By Jason Crane
Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, presented honors to the Warriors Hockey Club at the May 14 Aurora City Council meeting.
The Warriors Hockey Club with students from Waubonsie Valley High School and Metea Valley High School ice hockey team of Aurora claimed their fourth Illinois State high school hockey championship in the Combined Varsity tournament. Both schools are in District 204.
Their fourth State championship is a record with the Amatuer Hockey Association in Illinois.
They defeated Chicago North at the United Center March 13, in a 2-1 overtime victory, giving them a season record of 41 – 12.
Mayor Irvin presented the Mayor’s Award For Excellence and Historic Preservation for homeowners for improvements to their properties.
•The presentations can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page after the 8 minute mark by clicking here.
Three individuals used the 30 minutes of public comment time in front of the City Council to ask the Council to vote no on the proposed construction of a new fueling station at the new Public Works Facility in Ward 7 off of New York Street. Their comments can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page after the 40 minute mark by clicking here.
The City Council approved the Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to enter into an agreement with Crowne Industries, LTD, in Streamwood, in the amount of $1,383,869.00 for construction of a new fueling station at the new Public Works Facility.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to authorize the director of the Purchasing Department to enter into an agreement with Crowne Industries, LTD in the amount of $1,383,869.00 for the construction of a new fueling station at the new Public Works Facility.
The Public Works Department is looking to consolidate the personnel and equipment from a handful of maintenance divisions (Electrical, Streets, Fleet, Water and Sewer, and Water Meter Maintenance) into a new, combined maintenance facility on a 25.4-acre city-owned parcel near New York Street and County Line Road.
Construction of the new facility is ongoing, with mass grading and much of the site development (including construction of a new salt storage dome) complete and the new main and brine buildings under roof and being built out.
The remaining primary contracts for this project are the remaining site work around the new main building, which will be going out to bid soon, and the construction of a new fueling station onsite, for which the contract award is the subject of this Resolution. This fueling station, which will provide both diesel and unleaded gasoline to City vehicles (including Police and Fire) will consist of three dual-pump dispensers, 4 large underground fuel storage tanks, above ground controls and monitoring, a canopy, and all associated infrastructure (concrete island, curb, drainage, and spill protection).
March 6, 2022, the City requested qualifications to provide design, bidding, and construction inspection services for the construction of the new fueling station and two responses were received. Utilizing a Qualifications-based Selection (QBS), a panel of City Engineering Department staff members selected Integrity Environmental Services, Inc. of Naperville.
Following the completion of the design, Integrity published a Request for Bids and received two responses on March 13, 2024. Of the two, Crowne Industries of Streamwood, Ill., was found to be the lowest responsible bidder in the amount of $1,383,869.00.
City documents state the construction of the new fueling station should allow the City to quickly and conveniently refuel it’s fleet of vehicles and provide timely maintenance and emergency response services.
The City Council approved the following agenda items:
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing reappointment of Mavis Bates and the appointment of Tim Pollowy, Mariza Martinez, Cornelius Mack to the Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board.
City government of Aurora documents show the nomination brought forth represents one veteran candidate and three new candidates.
Mavis Bates is a resident of Ward 4; Tim Pollowy is a resident of Ward 7; Mariza Martinez is a resident of the Ward 1; and Cornelius Mack is a resident of the Ward 10.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the appointment of L.Dawn D’Orazio to the Civilian Review Board.
City government of Aurora documents show the candidate represents a new member, L.Dawn D’Orazio who is a Ward 8 resident.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to purchase CCTV devices from Scientel Solutions LLC., 2021 N Eola Rd, Aurora, Ill., 60502 for $15,247.38.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is this resolution is requesting that CCTV devices be installed at the Phillips Park Maintenance Building at 903 Ray Moses Drive.
Installation of CCTV devices at the Phillips Park Maintenance Building was approved as part of the City’s 2024 budget.
The Phillips Park Maintenance Building is easily accessible from Ray Moses Drive. To increase safety in the park and to act as the source of truth for incident and liability resolution as well as deter threats and be less susceptible to theft, crime, or vandalism, City staff members in conjunction with APD recommend CCTV devices be installed at this location.
After a competitive bidding process, Scientel Solutions, LLC., (“Scientel”) was awarded a three-year contract with a three-year option to manage and upgrade all City-owned CCTV cameras via Council resolution R21-135. This has provided Scientel with extensive knowledge of the City’s CCTV network. Pricing for improvements is based upon the agreements in R21-135.
This deployment will continue to be managed by Scientel with oversight by the IT Department.
As has been done in previous years, City staff members will bring larger deployments and projects to Council individually for approval. Examples of this are the deployments at River Edge Park and 1226 Grand Boulevard.
