OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joliet City Council Meeting – June 2, 2026

Meeting PortalTuesday, June 2, 2026
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, June 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Oh, okay.

0:01

Okay.

0:02

Well, good evening, everybody.

0:04

This is a monthly meeting of the Jolie City Council on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, 6:30 in City Hall Chambers, with Mayor Terry Darcy providing, but I am Mayor Pro Tem, so um he gives us all a chance once in a while to be the mayor.

0:24

So the invocation tonight will be by Pastor Larry Tyler from Second Baptist Church, 156 South Joliet Street, followed by the pledge of the flag and run roll call.

0:41

Let us pray.

0:43

Gracious God.

0:45

We thank you for this moment in time to invite you into these proceedings.

0:51

We thank you, Lord, for the service and sacrifice of the city council.

0:56

Thank you, Lord, for their dedication, their focus.

0:59

Thank you, Lord.

1:00

And we pray for their continuing enablement.

1:04

We lift up all the constituents of this great city, Lord, the citizens, the stakeholders.

1:10

We just ask now, Lord, for the issues that lie before us that you would allow us to proceed for as one with grace and mercy, with sensitivity and understanding.

1:21

We ask that we may even be more united than ever before.

1:25

We thank you for all things in the name of Jesus.

1:28

Please superintend what we can't control as well as what we can.

1:32

We ask it all in the name of Jesus.

1:35

We pray that everybody say.

2:25

We'll begin with roll call.

2:26

Mayor Darcy.

2:27

Here.

2:27

Councilman Cardinals.

2:28

Here.

2:28

Councilman Clement?

2:29

Here.

2:29

Councilman Hug?

2:30

Here.

2:30

Councilman of Barrow.

2:31

Here.

2:32

Councilman Moreno.

2:32

Here.

2:33

Councilman Mudrin.

2:34

Here.

2:34

Councilman Quillman.

2:35

Here.

2:36

Councilman Redin is absent.

2:37

She did let me know she would not be in attendance this evening.

2:40

First, we'll have a presentation from the Will County Center for Economic Development by Kayla Sorensen.

2:49

Good evening, everyone.

2:50

Let me get this plugged in very quickly.

2:56

All right.

3:03

There we go.

3:04

All righty.

3:05

So good evening, everyone.

3:07

First, I want to thank City Council, Mayor Darcy, City staff, uh, and everyone else here tonight for allowing me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Willow County Center for Economic Development and our long-standing relationship with the City of Joliet for over four decades.

3:25

And so for those of you that I don't know, my name is Kayla Sorensen.

3:28

I am proud to serve as the Vice President of External Affairs for the Will County Center for Economic Development.

3:33

Um unfortunately Doug cannot be here tonight, so you got me.

3:36

So much like the CED has called Joliet home for nearly 50 years now.

3:44

Um I too was born and raised here in Joliet and am incredibly proud and love this community a lot.

3:50

So I'm really happy to be here this evening talking on behalf of an organization that I'm very proud of to be serving as well.

3:57

And so I'd like to begin very briefly this morning or this afternoon.

4:01

This morning, with a little bit of history about the Will County Center for Economic Development for those of you that are not familiar with the CED.

4:09

Um so decades ago, during a time when Joliet and the surrounding communities were facing significant economic challenges.

4:17

A group of local leaders uh came together and understood that this community and Will County could not rely solely on the industries and the economic drivers that had built the region generations earlier.

4:28

They knew Joliet needed to and Will County needed to diversify its economy in order to attract new investment, create new opportunities, and reimagine what the future of this community could look like.

4:39

And so from that vision came the Will County Center for Economic Development.

4:44

Um and so since those very early days back in 1981, the City of Joliet has been one of our strongest champions of the work that we do and in many ways has helped build the foundation of that allows the CED to do the work that we do today.

5:00

And I quickly want to show some of the pictures that are up on the screen.

5:02

First, we did uh we do a lot of infrastructure type tours around the community, one of which was highlighting the Hobo Road Extension Bridge a few years ago.

5:10

We also have a lot of partnerships with Joliet Township High School.

5:12

I'll talk a little bit about our internship program in a little bit.

5:15

So that's with Dr.

5:16

Carla Guzman and our staff.

5:18

And then, of course, probably the best selfie I've ever taken with Mayor Darcy, Nike Train, and Dr.

5:24

Numouel, I don't think it gets more Joliet than that.

5:27

So just wanted to highlight those few photos.

5:31

But a little bit more about the mission of the CED.

5:34

Again, for those of you that are not familiar with all the work that the Will County Center for Economic Development does, our mission has stayed the same from the very beginning to what it is now.

5:44

And at its core, the CED exists to create high-quality jobs, to attract investment, to support business growth, and strengthen the economic future for Will County and all of our communities, including Joliet.

5:57

And our mission hasn't changed, but the approach that we have taken and how we accomplish that has evolved over time and continues to change.

6:04

And so today, economic development is much broader than just recruiting a fancy company to a piece of land here in our community.

6:12

You know, it touches workforce development, housing, transportation, education, health care, infrastructure, and ultimately quality of life for all of the residents that call Will County home and all of the businesses that are home here as well.

6:27

All of those pieces work together to create an environment where businesses can grow and all of your residents can thrive.

6:33

And so when a company comes and evaluates Will County, they're evaluating that entire ecosystem, and we work to help recruit those businesses.

6:43

And so when businesses come here, they ask these types of questions.

6:46

Can they find workers?

6:47

Can they prove move their products efficiently throughout our region?

6:52

Are there schools and colleges producing quality talent?

6:55

Is there housing available?

6:57

Do communities have the infrastructure and utilities needed to support this type of growth and new businesses.

7:02

And are local leaders investing in our future.

7:04

And I know that those are all of the questions that you all ask here all the time.

7:08

And that's what we do as well.

7:10

Those are the conversations that myself and our team have every day around the county and state and even nationally in a lot of different rooms.

7:19

And so our role with the CED is to help ensure that when businesses look at Will County and Juliet and all of our communities, they see a region that is not only prepared, competitive, but positioned for long-term success.

7:33

And so a little bit about the CED.

7:36

Again, we are a 501c6 nonprofit organization.

7:40

You guys didn't know that.

7:41

We also have a 501c3 nonprofit foundation as well.

7:47

Our services are free to public and private organizations that are looking for resources and help, whether that's expanding their businesses or any type of resources.

7:56

But funding for the CED comes from private and public investors.

7:59

So public investors such as the City of Joliet and other municipalities make up about one-third of our funding, and then the other two-thirds is still our private investors, businesses throughout our communities that support the CED's mission.

8:13

And so very quickly about our staff.

8:17

Our team is small, but we sure make a lot of noise.

8:20

I know a lot of you have been to a lot of our events and participated in the CED over the years.

8:26

But every day our team supports our investors, City of Joliet being one of them.

8:30

We manage a lot of events and programming throughout the year.

8:34

We assist with a lot of development projects, administer brands throughout the county.

8:38

But one of the things that I would say we do exceptionally well is that we're great at connecting people and resources.

8:46

So connecting businesses to resources, schools to employers, which I'll talk about in a few minutes as well, municipalities to different partners, and local leaders to the information and data and relationship that they need to continue to move relationships forward.

9:00

And so a lot of our work happens behind the scenes.

9:03

But our goal is simple, and we want to continue to serve as a resource to all of our communities, our businesses, and the organizations that help shape Will County.

