Meeting Events

Meeting: rpv3tzxedv4.committee_of_the_whole_9_8_2025

Meeting date: 2025-09-08

Meeting type: committee_of_the_whole

This is a deterministic derived artifact, not official meeting minutes. Related records may be grouped for review while complete machine provenance remains in the JSON artifact.

Decisions and Votes

• Approval of minutes from Committee of the Whole meeting held on August 11th, 2025 — Passed

  • Summary: Motion to approve the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on August 11th, 2025.
  • Attribution: Alderman Shadle
  • Evidence: “Item number five is approval of the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on August 11th, 2025. Is there such a motion? So moved. Second.”
  • Evidence: “All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion passes.”
  • Source timestamp: 03:05

• Closing prayer

  • Summary: A closing prayer was offered by the chair.
  • Evidence: “Seeing none, I will entertain a motion for As we open in prayer, I’d like to close in prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus, your word in 2 Chronicles 714 says, if my people who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their and John. I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their lands. And also in James 1 and 12, blesses the man who remains steadfast under trial. For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. God, I continue to seek your face on the matters, concerns, and cares of this city. I continue to trust in you and your word that you will do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think according to your riches and glory. Continue to lead us and guide us, Father God. May control over this your city, that we may reap the benefits that you have intended for us, that victory is ours in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
  • Review flags: unattached_motion_request
  • Source timestamp: 01:16:46

• Adjournment of meeting

  • Summary: Vote taken on the motion to adjourn.
  • Evidence: “All those in favor of the motion, please raise your hand.”

Procedural Actions

• Calling meeting to order and taking roll call

  • Summary: The meeting was officially called to order, followed by a roll call.
  • Evidence: “And now we’ll officially call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, could you please take the roll?”
  • Source timestamp: 01:48

• Pledge of Allegiance

  • Summary: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Alderman Sanders.
  • Attribution: Alderman Sanders
  • Evidence: “If you could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alderman Sanders. Students of the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
  • Source timestamp: 02:11

• Public comments period

  • Summary: The chair asked if there were any public comments.
  • Evidence: “was just public Is there any public comments?”
  • Source timestamp: 01:15:44

• Confirmation of non-public comment material

  • Summary: Clarification was made regarding a letter from Alderman Parker not being part of public comment.
  • Evidence: “Ms. Leininger, did you leave a letter here? No. No, that was from Alderman Parker. Okay, that’s not to be read into public comment. No, that was just Alderman Parker. Okay,”
  • Source timestamp: 01:18:50

Projects

• Collaborative art wall theme

  • Summary: The art wall for the summer was based on the book, The Dot.
  • Evidence: “And this is our collaborative art wall we made for the summer. We do a different one every year and we try to keep it theme related. So this year we decided to base it off the book, The Dot, because it’s like this girl doesn’t know what to make and her teacher is just like everything starts from a dot and you can make your mark.”
  • Source timestamp: 22:28

• Scavenger hunts in the library

  • Summary: Scavenger hunts were implemented monthly starting in January, with 1,804 conducted over the summer period (June 1st to August 9th).
  • Evidence: “So starting in January, we’ve been doing it every month. … But this summer from June 1st to August 9th, we did 1,804 scavenger hunts.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:34

Presentations and Reports

• Maintenance of landscaping at city-owned lots

  • Summary: Lynette Williams presented on community efforts and planning for maintaining landscaping at city-owned lots, detailing past and future projects involving various groups.
  • Attribution: Lynette Williams
  • Evidence: “Item number seven is a presentation regarding the maintenance of landscaping at city-owned lots. Lynette Williams with the Pretzel Gardeners. Hello Council and City of Freeport. I found something quite by accident that so perfectly aligns with the reason maybe that we’re here today to to even discuss community pride.”
  • Source timestamp: 05:21

• 2025 summer reading program report

  • Summary: Amanda Myers presented on the library’s summer reading club activities and metrics for 2025.
  • Attribution: Amanda Myers
  • Evidence: “We move on to item number eight, which is a presentation regarding the 2025 summer reading program. Amanda Myers. Good evening. Can you hit the lights again so we can see better? Thank you. My name is Amanda Myers and I’m the Youth Services Administrator at the Freeport Public Library. So I’m here tonight to tell you a little bit about our summer reading club that we had.”
  • Source timestamp: 18:14

• Make It Monday programs

  • Summary: The Make It Monday program allows children to be creative with materials like cardboard birds, button art, and melted crayon art.
  • Evidence: “And these next few pictures are from our Make It Monday programs. I love Make It Monday because the kids just get to be, they get to do whatever they want and be as creative as they want.”
  • Source timestamp: 25:11

• Messy art day activities

  • Summary: Activities included squeegee painting and rigging up a pendulum that would drip paint.
  • Evidence: “So we did like squeegee painting, we rigged up a pendulum that they could push back and forth and would drip paint, and we did the salad spinners again.”
  • Source timestamp: 27:23

