By Jason Crane
The Aurora City Council heard from several members of the community at the Tuesday, Feb. 25 City Council meeting.
The speakers shared comments about the late Marjorie (Margie) Logman, a community activist who spoke truth to power, and frequent contributor to The Voice.
Logman, who died recently, often spoke and wrote about values, equality, national and local politics, often criticizing the Aurora government.
Many of her articles can be read by clicking here.
•The meeting with presentations and input from individuals can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page after the 3-minute mark by clicking here.
The City Council gave consent to the following agenda items:
•Approval was given to an Ordinance annexing property at 40 W 098 Galena Boulevard to the city of Aurora, Ill.
City government of Aurora documents show the Petitioner, Christ Community Church, is requesting the annexation of 6.79 acres at 40 W 098 W Galena Boulevard, which includes incorporating the existing church’s property to the R-1, One Family Dwelling District, to connect to the city of Aurora’s water.
The Property is within unincorporated Kane County. The Comprehensive Plan designates the property as estates, and the adjacent block of W Galena Blvd as Arterial. The existing building, which was built in 2004, is approximately 27,400 sq ft. The Property is contiguous to incorporated Aurora on its east, south, and west property lines.
The Petitioner, Christ Community Church, is requesting the annexation of the property at 40 W 098 W Galena Boulevard. The details of the request include connecting the property to the City’s water service. As part of the Annexation request, the Property is assigned the R-1, One Family Dwelling District. At this time, the Petitioner is not requesting any additional improvements to be made to the Property.
Staff members reviewed the Annexation petition and have sent comments back to the Petitioner based on those submittals. The Petitioner has made the requested revisions to these documents and they now meet the applicable codes and ordinances.
•Approval was given to a Resolution approving the First Amendment and Second Amendment to the SunCode leases at the Aurora Municipal Airport.
City government of Aurora documents show SunCode is in process of obtaining the final approvals from other government entities in order to start construction of their solar farm at the airport. After installation and final approvals, if any of those government entities were to require modifications, alterations, or amendments to the solar farm those changes would be solely the tenant’s responsibility. Additionally, edits are needed to the legal descriptions for the different solar fields.
Earlier this year, the City and SunCode entered into leases for the construction of a solar farm at the Airport. In the permitting and approval process the parties wished to elaborate on their individual future requirements if any changes were required.
This is for the protection of the City, to clarify the parties’ duties and responsibilities under the leases, and to amend the legal descriptions.
This amendment is needed to ensure that if any future modifications or changes are required to the solar farm it will be the tenant’s sole responsibility.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the mayor and City clerk to execute an amendment to a design phase engineering agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $14,800 and execute a construction phase engineering agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $102,300 with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. This resolution will also authorize an agency agreement with the State of Illinois for the Rehabilitate Airfield Lighting Vault (ARR-4915) and Replace Vault Generator (ARR-5117) projects at the Aurora Municipal Airport).
City government of Aurora documents show this resolution will approve a $14,800 amendment to a design phase agreement with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. that was approved under resolution R24-053 on February 27 of last year. This resolution will also authorize a construction phase engineering agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $102,300 with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. The approval of this resolution will also authorize the mayor and City clerk to execute an Agency Agreement with the State of Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics securing State and Federal grant funds.
The city of Aurora was awarded a grant for both projects with the total costs estimated to be approximately $1.3M. Once State and Federal grant monies are applied, the city’s share for these projects becomes $65,000. Therefore, any project payments to Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. or other vendor totaling more than $65,000 will be returned to the City once the projects have been completed.
These two projects will have no adverse impacts to the city of Aurora and will reduce the ongoing cost of maintaining the airport infrastructure.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing a payment to AT&T for up to $250,000.00 for the purposes of having AT&T relocate their facilities within the city of Aurora ROW along Farnsworth Ave, Bilter Rd and Church Rd.
City government of Aurora documents show AT&T has determined that a portion of the work they are required to perform in order to accommodate the alterations to Farnsworth Ave, Bilter Rd and Church Rd is billable to the city of Aurora. This resolution would authorize City staff members to make a payment to AT&T for these costs. Once an exact cost estimate is prepared by AT&T.
During early communications with AT&T it was stated that a portion of their work was determined to be billable to the city of Aurora. This deciding factor was that this construction work was believed to be entirely driven by a development. City staff members, the traffic study, the City’s franchise agreement and long-term planning documents disagree with this assessment but City officials are moving forward with the payment at this time to avoid a delay with construction. City officials were given a conservative estimate from AT&T and once the actual cost is given a check request will be made for the actual amount estimated. If all of the funds are not utilized as described in the future cost estimate for the relocation some costs may be returned to the City.
