City Council
Regular MeetingDeKalb, IL · January 25, 2021
Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF DEKALB
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 25, 2021
The City Council of DeKalb, Illinois held a Regular City Council meeting on January 25,
2021, in the Yusunas Meeting Room of the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak Street,
DeKalb, Illinois.
A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
City Clerk Lynn Fazekas (attending remotely) called the roll, and the following members
of City Council were present: Aldermen Carolyn Morris, Bill Finucane (attending
remotely), Tracy Smith, Greg Perkins, Scott McAdams, Mike Verbic, Tony Faivre, and
Mayor Jerry Smith.
Staff present included: City Manager Bill Nicklas and Assistant City Manager Josh Boldt.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
Mayor Smith led the Pledge.
C. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Smith invited requests for additions or deletions to the agenda. None were made.
MOTION
Alderman Faivre moved to approve the agenda. Alderman Verbic seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Morris, Finucane, Smith, Perkins, McAdams,
Verbic, Faivre, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. Mayor Smith declared the agenda approved.
D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There was none.
E. PRESENTATIONS
1. Certificate of Recognition to Ken Koch for 9 Years of Service to the Citizens’
Environmental Commission.
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January 25, 2021
Page 2 of 6
2. Certificate of Recognition to Christina Doe for 10 Years of Service to the
Planning and Zoning Commission.
3. Certificate of Recognition to Susan Johnson for 13 Years of Service to the
Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission.
4. Proclamation Declaring January 25, 2021 as “Kiwanis Club of DeKalb Day” in
the City of DeKalb.
Mayor Smith read the certificates and the proclamation, said a few words about/to each
awardee and gave each the opportunity to say a few words. He noted Kiwanis was
celebrating its 100th year of service on that very day.
Assistant Manager Boldt read an email from the League of American cyclists announcing
DeKalb had won a Bronze award for having a bicycle friendly community.
F. APPOINTMENTS
1. Appointment of Jeff Main to the Police Pension Board for a Two-Year Term
through May 31, 2022.
2. Appointment of Kyle Moore and Nick Newman to the Citizens’ Environmental
Commission for a Two-Year Term through December 31, 2022.
3. Appointment of Richard Dowen to the Airport Advisory Board for a Four-Year
Term through December 31, 2024.
Mayor Smith read each of the appointments and ascertained there were no objections to
voting on them in omnibus fashion.
MOTION
Alderman Morris moved to approve the appointments. Alderman Perkins seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Finucane, Smith, Perkins, McAdams, Verbic,
Faivre, Morris, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. The mayor declared the appointments approved.
G. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 11, 2021.
2. Accounts Payable and Payroll through January 25, 2021 in the Amount of
$3,143,716.98.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2021
Page 3 of 6
3. Investment and Bank Balance Summary through November 2020.
4. Year-to-Date Revenues and Expenditures through November 2020.
5. Hospitality Recovery Program Update through November 2020.
6. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Report – December 2020.
7. FY2020 Human Services Funding Fourth Quarter Report.
Mayor Smith read each item of the consent agenda and invited requests for separate
consideration of any item. There were none.
MOTION
Alderman Smith moved to approve the consent agenda. Alderman McAdams seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Smith, Perkins, McAdams, Verbic, Faivre, Morris,
Finucane, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. Mayor Smith declared the consent agenda approved.
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were none.
I. CONSIDERATIONS
There were none.
J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution 2021-010 Approving a Laundromat Liquor License for South 4th
Street Mega Laundromat, LLC, Located at 1387 S. Fourth Street, with
Supplemental Licensure for Video Gaming.
Mayor Smith read the resolution by title only.
MOTION
Alderman Finucane moved to pass the resolution. Alderman Faivre seconded.
VOTE
Motion was defeated 2-5 on roll call vote. Aye: Finucane, Smith. Nay: Perkins, McAdams,
Verbic, Faivre, Morris. Mayor Smith declared the motion defeated.
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January 25, 2021
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2. Resolution 2021-011 Authorizing the Adoption of the 2019 DeKalb County All
Hazards Mitigation Plan.
Mayor Smith read the resolution by title only.
MOTION
Alderman McAdams moved to approve the resolution. Alderman Morris seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: McAdams, Verbic, Faivre, Morris, Finucane,
Smith, Perkins, Mayor Smith. Nay: none.
3. Resolution 2021-012 Authorizing Payment to LiftOff in the Amount of
$48,938.40 for the Renewal of the City of DeKalb Microsoft Office 365
Subscription.
