Residents, businesses urge Saint Charles to act after repeated reckless driving and objects thrown from downtown parking garage

Phil Kessler, a St. Charles resident at 345 South Second Street, told the Saint Charles City Council on Tuesday that persistent reckless driving, loud exhausts and items thrown from the city’s downtown parking garage have disrupted his neighborhood and endangered businesses and patrons.

Kessler said the disturbances date back years and that past interventions have been temporary. “We’re exasperated. It’s past time for the city to find a permanent solution,” he told the council. He said the behavior includes revving and popping engines, drifting and items thrown from the roof, and that the people involved are often not local residents but visitors who gather for social-media filming.

The city’s Deputy Chief Majewski and City Administrator McGuire described recent enforcement and monitoring steps. McGuire said the mayor and council take the issue “very seriously” and that staff have used cameras and stepped-up enforcement; Majewski said patrols have been increased and that officers can review camera footage after incidents. “One of our cameras can pick up license plates. It doesn’t run the plate, but it does give us an identifiable plate so we can follow-up,” Majewski said. He added that cameras have been useful in investigating incidents since they were installed.

Neighbor Derek Marac, of 408 Illinois Street, said the noise and activity occur nightly. “It’s every night,” he said, and described counting as many as 30 cars leaving the garage from the top floors during a single night. Both speakers urged the city to pursue a permanent fix, including closing or gating the garage after certain hours to prevent loitering and dangerous driving.

Council members and staff discussed next steps but made no formal change to code or policy at the meeting. Mayor (unnamed) said she would “lean on” Deputy Chief Majewski to strategize with the department about additional measures. Majewski agreed to follow up with residents; staff and the mayor indicated enforcement will be increased and that longer-term engineering or access changes are being considered but will require further study and budget decisions.

Kessler gave written statements from downtown business owners—Ken Hendricks of Walter Brewing, Alex Durant of Gia Mia and Julie Ayano of MotoiMoto—and asked the council to add targeted ordinance language to make enforcement easier. Kessler also said he has reviewed state muffler/noise provisions in the Illinois compiled statutes and suggested the city clarify local code language to address aftermarket exhausts and modified mufflers.

Council member Alderman Bridal asked staff about a parking study completed about a year earlier and when implementation of recommended changes might occur; staff said implementation is dependent on budget availability and ongoing revenue discussions. Bridal also asked for an update on the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) contract and was told staff is awaiting an outside study by Naperville expected in March before returning to council for further discussion.

The council did not adopt any ordinance or motion related to the parking garage at the Feb. 18 meeting. Council members asked staff and police to continue enforcement, to review camera and evidence-handling procedures and to follow up with the residents who spoke.

Why it matters: Residents and business owners say the activity presents a clear public-safety risk—thrown objects and reckless driving—and have asked for a permanent solution. Police said existing camera systems and targeted patrols have aided investigations, but both staff and the mayor acknowledged those measures have not fully solved the problem and that changes will likely require additional resources or physical access controls.

The council indicated next steps will be administrative (increased enforcement and follow-up with residents) and potentially budgetary or regulatory (changes to parking-deck access or local code language), with any formal proposals to return to the council for public consideration.