust as best as you can to all of this.

So both of those things are are very thoughtful in the way that's being brought.

Um I do have a question.

I kind of we we talked about this in the last meeting, and I also we also talked about it after the meeting, so I'll just ask some of the same questions concerning the survey.

The survey re results um indicated that more people in the community were in against implementing um the band.

Um and I raised um a concern that the survey actually wasn't gated, that you could take it as many times as possible.

Um, and so that could skew the numbers.

Can you speak to that a little bit and you know, probably just reiterate what what we discussed?

Sure.

So as you said, the survey was not locked, meaning that respondents could take the survey from more than one time from the same device.

Part of this is by design.

Um, if somebody's at home taking the survey, they could pass it to their roommate, spouse.

If you're out with your friends, you could um yeah, pass your phone on, and they could take the survey.

I did take a look at the data um looking at IP addresses, and I did not see any patterns of response and suggesting that individuals completed the survey multiple times in a way that would meaningfully impact the overall results.

And I'll also say this is not a scientific study.

This survey was to get a pulse of the community and get a better understanding of what the residents' current viewpoints are.

Um, you know, get a sense of what their concerns and questions are pertaining to this topic, if that helps.

Okay, yep, thank you.

I I I wanted you to tell us all of that because I was questioning, you know, how accurate it it really was, and so you went back and did the research and found that there were no patterns, and so I thought it would just be fair to also um make sure that that's known as part of public record.

So um, so thank you for that.

Um so yeah, so so for me, um I want to listen to the rest of my colleagues, but um, I'll be voting in favor of this.

Um just sit back and wait to see what everyone else has to say.

Thank you.

Okay.

Anybody else down this way?

Mr.

Steph, um you started this 10 years ago, so yeah, I'm gonna blame it all on you.

Well, I obviously I'm for it.

I I've been pushing this for a long time.

Um, but I want to start by thanking people, thanking staff.

Bobby, thank you for coming downtown, sharing your numbers, your concerns.

Um I could say a lot of things, but I think a lot of them have been said.

I just want to say for me, as for many of the people up here.

It's a first step.

There's a lot of exemptions, there's a lot of customers that are exempt, there's a lot of businesses that are exempt, there's a lot of plastics that are exempt, styrofoam and others.

I think all of those have to we have to address those, but it's a first step.

I think it's a good one.

Um, and I I want to kind of end all my comments there and move to the education.

That's come up repeatedly, both as a way to be supportive of this as a way to be against it, and I've got a challenge and an idea, and I brought them with me.

So I'm gonna give all this stuff to Kristen and Jessica at the end of this.

Took me about a half an hour.

And this is what I collected in my house, and half an hour or less of reusable plastic bags that I have, and I suspect every house that this community has, because every time you go to a conference, every time some of my housemates go to Aldi's, as you can see from the number of Aldi bags here.

Uh, this is a sister-in-law from Alaska, and she's back there, so I can throw under the bus.

She has not learned her lesson that you can't go to Aldi without bags because you're gonna buy them or you're gonna carry your stuff out in your arms, and so there's lots of Aldi bikes here because she has not learned that yet coming from Alaska.

But um I I it's a challenge.

I'm putting it out to I've talked to Kristen about this, put it out the sustainability commission, and put it out to the people here who are not on the sustainability commission and you know who you are.

Matter of fact, I've got somewhere here I've got the bag from the wild ones from two weeks ago because I don't need it.

I've got several in my car that I use.

So the challenge is this.

Let's make this community a bag using community.

Let's not wait for the ordinance, which isn't gonna happen till 2027 as it's set up right now, and the state isn't gonna do anything until 2029.

Let's make it an effort, coordinated effort, and use it as an attance to educate people.

Some of you that I know, and I'm on that climate chat and see the emails, see the keyboard warriors want to send the latest study and prove that they know what how bad the situation is.

And I get it is bad, but let's put the keyboards down and let's go out and try to get these bags out to people.

Let's get the SNAP recipients, let's get the TANF recipients, the people that are exempt, and let's get them all bags.

And so everybody that shows up at Bobby's store, you know, his his concern, and I I get it is it's gonna cost them a ton of money for paper.

But if every customer comes into a store with a reusable bag, his customers aren't gonna need any of those, and he can drive that expense down to next to nothing.

That's the goal.

So that's what I want to talk about is a challenge to educate the community and take everybody's extra plastic bags or reusable bags like the ones that I collected in about 20 minutes, half an hour at my house, and repurpose those and get those out to people that need them.

So everybody has them and it works.

So that's all I wanted to say.

Thanks.

I'll get those to you afterwards, Kristen.

I'm sure you're gonna want those in your office.

Mr.

Mr.

Thorne, I'm looking at you on television here.

Would you like to say anything before we wrap this up?

Well, uh thank you all for letting me be Zoom.

I'm uh not feeling well at all after a hospital full day there yesterday.

Um, I I I know that many of my co-council valued the input by the surveys, and they've said that in the past that that's how they want to get answers.

And uh, but in this case, I guess that doesn't matter to them.

Also, um, I do know that as small as it might be.

Uh I did a little research just checking some things out in cities that have done this.

The uh sales of kitchen garbage bags went up incredibly.

So I think we all know that we all do use them for other things.

Uh I just feel that the I know there's an environmental issue here.

I just feel that our town uh the impact is so minimal.

Um, I'm just not in favor of it.

Thank you.

Mr.

Ortiz, do you have anything to wish to say?

Oh no, everything's been said.

Um I do think that we we talked about this last year.

I wanted a full ban, and then we went the state route because we expecting the state to do something so good as mirror, but yeah, I'm in favor of it, and uh I do hope that we just ban everything through and through instead of making 500 and 3,000 exemptions to stuff.

So I guess I'm the last one, so I'd like to call the question.

Um I have what I have a chance to speak.

My bad.

I'll take that out there next to the last uh I'm gonna support this.

Uh I'm gonna support this change, and I call it a change because it's got to be a change in the responsibilities of the consumers of the city of Elgin, not the retailers.

The consumers have to change.

I concur with Mr.

Stefan, and I've been carrying bags in my trunk for a decade, and uh got used to it, it's not a problem.

You learn to live with it, and uh I would hope that we'd move beyond paper, and papers not the answer.

Paper's not the paper bags are not the answer to this.

Consumers and customers carrying the bags in their car and carrying them into the grocery store is an answer, is the answer to this.

Uh the one year or 15 months of uh time between the enactment of this will allow the state to act.

Give them a chance to act.

Now I don't have a lot of confidence there.

I listed three things that I've been involved in uh in my time on the city council.

Uh police cameras, vaping, and hemp uh uh uh derivatives uh all were uh banned and uh were addressed by the city of Elgin before the state did, and now the state and federal government are moving in to change those things.

I would anticipate that this will follow that path.

I don't know when it's gonna follow it.

I don't um I don't know if it's gonna be by 2027, but I think that the changes should be here and should start with the consumers in the city of Elgin.

Start to do it in your own home and do it yourself for once.

You know, retailers were not the responsible for me smoking cigarettes when I was uh 20 years old.

They sold them to me, but they weren't the ones that caused me to do it.

And I learned how to get rid of it at the end of the day.

So I encourage us to do it.

I think it's gonna take a uh opportunity from staff from the council, and let's take the next year to make us an educational opportunity for uh the the community.

I would also uh challenge some of the uh the uh uh retailers.

It's an opportunity to advertise yourselves, start offering some bags.

Uh, there are discounts that are given as uh opportunities at grocery stores to save money.

We're gonna give you a discount on this, or we're gonna give you a discount on that.

How about we're not gonna give you a discount this week, but we're gonna give you a bag with uh fresh market or Walmart on it, and let that become uh something that you can carry into that store.

Uh let's let's think let's think outside the box in the city of Elgin and let's move forward with this.

And uh hopefully this is just a small uh uh hesitation and a step towards solving this problem.

Uh plastics are going to be a big problem.

I'm not looking at anybody that it's really going to affect too much unless you smother in one, but it's gonna affect your children and your grandchildren.

And let's start thinking about that and move this thing down the highway.

Ms.

Powell, you had your chance, uh, unless it's real quick.

Yes, we're gonna call the vote.

It's been an hour.

I I realize that.

Um I just want to um um file uh make a amendment to the motion to include the um the change in the type of bag, I think as um proposed uh in the letter from Target is part of this ordinance, and also um include that the paper bags that are purchased are indeed tax exempt.

Second that's not part of it.

Second, every second.

I'm sorry, I had a frog on my throat.

It's been moved and seconded to make the uh paper bags tax exempt and to allow for non-stitched bags.

That's the that's the motion.

We want to amend the motion.

Mr.

Good.

Uh I just want to say uh I I disagree with that.

Um, this is a corporation that has inventory sitting on their shelves.

We shouldn't be taking analysis of the commission for the quality of the bag and changing that based on inventory of Target.

Because that's my at least without speaking time, they're not here today.

My guess is the reason why they're asking for this is because they've already invested and they already have inventory and they're now asking us to change our standards for what the bag is.

If if you guys are interested, I have an example of the like glued bag versus a stitched bag.

You want to see like quality.

I'll check it out.

Yeah, I and I'm familiar with those, and that's why I I don't support that.

So if I could address your your concern, I I wasn't agreeing to that based on that.

I have some love for Target.

Um I was because I think it's a legitimate um ask, I have several of these bags, as you know, does Councilman Stefan at home.

I use both of them.

And again, if we want people to start making these transitions, I don't want us to put so many barriers on what type of bag that they're using.

