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Warrenville committee approves 2026 insurance renewal, vehicle lease and several FY27 budget requests; directs staff on climate and meeting-code changes
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Summary
The committee accepted a $593,654 liability insurance renewal for 2026, authorized an enterprise vehicle lease, advanced sidewalk and plan-commission recording items for FY27 consideration and directed staff to map city-owned properties for a proposed native-planting fund. A speed-camera proposal was set aside pending a traffic study.
The City of Warrenville Public Safety and Finance Committee of the Whole on May 24 recommended a series of administrative and budget items to the City Council, including approval of the city's 2026 liability insurance renewal, authorization to lease a replacement pickup, and direction to staff to prepare materials for a proposed natural-planting funding strategy.
Human resources generalist Juan Ortiz told the committee the city's total 2026 renewal was $593,654 — "which represents a .21% decrease from the previous year" and translates to an estimated $30,800 savings compared to what the city had budgeted for an expected 12% increase. After brief questions, Alderman Berry moved and Alderman Wilkie seconded a recommendation to accept Gallagher's renewal quote; the motion carried by voice vote.
The committee also approved a motion to use available enterprise CMRP funds to lease a replacement Ford F-350 through the Enterprise fleet-management program after staff reported the city's 21-year-old pickup required $4,400–$10,000 in repairs and was not operable. The recommendation included waiving competitive bidding to expedite a leased replacement.
Several FY27 budget submissions were moved forward for additional consideration. The committee endorsed adding roughly $10,000 to the FY27 budget process to update the south-side sidewalk plan and to reengage the Complete Streets work group to prioritize sidewalk gaps and funding options. Alderman Weidner framed the request as a first step to produce an updated GIS map and gap analysis.
Separately, the committee voted to include a plan-commission meeting recording and publication initiative in FY27 budget considerations. Staff estimated in-house production at just under $1,800 annually, with outsourced costs approaching $8,000; the committee approved moving the item into the budget process so staffing and cost questions can be resolved.
On environmental work, Alderman Weidner proposed creating a small annual funding source (he suggested $15,000–$20,000 as a placeholder) — potentially drawing from hotel/motel tax revenues — to support native plantings, bioswales and maintenance on city-owned parcels. City Administrator White cautioned that installation and long-term maintenance require specialist expertise and staff capacity; the committee directed staff to produce a map of city-owned properties and initial cost estimates for FY27 deliberations.
A speed-camera program proposal (portable cameras that issue warning notices rather than tickets) generated significant discussion but was withdrawn for now. Police Chief Sam Bonilla and staff said they had spoken with Schaumburg and a vendor; staff cited an approximate equipment cost of "about $3,000 per camera per month" plus staff time. Committee members agreed to await the results of an ongoing traffic study before advancing the idea.
Finance Director Kevin Dahlstrand provided a schedule update for the 2025 property-tax levy and said the 2025 PTELL cap is 2.9%; he also reported the city would request additional levy dollars to address a roughly $157,000 shortfall identified in the police-pension actuarial report. Dahlstrand said the abatement ordinance related to the 2023 debt-service issue was being prepared by legal counsel.
Other routine items approved or advanced included a police-department donation solicitation for 2026 community events (Special Olympics, National Night Out), a minor privacy-driven amendment to the city's vehicle repossession ordinance, and the review-and-file of FY26 administration, finance and police work plans. The committee directed the city attorney to draft code amendments to consolidate meetings as proposed by staff; that motion passed by voice vote.
The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
Votes at a glance: - Insurance renewal (Gallagher) — recommend council accept; voice vote passed (motion by Alderman Berry; second Alderman Wilkie). (See insurance presentation.) - South-side sidewalk plan — move forward with FY27 budget consideration, $10,000 estimate; voice vote passed (motion by Alderman Weidner). (See sidewalk discussion.) - Plan commission recording/publication — include in FY27 budget considerations; voice vote passed (motion by Alderman Berry). (See plan-recording discussion.) - Enterprise lease (replacement F-350) — recommend council waive bidding and approve lease through Enterprise; voice vote passed (motion by Alderman Weidner). (See fleet item.) - Police donation solicitations (2026) — recommend council approve solicitation for Special Olympics and National Night Out; voice vote passed (motion by Alderman Weidner). (See police donations.) - Direct city attorney to draft ordinance to consolidate meetings — voice vote passed (motion by Alderman Berry). (See meeting consolidation.)
Next steps: items moved to FY27 budget consideration will return as staff provides cost estimates, maps and potential funding strategies. The speed-camera idea will be revisited only after the city's traffic-study results are available.
