Kankakee City Council Holds Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

The Kankakee City Council convened on July 21, 2025, for a meeting that began with a public hearing on the tentative budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026. Mayor's call for public comments regarding the budget yielded no responses, leading to the closure of the hearing and the formal opening of the council meeting.

Following a prayer led by Pastor Tommy Wright, the council recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll call confirmed a quorum with 12 members present and 2 absent. The minutes from the previous meeting on July 7, 2025, were approved with 11 votes in favor and one abstention.

The council moved on to communications, where several requests were presented. West Harbor LLC requested a street closure for a ribbon-cutting event on July 23, 2025. Additionally, On the Rocks sought an extension for a noise permit for July 25 and 26, while Pleasant Grove MB Church and New Vision MB Church requested permissions for community events on August 9 and August 16, respectively. All communication items were combined and approved unanimously.

In the standing committee reports, the License and Franchise Committee discussed a proposed six-month moratorium on tobacco smoke shops, citing the need for zoning regulations and business licenses. The Community Development Committee reported on various initiatives, including a reduction in lead hazard project goals due to contractor availability and plans for demolishing buildings on North Fifth Avenue using CDBG funds. They also discussed the ongoing efforts of Fortitude Community Outreach regarding their emergency overnight shelter proposal, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and collaboration with local law enforcement.

The meeting concluded with a focus on the need for continued dialogue regarding community services and the challenges faced in addressing homelessness. The council plans to follow up on these discussions in future meetings, ensuring that community needs are met effectively.