This project has been planned for many years as the ultimate build-out of Farnsworth Ave and Bilter Road for the sections covered in this contract. The project is on Farnsworth Ave from I-88 interchange to the lane drop approximately 700 feet south of Butterfield Rd, Bilter Rd from Church Road intersection to the west leg of Premium Outlets Blvd and Church Rd from approximately 220 feet north of the Bilter Rd intersection to approximately 800 feet south of the Bilter Intersection in the city of Aurora, Kane County. The gross and net length is 9,134 ft (1.73 miles).
The work consists of roadway widening and resurfacing of approximately 1.73 miles. Farnsworth Ave is widening from a 4-lane section to a 6-lane section consistent with the cross section found north of Butterfield Road. Bilter Road is generally widening from a 2-lane cross section to a 4-lane cross section and Church Road is widening from a 2-lane cross section to a 3-lane cross section. The work will generally include the removal and replacement of existing pavement, installation of new watermain, storm sewer, sidewalk, ADA ramps, bike path, lighting and traffic signals along with work including signing, intersection radii widening, pavement marking, landscaping, and all other collateral work necessary to complete the project in accordance with the plans.
This project has a November deadline for a large portion to be substantially complete. Meeting this deadline is very beneficial to the neighbors and the businesses in close vicinity to this project. City staff members have had multiple meetings with the Aurora Police Department as well as the Illinois Tollway regarding the substantial traffic in this area during the holiday shopping season. It is imperative that this project meets its November deadline, and any delay in utility relocation causes it to be more likely that this deadline is not met.
The construction will impact traffic differently during different stages of construction. This project is a widening and therefore it will have slightly less impact to traffic as much of the construction will be outside the current pavement limits. The AT&T relocation itself will not greatly impact traffic as the majority of this work will occur in the parkway.
•Approval was given to an Ordinance and three resolutions to establish a conditional use planned development, approving the Las Rosas Plan Description and amending Chapter 49 of the Code of Ordinances, city of Aurora, by modifying the zoning map to an underlying zoning of R-5 Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R-4 Two-Family Dwelling District and R-2 One-Family Dwelling District for the property at 550 2nd Avenue and 545-563 E. Benton Street.
City government of Aurora documents show the Petitioner, Association for Individual Development, is requesting the Establishment of a Conditional Use Planned Development, and to change the zoning district from R-2 (C) One-Family Dwelling District with a Conditional Use and R-5 Multiple-Family Dwelling District to R-5 (C) Multiple-Family Dwelling District, and R-4 (C) Two-Family Dwelling District, and R-2 (C) One-Family Dwelling District all with a Conditional Use Planned Development on the properties at 550 2nd Avenue and 545-563 E. Benton Street which includes a Plan Description to allow for the redevelopment of the current building and construction of a new building for apartments with associated offices and to continue to use the existing buildings as a religious institution and housing.
The Property includes all the parcels owned by Iglesia Evangelica Luterana San Pablo, including the existing church, the event hall, the office building, the residential house, the historic school building, and all the parking. The majority of the property is zoned R2(C) One Family Dwelling District with a Conditional Use for a religious institution and a school. The two-unit residential house at 563 E. Benton Street is zoned R5 Multiple-Family Dwelling District.
The Petitioner is requesting the establishment of a Conditional Use Planned Development, and to change the zoning to three separate zoning districts with a Plan Description outlining additional uses, variations, and additional restrictions. Parcel 1 contains the historic school building and the large parking lot and will be zoned R-5 (C) Multiple Family Dwelling District with a Conditional Use. Parcel 2 contains the church, event hall, and office building and will be zoned R-2 (C) One-Family Dwelling District with a Conditional Use. Parcel 3 contains the two-unit residential building and will be downzoned to R-4 (C) Two-Family Dwelling District with a Conditional Use.
The Plan Description for Parcel 1 allows for the conversion of the existing school building to ten apartments with the gym remaining for community space along with the retention of the existing bowling alley and some office space in the basement. In addition, it permits the construction of a new, attached building with ten units. The Plan Description allows for a minimum parking of one space per dwelling unit for the residential use and requires the developer to have a parking management plan that requires residents to have parking passes for every vehicle and cross access parking with the existing church on Parcel 2. The Plan Description for Parel 2 codifies the current uses of the church property, including religious institution, social services, and office. The downzoning of Parcel 3 reflects the current use of a two unit. The setbacks are varied to codify the current building and parking setbacks and to allow the new building to align with the existing. Some additional building code variations are also granted.