9:12

All of those work together.

9:14

And what you'll find is that there's you know, there are not many organizations that do the work that we do and do it with you know, so connected.

9:24

We hear time and time again that we are a tight-knit group here in Joliet and Will County and great resources and great partners to one another.

9:31

And so we're very proud of that legacy, and you all should be as well.

9:35

And so, speaking of legacy, we often say we do none of this work alone.

9:41

It is with the help of leaders like yourselves and other councils throughout our region, that we can do this work.

9:46

And so the CED is incredibly fortunate to have investors who believe in the mission of the CED.

9:52

And I want to specifically specify or point out our legacy investors, which includes the City of Joliet.

10:00

You know, these organizations have supported the CED well over 30 years and represent our longest and largest and longest standing investors.

10:08

So for more than four decades, the City of Joliet has been a fantastic partner, and we're incredibly grateful for your annual investment.

10:15

You know, your work, your investment makes our work possible, but more importantly, it reflects a belief that our communities believe that regional collaboration works and that communities are stronger when you all have a seat at that table regionally and states and beyond.

10:31

So I'm here to talk about a little bit about what you all receive as an investor, the benefits you receive with the Will County CED.

10:39

And certainly there are a lot of tangible benefits, and I can I'm gonna go into some of those and can provide some other information after this.

10:45

But the city receives access to a lot of our investor-only events.

10:49

I know several of you are signed have been to our CED after threes or our eye opener breakfast or annual report.

10:56

You know, there's a lot of committees and coalitions that we've hosted over the years that you all have participated in.

11:01

Our board of directors, Darcy serves on our board of directors, it's either you have as well in the past.

11:07

A lot of sponsorship opportunities and networking with public and private sector leaders.

11:12

We bring all of those groups together within the CED.

11:15

City of Joliet also receives visibility through our website, newsletters, social media channels, publications, and events, and also receives access to research data.

11:25

There's any data you all are ever looking for.

11:28

I know a guy.

11:29

Doug is our guru of data at the CED, but you know, that's labor force data, demographic information, economic trends, those sorts of things that help guide decisions.

11:40

We have access to.

12:21

Connect them to resources and be a problem solver to businesses on where to start.

12:27

Marketing and recruitment of new businesses, access to state and county and local incentives, which I'll talk a little bit about in a minute, are a prime example of a way that we use those.

12:38

Economic development training for local officials.

12:40

We host at least one local elected officials training a year.

12:45

Information on sites and buildings, demographic and labor research, again, data, connections to federal, state, and local agencies, legislative and policy advocacy, and the list goes on.

12:56

We at the CED tend to be an organization's first call when they have a problem or you know they have a new initiative, where to start and who should be in that room.

13:06

And so, in most cases, we're serving as an extension of a community's economic development team.

13:12

So you all have a fantastic economic development team here at the city, and we just serve as an additional resource for all of them as they work on different projects and things.

13:23

So we work closely with the city staff and Krista and everyone here, on project recruitment, workforce initiatives, and just overall economic development strategy.

13:34

And so at the end of the day, the city simply isn't investing in just another membership organization.

13:40

You all are investing in a trusted partner that's been there for decades to help advance the local priorities, your local priorities, while broadening the, you know, strengthening and broadening the regional economy.

13:51

And I'm sure you've heard Doug say this, if you know Doug at all.

13:54

You know, we want to help you all build the community that you want here.

13:57

Um, so however, we can help and be a resource to all of you.

14:01

And so, very quickly, a few examples.

14:04

I know I'm keeping it to 10 minutes, I'm moving quickly.

14:07

Um, first is um, you know, the CED, um Hyundai Translate.

14:11

I'm sure you've heard a lot about this project recently.

14:13

The CED was proud to work alongside municipal leaders like yourselves, county, regional, and state partners to help recruit Hyundai Translead to Will County and specifically to Joliet.

14:23

You know, this project represents approximately 345 million dollars in investment and the creation of roughly 2,500 jobs over the next few years.

14:33

And I just want to make mention, you know, projects like this don't happen overnight.

14:37

They require years of planning and discussions and conversations and relationship building, and so I just want to say thank you to the City of Joliet and so many on this team for being such a great partner on this project and you know dozens more in the past and I'm sure many into the future.

14:55

Um, one other quick example, um, it wouldn't be me if I didn't talk about the Willow County Summer Internship Program if anybody knows me and this program.

15:00

Um, it wouldn't be me if I didn't talk about the Willow County Summer Internship Program if anybody knows me and this program.

15:03

Um for those that don't though, the Will County Summer Internship Program was established three years ago, and it is a resource to connect local high school students with paid internships with our area employers.

15:16

Uh the city of Joliet has participated as an employer in the program for the past two years, placing uh several students helping to provide meaningful work experiences uh for our local students, and this summer alone, we've placed 125 students in paid internships all across the Will County community, with a majority of which are coming from Joliet Township High School and are being placed in Joliet as well.

15:40

So y'all are our strongest community, and I can't thank you enough for all that you do to advocate for the program within your day jobs as well and um here at the city.

15:49

Um also quick note is that over the past three years, students participating in the program have earned nearly one million dollars in wages.

16:00

One million dollars.

16:01

Those dollars are earned by local students and they support their families, they go back to our local businesses right here in Joliet and in Will County, and they help build young people's confidence, their workplace skills, and valuable career experience.

16:16

But perhaps the most important outcome is that students are beginning to see a future right here in Will County, and we're hoping to retain our students as we continue to expose them to different careers here in the area.

16:27

And of course, programs like this don't happen without the support of investors and our community partners.

16:33

So again, thank you to the City of Joliet.

16:35

Thank you to Krista and Beth and your entire HR team.

16:38

You all have been absolutely wonderful to work with.

16:41

They made it happen, just so you all know.

16:43

They were the ones that really spearheaded this and helped ensure that the City of Joliet had a seat at that table and got our students involved.

16:51

So thank you so much.

16:52

And many different departments, too, by the way.

16:54

So I know Ann's around here too.

16:56

Yep, as well.

16:57

So again, thank you so much.

17:00

All right, I'm wrapping it up, I promise.

17:03

Um, next Wednesday, if you all haven't heard about this, is our eye opener breakfast.

17:07

This is a benefit of being an investor, um, especially a legacy investor.

17:11

We have 10 tickets set aside for the city of Joliet to come out to this event.

17:14

I know several of you have been to this before.

17:17

This is our mid-year look at what's going on in Will County.

17:20

Doug gives a wonderful presentation, uh data and projects.

17:24

I unfortunately will not be presenting at that.

17:26

You've got Doug.

17:27

Um, but it's gonna be a wonderful time, so I hope that a lot of you can make that next week.

17:32

And um, so in conclusion, you know, over the years, our relationship with the city of Joliet has you know truly shaped so many major projects.

17:41

Um, you know, you've supported employers and you you continue to position Joliet as a leader not only within Will County but the broader region.

17:48

So, on behalf of our board of directors and our staff and the many people who benefit from the work that we do at the Will County CED, I thank you all for your continued leadership and your support of the CED.

17:59

And um I got tonight.

18:02

Hopefully, it was right under 10 minutes, right around 10 minutes.

18:06

So thank you.

18:08

Yeah, have you take any questions or I'm good to go?

18:11

Thank you.

18:20

Next is the approval of the agenda.

18:22

Is there a motion to approve the agenda as written?

18:27

Motion approved.

18:27

Second.