Mayor Smith read the resolution by title only.
MOTION
Alderman Verbic moved to approve the resolution. Alderman Perkins seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Verbic, Faivre, Morris, Finucane, Smith, Perkins,
McAdams, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. The mayor declared the resolution passed.
K. ORDINANCES – SECOND READING
1. Ordinance 2021-003 Approving a Special Use Permit for a Parking Lot as a
Principal Use when Located Within 300 Feet of the Use Served (1030 E. Locust
Street – Nehring Electrical Works).
Mayor Smith read the ordinance by title only.
MOTION
Alderman Faivre moved to approve the ordinance. Alderman Finucane seconded.
City Manager Nicklas reported that Scott Dillon, vice-president of operations at Nehring,
has talked with people in the neighborhood but there are still unresolved issues. Mr.
Nicklas asked that Council postpone the final vote for 30 days.
MOTION
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January 25, 2021
Page 5 of 6
Alderman Perkins moved that the vote be postponed to the second Council meeting in
February. Alderman McAdams seconded.
VOTE
Motion to postpone carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Faivre, Morris, Finucane, Smith,
Perkins, McAdams, Verbic, Mayor Smith. Nay: none.
L. ORDINANCES – FIRST READING
1. Ordinance 2021-004 Approving a Final Plat of Resubdivision, an Amended
Final Development Plan, and Amended Development Standards for
Goldframe, LLC for the Facebook Planned Development Site Along E. Gurler
Road to Accommodate a ComEd Substation.
Mayor Smith read the ordinance by title only.
MOTION
Alderman Smith moved to approve first reading. Alderman McAdams seconded.
Mayor Smith noted a unanimous vote to recommend approval by Planning & Zoning.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Morris, Finucane, Smith, Perkins, McAdams,
Verbic, Faivre, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. The mayor declared passage of first reading.
MOTION
Alderman Finucane moved to waive second reading and approve the ordinance.
Alderman Morris seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Finucane, Smith, Perkins, McAdams, Verbic,
Faivre, Morris, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. Mayor Smith declared the ordinance passed.
M. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Council Member Reports
Alderman Morris reminded residents to keep fire hydrants clear of snow.
Alderman Finucane encouraged everyone who can to get vaccinated for COVID in
addition to taking other precautions.
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January 25, 2021
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Alderman Faivre expressed gratitude for the Public Works employees who would be
plowing snow that night. He reminded residents to keep sidewalks clear of snow.
Mayor Smith announced he had just gotten word that the region would be moving into
Phase Four of pandemic mitigations. The mayor also reported the passing of Barb
Kummerfeldt, founder of the Preserve the Egyptian Theatre (PET) organization.
2. City Clerk Report
City Clerk Fazekas gave no report.
3. City Manager Report
City Manager Nicklas reported Public Works would be plowing snow all night and until
the storm is finished.
N. EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO 5 ILCS (120/2)
No executive session was authorized during this meeting.
O. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION
Alderman Faivre moved to adjourn at 6:44 p.m. Alderman McAdams seconded.
VOTE
Motion carried 8-0 on roll call vote. Aye: Smith, Perkins, McAdams, Verbic, Faivre, Morris,
Finucane, Mayor Smith. Nay: none. Mayor Smith declared adjournment at 6:44 p.m.
_____________________________________
LYNN A. FAZEKAS, City Clerk
Approved by City Council on February 8, 2021.
Agenda
DEKALB CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 25, 2021
6:00 P.M.
DeKalb Public Library
Yusunas Meeting Room
309 Oak Street
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
COVID-19 Notice: This meeting will be conducted in-person with a physically present quorum and open to the
public. The corporate authorities of the City of DeKalb intend to conduct this meeting in compliance with all
applicable social distancing and public health requirements. All persons attending this meeting in-person shall
be required to wear protective face masks/coverings. Furthermore, the corporate authorities of the City of DeKalb
intend to conduct this meeting pursuant to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Order 2021-3 dated January
19, 2021 (the “Executive Order”), which prohibits meetings of more than 10 people for Tier 1 mitigations and
meetings of more than 25 persons for Tier 2 mitigations, unless the City of DeKalb determines that it is necessary
to invoke the Governmental Functions exemption contained in Section 3(c) of the Executive Order “to ensure
the operation of government agencies or to provide for or support the health, safety and welfare of the public.”
