Will County Gazette

City of Lockport Committee of the Whole met Jan. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

REGULAR MEETING of the Committee of the Whole of the City of Lockport, Illinois was held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in the Board Room, 3rd Floor, of the Central Square Building, 222 E. Ninth Street, Lockport, Illinois. Mayor Steve Streit called the Meeting to order at 7:15 pm.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Mayor, Steve Streit

Alderman, Patrick Sheehan

Alderman, Patrick McDonald

Alderman, JR Gillogly

Alderwoman, Christine Bergbower

Alderman, Darren Deskin

Alderwoman, Joann Bartelsen

Alderwoman, Renee Saban

ABSENT: Alderman, Jonathan Pugh

ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator, Ben Benson

City Attorney, Sonni Choi Williams

City Clerk, Kathy Gentile

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies

Finance Director, Lisa Heglund

Chief of Police, Richard Harang

PRESS: Cathy Wilker, LCTV

ITEMS RECOMMENDED TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSENT OR ACTION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CA-1. Strategic Plan Annual Review

City Administrator, Ben Benson, presented the Staff Report on the Strategic Plan.

DIRECTION: FOR INFORMATION ONLY

CA-2. Approving Professional Engineering Services with V3 for Design and Final Engineering to Replace the 8th Street Pedestrian Bridge at the Lincoln Landing

City Administrator, Ben Benson, presented an update on the condition of the pedestrian bridge, which is in worse condition than originally thought. Questions raised by Council regarding the timing of the development. If funding is approved in 2024, the expectation is that the project would be completed in 2025.

DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the January 17 City Council Meeting

CA-3. Approving a Professional Services Contract with V3 and Maple Hill HOA to Fund the Costs to Repair Fiddyment Creek Berm and Retention Pond in an Amount Not to Exceed 384,475.00

City Administrator, Ben Benson, presented the summary of the Fiddyment Creek situation. The Maple Hill subdivision had an erosion issue that allowed a higher volume release of water that further continues the erosion. The City conducted a site visit in the fall of 2024. The project is expected to cost $385,000 more than originally expected. The City held meetings with the Maple Hill HOA board. The City is budgeting to cover the full cost of the project, not to exceed $384,475. Maple Hill HOA is planning to allocate $100K funds, if the project is approved by March 19. There is a possibility of the City applying for a 319 grant. V3 is supporting the grant process.

Public Comments:

1. Jody Estrada – resident of Maple Hill, and Maple Hill Board Member. Jody provided an overview of the situation at Maple Hill, thanked City for their help in defining a solution.

DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the January 17 City Council Meeting

CED-1. Concept Plan for a New Lockport Square Master Plan that Includes a Proposed Mixed Use Development Including Approximately 18,000 SF of New Commercial, a 3,500 SF Restaurant, an 89-Room Hotel, 310 Luxury Apartments and 116 Townhomes

Director of Community & Economic Development, Lance Thies, presented the Staff Report for the Lockport Planned Retail Development. The Concept Plan envisions the continuation of commercial uses; a family restaurant, a second hotel and a future TBD Commercial on the south side of Lockport Square’s existing east/west interior road. A new residential urban development is proposed for behind the commercial locations.

The Concept Plan is a little different from a typical concept plan because of the different uses proposed for the property. For the Concept Plan, the 31 acre vacant portion of the property would need to be resubdivided into 5 parcels to support mixed use development. The proposed plans for Parcels 1, 2, 3 do not require special approval of City Council; the proposed use fits within the original master plan. The proposed plans for Parcels 4 and 5 would require special approvals to allow residential development, which includes apartment buildings and townhomes. The proposed development would require 2 additional steps, after the Concept Plan phase, before the project would be approved by the City Council.

Jim Puritan, Janko Group, was present to provide a history of the development and details about the proposed mixed use Concept Plan. Lockport Square is currently 55% undeveloped, over 31.3 vacant acres.

Mayor Streit expressed concerns about the Concept Plan and raised questions about the possibility of designing a truly mixed use development, where retail is on the first floor with residential above. Discussion among the Council ensued.

Public Comments:

1. Nora Gruenberg – Local Governmental Affairs Director, Illinois Realtors - addressed the Council

DIRECTION: Add as an Agenda Item on the January 17 Committee of the Whole

PW-1. Authorizing the Extension of License Agreement No. 5415 with the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff Report. Seeking approval for a 10 year extension for the main sanitary sewer crossing by the I&M Canal by 18th Street.

DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the January 17 City Council Meeting PW-2. 2024 Engineering RFQ Discussion

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff Report on the Engineering RFQ process. Presenting details for the RFQ for engineering services for the next 3 years. The RFQ process identifies qualified providers. As the City approves to move forward with projects, they review and select from the list of qualified providers.

DIRECTION: FOR INFORMATION ONLY

PW-3. Accept Quote from Austin Tyler for Spoil Removal for a Total Not-to-Exceed Fee of $33,600

Director of Public Works, Brent Cann, presented the Staff Report. The spoil removal is taken to District 5 State Police Office where they have built berms for recreational purposes.

DIRECTION: Add to the Consent Agenda for the January 17 City Council Meeting

NEW BUSINESS

1. Deskin – Request for an update on the letter to Homer Glen regarding Lockport’s water. 2. Marco Bellerini – raised question about bus of migrants that was delivered to Lockport. The City of Lockport arranged to relocate the migrants to the official City of Chicago processing station at 800 DesPlaines Avenue. The City is working with the Illinois Municipal League.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY SABAN, SECONDED BY MCDONALD TO ADJOURN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 9:17 PM. VOICE VOTE ON THE MOTION.

AYES – SHEEHAN, MCDONALD, GILLOGLY, BERGBOWER, DESKIN, BARTELSEN, SABAN

NAY - NONE

ABSENT – PUGH

ABSTAIN – NONE

7 AYES, 0 NAY, 1 ABSENT, 0 ABSTAIN – MOTION CARRIED

https://lockport.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=lockport_496cde1cdf9c33d31ac57b71381a1c3e.pdf&view=1