Elgin City Council Committee of the Whole and Regular Meeting - March 25, 2026

The Elgin City Council met on March 25, 2026, for a Committee of the Whole and Regular City Council meeting. The session included routine approvals, a presentation on micromobility devices, extensive public comment, and a lengthy discussion on a proposed ordinance to foster inclusivity and diversity. The council also debated the process for analyzing the ordinance, ultimately passing a motion directing staff to evaluate both policy and ordinance options.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (March 11, 2026): Approved 7-0-1 (Councilmember Powell abstained).
• Change Order – Riverside Water Treatment Plant & Well 5A (Roof Rehabilitation): Approved 9-0.
• Resolution – Cook County Class 6B Tax Incentive for 1717 Gifford Road (Axiom Packaging): Approved 9-0. The project involves $25 million purchase, $30 million in improvements/equipment, and creation of 200 full-time jobs.
• Security Services Agreement – Edward Schock Centre, Lords Park, Wing Park (Andy Frain Services): Approved 9-0.
• Athletic Facility Improvement Grant Funding Recipients: Approved 9-0. Six organizations received grants totaling $150,000.
• Renewal Agreement – Live 911 Software (Higher Ground Inc.): Approved 9-0.
• Bid – Drake Field Concession Stand Renovation (Cleary Construction, $49,250): Approved 9-0.
• Bid – Portland Cement Contract (Ozinga Ready Mixed Concrete, not to exceed $100,000): Approved 9-0.
• Bid – Asphalt Groups 1 and 2 (not to exceed $350,000): Approved 9-0.
• Bid – Golf Course Landscaping Supplies (lowest responsible bidder, $163,029): Approved 9-0.
• St. Francis Park Soccer Field Renewal (Omni of Purchasing Agreement, $35,850): Approved 9-0.
• Conditional Use – 85 Market Street (Adaptive Reuse for Church): Approved 9-0.
• Resolution – Kane County Child Advocacy Center Agreement: Approved 8-0-1 (Councilmember Ortiz abstained).
• Resolution – Economic Development Services Agreement with Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce: Approved 8-0-1 (Councilmember Zalfaro abstained).
• Resolution – Amendment with Thomas Engineering Group (2025 Parking Lot & Alley Maintenance): Approved 8-0-1 (Councilmember Zalfaro abstained).
• Consent Agenda: Approved 9-0.
• Miscellaneous Business: Approved 9-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Committee of the Whole (prior to regular meeting):

• Hank Romero: Spoke about environmental cleanup, homelessness, and immigration. Urged penalties for littering and river clean-up. Time expired before completing comments.
• Susannah Padilla: Expressed support for the inclusivity and diversity ordinance. Described community fear and called for breaking generational cycles. Stated she has collected 76 signatures in favor of the ordinance.
• Sandy Skolski: Moved to Elgin 10 years ago because a child felt safe walking home; now children do not feel safe. Urged council to protect the community.
• Lucy Lopez (Elgin Parents with Power): Stated that no cities adopting similar ordinances have faced negative consequences; community feels safer and more welcomed.
• Emma Sherman: Lifelong Elgin resident. Asked council to vote yes on the ordinance; noted many friends are scared to leave their homes.
• Maria Elena (Lena) Almar: Expressed support for the ordinance. Noted immigrant community trusts people but not institutions. Criticized council members Ortiz and Martinez: "it doesn't matter how much you vote against your own people, you will never achieve the proximity to whiteness that you crave." Thanked Councilmembers Dixon and Alfaro for sponsorship.
• Diana Ortega: Supported the ordinance. Urged council to listen to all residents equally and not be swayed by false arguments or doubt within ethnic communities.
• Caroline Hernandez: Supported the ordinance. Noted she has transcribed all council minutes and heard not one person object to the ordinance at meetings. Criticized Councilmembers Martinez and Ortiz for voting against "Latino issues."
• Tracy (Gracie) Howell: Urged council to work together and take action sooner rather than later; community trust has been eroded.

Regular City Council (public comment):

• Charles Graf: Supported the ordinance; noted his mixed-race family moved to Elgin for its diversity. Said students have missed school due to safety fears.
• Liliana Jackson: Expressed anger and disappointment that the ordinance lacks backing. Demanded codification, translators, and funds for ICE-affected families. Accused some council members of not listening.
• Unnamed speaker (woman): Declared it feels "stupid" to have to convince officials to treat undocumented immigrants with dignity. Referenced historical dehumanization (three-fifths compromise). Challenged council: "What are you afraid of?"
• Lewis Wilkins: Compared current situation to historical slave patrols and internment. Argued the ordinance is about fundamental human rights. Challenged cost concerns: "Can you afford not to spend that money?"
• Unnamed speaker (mother): Accused council members Martinez and Ortiz of being "accessories to crime" if they vote no. Called them "ignorant Latinos" and said they use minorities for support but don't stand with the oppressed.
• Jennifer Rosalas: Spoke against Councilmember Good, saying he imposed his reality and ignored data that most ICE detainees have no criminal record. Criticized Martinez and Ortiz for celebrating Latino culture but not protecting the community.
• Susana Padilla (Rescue Our Children Organization): Asked why, if Elgin is a welcoming city, the council would not vote yes on the ordinance. Quoted scripture.
• Unnamed speaker (woman, loud): Criticized council for not engaging with protestors meaningfully. Accused some of talking only about football. Demanded action, not just statements.

Discussion Items

• Micromobility Devices Presentation: Senior Management Analyst Gio Hungo and Police Commander Scott Holmes presented an overview of state and local issues with e-bikes, e-scooters, and other devices. They reviewed current regulations, enforcement data (31 calls for service and 14 citations since 2021), and state legislative developments. Staff recommended waiting for state action before adopting local ordinances, but presented options if state fails to act. Council discussed potential safety concerns, data underreporting, and the need for future classification and tracking. No vote was taken.
• Inclusivity and Diversity Ordinance (Item G): Council engaged in extensive debate over the proposed 20-page ordinance. Councilmembers Dixon and Alfaro, the sponsors, advocated for keeping it as an ordinance for legal weight and transparency. City Manager stated staff needed at least 60 days to research and analyze the ordinance, as well as additional amendments from council members. Some council members (Good, Martinez, Ortiz) argued for breaking the ordinance into policy components that could be implemented faster, while others (Powell, Dixon, Alfaro) insisted on a comprehensive ordinance.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Direct Staff Analysis (by Councilmember Ortiz): Moved that city staff perform an analysis of both the proposed ordinance and policy alternatives, including all council member comments, and provide recommendations and a status update at the first meeting in June 2026. The motion passed 5-4 (Good, Martinez, Ortiz, Thorne, Mayor Captain in favor; Zalfaro, Dixon, Powell, Stefan opposed). The city manager noted he could not commit to definitive recommendations on all components by June but would provide a status update.
• Presentation on Micromobility Devices: No action taken; council will monitor state legislation and receive updates.
• All consent calendar and bid items were approved as listed.