This replacement was needed to ensure the Parks Maintenance Facility is properly monitored and protected in case of issue.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to purchase a 3-year subscription for license plate reader (LPR) hosting services for $15,000 and a 3-year subscription for LPR integration services for $72,000 from Motorola Solutions, Inc., 500 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, Ill., 60661, for a total purchase of $87,000.
City government of Aurora documents show the Aurora Police Department has received funds from three grants to deploy License Plate Readers (LPRs) at various points in the City. The grant funds enable us to cover the annual service fees associated with LPRs and facilitate the integration of LPR data into the City’s existing FUSUS platform.
In 2022, the City received funding from multiple sources. The Rebuild Distressed Communities Grant, accepted via Council Resolution R23-010, provided monies. Additionally, funds from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, accepted via Council Resolution R23-332, and monies from the US Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Technology and Equipment Program, accepted via Council Resolution R23-375, were awarded. These grants specifically allocated funding for the purchase and maintenance of License Plate Readers (LPRs).
To fully leverage these LPRs, the City must acquire LPR services for hosting the LPR data. Furthermore, an integration with Motorola is necessary to seamlessly transfer the LPR data into the FUSUS platform. This integration will enable access to LPR data, data searches, and notifications for stolen vehicles and other critical license plate hits. Consequently, this resolution seeks approval for the purchase of Motorola video LPR hosting services and integration with the Police Department’s FUSUS platform.
Since 2020, the Aurora Police Department has been leveraging Motorola’s LPR services to enhance policing capabilities through shared LPR data with other law enforcement agencies and commercial sources. In a significant move, the Council approved Resolution #R23-070 in March 2023, authorizing the acquisition of 21 Motorola LPR devices, marking the department’s transition to owning LPR technology.
City staff members negotiated a hosting fee contract with Motorola, capped at $400 annually per LPR, for up to 60 units, translating to an annual budget of $24,000 and a three-year cap of $72,000. Grant-eligible LPR hosting costs will be allocated from various accounts associated with their respective grant awards, while non-grant-eligible expenses, particularly for cameras funded by the Illinois Attorney General’s Grant (R23-332), will be covered by account 101-3536-421.45-02, as the grant excludes coverage for years 2 to 5.
Furthermore, the Council’s Resolution R23-294 facilitated the purchase of FUSUS, a real-time crime center solution, to integrate with Motorola’s LPR data, thereby augmenting the department’s operational efficiency. However, this integration is not grant-funded, and the initial year’s integration cost of $5,000 will be financed through account 101-3536-421.45-02, with subsequent years’ expenses planned for account 101-1280-419.38-11.
The purchasing vehicle for this acquisition is facilitated through the Motorola Sourcewell contract 101223-MOT, which is valid until Dec 2027 and is part of a comprehensive multi-state cooperative. For additional details, please refer to the Sourcewell website under cooperative purchasing: https://www.sourcewell-mn.gov/cooperative-purchasing/101223-MOT. Note that the $400 annual fee for each LPR as described above is significantly less than the Sourcewell contract.
The Police Department needs Motorola’s annual hosting services to access the camera-scanned data. By integrating with FUSUS, the data, searches, and hits from Motorola LPRs can be accessed via the FUSUS platform.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the Mayor or the Aurora Police Department Chief of Police to enter into an agreement between the City of Aurora, Illinois and Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose of this agreement is to allow the Aurora Police Department to place license plate readers on the property of the Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC.
Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC facility at 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd. is a vital piece of the Aurora economy, with roughly 170 retail stores and millions of visitors a year. In the fall of 2023, the Aurora Police Department received a grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to fund license plate readers in order to combat crime at retail establishments.
The Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC facility at 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd is one of the busiest locations in the City of Aurora. The facility is frequented by people regionally and from around the world. Its proximity to the Interstate 88 tollway makes it easily accessible for people across Northern Illinois. For many of those people, this facility is the face of Aurora. Based on this, the continued safety and security of the Chicago Premium Outlets, LLC facility is of upmost importance to the City.
The Aurora Police Department has a longstanding commitment to the reduction of retail crime in Aurora. Aurora is privileged to include many retail mercantile establishments, including the Chicago Premium Outlets, which provides retail services to the Chicagoland area.
The Aurora Police Department applied for and received a grant for $85,630.00 from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as part of the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Grant Program. The grant included specific funding to pay for the purchase of license plate readers to be utilized to combat retail crime. Within the grant the Chicago Premium Outlets was listed as a proposed location for 4 of the license plate readers. The grant was accepted by City Council on 11/14/23 (R23-332)
The agreement will allow the Aurora Police Department to have license plate readers installed on the Chicago Premium Outlets property.
Entering into this agreement will allow the Aurora Police Department to fully execute the remainder of the grant requirements. In addition, it will allow the Aurora Police Department to more quickly address retail crime at the Chicago Premium Outlets. This will make the city safer for the citizens and patrons of the Chicago Outlet Mall in Aurora.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to purchase License Plate Readers from Scientel Solutions LLC., 2021 N Eola Rd, Aurora, Ill., 60502 for $61,520.00.