• Bluey Bash event details

  • Summary: The Bluey Bash had 283 kids attend and featured games like Heepy Yuppie and dressing up like grannies.
  • Evidence: “As you can see we have like little littles and then we have bigger kids and we had 283 kids come that day.”
  • Source timestamp: 27:47

• Animal presenter program details

  • Summary: An animal presenter showed animals from around the world, including a snake, rabbit, armadillo, fox, spider, and bat.
  • Evidence: “So there was like a snake and a rabbit and an armadillo and a fox, authentic fox and a spider. There also was a bat, which I feel like everybody was a little bit afraid was going to get like to start flying all over, but that was fine.”
  • Source timestamp: 29:05

• Summer activities and partnerships summary

  • Summary: The speaker detailed various summer activities, including a field day with 68 kids, slime making at the art plaza with MacCamp, doing Glow Bingo at the Stephenson County Fair, and an end-of-summer party.
  • Attribution: Amanda
  • Evidence: “And we also hosted an outside library field day this year. Last year we did our first outside kind of game day. We had like 25 kids. So I didn’t know what to expect. And then this year we ended up with 68 kids. So that was very excellent. They ran relay races. You can see they did water balloon catching and they did the limbo and about halfway through we divided up the littles and the bigs because we had a lot of teens too. So the teens play to capture the flag. So the teens played capture the flag and then the little kids played hot potato and tag. And this summer we had a really fun new partnership with MacCamp, which is through hope wins. And we’ve kind of always they’ve kind of always come to programs sometimes when they could. But this year they have a home based location. So we decided that it would be easiest if I just went to them because they have like 50 kids pretty much all summer. So each week I went and took some books and a craft or a project. As you can see, we made slime. They actually came to the art plaza and we did tie-dye with them because everybody loves to do tie-dye. And we talked about things like Juneteenth and we did service dogs when they had the police dogs come. So that was really, really fun. And these are some pictures of our end of the summer party our attendance for the end of the summer party was down just a little bit but it was a very hot afternoon and people usually people will stay like the whole three hours but I noticed this year there was a lot of like people coming and people going because it was just really hot but they all enjoyed their ice cream they did the bouncy houses they played games they got to dunk library staff in the dunk tank they got to play games and they just overall had a really good time so next year I’m sure you’re thinking what is going to happen next year we are doing dinosaurs the theme is unearth a story so I am super excited I already have my list going I actually already have my first performer booked we have dinosaur people coming so we’re super excited about that so that was our summer at the and the library.”
  • Source timestamp: 31:18

• Current and proposed electricity rates

  • Summary: The current average 12-month rate is 10.229 cents per kilowatt hour according to the ComEd bid; the summer bill shows 10.028 cents for four months, with winter months being higher.
  • Evidence: “So if we go back up to the top, these are the three bids that we have, and the ComEd Great, we have on there a 10.229 cents. If you’ll get your summer bill, you’ll see it says 10.028 cents. That’s for the four summer months. The eight winter months is a little bit higher. So the average is a little bit higher, so the average of the 12 months is 10.229 as it stands today.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:23

• Program opt-out and notification process

  • Summary: The aggregation program allows people to opt out anytime without termination charges. If a contract is locked in, suppliers must send letters on city letterhead detailing the community rates, allowing residents to choose between the community rate or ComEd.
  • Evidence: “The key on the aggregation program is people can opt out anytime they want. There’s no termination charge. When we roll out a program, if we decide to lock in a program, everyone gets sent a letter from the supplier at the supplier’s expense on the city letterhead saying here’s what the community rates going to be. After our decision was made on a contract, it’s then their decision to Miller. Do you decide, do I want to be on the community rate or do I want to go back to ComEd? They can make a choice then.”
  • Source timestamp: 41:39

• ComEd floating rate mechanism

  • Summary: Under ComEd’s floating rate, if the Illinois Power Agency purchases power for ComEd and Amron, ComEd breaks even on the power sold. ComEd makes money from delivery fees; taxes and fees include a cost of half a cent per kilowatt hour.
  • Evidence: “ComEd’s floating rate. If the Illinois Power Agency purchases the power for ComEd and Amron, the downstate utility, and they go through their costs and they set their rate. ComEd does not make any money on the power that they sell. And they break even on that. What ComEd makes their money is on their delivery fees. That’s the middle part of the bill. At the bottom of the bill is taxes and fees. Part of that on the fees is a cost of a half a cent per kilowatt hour.”
  • Source timestamp: 43:02

