Above / Jaycees Park adjacent to the Naperville Municipal Center along Webster Street welcomes visitors to the Riverwalk where the winding brick paths lead to the Sept. 11 Memorial, downtown Naperville shopping and dining, as well as many historic markers and tributes along the way. The front entrance to the Municipal Center is located at 400 S. Eagle Street. (PN Photo)
Editor’s Update / The following post takes about three minutes to read if you don’t click to any of the links for additional info. Thanks for reading and getting to know what’s happening in your city. Know that sign-up for public comments for the August 4 City Council meeting will be accepted only until 5PM.
(Update to update just after 1AM: August 4, 2020, City Council meeting adjourned just prior to midnight. Click here to watch. The Consent Agenda included approval of fireworks for India Day to begin at 9:15PM on Aug. 15 from Frontier Park. Dozens of homeowners and visitors to this community provided enlightening public comments on other agenda items. Procedures to participate in the next City Council “remote” meeting slated for July 21, 2020, remain constant while Council Chambers is undergoing upgrades to its sound system. The Naperville Planning and Zoning Board meets “remote” at 7PM Wed., Aug. 5.)
Original Post / Last night School District 203 BOE voted for back to school with e-learning on September 1, while School District 204 BOE chose to begin remotely on September 3.
Another important meeting for local government watchers is slated for today when the Naperville City Council meets at 7PM Tues., August 4, to discuss new ordinances for so-called party houses, cannibis dispensary location zoning (and the difference between conditional and permitted uses) and priority housing proposals, among other issues.
The Naperville City Council meets “remotely,” following a closed session that begins at 5:30PM. For information on how to watch and/or stream it live, click here to visit the City’s website.
For this week’s agenda and your education about proposals up for discussion and approval in the city, click here to the City’s website. Plan to scroll down the PDF.
Considering items on the agenda, perhaps note the following…
If time permits, link to the July 21, 2020, meeting of the Naperville City Council where you’ll find preliminary discussion to some of the Aug. 4, 2020, agenda items. That last meeting went on for 5-plus hours! Still, you can scroll through the now-streaming online meeting to watch only the agenda items you choose.
Feedback to PN from local residents the past two weeks asked for help reminding homeowners about the Aug. 4, 2020, City Council Meeting that includes agenda items up for approval and/or giving City staff direction to progress. Local opinions make a difference. After reading through the consent agenda, consider other issues on the agenda, too, ones highlighted in this post.
L. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
1. 20-798B
Option A: Concur with the petitioner and the Planning and Zoning Commission and pass the ordinance approving a variance to allow a non-conforming pole sign located at 311 E. Ogden Avenue to be renovated – PZC 20-1-046; or
Option B: Concur with staff and deny the request for a variance to allow a non-conforming pole sign located at 311 E. Ogden Avenue to be renovated – PZC 20-1-046 (Update / Option B supported by City Council.)
Click here for details regarding the ordinance 20-798B.
2. 20-834
Waive the first reading and pass the ordinance adding a new Chapter 18 (Short-Term Residential Rentals) to Title 3 (Business and License Regulations) of the Naperville Municipal Code (requires six positive votes) (Update / City Council directs staff to prepare report to regulate STRs and to come back with ordinance within 180 days.)
Click here for details regarding “short-term” residential (STR) rentals 20-834. This issue has been receiving considerable feedback from neighbors and attorneys who prompted this change request regarding so-called “party houses.” Pay attention to the pros and cons.
3. 20-784B
Conduct the first reading on an ordinance repealing Chapter 17 (Cannabis Business Establishments Prohibited) of Title 3 (Business and License Regulations) and amending various Chapters of Title 6 (Zoning Ordinance) related to Cannabis Facilities – PZC 20-1-053. (Update / First reading didn’t change any opinions.)
M. AWARD OF BIDS AND OTHER ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE:
N. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
O. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. 20-849
Approve the eight priority housing program recommendations of the Housing Advisory Commission and direct staff to incorporate them into department work plans as appropriate. (Update / City Council unanimously showed hands in support of a Workshop in September.)
Click here to link to five documents regarding priority housing program, 20-849.
Naperville City Council meets most months on first and third Tuesday
To watch or listen live…
• Watch on WCNC Government Access TV (Ch. 6-WOW, Ch. 10 – Comcast, Ch. 99 – AT&T)
• Watch online with a click here.
• Listen by telephone (audio only) – registration to receive dial-in phone number required by calling the City Clerk’s Office at (630) 305-5300, by 5PM on August 4.
To submit a public comment for the meeting, members of the public must register by 5PM on August 4 at the speaker sign up.
The public may choose to chime in a variety of ways…
1. Submit a written comment to the City in advance of the City Council meeting (by 5PM on August 4) to be read into the public record during the City Council meeting by a member of staff.
2. Submit a one-word statement of “SUPPORT” or “OPPOSITION” regarding a specific agenda item to be read into the public record during the City Council meeting by a member of staff.
3. Address the City Council live during the City Council meeting via spoken audio.
Individuals who want to address the Council live must sign up to speak in advance of the City Council meeting (by 5PM on schedule Council date).
Once signed up, the individual will receive an email from the City Clerk’s Office after the sign-up time ends with information about how to join the meeting.
Online sign-up closes at 5PM on the day of the meeting, at which time no other speakers or comments will be accepted.
Another Note from Editor: Folks with comments are reminded of the 3-minute limit. If sending an email, be sure it’s short and to the point. Comments don’t need to take up the entire three minutes. All voices are encouraged and welcomed to be heard. Five-hour meetings, however, that run past midnight are usually way too long for good governance.
Naperville is served by Council/Manager form of government
Since 1969, the Naperville City Council, originally with seven members and now a nine-member group of elected officials, including the Mayor, serves this city’s Council/Manager form of government. All members of the Naperville City Council have one vote. The Mayor runs the meetings with the City Manager and City Attorney on the dais with council members.
Naperville City Council typically meets twice monthly at 7PM on the first and third Tuesday. For information on how to watch and/or stream council meetings live while the City is hosting local government meetings remotely (virtually), click here to visit the City’s website.
In case you wondered, currently Council Chambers in the Naperville Municipal Center (aka City Hall) is undergoing upgrades to its sound system for future meetings to be better broadcast on the government access cable stations.
We’d surely like to get back on the beat with meetings held in Council Chambers so public comments can be addressed eyeball to eyeball and viewed in person by an audience. Our community has been mostly prudent about following protocols for public safety. We’re confident “the regulars” who attend City Council meetings will adhere to best practices. Thanks to everybody for cooperating. —PN
And thanks for all interest in local government and its happenings.
The next Naperville City Council meeting begins at 7PM Tues., Aug. 18. Agendas usually are available online before the Friday prior to the meeting.
