OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joliet Pre-Council Meeting - October 6, 2025

Meeting Portal — Monday, October 6, 2025
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, October 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 57:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:17

Good evening.

0:18

Welcome to the City of Joliet pre-council meeting for Monday, October 6th, 2025, at 5 30 in City Hall, Council Chambers with the Honorable Mayor Terry Darcy Presiding.

0:33

We'll begin with roll call.

0:34

Mayor Darcy.

0:36

Councilman Cardinals.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Councilman Clement?

0:38

Here.

0:39

Councilman Hug.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Councilman Navarro?

0:42

Here.

0:42

Councilman Moreno?

0:43

Here.

0:44

Councilman Mudron.

0:45

Here.

0:45

Councilman Quomen.

0:47

Here.

0:47

Councilman Rurdin.

0:48

Here.

0:50

First, we have a presentation.

0:52

Economic development updates presented by Paulina Martinez, economic development director.

1:38

All right.

1:39

Good evening, members of the council.

1:41

Mayor, my name is Paulina Martinez, economic development director.

1:44

I also have my colleague Emily McGuire here with me, who's also part of the team.

1:50

Today we'll be talking about some internal indicators as well as some external indicators to kind of gauge how the situation is going in Joliet.

2:09

Okay, hold on.

2:13

Good evening.

2:14

To begin, I'd like to share a few of the economic development divisions key performance indicators.

2:20

Currently, we have 30 active internal projects in our pipeline.

2:24

These include notable efforts such as the redevelopment of key properties in downtown Joliet and the leasing of the former migraine space at Union Station.

2:33

In addition, we are actively collaborating with the Will County Center for Economic Development on 20 separate projects.

2:39

Of those, 15 are focused on ag tech or trucking, distribution, and logistics.

2:45

Our team has been focused on several new initiatives and special projects.

2:49

In June, Joliet proudly hosted the IHSA Boys State Tournament with a total of 7,773 tickets sold throughout the weekend, bringing both visibility and economic activity to the community.

3:09

This program offers significant incentives for redevelopment, and we anticipate bringing the final application to City Council within the next month.

3:18

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, our team has conducted 129 business visits so far this year.

3:25

These visits are a core part of our strategy to better understand the needs of our local business community, ensuring they have the support to remain and grow right here in Joliet.

3:37

Yeah, so um some of the impact that some of these business visits have is really creating trust in the community and having them uh feel confident enough to come to us uh whenever they have issues.

3:48

One example was that in one of our visits, um we had a series of um businesses complain about a strong chemical odor within their plaza.

3:59

So we um worked closely with the building department as well as neighborhood services to address this issue.

4:08

So small things like that really create um some trust in in staff in in the city, it creates that uh good work in relationship with the community.

4:18

And another one of the initiatives that we're working it with is with the Heritage Corridor on tourism.

4:26

So one of these initiatives is the story of art in America.

4:29

This is a series uh that goes around the country featuring artists in different communities.

4:35

For 2026, they'll be on their fourth season, and they will be featuring communities around Route 66.

4:42

Joliet will have its own episode.

4:44

We will be the first community that will be featured in the series, and we were gonna be the only community in Illinois who's gonna be featured.

4:52

Um five artists will have their work featured in this uh episode, who include Beverly Wines, Angelica Aguilar, Ushmar Torres, Marietta Joliet, uh, as well as Donna Frank Frank Stately.

5:08

Other key performance indicators include business licenses, vacancy rate, and unemployment rate.

5:13

As you can see so far, we have 65 new business licenses.

5:17

We're also keep trying to keep track of the businesses that have closed so far.

5:21

Those are a little harder to track because they don't report to the city when they close, but we do our best to be out in the community and reading the news to see what has been reported.

5:32

So in total, we calculate that we have 53 new net businesses in Joliet.

5:37

We have an overall 12 vacancy rate in Joliet, and I will go into this a little more in later slides.

5:44

But overall, our retail and office vacancy rates, as you can see, is pretty healthy in the lower 3%.

5:52

And unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is actually one of the lowest unemployment rates that we've seen in a while.

5:59

So those are good news.

6:02

This is just an illustration of business licenses that we've had so far this year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development██████████████████████22%
Procedural███████████████15%
Parks and Recreation██████████████14%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Utilities and Infrastructure██████6%
Housing And Development█████5%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Joliet Pre-Council Meeting - October 6, 2025