18:28

It's been motion and second and to approve.

18:30

Councilman Cardinals.

18:31

All right, Councilman Clement.

18:32

Councilman Hug.

18:33

Councilman Barra.

18:34

All right, Councilman Marino.

18:35

All right, Councilman Mudron.

18:37

Councilman McQuillman.

18:38

Uh Mayor Darcy.

18:39

Motion carried.

18:41

Next is citizens to be heard on agenda items.

18:46

I do have Tim O'Donnell signed up.

18:50

If you'd like to come up and speak.

18:56

Good evening.

18:57

Uh my name's Tim O'Donnell.

18:59

I'm the president, CEO of Audubon Country Club, one of the owners, and this is Mark Basso, my partner who got me roped into this thing about 25 years ago, it seems like we just want to say that you know, we're really thrilled to be part of the Joliet community for the last 22 years, and the club is uh doing extremely well.

19:21

Uh membership is growing, and we're really excited about the direction of the club, and we've got some strategic plans coming uh down the pike, so we'll probably be back here at some point again.

19:33

Um but uh wanted to really express my gratitude to the city of Joliet and the City Council for all your support over the years, and we're gonna continue to do our best to make Joliet proud.

19:45

So I'll let Mark say a few words.

19:47

Thank you very much.

19:48

We're you know, we worked hard to be an asset of the community, and uh you know a lot of our members and myself live in the area, so we're very excited to be part of this community.

20:00

And you know, Audubon was the first motorsports club in the world, which is pretty amazing, and it actually started in an industry, so now there are uh motor sports clubs all over the world.

20:07

Tim and I went to Japan last year to Tokyo to talk to international groups about building these clubs all over the world.

20:14

So it's been pretty amazing.

20:16

Um the members have been driving the same.

20:19

We have the north course, the south course, and they combine to make the full course.

20:22

So the members have been driving those same courses for 22 years, which are great.

20:27

Everyone loves it, they become historic in their own right, but you know, we want to keep the place fresh.

20:32

So we hired this Tilka group, which uh they designed all the F1 tracks all over the world, so they're very prestigious uh track architects, and they came out to look at Audubon, and we said, you know, we want you to chart our next 20 years for the club.

20:47

So they came back with uh a list of things, improvements that we could do little by little.

20:52

So the first thing that we're doing is on our uh our north circuit.

20:57

So we're actually taking advantage of some the interior of the track, which has some significant elevation for Illinois, uh, which will have a 20-foot elevation drop, which feeds into 10% bank corners and fast S's.

21:11

So it ties into the existing North Tracks.

21:13

We'll have option A or B with this new option, and this new option actually has two entry, two exit points.

21:19

So it'll create uh many diverse options for the members, you know, for racing to keep the place fresh.

21:25

And you know, as I mentioned, that'll just be the first of many.

21:29

Uh with our car track is up to a mile long now.

21:32

We have autocross, we have you know, five plus uh miles of tracks for the members, which has really helped Audubon to grow to you know, we're getting close to 600 members, which is really about twice the size of an average golf country club, and uh you know helps us continue to be a leader in this industry, and uh you know it's been very exciting.

21:53

We look forward you know to the future, and you know, definitely in the top uh five to ten largest of the motorsports clubs, probably membership, uh participation racing.

22:04

We have higher racing car counts than any of the clubs in in the country.

22:08

So it really is a community, and that you know I want to reflect that on all your help and support over the years as well.

22:15

So thank you very much.

22:16

Thank you.

22:21

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

22:28

Speaking for Mark and I love to go to his neighbors.

22:32

I wish we were still neighbors, you know, because your club has been amazing through the years, you know.

22:38

Just in all every time I see those rich people with their big Lamborghinis and that coby, you know, and hearing them race around, you know.

22:47

I mean, I really embraced you guys as neighbors, you know.

22:50

I just wish that I was still out there with them, you know.

22:53

But I want to speak.

22:54

Can I speak on the thing with this economical economical development?

23:01

I need to speak to you, because you say your mission is to improve quality of life for residents of Wilkami.

23:07

And you got that picture of that Hobo Toll Bridge extension.

23:12

But of course, you end up making my road that I was living on a four-line highway from semi-trucks, which was very dangerous.

23:20

You took the two road two-way no truck road and made it a four-lane highway for the semi-trucks, and then which brought another development which ended up forcing me out.

23:31

Now I'm no longer live there.

23:35

I don't even know where I'm gonna be living tomorrow night because we have no funding for the motels and everything anymore.

23:43

I'm gonna be out in the street living, and whatever I did take will take out my moss house today.

23:49

Lost, I'm gonna lose them the rest of my stuff and the rest of my life.

23:54

Say to improve people's health.

23:55

My health is going way down so much in all this.

24:00

I went to see my doctor yesterday.

24:02

I got all these tests I have to take, blood tests and everything, tests for hepatitis, tests for now.

24:07

I gotta take a colonoscopy test because I got egg pain.

24:11

I've been attacked numerous times because of my vulnerability because not having my boss place was my home anymore to have safety.

24:20

I'm open to tax everywhere and everything.

24:23

And I don't get relief with with justice or with order protections, like our protection, and even just last night my attacker ended up driving up to my pickup truck last night.

24:34

And I don't get no justice, no service from Jolia Police would not enforce it, enforce the order protection for me.

24:41

So I want to say your economical will count economical development, it's been nothing down size.

24:47

Please address this.

24:58

Okay.

25:00

Seeing none under appointments.

25:02

The mayor is recommending Luis Leone be appointed to the plan commission replacing Bridget Roar.

25:08

Is there a motion to approve?

25:09

So moved.

25:10

Second.

25:12

It's been motion seconded to approve.

25:13

Councilman Clement?

25:14

Aye.

25:15

Councilman Hug?

25:16

Councilwoman Abarra?

25:17

Aye.

25:18

Councilman Moreno.

25:19

Aye.

25:19

Councilman Mudrin.

25:20

Aye.

25:21

Councilwoman Quillman.

25:22

Councilman Cardinals.

25:24

Mayor Darcy.

25:24

Aye.

25:25

Motion carried.

25:26

The mayor is recommending Louis Leone be appointed to the zoning board of appeals, replacing Bridget Roar.

25:31

Is there a motion to approve?

25:32

So I'll move.

25:33

Second.

25:34

It's my motion and second and to approve.

25:36

Councilman Hug?

25:37

Aye.

25:37

Councilman Abarra.

25:38

Aye.

25:38

Councilman Moreno.

25:39

Aye.

25:39

Councilman Mudrin.

25:40

Aye.

25:41

Councilwoman Quillman.

25:42

Aye.

25:42

Councilman Cardinals.

25:43

Aye.

25:43

Councilman Clement?

25:44

Aye.

25:45

Mayor Darcy.

25:46

Aye.

25:46

Motion carried.

25:48

The mayor is recommending George Stofan and Richard Rash be appointed to the police pension board.

25:53

Is there a motion to approve?

25:55

So moved.

25:57

Second.

25:59

It's my motion and seconded to approve.

26:00

Councilman Abarra.

26:01

Aye.

26:02

Councilman Marino?

26:03

Aye.

26:03

Councilman Mudron?

26:04

Aye.

26:05

Councilman Quillman.

26:06

Aye.

26:06

Councilman Cardinals.

26:07

Aye.

26:07

Councilman Clement?

26:08

Aye.

26:09

Councilman Hug?

