Kendall County Times

Village of Oswego Board of Trustees met Nov. 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

President Ryan Kauffman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Joe McGillis led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

Before he led with the pledge, President Kauffman stated the following:

Joe has 16 years of continued service between active duty and the United States Army Reserves. He was deployed multiple times including to Iraq and Afghanistan and has worked at the border for Border Patrol. Joe is a member of the Village’s Forestry Division at Public Works.

ROLL CALL

Board Members Physically Present: President Ryan Kauffman; Trustees Tom Guist, Karin McCarthy Lange, Karen Novy, Jennifer Jones Sinnott, and Andrew Torres.

Board Members Absent: Trustee Kit Kuhrt

Staff Physically Present: Dan Di Santo, Village Administrator; Tina Touchette, Village Clerk; Jason Bastin, Police Chief; Rod Zenner, Community Development Services Director; Andrea Lamberg, Finance Director; Joe Renzetti, IT Director; Bridget Bittman, Community Relations Manager Marketing; Kevin Leighty, Economic Development Director; Kerry Behr, Project Engineer; Madeleine Trinco, Management Analyst; and David Silverman, Village Attorney.

RECOGNITIONS/APPOINTMENTS

D.1 Oaths of Office

b) Andrew Santa- Commander

Chief Bastin briefly spoke about his history with the department and the Kendall County Special Response Team. President Kauffman swore him in. His son pinned him.

a) Michael Barajas- Commander

Chief Bastin briefly spoke about his history with the department and the Kendall County Special Response Team. President Kauffman swore him in. His wife and son pinned him.

D.2 Proclamation- Veterans Day, November 11, 2023

President Kauffman read the proclamation.

D.3 Proclamation- Small Business Saturday, November 25, 2023

President Kauffman read the proclamation.

PUBLIC FORUM

Public Forum was opened at 7:15 p.m.

Administrator Di Santo explained the rules of public forum; speakers are limited to five (5) minutes; it is not a discussion or two-way dialogue back and forth.

David Fisher addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; he is a long-time resident in Blackberry Knoll; impact to the area; not everything looked at in detail; deeper studies need to be done; crime; traffic overflow; noise pollution; ok to have dreams; thank you to the police officers who serve to protect us.

Dawn DeRosa addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; feels defeated; take words into consideration before making a decision; opposed to the location; impact to quality of life; traffic; crime increase; influx of visitors; tax on first responders; she works from home and has two small dogs; veterans, seniors and children affected; light pollution; environmental concerns.

Ruth Kingdon addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; lives in Blackberry Knoll; quality of life is a concern; look at Oswego as a whole; values safe communities; what will Oswego become from this; do we want to invite the whole world to Oswego; how compatible will the values be.

Julie Evans addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; concerns with noise, traffic, and garbage; 250 families in Blackberry Knoll; 60 are within 50 feet of the stadium; adherence to Village’s noise ordinance; noise from the public address system; will not be able to open windows because of the noise; not opposed to a cricket stadium, just not in her backyard; noise study; does not belong in a residential area; vote no to rezoning; if voting yes, then do something for the noise; asked if anyone would like to buy her townhome.

James Marter II addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; previously served on the Village Board and the Planning & Zoning Commission; is this the best use of the land; tax income; how much we are spending on the project; sound and traffic study was done for Venue 1012; parking concerns; called out comments made by current Board members; what conversations did President Kauffman have with the developer.

Jerry Gawlik addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; concerns with parking, traffic and noise; grey areas can be detrimental; too many guidelines; emergency vehicle access; road repairs; events are not defined; your boss is the residents of Oswego; narrow thinking; not thinking of the community; affects more than one community; vote no on the location.

Rusty Corneils addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; serves on the Board in Yorkville; representing Yorkville residents; noise and traffic studies needed; impacts to the quality of life; inadequate parking; cheering fans would not go unnoticed; Station 3 FD will not be able to handle the calls.

Brian Dahl addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; in favor of the cricket stadium; utilizing union and local contractors; will provide high quality work; asked that this be approved.

Thomas Mika addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; has three properties that back-up to the stadium; another stadium being built in Hanover Park in a commercial area; Kingsmen Group.

Tom Elwin addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; he is from Cedarbrook WI; he was a cricket player and is a cricket historian for the past 25 years; a lot of assumptions being made; 2% of the U.S. population plays cricket; American Cricket Enterprises; Major League Cricket; this stadium

would be for a start-up league assuming he gets a franchise; Bolingbrook and Naperville have recreational cricket grounds; could be a valuable asset; could see low level teams; no more than a couple thousand people; phase 3 is problematic; it has never been profitable; phase 4 is a pipe dream.

