Naperville City Council Meeting – June 17, 2025

The Naperville City Council met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, public forum, a consent agenda, a debate on a four-way stop at West Street and Jefferson Avenue, approval of the Hines Diehl Road Resubdivision and a denial of a plumbing variance, a first reading of a grocery tax replacement ordinance, and discussion on the timing of an electric strategy workshop. The Council also approved a new substation transformer and insurance coverage.

Awards and Recognitions

• LGBTQ+ Pride Month Proclamation: Councilwoman Gibson presented a proclamation declaring June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Christy, spokesperson for Naper Pride, accepted and highlighted the organization's growth since 2018 and plans for a community center.
• Naperville North Boys’ Water Polo State Championship: Councilwoman Gibson presented a proclamation honoring the team for winning the 2025 IHSA State Championship. Head Coach Kelly Reif became the first female coach in Illinois history to lead a boys' water polo team to a state title. Jack Reif (named Illinois Player of the Year) and Mason Hoffman (Senior Scholastic Player of the Year) were recognized.

Public Comments and Testimony

Six speakers addressed the Council during Public Forum:

• Liz Zoo (Naperville): Proposed amending the overnight parking ban to allow residential permits (up to two permits at $25 each) to park on the street overnight, citing multi-generational homes and limited driveway space.
• Richard Stark (Naperville – NEST): Discussed the upcoming long-term energy options workshop, recommending comparative projections for at least two options beyond IMEA, and announced a proposal for a strategy support team.
• Fernando Arriola (Naperville – NEST): Argued that IMEA costs were historically higher than alternatives and that renewing with IMEA would limit Naperville's ability to adopt new technologies like nuclear and geothermal. He called the energy contract the council's defining issue.
• Joseph Hus (Naperville – NEST): Advocated for public engagement to set criteria for electricity provider selection. He listed four reasons why coal-heavy energy hurts Naperville businesses: sustainability goals of local employers (Nokia, Ecolab, Mondelez), scope three emissions reporting, EU carbon border adjustment fees, and investor scrutiny of emissions.
• Tim Messer (Naperville): Raised traffic safety concerns on Columbia and Julian Streets (one-way couplets), including speeding, poor signage, and dangerous intersections. He urged a broader, city-wide traffic study.
• Kevin Gould (Naperville): During the Consent Agenda discussion on I6, he opposed the July 4th fireworks display, citing potential harm to veterans with PTSD (estimating ~5 affected veterans within a 2-mile radius) and air pollution. He suggested a laser show as an alternative.
• Joyce Bryan (Naperville): Spoke in favor of the Astor Place Townhome Association overnight parking exemptions (I13), noting unanimous support among members.
• Tim Messer (again): During Old Business (K1), he advocated for comprehensive city-wide traffic solutions rather than a piecemeal approach, and supported the idea of protected bike lanes on Jefferson Avenue.
• Paul Hinterlong (Naperville): Supported Option 2 for West & Jefferson (no stop sign, traffic calming only), arguing that a stop sign would shift traffic to side streets and that the MUTCD states stop signs should not be used for speed control.
• Caitlin Czuk (Petitioner for Hines): Presented the developer's case for using PEX/CPVC piping (limited to after the meter, no city infrastructure), noting $600,000 in cost savings and that the materials are approved by IBC, UBC, and IEPA.
• Paul Hinterlong (again, on L5): Opposed the plumbing variance, stating CPVC/PE-X become brittle over time, are difficult to repair, and compromise craftsmanship. He said the Building Review Board and staff made the right call.
• Brian Yelton (Naperville): Supported denying the variance, citing copper's natural antibacterial properties and that CPVC/PE-X can degrade with elevated temperatures and chlorine used for Legionella mitigation.

Consent Agenda

• Approved with comments on I6 and I13 by a 9-0 vote (motion by White, second by Kelly).
• Items approved: Cash disbursements ($37,390,962.38), meeting minutes of June 3, 2025, appointments to boards and commissions, year-to-date budget report, excess liability insurance ($431,083), fireworks display permit (I6, passed 9-0 after speaker), Janitorial Services contract renewal ($650,000), Bill Printing and Mailing Change Order #1 ($350,000), Springbrook Water Reclamation Center Change Orders (170 and 365 additional calendar days), Kluber Engineering Change Order #3 (273 days), Naperville Sprint Triathlon ordinance (August 3, 2025), Astor Place overnight parking exemptions (I13, passed 9-0), Historic District parking restrictions modification, South Forty Property site development agreement amendment, LTF Real Estate declaration of use restrictions, and Nicor radio tower site license agreement.

