City Council - Regular Meeting

We'll call the committee of the whole for the Elgen City Council for March 25th, 2026 to order. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Zelf Faro present. Dixon good here. Martinez here. Ortiz here. Powell here. Stefan here. Thorne. Mayor Captain here.

Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting of March 11th, 2026. Move for approval. Second. It's been moved and second for approval. Any corrections or additions? Hearing none. Court, please call a role. Council member Alparo, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, abstain. Stefan, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. The motion's approved 70 with one abstension. Thoren, yes.

I don't know how that works. We have a few people sign up for public comment this evening. First person to sign up is Hank Romero.

Hello. I'm here to talk about the environment. Homeless people uh pay guys to work cleaning side road uh they pay taxes, buy commodities, buy homes, pay taxes. Penalty for dumping uh garbage from their cars or their house. uh you know it's uh 50 bucks or something like a parking ticket not the federal the federal is like 6 months or a year in prison and maybe the people other people we offer uh reward for for somebody catching somebody throwing garbage um America beautiful people come to this country they think we're pigs you know the roads look real bad um hey put more more lines out there so we can see the lines on on rain uh river clean and the the river is a sewer system. Um what we got to do is got to put every every town from the beginning of the Fox River all the way down to the Mississippi. Every town has got to have a cleaning system. You know, like Kenover Park, they uh take the water, they clean it, and they put it and they give it back to people. Not all of it, but part of it. And part of it come from the aquafers or Lake Michigan, I'm not sure. um clean their rivers. You know, if they uh they clean, you know, I hate to drink water from uh Fox River. I might get poisoned. Uh make the companies clean up their stuff. Don't let them dump it in the rivers. Uh put fish in the in the river. Uh the army gener army uh engineers, not the guys that diffuse bond, the guys that uh build stuff, you know, can build all this sewer uh clean up of the water and put it back and the fish in there too. So maybe uh something drastic happens, you know, like we have uh three years or four years or no summer and no spring and no autumn and just winter to be fish on the river. Not I'm not going against

God, you know, you just got to prepare for whatever is coming. Um farms put a wall around the the the the fields so that water does it drains into the acryers. It doesn't go into the rivers with the fertilizers. Don't go into the water system. Okay. Electromagnetic pulse. Oh, that's very interesting. All the military trucks. One guy in Dug says that there's no problems. They can't, you know, the trucks can't stop. And uh electromagnetic poles from atomic bombs or uh or what you call it, the sun. So, you know, God works mysterious way sometimes. Um the uh trucks as long as they're moving, there could be a civil war out there. The the National Guard is out there. He break they'll break it up. Um you want people to move, you want people to move, pay them. They'll move. However, I heard that some someone uh said that some people do anything not to work. Oh, time's up. Um time give me a uh 30 seconds. the le the Statue of Liberty, move it out to Texas and process all these people with paperwork and uh with paperwork and and the Statue of Liberty stands for uh give me your poor something some something else and given by the French to America and uh we leave them out there in the desert. We send them wood, we send them stones, they build homes, they build they they pay taxes into the system and we got more people uh if they want to live here, maybe they want to fight for us. No. Yeah, fight for us. Have a good day everybody.

Thank you.

Susanna Padilla over the fast. The past few months, we have listened to the voices of many in our community. We have heard their outrage, felt their fear, and witnessed their relentless spirit. But we have also been positive. We have also seen positive progress. It took a moment of cold reality for us all to come together. Last month's meeting, people from all walks of life united for a common good. It was beautiful to see our human side showing compassion and worthiness for others in a larger scale and most importantly listening to one another's struggle. We have become aware of our neighborhoods our neighborhood our neighbors delivering food to those paralyzed by fear. Parents who are afraid to leave their homes or children worrying that they may never return to provide for their families. as we were informed by Councilman Martinez of her personal story. I thank you for sharing. My heart truly goes out to you for what you endured such a young age at a young age. But we sit here discussing the very same trials others are facing today. I must ask, is it not time to dismantle th these generational cycle social cycles? Your story took me back in time. I witnessed day decades decades ago. I heard a father tell my friend, his son,

now you know what it's like to suffer. I was only 19 then, but those words did not sit right with my soul. I remember thinking, why would a parent ever want their child to repeat their own parents' hardships to learn? I believe in God-given duty is to ensure my children advance further than I ever could. I share my exper my my mistakes and my life experiences with them so their harvest in life may be sweeter and their path easier. Is that not the goal of every parent, every leader to foster life's expansion? You sit in a position of authority that is much like a parent to the city of Elgen. While your story is heartbreaking, it also confirms how toxic cycles continue. Through the lie that says, "I went through it. So must you too." Today, we can break those chains. We can move with bold authority by our sovereignty and our God-given rights led by his divine guidance. You have the power to spark that change, this change with a single courageous vote of yes and to continue to move forward. Politics seems to be only about money and power. With these take with when these take priority, we are guided by the spirit of mammon. And I quote, Matthew 6:24 warns us, "No one can serve two masters, for you will hate one and love the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." We all agree that our community must be protected from violent criminals. However, that protection should not come at the cost

of human rights. There is so much confusion surrounding various states mandates by our governor. While these laws intended to provide safety, more confusion, paral paralyzation, and uncertainty has been created instead. If the goal is truly to remove only dangerous individuals, a line of communication could be started by requesting a specific list of federal agencies cross reference with our own agent police records. If the name don't match our data on violent crime, then there is no need for outside intervention in our city. It is simple direct solution that provides a safety net for the innocent. Let us not be used by the enemy nor by the allure of the power and money. When we allow God to lead us for the higher good of humanity, we will be in much better hands and forever blessed. God is not the author of chaos but the but peace and clarity and if allow to be led by God's guidance all is possible. Thank you for your time and attention. I pray that all look within and reach God's guidance because we the people are speaking up and being present doing our part. We have total right now starting 76 signatures that people are for the ordinance. We are still collecting and that is for all the community coming together for that. So we will have more. Thank you and God bless you all.

Thank you,

Sandy Skolski. I'm here to speak on behalf of the ordinance for inclusion and diversity. Um, I moved to Elgen about 10 years ago because I wanted to feel like I lived in a city again. I grew up in the city of Chicago. Um when I was looking at a house, this little boy was walking home from school and he actually waved at me and said, "Hi." And I said, "That's it. I'm buying this house." Um and I did. And it's because that child felt safe walking home from school. And I don't think that our children feel safe right now. And that's a shame. And that's on us. And it's on you who have been elected.

On you. to take care and make sure that people feel safe in our community. I hope you took this job because you wanted to make Elgen a better place and that's what we're asking you to do. Thank you,

Lucy Lopez. Captain Lopez. Hi, good afternoon um to everybody here and especially um Mayor David Captain and the city council. Thank you for your time. My name is Lucy Lopez and she's here as part of an organization called Elgen um Parents with Power. And if you look at at our shirts, um it's very representative there. Um she's here with a group of her fellow colleagues and she and and they have all done their homework um from the last meeting to inform themselves that actually none of the cities that have adopted an ordinance like this have been um have received negative consequences. Instead,

instead, the community has felt safer and more welcomed in their own city, in their own suburb after an ordinance like this passes. So, we are hoping here that in Elgen, it will also pass so that the community here will also feel safe and welcomed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Emma Sherman.

Good evening, council members. My name is Emma Sherman, and I am proud to say that I've lived here my whole life. Uh, I really love it here. I have met some of the kindest people I truly know. Um, they're they're simply like no other. Uh I am here today to ask you to please vote yes on the ordinance for diversity and inclusion. Uh I think it would really be a benefit to our city and its people uh so that uh we could have a safer um and truly just more pleasant life, right? Um being totally honest, uh I was sent here as a representative of my friend group today uh because a lot of them are scared to leave their houses right now. Um uh so it was very important to me that I come here and voice that that I'm I I I represent you know not just myself but uh the people who would also like to see this passed. Thank you. I yield my time.

Thank you.

Maria Maria Elnar Good evening. Um, my name is Maria Lena. Uh, I am here in support of the ordinance to foster inclusivity and diversity in the city of Elgen. I'm sure many of you recognize me by now as I've been here for months speaking about the immigration issues affecting our community. Over the past year, I've learned something important. Our immigrant community trusts people. They do not trust institutions, and they do not trust that politicians will protect them. The lack of action from the city of Elgen has sent a message, intended or not, that they are not valued or welcomed. This ordinance is an opportunity to begin rebuilding trust and to show that Elgen is committed to being an inclusive, diverse city where all people feel safe regardless of immigration status. Our community has endured tremendous trauma this past year. The immigration raids have devastated families and created instability and fear throughout the Latino community, not only among undocumented residents, but among citizens and permanent residents as well. Some of you have said that community does not want this ordinance. I ask you, who have you spoken to? Have you talked to the families directly impacted by the raids? Have you supported them? The families I work with tell me they do not trust the city's leadership. They trust me and they trust my team of volunteers because we are out in the community every day boots on the ground helping families in every way we can. I believe it is our civic and moral duty to fight injustice and I believe every human being deserves uh to feel safe and valued. I speak to many families every single day from the moment I get up in the morning until I go to bed. People are reaching out to me for help. I have earned their trust. When people consistently turn their

values into actions, trust begins to take root. It's one thing to speak about justice, solidarity, or change, but showing up, sharing risks, honoring commitments that convinces others those words are real. Action signals reliability. It shows that individuals are willing to invest time, energy, and sometimes personal comfort for the collective good. Over time, these repeated demonstrations of integrity create a culture where people feel safe relying on one another. I listened carefully to the comments b made by each of you. I want to specifically address council members Ortiz and Martinez. First, I want to say it doesn't matter how much you vote against your own people, you will never achieve the proximity to whiteness that you crave. I think it's important to reflect on how colonial perspectives can still show up in the way we think or act. Decolonization isn't about blame. It's about awareness, learning, and making space for different voices and histories that have often been ignored. I'd really encourage you to spend some time engaging with that process. I can suggest some books and resources if you'd like.

I heard Martinez speak on her immigration experiences as a child. I want to address something directly. Personal experience with immigration do not represent the full reality of the Latino and immigrant community in Elgen. Feeling welcome as an individual does not mean everyone else feels the same. Festivals and cultural events are appreciated, but they do not protect families when immigration enforcement arrives at their door. When it comes to life and death situations, many in our community feel they have been left without support. Because make no mistake, this is life and death for so many people. You don't have to worry about getting put in a concentration camp yet. Can I ask, what are you afraid of by passing this ordinance? Elgen was one of the cities most affected by ICE raids this past year. How much worse can it get than what happened on Maple Lane on December 6th?

Help me understand the opposition. If I'm not afraid to show my face

and confront immigration officers and risk my safety as a single mother with everything to lose, then I believe our city leaders should be willing to take meaningful action. This ordinance is not radical. It is the bare minimum and a beginning. If border patrol returns, this community will will respond just as it did last year. People are ready to mobilize because they feel unheard and overlooked by their city leadership. That should concern all of us. Leadership is not just about authority. It's about accountability. And tonight, I am calling for that accountability. Maybe some of these voices do not matter to you because many cannot vote. But their children can, their family members can, and some of you will be up for reelection next year. I have already had many young people ask me how to vote and who stands with their community. We need leaders who are truly committed to protecting all residents of Elgen. I want to thank council members Dixon and Alfaro for bringing this ordinance forward and the council members who have supported it with what the community is asking for is solidarity. Solidarity is essential to collective liberation because it transforms isolated struggles into a shared movement for justice. When people stand together across differences, whether of race, immigration, class, gender, or ability, they recognize that systems of oppression are interconnected and cannot be dismantled alone. Freedom is a collective project that requires mutual support and a willingness to fight for one another's rights. Solidarity builds trust. It amplifies marginalized voices and creates the power needed to challenge deeply rooted inequalities. By showing up for each other and refusing to let any g group be left behind, communities have clo move closer to a world where liberation is not limited to a few but shared by all. Solidarity insists on a world where no one is disposable, where justice isn't conditional, and where communities refuse to move forward unless everyone

can move forward. Thank you. Thank you. Diana Ortega.

Good evening. My name is Diana Ortega and I am a resident of the city of Elgen. Um, I'm here to bring some of my points of reflection to your attention. I know that some of you are concerned that the ordinance uh isn't really going to help protect the community in the way that some members in the community think that it will. I've heard that argument from many of you and I can tell you that there are many community groups who can help you with educa education in the community to understand the ordinance um better. So it is a valid concern but that is not a reason to not move forward with it. I I personally believe that this ordinance will codify what Elgen has already been doing and then some. And that alone is a very strong pro uh uh reason to vote for this and also because it does more more than just assist uh the Latino community from feeling included. It helps everyone in the community from feeling included. What benefits Latinos helps everyone here, African-Americans, Asian-Americans. This is a very diverse community. This is not just for my my people. So, uh, let's co codify things that the city is already doing and then some, um, so that it's there for all future city council members who will sit in these seats after you. I've listened into conversations that some of you have had with community

members in between council meetings, and I have to say that I really value that open, transparent line of communication. What has been more difficult is to hear arguments fromations that some of you have reportedly had in in situations that have not been as transparent. When we ask, well, who did you speak with? when when you say that you talked with people who are against it, we don't get good answers that make us feel confident that those people are um are engaging in this process with the rest of us. So, I'm here to uh to say after some careful reflection um that I I've really thought about this. I've heard about these false arguments trying to pin some of us against each other. People trying to cause doubt within our alliances, within our ethnic communities, and I'm here to tell you it's it's not going to work. There are people who are elected board members for certain organizations and there are people in leadership positions like myself. And I'm here to tell you that our voices, my voice shouldn't count any more or any less than any other resident here in the city of Elgen. So, thank you for your support of this ordinance. Thank you for listening to the people who have gathered every single week for the last many months. And after listening to them, they will they will continue. We will continue to coming and come back to stay in open

transparent conversation with those of you who are um who are willing to have that. uh and in a way to in a way in a way that will help this city get to a place that I think will be a real leader in this whole state of Illinois. Thank you. Thank you,

