By Jason Crane
At the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, Council members listened to an update on the Civilian Review Board (CRB).
Communications director for the city of Aurora government, Clayton Muhammad, said the nine- member Board was sworn in Thursday, Aug. 19 and will review complaints against Aurora police officers and make recommendations on discipline to the Police Chief. (Click here for press release.)
The establishment of the City of Aurora’s Civilian Review Board (CRB) is a result of the City’s CHANGE Reform Initiative, launched by mayor Richard Irvin in June 2020 following the local, national and global civil unrest and calls for systemic police reform and unprecedented racial reckoning.
Members of the Board in alphabetical order are: Kim Bright, Timothy Brown, Rajesh Char, Vincent Gaddis, Jacqueline Gibson, Ginger Ingram, Andrea McMillian, Lily Rocha, and Curtis Wilson.
More information can be found at: www.aurora-il.org/CRB
• Approved 10-2 after some discussion was an ordinance amending various provisions of Division 2-V-2 of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to purchases.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to increase the authority of the City’s Department heads to purchase labor, equipment, goods, services and professional services from $25,000 to $50,000 and to make conforming changes to the City Code.
Second Ward alderwoman Juany Garza and Ninth Ward alderman Edward Bugg voted against raising the limit from $25,000 to $50,000.
Under Division 2-V-2 of the Chapter 2 of the City Code, the Council is required to approve all procurements in amounts of $25,000 or more, with very limited exceptions. This threshold has been in place without adjustment since at least 2013. As a result, every purchase requiring Council approval must proceed through the Council’s formal three-week deliberative process, which begins after the purchasing division and using department have selected a vendor and the Law Department has had the opportunity to review proposed contract language.
Similarly, Division 2-V-2 contains obsolete language that does not accurately reflect the City’s authority as a home rule unit, provide a coherent process for the consideration of bid protests, or provide direction as to source selection when competitive bidding is not employed.
In consultation with the chairperson of the Finance Committee, City staff members feel this purchasing threshold could be responsibly raised to $50,000 without compromising the City’s obligation to spend public funds appropriately. One of the most basic principles of local government law is that public money cannot be spent until the public body has budgeted, or made an appropriation for a particular purpose. Although increasing the purchasing limit may superficially create the perception that the City Council is relinquishing its oversight role, no department will be able to incur a liabilities in excess of its budgetary authority. Further, the Council will continue to review bills for payment as part of its regular order of business during its twice monthly meetings and determine through the annual budget process whether the respective departments have used their authority appropriately.
The amendments authorize the chief financial officer, as finance director, to establish rules for purchasing in all instances not subject to sealed competitive bidding to ensure that all purchases are vetted appropriately so as to protect the City and its taxpayers. Importantly, the finance director and the purchasing director continue to act as gatekeepers in the procurement process. Approval of the purchasing director will remain necessary for most procurements and no department head will have the authority to issue a purchase order.
The ordinance modernizes several provisions of Division 2-V-2 of Chapter 2 of the Code to reflect current practices or make conforming changes required by the increased purchasing authority. For example, the proposal enhances the bid protest process allowing the purchasing director an opportunity to correct an error and a disappointed bidder to seek review by the administrative hearing officer. It clarifies that no bidder, including a successful bidder, is entitled to a city contract. Finally, it recognizes the existence of the City’s job order contracting program and makes a specific allowance for its use in the Code.
Finally, the proposal removes at least one vestigial remnant from the City’s days under the commission form as well.
Approval of this ordinance provides for a more efficient purchasing process while ensuring that appropriate fiscal controls remain in place.
The City Council unanimously approved the following agenda items:
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the participation in and completion of the ComEd Green Region Program for the Riverside Pollinator Garden.
City government of Aurora documents show the city of Aurora Downtown Services Division has completed the planting of a Riverside Pollinator Garden along the East Bank of the Fox River just north of New York Street and seeks approval of a resolution acknowledging the City’s participation in and completion of this project, assisted by a ComEd Green Region Program grant.
