Naperville Council Talks Hazardous Waste, Sexual Harassment

NAPERVILLE, IL — The last City Council meeting of 2017 will be held Tuesday night at 7:00. Among the talking points is an extension for an agreement to keep funding a hazardous waste collection facility and an update on the city's sexual harassment policy. The following are highlights on the agenda:

• The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said it will cap funding for Naperville's Hazardous Waste Collection Facility starting Jan. 1. The IEPA, which usually picks up the disposal tab ($516,000 paid in 2017), has agreed to a six-month extension in exchange for a $250,000 cap. The agreement also allows the agency or the governor to withdraw at any time without warning if there's a lack of available funding.
  • Tuesday, council will decide whether approve the extension as part of an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the IEPA that would operate the long-term household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
  • There are four such facilities in the state. Naperville's Communications Manager, Linda LaCloche, told Patch that Naperville's is regional. The facility, located at 156 Fort Hill Drive, serves neighboring counties and relies on Aurora and the counties of DuPage, Kane and Will to help cover operating costs.
  • This will buy more time for the city to determine how the cap will affect hours and operations at the Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
• City employees are required to take harassment prevention training annually, and officials are required to take it upon election or appointment. The state of Illinois is taking it a step further by requiring local governments to comply with the following sexual harassment policies by Jan. 15:
  • A prohibition on sexual harassment
  • Details on how someone can confidentially report an allegation of sexual harassment
  • Protection for whistleblowers who report allegations
  • The consequences of a violation as well as consequences for knowingly making a false report
• Several tax levy public hearings will take place Tuesday, including an $8 million tax abatement ordinance and truth-in-taxation sessions for the city’s property tax levies.
• The council will vote whether to pass an ordinance that would adopt a $200,000 tax levy for the Van Buren Parking Deck, which is a one percent decrease from the 2016 final property tax extension.
• Council plans to deny the request to put a 6-foot tall solid fence in the required corner side yard at the subject property located at 2816 Rolling Meadows Dr.
  
  
• Council will provide direction to Ryan Companies, the developer of the 5th Avenue project. Ryan has been conducting community engagement efforts, including market and technical research, to determine feasible and beneficial redevelopment options for City Council consideration. An hour before the council meeting, a workshop with Ryan will take place to give an update on 5th Avenue.
• Council is planning the approval of a funding allocation that would put $500,000 from food and beverage taxes toward a social services grant.
• Council is also voting on a smart park agreement. Naperville Jaycees has agreed to pitch in half the cost, or $200,000, over ten years to make it happen. In exchange, the park will be named after the organization, among other perks. This donation agreement is contingent upon the approval of the smart park.

The City Council meeting is Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 400 S. Eagle St.

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