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Geneva council unanimously approves placing $68 million bond question on April 1 ballot
Summary
The Geneva City Council approved Ordinance 2025-02 to place a general obligation bond proposition of up to $68,000,000 on the April 1, 2025 consolidated election ballot to finance public safety facility improvements, including a new police station and a new Fire Station No. 2.
The City Council of the City of Geneva voted 11-0 to approve Ordinance 2025-02, placing a question on the April 1, 2025 consolidated election ballot to let voters decide whether to issue up to $68,000,000 in general obligation bonds to improve public safety facilities. The ordinance was moved by Alderman Bruno and seconded by Bowring and approved by roll call.
City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins said the city used online surveys, telephone surveys, community focus groups and a community committee to gather input and support putting a bonding referendum question on the April ballot. “For your consideration this evening, is the ordinance setting forth that question to issue up to $68,000,000 in bonds to improve the City's public safety facilities, such improvements to include, but not be limited to, the construction of a new police station, the construction of a new Fire Station No. 2, improvements to the existing public safety facilities, and public safety related improvements to the city's public works facility,” Dawkins told the council.
Dawkins and other staff emphasized that the ordinance simply places the question on the ballot; specifics such as building locations, sizes and final plans would be developed later. Dawkins told the council that if the ordinance were approved, the city would start an education process to inform voters about the plans, “where they might be located, the size they might be, and all of those things would come next.” She also said work would continue to seek alternative funding for improvements not covered by the potential bond issuance.
Council members briefly discussed next steps for outreach after the vote. A council member asked about campaign organization and a possible PAC; Dawkins said she did not yet have details and expected consultants would lay out next steps.
The ordinance was approved by voice/roll call: 11 votes in the affirmative, 0 in the negative, 0 council members absent. No additional amendments were recorded at the meeting.
The council’s approval sends the bond question to voters on the April 1, 2025 consolidated election; any further design, site selection, financing details or bond issuance would follow later steps if voters approve the measure.