City of Aurora government Downtown Services Department wishes to acknowledge and thank the ComEd Green Region Program for providing $9,000 in grant funding for the Pollinator Garden. The ComEd Green Region grant covered almost half the funding for the riverside project.
Downtown Services received a 2019 ComEd Green Region grant of $9,000 to create the Pollinator Garden, which stretches 425 feet along the Fox River, from the riverbank to the east branch of the Fox River Trail. The total cost of the project was $20,689. Downtown Services and Engineering staff members did the planning for the project, and about 30 volunteers from several local agencies helped in planting the garden in the Fall of 2020.
Native plants have replaced the weeds along a stretch of the Fox River shoreline in downtown Aurora. These new plantings attract birds and pollinators, stabilize the Riverbank, control erosion, and attract waterfowl and other birds and animals. The new pollinator garden consists of more than 280 native plants from Illinois. The project has been completed and all of the costs have been paid.
The new Pollinator Garden along the Fox River has made the area even more enjoyable for those who use the trail in downtown Aurora each day. The garden attracts birds, bees, and a variety of animals to the shoreline site, increasing the environmental interest for everyone. It provides a welcoming experience for people walking along the east branch of the Fox River Trail on their way to concerts and events at RiverEdge Park, just to the north. Adults and children can enjoy the garden on their visits downtown, school groups can use it for environmental education, and a special needs student group has helped in the planting and maintenance of the garden site. The garden will be expanded into other areas along the trail as time goes on, with maintenance provided by Downtown Services and future volunteers.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing Full Circle Training Solutions of Morgantown, West Virginia to provide training to the Police Department for compliance with Federal and State Police reporting requirements for $40,000.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the Aurora Police Department and all Illinois law enforcement agencies are required to report their crime statistics to the State as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), for use in law enforcement administration, operation, and management. As of January 1, the FBI required all law enforcement agencies to begin reporting via NIBRS (National Incident Based Reporting System). The State was behind getting the repository set up and understands agencies will not meet this deadline; they have been informed we were unable to meet the deadline. We will be implementing NIBRS as our primary crime statistics reporting system January 1, 2022. The FBI implemented NIBRS to improve the overall quality of crime data collected by law enforcement, as it captures details on each single crime incident as well as on separate offenses within the same incident, including information on victims, known offenders, relationships between victims and offenders, arrestees, and property involved in crimes. Unlike data reported through the UCR Program’s traditional Summary Reporting System (SRS), an aggregate monthly tally of crimes, NIBRS goes much deeper because of its ability to provide circumstances and context for crimes such as location, time of day, and whether the incident was cleared by arrest.
Aurora police officers will require training in NIBRS reporting as it represents a conceptual change in the way officers document information in their reports. Officers will continue to utilize Hexagon WebRMS for reporting, which is already in the process of being configured for NIBRS reporting prior to January 1, 2022.
Training for NIBRS based report writing is very limited due to its specialized nature. Full Circle Training Solutions was founded by Brad Zoladz, who is the instructor for courses. Mr. Zoladz has more than 20 years of work experience with the FBI and was a training instructor for 12 of those years. He helped develop and implement NIBRS at the FBI and has been dedicated to NIBRS training since 2015.
Full Circle Training Solutions would be providing 10 eight-hour classes, accommodating 30-35 officers per class. Normally, they would charge $259.00 per person, which would be between $7,000.00 and $9,000.00 per class, totaling $70,000.00-$90,000.00 to train the entire Department. However, they are offering a significant discount to the Aurora Police Department and charging $40,000.00 as the total cost of all 10 classes. The price of this training course per officer would then be approximately $133.33, or nearly half of the regular price.
Similar training is offered by another group, Police Records Management. They charge $250 per person and only feature online instruction. To train all of the Department’s approximately 310 sworn officers, the cost would be $77,500.00. Additionally, on-line, training would be more difficult to hold attendees attention, encourage class participation, and answer questions. Due to Full Circle Training Solutions’ experience with developing and implementing NIBRS at the FBI, providing live, in-person training, and their significantly reduced cost, it was decided to pursue their training.
