City staff proposed amendments that would raise several administrative fines, align due‑date incentives with a recent Supreme Court ruling, and preserve a $1,000 minimum for unauthorized off‑road vehicles; council asked staff to check pending state text amendments and placed the ordinance on a future action agenda.

Multiple residents urged a moratorium or outright ban on data centers; the mayor said the city is pausing discussions and will revisit the Star Innovation District master plan at its five-year review, urging residents to remain engaged in formal planning processes.

City staff presented a site plan for a 9,800‑sq‑ft Bell Tire on a 1.59‑acre Springs at Lockport outlot and answered council questions about retention walls, building height, and noise. Council asked staff to provide the sound study (confirming doors‑open modeling), video/images and placed Resolution 26‑078 on a future action agenda.

The Lockport Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of Royal Highlands, a proposed 24‑acre, 68‑unit residential development, and approved final plans subject to engineering items being addressed before an Oct. 7 Committee of the Whole review.

After hours of public comment and debate, the Lockport Plan and Zoning Commission voted 4–2 to recommend the city council approve a special-use permit for an AT&T monopole at the Lockport Township Athletic Fields, adding conditions that include an equipment enclosure, baffled generator and a 90-foot height cap.

During a Q&A at the Urban 3 luncheon, residents asked how Planefield addresses and perceptions affect downtown engagement; the presenter urged sharing parcel maps to start conversations and declined to judge data-center proposals without parcel-level data.

Urban 3 founder Joe Mikoszi told a Joliet Chamber luncheon that downtown parcels produce far more tax revenue per acre than auto-oriented development, warned that past annexation patterns increased infrastructure burdens, and urged targeting investments to thicken downtown and create local cores.

At an evening council meeting, residents urged a formal ban on data centers and rejected a press‑release moratorium as insufficient. The mayor said the city will pursue the five‑year master‑plan review and community engagement rather than an immediate ban; no vote was taken.

The mayor told residents the city is hosting community workshops to gather input about possible data‑center interest on city property, saying there is "no proposal, no deal, no site plan" and emphasizing public engagement before any decision.

The council approved a $828,740 contract with Superior Excavation Company to replace the city's remaining 60 lead water service lines, putting the city ahead of EPA's 2037 target; staff said about 12 of those customers remain hard to reach.

Council awarded Phase 2 of the Division Street wastewater treatment expansion to Williams Brothers Construction for $71,460,000 and approved an ordinance to raise the Water Pollution Control Loan Program ceiling; staff warned bids exceeded earlier engineering estimates and outlined contingency funding options.

Council agreed to appoint Matthew O'Hare to the Planning & Zoning Commission, moved to fill ICCBA vacancies, and placed on consent a set of planning items including PUD adjustments for Sadie Ridge and a special‑use permit for a multi‑tenant drive‑through at 159th & Farrell Road.

Council approved a 50/50 cost‑share with the Will County Forest Preserve to move forward with Phase 1 design of the Lockport Loop Trail and consented to a maintenance agreement with the U.S. Army Corps to use the Division Street Bridge as part of the route.

The Lockport City Council approved three property acquisitions totaling roughly $734,850 to support downtown parking and future redevelopment, allowing current occupants temporary occupancy in at least one case and signaling continued downtown revitalization efforts.

Council approved a not‑to‑exceed contract for rehabilitation of filter treatment facilities at Well 6 and Well 13 (about $6.22 million) and accepted an engineering services proposal for project oversight and inspection.

Public works presented a non‑exclusive 10‑year right‑of‑way agreement with Delta Communications affiliate Clearwave Fiber; staff said Clearwave will post a $75,000 restoration bond, reimburse inspection costs, provide free fiber to city facilities and follow city permitting; council asked for a larger rollout map and directed staff to place a resolution on the next agenda.

Council OKs $47,060 to pay for commemorative Route 66 benches and approved an ordinance letting the Lockport Council of Arts retain fundraising surplus in a restricted account, with any expenditures over $20,000 to return to council for approval.

Council members reviewed a special use permit and final development plans for a Crash Champions auto body shop with screened outdoor vehicle storage and a concept plan for a multi-tenant drive-through including Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins; both items were placed on the Jan. 21 agenda for consent or action.

The Lockport City Council approved rezoning, preliminary/final plats and an amended annexation and development agreement for the Serenity subdivision after residents raised concerns about equine impacts, traffic and school capacity; council amended zoning to allow a mixed‑use corner and removed bedroom‑type quotas while preserving the total unit cap.

After a lengthy staff briefing and more than an hour of public comment raising concerns about schools, traffic and the local horse community, the City of Lockport Committee-of-the-Whole agreed to move the proposed Serenity Landing planned development (ordinance 25-021/resolution 25-101) to 'action' for the Dec. 17 council meeting while staff and the developer provide additional documents and agreements.

City Council approves purchase of Delwood Tire site for $550,000 to boost redevelopment.

Council approves a five-year contract for 41 upgraded Tasers to enhance officer safety.