• Community Solar program overview

  • Summary: The speaker explained that Community Solar involves solar farms built where connection to the grid is cheaper, and developers secure long-term agreements with landowners. They noted that all ratepayers pay 0.005 per kilowatt hour into the state solar fund.
  • Evidence: “Community Solar is solar farms that are built out in different areas where it’s been able to be connected to the grid at a lower cost with ComEd, but also it’s land that the developer works with the owner and secures a long-term agreement. In Illinois, I mentioned that we’re all paying 0.005 or a half a cent per kilowatt or every rate. Killalotter, every rate payer is paying in to the state solar fund and our governor, he wants to build more and more green power.”
  • Source timestamp: 49:21

• Role of nuclear power in base load electricity supply

  • Summary: The speaker stated that nuclear plants are important for base load power because they continue to run during extreme weather when the sun isn’t shining or natural gas generation is restricted.
  • Evidence: “For me, that was very, very important because in extreme weather, whether it’s hot or extremely cold, the nuclear plants just sit there and run, and they’re our base load. When the sun’s not shining, when there’s natural gas restrictions for gas generation, keep homes that.”
  • Source timestamp: 50:22

• Community Solar eligibility for municipal accounts

  • Summary: The speaker explained that developers need subscribers to finance solar fields and that the city could potentially fit several municipal-owned accounts (like water treatment facilities or wells) under the guidelines, requiring no investment from the city.
  • Evidence: “So we look at the water treatment the water treatment facilities the wells things like that what accounts will fit under the guidelines. So that’s what I’m looking at. If we can carve off a few dollars There’s here, there, there’s no investment on the city’s part at all. These are plants that are out there being built and coming online.”
  • Source timestamp: 51:29

• Illinois Shines Program Administration

  • Summary: The Illinois Shines program is administered by Energy Solutions on behalf of the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), an independent government agency.
  • Evidence: “the information on the fires we are given states Illinois Shines is administered by Energy Solutions on behalf of the Illinois Power Agency, independent government agency.”
  • Source timestamp: 58:14

• Illinois Power Agency Role and Solar Development Goals

  • Summary: The Illinois Power Agency is tasked with running the solar development program because the governor wants to build solar capacity across the state.
  • Evidence: “What does Energy Solutions Illinois Power Agency gain from this? Illinois Power Agency is tasked with doing the program. And again, the governor wants to build solar up in the state.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:02:28

• Freeport Police Department Technology Enhancements (LPR/Gunshot Detection)

  • Summary: Chief Shenberger reported on the utilization of Motorola LPR cameras and gunshot detection sensors by the Freeport PD, noting benefits in investigations like recovering stolen vehicles and handling retail thefts.
  • Evidence: “chief Shenberger thank you Freeport Police Department has utilized vigilant Motorola LPR cameras at various locations in the city of Freeport and sound thinking gunshot detection sensors. The use of LPR cameras and sound thinking have significantly helped the PD staff with shots fired investigations. LPR cameras have also benefited the PD staff with investigating other crimes, such as the recovery of stolen vehicles, serious felonies, and retail thefts.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:10:35

• Freeport Police Department Grant Funding and Technology Expansion

  • Summary: The Freeport PD was awarded $9,000 in ORC grant funding from the office of the attorney general, Kwame Raul, and $630,000 in fiscal year appropriations from U. S. Senator Dick Durbin’s office to fund technology upgrades.
  • Evidence: “Staff learned the city of Freeport was awarded $9,000 in ORC grant from the office of the attorney general, Kwame Raul, and $630,000 in fiscal year appropriations from U. S. Senator Dick Durbin’s office.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:12:00

• FLOC Technology Proposal for Freeport PD

  • Summary: FLOC presented a quote utilizing the ORC grant ($9,000) and part of the FY26 appropriations ($169,200) to add LPR cameras, live video cameras, and trailer cameras.
  • Evidence: “FLOC presented a quote utilizing $9,000 from the ORC grant and the $169,200 from the fiscal year 26 appropriations to add more LPR cameras, live video cameras, and trailer cameras.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:13:22

Metrics

• Summer reading sign-ups (K-6)

  • Summary: 523 kids in grades birth through sixth signed up for summer reading, representing a 5% increase over last year.
  • Evidence: “So for the reading part, we had 523 kids who were birth through sixth grade sign up for summer reading, which is a 5% increase over last year.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:07

• Summer reading completion rate

  • Summary: 271 students successfully completed the summer reading program.
  • Evidence: “And of those who signed up 271 of them successfully completed the summer reading program which consists of reading either 20 hours if they’re reading like longer books and independently or reading 60 books if they are being read too or if they’re like an early reader and reading shorter books so it’s easier to keep track by book for them.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:20

• Summer reading finishing percentage

  • Summary: The finishing percentage was 51%, which is down a little bit from last year.
  • Evidence: “So our for our finishing percentage this year was 51% which is down a little bit from last Last year.”
  • Source timestamp: 19:42

• Total summer program attendance

  • Summary: 8,232 people attended the summer programs, including in-house, outreach, and passive programs.
  • Evidence: “And this year we ended up with 8,232 people at our summer programs. That includes in-house programs, outreach programs, passive programs and other programs we do throughout the summer field trips that come in.”
  • Source timestamp: 20:08

