Good evening.

Welcome to the City of Joliet pre-council meeting for Monday, December 1st, 2025 by 530 in City Hall Council Chambers with the Mayor Terry Darcy presiding.

We'll begin with roll call.

Mayor Darcy.

Here.

Councilman McCartiness.

Here.

Council McClement?

Here.

Councilman Hug?

Councilman Abarra.

Here.

Councilman Moreno.

Here.

Councilman Madrin.

Here.

Councilman Quillman.

Here.

Councilman Ridden.

Here.

First, we have a presentation, 2026 budget presentation by Kevin Singh, Director of Finance.

Good evening again.

So tonight we wanted to focus primarily on the capital portion of the uh fiscal year 2026 budget.

I'll also recap a little bit more on the operations and the total budget as a whole.

So capital funds are in various different funds within the uh city, ranging from motor fuel tax, vehicle replacements, government capital, parking, and then the sewer and water funds.

So the funding sources for capital come from on the government side, uh casino gaming revenues.

So a couple of years ago, we took our casino revenues and we allocated them to fund capital improvements.

They also come from our local fuel tax for vehicle replacements.

Uh we receive an allotment from the state of Illinois' fuel tax, and then we also seek uh and receive grants uh as they become available.

For sewer and water, we collect funds from utility rates dedicated and use those for capital improvements.

Once again, we also seek and receive grants, and then we use debt.

So some highlights for the capital uh government capital for 2026, uh roads and sidewalks.

So in the various funds, there's just shy of 23.5 million dollars for roads and sidewalks.

Uh it's broken out about a little over five and a half million in the capital government capital fund, small amount in general fund, and then most of it is in motor fuel tax fund.

And then the amounts that we have set aside is roughly or the equivalent of roughly 43 lane miles of roadways uh of new road work.

We also have a public safety institute uh in partnership with JJC.

Uh we've budgeted the use seven million, not sure exactly how much that will come, but that represents the amount we received from uh development fee from the compass business part, which is restricted for that type of use.

We also have some specialty vehicles for the fire department, two pumper trucks totaling about two point four million, and then a uh technical response vehicle for uh 225,000.

And then police, we have various equipments from uh ballistic shields, drone program, and then replacing gas masks that are aged uh quite a bit in the police department.

Then we've also got 300,000 in a to continue our deployment of security cameras throughout the city to increase public safety.

For sewer and water, we're continuing our water main replacement uh down a little bit for this year, represents roughly 18 miles of roadway.

It's that uh we fund that through uh combination of loans, bonds, and low interest loans through the uh Illinois EPA.

We also continue our late Michigan water program.

Uh we've got almost 28 million programmed in the budget uh for our improvements to be able to accept Lake Michigan water, and then as part of uh Grand Prairie Water Commission, we've got about 38 million that we're on the uh have in our budget to go fund towards our contribution to that.

Continuing the West Side uh wastewater treatment plan expansion uh design.

Also have just under two and a half million on the sewer collection system, so that's a sanitary sewer.

Uh just under six and a half million for water and four point seven million for sanitary sewer itself.

Uh for vehicle replacements, uh this is funded by our local fuel tax.

We're replacing 31 vehicles just shy of three and a half million dollars, uh 15 police vehicles for large dump trucks, uh street sweeper, seven roadways trucks, uh, an electrical service truck, and three inspectorslash admin vehicles for sewer and water looking to replace two dunk trucks.

Moving into the total budget itself or comprehensive budget, uh shaping up to be just shy of $650 million.

So the some of the highlights are what makes up that budget, uh $222 million is the general fund.

We've got $38 million of employee slash retiree uh insurance, $28.6 million capital projects, $3.7 million in uh vehicle replacements, sewer and water operating is $95.7 million, sewer and water capital is $196 million, and then we've got some expenditures of tax increment financing district funds.

Breaking up the general fund expenses, you've got $153 million in workforce pay and benefits, contract services the next largest at $24.1 million.