As a convenience to the public, the City of DeKalb may also provide video, audio, telephonic or internet access
for the public to monitor this meeting. The provision of any such remote means of access is not intended to
provide for attendance by a means other than physical presence due to the COVID-19 public health emergency,
nor is it intended to provide an opportunity for the public to address public officials, make public comment or
otherwise participate in the meeting.
Persons wishing to provide public comment or otherwise address public officials in person during this meeting
must comply with all applicable rules governing the conduct of this meeting including, but not limited to, the
aforementioned social distancing and face covering requirements.
The City of DeKalb is providing the following conveniences for the public to monitor and participate in this
meeting:
Persons wishing to view the meeting from home or elsewhere can tune in to Channel 14 or by following the
link provided here.
Persons wishing to provide public comment but are unable to attend the meeting in person or remotely may
forward their comments by clicking on the link provided here. Note that all submissions must be received no
later than 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting in order to ensure dissemination to the City Council before the
meeting convenes.
Zoom Meeting Information
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Meeting ID: 897 0815 2664
Passcode: 993515
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For those participating via Zoom and wishing to comment during the public participation portion of the meeting,
or prior to Council’s discussion of a particular item, please click on the link provided here and add in the
Comment Section that you wish to address Council verbally. Note that all submissions must be received no
later than 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting in order to ensure your name is added to the list of remote
speakers.
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.
Regular Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2021
Page 2 of 7
A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
E. PRESENTATIONS
1. Certificate of Recognition to Ken Koch for 9 Years of Service to the Citizens’
Environmental Commission.
2. Certificate of Recognition to Christina Doe for 10 Years of Service to the
Planning and Zoning Commission.
3. Certificate of Recognition to Susan Johnson for 13 Years of Service to the
Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission.
4. Proclamation Declaring January 25, 2021 as “Kiwanis Club of DeKalb Day” in
the City of DeKalb.
F. APPOINTMENTS
1. Appointment of Jeff Main to the Police Pension Board for a Two-Year Term
through May 31, 2022.
2. Appointment of Kyle Moore and Nick Newman to the Citizens’ Environmental
Commission for a Two-Year Term through December 31, 2022.
3. Appointment of Richard Dowen to the Airport Advisory Board for a Four-Year
Term through December 31, 2024.
G. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 11, 2021.
2. Accounts Payable and Payroll through January 25, 2021 in the Amount of
$3,143,716.98.
3. Investment and Bank Balance Summary through November 2020.
4. Year-to-Date Revenues and Expenditures through November 2020.
5. Hospitality Recovery Program Update through November 2020.
6. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Report – December 2020.
7. FY2020 Human Services Funding Fourth Quarter Report.
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.
Regular Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2021
Page 3 of 7
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
I. CONSIDERATIONS
None.
J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution 2021-010 Approving a Laundromat Liquor License for South 4th
Street Mega Laundromat, LLC, Located at 1387 S. Fourth Street, with
Supplemental Licensure for Video Gaming.
City Manager’s Summary: On August 24, 2020, the City Council approved a new liquor
license classification for laundromats. Subsequently, the owners of South 4th Street
Mega Laundromat at 1387 S. Fourth Street have submitted a liquor license application,
as well as a gaming license application for up to six video gaming terminals. The
laundromat liquor license application has been reviewed and received a positive
recommendation from the Liquor Commissioner and Acting Police Chief Bob Redel.
Additionally, the owners have successfully completed their background checks.
Upon approval of the liquor license and supplemental gaming license, the City will
receive an initial issuance fee of $10,766 with annual renewal fees of $2,692. The City
will also receive an initial fee of $500 per video gaming terminal ($3,000), with annual
renewal fees of $250 per video gaming terminal ($1,500).
City Council approval is recommended. (Click here for additional information)
2. Resolution 2021-011 Authorizing the Adoption of the 2019 DeKalb County All
Hazards Mitigation Plan.
City Manager’s Summary: Over the past 16-18 months, the attached plan has been
under review by all DeKalb County municipalities and larger institutional entities (other
public bodies, educational institutions, etc.). It sets forth priorities and protocols for
preparing for and responding to major hazards (natural and human) in our region. The
plan has also been reviewed and recommended for adoption by the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency. The current Plan, dating from 2013, has officially expired.
The proposed all-hazard plan is intended to be in effect for five years. It touches on
natural disasters such as floods or tornadoes as well as infrastructure failure (e.g.,
bridge collapse), mass cyberattacks, and catastrophic accidents such as a train
derailment. The Plan is a broad guide for public officials but also qualifies the affected
public bodies for certain state and federal relief programs, including flood insurance
rate reductions for residents.