Caroline Hernandez. Okay. Good afternoon, city council. I have been here before and I've certainly done research and I've certainly provided you all with the the consequences that you could expect about not advancing these types of initiatives, these types of laws. Um not providing the city with a welcome uh welcoming city and and diversity and inclusion type of ordinance, which is what this is. Um certainly as the other uh women that spoke indicated, we're doing our research. We are aware of the ordinances as they exist in other cities. Um there has been nothing that has been reported to suggest that there are any consequences um to cities that are doing this. If anything, it is it is mobilizing and creating much more support for city governance, much more um engagement in activity and um support of city governance. And that is going to be important. Um I can tell you that you know my biggest concern and it was certainly um shared by Mariel Elena is that um there is this idea that you guys are suggesting that people don't want this and I have either been here in person or watched every city council meeting um either online and I've actually transcribed all the minutes to read it and I can tell you I have not heard not one person object to this. So, if you claim that those people exist, where are they? Where are these people that claim to believe that we don't need this ordinance? Because they're certainly not here. And these people that are here, they're voting. These people that are here are looking to grow up. the candidates that are going to be uh

running to replace some of the candidates and I would strongly suggest that it's going to be Martinez and Ortiz and some of the other candidates that are here because we don't like the the the direction the city council is going in. We don't like the fact that it's taken so long for this to take place. We are one of the largest cities that exist with a with a very large Latino population. And it's overund and it's 55,000 in Elgen and about 170,000 throughout King County. And we don't have this here yet. And that doesn't make any sense. With respect to Rose Martinez's prior experience, you have to believe that if those were your experiences, they could do better. And that the reason that you were elected was because we believe that you were going to do better. But looking at your history, you have an appalling history of a voting against Latino issues. And if you choose to run against, again, I will certainly be providing all of that information that is going to be supported by news articles of your voting history. You need to be concerned about the fact that you live in this community and you do not support your own community. And it makes no sense. And Anthony Ortiz, I don't understand if you claim to stand up every opportunity you get to to come here before this council and before the people that appear to tell us that you have people that are not lawfully present in this country who are family members. Are you not concerned about them? And how do you look at your own family members and tell them that you're not voting for an ordinance that wants to include them and make them feel safe in this city? That does not make sense. This is the start of the type of ordinances and and that this city needs and we could constitute 50% of the population. We are important. We matter. When we succeed, this entire city succeeds. We build businesses. We buy

homes. We pay taxes. We we contribute and we need to be safe and on the right side of history. We need to know that our city governors that we've elected to represent us does so. And it is it is discouraging that we don't feel that way and that we should and that there could be consequences to the city which I pointed out on multiple occasions for not providing this type of ordinance to respond to um these illegal actions that are being taken by our own federal government. We need a response because because they we need to make our community safer and this is a step in the right direction. So, I encourage you all to vote um in response to this uh diversity and inclusion ordinance. Um you know, to date, we have not seen anybody, you know, sign up, speak in any fashion against this. So, you need to consider that when you're voting because do these people exist? I find it hard to believe because if they're as adamant as you're claiming that they are, they would be here. They would sign up and they would speak and they're not. So, please vote in support of this ordinance and thank you to Councilman Dixon and Al Faro.

Thank you,

Tracy Howell. I'm Tracy Howell and I've lived in Elgen, uh, grown up in Elgen and I've been here quite a bit, um, lately um, talking about this inclusivity and diversity ordinance and trying to understand it myself. Um my um community members have been very eloquent about how we all feel and we are getting together every day doing things to help our our community members without your help. Um and I hope that you've all done your homework on this ordinance and that you're not going to point fingers at each other

because we're tired of that. We need and in fact I challenge all of you um to work together to come up with something anything that's going to rebuild our trust in you and for this community because we can't just flounder here for another 180 days. Something has to be done sooner than later. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Manager.

Thank you, mayor. The first item uh item A is a change order for the Riverside Water Treatment Plant and well 5A at the Alight Treatment Plant motor control center improvements. In 2025, the city awarded Connelly Electric a contract that included the replacement of the motor control centers at both the Leo Nelson Riverside Water Treatment Plant and at Well 5A, closely close proximity to the Alight Water Treatment Plant. Part of the project includes expanding the sludge building number one superructure at the Riverside plant to meet current electrical codes for motor control center installation. The sludge building number one super structure is located adjacent to a roof over an underground structure that houses the sludge pumps and other equipment. This roof was part of the original plan construction and has deteriorated to the point where rehabilitation is now required. Staff is recommending city council approve change order number one to provide the pro uh necessary rehabilitation of the roof substructure at sludge building number one.

Move for approval. Second. Moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Zelf Faro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mircat, yes. The motion's approved. 90.

Item B is a resolution in support of a Cook County Class 6B property tax incentive for the property at 1717 Gford Road. PGP Holdings is an agreement to buy 1717 Gford Road contingent upon receiving a Cook County Class 6B commercial property tax incentive. PGP will be leasing the property to its related entity, Axiom Packaging, and Axiom will be spending about $10 million on improvements to this 440,000 ft industrial building. Axiom will also be spending another $20 million on equipment and installation. that in addition to the purchase price for the 20 acre property is of $25 million. Axiom's plans are to hire 200 full-time employees with preferences given to qualified local residents. Axiom is a leading North American manufacturer, a rigid plastic packaging solutions, and the company was founded in 2010. It's rapidly expanded into multifacility enterprise with more than 3,500 employees, over 4.6 6 million square feet of manufacturing space in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Axiom requires the incentive to make its Elgen location economically feasible. The estimated Cook County taxes um that would be generated if the 6B exemption was granted is about 14.5 million. By contrast, if that exemption wasn't granted, the tax bill for Axiom would be $32.3 million. If this property was located in Kain County, the taxes would be approximately $12.1 million. Once again, if the city council approves this resolution, ultimate approval is dependent upon the Cook County Board.

Move for approval. Second. It's moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Mr. St.

uh just one figure that the manager missed and that is if this property remained vacant, the property the taxes that would be generated over that 12 year period would be 6.3 million. way less than anything that we're considering here today tonight. So, um, as I have been in the past, I've been in support of these. Um, unfortunately, Elgen sits right on the edge of Cook County and we have to deal with the different taxing and as the staff has made clear and and our manager just explained, the the numbers always work out better than even what we would have gotten if they had been in Cane County. So, we're still ahead. So, I I uh support this. So, thank you.

Anything else? Okay. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Zaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mir Captain, yes. The motion's approved 9 and0.

Congratulations. Item C is a security services agreement for the Edward Shock Center of Elgen, Lords Park, and Wing Park. Parks and Recreation Department uses contracted security services to support daily operations at the Edward Shock Center of Elgen and to provide weekend patrol coverage at the Lord's Park and Wing Park during peak summer months. Contracted security personnel assist staff with monitoring facilities, supporting enforcement of facility policies, and responding to situations that may require additional presence. City issued a request for proposals to establish a new agreement for these services. Following the review of submissions, staff is recommending recommending entering into a three-year agreement with Andy Frame Services, the firm currently providing security for the city at these locations. Move for approval.

Second. Moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council members Alfaro? Yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mir Captain, yes. Motion's approved 90.

Item D, are the recommended athletic facility improvement grant funding recipients? The athletic facility improvement grant represents a strong and strategic partnership between the city and volunteer-driven athletic organizations that serve thousands of residents each year. These organizations operate on city-owned property, provide structured recreational opportunities for youth and adults, and invest significant fundraising dollars, volunteer labor, and operational resources back in the facilities that ultimately uh remain uh public assets. The grant program helps ensure that important improvements to these city-owned facilities, particularly those relating to safety, accessibility, and long-term functionality, can move forward without placing the full financial burden on either the organization or the city. The result is a shared investment model that maximizes community bene benefit while respons while responsibly stewarding public resources. These grants are particularly valuable because many of these organizations prioritize scholarships and affordable participation which can limit their ability to independently fund large capital improvements. By providing targeted financial assistance, the city enables these groups to continue offering inclusive programming while addressing critical infrastructure needs such as ADA compliance, field and safety upgrades, and long-term maintenance improvements. In return, as we know, the city benefits from well-maintained athletic facilities, reduced operational demands on staff, and strong community engagement driven by organization with deep roots in the city. This year, uh, Parks and Recreation Director Jen Hermanson is pleased to announce that six athletic organizations submitted funding requests with supporting quotes totaling $150,000. This is the first year total the total requests aligned with the program's budgeted amount.

Again, council's uh staff is recommending approval. So moved. Second move and secondary approval. Any discussion? Mr. Well, one was just answered. I was shocked that the total was 150,000 which is how much money there was and so everybody's going to get a grant that matches what they applied for which was amazing. So that's great. The other thing um I see on the other agenda the first bid we're rebuilding the concession stand at Drake Field. So I I I guess my question is I guess we're going all in with the football remaining at Drake Field and we're going to make that a go.

Yeah, that's part of it. in the when when we do get to the bid, there's a recognition that certain facility improvements go beyond the abilities of volunteer labor and in those instances, the city will step in and provide the resources. The uh modifications or the improvements to the Drakefield concession stand is one of those examples. Great. All right. Thank you. Y Okay. Okay. Anything else, Miss Martinez? Yes. I just have a question because uh I was asked um now Algen National Little League, that's the one that's on Summit in Hayawa and um I was asked I guess it's the Algen Classic Little League. That's the one that's probably on the west side.

And they also have concession stands and they were asking about that. What is the difference between um the National Little League, the classic little league, and then um uh Drake Field? I couldn't answer that. Are you asking whether the athletic uh the athletic organizations that operate these fields retain the money from their concession stands? Right. They all do. Okay, good. Thank you. Yep. Okay. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Alfaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorn, yes.

Mayor Captain, yes. Motion's approved. 90.

Item E is a renewal agreement with Higher Ground Incorporated for the live 911 software. The software is used for mission control critical communications by the police department and fire department and well by mostly by the police department, excuse me. Live 911 enables secure live streaming of emergency calls directly to police officers in the field and provides a precise GPS map with the location of the caller. The Live 911 software is a web-based system and accessible to police officers through his or her invehicle mobile data computer. It provides an officer with a better understanding of the call for service because instead of relying solely on the emergency telecommunicator to provide information, the police officer him or herself is able to hear everything that the telecommunicator can hear at the same time. This technology promotes vital time-saving practices and enhances police officer safety by considering real-time situational updates, location changes, and any other pertinent information provided by the caller. Police Department purchased this software in October 2020 24 has been using it throughout 2025 has had great results with the product and is seeking to continue its use for another year.

Move for approval. Second move and second for approval. Any discussion? Mr. Stephen,

just a just a quick question on this one. Um it's one I've raised at prior meetings and I think I'll keep raising on software and contracts we we are entering into as a city and that is you know how are we protecting the data that this could be gathering and with a 911 call some of that could be pretty sensitive. Um, I was I should have emailed the manager this ahead of time, but the the memo only has a one year one uh onepage renewal agreement, so it doesn't have the details. So, I I don't expect an answer right now, but I just throw this out there because I will continue to throw this out there. What are we doing uh when we are reviewing these contracts and these software renewals to make sure our data is secure and not

have the benefit of the chief of police in the audience? And I think that while I don't know the specifics in this instance, I know any software that the police department looks to contract with, there are underlining param there are underlying parameters that govern the use of this sensitive information and how third parties might be able to access it. Am I correct, Chief?

Yes. Before we go into any agreement, we uh send it to our legal team for review and uh those type of questions in terms of you know uh sharing information are answered because obviously we don't want to share our data or information with third parties. In this instance too, this is live. So this is um this is a uh a live um they're actually listening to the 911 call so that they're using it in real time. So, our 911 calls are uh we save the 911 calls. If we receive a Freedom of Information Act, then we have to um you know respond to that as such. All right. Thank you. You're welcome.

Anything else? Okay. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Zafaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne. Yes. Mayor Captain, yes. Motions approved. 90. Item F. Senior management analyst Giovani Hungo and police commander Scott Holmes will be presenting information on proposed state legislation regulating micromobility devices. The city's experience with these devices over the past years will be described and recommendations for city action in the absence of the state enacting a comprehensive regulatory scheme will be provided by Mr. Hungo and Commander Holmes.

Good evening, Mr. Hungo. Hi, good evening council and mayor and everyone here. Um, so tonight I'm providing an update uh regarding microobility devices, which that means ebikes, e- scooters, e-otos, and any other emerging electric devices. Over the past several years, obviously, we've seen these devices become increasingly common on our streets and communities throughout Illinois. As the use has grown, obviously municipalities and the state has been trying to figure out to determine how how can these devices be incorporated into our transportation system. Um, so this issue has obviously been receiving more and more attention as of lately due to uh the the popularity of these devices. There's new emerging technology and obviously the accidents that occur with these devices. So tonight I'll go over a little bit of background and work that I've been doing. Um I'll explain what micromobility is. I'll talk about the issue that the state is trying to handle which is these outofclass devices. Um I'll have Commander Holmes over here come up here to the podium and talk about Elgen Police Department call trends and data that he has. I'll also go over what the state is doing in 2026 and next steps and what that could mean for Elgen. All right, so a little bit of background on this. This is an issue I have been tracking for some time now. Over the past year, we've been tracking regional discussions, monitoring device trends, and reviewing how other municipalities have responded. In September, I attended the Northwest Municipal Conference Summit um in regards to microobility devices and how communities across the region are approaching the issue and how and what the state recommends recommended to do back then and what ride Illinois recommended to do do back then. I've also stayed in communication with Ride

Illinois for the past six months. Um, for those of you who may not know who Right Illinois is or familiar with them, they are a nonprofit organization that works with municipalities, uh, transportation agencies and state legislators on bicycle and microobility, uh, policy and safety issues. They are big advocates for sustainable transportation options. They have partnered up with the secretary of state and have been the leaders in discussion about this topic. I've also been tracking all of the state uh state activity since last year and I'm currently tracking the bills. Uh one consistent message from all those discussions was they advise municipalities not to rush into local ordinances because they were creating a patchwork of ordinances while the state is creating into uniformity. So based on the advice from the state and right Illinois, we decided to hold off until the spring legislation session was over and obviously go based off of what the state's framework says. So you might be thinking why this update now. Obviously there's a couple reasons for this. Uh first, as we move into the summer, the spring months, um the warmer weather tends to attract these devices outside. uh the the use of these devices will obviously increase in the upcoming months. Another reason is the that the state of Illinois has recently announced a statewide initiative focused on microobility safety. In January, the secretary of states launched the ride safe ride smart ride ready campaign. In addition, legislation related to these devices is currently in the spring legislative session with the goal to modernize these standards and we want to align our local approach with the upcoming state framework obviously.