Repairs and maintenance is $6.4, utilities at $4.3, and then fueled for our fleet of $1.7 million.

Those are funded primarily through sales taxes, $81 million.

Our share from the State of Illinois of our income tax, use tax, and personal property replacement tax is $33.6 million.

We we bill for refuse at $17 million.

The fire department bills out for ambulance service $14.5 million, and then building permits represent $5.2 million.

Next steps through the budget is we're continuing one-on-one meetings.

Public hearing is tomorrow.

And just want to summarize the public hearing is required by statute to give the public the ability to comment on our budget.

It can be changed after the public hearing, but it gives them the ability to be heard on that budget.

And then potential adoption are looking for adoption on the 16th.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Mayor.

Kevin, I sent you a message earlier, and um you know it's nice to uh sit up here and listen to the public and just from personal observation, you know, like tree replacement, uh the asphalt hot boxes, sidewalks and roadways, the free parking downtown, uh that's this downtown sweeper, which I believe is on the agenda, our entryways.

Thank you, Mayor, for that.

But um my thing is is the weeds.

Is there anything set aside to tackle the the weeds and the entryways and the intersections?

I say it every year.

This is probably my fifth year, and I'm gonna I'm gonna hold everybody's feet to the fire.

I want to clean up the city, and those are kind of things that uh I'd like to like have a priority on.

And um, I didn't know if anything was set aside for that.

Yeah, I you know, talking with Greg Ruddy, public works director, did uh allocate at least 200,000 for uh weed maintenance and landscape maintenance.

Uh also there's some other landscape maintenance mixed throughout the budget.

So there's at least 200,000 for that.

Yeah, Greg, I'd love to really tackle that this spring.

Like not in June, but I want to I want to get her like right out of the gate so we don't have these weeds uh three or four feet high.

I appreciate any doing you guys did a great job with the snow.

So uh let everybody know that.

But um that's something I really want to want to tackle this year.

So I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Yep.

Did you have a question?

Yeah, but Larry Wan.

Go ahead.

I just want to ask.

We definitely have to have a meeting, because $23 million for sidewalks and roads.

Can I get that more broken down if we meet one-on-one?

Because that seems like a lot of money.

Yeah, there's there's a and I don't see that, but I mean you can explain it to me.

Yeah, there's a lot that goes into that, I'd be happy to go through that.

Yeah, that would be so fantastic.

There's a number of projects in the okay, I'll reach out to you.

Thank you.

Yeah, Kevin, you and I discussed it as far as dedicated uh funds for sidewalks.

Right now, the way it runs the money we have for roadslash sidewalks, kind of discretion on how much can be spent.

I mean, it's fluid.

And you you you said you would look into it.

I thought I thought that we should probably double the sidewalks because we're just not getting it done fast enough.

I think you can tell me we spent 1.2 or 1.4 million on sidewalks last year.

Then I don't remember.

I'd have to defer to Greg on that one.

And if we can commit money to sidewalks, double the what we spent this year to next year, because we need to sped up the sidewalks.

Remember you and I talked about that.

Yeah, I relayed that to public works director as well.

No, but I'd like to see it as a budget item, making sure it's you know, I will say the way I've got the budget set up is you know the council this the city could spend up to five million in sidewalks if they wanted to.

It gives you that ability to hit use those resources for roads or sidewalks.

But it can spend as little as how much?

As little as you guys approve.

Right, you know, because it's not a set number.

Right?

Sidewalks is not a set number, it's allowable under the umbrella of votes.

I'd like to get a set number of double of whatever we've been doing the last couple of years.

You know, just to refresh people's minds, there was a time we were doing about a quarter million a year, and we eventually got up to a million.

I want to say either this year or last year we peaked at 1.2 or 1.4 million on sidewalks.

We need to double that commitment.

Um you could look into doing that.

Thanks.

I'll talk to you.

Thank you.

Any other comments or questions?

Yeah, I just have one.

Now that we've had a huge snowstorm, what I really want to know is I know we have four snow plows on reserve for because it takes a while to order them, so that we'll be getting in the next year.