Jerry Gawlf addressed the Board regarding the cricket stadium; understands how it benefits union workers; quality of life; lives in a safe quiet neighborhood; his dream doesn’t consider other people’s dreams; concerns with noise; other places in Oswego where it could be built; build behind McDonald’s on Orchard because it is not a residential area; many other ways to bring in money; commends the Board for honoring small businesses.

There was no one else who requested to speak. The public forum was closed at 8:02 p.m.

STAFF REPORTS

Village offices are closed on Friday for the Veterans Day holiday.

CONSENT AGENDA

G.1 October 17, 2023 Committee of the Whole Minutes

G.2 October 17, 2023 Regular Village Board Minutes

G.3 Resolution Adopting the Regular Meeting Dates for the Village Board, Commissions, and Adjudication Meetings in Calendar Year 2024.

G.4 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for Disbursement and Use of Kendall County’s American Rescue Plan Act Funds.

G.5 Wolf Road Annexations

a) Ordinance Annexing Village Property at the Corner of Wolf Road and Harvey Road.

b) Ordinance Annexing Village Property at the Intersection of Wolf Road and Devoe Drive. 

G.6 Approve the Hiring of an Additional Building/Plumbing Inspector Position in the FY24 Budget.

A motion was made by Trustee Jones Sinnott and seconded by Trustee Guist to approve the Consent Agenda; Approving the October 17, 2023 Committee of the Whole Minutes; Approving the October 17, 2023 Regular Village Board Minutes; Approving the Hiring of an Additional Building/Plumbing Inspector Position in the FY24 Budget; and Approving the following ordinances resolutions:

Ordinance No. 23-70; Ordinance Annexing Village Property at the Corner of Wolf Road and Harvey Road.

Ordinance No. 23-71; Ordinance Annexing Village Property at the Intersection of Wolf Road and Devoe Drive.

Resolution No. 23-R-101; Resolution Adopting the Regular Meeting Dates for the Village Board, Commissions, and Adjudication Meetings in Calendar Year 2024.

Resolution No. 23-R-102; Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for Disbursement and Use of Kendall County’s American Rescue Plan Act Funds.

Aye: Tom Guist Karin            McCarthy-Lange

        Karen Novy Jennifer     Jones Sinnott

        Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Kit Kuhrt

The motion was declared carried by an omnibus roll call vote with five (5) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

BILL LIST

H.1 Approve Bill List Dated November 7, 2023, in the Amount of $871,268.94.

A motion was made by Trustee Jones Sinnott and seconded by Trustee Torres to approve the Bill List Dated November 7, 2023, in the Amount of $871,268.94.

Aye: Tom Guist Karin            McCarthy-Lange

        Karen Novy Jennifer     Jones Sinnott

        Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Kit Kuhrt

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with five (5) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

OLD BUSINESS

I.1 Ordinance Amending Title 7 Chapter 4 Section 6 and Title 8 Chapter 7 Section 10 of the Code of Ordinances for the Village of Oswego (Sanitary and Water Rates). Ordinance No. 23-72

Director Lamberg addressed the Board regarding sanitary and water rates. Representatives from Baxter and Woodman were in attendance. At the October 17, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Village Board directed staff to prepare an ordinance increasing the sanitary sewer and water system rates commencing on January 1, 2024 and increasing each January 1 through the year 2031. Significant changes in how the daily service charge and volumetric water rate are calculated commence in 2025 and 2026 to soften the impact of implementing the changes in one year. The fee for all sewer users or sewer line maintenance and infiltration/inflow studies and abatement will increase 4% annually commencing January 1, 2024. Residents eligible for the Kendall County or Will senior citizen assessment freeze will continue to see a 50% discount on the volumetric sewer rate.

The Daily Service Charge is a fixed charge used to offset costs that do not vary based upon volumetric use. The rate increases by $2 per two-month billing period in 2024, $1 in each year from 2025 to 2027, and $2 in each year from 2028 to 2031 for ¾ inch meters. All meter sizes are billed the same in 2024. Beginning in 2025, the rate for all meters above ¾ inch will be increased to address their proportional impact. Meters larger than ¾ inches will increase by the ratio of their diameter to a ¾” inch meter. The rate increases are converted to daily rates. Volumetric water rates will increase 4% in 2024 and 5% in 2025. Beginning in 2026, water will be billed based upon an inclining block rate. The inclining block establishes progressively higher rates for higher bands of volume. Example- a customer using 17,000 gallons of water over a bimonthly period in 2026, the volumetric fee will be computed as follows:

0 to 15 kgal = 15 kgal x $8.39/kgal = $125.85

15 to 17 kgal = 2 kgal x $8.72/kgal = $17.44

Water Volumetric Bimonthly Fee = $143.29

The ordinance contains a provision to adjust the tier schedule should the Village elect to issue bills monthly in the future.