Concurrently with this proposal, the Petitioner is requesting approval of a Final Plat for Las Rosas Subdivision. The details of the request include replating the existing nine lots into three lots aligning with the three zoning districts being proposed above.
The Petitioner is also requesting approval of a Final Plan for Lot 1 of Las Rosas Subdivision. The details of the request include a new attached building adjacent to the historic church building in a portion of the existing parking lot. A rear patio and walkways will be behind the building. The remaining parking lot containing 59 parking spaces will be slightly altered with the addition of handicap spots, EV stations, and a dumpster. While much of the site is built upon, the Landscape Plan does show the addition of street trees in the parkway along 2nd Avenue, shrub beds along the front of both the new and existing building, additional shrub beds in the parking lot, and a solid 6-foot fence along the interior rear and side yards and a 4-foot ornamental metal fence along the front yard. The Elevation of the new building is compatible with the existing school and church. The building is slightly lower than the school building and is clad in a mixture of brick similar to the school and fiber cement panel siding on the front elevation with tall institutional looking ribbon windows. The rear is predominantly fiber cement.
Staff members reviewed the Rezoning and Conditional Use Ordinance Planned Development petition and have sent comments back to the petitioner on those submittals. The petitioner has made the requested revisions to these documents and they now meet the applicable codes and ordinances.
The project is to allow the petitioner to develop the existing building and a new addition into permanent supportive housing in the form of 20 apartment units. Each apartment will include full eat-in kitchens, full bathrooms, separate living rooms, bedrooms, and ample storage. Permanent supportive housing pairs supportive services with affordable housing. Onsite offices will house property management and supportive services staff members. The school building has an operational bowling alley in the basement that is open to the public and will remain. The proposal saves the historic school building from continuing to fall into disrepair and possible demolition while adding additional housing to the neighborhood on an underutilized parking lot.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the execution of an engineering agreement with Alfred Benesch & Company in the not to exceed amount of $315,979.00, and the appropriation of $315,979.00 of MFT Funds for the 2025-2026 Bridge Inspections.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose of this Resolution is to approve the above referenced engineering services agreement and to appropriate Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds as required by the Illinois Highway Code.
The City inspects and maintains 36 roadway bridges on the local street network and various pedestrian/bicycle bridges. To ensure public safety, the city of Aurora’s bridges are inspected according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). The inspection data is used by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to allocate funding for bridge projects. The Engineering Department reviews the reports to monitor bridge conditions and plan for major repairs.
The City published a Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) for the 2023-2024 Bridge Inspections services on September 19, 2022. Five firms submitted their qualifications and experiences. Staff members reviewed the qualifications and determined that Alfred Benesch & Company (Benesch) was the most qualified with the top 3 firm’s scores.
The QBS included an option to extend the contract in 2-year increments up to 2 times for a maximum of 6 years total. Benesch has completed the 2023-2024 bridge inspections satisfactorily and within budget. City staff members recommend exercising the first contract extension option to utilize Benesch for the 2025-2026 Bridge Inspection Program.
Benesch has completed the bridge inspections for the City since 2015 under this and previous agreements. They have also been involved in other bridge projects throughout the City including Phase 1 and 2 Engineering on two bridge replacements along Farnsworth Avenue and Phase 1 Engineering on the New York Street over Fox River Bridge.
This followed the Request for Qualifications process and is not subject to the local preference policy. The funding source, MFT Funds, is not subject to the local preference policy.
This engineering agreement will provide for the required inspections of the City’s bridges over the next 2 years from 2025 through 2026. IDOT assigns each bridge a mandatory recurring inspection period, with the bridges in the current inventory being inspected every 2 years or 4 years. The provisions of the QBS indicated that if mutually agreeable between the consultant and City, this agreement may be extended up to two times, each in two year increments for a total maximum agreement length of six years. This agreement represents the first of two possible extensions.
The Scope of Work including level of inspections and hours. The total cost of the agreement is in an amount not to exceed $315,979.00. This total cost includes approximately $25,000.00 each year in on-call engineering costs. The 2025 City Budget provides $185,000.00 for this item in Account 203-4060-431.32-26 (Motor Fuel Tax Fund). As this is a multi-year agreement, additional funds will be budgeted in 2026 for the remainder of the cost.
IDOT requires a Resolution to appropriate the MFT funds prior to their expenditure for approved projects.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing City to accept a grant award of $18,503.76 from the FY25 Illinois Department of Transportation State & Community Highway Safety / National Priority Safety Programs Grant.]
