City Council Meeting - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone and welcome to the Pre-council meeting for the city of Joliet today Monday September 14th 2026 530 in council chambers the Honorable Mayor Terry Darcy presiding We'll begin with roll call mayor Darcy

Councilman Cardenas is absent. He did let me know that he would not be in attendance this evening Councilman Clement here Councilman hug Councilman Abarra here Councilman Moreno here Councilman Mudren Councilwoman Coleman Councilman Reardon here Next is citizens to be heard on agenda items. We do have one person signed up Delilah

Good evening. Delilah LeGrette, Jackson Township Assessor. I am here speaking as the Assessor tonight. I am here this evening to speak on the preliminary plat of Third Coast. As the Assessor for all of the south end of Joliet, anything south of Schweitzer Road, I wanted to bring to your attention the risk of any new industrial buildings being built without them having immediate access to use them. If any new industrial building were allowed to be built, but not be able to be occupied based on kind of what I understand from this agreement, right? Like they can build the building, but they gotta wait for the bridge and such to be in place. that does affect the entire region every year i have multiple appeals from industrial for vacancy reasons the amount that they are able to use for vacancy reasons is dependent on the entire vacancy in the area So just to give you an example for this year, I have a building that's about 30% vacant. It was last year as well. Last year, the Joliet area, specifically Cushman and Wakefield call it the Joliet corridor. Last year, the vacancy rate was 5.9%. We, you, all of us, we took a $400,000 loss based on that. 33% vacancy of their building. This year, their appeal is requesting $2 million of lowering. They have the current rate at 8.1%. So the amount of value that can be adjusted is based on that entire region vacancy rate. If buildings are built without any access to use them. they will be 100% vacant at that point. Every warehouse in the area can use that increase in vacancy. Allowing buildings that cannot be occupied to be built will have a direct effect on the city's equalized assessed value. As the vacancy climbs, the EAV can go down. And as you know, equalized assessed value is the very first step of that tax cycle for you guys. my request here for you is to find a way to not approve any building permits at all until there is full appropriate access to this part of third coast i don't want to see an increase in residence tax bills i don't want to see idot needing to allow 53 to be used the same way they needed to allow it on the west side of 53. I do feel like there have definitely been positive steps since I first started in front of you all. And I know that there has been assurance time and time again that Joliet residents will benefit from this project. This is one of the ways I see as the assessor that could really not be beneficial for residents until they have that ability to be occupied. So whatever way you guys can do that, whether that's slowing down this plat, whether it's having reassurance that you don't need to issue permits for a new build until that bridge or whatever you require is in place to get access to those new buildings, my request is to just not increase the vacancy in the Joliet corridor. This is something I do feel like can be controlled with you all, so that is my request. Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak on an agenda item this evening?

Kathy Garthas, hey, on this North Point thing, we all know, we've heard all the things about the lies that have been going on with North Point, all the way from the very beginning, even when they were going through Elwood, trying to get approved in Elwood. You know, this closed route that they talked about, but they never ever bothered saying, they acted like the trucks were all just gonna stay in there all the time, 24-7, 365 days a year. We all know now that they are now gonna be having trucks leaving to go into and from this facility And then it's like you guys don't think about the impact on the roads already Like we ain't got enough problems with the roads. We got enough trucks on the roads We ain't got enough police out there to even police them all you know when I sit up the road from my mom's place and watch these trucks just go flying up and down her road and I know police out there. There's no police out there at all. And you guys gotta think about it. You guys gotta start getting your police out there. Which police you know are on demand. So that's why I can't understand why you're allowing all this stuff to keep on being developed and everything. When you guys know you ain't got the police power to police it. You guys say, Cole, we can't have cops sitting out there 24-7. Well, why? Warehouses. The warehouses run 24-7. I think you'll be able to have cops out there 24-7. for safety reasons you guys know how bad these drivers are because of all the accidents the fatal accidents that happen so why you guys are proven and keep on approving more to keep coming to the area and ruin it more you guys are not unable to have handle it you guys have gotten too big for your bridges the old saying goes and you guys just want to reach out and keep on getting land and just to say hey joey that's growing become bigger going to become bigger in chicago yeah but you guys can't handle it None of yous can handle it. And the residents are pushing back, and we've been pushing back, and we've been speaking up, and we've said we've had enough of it. We don't want any more. You know, up the road from my ma's place, there's this brand new maple tree warehouse sitting there. It's built, it's done, and it just sits vacant. And it's an ugly sight for my neighbors to be looking out, especially Mike Marshall, and you're looking out his front door, front windows, and seeing this ugly warehouse. but nothing going on with it. When I drive past it, I look and see there's nobody in it yet. You're letting these warehouses get built and there's nobody in them. Why are you letting these developers come in and build these things when they know damn well they don't have nobody to rent them yet?