City government of Aurora documents show this resolution is requesting that License Plate Readers (LPRs) be installed at the Aurora Premium Outlet Mall at 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd, Aurora, Ill., 60502.
Installation of LPRs at the Aurora Premium Outlet Mall is a joint agreement between the Mall ownership and the Aurora Police Department. The purchase of these cameras is made through grant monies received via Council resolutions, R23-010, R23-332 and R23-375.
The Aurora Police Department has a longstanding commitment to the reduction of retail crime in Aurora. Aurora is privileged to include many retail establishments, including the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall, which provides retail services to the greater Aurora area.
The Chicago Premium Outlet Mall is one of the largest concentrations of retail stores in Aurora, and draws shoppers from all over the region. The Premium Outlet mall also draws those who would take advantage of the abundance of retail stores and its easy access to a regional tollway as a convenient place to commit retail crimes.
The Aurora Police Department received a grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s office under the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Program and intends to use this funding to fight retail crime in and around the Chicago Premium Outlets.
Since 2020, the APD has utilized Motorola LPR services through the Motorola LEARN database. This gives APD access to participating agency LPR data and other location information and has proven quite valuable. APD staff members desire to extend this relationship with Motorola by utilizing additional Motorola services and LPR devices as this will ensure continued access to data and not affect current operations or risk losing data.
After a competitive bidding process, Scientel Solutions, LLC., (“Scientel”) was awarded a three-year contract with a three-year option to manage and upgrade all City-owned CCTV cameras via Council resolution R21-135. This has provided Scientel with extensive knowledge of the City’s CCTV network. Pricing for improvements is based upon the agreements in R21-135.
This deployment will continue to be managed by Scientel with oversight by the IT Department.
As has been done in previous years, City staff members will bring larger deployments and projects to Council individually for approval. Examples of this are the deployments at River Edge Park and 1226 Grand Boulevard.
The Attorney General grant funds will pay for the purchase of the LPRs for a total of $61,520. A budget transfer will be completed to make funds available in account 101-3536-421.50-50 for this purchase.
This purchase will help the Aurora Police Department fight retail crime in and around the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the City to accept a grant from Petco Love in the amount of $2,500.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain City Council approval of a grant to be used by Aurora Animal Care and Control to increase lifesaving efforts.
Aurora Animal Care and Control protects the health, safety, and welfare of people and pets through animal sheltering, pet placement, and high-quality animal control services.
Aurora Animal Care and Control has provided services to the public such as humane education on responsible pet ownership and animal safety as well as low-cost or free veterinary care.
In the Spring of 2024, Aurora Animal Care and Control received a grant award through Petco Love to support and further lifesaving efforts.
This Petco Love grant award of $2,500 may be used for any lifesaving purpose.
Aurora Animal Care and Control intends to use this grant award to advance community outreach with the goal of keeping pets in their loving homes.
Providing these services to the public should increase the human-animal bond between pets and their owners, keeping them in their homes and saving lives.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the City to accept a grant award of $258,461.25 from the Illinois State Police for reimbursement of Next Generation 911 (NG911) improvements completed.
City government of Aurora documents show the objective of the Illinois State Police (ISP) NG911 Expenses Grant Program is to fund regional call-handling position equipment to defray costs associated with the replacement or upgrade of 911 call-handling positions that are Next Generation 911 capable.
The City recently completed upgrading its Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). To offset some of those costs, City staff members applied for the NG911 grant for FY2024. A grant proposal was developed and submitted to the ISP in early 2023 for expenses totaling $297,960.80. This reimbursement grant was awarded to the City in June 2023. Expenses requested for this grant have been defined and are included in this resolution.
This grant award allows for reimbursement up to $258,461.25 and may be used to reimburse procurements and personnel costs incurred through June 30, 2024.
Expenditures under this grant followed the city’s procurement requirements as well as the requirements set by the Illinois State Police (ISP) NG911 Expenses Grant Program and all applicable state or federal regulations and have previously been submitted to Council via PSAP remodel resolutions.
This grant award will offset costs of mandated NG911 services.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the increase of $23,421 to the purchase price for the 2024 E-ONE cyclone Custom HR 100 Aerial Truck for a total of $1,323,686.
The purpose is to increase the quote supplied by the City’s dealer Fire Service Inc. originally supplied April 6, 2022 and ordered May 11, 2022. City government of Aurora documents state: While the increase in proposal price is significant, the impact on longevity of the vehicle, safety of the crews, and functionality for the residents of the city cannot be overlooked.
This ladder truck will be put in service as soon as possible starting out responding to calls on the north side of the City. It will ultimately be stationed at the new fire station being built at Bilter and Nan.