Funding for this training was not planned for in the Department’s annual training budget (account 101-3536-421.42-01). The Police Department’s current training budget does not have enough funds remaining to cover this training due to other training courses and expenses already booked through the end of the year, therefore a budget amendment was submitted in June 2021 to cover the expense.
The approval of this item is necessary due to the Federal and State requirements to provide crime statistic reporting. Failure to properly train Aurora police officers in NIBRS reporting could result in inaccurate crime statistics being reported to the state of Illinois and FBI. Crime statistics are used for a variety of purposes, including by the Police Department to develop crime prevention and response strategies. Inaccurate statistics could cause police resources and personnel to not be effectively utilized to prevent and combat crime. Agencies that do not participate in NIBRS will not have their crime statistics included in the FBI’s nationwide crime statistics, and federal funding assistance based on crime statistics reporting could be lost or missed.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the City of Aurora to enter into a Lease Agreement of City-owned property at 1130 Mitchell Road, Aurora, with Linares Partners LLC d/b/a Indian Trail Plaza.
The Indian Trail Plaza Shopping Center contains a number of businesses including a Secretary of State Facility. The owner and manager of the Indian Trail Plaza approached the City indicating that they required additional parking spaces for the Secretary of State Facility. Former deputy mayor Chuck Nelson took the lead in working with the owner and manager on developing a plan that addresses the Shopping Center’s need for parking while at the same time protects the City’s interests. The property commonly known as 1130 Mitchell Road is owned by the City and is just south of the Indian Trail Plaza.
The lessee will build and maintain a parking lot on City property for use by the Secretary of State Facility during their business hours. The parking lot can be used by the City’s Emergency Management Division when events at the EMA Building, at 1100 Mitchell Road, require additional parking. It is envisioned that the parking lot can be used during training events or if an emergency takes place. The parking lot design was completed by the City Engineering Division, and the lessee will obtain a permit prior to construction. The parking lot is configured around maintaining the Water Production Division’s eastern access road to the Aurora Water Treatment Plant.
The lease agreement is for a 10-year term and can be renewed if mutually agreed by the City and lessee. The monthly rent for this space is $10 per month.
The approval of this lease agreement would allow for the Secretary of State Facility on behalf of Linares Partners LLC D/B/A Indian Trail Plaza to provide additional parking in a space that would otherwise sit vacant.
• Approved was acceptance of the 2020 Annual Financial Reports for the City, TIF funds, and Single Audit reporting requirements.
City government of Aurora documents show the city government completes several annual financial reports that must be accepted and placed on file by the City Council. They are the 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the Board Communications from Sikich, LLC, the 2019 Tax Increment Finance reports for TIFs 1,3,4,5,6,7, 8, and 9, and the 2020 Single Audit for Federal Grants received.
Each year the City is required to complete various financial reports and these reports are audited by independent auditor Sikich, LLC. These reports are as follows:
The 2020 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) – This report provides a complete review of the status of the City of Aurora finances as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020. It also provides historical data on a variety of revenue, expense, and financing activities.
The 2020 Board Communications – This report is a direct communication from the City’s independent Auditor, Sikich, LLC to the Finance Committee. As outlined in their duties, Sikich is required to report directly to the Committee regarding the financial status of the City along with any comments or deficiencies found during their review of financial operations.
The 2020 Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District financial reports – These reports provide a financial and project based review of each TIF for 2020.
The 2020 Single Audit – This report provides a compliance review of city government of Aurora State and Federal grants programs.
Sikich, LLC has provided the City with an unqualified opinion regarding the 2020 ACFR, meaning the City has fairly stated its financial position in the ACFR. The single audit does not have any findings for 2020. Specific recommendations regarding financial operations will be discussed by the auditor with the Finance Committee, and these recommendations are included in the Board Communications.