Stop allowing this, please.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak under citizens to be heard on agenda items?

Okay, seeing none next the city manager will review tomorrow night's actionable items and before I do that I'd like to invite Allison Swisher up to give an update on the Joliet Southeast sanitary district because we've had you know members of the public here before and I just want to keep the council in the public Abreast of what's what we're doing and what we've accomplished thus far

Good evening, Mayor and Council. As Beth said, I'll be providing an update on the activities that have happened in the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District area since we last had discussions in early July. So just as a reminder, Southeast Joliet Sanitary District is the Preston Heights area. It's mostly unincorporated. Area that the city acquired February 1st We had an agreement with the county that we would take over the water and sewer utilities and the county would provide funding for improvements So there were issues experienced in late June early July where there were significant water outages that impacted many Customers and that lasted for a significant duration So I'm happy to report that since then we have not experienced those issues there have been some outages, but they have been a much shorter duration, about two and a half hours on average, and impacted far fewer residents. So we did have a meeting with residents on July 30th. We had many representatives from the Department of Public Utilities, as well as John Lukancic with the emergency management. Really good conversations with residents. I think the residents were really happy that we were here. uh trying to address their concerns we did prepare john did prepare a emergency water outage plan and some of the recommendations of that plan have been implemented implemented we distributed five gallon water jugs for emergency water use those were purchased purchased by the city but reimbursed by the county We executed the IGA with Newell Park for shower facilities. And then also John has been having a weekly water distribution event. There was a lot of cases of water donated. And so those donated water bottles or water has been distributed. And to date, 2,500 cases have been distributed. And John plans to continue that weekly distribution. Also, getting to the root of the problem is replacing the aging infrastructure. The water main project that's being funded by the county is wrapping up this month, and that will add that critical second feed, which will allow for water service to be maintained on the south end of the system that right now has experienced outages due to there only being one feed into the system. we have also the council did award engineering contract for the second phase of water main replacement and that is already underway and we hope that even might be started work later this year depending on permitting we also have met kevin sing and i have met with the county about trying to accelerate the additional funding that they have committed to provide for work in the district and they have identified about an additional $1 million that they can provide in the short term to help accelerate that work. And so we are already planning for what the scope of work for a phase three of Water Main improvements would be. So I think the amount of work that we've done in this area in a short period of time has been significant. And I know in talking to many of the residents, they're happy with the improved service that they're receiving from the city.

Tomorrow we will have two proclamations one recognizing Constitution week and one for nonviolent city We will have appointments to the Joliet Arts Commission an appointment to the Board of Fire and Police Board and reappointment to the police pension board We will hear from the Finance Committee and the Public Service Committee. Moving on to the consent agenda. Approval of minutes, invoices to be paid. Council memo 45426, approval of agreement for professional services with Hutchinson Engineering Inc. for phase three structural inspection services for the Third Coast Parkway over Illinois Route 53 bridge in the amount of $196,000. All costs for these supplemental oversight services will be reimbursed by North Point at the conclusion of the review process. Council memo 455 26 approval payments for emergency contractor tree and brush removal for June 10th July 3rd and August 11th 2026 storm events in the amount of six hundred and one thousand four hundred and seventy one dollars and 25 cents so I was reading Kendall County's emergency management update today and And they were talking about how two of these weather events, we had up to 100 mile an hour winds that took a lot of people, including mine, all of our power out. And they're really severe storms that we've had within the span of just a couple of months. So in these instances, we do have all of our public works employees go out and pick up debris that people bring to the Yeah, to the parkway so we can pick it up for them. But often we have to get outside contractors to help us with that. And so we had five local contractors that assisted to remove the trees and clear brush as directed from June 11 through August 28th. So we don't have the the big large equipment for the huge trees And so that's why we have contractors that we contract out. So this was for those storms for emergency cleanup

