McHenry Times

City of Harvard City Council met May 27

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

1. Call meeting to order

2. Roll Call

Verify Quorum is present. Five (5) members must be physically present to achieve quorum.

3. Authorization for City Council Member to Attend Meeting Electronically Pursuant to Section 2.05.H – Electronic Attendance at Meetings Rule

4. Public Comment

The public is invited to make an issue-oriented comment on any matter of public concern not otherwise on the agenda. Individuals wishing to address the City Council are invited to come forward to the podium and be recognized by the Mayor; provide their name and address for purposes of the record, if willing to do so. Public comment is restricted to no longer than 3 minutes in duration. Interrogation of the City staff, Mayor or City Council will not be allowed at this time, nor will any comment from the Council. Personal invectives against City staff or elected officials are not permitted.

5. Consent Agenda

Items under the Consent Agenda are acted upon in a single motion. There is no separate discussion of these items prior to the Council vote unless a Council Member or member of the public requests that an item be removed from the consent agenda for separate action.

Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:

a. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025

b. Year-End City Council Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025

c. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025

d. Special Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2025

e. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2025

f. Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes of April 8, 2025

g. Administration Committee Meeting Minutes of April 16, 2025

h. Tree Board Meeting Minutes of April 2, 2025

i. 250th Illinois America Commemoration Resolution

j. McHenry County Farm Bureau League Fee Waiver Request

k. Harvard Parks Foundation’s request to close Ayer Street from Diggins to Front St., using Brainard St. up to the alley each way from Brainard St. to Sumner St. during the Day of the Dead Celebration on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 12 pm - 8 pm and to waive the Outdoor Market Permit fee of $25 and One Day Liquor License fee of $30, allowing the outside consumption of alcohol on Ayer St. within the designated blocked off area.

l. Approve Park Board’s Recommendation to Appoint Joseph Pienta to the Parks & Recreation Board

6. Individual Action Consent Agenda Items

• City Council Action on any item removed from the consent agenda.

7. Special Recognition for Outstanding Youth for Acts of Community Kindness

• River Schmitt, Harper Schmitt, Emilio Ambriz, and Zach Camp 

8. Payment of Bills

• “Motion to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $1,569.190.77.”

9. Appointment of Interim City Administrator/Oath of Office

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve Interim City Administrator.”

10. Confirmation Mayoral Appointment Parks & Recreation Director/Oath of Office

• Action requested is to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Jo Atkinson as Parks & Recreation Director.

11. Planning & Zoning Commission’s recommendation to readopt the previous approved rezoning designation of M-1 Manufacturing District to RA- Residential Agriculture Pursuant to Section 14.2 of the UDO Development Ordinance (Ordinance 2025-111)

• Recommendation: “Motion to readopt the previous approved ordinance (Ordinance 2025-111) granting the rezoning of M-1 Manufacturing District to RA-Residential Agriculture for the property located 1001 W. Roosevelt St., Harvard, IL 60033, with the condition that outside storage of fertilizer products or byproducts, including compost, be prohibited.”

12. Milk Day Certificate Request – Saturday, June 7, 2025

• Eric Brehm/Hub Lounge is requesting a Milk Day Certificate pursuant to Section 25.06B.2 for the outside consumption of alcohol and to encroach on the City sidewalk. Will require action from the City Council to approve or deny the request pending payment of fees/security deposit.

13. Special Event Liquor License Application

• Carl Opper is requesting a Special Event Liquor License for Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Boy’s League Shelter. The fees have been paid. The action requested is to approve or deny the license, dram shop insurance has been submitted.

14. Staff Recommendation – Inducement Resolution with Goat Partners International

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the Inducement Resolution with Goat Partners International to allow Goat Partners to begin tracking eligible costs for reimbursement at a later date after the proposed Tax Increment Finance District is created.”

15. Staff Recommendation – Inducement Resolution with Greenway Group LLC

• Recommendation; “ Motion to approve the Inducement Resolution with Greenway Group LLC to allow Greenway Group to begin tracking eligible costs for reimbursement at a later date after the proposed Tax Increment Finance District is created.”

16. Community & Economic Development Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “ Motion to approve an ordinance repealing 21.19 Laundry, Laundromats from the Harvard Municipal Code.”

17. Community & Economic Development Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “Motion to authorize the filing of a Petition to Planning & Zoning Commission for a Text Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to:

○ Amend the Use Matrix to require a Conditional Use Permit for laundromats and dry cleaners within the B-1-RC Zoning District, which includes all of North Ayer Street and a portion of South Ayer Street; and

○ Revise Section 2.3 “Definitions of General Terms” to remove laundromats and dry cleaners from the definition of “Personal Service Establishments” and create separate definitions for each use

18. Community & Economic Development Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “Motion to adopt an ordinance amending Municipal City Code 19.05 License.” 

19. Community & Economic Development Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “Motion to adopt an ordinance amending the Municipal City Code 19.04A and 19.04.C Permit Schedule.”

20. Community & Economic Development Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “ Motion to authorize the filing of a Petition to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a Text Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Section 9.6.B.1 and 9.6.B.1.C.1.”

21. Parks & Recreation Board Recommendation

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the proposal and agreement with IPS Inc. for waterslide resurfacing in the amount of $12,585.00.”

22. Administration Committee Recommendation - Ayer Street Resurfacing Bid

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the contract with Schroeder Asphalt in the amount of $391,0006.15 and authorize staff to proceed with project coordination.”

23. Administration Committee Recommendation - Ayer Street Resurfacing Construction Observation Engineering Contract

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the Ayer Street Resurfacing Project III Engineering Contract to Christopher B Burke Engineering in the amount of $49,967.00.”

24. Administration Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the Amendment to the School Speed Zone Location Ordinance 15.12.A.1.”

25. Administration Committee Recommendation – Surplus Property

Recommendation: “ Motion to adopt the proposed ordinance Declaring Surplus Property.”

26. Discussion/Action to extend the Holcim Tolling Agreement for 3 months

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the Holcim Tolling Agreement an additional 3 months.”

27. Strategic Vision Review

28. Staff Monthly Reports

• The City Council has the opportunity to ask staff questions regarding monthly staff reports.

29. Committee Reports

30. Treasurer’s Report

31. Attorney’s Report

32. Administrator’s Report

33. Clerk’s Report

34. Mayor’s Report

35. Closed Session To Discuss Section 2(c)(11) Litigation

36. Motion to Come Back into Open Session

37. Open Session Action Regarding Closed Session Section 2(c)(11) Litigation

38. Adjournment

https://www.cityofharvard.org/media/25771