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News & Highlights from the City of St. Charles, Ill. - November 2026 |
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E-bike safety: Know the rules before you ride or buy
New Illinois e-device laws take effect Jan. 1, 2027
The holiday season is fast approaching, and e-bikes and other micromobility devices may top many wish lists this year. Parents, make sure you and your children know the rules for riding these e-devices. New Illinois e-device laws take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Watch the video for safety tips, rules and regulations, and share it with other parents. A little know-how goes a long way toward keeping everyone safe.
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St. Charles Veterans Day Ceremony set for Nov. 11
The City of St. Charles will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at Fire Station No. 1, 112 N. Riverside Ave., in St. Charles.
The public is invited to attend and join the community in honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces. The free, indoor ceremony will include the national anthem, an invocation, remarks, a gun salute and a performance of Taps.
Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free public parking is available in the Municipal Building north lot.
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Holiday Homecoming to light up St. Charles, Nov. 27 and 28
 Celebrate the start of the holiday season with St. Charles' Holiday Homecoming, one of the Midwest’s most spectacular holiday events. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, with the Lighting of the Lights Ceremony at 1st Street Plaza in downtown St. Charles, featuring festive music, a visit from Santa and complimentary roasted nuts.
On Saturday, Nov. 28, enjoy a free holiday movie at 10 a.m., the Electric Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m., visits at Santa’s House at 1st Street Plaza and more.
Visit stcholidayhomecoming.com for the full schedule of Holiday Homecoming events.
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City Insider podcast finale episode now available for listening!
Mayor Hull reflects on his first year in office and what’s ahead for City
For the finale episode of the City Insider podcast, the City of St. Charles is bringing the conversation full circle.
Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, cohosts Lisa Garhan and Kara Silva sat down with newly-elected (at the time) Mayor Clint Hull to discuss what he hoped to accomplish. Now, more than a year into his first term, the Mayor returns to discuss the progress, challenges, lessons learned and what lies ahead for St. Charles.
Tune in for an inside look at the work of local government and a candid conversation that highlights the human side of public service.
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From the Senior Services Commission:
Stay scam-savvy: Fraud Awareness Seminar set for Nov. 4
 >>The City of St. Charles Senior Services Commission will host a Scam and Fraud Awareness Seminar from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave., in St. Charles. St. Charles Police Chief Dan Likens, Mayor Clint Hull and Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser will discuss scams and fraud related to Investment and Cryptocurrency, Cyber Tech Support, Government Impersonation, Grandparent/Family Emergencies, Driver's License and Tollway Violations and Romance. To RSVP, email rsvp@stcharlesil.gov.
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 City offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. As always, police, fire and emergency services will remain available 24/7.
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Upcoming City meetings in November
Meeting information and agendas are available at stcharlesil.gov/meetings. Agendas are posted 48 hours prior to the meeting. Meeting dates are as follows:
 »All are welcome to attend meetings in person, join via Zoom, or watch the recorded session on YouTube afterward.
Stay up to date with the City’s 'Meeting Minutes Archive'
Stay informed by viewing minutes from past City Council, Commission, and other official meetings using the City's Meeting Minutes Archive. You can search by meeting type, date, or keyword to review discussions, decisions and updates at your convenience.
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Agenda alerts for City meetings now sent right to your phone!
Stay up to date on City of St. Charles Meetings with new agenda notifications through govDelivery. Residents can now sign up to receive agenda alerts for select meetings by email, text message or both. Additional meeting notifications will be added in a future phase of the City’s platform rollout.
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 Council members present Spirit Awards to Ward 2 recipients
Ward 2 Alderpersons Jayme Muenz and Ryan Bongard presented September’s Spirit of St. Charles awards to Bobbie Raehl for her longstanding commitment to children’s education in D303, and nonprofit Support Over Stigma for its work in suicide prevention among veterans and first responders.
Each month, Spirit Awards are presented during City Council meetings to those who have made a meaningful impact in the St. Charles community.