There was one contractor that had a current contract. I just want to make sure that All his work didn't come out of that contract came out of the emergency It did funny. Okay.

Yeah Absolutely fix that. Thank you Yeah Council memo 456 26 approval of amendment number two for professional engineering services related to the North Point development plan review to Hutchinson Engineering Inc in the amount of $50,000 again the city will be reimbursed by North Point for the cost of the bridge review at the end of the review process Council memo 457 26 approval of change order number four for the 2024 electrical maintenance assistance contract to Meade electric company and the amount of thirty seven thousand seven hundred ten dollars and ninety cents and payment requests numbers nine to eighteen and the total amount of thirty seven thousand seven hundred and ten dollars and ninety cents Moving on to agenda items. Council memo 45926 approval of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance renewal for active and retiree employees. So the purpose of this agenda item is to renew our contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois for health, dental, and vision insurance and adopt the benefits offered to achieve and retired employees for plan year 2027. The city is expanding its health insurance offerings to include both HMO and HDHP plan options for 2027, giving employees more choices to align their coverage with their individual health care needs and financial preferences. Additionally, the city is also introducing the Benistar Medicare Advantage solution for post-65 retirees, providing a streamlined, cost-effective group retiree medical plan supported by Medicare-trained specialists and enhanced benefit coordination to assist our retirees with any needs that they have.

Mayor? Again, this is voluntary. Yeah. If it fits their needs in the city, we'll save money on this new contractor.

Yeah, and it's providing more services. And so, yeah, it's... Just we've had employees come and ask about like do you have HMO? You know, I guess if you have a larger family that might be more reasonable some people want a really high deductible So it's really just adding those things Like we did preventative care last year for the exempts Obviously, this doesn't affect the unions Unless they choose to negotiate at a later date for something like this So it's really just our exempt employees and and retirees that we're doing the annual renewal for with additional benefits. I

We couldn't say I'm sorry Right right. Yeah, that's that was new. Yeah, that's new one Yes

Is that correct, Liz? I don't know if I'm understanding the question fully.

For active employees, yes. For the Medicare Advantage plan, dental is now included.

Council memo 460 26 approval of property liability and workers compensation insurance renewal so we've done we're doing a lot of work expanding our safety standards and the safety of our employees and so this is all a part of that I think it was like a 1% increase so not too bad for liability purposes for property liability workers compensation we have to do it every year. Licenses and permit applications Council memo for 6226 an application for a drive through permit for savvy sliders restaurant at 16301 Boulevard place unit one oh one so this restaurant consists of new construction on lot a 8 within the Boulevard subdivision so this restaurant will be near the Olive Garden that sits there today. Moving on to ordinances and resolutions. Council memo 46326, ordinance approving a special use permit to allow box truck parking as an accessory use located at 1395 North Larkin Avenue So the site is currently the Will County Habitat for Humanity Restore, which has been at this location since 2017. And they're just asking to be able to park four box trucks that will be available. Hours of operation for this will be Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. So the idea is if you come shopping, you find a couch, then you can also rent a truck and get it home as well.

It would be for their box trucks, right?

Yeah, Habitat for Humanity.

Okay, thank you. Are these going to be in the front or the back or anywhere on the property? Do we know?

We're going to be on the side.

Okay, good enough. Thank you.