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain City Council approval of a grant to be used to allow the Aurora Police Department to participate in the Illinois Department of Transportation – State & Community Highway Safety / National Priority Safety Program.
The focus of this grant is to increase the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists in the Aurora Community through education and targeted enforcement.
The Aurora Police Department has previously participated in various Illinois Department of Transportation grants related to the safety of the motoring public.
This program focuses on pedestrian and bicycle safety, including education and targeted enforcement in areas where pedestrian and bicycle-related injuries are more likely to occur.
This program supports the city of Aurora Comprehensive Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan.
This highway safety program operates on a cost reimbursement basis. The Aurora Police Department is required to pay for project expenses initially, and are then reimbursed by IDOT for approved, documented expenditures.
This grant award allows for reimbursement up to $18,503.76 and may be used to reimburse personnel and indirect costs incurred between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, as allowed by the grant.
The State of Illinois assigned this grant award based upon their own formula and has informed the Aurora Police Department that there will be no penalty for failure to draw down the entire award balance.
Grant revenue will be placed in account 101-3536-334.30-02 and will be moved to the appropriate personnel account where they will be used to reimburse the personnel costs associated with this grant.
This resolution must be approved and signed to properly execute the agreement and to begin implementing the project.
•Approval was given to a Resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Aurora and the Aurora Township Highway Department for the resurfacing of Molitor Road.
City government of Aurora documents show this intergovernmental agreement (IGA) will allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) through a federally funded project under design by the City, to resurface a section of Molitor Road under the jurisdiction of the Aurora Township Highway Department (Township), and for the Township to reimburse the City for the construction costs.
The project will resurface Diehl and Molitor Roads from Elizabeth Lane to Eola Road (CIP GB168). The project is in the Kane-Kendall Council of Mayors (KKCOM) active program and has federal funds secured for construction and construction engineering.
The City has been performing Phase 1 and Phase 2 Engineering in-house. The project is targeting a mid to late 2025 IDOT letting with construction to take place in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Township jurisdiction on Molitor Road is from Elizabeth Lane to immediately east of Charles Lane. The City has coordinated with the Township and the Township indicated that they would like their portion of Molitor Road paved as a part of this project.
In the next couple of months, the typical Phase 3 agreements that accompany these types of federally funded projects (Joint Funding Agreement for State-Let Construction Work & Construction Engineering Agreement) will be presented to City Council for approval. This IGA needs approval at this time due to the federal funding and IDOT processes, which require the IGA to be approved before the project letting.
Through coordination with KKCOM, City staff members confirmed that the Township portion of the project is federally eligible, and there are enough additional federal funds available to fully fund both the City portions and Township portions at 75/25 (75% federal, 25% local). The Township indicated that if needed, they would pay for 100% of the costs within their jurisdiction if there are any eligibility issues determined by IDOT.
The amount to be reimbursed will be a flat fee based on the current construction estimate for the roadway section and will be invoiced to the Township after construction is substantially complete. Construction on this project is scheduled to take place in late 2025 or early 2026.
•Approval was given to a Resolution approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the city of Aurora and Naperville Township for the resurfacing of Molitor Road.
City government of Aurora documents show this intergovernmental agreement (IGA) will allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) through a federally funded project under design by the City, to resurface a section of Molitor Road under the jurisdiction of Naperville Township (Township), and for the Township to reimburse the City for the construction costs.
The project will resurface Diehl and Molitor Roads from Elizabeth Lane to Eola Road (CIP GB168). The project is in the Kane-Kendall Council of Mayors (KKCOM) active program and has federal funds secured for construction and construction engineering.
The City has been performing Phase 1 and Phase 2 Engineering in-house. The project is targeting a mid to late 2025 IDOT letting with construction to take place in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Township jurisdiction on Molitor Road is from 340 feet south of White Oak Circle to 270 feet north of Hackney Drive. The City has coordinated with the Township and the Township indicated that they would like their portion of Molitor Road paved as a part of this project.
In the next couple of months, the typical Phase 3 agreements that accompany these types of federally funded projects (Joint Funding Agreement for State-Let Construction Work & Construction Engineering Agreement) will be presented to City Council for approval. This IGA needs approval at this time due to the federal funding and IDOT processes, which require the IGA to be approved before the project letting.