So because of those developments that's that is why right now we are bringing this topic. So what are microobility devices? As you look in the slide, uh, microobility generally refers to small personal transportation devices used for short trips. That includes devices such as electric unicycles, electric skateboards, electric scooters, electric bicycles, electric motorbikes, and a bunch of other new emerging devices. So, part of the reason why these devices have grown so quickly, it's because they are appealing. They can be more affordable than a car. They're convenient for short distances and environmentally friendly. So for many people, they're also just fun to use. And it's important to point that these devices are not going away. They are becoming a more common part of how people move around. And that is one of the reasons why the state is looking to better regulate these devices. On this slide, you'll see examples, real life examples of these devices. On the top left, you have your regular class one, class 2, class 3 ebikes, which are regulated by the states. I'll go more in depth about that in a second. Obviously, they can look a little different, but that's your typical class one, class 2 to class 3. Right next to it, it's a high-speed ebike. So, those are currently not regulated by the state. After that one, we have an e-oto, also not regulated by the state. E skateboard as well. At the bottom left, we have a a low-speed electric scooter. Right next to it, we have a high-speed electric scooter. After that, we have an electric unicycle. And then we have a hoverboard. So, obviously, these devices are they can look cool, they can look appealing, they can be very fast, and they're sold

everywhere, retailers online. You can easily buy it on Amazon, Walmart, etc. So, Illinois already has regulatory framework for certain microobility devices, particularly low-speed ebikes and ecooters. So, these next two slides are directly from the Secretary of State page and so people know what the current rules are. So, under the current law, what are called low-speed electric bicycles fall into those three classes that I talked about. Class one and class 2 ebikes are limited to speeds of of up to 20 miles per hour, while class three pedal assist bicycles can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour. So, class one, it's a pedal assist. Class two is throttle assist. Like I mentioned, class 3 is just a pedal assist. The current regulation says that these these devices are allowed on streets, bike lanes, bike paths, and shared use trails. They're prohibited on sidewalks. And class 3 riders must be 16 years or older. Now, where it gets a little trickier is those high-speed electric bicycles and emotos. So, a lot of these they go above they can go above 50 miles an hour and they're not currently regulated. Another thing to know, they are 750 watts or more. So, currently right now, you can go on Amazon or online, just type ebike and any of these might show up, which is obviously creating a lot of confusion for people who are purchasing these devices. But the state only regulates the low- speed electric bicycles. The other ones are not currently regulated. When we look beyond the traditional ebikes, we see several other types of micromobility devices that are be becoming more common.

These include electric unicycles which can go up to speeds up to 50 miles an hour or more and they're currently not regulated. They can be very fast. An example that somebody gave Alexi Janulius, the Secretary of State, was they were riding the expressway and somebody they were on the expressway stuck in traffic while somebody was riding a unicycle 50 miles an hour. No helmet, no nothing, just flying by. Um, then we have electric skateboards as well that nowadays they can go 50 to 40 miles an hour and they're not regulated by the state either. And then we have the low-speed electric scooters. Obviously, I don't have to explain what a scooter is. I think most of us know what that is. But I do want to want you all to pay attention to the current regulations that the state has. So, currently, right now, the the regulation limits these scooters uh that are capable of traveling up to 10 miles an hour. Riders must be 18 years or older to h to ride these e scooters. And I know what you might be thinking. So, you can be 16 and drive a car, but you have to be 18 to be on an e- scooter. And that's part of the whole thing that the state is currently looking at right now with the bills. They're currently looking at all this. They're looking at the current regulated uh devices and the ones that are now regulated because some of these things obviously seem like they don't make sense because most of the kids riding these e- scooters are children. Um and the state regulates these these that they can only be used on streets, bike lanes, bike paths and shared use trails. They can be regular regul regulated locally as well. Uh they are prohibited on streets with speeds greater than 50 35 miles an hour and highways as well. The high-speed escooters that they now

sell online as well, they can go up to 50 miles an hour or more as well. So, the state is having the same issue with these devices. You can just type e- scooter and you might get one of these escooters that go 40, 50, 60 miles an hour, but they're not regulated by the state. So, now I want to focus a little bit on these out ofclass devices. Like I mentioned, those out ofclass devices are those high-speed ebikes that are 750 watts or more, e-otos, electric dirt bikes, high-speed scooters, electric unicycles, electric skateboards, and obviously there's more emerging technology. So, the law has been struggling with these devices um over the past several years. They never the Illinois law never clearly classified them. So they sit in a legal gray area. In many cases, they technically technically fall under motor vehicle laws, but they cannot be registered. They don't have VIN numbers, and they lack this the required safety equipment. As a result, law enforcement is often left between bicycle rules or motorcycle rules. But many of these devices fit neither category clearly which creates more confusion which leads into this next slide. Why is confusion growing? So Alexi Janulius said technology has advanced faster than the vehicle code. And then obviously retail marketing often labels autoclass devices like I mentioned as ebikes or e- scooters were not when they're not regulated by the states. The other issue that's causing confusion is that municipal ordinances across Illinois vary from community to community. So last fall when a bunch of communities started doing their own ordinance regarding micromobility, it caused a lot of confusion. So you can go from for example from Hoffman to Shamburgg and and they have different

regulations or from South Elgen to St. Charles and they have different regulations. It would be the equivalent of driving your car, your vehicle and going from Elgen to South Elgen and having different rules and regulations. That is why Alexi Janulius have emphasized that he wants to create uniformity across the state. He doesn't want to see this patchwork of rules that currently that most towns have currently right now. The other thing is obviously because all that law enforcement is placed in the middle without a clear statewide definition for some of these devices. With that, I want to go over to and and cover some of the local conditions of what we're seeing right now. I'm going to have Commander Holmes come up here and talk a little bit about what we're where Elgen is today.

Thank you, Gio.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. I'm here to provide a brief overview of how the Elgen Police Department currently enforces the city's ordinance related to the motordriven cycles and how that applies to what we now commonly refer to as micromobility devices. First, I want to address the language in the ordinance itself. So, the current code was written prior to obviously this widespread use of modern microobility devices. And as a result, the definitions are very broad. They don't distinguish between the different types of devices, the relative risk levels, and because of this, many devices that are common that Gio was pointing out here, such as these ebikes, e- scooters, fall under the same classification as motordriven cycles in our ordinance. So, in practical terms, unless those devices meet the full state requirements for registration, titling, licensing, they are generally prohibited from being operated on public streets, sidewalks, bike paths, and similar areas in town. Um, so the ordinance doesn't specifically name to today's devices. It's broad language basically gives us a wide range of prohibition. So from an enforcement standpoint, the police department enforces the ordinance as written, but we prioritize safety and community impact with that. So our approach emphasizes education, voluntary compliance whenever possible. And in many cases, particularly with the young riders of these devices or first-time contacts, officers will provide warnings, try to explain the ordinance to them in an effort to gain compliance without any enforcement. And those types of calls might not even show up uh in specific search related electronic bikes or scooters that I had that it's going to come up in the next slide. However, there are obviously situations where enforcement is appropriate and citations which currently include impounding of the device itself are typically reserved for circumstances involving unsafe operations. So that's your reckless driving, operating in a

manner that's creating a hazard for pedestrians or traffic, repeated violations after warnings, or if we get specific complaint from the community and and we're out there and we have to address that. So in short, our focus is on behavior and safety and not just the presence of the device itself. Officers receive training during uh their field training and during in-house where they're encouraged to review local ordinances while they're completing those. And we put out training bulletins from time to time that cover that with our most frequent frequent uh recent one covering the frequent uh towing issues that we have not just with these devices but with everything. So in terms of how we respond to these incidents, you'll see some numbers up here. Our enforcement is largely driven by calls for service or officer initiated activity. But we have to focus on ident identifying and tracking these can be challenging. So the calls for service are documented based on information entered into our CAD system uh by the telecommunicators or responding officers and that information can vary depending on this how the situation is described at the time. So in many cases it may not be immediately clear if a device is motor driven if it's electronic driven or if it's neither. And it can make it difficult to constantly categorize or retrieve all the related incidences for analysis. So like in this instance when I was looking up all these I had to search by keywords. So I had to search by electronic bike, ebike, electric bike, ecooter, electronic scooter, all those different variations of anything that might be typed in a call because the call types that they show up on are a juvenile problem, an accident, a traffic problem, a neighbor complaint. Like there's not a single call that you can go to and get this information. So it's a lot of searching. And then again, like I said, it's dependent on what's actually typed into the call because I'm searching for those specific words, but anybody could just say motorized and it turns out to be an

ebike and I wouldn't be able to see that if there wasn't enforcement taken on that call. So, as a result, these these numbers should be viewed as a minimum representation of activity. That's because there's likely additional calls involving these micromobility devices that are not captured within these figures due to what I was just explaining. So looking at this, we've had a total of 31 calls for service. And by calls for service, those are just either citizen complaints or accidents. This is not the officer selfinitiated activity. If they see somebody driving recklessly and they they stop that person. This is just citizens calling in either a complaint about people riding them in a dangerous manner or an accident itself. We've had 31 calls like that since January 1st of 2021 through March of 2026. And of those, 15 have occurred since January 1st of 2025. Citation data is more precise because each citation that's issued for these specific is specific to this violation, right? It's specific in the city ordinance. So there's no variation in those. In the same time frame, we've written 14 citations, nine of those coming since January 1st of 2025. And you can see the calls for service and then adding in even the officer initiated activity. It occurs throughout the city. There's a slight concentration along and west of Randall Road. Trying to look at some of those calls for service and tie in that stuff. It's likely due to higher traffic volumes in the area which increased safety concerns. It increases visibility to the public and that pattern was consistent among citizens complaints. Uh the accidents, you know, coming from busier roadways where interactions between riders and vehicles and pedestrians are just more frequent. Um then I'll pass it back over here to Gio, but I will be

available if there's any questions on any of that.

Yes. And just to add to that data, so I looked at data from 3 and one as well. Uh from 2021 to March of 2026, there was a total of seven emails or calls that were specific to ebikes, e scooters or any of these e devices. So I also looked into that. Um with that, so looking at this data overall, there are a few takeaways from this. Um, obviously activi activity is measurable, but it's still relatively low for a of city of of our size. Uh, obviously those numbers have been growing and they're probably going to continue to grow as there's more of these electric devices. Elgen has not seen uh documented downtown hotspots. Doesn't mean that those devices aren't in downtown. Just means people aren't calling. Um like I mentioned, activity has increased over the past year and their primary concern continues to be those autoclass devices um and inconsistent public understanding and we know that call data may be incomplete due to misidentified devices and under reporting but that's not unique to just Elgen um and not just unique to these type of devices either. So with that, now I'll move over to state developments and what the state is actually doing in the spring legislative session. So Illinois has recognized that the current vehicle code has not fully kept pace with how quickly these devices have evolved. The state has been very clear that unclear rules put everyone everyone at risk. Um that is one reason why Secretary of State Alexi Janulius announced a statewide safety initiative earlier this year. So, Alexi Janul said uh legislative sponsors have been identified and legislation expected during this spring 2026 session.

So, currently there's several microobility bills that are under active consideration in the Illinois House and Senate. The state has been working with stakeholders across Illinois to identify where the current vehicle code has gaps and what changes may be needed. And one thing to note is that the Illinois generally general assembly session runs through May 31st. So they won't be done till the end of May and they actually met today. So the bills are moving through. Another thing, the Secretary of State has described the state's approach to this issue as a three-prong effort. The first component is education, including updated driver education curriculum developed with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association. The second is the community- based enforcement, meaning clearer and more consistent guidance with law enforcement partners. The third is public awareness through a statewide campaign designed to help residents better understand device types, legal use, and safety responsibilities. So, the state is trying to build education and enforcement around this framework. So, what is the spring 2026 legislation trying to accomplish? Well, first the the state is looking to obviously create clear statewide definitions for devices such as high-speed ebikes, e-tos, electric scooters, and other microobility devices. Possibly revisiting some of the existing definitions such as that e scooter with the age limit of 18 or age minimum age of 18 to write those scooters. The second thing they are also trying to establish safety rules which possibly include age requirements, helmet requirements, where devices can operate and equipment requirements. Third component they're trying to

accomplish is clarify enforcement authority so police know what is actually legal, what is not, and what can be cited. And the four point is that he's uh secretary of state Alexi Janulius is trying to avoid different municipal regulations. The goal is a statewide baseline uniformity. He wants to modernize the rules not prohibit these devices. So what does that mean for Elgen moving forward? So obviously we we will continue to responding to accidents or complaints or unsafe behavior through normal enforcement. We would maintain the current ordinance while statewide standards are being developed because we know that Illinois is actively developing these statewide regulations. And also keep in mind that acting locally now could require immediate revisions once state law changes. So right after state action, sorry things moving around. So we would obviously brief the council on enacted legislation and implications. We would bring for recommended co- updates that aligned with the statewide standards. We would evaluate targeted local measures if needed, such as walk your wheels in high pedestrian areas or more targeted uh regulations where appropriate. We wisely communicate these new rules and requirements to residents through a clear public outreach and education campaign so everyone knows what to expect and obviously in absence of a statewide regulatory framework because sometimes the state as we know they might say something a bill is coming coming through but it's not but from Alexi Janulis has said he doesn't want to repeat whatever happened in 2025 he doesn't want to repeat it he wants to make sure this passes in the spring

legislative set session. He doesn't want 2025 to repeat in 2026. So since last year in the fall when a bunch of municipalities started enacting their own ordinances, I started to review their ordinances adopted by those municipalities to see what and identify some options for Elgen. And also through my conversations with Ride Illinois, they specifically pointed to the city of Rolling Meadows as a model approach for Elgen to follow, but I also identify St. Charles and Lombard as other uh ordinances that we could also incorporate. So it would be a combination of all three. So obviously that local ordinance would help fill that gap that the state is currently missing. The city would obviously also do a communications campaign That way the public knows what to expect and know and knows what they can ride on the street and what they cannot. And we would always have to keep in mind that any ordinance adopted locally could require revision as soon as the state decides to finalize its framework. So at the same time the city has already kicked off the active mobility plan which is focused on improving safety and connect and connectivity for walking, biking and rolling. So that goes in line. So with that another thing to keep in mind so the state has the current regulations. So we were to do our own ordinance, we cannot be less restrictive than the state. So for example, going back to, for example, the e- scooters, they currently say that you have to be at least 18 years or older to ride it. We couldn't say that you can be 12 years or older and ride it. We can be more restrictive. We can say they can they have to be 19, 20 or 21 or ban them completely, which some towns have done

that. Same with the ebike. We can't be less restrictive than the state. we have to that's the threshold. So that's why the state is obviously looking at this whole thing the whole microobility um devices as a whole because obviously that they know that there's gaps in the current framework and there's obviously gaps with with the unregulated devices. So with that I open it up to questions or comments. Okay.

Any questions for Gio or Commander Holmes? Mr. Thorne. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Gio and Scott for the presentation. I'm curious, you're in touch with this concept. Do you foresee any immediate changes that uh you know of? I mean, what what do you think is going to be the the changes right out of the gate here? So, if I go back to this slide, so there's no there's nothing yet decided. Obviously, they're they're still in legislative session right now. It's currently right now ongoing. I'm I'm just asking you what you think might be.

What do I think? I mean, obviously, they're probably going to do something regarding they're going to regulate these high-speed devices for that's for sure. They've told us they've said that publicly. They're going to regulate those emotives, those high-speed ebikes, those high-speed e- scooters. Um, and then obviously smaller things like helmet requirements and more. I don't know exactly what's going to pass and what's not. They're in currently right now they're in session so I don't know what's going to pass. I am tracking those bills and I'm tracking those meetings that they're having. So right now it's it shows I mean it's in the initial phases but based off what I know obviously they're going to regulate for sure those high-speed devices.