The Accounting Division is to be commended for completing this complex report for the 2020 year. Audit field work and preparation work all occurred in early 2021,prior to the economy being opened back up and as such some work was accomplished remotely.
Completion of the ACFR each year is required under state statute in Illinois and completion of both a ACFR and a single audit is required for grant funding each year. Failure to complete and these reports would forfeit state and federal grant funds and violate state statute.
• Approved was a resolution approving an extension of parking lot lease agreement with Hollywood Casino-Aurora, Inc., for the property at 201 N. River Street, and known as the HCA-West lot, for an additional two years.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to extend an existing lease agreement with Hollywood Casino-Aurora, Inc., which recently expired at the end of July 2021. This extension agreement brings the lease current again and extends the term for an additional two years, or through July 30, 2023, with options for automatic renewals for additional one year terms thereafter.
The parties entered into an original lease agreement for this parking lot on November 14, 2001. The agreement was thereafter extended or amended on various occasions from 2007 through 2017. The most recent amendment, executed on May 10, 2017, called for the lease to expire at the end of July 2021.
In negotiating this extension agreement, the parties agreed that Hollywood Casino-Aurora would gain an additional six (6) parking spaces, to bring the total number of spaces to eighteen (18). In exchange, the parties agreed that rent would increase from $1,500.00 to $2,250.00 per month. In addition, the extension agreement provides for a two-year term, expiring July 30, 2023, with automatic renewal options for one year terms thereafter.
The extension of parking lot lease agreement will bring the lease current and provide for a new two-year term. The agreement also allowed for the parties to renegotiate items such as number of spaces and rent.
• Approved was a resolution to use the City’s primary fiber vendor, NTI National Technologies, Downers Grove, IL, for emergency fiber optic repairs for an annual amount not to exceed $50,000.
City government of Aurora documents show since 2018, NTI has performed as the City’s primary and strategic vendor, carrying out a full audit of the fiber optic network for asset management, preventive maintenance, and remediation.
NTI has extensive knowledge of the City’s outside plant and offers competitive rates validated on Kane County Bid 23-018 dated June 12, 2018 for Fiber Optic Support Services.
Additionally, Kane County Bid 23-018 has been extended 2 years through Kane County Resolution 19-225 “Authorizing Extension of Fiber Optic Support Services Agreements” dated July 9, 2019.
NTI National Technologies, was approved as the City’s primary fiber vendor with resolution R21-149. NTI National Technologies also performed the fiber optic audit on the City of Aurora’s fiber optic network in 2018. This has given NTI extensive field knowledge of the City’s fiber optic network. This resolution is an attempt to align with the end date of the Kane Country contract listed above.
When fiber circuits are damaged within the City’s fiber network, City staff members need to be able to act quickly to ensure outages to City services and Onlight customers are minimized. Having the availability to use funds for repairs will improve the timeliness of necessary repairs.
NTI National Technologies has done extensive fiber work for the City of Aurora. NTI has provided quality service for the City of Aurora and has given us competitive pricing based on the Kane County Bid 23-018 for Fiber Optic Support Services. City staff members can request comparative pricing from Adesta, LLC if pricing submitted by NTI does not conform to the Kane County Bid.
Local preference does not apply, as this resolution is piggybacking on the Kane County Bid.
Funds are available in account 340-1380-419-73-86 ($570,000).
By approving this resolution, City staff members can quickly respond to any repair needs that arise throughout the City’s fiber network.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the director of Purchasing to enter into an agreement with Lite Construction, Inc., 711 S. Lake Street, Montgomery, Ill. for New York Street bridge stairs in the amount of $144,902.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to improve the aesthetics and safety of the stairway connecting the New York Street Bridge to the Fox River Trail by entering into an agreement with Lite Construction, Inc. in the amount of $144,902.00 for repairs and reconstruction.