The City of Joliet Pre-Council Meeting convened on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting featured an economic development presentation, discussion of numerous consent agenda items, ordinances, resolutions, and public comments. No formal votes were taken on actionable items, which are expected to be voted on at the regular City Council meeting on October 7, 2025. A motion to enter closed session passed unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Invoices to be Paid – Approved for payment.
  • Purchase of One (1) New Caterpillar 930-14 Full Size End Loader from Altorpher Industries Inc. – $240,342.12.
  • Purchase of One (1) New Caterpillar 420-07 XE Backhoe from Altorpher Industries Inc. – $170,006.00.
  • Payment for Cost Share Balance of Design Agreement for Downtown Flood Control Levee to the Department of the Army – $105,000.00.
  • Change Order No. 1 for Ottawa Street Parking Deck Parking Access & Revenue Control System to Flashparking Inc. – $74,138.00.
  • Change Order No. 2 for 2025 Pavement Marking Program to Superior Road Striping, Inc. – $18,525.14 (change order) and final payment $64,098.20.
  • Change Order No. 2 for 2023 Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Inspection Program to National Power Rodding Corp. – Deduction of ($20,138.33) and final payment $58,942.44.
  • Change Order No. 2 for Fairmont Water and Sewer Extension to Steve Spiess Construction Inc. – Deduction of ($162,631.66) and final payment $175,316.05.
  • Change Order No. 2 for Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan Phase IV to D Construction, Inc. – Deduction of ($488,698.15) and final payment $847,079.32.
  • Purchase and Installation of Flooring for Joliet Police Department from The Flooring Guys, Inc. – $199,170.00. Councilman Hug clarified this covers the entire building, replacing 20-year-old flooring.
  • Award of Contract to Avolve Software for ProjectDox SaaS Renewal – $41,400.00.
  • Award of Contract to Heartland Business Systems for 2025/2026 Document Scanning Services – $100,000.00.
  • Award of Contract to Heartland Business Systems for Implementation of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Three Years of Support – $165,341.57. Councilman Hug clarified this is for internal security only.
  • Award of Contract to VertiGIS North America for VertiGIS Studio Enterprise Edition (Three-Year ELA) – $109,440.00.
  • Award of Contract to RTA for Fleet360 Fleet Management Software and Implementation Services – $75,776.72.
  • Agenda Item: Change Order No. 1 for Rosalind Street Culvert Replacement Project to Austin Tyler Construction Inc. – $12,614.00 (change order) and payment request No. 2 for $176,377.84. (Councilman Moreno will recuse from vote at regular meeting.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Obizynski – Expressed support for the Tree Advisory Board's ideas (tree care website, community mulching, Arbor Day events, QR codes for trees). Thanked council for cleaning up his former neighborhood. Supported the Senior Snow Removal program and commended the city's progress on City Square and Route 66 history.
  • Cathy Garthus – Expressed opposition to the Laraway Road crossing project, arguing that Center Point and Union Pacific should fund it rather than taxpayers. Also opposed a proposed data center in Joliet, stating it would consume farmland and harm farmers.
  • Samantha Bartolo – Expressed pride in Joliet's first responders and voiced concerns about recent ICE activity, urging the city to ensure residents feel safe contacting law enforcement.
  • James Alston – Representing the Clearview subdivision, requested that the city complete curbs and gutters on Mold Avenue from Charity to Mills Road, which were left unfinished after the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that other streets (e.g., Helen Avenue) were completed.
  • Nicole Leroy – Speaking on behalf of the Billy Lee Mocker Theater at Bicentennial Park, expressed concern about management changes and lack of transparency. Demanded a formal public statement and a public forum to discuss the park's future. Urged preservation of the park's artistic tradition.
  • Mary Gannon – Expressed strong support for Lori Novotney Carmine, the current manager of Bicentennial Park, and opposed any removal or changes to park management. Cited the park's historical significance and the success of events under Lori's leadership. Warned against repeating past mistreatment of staff at other city institutions.
  • Bertina Anderson – Shared a personal story of finding purpose and community at Bicentennial Park, which she credits with saving her life. Urged the city to continue the park's traditional programming.
  • Sadiq Poonwala – Representative of the Dunkin' Donuts proposed at 107 S. Briggs Street, addressed traffic concerns. He stated that a traffic study by KLOA concluded the drive-thru can accommodate 11–18 cars stacked, with only a 3% impact on traffic mainly between 7:50–8:50 AM. The order board is adjacent to commercial, not residential, property.