Yep. Council memo 464 26 ordinance approving a special use permit to allow a semi trailer sales service and repair facility located at 1720 workers court The purpose is to allow a service and repair facility for both new and in-service trailers for Hyundai Trans lead and other companies that purchase trailers through W&B service company the site will also have a sales office for trailers and parts and some parts storage at the ZBA meeting resident Margie C PON represented area residents spoke in favor of the petition But only if the special use were limited to W and B services company the petitioner was agreeable to this condition condition and has been added as a condition of the special use I know I've talked to councilwoman I borrow about this and So really what that means is we're granting it for this use only. If someone were to come in after Hyundai TransLead, it would revert back.

i say something about that can i just thank everyone involved for this because that is exactly how it's supposed to work the owner reached out to the community the community toured it and they agreed on something remember i talked to you about that they agreed on something that is exactly how it works you're not going to win every time but you're you're going to win when you win over the community sometimes anyway so thank you to everyone involved Also Margie seven and Megan Cooper. Thank you so much for making this happen.

Thank you Council memo 465 26 ordinance approving a special use permit to allow an automobile service station and accessory car wash located at the northeast corner of Route 59 and Theodore Street so In December December 19th of 2023, which was my first meeting. I probably had no idea what was going on yet and We did deny a similar petition the zoning board meeting Did recommend this use approval of four to zero? there's a another gas station right across the street, so Car wash, I'm sorry car wash right across the street. So it's up to the council to decide if You want to see another one or if you think there's a better use for that location? I

I just had a question real quick for the petitioner. Is he available? Have you built more gas stations in the area or in different cities? What was your first location?

Yeah, we built a couple of gas stations.

A couple? OK. I'm assuming you made a study like, for example, Knowing that there's a market for it, or I know somebody made a comment, or we got an email saying that it was getting a little oversaturated with gas stations, and the residents didn't want to see another gas station. So I'm assuming there's a market for it, or?

Yes, we have done the market study analysis for the gas station with the car washers.

okay second third question technically traffic study I've seen in the notes that they did ask for that in the in the planning commissioners zoning board Is there one?

There was no traffic study done in this instance because the subdivision always anticipated this being a B3 commercial retail use, including the potential for a gas station. So the already approved subdivision had accounted for any traffic that would be generated for this use, and staff did not require it as part of moving forward. While it was mentioned, it was still recommended for approval. I guess another thing would be

I guess maybe for staff, do we all foresee having to have a traffic light right on Cobalt and Theodore? You know, you have the neighborhood right across the street with the pheasant landing. Last thing I want is kids running across the street on Theodore. I know people speed all the time, you know? I don't want somebody to get hurt. Is that a question that can get answered either from staff or maybe you guys?

Well, traffic signals would come by way of a warrant, and so we wouldn't necessarily be able to, you know, instantly produce a traffic light. But based on my understanding from the preliminary engineering and everything that's been done, this development alone wouldn't trigger a new one. But certainly the engineer can address that question more directly, less than the staff as a more thorough answer.

Thank you.

Mayor. Just follow up on Juan's question. You have two other gas stations. Where are those located at?

In North Aurora.

Under the same name? Same company? Okay, thanks.

Beth?

Yes.

What was the date?

That meeting was my very first one. It was December 19th of 2023.

I'm not sure I see a difference between the two projects. We said no to one.

My understanding is that the other one did not have a gas station component. I believe it was just a standalone car wash to go against the other standalone car wash.

Same basic thing. We said no to one. It's very similar. It would be awfully difficult to... explained to the other person whoever that was why we said no then and not no now right something i need to put out there yes we can all consider it that's why i wanted to bring up the dates yeah no problem i would know councilman hug that the previous guest the previous car wash owner had uh attended meetings and objected to the last petition and

I know that the full city council got an email today from the neighborhood. So they all received a letter stating that the neighborhood does not support it.

But that wouldn't necessarily address the other car wash owners who I also understand.

