City Council meeting for Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 at 630 in City Hall, Council Chambers with the Honorable Mayor Terry Darcy presiding.

We will have the invocation from Pastor Herbert Brooks Jr.

from St.

John's Missionary Baptist Church at 104 Eastardy Boulevard.

Joliet, after which we will lead us, he will lead us with a Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Would you join me in a word of prayer on tonight?

Dear Lord, we thank you one more time that you allow us to gather in this way in this place tonight.

We ask the blessing upon the Joliet City Council, all of our elected officials and residents that make up this great city of champions called Joliet.

The word of our Lord recorded for us in Psalm 24 and 1 that the earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.

Is those that dwell here tonight in Joliet, Illinois, to express their concern, to learn about our government, and to get help in the time of need.

So though we ask you to bless the agenda, bless this meeting, these are your people, in our Lord's name we pray, amen.

I pledge allegiance.

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I think you might be over.

Okay.

Mayor Darcy.

Here.

Councilman Cardinals?

Here.

Councilman Clement?

Here.

Councilman Hug?

Councilman of Barra?

Here.

Councilman Marino?

Here.

Councilman Mudron?

Here.

Councilman Quomen?

Here.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Here.

Under Mayor is a proclamation for nonviolent city presented by Councilman of Barra.

Hi everybody.

Proclamation, whereas many concerned citizens of Joliet are committed to foster a culture of peace and nonviolence through education, sustainable economic and social development, a clean environment, and justice for all.

And whereas such citizens of Joliet desire to promote human rights, advance understanding, tolerance and solidarity, and therefore support participation, communication, and the free flow of information.

And whereas such citizens and communities leaders, civic and faith organizations, and political leaders of Joliet are committed to creating and implementing initiatives that create positive and lasting change in our community.

And whereas the City of Joliet encourages individuals, programs, and organizations committed to ending violence, poverty, injustice, and environmental degradation to communicate and collaborate.

Now, therefore, I, Mayor Terry Darcy, City of Joliet, Illinois, on behalf of the entire Joliet City Council, do hereby urge all citizens to join me in proclaiming that Joliet is a nonviolent city, and in support of the United Nations resolution who declared September 21st as International Day of Peace, dated October 7th, 2025, signed Mayor Terry Darcy.

Well, here we are again.

Yeah, my name I'm the chairperson for the Nonviolent City Project, but I'd like to uh recognize our steering committee, some really wonderful people dedicated to nonviolence that uh keep us really going beautifully.

Uh it's in this uh climate of escalating uncertainty and division that we need that there's a need for active nonviolence that has never been greater.

We need the collective effort of us all to take concrete action to build a culture of peace in our neighborhoods, in our community, in our city, in our nation, and in our world.

All our efforts are connected, and we will do our part.

We solemnly pledge to do our part to foster a just and peaceful Joliet and a just and peaceful world for all.

Thank you very much.

Yeah, we're going to do that.

Yeah, that's gonna be.

Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Carterness?

Aye.

Councilmanclement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Ruden.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is citizens to be heard on agenda items.

So this is for anyone that is here to speak on an agenda item.

Okay.

Seeing none, we'll move on.

Next, our council committee reports.

Communication technology and information systems is first.

Okay.

CTIS committee met October 1st at 8 30 a.m.

in the executive conference room.

In attendance were Cesar Cardanas, Juan Moreno, and myself.

We had five agenda items.

The first was Cisco Identity Service Engine Implementation.

Implements a zero trust security model to control access to the city's network, verifies users and devices across wired wireless and VPN connections, enhances visibility and centralizes centralizes policy enforcement across departments.

The total investment is 165,341.57 over three years, including the hardware and the support.

Renews the city's cloud-based electric, I'm sorry, electronic plan review system used by building, engineering, and planning.

It enables faster parallel reviews and a 24-7 applicant access to project status.

The annual revenue renewal, I'm sorry, renewal cost is 41,400.

Third item was uh document scanning services 2025 and 2026.

It continues the city's digital digitalizing initiative using laser fees for long-term record preservation.

It covers scanning of standard documents, large drawing and bound materials.

It enhances accessibility, searchability, and disaster recovery readiness.

The contract total is $100,000 for 2025 and 2026.

Number four, fleet uh 360 fleet management software.

It introduces a soft, uh, I'm sorry, a modern fleet management system to track maintenance, repairs, and warranties.

It supports internal departments and external service partners.

First year cost is $75,776 and 72 cents.

This is including the implementation and the software services.

And the last was verted GIS Studio Enterprise Edition.

Uh expands the City GIS capabilities with tools for automation, reporting, and mobile access.

Integrates with existing systems like ViewWorks, Tyler, ERP, and Laser Fish.

Provides unlimited deployment and technical support under three-year agreement with a total cost of 109,440 dollars over three years.

Is there anything else that you can think of?

Go ahead.

Okay.

Um we reviewed all these items and we unanimously voted to bring them to the full council with our approval.

That's our report.

Thank you.

Public safety.

Thank you.

The public safety committee met today here in the council chambers at 530.

Present was myself, Councilwoman Ibar and Councilwoman Quillman.

We approved the minutes from September 2nd, 2025.

Um there were zero, none uh citizens, if you heard on any agenda items.

Present with us was uh Chief Kerry from the fire department, Chief Evans, and uh Tri-County Auto Theft Director, uh Lewis Ayala.

Um the first agenda item was the approval of purchase and installation of flooring for the Jolie Police Department from the flooring guys incorporated in the amount of in the amount of 199,170 dollars.

This is the replacement of the stairs and everything within the police department.

Just keep in mind the flooring has not been changed in the police department across the street in over 25 years.

So that's what this is going to be taken care of.

And that's on uh tonight's tonight's agenda under 536-25.

That uh unanimously was approved, which is on a council tonight.

Then we move to resolutions, resolution authorizing the execution and memorandum of understanding between the City of Joliet and Grundy County Emergency Telephone System Board.

This is on our agenda tonight under 552-25.

Uh Lewis Ayala spoke about this is basically Tri County Auto Theft operates in Will, Kankakee, Grandy, and Iroquois County, and the Joy Police Department is the administrative agency with the direct fiduciary oversight for the unit.

Um basically what this is going to do is let all of the units, including Grundy County, be able to communicate among each other.

So that's what this MOU is about that the three of us voted in favor to bring it to full council, which it's on the agenda tonight.

The second uh resolution declaring property of the City of Joliet as surplus, and this is through Tri-County Auto Theft Unit, the same, the same uh what we have here from Lewis Ayala.

They have five uh vehicles that they need to trade in.

They've had basic and ultimate problems with these vehicles, and they're gonna trade these in and buy four new vehicles that they can use, you know, um bigger vehicles uh for for these guys.

So again, this will be on tonight's agenda item under 551-25, and the three of us uh voted in favor to move this to full council.

There was no new or old business, not for final action or recommendation.

There were no public comments, and we made a motion to adjourn.

Mr.

Mayor, those are my uh my report.

You ladies have anything that I missed?

No, perfect.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

And we have public service.

Public service, yes, we may.

Uh October 6th, 2025.

Here in the council chambers at uh 430 in the afternoon.

On the committee and in attendance was Councilwoman Reardon, Councilman Mudron, and myself, Councilman Hogg.