Through coordination with KKCOM, City staff members confirmed that the Township portion of the project is federally eligible, and there are enough additional federal funds available to fully fund both the City portions and Township portions at 75/25 (75% federal, 25% local). The Township indicated that if needed, they would pay for 100% of the costs within their jurisdiction if there are any eligibility issues determined by IDOT.
The amount to be reimbursed will be a flat fee based on the current construction estimate for the roadway section and will be invoiced to the Township after construction is substantially complete. Construction on this project is scheduled to take place in late 2025 or early 2026.
•Approval was given to a Resolution establishing the maximum number of Class C: Specialty On-Site Consumption liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from Whitney’s Love LLC at 302 W Indian Trail, Ste A in Ward 6.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to increase the number of Class C: Specialty On-Site Consumption liquor licenses. An existing salon, Whitney’s Love LLC, d/b/a Whitney’s Love Nail & Beauty Bar, at 302 W Indian Trl, Ste A, has submitted a liquor license application for a Barbershop, Salon or Spa Alcohol Service license.
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.
Whitney’s Love LLC d/b/a Whitney’s Love Nail & Beauty Bar has submitted a liquor license application to offer alcohol containing less than 15% ABV for on-site consumption in conjunction with the purchase of services offered by their salon. If approved, this liquor license will allow alcohol to be consumed on-site only with a limit of no more than two (2) drinks per patron per calendar day with the purchase of services. A BASSET trained employee will be present at all times alcohol is consumed on premises.
If approved, this resolution will increase the number of allowable liquor licenses 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 proposed resolution presents an opportunity for this business owner to expand her business and broaden her customer base to include those who enjoy a small amount of alcohol with their services. The addition of this liquor license will further the city of Aurora’s economic development and bring additional business and people to the city of Aurora.
•Approval was given to a Resolution to approve the purchase of 31 United Shield Brand Ballistic Shields and accessories from MES/Lawmen Supply of Deer Creek, Illinois in the amount of $70,000.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to purchase replacement ballistic shields for the Aurora Police Department. These ballistic shields are essential for the protection of first responding police officers and are being purchased to replace outdated and end-of-life shields, and also to equip newly added marked patrol cars with ballistic shields.
The 2025 budget includes a decision package from the Aurora Police Department to replace ballistic shields over a multi-year phased replacement program. This decision package began in 2022 and is set to continue through the budget year 2026.
At the onset of the budget request in 2022, City officials determined that the current ballistic shields were either approaching or were at the end of their useful recommended life, and a replacement was warranted. Additionally, the recent addition of marked squad cars to overall fleet allowance required that police officials also outfit these new squads with various equipment, including ballistic shields.
The plan is to ensure that all police squads have a pistol-rated ballistic shield available, and all supervisor squads have a rifle-rated ballistic shield available for immediate use.
During an assessment, Police officials noted that ballistic shields used in the patrol division were approaching or have reached the end of their warrantied life. Police officials have developed a multi-year plan to replace the aging supply on a rotation and have included in this plan the addition of ballistic shields to newly-added squad cars in the fleet. This request for purchase is part of that multi-year replacement program cycle.
City officials found MES/Lawmen Supply Company, who participates in the Sourcewell Cooperative purchasing agreement, and is a vendor who has provided reliable service to the Aurora Police Department in the past. MES/Lawmen Supply Company demonstrated that they meet the public safety needs of the police department and will provide the needed ballistic shields through this turnover period.
Funding is available in the 2025 budget in account 255-3536-421.61-40.
Local preference does not apply when using a cooperative purchase program.
This purchase is vital to the protection of police first responders during times where the threat of deadly force against responding officers is present. One of these shields is a rifle-rated shield intended to outfit first-responding patrol supervisors, and thirty of these shields are pistol-rated, and will be utilized by first responding patrol officers.
In addition, accessories related to the purchase of these shields will be purchased, including POLICE stencils, and padded shield carry bags.
•Approval was given to a Resolution to award the Middlebury Dr to LaJolla Ct Water Main project in Ward 9 to H. Linden & Sons Sewer and Water, Inc. in the bid amount of $438,280.
City government of Aurora documents show water main installation has been deemed necessary between Middlebury Drive to LaJolla Ct to increase system capacity. The City’s engineering consultant modeled the water distribution system in anticipation of the Lincoln Prairie development in the southeast area end of the system and identified two necessary water main extensions to serve potential commercial development at that location. This is the last of those two locations. As part of the development agreement, the Pulte Group will be reimbursing the City for the cost of this project including all city of Aurora engineering division efforts to design, permit and manage the construction of this project. A 12” HDPE water main are being installed via directional drilling.