City Council approval is recommended. (Click here for additional information)
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.
Regular Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2021
Page 4 of 7
3. Resolution 2021-012 Authorizing Payment to LiftOff in the Amount of $48,938.40
for the Renewal of the City of DeKalb Microsoft Office 365 Subscription.
City Manager’s Summary: The City currently maintains a subscription for the Microsoft
Office 365 suite of applications through LiftOff, a third-party service provider. Office
365 includes a number of applications that are critical to City operations, including the
ability to send and receive electronic mail (email) as well as use of the familiar
Microsoft products Word, Excel, PowerPoint, integrated Skype for Business,
OneDrive, and SharePoint.
The current license subscription period will expire January 31, 2021.
Competitive bids were invited, and three vendors responded as follows:
1. Lift-Off - $48,938.40
2. CDW-G - $50,063.46
3. Southern Computer Warehouse - $51,770.08
Lift-Off’s proposal also offered access to a library for “Office 365 Admin” best practice
documents, end-user training videos, AD connect support including re-installations
and troubleshooting, invitations to our Office 365 Security Webinars and access to the
recordings, limited free consultations on implementation processes like the “Office
Deployment Tool”, annual Microsoft Office health check-ups and security check-ups,
and ongoing training for our IT staff who need to conduct compliance retention
searches.
City Council approval of the Lift Off proposal in the amount of $48,938.40 is
recommended. (Click here for additional information)
K. ORDINANCES – SECOND READING
1. Ordinance 2021-003 Approving a Special Use Permit for a Parking Lot as a
Principal Use when Located Within 300 Feet of the Use Served (1030 E. Locust
Street – Nehring Electrical Works).
City Manager’s Summary: At the regular City Council meeting on January 11, the
Council considered the attached special use permit on first reading. The petitioner,
Scott Dillon representing Nehring Electrical Works Company, requested a special use
permit to establish a 20-space parking lot at 1030 E. Locust Street (southwest corner
of E. Locust and N. 11th Street). The site is currently zoned “SFR2” Single-Family
Residential District and a special use permit is required for a parking lot as a principal
use when located within 300 feet of the use served.
The subject lot at 1030 E. Locust Street is currently vacant. A single-family home
existed on the lot for decades until it was demolished in 2012, sometime after Nehring
Electrical Works purchased the property. Nehring Electric produces wire and cable
products and is located in a total of seven buildings along the north and south sides of
E. Locust Street. The firm also has a building north of the Union Pacific tracks. An
aerial map is provided in the Council’s packet showing the uses for each of the
buildings.
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.
Regular Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2021
Page 5 of 7
Nehring needs additional parking for their employees as the result of their business
growth in recent years. For several months, the City’s Building Department (Dawn
Harper) and Engineering Department (Zac Gill) have worked with Mr. Dillon and
adjacent neighbors to identify ways that the City could be helpful in rationalizing on-
street parking on E. Locust Street, eliminating truck parking on E. Locust and the
vacant lot, and finding alternate locations for large wire spools that had been located
on the lot at 1030 E. Locust on occasion as the plant envelope ran out of space.
Regarding the wire spools, Nehring is currently using the former parking lot and
detention area in front of building #4 (1105 E. Locust Street) to store spools that were
previously stored at the corner of N. 7th Street and E. Locust Street. Storing the reels
in front of building #4 has greatly reduced the need to transport the reels between
Nehring’s facilities, which had previously caused issues along E. Locust Street. In
addition, the storage of the spools in a location less visible to the public is an
improvement. Some of the steel spools have also been placed inside the various
Nehring buildings.
In the summer of 2020, the City’s Building Department issued a permit for the grading
of the vacant lot at 1030 E. Locust in anticipation of the construction of a new parking
lot for employees, to open space for on-street parking by the neighbors. At that time,
aggregate (gravel) was added, and a catch basin was installed and tied into the storm
sewer network on N. 11th Street. This construction forced the removal of the wire
spools. The applicant has agreed to pave and stripe the lot per the UDO standards
and to reserve it for employee parking. It will not be used for truck parking or staging,
and a condition is recommended in the approval to prohibit larger trucks. However,
trucks will occasionally need to back up into one of the Nehring docks on the north
side of E. Locust Street and a larger-than-average center driving aisle is provided in
the new parking lot plan to allow for less erratic backing movements by semi-trailer
drivers.