26:10

Mayor Darcy.

26:11

Okay.

26:12

Motion carried.

26:15

Next, our council committee reports.

26:17

We will start with diversity and community relations.

26:23

The diversity and community relations committee met on Thursday, May 28th at 4 30 in Council Chambers.

26:29

In attendance were Councilman Clement and myself, along with the community development director, Dustin Anderson, and CBDG program manager Bridget Rohr.

26:39

We approved the minutes from May 14th, 2026 meeting.

26:43

There's one item under new or old business, not for final action or recommendation.

26:48

Bridget Roar presented information on the 2026 community development grant program application evaluation criteria, number of applications received, eligibility requirements, and staff recommendations for funding allocations.

27:05

She also provided information about the owner occupied rehab program, the miracle league, and options for changes to the snow removal program eligibility requirements.

27:16

Dustin Anderson provided the information regarding the snow removal program.

27:20

I'm pleased to report we have received a higher number of applications this year compared to previous program years.

27:27

At the same time, I am concerned that the current scoring criteria did not allow for a broader distribution of funds.

27:34

I would like to see more of our smaller local nonprofit organizations benefit from this program.

27:40

I recognize that we are working under very tight deadlines, and I do not want to delay the process.

27:47

Sorry, the progress of this year's program.

27:50

City staff has committed to working with me and the diversity committee to conduct additional research and explore options for adjusting their criteria so that we can implement meaningful improvements for the next program year.

28:03

Do you have anything to add to Councilman Clement?

28:05

I think we wanted to start this a little bit earlier too.

28:09

So everybody's uh has all the information.

28:11

So yeah, all good.

28:13

Sounds good.

28:14

That was my report.

28:15

Thank you.

28:17

Land use and economic development.

28:19

Land use and economic development committee met Wednesday, May 30th, 2026 here at 330 in City Hawk Council Chambers.

28:26

In attendance was Councilwoman Yabara, Councilman Mudron and myself.

28:36

An award of professional services agreement for the study and designation of downtown special service area to SB Friedman Development Advisors in the amount of $54,260.

28:46

Basically, the SSA is coming up on his tenure and set to expire at the end of this year.

28:51

So the purpose of the study is to basically see if the there's anything that could be improved and or if any change should be made before the we do another renewal on the SSA.

29:00

Then we reviewed TNP 9846 resolution amending and authorizing the execution of an amended and restated development agreement with no wrong one.

29:10

Resolution approved amendment number two of the center agreement versus Marcellos Albuero uh 118.

29:15

Uh so it was basically housekeeping on that one as well, with uh where they received their tax abatement for 2019 because they didn't open till 2024.

29:22

We're moving that uh putting it to where it's uh 2025 or 2029 abatement.

29:27

So uh our items were approved in unanimously unanimously to come to the full council with our support.

29:32

Councilwoman Barrow did I miss anything?

29:34

No, perfect.

29:35

Thank you.

29:35

I added something extra.

29:38

That would be our report, Mayor.

29:39

Thank you.

29:41

Public assets.

29:43

Thank you.

29:43

We have the public city of Joy Public Assets Committee met um here in the executive conference room Wednesday, May 27th at 4:30.

29:53

In attendance was Councilman Marino, Blaine Klein, Dustin Anderson, Greg Peerbold and myself.

30:06

Thank you.

30:06

Yeah.

30:07

So she was not able to attend.

30:10

We approved the minutes from April 15th.

30:15

It was one night.

30:16

We we approved that.

30:17

There were no citizens to be heard on any agenda items.

30:20

There was one agenda item, TMP 9911.

30:24

It's on tonight's agenda under 294-26 recommendation to award payment for the Ottawa Street Parking Garage Painting Project to Cass Grove Construction Incorporation.

30:37

Incorporated in the amount of 190,625 dollars.

30:43

Boyne client client explained.

30:46

Some of the deck will be uh painted with spray, but most of it will be two Colts of rolled uh paint.

30:54

Um we have to do that because of all the the vehicles that are going to be parked uh in the deck.

31:00

Um I did speak about um you know having the mayor, city manager, council members make sure we get we get the uh the paint color correct.

31:09

I think it's gonna be very similar to what's there now.

31:13

The last time this deck was painted was in the 90s, 1990s.

31:17

Um we did approve this to come to full council, which again it's on tonight's agenda.

31:23

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

31:28

Uh Greg Pierbolt did speak briefly.

31:31

I think there was an article in the paper.

31:33

He did speak briefly about the uh baseball game at the prison.

31:37

There were 5500 um people that attended that event, things are going very good, the tours are going very good.

31:44

Uh Wilmington Museum out there is is seeing a drop in their attendance because I believe he believes people are coming here to Joliet to see what we have to offer.

31:56

Um there was no public comment, and we adjourned the meeting at 4 42 p.m.

32:04

Anything one good?

32:05

That's my uh report, Mayor.

32:07

Thank you.

32:07

Mayor have a quick question.

32:09

So when you say color, Joe, what do you mean?

32:11

Is there a color there now that you don't like, or do we are picking something else out, or what what's the deal there?

32:16

Oh, it's gonna be similar.

32:17

I just want to make sure the color is right.

32:20

Hot pink it was so I mean were they suggesting like a plethora of browns or beigas or grays or well?

32:28

I just before we knew what color was gonna be.

32:30

I just want to make sure the color is we're all gonna going to like it before we spend the subject.

32:37

Well, I'm not really sure yet, but I think we work on it, but yeah.

32:41

Um the color that's been recommended is Mexican sand, it's the same color that's out here and was on the deck.

32:50

Um I'm happy to to send you the swatch.

32:53

Oh, sure.

32:53

I was just wondering.

32:54

It's a very neutral neutral color that matches uh you know, city hall and other buildings.

33:01

Gotcha.

33:02

Yeah.

33:04

You know me about colors.

33:06

Very neutral.

33:12

Okay, public service.

33:13

Okay.

33:15

Public service met here yesterday in the council chambers, June 1st, 2026 at 4 30 in the afternoon.

33:24

Uh, in attendance on the committee is Councilwoman Rowden, Councilman Mudron, and myself.

33:31

We had a total of eight items.

33:33

We had five items under contracts.

33:35

One was for two hundred and sixty thousand five hundred dollars roughly, and that was an emergency sewer repair by a company called Aries Incorporate uh Incorporated because the main I think it's a 40-inch sewer, uh old sewer pipe on Jefferson suddenly collapsed.

33:56

So it had to be done in an emergency.

33:58

And they did a great job.

33:58

They got it up and running, and the the uh cleanup was minimal.

34:02

It was done very professionally.

34:04

Um we looked at a sixty thousand dollar uh bid for heavy duty batteries.

34:11

Uh the thing that we're changing this year on that, as well as the the uh two hundred thousand dollar uh bid that we looked at for fleet tires.

34:18

That's the maximum that we'll pay.

34:21

We don't have to to use all that.

34:22

It depends on how much we need for the year.

34:24

And what we're doing differently this year is the winning bidders will be storing those batteries on site here at the city at the garages, and we don't pay for them until we pull them off the shelf and use them.

34:36

So that's kind of a good addition.

34:38

Um we also looked at the South uh East Joliet Sanitary District Water System Improvement Project for a total of almost three million dollars, 2.98 million.

34:48

And uh just as a reminder, the county will be paying for this with their funds and grant funds, their our grant funds.