Discussion Items

  • Economic Development Update – Presented by Paulina Martinez, Economic Development Director, and Emily McGuire. Key statistics: 30 active internal pipeline projects, 20 external projects with Will County CED (15 in ag tech/logistics), 7,773 tickets sold for IHSA Boys State Tournament, 129 business visits year-to-date, 65 new business licenses (53 net new businesses), 12% overall vacancy rate (retail/office ~3%, industrial 14% due to new construction), 4.9% unemployment rate (down 1.5% from last year), $441 million in construction valuation (29% higher than July, 38% higher than August 2024), 1.1 million sq ft of new industrial space added. Notable new businesses include Frida Coupe, Hollywood Casino, TO's Donuts. World Automotive has completed facade improvements and hired 4 of the required 5.75 Joliet residents (23 total hires over 3 years). Councilman Hug asked about upcoming major projects; Martinez noted mostly industrial but sensitive details.
  • Drive-Thru Permit for Dunkin' at 107 S. Briggs Street – Councilwoman Ibarra expressed strong support, noting the building was formerly an eyesore. Councilman Hug referenced 7Brew's recent opening and confirmed no backups occurred there after initial excitement. The applicant's representative addressed traffic concerns.
  • Ordinances for City's Edge South Subdivision – City Manager gave a brief overview. The subdivision reconfigures three lots into two larger lots on undeveloped land zoned B3 (currently multi-tenant commercial).
  • Ordinances for Ketone Business Center Unit 4 Subdivision – City Manager gave a brief overview. The 27-acre lot at 3350 Shanahan Road will be split into two lots.
  • Resolution for CDBG Residential Snow Removal Program – Councilman Clement asked if the program went out to bid; staff confirmed it will go out at the end of the week. Councilwoman Reardon suggested a lottery system for future years to avoid the first-come, first-served rush; staff noted past lottery led to many denials. Councilman Moreno asked how many households are covered; Jackie Lozado stated 330 households out of over 350 applications received. Councilwoman Quillman and Mayor D'Arcy expressed interest in expanding funding to cover all 350 submissions, estimating an additional $2,500–$3,000 needed.
  • CDBG Subrecipient Agreements – Resolutions for Fighting Chance, NFP ($15,000), Recovery Community Center of Joliet ($15,000), and Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 ($25,000) were discussed without opposition.
  • City Manager's Remarks on Bicentennial Park – Before public comments, the City Manager stated there is no truth to rumors that the city intends to sell or privatize Bicentennial Park. Improvements are underway, and the city remains committed to cultural programming.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes taken on consent agenda, ordinances, or resolutions; these items are expected to be voted on at the regular City Council meeting on October 7, 2025.
  • Council direction to staff to look into completing curbs and gutters on Mold Avenue in the Clearview subdivision, which is already in the city's five-year plan.
  • Council direction to staff to explore expanding the Residential Snow Removal Program funding to cover all 350+ applicants, potentially through reallocation or additional budget.
  • Council interest in revising the snow removal application process to a lottery system for future years, subject to further discussion.
  • Motion to enter closed session to discuss personnel, collective bargaining, land acquisition/conveyance, and pending litigation. The motion was made by Councilwoman Ibarra, seconded by Councilman Cardenas, and passed unanimously (9 ayes).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the City of Joliet pre-council meeting for Monday, October 6th, 2025, at 5 30 in City Hall, Council Chambers with the Honorable Mayor Terry Darcy Presiding. We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy. Councilman Cardinals. Here. Councilman Clement? Here. Councilman Hug. Here. Councilman Navarro? Here. Councilman Moreno? Here. Councilman Mudron. Here. Councilman Quomen. Here. Councilman Rurdin. Here. First, we have a presentation. Economic development updates presented by Paulina Martinez, economic development director. All right. Good evening, members of the council. Mayor, my name is Paulina Martinez, economic development director. I also have my colleague Emily McGuire here with me, who's also part of the team. Today we'll be talking about some internal indicators as well as some external indicators to kind of gauge how the situation is going in Joliet. Okay, hold on. Good evening. To begin, I'd like to share a few of the economic development divisions key performance indicators. Currently, we have 30 active internal projects in our pipeline. These include notable efforts such as the redevelopment of key properties in downtown Joliet and the leasing of the former migraine space at Union Station. In addition, we are actively collaborating with the Will County Center for Economic Development on 20 separate projects. Of those, 15 are focused on ag tech or trucking, distribution, and logistics. Our team has been focused on several new initiatives and special projects. In June, Joliet proudly hosted the IHSA Boys State Tournament with a total of 7,773 tickets sold throughout the weekend, bringing both visibility and economic activity to the community. This program offers significant incentives for redevelopment, and we anticipate bringing the final application to City Council within the next month. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, our team has conducted 129 business visits so far this year. These visits are a core part of our strategy to better understand the needs of our local business community, ensuring they have the support to remain and grow right here in Joliet. Yeah, so um some of the impact that some of these business visits have is really creating trust in the community and having them uh feel confident enough to come to us uh whenever they have issues. One example was that in one of our visits, um we had a series of um businesses complain about a strong chemical odor within their plaza. So we um worked closely with the building department as well as neighborhood services to address this issue. So small things like that really create um some trust in in staff in in the city, it creates that uh good work in relationship with the community. And another one of the initiatives that we're working it with is with the Heritage Corridor on tourism. So one of these initiatives is the story of art in America. This is a series uh that goes around the country featuring artists in different communities. For 2026, they'll be on their fourth season, and they will be featuring communities around Route 66. Joliet will have its own episode. We will be the first community that will be featured in the series, and we were gonna be the only community in Illinois who's gonna be featured. Um five artists will have their work featured in this uh episode, who include Beverly Wines, Angelica Aguilar, Ushmar Torres, Marietta Joliet, uh, as well as Donna Frank Frank Stately.

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