On the agenda: Dekalb meeting — Data Center (Aug 10)

CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
AUGUST 10, 2026
6:00 P.M.
DeKalb Public Library
Yusunas Meeting Room
309 Oak Street
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
In accordance with Chapter 2, “City Council,” Section 2.04, “Council Meetings,” individuals who wish to address the
City Council during this meeting must register with the City Clerk or Recording Secretary prior to the meeting’s start by
completing a Speaker Request Form. Each speaker will be allotted a maximum of three (3) minutes for public comment.
Additional details regarding the public comment process are available on the Speaker Request Form.

A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
D. PRESENTATIONS
None.
E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
F. APPOINTMENTS
None.
G. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the Joint Review Board TIF 3 & TIF 4 Meeting of April 24, 2026.
2. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of July 27, 2026.
3. Accounts Payable and Payroll through August 10, 2026, in the Amount of $3,633,777.89.
4. Investment and Bank Balance Summary through June 2026.
5. Year-to-Date Revenues and Expenditures through June 2026.
6. Crime Free Housing Bureau Report – July 2026.
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
I.

CONSIDERATIONS
None.
Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 10, 2026
Page 2 of 7

J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution 2026-065 Authorizing a City Grant to Building Leaders Advocating for
Change, Inc. (B.L.A.C.) to Purchase Property at 820 Russell Road in the Amount of
$149,500.
City Manager’s Summary: The attached resolution would provide a one-time City grant of
$149,500 to B.L.A.C. Inc. to support the purchase of the former Congregation Beth Shalom
facility at 820 Russell Road in the Annie Glidden North (AGN) neighborhood. Congregation
Beth Shalom moved to the former Community of Christ Church at 1200 S. Malta Road in late
2025 and listed its former community center for sale earlier this spring. The one-story building
includes a fully finished basement, offering a total occupiable area of 2,400 square feet, and
is currently vacant. Within the AGN neighborhood, the property sits roughly across from the
Welsh Park basketball courts and about a half-block north of the shelter house and splash
pads that serve as the focal point of the Fun Jam events held each summer.

B.L.A.C. is an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 by Executive Director Tiffany
Tucker, a registered nurse who recognized the need for after-school and summer programs
for local youth ages 10–18. The organization focuses on purposeful recreation, counseling,
STEM education, and structured internships that create pathways to future employment.
B.L.A.C. has built a strong record of collaboration with other local nonprofits and District 428
(D428). From the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020 through the present, the agency has
successfully delivered its full annual program cycle each year and has earned recognition
from its local partners.
 2024 DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year

 Recipient of the Meta Data Center Community Action Award

B.L.A.C. maintains several institutional partnerships, including a Memorandum of
Understanding with D428 that enables the organization to provide two hot meals a day during
its five-week summer camp when district facilities are closed. The organization also has a
service agreement with the DeKalb County Mental Health Board and receives active grant
support from Kishwaukee United Way, the DeKalb Township Committee on Youth, and the
Old National Bank Foundation. Many of the youth served by B.L.A.C. come from low-income
households, and some have documented chronic absenteeism in D428. Ms. Tucker and her
operating board have been seeking a permanent facility for youth programming for several
years, and the patient, community-minded Beth Shalom congregation has agreed to a
purchase price of $200,000 that aligns with B.L.A.C.’s long-term goals.
The proposed City grant would be funded as follows:

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 10, 2026
Page 3 of 7
 Allocation

of $50,000 from Fund 140, the “Emergency Assistance Fund,” which was
established in February 2024 to help local social service agencies provide emergency
housing for asylum seekers with legal status. The threat of unexpected bus drop-offs from
Texas has since passed, and no expenditures have been made since the Council’s approval
of the fund.

 Allocation of $99,500 from Fund 110, the “American Rescue Plan Act Fund,” which currently

has an interest carryover that must be spent in 2026.

The total of $149,500 represents 75% of the $200,000 asking price.
The City of DeKalb has invested significantly and consistently in AGN redevelopment since
January 1, 2019. A detailed summary appears in the table below.

