City Council Meeting - Regular Meeting

Good evening, everybody. This is the June 16th meeting of the Joe City Council held in the council chambers with Mary Terry Darcy residing and I'm Jen Quillman as pro temp. And would you call a roll and then we'll call invocation? Or you want to the other way? Okay, okay. The invocation night will be set by the founder of prayer, Mr. Jeff DeVries with Prey Joliet, 1741 Essington. And with that, we call the roll. After the Pledge of Allegiance and the prayer.

Well, I represent more than 50 churches in this area that have come to pray for our city and pray for you all. And so with that, let's pray. Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for all that you've given us, Lord. We thank you for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon our city. Lord, we pray for a smooth meeting here tonight. We pray for efficiency, and we pray for clear minds, and we pray for wisdom, Lord. We pray for each person on the city council here. We pray for the mayor, that they would... Be blessed by you, Lord, and I just pray that this city would prosper further into the future and give them wisdom in order to help that happen. We ask this all in Jesus' name. Amen.

We'll begin with roll call. Mayor Darcy? Here. Councilman Cardenas? Here. Councilman Clement? Here. Councilman Hugg? Here. Councilwoman Ibarra? Here. Councilman Moreno? Here. Councilman Mudren? Here. Councilwoman Coleman?

Here.

Councilwoman Reardon?

Here.

Before we begin, I'd like to have Krista Desiderio approach and say a few words. Tonight is her last city council meeting after 26 years serving the city of Joliet, and we'll be sad to miss her, but excited for her future endeavors.

Thank you. Mayor, members of the council, Beth, colleagues, thanks for giving me a few minutes tonight to say a few words. I wrote it down because I knew it's going to be a little hard for me. So after 26 years with the City of Joliet, it's hard to believe that this chapter is coming to a close. When I first walked through the doors of City Hall, I could never have imagined the journey that lay ahead. I realize, looking back, that the most rewarding part has never been the accomplishments, it's been the people. I want to thank the mayor, city council members, past and present, for your stewardship and your dedication. To the city managers I've worked for over the years, thank you for your leadership and support. Each one challenged me to grow, and there were many, and taught me valuable lessons. To my colleagues and fellow employees, thank you for your commitment to improving the lives of the residents of Joliet. We've celebrated successes together, worked through challenges together, and occasionally persevered through crises. The relationships built over these years are what I will miss the most. I also want to thank the residents. Serving this community has been both a responsibility and a privilege. Every decision we made, every project we undertook, and every challenge we faced was ultimately about improving the quality of life for the people who call this place home. Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends. Through it all, their support and understanding made it possible for me to do the work I loved. As I reflect on everyone who has been part of this journey, I'm reminded that strong communities are built on this foundation, encouragement, respect, and kindness. As leaders of the community, each of us has a unique opportunity to set the tone for the entire city. choosing understanding over division and collaboration over conflict, resulting in a culture which can foster trust, strengthen community relationships, and create an environment where collaboration can thrive. As I retire, I leave with a tremendous sense of gratitude, gratitude for the opportunities I was given and the people who made every day meaningful. It truly has been an honor to serve, so thank you all.

I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS AND WE'LL INVITE THE COUNCIL TO DO THE SAME. KRIST, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR 26 YEARS. I FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN 26 YEARS FOR ME TOO, BUT REALLY ONLY TWO AND A HALF OR THREE. BUT I'M JUST, I'M JOKING. BUT YOU'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SUCH A partner in this I knew immediately when I met you that your heart was in the right place and that's what's most important I think in public service is really caring about the residents and caring about your coworkers wanting to do what's right for the city so I I really thank you for all the time that you spent doing this you will be missed but very excited about your future endeavors yeah mm-hmm

No, I get to go first.

Okay, go ahead.

Krista, I came in here 38 months ago, and you were the first person to really give me some knowledge and help of the city, and we had a great time working together. And I really appreciate the love you have for the city, the dedication you have for the city, the institutional knowledge that you helped us absorb help us to grow the city together. And I know you're going to do a lot of great things in the world when you leave here. I know that you do mission work all over the world, and God bless you. Thank you.

Okay. I can go?

Now that you stole all my thunder? Krista, I remember the day I got my first walk through City Hall. I mean, you took me everywhere and showed me everything with such kindness, and you could have made me feel really... you know inept but you know you you didn't you always made me feel like any question is a good question and that's how you make people always feel your your kindness and integrity and when you talk about collaboration we had some really tough times in this building in my first term and you were always such a even keel let's try to work this out in a collaborative way so that we all benefit and it was an honor to be working with you over these years you've helped me tremendously through every turn so thank you i wish you good luck and we will have to get together thank you my turn well krista it's been a long 21 years who would have thought when you when you first came on um you are uh i don't know you weren't a city clerk yet but eventually you became the city clerk and also i would say

We had three interim, I call them interim because they weren't here long, city managers. But Krista was really the city manager because those three had no clue what they were doing. And I'm not including Marty Shanahan in that. He did very well, but she did help him as well. I'm talking about before he came on board. It was a disaster. So she kept the glue together. She was the glue that kept everything together and she went on to be the city clerk and always very helpful is how it has been said by my colleagues. And she's the go-to person and there's a lot of people in the city that go to her. They call her on her personal phone and at the office because they know she will call them back and help them with her issues. Sometimes she'll call City Hall and she won't get a nice The people that call don't always get an answer, and she knows she can call Krista and always get an answer if she can't get her council person or someone else at City Hall. And they rave about her, and they're already... very upset, especially one in person in particular, which you're gonna have to show the new person to come handle her with kindness. That's what you have to do with that young lady. But anyway, it's been a long journey, ups and downs, and we got through it all, and here we are today, and I wish you nothing but the best of luck, and I know you've had some hard times, and we've had a lot of good times here, so good luck to you, and I'm sure we'll see each other. Again, thank you.

So Krista, you were there for my first orientation meeting when I was first elected. Gave me lots of information, understanding of what's happening here at the city and what is supposed to happen. And over these last 10 years for me, any question I had that I didn't know who to go to, you were always the go-to person. So in that respect, I'll definitely miss you because I don't have that person. But thank you for everything. And I agree with what was already said from everybody else. Good luck in your future.

