By Jason Crane
Members of the Aurora City Council postponed a controversial resolution that would allow a gas station at Farnsworth Avenue and Molitor Road in Aurora.
Twelve individuals spoke against the plan at the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform.
Demonstrators outside City Hall were loud enough to be heard on the Zoom meeting.
The Council voted to postpone the resolution for a second time to allow residents to have their questions answered at a meeting and the vote could happen at the April 27 City Council meeting.
The speakers, mostly residents near the proposed gas station expressed concern, including traffic on Molitor being increased from an already bad situation. This property and the surrounding area are susceptible to flooding and there are concerns that this property only will exacerbate the issue.
Concerns included the potential for runoff and damage to well water used by homes behind the lot and property values decreasing.
Several residents said their concerns weren’t addressed at an April 8 meeting with the developer.
Developers agreed to have a future meeting with the concerned citizens.
The business petitioners request approval of a preliminary plan and plat for a gasoline station use and are not opening an additional gas station, instead plan to move across the street to a larger property.
The existing Circle K, on the northeast corner would be demolished and sold for a different type of use. There are four pumps with eight fueling positions at the station at 1851 N. Farnsworth Avenue while there are seven pumps with 14 fueling positions being proposed at the new location.
Along with the gas station, an approximate 5,200 sq. ft. convenience store is being proposed, as well, larger than the 1,500 sq.-ft. store on the current property. Due to this property being in the floodplain, a large amount of the property is being utilized as detention/compensatory storage. Roughly 106,000 sq. ft., or 2.43 acres, would be dedicated to open space in order to mitigate the concerns of flooding. As proposed, the building is approximately 150 feet to the nearest residential lot line, and further to the nearest house.
• Approved was a resolution appointing Lisa McClellan to “Sustainable Aurora” (The Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board).
• Approved was a resolution reappointing Dan Miller to the Aurora Preservation Commission.
• Approved were resolutions authorizing the execution of an historic preservation grant agreement with eight individuals and their properties in varying amounts.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing execution of a rollover agreement between the city government of Aurora and Aurora Supervisors Association.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain authorization to execute a rollover agreement between the city of Aurora and Aurora Supervisors Association collective bargaining agreement for January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
Aurora Supervisors Association’s collective bargaining agreement expired December 31, 2020.
In consideration of the uncertainties still looming due to the pandemic, the parties agreed to a one-year rollover which was ratified by the union March 18, 2021. It is only a wage agreement that will give the members a 2% wage increase.
• Approved was a resolution to reject all bids for the furnish and installation of the Downtown Greenhouse in Ward #4.
The purpose is to reject the one non-conforming bid.
City government of Aurora documents show the City went out for public bid for the construction of a greenhouse at the electrical storage yard at 339 Middle Street. This greenhouse will allow the City to grow various plants for the downtown area in lieu of purchasing mature plants. It will result in a significant savings for the City.
The project was advertised publicly and although it was viewed by 11 contractors and several bid companies, only one bid was received. The single bid was non-compliant and over budget.
The City is exploring other options at this time. It is possible that City forces will construct the greenhouse and staff members will explore utilizing the JOC program as well.
The purchase and installation of the greenhouse will be delayed.
• Approved was a resolution establishing the maximum number of Class C: Specialty On-Site Consumption (Recreational Facility) Liquor Licenses, unofficially related to the application from PLM Entertainment, LLC D/B/A Mega Fun Park at 1971 W. Galena Boulevard, in Ward 5.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to increase the number of Class C: Specialty On-Site Consumption (Recreational Facility) licenses. A new business, PLM Entertainment, LLC, D/B/A Mega Fun Park, is opening a recreational facility that contains arcade games, a climbing wall, basketball, and jumping rooms, among other recreational activities. PLM Entertainment, LLC will operate a restaurant offering menu items including appetizers, salads, pizza, and desserts, as well as a bar offering beer and wine for consumption on-site.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the Chief of Police to sign an updated memorandum of understanding between the Kane County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), and the Aurora Police Department (APD) for a task force officer.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to create an updated memorandum of understanding between the Kane County Child Advocacy Center and APD which will allow for a continuing partnership in the investigations of crimes that involve child abuse and neglect through a cooperative task force.