• Summer program attendance increase

  • Summary: Attendance was a 36% increase from last year’s amount of 6,000.
  • Evidence: “So that was a 36% increase from last year’s amount of 6,000.”
  • Source timestamp: 20:24

• Number of summer programs offered

  • Summary: 119 programs were held between June and August 9th.
  • Evidence: “And we had 119 programs beginning in June through August 9th.”
  • Source timestamp: 20:24

• Scavenger hunts conducted at Youth Services Department

  • Summary: The department conducted 1,804 scavenger hunts this summer, running from June 1st to August 9th.
  • Evidence: “But this summer from June 1st to August 9th, we did 1,804 scavenger hunts.”
  • Source timestamp: 23:34

• Attendance at slime days

  • Summary: There were 493 people, including kids and adults, at the three slime days.
  • Evidence: “And this year we had 493 people, including kids and adults, at our three slime days.”
  • Source timestamp: 24:11

• Attendance at presentations

  • Summary: Over 130 people attended both the animal presentation and another summer show.
  • Evidence: “And we had over 130 people at both of those shows.”
  • Source timestamp: 29:20

• Outside library field day attendance comparison

  • Summary: The number of kids attending the outside library field day increased from 25 last year to 68 this year.
  • Evidence: “Last year we did our first outside kind of game day. We had like 25 kids. So I didn’t know what to expect. And then this year we ended up with 68 kids.”
  • Source timestamp: 29:27

• ComEd rate increase and billing impact

  • Summary: ComEd’s rate jumped up about three cents a kilowatt hour starting in June, leading to higher summer electric bills due to weather and capacity factors.
  • Evidence: “ComEd’s rate jumped up about three cents a kilowatt hour also, which started in June. Not only did we have a lot of heat, we had ComEd rates going up, plus the delivery rates themselves went up. So this summer we started seeing some huge electric bills because of the weather, because of the capacity factors kicking in, and so on and so forth.”
  • Source timestamp: 38:17

• PGM Grid Power Generation Mix

  • Summary: Currently, about 50% of power on the PGM grid comes from natural gas, 19% from nuclear, and coal is decreasing toward around 10%. Wind and solar currently produce about 1% of the PGM grid’s power.
  • Evidence: “Just a matter of point, about 50% of our power is generated by natural gas in our PGM grid. About 19% from nuclear, coals getting down to around 10%. Wind and solar is producing about 1% in the PGM grid.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:03:31

Discussion

• Community effort for landscaping improvement

  • Summary: The presentation detailed how various groups contributed to cleaning and maintaining city-owned lots, including efforts at the Tuddy Crossing sign near Pecatonica River, Lincoln Douglas Rock at Stephenson and Liberty in the parking lot, State Street corner of Main and Adams, and municipal lots.
  • Evidence: “My pretzel gardeners took this municipal lot. And then the triangles at Locuston, Maine, and Locuston, Lincoln, the Bangsburg Agna kids did.”
  • Source timestamp: 09:11

• Weed removal and landscaping work at corner of Exchange and Van Buren

  • Summary: The speakers discussed the process of pulling weeds, deciding what was good versus weed (specifically mentioning milkweed), removing a weed barrier, laying down cardboard, and applying mulch at the corner of Exchange and Van Buren.
  • Evidence: “We decided that we would keep anything that was next to the fences, anything that was close to the sidewalk, we were going to pull. That still left us with a lot of milkweed out there… Anyway we eventually discovered that there’s weed barrier underneath there and I swear that weed barrier must have been there since Columbus came along because it was filled with weeds which is the reason that we couldn’t get any place by just taking care of the top layer is because we had to get rid of the weed barrier which is what we’ve done. We’ve pulled all that weed barrier up we’ve laid down cardboard, we’ve put mulch on top of that”
  • Source timestamp: 11:03

• Transplanting and landscaping efforts at Van Buren and Douglas corner

  • Summary: The group transplanted lilies and received irises from a community member while working to improve the area at the corner of Van Buren and Douglas.
  • Evidence: “We took some of the irises and moved them along the edges. We had an opportunity to get lilies, no I’m sorry, we transplanted the lilies. We got irises for free from a community member. And so we’re trying to make it look the best we can with the limited resources we had.”
  • Source timestamp: 13:06

• Work performed by crew and labor savings estimate

  • Summary: The speaker stated their crew worked 134 hours, which is almost four weeks worth of work, estimating the city saved around $2,700 in manual labor costs.
  • Evidence: “I kept track of the hours that my crew did. My crew worked 134 hours on this, which is almost four weeks worth of work. Now, we did that in two and three hour increments, because we’re a group of seniors. We don’t like the heat. We don’t like the cold but I’m figuring that we have saved the city somewhere around $2,700 by doing by the manual labor.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:29