I mean, obviously, yes, you're you're not gonna put uh a gallon of milk in in this one, but this could suffice for a whole lot of other things that you buy at a grocery store.

So that was my that was my that was my only reason for for bringing that up.

And that's a small one, but I mean, I just think that you know folks should should have options, Mr.

Manager.

Ms.

Can you explain the purpose of this regulation?

This doesn't regulate what consumers are bringing into the stores.

This is what the retailers can make as available as a substitute and why you're recommending not approving the amendments.

Correct.

Consumers, they can bring whatever vessel they want to bring in for a reusable bag.

They could they're saving plastic bags, they could bring those in.

Um this is what the store is providing for their customers.

Um again, as a customer, I could bring in a laundry basket, I could bring in a bag.

I um I could bring in whatever I want to carry out my products.

Um the in looking into the request and looking at examples, the durability of bags that are glued together.

But these are bags that they can offer for sale, which anyone can offer any number of these.

A longer term, a longer term and bags that can be sewn if you look at some of the materials, it's still using plastic.

So again, it kind of gets back into for the purpose of this.

I feel like the stitch shifts behavior.

Um to getting people to use reusable bags.

Okay, fair point.

Um so I'll I'll amend my motion again to just making sure to adding that the paper bags are indeed tax exempt.

Second.

Second.

Okay, it's been moved and seconded to amend the original motion.

Correct.

Now that we've amended the amendment.

So uh it's George.

Go back to the original amendment.

Okay.

Who made the original motion?

No, you made the original motion.

I made the second.

So he's second your second amendment now.

The original was dusted.

Oh, to the original one?

Yeah.

No, you said the amendment was the first amendment and uh Corey.

No, well, who who made the original motion?

Who's on second?

You're no one's second.

Second, is that all I need to say?

I agree with the amendment.

I second it.

Okay.

Good.

Now we're back to just on the amendment to amend the proposed draft ordinance such that there would be no uh sales tax on the reusable or the on the paper bag fee.

Yes.

Court, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

No.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion's approved eight one.

So we can do it.

Now we're doing your vote.

We did the amount of the bottom.

That was the amendment.

So now we need to vote on the actual ordinance.

Now this is for the actual ordinance.

Clerk, please call the roll.

That was for the amendment to uh uh omit the sales tax.

Council members alfaro, yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

No.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

No.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion is approved seven two.

Okay.

Just time I'd entertain a motion to adjourn.

So the committee of the whole meeting.

So moved.

It's moved to second to adjourn the committee of the whole meeting court.

Please call the roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, we are adjourned.

We'll reconvene at the regular council meeting at uh 815.

Meeting for the Elgin City Council for February 25th, 2026 to order.

Uh, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge of allegiance.

United States of America and the law of liberty and justice.

Councilmember Zalfaro.

President.

Dixon.

Present.

Good.

Here.

Martinez here.

Ortiz?

Here.

Paul?

Here.

Stefan.

Here.

Thorne.

Here.

Mayor Captain.

Here.

Uh Mr.

Thorne has asked the uh city council to uh uh be allowed to uh participate uh uh with uh via zoom.

So moved second move and a second to allow Mr.

Storm to participate remotely, or please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro, yes.

Dixon?

Yes, good, yes, Martinez, yes, Ortiz?

Yes, Powell?

Yes, Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes, Mayor Captain.

Yes, motions approved nine zero.

Approval of the previous uh minutes of the previous meeting of February 11th.

So moved.

Second.

Move the second for approval.

Any discussion.

Corrections or additions.

Hearing none, Cork, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion is approved nine-zero.

Uh, we have no communications this evening, but we have a few people signed up for public comment.

First person to sign up is Elijah Stein.

Good evening.

My name is Elijah Stein.

I've lived in Elgin for about 10 years now, and I did have some stuff written here that I wanted to say, but I'm just gonna go off the cuff here and just talk real for a minute.

I've been seeing a lot of students do a bunch of walkouts lately, and the thing I want to say about that is good on you, keep doing that.

I want to give a palpable reason as to why you should keep doing that, and I'm not afraid to go personal on that fact.

When I was in high school, I was the salutatorian of the Larkin 2016 class.

I had a 4.72 GPA and a 3.6 GP in college.

Don't think I am flexing that in any way.

Reason I say that is because despite all of that and all the experience that I've had in various different careers and positions, it is still just as hard for me to find a position, and when I do, it is very underpaying and very brutal as to the things that they ask for.

The reason I'm saying why you should keep doing the walkouts is because you as students have the capacity, the time, and the right to do it.

We all know you're smarter than the media likes to make you out to be.

We know that you know what's going on.

And seeing you guys walking out there standing up for a movement, it's absolutely beautiful.

Can't can't deny that in any way.

Want to see more of that.

Just constantly stand up for what it is that's happening around you.

This is your life too.

This is your community, and oftentimes the media and other people around you like to silence your voice.

You have a voice too in this.

So want to make sure that that said, as far as the people who are representing us in Congress, I would also like to say, please start doing that because all of the people here are still having to deal with all of the repercussions of the different things that have been going on because of your decisions, and especially I'm looking at you.

And especially I'm looking at you.

Uh I'm looking at you.

What even is your name?

Served for how many years and I still don't know your name.

Yeah, Bill Foster.

You know, the one who voted for the temporary funding bill for ice, who gave them 11 billion dollars, meanwhile, people on your streets are starving, are cold, are hungry, and your citizens are getting taken away.

If you want to know what I think about that, you can swallow my soil-infested rectum.

Yes, sir.

And I don't have anything to say about that, no shame about it.

We all know it's bullshit, and you should start doing your jobs and serving us.

Thank you.

Hello, community members.

Hello, everybody that's not happy to see me, except for a few.

I want to talk about the welcoming ordinance.

Um, it's not about legal status, it's not about proper documentation.

It's about minorities and our rights.

Uh the lack of rights, I should say.

Many people are being hunted.

My people, all minorities, they're being hunted.

Uh they're being kidnapped, they're being put in concentration camps, kids are missing.

Um, and they're here with asylum, they're here with visas, they're U.S.

citizens.

It doesn't really matter at the end of the day if you're here like with proper documentation or not, to be honest with you.

We have human rights.

Um, let's see here.

It's inhumane what's going on with our corrupt system and our government and what they're doing.

I want to remind you all that if you're silent, you're being complicit.

Okay.

You would have been the same people looking away when the Nazi pigs kidnapped and killed Jewish families in the 1940s.

That's you right now if you're being quiet.

See, that's shameful, disgusting, and an accurate representation of what our country is right now, to be honest with you.

It's oppression.

Oppression for anybody that's not white.

Okay.

The council city members that are minorities and are up here, you gotta do more for us.

Elections are coming up.

We see you.

Uh, we're watching what you do.

One of you hit a car at a church for Renee Good's memorial.

We saw that too.

You didn't do anything about it.

You drove away.

Um, you know, you can help us now, or you can wait until we vote you out.

I also want to piggyback on what a lovely lady said about more of our tax uh money coming back to us, because it's true.

Us, the residents, we're the ones that are taking care of our community.

We're the ones that are out there helping families, delivering food, giving rides.

Nobody asked us to do this.

We want to do this because we care about our community and our people, not just minorities, everybody.

Let's see here.

Um, this system loves to help the rich.

I heard it earlier from the mayor.

This isn't on uh retailers, this is on us as a community, this is on our people.

Excuse me.

The retailers are already rich.

We're already struggling to make ends mean.

What are you talking about?

Let's see.

I also want to add my two cents about the single-use bag band.

Um, reusable bags are not that hard.

It's really not that big of a deal.

You know, help retailers provide some of those to us, and we'll do the rest.

We could also get some too.

Third world countries use reusable bags.

It's very common in a lot of places to grab a bag, go get your groceries, and go right back home.

It's not a big deal.

You guys said you have it too, but you guys have more money than us.

I also want to admit.

Let's see here.

75% of this uh community is Hispanic, and we're used to working, so carrying plastic bags is not gonna be an issue, or carrying reusable bags is not gonna be an issue.

The last thing I want to say really quick is protesting, kids protesting.

It's very separated right now, what people think.

Some people are all for it, some people are not.

We should be allowing our kids to protest.

They have rights too.

We should be supporting them.

We should do be doing something to make sure that they're safe while they're doing it.

It wasn't here, but it was in other places where kids were attacked by adults.

That's not okay.

It really isn't.

If it was your guys' kids, it would be different.

But since it's not, you're showing very little interest in it.

The guy with the hat, I love everything you said.

Absolutely, I'm behind you.

You care more about us as a community than the people we voted in and are gonna vote out.

I guess that's all I have time for.

Thank you.

Linda Ramirez.

Good evening.

I have to write mine.

Thank you, City Mayor, and City Council.

My name is Linda Ramirez, and I am board member of the Elgin, one of Elgin's newest tax extent nonprofit called Boricos Unido de Elgin.

Borico comes from Boricen, which is what the indigenous Taino Indians call Puerto Rico, and it means land of valiant warrior.

Elgin is home to over 3,500 Puerto Ricans and was home to its first Puerto Rican group in 1992.

After 12 years, we're back.

And we envision a future when Puerto Rican heritage is proudly celebrated, deeply understood, and passed across generations by uniting families, straightening communities, and empowering all people to thrive through shared culture, dignity, and pride.

I and my fellow board members behind me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Susanna Padilla.

Hi again.

Um I want to congratulate you on actually passing for the plastic ordinance.

I learned that it's been 10 years.

And I just hope that and looking at this, it was uh I think we had about over an hour discussion over plastic bags, and then I learned that it was over 10 years to do this good change.

I just hope that it doesn't take that for human life.