35:00

And the last contract we looked at was a resurfaced our contract A, there'll be other contracts coming out for our 2026 resurfacing for a total of 2.4 million dollars.

35:07

We uh found all five contracts to be in order and legal, and uh they were unanimously passed by the committee to be sent forward to the council with a recommendation to approve um and then in conjunction to the 2.9 million dollar sanitary district uh Joliet Sanitary District project.

35:26

We had to do a change order for the engineering services for Baxter and Women for 94,200.

35:32

That was the only item under change orders.

35:34

We did uh unanimously approve that for recommendation to the council and uh under ordinance and resolutions we had two items um they are actually one was an acquisition of property that needed um for the spring creek uh bridge improvement project on Ferrell Road, and it was for thirty-six hundred dollars, and the other one was for uh we pay 25 percent, they pay fifty uh seventy-five percent is for uh resurfacing of the multi-use path that runs along the west side of Ridge Road between Theodore and Black Black Road out in uh councilwoman Burden's district.

36:12

We saw both those items be in order, and again we're you know unanimously pass forward with a recommendation recommendation to approve.

36:19

Um that's all I have, Pat.

36:21

Anything all right, Mayor.

36:23

With that, that would be the public service committee report.

36:26

Thank you.

36:27

I show no other reports under consent agenda, approval of minutes.

36:31

It is recommended the minutes of the pre-council meeting May 18th, 2026, and the city council meeting held on May 19th, 2026, stand approved as recorded.

36:40

Invoices to be paid.

36:41

It is recommended this report be approved.

36:43

Council memo number two eighty-nine-26, approval of amendment number one to the professional services agreement for the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District Water System Improvements Project for construction engineering services to Baxter and Woodman Incorporated in the amount of ninety-four thousand two hundred dollars.

36:58

Council Memo number two ninety-26, approval of payment for emergency repairs to Jefferson Street Sewer to Aries Incorporated in the amount of two hundred and sixty thousand five hundred and forty-five dollars and sixty-two cents.

37:10

Council Memo number nine two ninety-one-26, approval of purchase order for the 2026 automotive and and heavy-duty batteries and related support services to feet fleet pride incorporated in the amount of sixty thousand dollars.

37:24

Council Memo number two ninety-two-six, approval of purchase order for the twenty twenty-six fleet tires and tire services in the amount of two hundred thousand dollars.

37:33

Council memo number two ninety-three-26, award a professional services agreement for the study and designation of the downtown special service area SSA to SB Friedman Development Advisors in the amount of fifty-four thousand two hundred and sixty dollars.

37:47

Council Memo number two ninety-four-26 award payment for the Ottawa Street Parking Garage Painting Project to Cosgrove Construction Incorporated in the amount of one hundred and ninety thousand six hundred and twenty-five dollars.

38:00

It is recommended council memos two eighty-nine-26 through two ninety-four-26 be approved.

38:05

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

38:08

Somewhere second.

38:13

It's been motion and second and to approve.

38:15

Councilman Moreno.

38:16

Aye.

38:17

Councilman Mudrin.

38:18

Aye.

38:19

Councilwoman Quillman.

38:20

Aye.

38:20

Councilman Cardinals.

38:21

Councilman Clement.

38:22

Aye.

38:22

Councilman Hugs.

38:24

Councilwoman Navarro.

38:26

Aye.

38:26

Mayor Darcy.

38:27

Aye.

38:28

Motion carried.

38:30

Under agenda items.

38:32

Council Ammo number two ninety-six-26 award of contract for the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District Water Systems Improvement Project to Austin Tyler Construction Incorporated in the amount of two million nine hundred and eighty-two thousand five hundred and thirty-five hundred dollars and sixty-eight cents.

38:49

It is recommended Council Memo number two ninety-six-26 be approved.

38:53

So move.

38:54

Second.

38:55

Any comments or questions?

38:57

Thank you.

38:58

It's been motioned and seconded to approve.

39:00

Councilman Mudron.

39:01

Aye.

39:02

Councilman Quillman.

39:03

Aye.

39:03

Councilman Cardinals.

39:04

Councilman Clement.

39:05

Aye.

39:05

Councilman Hug?

39:06

Aye.

39:06

Councilman Navarra.

39:08

Aye.

39:08

Councilman Moreno.

39:09

Abstain.

39:10

Mayor Darcy.

39:11

Aye.

39:12

Motion carried.

39:14

Council Memo number two ninety-seven-26, award of contract for the 2026 roadways resurfacing contract A to PT Farrow Construction Company in the amount of two million four hundred and thirty-four thousand two hundred and seventeen dollars and eighty-seven cents.

39:27

It is recommended Council Memo number two ninety-seven-26 be approved.

39:30

So questions?

39:34

Thank you.

39:35

It's a motion and second and to approve.

39:36

Councilman McClillman.

39:38

Aye.

39:38

Councilman Cardinals.

39:39

Councilman Clement.

39:40

Aye.

39:40

Councilman Hug.

39:42

Councilman.

39:43

Aye.

39:43

Councilman Moreno?

39:45

Aye.

39:45

Councilman Mudrin.

39:46

Aye.

39:47

Mayor Darcy.

39:48

Aye.

39:48

Motion carried.

39:51

Under ordinances.

39:53

Council Memo number two ninety-eight-26 ordinance amending chapter 18, Article 1, Section 20, and Chapter 26.

40:00

Articles 7, Division 1, Section 141 through 148, regulating sidewalk cafes of the city of Joliet Code of Ordinances.

40:08

It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

40:11

So move.

40:12

Second.

40:13

Any comments or questions?

40:15

Thank you.

40:16

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

40:18

Councilman Cardinus.

40:19

Aye.

40:19

Councilman Clement?

40:20

Aye.

40:20

Councilman Hugs?

40:21

Aye.

40:21

Councilwoman of Barra.

40:22

Councilman Moreno.

40:23

Councilman Mudrin.

40:24

Aye.

40:25

Councilwoman Quillman.

40:26

Aye.

40:26

Mayor Darcy.

40:27

Aye.

40:28

Motion carried.

40:30

Councilmember number two ninety-nine-26.

40:32

Ordinance and resolution associated with Autobond Country Club.

40:35

Ordinance approving a special use permit to allow development on a lot containing Cedar Creek Watershed Protection Area M-1-26.

40:43

Resolution approving an amendment to the master development plan for Autobond Country Club M-2-26.

40:48

It is recommended that ordinance be approved.

40:50

So moved.

40:51

Second.

40:52

Any comments or questions?

40:54

Thank you.

40:55

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

40:57

Councilman Clement?

40:58

Aye.

40:59

Councilman Hug?

40:59

Aye.

41:00

Councilwoman of Barra?

41:01

Aye.

41:01

Councilman Moreno.

41:02

Aye.

41:02

Councilman Mudron.

41:03

Aye.

41:03

Councilman Quillman.

41:04

Aye.

41:05

Councilman McCartanus?

41:06

Aye.

41:06

Mayor Darcy.

41:07

Aye.

41:07

Motion carried.

41:10

Councilmember number three hundred-twenty-six.

41:13

Ordinance associated with the Vista Ridge phase one.

41:16

Re-subdivision one planned unit development.

41:18

Ordinance approving an amendment to the final plat of Vista Ridge phase one planning unit development.

41:23

PUD-5-26.

41:25

Ordinance approving a recording plat of Vista Ridge Phase 1.

41:28

Resubdivision 1 Planning Development V-3-26.