• Future infrastructure needs and obsolete signage

  • Summary: The speaker noted future potential improvements including Burnett, Takey, değişa, Brown, Samantha, transportation, electricity, and solid cement, and mentioned an old sign at Douglas and Van Buren that is no longer needed.
  • Evidence: “I know that the parking lot is going to be Burnett, Takey, değişa, Brown, Samantha, transportation, electricity, and maybe just some solid cement. You’ve got a sign in the one corner at the corner of Douglas and Van Buren that’s been there since George Gulrap was mayor. We don’t need that anymore.”
  • Source timestamp: 14:51

• Municipal electrical aggregation program background

  • Summary: The speaker provided background on the municipal electrical aggregation program, noting a three-year contract secured with Nordic Energy last fall. The discussion covered capacity rates, PJM grid details, and changes in energy demand and generation sources.
  • Attribution: Mike Mudge
  • Evidence: “We had a three-year contract we secured last spring with, or last fall with Nordic Energy. And what happened was the capacity, we can go to the bottom part of that sheet, that’d be great. There, that’s perfect. Part of our energy rates comes from when we have an all-in rate. I’ll just use nine cents as the all-in rate. About a fourth of that was used for capacity and what capacity is is the money that’s collected by ComEd and given to generators. And we’re part of the PJM grid which goes from our area, common area, all the way out to the East Coast and down to like Washington, D. C. It’s the largest grid that operates in the country. FERC realized that FERC is a federal agency that controls all the grid operators that we weren’t building enough generation plants across the country, and they delayed PGM Zoom auctions. We used to have an auction every year, that would be a third for this year, a third for the next year, a third for the year afterwards. So suppliers always knew kind of what their costs were. If you look at the second to the right bar chart there, we went from 2024 to 2025, a very low capacity rate that was given to the generators to maintain their plans, but also encourage them to build new plans to meet our demand. Why is our demand going out of sight since 20, from 2012 to 2020, our energy prices were flat and our prices kept going down. Every time we did aggregation, we would get a lower rate. And that was due to conservation, more generation that was supplying demand. In 2021, we started increasing our growth, and more electric vehicles, but also data centers. Started increasing the load, and we weren’t adding any new generation to speak of. Yes, we were adding solar, adding some wind, but not, not. And the other thing we were doing, we were retiring, we were retiring coal fired generating stations at an accelerated pace because the markets weren’t supporting them. And as soon as they shut them down, to pretty well flatten them just to get out from underneath a cost, a tax cost on them. So what happened, supply and demand again, when they opened up the bid, PGM was like two years behind getting the bids out in July of 2024, we got the bids for this. This was after we had secured a rate with Nordic Energy. And they reneged on it not only with the city of Freeport but also with Joe Davies County and Riverwoods and Berett Township. We had four communities that they had the low bid, they won the bids.”
  • Source timestamp: 35:42

• Background of market rate changes and bids

  • Summary: The discussion covered the background of market rates, including PGM being two years behind on bids after securing a rate with Nordic Energy which later reneged on agreements with multiple communities. ComEd’s rate also jumped up about three cents per kilowatt hour starting in June.
  • Evidence: “So what happened, supply and demand again, when they opened up the bid, PGM was like two years behind getting the bids out in July of 2024, we got the bids for this. This was after we had secured a rate with Nordic Energy. And they reneged on it not only with the city of Freeport but also with Joe Davies County and Riverwoods and Berett Township. We had four communities that they had the low bid, they won the bids. So saying all that, that’s kind of the background of what happened to our market.”
  • Source timestamp: 37:32

• Savings comparison between bids

  • Summary: The two bids from MC Squared do not result in significant savings (about a penny to half a cent) compared to previous rates. If the chart is correct, going with the two-year rate might add another half a cent.
  • Evidence: “The two bids that we have from MC Squared, they make sense. We’re not saving a lot of money. We’re not saving 2, 3, 4 cents like we had in the past, but that’s about a penny, a half Johnson. And if that chart’s right, it may add another half a cent if we go with the two-year rate.”
  • Source timestamp: 39:59

• Average customer savings calculation

  • Summary: For an average customer using 634 kilowatt hours, moving forward could save at half a cent (0.005), equating to $3.17 a month. For 3,000 residents, this is about $9,500 a month staying in the community.
  • Evidence: “The average customer at 634 kilowatt hours would save at half a cent,. 005, $3.17 A month. Is that worthwhile? Well, if you look about, if you have 3,000 residents, that’s about $9,500 a month that stays in the community.”
  • Source timestamp: 40:55