Human rights, I think, even though it's important, the environment, but what you have heard today, and what I have learned of what's happening for um fathers in prison, you know, side by side and the waters and the itching, and that is not right.

So I just hope that you give a little bit more um I guess fast decision into a yes for human rights for mothers that I am grateful that I am able to have my daughter homeschooled where others cannot because they need to work, but always working in fear, making sure that they are gonna be home for their kids.

And like I said before, now the kids worrying about their parents to make sure when they come home from school that their parents are there.

Please.

A yes.

You're doing it already, as we said we had a meeting with you, but let's make it bold.

Let's make it where the community feels it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Nancy Burnage.

Nancy Burnage.

She's still here.

No, she's Danielle Laha.

Some of those were pretty uh difficult to come after.

Mine is uh kind of on a different area, but I am Danielle Laha, and I work at Association for Individual Development or AID.

We serve individuals with mental health and developmental disability challenges.

And I'm specific specifically here tonight simply to say that we are in support of the petition 01-26 in regards to the murals.

Um, as you may or may not have seen, we have a beautiful hand-painted mural on one of our buildings.

Um, our 74 unit affordable housing project that supports individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities.

So I just wanted to come and voice our support for that um petition.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

That brings us to bids.

We have one bid this evening.

Uh the item is uh Delta Scientific 5,000 mobile crash barriers, uh uh group uh purchasing cooperative.

Move toward the bid to Delta Scientific Corporation MP5000 mobile crash barrier barricades in the amount of 143,697 dollars.

Second.

Been moved and second or any discussion.

Mr.

Ortiz, uh, I just have one.

Um last year when we put these on Burger Bluff Road, Riverside Drive, my bad, and Grove.

The aspot wasn't cut out when we dropped them.

So a lot of people when they were hitting them, they were expecting to go flying in the air.

Are we dropping the barriers this year?

Are these cutting some of the aspots out so they can be somewhat uh flush with the surface?

I'm not aware of anybody flying through the air, but I know that they were causing disruptions in the roadway, so yes.

We are making curb cut or we're making street cuts, pavement cuts that will occur every season to drop those down so that the base of the barrier is flush with the pavement.

They will be removed in the winter, the asphalt will be repaired, and we will continue with that with that driving surface.

But I um I wasn't through the air, but I did experience the troubles that you're talking about.

I felt like the shock towers were going up through the roof.

It was it was something that we needed to um to identify a little bit further in the process, and we are making that remediation in this instance.

All right.

Sometimes it was worse driving than driving down one or not going over one of those things.

Same thing.

Fair enough.

All right, that's it.

Thank you.

Anything else?

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro.

Yes, Dixon.

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, motions approved 90.

Uh brings us to uh other business.

First item is consideration of petitions 35-25 and 50-257, Clock Tower Plaza.

An amendment to the planned development and conditional use to establish an entertainment venue as part of an existing restaurant.

Mr.

Millot.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

The subject tenant space is located within the Clock Tower Shopping Center, which is located on the south side of National Street and at the end of South Grove Avenue.

Here is National Street and this is Grove.

This is the Grand Victoria Casino, U 46 Planetarium.

These are the Rivers Landing Apartments.

Here is a Butera Market Grocery Store, and this is the National Street Metro Station.

Caselara requests approval to establish an entertainment venue as part of the existing restaurant.

Caselara opened in 2014 as a restaurant and bar and has been hosting music concerts and live entertainment.

This application will provide the necessary zoning approval for the music concerts and live entertainment.

The restaurant fronts the southern end of the parking lot and occupies only about 6100 square feet of the more than 85,000 square feet of space in the southern leg of the L-shaped commercial building.

Performances are expected to include live bands, mariachi, karaoke, and recorded music concerts from the distinct stage area.

Castelara is open from 8 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and from 8 a.m.

to 2 a.m.

on Friday and Saturday.

Business is closed on Tuesday.

While limited food would continue to be served, the facility would transition operations to an entertainment venue from 9 p.m.

to 2 a.m.

on Fridays and Saturdays.

The shopping center is fully occupied and has a substantially underutilized parking lot with 584 parking spaces that are shared by all tenants.

The applicant is present.

Should you have any questions?

Staff of the planning and zoning commission recommend approval.

Subject the conditions outlined within your packet.

Move for approval or subject sections.

It's been moved and second for approval, subject to conditions.

Any questions for Mr.

Millot or the petitioners are here as well?

Looks good.

Mr.

Mr.

Dixon.

Yeah.

Not so much of a question.

I just want to say congratulations on similar concept, not the same thing.

You know, so um you know the long-established um uh place of business and and shout out to Councilwoman Alfaro for working on and getting this uh helping you guys get this through and and certainly city staff and things of that nature.

And so uh congratulations and best of luck.

I'll definitely be down there.

All right, I'll see you there.

Well, thank you.

Welcome any time.

Okay, anything else?

Clerk please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes, Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes, Martinez, yes, Ortiz?

Yes, Powell?

Yes, Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, motions approved 90.

Congratulations.

Good luck.

Item two is consideration of petitions 44-25 and 45-25, 601 South Randall Road.

An amendment to the planned development conditional use to establish a restaurant with a banquet hall with an existing within an existing commercial building.

Mr.

Millot.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

This 2.9 acre properties located along the east side of Randall Road, north of Spartan Drive, at the north end of the shopping center, anchored by Blaine's Farm and Fleet, and here is Randall Road, and this is Spartan Drive.

This is Farm and Fleet, Planet Fitness, and this is Bank of America.

The applicant requests approval to make interior and exterior changes to the former Golden Corral restaurant, which closed last fall.

The applicant proposes to open a full service Indian restaurant and banquet hall in the vacant 11,000 square foot building.

The facility would include two banquet rooms, excuse me, for various types of events such as weddings, private parties, fundraisers, and community social events.

The restaurant would be open daily from 11 a.m.

to 10 p.m., whereas events may go to 11 p.m., mostly on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The facility is required to have 197 parking spaces, but only 166 parking spaces are located formally on the subject property.

The applicant is finalizing the details of an agreement with adjacent owners for the shared use of all parking spaces.

The entire shopping center has 960 parking spaces, including those on the subject property, whereas only 871 spaces are required.

The applicant is present should you have any questions.

Staff in the planning and zoning commission recommend approval subject conditions outlined within your packet.

Move approval.

Second.

It's been moved with second form approval, subject conditions.

Any discussion.

Miss Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Is the owners are they here?

I believe they are.

Yep.

Um, I just want to make a comment.

Uh I wanted to thank you for opening this up.

I understand that you were the previous owner of the Golden Corral.

Yeah, thank you very much, because you could have gone anywhere else.

But um I think it's really nice how you are reusing it and doing something, and I wish you luck.

Anything else?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Mayor Captain.

Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Powell.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um, I also want to thank the owners for for bringing something new to Elgin.

Um, looking forward to this, and I really like the design.

So uh again, thanks for staying here and your continued investment in our community and looking forward to uh to patronizing it.

Okay.

Okay, Cork, please call the roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good?

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motions approved 90.

Congratulations.

Item 3 is consideration of petition 32-25 850 North Grove Avenue.

A plan development as a map amendment to cons to cons for construction of a new school, District U 46 Public Elementary School, Mr.

Millot.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

This nine-acre property is the block bounded by Slade Avenue on the north, Grove Avenue on the east, and Lincoln Street on the south.

Here is Slade.

This is Grove and this is Lincoln.

This is the Slate Avenue Park and Slade Avenue Pumping Station.

This is the former Sherman Hospital property.

This is the Riverside Club.

And this is the Fox River Water Reclamation District's North Plant.

School District U 46 requests approval of a new public elementary school on the site of the former D.C.

Cook Publishing Factory.

The vacant 145,000 square foot building would be demolished.

The new two-story 88,000 square foot elementary school.

It is designed to accommodate up to 680 students in pre-K through fifth grades.

Although U-46 only expects about 450 students when the school first opens.

The school start and dismissal times will remain unchanged from 8.20 a.m.

and 2.40 p.m.

respectively, which were then extrapolated for the maximum attendance at the new school.

The parent drop-off and pickup line is designed to occur in the north parking lot with a capacity for up to 69 cars, while only 66 vehicles are expected should the school reach full enrollment.

The maximum number of vehicles queued counted at McKinley, both parked and in the student pickup lane was 39 vehicles.

The bus lane provides stacking space for eight buses.

U-46 will install highly visible crosswalks at the intersection of Grove and the North Parking Lot entrance and at Grove and Lincoln.

U46 will also implement a traffic management plan during student drop-off and pickup times with crossing guards at the Grove Avenue intersections and additional staff stationed in a north parking lot to facilitate drop-off and pickup operations by managing the car line progression, spacing between vehicles, and the crossing of pedestrians within the parking lot.

U46 will be extending the sidewalk along Lincoln Avenue west to connect to the Fox River Bike Trail.

The school district held several meetings with Nina leadership and general membership, the last of which was in October of 2025.

The school district would like to start demolition this summer and open the school in August of 2028.

The applicant is present.

Should you have any questions?

Staff in the planning and zoning commission recommend approval.

Subject conditions outlined within your packet.

Move for approval subject to conditions.

It's been moved and seconded for approval, subject to conditions.

Any uh questions for the uh some of the petitioners are here or any questions for Mr.

Millot.

Ms.

Alfaro.

I just have a procedural question for staff.

So in the materials, it indicated that four-way stops will be um included in different locations.

Um it says that the school district will be putting those stop signs up.

Yes, ma'am.

Um I'm just curious why the school district is putting them and not uh like our public works.

