DeKalb meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

DeKalb council agenda: $149,500 youth grant, FY2027 budget review

Over the past two weeks, DeKalb city boards and committees met to consider a range of items, including a grant for a youth center, the city's FY2027 budget assumptions, and library policy revisions. Minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed.

City Council: Youth center grant and other items

The City Council's Aug. 10 agenda included five resolutions. The most significant was Resolution 2026-065, a $149,500 grant to help B.L.A.C. Inc. purchase a former synagogue at 820 Russell Road for youth programs. The council also considered:

• Resolution 2026-066: a $25,000 AIP grant for bollards at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.
• Resolution 2026-067: a $724 AIP grant for window repair at Found resale shop, 153 E. Lincoln Highway.
• Resolution 2026-068: a multi-year police IT contract with Peregrine Technology, with costs of $19,760 in 2026, $86,900 in 2027, $92,190 in 2028, and $94,955 in 2029.
• Resolution 2026-069: a bulk road salt agreement with Midwest Salt, not to exceed $300,000.

The consent agenda included minutes, financial reports, and a crime-free housing report.

FY2027 budget assumptions

On Aug. 17, the City Council and Finance Advisory Committee held a special joint meeting to review key assumptions for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The agenda projected General Fund revenues of $58,648,312 for FY2027, up from $55.2 million in FY2026. The police and fire pension shortfall is projected at $2,456,560 for 2027, with a combined unfunded liability of $104.2 million. The city manager recommended no increase in 2026 property tax levies (Option C), which would keep the average homeowner tax due at $957.23. State sales tax is expected to rise 3.4% to $8.8 million, home rule sales tax is projected at $10.96 million, and municipal utility tax is projected to increase 5% to $4.99 million. The agenda also noted that the Meta data center contributed $5,897,272 to city taxes over 2023-2025.

Library board: policy revisions and strategic planning

The DeKalb Public Library Board held three meetings in the period. On Aug. 11, the Policy Review Committee considered revisions to the Studio Policy, Disaster Plan and Safety Manual, Code of Conduct, Public Services Policy, and Personnel Manual. The full board met Aug. 12 to approve those revisions, review the Strategic Plan 2023-2026, and approve July 2026 monthly bills. A special meeting on Aug. 19 was dedicated to strategic planning.

Planning & Zoning: ComEd substation request withdrawn

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing Aug. 17 on a rezoning petition by Commonwealth Edison for a 160-acre electrical substation at Keslinger and Crego roads. The request was withdrawn after the Illinois Commerce Commission issued a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity that pre-empts local zoning. The commission also approved minutes from its July 20 meeting.

Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board

The Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board met Aug. 10 to review purchases, discuss towel and TV services, and consider its 2027 budget.

Coming up

• **City Council, Aug. 24:** Public hearings and first reading of an ordinance to annex 160 acres for the ComEd substation at Keslinger and Crego roads. Also on the agenda: Resolution 2026-071 to apply for a $595,000 IDOT grant for five paratransit vehicles; Resolution 2026-070 to reallocate $135,845 for a paratransit bus; and Resolution 2026-072, a contract with Kinsale Contracting Group for asbestos removal at the Monat Building, not to exceed $26,325. The consent agenda includes accounts payable and payroll totaling $3,389,536.80.

Airport Advisory Board on Aug. 25: The board will review the DKB-5225 taxiway rehabilitation project, the Wings and Wheels event from Aug. 23, the FY2027 budget for the AWOS, and a report on an airfield lightning strike.

DeKalb roundup: Youth center grant, library policy votes, and FY2027 budget review

DeKalb city boards and commissions met over the past two weeks, but no final votes have been published yet. Agendas were released for all meetings, and minutes are pending. The most significant item on the table is a proposed $149,500 grant to help B.L.A.C. Inc. purchase a former synagogue for youth programs, which the City Council will consider at its Aug. 10 meeting. Also upcoming is a joint budget review for fiscal year 2027, scheduled for Aug. 17.

City Council: Grant for youth center, theatre security, and more

The City Council's Aug. 10 agenda includes five resolutions:

• Resolution 2026-065: $149,500 grant to B.L.A.C. for property at 820 Russell Road.
• Resolution 2026-066: $25,000 AIP grant for Egyptian Theatre bollards at 135 N. Second St.
• Resolution 2026-067: $724 AIP grant for Found resale shop window repair at 153 E. Lincoln Highway.
• Resolution 2026-068: Peregrine Technology police IT contract ($19,760 in 2026; $86,900 in 2027; $92,190 in 2028; $94,955 in 2029).
• Resolution 2026-069: Bulk road salt agreement with Midwest Salt, not to exceed $300,000.