You still have time to rescind your retirement. I was waiting for that one. There you go. I had to steal it before somebody else used it. No, I just want to say thank you for all the help that you've given me. We've worked together for about a year and some months. Maybe it's not many, many years, but the time that we worked together, it was profound. And the next person will definitely have some big shoes to fill. uh you're you were always very responsive very helpful to me and all the residents that needed something crystal was the go-to um you definitely you're a hustler great communicator i love it and i appreciate everything you did thank you so much

You already made me cry, Krista, so I'm going to try and get through this. I think it's my turn, right? Do you have something in your office that says living sunshine? You literally are living sunshine. No matter what kind of experience our residents have had here at Council, in the halls, if they had an experience with you, you made it amazing. You care so much about these residents. And God has bigger plans for you. God has global plans, worldwide plans for you. i just want to thank you for everything all of your time here i felt like i had a godmother although you're younger than me i did feel like i had a godmother that helped me through so many times so thank you so much for caring about the people in the city of juliet the residents and all of us thank you so much for everything this is not the end i might join you on one of those worldwide missions thank you

Well, Krista, when I first met you, when I first got elected, you were on the police and fire board as their executive assistant, and you were a constituent of mine. You lived in District 1, so since then you've gone through the clerk's office, and what I found initially is you're a fast learner. you really did get up to speed on the city clerk at the time you've always been a professional responsive as city clerk kind of a go-to person for me and as the deputy city manager so i do thank you for that and for the service and i wish you all the luck and whatever it is you're doing moving forward congratulations on your retirement

Everybody stole the thunder, but I just, Krista, you know, I met you many, many years ago. I'm very happy to have met you. Like Larry said, we go back in the police and fire days. The liquor commissioner's office, you helped us numerous, numerous times for issues that we had there. You always followed through whenever we would call your office out of that office. I just remember... You always follow through, and you did so much community service work just here in Joliet. I know you do things in other countries and whatnot, but one thing that sticks out is the IHSA baseball. You were there every single year, pretty much every... Like, you ran it, so it was just... That sticks out, but we had a lot of good times. You're gonna be missed, and big shoes to fill, and we will... take care of that but i just want to tell you how much i appreciate everything you've ever done for me and the citizens of joliet and and you just did a great job so you're gonna be missed so

Krista, you dunked me in the dunk tank that one time.

I still remember that.

You didn't have to, but you did, and you took a lot of joy in it, so I was wondering why. But no, like everyone else says, you're gonna be missed. I think when we first met and I first came into City Hall, it could be a little overwhelming coming into this role of this part-time job of city councilman. um but you always gave me that sense of feeling of just how can i help you know i think every time i had a question or had an issue like everyone else mentioned you were there and it never felt like anyone was bothering you it was always just well how can i help right so i i thank you for that i thank you for all the knowledge and like you said the the passion that you had for the city of georgia and uh the years that that you've been here It truly showed your passion and why you did what you did. It was more than just a job for you. I just want to say thank you and maybe we'll get you in a dunk tank for the next fundraiser. Thank you, congratulations.

You got a picture?

Yeah. You should get up here with us. Get up here in the middle. Get in the middle. Oh, sorry.

No, no.

What do you say over there?

Next is the approval of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as written? So moved.

Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marano? Aye. Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Coleman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Next is citizens to be heard on agenda items. Is there anyone who would like to speak on an agenda item this evening? Kathy?

I need to come to you over the night about this hearing about the memo about my mother's and former estate that I'm on, where I used to live. I have been doing nothing but bad luck with all this thing. You know, I have a list of things I would like to counsel to see if it's all right if I can hand these around. On these lists are things that I have lost because of this whimsy trucking. Vehicles I even lost, even though I had vehicles in my name, but whimsy trucking would never let me back on the property to get my stuff. After they evicted me and yet the attorney they hired to evict me kept the money and wouldn't let me have my money so I could go get another place and get all my stuff out and get moved to. With that, they even took all my ma's valuable stuff that she had. So what little did I have to get away from this of taking out of that house that my mother owned to cherish my ma and remember my ma by. I only had my ma's ashes to which it was hell going through that just trying to get my ma's ashes. Jan, you end up going with Sergeant Shoemaker at the time. Todd, you went over there and a couple other detectives. You guys had to set this thing up about getting a hold of Whimsy because Whimsy would not let me back on the property. And I didn't even get to go with you guys to go get my mousetraps out of that house. because Wimsey just wouldn't let me back on the property. They even told Chris Regis, who was the head of the legal department, and Chris said that, yeah, Wimsey told them that, quote, we ain't never letting her back on her property because we fear she's never gonna leave again. Or like what Susan told me when she talked to the Wimsey attorney, you know, says, Wimsey attorney told, we have no intentions of ever letting Kathleen back on the property to go get her stuff. So I had no chance to ever get my stuff. And I lost it all. I even lost all my Ma's stuff, my Ma's jewelries, my Ma's collections, all my collections. I walked away to that house with whatever I could put in my pickup trucks, my two pickup trucks, which wasn't much. And with that, I suffered, and I continue to suffer. After I got evicted, I got brutally attacked by my old neighbor. My best friend went up attacking me when I went to live with him after I got evicted, which I'm still suffering the pains of still fighting. you know i don't get no legal action for things that have happened to me i've had my car stolen even when i was still living in a pro on my mom's property things my cars were taken because whimsy made my brother go steal my cars and go send my cars my beloved cars i treasure off to the crusher i didn't even get the money for that money and they even do extortion on me of threatening me to have give up the titles to the vehicles on the property in exchange for my propane that i had left in my propane tank now when you move somewhere you're supposed to be able to take your propane with you or your new residence you go to or you get your money back from the propane company I had almost $400 coming back for me from Hicks Gas for the propane. But Wimsy decided they're going to take the tank and try to do extortion and threaten me, give up the titles to these vehicles, even though I had that Jeep in my name, Jeep Grand Cherokee in my name, me and my ma's name. I had a trailer both in me and my ma's name. But I got threatened. If I tried to take them off the property, I would be arrested. And this is just the unfairness of all this stuff. And I don't know how you could let this happen. to where I continue to suffer and I can't even get police action done, even when my attacker violates the law of protection against me. CAN'T GET JOEY POLICE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE BEFORE IN 2021 THAT THEY UH HAD AFFAIRS WITH WHIMSY YOU KNOW LIKE BRIDE LET THEM DO POLICE TRAIN IN 2021 ON HOUSES THEY BUILT IN IN 2022 I WAS NEVER TOLD WHEN THAT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WENT FOR WHEN THEY FIRST BOUGHT THEIR PROPERTY OUT THERE NOBODY FROM THE CITY WOULD TELL ME WHEN THAT THING WAS GOING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL YET NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE I ASKED

Is there anyone who would like to speak on an agenda item this evening? Okay, seeing none. Under appointments, the mayor is recommending Ralph Bias be appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second. It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Clement. Aye. Councilman Hugg. Aye. Councilwoman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Marino. Aye. Councilman Mudren. Aye. Councilwoman Kuhlman. Aye. Councilwoman Burden. Aye. Councilman Cardenas. Aye. Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried. Next is Mayor Pro Tem. Is there a motion to appoint Councilwoman Reardon to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the term July 1st, 2026 through September 30th, 2026?

So moved. Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Moreno?

Aye.

Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman? Aye.

Absolutely, aye, and I want to give this to her just so she'll get used to looking and using it, because I don't want any more to do with it.

Aye. Councilwoman Reardon. Aye. Councilman Cardenas. Aye. Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. Next, our council committee reports. We'll start with finance.

Finance Committee met here in chambers at 5.30 this evening. On the committee is Councilwoman Reardon and Councilman Hugg and myself. We had a number of items to review. We approved the resolution accepting a $20,000, $26,000 grant for the firefighters, turnout gear valve, A resolution designating financial institutions for the city's fund, which we added Wintrust to that list at this time. A resolution for new grants previously granted to the Rialto 24 and 226 of $475,000. We also approved a $2 million loan for the Rialto going forward. an ordinance amending the 2026 budget in regards to litigation of overweight vehicles, and then the monthly financial statements, the general fund revenues are coming in as expected with the budget, That would be my report unless either one of you do want to add anything. No, good.