Um we had three contracts we looked at, two of them were for purchases of equipment for the public works department, a uh end loader for 240,000, and a backhoe for 170,000.

The third item under contracts that we reviewed was our first payment for the cost share requirement of the design agreement for the construction of the required construction of the downtown flood control levy uh to you know uh in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers Department of the Army.

We looked at all three items, we found them to be in order and uh voted unanimously to send them forward to the full council with committee recommendation to approve.

We have six items on our pay estimates final change orders, pay as much and final payments.

Um not going to uh review each of the ones individually for those that aren't familiar.

Change order of pay estimates and final payments as contracts play out and go from phase to phase, they get paid, and sometimes they give it credit.

There was a couple of times uh we had credits, uh for instance for $163,000 for the Fairmount Water and Sewer Extension.

We get you know, we saved money on the projected cost of that project.

We looked at all six of the pay orders, uh change orders, pay estimates and final payments, and again, we found them to be copacetic and uh in order and voted unanimously to send them forward to the full council with committee recommendation to approve.

We did have one ordinance resolution, it's what we refer to as housekeeping, since we did uh recommend to approve um a pay a pay order uh increase in the uh amount of funds being spent on the 2025 payment marking program or required by law this is motor fuel tax to uh have a resolution or I should say uh resolution appropriating that money, so it's housekeeping.

And uh we had one license under license and permits we had one item, which was the drive-through permit of Duncan restaurant at 107 Southworth Street.

We briefly discussed the project yesterday.

Um project looks good, and the drive-thru met all the requirements, and uh again unanimously the committee recommended that to the full council that this be approved.

And uh that's it.

That's all I had.

Did I miss anything, folks?

In that case, uh mayor, that would be my report.

Thank you.

I show no other reports.

Under consent agenda, invoices to be paid.

It is recommended this report be approved.

Council memo number five twenty-eight-25, approval of purchase of one new caterpillar nine thirty-fourteen full size end loader from El Torfer Industries Incorporated in the amount of two hundred and forty thousand three hundred and forty-two dollars and twelve cents.

Council member number five twenty-nine-25, approval of purchase of one new caterpillar four twenty-zero seven XE backhoe from Al Torfer Industries Incorporated in the amount of one hundred and seventy thousand six dollars and zero cents.

Council member number five thirty-twenty-five, approval of payment for the cost share balance of the design agreement for the construction of a downtown flood control levy to the department of the army and the apartment of a one hundred and five in the amount of one hundred and five thousand dollars.

Council Memo number five thirty-one-25, approval of change order number one for the Ottawa Street Parking Deck, parking access and revenue control system to Flash Parking Incorporated in the amount of seventy-four thousand one hundred and thirty-eight dollars.

Councilmember number five thirty-two-five, change order number two for the twenty twenty-five payment marking program dash MFT section number twenty-five-zero zero five seven one-zero zero-st to superior road striping incorporated in the amount of eighteen thousand five hundred twenty-five dollars and fourteen cents, and payment request number five and final and the amount of sixty-four thousand ninety-eight dollars and twenty cents.

Councilmember number five thirty-three-25, approval of change order number two for the twenty twenty-three Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Inspection Program on behalf of National Power Rotting Corp for a deduction in the amount of twenty thousand one hundred and thirty-eight dollars and thirty-three cents, and final payment number nine in the amount of fifty-eight thousand nine hundred and forty-two dollars and forty-four cents.

Councilmember number five thirty-four-25.

Approval of change order number two for the Fairmont Water and Sewer Extension on behalf of Steve Speace Construction for deduction in the amount of one hundred and sixty-two thousand six hundred and thirty-one dollars and sixty-six cents, and final payment number five in the amount of one hundred and seventy-five thousand three hundred and sixteen dollars and five cents.

Councilmember number five thirty-five-25.

Approval of change order number two for the combined sewer overflow long-term control plan phase four East Side and West Side Combined Sewer Overflow Regulators on behalf of D Construction Incorporated for deduction in the amount of four hundred and eighty-eight thousand six hundred and ninety-eight dollars and fifteen cents, and final payment number seven in the amount of eight hundred and forty-seven thousand seventy-nine dollars and thirty-two cents.

Councilmember number five thirty-six-25.

Purchase and installation of flooring for the Juliet Police Department from the flooring guys incorporated in the amount of one hundred and ninety-nine thousand one hundred and seventy dollars.

Councilmember number five thirty-seven-twenty-five.

Award of contract to evolve software for project docs, SAAS renewal in the amount of forty-one thousand four hundred dollars.

SAAS renewal in the amount of 41,400.

Councilmember number 538-25.

Award of contract to Heartland Business Systems for the 2025-2026 document scanning services in the amount of 100,000 dollars.

Councilmember number 539-25.

Award of contract to Heartland Business Systems for the Implementation of Cisco Identity Services Engine ISE and three years of ISC subscription and support in the amount of 165,341 dollars and 57 cents.

Councilmember number 540-25 order of contract to Verda GIS North America for FERTA GIS Studio Enterprise Edition for a three-year ELA agreement in the amount of 109,440 dollars.

Councilmember number 541-25 order of contract to RTA for the purchase of Fleet 360 Fleet Management Software and Implementation Services in the amount of $75,776.

It is recommended Councilmembers 528-25 through 541-25 be approved.

Is there a motion to approve all said consent agenda items?

So moved to the case.

Second it's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is agenda items.

Councilmember number 543-25.

Approval of change order number one for the Rosalind Street Culvert Replacement Project to Austin Tyler Construction Incorporated in the amount of $12,614 and payment request number two in the amount of $176,377.

It is recommended Councilmember number 543-25 be approved.

So move.

Second.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Stay.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Licenses and permit applications.

Councilmember number 545-25.

Approval of an application for a drive-thru permit for a Duncan restaurant at 107 South Brick Street.

Is there a motion to approve the issuance of said drive-through permit?

So moved.

Second.

Sorry.

Any comments or questions on this one?

Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Abarra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilman Burden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Under ordinances.

Councilmember number 547-25.

Ordinances associated with City's Edge South Subdivision.

Ordinance approving the vacation of five-foot landscape easements and a 15-foot public utility and drainage easement on lots 3, 4, and 5 in Cities Ed Subdivision V-3-25.

Ordinance approving the preliminary plat of Cities Edge South Subdivision, a minor subdivision, P-2-25.

Ordinance approving the recording plat of Cities Edge South Subdivision, a minor subdivision, RP-5-25.

It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Abarra?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number five forty-eight-25.

Ordinances associated with Keetone Business Center Unit 4 Subdivision.

Ordinance approving the preliminary plat of Keetone Business Center Unit 4 Subdivision, a minor subdivision P-3-25.

Ordinance approving the recording plat of Keetone Business Center Unit 4 Subdivision, a minor subdivision, RP-8-25.

It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

Moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Burden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinals.

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Resolutions.

Councilmember number 550-25 resolution appropriating supplemental motor fuel tax funds for the 2025 pavement marking program.

MFT section number 25-00571-00-ST.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Burden.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilman number five fifty-one-25.

Resolution declaring property of the city of Joliet as surplus tri-county auto theft task force.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus.

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barrow.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 552-25.

Resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the city of Joliet and the Grundy County Emergency Telephone System Board.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So move.

Second.

Any comments?

