Naperville City Council Meeting Summary (October 21, 2025)
Naperville City Council Meeting Summary (October 21, 2025)
The Naperville City Council convened on October 21, 2025, for a public meeting featuring public forum testimony, discussion on food and beverage tax ordinances, and major updates on the city's infrastructure, utility, and public safety priorities. The meeting concluded with a new business item to initiate a comprehensive review of the Special Event Community Amenities (SECA) grant program.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Halleck (Naperville Senior Task Force): Expressed gratitude for council support and detailed the task force's volunteer-driven initiatives, including silver CPR training (hosting 200 seniors last year), dementia-friendly support groups, diabetic screenings, and the upcoming Golden Age Summit. Halleck acknowledged continued support from Mayor Worley and Councilman Holzauer.
- Sam Entel: Expressed the position that restricting SECA funds to specific events is untenable due to the fungible nature of funds and the inherent marketing benefit to organizations receiving the grants. Entel stated that the council has an obligation to consider an organization's general activities before awarding funds.
- Ted Burlard (NEST): Stated opposition to the immediate approval of Keras's revised data center proposal (36 megawatts) until answers are provided regarding impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and electricity rates. NEST recommended a six-month pause on the project pending the resolution of the city's electric contract status.
- Councilman Holzauer: Shared that Naperville Township Board is actively soliciting applications from mental health charitable organizations for grants and referenced a regional data center task force being developed by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
- Councilman McBroom: Expressed disappointment regarding perceived passive-aggressive responses to his recent criticisms of NEST and the SECA program. McBroom clarified his intent to foster open, honest dialogue regarding SECA improvements and noted a pending new business item regarding the program.
- Councilman White: Requested an assessment of parking accommodations for seniors in downtown Naperville. Halleck provided a personal opinion that there is not enough parking for seniors and those with disabilities, though noted this is not the Senior Task Force's official jurisdiction.
Discussion Items
- Food and Beverage Ordinance Update:
- Mayor Worley: Proposed including drive-through-only establishments and food trucks in the food and beverage tax to ensure equity with brick-and-mortar restaurants. Councilman Wilson expressed concern about adding new revenue without a defined plan to reduce existing taxes. Councilman Kelly supported equity but raised logistical concerns regarding food trucks that operate in Naperville only 10-12 times a year.
- Councilman McBroom: Stated opposition to the ordinance item as currently written due to existing concerns about how food and beverage tax revenue is being spent.
- Councilwoman Gibson: Suggested that if food trucks are taxed, tax exemptions for food trucks at festivals should also be removed to prevent inconsistencies.
- Outcome of Discussion: The council agreed to bring back the option to include food trucks to the next meeting for further consideration. Several council members requested staff research on how other municipalities handle food truck taxation and potential double-taxation issues.
- Priority Plan Update (Investing in Our Community):
- Chief Puginus (Public Safety): Reported on the hiring shortage mitigation strategy, highlighting recruitment of RNs in the fire department and lateral transfers in police. Stated that 10-20 retirements are expected per department. Discussed the hiring of a new emergency manager, Natalie Weiza, and the reorganization of emergency management into the "Naperville Office of Emergency Management" with a new central facility and unified command vehicle.
- Darrell Blennis (Water Utilities): Provided updates on the Springbrook Water Reclamation Center upgrades ($190 million investment) and the removal of lead service lines (99% of 42,000 parcels completed; 203 remaining). Detailed efforts to reduce non-revenue water by 2.5% through meter replacements and main repairs.
- Andy Hines (Community Design): Reported on the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan, highlighting the completion of the Eagle Street Gateway Project ($3.5 million) and the upcoming construction of a park on North Central College property (late 2026).
- Christine Schwarzkopf & Ben Mulesmith (Public Works & Sustainability): Discussed the native vegetation management program converting stormwater basins to native plantings and the success of new incentive programs, including electric lawn equipment rebates (all 200 awarded), free food scrap composting (extended), and clothing recycling (17,340 pounds collected).
- Council Questions: Councilman Holzauer sought clarification on the cancellation of mental health response hiring (CIT team) for the police department. Councilman White questioned the impact of water loss between Lake Michigan and Naperville, clarified by staff that the city pays only for water measured at delivery points.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The October 21st, Naperville City Council meeting is called to order. Roll call. Orlean. Here. Gibson. Holzauer. Here. Jane. Here. Kelly. Here. Mick Broom. Here. Syed. Yeah. White. Here. Wilson. Here. Please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag on the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stays one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice. Tonight we begin with public forum. As we start the public forum, I'd like to remind everyone of the citizen participation rules in the city's municipal code for speaking at city council meetings. Speakers are asked to present their comments in a respectful and courteous manner. Speakers should stay on topic and be cognizant of their words. Personal attacks on council members, staff, other speakers, or members of the council, or members of the audience, rather, are not allowed. If inappropriate language or comments are expressed during this meeting, you will be asked immediately to stop commenting. Also, for audience members, there's no cheering and no jeering. Actions such as applauding, cheering, finger snapping, booing, or any other noises during or at the conclusion of any remarks made by any speaker are not allowed. If this occurs, you will be asked to stop immediately. And if it continues to persist, I will recess the meeting until the audience abides by the rules in our city code. No speaker should ever feel intimidated by the crowd. Audience disruption is meant to intimidate those speaking, and I will not allow it in the chambers. Audience members with signs, the signs does not block any other audience members' view. And speakers are given three minutes to address the city council to help speakers stay within the three-minute time frame. We have a timer over on the side dice to your right. Speakers are encouraged to remain in council chambers until the conclusion of public forum in the event council members want to ask follow-up questions. Ms. Schatz, please call the first speaker. We have one written comment that was posted to the website for public forum. We have three speakers signed up. The first speaker is David Halleck, followed by Sam Entel and Ted Borlard. And as you heard your name called for all the speakers, move to the front of the room so we can keep the meeting moving. Mayor Worley, Council members, thank you for the opportunity to speak. Get a little closer to the microphone for us. They're very, very directional. Thank you. Thank you again for the opportunity to speak in front of you.
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