Other Changes

Staff included a provision for the Village to bill itself at a nominal rate of $1.00 for the first 1,000,000 gallons used each billing period, and $1.00 additional for each 1,000,000 gallons above 1,000,000 gallons used in each billing period. Since the Village will bill itself for this water, it will no longer show as unbilled water when computing compliance with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources requirement to stay below 10% non-revenue water threshold.

Staff has increased the deposit for hydrant meters from $150.00 to $400.00 for one-inch meters and from $700.00 to $1,200.00 for three-inch meters to reflect the increased cost of meters.

Board and staff discussion focused on presentation at the Committee of the Whole was well done; public impressed; reiterate if passed; staff will review each year and make adjustments when necessary; how impact fees contribute; meeting is set for next week with other taxing bodies; impact fee discussion at future Committee of the Whole meeting; keeping water rates low and not doubled. There was no further discussion.

A motion was made by Trustee Jones Sinnott and seconded by Trustee McCarthy-Lange to approve an Ordinance Amending Title 7 Chapter 4 Section 6 and Title 8 Chapter 7 Section 10 of the Code of Ordinances for the Village of Oswego (Sanitary and Water Rates).

Aye: Tom Guist Karin            McCarthy-Lange

        Karen Novy Jennifer     Jones Sinnott

        Andrew Torres

Nay: None

Absent: Kit Kuhrt

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with five (5) aye votes and zero (0) nay votes.

NEW BUSINESS

J.1 Ordinance Granting a Special Use for a Final and Preliminary Planned Unit Development and Plat for Approximately 34 Acres at the Northwest Corner of Tuscany Trail and Orchard Road. Ordinance No. 23-73

Director Zenner addressed the Board regarding a special use for an outdoor cricket stadium. Site Plan (Per Phase) and Preliminary/Final Plat

• Phase I: the applicant would construct the field and wicket as well as addressing the underground drain tiles.

• Phase II: the applicant would construct the south, east, and west parking lots, the player’s clubhouse, a berm for seating, and stormwater facilities. The applicant may also construct the member’s clubhouse.

• Phase III: construct the member’s clubhouse (if not constructed in Phase II), and add northern stadium seating, and north parking lot.

• Phase IV: the first level of stadium seating would replace the berm seating. • Future Phase: the second and third levels of the stadium seating would be constructed.

The property consists of three separate parcels. The applicant proposes to combine them into one +/- 33-acre site. If the hotel and restaurant sites are developed in the future, they may be platted separately from the stadium.

Paresh Patel, CEO of Breybourne Cricket Club and resident of Oswego, addressed the Board. At the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) meeting he talked about a dream of the U.S. winning a gold medal in cricket; his dream is becoming a dream of many; stadium will be privately owned with a private team; bringing high paying union construction jobs and future jobs; sales tax, use tax and parking tax will benefit the schools, PD, FD and others; goal is to build the stadium; thank you to his family, Breybourne family, USA cricket, AACVB, development team, Village staff, planning group, and elected officials; vote yes to the special use, the project and future growth on Orchard Road.

Board and staff discussion focused on dress code is suit and tie; similar to derby or country club; Orchard rebuilding south of Galena to Tuscany; Phase III for widening of the roads; thank you to residents who came out to speak; site has been zoned manufacturing since 2009 after Blackberry Knoll was built; location chosen because: it is zoned M-1, possible future Metra line, parking areas,

Orchard to I-88 access, other main roads, distance to Aurora for shuttling; how much more noise will come from the stadium; no tax money used for this project; need to commit to 65 decibels at the property line; criteria for moving to the next phase; multiple parameters; time frame; future phases have a lot of factors; Oswego was not the only community the petitioner looked at; Lockport only had one exit out of the business park; could not accommodate; Ottawa granted the concept plan; funds could not be used for the project; neither community denied him; sound study needs to be conducted right away if the project proceeds; sound not an impact in Phase I; whether the fence can be turned into a sound wall on the west side; sound barriers need to close to the sound; total project cost through Phase V is $100 million; PZC approved with conditions; low measurable improvements by moving the stadium 50 feet to the east; moving 50 feet is negligible; what is gained for noise and lights; physical barrier needs to be the improvements; moving 50 feet is not as large in the backyards; encroachment into bad soil is a negative; cost for moving 50 feet; whether it’s not moving because of the money; cost was not analyzed; current site is the best cost estimate; didn’t need to look at other locations on the property and its related cost; barriers versus moving; surprised you don’t have the costs; don’t think 50 feet is going to matter because the residents don’t want it at all; Phase II will have 100-200 attending; berms installed in Phase III; Tuscany Station development is progressing; developers are aware of the stadium and asked that Breybourne assist with the traffic signal; reach out to other communities that have cricket stadiums; Schaumburg has no issues other than fireworks complaints; Kane County has no issues with traffic, but has issues with fireworks complaints; Schaumburg capacity= 7,000; Kane County capacity= 11,000; no public information on the Hanover