Fire Service Inc. is the area dealer for the Aurora Fire Departments vehicles. The City of Aurora last purchased a truck from Fire Service Inc. in June 2020.
The vehicle pricing is secured through the Houston-Area Council Cooperative Purchasing Program (H-GAC), allowing the Aurora Fire Department to purchase the truck at a group rate at a 7.3% discount.
The increase in purchase price has to do with this ladder truck being the first to have a larger cab and a new updated layout. This vehicle is equipped with more storage in areas previously unavailable to the Fire Department. To take advantage of the spaces now available doors had to be added and rearranged, adding to the build price. However, this added storage will make fire, rescue, and emergency medical equipment faster to deploy. This deployment will save precious moments during emergency calls. Development in emergency scene lighting was employed on this vehicle that will allow the first responders a safer working environment at fires, medical calls, and accident scenes. This will allow for better level of service during calls ranging from daily calls for service to the calls that are life and death.
A budget amendment will be submitted adding to account 255-3033-422.75-10 to cover the additional cost of the truck.
With the purchase of this truck, the Fire Department will be adding a needed resource to the north area of the City. This should increase the capability of the Fire Department thought the city.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing a change order to the contract awarded to Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) for a combined Scheduling, Time and Attendance solution in the amount of $48,600.
City government of Aurora documents show Resolution R22-082 awarded a Scheduling, Time and Attendance solution to UKG for an award of $1,092,230.12 with a 10% contingency. This resolution seeks an additional $48,600 for UKG project management to complete implementation of this solution.
The City sought to greatly improve the Scheduling, Time and Attendance processes in place throughout the City through automation and integration. The current manual processes differ by department and involve duplicate entry that raises the risk of errors and decreases staff member efficiency.
Except for the Aurora Police Department (APD), timesheets are collected manually by department representatives and manually entered into the Naviline payroll system for processing. The APD solution, while imported directly from the existing electronic system into payroll, no longer meets the scheduling needs of the Department.
The contingency allocated for this implementation was used for the purchase of time clocks and for enhanced, recorded training sessions that can be utilized not only at implementation, but for new hires going forward.
The implementation involved coordination with all City departments except Fire and therefore required more project management time than originally estimated.
This change request will ensure that UKG supplies proper project management and governance throughout the end of the project. With the APD scheduled to go live in April and the rest of the City in May, this change request will cover overages as well as time needed to complete the project.
A budget amendment is required to be submitted to pay for this change orders into account 101-1280-419.38-11.
Without a fully-automated scheduling, time and attendance solution in place City-wide, the current manual process will be in place for most departments, resulting in decreased efficiencies and increased risk of entry errors.
•Approved was a Resolution to award $243,686.00 to NTI National Technologies (NTI), Downers Grove, Ill., to provide an alternate fiber infrastructure route to the Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity Habitat Green Freedom Subdivision.
City government of Aurora documents show R23-132 approved the use $265,666.00 of 2023 CIP fiber funds to connect the Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity Habitat Green Freedom to Kane County fiber on Orchard Road for reconnection to city-owned fiber on Sullivan Road. The City was to lease the fiber along Orchard Road from Kane County.
Subsequently, leadership within Kane County determined that the County could not continue leasing fiber to municipalities without new State legislation, despite having previously leased fiber to government agencies through Intergovernmental Agreements. Kane County anticipates an update to the legislation in September 2024. However, due to ongoing construction of this housing project, the City must complete the connection to its fiber infrastructure using an alternate route by the end of June 2024 to facilitate pre-construction planning activities.
Resolution R24-076 approved the 2024 CIP fiber budget for nine projects at a total cost of $1,358,149.00. Adding a 10% contingency of $135,814.90 and a total not to exceed $1,493,963.90.
The Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity Habitat Green Freedom Subdivision was approved in resolution R23-005 and is intended to be an affordable smart home community using the Internet-based technologies to achieve high-efficiency homes. In a partnership with Nicor these homes will be supplied with Nicor SMART panels that allow homeowners to control the home’s features using phones and Internet functions. As such, these homes require high-quality fiber optic infrastructure. The City was approached by Nicor to partner in providing fiber infrastructure to this subdivision to enhance economic development.
City IT staff members are requesting an additional $243,686.00 to provide fiber to this subdivision using an alternate route and not leasing Kane County fiber.
As approved in R24-076, NTI has done extensive fiber work for the City of Aurora. NTI has provided quality service for the City of Aurora and provided competitive pricing based on the Kane County Resolution 22-170 dated June 2, 2022 for Fiber Optic Support Services. City IT staff members are confident in NTI’s services to provide fiber to this subdivision.
A budget amendment to fund this project has been submitted for account 340-1280-419.73-86 (C104)
By approving this resolution, City-owned fiber will be utilized to provide efficient, cost-effective fiber infrastructure to this community that is unique to Illinois and the region.
