By Jason Crane
Many city of Aurora government employees received awards at the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday as part of the City’s quarterly staff member spotlight night.
Awards went to four City government staff members and one community-wide project.
The 2021 Meritorious Service Award for operators was presented to assistant superintendent of Water Production, Bob Leible, for significant contributions to water safety and quality.
The award was presented by Randy Lusk, chairman of the Illinois section of the American Water Works Association Board of trustees.
The 2021 Wintrust Bank Latinx Leader Award was presented to Mayor’s Office manager, Maria Lindsay, by bank representatives.
The September 2021 featured alumnus from Waubonsee Community College Award was presented to Aurora city government Youth Services manager, Simon Rodriguez.
American Association of Code Enforcement presented the Robert Klein Award, which is the highest award to city of Aurora government Property Standards training manager Kelvin Beene.
The American Association of Code Enforcement is a national nonprofit association representing the profession of code enforcement.
The Mayors Award of Excellence was awarded to the recipients in addition to the City’s Spotlight Award.
The 2021 Best Innovation Award from the DuPage Mayors and Management Conference went to the city of Aurora government for the C.H.A.N.G.E. (community helping Aurora’s necessary growth and empowerment) Reform Initiative.
• There were three individuals using their voices for up to three minutes. All expressed concern about Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals inside the former Todd School and Lincoln School, which have been proposed to be redeveloped into workforce housing.
Mary Ann Signorelli said she has identified 54 pieces of WPA art work in Aurora, 28 murals and 26 non-murals.
She said of those, less than 50% remain, 11 murals, seven of which are in the former Todd School. Two murals in the former Lincoln School are lost, and hopefully one entitled “The History of Aurora” still exists under paint.
She said of the non-murals, 12 have been found, two of which are in the former Todd School, the statues by Mary Anderson Clark.
Signorelli stated, “I think it’s important to remember what this artwork represents…our history.
“Murals were created specifically for the client, there was no catalog.
“These pieces of art truly represent the cultural and regional heritage of Aurora. The citizens of Aurora raised the funds for the artwork for the supplies during the Depression when money was scarce, which only serves to amplify the importance of the artwork, this gift to the community.
“As a reminder, under WPA guidelines, the artwork has to be in a public building, the federal government retains ownership of the artwork. Only Congress can dispose of it, and there are specific reporting guidelines regarding the disposition of the artwork which can be found on the GSA website,” she emphasized.
Aurora residents Al Signorelli and Scott Sherwood, the latter an art conservator, shared the same concerns about the WPA murals inside the former schools.
Lincoln School has been closed since 2009 and Todd School since 2019.
During the Great Depression, the U.S. Federal Government initiated a series of programs to provide economic relief to unemployed artists.
The Federal Art Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in May 1935 until 1943. More than 2,500 murals were created throughout the Country. Aurora’s Mastodon Lake in Phillips Park was created under the program.
Approved was a request from Fox Valley Apartments, LP, to establish a conditional use planned development, and to change the zoning district from R-3 One Family Dwelling District to R-5(C) Multiple-Family Dwelling District with a conditional use on the property at 631 and 641 S. Lake Street which includes the adaptive reuse of the historic Lincoln School and the construction of a new building for residential housing.
This allows the historic former Lincoln School to be repurposed into 14 workforce housing units and the construction of a new building behind it which would allow for another 22 workforce housing units.
The project includes adaptive reuse of the historic Todd School for residential housing and a one-story addition for social service use.
Alex Alexandrou, chief administrative services officer for the City of Aurora government reassured individuals concerned about the murals by saying, “We are not going to leave these murals behind.
“We are going to make arrangements in the RDA (redevelopment agreement).
“When we bring it forward for approval, that will be one of the highlights, the language on the ultimate disposition of the murals and we’re also looking at the two statues, as well,” Alexandrou said.
Before the vote for the the former Todd School and Lincoln School, to be redeveloped into workforce housing, alderman-at-large Ron Woerman was excused from the dias and did not vote as standard procedure due to business connections that could be a possible conflict of interest.
The City Council unanimously approved the following agenda items:
• Approved was an ordinance terminating the designation of the Aurora Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopment project area and dissolving the Aurora Downtown Special Tax Increment Allocation Fund.