And then I had a question for Scott. I wondered have there actually been accidents reported in Elgen?

Yes. Uh I can get I think if it wasn't on that slide that I gave Gio I haven't broke down. So since 2021 there I believe has been 10 accidents um including one of our accidents last year. It kind of falls in the gray was a fatal and it was actually an electric conversion kit that was put onto a bike, but those are also commonly available and I think would still it still falls in the framework of being regulated under an ordinance or possibly by the state. But yes, we have had at least 10 reported to us. Um there obviously are probably accidents that are just like single vehicle people crashing that we don't hear. even if they get hurt and go to the hospital, that wouldn't require our response or a fire department response. So, I couldn't answer that.

But we have gone to at least 10. Okay. Thank you guys. Okay. Anything else? So far, thank you for the presentation. Um just a comment. If the state doesn't pass, you know, what they're proposing and we have to take action on our own, I think it be a good idea to um get sustainabilities commission's feedback on it because although a lot of people have it for just fun and running around, um some people actually use it to be um friendly to the environment. So, I'd be curious in hearing their perspective as if we need to draft our own and revise our own ordinance on that. Sounds good,

Mr. Dixon. Uh thank you gentlemen for the presentation. Um I will just add to that and say we have a mobility plan too and so there's obviously been an uptick in the number of these devices that are out on the road. Um and it's not going to go away anytime soon especially with as uh high gas prices are. People are really going to be leaning leaning into these devices more. Um, so I would just suggest that um we look at our mobility plan and um I know that we added more bike lanes and things of that nature and so maybe we need to um to increase those as well as anything else that may uh support this trend that's uh not going away. So other than that, thank you. Good job.

Okay, anything else, Mr. Steph? Yeah, I just thank you Gio and Scott. This was great. Um, I guess to follow up on the comments so far, I I would request that maybe the first week or first meeting in June for us be after the legislative session, we'll either know that the state enacted something or we need to do something for sure. And that kind of aligns with our plans because obviously we know that kids go on summer break in early June. Um, and obviously by the end of May, I'll know for sure if it this is going to pass through or not with the state, right? It's all ahead. Thanks, Miss Paul.

Yes, thank you for the presentation and the information. Um, it's interesting to see in the presentation that there weren't um complaints or reports of accidents. I believe you said downtown. I I know I've spoken to some downtown business owners and and they were complaining to me about the issue of people on electric bikes and scooters on the sidewalk coming, you know, causing close calls between, you know, um patrons coming out of their businesses or or entering their businesses um on the sidewalk. So I I think what you said is is very important to know that the this data is probably under reportported. Um you know it it doesn't give the whole picture, but I I do think it's a a bigger issue that we should obviously be looking at.

Yeah. I I can say unequivocally with all of our calls for service that there were none downtown, but that could be because people don't realize that just the electronic scooters and bikes as the code is written right now are are prohibited in town or they bring that complaint to a council member and they don't they don't call the police to enforce that. But in all the calls that I looked for for service with all those keywords, there wasn't a single one that was down in the downtown area. And it's definitely under reportported. I just can't give you a percentage. All I can give you is the 100% definite. What I can tell you for sure are our calls.

So a question in terms of whether the state um passes something or we have to pass something locally, will there be a mechanism put in place to ensure that calls for service are classified in a way that allows us to capture this data more accurately moving forward?

We can certainly look into it. Um, part of the reason why it's hard now is because the current ordinance that we have, I think the last time it was touched was probably like 2014 and the definition goes back, I think, all the way to like 2003 and it just basically covers everything that's electric. Um, so there's not a lot of enforcement like the hard enforcement on the officer's end. It's a lot more education because like Gio had pointed out, a lot of times you're coming across these are kids and if we choose to do enforcement that it's a $100 fine to the family and we tow it. That's just the way that's written right now. So, we generally try to go against that and choose education. Um, but it's certainly something that we can come up with and we can look at how can we identify it better, how can we track it better so that we can report back to you on on what that looks like whenever changes are made.

Yeah, I I think that's important. just listening to what you said and and being able to capture this data um appropriately. I think that's going to be an important piece moving forward whether we do something here at the local level or um something that's done at the state level. That's those are my comments. Thank you. Okay. Anything else? Okay, Miss Martinez. Thank you, Mayor. Um Commander Holmes and Gio, thank you very much. Uh I have a few questions. Is there um any classes that you know of that people can take when they buy these uh motor ve these electric uh vehicles?

Not that I'm aware that there's classes for these devices. Okay. And then um what I'd like to see I um when you gave us the results of like 14 citations and nine citations, is there like um any way that you can put like the ages? Because the biggest complaints that I hear are uh young kids and um I can tell you so I have if you give me a second I have them listed here just in just in case I got that question. Okay.

I wanted to be prepared for that. Um, the majority of the citations, and I'm not surprised for it, uh, actually go to adults. So, out of those 14, I only see two that went to juveniles. Um, and I think part of that is again because most of the time it's education. Most of the complaints are kids, but I will tell you most of the complaints, at least the way they're worded in our calls, it's more of a safety concern.

Uh it's not what I would call a quality of life or even an annoyance. There's like, hey, I think that's unsafe. You should probably go educate them on, you know, either wearing a helmet or what the city ordinance is. But the majority of those citations are are issued to adults. Yeah, that's where I was coming where I was asking about classes. Um, I think what happens is that people don't realize um how dangerous these can be, especially when you're going 50 miles per hour and uh you barely it's been a while, but it took time to get um motorcycle riders to wear helmets, you know. And um just recently in the news, it's been about the 16-year-old that was also a fatal uh accident. Um I know that there was a community here on the east side and they were concerned. Um I think the scariest thing is when you're backing up and then um one of these ebikes go by cuz they're not really looking at that, especially with kids. I guess they don't understand that. That's the scary thing. I wonder uh something like that they have a large HOA if maybe it could be by HOAs that could control that. I don't know, you know, I'm just throwing it out there.

Um what do you think? Private property, right? Only their private property. I mean, but we're talking about sidewalks and streets. Yeah, we're talking about public um public sidewalks, public streets because people can buy these e- modals, these eighe devices for their private property. Yeah. They're not going to be regulated on private property. Okay. Because um uh the one that I'm thinking of is P Toastmaster. Like that would be a nice ride right there. You know, uh there isn't that much traffic. Um Okay. Well, thank you. I appreciate it.

Okay. And thing to know, that's why the state is trying to regulate those high-speed devices, which most likely, who knows, but they might require a driver's license. Like for example, those emotives that go 50, 60, 70 miles an hour, you're most likely going to require stuff like that. Well, the concern too is that the average uh speed here in town is like 30, maybe 40, and these things can go 50. And so I think that's kind of concerning. Thank you. Okay. Anything else? Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Okay. Uh, at this time I'd enter entertain a motion to adjurnn. Entertain a motion to adjurnn and we'll reconvene at 7:35 at the regular council meeting. A motion. Make a motion. Motion to adjurnn. A motion to adjurnn. Second. It's moved and seconded. Clerk, please call the role. Council members Alfaro, no. Dixon, no. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell,

yes. Stefan, no. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain. Yes. Motions approved. 63. We'll reconvene at 7:35.

Hey. Hey. Hey. Happy birthday. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat.

Down. N. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Elgian City Council for March 25th, 2026 to order. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. That's right.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Zafaro, yes. Dixon, present. Good here. Martinez here. Ortiz here. Powell here. Stefan here. Thorne here. Mir captain

uh here. We have uh approval of the minutes of the previous meeting of March 11th, 2026. Second. Moved and seconded for approval. Any corrections or additions? Hearing none court, please call the role. Council member Alaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, abstain. Stefen, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain,

yes. Motion's approved 80 with one abstension. We have uh no proclamations this evening. So for public comment we have a number of people again have signed up. First person is Charles Graph. Good evening. Uh Charles Gross, lived in Elgen about five years. Moved here because I saw it as a diverse and inclusive community. I wanted to raise my mixed race family here. And I'm very excited to see that it looks like you guys are hopefully going to vote in support of this ordinance to make sure that it's welcome in the community. Also wanted to use the time to just uh commend the U46 school district. My daughter's had an excellent experience in school with Elgen in Elgen and I think that's largely in part due to the diverse diversity of her student body. I know that students in her school have missed class and school events due to not feeling safe leaving their house and I don't think that's acceptable in our community. Um it's a challenging time and I encourage you to do the right thing and you'll be remembered in history for it. It's not always to do easy to do what's right, but

your community. Thank you,

Milliana Jackson. My name is Annaise Jackson. I have lived in Elgen for my entire life. Uh, I am here to show support for the inclusivity and diversity ordinance that will yes that will protect our ICE free zones, uphold the trust act, provide legal defense and funds for our neighbors affected by the ice raids, provide a municipal identification card for residents in need, and provide language access for city council meetings. Genuinely, I did not know where to start with my speech today. At first, I felt ashamed and disappointed when I heard that the ordinance didn't have the backing that it needed. And when I heard that you, Ortiz and Martinez, said that Elgen was already a welcoming city and we don't we didn't see the need from the community. I felt angry. how incredibly dismissive of all of the work that the people in this room today and thousands of others have put in. Your community is getting gassed, beat, kidnapped, and separated. Kids are walking out of class. Your community has been telling you what they need since ICE first deployed in Chicago, and you took over a year to ban them from just city property. We were welcoming. Are you? We need more than a positive attitude and pixie dust. We need pen to paper. We need to codify this ordinance. We need translators in these meetings. The

families affected by this need money. You want to improve foot traffic in the downtown. You want to improve the health of the river. How about we start by protecting and uplifting the people who built lives here. At this point, it feels you're either not listening or you're just playing in everybody's faces. The second one you have the respons You have a responsibility to the people of Elgen. Do the right thing. Thank you. Thank you,

Vanessa's Vanessa Zamurio. Does anybody else feel stupid for being here today? It feels stupid. That's how I feel standing here having to convince people to what's the language? To treat documented and undocumented im immigrants with respect and dignity.

Who needs convincing? Joe,

the last time we referred to people as less than people was in the 1700s when people were classified as three fifths a person. What makes someone less than because they don't have citizenship? Do they not des deserve the same treatment? The respect and dignity. They're not asking for anything extra. It's respect and dignity. That's what it says. Respect and dignity. Two very basic fundamental things that should be provided to all. The 1700s was over 300 years ago. Why are we now still having to convince people to treat people like people? When you run for a position, it's to serve the people. Correct. And when you ran, did you say I am going to serve the citizens of Elgen or the people of Elgen? You just voted on ebikes or discussed ebikes and scooters and voted for funding for different programs in Elgen. Is that only for the citizens of Belgian or will immigrants be able to drive ebikes and put their kids in these sports that the city is funding? Because when you take those votes, you don't make a distinction on the class of people and their immigration status. Why are we doing it now? Elena asked, "What are you afraid of?" I have the same question. What's on the opposite end of this?

Treating people like people is going to do what? Councilwoman Martinez, last time you mentioned a grant for a bridge. Are we putting bridges over people?

First of all, who's going to build the bridge? And then who's going to drive over it if we don't have any more citizens or constituents in Elgen or they're too afraid to leave their homes. There's deeper questions in this. And when you're in a position the one like the one that you guys are all in, you can't sway with whatever way the wind blows that day. You have to say what we call coonos. You have to have that and you have to pick a position because as I told you guys last time when you don't pick a position you are picking a position.

We all just stood and said the pledge of allegiance. It we ended it with for all. Our pledge of allegiance does not say for citizens. It does not say for documented people. It says for all. Now, I would like to finish speaking with police support. However, I'm not going to do that because I would feel stupid because I'm never going to beg someone to treat someone else as a person. These are people, full people, not three-fifths a person like we did in the 1700s. They are people.

There is nothing that tells you that someone is less than just by looking at them. And they are not less than. They are the same as us. Now, we want to fund and and build up the city of Elgen and our downtown area. Who do you think is spending the money there? It's these people.

They make up a very large percentage of the people in Elgen. If they're not spending any money, what job are you going to have left to do? Now, they mobilized very quickly. If you watch social media, you'll see how quickly Elena and Eddie and their group mobilized. How quickly other people mobilized. Who needs their kids picked up from school? Who needs groceries? What do you need so that you can just do basic functions that we all get to do every single day? And these are other people willing to do it for them. We live in a world with don't talk to strangers,

right? We don't get in cars with strangers. We don't walk up to a stranger's random door. People are doing that now to give them food here because you can't go to the grocery store. Here's your child. I picked him up from school so you wouldn't get deported. That's what we're dealing with.

Thank you,

Lewis Wilkins. There is no justice, but what we make of it. Maybe this situation, brown people in our community, is a little too close for us, for some of us. Fine, we can think back to slave patrols in the 1860s. What would you do then? Would you defend your neighbors? Would you give them equal justice before the law? In the United States, we have a right to an attorney. But there is a gap with civil immigration enforcement. This ordinance asks us to close this gap. I would ask that it not close the gap just for undocumented immigrants. It says anyone who's caught up in immigration supposed immigration enforcement activity. So legal residents who are caught up,

citizens in our community who have been caught up, I ask that it defend our city council members if they are if you are caught up in civil immigration enforcement activities. It should defend all of us.

We defend ourselves. I don't know about you, I grew up hearing about life and liberty. That is at the core foundation of Maslo's hierarchy of needs. We're not talking about sports complexes. We're talking about fundamental human rights, life and liberty. These people who are caught up in this, they don't choose to be caught up across history. They're ne they never choose to be caught up in injustice. Go back in time. Slave patrols in the 1860s and before to the shame of our forebears. To the shame of this community when a cross was burned in front of a Roman Catholic church in the 1920s and police did not respond. Not current police to our shame. Jewish people across Europe who were chased by the of Japanese internment camps. If this situation, if defending your neighbors is too close to you, think back to them.

What would you do if they came after Japanese ethnic Japanese neighbors in your community? Would you defend them legally? Would you give one dime, one dime, maybe a penny, maybe a nickel, maybe a dime for every citizen of Elgen to keep them from every citizen of Elgen? To keep one citizen, one neighbor, one of our residents safe, legally defended. Would you give up that, Don? I would. It does not it does not take a CFA charter holder like myself to analyze city financial statements and see where our revenue comes from. We see that it comes from property tax, sales tax, income tax, ambulance fees, liquor tax. Every resident pays for that. So

when I hear for the first time for the first time since I've been coming to these meetings you're concerned about cost right with fundamental human rights you you spend so much on predicted text algorithms one and a half million you spent uh $1.5 million today but fundamental human rights is where you draw the line does not take a CFA charter holder to see that. So I ask not can you afford it, can you afford not to spend that money to defend your citizens to protect their families,

you know, to keep them as residents here in Elgen when we know if you look at the data. Immigrants, all of them, undocumented and documented alike, make our communities safer. If you look at the data, they pay taxes federal the federal deficit would be double what it is if not for undocumented immigrants because they pay in but they don't receive. I'm just saying the federal government does not care about you. But you know who does? The residents of Elgen.