•Approved was a Resolution establishing the maximum number of Class A: Package Sales/Gas Station Beer and Wine only liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from DAMJ TEAM, Inc. d/b/a 7-Eleven #32202G at 1202 N Eola Rd, Aurora). [Ward 10]
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to maintain the number of Class A: Package Sales/Gas Station Beer and Wine only liquor licenses. A new business, DAMJ TEAM, Inc. is becoming a franchise owner of the 7-Eleven at 1202 N Eola Rd which will constitute a 100% ownership change. DAMJ TEAM, Inc. 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.
DAMJ TEAM, Inc. d/b/a 7-Eleven #32202G has submitted a liquor license application to offer beer and wine for sale for off-site consumption at their gas station. If approved, this liquor license will allow the sale of packaged beer and wine. 7-Eleven Corporate is the current owner and liquor license holder at this location.
•Approved was a Resolution approving estimated payments in the amount of $122,000.00 to Macon County Law Enforcement in partnership with Richland Community College for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2024.
City government of Aurora documents show approval of payments is required to send police recruits through the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center (MCLETC), a partnership with Richland Community College and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. This includes wearables (uniforms/PT sets), OC Spray training, classroom/online training, lodging, and meals.
Prior to 2020, the State of Illinois reimbursed police officers’ basic academy training from State funds directly to the academy. In January 2020, the State informed municipalities across Illinois that they would be required to pay for basic police officer training, with the possibility of future reimbursement by the State.
In 2022, the State of Illinois began to reimburse a portion of these costs under the provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act, 50ILCS 705/9(2). In 2022 the Illinois Training and Standards Board (ILESTB) reimbursed the City of Aurora $12,548.00 for recruit police officers who attended basic police academy between 07/01/21 and 06/30/22.
In 2023, ILETSB reimbursed the City of Aurora $78,406.00 for recruit police officers who attended basic police academy between 07/01/22 and 06/30/23. These payments are aligned with the State of Illinois fiscal year, and the next payment cycle will be considered for recruits who attend basic police academy between 07/01/23 and 06/30/24. The City of Aurora has not yet received reimbursement for this cycle.
The current cost per recruit, including room and board, wearables, and OC Spray training, are approximately $7,400 for those recruits attending the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center.
In 2024 the Aurora Police Department anticipates they will hire as many as 15 police officers who will be required to attend a basic police academy. The remainder of the estimated hires will likely be those officers who are previously certified via other jurisdictions, “lateral hires” and will not need to attend basic police academy.
The primary purpose of the police academy is to prepare new officers for a career in law enforcement. The academy provides basic training for recruits to become certified Illinois Law Enforcement Officers. This certification requires that recruits successfully complete a 560-hour (14-week) comprehensive training course. The police department has used the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for approximately three years. Other academies have either been unable to meet standards or have been unable to grant us the number of slots needed to train the recruits annually.
Approval is requested for the entirety of 2024 wherein the total amount to send these 15 additional recruits to the Macon County Law Enforcement Center academy is approximately $111,000.00.00. Aurora’s total anticipated police academy costs will be $122,000.00. The 2024 budget provides $249,000.00 in account 101-3536-421.42-48 to pay for basic academy training.
If the basic academy training costs are not approved, it will prevent the APD from maintaining police staffing levels and negatively impact public safety.
•Approved was a Resolution awarding West Hauling Landscaping, and Tavarez and Sons Lawn Care, IL as the 2024 contractors with a possible 2-year extension for Lawn Mowing Services (as a part of the Special Lawn Mowing Support program) within the City of Aurora, Ill.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain City Council approval for West Hauling and Landscaping, Beary Landscape Management and Tavarez and Sons Lawn Care serve as the contractors for the Special Lawn Mowing Support Program which provides these services for eligible seniors (62 and over) and individuals living with disabilities.
Senior and Disability Services is responsible for identifying gaps in services/resources for seniors and individuals living with disabilities, then producing innovative ways to provide supplementary solutions to enhance their life and legacy as residents in the City of Aurora. During the 12 stop Senior Listening tour, lawn mowing support was identified as a significant need amongst this population, and this is the response to this identified need. In 2022 the City piloted this program serving 50 residents. Each year, the program grows by 25 additional residents. In 2023, the program was scaled to serve 75 residents and this year the City is serving 100 residents.
A formal bid request was sent out to identify contractors to provide lawn mowing services for the 100 eligible private residential properties within the City of Aurora. Four responses were received from the following responsible bidders: Beary Landscape Management, Guardian Asphalt Protection and Maintenance, Tavarez and Sons Lawn Care, and West Hauling and Landscaping. West Hauling and Landscaping, Beary Landscape Management and Tavarez and Sons Lawn Care were the lowest bidders based on the lowest cost over 3 years for the less than 10” cuts, which is where the majority of the invoicing takes place. Due to the number of homes this year, contractor availability, and schedules, the three lowest bidders were selected to split the 100 homes for efficiency purposes.