Parking is generally restricted to one side of E. Locust Street except for the section
between N. 8th Street and N. 9th Street where it is allowed on both sides. Parking is
also allowed along both sides of N. 11th Street between E. Lincoln Highway and E.
Locust Street. Nehring Electrical has about 150 total employees with 70 on the first
shift and 40 on the second and third shifts. There are approximately 45 parking spaces
in front of building #3 and about 46 on-street spaces along E. Locust St. between N.
8th Street and N. 11th Street.
The proposed parking lot will have one-way access from E. Locust Street with vehicles
exiting to the alley to the south. The spaces will be on a 45-degree angle and meet the
dimensional requirements outlined in the UDO. The width of the driving aisle will be
17 feet, which exceeds the minimum in the UDO of 12.5 feet. As noted above, the
additional width is needed to allow trucks to occasionally “nose in” from E. Locust St.
and back up into one of the Nehring docks on the north side of Locust Street. A six-
foot-high wooden privacy fence will be added along the west lot line to satisfy the
screening requirements in the UDO for a parking lot next to a residential property. The
petitioner had previous discussions with the property owner to the west (1024 E.
Locust St.) who preferred the fence over landscape screening. There will be no lights
in the parking lot, which will make it more compatible with the adjacent residents. A
streetlight is located at the southeast corner of N. 11th Street and E. Locust Street and
along the east side of N. 11th across from the alley. Additionally, the parking lot will
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.
Regular Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2021
Page 6 of 7
add value to the neighborhood by providing weekend parking for the Kishwaukee
Kiwanis Park which lies to the south of the lot.
At the regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on January 4, the
Commission voted 6-0 to recommend the special use permit with the three conditions
outlined in Principal Planner Dan Olson’s background memorandum. The Commission
also added a condition: the addition of a “Left Turn Only” sign at the south end of the
parking lot so vehicles exit the alley at N. Eleventh Street.
Since the Council meeting of January 11, Scott Dillon, Nehring’s senior vice president
for operations, has talked with the neighboring Gibson and Wilford households and
the company has installed a large banner directing semi-truck traffic to a staging area
away from the neighboring single-family residences.
City Council approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation
on second reading is requested. (Click here for additional information)
L. ORDINANCES – FIRST READING
1. Ordinance 2021-004 Approving a Final Plat of Resubdivision, an Amended Final
Development Plan, and Amended Development Standards for Goldframe, LLC
for the Facebook Planned Development Site Along E. Gurler Road to
Accommodate a ComEd Substation.
City Manager’s Summary: The Plat of Resubdivision legally describes the new parcel
that Goldframe (Facebook) will convey to ComEd. The ComEd substation was shown
on the approved Final Plan that was part of the Facebook Planned Development
Ordinance in April 2020.The proposed substation will be located just to the southwest
of the data hall at the southeast portion of the subject property. The intent is to create
a separate lot for the ComEd Substation.
An access easement from the ComEd substation westerly to the Crego Road
turnround through the surrounding Facebook property is also needed. The access
easement will be granted to ComEd through a separate agreement to be executed
and delivered at the time that Goldframe conveys the parcel to ComEd (targeted for
the end of January 2021). The Plat depicts the access easement area with the notation
“Access Easement Separately Granted.” After the Plat is approved by the City, it will
not be recorded until the easement agreement and conveyance documents are
executed. The Plat also includes the dedication of a small amount of right-of-way at
the southeast corner of Rt. 23 and Gurler Road. and additional right-of-way to
accommodate the Peace Road/Gurler Road roundabout.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing regarding the petitions at
their meeting on January 19, 2021. By a vote of 7 to 0 the Commission recommended
City Council approval of the Final Plat of Subdivision of DeKalb Subdivision – Phase
2 (3 sheets) dated 12-21-20 prepared by Jacob and Hefner Associates as shown on
Exhibit A of the staff report; approval of an amendment to Ordinance 2020-026
regarding the Final Plan dated 12-28-20 as shown on Exhibit B of the staff report, and
an amendment to the development standards in Ordinance 2020-026 as shown on
Exhibit C of the staff report. City Council approval of the Planning and Zoning
Commission recommendation is requested. (Click here for additional information)
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.
Regular Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2021
Page 7 of 7
M. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Council Member Reports
2. City Clerk Report
3. City Manager Report
N. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
O. ADJOURNMENT
FULL AGENDA PACKET
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.