City government of Aurora documents show in order to close a TIF, the City must notify the taxing bodies in which the TIF is at of the intent to close the District. TIFs can be closed prior to their statutory end date. The procedure for closing a TIF early or at the end of life is the same. This notification provides all taxing bodies early information on the potential new tax base that will be accessible for their respective 2022 tax levies.
Background: TIF #1, as noted by the number is the first TIF to be created by the City. This TIF covers the downtown north of Benton Street. As noted in the ordinance, this TIF has been extended by 12 years from the original duration and has also been amended several times recently during the creation process for the Micro TIFs beginning in FY 2019 is noted as follows: Stolp Island TIF #9 – Keystone Project; Galena Broadway TIF #10 – Terminal Project; River Benton TIF #11 – 80 S. River Project; River Galena TIF #13 – Hobbs Project.
Each year the city government files both an independent audit and a State certification report for each TIF district. These reports include information regarding the projects, expenses, debt and tax increment associated with the district. TIF#1 started in 1986 with an assessed value of $5.71 million and as of December 31, 2020 had an assessed value of $23.91 million, a growth of $18.2 million or 319% over the life of the district.
The tax increment for 2021 was $1.764 million and if this tax increment remained the same, this is the amount of new tax revenue available to all taxing bodies for the 2023 fiscal year. The City of Aurora, unlike other non-home rule entities, levies a dollar amount, and is not subject to a rate cap on the tax levy.
In order for the City to take advantage of the growth in the tax base from the TIF closure, the 2021 tax levy would need to be increased by approximately $347,000, again, without a negative impact to any taxpayers. This increase is helpful to all taxing bodies in that many operating costs have increased substantially as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Impact statement: The closure of TIF #1 will provide an increasing tax base to all taxing bodies in Aurora and has the potential to provide increased tax revenues based on each districts’ levy.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing approval of an upgraded annual subscription (renewal) for Executive Programs Membership Basic and Leadership Team Service for IT Research and Advisory Services from Gartner, Inc of Stamford, Conn. for a three-year term.
City government of Aurora documents show Gartner services have been utilized by the City since 2018. This three-year renewal will provide access to Gartner’s advisory services and documentation to more members of the IT Department’s Senior Leadership team at a lower per license cost. Given the complexity, expense, and strategic nature of the City’s technology initiatives over the next three to five years, an advisory service agreement of this type is recommended.
Background: Gartner is the largest and most respected source of analysis in the information technology (IT) industry. Gartner serves over 13,000 distinct organizations throughout the world. The Company was founded in 1979 and has current annual revenues exceeding $1.5 billion. As IT exploded over the last 30 years, this research firm has become a strategic partner to thousands of client organizations. Gartner provides a wide range of services that are unmatched by its competitors.
This agreement will allow City staff members to access the following Gartner products and services:
Research: Clients can take advantage of the insight gained through Gartner’s rigorous research processes and proprietary methodologies. Gartner methodologies consist of research practices, procedures and rules that distill large volumes of data into clear, precise, actionable insight so City staff members can formulate plans or make difficult business decisions.
Contract review: Gartner analysts review thousands of hardware/software/service contracts each year and will provide pricing proposal and comparative analysis, business terms and conditions review, and negotiation strategy advice.
Analyst access: Analysts publish thousands of pages of original research annually. As a client, City staff members will have access to analysts to discuss all areas of current/future projects such as planning, implementing, communication efforts, and purchasing strategies.
Benchmarking analytics: Data will be provided in the areas of performance, infrastructure, applications, vendors, customer satisfaction, and purchasing policies.
Peer networking: This is most often an underappreciated service in public sector agencies. Gartner is host to an annual symposium, numerous summits, and a myriad of opportunities for IT professionals to connect because they are geographically close or are working on similar initiatives. The City’s Gartner representative works to ensure that this component of the agreement is successfully utilized.
Discussion: Gartner’s services have been utilized in the decision-making process and execution of many technology initiatives identified in the IT strategic plan.
Gartner’s research has guided IT staff members in navigating constantly changing technology marketplaces as well as understanding technology providers’ current and trending competitive advantages, strategies, and challenges. Gartner’s services are paramount to leading and communicating an innovative mindset by educating IT on emerging technologies and the impact across many business sectors.