Portions of the proposed water main are crossing ComEd and Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) property, a water main easement with ComEd is in progress and the water main easement for FVPD has been obtained. There are no services within the project limits.
The proposed improvements have been publicly advertised and bid in conformance with City procedures. Five conforming bids were received, publicly opened and read aloud on July 24, 2024.
At the time of the bidding, construction was proposed to be in 2024, but due to the length of time it has taken to acquire a water main easement with ComEd, construction will happen in 2025. Due to inflation of material, H. Linden & Sons has requested an increase in price for Item No. 7 (Water Main HDPE (Trenchless), 12”) from $180 per LF to $195 per LF. This increased the contract amount from the original bid opening amount of $418,705 to $438,280. H. Linden & Sons is still the lowest bidder even with the unit price increase.
This project was subject to the Local Preference Ordinance, however no local contractors submitted.
The project amount ($438,280) is budgeted for in 2025 within account 510-4058-511-73-01 (IC062) which has a 2025 budget amount of $750,000.
The increase in traffic will be temporary and negligible.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to enter into an agreement with Great Lakes Urban Forestry of Batavia, Ill. in the amount of $150,000 to conduct a tree inventory and develop an urban forestry management plan.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain approval to enter into an agreement with Great Lakes Urban Forestry to conduct a Tree Inventory and develop an Urban Forestry Management Plan.
On June 11, 2024, City Council approved a Resolution (R24-210) to accept a award in the amount of $1,000,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry Grant to improve the City’s urban forest in USDA-approved disadvantaged areas.
This grant will provide federal funding (on a reimbursement basis with no required match) to conduct a variety of activities designed to improve the City’s urban forest including, but not limited to, conducting a tree inventory, developing an urban forest management plan, planting new trees, educating residents and youth about trees, and garnering input from affected neighborhoods. Benefits of this project include an increased tree canopy, improved tree health, and enhanced tree stewardship practices to safeguard the long-term health of Aurora’s urban forest.
In response to receiving this grant, the City published a Request for Proposals to conduct the required Tree Inventory and develop an Urban Forestry Management Plan and four responses were received on October 23, 2024. A panel of three City-staff members independently reviewed the responses and selected Great Lakes Urban Forestry as the highest scoring respondent.
Since the grant was specific to disadvantaged areas, the scope of services to be provided under this agreement will be performed in the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) Disadvantaged Area. This proposal included a cost estimate of $135,597, which was based on an estimated 30,400 trees and 4,000 open planting spaces in this area. Staff members are requesting an additional $14,403 be added (for a total agreement amount of $150,000) as a contingency in the event that any additional trees or spaces beyond the quantities estimated are encountered during the inventory.
Funding for this agreement was budgeted in 2025 and will be paid using account number 101-4060-431-53-41 (Streets – Grant Forestry), which has a balance of $881,600.
Failure to conduct this Tree Inventory and develop an Urban Forestry Management Plan would likely result in forfeiture of the $1,000,000 grant from the USDA Forestry Service.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to implement Phase 1 of a digital signage solution from Hypersign, LLC, Drayton, SC, and Cipher Technology Solutions for a total award of $189,125.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the city of Aurora seeks to modernize its display of public information at several key resident-facing facilities. This includes agendas, directional instructions, relevant video, and, if necessary, emergency notifications. While the immediate need involves City Hall and other highly-visible, public-facing CoA facilities, stakeholders are interested in finding a partner to provide a broad suite of signage tools for the Aurora public safety departments.
At this time, the digital signage landscape in Aurora facilities consists of a sparse patchwork of unconnected systems. Several sites, including the Aurora Police Department Headquarters, have a single screen with a static display. These are infrequently updated.
In Aurora City Hall, which hosts the greatest share of resident business, visitors rely on a cork board in the lobby for news, procedures, and directions. Beyond providing a dated first impression to Aurora citizens, the information on the cork board can easily become obsolete without a digitized system with automatic updates. Along with the lack of interactivity, this can result in confusion and additional time needed to confer with staff members.
After a competitive bidding process using MarketPlace.city, City IT staff members selected the HyperSign content management product as the best solution.
Process Sequence:
— Created Market Landscape with 30+ potential companies.
— Drafted RFQ document based on the needs of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, the Information Technology Department, and input from both the Aurora Fire & Police Departments.
— Based on this review, Marketplace.city publicly posted and distributed the Opportunity and Scope Document for vendors to complete in order to be included in the reporting and selection process. This was posted and distributed on 5/11/23 and closed 6/1/23.
