McHenry Times

City of Harvard City Council met Oct. 28

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. Conduct of Public Hearing to Issue General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2025

5. 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.

6. 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 September 23, 2025

b. Closed Session City Council Meeting Minutes of September 23, 2025

c. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2025

d. Administration Committee Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2025

e. Community & Economic Development Minutes of August 19, 2025

f. Annual Treasurer’s Report

g. Accept Audit FY April 30, 2025 as submitted by Lauterbach & Amen LLP Accountants

h. Chris Czarnowski, Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm, is requesting permission to place temporary directional signs at the intersections of Routes 14/173 and Routes 23/14 from November 20th thru December 20th, with the permit fee waived in exchange for the Christmas tree that will be donated and displayed at Five Points.

i. John & Diana Minalt, Conifera Tree Farm, are requesting permission to place temporary directional signs at the intersections of McGuire Rd./US Route 14 from November 20th - December 20th, with the permit fee waived in exchange for the Christmas Trees that will be donated and displayed on Ayer St.

j. Harvard Milk Days’ request to close certain streets for Harmilda’s Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 6th, 2025.

k. Operation Green Light for Veterans 2025 Proclamation

7. Individual Action Consent Agenda Items

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

8. Payment of Bills

• “Motion to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $742,756.58.”

9. Confirm appointment of Debi Bejot to the position of City Administrator

10. Confirm appointment of Jo Atkinson to the position of Community Engagement Director

11. Confirm appointment of Rubi Vega to the position of City Treasurer

12. Discussion/Action to amend the action taken at the November 26, 2024 City Council meeting to accept from GTZ Properties (Starbucks) a Letter of Credit in the amount of $69,928.07 and 5–year sidewalk deferral to the acceptance of an upfront payment in full in the amount of $69,928.07 from GTZ Properties, turning responsibility for sidewalk development over to the City of Harvard. Payment to be made in full prior to a final certificate of occupancy being issued.

13. Surplus Property

• Action to approve the bid for Shadow Creek Lots 1 and 3, after confirmation with Rafael Mora Estrada, bid amount being $12,500 for each lot for a total of $25,000.”

14. Vending License Application-R & R Alehouse DBA Tilly’s Parlor

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve R & R Alehouse DBA Tilly’s Parlor vending license.”

15. Planning & Zoning Recommendation/Finding of Facts – August 5, 2025

• Review the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to approve the petition submitted by the City of Harvard. The petitioner is seeking a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), pursuant to Section 14.2, to regulate intermodal containers: Amend Article 2 – Definitions and Rules of Measurement, specifically Section 2.3, and Amend Article 9, specifically adding Section 9.3 “Intermodal Containers”. Will require City Council consideration to approve or reject the Commission’s recommendation to approve the petition. If approved, an ordinance will be drafted and presented for approval at the November 25th, 2025 City Council meeting.

16. Planning & Zoning Recommendation/Finding of Facts – October 7, 2025

• Review the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to approve the petition submitted by Octavio Salinas (petitioner) and Bryan Franklin & Jeff Franklin (property owner). The petitioner is seeking a conditional use pursuant to Section 14.3 of the Harvard Unified Development Ordinance to operate a Body Modification Establishment (Tattoo).

Subject commonly known as 36 N. Ayer St., 2nd Floor, Harvard, IL 60033. Will require City Council action to approve or reject the Commission’s recommendation to approve the petition and proposed ordinance.

17. Planning & Zoning Recommendation/Finding of Facts – October 7, 2025

• Review the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to approve the petition submitted by Harvard Nutrition Inc. (Petitioner) and Anton and Shirley Stricker Trust #1, Kurt Stricker, Trustee (Property Owners) seeking a variation pursuant to Section 14.3 of the Harvard Unified Development Ordinance from the height requirements set forth in Section 7.3; and Zoning Map Amendment pursuant to Section 14.2, requesting that the subject property be reclassified from R-6 and B-2 to the M-1 Use District. Will require City Council action to approve or reject the Commission’s recommendation to adopt the proposed ordinance, subject to attorney approval of accurate legal description and PIN. 

18. 2026 Road Program Contract for Phase II Design Engineering Services

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the 2026 Road Program Contract for Phase II Engineering Services with Christopher B. Burke Engineering in the amount of $333,503.60.”

19. Administration Committee Recommendation – IGA Agreement with the RTA for Sidewalk Improvements

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Regional Transit Authority for Sidewalk Improvements on Route 173 between Marengo Road and Route 14.”

20. Community & Economic Development Committee Recommendation

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve Christopher Burke Engineering Phase I Dacy Site Assessment Study in the amount if $177, 982.”

21. Parks & Recreation Board Recommendation – Request for Proposal for Boiler Replacement

• Recommendation: “ Motion to approve the Publication of a Request for Proposal for boiler replacement at Harvard Aquatic Center not to exceed $100,000.”

22. Parks & Recreation Board Recommendation – Harvard Milk Day Request

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve Harvard Milk Day request to plant a tree at Milky Way Park in memory of Wanda Marzahl.”

23. Parks & Recreation Board Recommendation – Harvard Milk Day Request

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve Harvard Milk Day request to extend the east-west drive at the north end of the property to Lawrence Road for Milk Days Festival for emergency vehicle access only, entrance to be securely gated.”

24. Staff Recommendation –Country Brook Lift Station Panel

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve contract with Advanced Automation for the Lift Station Panels at Country Brook in the amount of $28,415.”

25. Staff Recommendation – Crowley Rd. Lift Station Panel

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve contract with Advanced Automation for the Lift Station Panel at Crowley Rd. in the amount of $28,415.”

26. Staff Recommendation – Rt. 14 Lift Station Panel

• Recommendation: “Motion to approve contract with Advanced Automation in the amount of $56,950.”

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 Sale or Lease of Real Estate Pursuant to Section 2(c)(6) 

36. Motion to Come Back into Open Session

37. Action from Closed Session Discussion

38. Adjournment

https://www.cityofharvard.org/media/26886