The consent agenda includes minutes, financial reports, and a crime-free housing report. No votes have been reported.

Library Board: Policy revisions and strategic plan

The DeKalb Public Library Board held three meetings (Aug. 3, 11, and 12) to consider revisions to the Studio Policy, Disaster Plan and Safety Manual, Code of Conduct, Public Services Policy, and Personnel Manual. The Aug. 12 meeting also included a final review of the Strategic Plan 2023-2026 and approval of July 2026 monthly bills. All items remain on the agenda; no outcomes are published.

Fire and Police Commissioners: Candidate interviews

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners met on Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 to conduct oral interviews for entry-level and lateral police officer candidates. Both meetings were scheduled to move into executive session for the interviews. No decisions are listed beyond the interview process.

Environmental Commission: Recycle Coach and Corn Fest

The Citizens' Environmental Commission (listed as Environmental Sustainability Commission) met Aug. 6 to discuss promoting the Recycle Coach app, the America 250 DeKalb – 250 Pickers initiative, and the Green Business program. The group also planned articles for the Daily Chronicle and reviewed upcoming events, including Corn Fest (Aug. 28-30).

Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board: 2027 budget review

The Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board met Aug. 10 to review completed and pending purchases, discuss towel and TV services, and approve the 2027 budget. The agenda also included approval of minutes from May 11, 2026.

Cancelled meetings

Two meetings were cancelled: the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 3, and the quarterly Board of Fire and Police Commissioners meeting scheduled for Aug. 4.

Coming up

• **Aug. 17 (today):** The City Council and Finance Advisory Committee will hold a special joint meeting to review FY2027 budget assumptions. Key items include projected General Fund revenues of $58,648,312, a police and fire pension shortfall of $2,456,560, and a recommendation to hold property tax levies flat (Option C), keeping the homeowner tax due at $957.23. The meeting also notes that Meta data center contributed $5,897,272 to city taxes over 2023-2025.
• **Aug. 17 (today):** The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on a rezoning petition by Commonwealth Edison for a 160-acre substation at Keslinger and Crego Roads. The request has been withdrawn because the Illinois Commerce Commission issued a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity that pre-empts local zoning. The hearing is at the DeKalb Police Department, 700 W. Lincoln Highway.

DeKalb City Council to weigh vendor fee hikes, cannabis limits; boards tackle airport, library policies

The DeKalb City Council will consider raising fees for door-to-door vendors and aligning cannabis possession limits with state law at its July 27 meeting. The council also will weigh a special use permit for a downtown dwelling unit and a traffic regulation for an NIU Homecoming block party. All meetings listed below are agenda items only; minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions have been recorded.

City Council (July 27)

The council will discuss several ordinances and resolutions:

• **Ordinance 2026-026** would raise peddler application and daily fees from $25 to $100 and reduce permitted soliciting hours to 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• **Ordinance 2026-027** would update cannabis possession limits to 60 grams of flower, 1,000 mg of THC, and 10 grams of concentrate, aligning with state law.
• **Ordinance 2026-025** is a special use permit for an additional dwelling unit at 332-336 E. Lincoln Highway.
• **Resolution 2026-064** covers traffic regulation for the NIU Homecoming Block Party on Illinois Route 38, Oct. 8-9.
• The consent agenda includes accounts payable and payroll through July 27, 2026, totaling $3,639,041.99.

Airport Advisory Board (July 28)

The board will review the FY 2027 budget and two taxiway projects: rehabilitation of Taxiway A and project DKB-5225 to rehabilitate Taxiway Bravo. It will also discuss the Oshkosh AirVenture 2026 and the upcoming Wings and Wheels event scheduled for Aug. 23.

DeKalb Public Library Board (Aug. 3)

The Policy Review Committee will vote on revisions to several policies: the Studio Policy, Disaster Plan and Safety Manual, Code of Conduct, Public Services Policy, and Personnel Manual. The meeting includes public comments and approval of prior minutes.

Cancelled meetings

• The Planning & Zoning Commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 3 was cancelled.
• The quarterly Board of Fire and Police Commissioners meeting scheduled for Aug. 4 was cancelled.

Board of Fire and Police Commissioners – candidate interviews

Two special meetings were held to conduct oral interviews for entry-level and lateral police officer candidates. Both meetings took place in executive session; no substantive decisions were listed on the agendas beyond the executive session requests.

Citizens' Environmental Commission (Aug. 6)

The commission discussed promoting the Recycle Coach app, the America 250 DeKalb – 250 Pickers initiative, and the Green Business program. Members also planned next articles for the Daily Chronicle and reviewed upcoming events, including Corn Fest (Aug. 28-30).