Well it's part of it's part of their project, and so in the coordination with our public works department.

Okay, so they're gonna be chatting to the Mr.

Steffi.

I have a couple things.

Um first of all, I've as somebody who lives in this neighborhood, I've been to these meetings and part of these meetings, and I've met with Brian and I think Dr.

Williams has been at some of our meetings.

Um appreciate all the work.

I had a couple questions uh and a comment.

I I'm glad to hear that there's going to be some anticipation of wrinkles and things that are going to happen when you put a new school in in a new neighborhood in traffic, and who knows what's going to happen.

So I'm glad that there's going to be some anticipation and some staff and other people out to kind of deal with what comes of that.

The question I had in looking at the transcript and and and the maps, everything is the dead end streets down to the river on either side, Lincoln on the south side and Slade on the north side.

Um I think it came up in the in the hearing at the planning and zoning commission at the Lincoln Street, particularly that block down to McBride is in really bad shape.

And on the other side on Slade, Slate is only about two-thirds built.

It doesn't have any curbs, there's swales.

There's no sidewalks.

So I'm just wondering what's going to happen with those two streets.

Um are they going to be repaved or built up?

And if so, when?

Sure.

Uh so let's start with Lincoln.

Uh that one receives school buses that let's see if I can go back here to a site plan.

There we go.

There we go.

Lincoln is on the left-hand side of your image.

There you'll see the bus lane exits there.

Uh so I've communicated with Public Services Director Mike Pubins, who says that there is anticipated road work in this area, and they will evaluate the quality of both Lincoln and Slade as part of that greater work.

Obviously, there's no desire to do anything right of way, especially considering there's going to be construction and construction trucks going on.

Uh but considering that there is anticipated work, they'll make sure that if uh Lincoln does rise to the level of of needing it, as compared to all other streets that it'll it'll receive the appropriate attention.

Uh U-46, as part of their project will extend the curb on the north side of Lincoln down as well as the sidewalk and connect into the to the bike trail.

Great.

Thank you.

And anything with Slade, because I know that streets.

Uh same, but at least at least with Slade, there's no anticipated uh vehicles or buses or anything like going to Slade.

So, in as much as you'll have north-south movement up and down Grove, all the sidewalks are there.

Right.

Okay.

Thank you.

Those are my questions.

Okay.

Anything else?

Ms.

Martinez.

Thank you, Mayor.

I would just like to thank U 46 for everything that it's doing.

I call it beautifying Elgin.

When I had a new renovated memorial field.

The welcoming center.

With a smaller parking bus section there.

The school on Roarston and Bodie.

The expansion of Kimball Middle School.

The new football field.

And now this.

Thank you very much.

Which we just issued a permit for, by the way, for the new stadium on Larkin.

So they just said Ms.

Powell.

Just want to say congratulations to U 46 and staff that's here.

The renderings of the new school are really impressive.

I'm looking forward to seeing this property be reused in a way that is not only going to be conducive to the neighborhood, but uh helpful for our entire community.

So thank you for for the continued reinvestment and definitely look looking forward to uh the groundbreaking and opening of this facility.

Okay.

Anything else from the council?

Okay, we have a motion.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Steve wanted to make a comment.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.

I'm sorry, I didn't see your hand up.

I forgot about you.

I'm sorry.

Besides all the other thank yous, which I agree with, I want to just chime in and say that it was nice that it was noted that the famed 250 year old oak tree will be saved.

Thanks.

Okay.

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion's approved 90.

Congratulations.

Good luck.

Get that shovel back out.

Okay.

Next item is uh consideration of a petition.

Uh consideration of petition 01-26, zoning ordinance text amendment to allow mural signs in the neighborhood business district and community facility districts.

Mr.

Millot.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh staff has prepared and is recommending approval of an amendment to the text of the zoning ordinance that would allow property owners in the NB neighborhood business and CF community facility zoning district to put a mural on their building.

Murals are currently allowed only in the C C 1 and C C2 center city districts and the A B area business district.

This zoning map shows the city divided into its zoning districts.

The C C 1 and C C2 districts are downtown and the A B districts are generally along busy arterial streets.

NB districts, those in the light pink and somewhat infrequent, are generally applied along the edges of our neighborhoods and commercial streets like Dundee, Liberty Villa, Larkin, and McLean, or intersections surrounded by established neighborhoods, like at National Street and State Street and others.

The purpose of the NB zoning districts is to provide for commercial areas that supply daily convenience commodities and services to neighborhood populations.

CF districts, those in green and appearing to be much more substantial in number, typically include governmental buildings, park and recreation facilities, schools, and religious institutions.

But when you start backing out the amount of green on the map that's owned by local governments or taxing districts, it's nearly not so numerous.

Quickly, let's knock out these larger properties, Bluff City Cemetery and Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin Sports Complex, Highlands Golf Course, State Mental Health Property, Elgin Community College, City Neighborhood Parks for Kane County Open Space within rate residential neighborhoods.

Hawthorne Hills Park, Larkin High School, Eagle Burnage Park, Wing Park, Judson University, Trout Park, Cobbler's Crossing Lake, Lords Park, the City Downtown Municipal Buildings and Riverfront, and Elgin High School.

Other big holdings that are not local governments, but certainly large public institutions include St.

Joseph's Hospital, Harvest Bible, and Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Advocate Sherman Hospital.

No other changes are proposed to the mural regulations.

Buildings can have one mural.

Murals cannot cover major architectural features such as doors, exits, and windows, and murals cannot include more than 3% text.

You may recall that the city most recently amended the mural regulations in December, adding the A B area business district as a zoning district, in which Murray is allowed.

Ecker Center on Larkin has expressed interest in putting mural on their building this spring.

During the presentation of the text amendment to City Council, Councilmember Martinez let me know that the American League and Posts 57 at 820 North Liberty Street has long wanted to put a mural on their Chester Avenue side of their building, facing the property formerly occupied by Simpson Electric.

The American Legion is zoned NB.

Also, since that presentation, it was discovered that the graphic at Wildwood Commons Building at the Association for Individual Developments Campus on State Street was painted directly on the building when it was intended to be painted onto panels, which would then be attached to the exterior of the building.

This distinction, while not readily apparent to most passers by changes the zoning classification of the graphic from a wall graphic that was approved in their plan development to a mural, which was not currently allowed in the CF district.

This amendment would bring Wildwood Commons into compliance.

Obviously, Councilmember Martinez is here.

Should you have any questions?

As was Daniel Laha, Associate Vite President with AIDS but I believe she may have left.

Staff in the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of the amendment.

Move approval.

Second.

It's been moved to second for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember's Alfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez.

Abstain.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Motions approved 80 with one abstention.

Item five is a resolution authorizing execution of a purchase of service agreement with Henry Schein Incorporated for the purchase of EMS training mannequins.

Move for approval.

Second.

Move to second for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Cork, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion's approved nine zero.

Item six is a resolution authorizing execution of a change order.

Number one and final with everlasting blacktop incorporated for 2025 various east side streets resurfacing.

Bid number 25-038.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Moved and second for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmembers Alfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motions approved 90.

Item 7 is an ordinance amending an ordinance amending ordinance number G 59-25 establishing fees for various city services permits, licenses, and use of facilities and other matters.

Move for approval.

Second.

Move the second for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

The motion is approved nine zero.

Consent agenda.

Move for approval.

Second.

Second.

Move and second for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion's approved nine zero.

Miscellaneous business.

Move for approval.

Second.

Moved and seconded for approval.

Any discussion.

Ms.

Mark Alfaro.

I just wanted to uh in reading the miscellaneous business, specifically the Cultural Arts Commission.

I just want to thank Councilmember Powell who was requesting during the meeting the minutes to be more inclusive to diverse demographics.

And so bringing a movie for Black History Month, bringing a movie for Pride, talking about culture, cultural and within arts.

And so I appreciate you being having those conversations of inclusivity in the Cultural Arts Commission.

Okay.

Anything else?

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion's approved 90.

Pronouncements.

The next committee of the whole meeting will be Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 at 6 p.m.

in the City Council Chambers.

The next regular meeting of the Elgin City Council will be Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 at 7 p.m.

in the council chambers.

I'd entertain a motion to adjourn back to the committee of the whole.

So moved.

Second.

Move and second to adjourn.

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmembers Alfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, we are adjourned.

Entertain a motion to reconvene.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded to reconvene.

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Mr.

Manager, I believe we're on item E.

Agreed, Mayor.

This is an agreement with 120 water to continue the city's current agreement for water pitcher filter distribution and water sampling.

This continues the use where the city will be providing uh filters with certification for both ANSI and NSF 42 Class 1 particulate lead reduction and ANC NSF 53 lead reduction.

Uh the leaden sample kits will provide three bottles to collect an initial draw sample, two-minute flush sample, and a five-minute flush sample, and an additional program is being added to this year that will fulfill the federal requirement that residents be offered testing within three to six months following lead service line replacements at their residences.

Move for approval to second.

Move the second or for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

The motion is approved 9-0.

Item F is a recreation services agreement with the Midwest Academy of Taekwondo.

Midwest Academy has been providing instruction at the Edward Shock Center of Elgin since 2020.

The sustained presence has established the Taekwondo program as a well-attended and valued component of the center's recreation portfolio.

Approving this agreement for 2026 is necessary to continue offering the program because of its success and participation levels.

Compensation to Midwest Academy of Taekwondo is expected to exceed the $25,000 procurement threshold.

Supporting this partnership preserves the program quality, maintains cost efficiency, and sustains a proven service model that benefits both residents in the city.

Move approval.

Second.

It's been moved and second for approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro.