Delani Hernandez. Okay. All right. Thank you to all the familiar faces here tonight. Thank you to the new faces, too. This is unity. This is community. This is strength. This is resistance. We're all in this fight together. A lot of us see each other regularly uh when we patrol, when we volunteer, when we do protests, when we attend town meetings like today. We're putting the work in uh to keep our community safe and to advocate for our neighbors. Can you? Please, will you? It's 2026. Let's not let history keep repeating itself. If you can't do anything to stop this, the least you can do is something to help those affected by this injustice and violation of human rights. What about the ordinance is not okay? The part that lets productive members of society understand important issues in meetings like right now or the part that adds uh to the budget a fund for our neighbors that are being targeted and attacked. There's children in concentration camps. I'm a mother. I'm a mother to a child with special needs. There's children in concentration camps that have disabilities, serious disabilities that they need certain things to survive. They're dying. Their health is declining rapidly while you guys go home and enjoy your families. Elderly people are dying way too soon at 60, 70, 80 years old. Older than Rosa, you should retire. Um, you're an accessory to crime if you vote no to this. I want you to understand that you're a part of the problem. Martinez Ortiz, I have nothing to say to you. You guys suck. You're a waste of space up there. Um, you use minorities

for support and popularity, but you do not stand with us. The oppressed people. You're ignorant Latinos that think your families and selves are exceptions. You're not. You're a minority. You're a target. You're another target. Okay? Um, don't be a part of the problem. Be a part of the change. Okay? Mr. Future Billionaire, Miss I'm the brownest one here. Stand up for what really matters. And the rest of you, use your privilege, okay? in the right way. Stand up for those that don't have it. Even you, mayor, right before you retire. Thank you, Dixon. Thank you, Al Faro. Thank you, Powell. I appreciate you guys for being the only ones that are minorities up here actually speaking up and fighting for what we need. We'll continue to support you if this is real and not fake. You know, thank you for doing the work that you do. The rest of you still have a chance other than the two hopeless ones right there. Thank you for your time. Jennifer Rosales.

Hello. Um, thank you all for being here today and listening to me speak. Um, I didn't plan on speaking today. I debated um whether it was worth it because if at this point after listening to what your community has stood up here and said directly to your face, if by now it has not impressed upon you the importance of this ordinance, I felt that it was a lost cause. I do also understand tactics that are placed in order to silence us. So I am here to speak. I'm going to try to use my time to speak to those who wanted who were more outspoken last time. And I'll start with against the ordinance. Um, Councilman Good, um, you looked at me and you said that this community trusts you. I didn't hear one person here today say that they felt that we trusted you. I've spoken to community members because I am blessed and lucky to work with an organization where I work with community members every single day and they're scared they don't trust you. You mentioned data. Let's talk about data. What does data support facts? You said that you're a family man. You said that you couldn't sleep and you sat on that race bench and you wanted to tell me what my truth was. You you wanted to tell every single person that their truth wasn't real because of the reality that you've created for yourself. That doesn't negate the fact that the majority of the individuals detained by ICE do not have a criminal record. That's a fact. That's the truth. So I encourage you to make data based decisions. Right? If we talk about data, if we talk about intelligence, I also ask that you not impose your reality as a fact because your reality is not the same as ours. You sit in a position where you should listen. I ask you to do that. I ask you to consider as a family man that you said that you are what your children will remember or what they can

speak to when they speak about Councilman Good. Did he lead with bravery, courage, compassion, or did he lead with his self-interest above all and comfortability? I would like to speak to um Ortiz and Councilman um Martinez or Councilwoman Martinez. Uh when this administration was voted in office, I educated myself in the need for our community to assimilate whiteness, to see ourselves through a centric lens, to separate oursel from our roots and our heritage. I understand, Councilman Martinez, that maybe you had to do it out of survival, but we were past that. We were allowed to be proud of being Latinas and Latinos. I was proud. I am proud and I'm not ashamed of being a Mexican.

You guys celebrate it, right? We have Latino his uh Hispanic Heritage Month. You close off the streets just a few streets down. We were getting chased by ICE. Your celebrations continued. So, you don't hesitate to celebrate us because that's easy. That's convenient. That's a good That's good for optics, but this is the work that matters. What are you doing to support it? What are you doing to build a stronger foundation that the next administration is not going to destroy? What are you doing to make things better? Instead of being a doors stopper, instead of being a roadblock, I encourage you to self-reflect. I encourage you to put more pride in the person that you see in the mirror. You guys led your campaigns and were voted in because of your last names and because of the way that you look. You do not get to weaponize that. You do. Your race bench does not trump my experience as another brown woman browner than you, Rose. Ortiz, I have gotten to speak to people who um supported your campaign and they were truly taken aback when they found out that you were opposed. What does that say about the campaign you ran? What did you lead us to believe?

You do it for the money, not the people.

Why are we What are we doing here? Because if this ordinance didn't matter, all of these people who probably came from work, from a really long day of work, from being mothers, some of us didn't even have a way to get here, but we figured it out. So, for those of you who said, "Oh, we we we don't want the people don't want this. The people I'm speaking to, I am very very curious to find out who where that population lies. If it's at a fundraiser, come on. But let's get in those rooms. Let's have those conversations with the same people because they told me why would they call Elgen city members? Why would they confide in you guys when your best interests are what comes first and then you will decide what is best for the community that you've chosen to represent? This is a legacy. When we look back, we are already celebrated as a community because we're able to come together and do this. I mean, look at this room. Look at all the diversity in this room. But we were able to come together although we don't necessarily have the same beliefs in every every manner but human rights at the very basis at the very core should be a very simple ask and you are actually in a position to make a change. I beg you and I'm not in the in the business of begging and imploring but my God willed me to do this today. So, I hope that you'll find it within to do and support and serve the community that you asked to serve because you asked to be voted in. You asked to sit out there. Look at your demographics. If you didn't want this, go serve in St. Charles. Go serve somewhere else.

Susan Padilla Susanna Padilla.

In addition to what she was saying, I forgot to mention who do I give the list of the 75 signatures that we have that's supporting.

Good evening. My name is Susanna Padilla representing rescue our children organization and boy we do need do that right now in Hoffman Estates and serving and as an active member of coffee community organizing and family issues here in Elgen. We the people are lifting our voices demanding transformation and unifying our purpose. You have frequently frequently affirmed that Elg is a welcoming city. Therefore, I must ask, why not make the declaration public and bold today by voting yes to the updated ordinance? Each of each of your votes will ignite a powerful message of solidarity to this community with the full understanding that the federal enforcement already operates among us. By shifting our focus from fear to walking by faith, we allow the truth to finally prevail. I leave you with these questions and I pray that God grants you divine revelation and clarity. Are you merely confirming to the patterns of others or are you leading with conviction? Are your decisions governed by the fear of losing secular power? Are they influenced by the pursuit or the perceived lack of financial resources? or are they rooted in a genuine sanctified love and respect for humanity? Let us be reminded of Philippians 4:19. And God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. When we prioritize the kingdom of our heavenly father, we don't need worry. He moves sovereignly behind the scenes and our only duty is to act upon his

command. As stated in Malachi 6:8, he has shown you, oh mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with God. The choice rests with you. But remember, we cannot serve two masters. Let us choose to serve the people through the lens of his grace. Thank you. God bless you and your families. Thank you, Angel Martinez.

I know you guys love seeing my face. I know it. Again, before I start off my well-written speech, let me direct my to both of you. At the last protest, I kept going back and forth and all you talked about was football. Football. You know how many people showed up? Why don't you actually walked down the street? Because you need it. Talk to the people that were there. And I'm talking to you, Artis. It's like a slap in the face to us. You sit up here cuz I'm with y'all. You're really not. And I can get really, really ghetto. And as you guys heard, I'm a loud ass Mexican. But I'll keep it professional for you guys because my voice when it gets loud, you get in your feelings and you kick everyone out. Good evening. All right. Like I said, I'm keep it professional. Good evening. I'm not here to offer any comfortable words. I'm here to tell the truth. We love to talk about diversity in this city, but talking is easy. Posting statements, holding themed events, and checking the boxes does not make us inclusive. If we were being honest, too many people in this community are still unheard. We are overlooked. We're pushed to get to where we have to get up to you guys and speak in very disrespectful manners. Inclusion is not optional

and is not symbolic. It is a responsibility. Your responsibility. And right now, some of you are falling short. One, two, in particular. We are residents who don't feel safe. Every time I'm up here speaking up, I go home and I receive seven messages, private messages, telling me the worst of the worst, but I'm still up here. I love that, Rose Martinez. I love it that you're now on my Facebook. Every time you're on my story, I can see it. I love it. Thank you for showing me that you got nothing better to do than to be on my social media pages. The communities that don't see themselves reflected in the leadership. These are barriers for us as your constituents. It prevents people from accessing opportunities, resources, and basic respect.

That is not an accident.

That is a result of choices, priorities, and in some cases, some of your cases, neglect. Diversity without action is formative. Inclusion without accountability is meaningless. So the question is not whether we support diversity. The question is what are we actually doing about it and today can demonstrate a lot. Are we funding programs that reach undeserved communities or are we just discussing them? Are we ensuring language access or expecting people to struggle through the system not built for them? Are we opening doors or just pointing at them? Because we, your constituents, we are paying attention and we are tired of waiting. This council has the power to do more than acknowledge the problem. You have the f you have the power to change outcomes. That means making decisions that may be uncomfortable. It means prioritizing equity. And even when it's inconvenient, it means listening. Not to just when it's easy, but when it challenges you. So, I'll leave you with this. Don't tell this community you value inclusion. Prove it. Back it with today's ordinance. And to all of you, when you show up to our protest, engage. I don't want to hear you talking about football. Thank you. Okay, it brings us to bids. First item

is bid number 25-060 701 Hastings concession stand renovation. Mr. Mr. Mayor, since I talked about this, I'll move that we approve this bid and award it to Clarion Construction of Lombard in the amount of $49,250. Second. Moved and seconded for approval. Any discussion? Miss Powell.

Yes. I just want to say thanks to staff for uh moving forward with this u renovation at um Drake Field. Um, I know I've had several discussions with staff about the enormity of some of these these projects that are really beyond what a um a youth football league or a youth athletic organization are really able to tackle on their own. So, um this is a huge project. Um there are a number of kids, local kids that are involved um in youth football and um these renovations will definitely be appreciated by the students and uh the families that um use Straight Field for football. So thank you.

Okay. Anything else? Court, please call the role. Council member Zelf Faro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. Motion's approved 90. Item two is bid number 26-010, Portland cement contract, not to exceed $100,000. Move to award the bid to Ozinga ready mix concrete in accordance with Illinois Department of Transportation regulations for the motor fuel tax allocations to not exceed $100,000. So moved. Moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none, clerk, please call the role. Council member Zafaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes.

Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. Motion's approved 90. Item three is a uh bid number 26-011 by 2 minutes asphalt groups one and two not to exceed $350,000. So moved. I'll second that. Moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Lots of vendors hearing. None. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Al Faro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. Motion's approved. 90.

Item four is bid number 26-012, golf course landscaping supplies. Mr. Mayor, I recommend that we award the course chemical supply to the lowest responsible bidder in the amount of $163,29. So moved. Move and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Alfaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain,

yes. Motion's approved. 90. Item five is uh St. Francis St. Francis Park Soccer Field Renew uh Omnia purchasing agreement uh number R23201 for $35,850. So moved. Second. Moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Nice. Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Alfaro. Yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Bear, captain, yes. Motion's approved. 90. Seems like we just put that in.

That's correct. More durable artificial turf that'll take into consideration the continued cleat use at that location. Yep. Okay. Uh, takes us to other business. The first item is a consideration of petition 02-26 85 Market Street. Conditional use for an adaptive reuse of an existing two-story office building for a church. Mr. Malot.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The subject property is located at the northeast corner of Market Street and Lyall Avenue, north of Larkin Avenue. Here is Market. This is Lyall and this is Larkin. This is the Julasco Chase Bank. And this is Walgreens. The International Church of Fourquare Gospel requests approval of their relocation from 601 Hill Avenue in Elgen to 85 Market Street. The building at 85 Market is currently owned and partially occupied by an attorney's office. The church would purchase and occupy the entire building. The church has operated at 601 Hill since 2020 and seeks to move to its new location to expand their services. The church would renovate the approximately 6,100 square ft building to include a new sanctuary with seating for 88 parishioners, three small classrooms, and a multi-purpose room for various church functions and activities such as Bible study. Services would be held from Sundays uh between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. with Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30. General office hours will be Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Property includes 23 parking spaces which complies with the zoning ordinance. The athlete would construct a new masonry enclosure for the refuge collection area in the northeast corner of the property. Exterior changes to the building are limited. Simply the construction of a new glass vestibule at the main entrance and two new exit doors on the west side of the building. The applicant is present should you have any questions. Staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval subject to conditions outlined within your packet.

Move approval subject to the conditions. Second. Second. It's been moved and seconded for approval subject conditions. Any discussion? Any questions for Mr. uh Miss Al Faro? I I just have a random question. Okay. Uh the law firm that's selling the building, are they staying in Elgen? I don't know that. Uh the attorney for the applicant is here. Maybe he might know. Any any knowledge of that, Mr. But I'm not positive. Okay. I haven't had I would hate to lose a business. So that's I was just curious if they were staying here or not. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions? Okay. Hearing none. Please call the role. Council members Alaro? Yes. Dixon? Yes. Good. Yes. Martinez.

Yes. Ortiz? Yes. Powell? Yes. Stefen? Yes. Thorne? Yes. Mayor Captain? Yes. Motion's approved. 90. Congratulations. Item two is a resolution authorizing execution of a 2026 agreement with the Kain County Child Advocacy Center by and through the Kain County States Attorney's States Attorney for funding assistance relating to the investigation of sensitive crimes involving children. Move approval. Second. Moved and seconded for approval. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Zelf Faro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good, yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, abstain.

Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. The motion is approved 8-0 with one abstension. Item three is a resolution authorizing execution of an economic development agreement, a de e economic development services agreement with the Elgen Area Chamber of Commerce. Move approval. Second. Move and second for approval. Any discussion hearing? None. Cler, please call the role. Council member Zelfo, abstain. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain,

yes. The motion's approved. 80 with one abstension. Item four is a resolution authorizing execution of an amendment agreement number one with Thomas Engineering Group LLC for additional supplemental professional engineering services in connection with the 2025 parking lot and alley maintenance program. Move for approval. Second move and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Alaro abstain. Dixon. Yes. Good. Yes. Martinez. Yes. Ortiz. Yes. Powell. Yes. Stefan. Yes. Thorne. Yes. Mir Captain.