The staircase from New York Street to the Fox River Trail is in substantial disrepair. The reconstruction consists of replacing the stringers, treads, and railing (railing to match existing) and installing new precast concrete, removable, open treads. The existing concrete support piers, which are decorative and in good condition, will be left in place to be reused. This design was approved by the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Review Committee on October 10, 2019.
To help fund this project, the City applied for and received a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Recreational Trails Program in Fall 2018. This grant will reimburse the City 80% of up to $175,000 in design and construction costs.
Bids for the New York Street Bridge Stairs were received from two contractors. The apparent low bidder was Lite Construction, Inc., 711 S. Lake Street, Montgomery, IL 60538 in the amount of $144,902.00, which includes the base bid ($128,457), an additional 10% of the base bid as a contingency ($12,845), and four (4) additional precast treads ($3,600). Note that these four (4) additional treads combined with the six (6) that were included in the base bid will result in an inventory of ten (10) total spare treads for future maintenance/replacement by the City.
The account to be used to front fund (and be 80% reimbursed for) this project is 340-1830-465.73-76 (Capital Outlay-Improvement / FoxWalk).
This project will substantially improve safety for pedestrians using this staircase with minimal cost to the City and it’s taxpayers. The lone negative impact of this project will be a temporary closure of the stairs and subsequent pedestrian detour during construction, which should not last more than a week or two.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora, Kane County and the City of Elgin; the participation in the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and the use of the City of Aurora’s portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchase.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain the City Council’s approval of a proposed resolution that would authorize the following:
The execution of a memorandum of understanding between the city of Aurora government, Kane County government, and the city of Elgin government.
The participation in the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program; and
The use of the City of Aurora’s portion toward the Aurora Police Department equipment purchase.
The FY 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Local JAG Program application has a due date of August 09, 2021. It is similar to the prior years’ Edward Byrne Local JAG Programs. This year an award of 60,790.00, as determined by the JAG formula, was allotted for the City of Aurora, the City of Elgin and the County of Kane to share. More specifically, $41,664.00 was allocated to Aurora and the remaining $19,126.00 allocated to the City of Elgin. Kane County was categorized as an agency that did not submit the level of violent crime data to qualify for a direct award and as a result was listed as a disparate agency. As such, it was expected that Aurora and Elgin would share their portions of the award with Kane County. In fact, before the award could be given to Aurora and Elgin, a Memorandum of Understanding needed to be signed by a Kane County official, and an Elgin official and an Aurora Official.
Historically, the City of Aurora and the City of Elgin have each shared 30% of their award with Kane County. Using this percentage, the amount of the award to be used by the City of Aurora is $29,165.00, the amount used by the City of Elgin is $13,388.00 and the amount to be used by Kane County is $18,237.00. To comply with grant requirements, the City of Aurora will not make any payments to Kane County or the City of Elgin prior to receiving proof that those agencies spent funds in accordance of the grant requirements. The City of Aurora will reimburse those agencies and then be reimbursed by the Federal Government in accordance with the grant rules.
The City of Aurora Police Department intends to use the award to purchase six (6) night vision devices for our Special Response Team (SRT). Currently we don’t do not have any department purchased night vision devices for the team. A few of the SRT officers have purchased their own night vision devices to enhance their visual awareness when conducting nighttime operations. Having night vision capabilities gives officers on the team the tactical advantage to assess and appropriately address potential threats and operate in a nighttime scenario. Having the ability to see in the dark also greatly increases officer safety as well as the safety of others; to include citizens and offenders.
It should be noted that a requirement of the grant is for there to be a public hearing by the governing body.
When the award is secured, it will be budgeted for in revenue account 101-3536-331-02-01 and the expense account 101-3536-421-50-50.
City officials believe by providing night vision devices to their Special Response Team will greatly enhance the team’s ability to operate in low light and no light situations. Having the ability to see in the dark allows team members to identify potential threats, persons trying to avoid detection in dark spaces; all while enhancing officer safety, citizen safety, to include suspects and offenders.
