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Residents press Geneva officials for clearer outreach on $59.4M police‑facility bond
Summary
Multiple residents at the Jan. 5 meeting urged the city to provide clearer information about the proposed $59,400,000 police‑facility bond on the March 17 ballot, questioning cost comparisons, site selection and what a failed referendum would mean; administrators said handouts, tours and outreach are planned starting next week.
Several residents at the Jan. 5 Geneva City Council public comment period urged more proactive, detailed outreach ahead of the March 17 ballot question that would place a $59,400,000 bond for a new police facility before voters.
Patrice Bertho, a spokesperson for Geneva Voices, told the council the amount ‘‘$59,400,000 seems high for that scope alone’’ and said residents were confused about what the referendum covers, where the facility would sit (staff indicated city‑owned property along South Street), and what alternatives were considered. Bertho asked who decided site selection, whether public hearings had been held, and called for clearer tax‑impact information and a plan B if the referendum fails.
City Administrator Voigt acknowledged the concerns and said staff is preparing handouts, scheduling speaking engagements with local groups, and planning tours of the police facility beginning next week. Voigt said the city has been updating web answers to questions received and will provide regular updates to the council and public; she encouraged council members to direct constituents to the website and offered to provide council handouts as soon as tomorrow.
Why it matters: The bond would be a major capital investment with a projected $59.4 million pricetag on the ballot; several residents said they feel outreach to explain scope, cost comparisons and tax impact has been insufficient. The council’s stated follow‑up — handouts, tours and speaking engagements — is the city’s immediate response ahead of early voting.
What’s next: Staff said outreach materials and tour sign‑ups will be released next week and that staff will provide council members with handouts for their neighborhood meetings. The council did not take a vote on the bond at the meeting; the referendum is scheduled for March 17, 2026.