I don't I don't know who you're talking about but yeah I didn't really care what the other business owner competition can be healthy it was the best use for that for the immediate community that hasn't changed same concept for me but I'm only speaking for myself

Thank you, okay, thank you

Next item, council memo four, oh no. Council Memo 46626, ordinances associated with the Third Coast Intermodal Hub 2A subdivision. Ordinance approving the preliminary plat of Third Coast Intermodal Hub 2A subdivision. Ordinance approving the final plat of Third Coast Intermodal Hub 2A Unit 1 subdivision. And an ordinance approving the recording plat of Third Coast Intermodal Hub 2A. Unit 1 subdivision. I believe, do we have a visual of this site?

Is Jane over there?

If you can find it, clerk, it'd be great to see it just for their, yeah, okay, great. So an aggregate of three million square feet of industrial warehouse buildings on the east portion, east of Route 53, prior to approval of a regional traffic plan for the remainder of the development provided that the closed loop truck network that was detailed in the agreement is completed. Permits may be issued for warehouse construction, but no occupancy permits can be granted until the bridge construction is completed.

Yeah, yeah in reference to what Delilah said I would has I'd like to find out if a non permitted for occupancy building would have any effect on the Vacancy rate of a of an area or region or whatever. I'm not sure I think that what she's talking about in vacancy Well, we need to clear it up is vacant buildings that have been permitted to be used. These buildings wouldn't get occupancy permit until everything is done to make sure they don't go out on 53.

Mayor, I was thinking the same thing. And in fact, it almost sounds like what was implied even without the formal occupancy, that somebody who owns a building could choose to be vacant and then say, I get a discount? That doesn't sound right to me. I think you have to be probably approved for vacancy. We need to clarify this. And that's Todd's job, right? We need to clarify it. And also actively trying to, I would assume, rent it. You can't just say, I don't want to rent it, so give me a break.

Yeah, there's a lot of moving parts to that right well, thank you. I just want to address what Delilah said, right?

I'm sorry you have a question

Just want to say I feel obligated to say this tonight and just get it over with I don't want my name Associated or tangled with anything that has to do with North Point for me and my district. It was a very divisive Situation that happened and I just I don't want my name tangled with anything with this. So it's not a project I can support.

Thank you For the petitioner Are you guys here? For North Point, are you guys building the bridge before the warehouses?

Councilman, Nate Washington with KGG. I represent the applicant. So we are going to be, we are working with IDOT to finish up the permitting. Some of the actions here, including the dedications, are necessary to get the final IDOT release of the permit, but all of their review, to my understanding, has been completed and is pretty much ready to go pending some of these items. So they'll be going simultaneously. We'll be working on the grading and the construction of the bridge at the same time that we're working on the grading and preliminary construction for the rest of the next phase of the project. But as has been mentioned, we cannot get an occupancy permit on any building that might finish ahead of the bridge until such time as the bridge has been completed. But the building on all of that is going to happen simultaneously. Thank you.

Another part of this is that, oh sorry, Larry. just wanted to say another part of it that which jives with what needs saying the applicants applying for necessary right-of-way dedications to allow the construction of the bridge and 53 the UP bridge and the 53 bridge that would ultimately complete the closed-loop truck network what would be the general reason why we didn't go

We can't build a bridge without a permit.

Right, but it wasn't tied up in court. The whole project, it was court that stopped us from building it.

Well, I mean, there was certainly litigation that was holding up certain aspects of this, but I believe work with IDOT, as far as... No, I'm just clarifying why. It doesn't exist today because of those other...

I don't think the developer waited until the last minute on... Oh, absolutely not.

They've been working with IDOT diligently the whole time with the hope that the litigation would... settle in some form of resolution to move the project forward. So they've been working behind the scenes with IDOT while the rest of the process played out. Thank you.