With the ability to see in the dark, team members can address situations more quickly and effectively, bringing resolution to an incident.
• Approved was a resolution establishing the maximum number of Class C: Specialty On-Site Consumption liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from Smash Factor Indoor Golf, LLC d/b/a Smash Factor Indoor Golf at 367 S Rte 59, Aurora). [Ward 10]
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to increase the number of Class C: Specialty On-Site Consumption liquor licenses. Smash Factor Indoor Golf, LLC d/b/a Smash Factor Indoor Golf, is opening an indoor simulated golf facility at 367 S Rte 59 in Aurora and has submitted a liquor license application.
This request is presented in accordance with the 2011 amendment to the City’s Liquor Ordinance, specifically Section 6-9(a), which charges the City Council with the authority to determine the number of licenses available in each classification.
Smash Factor Indoor Golf, LLC d/b/a Smash Factor Indoor Golf, is an indoor golf facility providing golfers the ability to practice their golf game indoor during the winter months and during times of inclement weather during the golf season through the use of individual simulator bays. The applicant plans to offer pre-packaged snack food on-site and will partner with nearby restaurants to allow patrons to order food for delivery. A liquor license application has been submitted requesting a license to offer alcohol for sale for on-site consumption in the recreational facility.
If approved, this resolution will increase the number of allowable liquor licenses as indicated in the accompanying Exhibit A to allow for the issuance of the license by the Liquor Commissioner. City staff members have been working with the business owner to ensure that all requirements for a liquor license, as set forth in Chapter 6 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, are met.
The resolution presents an opportunity to further the City of Aurora’s economic development and to bring additional business and people to the City of Aurora.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2021-#2 to reallocate prior year resources and current year resources in response to the Corona Virus pandemic and other eligible activities.
City government of Aurora documents show City staff members request authorization of Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2021-#2 to reallocate prior and current resources in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. A summary of the recommendations can be found in the table outlined below.
The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2021 Annual Action Plan were approved by City Council on 2/9/2021, R21-022. A Substantial Amendment to the City’s 2020 and 2021 Annual Action Plans is anticipated for review and approval by City Council on 8/10/2021. This Substantial Amendment is required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) due to additional funding received to support the City’s COVID-19 pandemic response and the creation of new activities in the Plan. Currently, HUD’s program requirements have necessitated a second Substantial Amendment in order to fund additional COVID-19 response activities and to reallocate prior Community Development Block Grant Corona Virus (CDBG-CV) funds to eligible activities. In accordance with HUD requirements, a public comment period was scheduled for 7/25/2021 to 8/24/2021 and a public hearing is scheduled for 8/9/2021 (Please see public notice, Attachment A and public hearing minutes, Attachment E. The Block Grant Working Committee (BGWC) also met to review this item and recommended approval on 8/4/2021.
Community Development released an application to assist non-profit agencies specializing in providing basic needs to prevent, prepare, and to respond to Corona Virus. An application was released to agencies on 4/26/2021 and was due on 5/14/2021. A total of 14 applications were received.
Staff members request authorization of Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2021-#2 to provide CDBG-CV funding for the projects listed above as a response to the Corona Virus pandemic and other eligible activities.
Eligibility for the activities listed above must meet HUD’s National Objective for low and moderate income benefit and also address the City’s 2020-2024 Goals and Objectives. Each activity funded with CDBG-CV must meet specific criteria to demonstrate that funds will aid in the prevention, recovery, and response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The CDBG-CV funds to be for these expenses are budgeted in the 2021 budget in account 214-1330-801-46-series with a current balance of $689,602.05.
This action will have a positive impact on the City’s community development efforts and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff members recommend approval of the resolution authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2021-#2 to reflect funding allocations for the CDBG Program and approval of an update to the City’s 2020 and 2021 Annual Action Plans. Staff members request authorization for the City’s Mayor, Chief Community Services Officer, Community Development Manager, or their designees to execute any contracts as well as any other documents associated with Substantial Amendment 2021-#2 including but not limited to HUD’s program administration requirements.