41:31

Ordinance approving a vacation of a public utility and drainage easement for Vista Ridge phase un phase one plan unit development RP 2-26.

41:40

It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

41:44

So move.

41:45

Second.

41:46

Any comments or questions?

41:48

Thank you.

41:49

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

41:51

Councilman Hug?

41:52

Aye.

41:52

Councilman Abarra.

41:53

Aye.

41:53

Councilman Moreno?

41:54

Aye.

41:55

Councilman Mudrin.

41:56

Aye.

41:56

Councilwoman Quillman.

41:57

Aye.

41:57

Councilman Cardinus.

41:58

Aye.

41:58

Councilman Clement.

41:59

Aye.

41:59

Mayor Darcy.

42:00

Aye.

42:00

Motion carried.

42:02

Councilmember number three zero one-twenty-six.

42:05

Ordinance associated with the Cherry Hill Business Park 21.

42:08

Subdivision Phase 2.

42:10

Ordinance approving an amendment to the preliminary plat of Cherry Hill Business Park 21.

42:14

Subdivision P-5-26.

42:16

Ordinance approving the final plat of Cherry Hill Business Park 21 Subdivision Phase 2 FP 1-26.

42:22

Ordinance approving the recording plat of Cherry Hill Business Park 21, subdivision phase two, RP-6-26.

42:28

It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

42:32

So move second.

42:34

Any comments or questions?

42:36

Thank you.

42:37

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

42:38

Councilwoman of Barra?

42:39

Aye.

42:40

Councilman Moreno?

42:40

Aye.

42:41

Councilman Mudrin.

42:42

Aye.

42:42

Councilwoman McClowan.

42:43

Aye.

42:43

Councilman Cardinus.

42:44

Aye.

42:44

Councilman Clement?

42:45

Aye.

42:46

Councilman Hug?

42:46

Aye.

42:47

Mayor Darcy.

42:48

Aye.

42:48

Motion carried.

42:51

Under resolutions.

42:52

Councilmember number 303-26.

42:54

Resolution authorizing the acquisition of property for the Farrell Road over Spring Creek Bridge Improvements Project.

43:00

Partial pin 30-07-01-200-047 in the amount of $3,600.

43:07

It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

43:10

Move.

43:11

Second.

43:12

Any comments or questions?

43:14

Thank you.

43:15

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

43:16

Councilman Moreno?

43:17

Aye.

43:18

Councilman Mudrin.

43:19

Aye.

43:19

Councilwoman Quoman?

43:20

Aye.

43:20

Councilman McCartanus.

43:22

Aye.

43:22

Councilman Clement.

43:22

Aye.

43:23

Councilman Hug?

43:23

Aye.

43:24

Councilman of Barrow.

43:25

Aye.

43:25

Mayor Darcy.

43:26

Aye.

43:26

Motion carried.

43:28

Councilmember number 304-26.

43:30

Resolution authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the County of Kendall and the City of Joliet for Kendall County Transportation Alternative Program.

43:39

KC-TAP funding to reservice the multi-use path along the west side of Ridge Road between Theodore Street and Black Road.

43:47

It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

43:48

So moved.

43:50

Second.

43:51

Comments or questions?

43:53

Thank you.

43:54

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

43:56

Councilman Mudrin.

43:57

Aye.

43:57

Councilman McQuillman.

43:58

Aye.

43:59

Councilman Cardinus.

44:00

Aye.

44:00

Councilman Clement?

44:01

Aye.

44:01

Councilman Hug?

44:02

Aye.

44:02

Councilman of Barra?

44:03

Aye.

44:03

Councilman Moreno?

44:04

Aye.

44:05

Mayor Darcy.

44:06

Aye.

44:06

Motion carried.

44:09

Councilmember number three zero five-26.

44:12

Resolution approving amendment number two to incentive agreement property tax abatement for Supermercados Al Wedded de Juliet Incorporated at 118 East Jackson Street.

44:22

It is recommended that a resolution be adopted.

44:24

So moved.

44:25

Second.

44:25

Comments or questions?

44:27

Thank you.

44:28

It's been motion and seconded to approve.

44:29

Councilman Quillman?

44:30

Aye.

44:31

Councilman Cardinus.

44:32

Aye.

44:32

Councilman Clement.

44:33

Aye.

44:33

Councilman Hug?

44:34

Aye.

44:34

Councilman of Barra?

44:35

Aye.

44:35

Councilman Moreno?

44:36

Aye.

44:36

Councilman Mudrin?

44:37

Aye.

44:38

Mayor Darcy.

44:39

Aye.

44:39

Motion carried.

44:41

Next is the city manager's report.

44:52

Good evening.

44:53

On Wednesday, May 20th, the city hosted its first official Memorial Day commemoration at City Square.

45:00

It was a beautiful, solemn ceremony that was well attended by the community.

45:04

The morning included a performance by the American Legion Band.

45:08

Keynote speaker, Lieutenant Colonial Dr.

45:11

Benjamin Benny White, representatives from all branches of the armed forces, both the Joliet Fire Department and the Juliet Police Department honor guards.

45:21

Honoring of Gold Star families, including the family of U.S.

45:26

Army Soldier Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez, a ceremonial wreath lane, and a 21 gun salute.

45:33

A special thank you goes out to Ann Sylvester and her team for their creation and coordination of the event.

45:41

At the Juliet Township High School, District 204 Athletic Boosters Annual Night of Champions, two Juliet Police Officers were recognized for their roles in the school resource officer program.

45:53

Detective Patung was recognized as Steelman fan of the year, and Officer Price was recognized as the West fan of the year.

46:03

Please join me in congratulating them both on these awards.

46:08

On Wednesday, June 17th, the City of Juliet will host two public presentations on how community growth, development patterns, and municipal finances are interconnected.

46:19

The presentations will be led by urban planning expert Joe Minikazi, and we'll share findings from the city's recent urban three analysis.

46:31

A lunch and learn with a chamber will be held from 11 30 to 1 at Hera's Juliet Hotel and Casino.

46:39

Registration is required and a small fee applies.

46:43

A free public presentation will follow that evening at 7 p.m.

46:47

at Billy Lee Mocker Bicentennial Park, including a QA.

46:51

We encourage everyone to attend.

46:54

That's all I have for tonight.

46:56

Okay.

46:57

Next we have comments for non-agenda items.

47:00

I do have um Barb signed up to speak.

47:04

If you'd like to come up, Barb.

47:10

Hi.

47:11

My name is Barb Chesco and Kathy O'Shea.

47:13

We're on the board of directors for the Homeowners Association at Gulfview Estates.

47:18

We're just located just south of the Knights of Columbus.

47:23

And at the moment we are flooding because Knights of Columbus's parking lot is eroding our area.

47:30

Flooding neighbors and neighbor that's here.

47:32

Her unit gets flooded pretty much unless she puts up sandbar bags along our unit.

47:38

We're trying to we're trying to get some help somehow.

47:41

We've been in touch with Ms.

47:43

Susanna, and we've been in touch with Kyle and Sean from the City Public Works and stuff.

47:50

Everybody says, yeah, they're working on it, but in the meantime, our land is eroding more and more, and their parking lot has become nothing but what's in a river that comes right into our thing, washing out everything as um it rains.

48:06

So we're looking for somebody, some help somehow.

48:10

Right now, they're an estimate is like $50,000 plus to put in a swale, which has been recommended.