And you don't have to answer this now, like I want you guys to think about it and let the council know if you feel like even that's enough to not have to sub out, but actually have our own.

Let me just tell you, I got no complaints from my district, and everyone was super, super happy.

I got a couple of very off complaints from another district, not not a big deal at all.

But I want to know, like I want us to be thinking way ahead to say is this really enough if we have a huge winter season, is it enough so we can think ahead for like the future years?

Thank you.

Okay, next to citizens to be heard on agenda items.

Is there anyone who would like to speak on an agenda item this evening?

Okay, seeing none, we'll move on.

We will have the city manager review tomorrow night's actionable items.

Okay.

Um tomorrow we will have an appointment to the Board of Police and Fire.

We will hear from the land use and economic development committee and public service.

Um under consent agenda, we have invoices to be paid.

Moving on to council memo six three zero twenty-five, award of contract precision truck center for the engine rebuild of ladder truck fire department 779 in the amount of 28,454.54 cents.

Um a replacement unit is unavailable, and we must rebuild this engine due to the age and style of the unit.

So that's why we're doing it instead of getting a whole new one.

Council Memo 63125, award of contract for the 2025 roadways resurfacing contract A to PTPR construction in the amount of 516, 142 dollars and 58 cents.

Um I believe this is the Manningdale subdivision on the southeast side at Mills Road and Raoul Avenue.

It's part of our annual roadway resurfacing um program.

And I believe the township just recently resurfaced a lot a lot of their roads that are around there, and we took a look and thought probably be good if we do them around there too, so they're just taken care of.

Council Memo 6325, approval purchase of one compact electric sweeper from the Brown Equipment Company in the amount of 342,523.

Um this would be a sweeper that could help us downtown and in the parking deck.

It qualifies for a hundred thousand dollar reimbursable grant and um was budgeted in 2025 for the year uh and funds are still available.

Mr.

Mayor.

Yeah, I'm I'm glad we're doing this.

You know, I I think I brought it up a couple years ago.

And um, you know, Larry Larry, we had a little we talked or you spoke about it, you know, is it gonna take care of the whole city or whatever, but might think it was you know, downtown, it's coming around as something nice to have to be able to keep keep it clean down there.

And um I'm glad that we're we're moving forward with this, or at least at least the it's on the agenda.

Yeah, it will be helpful because it's a smaller machine that can fit into the smaller spaces that we don't have right now.

Thank you.

Council Memo 63325.

Award of contract for the district meter area chamber installation project to PT Faro Construction and the amount of 267,550.

Um as part of the city's water loss program.

A project was designed to install water meters at various locations throughout the city, so the water distribution system can be subdivided into smaller networks, which will help us find where water loss is occurring as well.

The project to install the meter chamber vaults uh was designed and you approved that in July of 2025, um, which will add 23 meters, resulting in a total of 12 different zones that we'll have broken up into very specific zones that Allison's talked about before that can help us like narrow down where this loss is coming from.

So we're just following protocols on you know how to best figure out um where this water loss is coming from, and and Alison's doing a great job with our team on that.

Real quick, Mayor.

Actually, I'll pile on there.

Yeah.

In our public service committee meeting, Alison, it's pretty impressive.

For us water geeks, right, Alison.

Last month is the first time in God knows how long, if ever.

Not in my tenure on this council, we only had two water main breaks in a month.

So we're about 50% done with the water main projects, you know, uh replacements, and we're starting to see the return finally.

I was about to ask it.

She must have been reading my mind, because I was going to ask it at the end of our committee, but she she laid it out for us, said that we're at about 50%, right now Ellison, roughly.

And uh two, and you know, normally what do we have?

We we would have at least probably a dozen on any given month in the old.

Yeah, right, 10 or 12, yeah.

Okay.

So that's even more of a good news on top of what you just said.

Yeah, great news.

Thank you.