Okay, no further questions? okay then we have a lot of watershed protection area ordinances that will follow here so an ordinance approving a special oh sorry council memo 468 26 ordinance approving a special use permit to allow development of lots within the Cedar Creek watershed protection area located east and west of the Union Pacific Railroad and south of Millsdale Road so Here in these watershed agreements, the staff does find that this request meets the criteria outlined in the watershed protection area ordinance. Similarly for council memo 469 26 ordinance approving a special use permit to allow development of a lot within the Cedar Creek watershed protection area Located east of Illinois Route 53 and north of Breen Road again meets the criteria outlined in our ordinance Council memo 470 26 ordinance approving a special use permit to allow development of a lot within the Jackson Creek watershed protection area located east of Illinois Route 53 and south of Null Road Council memo 471 26 ordinance amending the 20. Oh here. We're changing gears now done with watersheds on to budget Council memo 471 26 ordinance amending the 2026 annual budget for the city of Joliet to authorize funding for the settlement of Castillo versus the city of Joliet Todd's prepared to speak if anyone has any questions

Even without questions, I would say that basically this is to fund our SIR. It's self-insurance retention, which that's set at $1 million. So if you want to think about the self-insurance retention, it's like either the first layer in the insurance, we have multiple layers. Each one carries, let's say, 1 to 5, 5 to 10, so on and so forth, up to a certain amount. We have the first layer, zero to one. In layman's terms, it's like a deductible. You go to the doctor and you're expected to pay a certain amount before the next layer will kick in. And so what this does is it funds our SIR up to a million dollars. That si R has an eroding si R which basically means if we spend 200,000 on outside counsel you deduct that from the million and we owe up to that amount we're we have a settlement in the Castillo case and What we need to do is fund our si R so the next layer of the insurance can kick in So if there's any questions based on that

Yeah, just to be clear, Todd, so we have a settlement. You can't give details on it just yet?

I can, actually. It was approved by the court last week. Each individual layer has to approve up to their amount. So let's say zero to one, the next layer is not going to kick in. So the ultimate amount was $12,500,000, and that was a negotiation with all of the layers of the insurance company. And so basically our right, what we're funding is zero to one. After that, because the next layer is on the hook, that insurance company gives the approval for it. And you come to a negotiation and a meeting of the middle. I don't want to get into the nitty gritty of everything that went through it. It was a long, tiresome negotiations. And the demand was actually much higher than the amount that we settled for. So at this point, what I'm asking for is just to fund the SIR. Thank you.

okay moving on to resolutions council memo 473 26 resolutions associated with right-of-way dedications to allow construction of the union pacific railroad bridge a resolution approving dedication of approximately 11.1 acres of land is public right-of-way south of millsdale road and west of the union pacific railroad and a resolution approving dedication of approximately 8.1 acres of land as public right-of-way south of Millsdale Road and east of the Union Pacific Railroad So those subject dedications are needed to allow the construction of the UP railroad bridge, which needs to be Completed to finish the closed-loop system, which we just got done talking about

I think to clear that one up a little bit too that was part of the redo on that annexation agreement and the city didn't buy that land but because the permits are coming through the ICC the city has to I think be part of the land and then can be used for that purpose so this was part of the redo last year of the whole issue of North Point Center Point bridges closed loops and the outcome was that this land was unprocured to be used for the bridge over the UP okay I've lost my spot here

Am I repeating myself if I do council memo 474 26? Okay resolution approving a dedication of approximately 4.3 acres of land as public right-of-way west of Illinois Route 53 Staff has reviewed engineering and construction plans for the proposed Illinois Route 53 bridge and has no objections to the proposed dedication right away Council Memo 47526, resolution denying a variation of use to allow conversion of a single unit residence into a two unit residence in R3, one and two family residential use in the R2 single family residential zoning district. Located at 540 Bluff Street. So tomorrow a yes vote will be to deny this petition the zoning board meeting recommended denial Ford is zero and the owner began work without permits and was tagged by the building division when planning staff reviewed the building permit that was Submitted they disapproved it and told the owner they needed a variation of use to allow up to two units in a variation front yard sat back to allow a full second story Any other questions on that one? Council Memo 47626, resolution authorizing execution of a letter of understanding for FAI 80, Interstate 80, I-80 between the state of Illinois and the city of Joliet, Gardiner Street to Gallagher Road. The proposed letter of understanding is consistent with past agreements that the city and IDOT have entered into for landscaping maintenance. Councilmember 477 26 resolution accepting a general operating support grant from the Illinois Arts Council for the 2027 grant fiscal year So the Illinois Art Council's awarded the city of Joliet a grand of $2,500 for a general operating support grant for the 2027 grant fiscal year. I um general operating support grants intend to provide local arts agencies such as the city of joliet's art commission with funds to cover a variety of expenses including but not limited to advertising costs program supplies and commission projects and events Council memo 478 26 resolution approving an easement agreement with the Commonwealth Edison company comed for utility facilities across city owned property So comment is seeking limited non-exclusive rights to install and maintain electrical and related utility infrastructure across a defined portion of this parcel The city retains the ability to require relocation or removal of facilities for public projects and may terminate the easement if future government use becomes incompatible with utility operations. That concludes the agenda for tomorrow.