Thank you. Okay, public service.

All right, the public service committee met yesterday, Monday, June 15, 2026 here in the council chambers at 4.30 in the afternoon as usual. And there were two contracts that we looked at, nothing major. One is required. A required yearly permit fee for wastewater discharge to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $152,500. That fee's calculated by the IEPA based on the volume of wastewater you discharge. And then we also looked at a contract for a professional services agreement for land acquisition services for the south end neighborhood shared use path to Santa Cruz land acquisition in an amount not to exceed 70,500. We had three change orders and pay estimates. The biggest one was for 181,000, and that was for the 2027 Water Main Rehabilitation Program for detailed design services. And we had four items under ordinance and resolutions, which under ordinance and resolutions, they're typically housekeeping to do with two of them approving the expenditure of fuel tax on projects we've already approved. But you have to go through the motions. So we looked at those items under ordinance and resolutions, found them to be in order. The entire agenda was unanimously approved to be moved forward to the city council with the committee recommendation to approve, and you will find all the items on tonight's agenda. That's all I have. Did I miss anything? All right, Mayor, that's my report. Thank you.

I show no other reports. Under consent agenda, approval of minutes. It is recommended the minutes of the pre-council meeting June 1st, 2026 and the city council meeting held on June 2nd, 2026 stand approved as recorded. Invoices to be paid. It is recommended this report be approved. Council memo number three zero six dash twenty six approval of change order number one for the advanced traffic management system of phase B project MFT section number twenty one dash zero zero five four six dash zero three dash TL to H&H electric company in the amount of eleven thousand two hundred twenty six dollars and seventy five cents and payment request number two and final in the amount of two hundred fifty thousand five hundred sixty nine dollars and eleven cents Council memo number 307-26, approval of change order number two for the 2024 electrical maintenance assistance contract to meet electric company in the amount of $35,229.94 and payment request number seven in the amount of $35,229.94. Council memo number 308-26, award of professional services agreement for land acquisition services for south end neighborhood shared use path to Santa Cruz land acquisitions in an amount not to exceed $70,500. Council memo number 309-26, approve payment of the 2026 wastewater discharge permit fees to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $152,500. Council memo number 310-26, approval of amendment number two to the Professional Services Agreement for the 2027 Water Main Rehabilitation Program for detailed design services to Baxter and Woodman Incorporated in the amount of $181,200. Council memo number 311-26, authorization to fund draw 16 for tax increment financing district number seven in the amount of $3,402,923.50. It is recommended Council memos 306-26 through 311-26 be approved. Is there a motion to approve all said consent agenda items? So moved. Second. It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudren? Aye. Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. under licenses and permit applications. Council memo number 313-26, issuance of class C liquor license at 1501 New Lenox Road, Love's Travel Stop number 777. It is recommended council memo number 313-26 be approved. So moved. Second. It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Budren? Aye. Councilwoman Coleman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? No. Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Council memo number 314-26, issuance of class B liquor license at 753 and 753 and a half, Ruby Street, Six Corners Tavern. It is recommended Council memo number 314-26 be approved.

So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillen? Aye. Councilwoman Burden? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Councilmember number 315-26, issuance of class D liquor license at 2356 Essington Road, El Soor Latino. It is recommended Councilmember number 315-26 be approved.

So move. Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Quillen? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Councilmember number 316-26, issuance of class B liquor license at 2302 Essington Road, Cork Lounge and Kitchen. It is recommended Councilmember number 316-26 be approved. So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Moreno? Aye. Councilman Mudren? Aye. Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Council Member number 317-26, resolution to deny issuance of Class E liquor license at 3109 Theodore Street, Lagos Grill and Lounge. It is recommended Council Member number 317-26 be approved. So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Cardenas?

Aye.

Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Ibarra? Aye. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudren? Aye. Councilwoman Coleman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Under public hearings, council memo number 319-26, public hearing for a resolution approving an annexation agreement for 23656 South Hobolt Road, A-1-26. This is a public hearing, so comments would be in order at this time. Is there anyone who would like to speak under this public hearing? Okay.

seeing none there are any further questions

this is the time to speak during public hearing okay you know just even just finishing reading what i was saying before and everything how no matter what it is i've been way i've been treated by this whimsy trucking even when i was still living at my mom's house things were being taken You know, I had my spare tire was taken right off my pickup truck because they cut the cable that holds my spare tire up on my diesel pickup truck. While I was in the driveway, while I was still, of course, resident of my ma's place. And my other pickup truck, my other Dodge, they cut the cable on that too, so that's spare tire there. So I can't even go and get a new spare tire and put it back up there because the whole unit that holds the spare tire on has been damaged and everything. You have to literally take the bed off the truck and get a new unit to put in, which costs me a lot of money. I've just been, even when I was living there, I've had peeking toms, looking in my window from the whimsy trucking facility next door while I was sleeping. I had my window open in the summertime, had my fan in the window, I look out and Right next to me is their whimsy trucking facility and having these people with pickup trucks and that sitting there staring right at my window. I get my binoculars, I look, I can see they're looking with their binoculars right in at me with my topless body while my bed is right even with the window. I had that happen numerous times because of these whimsy people. And not to mention they going around the property and snooping around the property with their gator mobile and seeing what they could steal from me. You know, they cut open even the storage, vinyl storage shed, find holes cut, full-length cuts in the vinyl outdoor storage buildings because they were getting snoopy and wanted to find out what else they could steal. I've had to where the barn was even, the barn was even broken into, the door was open, my neighbor out back called me, called me and said, hey, did you leave the barn door open? I said, no, I closed it, I locked it. They tell me the barn door's wide open. Who got in there? I even had it where I'd go out and go out and I'd come back later on and I'd find doors in the house were open.

And I'm like, I know I shut the doors.

So they've been snooping in and out. And my friend who worked at the warehouse, the DHL warehouse up the road, he even, one of the co-workers from Whimsy, from that Whimsy trucking yard was a co-worker up here and what co-worked with him up at Spotter Truck and he even told him that They bitched about me, bad-mouthed me, called me a bitch and everything. Oh, she will never leave and everything. And oh, I went in the house. I went in the house. Like, yeah. I went in the house and picked through my stuff and find out what they wanted and took. And they did. They robbed me of everything. And I don't think you should be rewarding them for such rude attitude. You let them have this thing and be like the biggest corruption of the century. It's like I said, they had doings with the Julia police before they got their trucking facility in 2022. And no matter how many times, like I said, I asked city council after the planning committee meeting, when does it go before the city council where they get their trucking facility next door? I wanted to know when that city council meeting was in 2022. And no matter how many people I called the city of Joliet, was end up being Krista, end up calling me in June of 2022, told me that it was already voted on March 15th of 2022. and i was mad because nobody in the city would tell me when what for city council because i would have been here at that city council meeting and when i talked to betty about it i talked to joe about i even talked to terry morris about it why'd you vote this in you know well betty felt sorry because nobody was there to contest it well i didn't know about it i told betty i didn't talk to you joe you said because nobody was there Well, nobody knew about what this thing was about because nobody would tell us. And the reading was, oh, to approve 20.5 acres on the west side of Venner Road. Who knows what that is?