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Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026
Kane County residents can visit the Kane County Clerk’s Office website for important voting information, including voting locations.
DuPage County residents can find election information and voting locations on the DuPage County website.
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2027 Consolidated Election packets available at City Hall
Completed nomination packets must be filed between Nov. 16-23
Nomination Packets for the 2027 Consolidated Election are available for pickup at the Reception Desk in the St. Charles Municipal Building, 2 E. Main Street, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To have a packet emailed, send a request to msheets@stcharlesil.gov and it will be sent by the next business day.
Completed nomination packets must be filed between Nov. 16 and Nov. 23, 2026. All forms are due to the City Clerk’s office, 2 E. Main Street, St. Charles, no later than 5 p.m. on Nov 23, 2026. Candidates running for office are advised to consult an attorney for specific
questions.
The 2027 Consolidated Election will be held on April 6, 2027.
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New restaurants open on east and west sides
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Starbird Chicken
845 S. Randall Road
(Fast casual chicken restaurant)
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Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
3050 E. Main St.
(restaurant and pizzeria)
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Riding in style: Pre-K student arrives to school by fire truck
 >>On Oct. 16, pre-kindergartener Nathan made a memorable entrance at Haines Center Preschool — arriving by fire truck! The St. Charles Fire Department gave him a ride to school as the winner of a special raffle at the department’s annual Open House community event in September. (Click the red button below to watch the video!)
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St. Charles Fire Department: November Home Heating Safety
 >>As the weather gets colder, we rely more on our heating systems, fireplaces and space heaters. Follow these simple safety tips to keep your home warm and reduce the risk of fire or carbon monoxide (CO) incident.
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A special day for an Honorary Police Officer
The St. Charles Police Department made a local resident's dream of becoming a police officer come true recently. Dressed in full uniform for Halloween, Colton was sworn in as an honorary officer by Police Chief Dan Likens. A generous community member added to the excitement by outfitting his wheelchair with red and blue flashing lights. Colton summed up the experience by saying, “This is the best day of my life!”
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Around Town: Safety Update with STC P.D.
From Scarecrow Weekend and high school homecoming parades to a Netflix film shoot at TownHouse Books and Cafe and other community events, St. Charles Police Department personnel stayed busy keeping the community safe during events held in September and October.
Beyond providing event safety and traffic support, the department also partnered with Northwestern Medicine in October to collect more than 50 pounds of unwanted medications for safe disposal on National Drug Take Back Day.
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Feedback for Riverside For All project accepted through Nov. 18
Thank you to everyone who attended the City of St. Charles’ Riverside Avenue for All: Complete Streets Project public meeting last month. Public comments will be accepted through Nov. 18.
Visit the project page to review meeting materials and submit your feedback.
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Final Brush Collection of the year is this month
November is the final brush pickup month of 2026. Pickup begins on the East Side on Nov. 16 and on the West Side on Nov. 23. It can take the entire week for pick up to be completed.
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 Leaf Collection is underway!
Leaf Collection kicked off recently. There are three collection cycles scheduled. Each cycle covers BOTH the east and west sides of the city. The progress map shows that the first round of leaf collection on the West Side (shown in purple) is nearly complete. Kramer anticipates crews will begin the first round of collection on the East Side on Nov. 3.
Check the Progress Map
Check the leaf collection map for the latest progress. The map is updated daily by 9:30 a.m. to reflect the previous day's collection activity.
Reminders
The Leaf Collection Map uses a color key:
🟣 Purple – First round
🟠 Orange – Second round
🔵 Blue – Third round
Weather Matters
Weather is the biggest variable affecting leaf collection progress and schedules. Please keep in mind that timelines may change depending on conditions.
Bagged Leaf Pickup
Free bagged leaf pickup is available throughout the entire month of December.
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High School Homecoming celebrations parade down Main Street!