This bid is subject to the local preference ordinance; however, it did not impact the decision.
Contractors will be paid on a per service basis (up to sixteen visits per resident) until the program funds are fully expended. The 2024 contracts for a total amount not to exceed $88,000.00 will be signed with the option to extend for an additional two years upon mutual consent between the City and the vendors.
Funding for Senior and Disability Services, for lawn mowing services, as a part of the Special Lawn Mowing Support Program will be provided from account 101-1372-440.50-80.
This resolution must be approved in order to provide lawn mowing services for identified and eligible seniors and individuals living with disabilities (as a part of the Special Lawn Mowing Support Program) within the City of Aurora Illinois limits.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to increase the purchase order for RC Wegman Construction Company, 750 Morton Avenue, Aurora, Ill., 60506 by the amount of $153,825.00 for bid package 4 (shelving), which is part of the Public Works Combined Maintenance Facility Project.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain approval for an increase to a Purchase Order for RC Wegman Construction in the amount of $153,825.00.
September 27, 2022, City staff members utilized a Qualifications-Based Selection to award RC Wegman Construction Company a contract to provide Construction Manager “as Constructor” (CMc) services for the new Public Works Combined Maintenance Facility via R22-276.
Following the completion of the Structural and Architectural design of the main building, RC Wegman published the first, second, and third bid packages (BP1, BP2, and BP3 respectively). BP1 included structural steel and precast concrete totaling $8,274,777 and was awarded on December 13, 2022. BP2 included fourteen (14) other trade packages totaling $17,714,867 and was awarded on April 11, 2023. BP3 included the remaining seven trade packages totaling $3,617,578 and was awarded on February 13, 2024.
As a bid alternate to BP3, Wegman had requested pricing for racks and shelving, but the lone price received was determined to not accurately reflect the requested scope to be furnished and installed and was subsequently not included with the award of BP3. As a result, it was determined that Wegman would publish an additional, separate bid package (BP4) which would include only the racking and shelving.
Requests for bid for BP4 were published by RC Wegman and two eligible bids were received March 20, 2024. Of the two bids received, KWCC, Inc. of Montgomery, Ill., was determined to be the lowest responsible bidder in the amount of $146,500 (the amount requested, $153,825, includes a 5% contingency). The City’s Local Bidder Ordinance applied to this bid but was not a factor in the selection.
It should also be noted that this Purchase Order increase does not include Wegman’s Construction Management fees for this items, which will be invoiced separately to the City and paid using the previously approved purchase order for Construction Management services.
Funding will be provided as part of the approved 2024 CIP (C114) using accounts 510-4063-511.72-01 and 354-4411-417.72-01, with final amounts to be determined.
This contract will allow for the installation of necessary equipment and material storage systems within the new Public Works Facility.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to purchase a 3-year subscription for remote desktop connectivity software to Optiv Security, Inc., of Denver, Colo., for $134,109.12.
City government of Aurora documents show the City IT Department wishes to extend usage of the BeyondTrust Remote Desktop connection software as it has proven to be a highly effective remote support tool.
Prior to the installation of BeyondTrust, when corrective action was needed on City staff members computing devices, either IT staff members traveled to employee locations or City staff members brought the device to City Hall.
This lead to unnecessary downtime for staff members and increased employee travel time between City Hall and employee location.
After a competitive bidding process using MarketPlace.city, City IT staff members selected the BeyondTrust solution provided by Optiv Security (Optiv) as the best solution. A one-year trial contract was awarded to Optiv via Council resolution R23-110.
After a successful year of use, the IT Department desires to continue to utilize the secure method provided by BeyondTrust to connect remotely to computing devices and perform the corrections necessary. This has shown significantly decrease downtime, increase efficiency and reduce travel to and from City Hall.
An agreement was reached with Optiv to provide BeyondTrust for 3 years at a fixed rate of $44,703.04 annually. The total three-year cost for this solution is $134,109.12.
Funds are available in 101-1280-419.38-11 – Computer Software – for this purchase.
The City IT Department manages more than 1,200 computing devices, most of which is done manually. A lack of remote connectivity software will lead to increased downtime for City staff members and increased support time for IT staff members as service of these devices would need to be performed in person.
•Approved was a Resolution to award the Marion Ave., Lafayette St., and Seminary Ave. Sewer Separation project in Wards 3 and 4 to Performance Construction & Engineering, LCC of Plano, Ill., in the bid amount of $1,027,780.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to install a new storm sewer removing stormwater from the combined sewer system at several locations including Marion Ave., Lafayette St., and Seminary Ave. Any confirmed lead water services in the project limits will be replaced as part of this project.