• Approved was a resolution allowing the director of Purchasing to approve Change Order 1 to the Contract with W.E. Mundy Landscaping & Garden Center, Inc. for the 2021 Citywide Landscaping Repair and Maintenance Program.
City government of Aurora documents show purpose of the extension of this contract was approved in April 2020 by City Council (R20-094) with the final 2021 option being accepted by both the City of Aurora and W.E. Mundy Landscaping. The restoration quantities vary each year and are an estimate. At the current pace of required restoration locations and sizes, the 2021 budgeted amount will be surpassed in the near future.
The contract is used primarily by the Water & Sewer Maintenance division to provide restoration of open spaces disturbed during utility maintenance and repair operations. The City of Aurora Street Maintenance Division also uses this contract to replace parkway trees. Other various City divisions utilize this contract to address minor landscaping repairs which makes up a small percentage of the program.
While landscaping repair might seem to be non-safety, this is not the case. Restoration of parkways in many cases results in the elimination of slip/trip hazards along with beautification. The city has received numerous requests from residents to complete this restoration as well.
This program is budgeted on a yearly basis in individual accounts for each division that participates and which will be continued on a yearly basis, but the majority of the work will be completed for the Water & Sewer Maintenance Division using account 510-4063-511.38-34 which has a 2021 budgeted amount of $140,000.00. An additional $60,000 is currently being transferred to 510-4063-511.38-34 from account 510-4058-511.73-02 to account for the additional anticipated work to be completed in 2021.
If the remaining disturbed areas are not restored, calls from residents will be received requesting the work to be completed.
• Approved was a resolution to award a contract to Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc. in the bid amount of $33,687.50 for the 2021 Sidewalk Cutting Project.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to award a construction contract for sidewalk maintenance projects throughout the City.
The City maintains more than 530 centerline miles of streets that include sidewalks, pavement markings and bike paths. In addition to the yearly street resurfacing project, the City tries to perform an annual maintenance contract to replace deteriorated sidewalks, deteriorated bike paths, deteriorated pavement and old pavement markings that need to be replaced.
In addition to the City wide sidewalk removal and replacement taking place under Contract 2 by D’Land Construction, L.L.C. (R21-153), part of the sidewalk maintenance plan recommended this year is a sidewalk cutting program, primarily focused in the Carillon at Stonegate neighborhood. This work shall consist of saw cutting existing sidewalk horizontally to remove vertical elevation differences of ¼” up to 1 ¾” on each side of a sidewalk joint for the entire 5-foot width of the sidewalk. All cutting will leave a non-slip surface in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements with the resulting finish being ADA compliant.
This project was advertised on July 11, 2021 in the Aurora Beacon News, several vendors viewed the documents from the City’s website and bids were opened and publicly read on July 28, 2021. The lowest responsible bid was submitted by Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc. of Wheeling, IL in the amount of $33,687.50 which is 37.9% less than the Engineer’s Cost Estimate.
The local preference ordinance does apply to this bid, however no local bidders submitted. Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc is at 601 Chaddick Drive, Wheeling.
The improvements will be funded with account 340-4460-431.38-61 (E004 – Capital – Right-of-Way Improvement).
Construction will begin in September and be completed by October. Only minor impacts to pedestrian traffic are expected.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the director of Purchasing to execute a contract for the Downtown Bike Path Rehabilitation project in Wards 4 and 6 with Geneva Construction Co., Aurora, Ill. in the bid amount of $288,379.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to replace the green painted bike path portion of the Fox River Trail along River Street from North Avenue to Downers Place and Downers Place from River Street to the Fox River. This project will remove to top section of existing asphalt and green epoxy surface and replace it with new green surfacing.