St. Charles East and North high schools brought homecoming spirit to downtown with parades along Main Street in October. The city’s Fire, Police and Public Works departments joined the mayor to celebrate and show their support for students and the community.
 >>The St. Charles Police and Public Works departments lead the St. Charles East High School homecoming parade procession Oct. 16.
 >>Mayor Clint Hull waves to parade attendees during the St. Charles North High School homecoming parade Oct. 2.
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From the City of St. Charles Equity and Inclusion Commission:
 Nov. 16 is International Day for Tolerance
November 16 is recognized by UNESCO as the International Day for Tolerance. According to Unesco.org, “tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures.”
The St. Charles Equity and Inclusion Commission celebrates the diversity of cultures from all who live, work and visit the city. We invite you to consider what tolerance means to you and embody it in your everyday life. By doing so, we can uphold a strong community where all are welcome.
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From the City of St. Charles Senior Services Commission:
Senior Clothing Give-Away at Redeemer Fellowship Church
Redeemer Fellowship Church hosts a free Senior Clothing Give-Away on the first Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Clothing and household items are available, and visitors are invited to enjoy coffee and sweet treats. The give-away takes place in the church basement at 1125 Oak St. in St. Charles (stairs only). Donations of clothing and household items are welcome and can be placed inside the church entrance. Please do not leave donations outside. For more information, call 630-584-8750.
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Kane County recycling center closed through mid-November
The Fabyan Recycling Center is temporarily closed for repaving and site improvements, with reopening anticipated in mid-November. Need to recycle in the meantime? Click the button below for alternative drop-off locations and November pop-up recycling opportunities! Accepted items include electronics, clothing, shoes, apparel and home textiles, books, and paper.
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Forest Preserve District Plans Upcoming Prescribed Burns
Each spring and fall, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County conducts prescribed
burns across prairies, woodlands and wetlands in an effort to restore and maintain the ecological health of a site. Targeted sites for this burn season include portions of the following preserves in St. Charles:
- Bolcum Road Wetlands Forest Preserve
- Campton Forest Preserve
- Fox River Bluff Forest Preserve
- Fox River Bluff West Forest Preserve
- Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve
- LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve
- Meissner Prairie - Corron Forest Preserve
For more information on prescribed burns, contact the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at www.kaneforest.com.
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Pumpkin Smash composting event set for Nov. 7
Event expands to offer cider, doughnuts and family-friendly activities
The St. Charles Natural Resources Commission will host its annual community Pumpkin Smash from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at the St. Charles Public Works Facility, 1405 S. 7th Ave., in St. Charles.
Residents can “go green” after Halloween by giving their pumpkins a second life through composting. This year’s event has expanded beyond a traditional drive-through drop-off, offering attendees the opportunity to park, get out of their vehicles and smash pumpkins at a designated target. The family-friendly event will feature music and activities for children, as well as fresh doughnuts and cider made on-site and available for purchase.
Before bringing pumpkins to the event, residents are asked to remove all non-biodegradable decorations, including candles and stickers. These items can contaminate the organic materials collected for composting.
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From the St. Charles Business Alliance:
Holiday Shop Crawl
Celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28 with the return of the St. Charles Business Alliance’s Holiday Shop Crawl! Shop local for special discounts at St. Charles retail stores, and with every purchase, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $150 Retail Relaxation Giveaway! Learn more at stcholidayhomecoming.com/shopcrawl.
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Big Hearts Fox Valley Toy Drive through Nov. 11
Help make the holidays brighter for local children in D303 by donating to the Big Hearts Fox Valley Holiday Toy Drive through Nov. 11. New, unwrapped toys, games and gift cards can be dropped off in collection boxes located in the Municipal Building reception area, 2 E. Main St., and St. Charles Police Department lobby, 1515 W. Main St.
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We're Hiring!
We’ve assembled a remarkable team of dependable service providers, skilled first responders, and innovative leaders who drive St. Charles to be its best. We invite you to become a part of our team!
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