Discussion Items

• Old Business – West Street and Jefferson Avenue Four-Way Stop (K1): Council considered two options. After a motion by Kelly to do both (install stop sign and implement traffic calming) failed 4-5 (Ayes: Holzhauer, Kelly, Syed, White; Nays: Wehrli, Gibson, Longenbaugh, McBroom, Wilson), a motion by White to concur with staff's recommendation to not implement a stop sign and instead implement traffic calming measures along Jefferson Avenue between River Road and Mill Street passed 9-0. Staff noted that buffered bike lanes with wider pavement markings would be used to narrow travel lanes and reduce speeds.

• Hines Diehl Road Resubdivision (L1-L4): Council approved all four items unanimously (9-0): receiving the staff report, granting deviations from exterior lighting standards, approving the final plat and Owner's and Developer's Acknowledgement, and approving the Final Planned Unit Development Plat.

• Plumbing Variance (L5): Council voted 9-0 to concur with the Building Review Board and City staff, denying the variance to Section 5-1E-2:2 (Illinois State Plumbing Code) for the Hines Diehl Road PUD. The petitioner argued cost savings and safety, but opponents cited craftsmanship, long-term durability, and local precedent.

• First Reading – Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax (L6): Director of Finance Ray Munch presented the staff recommendation to implement a 1% local replacement grocery tax to offset the loss of the state's 1% grocery tax (effective Jan 1, 2026). The estimated 2026 revenue loss is $6.5 million. Staff argued that the city runs a lean budget (105 fewer employees than 2009, population 8% larger) and that the tax is a one-for-one replacement. The Financial Advisory Board (FAB) voted 5-1 to recommend this option. Council discussion focused on the regressive nature of the tax vs. a home rule sales tax (HRST) increase of 0.25% (which would generate similar revenue). Councilman Holzhauer opposed the grocery tax, calling it unconscionable given potential federal SNAP cuts. Councilman Kelly and others requested a more detailed presentation on the HRST option. City Manager Krieger noted that even with full replacement, the city must still find $2.5 million in savings. Council directed staff to bring back a comparison of both options, including data on SNAP beneficiaries and non-resident spending, for the July 15, 2025 meeting. The ordinance will return for second reading.

• Energy Workshop Scheduling (O1 and New Business): The Council approved the meeting schedule for July, August, and September 2025, removing the July 21 workshop (8-1, Wilson nay) due to scheduling conflicts. Councilman Holzhauer proposed delaying the first electric strategy workshop until September to allow for community outreach via the Naperville newsletter. A show of hands for his proposal received only two hands, so the request failed. The Council will instead poll members for availability, and staff will bring a workshop date to the July 15 meeting. Councilman McBroom accused some members of trying to eliminate the IMEA option by delaying.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 9-0 (17 items).
• Fireworks Permit (I6): Approved 9-0.
• Astor Place Overnight Parking (I13): Approved 9-0.
• West & Jefferson Stop Sign (K1): Motion to do both failed 4-5; motion to implement only traffic calming measures passed 9-0.
• Hines Diehl Road Resubdivision (L1-L4): All four items passed 9-0.
• Plumbing Variance Denial (L5): Motion to deny variance passed 9-0.
• Grocery Tax (L6): First reading held; Council directed staff to prepare a full comparison of the grocery tax option and a 0.25% home rule sales tax increase for the July 15, 2025 meeting.
• New Substation Transformer (M1): Awarded to WEG Transformers USA LLC for $2,111,500 (46-month term), approved 9-0.
• Property, Cyber, and Pollution Liability Insurance (M2): Awarded through Alliant Property Insurance Program for $1,111,969 (one-year term), approved 9-0.
• Meeting Schedule (O1): Approved for July, August, and September 2025, removing the July 21 workshop, 8-1.
• Energy Workshop: Staff will poll Council for availability; a workshop date will be set at the July 15 meeting. No new business motion to delay until September passed (only 2 hands in support).
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.