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion is approved 90.

Item G is property tax abatement for the 2026 adopted budget.

The city annually prepares property tax abatement ordinances that remove from the annual property tax extension.

Those debt payments relating to general obligation bonds issued to finance enterprise fund capital improvements, which typically relate to water and sewer.

The city makes payment on the bonds from the utility fees paid by water and sewer users users.

So the tax abatement ordinance are enacted to prevent property taxes from being used to service those water and sewer line improvements.

Move approval.

Second second.

Move to second or approval.

Any discussion?

Ms.

Alfaro.

I just want to um city manager, please correct me if I'm wrong.

So this doesn't include a property tax increase.

What it's doing is providing us an opportunity to get a loan at a lower interest rate because we're letting them know if the re if we can't pay, we will be able to pay them back by a future tax.

So there is no property tax increase with this, and yes, what you're referring to the city, and we'll have this in the next in the next initiative on the agenda.

The city issues general obligation bonds rather than revenue bonds because we can typically get a lower interest rate on that.

Because general obligation bonds require the city to commit to raising property taxes to make payments on those.

We have to file a levy every year to make that commitment to the lenders.

But when we know that we're going to be using those general obligation bonds for water and sewer improvements, we pull back the amount of those that are going to be funded by the water and sewer fees.

Okay.

And that's what's happening in this abatement.

Thank you.

Okay.

Anything else?

Okay.

Clerk, please call the rule.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorn?

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motions approved 90.

Item H is a sale of general obligation corporate purpose bonds to finance utility fund projects.

This is a issuance of bonds up to just short of 27 million dollars.

The 2026 adopted budget approved issuing debt in the amount of 40.6 million dollars.

In this instance, that 40.6 million dollars has been reduced by 13.6 million dollars in loan assistance that the city will be receiving from the IEPA.

Um so that is the reason the 40.6 that was contemplated in the budget is being reduced to 27 million dollars because of the city's ability to get more favorable loans through the IEPA program.

Um the general obligation corporate bonds, the plan is to again seek the sale of these bonds during the last week of March.

Excuse me, um no, during the first week of during the during the last week of April or the middle of April, and it's expected that with current market rates, the city will be paying interest on these in the range of about four percent second second move to second for approval.

Any discussion mr.

Just looking forward, I think we get an email, just an update.

And I think it the timeline says sometime in April, we're gonna get the rating that we get.

It's always somewhat good news for uh city our size and our struggles, but it's good, so I'm looking forward to that.

Agreed, and and for some of the uh current debt that we have.

I was speaking to the chief financial officer today, Fitch ratings.

They will also review even when the city doesn't go out to sale, there are existing uh debts that the city is making payment on in Fitch affirmed the double uh the double A plus stable rating for some of the existing debt, and we expect to see something similar from that for standard and poorers in this instance.

Thanks, Councilmember.

Okay, anything else?

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro, yes.

Dixon?

Yes, good, yes, Martinez, yes, ortiz, yes, Powell, yes, Stefan?

Yes, Thorne?

Yes, Mayor Captain.

Yes, motions approved 9-0.

Item I is public improvements and easement acceptance for the development at 1425 Gifford Road.

This is an industrial development that was required to uh construct a sidewalk as part of its redevelopment.

A portion of that public sidewalk is located within a city easement, and the city staff is recommending that the sidewalk be constructed over that easement to avoid existing utility infrastructure and to ensure the sidewalk alignment provides a safe ADA accessible route.

So in this instance, we're asking for acceptance of the easement that allows the city to access the sidewalk constructed on the private property and also to accept a stormwater management easement that allows the city to enter on a private property to maintain the detention system in the event that the property owner doesn't do so.

So moved second second it's been moved and seconded and any discussion.

So if I was the private property owner contacted, yes.

Okay, because it says interested persons and none.

So I just wanted to make sure.

Okay, yes.

Okay, I have nothing further.

Okay.

Anything else?

Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes, the motion is approved 9-0.

Item J is acceptance of public improvements in the Highland Woods subdivision neighborhoods G and I.

This subdivision was platted in 2019 and comprised of single family homes with three public roads.

Crown community development has completed the installation and punch list of all infrastructure items and is requesting acceptance by the city.

With this acceptance, the city will be taking ownership and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm stores, street lights, street signs, and parkway trees.

Move approval.

Second.

Move and second to four approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, Court, please call a roll.

Councilmember Zalfaro.

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion is approved nine zero.

Item K is change order number one for a job order contract relating to the Hemans South Temporary Drive Storm Sewer Repair work.

Is part of the recent Hemans Cultural Center renovations, sections of damaged storm sewer pipe designed to remove stormwater from the Hemond site were encountered.

To eliminate any flooding concerns in the future, the city issued a contract for sewer repairs as well as additional underground utility location and mapping.

Review of the existing utility mapping was used to determine the project scope, but as construction proceeded, several unmapped and conflicting utility lines were discovered.

These utility conflicts require project revision, including structure adjustments, pipe upsizing, and additional soil excavation.

This change order reflects the additional costs for the construction revisions, the completion of which will allow for proper storm sewer drainage and provide accurate utility mapping for the Hemmings.

Also will be preparing the site for pending permanent driveway installation again, pending the approval of this additional work.

Move for approval.

Second.

Move the second to floor approval.

Any discussion.

Hearing none, please call a rule.

Councilmember Zalfaro?

Yes.

Dixon?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Martinez?

Yes.

Ortiz?

Yes.

Powell?

Yes.

Stefan?

Yes.

Thorne.

Yes.

Mayor Captain.

Yes.

Motion's approved nine zero.

The final item L is a discussion on adopting an ordinance to support and foster inclusivity and diversity within the city of Elgin.

Councilmember Dixon with Councilmember Alfaro as his second is requesting this item to discuss the adoption of a proposed ordinance that will codify existing policies on local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement.

Creates a municipal ID program, addresses language access, provides for the future development of an inclusive procurement plan, and establishes an immigrant legal defense fund.

Move for approval.

It's been moved and second for approval, but this is just a discussion.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

And all the energy and synergy, I mean, between that and the plastic bag ordinance and mentioning both when you spoke, really, really appreciate it.

Also thank you to staff and specifically Chris, our corporate counsel for writing uh an excellent draft uh ordinance and working really hard and taking our feedback and uh and and really working and so um so I just appreciate the community and for our corporate council for taking as much time as he did um and crafting that ordinance and of course um councilwoman Alfaro uh for working with me um us working together and the community groups that we've met with and all the people that we've talked to those for those not for it, I appreciate all the conversations that we've had thus far.

So uh what I'm going to just attempt to do is just give a broad overview of uh not the ordinance itself because we're just going to discuss it, but I just want to hit some things that I that I think are important um as far as timeline uh is concerned.

So uh you may or may not know that we first started this conversation in December, early December, and so it is taking us now to you know second week in uh February to actually discuss a tangible ordinance, and so just know that's been a lot of work by staff and council members um to get it to that point.

And while I'm on the subject of of council members, this is a collection of not just things that we've heard uh from the community or from city staff even um or that we've come up with, but this is this is actually a reflection of nearly every council member uh has put in something into into this ordinance.

So this is a wide body of work that is representative of in some way of all of us and not just a couple of us because we're the ones bringing it forward.

Um this is the draft 2.0 is what I like to call it.

So um as you know, um we we did not discuss it when we originally planned meeting before last, so we ended up moving it back a couple of weeks.

Um we received a draft.

Uh that draft did not uh there was some things that still needed to be worked on, some things that still needed to be changed, added into.

Um, and so corporate staff, corporate council um got the work in and started working on those things.

Uh but uh Diana and I, Councilwoman Alfaro and I uh took the path of let's go and start talking to the community about the ordinance since we're already you know delayed in doing in getting to that point in doing so.

Um so we went and solicited your feedback as we were as it was actually being worked on with all the things that we eventually got into the ordinance, which was 2.0, which is what the community now has, which is what the city council received, the rest of the city council received on this past Friday.

Um so um so we normally receive our packet information for the previous for the next week on the Friday afternoon, evening uh before the city council meeting, and so this was in accordance with that.

Um just to you know, also just hit on uh a couple of a couple of other things.

Um this piece of code codifies some things that we are already doing as a as a municipality.

Um it brings up things like the voices act um and some other acts uh from this from the state level, and we're essentially adopting a lot of that language uh and codifying some of the things that we're already doing as a municipality.

And I just want to point out that as a municipality inside of the state of Illinois, we oftentimes adopt language from the state level or even take it a little step further.

We adopt it or we may adopt it, but we may drill it down to where it specifically is speaking to this community.

And so that is a lot of what this ordinance uh is.

I just want to be really clear, and I've had multiple conversations with council members and community members.

There's nothing in this ordinance that's going to stop ICE.

Nothing.

We could pass this tonight or another day, and it's not going to stop ICE.

They can totally disregard it and do whatever it is that they want.

So I just want to be clear about what our restrictions are.

I wish we could do something to stop ice from coming into this community.

Okay.

But this piece of code and no other code that we currently know even exists or could even be available is ever going to do that.

So I just want to be clear as we're doing things in support of our immigrant community of our immigrant community.

It's not for us, it's not about stopping ICE in my mind.

Because for me personally, and I know a lot of my colleagues feel like this, we're nothing but a muse and reflection, a muse for which we are representing the community.

So the things that you want, we try to represent, or at least I try to represent and make sure that I'm speaking and advocating on behalf of.

They have a position, and we want to respect those two.

So as you're hearing tonight, voices that may not represent yours, understand that they probably represent someone else's in the community.

So let's be as respectful as we as we possibly can.

