Joliet City Council Meeting – March 19, 2026 (Continuation of March 16 Meeting)

The Joliet City Council reconvened on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 5:30 PM to continue the March 16, 2026 meeting. The primary business was the approval of an annexation agreement and related ordinances for the Joliet Technology Center, a data center development on approximately 795 acres near S. Rowell Road and Bernhard Road. After public hearing and debate, the council voted 8-1 to approve the annexation agreement (Resolution 8262) and the zoning, PUD, and preliminary plat ordinances (Ordinances 18826 and 18827), with Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra casting the sole dissenting vote. The meeting included extensive public comments, many opposing the project or criticizing the process, followed by closing remarks from council members.

Consent Calendar

• Motion to Reconvene: Unanimously approved (9-0) to reconvene the March 16, 2026 Combined City Council Meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Serena Guzman expressed disappointment that the data center was approved, called for committees involving Spanish-speaking communities, and criticized two Hispanic council members for not opposing the project.
• Andrea Baumhardt read a prayer for St. Joseph's Day, urging the council to think of residents.
• Kathy Garthus voiced concerns about rising costs and promised to remember council decisions.
• Griselda Chavez demanded a 3–6 month moratorium on data center PUDs, asking that the city wait for state legislation (SB 4016/HB 5513) and that data centers cover their own power costs. She also questioned whether union members in the audience were from Joliet.
• Alicia Morales criticized the meeting venue for being too small to accommodate residents, alleging that union members (some not Joliet residents) dominated seats, and questioned transparency.
• Portia Gallegos (Joliet Residents for Responsible Growth) called for community benefit agreements and multilingual outreach, and urged the city to wait for state legislation.
• Serena Magosky expressed anger about the process, noted the city's history, and announced she would run for office.
• Amina Brown (South Plainfield resident) warned unions about corporate promises, citing a past embezzlement case.
• A speaker (Lily) raised concerns about rising utility bills after switching to Lake Michigan water and asked how the council would help residents.
• Madeline Gabl spoke about difficulties communicating with council members, noting that only one of eight emails received a response, and suggested improvements to the city website and voicemail system.
• Tia Quinnerly criticized the vote outcome and promised residents would remember.
• Randy Pratl urged the council to prepare for increased unhoused population and rising costs.
• Felix Ortiz (with Teamster family background) stressed public health and environmental concerns, asked for pollution safety parameters, and warned of accountability at the ballot box. His four-minute speech was interrupted for language, leading him to threaten an Open Meetings Act complaint.
• A speaker (Cassidy Brown) alleged that portions of the March 16 meeting video were edited/censored, announced she would file a FOIA request and possibly a lawsuit, and urged continued resistance.
• Additional speakers (not named) discussed community engagement, recording concerns, and affordability.

Discussion Items

• Annexation Agreement (Council Memo #178-26): Don Schoenheider (Hillwood) explained site selection: the developer identified the site independently after NASCAR declined a data center, then contacted the Bernhard family directly, without city involvement. Councilman Hug clarified that structures are not permanent and can be demolished. He also raised an ethics question about a city staff member whose family owned part of the property; City Manager Beth Beatty stated she could not comment on personnel matters in open session. The resolution was adopted 8-1 (Ibarra opposed).
• Ordinances for Annexation, Zoning, PUD (Council Memo #179-26): Approved 8-1 (Ibarra opposed). The ordinances annex the land, classify it as I-1 Light Industrial, and approve the Preliminary PUD and Plat for Joliet Technology Center Subdivision.
• City Manager's Report: No comments.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on Resolution 8262 (Annexation Agreement): Approved 8-1. Ayes: Mayor D'Arcy and Councilmembers Cardenas, Clement, Hug, Moreno, Mudron, Quillman, Reardon. Nay: Ibarra.
• Vote on Ordinances 18826/18827 (Annexation, Zoning, PUD, Plat): Approved 8-1. Same vote split.
• Council Comments: Several members explained their yes votes, citing job creation (700 permanent, thousands of union construction jobs), water conservation (max 150,000 gallons/day average), tier-four generators (low emission), and a $100 million community benefits agreement. Councilwoman Ibarra explained her no vote, representing District 5 residents who bear industrial burdens without adequate protections. Councilman Hug acknowledged a resident's earlier question about generator tiers led to a contractual requirement for tier-four generators. Council members committed to using tax revenue to potentially eliminate the grocery tax or reduce the gas tax.
• Adjournment: Motion carried 9-0.