Oswego Committee of the Whole Meeting - June 10, 2025

The Oswego Village Board Committee of the Whole met on June 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM to discuss the 2025 Community Survey findings and potential changes to water tap-on fees for residential development. No public comments were made. The board gave direction to staff on both items.

Discussion Items

2025 Community Survey Presentation

• Jason Morado, director of community research at ETC Institute, presented the fourth biennial community survey for Oswego (conducted via mail and online, 606 completed surveys, margin of error ±3.9%).
• Key findings: Satisfaction increased in 68 of 113 areas since the 2023 survey; Oswego rated above the U.S. average in 55 of 60 areas; top overall priorities were traffic flow/congestion and management of village finances.
• Trustee questions addressed methodology (demographic weighting, response mode breakdown), request for crosstabs by age, length of residency, and renters vs. owners; interest in AI sentiment analysis of open-ended comments.
• Discussion noted that while communication ratings improved, residents may lack context on village finances; the increase in satisfaction with financial management was attributed to recent board actions like reducing property tax rates and paying off debt.

Proposed Water Tap-On Fee Changes

• Dan (staff) reviewed the history of water tap-on fees: $5,000 per residential unit in 2007, increased to $7,200 in 2010, lowered to $2,200 in 2015, and now proposed to increase by $3,000 to $5,200 per unit for all residential types (single-family, townhome, apartment).
• Comparison with competitive communities: Yorkville current fees ~$7,500 (rising to ~$10,500 by 2028), Plainfield $3,300 for single-family/townhomes and $0 for apartments. Oswego’s total fees are $24,000 for single-family, $15,000 for townhomes, $13,000 for apartments—within market range.
• Staff recommended no increase to commercial tap-on fees (currently $3,750, unchanged since 2007) to incentivize business growth. Trustees generally agreed, noting commercial users pay more through volumetric rates and large meter fees.
• Trustees expressed support for the $3,000 residential increase, citing fairness to existing residents who bear water system upgrade costs, while acknowledging potential impact on housing affordability. Discussion noted that affordable housing requires separate incentives.

Key Outcomes

• The board reached consensus to direct staff to prepare an ordinance increasing residential water tap-on fees by $3,000 (to $5,200 per unit) for the next regular board meeting. No increase to commercial tap-on fees at this time.
• Staff will also provide additional crosstab data from the survey (by age, length of residence, renter/owner) and explore AI analysis of open-ended comments.