Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Multi Issue topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges bike lanes, traffic calming, parking plan, bridge safety and local renewable program during Saint Charles council public comment
Summary
Steven Leffler, a 10‑year Saint Charles resident, used the public-comment period to urge the council to expand transportation options, add traffic-calming measures, plan employee parking for the new Whole Foods, address safety concerns on a Union Pacific bridge and pursue local solar and battery projects instead of signing an IMEA contract.
Steven Leffler, who identified himself as a 10‑year Saint Charles resident, spoke during the council's public‑comment period and urged action on a range of infrastructure and policy issues.
Leffler called for more dedicated bike lanes on key corridors, including Illinois Street between the library and the school, Oak Street to the Costco area, Dean Street, Third Street where it meets Anderson in Geneva, and Prairie and Horn. He said the city's existing paths are "meant for leisure" and not for point‑to‑point transportation, and recommended converting some roadway parking into dedicated bike lanes.
On traffic flow and safety, Leffler suggested adding roundabouts at intersections he named — Dean and North, Prairie and Fourteenth, Fox Field and King Edwards — and installing temporary speed tables or other traffic calming where people "hot rod" in the summer. He also recommended a four‑way stop at Illinois and First and called out a northeast corner near the library as not ADA compliant.
Leffler raised downtown parking as the Whole Foods store opens, saying employees might total "60 to 70" and that he observed about "50 parking spots" currently available; he urged the council to coordinate a downtown employee parking plan with businesses and the parking deck. He also suggested deploying security at the parking-deck rooftop during busy weekends to discourage unsafe behavior and littering.
Leffler asked the council to contact Union Pacific about a sagging safety cable on a train bridge over the river, saying the buckles have rusted and the cable is no longer taut and could create a hazard for people he sees walking on the bridge. He noted the bridge is Union Pacific property but urged the city to notify the railroad.
On fiscal and energy policy, Leffler voiced support for a proposed grocery tax, saying much of the revenue would come from nonresidents, and flagged the city's debt service at about "$1,250,000 per month" and a proposed east‑side well project he described as costing "$17,500,000." He suggested looking for water conservation options and cited Roseville, Minnesota, as an example of a city that achieved a 40% drop in per‑person water use over a decade. On energy, Leffler urged the city not to "sign the budget. Don't sign the contract," referring to the IMEA (Illinois Municipal Electric Agency) and instead develop a local renewable solar and battery program, saying the city would need about "1,200 acres" or "130 megawatts" and proposing sites near DuPage Airport, the youth home and the fairgrounds.
The council did not take action on any of the items Leffler raised during the public‑comment period; his remarks were entered into the public record and he said he would provide written materials to the council.
Because these items were raised during public comment, they are suggestions and requests to the council rather than council directives or adopted policy. The council or staff may follow up on any or none of the proposals; interested residents should contact the city clerk or the relevant department for updates.