This total does not include the substantial day-to-day demands placed on the City’s Police
and Fire Departments, particularly EMS services. During this same period, overtime costs for
first responders alone have easily reached into the tens of thousands of dollars.
As anyone who attends the summer Fun Jam events at Welsh Park can attest, the AGN
neighborhood is home to many families and a large number of children ages 10–18, the core
group served by B.L.A.C.’s programs and dedicated staff. If any long-standing organization is
prepared and equipped to support these youth, it is B.L.A.C. Establishing a permanent facility
for their services within the AGN neighborhood will only strengthen their ability to succeed.
City Council approval is recommended.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 10, 2026
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2. Resolution 2026-066 Authorizing an Architectural Improvement Program Economic
Incentive for the Egyptian Theatre at 135 N. Second Street in the Amount of $25,000.
City Manager’s Summary: Recently, Alex Nerad, executive director of the Preservation of
Egyptian Theatre, Inc., and the Theatre board completed a comprehensive security risk
assessment for the downtown landmark with support from the DeKalb Police Department. The
assessment identified several vulnerabilities, including the susceptibility of the glass entry
doors to vehicle ramming, as well as the need for improved security cameras, upgraded
exterior lighting, enhanced interior emergency lighting, and an internal silent alarm system.
Egyptian Theatre staff sought contractor bids for crash-rated bollards and selected Irving
Construction to perform the work following the Corn Fest celebration. The image below shows
the planned bollard installation, which will be configured to allow access for any unforeseen
emergency repairs to underground utilities beneath the N. Second Street sidewalk.

As outlined in the attached AIP application packet, the lowest base bid for the bollard
installation was $69,187.50, with Irving Construction supplying the bollards. The maximum
AIP allocation for this type of life-safety improvement is $25,000, or up to a 50%
reimbursement. The requested $25,000 grant would therefore cover only 36% of the total
projected cost.
City Council approval is recommended.
3. Resolution 2026-067 Authorizing an Architectural Improvement Program Economic
Incentive for Found at 153 E. Lincoln Highway in the Amount of $724.
City Manager’s Summary: Leslie Conklin, owner of the Found resale shop at 153 E. Lincoln
Highway, has requested a modest TIF AIP grant to help cover the cost of emergency repairs
to the large glass panels at the shop’s front entrance. As shown in the photos below, the

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 10, 2026
Page 5 of 7

cracked panels were temporarily stabilized with duct tape, but prompt replacement was
necessary to prevent injury and maintain the security of the store.

The total cost of the emergency repairs was $2,896.13. Under AIP guidelines, window and
door replacement is eligible for a 25% reimbursement. Accordingly, the grant request totals
$724.
City Council approval is recommended.
4. Resolution 2026-068 Authorizing a Contract with Peregrine Technology to Integrate
the DeKalb Police Department’s IT Platforms and Ensure Rapid Emergency
Response.
City Manager’s Summary: In recent weeks, Police Chief Byrd, Deputy Chief Ehrke, and the
DeKalb Police command staff have met with several IT contractors to review software
solutions that can better integrate data from body cameras, cell phones, mobile data
computers, and dispatch systems--tools that every patrol shift relies on during emergency
responses. Currently, traditional and time-consuming data exchanges between these devices
and personnel slow down response times, giving criminal offenders an unnecessary “head
start.” Additionally, existing communication methods remain vulnerable to hobbyist scanners
and individuals seeking to disrupt operations, complicating both criminal apprehension efforts
and the accurate, professional communication of verified information to the public.
Specifically, the contract would provide the following:
 Purpose-Built

Data Integrations for Systems Used by the DeKalb Police Department.
Peregrine provides proven, pre-built connectors that enable seamless integration with key
Department systems such as CAD, RMS, and Evidence.com. These connectors eliminate
the need for Department IT staff to develop or maintain custom interfaces between
Peregrine and existing source systems. As a result, all data within Peregrine remains
complete, accurate, and consistently up to date.