Council Memo 63425, approval of amendment number one to the professional services agreement for engineering design services for the Des Plains River Tunnel Crossing Rehabilitation Project for the Water Main Replacement Program to Jacob's Associates doing business as Delve Underground in the amount of 266,630.

Um this contract will be a detailed design of the tunnel rehabilitation and replacement of the water main in the tunnel.

On June 4th, 2024, the mayor and city council approved the preliminary design, and so now we're doing a detailed design for this tunnel.

And the scope of the project uh that we did before this detailed one was this structural assessment of the tunnel serving and soil bearing.

So now we're getting more into the details of what that tunnel looks like under the water and what additional work we need to do.

Council Memo 63525, approval of change order number one for the 2025 sanitary sewer cleaning and inspection program to Pipe View America in the amount of eighty-two thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine dollars and ninety-four cents.

So this change order is a net increase in the amount of eighty-two thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine dollars and ninety four cents as a result of the following balancing of quantities, lateral locating for the 2025 waterman replacement projects, addition of televising the sanitary sewer of the Southeast Jewel Sanitary District, which um we will be reimbursed by the county.

Is that right, Allison?

For the Yes, so we're doing additional, we're doing sewer televising and cleaning in the Southeast Julius Sanitary District area, and then we'll get reimbursed by the county for that work.

Okay, moving on to agenda items, Council Memo 63725 award of business continuity grant for the total amount of $63,733 and 50 cents to cut 158 incorporated.

Um cut 158 is eligible for a total grant amount of $63,733 and 50 cents, which requires city council approval approval.

Um I've also been through recently uh people had questions about the program.

I don't know if there's any more questions now.

I handed out like a fact sheet about when we pass this, how it's helping the downtown businesses.

This is the last tranche because we've opened uh Chicago Street now.

So um Bill's here if you have any questions for him, but we recommend adopting.

Mayor Beth, anything to under 25,000 doesn't come from hope, so we don't review it.

You're allowed to do that.

That's correct.

Anything under 250.

Sure.

Yeah, be happy to send that to you.

I don't have it right on me right now.

Sure.

Yeah, that's no problem.

Yeah, of course.

Okay, but yeah.

Um I'm happy to provide that information if you want me to provide it.

Right now, do you want to write now?

Oh, Pauline has it.

Sure.

Yes.

So uh good evening, council members.

For fiscal year 2025, the businesses that have received grants under 25,000 are Internode, Moose Greek Tavern, Juliet's Tavern, and Eur Nuna.

We also have three other businesses that are in the pipeline to receive funding, um, including Ama Love, which is a boutique store on Chicago Street, and uh Kula's jewelry.

So exhaustibly it would be seven businesses.

Four already got it in twenty-five, and three are applying for it.

That is correct.

How about in twenty-four?

If you don't have it, Pauline, that's okay with that.

Yeah, I didn't know.

We can email them tomorrow.

Okay.

Yeah.

That's why I said email and then put nobody on the spot.

Yeah, it's fine.

Okay, so if you can get it.

She's just prepared, but yeah.

Okay, okay.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Could someone make a note of that?

I forgot my pen.

Okay.

Where did I leave off?

638.

I just lost my place.

63825.

Yes.

Yes.

Is the next one?

Thanks.

Approval of change order number two for the Plainfield Road, Theodore Street to Black Street, Water Main Improvement Project to Austin Tyler Construction Inc.

for a decreased amount of 1.735,000 $236.11 and pay estimate number 11 and final in the amount of $564,000 and $68 cents.

Change order number two is a net decrease for the following work, time extension to contract milestones due to change field changes and staging for restoration, balancing of final qualities and quantity adjustments.

Chain order number two also includes a time extension of 91 days due to delays from conditions and traffic realignments for restoration.

Council Memo 640 25 public hearing for the 2026 fiscal year budget, which is the opportunity for all of our residents to come out and let us know what they think about the budget and um you know express themselves and give their feedback so we can take that into account before you pass it.

So we encourage all residents who can come out to please do that tomorrow.

