Aurora City Council approves three financial relief programs

By Jason Crane

At the Aurora government City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform, three of four financial relief programs presented were approved.

City of Aurora government documents explain that Federal relief programs have not addressed all of the needs of local businesses and in some cases such program have placed a reporting burden that has reduced the level of application for many businesses. The relief program plans to utilize local financial and business data and practices to determine qualifications and will not be subject to Federal regulations that have impacted the outreach of prior programs.

These programs are designed to prevent the closure of businesses. The cost per business to actually open or re-open a business is substantially higher on a per business basis as evidenced by many of Aurora’s recent downtown development agreements.

The four financial relief programs:

• Approved was a direct cash to business relief program for no more than $1.2 million.

• Approved was liquor license renewal fees waived for 2021. With 124 on-site consumption licenses in the City for restaurants and bars, fees which range in price from $825 to $2,070 will be waived for a relief effort of approximately $250,000.

• Approved was a food and beverage tax holiday for 90 days in 2021 providing approximately $1.0 million in relief.

• Discussed for approval at a later date was a residential relief program estimated to be funded at $500,000 in conjunction with the elimination of the current moratorium on eviction/foreclosure regulations in place through the Federal government.

The total available funding for the Direct Cash to Business Relief Fund is $1,200,000. Funding comes from the City’s General Fund at a recommended amount of $1.2 million, $200,000 of which is already provided in the 2021 adopted budget. Based on the treasurer’s report for December 31, 2020, the city government has available funds above minimum fund balance policies to utilize an additional $1.0 million for one-time relief programs.

The treasurer’s report, identifies that the city has sufficient fund/cash balances for this program but it will require a budget amendment.

Payments to qualified businesses will be distributed as a one-time grant. Grant amounts will vary and are intended to be paid within the range of $2,000 up to $15,000, proportional to the amount of documented losses, and depending on the number of applications received.

The basic parameters for the Direct Cash to Business Relief Fund are as follows:

All small businesses in the City of Aurora are eligible to apply with exceptions listed below. Only complete applications received by the deadline will be processed.

• Ineligible businesses include:

• A government-owned business entity;
• A business that is delinquent on payment of any state of Illinois tax obligation;
• A business that is engaged in a business that is unlawful under Illinois or federal law;
• A business that is on the federal system for award management excluded parties list;
• National, corporate-owned franchises are ineligible. Locally-owned, corporate franchises are able to apply;
• A business that has permanently closed;
• A business that employs more than 50;
• Financial institutions;
• Home-based businesses, home-occupation businesses, professional or medical businesses;
• Non-profit entities, which are not subject to the tax levied under Article VII of Chapter 44 [Food and Beverage Tax].

The City reserves the right to deny or grant any application at any time.

• Qualifying expenses:

The major qualifying expense used to determine the grant amount is “cost of business interruption,” defined as the decrease in revenue (not additional expenses) caused by closing or limiting access to the business establishment to comply with COVID-19 prevention directives or to otherwise prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the business establishment, or decreases in revenue caused by decreased customer demand as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.

Restaurants are asked to demonstrate losses by contrasting revenues to the same seven-month period in 2019 to 2020. This is to be documented through the current food and beverage payment history on file with the Finance Department and if necessary by submitting the monthly ST-1 Sales and Use Tax forms for each month from March to September in 2019, and March to September 2020.

If this is not possible or for new restaurants without 2019 sales history, the City will evaluate the data that is available to determine the amount of relief to be provided. A business’s compliance with the COVID 19 directives from the IDPH and the applicable local Departments of Health will also be taken into consideration.

In no case will an award be made of greater value than documented or estimated (by the City) losses for that period.

• Approved was an ordinance approving a revision to the River Street Plaza Plan Description for Property at 140 S. River Street, Units #100-114 and 160 S. River Street, Units #100-114.

The petitioner, Irish Ventures Four, LLC, on behalf of the ground floor commercial unit owners, is requesting a plan description revision to the River Street Plaza Conditional Use Planned Development (previously approved as a Special Use Planned Development) at 140 S. River Street, Units #100-114 and 160 S. River Street, Units #100-114.

The property is currently with DF(C) Downtown Fringe District with a Conditional Use (previously approved as a Special Use) zoning, which is part of the River Street Plaza Conditional Use Planned Development.

The owners of the ground floor commercial units, within 140 S. River Street and 160 S. River Street, have joined together as one collective group and is requesting a Plan Description Revision to the River Street Plaza Conditional Use Planned Development. The details of the request include adding additional uses for the ground floor commercial units.