Is there anyone else who would like to speak under this public hearing? OK, seeing none, let the record show the public hearing is now closed. Is there a motion to approve Council Memo number 319-26 resolution approving an annexation agreement for 23656 South Hobolt Road A-1-26? Second.

Any comments or questions?

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? No. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudron? Aye. Councilman McQuillan?

No.

Councilman Burden? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Under ordinances. Council Model Number 321-26. Ordinances associated with 23656 South Hobolt Road. Ordinance approving the annexation of 23656 South Hobolt Road, A-1-26. Ordinance approving the classification of 23656 South Hobolt Road to the I-1 Light Industrial Zoning District, A-1-26. It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

So moved. Second.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilman Nabarro? No. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudren? Aye. Councilwoman Coleman?

No.

Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Council memo number 322-26, ordinances associated with 23656 South Hobolt Road. Ordinance approving a special use permit to allow a truck parking facility with mobile compressed natural gas CNG fueling as an accessory component, ZBA 2026-24, Ordinance approving a variation of use to allow above-ground fuel tanks for compressed natural gas fueling in the I-1 Light Industrial District, ZBA 2026-25. It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

Motion to approve. Second.

Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Ibarra?

No.

Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudrin?

Aye.

Councilwoman Kuhlman?

No.

Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Council memo number 323-26, ordinances associated with 23656 South Hobolt Road, ordinance approving a special use permit to allow container storage and stacking up to three high, ZBA 2026-26, ordinance approving a variation of use to allow container storage and stacking up to three high in the Iowa and Light Industrial District ZBA 2026-27. It is recommended that ordinance be adopted.

I would like to move to deny that.

I second that motion.

Do vote. Okay.

It has been motioned and seconded to deny.

So just to be clear, a yes vote is to deny. Okay. Correct. Thanks. I just want to make sure everybody understands.

Councilman Marino.

just say real quick um hey john i think uh i'll keep the door open for the future uh i know yesterday we spoke a little bit about it um there's some residents there a residence some houses there and i think at the time it's we'll leave it as is but i think like everyone said yesterday maybe the doors open for the night uh once everybody's gone we can move forward and something else but all right uh yes

Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Coleman?

Anything more than two is too high, and people have been ignoring that, and we need to get on top of that. I have to vote no.

Aye, excuse me. I have to vote aye for that.

I don't want any more three, five, four, five staffings anymore. I knew that was going to happen. I vote aye for that, just to be clear.

Councilman Reardon?

Aye.

Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilman Navarro? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Okay, motion carried to deny. Council memo number 324-26, ordinance repealing a previously approved variation of use to allow the reduction of a five-unit to a four-unit residence, an R4 multifamily use, and an R3 one- and two-family residential zoning district. It is recommended said ordinance be adopted.

So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Coleman. Aye. Councilwoman Reardon. Aye. Councilman Cardenas. Aye. Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hugg. Aye. Councilwoman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Moreno. Aye. Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. Council memo number 325-26, ordinance amending the 2026 annual budget for the city of Joliet. It is recommended that ordinance be adopted. So moved.

Second.

mayor yeah todd could you give a summary of what this is yes it's um essentially it's a budget amendment for more settlements um there's one case in particular that we've had mediation on it's the overweight truck case um i can't the ink's not dry on the settlement so i can't speak too much about the exact facts of the case um but it's the ballpark of what we're talking about settling for it's um Essentially, the complaint said that we took it to administrative adjudication, and we did not have authority to do that. That was the gist of the complaint. It's a class action that went on for about five years. There was approximately 5,500 tickets that were issued at $750 a pop. Thank you. All right.

What years are these, Todd?

November of 18 through 23 is a five-year period. The ordinances predate that. Statute of limitations is the general five years, so that's why I limited it in 18.

And we can get more of a narrative on that, what it was attempting, but I think we should wait until we finalize it. Sure. Am I right? Yes.

It's still technically in litigation. It is pending litigation, and I do not want to say anything that's going to disrupt that. Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hug? Aye. Councilman Nabarro? Aye. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudren? Aye. Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Council memo number 326-26, ordinance authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental loan agreement with the Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority, Rialto Square Theater. It is recommended that ordinance be adapted. So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions? Mayor?

We did grow and I appreciate the representatives from the reality who showed up at our public service committee meeting. It was approved with a recommendation to approve to the city council on two to one vote. I voted no. I'm not going to rehash the questions, guys. Unless I say something, raise your hand. To my satisfaction in making my decision was kind of like basically the part of the collateral for the two million loan is a guarantee a unguaranteed future grants from year to year 475,000 yes they've been approved for a number of years but that bothers me because future councils and another two years three years four years would almost be obligated to approve it even if they didn't want to for some reason because it would be the city paying themselves back it's also litigation which again they can't talk about so we don't have an exact number and we don't know exactly how that litigation will come out for sure there's some confidence i think on their behalf but that could cover some or all of the lump again that that's that's a hope that's an if and during these hard times the taxpayer dollars there's taxpayers struggling there's businesses that have struggled not just downtown up and down around 30 corridor and even up in the 59 corridor there are individuals that are struggling and we're not giving loans to them they have to find a way to make it on their own so that's why i would oppose it and thank you mayor mayor could get an explanation how did we get here so everybody at home and here understands what we're doing here sure wade can you address that

