05/20/2026
What Just Happened | May 19, 2026 City Council Meeting
We covered a wide range of topics at this week’s Council meeting. Below are a few updates and discussions on some of the key issues before Council.
Modifications to the Special Events and Community Arts (SECA) Policy and Procedures Manual
Staff and the SECA Commissioners have been evaluating the current SECA grant allocation process and last night presented several recommendations for potential improvements. We had a wide ranging discussion on the proposed suggestions, and while no final actions were taken at this meeting, Council provided direction to staff on several areas for further consideration.
One area I was particularly interested in was how we handle significant changes in scope after an organization has already been awarded funding. For example, if an organization receives funding for a two-day event but later decides to scale the event back to one day, should the awarded funding be adjusted proportionally?
The staff report recommended procedures for notifying Council and the community about scope changes, but it did not include a clear mechanism for evaluating whether funding allocations should be revisited or adjusted once those changes are identified. I raised questions about that next step, and staff clarified that the current process would largely rely on a Council member bringing concerns forward for Council consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Several of my colleagues echoed my concerns about the ambiguity of the current process, and I think there was general agreement that it would be beneficial to explore a more formalized approach for addressing substantial scope changes after grants have been awarded.
Special Study Area – I-88 Land Use Plan
This is an agenda item that I requested at our previous meeting. During last year’s budget discussions, staff shared that they had the bandwidth to pursue either an I-88 Corridor Study or a 5th Avenue Study in 2026. While both projects are important to the future of our community, last night Council directed staff to move forward with retaining a consultant to study the I-88 corridor.
The I-88 Corridor is an important area for economic development in Naperville. Thanks to the tireless work of the Naperville Development Partnership (NDP), we have already seen tremendous growth and innovation along the corridor, with more on the horizon.
This next phase of I-88 future planning will result in an adopted future land use plan for the corridor and a revised ORI zoning district. The process will include stakeholder meetings, field research, opportunities for community input, a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission, and final approval by City Council.
As we saw during discussions earlier this year regarding a proposed data center along the corridor, zoning and long-range land use planning matter. These plans help shape how growth occurs and ensure that future development aligns with the kind of community residents want Naperville to be for decades to come.
This study is an important opportunity to ensure alignment between the City, economic development efforts, and community priorities as the corridor continues to evolve, and I look forward to hearing from residents and being part of the process.
Naperville Due Process and Municipal Property Ordinance
Council discussed the proposed “Naperville Due Process and Municipal Property Ordinance” and directed staff to prepare the ordinance and bring it back to Council for a first reading.
I appreciate the many residents who have worked hard to bring this ordinance forward, taken the time to speak at meetings, shared their experiences, and engaged thoughtfully throughout this process.
Since last summer, I have been working with residents, community advocates, and City staff to address concerns raised by members of our community regarding federal civil immigration enforcement activities in our City. That work has included helping reassure residents about Naperville’s compliance with the Illinois TRUST Act and ensuring that City staff receive appropriate training on the legal parameters governing interactions with federal immigration authorities. This proposed ordinance will build upon that work.
The ordinance Council directed staff to prepare will clarify that City-owned property cannot be officially designated or used by federal immigration authorities as a staging area, operations base, or processing site for federal civil immigration enforcement activities. It also reaffirms constitutional due process protections and the City’s compliance with existing Illinois law, including the TRUST Act.
Nothing in this ordinance prevents federal authorities from carrying out lawful actions authorized by judicial warrant, court order, or other applicable law. Rather, this ordinance focuses on how the City manages its own property and resources while reinforcing Naperville’s long-standing commitment to public safety, constitutional protections, and community trust.