• Approved was an ordinance approving revisions to the City of Aurora’s Comprehensive Plan for the Wolf’s Crossing Subarea which includes properties west of the Canadian National railroad tracks, east of U.S. Route 30, north of 111th Street and south of Wolf’s Crossing Road.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a license agreement with the Sugar Grove Park District granting access across property owned by the City of Aurora at the Aurora Municipal Airport.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of an engineering agreement with Alfred Benesch & Company in the not to exceed amount of $174,780.07, and the appropriation of $175,000.00 of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds for the 2021-2022 bridge inspections.

• Approved was a resolution requesting ratification for emergency cybersecurity remediation from, Data Defenders, LLC. Corporate headquarters: 111 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, in the amount not to exceed $36,750.00.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of a local public agency agreement for federal participation with the state of Illinois, the execution of a phase 3 construction engineering agreement with Edwin Hancock Engineering Co. in the not to exceed amount of $82,680.41, and the appropriation of $608,731.00 of MFT Funds for the Eola Road Resurfacing Project.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of a phase 2 design engineering agreement with HR Green, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $662,297.73, and the appropriation of $680,000.00 of REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds for the Indian Trail Road Reconstruction and High Street Intersection Project.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of a phase 1 and phase 2 design engineering agreement with TranSystems in the not to exceed amount of $150,930.00, and the appropriation of $160,000.00 of MFT Funds for the East New York Street Resurfacing (Ohio Street to Farnsworth Avenue) Project.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of an engineering agreement with HR Green, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $19,654.00, and the appropriation of $20,000.00 of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds for the Indian Trail Resurfacing Project.

• Approved was the 2021 Quality of Life Grants in the amount of $834,000.

The Quality of Life Grant (QOL) application process opened on October 13, 2020 and closed on November 30, 2020 with 43 applications requesting $1.75 million dollars submitted. City staff members reviewed each application to focus on the following criteria:

-Completeness and quality of the application

-Budget including sources and uses

-Grant management experience

-Ability to operate or carry on project with a reduced amount of funds

-Performance metrics

-Duplication of services

-Ability to serve Aurora clients

After a review of each application, city staff members organized projects by the request amount, funding available and quality of applications. A total of 36 applications are recommended for 2021 Quality of Life funding with 2 projects recommended for a sponsorship. An additional 3 applications have been recommended for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, and 5 applications have been recommended for denial.

Each funded agency, with the exception of sponsorships, will be required to submit quarterly reports in order to receive payments. Failure to submit quarterly reports or demonstrate Aurora clients are being served will result in a reduction or denial of reimbursement requests.

The 2021 QOL Grant program continues to evolve. City staff members are continuing to automate the application and reporting process for Quality of Life. In 2021, staff members are working on transferring the quarterly progress report to an online reporting system. This will allow staff members to more easily compile quarterly reports to include in an annual report. Success stories along with other data will be provided and presented to City Council as an annual report at the beginning of 2022.

Due to the pandemic in 2020, site visits were unable to be completed. Site visits will remain a priority to complete basic monitoring and tour the programs and facilities funded in 2021. The results of site visits, as well as quarterly progress reports collected will be captured in new grant management software. These results can then be printed and shared with grant review committee members for future reference.

The 2021 Quality of Life Grants will support 36 agencies. These funds will support a wide variety of agencies and fund programs such as youth services, senior programs, job training, literacy programs, museums, veterans assistance, persons with special needs care, and other programs.

