Joliet City Council Meeting

January 6, 2026 6:30 PM

The Joliet City Council held its first regular voting meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, liquor licenses for three establishments, a public hearing on a boundary agreement with the Village of Elwood, adoption of ordinances for a Briggs Street subdivision and a formal boundary agreement with Elwood, and resolutions regarding an intergovernmental agreement with Will County and supplemental motor fuel tax funds. Public comments addressed liquor license concerns, opposition to the city's use of Flock cameras, a boundary agreement thanks, and mental health and law enforcement.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously (9 ayes) and included:
  • Invoices to be paid
  • Approval of minutes from the December 1, 2025 Pre-Council Meeting and December 2, 2025 City Council Meeting
  • Purchase of one LP35 cardiac monitor and three LP 1000 AEDs from Stryker Medical for $59,847.12
  • Purchase of 110 additional sets of firefighter turnout gear from Air One Equipment, Inc. for $398,310.00
  • 2026 rock salt purchase contract with the State of Illinois and Morton Salt Inc. at $67.20 per ton (not to exceed $470,375.00)
  • Purchase of one Elgin Broom Bear Sweeper from Standard Equipment Co. Inc. for $448,690.00
  • Change Order No. 1 for 2025 unleaded fuel purchases to Al Warren Oil Company, Inc. for $120,837.00
  • Change Order No. 1 for the 2025-2026 sidewalk maintenance contract to PT Ferro Construction Co. for $51,004.14
  • Change Order No. 1 for the 2024 Bituminous Surface Treatment – Contract A to AC Pavement Striping Co. (increase of $9,421.60 and payment of $9,650.00)
  • Change Order No. 3 for the 2024 Sidewalk / Curb Replacement Project – East Joliet Contract to Davis Concrete Construction Co. for $22,065.40 and final payment of $30,936.68
  • Amendment No. 2 for Phase II Engineering Services for the Farrell Road over Spring Creek Improvement Project to Hutchison Engineering, Inc. for $15,000.00
  • Payments for contractor snow removal for the November 29-30, 2025 snowstorm totaling $135,505.50
  • Award of contract for the 2026 Aluminum Sulfate Purchase to USALCO LLC (not to exceed $792,805.00)
  • Award of contract for the 2026 Biosolids Disposal Program to New Era Spreading Inc. for $2,516,550.00
  • Award of contract for the 2026 Drinking Water Sodium Hypochlorite Purchase to Univar Solutions USA LLC (not to exceed $467,325.00)
  • Professional Services Agreement for Water Treatment Residual Rule Compliance Assistance to Duffield Consulting Engineers LTD (not to exceed $46,284.00)
  • Purchase of one vehicle mounted hydraulic valve turning machine from E.H. Wachs for $32,794.00
  • Change Order No. 1 for the Railroad Street Water Main Improvements Project (P.T. Ferro Construction Co.) – adjustments to project completion dates
  • Change Order No. 1 for the Hickory Creek West Water Main Improvements Project to Airy’s Inc. (deduction of $559,493.40 and final payment of $1,148,647.82)
  • Payment for emergency repairs to the water main in the Des Plaines River Crossing to Airy’s Inc. for $388,881.01

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizens to Be Heard on Agenda Items:
  • Judy Easley, a Joliet resident, expressed concerns about the sale of alcohol at the proposed Sharks Fish & Chicken location on Larkin Avenue, stating she did not want to see people hurt or property destroyed, and urged the council to vote against the liquor license.
• Public Comments (Non-Agenda Items):
  • Sam Coffey spoke about concerns regarding safety and security in the City of Joliet.
  • Mayor Doug Jenco of the Village of Elwood thanked the city for finalizing the boundary agreement that evening, noting the agreement began in 2016 and expired in 2019, and expressed hope for being great neighbors.
  • Jonathan Jefferson, a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 101st Airborne Division and a Joliet resident, spoke about the need to better prepare law enforcement for interactions with individuals suffering from mental illness. He emphasized that over 50% of the U.S. population suffers from some form of untreated mental illness and that both officers and those with mental illness are at risk. He volunteered to help start a dialogue and work with the city to address the issue.