Park project; property taxes high already; what are the benefits of a stadium; projections; no studies done on the benefits; brings people to Oswego; impact on hotels and future hotels; school district would see the largest benefit; what can we do about the traffic flow through Blackberry Knoll; same concerns as the residents; need studies for late phases; police and fire impacts; FD wants to know the access points; PD has no issues with Phase I; Phase III and beyond requirements; whether there is an increase in crime; specific traffic plans needed; a lot of unknowns; how to address and tell them they can’t continue; all phases need staff, PZC, and Village Board approval; petitioner owns the property; doing research on abutting properties; working with developers; communicate and be neighborly; Venue 1012 is part of the community; youth are interested in cricket; Park District is looking for space; sharing the space; would consider, but the field would only be for cricket; youth academy for local and regional; number of events at different phases; season= 6 home, 6 away and playoffs; don’t want to compete with Venue 1012 and concerts, but will work with the Village; anything beyond 10 large events would need Village Board special approval; Stewart Park holds +1,000 people and works with AACVB on sporting events; polo came to Oswego 15-20 years ago; fantastic opportunity as a diversity standpoint; being a good neighbor to Blackberry Knoll and care about people driving through the neighborhoods; how much this will expand local economy; Olympic games= $24 million economic impact per day; picture of lights are actual pictures; will be the same type of lights used at the stadium; reduced to 20 foot pole; numerous warehouses are going in on the east side of Orchard; trucking facility with trucks all day and night; Route 30 needs to be four lanes; unsure if study was done on Route 30; Montgomery is working on a State ask; stadium project has a ton of opportunity; going to need coordination and cooperation with staff and Board; hope for more engagement in moving the stadium; traffic study not being done in Phase I or II; doing a traffic study now won’t give the true picture; lighting can change with technology; satisfaction and happiness is important; if approved, some residents will be unhappy; can agree to disagree; will always be work; zoned M-1 but requires a special use; legal ramifications to deny; could speculate on how it turns out if there is a lawsuit; a lot of industrial or manufacturing, similar to Caterpillar, could be on this site versus a stadium; appreciate learning more about cricket; a lot of growth and potential. There was no further discussion.

A motion was made by Trustee McCarthy-Lange and seconded by Trustee Guist to approve an Ordinance Granting a Special Use for a Final and Preliminary Planned Unit Development and Plat for Approximately 34 Acres at the Northwest Corner of Tuscany Trail and Orchard Road.

Aye: Karin McCarthy-Lange     Karen Novy

        Jennifer Jones Sinnott      Andrew Torres

Nay: Tom Guist

Absent: Kit Kuhrt

The motion was declared carried by a roll call vote with four (4) aye votes and one (1) nay vote.

TRUSTEE REPORTS

Trustee Novy- congrats to the officers promoted to commander; great discussion on the stadium. Trustee Kuhrt- absent; no report.

Trustee Jones Sinnott- great to see staff do what they do; a lot of staff hours; great PD promotions and individual growth; Rotary Club doing a Veterans drive on Saturday at the Village Hall gazebo from 10am-noon; next Board meeting is after turkey day; hope you have fun and enjoy Thanksgiving; seven Fridays left before Christmas.

Trustee Torres- congrats to PD officers promoted to commander; give time to celebrate Veterans Day; thank you for your service; thank you for conversations on stadium; proponent of sports; Halloween was great.

Trustee McCarthy-Lange- congratulations to the new commanders; Veterans Day is coming up; husband is a Vet; attended Fox Metro’s elected officials meeting with Trustee Novy; attended the Metro West business dinner; excited to see us moving forward with a new sport; embracing what is in front of us; requested staff to look at Board members attending Commission meetings; Administrator Di Santo to send out information on attending Commission meetings; need to be cognizant of OMA requirements when attending meetings; no more than two Board members can attend without the need to publish a public notice; first come, first serve; will discuss at a future Committee of the Whole meeting; enjoy Thanksgiving with family.

Trustee Guist- thank you to staff; how did the addition of the public forum time clock work; Administrator Di Santo noted it worked well.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Happy Veterans Day; honor our Vets; celebrate with family and friends; congratulations to the commanders; will be attending the American Legions Veterans ceremony on Saturday at 11am; in honor of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my wife, kids, house and everything; thank you to everyone for coming tonight.

CLOSED SESSION

There was no closed session.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Trustee McCarthy-Lange and seconded by Trustee Jones Sinnott to adjourn the meeting; upon a voice vote with all remaining members present voting aye, the meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m.

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