Absolutely. Good evening. So my name is Wade Walsh. I'm the executive director at the Rialto. This is Bob Filato, our authority board president. So we'll have a presentation here on the screens that will pop up just to answer your question, Councilman Clement, exactly how we got here. So maybe if it works. So if you remember, we were up here in front of you about a year ago just giving updates at the Rialto, what's going on. And obviously, one of the major issues that has happened at the Rialto was back in 2024, we began our HVAC renovation project. So the HVAC systems at the Rialto date back to the 1950s and 1960s, well, well, well beyond their useful life. I've been at the Rialto now for four plus years. That is the biggest problem that keeps me up at night is no HVAC means no shows, means we put a close sign out front. Our reputation within the industry is gone, no shows come, all that kind of stuff. So getting this project off the ground has been a huge, huge need for us for many, many years. In July of 2024, we started that project. First phase was getting in and doing some asbestos mediation. Went through the bid process, hired a company, a license, Illinois, EPA approved asbestos mediation company with a construction manager on top of it. About a week, two weeks into the project, we got a visit from the Illinois EPA that they had a complaint filed by a person that worked for the asbestos mediation company, and they did find a violation that that company was not properly removing asbestos. so if everyone remembers the headlines the rialto closed in late july 2024 and did not reopen until about mid late october 2024 and that cleaning actually continued in the basement through the end of 2024 on that side of things so um that is the the need so in order to open up the rialto the rialto spent over 1.7 million dollars of her own money to clean based on the mandate from the Illinois EPA on that. That was the only way that Rialto would open back up was if we cleaned the entire facility from top to bottom. So some brighter news, and things are headed in the right direction. Again, I've shared some of these numbers. These include 2026 as far as where the Rialto is going. If you see, we've had over 100,000 people at the Rialto over the past four years. The number that stands out, fiscal year 2024, 140,000 people we brought to downtown Joliet. that was the last year the rialto was open all 12 months obviously in 2025 we were closed because of the asbestos fiscal year 25 excuse me and then fiscal year 26 we closed this june to start the hvac renovations again that were started back in 2024. so we haven't had a full calendar year of momentum since 2024. with that being said we've still driven over 100 000 people to downtown juliet The really good news is, is dating back to 2024, excuse me, is the Rialto has had a net positive operating income for the past three years. That hadn't happened in the history of the Rialto ever. Not the last 10, not the last 20, back to 1926, had never had a net operating income until 2024. So obviously, one year, people can call it a fluke. Two years, you kind of have some momentum. Now three years is a trend. So obviously, we are heading in the right direction. We understand we are the economic engine for downtown Joliet. We drive business well beyond just the Rialto. We drive business for the restaurants, the bars, all those sorts of things in downtown Joliet. So here's just a few of the projects we've done to date. Floor restoration, 66,000 with our terrazzo floors. So we renovated the first floor restrooms, so increased, pretty much tripled the number of women's stalls from four to 14, increased the number of men's stalls and urinals, so making it a much more pleasurable experience when you come to a show. The big one for me was the roof project, a $4 million renovation project, putting 13 brand new roofs across every roof on the Rialto on that side of things. And now the HVAC. So as I mentioned, this is the one that could put a close sign out front if we don't get this HVAC taken care of. So when we started this in 2024, the estimated cost for the project was about $8 to $8.5 million project, obviously being delayed two years due to the EPA and timing. long lead times and all that kind of stuff, the closing bids on the project ended up at the $9 million standpoint. So $3 million of that was from county grants, $3 million from state grants. Obviously, a million of it was from the fiscal year 24 and fiscal year 25 City of Joliet grants that we get. And then the goal was that additional $1.7 to $2.2 million would be taken care of by the Rialto. Well, the funds that we expended to pay for the asbestos cleanup were those funds that we were going to use for this HVAC project. So that's the issue at hand. We've put that out there, and we don't have the litigation finalized yet to know what that number is going to be to make sure that we could pay that on that side of things. So that's why we're in front of you here today is to ask for a loan to get us through till that litigation takes place. As soon as that litigation takes place and we get awarded our judgment, Whatever that number is, comes back to the city. Also, as part of this agreement, it's not coming to us upfront. So we have to turn in construction invoices and be reimbursed on that side. So if things come in, there's contingency built in that $9 million. And if we get this litigation done in the coming months, there might not be an ask on that side of things. But we can't stop construction. That's the concern, is the timing. If this construction project doesn't finish up, In its current timeframe, mid-September, we're once again, just like we were in 2024, canceling events, canceling shows, which at that point, our reputation in the industry is gone, and it'll be impossible to bring additional shows to the Rialto in the future. So that's why we're here today, obviously here to answer any questions, but Councilman Clement, hopefully that shows you why we're here, why we need it, and here to answer any questions.

So just a word, you know, Larry talks about guarantees and I agree with Larry, there is no guarantee. What I can tell you is the litigation is very close to being resolved. And I would say in the next 60 days, it will be. The other point is the city, any money that the city would reimburse us for costs will be the last dollar that we use. It's to our benefit to keep our interest costs down. And so we will do that. there's a very good chance here that we won't need any of the city money. So this is really like an insurance policy, if you will, moving forward. But as Larry said, no guarantee. And I agree with Larry, no guarantee. But I also believe strongly, obviously I believe strongly in the rental, but I believe that who's ever sitting in these seats in front of me in the future, whether I'm here or not, will support the Rialto because it is so critical to the city of Joliet. So I appreciate your support and your questions.

Thank you for your explanation. Thank you. Thanks, Mayor.

Just as a positive comment, Mayor, if I may. Sure. I know right offhand, three people that would be very happy. Unfortunately, they've all gone on to higher ground, which would be Dorothy Maverich, who saved the theater years ago, Lynn Lichtenauer and Jim Smith. Unfortunately, he passed from COVID. But when I served on the board back in those days, it was dire straits. So I remember all those terrible, terrible days. And such a turnaround. It took such a long time. But I want to thank all you guys for doing that. And as long as I'm here, I will be a proprietor. And we have to save the Rialto. It's 100 years old. May 24th, 1924.

May 24th, 1980, my anniversary. So I have a special feeling for that.

thanks guys i know it's been tough and i thank you for your hard work there's not a bigger economic driver in downtown joliet at all and you're pulling people from very far away with top-notch shows there's no other venue that has the kind of big names entertainment that you guys have so i can't imagine what would be like

to have a beautiful city square and without the rialto so i'm definitely in support of this thank you anyone else thanks for the great job you and your board have done to ramp that back up into the black thank you appreciate that

Okay, it's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg? No. Councilman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Under resolutions. Council Memo number 328-26, resolution approving a new grant and previous grant extension to the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority Rialto Square Theater. It is recommended said resolution be adopted.

So moved. Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino?

Aye. Councilman Mudren? Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilman Reardon? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried.

Before we move on, Mayor, I'd like somebody, or I can do it too. You know, we have those two things back-to-back from Realtown that might confuse people watching what we're actually doing. The first one, they did a tremendous job explaining why they are asking for the money, the loan. The second one, the 2026 that you see in there for the previous grant extension, The grant extension is for the 24. In other words, we had the money, they didn't use the money in 24. Our ordinance allows any city manager to extend it by one year. They still haven't used it, because I think they're gonna use it for this project. So we have to dot our I's and cross our T's. The money's there, it's not new money in the budget, but we have to approve moving it forward to this year, letting them spend it this year. That's for the 2024 money. The 2026 money was approved in the budget process as available but we have to go through the formal step of approving the disbursement of the 2020 we do that every year with any grant that we give for the rialto the 475 000. i just thought we should take a moment mayor to let people know there's they're not directly related those two items thank you

Council member number 329-26 resolution designating financial institutions to be used as depositories for city funds. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second.

Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Clement.

Aye.

Councilman Hugg. Aye. Councilman Navarro. Aye. Councilman Marino.

Aye.

Councilman Mudron.

Aye.

Councilman Quillman. Aye. Councilwoman Reardon. Aye. Councilman Cardenas. Aye. Mayor Darcy. Aye. Motion carried. Councilmember number 330-26, resolution appropriating motor fuel tax funds for the advanced traffic management system phase A project, MFT section number 21-00546-01-TL in the amount of $98,848.77. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

So moved.

Second. Any comments or questions?

It's a motion seconded to approve. Councilman Hugg.

Aye.

Council Member Nabarro. Aye. Council Member Marino. Aye. Council Member Mudren.

Aye.

Council Member McClellan. Aye. Council Member Vernon. Aye. Council Member Cardenas. Aye. Council Member Clement. Aye. Mayor Darcy.

Aye.

Motion carried. Council Amendment number 331-26, resolution appropriating motor fuel tax funds for the Advanced Traffic Management System Phase B project, MFT section number 21-00546-03-TL in the amount of $11,226.75. It is recommended that resolution be adopted. So moved. Second. Comments or questions? Thank you. It's by motion and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Councilmember number 332-26, resolution accepting $26,000 in grant funds from the FY2026 Small Equipment Grant from the State of Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal for the purchase of turnout gear. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

So moved. Second.