Direct access to Gartner analysts resulted in helping City staff members make educated selections of APD Body Cameras, NextGen911 solution, Microsoft Enterprise Agreement process, Managed Security Services, the completion of several RFPs, and provided guidance to IT senior executives on the technology marketplace for input into the IT Strategic Plan, vendor negotiation processes and COVID-related IT management trends.
Previous expenditures for four Gartner advisory licenses included $104,300 in 2019 and $108,300 in 2020. After the described success of the previous two single-year contracts, the IT staff members desire to extend the advisory services from four licenses to seven licenses and take advantage of discounted pricing of a three-year contract. The 3-year contract for seven licenses will average annual payment of $189,470.
Cost for year one is $184,848.00, year 2 is $189,413.00 (2.5% increase) and year 3 is $194,148.00 (2.5% increase). Although the total investment in IT consulting services is increasing, the per license investment is decreasing by 2.5% to $26,400 as compared to $27,075 per license in 2020.
In addition, although the extension is for three years, City staff members have successfully negotiated the ability to cancel the agreement during the first 60 days of each calendar year should funds not be appropriated for Gartner’s services. This is an important safeguard in the event that the City experiences unexpected adverse financial conditions.
For the first year of this agreement, $92,424.00 is due in 2021 and additional $92,424.00 will paid in January, 2022.
A budget transfer will be submitted to account 101-1380-419.32-80 to fund the 2021 portion of this service and will be included in the 2022 and 2023 budgets.
Impact statement: This service is designed for the most senior technology executives in the City. This Service has provided the IT Department with an ongoing advisory relationship with Gartner and it has optimized citywide technology costs, staffing, policy, processes and procedures.
Recommendations: Adopt a resolution approving the implementation of an upgraded Executive Programs Membership Basic and Leadership Team Service for IT research and advisory services from Gartner, Inc. of Stamford, Conn. for a three-year term.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing an agreement with Assured Partners, formerly Group Alternatives, Inc. to provide benefit consulting services for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
City government of Aurora documents show Assured Partners is a benefit consulting firm specializing in large employers, partnering with clients to control costs and maximize benefit offerings. The City first began utilizing Group Alternatives’ services in 2015 to facilitate the RFP process for the third-party administration of benefits. They assisted the City through the evaluation period which resulted in CIGNA being selected for the City’s third-party administration (TPA). Since that time, Assured Partners, formerly Group Alternatives, has provided services including, but not limited to, securing the Humana Health Plan for Medicare eligible retirees, funding analysis, financial and compliance implications of legislative changes, provider network analysis including access and claim impact, ombudsmen with Cigna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Humana Medicare Advantage.
Discussion: Assured Partners, formerly Group Alternatives, has been instrumental in assisting the City with implementing cost effective changes while at the same time maintaining a robust benefit plan for the City’s employees and retirees. Their recommendation to convert the Medicare eligible retirees to Humana Medicare Advantage next year, beginning January 1, 2022, will result in a guaranteed savings of $1,540.052 over the next two years. They also negotiated a renewal agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO for a 0% increase for the second year in a row.
The data analytics that Assured Partners, formerly Group Alternatives, uses will continue to help the City mitigate rising cost and plan for the future.
This is a three-year contract, $52,500 each year.
Council approval is needed for professional services over $25,000.
Recommendations: That the City Council authorize renewal of a three (3) year agreement with Assured Partners, formerly Group Alternatives, Inc., to provide benefit consulting services.
• Approved was an ordinance Authorizing A Loan Agreement (Public Water Supply Loan Program – Home Rule Entity) For The Lead Service Line Replacement Project.
City government of Aurora documents show the city government of Aurora has previously applied for a low interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to fund the upcoming “Lead Service Line Replacement” project. The debt ordinance must be adopted by the City for the IEPA to finalize the loan.
Purpose: The ordinance outlines the requested $4,000,000.00 loan. The City of Aurora qualifies for principal forgiveness for lead service line replacement and for FY2022 the maximum forgiveness amount is $4,000,000.00. The proposed 2022 budget shows the partial loan amount for construction of this service replacement project; the City intends to front fund the construction and seek reimbursement at the same time as payments are made to the contractor. Processing contractor payments significantly quicker in this manner in lieu of waiting for the receipt of loan funds makes the project more attractive to contractors and will most likely result in lower bids.