Joliet City Council Reconvened Meeting – March 23, 2026

The Joliet City Council reconvened a meeting originally adjourned on March 16, 2026, due to the approach of Election Day (state law prohibits public meetings on election days). The council resumed business at 5:30 PM on March 23, 2026, in the city council chambers. The primary agenda was the approval of an annexation agreement and related zoning changes for a 795‑acre data center development near South Rowell Road and Bernhard Road, proposed by Hillwood. After debate and a roll‑call vote, both agenda items were approved. The meeting also included extensive public comment on non‑agenda items, during which many residents expressed disappointment and frustration over the data center decision, the meeting process, and concerns about transparency and community engagement.

Consent Calendar

• Council Memo 178‑26: Resolution approving an annexation agreement for approximately 795 acres surrounding South Rowell Road and Bernhard Road (map A‑4‑25). Adopted 8 votes to 1, with Councilman Navarro voting against.
• Council Memo 179‑26: Ordinances approving the annexation, I‑1 light industrial zoning, preliminary planned unit development, and preliminary plat of the technology center subdivision (A‑4‑25 and PUD‑8‑25). Adopted 7 votes to 1, with Councilman Barrow voting against. (Note: Councilman Navarro, who voted against item 178‑26, did not vote on item 179‑26 according to the roll call recorded in the transcript.)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple residents (Serena Guzman, Felix Ortiz, Amina Brown, Griselda Chavez, Alicia Morales, Andrea Baumhart, Portia Gallegos, Kathy Garthis, and others) addressed the council on non‑agenda items, as data center discussion was not permitted under that section.
• Criticism of the process and vote: Several speakers stated they felt the data center decision was a “done deal” and that the council had chosen corporate interests over residents. They cited the 14‑hour meeting on March 16 as evidence of strong public opposition and questioned why the March 23 meeting was held in a space too small to accommodate the public, with many union members (some not Joliet residents) filling the room.
• Demands for transparency and community benefits: Speakers called for future large‑development meetings to be held at larger venues like Bicentennial Park, for the council to wait for pending state legislation (SB 4016/HB 5513) before voting, and for data centers to cover their own infrastructure costs. Portia Gallegos urged the city to negotiate community benefit agreements, noting that Dr. Glenda McCollum Wright had suggested a possible $200–$600 million benefit for a project of this scale.
• Concerns about rising costs: Several residents expressed worry that utility bills would increase after the switch to Lake Michigan water and that the city should use revenue from large developments to ease the burden on residents.
• Allegations of censorship: One speaker (Cassidy) stated that portions of the March 16 meeting recording were cut, including her own comments, and she planned to file a Freedom of Information request and potential lawsuit.
• Call for better communication: Madeline Gable noted difficulty reaching her council member and suggested the city improve its website to show district maps and direct contact information.
• Passionate opposition: Many speakers expressed deep disappointment, some directly naming council members and stating they would remember the vote at election time.

Discussion Items

• Explanation of site selection: At a council member’s request, a Hillwood representative explained that the developer first contacted NASCAR (which declined), then independently negotiated with the Bernhard family for the land, without any prior involvement from the city. The city was approached only after purchase agreements were in place.
• Questions about ethics: Councilwoman Quillman raised a concern about a development staff member whose family owned the property; the city manager stated he could not comment on personnel matters publicly.
• Council statements after the vote: Several council members explained their “yes” votes, citing the project’s economic benefits (thousands of union construction jobs, 700 permanent jobs, $22.58 million annually for education, $76 million for Joliet Junior College), safeguards on water use (max 150,000 gallons per day average, never exceeding 300,000), and commitments to Tier 4 generators for noise and emissions control.
• Mayor’s remarks: Mayor Darcy emphasized his trust in city staff and independent consultants, and stated the project is a “win for Joliet.” He noted that a previous data center proposal in 2021–22 was rejected because it required 6 million+ gallons of water per day.
• Councilman Reardon’s comments: He highlighted that the city manager facilitated a two‑hour meeting with residents to address concerns, and that many changes to the agreement came from public input.
• Councilman Clement: Acknowledged the difficulty of the vote but expressed expectations for accountability and real benefits; he suggested the resulting revenue could be used to eliminate the grocery tax or reduce the city’s portion of the gas tax.
• Councilwoman Quillman: Apologized for missing the March 16 meeting due to weather, but stated she watched the full 7‑hour, 19‑minute video and did her own research.

Key Outcomes

• Annexation and zoning approved (8‑1 on the annexation resolution; 7‑1 on the zoning/plat ordinances). The data center project (Hillwood) at South Rowell and Bernhard Roads will move forward.
• Tier 4 generators required: The council confirmed that the agreement mandates EPA Tier 4 compliant generators, the quietest and least‑polluting option currently available.
• Community benefits agreement: Staff negotiated a community benefits package valued at approximately $100 million, though specifics were not detailed in the meeting.
• Next steps: The council did not set further action items; the approved ordinances will take effect as provided by law. Multiple council members pledged to continue engaging with residents as the project develops.