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Batavia council approves consent agenda, SSA expansion, cannabis dispensary and infrastructure purchases
Summary
The Batavia City Council approved a broad consent agenda, created Special Service Area 17 for Hazelwood Point, granted a conditional use permit for a recreational cannabis dispensary on Randall Road and approved wastewater lift-station purchases and installation contracts during its Jan. 9 meeting.
The Batavia City Council on Jan. 9 approved a slate of routine and contested items, including a consent agenda of administrative reports and equipment purchases, an expansion to Special Service Area (SSA) 17, a conditional use permit for a recreational cannabis dispensary at 144 S. Randall Road, and contracts tied to upgrades at several wastewater lift stations.
The consent agenda — which included minutes, payroll and accounts payable approvals, purchase authorizations for police and public works vehicles, a one-year renewable property-maintenance contract and the first reading of several ordinances — passed on a roll call vote (13 yes, 1 absent). The council also formally adopted a proclamation declaring Jan. 9, 2025, National Law Enforcement Day in Batavia.
Why it matters: the votes cleared multiple administrative purchases and paved the way for two infrastructure contracts and a new retail use on Randall Road. The votes also advanced a Special Service Area expansion that will act as a backup funding mechanism for common-area maintenance in the Hazelwood Point subdivision.
Key votes at a glance
- Consent agenda: Approved as read. Items included Committee of the Whole minutes (Dec. 10, 2024), historic preservation minutes (Dec. 9, 2024), building reports (Dec. 2024); January 3, 2025 payroll ($1,105,670.40); accounts payable ($4,617,775.62); and multiple purchase authorizations and ordinance first readings. Roll call: 13 yes, 1 absent.
- Proclamation: Jan. 9, 2025, declared National Law Enforcement Day in Batavia. Roll call: 13 yes, 1 absent.
- Ordinance 2025-007 (establish SSA 17, Hazelwood Point phases 1 & 2): Approved after public hearing; described as a backup special service area that would not levy a tax unless needed to maintain common elements. Roll call: 13 yes, 1 absent.
- Ordinance 2025-004 (conditional use permit for recreational cannabis dispensary, Duchess Cannabis at 144 S. Randall Road): Approved (motion moved by Alderman Wolf; second by Alderman Lay). Committee of the Whole had previously recommended approval. Final tally recorded in the meeting: 11 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention, 1 absent.
- Ordinance 2025-003 (certificate of appropriateness for building at 106 N. River St., tin shop): Council approved a COA to allow relocation or demolition of the structure, with the Historic Preservation Commission asking that salvageable materials (including the north-side sign) be reused if possible. Roll-call votes showed mixed support during debate; final approval was recorded by the council in session.
- Waiver of formal bidding for overwatch pump system work (lift-station rehabilitation): Approved (roll call recorded as 12 yes, 0 no, 1 absent in the meeting record).
- Resolution 2025-005R (purchase of overwatch lift-station system; amount not to exceed $105,423.35): Approved (roll call recorded as 13 yes).
- Resolution 2025-006R (installation of overwatch pump systems by Danham Mechanical Industries; amount not to exceed $376,000): Approved (roll call recorded as 13 yes).
- Ordinance 2025-006 (amendments to liquor control and video gaming chapters of the municipal code): Approved; code language revised to align video gaming rules with updated liquor license categories. Roll call: 13 yes, 1 absent.
What the votes do — official actions summarized
- The SSA expansion (2025-007) is a non-levying backup mechanism that will allow the city to maintain HOA/common areas if private maintenance fails. The ordinance establishes the legal coverage; taxes will not be levied unless the city must exercise maintenance authority.
- Approval of the conditional-use ordinance for Duchess Cannabis (2025-004) grants the applicant the zoning permission needed to operate a recreational cannabis dispensary at the specified Randall Road address under the city’s General Commercial (GC) zoning rules and any conditions set by the council and staff.
- The COA for 106 N. River Street (2025-003) authorizes either relocation or demolition of the tin shop structure, subject to future demolition or relocation contracting steps and salvage requirements recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission.
- The lift-station purchases and installation approvals allow the city to acquire and install a newer “overwatch” pumping system at Challenge and Harvill lift stations. Staff said the technology is intended to reduce odor, clogging and maintenance calls by keeping flow moving in the force main.
What’s next
For several items (notably the COA/demolition and the lift-station work), staff said they will issue RFPs or return with contract awards and more detailed implementation plans. The council’s approvals authorize the next procurement or contracting steps, not every final contractual detail.
Votes and documents: Ordinance and resolution numbers were recorded in the meeting packet and read aloud during the meeting. Where the council recorded roll calls, the meeting video and minutes hold the full vote lists.