— There were 9 responses completed by the deadline.
— Aurora project leaders decided to focus on the software-only solutions rather than combined hardware-software solutions.
— Combined hardware solutions tend to be more expensive and have more requirements for their installation.
— City Stakeholders can purchase flat-screen TVs at below-market rates. TVs are not included in the following cost estimates..
— Following this Software & System Management Prioritization, project leaders invited Carousel & Hypersign to provide demos.
— Initial evaluation of both vendors indicated the project team considered both vendors equally strong contenders. To illuminate differences and guide final preferences, both vendors were sent a short final question set. These included the ability to wall-off content from various groups (i.e. most users should not be able to see internal PD displays), customer support details, and final pricing.
The project team submitted Final Scoring and city stakeholders recommended Hypersign as their Digital Signage partner. A leading solution paired with an enthusiastic product team will modernize Aurora information displays at City Hall, the Fire & Police Departments, and other critical, high-traffic areas.
Budget was not available in 2024 to complete this phase, but City staff members negotiated the trial of 3 Hypersign devices to be deployed at various city buildings. Staff members were impressed with the ease of use and quality support Hypersign provided during this trial period.
Once the number of Phase 1 devices was solidified at 51, IT staff members negotiated an additional 20% discount off of the one-time cost of the displays from $738.00 to $590.40.
City IT staff members will purchase the digital media players and associated maintenance agreements directly from HyperSign. Cipher Technology Solutions (CTS) will be utilized where needed to connect the media players to the city network. Pricing from CTS will be based on the agreed upon pricing from R24-247. Where new display monitors are needed those will be purchased using competitive cooperative agreements.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing acceptance of the low bid from Golf Acquisition Group, LLC for maintenance and repairs of the APD Parking Deck in the amount of $111,417.00, and a ten percent (10%) contingency of $11,141.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain authorization to perform the required preventative maintenance and repairs to preserve the Aurora Police Department Headquarters parking deck.
The Aurora Police Department Headquarters (APDHQ), which opened in 2010, is at 1200 E Indian Trail Rd, Aurora, Ill. This facility includes a 154,000-square-foot headquarters building, a 41,000-square-foot training and support building, and a two-level precast concrete parking deck with 557 spaces, covering 203,069 square feet.
In 2022, during routine site inspections, the City’s Facilities Maintenance Division discovered signs of deterioration in various areas of the parking structure. As a result, the City retained Walker Consultants of Hoffman Estates, Ill., to conduct a comprehensive structural assessment and provide a report detailing its findings and recommended corrective measures to be allocated over a multi-year span.
For this phase of maintenance and repairs, the City published Bid 24-092 “APD Parking Structure Maintenance Repairs”. Nine vendors submitted bids which were publicly opened and announced on August 28, 2024
Of the nine bids received, Golf Acquisition Group, LLC, of Hammond, IN, submitted the lowest most responsible bid of $111,417.00. A 10% contingency of $11,141.00 is requested for this project.
This bid is part of an approved multi-year decision package with monies allocated in account 340-4411-417.38-05 of the 2025 budget.
While the city’s Local Preference Ordinance did apply to this bid, no local bidders participated.
Golf Acquisition Group, LLC, is not indebted to the City.
Despite sections of the parking deck being closed during repairs, personnel will have ample access to alternative parking.
•Approval was given to a Resolution Awarding the 2025 Sewer Televising Contract to Pipe View, LLC DBA Pipe View America in the amount of $648,860.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the city of Aurora annually hires a contractor to televise specific sanitary sewers and this year all the brick sewers to detect any needed repairs prior to a roadway being resurfaced. In addition to the televising, a light cleaning of the sewers is done. This contract will be throughout the city of Aurora but will primarily be utilized on the older clay and brick sanitary sewers.
Televising the City sewers is the first part of the annual sewer maintenance program conducted by the City. Each year, sewers are cleaned and televised if they are known to have potential issues or are under roadways that will be rehabilitated in the near future. This televising provides useful information to the Engineering and Water & Sewer Divisions that cannot be seen when inspecting sewers from within manholes or other entry points. While reviewing the televising results, issues are identified and the proper solution is designed and implemented. Solutions such as sewer lining projects, sewer replacement or spot repairs are performed depending on the issues that are found during the televising. Depending on the scope of the work, these repairs are completed by the Water and Sewer Division or are completed by contractors hired using the City’s procurement process. This contract will also be utilized to televise and final inspect the storm sewer installed last year. This proposed contract will televise the sewers under the 2025 and 2026 preliminary roadway overlay lists.