Questions?

Thank you.

It's my motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Cardinus.

Aye.

Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 553-25.

Resolution authorizing CDBG funding for 2025-2026 residential snow removal program and an amount not to exceed 44,000 dollars.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Councilman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardenus?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilman number 554-25.

Resolution authorizing CDBG funding and sub-recipient agreement with Fighting Chance NFP as a recipient of CDBG administration funds and an amount not to exceed $15,000.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motioned, seconded to approve.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilman Abarra.

Aye.

Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardinus?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilmember number 555-25.

Resolution authorizing CDBG funding and sub-recipient agreement with the Recovery Community Center of Joliet.

NFP is a recipient of CDBG administration funds and an amount not to exceed $15,000.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments, questions?

Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

Councilman of Barra?

Aye.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudrin.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman.

Aye.

Councilwoman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Councilman number 556-25.

Resolution authorizing CDBG funding as a sub-reciprient agreement with Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 NFP as a recipient of CDBG administration funds and an amount not to exceed $25,000.

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Any comments or questions?

Thank you.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Moreno.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Councilman Rudin.

Aye.

Councilman Cardenas.

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hug?

Aye.

Councilwoman Barra?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried.

Next is the city manager's report.

Good evening.

I want to update the community on our city square sculpture unity dome.

Our sculptor artist CJ Chen will give a presentation of her community engagement on Wednesday, October 15th at the Arts Commission meeting, which will take place 5 p.m.

here at City Hall.

The public is also invited to participate in two community workshops with our sculpture artist CJ Chen.

The first is on Friday, October 17th from 5 to 7 p.m.

at Thingpen Elementary, located at 207 South Midland Avenue.

The second workshop is on Sunday, October 18th from 10 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

at the Hartman Recreation Center located at 511 Collins Street.

Refreshments will be served at both.

Your participation will ensure that the city square sculpture will be representative of Joliet.

The public is able to provide additional input and continue to find updates on the project website at WWW dot Joliet Unity Dome dot com.

Yesterday began Fire Week Prevention Week from October 5th to 11th.

This annual campaign highlights the importance of fire safety practices, including smoke alarm maintenance and home escape planning.

The Joliet Fire Department has a safety information tips and resources on its social media pages throughout the week to help residents stay informed and prepared.

For more information, follow the Joliet Fire Department on Facebook and Instagram.

Congratulations to Joliet Battalion Chief Dan Berta, who was named Firefighter of the Year by the Exchange Club.

Chief Berdo was recognized for his heroic actions during a June 10th, 2025 structure fire at 115 Essington Road, where he arrived within a minute of the alarm and helped rescue a mother and her three-year-old child trapped on a third floor balcony as flames spread towards them.

His quick response and decisive actions prevented serious injury and exemplified the courage and professionalism of the Joliet fire department.

Yay!

It was really a lovely event.

And one more thing.

This park is a valued community institution, and we remain committed to offering cultural and community programming.

Improvements are underway, and our focus is on preserving and enhancing this important asset for the people of Joliet.

That concludes my report.

Thank you.

Okay.

Next we have public comments.

So this is for anyone who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item.

So we do have a list of people that signed up, so I will go ahead and start with the names of people that signed up.

I will read the rules of our public comment.

The public participation rules of procedure.

Speaker should try to address all comments to the council as a whole and not to any member thereof.

Repetitive comments are discouraged.

The total comment time for any one person is four minutes.

A speaker cannot give his or her allotted minutes to another speaker.

No speaker shall engage in a debate or make direct threats or personal attacks or be uncivil or abusive.

The presiding officer may limit irrelevant immaterial or inappropriate comments or statements.

So we will start with Tamara Martinez.

Hi.

As a proud longtime citizen of Joliet, I would like to echo and lend my support to the voices of other passionate Joliet residents that raised important concerns related to current state and future of the Billy Lee Mocker Bicentennial Park and Theater during yesterday's meeting.

The patrons and supporters of the park deserve and call for full transparency and an open dialogue with the city of Joliet regarding their plans for the park and theater.

We patrons come to Bicentennial Park to observe and take part in the rich cultural experiences and history unique to Joliet.

Entire families, expanding generations, take part together in their plays and musicals as part of their family's traditions, going back now nearly 50 years.

Opportunities exist there for everyone to explore so many styles of music, theater, poetry, comedy, and many other art forms.

They have existed because of Bicentennial Park and its dedicated staff.

In addition to calling for public discourse and transparency from the city regarding park operations, I would like to personally voice my support of Lori Laurie Carmine, who has served the park and theater tirelessly for over 25 years.

Because of Lori, I've been an active participant with this theater since 2008.

I have never seen anyone work so hard with so much dedication for the arts to have a place in Joliet as Lori.

Lori has a gift for placing people where they truly shine.

She has created a second home to so many of us at Bicentennial Park, a safe space for all to be accepted and to grow as artists and as human beings.

My family is one of many examples whose lives are better because of Bicentennial Park and because of Lori.

Our oldest daughter struggled with being high functioning on the autism spectrum.

We placed her in Lori's summertime on stage program to help her process and understand her emotions, comprehend and practice the complexities of social skills and relationships, and to learn in a safe environment how to deal with then severe sensory issues.

She found acceptance, actual friends, and a true place to belong at Bicentennial Park Theater.

She continues at the age of 23 to participate in musicals and as a volunteer.

She thrives because of the environment Lori created.

My husband discovered a pension for acting and found a place to unveil his gifts as a writer at this theater.

And our youngest daughter was just in her graduating summertime on stage production of Guys and Dolls.

She's been in the program since she was five years old.

I can tell you the friendships and bonds formed and this camp, which Lori created last forever.

And I speak personally because for us and so many families, this is a personal issue.

We have considered moving out of town off and on in our lives, but one great reason why we stay is because of this strong community, which is truly gold.

We know we are lucky to have this incredible resource in our lives.

The possibility of losing bipark community, along with the lack of transparency demonstrated by recent unexplained structural changes at the park and theater, are threats to the well-being of the citizens of Juliet and its artistic community.

Our citizens deserve not only collaborative dialogue, but clear and transparent communication related to the Billy Lee Mocker Bicentennial Park and Theater.

Again, we implore you to engage with us in open conversation.

With the support and engagement of the City of Juliet, our community can continue to uplift and celebrate the rich artistic and cultural traditions the Bice that Bicentennial Park has enjoyed for over half a century and our wonderful city.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Nicola Roy.

Most kids go straight to their phones after school when they get on the bus, missing chances to connect and express themselves.

Too much screen time can affect their confidence, communication, and sense of self-worth.

Theater helps build healthy relationships, self-respect, and teamwork.

It gives kids small wins through set design, construction, audience participation, and performance, which builds confidence for their self-worth and individual abilities and strengths.

Years ago I was performing at Walt Disney World sharing magic with families from around the globe.

But life shifted and I returned home working 50 hour weeks at a car dealership to support my daughter.

Like many parents, I trusted others to care for her while I worked.

I enrolled her in a school that promised focus on developing the whole child and nurturing their natural desire to learn through self-directed discovery and purposeful work.

A place that promised freedom and thoughtful guidance.

But on a freezing day, my daughter was left outside without a coat.

She forgot it at seven years old and wasn't allowed back indoors because all the teachers were, quote, on their brakes, unquote.