48:16

But that's going to do us no good if we don't get some help and trying to get Knights of Columbus to do something on their end because it's going to just continue to wash and then it's still going to be washing into and taken away.

48:29

We're losing bushes are starting to lose all their strength at the bottom because of the water.

48:35

And we have, I'm sure you've been aware of it, and I have pictures of people want you know if anyone likes to see it, but I don't know what we can do, but we're asking for some help and trying to get get the flooding to stop.

48:49

So I mean, I anything anybody needs, we would be free, you know, welcome to come out and look at it when it's raining, when it's not raining.

48:59

I mean, or look at the pictures, it's just it's bad.

49:04

Beth, can someone help them?

49:06

I've taken it as far as I possibly can, and I don't know what else to do.

49:10

Sure.

49:10

I'll ask for an update first thing tomorrow morning, and then we'll be in touch with you.

49:14

All right, appreciate this.

49:16

Thank you.

49:17

And if anybody, like I said, we have pictures, or just come out and look, and that would help.

49:21

And it's it's it's better to see it than just talking about it because very um surprised at how bad it was.

49:32

Pictures do not do that situation any justice at all.

49:36

Not at all.

49:36

So we appreciate anything that anybody can help to get this moving along.

49:41

Thank you.

49:48

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item?

49:56

Okay, seeing none, we will move on to Mayor and Council comments.

50:02

Sorry.

50:03

Um I just want to say that you know, congratulations to Anne on the first program of the workout this morning.

50:09

I was able to attend after my first workout, but it was a lot of fun.

50:12

It was good seeing a lot of people out there uh enjoying the square, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the month.

50:16

So congrats on that one.

50:17

That's all.

50:18

Thank you.

50:20

I'm not gonna steal your thunder.

50:22

I want to uh congratulate Juan Marino on his marriage.

50:26

Oh thank you.

50:27

Congrats and then uh I want to welcome Chief Rob Brown.

50:30

Uh you're here now to come to these meetings, so you're doing a great job.

50:35

So welcome.

50:37

That's all I have, mayor.

50:38

It's not working.

50:39

Not working.

50:40

Okay.

50:40

I was gonna try to bring up a beautiful picture of you and Jessica.

50:44

That's the only item I have.

50:46

Uh formerly Jessica Sanchez is now Mrs.

50:49

Moreno.

50:50

As Mrs.

50:50

Marino, and I believe you even on your Facebook page, you referred to her as wife.

50:54

I told you she got 48 hours to change your name.

50:57

Congratulations, both of you.

50:59

Thank you.

50:59

I appreciate it.

50:59

You're a really lucky man.

51:01

Thank you.

51:01

She's a lucky one.

51:02

Thank you.

51:04

So in my heart, I already called her Mrs.

51:06

Marino.

51:07

There you go.

51:08

Just so you know.

51:09

Um, I would love an update on the staffing study that we all participated in many, many months ago.

51:16

I get so many complaints on traffic, in particular outside of of course 53 and that whole Southeast corridor corridor.

51:25

I live right up at Jefferson Street.

51:27

I'm traveling six to eight times a day back and forth.

51:30

There are people going through the red lights.

51:33

There are um people just not stopping at all, and they are going at such a high rate of speed.

51:40

Um, anywhere from infantry up to past probably center street, they're just disobeying every traffic rule that is set forth, and it is very dangerous.

51:53

There have been a lot of very fatal accidents there.

51:56

So I would like I I have a hunch that the staffing study probably said that we need some more traffic enforcement officers.

52:05

If I was guessing that's what I'd guess, but I would like an update on that.

52:09

It's been quite a while now, and I'd just like to know what the outcome of all of that is.

52:13

Um, that would be great.

52:15

Also, happy Pride Month to all my LGBTQ plus friends, um, constituents.

52:23

Pride month is very important to the LGBTQ community, and so I want to say it's June.

52:30

Happy Pride Month, and that is all.

52:32

Thank you.

52:32

Thank you.

52:34

Thank you guys.

52:34

Appreciate it.

52:35

That's all I got, mate.

52:36

Nothing.

52:39

Excuse me.

52:40

I'd like to just say happy birthday to my great nephew Ben Since going to celebrate his first birthday at the wall park on Friday night.

52:48

And uh happy belated anniversary to my husband of 46 years.

52:53

Love you to pieces, and thank you.

52:55

Happy anniversary.

52:56

Thank you.

52:57

And congratulations to you as well.

52:58

Thank you, thank you.

53:01

Congratulations.

53:02

Thank you, sir.

53:03

Did we get a cake for him?

53:06

I didn't even know.

53:07

I heard a roar.

53:08

I'm not on Facebook, I should get it.

53:10

So I don't get it.

53:12

Just a couple things real quick.

53:14

Um the 22nd, I had the pleasure of joining Governor Pritzker and several other legislators to celebrate the start of construction on the new Displains River Bridge.

53:25

It was a morning celebrating progress, partnership, and building for the future.

53:29

The bridge has been a long time coming and it marks the beginning of the end of I-80 related construction in Joliet.

53:38

On Sunday, May 24th, Senator Duckworth visited Joliet for a roundtable discussion with the Will County Governmental League and Grand Prairie Water Commission mayors.

53:48

I was joined by representatives from Shorewood, Shanahan, Manooka, Romeoville, and Crest Hill.

53:55

It was a productive conversation, and she always helps us by submitting for several million dollars for this project, and we hope to get some of that money.

54:07

The other day we cut the ribbon for the new Longhorn Steakhouse.

54:13

Beth and I joined the chamber in the official opening of this steakhouse and Joliet.

54:17

We're very excited.

54:19

They let me cut the first stake, and it was so tender, I probably could have done it with a fork.

54:24

But it it's gonna be a fun place.

54:25

It's really cool in there.

54:27

So I had a chance to take the first bite of the first ribeye that they made.

54:32

Mayor, quick question.

54:33

Where exactly is it for the watch?

54:35

It's right out in front of Costco on the Joliet part of the property.

54:40

Really good.

54:41

That that's continuing to grow that are and it's officially June, which means our City Square and Billy Lee Marker Bicentennial Park programming is in full swing.

54:52

We have lots of exciting events this month, including our weekly wellness workouts, dancing in the square, as well as biparks, very popular concerts on the Hill series.

55:03

Notably we have our official City Square dedication on Thursday, June eighteenth at twelve noon, followed by the opening celebration weekend on June twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh.

55:15

So that's all I've got.

55:16

Thank you and God bless you.

55:19

Okay.

55:19

Is there a motion to adjourn?

55:20

So in favor?

55:22

Aye.

55:23

Opposed?

55:25

Meeting adjourned.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Economic Development██████████████████18%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████11%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Workforce Development████████8%
Urban Planning████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Joliet City Council Meeting – June 2, 2026

The Joliet City Council met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a presentation from the Will County Center for Economic Development, approval of appointments, committee reports, a consent agenda, routine contract awards, multiple ordinances and resolutions, a city manager update, public comments, and council remarks. All votes were unanimous (8-0) except one abstention. Councilwoman Sherri Reardon was absent.