The Aurora Police Department has had a long-standing cooperative relationship with the Kane County Child Advocacy Center, since at least the mid-1990s, in which an Aurora Police Officer has been assigned to the task force to investigate and take enforcement action on crimes against children.
The CAC task force has been highly successful with investigations in Aurora, and within the region. They are specifically given the task with the cases of crimes against children, particularly physical and sexual abuse. The task force can interview victims, witnesses, and suspects, and obtain criminal charges. They testify in the prosecution of the offenders.
This agreement has been updated and accepted by the newly-elected Kane County state’s attorney.
A new Memorandum of Understanding with the Kane County Advocacy Center will allow an Aurora Police Officer to work with other law enforcement officials to conduct investigations in crimes where children are the victims. It is an area of law enforcement where a task force philosophy is critical, because it often requires a variety of highly-specialized officers to conduct victim sensitive interviews and a collaborative effort with Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to ensure the safety of the child victims. This task force operates with a team mentality with a focus on victim safety and the identification and prosecution of offenders.
If this project is approved, it will allow for the continued protection of child victims and the arrest and prosecution of offenders in Aurora area.
• Approved was a resolution selecting Utility Dynamics Corporation, 23 Commerce Drive, Oswego, as the City’s service provider for Com Ed’s Streetlights in Distressed Communities Program.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to select Utility Dynamics as the City’s service provider for this program, which provides LED upgrades for the remaining City-owned streetlights which have not yet been upgraded at little to no cost.
Using city government funds and past incentive programs, the government has converted approximately 5,431 streetlights from high-pressure sodium (HPS) to Light Emitting Diode (LED) to date, with approximately 3,023 remaining to convert.
The City was recently identified by Com Ed as eligible for its Streetlights in Distressed Communities Program. Unlike past Com Ed energy efficiency programs, which offered incentives directly to the City based on the reduction in wattage from HPS fixtures to new LED fixtures, the Streetlights in Distressed Communities Program offers fixed materials and labor incentives directly to a City-designated pre-qualified service provider.
It is the City’s intention to take advantage of this opportunity to convert the remaining 3,023 fixtures throughout the City.
Because the incentives of this program are fixed, but the cost of fixtures varies by brand and vendor, the City published a request for bids (RFB) requesting pricing to furnish and install new fixtures and/or retrofit kits for the 3023 streetlights. The RFB identified the City’s preferred brands for each style and wattage, which were consistent with the brands installed across the City to date, as well as an opportunity for bidders to propose pre-approved equivalent brands.
Three of the six bidders submitted final bids of zero dollars. Of the three zero-dollar bids, only one offered to supply the City’s preferred brands. Based on it, city government officials are recommending selecting that bidder, Utility Dynamics Corporation, to be the City’s service provider for this program. Included in their proposed scope is full fixture replacement for all remaining cobra head and post top decorative fixtures as well as installation of LED retrofit kits in approximately 366 historic fixtures.
This program is designed to have a positive impact in several ways, including no cost improvements to City-owned infrastructure and long term energy cost savings to the City.
• Approved was an ordinance amending Chapter 13.5 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, pertaining to the hiring of experienced police officers without examination (lateral hire).
City government of Aurora documents show the city of Aurora historically has used a standard eligibility list for the hiring of new police officers as established through the Civil Service process. This process does not allow existing police officers to be given any type of preference over those applicants who have no police experience. Thus, if they do not score high on the written exam, they will end up lower on the list. This occurs on every eligibility list that is established.
In addition to a written exam, all police applicants must pass a polygraph exam, background investigation, psychological exam, physical fitness test and a medical screening. If all the aforementioned components are passed and an opening exists, the candidates are hired in order of test scores after the addition of preference points for residence and military service.
The city government has had a great deal of success when hiring candidates who are police officers with prior experience. It has been advantageous to Department staff members to hire experienced police officers, because they already have completed their State-mandated academy requirements and have job experience. At a minimum, it saves the Department 14 weeks of academy training time and associated costs. Additionally, when looking at hiring and retention for 2016-2018, an average of 56% of new hires from the tradition hiring process either failed the selection process, declined/left for another department, failed to successfully complete the FTO process, or resigned during their first year of employment.
The city will continue to utilize the current testing process and eligibility list through the Civil Service process for new Police Officers. Additionally, a lateral hire applicant pool will be developed and maintained to hire experienced officers.