That trust was broken.

I transferred her to public school only to watch her face bullying.

I moved her to a public school, but there I started to lose face with faith with bullying.

I was exhausted, disheartened, and isolated.

People returned to where they are, shown kindness, and during that time I did some soul searching.

What came to mind wasn't a place, it was a feeling.

The comfort, joy, and acceptance I had once experienced in community theater.

That's when I found my way back.

I was welcomed genuinely and without condition into the Bicentennial Park Theater.

There I saw the tireless service of people who give not just their time but their hearts.

They created a space where I could feel safe, express myself, and belong.

Their example inspired me to go back to college.

After long days at the dealership, I would go straight to the theater, put on my headphones, listen to concentration sounds, and complete assignments surrounded by the quiet buzz of creativity and purpose.

That space helped me grow, and this December I will graduate with my bachelor's degree and certification in project management.

My success as a parent and soon-to-be college graduate is directly tied to the love structure and support I received at the Billy Leemacher Theater.

That space allowed me to rebuild what life had torn down.

This theater is not just about the arts, it's about people.

It's about building a better, more connected community.

It's about keeping doors open for those who need a place to land, to breathe, to rise again.

Every artist and volunteer there gives careful thought to what they offer the public.

They serve not for recognition or money, but out of love and responsibility.

And because the theater is free, people from all walks of life can find a place there.

It is a rare and sacred space.

Now we are being told that the city's agenda is changing, that the theater will be preserved, quote unquote, preserved.

But with no promise that the people who built this safety net will remain.

Without them, what are we preserving?

I believe you recognize us.

You've seen the acceptance in our eyes, the warmth in our smiles, the respect in how we show up.

We are public servants too, through art, through community, through care.

Please don't dismantle the sec this sanctuary.

Protect the theater, keep it free, preserve the leaders who have kept it alive, not just for themselves, but for all of us who have needed it.

Thank you.

Jamie Navani.

Good evening.

Thank you for letting me speak.

I uh really haven't prepared anything.

I'm not going to be as eloquent as the previous speakers.

I just feel a responsibility to be here.

Since the 1980s, under Billie Leemacher herself.

I worked for her.

I, in the last few years, have uh taken on responsibilities of teaching improv classes to people who could not afford to take these classes anywhere else.

I only wanted to bring that to them.

Give them opportunities.

And Jolie at Bostonia Park allowed that to happen.

I can't even go to another theater and do a show for free there.

You have to give them some money so they can support their agendas.

And I no uh shine on them.

I don't blame them.

But Boston Dominion Park gives us this opportunity.

And the people who work there.

Now, I know we cannot talk on personnel matters, but it I would like to see some transparency as to what happened in the last few weeks.

Um there is a uh newspaper article or two that references some questionable dealings.

Oh well, I'm one of those people that work there, trying to take care of people, and it reflects badly upon me.

And I want to have all that information brought forth to the public.

I can't uh give you some magic words that will be really receptive and make you go, oh, this, yes, everybody stays the same way.

It should.

Because these are people who care.

They care.

You can't.

You can't get that through a paycheck.

You can't do that with some funding.

You can't do that with all the I votes you could possibly give.

The fact of the matter is, you have an opportunity here.

Pay attention to these people.

They're giving things from their hearts.

Please listen to them.

Thank you.

My name is Olive Lawrence, and I love doing plays and drama at Bison Tenu Park.

Going to Bicentennial has taught me how to perform on stage.

I have more confidence, and I have made friends I would never have met.

I plan on joining plan plays in the future.

The gnome show and the summertime on stage are my favorites.

All my directors and teachers are kind, funny, and help me whenever I need it.

I would feel really disappointed if things end.

I don't want to go anywhere else.

I said tenuous special.

Hello, my name is Trisha Moss.

I'm a trustee for the village of Elwood, but I am here as a resident of Elvid.

I am here today to follow up on old business regarding your agreement with North Point development.

During your meetings, Joliet and North Point agreed to have a community development committee.

Has such a committee been established?

If so, when does the committee meet?

Also, who is on it?

It's supposed to have members from surrounding towns and Joliet.

Also, I'm here to ask when a cul-de-sac would be constructed at Millsdale and Third Coast Parkway.

Will there be any other cul-de-sacks being built near that area?

I ask because residents from Cedar Creek have recently received mailings regarding construction of a cul de sac by their subdivision.

Is this the same location as the one on Millsdale?

Moving on.

To the proposed data center.

As you can imagine, there have been many questions regarding the source of water for the proposed data center.

Are there other centers using the same water source?

Please make sure our water sources will not be depleted.

Obviously, residents are highly concerned if Jackson Creek or the aquifer will be used.

Was there a water study conducted?

Was there a noise study conducted?

Please be a good neighbor.

We all would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Dorothy Eppenstein.

Good evening, Mayor, Councilman.

My name is Dorothy Eppenstein.

I'm also Village of Elwood trustee.

But I'm here this evening as a resident of Elwood.

In the last several months, two months to be exact.

There's been eight accidents that have occurred on Route 53 between Dollar Tree Lane and Millsdale Road, several of which, six unfortunately, have resulted in fatalities of either Joliet residents, Elwood residents, and most recently a 40-year-old Wilmington resident.

So as we are thinking about expanding infrastructure along 53 on the east side, I'm just coming to you this evening to inquire if there's any way possible when you guys are thinking about infrastructure advancements.

If you could install a light at Dollar Tree Lane on 53 as well as Millsdale to prevent countless lives from being lost, uh and hopefully give some of those families back some of their requests that they've been asking for the ones who have been lost.

Thank you.

Paige Granda.

Hello, my name is Paige Granda, and I've been attending Business Theater for over a year now and performed in five plays there.

I've been noticing that there's not a lot of after school programs.

Yeah, it's a summer school program, which is life-changing.

If any of our teachers with you all that disappointment because they are all amazing and they'll all have more people high from those.

They make me feel like I can do anything.

For example, one day we were made we were doing we were doing a pipe.

We were all gathered in the grim room, and I lost my hat.

But thank God for all of our amazing teachers, they found it.

Another example is one day I couldn't pull up the zipper to my dress.

I asked plenty of students that they aren't quite.

My last hope was to ask a teacher, but I felt embarrassed if I did.

I went up to the teacher and asked, could you please involve me to her to my dress?

She said, Of course I did.

I told these stories because I don't want Baton Pennell Theater to be shut down and changed.

Thank you, everybody who came tonight.

It means a whole lot to me.

Thank thank you to Tom and Jan and the Vaughn Tree for loving us kids.

I love Bessentanium Theater and you should take.

Teddy Lucas.

I've been active with the bike park for many years.

Lori Carmine helped me out.

I didn't get a feel when I was in high school.

They wouldn't give me that.

With Loli, I was able to get that.

I didn't know what my log will kill C taught me that.

This is like Pipe Park is my second home from homes.

I love a deal.

I want to keep doing those deal.

This means a lot to me, and Lily means a lot to me.

He was a great person, awesome person.

The best there was the greatest bog manager we ever had.

I would not be deal if it was I bound here a lot to tell me what to do and how to do something.

I needed to help.

And the gnomon from the Tomaton State and Catha Hill going.

Thank you.

Mr.

Lucas.

Mr.