1 Fox Valley United Way, City corporate contribution, recommended amount: $10,000.

2. Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, Purchase of food and operating costs $75,000 (Recommended for CDBG-CV).
3. Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, Purchase of food and operating costs $19,860 (Recommended for CDBG-CV).
4. DuPage Senior Citizens Council, Home Delivered Meals (meals on wheels) and well-being checks, requested amount: $25,000, recommended amount: $15,000.
5. Sanjeevani Care N Share Mental health of domestic abuse assistance – sponsorship, requested amount: $1,500, recommended amount: $1,000.
6. Judah Robinson Foundation, Homeless Mental Health Intervention, requested amount: $17,300, recommended amount: $9,000.
7. Veterans Smile Veterans dental program, requested amount: $5,000, recommended amount: $5,000.
8. Fox Valley Music Foundation Operating dollars, requested amount: $17,300, recommended amount: $5,000.
9. Deaf Welcome Foundation Purchase of two brand new ADA vans $60,000, recommended amount: $0.
10. Riverwalk Adult Day Services Senior care, adult day care, requested amount: $10,000, recommended amount: $5,000.
11. Dominican Literacy Center Adult literacy program, requested amount: $20,000, recommended amount: $10,000.
12. CARA Cleanslate Program Job training program, requested amount: $40,000, recommended amount: $0.
13. OnLight Aurora No child left behind capital investment, requested amount: $162,000, recommended amount: $0.
14. Culture Stock Operating funds, requested amount: $50,000, recommended amount: $0.
15. Quad County Urban League Youth program, requested amount: $50,000, recommended amount: $15,000.
16. Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation, Recreation for persons with special needs, requested amount: $4,300, recommended amount: $4,300.
17. Northern Illinois Food Bank Back pack program, requested amount: $20,000, recommended amount: $13,000.
18. 360 Youth Services Moving forward – counseling for students, requested amount: $20,000, recommended amount: $15,000.
19. African American Men of Unity Youth job training program, requested amount: $10,000, recommended amount: $8,000.
20. African American Men of Unity Rights of passage program, requested amount: $10,000, recommended amount: $6,500.
21. Alive Center Youth development programs, suicide prevention, requested amount: $5,000, recommended amount: $5,000.
22. Boys Baseball of Aurora Youth recreation, requested amount: $15,000, recommended amount: $7,500.
23. Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Youth recreation, requested amount: $4,600, recommended amount: $4,600.
24. CASA Kane Co. Child advocacy for abused & neglected, requested amount: $10,000, recommended amount: $8,000.
25. Mikva Soapbox challenge, requested amount: $8,000, recommended amount: $6,000.
26. Simply Destinee Support, Educate, Empower, & Dance Program (S.E.E.D) Program, requested amount: $15,000 (Recommended for CDBG).
27. Wayside Cross Youth services program, requested amount: $50,000, recommended amount: $13,000.
28. Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Amercia Youth education program, requested amount: $5,000 $5,000.
29. Wheatland Athletic Association Youth recreation programs, requested amount: $20,000, recommended amount: $10,000.
30. Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce Scholarships – recommending one scholarship via sponsorship, requested amount: $12,500, recommended amount: $1,500.
31. World Relief Refugee and immigrant youth services program, requested amount: $14,000, recommended amount: $10,000.
32. Communities in Schools (CIS) After school programs, requested amount: $290,000, recommended amount: $290,000.
33. Indian Prairie Educational Foundation Kid essentials program, requested amount: $5,000, recommended amount: $5,000.
34. Leaders in Transformational Education Virtual career exploration, requested amount: $20,000, recommended amount: $7,500.
35. Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center Child care & youth before & after school care, requested amount: $25,000, recommended amount: $25,000.
36. Fox Valley United Way SPARK program $25,000, recommended amount: $20,000.
37. Fox Valley Montessori School Capital – Roof Replacement, requested amount: $50,000, recommended amount: $0.
38. SciTech Museum Museum Operations, requested amount: $75,000, recommended amount: $55,000.
39. Aurora Historical Museum Museum Operations, requested amount: $65,000, recommended amount: $65,000.
40. Aurora Regional Fire Museum Museum Operations, requested amount: $60,000, recommended amount: $45,000.
41. Ritas Ministries Prisoner reentry life skills, employment training and assistance and mentoring, requested amount: $40,000, recommended amount: $20,000.
42. AID Victim Services Victim and Outreach Services, requested amount: $100,000, recommended amount: $95,000.
43. Echo Development Hope Project Senior Services, requested amount: $56,000 $5,000.
44. Agape Connection Youth Education, requested amount: 15,000, recommended amount: $10,000.

Subtotal based on $265,000 for general QOL, $290,000 for CIS, $165,000 for museums, $115,000 for SHAPE projects, and $2,500 in sponsorships, requested amount: $1,758,060, recommended amount Total: $834,900

• Approved was a resolution authorizing approval of the 2021 Annual Action Plan and Substantial Amendment (2020-#4) to the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Annual Action Plan Funding Recommendations.

• Approved was a resolution authorizing the purchase of one Zoll X series cardiac monitor/defibrillator and accessories using the Silver Cross Purchasing Cooperative in the amount of $30,569.34 for the Aurora Fire Department from Zoll Medical Corporation of Chelmsford, MA..

• Approved was a resolution authorizing a professional engineering services agreement with Engineering Enterprises, Inc., for the Fox Valley East Water Storage Tank Rehabilitation project for the Water Production Division.

• Approved was a resolution to award the contract for the Wood St., Jungels Avenue and Hankes Avenue Water Main Replacement project in Ward 1 to H. Linden & Sons Sewer and Water, Inc., 722 E. South Street, in Plano, in the amount of seven hundred twenty-two thousand, seven hundred fifty-eight dollars and zero cents ($722,758.00).

• Approved was a resolution authorizing a contract with Performance Construction & Engineering, LLC, 217 W. John Street, in Plano, in the amount of four hundred fifty-seven thousand, nine hundred sixty-six dollars and zero cents ($457,966.00) for the Jackson Street and Benton Street Separation project in Ward 2.

• Approved was an ordinance amending chapter 37, entitled “Preservation”, of the Aurora Code of Ordinances to modify certain portions being Article II, Sec. 37-21 – Creation; members. Basically removal of term limits to allow more than 2 terms to be served.