• Green energy option rates

  • Summary: The green options from Dynagy and Direct Energy are higher because building solar or wind power, even with subsidies, is more expensive (e.g., a one megawatt wind tower costs about a million dollars without subsidies).
  • Evidence: “So why are those rates higher? If we go with a green option? Because the class to build the solar, even with the subsidies and everything, it’s a little more expensive and the wind is a little more expensive. A one megawatt wind tower, windmill, costs like a million dollars. So without the subsidies, so it’s a little higher.”
  • Source timestamp: 45:20

• Green energy options cost comparison

  • Summary: The speaker explained that green energy rates are higher because building solar and wind is more expensive, even with subsidies; for the community, the lowest price option was preferred over a 100% green option.
  • Evidence: “So why are those rates higher if we go with a green option? Because the class to build the solar, even with the subsidies and everything, it’s a little more expensive and the wind is a little more expensive. A one megawatt wind tower, windmill, costs like a million dollars. So without the subsidies, so it’s a little higher. Now some communities are along the Chicago area, suburban area, they wanted to be 100% green community. Out here, our communities as a whole, pretty much want the lowest price. So what we do is we get lowest price. We do get that option from suppliers. If somebody wants to be 100% green, they can opt in and have that option.”
  • Source timestamp: 45:20

• Comparison of energy rates from MC squared vs ComEd

  • Summary: Alderman Johnson confirmed that the lowest price option from MC squared (9.65 per kilowatt hour for one year and 9.85 per kilowatt hour for two years) is lower than what ComEd would cost.
  • Attribution: Alderman Johnson
  • Evidence: “And the lowest price on here is from MC squared, which one year is 9.65 kilowatt per kilowatt hour and two years is 9.85 per kilowatt hour. So that is lower than what ComEd would cost us if we just stay with straight ComEd. Is that correct? That’s correct.”
  • Source timestamp: 46:52

• Future energy bids for aggregation contract

  • Summary: A representative stated that the numbers presented are only an example, and actual figures for next Monday’s approval would change based on market conditions at that time.
  • Evidence: “But I wanna, no, I was gonna add next week, we’re gonna have different bids. So this is an example of today. Monday when we come back to approve the aggregation contract if that’s what council’s desire is those numbers will change Based upon the conditions in the market at that time.”
  • Source timestamp: 47:13

• Community Solar Program Details

  • Summary: The solar credits generated by assigned panels show up on the ComEd bill for that specific account.
  • Evidence: “Whatever those panels that are assigned to that account produce, that’s the solar credits that’s going to show up on the ComEd bill for that specific account.”
  • Source timestamp: 54:53

• Eligibility for Community Solar Program

  • Summary: The program is strictly for city accounts; it is not for residents or the community to sign up like Community Egg.
  • Evidence: “So what we’re doing right now isn’t for the residents and it’s not for the community to sign up like Community Egg. This is just strictly the city accounts that we can get into the program.”
  • Source timestamp: 54:53

• Estimated Savings from Solar Program

  • Summary: The estimated savings was potentially $6,000 a year.
  • Evidence: “Could be maybe, I’m thinking $6,000 a year.”
  • Source timestamp: 55:42

• Scope of Accounts for Solar Program

  • Summary: Multiple accounts are possible, and the city has multiple wells and wastewater treatment plants, amounting to four or five accounts.
  • Evidence: “Can we have multiple accounts on there? And we have multiple wells, multiple waste water treatment plants, four or five accounts.”
  • Source timestamp: 56:12

• Solar Program Requirements for Accounts

  • Summary: Accounts must be in the ComEd zero to a hundred KW classification.
  • Evidence: “They gotta be in the ComEd zero to a hundred KW classification and that’s the total of all the counts that I was able to get.”
  • Source timestamp: 56:22

• Commitment Period for Solar Program

  • Summary: Participants must stay in the program for at least five years, or they must make up the subscription amount if they pull out.
  • Evidence: “If you sign up and you get in these things, they want to make sure you stay in it at least and the rest five years. If for some reason you want to pull out, something better comes along or something like that, you have to make up that subscription.”
  • Source timestamp: 57:13

• Duration of Solar Credit Rate

  • Summary: The 15% credit rate is guaranteed until the life of the plant, which is up to 20 years.
  • Evidence: “But this 15% goes on until the life of the plant, which is up to 20 years.”
  • Source timestamp: 57:37

• Illinois Power Agency Role

  • Summary: The IPA buys power for ComEd and AMRUN, handles contracts, and agreements.
  • Evidence: “Illinois Power Agency, as I mentioned earlier, buys the power for ComEd and AMRUN, puts it out there, and does the contracts and the agreements.”
  • Source timestamp: 58:34

• IPA Establishment Context

  • Summary: The IPA was created because ComEd needed an agency to purchase power from generators as ComEd no longer owned generation.
  • Evidence: “Illinois Power Agency was created because ComEd. ComEd, because ComEd was evolving where they didn’t own any generation anymore.”
  • Source timestamp: 59:45