Lucas, I want to compliment you on your shirt.

I got one exactly like that.

Uh-oh.

I'm gonna wear it next meeting.

Rain Fox.

I like it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, honorable city council members and staff.

My name is Rain Fox, and I'm 15 years old.

I'm a student of Juliet West High School and a proud patron of Bicentennial Park.

Julia Drama Guild Summertime on Stage and Concerts on the Hill.

I also act in many of the events I previously mentioned.

Today I'm here to discuss the fate of theater with Bicentennial Park.

I've heard much concerning talk on both sides about shutting down and terminating the contract with Joliet Drama Guild and rumors about shutting down Bicentennial as a whole.

I've been participating in the Parch program Summertime on Stage since 2023.

And I know that doesn't seem like a long time, but this program has affected my life long term for the better.

Before coming to this camp, I was extremely antisocial, had many mental health issues, and I was not in a good place overall.

I've learned how to socialize.

Moving on, the concert on the hill has been going on for half a century.

I originally performed at the women's history concert with one of the most determined hardworking women I know.

Tamara Martinez introduced me to the park, and I couldn't thank her enough.

When I looked out to the crowd of people watching the show, I saw people of all color, age, races, religions, etc.

It made me ecstatic to see the city of Joliet coming together for one thing.

The arts.

The arts, theater, music brings everyone together.

People of all different cultures enjoy the arts.

I'm only 15.

I don't understand politics or money.

And uh what I do understand is theater and music.

And I I know bicentennial park means so much to many people, and thank you for letting me speak.

And I asked the council, what are your plans for bicentennial park and continuing theater in Juliet?

Serena Magaski.

Probably 30, 30, 40, yeah.

Um very long time.

Um this is very important to me.

Um my brother, Seth was the last historian of Juliet, Patrick, uh, excuse me, P.

Seth Megaski.

Um he has a play I can a tree at Bicentennial.

Um myself, and now my daughter.

Well, excuse me.

She'd be second generation, I'm sorry, I'm first generation.

Um she's been involved since age four.

I've also been involved for about it's been over 30 years.

And um I I have nothing planned um to speak tonight, but I just felt like I needed to get up and tell you guys this is really important to Joliet.

This is important to our kids.

This is important to I know we want to, you know, we want to get bigger and we want to do I know we're doing things downtown, I understand.

But I'd like to still have a place that um I'm adopted also.

I'd like to have, you know, I was one of the first kids that looked like me that went to buy park.

And now I see full circle.

There's so many different types of kids, and like Teddy was speaking about disabilities and um spec, you know, the kids on the spectrum.

I just think it's very important for community.

Um we have, I mean, we used to do pumpkin fests and all different types of things.

I know we've had some things go on, and I know you'd like it to be rental, or you'd like it to have some cost with it.

Um, I know that some of the I know drama guild is like 15 or 20 for adults to get in.

But I I love it that we still have where we can have improv classes and we can have concert on the hill, and anybody can show up, you know, and that's what I love about our city.

Um we're diverse.

Um as you as you can tell, you know, I'm a Megoski.

I'm I'm just a big mutt up here talking, but that's okay.

I just wanted to get up and talk and tell you guys um how much FiPARK means to me, my family.

Um, all these bodies that showed up tonight from Bye Park.

Um we wanted to come out in numbers and tell you that we really we really need this park and we need it for our kids, our future, um all the different events.

I mean, we have so many different events that go on here, and I I'm proud of those things, and fine, everything's not perfect, but if we can all maybe work together and maybe have an open conversation, maybe that would help out a little bit, and thank you for your time, and um I just want to keep my brother Seth's uh legacy alive.

Um who's the last historian of Juliet, and also um he did Festival the Gnomes.

I've done it for over 30 years.

My daughter's done it for a very long time, over 10 years.

I'm in drunken gnome as well.

I was the black hat for 18 years in the festival of the gnomes.

Yes, it's the black hat speaking.

Um sorry everyone.

That's kind of like a big running joke, but um thank you for your time, and um please consider um everyone for the bicentennial, our communities, our families, everybody.

Thank you.

Kathleen Clark.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you, Council allowing me to speak tonight on behalf of Bicentennial Park.

There is many a people in Java that don't even realize that the park is exists.

They'll come down for something else, and they say, Well, I didn't even know this was here.

I said, Did you see our theater?

You got an inside theater?

I said, yes.

And they are just totally shocked.

The little girl that played Matilda and that, her dad brought her all the way from Naperville just to play that part.

And it was her first time she ever tried out for a play.

And she's talking about coming back to the gnomes.

And it has come a long way to ask any of the people that's been at the park, and she's been performed, we'll tell you how much this kid has progressed to the good.

When he went into poop gnomes and that and stuff, and sometime on stage, that kid was only reading at the level of a 10-year-old.

And that so I worked with them some of that.

But I mean, he loves it.

If you would let him, he'll do a play, he would do a play every time they had one.

There was one summer he had did all the plays in the summer, and then went on to the spirit of uh all Halloweenese, then he did the gnomes, then he did the other one for drama games.

He don't know how much this park is a family, it's people stuck in family.

I think you are going down there.

I volunteer many, many hours.

Before we had COVID, I would be one of those people that were in the kitchen.

They turned around, Lori and Deanna were sitting here one day talking.

She said, you know what?

How many times have how many events have they showed up to?

And they turned around and sat there and says, you know what?

They haven't missed one event.

They've turned around and call me at four o'clock.

You admit it at six o'clock.

Well, what were your plans?

I was all coming up there.

She says, Oh, good, Dad, we need your help.

I meant it's a beautiful place, people would tell me.

We had that one big picture over the picture.

Um Peter.

And it was from looking Western Evan, looking towards town.

And I would tell people when they come in and what was what net.

And I said, Well, we need to get a you know, a pointer.

And that.

But we have people come from all places.

We had uh one day a guy was going down the river to at the Mayfest.

Lori was credited for that.

And some are in Shakespeare.

She was the one.

And then people pulled their boat over and turned around and come over to see what was going on.

That's oh, is this your first time at the park?

He says, Yeah, he's writing from here.

We're coming back from Wisconsin going to such and such place.

And it's so nice to know that you have different out-of-town people even along the waterway.

Stopping.

And that.

And I meant Lori is a great manager.

Lori has patients with all the people.

This is his adapted family.

It's my adopted family.

And then we need this park.

There's a lot of us that need it.

Help a lot of people.

Thank you very much for giving me this time.

And that.

So thank you.

It's we helped the gnomes and Fred.

With a K.

You know how to pronounce it, sorry.

It's totally fine.

Thank you very much for having me.

Uh Ka Napu, last name, Hawaiian.

For the record, Teddy is my brother, that was just my aunt speaking.

So for my brother, he has been he's really improved since being at Bicentennial Park.

Before he was, he wasn't very socially words, words.

He was very socially awkward.

He couldn't really get on stage to read.

He couldn't, you know, at home, tell him to do whatever you wanted.

Yeah, he'll perform a whole play for you, whole monologue, whatever.

Get him up on stage, he couldn't.

But since being at Bicentennial Park, he has blossomed, honestly.

All of us have.

As for myself, I have I was really adrift going through my teenager uh years.

And being around so many different uh art styles and aesthetics, you know, uh, people paint, um, uh, people who draw, people who act.

