OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Joliet City Pre-Council Meeting - July 6, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, July 6, 2026
BodyJoliet, Illinois
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, July 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 32:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

To the July 6th pre-council meeting of the City of Joliet, uh 5 30 in Council Chambers.

0:24

Presiding is the Honorable Mayor Terry Darcy.

0:28

We'll begin with roll call.

0:29

Mayor Darcy.

0:30

Council McCartiness.

0:31

Councilman Clement.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Councilman Hug.

0:34

Councilman Abarra.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Councilman Moreno?

0:37

Here.

0:37

Councilman Mudron.

0:39

Councilman Fulman.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Councilman Vergon.

0:42

Here.

0:43

First, we'll have a presentation.

0:45

April Grand Prairie Water Commission Conservation Challenge winner, Q2, 2026.

0:50

Water conservation incentive program winners and intro for Q3 2026 program presented by Alison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities.

1:15

Okay.

1:16

I feel like I started.

1:18

So we're really excited tonight to further recognize our water conservation winners.

1:25

So in uh April, the Grand Bay water fishing communities had a water conservation challenge, and so we had members of each community take a pledge to conserve water.

1:35

And the community with the most pledges was the winner.

1:47

And the community the winner for Joliet was Lori Ludson.

2:02

So really happy that Lori is committed to saving water and was our winner for our water conservation challenge.

2:08

Thank you, Lori.

2:09

And then also we have our ongoing incentive program and for Q2.

2:21

So thank you for that.

2:28

And each quarter we also have a kids challenge.

2:31

This year, this quarter, the kid challenge was um collecting water sniff baseball cards, which um I'll give blood cards and groups for being extremely creative and coming up with uh 12 different cards, uh baseball cards with water uh conservation tips on them, and Felicity is our kids' winner.

2:55

Um so again for Q3 now we have our new incentive um for our adults.

3:01

We have a survey that adults can take to show how they're saving um water.

3:06

Um and then we're gonna do our baseball card um contest again for uh the kids to continue to collect those 12 cards and submit them to be uh a winner.

3:17

So we're really encouraging everyone to participate in these activities through September 30th, and they're all the information is available on our re-big water joliet website.

3:26

So um encouraging water conservation.

3:28

Um we also have a baseball game, a water conservation themed baseball game at the Slammers.

3:35

Um the game starts at 635, but we're gonna have um activities starting at 530.

3:40

This is a partnership with Will County Green that we've done for a number of years now, and so there's gonna be a lot of information at the game about how to um conserve water and the importance of water.

3:50

So encourage we're participating in this fun um activity tomorrow, and we're also gonna be participating in in kids' fest and continue to spread the word on the importance of water conservation as it relates to um our switch to Lake Michigan water.

4:06

And then lastly, just want to pat ourselves on the back.

4:09

We were the recipient of a gold level water ambassador award, and so we have um been a gold level for a number of years now.

4:18

Um, and the the um water ambassador program is um something the Illinois American Water Works Association sponsors, and it was created to elevate public perception, knowledge, and consumer education of the water industry.

4:32

Um the program aims to accomplish these goals by presenting communication platforms and promotional content in a manner that's relevant, engaging and consistent.

4:42

So we're going above and beyond with our water conservation activities uh in Joliets.

4:47

We're a model to many other communities who want to engage in with the public in water conservation, and we're one of thirty-six communities across the state that has achieved this gold level.

5:00

So that concludes our update on our water conservation efforts, and we'd love to get a photo with the council of our thing.

5:47

Congratulations.

6:10

Okay, seeing none.

6:12

Next, we will have the city manager review tomorrow night's actual items.

6:16

Good evening.

6:17

I hope everybody had a good fourth of July.

6:20

Tomorrow we will hear from the land use and economic development committee, public safety committee, and public service committee.

6:31

Approved payment to Will County Center for Economic Development for Annual Membership Dues in the amount of $50,000.

6:38

Council Memo 33726, approval of purchase of two specialty trucks for the Department of Public Works in the amount of 272,143.

6:48

Council Memo 33826, approval of purchase of six vehicles from Ron Taparelli Ford in the amount of two hundred and eighty-eight thousand three hundred and eighteen dollars.