Comments or questions?

Yeah, Mayor. I just want to thank Chief Carey and his team for finding these types of grants. This is a grant that has no matching funds. This is money from the state directly to our fire department, and we can use that. Right, Chief? Thank you. Thank you.

It's my motion and seconded to approve. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudren? Aye. Councilwoman Coleman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hug? Aye. Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Councilmember number 333-26, resolution authorizing execution of an intergovernmental agreement and easement agreement between the Joliet Township High School District 204 and the City of Joliet for installation of a water service connection. It is recommended that the resolution be adopted.

So.

Second. Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's been motioned and seconded to approve. Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Nabarro? Aye. Councilman Marino? Aye. Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Council memo number 334-26, resolution authorizing execution of a subrecipient agreement between the County of Will and the City of Joliet for community development block grant funding for water and sewer system improvements in the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District. It is recommended that resolution be adopted.

Second. Comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Quillman? Aye. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement?

Aye.

Councilman Hugg? Aye. Councilwoman Ibarra? Aye. Councilman Marino?

Aye.

Councilman Mudren?

Aye.

Mayor Darcy? Aye. Motion carried. Council memo number 335-26, resolution approving and authorizing the execution of the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Joliet and the Fraternal Order of Police, Labor Council, Joliet Police Supervisors Association. It is recommended that resolution be adopted. So moved. Sorry. Second.

Any comments or questions? Thank you.

It's a motion and seconded to approve. Councilwoman Reardon? Aye. Councilman Cardenas? Aye. Councilman Clement? Aye. Councilman Hugg?

Aye.

Councilwoman Navarro? Aye. Councilman Marino? Aye. Councilman Mudren? Aye. Councilman McClellan? Aye. Mayor Darcy?

Aye.

Motion carried. Next is the city manager's report.

Okay, last week's storms obviously had quite an impact on our area and we're in the path of more severe weather for tomorrow. The roadways division is working extended hours to complete storm pickup and outside contractors have been called in to assist with those efforts. The past few days were spent on addressing public safety issues like trees on houses or in the street. Most if not all of these issues have been addressed and crews are shifting to a street by street cleanup effort. This work is expected to continue through the next week, but cleanup timing may be affected if more severe weather hits. We will continue to update the public via our social media pages and website. Urban 3 presentations, a reminder that tomorrow, weather permitting, June 17th, the city is hosting two public presentations led by Joe Minacazi of Urban 3 on how community growth, development, and finances are interconnected. A lunch and learn with the chamber will be held from 11.30 to one. PM at Harrah's Joliet, registration is required. A free presentation will follow that evening at 7 PM at Bicentennial Park tomorrow night, including a Q&A with Joe. World's largest apple pie. We're excited to welcome a new Route 66 landmark to Joliet. McDonald's is bringing a 35-foot fried apple pie statue to Route 66 Park on Broadway. The official kickoff event is on June 23rd from 3.30 to 6 with live music, Coca-Cola, and giveaways. The statue will stay up through July 4th, adding something fun and unique to our summer in Joliet. And Joliet Freedom Weekend. Joliet will celebrate America's 250th anniversary with three days of free community events from July 2nd through the 4th. The weekend includes Race Fan Rally on July 2nd, the America's 250 Block Party and Fireworks at Bicentennial Park on July 3rd, and the 250th Anniversary Fireworks Spectacular at Joliet Memorial Stadium on July 4th. The city also has some other fun initiatives planned to celebrate America's 250th, including a community-wide decorating initiative. A press release and social media post will be going out next week on those, so keep your eyes peeled. That's all I have for this evening.

okay next we have public comments is there anyone who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item i do have a few people that have signed up um sabrina

come to the microphone please so we can all hear you thank you my address is 1607 autumn drive in joliet and larry was my council member but i believe it's mr reardon now and i'm district two mr mudron mudra sorry mike people get us confused all the time I see the Sun come over once a week to take the garbage out They're not living there and they don't take care of the property and I've taken care of the property that they're their jungle that comes over into my yard and for several years now and also pay for trees that are coming over into my yard. I think I've paid over $3,000 over the years. I've lived there 28 years. But it's not been that bad until the last five years. But it's still my time. I would like someone to come out and look at it. I know all the neighbors have Talk to people about that address. It's on the website. You know, you talk to the website for community affairs. I know people that put pictures up. I would love someone to maybe come out and take a look at that property and figure out what's going on there. I would hate for a fire to happen there. If a fireman had to go in there, it would be disastrous for them, I feel, because it's so stacked with stuff I've seen. It's a hoarding situation, I believe. That's why they had to move out. That's my opinion. Thank you very much.

Mayor, Dustin, can you talk with this resident before she leaves? He's the big honcho in the whole planning department, which includes inspections and so forth. Thank you, Dustin. Thank you, Mayor.

Brian?

Mr. Mayor and then City Council, yeah, as you know, my name is Brian Free. I happen to be married to Sabrina, the one that just spoke. I am here tonight just to voice a displeasure or a concern regarding the City of Joliet's building ordinances, specifically regarding driveways. Back this last March, we decided to replace our entire driveway as well as the sidewalks around our house and sections of the front sidewalk by the street that were heaving. I took care of that. My contractor told me, asked me what I wanted, and basically I was widening my 19 approximately foot wide concrete driveway to 29 feet. Based on his, I'll say opinion, because he said he does a lot of work in Joliet, and that the apron allotment at the street level was, in his opinion, or his latest experience was 29 feet. which would be a perfect it would be perfectly straight it would look nice it would actually improve the looks of my property very much so I went through the permitting process and he came back and said the city would only approve 23 feet so I was disappointed in that but I went ahead with the plans anyway and with your permission may I bring this up front this is what it looks like now As you can see, it's not very attractive. I'm not really happy with it. The main reason why I wanted to do this was my grown daughter lives with us, she's gonna be living with us for a while, and I don't like moving cars, especially in the winter and things like that when I have to get out of the garage, and so I got an extra spot for her. and other guests of course if I have people come over but if I did the 29 if I was allowed to do the 29 in the front there it would be a nice clean line right up even with the rest of the driveway as well as a sidewalk that goes around the back of the garage excuse me anyway I know this is not a question and answer period and I'm not trying to but I'm just wondering if there's some sort of a procedure or someone I can get a hold of for maybe a variance in addition the side lot i own a double lot my house is on the middle of this lot from the edge of my new driveway to the house she was talking about is easily 25 or 30 feet so it's not like i'd be encroaching on anybody else's property anyway thank you for allowing me to voice that

Mayor, again, you know, you guys can talk. That can be addressed too by Dustin. You wanted to talk to somebody, right, like about the variance? That would be Dustin. Thank you. Thank you. Okay.

Mindy and David Bigley.

Good evening, Mayor and Councilman. For the last 10 years, we've been trying to get a hold of the city. We cannot enjoy our backyard. We flood constantly. We've had a nasty flood in 20. We've contacted people. We've had people up in the city. We don't get return phone calls. We finally get people to return our phone calls for a month or two. Disappear. We've seen pictures that show a drain in our backyard. There is no drain in our backyard. There's a drain in our street. There is no drain in our street that made us appear again. All we want is answers in our backyard. That's it.