And then, of course, there's people who do costumes.

That's what really caught my interest.

Um, it wasn't until like my uh senior year of high school that I eventually learned that I wanted to make jewelry as like my full-time hobby, whether it be copper, leather, so many different things, and Bicentennial Park has allowed me to not only be creative with the things I come up with, but also display them and introduce new people to my new uh to my hobbies.

That's all I really had to say.

Thank you very much for having me.

Okay, that is all who I have that is signed up.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening?

Yes, okay, please go ahead and if you want to line up in the center.

Hello, council, hello minor.

Thank you for my time.

My name is Abigail Jane Harris.

I have been doing theater at the Bicentennial Park since I was seven years old.

I have hyperplastic left heart syndrome.

I have learned to read, to accord to my fine motor skills, to emotionally develop myself, and to be able to speak in front of people like you today.

I don't know the rumors, but I what I've heard is not good.

But I do know one thing.

Bison tenual park is my family.

It is my home.

It is where I met the most amazing people in the world.

It is where I have learned the most useful skills in the world.

I am 26, going on 27.

I cannot express to you the lifelong skills.

Sewing, construction, mathematics, and reading.

These are simple life skills, but for somebody who is disabled like I am, these are hard things to learn.

And with theater and music and the arts as the backbone of this city and of my life, I will graciously hope you open your communication to even the youngest people in this room, and to the even the most diverse and maybe most complex mental people like me who may not understand everything politically that's going on.

I'd like to thank you for your time, and I hope and I pray that you work with the people of Joliet.

Thank you.

Good evening all.

My name is Marion Corley.

Ditto to all the speakers about BIPAC.

I have a different thing to ask you.

I am concerned about the proposed building of the big data center, which will be in District 5, and that's where I live.

I would just like more information about this development given to not only the residents of District 5, but everybody that in the surrounding area, Joliet, surrounding other communities.

That's all I can say.

Thank you very much.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Michael Brzezinski.

And after being at this meeting tonight, there was so many heartfelt speeches.

Such a wide, wide array of people from families, and this is purely from my heart.

I have no speech.

From families to citizens with disabilities, myself included, I have autism, different things.

This park has been a part of Joliet history for many, many years.

A founding part of our town where people feel comfortable, they feel safe, they feel a part of our community.

And a big part of our community is community empowerment and community engagement.

And I don't know Miss Lori personally, but as the stories have told from many people today, she seems like a very nice individual being who is out there and very community-oriented.

I want to say thank you to everyone who came today for all of these heartfelt speeches.

I got many chills and almost cried.

This park means a lot to many people, and I want the mayor and all of the council to please take into consideration the people, not necessarily how it can help the city, but the people, because a big part of our city is the people, and keeping the people safe, keeping our town safe, and again, I want to say it, community empowerment is huge.

People coming together is a big, big deal, especially with crime rates, because when people come together and they work together, that lowers our crime rates, and that brings us as a town together.

Thank you again, everyone, for all of your heartfelt speeches, and I wanted to thank everyone and the council for being here tonight.

Good evening, Council, and thank you for all this time, and thank you for being able to accommodate all these people.

I'm speaking on behalf of Bicentennial Park.

My name is Carrie Lee.

I am part of the family that has been involved with this theater since I was a kid.

Have done everything for this park, but the reason is because of Lori Carmine.

Um we are here to represent our support of the Bicentennial Park Theater and Community Theater and Joliet.

There have been changes taking place at the Bicentennial Park Theater over the last couple months, and nothing has been stated publicly until now about the uh what is going on.

So we are here that in case there was ever a doubt that Joliet wants community theater to continue and to thrive.

We are here to show that there is definitely an interest, and it is definitely a vital part of our Joliet community.

We are not here to talk about anyone's name, however.

The reason that there are so many people here in support of the Bicentennial Park Theater is because of the management of Lori Carmine.

Lori Carmine is synonymous with community theater and Joliet.

So if we support the theater, we also support Lori Carmine.

It is because of her that the theater community has grown into this loving family and to where this many people are showing up.

So, yes, theater is important, but these stories are personal and they are a result of her management.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Uh my daughter performs at the Bicentennial Park.

And I just have a quick question.

I know you guys can answer it, but whoever's on this board, have you ever been to a play or have you ever been to a concert on the hill?

That's kind of a good question.

That if you haven't, you probably maybe should before you make any kind of decisions on what happens down there.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Lucy Martinez.

I turned 18 on September 21st of this year, and this is the first thing that I am doing with now being an adult standing here and talking to you.

I've been involved with Bicentennial Park's arts and culture since I was a size four in kids' shoes.

Now I'm a size nine in women's, but I'm still involved with the park voluntarily, might I add.

I met my best friend at summer camp on at Summertime on Stage in 2015, and we played dolphins in The Little Mermaid, despite our small roles, directors, and Lori Carmine made sure we felt just as important as Ariel.

That being said, not only did Summertime on Stage and its staff make kids of all roles feel seen, but kids of all kinds in general outside of a play setting.

Me and many people can say Bicentennial Park changed them as a person to become a better version of themselves.

In fact, in 2023, I had returned to summertime on stage for my seventh year.

I had been extremely depressed the start of that summer break and was too young to find a job and have a purpose.

I thought social interaction and responsibility was the last thing I needed, but it was very well the first.

Again, not many people can relate to that unless they know Bicentennial Park.

I hope you reconsider, or I hope the city reconsiders ideas of turning the park into anything less than a space for the arts and community and consider the lives you will, not might, but will be impacting because I, an 18-year citizen of Joliet, can say here and now that my life will be affected.

If that isn't enough for the city to reconsider, then I hope everyone else's speeches are.

Thank you for your time.

Hello.

My name is Carol Harris.

I am the mom of Abigail Harris.

She's truly a miracle.

Before we came to Bicentennial Park, you could not understand a word she said.

So before we came, she had to have palate surgery.

She had an occult uh palate.

And she started talking.

She also had a four-year-old sister, and I needed to socialize these kids, these two beautiful daughters, because I wore out the park district going to everything.

So they ran out of stuff for them to do.

I went to Lori Carmine and said, can you help us?

Yeah, she could help Abby.

But you know, my daughter, Becky was four years old, and she welcomed Becky with open arms.

Volunteerism, family, disabilities.

You've heard that several times today.

Without Bicentennial Park, uh more than half of these people would not have a home.

There's no other theater that excuse me that has uh that welcomes people with disabilities and other spectrums and stuff like that.

That's all I Lori Carmine is so welcoming and so kind.

She's a great teacher.

Um volunteerism, she even got my husband involved, and he made the hats for gnomes and other doors open for volunteerism.

So I I also request open communication, get the uh community involved, asking questions, get them involved.

They want to be involved, they're here because they want to be involved, and that's all I have to say.

Good evening.

Thank you for having us here to speak tonight.

My name is Judy Smith, and I've been with Bicentennial Park just about six years now.

Um because of Lori, I've developed lasting friendships.

I've had friends my whole life, but I've met the different kind of people here, and people that speak the same language.

I don't come from a family that likes a lot of theater or does a lot of theater, does a lot of music, but I always wanted to act, and I never did until I was in my late 60s.

Through through Lori, I met my piano teacher, which is Tamara Martinez, and I take piano lessons weekly.