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Check the city’s official meeting calendar for any newly scheduled sessions.

DeKalb Planning & Zoning approves home-occupation amendment; City Council to weigh peddler fees and cannabis limits

The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 to adopt text amendments to Article 7.07 of the Unified Development Ordinance, permitting educational classes in accessory structures for home occupations. The vote is noted in the meeting summary, though minutes have not yet been published.

Planning & Zoning Commission

At its July 20 meeting, the commission voted 6-0 to adopt the text amendment to Article 7.07, titled "Home Occupations," allowing educational classes in accessory structures. The commission also moved to table a public hearing on a special use permit for a 35-acre public transit facility at 855 and 900 W. Dresser Rd. An upcoming public hearing is scheduled for a special use permit to add an additional dwelling unit at 332-336 E. Lincoln Hwy. Jerry Wright was elected Vice Chair of the commission.

City Council

The City Council's July 27 agenda includes several items for discussion and potential action:

• **Resolution 2026-064:** Traffic regulation for the NIU Homecoming Block Party on Illinois Route 38, scheduled for Oct. 8-9.
• **Ordinance 2026-025:** Special use permit for an additional dwelling unit at 332-336 E. Lincoln Highway.
• **Ordinance 2026-026:** Peddler fee increases — application and daily fees would rise from $25 to $100, and soliciting hours would be reduced to 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• **Ordinance 2026-027:** Updating cannabis possession limits to 60 grams of flower, 1,000 mg of THC, and 10 grams of concentrate, aligning with state law.
• **Consent Agenda:** Accounts payable and payroll through July 27, 2026, totaling $3,639,041.99.

Minutes have not yet been published, so it is not yet confirmed which items were acted on.

Pension Boards

The Fire Pension Board met July 24 to review the annual actuarial valuation report from Foster & Foster, financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and the filing of the annual Department of Insurance report. The board also considered approval of three new Tier 2 members: Maddox Lavender, Christopher Raffin, and Breanne Augustine. A contribution refund for Juan Gasca was also listed.

The Police Pension Board's July 24 agenda included cash reserve balance transfers of $19,000.00 (dated 4/29/26) and $264,200.00 (dated 5/26/26), payments to Lauterbach and Amen totaling $3,660 for three months, payments to Reimer Dobrovolny & Labardi PC totaling $18,534.84, a $2,400 payment to INSPE Associates for the Guzinski annual exam, and a refund of Ramain Schaefer-Carrington contributions in the amount of $42,486.76. The board also reviewed the 2026 actuarial valuation.

Joint Review Board

The Joint Review Board met July 24 to review second quarter FY2026 TIF financial statements for both TIF 3 and TIF 4, as well as the FY2025 City of DeKalb TIF audit. The TIF 3 review included an update on current projects and a summary of the Architectural Improvement Program, which has a maximum of $25,000 per property. The TIF 4 review included an update on a denied IEPA grant for the Protano cleanup site.

Airport Advisory Board

The Airport Advisory Board met July 28 to review the FY 2027 budget, including the rehabilitation of Taxiway A (project DKB-5225, Rehabilitate Taxiway Bravo). The board also reviewed Oshkosh AirVenture 2026 and the upcoming Wings and Wheels event scheduled for Aug. 23, 2026.

Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission

The commission met July 20 to review projects for America 250 DeKalb and a second pass-through project, with updates on the Paint-A-Plug program.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 3:** Planning & Zoning Commission meeting — cancelled.
• **Aug. 4:** Board of Fire and Police Commissioners quarterly meeting — cancelled. A separate session is scheduled for oral interviews of entry-level and lateral police officer candidates in executive session.
• **Aug. 6:** Board of Fire and Police Commissioners special meeting for police officer candidate interviews in executive session. No substantive decisions are listed beyond the executive session request.

All recent meeting summaries are based on agendas only; minutes have not yet been published for any of the meetings covered above.

DeKalb zoning panel approves home-occupation changes; council weighed airport, siren, camping items

The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6–0 on July 20 to adopt text amendments to Article 7.07 of the Unified Development Ordinance, allowing educational classes in residential accessory structures as part of home occupations. The commission also tabled a public hearing on a special use permit for a 35-acre public transit facility at 855 and 900 W. Dresser Rd. and elected Jerry Wright as Vice Chair.

Planning & Zoning Commission

The July 20 meeting produced the panel's only confirmed vote this period. The home-occupation amendment passed unanimously, permitting educational classes in accessory structures. The commission moved to table the public hearing on the transit facility special use permit along W. Dresser Road. An upcoming public hearing was scheduled for a special use permit to add an additional dwelling unit at 332–336 E. Lincoln Hwy. in the CBD zone. The commission also approved its agenda and minutes from the July 6 meeting.

City Council

The City Council met July 13 with several resolutions and ordinances on its agenda. Minutes have not yet been published, so the following items were scheduled for council consideration:

• **Resolution 2026-061**: A $150,899.88 pass-through payment for DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport taxiway rehabilitation.
• **Resolution 2026-062**: Reconciliation of 2023 Motor Fuel Tax expenditures.
• **Resolution 2026-063**: A $38,606.40 contract with Federal Signal Corporation for a warning siren replacement.
• **Ordinance 2026-023**: An amendment to allow educational classes in residential accessory structures.
• **Ordinance 2026-024**: Creation of a "Public Camping" nuisance with associated fines and removal procedures.

The council's agenda did not indicate vote outcomes. Residents should consult the official minutes once published for final action on these items.

DeKalb Public Library Board

The Library Board met July 8 to consider action items including self-check machine replacements, a contract with Syndeo Internet Services, and updates to board by-laws. The board also reviewed the Illinois Per Capita Grant Award as a communication item and discussed landscaping updates for the Courtyard Project. Minutes were not yet published.

Fire Pension Board

The DeKalb Firefighters Pension Fund Board of Trustees met July 17. The agenda included approval of three new Tier 2 members — Maddox Lavender, Christopher Raffin, and Breanne Augustine — and a pension fund contribution refund for Juan Gasca. The board was also set to review IFPIF financial performance and cash flows, the annual actuarial valuation report from Foster & Foster, and annual election and retiree election results. Minutes were not yet published.

Citizens' Environmental Commission

The commission met July 7 for informational updates with no binding votes, contracts, or policy changes on the agenda. Items included a Metropolitan Mayors Caucus presentation on regional environmental policy, updates on the Promoting Green Business program, a review of the Recycle Coach waste management app, and a progress report on America 250 DeKalb volunteer initiatives. Commission reports from the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District and NIU were also scheduled.

Coming up

• **Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission** — July 20: Review of America 250 DeKalb projects, a second pass-through project, and Paint-A-Plug updates.
• **Joint Review Board** — July 24: Two meetings covering TIF 3 and TIF 4 second-quarter FY2026 financials, the FY2025 City of DeKalb TIF audit, project updates, the Architectural Improvement Program (maximum $25,000 per property), and an IEPA grant update on a denied Protano cleanup grant.

All recent meeting summaries are based on agendas; official minutes have not yet been published for the July 6–17 meetings. Readers should refer to the City of DeKalb's official records for confirmed outcomes.

DeKalb P&Z to weigh special use permit for transit facility along Dresser Road

No binding decisions were made by the DeKalb City Council or other city boards in the past two weeks, but the upcoming week brings a key land-use hearing. The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing July 6 on a special use permit for a 35-acre public transit facility, while the Citizens' Environmental Commission meets July 7 for updates on regional environmental policy.

Recent meetings

City Council – June 22

The council met to receive the FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and to adopt a proclamation designating DeKalb as a Purple Heart City for 2026. A historical presentation on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was also given. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published; no votes on ordinances or contracts were reported.

Airport Advisory Board – June 23

The regularly scheduled meeting was cancelled, so no business was conducted.

Upcoming meetings

Planning and Zoning Commission – July 6, 6 p.m.

The commission will hold a public hearing on a special use permit for a public transit facility proposed at 855 and 900 W. Dresser Rd., covering roughly 35 acres. A separate public hearing will consider text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance, Article 7.07, governing home occupations. The commission will also elect a new vice chair. The meeting is open to the public; written comments are typically accepted before the hearing.

Citizens' Environmental Commission – July 7, 5:30 p.m.

The commission will hear a presentation from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus on regional environmental policy. Other agenda items include updates on the Promoting Green Business program, the Recycle Coach app, and America 250 DeKalb volunteer efforts. The meeting also features reports from the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District and Northern Illinois University. According to the agenda, no binding votes, contracts, or policy changes are scheduled.

Coming up

• **Planning and Zoning Commission** – July 6, 6 p.m. (public hearings on transit facility and home occupation rules).
• **Citizens' Environmental Commission** – July 7, 5:30 p.m. (informational updates and regional coordination).

Meeting agendas and minutes are available on the city’s website. Residents can also attend in person at the DeKalb Municipal Building or access virtual participation links posted 48 hours before each meeting.