Um and so with that, I will pass over to uh councilwoman Alfaro to put put in everything that I probably missed, and then from there we could uh start having a discussion.

And so that's the the point of today is the you know a lot of the council.

Um the council actually received this on Friday as I as I was saying, um the final draft of it uh they just received on Friday, and so there's a lot to go through and to think about here, and so tonight is the the point of having the having a conversation and asking the questions and things of that nature.

So far, all right.

Uh thank you.

Uh thank you to the community who has given us feedback who have been vocal and letting us know what they want and what they didn't want in this ordinance.

Um thank you to my council members who took my calls um to make sure that what they had requested at the December 3rd meeting was reflected into this draft ordinance, and thank you to staff for taking the time to answering all our questions and working on on drafting this.

Um so some things to keep in mind, um, some of the stuff that you have seen already in in previous work, like the resolution, etc.

on the ice free zone, some of that information is in here.

Um so I just want to name a couple of things um and go through it.

So one of the things we had said was that every six months the city council would get a report.

We have changed that timeline to every other month.

There is a lot of things happening.

Um things are moving very quickly, and so we want to make sure the city council is aware of what's going on in a timely manner.

So that has been changed in here from things that we have seen in the past.

In addition to that, um, we have put in information on a civil engagement.

Um, and you'll see for the language access plan, the civil engagement, the procurement economic development, everything has exact same time of 180 days.

So in anticipation that all that could come back at the same time for discussion with the council.

The civic engagement is to provide education to the community, want the community to understand and how to get involved with city council, how to contact us, um, what's the difference between the resolution and ordinance, et cetera, and work alongside our community partners.

Um, and then ensure there's a uh a plan for language access.

Some of the stuff in here I think should have been done a long time ago.

Language access plan should have been done a long time ago.

Um, the city has been doing a lot of things.

There's different departments who've been taking in their own initiative to do things, but this helps ensure that it's in writing, it is in code, and so this is a standard regardless of who's sitting up here, right?

And so in two years, when there's elections in four years, etc.

It doesn't matter who's in here, it is in writing.

The other thing we have in here is the economic development and procurement.

So any organizations or third parties that are PSAs or public service agreements.

Did I get that right?

Okay.

Um public service agreements that we have with the community who do support us for economic development, we'll have to ensure that they have an intentionality to the two groups that we have identified in here.

We're using terminology from the US Department of Treasury, socially economically disadvantaged individuals, also known as SETI, which include English as a limited proficiency, um, it includes minorities, veterans, gender, etc., to make sure that they're reaching out to those business owners so they can procure and get contracts from the city.

In addition, very small businesses, businesses with less than 10 full-time employees, we want to make sure there is a plan in place to get contracts in the city, but also the people that we give contracts to are including those two demographics.

Um the language access plan, make sure everything is translated.

You saw today we're testing something out with closed captions, but also looking at how do you get these materials, these agendas, the meeting packets also in Spanish and other languages, etc.

And so I kind of don't want to take too much time because I know it's late and want to leave it open for more discussion between the council.

Okay, anybody else just Powell Thank you, Mayor Captain, and thank you to my colleagues, uh Councilman Dixon and Councilwoman Alfaro for uh leading this effort and bringing this forward.

Um thank you to the members of the community um here in person as well as that um have reached out to us either online or by telephone or text um with their feedback and their support for passing such an ordinance.

Um I fully support the inclusive direction of this ordinance.

I think it's long overdue.

Um I think it codifies, which is important, you know, some work that we're already doing, but also codifies work that we need to do more of.

Um, if we're gonna pass an inclusivity ordinance, I want to make sure that our equity framework is not limited to immigration status.

If we are advancing an inclusivity ordinance, we should operate prioritize equity in a way that is both immigration inclusive and race conscious, and that's the portion of that's what I see is missing in the draft that we have in front of us.

Um and I understand it's just a draft, it's it's you know something that we we can continue with, but if we're truly going to be inclusive, that is a critical piece that we have to include here, um, and that will be necessary for me to see um moving forward.

Um we have to ensure that long-standing disparities affecting both black and brown residents are intentionally addressed, intentionally addressed in our economic development, civil legal assistance, um, access to services and provisions that are addressed in this ordinance.

If we are codifying inclusity, let us do so in a way that is comprehensive.

This ensures that this ordinance is indeed inclusive as well as principled and constructive.

Um I just want to point out a couple of areas where I think we can some of the things that I'm talking about to make this a stronger, more inclusive ordinance, um, and include uh the the race issue, uh you know, make sure that it's it's addressing racial disparities as well as immigration issues, which I um I obviously support.

Um in the purpose section, I would like to see us broaden the purpose clause to explicitly recognize racial disparities in policing and economic access, um commitment to equitable treatment across race, national origin, and immigration status.

Um in the economic development chapter, um it references uh social socially and economically disadvantaged individuals using the federal treasury language.

Um I just want to make sure that it addresses local disparity issues in contracting inequities.

It kind of talks about it, but it doesn't talk about how we're going to do that, and it definitely doesn't talk about measurement because equity without measurement is symbolic, and I don't want this to be symbolic because I'm and I think councilman Dixon you know prefits this that this ordinance unfortunately will not stop ice from coming to our communities.

I get that, but there are some things that we can do with this ordinance that will make things better for disadvantaged residents in our community, and that is something that we as a city council have the ability and the responsibility to do for folks in our community.

Now, as far as what's going on at the federal level, we need to hold those folks accountable for what they are doing in our community with ICE and their their lack of leadership and allowing the horrific things that are happening to our immigrant community.

We need to hold them accountable.

We need to hold them uh accountable.

Um but today I I want us to really take a look at all the things that we talk about here and how when we're out and you know, whether it's the mayor or my my other fellow council members, and we talk about how great the diversity is of our community, and and it is it is wonderful, but what are we doing to address the disparities and some of the issues that our diverse community are suffering from?

And this ordinance has to address that, and and and and we we can put some teeth in here.

Um so those are some of the things, and I can I'll go down the line for a couple of other things.

Um capacity building technical assistance strategies designed to address barriers faced by historically underrepresented racial and ethnic communities and procurement.

Um looking at the legal the civil legal assistance fund, I want that broadened to include civil matters uh that disproportionately affect other minority communities, you know, such as housing discrimination, predatory lending, um eviction defense issues, um, and require demographic reporting to track who's using the service and how it's being used.

So those are some of the things, you know.

I I'm I I want to hear a little bit more about you know how this is gonna be framed with the civil legal assistance fund, but again, I want this to be more inclusive for the benefit of other disadvantaged residents in our community.

There are folks that you know send us emails, you know, they are looking for assistance, they are about to be evicted from their apartment, and they don't have anywhere to go, and they don't have the ability to access you know to hire an attorney to assist them to you know to stay in their their apartment or their home.

So again, in favor of you know, looking at this, but I want to make sure that there's some other folks in this community that could use this same assistance as well.

Um I have some just scrolling down my list.

Um those are just some of the the things I have right offhand, but um I'm I'm open to listening to some some other input from from from my colleagues, but I I appreciate this as a first draft and a first step.

Um but but ultimately I want whatever it is that we adopt to be meaningful and to have some teeth in it and be like I said um relevant and important um and helpful to not only our immigrant community but our black and brown community in particular.

Thank you.

Okay, anybody else?

Ms.

Martinez, thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, everybody for staying as late as it is.

I just want to ask anybody that's up here, you know, if um it's ever happened to you that ICE has come to your house, you know, and I look around and probably not, but it did happen to me.

It happened to me when I was five years old, and um it's traumatizing, you never get over it, you know.

That was over 60 years ago, and then I have talked about it, I've been very open about having um the status of waiting to be deported.

Okay, I don't think anybody else has had that, but I have and um I appreciate the comments that uh councilman Dixon and Councilwoman uh Powell have said, you know, I'm just worried that something like this gives people the fall false pretense, okay, that we're gonna okay and it's fine because like they explained, it's really the federal government.

It's not surprising to me because even in the first um term, and you put children into you take them away from their families, five thousand of them, you know, that that's that's un-American.

Okay, and like I said, to this day, there's still 500 that probably will never be connected back to their families.

So what's happening now, it's horrific.

It really really is.

But let me tell you, don't forget that Algin, Alden is a good community.

Alden's a great community, it's very diverse.

I think that's why a lot of people have stayed here, you know.

Like um, I know some people, this is very sad, but I know some people that have been in this community and have lived in this community for decades, and they're undocumented, and they've been here because they feel safe.

And unfortunately, I know some that for whatever reason will never be able to be residents, and much less um U.S.

citizens, but they're still here.

Okay.

I think Elgin has done a good job in being diverse and welcoming.

We've never had something like this, you know.

Um I I was kind of surprised the lady was right who said the speaker who said um when somebody talked and and was wondering why, you know, they wanted to hear from people from the stakeholders, I think it was said.

I don't know.

And I too was surprised because people who are undocumented, they don't come, you know.

You need to go to them.

And I have.

I've talked to a lot of them about this.

And uh the fear is there.

And it's not because it's Algin, the fear is because of the federal government, how we're being treated.

And uh, you know, I my fear and my concern here is that this talks about documented and undocumented.

How can you look at somebody and tell what they are, if they're documented or not documented, you know.

Uh of the three Latinos that are here, and probably the darkest one, you know, and yeah, it used to bother me when people come up to me and are always asking me if I speak English.

You know, I was born and raised here, but they can't tell just by looking at me, you know.

But I do look very Mexican, and I'm very proud of it.

Um I'm second generation in this country, and um my nieces and nephews and their children, they're considered fourth generation.