Through them, I met the Rhython group, and I am now a published author.

Um these are things that happened just the last few years.

Their family is my other family.

One Carrie is my granddaughter's C C D teacher.

Jan and I have been in several plays together.

This family is unbelievable.

The quality of each member of this family is something you don't see every day, and we're not all blessed to have.

Um I am, but I have a second family.

Um I was able to get up on stage and perform a story that I wrote with my grandchildren, who I call grand angels.

We were up on stage because of BIPARC.

I was able to perform poetry because of the open mic nights.

I was able to have vendor tables.

I'm a baker, and I love to bake, and I was able to bake and sell wares at the park.

Um I think that's it.

It's just I love the way they give every single person an opportunity.

It doesn't matter if you're disabled, it doesn't matter if you're elderly.

It doesn't nothing matters.

They love and accept everyone, and if you have difficulty, they help you.

And you can always come on every remember the family, but the park has been a second home, and I would really hate to lose it.

I really would.

And I just want to say Lori and her mom and sisters and brothers are in debt of the best.

Thank you.

Hi, good evening.

My name is Sarah Bradshaw, and I'm gonna try not to get emotional here because Bipark is is definitely a huge part of uh the family for me.

Um my daughter is uh on an IEP first speech.

She has been on that for since she was in preschool.

Um she was bullied quite a bit, has had a lot of anxiety problems throughout her her life.

She is now 16 doing very well, but by park is is the big reason for her doing so well.

Um it's very important to keep Bi Park the way it is.

Lori is amazing, everybody there is amazing.

We've been part of the gnomes for about six or seven years.

Um the kids are already asking when is the auditions going to be, when are we starting that?

Um there's a couple parents and I that always say um when we start making gnome crafts that when we're burning our fingers on the hot glue gun, that it's definitely gnome season.

Um definitely gnomes.

Um I I donate quite a bit of cookies uh for gnomes.

I I help with the hot chocolate and everything every year.

The whole family is involved.

Um my fiance is involved, his kids get involved, they have come because of me, and because of my daughter, she's done uh quite a few shows, but no bullying at Bicentennial Park.

Everybody is family, and Lori has made it that way.

Um it's very important to keep by park the way it is, and um we need gnomes definitely need the gnome show.

Family tradition.

Um thank you for letting me speak.

Um, I'm here on behalf of my daughter.

I'm not the speaker, and you'll you'll you'll see that, but I just I brought her petitions, her signatures that she um wanted to turn in.

She isn't here because she's very much involved in all the arts, and that very much started at Bicentennial Park.

Um she started at age five.

Um, and as you heard, this is not just a building, it's not just a theater.

We don't just go and see plays or listen to music.

This is a family and a community.

And your preservation isn't just about that building, it's about all the people there that we all consider to be fam.

So that community is very much.

It's it is your dome of unity, you know.

So your time.

Good evening.

My name is Griselda Chavez, and first thank you to everyone who has shared their voices tonight.

I'm a lifelong resident of Joliet, and my family proudly lives in Joliet too.

I am currently a grad student at DePaul, studying policy and public health.

In this field, I've had the privilege to work alongside families, students, neighborhood groups, and local businesses.

Listening to the daily experiences workers face in and around Joliet has given me insight into what our community prioritizes most.

Our well-being, health, and safety.

Like every resident of this community, I would hope that a development of any scale that comes to Joliet should provide the following.

Jobs with safe working conditions, which include fair and equitable labor and employment opportunities when the developments impact our nearby communities.

That we remember that we are in this together as we witness rapid changes and rapid developments in Will County, and by extension, Joliet.

This means more time spent listening to the voices of the people living in the communities impacted by ongoing and proposed developments.

As a community that works together, as we've seen tonight, and provides every possible chance to hear the concerns of neighborhoods near and around new and proposed development.

We hope to aim for full transparency, and that this is dedicated to all the necessary assessments and analysis surrounding environmental insurance and other monetary costs.

How do we know the potential risks for insurance costs, natural disaster costs in the long run?

How do we ensure the proper preventative measures are taken?

How can we learn from other communities and shirt and ensure there are no broken promises with any groups?

With this, we must ask with any sudden or hasty developments, which parts will serve the most people in the community and ensure it provides more benefits rather than costs.

How will we know for certain its potential financial burdens?

On behalf of the residents and not only Joliet, but in the region, we must ensure the sustainability of our communities.

It's important at this time to focus on what matters.

Building community, building workforce development for the youth.

By investing in this, we can equip the next generation with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in various industries.

And for now, we must remain mindful, intentional, and critical about all the possible impact, both in the present and in the future of Joliet.

And we've seen that tonight with everyone coming together.

This also means providing resources and educating one another, especially during times of uncertainty.

And while some of you may know me already, I look forward to helping the council review any proposals and make sure we do right for each other.

Our progress and we do so together as a community because we live here.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening?

Okay.

Seeing none, we'll move on to mayor and council comments.

No comment.

Oh, just real quick.

It's real quick.

I couldn't hope help but uh first of one thank everybody for all their comments tonight.

I couldn't help but uh seeing all the nice moms that are around the city of Joliet, and I wanted to thank Brett Frazier and his team, and I want to say uh a special prayer for Jim Guchner.

He was instrumental in he's with Deuce landscaping, and he had a serious medical uh situation.

And if we just give uh a prayer to him, and you know, he took care of all our entryways here in the city and around uh City Hall.

Um also want to thank Dan Berta and congratulate him on his recognition today from the Joy Fire Department, and those are my comments.

Thank you, Mark.

First, I want to acknowledge and respect the comments and let you know that I did hear and feel your emotion and your passion.

Of the 2 speakers, 18 were by park.

So you're well represented.

Little known fact about me, and I think one of our attendees, Mr.

Romero, Ron, can tell you, um, I was involved in entertainment for a lot of years.

What Ron doesn't know is about thir up until 30 years ago, I was an actor.

I was a thespian.

Last play I did, I was angry man number four and 12 angry men at dinner theater up in LCP.

So, yes, I am you.

I can tell you nobody from staff, nobody from council, and at least in my presence or in front of me has mentioned anything, any idea, any inkling about selling or privatizing by park.

That has not happened yet.

If it did happen and it came to me, I would oppose it.

Um, it is an asset to the community.

I also was here when we really had a rough some rough uh uh waters that we navigated back in uh 2011-2012 with BiPAR, and and you remember, right?

From uh from one mutt to another, right?

Um you remember what we went through back then, Serena.

Yeah, and we got it set up and and it's got great programs.

Now, I can't speak to, nor are we responsible for the hiring of personnel.

We're a council manager form of government.

We get to set the policies, kind of the rules, we get to set the positions, who can be paid and who can't be paid.

The hiring is done by the city manager.

Um certainly the city manager, I am confident we'll be open and transparent as this moves forward.

And I I look at BIPARC as keeping the programming you have, and then if there's room for it, expanding it.

Not improving by subtraction, improving by expansion, but the the current time-tested programs should remain.

I agree with all of you.

So I wanted to acknowledge that for you tonight, and like I said, uh from one thespian to a group of other thespians, what happens when you put a microphone in front of a bunch of thespians, right?

That's my comments, Mayor.

I know this is gonna be incredibly hard to believe, but I'm all of you also.

