City Council Planning Sessions

Monday, October 10, 2022 1. Call to Order The Wheaton City Council Planning Session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Suess. The following were: Physically Present: Mayor Suess Councilman Barbier Councilwoman Bray-Parker Councilman Brown Councilwoman Fitch Councilwoman Robbins Councilman Weller Absent: None City Staff Present: Michael Dzugan, City Manager John Duguay, Assistant City Manager James Kozik, Director of Planning & Economic Development Vincent Laoang, Director of Public Works Robert Lehnhardt, Director of Finance Joseph Tebrugge, Director of Engineering Susan Bishel, Public Information Officer 2. Public Comment There were no public comments. 3. Approval of September 26, 2022 Planning Session Minutes The Council approved the September 26, 2022 Planning Session Minutes. 4. 2022 General Purpose and Debt Property Tax Levy – Estimate Director of Finance Lehnhardt was present to review the 2022 General Purpose and Debt Property Tax Levy estimate. He reviewed the City’s property tax distribution over time, which has decreased slightly from 13% in 2017 to 12.4% in 2021. Director of Finance Lehnhardt also reviewed the City’s Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) from 2009 to the present. For 2022, which is estimated to be a 4.75% increase for a total of $2.46 billion. Approximately 84% of Wheaton’s EAV is residential property and 16% is commercial. For tax-exempt property per square mile, approximately 82.5% is taxable, and 17.5% is tax-exempt. In response to a Council question, Director of Finance Lehnhardt stated the percentage of tax-exempt properties has not changed significantly for 2022. OCTOBER 10, 2022 CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES City staff reviewed the City’s adopted levy versus the extended levy. The City adopts a tax levy, then DuPage County adds a 1% debt service loss factor and aggregate refunds, which are the prior year’s actual tax refunds. This adopted levy plus the County’s additions equal the extended levy, which is the amount used to determine property tax bills. The City will receive more information about the aggregate refunds in November and will have until March to abate the levy if the City Council desires to do so. Director of Finance Lehnhardt reviewed the City’s General Purpose and Debt Property Tax Levy for 2022. For the fourth consecutive year, the levy did not increase. The Library includes a slight increase of 4.3% as the City transitions to a shorter replacement schedule for facilities. In response to a Council question, staff confirmed that the library bonds will be paid off in 2023. With the proposed levy, average property owners with a home value of $350,000 will see a reduction of approximately 2.2% in the City portion of their property tax bill. 5. 2022 SSA #3 Streams Property Tax Levy – Estimate For The Streams Special Service Area 3, which has a max rate of $0.15, Director of Finance Lehnhardt stated the City is proposing a flat rate of 0.0205, for a slight reduction of 2.4%. 6. 2022 SSA #8 Downtown Promotional – Municipal Services Property Tax – Estimate For Special Service Area 8 for Downtown Promotional and Municipal Services, the levy requested by the Downtown Wheaton Association is $275,000, which is the same as the 2 previous years. TIF 2 expires Dec. 31, 2022, so there will be a change in how this is levied for Calendar Year 2023. Special Service Area 8 will increase 74% to capture TIF 2 funds, but property owners in this area will not see an increase. This will require a public hearing on November 28. The City will hold two Budget Workshop Sessions on Nov. 14 and Nov. 19, a property tax levy first reading on Dec. 5, budget public hearing on Dec. 12, and adopt the 2023 budget and 2022 property tax levy on Dec. 19. 7. DWA 2023 Budget Downtown Wheaton Association Executive Director Allison Orr reviewed progress over the past year made by the Downtown Wheaton Association, including increased partnership opportunities with many downtown businesses through events and programs. She reviewed changes within the organization to streamline and strengthen their processes, including new staffing, cloud-based financial record-keeping, a new gift card system, engaging with an ad agency and new community partnerships. Executive Director Orr also highlighted new events and businesses that are joining the downtown. In reviewing the DWA’s projected revenue for 2022 versus the 2021 totals, the non-SSA revenue totals approximately $199,000 for 2022 compared to approximately $204,000 for 2021. Executive Director Orr stated the DWA didn’t have some of the same larger-scale events compared to 2021. Executive Director Orr reviewed some of the key events planned for 2023, including Restaurant Week, Vintage Rides, Taco & Margarita Fest, Rock the Block for charity, Warhol events in conjunction with the exhibit at College of DuPage, Jazz Fest, life-sized dinosaurs in September, and a craft beer fest. OCTOBER 10, 2022 CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES In response to Council questions, Executive Director Orr stated the DWA added an associate membership for businesses outside of the downtown and others who would like to support the DWA and are also looking at a Friends of the DWA membership. In response to Council questions about the DWA’s operations, Executive Director Orr stated they are located within an office space at TeamUp and staff includes a full time marketing and events position and a part-time membership services coordinator, plus freelance designer. Other changes related to business recruitment that Executive Director Orr highlighted include the addition of an advisory committee in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and City’s Economic Development Director, bringing back broker walks, advertising campaign targeting small businesses, for lease signs in empty storefronts and a Realtor partner program. The Council was interested in receiving information on the number of new businesses to see how the Streetscape Project is helping spur growth. In response to Council questions on defining success, Executive Director Orr stated they are focusing on acquiring vacancy rates as part of this assessment. 8. Springbrook #1 Streams Lakes Meander Feasibility Study Director of Engineering Tebrugge reviewed the sedimentation issue that occurs on an ongoing basis in the Streams Lakes, which the City has been dredging since 1977. He reviewed previous attempts to control erosion, which impaired water quality due to low dissolved oxygen and waterfowl feces. Previous studies have not identified a way to make dredging easier or less expensive. He stated the City has identified three possible options for moving forward, including: 1) Continue to dredge, 2) Convert into a naturalized channel, or 3) Stop dredging and allow the lakes to fill in. The third option is not recommended, as it could cause flooding. The City hired Engineering Resource Associates to perform a feasibility study in which they analyzed the situation, created drawings for a potential naturalized channel and estimated costs. In response to Council questions, Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated the study did not extend to Kelly Park, as this would cost significantly more to study. The study determined it is feasible to create a naturalized channel, which would fill in sections with dirt and have native shoreline plantings, similar to examples shown at St. James Farm and Blackwell Forest Preserve. The cost estimate is approximately $3 million, however grants could cover up to 80% of the cost. In response to Council questions, Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated if the City continues dredging, it needs to be done approximately every 7 years. If the City creates a naturalized channel, the waterway could move over time but would require much less maintenance. City Manager Dzugan stated additional legal work needs to be done before the City can apply for grants, as the City needs to either acquire an easement or acquire property. Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated the work would take approximately one construction season, and planting would take place, with a few years to make sure vegetation takes hold. There are other areas that need to be determined, such as who will maintain the channel. OCTOBER 10, 2022 CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SESSION MINUTES In response to a Council question about creek quality and flooding, Director of Engineering Tebrugge stated there is a project planned to help decrease blockages that would not have any effect on the floodplain. The Council expressed support for pursuing the naturalized channel option and ensuring the City communicates with property owners in the area. City Manager Dzugan stated the next step is to continue exploring the property ownership issues and meet with the property owners to get feedback. 9. City Council/City Staff Comments There were no City Council/staff comments. 10. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Bishel