A new storm sewer will be installed to remove surface drainage flows from the combined sewer system. This project should help satisfy the requirements associated with the City’s Long Term Control Plan and the City’s Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Combined Sewer System Overflow. Lead water services within the project corridor will be replaced with the approval of each homeowner.
The proposed improvements have been publicly advertised and bid in conformance with City procedures. Two conforming bids were received, publicly opened and read aloud on April 10, 2024.
This project was subject to the Local Preference Ordinance, however no local contractors submitted.
Portions of the project are accounted for within two 2024 budgets. $386,200.00 within account 510-4058-511-73-02 (IC080, $3,000,000.00 Lead Water Service Line Replacement), and $641,580.00 within account 281-1856-512-73-09 (B031, $3,000,000.00 LTCP Improvements – Sewer Separation).
Traffic will be detoured to adjacent blocks, but the increase in traffic on the adjacent neighboring blocks will be temporary and negligible. At times, residents may lose driveway access, but the contractor will provide adequate notice ahead of time. Water and sanitary service interruptions will be kept to a minimum during construction of this project.
•Approved was a Resolution authorizing the acceptance of bid pricing from various contractors for supplemental snow removal services and snow and ice control services for a two year contract with optional two one year extensions for the Division of Street Maintenance.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain City Council approval to accept bids from various contractors for snow and ice control services and supplemental snow removal services for public roadways through the 2028 winter season.
For more than two decades, the Street Division has contracted snow and ice control services and supplemental snow removal services. To maintain the high level of service of past years, contracting outside services for snow operations is necessary to augment City crews.
The City solicited request for proposal for “Snow and Ice Control Services” (RFP 24-029) for contractors who will be assigned a snow route(s) and are required to respond in the same manner as City crews during snow and ice control operations. “Supplemental Snow Removal Services” (RFP 24-030) to augment the snow plowing operation in residential areas during heavier snow storms. All contractors who submitted bids have a positive on going working relationship with the City. As a result City officials are recommending all of the contractors listed on the bid tabulation for RFP 24-029 and 24-030. Routes for each contractor are based on each contractors equipment and capabilities.
Since these were Request for Proposals, local preference does not apply.
The 2024 Street Division budget has $324,346 remaining in account 101-4460-431-36.01 and will continue to appropriate funds for the remaining years of the service
Without the use of private contractors the clearing of snow and ice from public streets would be severely impacted and the timeliness of snow removal operations would be delayed.
•Approved was a Resolution to award the Heathercrest Subdivision Water Main Improvements project in Ward 5 to Brandt Excavating, Inc of Morris, Ill., in the bid amount of $2,908,475.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to replace the 6” water main on Heather Drive from North Edgelawn Drive to North Randall Road, Sherwood Avenue, Duncan Drive and Roanoak Avenue.
This water main has had numerous breaks in the past several years. Closures of residential driveways will be kept to a minimum during construction. Lead water services within the project corridor will be replaced with the approval of each homeowner.
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 April 10, 2024.
This project was subject to the Local Preference Ordinance, however no local contractors submitted.
The water main improvements will be funded with account 510-4058-511-73-02 (IC076) which has a 2024 budget amount of $5,000,000.00.
There will be lane closures on Heather Drive, Sherwood Avenue, Duncan Drive and Roanoak Avenue throughout the duration of the project. Water shutdowns during the project will be planned and coordinated with the local businesses and residences to minimize impact. Impacts to traffic and local residents will be kept to a minimum.
•Approved was a Resolution requesting approval to continue with Bentek Benefits Technology of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., as the City’s Benefits Enrollment and Administration Software provider one additional year for an amount not to exceed $65,500.
City government of Aurora documents show May 14, 2019, the Aurora City Council resolution R19-130 approved the implementation of Bentek Services and the first year of Software as a Service (SaaS) license fees. After a successful first year of processing benefits for City employees, City Council approved resolution R20-200 for a subscription of four additional years.
This resolution requests to extend the subscription for one additional year.
Bentek services were implemented and have been used successfully for Open Enrollment ever year since 2019. City staff members are comfortable asking Council for a commitment of this software through 2025 as the City transitions to the UKG HRIS solution approved by resolution R23-287.
As City staff members continue to implement the large scale UKG HRIS solution, it has been determined that Bentek will need to be utilized for Open Enrollment for 2024. For 2025 and beyond, Open Enrollment will be processed using the UKG HRIS solution.
Funding for this purchase is available in IT account 101-1280-419.45-02.
This request should continue to have a positive impact on service delivery to City employees through online access to one system of record for benefits administration, to reduce vendor billing adjustments, verification of processed payroll deductions, employee year round self-service, integrated Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting, transmit electronic eligibility files to insurance providers and approving qualifying life event submissions with customized approval employee correspondence.