Um, if you like to speak on stage and you like policy, maybe one day you'll be up here too.

I was a two-year drama kid at Joliet West, and I loved every second of it.

So every, I don't know what my face was doing, but everything that you spoke spoke directly to my heart.

So I know that's hard to believe, Larry, but I was a drama kid too.

Um, and I echo all of his sentiments.

So I wanted to also say about the data center.

I had a meeting today with the city manager and the people wanting to bring the data center.

This is really important because it's not necessarily what I think, it's what the voices of my district and the city of Jolia as a whole thinks about this data center.

Um so I wanted to say that my recommendation was for them to have a community meeting well ahead of that um the vote in November, and they uh agreed to do that, so there will be a community meeting.

The other thing I'm asking for now, actually, because I've had some time to think about it.

I would like an independent consultant to take a look, you know, someone that the city employs for just this to take a look at this plan and tell us what is the environmental impact of this plan.

What is the full economic impact of this plan?

It's so important to me because I've been deluged by this community that I think not only do we need a community meeting, there's no one up here on this council that is an act, and no disrespect.

I love every one of you, I really do.

But there's nobody up here on this council that is an expert in um data centers.

There's nobody on the planning commission that's an expert in data centers, and um the community there's a lot of within the community mistrust of people coming to sell us things, people coming to do big projects.

So I think it's really important, because this is gonna be a huge project.

That not only do we have a community meeting um ahead of the vote, which it was agreed to, so everyone can come and bring their um questions.

Um I also think we do need an independent study and someone that we employ to let us know just uh yeah on a consultant basis what is the full environmental impact, what is the full economic impact, and really roll it out uh for us because nobody on here, nobody in planning commission, probably nobody on staff is an expert in such a big project.

So those are my c oh, I almost forgot.

Uh happy birthday, mom.

My mom's birthday is on Friday, and she is an amazing human being who has made me what I am today.

Also a drama kid who was in plays with Lynn Thigpen.

So I know you all know who like Lynn Thigpen is.

Happy birthday, mom.

I love you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Okay.

Oh, well.

You'll find this hard to believe, but those that you don't are familiar with me, back in 2009 and 2010, I played the wicked witch of the West, and we did it outside a drama, and we did that for two years.

So I know where you're coming from.

I know it's hard to believe that I'm a wicked witch, ha ha.

But that's okay because it was a lot of fun, and like you said, I understand where you're all coming from.

It's feeling of love and place and feeling that you belong somewhere and you can have a great time.

And we did have a great time doing that.

I've been wanting to bring it back for years, but it was such a big production, it was kind of hard to do.

But I just wanted to put that out there.

And um, you know, we've all been talking about this.

Uh again, we cannot talk about personnel, but we all know the feelings, and I for one, I know we're not gonna get rid of that park.

It's just such a big asset to the city of Joliet.

So everything that uh Councilman Hugs said, I would have to agree with that.

And um on a medical note, because I'm nurse.

This is breast cancer awareness month, October.

Ladies, please get your mammograms or your exams because when it's caught early, it can be cured.

And I I have to say that I was gonna wear pink tonight, but I don't have any pink in my house.

I'm a blue person.

So anyway, uh thank you all for you know giving us your opinions and your concerns, and we are going to have a meeting with the data center people because I think some of us all met with them today on a one-on-one basis.

So and the lady that made this comment, and you didn't say your name.

When you said this is the dome of unity, you are absolutely right.

We don't need a plastic thing to say that's the dome of you.

This is it right here.

All the people that came to Joliet and will continue to comment.

So on that, I will get off my soapbox or my broom, I should say.

Thank you all very much.

Be well and stay safe going home.

Jan, watch out for falling houses.

I don't think it's actually plastic, Jan.

It's not really a wiffle ball.

It'll always be a whistle ball to me.

Anyways, um most people up here know that I feel the opposite of all you as far as comfortable at a microphone.

And I envy all of you for what you can do and that young girl, those two young children that got up.

Maybe I needed to start back then, but I didn't.

And uh so I'm very envious that you can get up and perform like you do.

Um most of my life I knew Billy Lehmacher and her husband, Dr.

Limacher.

She would be so proud of what you all did here tonight.

Um I want to thank you personally for being feeling comfortable enough to share with us those very personal beautiful stories.

Um I could feel it was from every one of your hearts, and thank you very much.

Umly, I would like to say another congratulations to our dep our battalion chief.

I'm demoting him.

Italian chief Dan Verda on his award today for through the Exchange Club, he was fireman of the year.

So congratulations to him.

That's it, Sherry.

That's it, I'm done.

No whistle ball or anything.

I do want to thank everyone that came out tonight, shared their thoughts, their emotions.

It takes a lot of courage to do that.

And we we hear you.

And um we want to make this bigger and better, but we definitely hear the family that you spoke from.

The only drama I'm used to is growing up in a two-bedroom, one bathroom house with nine people.

There was a lot of drama trying to get in there in the morning, but other than that, I stayed in the background.

I too want to congratulate Dan Berta on Firefire of the Year.

We saw the uh the body cam of what he did, and it was incredible that how fast in two minutes and 45 seconds they saved three people from uh tragic issue with that fire.

So it's uh it's a uh accolade to all of our first responders.

So many thanks to Dan.

Just a few things.

Um we had a uh a wonderful meeting on the 17th at Joliet West.

We held a work, the first workshop for the um long-term comprehensive plan.

We've had about 1,400 surveys returned.

We had 120 people at the event that night, and we continue to march forward with the journey on planning the long term for the city of Joliet.

On uh October 16th, it is Imagine a Day Without Water.

That will be uh an invitation to be part of this imagine a day without water.

And if any of you have ever been to a third world country where there is no water, and I have been, it's incredible to realize just the blessing we have in the blessings that we have to be grateful for in our country and what we're able to do and how we can take a drink every day.

And um, that's what our city's doing working forward with our Chicago Water Plan.

On September 24th, I joined the uh Joliet Chamber for the Athena Award for Dr.

Carla Guzman.

Her exceptional exceptional leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact on our schools.

And when I read the uh resumes of these ladies that are awarded this every year, I think to myself, I better start doing something because the ladies are doing a lot for our community.

So thank you to Dr.

Guzman.

On Saturday, I was able to introduce the new president of University of St.

Francis, Dr.

Ryan Hendrixon, and I was proud to be one of the speakers to introduce him.

Um there were several other speakers, Rev.

Bishop Hicks, Dr.

Hendrickson's two brothers are priests and also serve as college presidents, so we welcome him as the 10th president of the University of St.

Francis here to Joliet.

On Saturday, I attended the second annual Joliet Philanthropy Recognition Brunch, in which we handed out several recognition awards to the many people who do so much in our community.

Christine, I think we got two awards that day.

Thank you.

You know, there's a lot of folks in our community.

There's a lot of heart in this community.

I always brag about the heart of Joliet.

And when I hear the folks at the drama guild or the bicentennial park, or you see the the people that give of their time and talent, and I always said if the federal government could tax that time that people give, we'd be out of hock.

It's very important to have all the folks that uh volunteer their time, and I know I hear Bicentennial Park has a lot of those hours, so thanks to all you that do that.

Um I think that's about it for me.

God bless everyone and have a great week.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

All right, the meeting adjourned.