You know, but it doesn't it doesn't matter, you know, we're all human.

You know, what I this is what I love about Algin.

I was really excited when I when I read this part of the of the ordinance that is being presented.

The city of Algin welcomes diversity and believes that all individuals living in and visiting the city of Algin should be treated fairly and with respect and dignity, and that's true.

I've always felt that way in Algin.

Are there some people that made me feel uncomfortable?

You know, that's on them.

Not everybody's perfect, but I really feel that the majority of the people feel safe here.

Is it uh the outside that comes and scares us?

Yeah, you know, uh, I'm somebody who um uh even though I was born here, my first language is Spanish.

Um my parents instilled in us our culture and our customs from Mexico, and we're bilingual, and our success is uh because we've always blended into the community, you know.

Like I look at you as a person, you know, I look at you as is a neighbor, you know, how we look like, you know, we're all residents of Algin.

And um our success is like I said, blending, and we never asked or expected anything, and we're known for our strong work ethic.

Okay, I just have some questions because these things were brought up.

Um I was surprised to see the prohibition on use of city-owned property, and either councilman Dixon or Fado.

I I just want to know why this is um being included in here.

You know, we already have uh a resolution, and we discussed it on September 9th council meeting, discussed it for hours, and it was approved as a resolution, and um it was a nine-zero vote, and so I just want to know why this was put in because you know they say they talked to us, nobody talked to me, and as I read this, um, you know, I I went through it and um I went through it, and I all these whereas, the one and the 11 were the ones that I agree with, and I almost agreed with eight.

Um the whereas eight, because it starts with due to the city's limited resources.

Um you know, excuse me, but I was very quiet when other people talked, okay.

Just listen to me, just listen to me, okay?

That's all.

Miss Martinez has the floor.

I'm just trying to explain things that people don't know.

The lady in back, the lady in back, probably about my I remember we we talked.

I you know, I offered myself and I said, hey, any time we had a great conversation.

Here's a lot of things that people don't understand with a municipality.

So what happens is right here, uhs related to immigration enforcement operation.

I think this is not necessary because to put into this document.

The city has partnered with Centre Informacion.

That has existed here.

I'm sorry, can you repeat that part again?

I just want to take note.

It's on page 12.

Page 12.

Calls related to immigration enforcement operations.

I think this is saying it's not necessary to put into this document because the city has always partnered very well with Centre Información that has existed in our community for more than 50 years.

YWCA, Casa Michacana, and they're all bilingual.

This is what I love about this community that we're not afraid to work with with people.

So the part uh that says limited access to limited English, I believe the city of Algen, this organization has like 90 percent in all their departments that um are bilingual, and that's done because the majority of us, we are the minority that are the majority, and I think that that's good.

The other the other thing is I don't know if you guys remember, I see a lot of you here that were present at um we had a town hall meeting.

And in that town hall meeting, what happened was it was 200 to 250 people that were there, and uh it was a good meeting because you know people have to let it out how they feel.

And I was what I noticed is that we had two translators, the city paid for two translators, and for the two hours, two and a half hours that we were there, nobody used them.

No, and um concern is how much is this gonna cost?

I know.

I was go ahead.

You know, I was just gonna ask you, um, have you taken into consideration how much this is gonna cost?

Do you think we care about it?

Until until this budget, until this budget, this is the first time that we've had to raise taxes because to cover a shortfall of four million dollars.

And this budget was approved in December.

For the year of 2026, it's the first time ever that I have seen the vote be eight to one, eight approved and one disapprove.

Historically, for all these years to not have our taxes go up, you know, we we've been very mindful.

You know, historically, it has always been approved unanimously.

And for the person who voted disapproved, how are we gonna pay for all these things?

You know, everything that has come up and that we had asked for uh a vote to approve it, they've said yes, they're nine votes unanimously, but if you say no to the budget, you know, how are we gonna pay for it?

I would rather see that this document says all residents to me that's truly inclusive.

This is inclusivity when you all of them.

You're a resident of Algen, so you're included in this.

And lastly, what I want to know is um just and lastly, what I'd like to let you know is I just want to know where maybe I missed it.

Does this document does it say where is it written that this document will prevent what happened on Chippewa Drive in Maple Lane?

I don't know.

We've already heard no active outrage.

You're the one who up here.

Yeah.

Anybody else at the council from the council?

Well, if we look at the address or questions, yeah.

We'll start.

Um I just want to understand it.

Okay, read it.

I appreciate it.

And I'm we'll we'll do our best to try to address your questions and concerns.

Sure, I appreciate it.

Okay.

Um I'll start with the calls related to immigration enforcement operations, right?

The 311.

Right.

Um where um I actually asked for asked for us to consider two things.

Um, and I don't mean that the on the diet was actually you know with the city manager and and Chief Lally in conversation.

And there were two things.

Um create a page on our website where a resident can go to find resources for uh immigration, immigration resources.

Um and Chief Liley created that.

That's actually on the police department.

You know, I actually thought if she forgot about it, she actually surprised me with it.

Okay, so I I take my hat off to her for for doing that.

And on that page, just so that the community knows you can go there and see the ice free zone um resolution and uh everything else that we've done, even the letter that we sent off to to Springfield.

Okay, so that was that was the one thing.

And then the second thing was to educate our 311 operators to be able to receive calls surrounding immigration, not so that they themselves will be the you know, be the case worker or anything like that.

Yeah, but you know, knowing where to direct them.

That's pretty much it.

It's it's not that you know all the inform all they'll take on additional roles or anything like that.

No, they're they're doing their job as they normally do.

You know, this is just uh you know a separate you know, item in which they can just direct people to the to where they need to be, if that's our website to the website page that I just mentioned, or if it that's to um centro de información or some other yeah, YMCA or whatever.

That's it.

So just to put that in the layman's terms.

But just also to to add that responsibility of protecting the community doesn't fall just on centro de información.

It doesn't fall just on Casa Mio Chocon.

No, no, no, no.

It falls on us too as a as a government.

That's really that's really what it is.

That's what but I but it is a shared responsibility, right?

Right?

That's partner with them.

Right, we partner with them, but the fall does not fall just on them, and that's why we had that put in here to make sure that this there is some teeth to it, right?

And then just to address what you were saying, um everyone matters, of course everyone matters, but all lies mattering something is not intentional.

We're trying to be intentional with this ordinance.

We're trying to make sure people who have been left out who feel left out are being included, and there's an intentionality to make sure that immigrants are hurt and seen, making sure that as councilwoman Powell had mentioned that other diverse groups are hurt and seen in this ordinance because just ain't everyone matters.

Sometimes it loses people, it leaves people out.

Yeah, now please calm down because I've talked to people who go ahead and why I'm I'm just answering your response.

I'm just answering.

We can hear you yelling up here, so I think all you're doing is stopping the meeting, so just let them talk.

Let them stay in the phone.

That's why I keep saying they stay here.

Just be quiet.

But they just like to be uh, you know, they don't want to be like the center attention.

That's why they you know, because I know people that when they are gonna go see their lawyer, they're looking at the phone to make sure that ice isn't around.

That's terrible to live like that.

But you know why?

Because what happens is that this right here is uh we're living unprecedented times.

We've always said that.

Yeah, and so to do what do you want to do then, Councilmember Martinez?

Do nothing.

What is your solution then, please?

I'm willing to hear it.

Well, you know, I that's why I don't understand why nobody called me, you know.

You said that you talked to us and I wasn't called.

I talked to the individuals whose components were missing from the December third meeting, right?

And I'm just trying to understand that because you know, I I sit with 311.

I know the questions that come in.

I all right.

You know, like I said, I'm just worried that this right here is gonna give people the false pretense that this is the do all the time.

This is why a civil engagement component was in there, so we could educate the community on the differences of a resolution of an ordinance to where this can fall and whatnot.

And this is why council member Powell and Dixon has indicated this does not stop ice from coming in.

What it is doing is making sure that our community is feeling heard and seen, and other communities who haven't felt that are feeling that.

And I get that.

That's why I've gone and talked to people because they're scared to come.

They're scared to come here.

You're right, we've got that.

They're not just going to come and get them.

You're reaching to the choir.

Don't make her look like I can grab the quote Tino, but she did nothing like to do with the shape.

She didn't know that.

Don't do that.

Not wrong.

Um I've been we're hearing, we had working with you now.

They're not gonna come to a city council.

That's exactly what I'm saying as well.

That's why.

That's why I have gone out to them.

Mayor and I can't.

I'm requesting that we hand the floor off to another council member so we can hear from additional council members at this time.

Okay.

I'd like to make a couple comments.

Um I got this thing the same time as everybody else did.

I have about four pages of questions, but they're small questions as part of this thing.

I think uh I see a problem with the document.

And the document because of the parts, each one of these things I look as something that is a standalone resolution or an ordinance.

I look at economic development, I look at the communication, and if you do this this way, you diminish the whole.

You diminish the the the individual parts.

The immigration part fell off the table here.

We're talking at we're looking at different things now.

And we're starting to talk about different things.

I would prefer to see these come back as individual parts.

I don't care how you want to chapter it or or do it.

But some of these things are going to require additional personnel, they're going to require fees.

There's going to require different types of um teeth.

Let's put it that way.

There's not going to be one set of teeth that's going to take care of all of these things.

So you're throwing them all in the same bucket and think you're going to solve it all at one time and you can't.

I I think I have the floor.

I think I gave myself the point.

So I think this, I think this is best served if you bring it back and we talk about each one of these things as a single uh possibility as a single ordinance and pass it as a piece.

It's not going to take longer.

It's going to take the same amount of things.