Yes. Motion's approved. 8 Z with one abstension. Consent agenda. Move for approval. Second. Been moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Alaro. Yes. Dixon. Yes. Good. Yes. Martinez. Yes. Ortiz? Yes. Powell? Yes. Stefan. Yes. Thorne. Yes. Mayor Captain. Yes. Motion's approved. 90. Miscellaneous business. Move approval. Second. Moved and second for approval. Any discussion? Hearing none. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Zaro? Yes. Dixon? Yes. Good? Yes. Martinez? Yes. Ortiz? Yes.

Powell? Yes. Stefan? Yes. Thorne? Yes. Mayor Captain? Yes. Motion's approved. 90 announcements. The next committee of the whole meeting will be Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers. The next regular meeting of the Elgen City Council will be Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers. Entertain a motion to adjurnn. Back to the committee of the whole move. Move second to adjurnn. Clerk, please call the role. Council members Al Faro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefen, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. We are adjourned. Entertain a motion to reconvene. Some move.

Second. Moved and second to reconvene. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Alaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. We are reconvened. I believe that brings us to item G. Mr. Man, you are correct. Mayor, this is the discussion on adopting an ordinance to support and foster inclusivity and diversity in the city of Elgen. On Monday of this week, I met with the uh sponsors, if you will, of this initiative, council members Dixon and Alfaro, and by agreement, we indicated that I would provide wel opening comments and overview of this initiative. So, with your permission, mayor, I'll continue. Continue.

Okay. The proposed ordinance. This proposed ordinance was first publicly presented to the public during the 20 uh the February 25th committee of the whole meeting. At the conclusion of that meeting, council members Dixon and Al Farro um used the time between February 25th and last week to gather information from their fellow city council members and members of the public. They presented that information to the staff late last week. When that information was presented to me, I informed them that staff needed an additional minimally 60 days to conduct the proper research and policy analysis necessary to complete the work on the proposed ordinance in addition to the additional amendments and initiatives that were presented by other council members. Again, I met with council members Dixon and Al Faro on Monday, and we've reached agreement for staff to continue work on the ordinance

and its new additions over the next 60 days and report back on May 27th with a status of staff's progress.

Additional days, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Mr. Al Faro to us taking you another just for you guys to do the right thing or say that you're not going to do it. Stop wasting our time. Say that you're okay with this contin.

Why do you need 60 more days? Why do you need two more months to decide whe or not. You will protect your citizens. People that voted you in

a lot can happen in one week. A lot. So, Miss Al. Yeah. Thank you. If I may, there is, as people have mentioned during public comment, there are council members who are not in favor of this. One of the things that

there's some it takes five votes to pass something, right? And so we minimally need five votes. And council members have indicated that they would like things flushed out, the municipal ID and the legal defense fund, just figuring out the amount of money that would be taken into place, etc. And so some individuals have indicated that they want it flushed out in order to properly vote on that. Call them out. I will say call them out. I will say me personally,

the ordinance is not merely an intent. Right. For me, this is I'm committed to this because it is a legal commitment. An ordinance is a legal commitment. While policies can be amended, ignored, or quietly set aside, an ordinance carries weight. It is transparent to the community to let you all know when we change things, how we do things, and what we legally will stand by. Right? From the language access, the legal defense fund to the economic development to the civil engagement, municipal ID, etc. That's how how we will do things. That's why I'm committed to making sure it stays in an ordinance because immigrants and underserved communities are among the most vulnerable members of our community. They contribute to our local economy. Many of you all share that. to shopping to living here just making it the best way of life around here because we wouldn't be Elgen if we didn't have them here right it is no secret this ordinance will not stop ICE but this ordinance does do is stand with the community and bring the community more involved with the city and this is why we do need the ordinance and keep it as an ordinance not to a policy so to the opposition to the ordinance in favor of a less binding like a policy um that alone reflects exactly why we need an ordinance. A policy depends on the goodwill of whoever is currently in office or whoever is staff. An ordinance will bring any changes to the forefront and make it publicly known to the community when these changes occur. A policy does not do that. That is why I we need an ordinance, but we do need it to pass. We do need five votes. And so some council members had indicated that they needed more information flushed out some finding the the numbers of how much the legal defense fund is going to come, where is it coming from the budget, etc. and fire department

certain things that we wanted and then we could work towards it.

We're leading from the direction of the community. We have talked to many community members and you all could give us that feedback right now too that the community wanted to keep it as one package. If you want it as one package, unfortunately, there is some numbers that need to be flushed out for some council members to feel more comfortable in voting on it, right? And so keeping it together.

All right, everyone. I would like to know who is the host and why.

Thank you. Okay. All right. Thank you. Well, let me say a few words here. Uh number number one, I want to thank everyone for waiting around tonight

to to um to listen to this conversation and I appreciate and thank everyone for um making the comments too that you have made this evening. So, we really appreciate it. It is not uh something that I take lightly. Um I've spent a lot of time at community meetings over the past few months. Um especially discussing this ordinance. I've talked to a lot of different people, people who are for the ordinance and people who are against the ordinance and people who are in the middle because they just don't understand the ordinance. I've talked to everyone about this. But let me clarify But let me clarify a time frame. On March 9th, the city manager informed us that this ordinance probably would not be ready by this evening. We then replied with, "Well, if it's not going to be ready, for sure, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. If it's not ready before the city before tonight's city council meeting, we'll come up with the plan." So, it had nothing to do with getting feedback last week. It was already predetermined by the city manager that he probably would not be able to have it ready by tonight. So, I just wanted to clarify that nuance. Okay. So, that was not on Councilwoman Al Farro or myself. Now, at the same toe, same token on the other side, I do want to give credit to corporate council um Chris Beck who wrote this draft and did an excellent job with it. Also want to give a shout out to assistant city manager um Cassandra uh Hiller um for working on this because she's doing she's leading it for city staff and putting together everything. Um, and so

we I I am absolutely committed to making sure that we we get this done. Let me give you guys a little little quick story, okay? And some of you probably remember this. Black Lives Matter happened, right? We had a a social upheaval, okay? Um, there was a number of things that we brought forward as a council that I specifically led as far as ordinance in in combination with various city council members up here. Um, one of those ideas was a police review board or what's known now as the civilian review board. myself, Councilwoman Pal, um, and multiple other members of the city council worked in combination with Chief Lai and the police department and corporate staff to draft an ordinance. Now, there were people who weren't against who were absolutely against it just like this ordinance. Fast forward, it took a lot of time and a lot of effort by Chief Lai, EPD, myself, uh, Councilwoman Powell. Long story short, we were able to get it done after it went through the, uh, police task force. And so now, now that's in place. I know I'm not saying that it's going to take the the same amount of time. It won't in this instance.

No.

No, it won't. I'm talking about the process of making sure that we do this thing right. I am not in a rush to get something done just to get something done and it doesn't have any teeth. It doesn't hold any water. It doesn't have any effect. When I get something done, I want it to be done right. I want it to be able to bite into some stuff. I want anybody from a anybody reading it to know that this is the most progressive piece of code of this of this nature in the entire state. It doesn't even come close. A legal aid defense fund um uh a legal aid defense fund in combination with other things, I'm sorry, such as procurement, these things aren't being done anywhere. So, we're going to make sure that this thing gets done. City staff has assured us, and I'm assuring you that I am not going to stop until we get this thing in front of you. It won't be years. I promise you that.

Yeah. I'm going to make sure and I want you to I want you to hold Yeah. I And I want you guys to hold us accountable. Okay. I am telling you unequivocally that we're going to get make sure that we get this thing done. So, I'mma thank you in advance for your patience. Okay? I'm thank you in advance for your patience and I appreciate your passion. All right? It is not missed on me. All right? I got a job to do and my job right now is to make sure that this thing gets done and that it gets done right and that it does what is intended to do and not some watered down diluted version of that. That's what we're going to do.

Yes. Yes. So, she asked for if if if the community can receive a status update. That has been discussed too as well. Okay. So, in the meantime, in between time, we're going to provide uh periodic status updates as to where the ordinance is. We we will hear we will provide council councilwoman Alfaro and I on the behalf of city staff will provide a an update um every every meeting until we have this here before you until we have the final draft version. That's okay. We can do that.

Okay. Okay. Anybody else? If I could just add Oh, sorry. M fire. Go ahead. Thank you. And I also add as we are giving these status updates and it when the ordinance does come back flushed out, I do ask that it's in the beginning of the agenda. The committee should not have to wait until the end of the night after the city committee of the whole and city council in order to have that discussion. It's a tactic to get every time.

Okay.

And we've we've received in the last uh in the last month in the last month, Councilwoman Alfaro and I have talked with every member of city council um in one form or another about this ordinance to solicit feedback. If you guys remember about a month ago, we asked for every council person to provide us with feedback. All right? Um written feedback that is to to corporate counsel and to us. Only three people did. Okay? Only only only three council members did. Um but even with those who did not provide that feedback, we were still for the most part able to meet one-on-one to discuss those. Okay. But but captain captain provided feedback. Pal provided feedback and who was the third? Ortiz all provided feedback. Okay. Written feedback. Okay.

And those were the only three that provided written feedback, but other council members have have provided verbal other council members have provided verbal feedback too as well. Okay. But those were the ones that that did what we asked. Okay. Not well they they were one-on-one meetings. Um all right. So you going have to another meeting at the at the center and have everyone like you like you did or whatever. I mean no all of you up here are supposed to do your job. Defending your constituents. You can say what you want.

But every time at this meeting you guys pass stuff that the city doesn't meet at the moment. This should be a priority. And we see this every time. You leave it to last cuz people leave. I know your egos are hurt. We don't want to sit here and scream at you. I don't want to sit here and look at you in the face and tell you what the obvious is. She doesn't, but I do. Because I'm holding you accountable. Because I voted for many of you that are up there. Just calm down. Calm down. Put on a diaper. What are we doing? Yeah. Can't handle someone talking to you.

You tell me you can't do your job in 30 days, 15 days, 20 days. How much more? If I can speak, if I can speak, you asked for this to be an inclusive ordinance. If it started out, it was just going to be a welcoming city ordinance. I said this to your point way back at the beginning. It'd be much easier to do this if we separate these into pieces because it gets too complicated and it gets bigger and bigger. Everything is complicated. It is complicated. The money to fund all It's not just that complicated. It's not just that. It's expanded. It's gotten bigger. writing invite the uh the request the request for the defense

if you let me speak the defense fund has gotten to the has gotten request to add other people to that outside of just um undocumented people. So the defense fund has grown to about nine or 10 other other potential uh participants. That changes the cost and that makes it more complicated and the staff has to go through that and make those adjustments for us. We have to find out how this is going to work. We We have never had one. We don't have one. So, how this is going to be paid for, how we get one, how this is going to be paid for and how this Nobody here knows how this has to be put together. You guys,

so and it's going to include, as I said, other people are going to be part of this defense fund, and that's going to have to be determined how that's going to be uh get paid for. it bother me. Okay, we'll give the other council members a chance to speak. Um, actually, yeah, I I wasn't finished. I just wanted to give one one last part real quick. Okay, Mr. Dixon, um, we we discussed this previously. Any council member that wants to provide feedback that they provided uh, in written form via email, this will be the opportunity to do so. I just wanted to throw that out there.

So, anybody else has the comments and that's how this that's how the conversation keeps going. as people add things back into the uh into the mix. Miss Powell or Miss Mr. Ortiz? Miss Powell.

I I hear you. I feel you. Um I'm with you. I support this. I'm one of the ones who did provide written feedback. Um and um a lot of the written feedback that I provided I said or talked about. um during the first meeting and I'm not going to read it verbatim, but I just do want to highlight a couple of things that um I did provide the written feedback on because I think when we're if we're talking about inclusivity and diversity, um it is not just about talking about how wonderful the diversity is in our community and eating tacos and guacamole while we slap people in the face and don't respect them. Um, I've I've said that to folks because I feel like that's what happens and it's it's unfortunate. It's I could say another word, but I I won't. Um, it it's disgraceful. Thank you. Um, and I we can do better and and this and this is a start. So, one of the things that um I brought forward, I know someone I think the mayor mentioned the legal defense fund. I was the one who um said I would like to see it broadened um to include civil matters such as eviction defense, um housing discrimination and predatory lending that disproportionately impacts immigrant and black and brown communities. Um I wanted uh demographic reporting to track usage by race and immigration status. And ideally, um, I'd like to see, um, us look at how we can put this fund together so that others can people can actually donate to it. If it's just a city fund, I think it makes

it hard for us to I I don't think we can accept donations, but I know that there are members in this community that feel strongly about supporting something like this and would like to be able to donate financially to it. So, I would like to see whatever it is that's put together be structured in a way that allows outside donations. And this is the kind of work that staff it does need the time to flesh out in terms of how that needs to be structured in order to allow that to happen. Um I look I I don't know but I I'm just giving you information um about like what my feedback was some of the other uh things that I provided feedback on in terms of broadening the purpose co uh clause um at the beginning of the ordinance to explicitly recognize racial disparities in policing and economic access uh commitment to equitable treatment across race, national origin and immigration status. um include that the city recognizes the historical and systemic inequities that have impacted communities of color and affirms its commitment to advancing racial equity across all city operations. Um there's in the economic development chapter um it specifically references SEDI which is the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Um, but it does not address local disparity studies or contracting equities or measure any progress. So, I'm interested in how we measure progress in some of these things because I think one of the a couple of the speakers today referenced um slave catchers during the 1700s. Honey, the the Civil Rights Act wasn't passed until

1964. There are people living today that with that that did not have the right to vote that had to drink out of separate drinking fountains because we so we don't have to go all the way back to 1700s to talk about inequities. We're still dealing with with those situations today. Um so um so these are some things that hopefully we can do at the local level. Um, and again, it's not going to stop ICE, but I I feel very strongly about showing our our community that we support them and that it's inclusive because, as many of you have acknowledged and and acknowledged truthfully and correctly, that our undocumented population contributes economically to our economy, not just here locally, but regionally and throughout this nation. They contribute um culturally um they are our friends, our neighbors, our kids go to school with them.

Absolutely.