Next is public comments. Is there anyone who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item? on a non-agenda item.

You guys know who I am. As we know, this month is big to me because this is Suicidal Prevention and Awareness Month. I want to speak from my heart and everything. about how people who are suffering from depression, who are thinking about suicide, feel. Our feelings go unnoticed or we are taken as criminals. They treat us like criminals because we feel this way. And this is not fair. And I'm sick and tired of everybody thinking that you could just take these people and put them in a mental ward and drug them up on mental pills and their problems disappear. It doesn't work that way. Their bodies are still thinking and their minds are still thinking because they still have their fears or whatever it is making them depressed going on. It's like being trapped in a cage with a lion. And everybody thinks you just put them in a mental ward. Well, that doesn't make that lion go away. And that lion don't care if you're in a mental ward or if you're on mental pills. The lion can represent an attacker. It can represent whatever it is that made that person depressed and feeling suicidal. And I want you all to understand this, because I'm tired of people just thinking you just ship them off to mental wards and put them on mental pills. That doesn't get rid of that lion. That lion is still there. It's still on their mind. Now all of a sudden you put them in a mental ward. Now they're trapped in a cage with the lion still. And then now they're in a mental ward and being drugged up. How is this helping them? You think that lion cares? That lion don't care. The lion laughs at you and he's going to attack you again. working on their mind they keep thinking about it but everybody keeps thinking you put people in a mental ward and put them on mental pills that their problems disappear and i want to tell everybody this does not go this way and this does not stop their suicidal thoughts and what's going on with their mind and i want people to change the way they treat people who are suicidal because this is not funny anymore You know, we have just, you know, we just wrapped up, you know, got the Lindsey Clancy trials just wrapped up with being hung jury and everything. Everybody knows how drugged up Lindsey Clancy was on all those medicines. Did they help her? Look what they made her do. And this is what I'm trying to get at. You know, we have Niola Jugg. Naomi Judd, who was very public about her struggles and that, and she's tried everything and what happened to her. They helped her so much she put the gun to her head and killed herself. We all know Robin Williams, the actor who made us laugh through the years. He had his issues, he had his struggles. And he too went for treatments. And the bottom line is they did not help him. They helped him so much they hung himself. causes death. So when is the treatment of people who are suicidal gonna change? We gotta stop thinking that you just haul them off to mental wards and drug them up on mental pills and their problems disappear. I don't wanna be seeing this happen anymore. I've tried it myself and trust me, it didn't help me either. It actually made my life worse. It actually made me lose my lawsuit and my auto accident. So my bottom line is I'm tired of cops and police and government and doctors thinking you just put people on mental wards and their problems go away. They don't. You need to start tackling and getting rid of that lion. Get that lion, put that lion in prison. Then that person could start feeling better and start healing. but they ain't gonna do anything if you're gonna let that lion keep on being right there and go on and attack them again. This is what people who are suffering suicidal thoughts and commit suicide suffer from and our problems go unnoticed. It's not that we're not speaking up. We are speaking up. It's just everybody wants to treat us like criminals and do us wrong and do more harm to us.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item? Okay, seeing none, I did receive a request for closed session. Is there a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel, collective bargaining, land acquisition, or conveyance pending or threatened litigation after which the meeting will adjourn? So moved. Second. It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Moreno? Aye. Councilman Mudron? Aye. Councilman Coleman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried.