OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Naperville City Council Meeting - March 3, 2026: Consent Agenda Approved, Energy Future Planning Directed

City Council — Tuesday, March 3, 2026
BodyNaperville, Illinois
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:00

Transcript — Verbatim
1:13

Good evening and welcome to the March 3rd Naperville City Council meeting, roll call.

1:17

Rurally?

1:18

Here.

1:18

Gibson.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Hold tower.

1:20

Here.

1:21

Jane.

1:21

Here.

1:21

Kelly.

1:22

Here.

1:22

McBroom?

1:23

Here.

1:23

Syed.

1:24

Yep.

1:24

White.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Wilson.

1:26

Here.

1:27

Please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:40

Under Indivisible Liberty and Justice Raw.

1:49

Our first item tonight is public forum.

1:51

I'd like to remind everyone of the citizen participation rules in the city's municipal code for speaking at city council meetings.

1:58

Speakers are asked to present their comments in a respectful and courteous manner.

2:01

Speakers should be staying on topic and be cognizant of their words.

2:05

Personal attacks on council members, staff, other speakers, or members of the audience are not allowed.

2:10

If inappropriate language or comments are expressed during this meeting, you will be asked immediately to stop commenting.

2:15

Also, for audience members, there's no cheering and no juring.

2:18

Actions such as applauding, sharing, booing, or any other noises during or at the conclusion of any remarks made by any speaker are not allowed.

2:26

If this is 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.

2:34

No speakers should feel intimidated by the crowd.

2:37

Audience disruption is meant to intimidate those speaking, and I will not allow it in this chambers.

2:41

Audience members with signs, the signs must not block any other audience members' view.

2:45

And speakers are given three minutes to address the city council.

2:48

To help speakers stay within the three-minute time frame, we have a side timer or a timer located on the side dias to your right.

2:55

It will give the visual cue when three minutes are expiring.

2:58

This helps speakers conclude their comments in a timely manner without being cut off.

3:01

The timer will buzz when it hit zero, and we will alert the timer or at least alert the speaker that the time is up.

3:06

If a speaker's name is called and they are not in the room, we will move on to the next speaker, and we will not go back.

3:13

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.

3:24

We have two written comments that were submitted to the website and posted under today's meeting.

3:37

And if you heard your name called, please come to the front row and sit behind the podium there.

3:57

I'm an owner of a townhouse in the 60-unit 25-year-old vintage club neighborhood, located less than 60 seconds drive from the proposed Atlas apartments development.

4:30

That study focused primarily on Audrey Avenue and a few other major roadways connected to it.

4:50

Lakeley Lane leads to other 25 mile per hour residential side streets that pass through Vintage Club, Mayfair, and past dozens of other single family homes.

5:00

People that know this area know that by using our side streets, you can avoid backups at nearby busy intersections.

5:07

They use these shortcuts through our neighborhood to move between major roads such as Ogden Avenue, Route 59, and 75th Street.

5:15

As it is, we have a lot of non-resident traffic passing through our side streets to save time, often driving too fast.

5:22

During warmer weather, these fast-moving cars are sharing our streets with children on bikes and scooters, as well as pedestrians crossing the street.

5:31

The hundreds of future vehicles that would be nearby at the Atlas would mean that we see an increase of hundreds of additional cars, many traveling too fast, flooding our residential side streets every day while taking shortcuts.

5:44

This is going to increase the odds that eventually we see an accident involving a child on a bicycle or a pedestrian.

5:53

Shortly after we moved into Vintage Club five years ago, our dog was hit and killed by a speeding driver on Blakeley Lane.

6:00

Every benefit of this development will be forgotten and publicly criticized if one of our hundreds of children in the nearby neighborhood is tragically hit by a vehicle in the future that came from the Atlas apartments.

6:14

I want to be clear that I am not opposed to a multifamily apartment development being built there, but I am opposed to one that is five stories too tall, taller than any other structure for miles around, is too dense for a residential setting, and that would have significant safety impact on our neighborhood streets.

6:33

I would propose that the city and zoning commission instead approve rezoning for a medium-density apartment complex of three stories height versus what is currently planned for an overly dense complex, the Atlas.

6:46

Thank you.

6:48

Thank you.

6:49

Next speaker.

6:49

The next speaker is Diana Torres Hawkin.

6:53

Good evening.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Energy Procurement███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Energy Planning███████████████15%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Active Transportation███3%
Pending Litigation███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Naperville City Council Meeting - March 3, 2026

The Naperville City Council convened on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. All nine council members (Mayor Scott Wehrli, Councilmembers Gibson, Holzhauer, Jain, Kelly, McBroom, Syed, White, Wilson) were present. The meeting featured public comments on multiple topics, unanimous approval of a 22-item consent agenda, and a substantial new business discussion directing staff to develop a timeline and options for the city's post-2035 energy future. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Matt Marsh (Naperville Vintage Club Association) expressed opposition to the proposed Atlas Apartments development, citing concerns about building height (five stories), density, and traffic safety on nearby residential streets. He urged approval of a medium-density, three-story alternative.
  • Diana Torres Hawken (Founder/VP of ALMAS) clarified that ALMAS is a registered 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit focused on cultural enrichment, youth leadership, and civic empowerment. She responded to recent characterizations of ALMAS as political, emphasizing that SECA funds are used solely for approved cultural programming such as Día de Muertos at the Riverwalk.
  • Richard Stark (Naperville resident) proposed a structured process—including workshops and Zoom meetings—to develop a vision, decision criteria, targets, and benchmarks for the city’s electric utility strategy, noting that no such framework currently exists.
  • John Doyle (Naperville resident) spoke in support of House Bill 2454, which would designate cyclists as intended users of roadways. He requested the council reconsider its opposition to the bill, arguing it conflicts with Naperville’s bike safety efforts and the positions of the city's own state representatives.
  • Bruce Jones (40-year Naperville resident) recommended adding language to commercial ordinances requiring installation of electrical capacity and conduit for electric vehicle charging stations during new construction or renovation, citing declining EV prices and benefits to employees and employers.
  • Ashley Penick (Naperville resident) opposed updating stretch energy codes, arguing that added regulatory costs make housing less affordable. She raised questions about the environmental impact of such codes and cited the median home price in Naperville ($580,000) compared to the U.S. median ($410,000–$440,000).
  • Julie Carducci (Franklin Avenue resident, adjacent to Benton+Main development) requested a motion to reconsider the February 17, 2026 approval of the Benton+Main townhouse project. She argued the approval contradicts the city's zoning code, conditional use standards, and Land Use Master Plan, and that the acceptance of a private driveway with permeable pavers and replacement saplings as PUD public amenities is inconsistent with requirements.
  • Written Comments were submitted by Lili Burciaga (ALMAS President) reiterating the organization's nonpartisan nature and defending the use of SECA funds, and by Chris Carlsen (Naperville resident) formally petitioning for reconsideration of the Benton+Main approval and detailing alleged legal inconsistencies.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the use of the omnibus method and then unanimously approved all 22 items on the Consent Agenda by a 9-0 vote. Key items included:
    • Approval of February 17, 2026 meeting minutes
    • City Council meeting schedule for March–May 2026
    • Appointment to the Finance Advisory Board
    • Award of RFP 25-226 (Fox River Commons Retaining Wall Improvements, Larson Engineering, $129,590)
    • Award of RFP 25-201 (Real-Time Information Center Software, Peregrine, $556,400 for 3 years)
    • Option year awards for sanitary sewer cleaning, electrical installation, generator maintenance
    • Cooperative procurement for electric utility GIS servers (Xerox IT Solutions, $539,000.80)
    • Single source procurement for electric utility furniture (Conklin Office Services, $171,240.12)
    • Multiple water main improvement engineering work orders (Maplebrook Ph. II, Kings Terrace, Saybrook Ph. III)
    • Change orders for Springbrook Water Reclamation Center pump station and Trillium Lift Station design
    • Waivers of procurement code for concrete ($60,000) and hot mix asphalt ($95,000)
    • Ordinance amendments for Class G2 liquor license extension to outdoor patio
    • Zoning variances for garage addition at 693 Cottage Avenue and accessory structures at 923 Watercress Drive
    • Minor change to Iroquois Center PUD at 1163 E. Ogden Avenue
    • Resolution approving prior unapproved closed session minutes

Discussion Items

  • House Bill 2454: City Manager Doug Krieger explained the city's opposition to HB 2454 is due to increased liability, risk, and cost. Councilmember Holzhauer asked staff to learn from state representatives why they support the bill and report back at a future meeting.
  • Energy Future Strategy (New Business): A substantial discussion centered on the city's energy planning beyond the current IMEA contract expiring in 2035. Mayor Wehrli proposed directing staff to develop a critical path timeline with key decision dates. Councilmembers expressed varied views:
    • Councilmember Holzhauer emphasized the need to first establish strategic goals (e.g., carbon reduction or price caps) before evaluating options, noting the June 2025 motion for workshops had not been fulfilled.
    • Councilmember White agreed that a council-led vision should precede options.
    • Councilmember Gibson advocated for a timeline tied to a clear outline of non-IMEA options (e.g., power marketer, build own solar), presented in open meetings, with a strategic workshop after the reports.
    • Councilmember Jain echoed interest in non-IMEA options to clarify timeline and possibilities.
    • Councilmember Wilson expressed confusion over terminology but supported both timeline and goals.
    • Councilmember McBroom favored a comprehensive approach combining timeline, options from staff, and then goals, noting that the August 2025 IMEA deadline has passed.
    • Councilmember Syed called for a thorough review of all market options to enable informed decisions.
    • City Manager Krieger proposed a series of staff reports at regular council meetings starting in April, beginning with the utility's mission statement and a reverse timeline from 2035, then covering various non-IMEA options over 3–4 meetings.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda & Award of Bids: All consent items and two expenditure awards (M1: 2026 Water Main Lining to Insituform, $1,012,941 for 16 months; M2: Sanitary Sewer Service Lateral Lining Option Year #3 to Performance Pipelining, $1,862,676 plus 3% contingency) were approved 9-0.
  • Energy Future Direction: By consensus (7 hands raised), council directed staff to:
    1. Develop a series of reports for open public meetings, including a reverse timeline from 2035 tied to the current IMEA contract and covering all energy options.
    2. Present the first report outlining the Electric Utility's mission, direction, and evaluation guidelines.
    3. After all reports are completed, schedule a strategic workshop for council to set goals and consider next steps.
  • Follow-up: Staff will begin reports in April 2026. The council will also research the rationale behind HB 2454 before revisiting the city's position.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the March 3rd Naperville City Council meeting, roll call. Rurally? Here. Gibson. Here. Hold tower. Here. Jane. Here. Kelly. Here. McBroom? Here. Syed. Yep. White. Here. Wilson. Here. Please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Under Indivisible Liberty and Justice Raw. Our first item tonight is 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 be staying on topic and be cognizant of their words. Personal attacks on council members, staff, other speakers, or members of the audience 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 juring. Actions such as applauding, sharing, booing, or any other noises during or at the conclusion of any remarks made by any speaker are not allowed. If this is 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 speakers should feel intimidated by the crowd. Audience disruption is meant to intimidate those speaking, and I will not allow it in this chambers. Audience members with signs, the signs must 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 side timer or a timer located on the side dias to your right. It will give the visual cue when three minutes are expiring. This helps speakers conclude their comments in a timely manner without being cut off. The timer will buzz when it hit zero, and we will alert the timer or at least alert the speaker that the time is up. If a speaker's name is called and they are not in the room, we will move on to the next speaker, and we will not go back. 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. We have two written comments that were submitted to the website and posted under today's meeting. And if you heard your name called, please come to the front row and sit behind the podium there. I'm an owner of a townhouse in the 60-unit 25-year-old vintage club neighborhood, located less than 60 seconds drive from the proposed Atlas apartments development. That study focused primarily on Audrey Avenue and a few other major roadways connected to it. Lakeley Lane leads to other 25 mile per hour residential side streets that pass through Vintage Club, Mayfair, and past dozens of other single family homes. People that know this area know that by using our side streets, you can avoid backups at nearby busy intersections. They use these shortcuts through our neighborhood to move between major roads such as Ogden Avenue, Route 59, and 75th Street. As it is, we have a lot of non-resident traffic passing through our side streets to save time, often driving too fast. During warmer weather, these fast-moving cars are sharing our streets with children on bikes and scooters, as well as pedestrians crossing the street. The hundreds of future vehicles that would be nearby at the Atlas would mean that we see an increase of hundreds of additional cars, many traveling too fast, flooding our residential side streets every day while taking shortcuts.

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