So I I think it's important to actually be more inclusive not just in words but in in action. Um and and I think economic inclusion is something that has not occurred on so many different levels, but I think would be very meaningful um and is very important. Um I already uh talked about the legal aid defense fund. Um, I had some questions about um the municipal ID program that I would like to see the area expanded to include other historically margin marginalized populations including um those for formerly incarcerated incarcerated individuals without state ID. Um and I think we can specifically partner with re-entry organizations to promote this. um residents who lost documentation, unhoused individuals, and victims of domestic violence. Now, this is a big one in terms of administration and potentially cost. So, it will be important to identify how we're going to do it and and from an administrative standpoint and cost. Um language access, I said I would like to add language that ensures that we implement language access plans. Um the city ensures that equity strategies also address racial disparities and physical access um ADA related um language for uh disabled residents and services not limited solely to English proficiency. So again being inclusive. I um I hear from disabled residents in our community that don't necessarily feel included as well. Um, and I think there were just some miscellaneous things in here that I I I

would like to add a racial equity impact review clause that requires major policy changes to be evaluated for racial impact disparities um on a regular basis. um city contracting and grants, legal fund usage, um city workforce representation, policing stats, a lot of that is on their transparency site, um and program access metrics. So, that's just in a nutshell what I provided in terms of feedback. I take this very seriously. I put a lot of thought into it. Um, so I I look forward to seeing the final product and and hearing what the rest of um my colleagues have to say. Thank you.

Okay, anybody else? Mr. Good. Thank you, Mayor. Um, so I can sense the room. Um, and um, haven't seen anything yet.

Um, understood. Um, so I I just want to just cuz I I think everybody in this room is honestly going to move us forward working together. That's my belief. Um, and so I get it. I get it. This is this I'm not asking for you guys to stop yelling at us. Um, but I do want to flash back to say that for me personally, what I've been advocating for this entire time is to do that process where we take items that are already happening, look at how we can improve them, um, look at items that would need to be an ordinance and break this into pieces so we can move faster. Um, we we have evidence that this council up here has voted 90 on multiple items that reaffirm our values. And like I've said before, what I'm at least arguing over is not the values of what we're driving at. It's how we're going to get there. Um, and so I just want to put that out there. Like I can sense that we're starting to feel fractures, right?

But I So I just I do want to push back a little bit. I want to push back a little bit because the votes have passed and we understood stood when we took those votes that some of those were going to be resolutions. They were going to be say we support the removal of masks. We don't have teeth for that. That we were going to stop federal agents from using our properties for staging. There was even parameters on that that were very like not in our favor is what I would describe it as. Um, and now we have this item that came up and in in December, I believe it's December 3rd, we had a vote that went down 900 and there was confusion. We've talked about that multiple times and I apologize that you all had to be subjected to it and now you're here feeling like we're hurrying up to wait. Like we just keep rushing to wait. Um, and so that's what I just want to put out there tonight. Again, for the groups that we have met in smaller group settings, I appreciate your time. I appreciate you sharing where we agree and where we don't agree. Um, but I just want to continue to be transparent that that's the the debate that I'm having. Um, not only with myself, but with the people I talk to. Uh,

I'm sorry. I didn't hear you.

No, I I understand that. That I understand that. So, and just like every other item that we're talking about tonight, It's just important and we're not in the same Okay. Listen. All right. So, tech technically like please I have the floor right now. So, I'm just saying I'm going to I'm going to So, okay. So, so if if we want to talk about the broader issue here is everybody is seeking a binary. You're either for the ordinance or you're against it. You either communicated or you didn't. And you're basing this off of right now what we just heard tonight shared in this room.

Okay. Well, so based on what you see and hear in your experiences does not preclude other people from having their experiences. Do you So, okay, I just also want to pose this. Do you think that this is a favorable position to be in? For those of you who know me, know that I have a track record of working on these different issues. So,

I I understand I'm not saying to stop yelling, but okay. So, for all those for all those who are not here in the room right now, for the rest of you who are watching this meeting, for the other residents that are in this community, this is not what the entirety of the conversation is. I'm just going to say that what we're hearing right now is that it's a binary option that's trying to be forced upon us. That's not how real decisions get made. That's not how compromise works. And that's it's you're stealing people's voices right now by saying what you're saying. If you come in this chamber and you say that because people who are scared to be here didn't show up to share their opinion that is different than yours, that's taking their voice away. This is my opinion. This is my lived experience. So, I have family members that are going through uh a situation that's closer to this.

It's fine. No, it's okay. It's fine. It's fine. There's no one in this room that has spoken to more families that have been affected by this than me. I'm not disagreeing with that. Spoken to hundreds. You're not a victim. I'm not saying. Okay. Okay. You guys can do this if you want. This is not helpful. Okay. Last time we had a discussion, you and I, you said you said that you were afraid that if we passed this ordinance that ICE would come that it would they would come more, that it would get worse. That's what you told. That that is something that I definitely share with you. Yes. That you shared. And now you're all talking about like finance and all this. I didn't bring up finance. First of all, I didn't talk about finance. But I'm telling you what you told me that you were scared. That's why I asked you why are you scared?

Well, so I'm conveying what people are telling me. You're scared. I'm an elected official. This is what I do. Mr. People that are telling you where's the lawsuit or you have married to a Latina or you're being it doesn't give you the right to speak for these for these people. I'm I'm sharing what people convey with me and I'm telling you I can show you by telling you guys the hundreds of Latino the immigrants that reach out to me every I know okay and so for the people watching this at home that's why I'm here because there's

can we gabble this down please sit down because you're not a clear um sit down so I just want for the sake of the room and for the sake of people watching again what was being communicated right now um is this question of like who are you speaking to and after the meeting last time I went up to folks that are speaking right now and said these are the people I'm speaking to if you want to meet with me to meet with those people to convey your side of it the door is open but those people should be here they well you can't tell them where they should be and what they should say and what they should feel safe doing they told us to be here

I know they strongly about they should be here. The audacity to say that we're taking their voice. You know who doesn't have a voice? These immigrants. That's why we're speaking. I'm talking about people who are who are in that situation. So, I'm telling you, his wife's family. What I was trying to bring this around to the first time again, we're not the only one. There's a lot. I understand that. Thousands of people that live here that are undocumented. And I will tell you that they are. I understand that. I will bring you will a petition. I will gather I will go door to door to every single resign so you can see that they are for this.

I feel you. Okay. So, what I'm trying what I originally brought this up for was to say that we have evidence that this group is aiming at the right or aiming at the same values. What I don't want us to get mired in is adding more and adding more and adding more and we keep doing this and we're we're speeding up to just wait again. So, what we're trying to do here is not look at this as just a binary of do you support this thing or you do not. I want to believe that everybody up here is in the same position that they were in December when they voted 900 to pursue these values and deploy the city how we can to get there as efficiently, effectively, and responsibly as possible. For an example, if we rushed and followed the models of other cities for a program like municipal ID, what look what happened in Chicago. They straight up used city resources to create a database that collected information from the most vulnerable people and then the federal government subpoenaed it. So those are things that happen when you work in this business and you have to be able to analyze those with a clear mind open table and I understand right now these are the loudest voices at the table. We're not saying no to what you want. We're saying at least me personally a different pathway of navigating this. That's all. So, I I know we're going to still be yelled at and I open the door if you want to meet after this meeting, phone calls, in-depth conversations to go over the the written materials I did not share. Uh, Mr. Dixon brought up the email that was sent in February. Um, but I want to assure you that I don't believe there's anybody anybody up here does not take this seriously. I can't say for sure, but I want you to look back at the evidence and see that Elgen is though you do not feel that way right now, Elgen is a rockolid city. We always have room for improvement.

We are the city with largest population that doesn't have one of these ordinances. We're behind all of the the top 10 and I I and I appreciate the the the work that has been put in and so I'm just laying it out there for you so there's no confusion because you all wanted to say who is it and where do they stand. I'm trying to do that right now. I'm trying to be as transparent as possible and if you feel like there's a value to be had by having a conversation, please reach out. If we're going to agree to disagree, understood. Um, but I just want you to know that we we have had evidence of 90 votes that I hope put on the record and show you that we're values align or at least adjacent. Okay. Are we talking 60 days?

Well, and so so the the conversation we had when we met as a small group, there are items that priority and shortage of 30 days.

There are items on here that are like that can happen sooner. Just like the language access, that's that's an item that doesn't need to be codified. that can just happen. And so those are the items where I'm saying like let's parse through this. Let's be a little bit more intentional and let's move on these items that can move. There's going to be some of them like a legal defense fund that is not a policy. That will have to be an ordinance. A municipal ID fund or municipal ID program, same thing. So there's some of these where the capsule is what it's going to be, but it does not need to be piled in to this one thing where what we're seeing is there's more questions that are starting to come up now regardless of where they're coming from. and it has the the risk to to prolong this which it seems like this is being stretched out. Okay.

You know, this is not this is not being productive here. We have other council members. We want to move forward with this, but having the dialogue go back and forth just not is not moving this the needle here for us. Yeah. Yeah, but it's still this is work that the council has to do. Is anybody down this way? Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Ortiz, if I heard correctly, city manager or maybe it was Mr. Dixon that said it. It's a hard deadline in uh last meeting of May or that's like a status update the last meeting of May of where we're at in the process.

We discussed the status. I can't promise 20 pages plus additional modifications will be done at that time, but we can definitely provide a status. Okay. And is it analyzing everything we already do and incorporating with some of the stuff that's listed within the ordinance and like a full like policy ordinance review like how Mr. Good said that some things we already do, can we just check those off real quick? And then the ones that have to be an ordinance like an ID or a legal defense fund or uh the procurement process.

It's it's my understanding the direction that I've received was to analyze the 20 or so page ordinance that's attached to this item that's attached to this initiative. Incorporate the information that came from council members Dixon and Al Farro and the city council members. Analyze all of that and bring it back as one single ordinance. Okay. I I think that we should analyze everything, not just uh

Yeah. But come back with recommendations of things we're already doing like how Mr. Good said that uh the language access that we have in the TV screens now but doing it. So that's an easy thing to knock off of this and say we're already getting these things done because some of the community members want things done faster and break it apart to get the ball moving instead of waiting another 60 days for stuff.

You could keep doing it right. We we could be getting language access. We were trying to get the translations. Nothing needs to stop because we don't have the orans approved yet. The reason not to do a policy yet again is that policy is not transparent to the community. It doesn't stand in solidarity with the community. If the council changes, if staff changes, policy could change behind the doors and nobody knows until people are like, "Wait, what's going on? I can't get why are there no Spanish translations? Why are there no um why are there no headsets over here? What's going on with procurement over here?" That is behind doors to be transparent to the community. Ordinance need to be changed here in front of everyone so everyone knows what is changed and when it's changed. That's what policy is. And we can continue making those changes now. We don't need to stop. So the language access so all the departments who are doing things they don't need to stop that could continue going.

Yeah. And and just to just my my whole question overall is how is the analytics going to work? Not which way it's going to be drafted at the end. What are we analyzing? That was the the gist of the whole question lead to the city manager. What do you what does staff need to analyze? Yeah. and and and like you know secondly I I just think that all of that is just very disingenuous of you because uh all of your feedback was basically you didn't want any of it. So now you you want so so so so for you to be like well we should we should break it up and do it like literally I'm looking at your feedback and your feedback says you didn't want any of it so why would I why why would I

can't hear Mr. Nixon, why would I why would I take what you just said as truthful when you have already advised that you don't want pretty much any of it? Why would I take that suggestion? Because you said you wanted to negotiate. We haven't voted yet. Votes can always change. Well, I mean, and if you answer the questions that I asked about how how Miss Paul also said about staffing, money, how it's going to get implemented, uh policies and procedures.

Yeah, but you didn't ask any questions. You made all comments. You didn't ask any questions. You made all comments. If you asked questions, I would have answered them. We met together and sat down. I answer questions that you that you asked me on the spot. So, there's no question that you've asked me that I haven't answered. And there was no question that you provided me that I didn't provide you an answer to. So, so we're going to, you know, listen, you know, as as we just go forward here. Listen, I got the floor. So yeah. Yeah. Mr. Ortiz. So go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. All right. So um

yeah, I'd like to see this thing analyzed in every angle, not just one. So if uh yeah, I'd like to see this thing analyzed in every angle and every every option we have instead of just one direct option. And uh so I think uh I'd like to make a motion that the city staff analyze this from the policy side and the ordinance side. It's already in

include we just said policy side is not being analyzed. So this is my motion. Policy side and ordinance side include all the council comments that's been uh emailed. Mr. D said it was three people so far and then any other council member that wants to add it add things in and uh come back with a status update at the first meeting of June. That gives them the full 60 days to hopefully get everything done. How are you going to do that when the council members were contradicting each other? You were asking for only policy and others were keeping it as ordinance. Well, this is my motion. So, either you can vote it up or vote it down. Well, I'm asking you for clarification on your motion then. How is that going to be interpreted because staff's going to come back with recommendations?

You said include everyone's stuff. Include all their comments into the ordinance. How it's get everything flushed out and all those comments, some of them contradict each other. So, I'm asking you how well that's why city staff's got to figure out how how to how best works for the city of Belgium. So, you're letting staff make that decision, not the council members who got elected by the people. It's coming back to the council. It's coming back to the council for recommendation. They're not doing what they want cuz they what they want to do. At the end of the day, it comes back to the council. That's I'm asking for clarification. If there's

so motion that we do a formal analysis for ordinance and policy including all council comments and give in and give information on all current policies and staff to come back the first meeting of June with a status update or if they're done with the uh recommendations, the policies and the ordinances that we should enact. This should be the first meeting in May. Yeah,

it's been moved. It's It's been moved and seconded. Um, restate this. You want a a full review by city staff of uh this as an ordinance and policies that are currently in effect um how they interplay with this. Is that correct? Yes. And and then which one, Mr. Mayor? I'm trying to get this sorted out. I I'm just going to state what I heard as a motion. Okay.

Uh that it's a motion to direct staff to perform analysis from uh both the proposed ordinance and in terms of the policy side of the issues including all comments that have been received from city council members. any other comments that come in from the city council and also analyze current policies and that uh city staff uh come back with recommendations as to uh what actions should be taken by the council at the first meeting in June. Question of clarification. If council members are contradicting each other first status, yes,

how do you um interpret that? How will that be included if council members are contradicting each other and what's the deadline for them to submit this? How will that be handled? Mr. Mayor can answer that question. When there's clearly contradictory matters, staff can analyze both components and say that there is disagreement on item X. There are proponents who want this and there are proponents who want that. And then it's up to the council to make a decision as to which route, if any, to go. So, how would that be handled? Well, do you email everyone and let them know? Is it coming in front of everybody? Um, is there like behind the scenes and do we have a five or something like what does that look like?

That would come back with the recommendations at the end of this process relating to the 20page ordinance and all of those other comments. It would be in the accompanying memo pointing out those different components. What is the deadline to leave comments? We're we're trying to sort this out. We're Please. And some people didn't even take the We're trying to sort this out here on on the on the techn we're not working on the deadline, right? We're trying to sort this out as to how the policy how this process is going to work before we get to the date. Mr. Dix, this is um

I don't like the motion. I'm not going to vote in favor of the motion. We have been extra communicative in what's happening. We've provided updates to city council and to staff. This is nothing to me but you trying to thwart what's already moving. We have the process. If if you wanted a different ordinance or if you wanted a different pro process, you could have brought it forward.