• Regulation of Solar Program Savings

  • Summary: The transcript raises questions about who determines the savings amount for an individual signing up for community solar.
  • Evidence: “Who determines how much a person saves if they save anything? If an individual person wants to sign up for community solar, they can.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:35

• Community Solar Program Mechanics

  • Summary: Individuals signing up for community solar can receive a percentage credit (e.g., 10% credit) on their ComEd bill.
  • Evidence: “If the subscription Wright is 10%. They will get 10% credit, solar credit on the ComEd bill.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:35

• Community Solar Program Mechanics

  • Summary: The ability to combine third-party supply with community solar was previously restricted but changed when the legislation was amended.
  • Evidence: “The reason this didn’t happen before was you could not be on third party supply and then turn around and have community solar. They changed that when they changed the siege of law.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:35

• Community Solar Billing Structure

  • Summary: If a customer receives a $100 credit from ComEd for power produced at a site, and is getting 15% through a third-party supplier, their bill would be $85 from the third party.
  • Evidence: “If ComEd gave you a hundred dollars credit from what was produced on the field then if you’re getting 15% you would get an $85 bill from a third party supplier.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:00:35

• Community Solar Program Mechanics

  • Summary: The city council program discussed is structured as an opt-in, not an opt-out system.
  • Evidence: “And that would mean I can opt in, not an opt out program.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:02:28

• Solar Farm Ownership and Operation

  • Summary: The developers, such as U. S. Solar, own and control the solar farms and the electricity they generate.
  • Evidence: “Who owns and controls the solar farms and electricity they generate? The developers, the ones we’re working with is U. S. Solar.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:03:55

• Community Solar Participation Requirements

  • Summary: Participation in community solar is not mandatory for everyone; the discussion tonight was strictly about city counts.
  • Evidence: “Does everyone have to buy into this community solar in order for it to work? No. What we’re talking about tonight is strictly the city counts.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:05:09

• State Rebate Mechanisms

  • Summary: To claw back money from the state, options include putting solar on one’s home or subscribing to a community solar garden.
  • Evidence: “The only way to claw back some of our money from the state is put solar in to your home. That’s not metering. You will get SRECs back or subscribe to a community solar garden.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:05:31

• Solar Power Distribution Flow

  • Summary: Electricity generated by current solar farms goes into the grid, and ComEd absorbs this power to distribute it to other customers who have a third-party supplier.
  • Evidence: “It’s going into the grid and ComEd is absorbing this power to distribute it out to other customers for the customers that have a third-party supplier.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:06:44

• Developer Program Comparison

  • Summary: Different developers operate with their own distinct program, cost, and fee structure.
  • Evidence: “Each developer has their own program and their own cost and fee structure.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:07:15

• Community Solar Program Eligibility and Limitations

  • Summary: Discussion regarding whether sites already under agreements with solar developers can participate in the community solar program or if they are excluded.
  • Evidence: “my question was the exact same thing there in the sense that we have certain city owned sites, like for example our landfill or our wastewater treatment plant that all have solar panels, solar fields there that we then have an agreement with that particular solar developer that put those solar panels on those specific sites to which we, you know, are given a certain rate. You know there can we through this program piggyback onto that or is that an account that then can’t be on this community solar program say hey you guys are already part of a different program you can’t piggyback on to this um community solar program with Illinois shines then so you can’t have two programs running from this for the same account so to speak there can be there can be”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:24

• Community Solar Program Capacity and Qualification Criteria

  • Summary: Discussion confirming that multiple qualified accounts can be added if they meet the criteria, specifically mentioning anchor tenants.
  • Evidence: “if I run out of room and we’re going to put so many accounts qualified accounts on yes you can put the other qualified accounts on on that it’s just depends when they have the same criteria that they have to meet the anchor tenants that’s that’s prime if they don’t get their anchor tenants they and if they don’t get their anchor tenants, they don’t move forward.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:08:58

• Contingency of FLOC Technology Implementation on Appropriations Bill Passage

  • Summary: A discussion occurred regarding the timing of the resolution needed for FLOC technology implementation versus the passage of the FY26 appropriations bill.
  • Evidence: “Chief, but this is really contingent upon the 26 appropriations passing, so how do you bring that forward now when that hasn’t happened yet? Well, the reason why we’re bringing it forward now is because they would like to have, FLOC would like to have a resolution passed by the end of the month so they can start with everything that they need to do to get the LPRs started.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:14:12

• Payment Contingency for FLOC Technology Implementation

  • Summary: Confirmation that if the appropriations bill does not pass, the city is not obligated beyond the initial $9,000 payment due December 1st.
  • Evidence: “If the appropriations bill does not pass, then we’re not out anything. The first payment is due December 1st, and that’s with the $9,000 from the ORC grant, and that’s, we’ve been awarded that.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:14:37

