Batavia Illinois – The 5th Ward

New mural being applied for on city hall and another older building potentially being flipped to modern workspace. Elections matter!

Meeting Overview and Opening

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. The Mayor provided an invocation focusing on the importance of good government and global understanding, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call confirmed 13 members present and 1 absent.

Agenda Modifications

A motion was made and approved to remove item 7.5 from the Consent Agenda and move it to item 9.1 on the Regular Agenda to allow for discussion regarding the item

Consent Agenda

The Council approved the Consent Agenda, which included the following items

• Payroll: Totals for December 19, 2025 ($1,227,400.51) and January 2, 2026 ($1,206,805.19).
• Accounts Payable: A total of $12,700,980.94 for the January 5th meeting.
• infrastructure: Resolution 2026-2-R, authorizing a letter of understanding with the Kane County Division of Transportation regarding a feasibility project for a pedestrian crossing at Randall Road.

Presentations

Chamber of Commerce Report

The Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce presented an annual review and upcoming plans:

• Economic Impact: The Chamber sold $31,980 in “Chamber Bucks” in the previous year, which was matched by a $5,000 donation, resulting in a local economic impact of $36,980.
• Charitable Events: The “Women in Business” holiday luncheon raised over $3,000 and collected toys for local drives.
• Growth: The Chamber added 67 new members and hosted over 160 meetings in 2025. New members include businesses such as Tesla, Village Auto Body, and Aquatic Utopia^.
• Upcoming Programs:
  • A new educational series titled “Strong Foundations” begins January 22nd, focusing on social media for business.
  • The “Inspire Celebration” is scheduled for April 23rd to honor businesses investing in the community and the Citizen of the Year.
  • The Chamber is offering four $1,000 scholarships to high school students.

Business Spotlight: Aquatic Utopia

A local business owner presented their aquarium maintenance and design services.

• Services: The company handles consulting, design, installation, and maintenance for residential and commercial aquariums.
• Community Focus: The owner expressed a desire to partner with retirement communities, citing health benefits for residents such as improved sleep and nutritional intake.
• Current Projects: Clients include the Batavia Public Library and CDH Hospital.

Regular Business

Water Street Studios Public Art Initiative (Item 9.1)

Representatives requested a conditional endorsement to apply for a $15,000 grant from the Illinois Arts Council regarding the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence20.

• Project Scope: A six-panel mural proposed for the west side of the police station..
• Theme: The panels will depict Batavia’s past (industrial heritage/Fox River), present (community/liberty), and future (stewardship/shared promise)
• Outcome: The Council voted to approve the motion to endorse the project application

Administrative Reports

City Administrator’s Report

The City Administrator highlighted two development projects coming to the Committee of the Whole:

• 15 East Wilson Street: The city plans to provide $150,000 in incentives ($100,000 initial reimbursement, plus $50,000 over five years) for a new upscale restaurant
• Pomarco Building Adaptive Reuse: A software company intends to establish its North American headquarters in the vacant historic factory building. Due to the significant investment required to modernize the structure, the developer will be seeking incentives

Mayor’s Report

The Mayor shared a narrative and public safety statistics:

• Community Appeal: He recounted meeting a family moving from Ohio who chose Batavia specifically for its safety rating (ISO Class 1 Fire Department) and school system after reviewing 24 area cities
• Growth and Safety: The city expects to add over 800 living units between 2022 and 2026²⁸.
• Fire Department Stats: The Fire Department responded to 5,369 calls in the previous year, with approximately 70% being medical-related.

Executive Session

The Council voted to enter an executive session to discuss the setting of a price for land for sale. The motion passed with two “no” votes.

Author: Jim Fahrenbach