Human Resources, in conjunction with the Police Department, will evaluate qualified applicants based on the applicant’s experience level, job qualifications, specialized training and other pertinent information, including residence and military experience. The applicant will be required to pass a polygraph exam, a background investigation, a psychological exam, a physical fitness exam, and a medical screening.
Expanding the opportunity to hire experienced officers will not only put officers on the street faster, it will reduce the overtime and training cost to the city government which has experienced a significant increase in retirements, loss of Police Cadet employees and new Police Officer recruits leaving the academy voluntarily. Implementing a lateral hire process will enable the city government to maximize on recruiting, diversifying and hiring qualified candidates at an accelerated pace.
• Approved was a resolution awarding the bid to Service Sanitation in Aurora, for Portable Toilet Rental/Service for various Aurora divisions. City government of Aurora documents show the portable toilet contract will expire in February 2021. The Parks and Purchasing Divisions have worked closely with all other applicable divisions to make sure that the City’s needs are met in the new contract to cover portable toilets for the city-owned park properties, golf course, special events and other locations as needed.
Two bidders responded to the invitation to bid. Service Sanitation in Aurora and Lakeshore Recycling Systems in West Chicago. Although Service Sanitation wasn’t the lowest bidder, this bid was subject to local preference and was within a 5% margin. Service Sanitation was offered the option to match the lower prices and accepted. Service Sanitation has had the last several contracts and has fulfilled its obligations meeting expectations.
Based on 2019 expenses of $40,303 staff anticipates a similar expense in 2021 based on the current events schedule.
• Approved was a resolution to award the contract for the Eastview Estates CMP 18”-30” Storm Sewer CIPP Lining to Hoerr Construction, Inc. of Goodfield, Ill. in the amount of one hundred eighty-three thousand, nine hundred thirty dollars and zero cents. ($183,930.00).
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to install cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners and extend the life of approximately 1,185’ of corrugated metal storm sewer pipe that runs east to west from Felten Road to west of Violet Avenue.
The pipe was installed in mid-1960s as part of the Eastview Estates Subdivision and has recently started presenting sinkholes. Lining this sewer will extend the life of the pipe and eliminate costly digging repairs.
Four bids were received, opened, and read aloud March 10. The bid tabulation can be seen in the attached Exhibit C. The lowest responsible bid in the amount of $183,930.00 was submitted by Hoerr Construction, Inc. The sewer improvements ($183,930.00) will be funded with account 280-1852-512-81-23 (B037) which has a 2021 Budget amount of $643,000.00. Included as Exhibits B & D are the advertisement for bid and Hoerr Construction, Inc.’s submitted bid. Hoerr Construction, Inc. has not done work in the City of Aurora recently, so their references were contacted which resulted in favorable reviews.
This project was subject to the Local Preference Ordinance, however no local contractors submitted.
Lining this storm sewer will prevent the likelihood of additional sinkholes from occurring in the roadway or on private property as a result of the metal pipe continuing to rust and rot. The contractor may need access structures located in the backyards of a couple of properties via easements. Any restoration required from accessing those structures will be performed to match existing conditions.
• Approved was a resolution to enter into a three-year enterprise agreement for the purchase of Microsoft software from the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology Joint Purchasing Contract CMT #1176800 with Dell Marketing L.P. in an amount of $1,237,190.52.
• Approved was a resolution establishing the maximum number of Class A: Package Sales (Beer & Wine Only/Gas Station) liquor licenses, unofficially related to the application from 407 Gas & Food, Inc., D/B/A Ultra Mart Shell at 407 S. Lake Street in Ward 4.
• Approved was a resolution establishing the maximum number of Class A: Package Sales (Beer & Wine Only/Gas Station) liquor licenses, unofficially related to the application from BP Gas and Food, Inc., D/B/A BP at 2200 W. Galena Boulevard, Aurora, in Ward 5.
• Approved was a resolution to approve the purchase of five Toshiba es4518A multi-function copiers and quarterly maintenance from KKC Imagining of Aurora, through the TIPS Cooperative Contract, Region 8 Education Service Center, Pittsburg, Tex., recommended to the Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee. The five copiers would have a total cost of $26,620.00.