 Fully

Integrated Search, Map, Link Analysis, Reporting, and Dashboarding. Peregrine
provides an exclusive, fully integrated suite of user-facing applications for search,
map-based analysis, link analysis, reporting, and dashboarding. These tools allow data to

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 10, 2026
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flow seamlessly from one application to another without the need for manual exporting or
importing. In addition, Peregrine is the only solution offering desktop, laptop, tablet, and
mobile versions of these integrated applications, ensuring authorized users can access
them wherever and whenever needed.
 Secure Collaboration and Data Sharing. The Peregrine platform’s proprietary integration

framework, ontology, and granular security permissions enable secure information sharing
both within the Department and with public and private partner agencies, capabilities not
otherwise possible with existing systems. Internally, these features support secure
collaboration across investigations, patrol, custody operations, traffic, analysis, and
command staff. Peregrine also enables the Department to share data and collaborate
securely on a unified platform with other Peregrine-enabled agencies in Illinois and
neighboring states. All data-sharing and collaboration functions automatically synchronize
with the Department’s existing user groups, security settings, and access-control policies.

 End-to-End

Security and CJIS Compliance. Peregrine operates within the secure,
CJIS-compliant Amazon Web Services (AWS) Government Cloud region and meets or
exceeds all current CJIS security standards and controls. It has been approved by numerous
law enforcement agencies to handle sensitive information, including criminal justice data. In
addition, Peregrine integrates seamlessly with the Department’s existing single-sign-on and
multi-factor authentication systems. This eliminates redundant user-management
processes and ensures that all access to sensitive information remains fully aligned with the
Department’s established security and data-governance policies.

This resolution would authorize a multi-year investment in an integrated platform provided by
Peregrine Technology. The attached contract outlines the following IT financial commitments:
$19,760 for the balance of 2026;
$86,900 for 2027;
$92,190 for 2028; and
$94,955 for 2029.
The funding for the balance of 2026 ($19,760) will come from the City’s forfeiture accounts.
City Council approval is recommended.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 10, 2026
Page 7 of 7

5. Resolution 2026-069 Authorizing a Bulk Road Salt Sales Agreement with Midwest
Salt, LLC for the 2026–2027 Snow Season in an Amount Not to Exceed $300,000.
City Manager’s Summary: The Street Division is requesting authorization to purchase bulk
rock salt for the 2026/2027 snow season, not to exceed $300,000. After soliciting bids from
multiple vendors, two suppliers responded: Midwest Salt and Salt Xchange. Midwest Salt
submitted the lowest delivered price at $118.43 per ton, compared to Salt Xchange at $130
per ton. Compass Minerals and Morton Salt were also contacted but were unable to bid due
to limited supply.
The City typically participates in the State of Illinois Joint Purchasing Program for rock salt
each year. However, this year the State received no bids from any suppliers, affecting DeKalb
and 259 other municipalities. On July 28 the State notified the PW staff that cities must either
procure salt independently for this season or remain in the State’s program while the State
attempts an emergency purchase, an option that carries no guarantee of supply and could
result in significantly higher prices. Choosing the independent route for 2026-2027 guarantees
product availability and price stability within the City’s existing budget.
The availability of rock salt is unusually strained this year due to several market forces.
Multiple regions experienced severe winters, depleting inventories and increasing demand.
Domestic production has declined, partly because of mine closures such as Cargill’s Avery
Island facility, and global demand has risen due to harsh European winters. Only a limited
number of international producers meet U.S. municipal specifications and high freight,
shipping, and fuel costs continue to elevate pricing. Supply chains are also strained as
distributors manage heavy demand and longer delivery timelines.
The cost of this purchase will be covered by the FY2026 and FY2027 Motor Fuel Tax Fund
budgets (Fund 210).
City Council approval is recommended to ensure the City has a reliable supply of road salt
at a predictable cost for the upcoming winter season.
K. ORDINANCES – SECOND READING
None.
L. ORDINANCES – FIRST READING
None.
M. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Council Member Reports.
2. City Manager Report.
N. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
O. ADJOURNMENT
AGENDA PACKET