I've sent new pictures today.

Right, right.

That was the recent, and now we're expecting more rain.

Imagine you didn't even cut my grass because the flood's that bad back there.

Now, it will be Greg Ruddy. Have you talked to Greg?

Yes.

You will tonight. I'll say it.

Okay. Michael was out.

Okay. Yeah.

Greg is looking at the pictures. Our neighbor buried their, their sump pump. They flood out the back of the police station because we're literally, we look out our back window of the police station over there and take farm. They flood out the back of the police station. So there is a massive water issue through that whole neighborhood.

Greg, can we address this? He's an engineer.

Yeah, we'll get their information and go out and take a look.

Keep me in the loop. Thank you.

Jeremy Jones.

If I may pass this out.

We can pass it down, and you can just go ahead and sit there. Go ahead.

Good evening, members of the City Council. My name is Jeremy Michael Jones.

Thank you.

I'm a local resident, an inventor, and I'm standing here tonight to continue a century-long legacy of American infrastructure innovation. In 1923, Garrett Morgan revolutionized public safety by inventing the three-position traffic signal to bring order to chaotic intersections. Today, I am here to build directly upon his vision to solve a modern crisis on our local roads, the dangerous intersection dilemma zone. We all know the high-stress corridor I'm talking about, the major intersection complex by the Joliet Mall near the Interstate 55 Expressway entrance. It is a high-volume bottleneck where drivers are constantly forced to make split-second guesses when the light transitions. Just recently, I witnessed a real-world cost of that guesswork. I came upon a wreck at that exact location. A young man early in the morning, clearly headed to school, was sitting on the side of the road. He looked absolutely terrified. His SUV was completely flipped over on the side, and the truck that had caused the collision was pulled over nearby. That young man's terrifying morning is the direct result of an engineering flaw, the split-second confusion where drivers slam on their brakes or accelerate blindly. To eliminate this guesswork and protect our community, I have developed the Apex Traffic Light System. I am proud to announce to this council that as of this week, this technology is officially patent pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office under application number 64 slash 090 comma 330. If you look at the display board in front of you and the color copies that I provided, you will see a revolutionary four-phase traffic light system. Apex introduces a proprietary intuitive visual transition sequence featuring a distinct driver facing neon blue kinetic stop indicator. It gives oncoming motorists an unmistakable proactive visual buffer to safely decelerate before a full stop is ever required. It is the 21st century update to Gary A. Morgan's core concept, built specifically to handle high speed corridors so that no more students have to sit on the side of the road next to a flipped vehicle. Now I want to be incredibly clear with the Department of Public Works, APEX requires zero new hardware layout. We're not here to sell the city expensive steel brackets, heavy housing units, or multi-million dollar construction overhauls. The beauty of the APEX system is that it's pure software and lighting logic upgrade. It is a proprietary firmware module designed to be retrofitted directly onto Joliet's existing solid state LED fixtures and standard traffic controller cabinets. It represents maximum municipal safety with near zero taxpayer friction. Because this is a public comment period for non-agenda items, I'm not asking for a vote tonight. I'm asking for an administrative partner. I am formally requesting that the mayor and the city manager refer the Apex technical perspectives to the Department of Public Works for a standard feasibility and compliance review. joliet be the innovative smart city hub that pilots this technology at a single trouble intersection thank you for your time your leadership and your commitment to keeping the streets safe i look forward to coordinating with the public works director's office later this week thank you okay that's everyone i have signed up is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening on the non-agenda item

Here I go again. The thing I want to say to Christa, Christy, I hate seeing you go. You have been there for me so many times, and just giving me the love and everything, and you don't know how much I appreciate it. You've been with this city as long as anybody I've known. All the meetings I've been coming to through the years, it's always been you. When I needed help and everything, especially when I got attacked, you were the one that helped me when I got attacked. And I thank you so much for that. So much for your kindness and your love. I always even just wonder if I'm all right and everything. Even, you know, you give me calls to make sure to check on me. You don't know what that means to me. You know, you care more for me than my family cares about me. And I love you for that. And I just hate seeing you go. You know, but you're well-deserved. Well-deserved, and hopefully your next chapter will be just as good as Bill Evans', you know? And we lose two big city city people that are a harvest city of Joliet within a month of each other He's gonna go on with them without you do You know very hard shoes to fill right there and I hope that you guys get to somebody as good as she has been you know, like you said like everybody up here has said that she has been the staple of the city of Joliet and for all these years, for all the changes and everything. And she has been the one person that's been there and held the city together, as they say. And more deserving person than you. Your kindness and love was always going to be remembered and everything. And I'll never forget you. And I love you for that. And another thing I want to say, we all know about Robert Hernandez. And I'm sorry I have to bring his name up, but Robert, don't get on me if you're watching this. But we all know what happened with Robert Hernandez, to where he supposedly violated his stalking order. And how fast the police act, Jolla Police acted to get him. I have my same incident with my attacker with my order of protection. My attacker drove up to the back of my pickup truck. I was at the pilot gas station on June 1st. And I'm hearing from Joliet Police investigations that, you know, it's not gonna go on with it. They're not gonna go out and press charges. You know, you don't think the State's Attorney, I haven't even heard anything from the State's Attorney on it, but they don't think the State's Attorney is gonna go ahead and press charges on my attacker violating the order of protection. Even though he's not supposed to come within 50 feet of me, anywhere I'm at. I can't get action, but then you go ahead and get Robert Hernandez, though. And Robert Hernandez didn't talk and didn't say anything to the lady, but you all get, Joey, please don't give me a hard time. Well, he didn't come up to you and he didn't say anything to you. Well, neither did Robert Hernandez, and Robert Hernandez got arrested and he got prosecuted for his violation of his stalking order. I mean, this is so important to me because you all don't understand that my attacker has guns, my attacker has stun guns, he's even got crossbow, he's got dart guns. Oh, darn guns. He is so dangerous here. I don't think you guys realize it. And this is not just the first time I've had with him. He's come up to me at a park in Wilmington, did a burnout, threw gravel at my truck with his tires, and I had rocks fly right past my face, and the state's attorney didn't want to do anything about it. I had my incident, you know, after I got my order, four months after I got my order of protection, and Wilcon County Sheriff didn't even attempt to serve the order of protection, and then he violated and come up to me, but I found out that he didn't serve yet. But even with the police, Wilmington police by my side, my attacker is brave enough to come back up to me, come back to the bar and come right up and harass me. And I'm asking for the city and everything to get this guy because he's so dangerous to me and he won't stop.

Is there anyone else who would like to address the council this evening on a non-agenda item? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to mayor and council comments.

I just want to say just a happy Father's Day to everyone and we won't be back to after 4th of July have a safe and happy 4th of July and once again Krista thank you for everything and congratulations enjoy retirement.

Did you read my paper?