This project was formally bid according to the standard city of Aurora procedures. Pipe View LLC’s bid of $648,860.00 was the lowest responsible bid of three bids received. The low bidder, Pipe View LLC’s, has successfully completed similar projects in the Chicagoland area in the past including the City’s 2024 televising contract.
This contract is subject to the local vendor preference ordinance. However, none of the contractors submitting bids were eligible according to the requirements listed in the ordinance.
The 2025 proposed Budget includes funding for sewer evaluation and rehabilitation within account No.510-4063-511-73-14 (IB018) with a requested amount of $2,500,000.
The televising and cleaning of the sewers will have minimal traffic impacts on the citizens of Aurora.
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to enter into an agreement with Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. in the amount of $1,006,500.00 for the 2025 Citywide Pavement Patching for Water and Sewer Maintenance.
City government of Aurora documents show this is an annual project that is required to patch pavement in the public right of way that was damaged in relation to utility repairs such as water main breaks and sanitary sewer repairs.
This project was bid publicly, with an advertisement in the Aurora Beacon News on January 12th, 2025. Bids were received, opened, and read aloud publicly on January 29th, 2025. Four bids were received with the tabulation of those bids. The lowest responsible bid was from Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. in the amount of $1,006,500.00. The lowest bid came in approximately 0.6% below the engineer’s estimate. It is anticipated that a small portion of this contract will be used to address individual utility repairs performed by contractors to take advantage of better restoration prices. A portion of this contract will also be used to remove and replace sidewalk squares that have been identified as trip hazards.
This bid is required to follow the City’s Local Preference Ordinance, however, there was only one bid received from a certified local vendor, Geneva Construction, Co. of Aurora, Ill., in the amount of $1,137,275.00, 11.5% higher than the lowest bid which is outside the percentage which would allow them to match the lowest bid.
This Citywide project will benefit the entire community, as it is the only contract that will be in place to repair the roadways that are damaged throughout the year due to utility repairs. This work is budgeted on an annual basis. This contract shall have a maximum value of $1,006,500.00 budgeted in 2025 with funds coming from the entire amount budgeted in Account Number 510-4063-511-38-38 ($695,000.00), $281,500.00 from Account Number 510-4063-511-73-14 (Sanitary Sewer Evaluation and Repair, IB018) and $30,000 from Account Number 340-4060-431-38-61 (CIP# E004).
Construction is expected to begin in mid-March and will continue throughout the construction season depending on the number of utility repairs that are completed. Impacts to the public will be minimal, though will consist of short-term lane closures associated with the pavement repairs and in certain cases, loss of driveway access to allow adequate time for a concrete apron or curb to cure (when applicable).
•Approval was given to a Resolution authorizing the purchase of golf course maintenance equipment from Reinders, Inc., using Sourcewell cooperative contract for $297,053.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to ensure that the City’s Golf Division has adequate mowers and equipment to maintain golf course turf conditions safely, efficiently and effectively.
Two of the large-scale mowers assigned to the Golf Division have been in service for over 15 years. The bunker groomer has been in service for 10 years. The walk behind aerifier has been in service for 19 years. And the pro-force debris blower has been in service for 23 years. Due to the age of equipment, reliability is diminishing resulting in downtime and accumulating maintenance expenses. The on-site GeoLink antenna will be used for the GPS turf sprayer that was purchased in 2023 and for the turf sprayer that was purchased by the Parks and Recreation Division in 2024.
Advancements in technology have introduced new features that are absent in the existing equipment. The acquisition of modern mowers and equipment will improve and enhance turf conditions, fuel efficiency and serviceability. The on-site GeoLink antenna will be used for communication to the GPS based sprayer purchased in 2023. The purchase of the GeoLink antenna will replace the annual fees for using external antennas and improve the signal to the GPS sprayer. The expense of the GeoLink antenna will be split equally between the Golf Division and the Parks and Recreation Division.
The City participates in Sourcewell (formerly known as the National Joint Purchasing Cooperative) for the purchase of replacement equipment and additional vehicles. This program bids vehicles for purchase, which allows the City to satisfy its own bidding process with less effort, and use greater purchasing power to obtain lower prices.
Toro, a reputable manufacturer of golf maintenance equipment, has begun accepting orders and is prepared to make deliveries in spring 2025.
In order to secure delivery in spring 2025, the Golf Division is requesting authorization to place orders for all equipment from Reinders, Inc. which is an authorized Toro distributor, for $297,053.00 using Sourcewell contract #031121-TC.