Ordinances and resolutions, ordinances, council memo six forty-two twenty-five, ordinance for the levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2025 and ending December 31st, 2025 in and for the Joliet Public Library, Will and Kendall Counties in Illinois.

Um questions on that?

You want Kevin to go over it, or is everybody this is like routine that we do every year, but happy to reflect refresh recollections if needed.

Okay.

Council memo six forty-three twenty-five ordinance for the levy and assessment of taxes for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2025 and ending December 31st in and for the City of Joliet, Will and Kendall Counties, Illinois.

Council Memo 64425, ordinance authorizing amendments to the rules and regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Joliet.

So this is there was a scrivener's error where a word is changed from of to or then Todd, do you want to um the other one was assert qualification?

There's actually two other things.

Uh military preference points.

We made that consistent between uh fire and police and uh cleaned up the language so it's more clear.

Um the main one, the main reason we brought this is preference points to allow cert.

So the state law allows us to give five points for unique categories, so the the board rules will just reflect the state statute.

Thank you.

Resolution, resolutions, council memo six forty-six twenty-five resolution approving the dedication of a portion of Maple Street as a public right-of-way.

So uh the property lines right now extend to the middle of the street.

Um that's where the right-of-way ends, and so we're fixing it by it'll come to the curb then instead instead of the middle of the street because we're obviously responsible for streets.

Council Memo 64725 resolution for the surface transportation program local match commitment for the Theodore Street east of Brighton Lane to Illinois Route 59 roadway widening improvement project.

Um so this uh is a grant application that will be for the construction portion of the project, which is estimated to be two million eight hundred and forty-four thousand dollars, eight hundred and forty-four thousand eight hundred dollars, eighty percent uh the federal government will pay, which is two million two hundred and seventy-five thousand eight hundred and forty dollars.

And um this resolution is just stating that the city can cover twenty percent of the cost, so feds eighty, city twenty, um, and that we will have available through MFT funding $168,960 for the 20%.

Council Memo 64825, resolution approving the easement agreement for water delivery structure structure by and between the City of Joliet and the Grand Prairie Water Commission.

So the city owns property on which the Grand Prairie Water Commission will construct a water delivery structure, which will be the primary point of delivery of water from the commission to the city.

The city and the commission have negotiated mutual acceptable terms of an easement agreement for water delivery structure for the primary point of delivery consistent with the water supply agreement.

Council Memo 64925 resolution authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Joliet and the state of Illinois for the city's use of the Joliet Correctional Center.

So the City of Juliet into an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department of Central Management Services on December 27, 2017 for temporary possession and control of the old Joliet Prison for Stabilization, maintenance, and redevelopment purposes.

It will include the same property lines that it did before.

So this is what we we've been talking about that we've been negotiating with the state.

We finally reached an agreement, and so we can get an additional three years on that.

And the reason why we're not just the they would love the state would love to give us this property, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done there.

So getting a longer lease, you know, for now is better to see how much they can help us with funding on these properties and environmental things, etc.

Our um our state um representatives and and senators um you know are supportive of that.

So mayor.

Yeah, Beth, this does not have anything to do with the east side of the road property over there.

This is just strictly the uh it is it includes it.

There was um certain items.

So the main difference between this agreement and what we've had prior is the state gets control over the activities that go on out there.

So we the museum basically has to apply.

There's certain items that they've already applied for and been approved, um, but going forward anything else we they need to apply for.

So the property description that was in the last couple agreements is exactly the same as this.

Okay.

Thank you.

That concludes the agenda.

Okay, next we have public comments.

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

Seeing none, I did receive a request for closed session.

Is there a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel, collective bargaining, land acquisition, or conveyance, pending or threaten litigation after which the meeting will adjourn?

So moved.

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

Councilman Cardinals.

Hi.

Councilman Clement.

Councilman Hug.

Councilwoman of Barra.

Councilman Marino.

Councilman Mudron.

Councilwoman Quomen.

Hi.

Councilwoman Burden.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy.

Motion carried.