By Jason Crane
The Aurora City Council unanimously approved plans for the creation of a new City department at the Aurora City Council meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 10.
City of Aurora government officials explained plans for the creation of the new department, Public Facilities.
The department will be comprised of existing divisions from both the departments of Development Services and Public Works.
Jim Birchall, superintendent of the Fleet and Facilities Maintenance Department, will be the chief Public Facilities officer and Derrick Winston, Equipment Services / evening supervisor for the Public Properties Department, will be director of Public Facilities.
They will be brought forward at the Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 17, then the full City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 24 for approval of their new positions.
• Two individuals used their voices for up to three minutes each:
Both individuals are tattoo artists who expressed concern about a moratorium reducing the number of tattoo and body art establishments in Aurora.
A few minutes later, the City Council approved an Ordinance increasing the number of available licenses from two to four, in order to provide a license to each tattoo and body art establishment in Aurora.
The City Council unanimously approved the following agenda items:
• Approved was a Resolution approving the appointment of Craig Gunty and reappointment of Ramona Wood to the Civil Service Commission.
New candidate, Craig Gunty, is a Ward 9 resident and a retired sergeant from the Bolingbrook Police Department.
Veteran candidate Ramona Wood is a Ward 6 resident, serving a sixth term, if approved.
• Approved was an Ordinance amending “Chapter 25, Article XI” of the Code of Ordinances.
The purpose is to update the license requirements for tattoo and body art establishments
City government of Aurora documents show over the last year the City Council has made small revisions to the Tattoo Shop Ordinance to allow for microblading and microshading businesses within Aurora. In committee discussions of those revisions, the aldermen have requested that the City look into revising the entire tattoo ordinance.
Aurora government staff members have spent time meeting with Aurora tattoo shop owners to gather feedback regarding the current ordinance. Staff members have taken into consideration their comments, as well as the input from prior Rules and Administrative Procedure committee meetings in drafting this revised ordinance.
This amendment to the ordinance will update the requirements for tattoo shop licensing. It will eliminate outdated language and unnecessary requirements, while promoting safe practices for the health and welfare of local tattoo shop patrons.
City staff members propose increasing the number of available licenses from two to four, in order to provide a license to each tattoo and body art establishment in Aurora.
Other changes include streamlining the application process, issuance or denial of license and premisis requirements. Remove provisions requiring a physician, background information on all employees, inspections and records. This aligns with other sections in the code to clearly define who may inspect a business and rely on State requirements regarding medical care.
• Approved was an Ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances Pertaining to the City’s officers and departments.
The City Council has twice approved changes to Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to city officers and departments, most recently in 2017 and 2021. The proposed amendment seeks to update the code to reflect departmental changes outlined in the recently approved 2023 budget.
The 2023 budget includes the creation of a new department, Public Facilities. The changes, as outlined and presented during the 2023 budget process, are reflective of operational needs identified following the 2017 re-organization given the size and scope of duties for both Development Services and Public Works respectively.
Public Facilities (new department):
• Facilities Maintenance
Central Services
Airport o MVPS Maintenance
Transit Center Rt. 25
Transit Center Rt. 59
• Animal Care and Control
• Fleet Maintenance
• Parks Maintenance
Phillips Park Zoo
Phillips Park Golf Maintenance
Phillips Park Golf Operations
Approval of these changes will allow the City to operate in compliance with the City code.