Chris again congratulations best of luck to you. Happy 4th of July. I know one thing, I will not hit the next one, the next 100 years, 250 years. And then happy Father's Day to all the dads, fathers out there. Sometimes they don't get all the credit or any credit, but they're very influential in their kids' lives. And again, just happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

moms who have to do the job of dance happy father's day thank you krista for everything you've done for me the city and district 5 especially i really am going to miss you and i just i can't say that enough thank you i also want to wish happy father's day to all the dads and if you don't mind No, my dad, you don't understand. I have the most supportive, the most loving, fantastic local 75 union retired his entire life, including Luana, broke his body down to provide for our family. So I want to say happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you so much. He watches every meeting. He always wants me to let the mayor know he's doing a great job. Called Juan Moreno on his birthday, like I just have the most fantastic dad. And I want to thank you for being who you are, Dad. I love you. And happy Father's Day to all the fathers here, including Mayor Terry Darcy, who's kind of like the dad of this council, to me anyway. So thank you.

Hi, Daddy.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. And Krista, once again, congratulations on your retirement. And throughout the storm, thank you city staff, city manager, public works, public utilities, Joliet Fire Department, police department for handling it very professionally and very well. So thank you guys.

Like Juan, I'd like to thank everybody that's been out there removing the trees, picking up the debris. They've done an excellent job. All of us have encountered issues with the water mains coming here, and we're going to continue for a few more years. But on a better note, I have a couple that live on Mason Avenue that sent me a letter The city was out needing to locate their buffalo box. It was buried under a very large tree root. Initially, they thought they'd have to bring in an end loader, which would do quite a bit of damage to the yard. They reexamined the job and decided they would do it by hand. So they brought in a sawzall, an ax, to finally get underneath the tree root to remove this. She feels that they very well went way beyond any call of duty. They were very professional in courtesy, courteous manner, sorry about that. The four employees are James Foster, Matt Coughlin, Corey Coughlin, and Greg Craig. Thank you, men, for doing a great job for the city of Joliet. That's all I got.

Well, on June 5th, we went to the ballpark and we celebrated my nephew's first birthday. And it happened to be the Windy City Thunderbolts against the Slammers. four-hour game and the final score was 1918 and unfortunately the Slammers lost but I got to tell you all the one-year-olds and the three-year-olds that were with us they stayed for the whole game and they loved it and especially the fireworks so I want to thank the Slammers for a wonderful evening and thank goodness the weather cooperated that day Let's see, the next day was Star Wars on June 6th, and it was an amazing thing downtown. It's back again. I don't know how many people were down there, but it looked like hundreds and hundreds of folks were there. Mayor was there, and Councilman Moreno were there. And we were at the beginning of the parade, but I didn't see a thing on any Facebook or anything, but we were there. it was a wonderful day hot but a very wonderful day and then um i want to congratulations to our city works and again first responders and job well done over these past few days i know it's been very trying but they've been right there cleaning up on the branches on the parkways and helping anybody that they possibly can i didn't get any complaints with that as well um Excuse me. I also have had another home at 521 North Brainerd that is owned by a mom and dad that don't live there. And I believe a son lives there. So it's considered odor occupied. And that's another problem we have that our neighborhood services are working on for quite some time because the son lives there. But it's overgrown. I have so many pictures from the neighbors that are complaining about it, and we've tried so hard, and the guys have been doing everything they can, but because it's under owner-occupied, they can't even go there and inspect it. So this is something that we need to look at as a city and maybe look at making another law because we are home rule. But this has become a problem more than one time, and this is a single-family home. It's right on Rainer. It's overgrown. The place is a mess. There is rubbish, just like the other lady explained to us. It's the same problem. It's the same problem. So this is something else I want to bring to our attention. And I know that our inspectors are working on it. They can just go so far within the law. So I just want to bring that to everybody's attention so maybe we can do something else.

Other than that,

I have another thing here I would like to hats off to Deanna Opsall. She has been in charge of the Bicentennial Park for many, many years. She's going to retire and there's a party for her on Thursday at Bicentennial Park. Deanna was the glue, everything. She was everything. She sewed costumes. She made posters. She carried on complied help people with their scripts when the drama club was there. You name it, Deanna did it. And sorry to see her go, but she was a wonderful person, and is a wonderful person, a well-deserved retirement. So if you know her, would like to come by Thursday night. What time was that, Ann?

6.30 p.m., Concerts on the Hill.

Yeah, Concerts on the Hill, and she will be there. This will be her last one. She's a tiny little blonde with cute blue eyes and dimples, and she's the sweetest little person you'd ever want to meet. We will totally miss her. I don't know how we can say bye, Park, anymore without Deanna. But unfortunately for us, but I'm happy for her. And other than that, all I want to do is say happy Father's Day to all the uncles. that are stepping in as dads these days as well. So happy father's day to everybody and be well and stay safe everybody. That's all I have. Thank you.

Okay.

Um, I don't know if I wasn't paying attention. Did you mention our dedication Thursday? no i forgot that one so good bring it up got something new good so uh just so everyone knows this thursday at noon we are going to be doing our dedication of city square and for the unity dome so come out out with us and you know get in the pictures and have some fun um then moving on to krista i want to just say one more time one more time you'll never know how much you have meant to this city we'll miss you so dearly um happy father's day to all the fathers and again thank you to the city workers you've done a miraculous job cleaning up after these storms i hope tomorrow's not groundhog's day for you and starting all over again but thank you for what you've done and then lastly i don't know how many of you were alive for the bicentennial in 1976 i was And I'm sure at that age, I thought I was never going to see 250 years. I'm like, God, that'd be 64 by then. I got to be dead. And here we are. Oh, I don't care. So I just want to say, go out and celebrate the greatest country in the world, the United States of America, on our 250th anniversary. And that's it.

I applaud that. Absolutely.

Absolutely. So happy 4th of July.

I don't think I can sing after all that.

Well, I got applause. Let's see what you got.

Just a couple things and I'll let us get out of here. On Thursday, June 4th, Councilman Moreno and Economic Development Director Paulina Martinez attended the RE Journal's annual awards where Joliet was named City of the Year. The award is a reflection of the economic development momentum over the past year from major infrastructure improvements underway and completed to our downtown revitalization efforts and everything in between. Last week, Joliet was honored to host to remember our fallen memorial exhibit in city square. The exhibit paid tribute to service members who lost their lives during the global war on terror. Despite some weather related schedule changes, many residents and visitors took the opportunity to visit the memorial and reflect on the sacrifices made by these heroes. Thank you to our city staff, our veteran organizations, volunteers, and community partners who helped make this possible. We know we've had some weather events, and I know we've got a few more coming we hear, but we've got a 50-50 chance the weathermen are half right most of the time. But I do want to thank every city department and employee who was involved in the preparation for and cleanup from last week's storms. My office received several calls complimenting city crews on their responsiveness and professionalism in helping our residents. And we know they've still got a lot to tackle, so really want to take our hat off to all of our city employees. Upcoming events, we're already halfway through June, but our events calendar is still full. This week we have line dancing on Wednesday night, our official City Square dedication on Thursday from 12 to 1 p.m. Sherry, I know you already had that one. Concerts on the Hill Thursday night, Chicago Street Farmers Market on Friday, and Sounds on 66 Friday night. So looking a little further out, mark your calendars for our official City Square celebration weekend, June 26th and 27th. A press release will, with all the events detailing all these weekends, will be coming out later this week. Wanna wish everyone a happy Father's Day, a very safe and happy Fourth of July. God bless you all and thank you.

Is there a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Meeting adjourned.