Consent Calendar

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:

  • Approval of minutes from the May 18 Pre-Council and May 19 City Council meetings.
  • Payment of invoices.
  • Amendment No. 1 to the professional services agreement with Baxter & Woodman Inc. for construction engineering services on the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District Water System Improvements Project ($94,200).
  • Payment for emergency repairs to the Jefferson Street sewer to Airy’s Inc. ($260,545.62).
  • Purchase order for 2026 automotive and heavy-duty batteries from FleetPride Inc. ($60,000).
  • Purchase order for 2026 fleet tires and tire services ($200,000).
  • Award of professional services agreement to SB Friedman Development Advisors for study and designation of the Downtown Special Service Area (SSA) ($54,260).
  • Award of payment to Cosgrove Construction Inc. for the Ottawa Street Parking Garage Painting Project ($190,625).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tim O’Donnell and Mark Basso (Autobahn Country Club) expressed gratitude to the City Council for past support and outlined planned improvements to the north circuit, designed by Tilke Group, including a 20-foot elevation drop and 10% banked corners. They noted the club is approaching 600 members and has the highest racing car counts among motorsports clubs.
  • Kathy Garthus spoke regarding the Autobahn Country Club item (Memo 299-26) and addressed personal concerns (details not provided in minutes).
  • Barb (area resident and board member of Gulfview Estates Homeowners Association) spoke during non-agenda public comments about flooding and erosion caused by runoff from the Knights of Columbus parking lot. She requested city assistance to mitigate the problem, noting an estimated $50,000 cost for a swale.

Discussion Items

  • Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) Presentation: Kayla Sorensen, Vice President of External Affairs, highlighted the partnership with Joliet (a legacy investor for over 40 years), noting that public investors like Joliet provide about one-third of CED funding. She cited the recruitment of Hyundai Translead (a $345 million investment creating 2,500 jobs) and the Will County Summer Internship Program, which placed 125 students this year and has earned students nearly $1 million in wages over three years. Sorensen also invited council to the upcoming Eye Opener Breakfast.
  • Appointments: The council appointed Luis Leon to both the Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals (replacing Bridget Rohr), and reappointed George Stofan and Richard Raasch to the Police Pension Board—all unanimously.
  • Committee Reports:
    • Diversity & Community Relations (Councilwoman Ibarra): Reviewed the 2026 Community Development Grant program, noting a higher number of applications but concern that scoring criteria limited distribution to smaller nonprofits. Staff will work to adjust criteria for the next cycle.
    • Land Use & Economic Development (Councilman Cardenas): Approved recommending the Downtown SSA study, an amended development agreement, and Amendment #2 to the tax abatement for Supermercados El Güero (shifting abatement years due to delayed opening).
    • Public Assets (Councilman Clement): Approved awarding the Ottawa Street Parking Garage Painting Project to Cosgrove Construction; discussed paint color (Mexican sand, matching city hall). Also noted 5,500 people attended the baseball game at the prison.
    • Public Service (Councilman Hug): Reviewed eight items including emergency sewer repair, fleet battery/tire contracts (now stored on-site, pay-as-used), the Sanitary District water system improvements project ($2.98 million, funded by county/grants), and 2026 roadway resurfacing Contract A ($2.43 million). Also approved a property acquisition for the Farrell Road bridge project ($3,600) and an intergovernmental agreement with Kendall County for resurfacing a multi-use path (75% county funding).
  • City Manager Report: Beth Beatty noted the May 20 Memorial Day commemoration at City Square; recognition of Officers Joshua Battung and Jamere Price at the District 204 Athletic Boosters Night of Champions; and announced two public presentations by Urban3 on June 17 (lunch at Harrah’s, evening at Bicentennial Park) about community growth and municipal finances.
  • Council Comments: Council members congratulated Councilman Moreno on his marriage, welcomed Acting Police Chief Rob Brown, and recognized various events. Councilwoman Ibarra requested an update on the city staffing study and expressed safety concerns about traffic violations on Jefferson Street.

Key Outcomes

All votes were 8-0 with Councilwoman Reardon absent, except as noted:

  • Approved (Consent Agenda): All items under memos 289-26 through 294-26.
  • Approved (Agenda Items):
    • Award of contract for the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District Water System Improvements Project to Austin Tyler Construction Inc. ($2,982,535.68) – Councilman Moreno abstained.
    • Award of contract for the 2026 Roadways Resurfacing Contract A to PT Ferro Construction Co. ($2,434,217.87).
  • Adopted Ordinances:
    • Ordinance amending sidewalk café regulations (Chapter 18 and 26) – Ordinance 18853.
    • Ordinance (M-1-26) approving a special use permit for Autobahn Country Club to develop within the Cedar Creek Watershed Protection Area – Ordinance 18854.
    • Resolution (M-2-26) amending the Autobahn Country Club Master Development Plan – Resolution 8289.
    • Three ordinances for Vista Ridge Phase 1 Resubdivision 1 PUD (PUD-5-26, V-3-26, RP-2-26) – Ordinances 18855, 18856, 18857.
    • Three ordinances for Cherry Hill Business Park (21) Subdivision, Phase 2 (P-5-26, FP-1-26, RP-6-26) – Ordinances 18858, 18859, 18860.
  • Adopted Resolutions:
    • Resolution authorizing property acquisition for Farrell Road/Spring Creek Bridge improvements ($3,600) – Resolution 8290.
    • Resolution authorizing intergovernmental agreement with Kendall County for KC-TAP funding to resurface the multi-use path on Ridge Road – Resolution 8291.
    • Resolution approving Amendment #2 to the property tax abatement agreement for Supermercados El Güero de Joliet, Inc. – Resolution 8292.
  • Council directed City Manager to follow up with Barb regarding flooding issues at the Knights of Columbus property.

The meeting adjourned at an unreported time.

Meeting Transcript

Oh, okay. Okay. Well, good evening, everybody. This is a monthly meeting of the Jolie City Council on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, 6:30 in City Hall Chambers, with Mayor Terry Darcy providing, but I am Mayor Pro Tem, so um he gives us all a chance once in a while to be the mayor. So the invocation tonight will be by Pastor Larry Tyler from Second Baptist Church, 156 South Joliet Street, followed by the pledge of the flag and run roll call. Let us pray. Gracious God. We thank you for this moment in time to invite you into these proceedings. We thank you, Lord, for the service and sacrifice of the city council. Thank you, Lord, for their dedication, their focus. Thank you, Lord. And we pray for their continuing enablement. We lift up all the constituents of this great city, Lord, the citizens, the stakeholders. We just ask now, Lord, for the issues that lie before us that you would allow us to proceed for as one with grace and mercy, with sensitivity and understanding. We ask that we may even be more united than ever before. We thank you for all things in the name of Jesus. Please superintend what we can't control as well as what we can. We ask it all in the name of Jesus. We pray that everybody say. We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy. Here. Councilman Cardinals. Here. Councilman Clement? Here. Councilman Hug? Here. Councilman of Barrow. Here. Councilman Moreno. Here. Councilman Mudrin. Here. Councilman Quillman. Here. Councilman Redin is absent. She did let me know she would not be in attendance this evening. First, we'll have a presentation from the Will County Center for Economic Development by Kayla Sorensen. Good evening, everyone. Let me get this plugged in very quickly. All right. There we go. All righty. So good evening, everyone. First, I want to thank City Council, Mayor Darcy, City staff, uh, and everyone else here tonight for allowing me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Willow County Center for Economic Development and our long-standing relationship with the City of Joliet for over four decades. And so for those of you that I don't know, my name is Kayla Sorensen. I am proud to serve as the Vice President of External Affairs for the Will County Center for Economic Development. Um unfortunately Doug cannot be here tonight, so you got me. So much like the CED has called Joliet home for nearly 50 years now.

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