• Funding contingency on appropriations bill

  • Summary: Discussion regarding the $9,000 utilization and its potential dependency on the passage of an appropriations bill.
  • Evidence: “We’ll have $9,000 to utilize, which will give us about two cameras. But if you already. The first payments due December 1st, the $9,000 payment. If the appropriations bill, and I think was that sometime in December, I have no idea. If that does not pass, I mean, I would say that it’s going to, I mean, I would think that is going to but if it doesn’t then we haven’t we’re out nothing and then that’s was in the contract no no that the contracts contingent upon the appropriations bill passing”
  • Source timestamp: 01:15:22

Public Comment

• Supplier issue experience with city services
  • Summary: A resident detailed a six-month struggle to resolve utility billing issues, specifically regarding ComEd service.
  • Attribution: Ryan Glick
  • Evidence: “I reached out to the city. Bryan Bridge contacted me. I told them the issue when I tried to, I got the paper from Nordic, I called them to cancel it, I got forced back in with the AP when I wanted to go to ComEd, and I finally got back with ComEd on December 17th of last year. Miller. So that was a horrible six months I had to deal with, with my combat bill. Being switched in it took almost six months to be back where I wanted.”
  • Source timestamp: 04:14

Proclamations and Recognitions

• Community service by Leslie Price and students

  • Summary: Leslie Price, a social worker representing Freeport School District, presented her team of students who assisted with the community work.
  • Attribution: Leslie Price
  • Evidence: “I’m Leslie Price. I’m the social worker at Banksburg-Agnes Educational Center. We represent Freeport School District. We are at the Students in Transitional Education Program, and we’re a big service education program, so we like to give back to the community. And these are only a few of our gentlemen that helped.”
  • Source timestamp: 16:23

• Student assistance during difficult weather conditions

  • Summary: The speaker acknowledged the hard work of students who assisted despite working in 100-degree weather and rain.
  • Attribution: Leslie Price
  • Evidence: “I think one day it was raining, and we walk every time we go. So I just think that they deserve a little bit of praise for the hard work that they did too, so.”
  • Source timestamp: 17:28

• Students assisting with community service

  • Summary: Mentioned students who assisted during difficult weather conditions.
  • Attribution: Don
  • Evidence: “And these are only a few of our gentlemen that helped. We We had a lot of other students that assisted too. This is Jacarion Sanders, Floyd Carter, and Christian Segal. Again, we had a lot of other students that helped as well, but they worked in that 100 degree weather week that we had. I think one day it was raining, and we walk every time we go.”
  • Source timestamp: 16:23

• Praise for Jodi Miller and police station work

  • Summary: Recognition given to Jodi Miller for her work with the mayor, and praise was given regarding work on a police station.
  • Evidence: “Chief, you did a good job working in that police station. And Jodi Miller, you did a good job with the mayor. We saw you at Fatherhouse on Saturday.”
  • Source timestamp: 01:15:44

Follow-ups

• Request for clarification on current rates and options

  • Summary: Alderman Johnson requested confirmation of the rate paid now (10.028 until October, higher Oct-May), details on the green energy options from Dynagy and Direct Energy, and an explanation of the floating rate mechanism.
  • Attribution: Alderman Johnson
  • Evidence: “Alderman Johnson? Yeah. I just want to read the questions that I gave you so people know what I gave you. What is the rate that the city and most residents are paying now for electricity per kilowatt hour? 10.028 Until October. And October through May, it’s a little bit higher than the 10.2 cents that I mentioned. OK. And also the, I’m not sure how you pronounce that, So Nieks, Husuth, G upset Me жизнь, ph complement crossover bey, Was Orson, Asher. Dine, Dine, dine g and the direct energy have a renewable green option bra n option. ​​Which is which the green option would be the purchasing of electricity generated from renewable, energy. R Access like wind or solar. Why are those rates higher? I’m just going to read all the questions and then you can answer them and you explained a little bit what the floating rate means that how ComEd gets the money from that. About even though we have a different supplier. And then you explained the last one based on 634 kilowatt a month, which is an average given example of what a bill would cost. And you kind of explained that how many cents higher that would be.”
  • Source timestamp: 44:09

• Aggregation contract discussion timing

  • Summary: Manager Boyer informed the council that the aggregation contract would be brought before them next Monday for questions and indication of desire to proceed.
  • Attribution: Manager Boyer
  • Evidence: “So, Council, just at this time, we’re scheduled to bring this before you next Monday for the aggregation contract for the community. So this is your time to ask any questions related to this and make some indication that you do want me to bring this aggregation contract next week. So just wanted to point that out.”
  • Source timestamp: 46:15

Other

• Summer reading club kickoff party
  • Summary: The kickoff party on June 9th was held outside due to good weather and had 550 kids and adults attend.
  • Evidence: “This is our summer reading club kickoff party, which was on June 9th. And thankfully this year we had good weather so we could have it outside. … but we had 550 kids and adults come that day.”
  • Source timestamp: 21:27