Discussion Items

• Committee Reports:
  • Land Use & Economic Development (Councilman Cardenas): Committee met December 17, 2025, and recommended advancing the boundary line agreement between Joliet and Elwood to the full council.
  • Public Safety (Councilman Clement): Committee met January 6, 2026, and reviewed the purchase of firefighter turnout gear and cardiac monitors. Chief Carey provided an update on the Amazon warehouse fire on Brandon Road on January 5, 2026, noting that firefighters were on scene for about 6.5 hours, one firefighter was injured but expected to recover, and the fire was extinguished with help from McCook Fire Department. The intergovernmental agreement with Will County was also discussed.
  • Public Service (Councilman Hug): Committee met January 5, 2026, and reviewed seven contract items and 11 change order/payment items, all routine. The largest contract was the biosolids disposal program at $2.5 million. The snow removal payment of $135,505.50 was noted as the highest paid for outside contractor snow removal in several years.
• Liquor Licenses:
  • Councilman Clement noted he spoke with the Crest Hill Mayor and confirmed no issues with the Sharks Fish & Chicken location at 800 N. Raynor Avenue.
  • Councilwoman Ibarra expressed support for the Sharks Fish & Chicken license at 325 S. Larkin Avenue, noting it is in her district, has very little seating, and she is confident the small setting will allow for proper oversight. Councilman Hug clarified the license is for table service only, not a bar.
• Public Hearing: A public hearing was held for the boundary agreement between the City of Joliet and the Village of Elwood. No public comments were made. Councilman Hug thanked Dustin Anderson and his team for their work on the agreement.
• Briggs Street Subdivision Ordinances: The council adopted three ordinances related to the Briggs Street Subdivision: approving a preliminary plat, vacating a portion of a public alley (14 ft x 123 ft), and reclassifying zoning from R-2 to B-1.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (9 ayes).
• Council Memo 20-26 (Broadway Water Main Change Order): Approved 8-0-1 (Councilman Moreno abstained).
• Council Memo 21-26 (North Prairie Water Main Change Order): Approved 8-0-1 (Councilman Moreno abstained).
• Council Memo 23-26 (Class B Liquor License – Casa Catrina): Approved unanimously.
• Council Memo 24-26 (Class D Liquor License – Sharks Fish & Chicken at 800 N. Raynor Ave): Approved unanimously.
• Council Memo 25-26 (Class D Liquor License – Sharks Fish & Chicken at 325 S. Larkin Ave): Approved unanimously.
• Council Memo 27-26 (Public Hearing – Boundary Agreement): Closed without public comment; the agreement was later approved via ordinance.
• Council Memo 29-26 (Briggs Street Subdivision Ordinances): Adopted unanimously;
  • Ordinance 18810 (Preliminary Plat)
  • Ordinance 18811 (Alley Vacation)
  • Ordinance 18812 (Zoning Reclassification)
• Council Memo 30-26 (Boundary Agreement Ordinance between Joliet and Elwood): Adopted unanimously (Ordinance 18813).
• Council Memo 32-26 (Intergovernmental Agreement with Will County): Resolution 8236 adopted unanimously.
• Council Memo 33-26 (Supplemental Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Farrell Road Bridge Engineering): Resolution 8237 adopted unanimously.
• City Manager's Report: Announced a snowplow naming contest in partnership with Joliet Public School District 86; three new snowplows will receive names by the end of January.
• Mayor and Council Comments: Councilwoman Quillman wished a happy birthday to Tom; Councilman Moreno wished a happy birthday to his goddaughter; Councilwoman Ibarra thanked residents who spoke; Councilman Hug thanked the veteran speaker and suggested he speak with Chief Carey about mental health resources; Councilman Clement noted an issue on Republic Avenue being resolved and requested assistance with traffic issues at 7Brew on Barney; Councilman Cardenas invited the public to the Comprehensive Plan workshop on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM at City Hall; Mayor D'Arcy welcomed the new year, highlighted upcoming events including the opening of City Center Square, the 100-year anniversaries of the Rialto Theater and Route 66, the return of NASCAR, and the nation's 250th celebration.
• Adjournment: Motion carried unanimously at an unspecified time.