The existing hot-mix asphalt, green colored bike path, was previously installed over a portion of the old roadway along River Street. The bike path has numerous pavement distresses from pavement deterioration resulting in chipping of the surface coloring. Portions of the path have also been patched due to utility maintenance and adjacent lot improvements. This has led to inconsistent bike path pavement condition and green coloring. Overall the path is in fair condition and warrants replacement with a consistent green color. This project will continue Aurora’s efforts to maintain a bicycle friendly community along the Fox River corridor.
One bid was received, opened, and read aloud on August 2, 2021 for an Option 1 and Option 2. Option 1 consists of milling 3 inches of the existing asphalt path, replacement with 3 inches of hot-mix asphalt and installing green surface coloring. Option 2 consists of milling 5 inches to 6 inches of the existing asphalt path and replacement with 5 inches to 6 inches of green integral colored Portland Cement Concrete. Due to the similarity of prices, we are recommending awarding the project in the higher amount (HMA pavement with green surfacing) while continuing to evaluate the applicability of concrete; the selected vendor will provide samples for staff members evaluation prior to commencement. The lowest responsible bid for Option 1 in the amount of $288,379.00 was submitted by Geneva Construction Co. A portion of the project ($214,679.00) will be funded from TIF 3 using account 233-4460-431.73-91 (GB142) which has a 2021 budget amount of $350,000.00. A portion of the project is outside of TIF 3, staff members are recommending a transfer of funds from the Broadway Redevelopment Corridor (CIP A055, account 353-1830-465.73-76) in the amount of $73,750.00 to cover the remaining expense. Also included as Exhibits C, D, E & F are the Advertisement for Bid, Geneva Construction Co. Submitted Bid, Addendum No. 1 and Addendum No. 2.
This project was subject to the Local Preference Ordinance, and the one bid received from Geneva Construction Co. is a Local Bidder.
The bike path will be closed for the duration of the project with construction anticipated in September and October. Parking along the bike path will be temporarily closed for a maximum of 10 days during the construction. Impacts to traffic and the downtown businesses and residents will be kept to a minimum, however material curing times will dictate when certain sections of the path can be reopened.
• Approved was an ordinance amending Article 2-VI-5 to Codify Aurora’s technical boards and commissions by adding sections 2-540 (Building Code of Appeals), 2-545 (Electrical Commission), 2-550 (Fire Code Board of Appeals), 2-555 (Permanent Building and Fire Code Committee) and 2-560 (Permanent Housing Code Committee).
City government of Aurora documents show this new section will codify the purpose and authority of the following technical boards and commissions: Building Code of Appeals, Electrical Commission, Fire Code Board of Appeals, Permanent Building and Fire Code Committee and Permanent Housing Code Committee.
Some of the City’s technical boards are only referenced in the Code, without any further information about purpose, duties or membership.
This amendment will codify all technical boards so the City’s ordinance will include their purposes, duties and membership information.
This revised section will codify and describe Aurora’s Technical Boards.
• Approved was a resolution approving the appointments of the members of the City’s administrative Boards including the Civil Service Commission; Fox Walk Overlay District Design Review Committee; Human Relations Commission; and Preservation Commission.
City government of Aurora documents show in June 2021, the City Council approved changes to Chapter 2, which included a sunset provision for all board/commission members. The sunset was included to bring the board/commission terms into compliance with the new dates provided in the ordinance, as well as survey members if they wished to continue to serve or step down.
The nominations brought forth today represent all veteran candidates, with the exception of one new member to the Fox Walk Overlay District Design Review Committee.
Angie Thomas, Ramona Wood, Timothy Oelker, Karen Christensen, Fernando Castrejon, Jeff Palmquist, Charlie Zine, Brian Failing, Seth Hoffman, William Small, Bertha Baillie, Ryan Maley, Ricky Rodgers, Penelope Garcia Torres, Seth Hoffman, Matthew Hanson, Michael Walker, Michael Walker, Albert Signorelli, Simon Munoz, Justyn Arnold, Jennifer del Debbio, Dan Miller, Fernando Castrejon, Amber Foster.