It's gonna make it's gonna take the same amount of it's gonna have I've been doing this for a long time.

And I'm gonna tell you, I'm gonna tell you it makes it more difficult to pass the whole when these parts are like this.

It'd be easier to pass a part at a time.

Economic development, economic development is a totally different subject here compared to what language access is.

So you can do these separately and still accomplish the same thing.

That's my that's my that's that's my thought.

And I think it should they should come back.

Uh we need staff to uh be involved here.

Uh staff has been doing many things as you just saw with the language access, that's part of this.

How do we clean this up and make it so it's more easily to pass as a as a uh um two or three or four documents, however you however you want to see it.

If you try to pass this thing as a whole, be sitting here for a long time because people are gonna see people are gonna see different things.

I think it'd be uh it'd be quicker.

You've got 180 days to do each of these, send them, say turn it back to staff and say we'd like to see this back in 180 days, each one of these things.

And do them at a separate.

When we're out there in the streets getting knocked on our ass.

And how is the economic development thing gonna help you with that?

It's not gonna help you.

I'm just saying, so you've just diminished the the point that you came to talk about because you put all of these things here.

If you want to talk about uh talk about a welcoming ordinance and helping out in the street, the economic development part is not gonna help you.

Yeah, it's gonna take for years.

Yeah, but I'm saying that's not gonna help it right now.

It's not gonna help the situation that they're saying.

Yeah, I know that.

That's what I'm saying.

And this is I think there's a I think it I think it's the best way to start is to try to do these as individuals.

I certainly appreciate your feedback.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, okay.

Um let me offer you another perspective.

Yeah.

Okay.

From what I've seen around the country when it comes to these types of ordinances.

Okay, they're used as umbrellas.

Umbrella code umbrellas by which everything immigration related falls under for the municipalities that have them.

Okay.

These welcoming city ordinances-ish, whatever you want to call them, have been around since the 70s.

Okay.

So this is not anything new.

But in the municipalities, specifically in the state of Illinois that have had them.

What they have done over the years is they just update their ordinance.

It's not headlines every time they change it, because we receive different administrations, different federal governments, different state governments, things of that nature, different populations as far as the residents are concerned.

Communities change.

So these types of ordinance uh are uh are in place as an umbrella by which all things immigration can live under so that it can be reflective of the community over time.

So I just want to offer you that.

Okay.

And here's the here's the thing that I think we miss sometimes when we're having these types of conversation.

We don't understand sometimes how one thing is connected to the other.

Today is a perfect example of how one thing affects one, you think it is affecting one community and it affects multiple communities.

We talked about the plastic bags.

Climate action or the lack of climate action affects disproportionately black and brown communities more than anybody.

That's just an absolute fact.

So it's not lost on me, as Councilwoman Powell pointed out, that we're having that conversation while we're also having this conversation.

Because what's happening with those plastic bags also affects us as a municipality and not just the greater world because of climate change.

So my point is is that when it comes to things like procurement, when it comes to things like the municipal ID, yes, it does affect the immigrant community for sure, but it also can support and also affect uh other black and brown communities.

And so everybody that needs to benefit from these types of things being in place, they benefit.

Let me give you another example, and specifically to the municipal ID, and I think Councilwoman Martinez, I think you might have mentioned in some in some port, but some part, but let me mention this part too.

Um the municipal IDs, if we were to change around this language, you know, just a little bit to allow others to benefit from it.

For example, um we have a houseless community, and the houseless community has a really, really hard time achieving the proper identification.

I know this as a former caseworker.

I know this as a government uh administrator who has worked with the population that we are talking about today, being the immigrant population, um, but also being people who are who have other barriers because they've been incarcerated or they have mental health issues.

This also help could also help support them too as well.

And just to speak to your to your point, Mayor, um it's not just about right now, and I I feel that that's a really disingenuous argument because I can't count how many times I've heard you talk about we make decisions not for the day, but we make decisions for the future city 25, 50 years out.

So if it if it's yeah, so if it's not just for you know, so some of the stuff will be effective today, but we're not really just thinking about today.

We're thinking how you said you think, which is 10, 15, 50 years in advance, you know, we want to be progressive.

We don't want a reactive community, we want a proactive community.

So that's just me speaking respectfully to to your thoughts and your ideas to the right.

I understand and I agree with that.

I don't I don't think that's the issue.

But when you talk about this, when people are talking about an ID card, uh they need that as an as assistance, and they need assistance today in dealing with what's going on out on the street with ice.

If you want to wait, yeah, and that could drag, and that's and this could drag out for a long time to try to to try to uh um approve all of these things that are that are isolated in here.

I think there's some we always talk about let's get the low-hanging fruit out of the way first.

So you can do that if you separate this.

If you don't, if you don't want to separate it, then those things will be stay hanging there with the rest of them.

Well, there are some things that we can do to accelerate moving some of this along to help address some of the problems that are here and still look long term.

You can think you can think short term, think long term, but act uh uh short term and try to do that as well.

That's that's my point.

I want to hear from I want to hear from everybody.

I just want to say I don't want to sit here wishing.

Okay, yeah, yeah.

We we could talk off, we can talk offline.

I want to hear from everybody.

Uh I want to make sure.

But can I just say one last one one last thing?

When it when it comes to separating um all these items, don't get me wrong.

I'm not saying we have it all figured out.

No, I know I don't.

I don't either.

I don't have all the answers.

I don't.

I'm not the smartest person in this room.

I am not.

But what I am is an advocate, and I know in listening to my community, your community, our community that we love and care about, that we spent our lives in, that we've raised our families in, that we have neighbors who we care about that we've known for all our lives.

I know that an ordinance like this, even though it's not fully fleshed out, that I have faith in you, I have faith in Ms.

I have faith in Ms.

Martinez, I have faith in Councilman Ortiz, I have I have faith in Councilman Thorne and everybody else up here that collectively with city with city staff assistance that we can figure this out.

Yep.

This isn't rocket science.

Now, is it going to take work?

Absolutely.

Is it going to take time?

Absolutely.

But I'm just telling you all that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to flesh whatever needs to be fleshed out to assist staff in getting whatever answers and direction that they need in order to make this a workable document that's not just reflective of what we put on paper between you know the three of us, being me and Councilwoman Alfaro and corporate counsel, but is truly reflective of all of us and in our entire community.

That's my pledge.

Yeah.

That's where we're headed.

Okay.

That's why we have the that's why we have the discussion.

Okay, all right.

Thank you.

I so I appreciate it.

But I yeah, thank you.

Uh councilman good, I think wanted to speak.

Okay, Mr.

Good.

Um all right.

So uh going back to December third, I know some of you are here for that meeting.

Um, you know, we ended it in a very confusing manner, right?

Which has been one of the issues throughout this entire process is just confusion in general, right?

It's being uh induced intentionally by the federal level.

Um we've got things that are happening at the state, that's another layer of complexity, and then we have what's happening now.

So I I really hope I I kind of pled on the third of December, and again tonight is that I do think that um even before I got here and some of my colleagues that staff and council have built up trust in the community.

That's our biggest thing right now is like do you trust us?

I can tell you I've I've heard from the folks here in the room.

Uh but the the point is that trust is an asset.

And what we see right now, right now is language access that's happening on the TV as of tonight.

That's a policy that moved faster than this.

So what I said December 3rd, and what I've said to people when I spoke in the community, is like would you trust us to work with us towards a different vehicle, not different values.

I think what we've shown in some of our votes that went 9-0, the actions that have taken place in this community, um, what we've seen how our police has uh work to accomplish better relationships with the community, uh, is that we can work together on policy items as this is going on.

And so that was the plead on the third of December was can we get one item going tonight that actually takes off because we trust staff to do the work.

And what we saw tonight is some of that bared out.

I think what we're having a debate over right now is uh a vehicle versus the values.

We heard some, yeah, there's some items in here, and and I will say I think what we're also hearing from some of our veterans up here is that the more that you pack into something, the more opportunities there are for objection or for nitpicking.

And so I would just say I'm not I'm not disputing what we have in front of us.

The values here I think are aligned by the majority of the organization.

It's the vehicle in which we we use right now this specific point in time.

And so I've spoke with people that have said varying different things about what the feds are doing or are not doing.

What we do know is that they are deploying forces that are vindictive and violating laws that are on the book.

So we're in the middle of a constitutional crisis.

We're in the middle of a constitutional crisis right now.

So the things that I think are the most important is that we're able to move quickly and leverage the asset that we have in our community, which is trust between staff, council, community.

That doesn't exist without you all here tonight saying, like, hey, we're gonna be here, we're gonna watch your next election, we're gonna vote you out.

That's the mechanism at work, right?

The thing is is do you trust us to pick up the phone?

Even if we're gonna have a disagreement on how we do something, can you find out what our values are?

Are we aligned and do we have an agreement on how we're moving forward?

I had a chance to meet with some of the folks from the Kofi group.

We sat in that meeting for hours, and I think we we were pretty transparent.

We shared where we were coming from.

Don't know if we agreed on everything, but I hope that that was trust that we cultivated that they will they can reach out, we'll be in contact, we'll have that meeting, we'll have that conversation.

So I don't exactly know how things are gonna shake out tonight.

All I'm saying is I hope that you are seeing the same city that I'm seeing is A, it's room for improvement always, but that we have cultivated trust, and this is the one thing that we can leverage right now more than fees and finances and stuff to to fund these, is that do you trust us to work with staff to bring forward programs to prioritize these lists and expedite them and bring them forward as fast as possible?

So that's um, I think something that I wanted to frame this conversation as is the values versus the vehicle in which we take to get there.