6:59

Council Memo 33926, approval of amendment number three to the phase one, phase two, and phase three professional engineering services for the Joliet Centralized Traffic Management System Improvement Project to Iterus Inc.

7:14

in the amount of $14,999 and 24 cents.

7:18

Council Memo 340 26, approval of change order number one for the county line road from Van Dyke Road to Kennedy Drive Roadway Improvement Project to PT Faro Construction, a deduction in the amount of sixteen thousand hundred and twenty-two dollars and seventy-one cents, and payment number three and final in the amount of ninety-seven thousand six hundred and twenty dollars and seventy-four cents.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development████████████████16%
Community Engagement████████████████16%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████15%
Public Safety███████████████15%
Zoning And Land Use██████████████14%
Procedural█████████9%
Miscellaneous███████7%
Pending Litigation█████5%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Joliet City Pre-Council Meeting - July 6, 2026

The City of Joliet held a Pre-Council meeting on July 6, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a presentation on water conservation awards, discussion of consent agenda items, ordinances and resolutions, and public comments. No formal votes were taken; items will be considered for approval at the regular City Council meeting on July 7, 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from June 15, 2026 Pre-Council and June 16, 2026 City Council meetings.
  • Approval of invoices to be paid.
  • Payment of $50,000 annual membership dues to Will County Center for Economic Development (Item 336-26).
  • Purchase of two specialty trucks for Public Works for $272,143 (Item 337-26).
  • Purchase of six vehicles from Ron Tirapelli Ford for $288,318 (Item 338-26).
  • Amendment No. 3 to professional engineering services for Joliet Centralized Traffic Management System Improvement Project to Iteris Inc. for $14,999.24 (Item 339-26).
  • Change Order No. 1 for County Line Road improvements: deduction of $16,122.71 and final payment of $97,620.74 (Item 340-26).
  • Change Order No. 3 for 2024 Electrical Maintenance Assistance Contract to Meade Electric for $19,237.51 and Payment Request No. 8 for $49,527.97 (Item 341-26).

Public Comments

  • Megan Cooper thanked the Joliet Police Department for their professionalism during the Fourth of July weekend festivities, particularly at Bicentennial Park where they handled a large group of unsupervised teens using illegal fireworks. She defended the officers' use of force and urged the council to recognize their service.
  • Julie Alexander and other representatives of Including You, Inc. provided an update on the organization's mission to empower and engage the community. They announced a Joliet Family Fun Festival on July 18, 2026, at Bicentennial Park and thanked the council for past support.
  • Kathy Garthus spoke about personal concerns regarding an order of protection she has against a known attacker. She alleged that the Joliet Police Department failed to enforce the order and that she was not being protected, citing a specific incident at a Pilot gas station where surveillance footage showed the alleged violation. She also raised issues about a pickup truck.