But but to step in and act like you're going to now lead this and bring this home with the idea of which is everything that's already happening. You don't know this because you're not the ones have having a conversation with city staff. I just in my opening statement just talked about Cassandra Hiller and how she's already been doing the research and the analysis. What you're talking about is already happening. We're not going to put forward a final draft of this ordinance without the proper analysis financially, policywise, ordinance-wise, resolutionwise, and what should and should not happen. All of that is already in place. then you shouldn't be against the motion then if it's already in place.

It's already No, no, no. Because what we don't want. Yeah, that's what that's that's all that and and you and you already knew that some of this was happening already in place because again we've been communicating. So I think it's just a it's a dis it's a disingenuous it's a very very disingenuous motion. I do not trust it. and we see right through.

So, um, that's my that's that's my two cents on on on the that's my two cents on the motion. So, um, I think that as we go forward here and we're having this conversation, if we're going to do anything, I think what I'm hearing from the from from the crowd, they want definitive dates about when they should be provided anything. Right. Okay. So,

so you know, you know, we've already committed to being Councilwoman Alfaro and I have committed to saying we're going to provide those updates to the community. Okay. So, we'll we'll provide those updates continually to the community, you know, up until the final draft of the ordinance actually gets before us. Okay. Um, this is not something we're just going to let go and pass over to city staff and expect for them to do all the work and to bring it home and to bring it forward. We're not going to do that. So, I just wanted to give those give that clar that clarification. So, Martinez wants to speak. Okay.

Okay. Mr. Beck, would you reread the motion, please? So, the motion was to direct staff to uh perform an analysis of both the ordinance that was proposed. The 20 the 20page ordinance that was proposed in terms of an ordinance and also an analyze it from the perspective of adopting policies. In doing so, look at what current policies the city's perform. include all comments that have uh here for been received from the city council as well as any other comments uh that are received from city council in performing that analysis and city staff should come back with uh recommendations and a status at the first meeting in June. That is the motion. I I just

I can't I can't commit to definitive recommendations on all components by that time. I can provide a status update and there may be able to be a resolution on components. That's where I stay with the status. Okay. I know that and that's all I'm saying. I don't have that ability to have definitive recommendations on all components to come back with a status on June with the analysis the status of the analysis. Question of clarification is each item then going to be also presented as a policy. Is that the idea then? No. The ones that could be policies will be policies. The ones that have to be ordinances will be ordinances. Well, let's decide that right now so the community knows which ones do you want. We don't know. They need to be the

It seems like people do know. You're saying that all of them need to be policies, right? So, which ones do they need to be orans and which ones need to be policies? That's not how it works. So, you I need the data, the information, and the feedback from city staff to make that they're going to So, you want them to create it as policies. I need clarification that is each item then being a policy and an ordinance. Indiana,

Mr. Good. Um so just sorry I know this is a this is a pretty loose conversation here but just just for an example um like we had already pointed out there was a language access deployment that happened just happened right because that staff can do that another example is there's an item in this ordinance about civic engagement that's again something that we don't need to wait 180 days like there's different degrees of civic engagement that happen um and so that's just an example of um what was I think being asked right here is like go through and decide upon which one his policy entertained, which one is ordinance entertained? That's the process that SAP's going to do. And I believe that's probably the substance of the the updates that would be in incoming from us. Um, so I'm just giving you an example of a situation where there's items packed in here that don't necessarily even need to be an ordinance. No, that's what I'm saying.

So, what I would what I would propose is like if in any case, right, to the the callouts of council members over here about people responding, right? I I I take this obviously as like a okay, let's get this in paper. I I missed that one sentence at the end of three paragraphs in email from February. Um but to provide it in writing, completely understandable from my perspective, at least in a week. I don't know if everybody on the council would agree with that. Um but that's that's a milestone, right? like just get that feedback in so staff can start compiling they can vote on. Okay. Yeah. Um but to point out that there's items in here that can be rolled through that don't need to necessarily be an ordinance. So I just wanted to provide that example.

Why can't it go into the ordinance? Yeah. And that's and that's that's that's uh understandable. We we had this conversation and this back and forth uh when we met in the smaller group setting. Um that that could be true for some of these and there's some of them that if you rush and put them into place without having a full analysis, it's not uh a consistent way you would want your council to work. I understand right now this is urgent. This is urgent and we and I feel frustrated that this has been going on for as long as it has been. Um but in general there's procedures that staff is trying to follow because that's their obligation as professionals. We're our obligation is to hear the community, put pressure where we can and and see the best compromise we can come to. So I just I'll I'll stop with my comments there.

Put pressure on your staff to get back under 30.

Well, what I've said to I think when I met with your group in the small setting, uh you know, kudos. You guys met on a Friday night. Um was that there's areas where we can see things happen sooner and there's areas where, you know, we're going to have to be a little bit more deliberate with community input. Um, so the way that you might phrase is put pressure on staff. That's kind of what we I can't speak for everybody, but that's what we do. Um, and it's try to find what we can do. And there's other areas that aren't as urgent as this, but that's 100% the approach that we take is we we get the heat. This is not fun or enjoyable and it's coming for a reason, right? And so we say, what can we do? We we've all had to become versed in federal layers of government, how it's being broken. Um, and again, you had more insight to this than this room did because of our conversation, but yes, that's how this mechanism works.

Which one? So, in to that, like if you guys were to do things policy, would this still be put into the thing I do agree with the council that all this should be in the ordinance because it does it stays in like a bill where you can't change it without telling me. Exactly. What can you do right now as a policy and then eventually still well and and to to answer that and I just want to be clear about like how this does play out and how you all would operate. If there's a case where a policy is enacted language access and it disappears, y'all are going to show back up to this meeting and treat it like it's

Well, I know, but I I'm saying the ordinance side of it, it takes two meetings and and that still is not a as rock solid as some of us would like it to be. So I just want to be clear. It's I don't want to be doing like civic engagement education right now. But that's basically the order of strength. It's like a policy and that was the plea I was making with the community was can we leverage the pieces of trust that you might not have with me but with the community that we can move fast on policy the items that are needed that need to be an ordinance by law. Let's attack that in a prioritization.

So 60 days to meetings that's another 60 days on top of the 60. Well, I think the the the request was to have the full analysis of everything that was provided in a 20page ordinance. So, there's there's 20 pages of the ordinance made up of a collection of items. Drafted a 35page motion today and one day, but you know, research and everything. Why does it need 60 days for 20 pages? That that's outside of my pay grade. I I don't do legal. Um but so I'm not going to try and entertain an answer with that. I'm not that smart enough to know that answer. It's a comp it's a complicated piece of work, Mrs. Martino. It is complicated. Making it very

complicated. Make it complicated. If we started out and this had been a a talk about just doing a welcoming ordinance, we could and I said we I said at the very beginning, you're going to make it more complicated by adding these parts on it. And that's where we're at. So, we will do those parts. You all did that. Ma'am, I have the floor. I have the floor. You go for it. I agree with Mr. Dixon. This has to be done so it's done right and we're doing every part and it's going to have to be worked through a piece at a time. And that's what that's what that's why it's going to take 60 days. If you want it to come back, we don't want to do that in in two weeks. Miss

Okay, Miss Martinez. Miss Martinez. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Mayor, thank you so much. which I just wanted to go ahead and explain the timeline how I found this out. Okay.

I just wanted to explain the timeline how I found this out and what happened. So on December 3rd when we all were here and it was brought up that we were going to have a discussion about the ordinance. Um, I was asking, well, I'm not going to vote for something that I don't understand or know about. And so they said, well, that's why we're discussing it. Fair enough. But I will say just in my timeline that I met with Kofi Goofy back in November 13th and um, Miss Padilla and the person next to you and we had a very productive meeting because we were all respectful. We were just short on time because there's so much to go ahead and and um talk about and I found out more information from coffee than I have from the people that I've been asking to talk to me or answer my questions. And I remember what you mentioned to me was the um municip municipal ID. I had I told you guys I had never even heard of that. And so you guys gave me examples. I looked them up. And so in that and when you were respectful and and listening to me, I explained to you the process. Okay, we're just part-time here. You know, it's not like we're making bunches of money. The ones who are our staff. Normally what happens is that these things are brought up to staff and they vetted out for us and you know we can put input take out and so then so it was the December 3rd meeting. I honestly thought that in that meeting we're going to come back in January and that didn't happen. So we came back in February, February 25th. And so I'm still asking questions that nobody has has answered and and none of the two council people who proposed this have ever spoken to me

about it. But what happened was uh thank you very much, Councilman Dixon, because we had a meeting, but it was after that, right? It was um in March. We had the meeting on March 5th. And so what what happened when we were discussing it um you were going ahead and explaining but I still had questions on uh the municipal ID like how is that going to help? I was uh the fund. I was asking about the the legal fund. I mean, I still have questions on this and so we also ran out of time because uh unfortunately we don't speak like we should. You know, it's been years since the last time I spoke to you and so um you know, I'm glad that we did. I'm glad that we did because when you went ahead and spoke to me about this, it was very minimal. It was just like we went ahead and and we discussed some things and that helped me a lot, you know, to go ahead and understand that And so this process here, I just I have a question for the city manager. How does policy really work? Because it seems like people um are not really uh looking for this. I just want some clarification so that everybody can go ahead and listen to it. Can it really just policy just be changed like that? Is that something has that been done in the past or how does that work?

How do you not know this with so many? We're trying to get a question. We're trying to get a question answered here and you don't have the answer. So please, Mr. Manager, I asked a a question to the city manager. We have a question for the city manager.

Policy is established by the city council and that the staff deviates from that policy direction. It's incumbent upon the city council to red address the inaction by staff. So, are you saying that we just can't change it on a whim? It has to come to us, right? If you see that staff is deviating from established policy set by the city council, it's incumbent upon the council members to direct the city manager to take proper action consistent with the council direction and in that policy. Okay. That's what I thought because it's not something that can just be changed like that. There has to be consequences if it is changed without us knowing. Thank you. Uh I have a question of clarification.

Miss Al Faro, I just want to uh question of clarification. City manager. I've been here since May. I've never seen a policy. And so when are how are those policies defined? When are they done? Where are that book of policies? Where is that shared? They're publicly available. For instance, the the termination of officer lens was all policybased. Those policies, procedures are available on the police department transparency page. There is no law associated with those and it follows the process with that. There are similarly different administrative rules within the organization or directions whether written or not that establish areas. But anything that's in writing, you can find access to that.

Yeah. But people have to go search for it versus having those discussions and bringing policy every time for a change though, right? Is that correct?

You have to change an ordinance in the same way or there really isn't it's it it's more of an enforcement distinction. When you want to terminate an employee, you don't make an ordinance violation to have that person terminated. There's actions that place within the ambit of the of the organization to do it. And so that's really what the distinction is. They can both be equally as effective. In fact, when it comes to terminating po um when it comes to terminating employees, there is no ordinance that directly well there it's easier to terminate an employee using a policy rather than an ordinance and that's what the distinctions are. They just lend themselves for the most efficient operation of an organization like this. And thank you for saying that an ordinance is more enforceable.

Okay. And Miss Martinez still on the floor. Have another question. Thank you. So, um, my issue with this, there's some things in the ordinance that I think that could be policy more more so than an ordinance. And I think like Mr. Good was saying, this will go ahead and speed up the issue once we go through something like this, you know. Uh, so I think that that's important. I think that the cost is is important, too. We've been uh discussing that. And what happens is when we went ahead and we just passed a budget, we weren't all in agreement. So cost is very very important on what on what this is going to cost everybody. Thank you.

Okay. Anybody else? Mr. Thorne, Mr. Mr. Stefen. We have a motion. Have a motion and a second on the floor. There's nothing else. Uh clerk, please call the vote. Withdraw your motion. Council member Alaro. Capital No. Dixon, no. Dixon, no. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, no. Stefan, no. Thorne, yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Mayor Captain, uh, yes. Motion passes 54.

Shame on you. September. So, Mr. Manager, you have your work cut out for you. You have 60 days to uh uh work on this process and Mr. Mr. Mr. Dixon and Miss Alaro will keep an update on the pro on process. I don't know how you plan to um Yeah, we'll we'll work on that. Yeah, we'll provide an update um on the behalf of city staff directly. Um the city manager, you'll confer with the manager and get an update from him. Bring it back. Yeah. Okay.

Announcements from the council. Anybody have an announcement? Mr. Thorne. Thank you, Mayor. Uh if you recall some months back we had a proclamation for Rhonda Brandice for her marathon running representing Elgen seven continents and sadly she passed away last week. Oh,

so I did want to say uh our sympathy goes out to the Brandis family, but also just in from Senator Castro, who I respect strongly. She will read a proclamation for Rhonda from the Senate floor about noon tomorrow. It can be heard online at ilga.gov. May Rhonda rest in peace. Thank you. Okay. Any other announcements from the council? Saw that, Miss Powell?

Yes. Um, I have a couple of announcements. Um, there was a bridging racial divides forum sponsored by the African-American Coalition of Kain County, Central Day Information, and Fox Valley um, Citizens for uh, peace and justice uh, this past weekend. and I want to thank them for starting this conversation and I look forward to continued conversations. Um, I think they're very important. Um, I want to say congratulations to the winners in the recent primary election and thank those who ran and wanted to truly serve um, our communities. Um, as well as thank the election staff and volunteers who participated in the election process. Um, I want to say a quick uh say condolences to Bethesda Church of God in Christ on the passing of retired pastor James Marx, who was laid to rest this past weekend. Um, he was a wellrespected leader, a man of God, and best friend to my late pastor of Progressive Baptist Church, uh, Pastor Willie Tate. Um, so I my condolences go out to Pastor Markx's family um and the Bethesda Church of God in Christ family um on the loss of um their retired pastor. Um and last but not least, I wanted to announce that there are a couple No Kings rallies coming up this weekend on Saturday, March 28th. One is um at Grove and Kimble from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the other one is in Foundry Park. um at the intersection of Route 31 and Kimell uh from 10:00 a.m. until uh 12 noon.

Thank you. Anything else from the council? Uh I'd like to echo uh Council Member Powell's remarks about uh Pastor James Marks. He was a true champion for the community, helped his neighborhood. He and I worked on a number of projects there. I worked there with Neighbor Works and redid some houses out there. we put a a park in. Um just a great guy and uh always thought about the city of Elgen and he was working on the community and so his his influence extended uh beyond his congregation and the church to that community and the whole east side. So very uh uh lost Pastor Tate as well, great friend of mine. So okay, announcements from the council. None, mayor. Thank you. Entertain a motion to adjourn to executive session. So moved.

Second. Moved and second to adjurnn. Clerk, please call the role. Council member Zafaro, yes. Dixon, yes. Good. Yes. Martinez, yes. Ortiz, yes. Powell, yes. Stefan, yes. Thorne, yes. Mayor Captain, yes. We are adjourned.