Discussion Items

  • Water Conservation Presentation: Director of Public Utilities Allison Swisher recognized the winners of the April Grand Prairie Water Commission Conservation Challenge (Lori Ludson) and the Q2 2026 Water Conservation Incentive Program (kids winner Felicity). She announced the Q3 program, a water conservation night at the Joliet Slammers baseball game on July 7, and highlighted the City's Gold Level Water Ambassador designation from the Illinois American Water Works Association, one of only 36 communities statewide.
  • Vista Ridge Resubdivision (Item 343-26): Councilman Hug asked for clarification on the location of the Vista Ridge subdivision. Community Development Director Dustin Anderson responded that it is located at County Line Road and Ridge Road.
  • 580 Caton Farm Road PUD (Item 344-26): No discussion recorded in minutes, but it was listed.
  • 1216 Fairview Avenue Special Use Permit (Item 345-26): No discussion recorded.
  • Rock Run Collection Business District (Item 346-26): City Manager Beth Beatty provided an overview. Councilman Moreno asked for an explanation, and Councilman Mudron and Hug requested clarification. Caitlin Johnson of SB Friedman, the city's economic development consultant, explained that the proposed business district would impose a 1% sales tax on goods and a 1% hotel tax within the defined area (the northeast corner of I-55 and I-80, including the Rock Run Collection development and the casino). These funds would be used for redevelopment within the district. Councilman Hug noted that the industrial portion of the development is excluded from the tax because it does not generate sales tax, and raised a question about future conversion of industrial parcels to retail. Caitlin Johnson confirmed that the business district can be amended or expanded in the future to include additional properties, subject to public approval and eligibility criteria. The district has a 23-year term.
  • Tobacco Enforcement Grant (Item 348-26): Councilman Clement spoke in support and asked if similar programs exist for alcohol enforcement. He recalled that the state used to conduct compliance checks and suggested the city look into reinstating that program.
  • Motor Fuel Tax Appropriation (Item 349-26): Councilman Hug clarified that this is a housekeeping item required to release Motor Fuel Tax funds for the traffic management system project, separate from the expenditure approval.
  • Honorary Street Name for Les Cheney (Item 350-26): No discussion recorded.
  • Surplus Property Declaration (Item 351-26): No discussion recorded.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken on consent or ordinance/resolution items at this pre-council meeting. These items will be presented for approval at the regular City Council meeting on July 7, 2026.
  • The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:30 PM (estimated) by motion of Councilwoman Sherri Reardon, seconded by Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra, with all members voting aye.

Meeting Transcript

To the July 6th pre-council meeting of the City of Joliet, uh 5 30 in Council Chambers. Presiding is the Honorable Mayor Terry Darcy. We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy. Council McCartiness. Councilman Clement. Here. Councilman Hug. Councilman Abarra. Here. Councilman Moreno? Here. Councilman Mudron. Councilman Fulman. Here. Councilman Vergon. Here. First, we'll have a presentation. April Grand Prairie Water Commission Conservation Challenge winner, Q2, 2026. Water conservation incentive program winners and intro for Q3 2026 program presented by Alison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities. Okay. I feel like I started. So we're really excited tonight to further recognize our water conservation winners. So in uh April, the Grand Bay water fishing communities had a water conservation challenge, and so we had members of each community take a pledge to conserve water. And the community with the most pledges was the winner. And the community the winner for Joliet was Lori Ludson. So really happy that Lori is committed to saving water and was our winner for our water conservation challenge. Thank you, Lori. And then also we have our ongoing incentive program and for Q2. So thank you for that. And each quarter we also have a kids challenge. This year, this quarter, the kid challenge was um collecting water sniff baseball cards, which um I'll give blood cards and groups for being extremely creative and coming up with uh 12 different cards, uh baseball cards with water uh conservation tips on them, and Felicity is our kids' winner. Um so again for Q3 now we have our new incentive um for our adults. We have a survey that adults can take to show how they're saving um water. Um and then we're gonna do our baseball card um contest again for uh the kids to continue to collect those 12 cards and submit them to be uh a winner. So we're really encouraging everyone to participate in these activities through September 30th, and they're all the information is available on our re-big water joliet website. So um encouraging water conservation. Um we also have a baseball game, a water conservation themed baseball game at the Slammers. Um the game starts at 635, but we're gonna have um activities starting at 530. This is a partnership with Will County Green that we've done for a number of years now, and so there's gonna be a lot of information at the game about how to um conserve water and the importance of water. So encourage we're participating in this fun um activity tomorrow, and we're also gonna be participating in in kids' fest and continue to spread the word on the importance of water conservation as it relates to um our switch to Lake Michigan water. And then lastly, just want to pat ourselves on the back. We were the recipient of a gold level water ambassador award, and so we have um been a gold level for a number of years now. Um, and the the um water ambassador program is um something the Illinois American Water Works Association sponsors, and it was created to elevate public perception, knowledge, and consumer education of the water industry. Um the program aims to accomplish these goals by presenting communication platforms and promotional content in a manner that's relevant, engaging and consistent. So we're going above and beyond with our water conservation activities uh in Joliets. We're a model to many other communities who want to engage in with the public in water conservation, and we're one of thirty-six communities across the state that has achieved this gold level. So that concludes our update on our water conservation efforts, and we'd love to get a photo with the council of our thing. Congratulations. Okay, seeing none.

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