•Approved was an Ordinance and two Resolutions approving a Final Plan for the Fazal Subdivision, at 1125 Aurora Avenue for a Retail Sales or Service (2100) Use, Restaurant with a Drive-through Facility (2530) Use, and a Gasoline Station (2831) Use.
City government of Aurora documents show the Petitioner, Flip 25, LLC, is requesting the establishment of a Conditional Use Planned Development on the property at 1125 Aurora Avenue, which includes reducing the minimum exterior setbacks, and inclusion of a Gasoline Station (2831) as a permitted use.
The Property is zoned B-2(C), Business District – General Retail with a Conditional Use for an Automotive Service Station use. The Conditional Use was approved per O84-5300. The Property is approximately three quarters of an acre and was previously used as a gas station until it was demolished in 2018. The Comprehensive Plan designates the Property as commercial, while the adjacent blocks of Aurora Ave. and E. Indian Trail are designated as arterial.
The Petitioner, Flip 25, LLC, is requesting the establishment of a Conditional Use Planned Development for the property at 1125 Aurora Avenue. The details of the request include reducing the minimum Front Yard setback, Exterior Side Yard, and Exterior Rear Yard from thirty (30) feet to five (5) feet with the Front Yard and Exterior Rear Yard, and one foot, nine inches (1’-9”) within the Exterior Side Yard. The Conditional Use Planned Development also allows for a Gasoline Station as a permitted use. The Plan Description also includes changes to the sign requirements that, due to the twenty-five (25) right-of-way dedication at the intersection of Aurora Ave and E Indian Trail, allows for the sign’s setback requirement to be five (5) feet, instead of the sign’s overall height. In addition, staff members included a revision that allows the retaining wall’s maximum height to be increased to nine feet.
This Conditional Use Planned Development is required due to the lots line of the Property being expanded and consolidated into a one lot subdivision with the accompanying Final Plat request. Due to the B-2 zoning standards, the drive-through restaurant is a permitted use at this location and is not required to be included in the Conditional Use Planned Development proposal.
Concurrently with this proposal, the Petitioner is requesting approval of a Final Plat for Fazal Subdivision. The details of the request include consolidating the Property into a single lot that is approximately three quarters of an acre. The Final Plat also includes a twenty-five (25) foot right-of-way triangle be dedicated at the intersection of Aurora Avenue and E. Indian Trail. There is also a fifteen (15) foot wide City Easement to be dedicated.
Concurrently with this proposal, the Petitioner is requesting approval of a Final Plan for Fazal Subdivision. The details of the request include developing the Property for an approximately five thousand, one hundred (5,100) square foot building that will be used for a combination gasoline station with accessory retail, and a fast food drive-through restaurant. The gasoline station has eight associated pumps on the west side of the property. The drive-through restaurant has one window, which is on the building’s east side. The drive-through lane shows the minimum stacking requirement of five vehicles. The Final Plan is reducing the number of access points from four to two: the access point from Aurora Avenue has a right-turn in, and a left turn/right turn exit; the access point from E. Indian Trail is shown as full access with a left turn entrance and a right turn exit.
Staff members reviewed the Conditional Use Planned Development 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 with the exception of the items reflected in the conditions listed below in the staff members’ recommendation.
This was a long-time gas station on this corner. This is the same owner. He has acquired an additional lot to the south to make for a redevelopment that enhances the look of this corner. Access points are being lowered from four to two and are farther from the intersection. The site will also generally have a 5’ setback on it’s exterior perimeter to allow for a small landscaped area which is an improvement from the previous 0’ setback. This allows for a productive economic use of this highly visible corner while implementing a landscaped setback and modern construction.
Due public notice was given for the public hearing on this matter.
Findings of fact:
1) Will the establishment, maintenance or operation of the conditional use be unreasonably detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort, or general welfare?
Staff members do not believe the Conditional Use Planned Development will be unreasonably detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort, or general welfare. In addition, staff members believe that re-establishing a gas station at this location, which is the last commercial stop in Aurora for north-bound vehicles on State Route 25, will create additional revenue for the City’s tax base.
2) Will the conditional use be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted or substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood; factors including but not limited to lighting, signage and outdoor amplification, hours of operation, refuse disposal areas and architectural compatibility and building orientation?
Staff members believe that, because the Property is adjacent to commercial and institutional uses, and is at the intersection of two Arterial streets, the conditional use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity. Staff members feel the Petitioner has shown a willingness to comply with the City’s code requirements to ensure the Property use and form is consistent and complimentary to the surrounding neighborhood.
3) Will the establishment of the conditional use impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for uses permitted in the district?
Staff members feel the establishment of the conditional use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for uses permitted in the district. As previously stated, the proposal is consistent with the surrounding, built out neighborhood, which is mostly of a commercial and institutional nature.
4) Will the proposal provide for adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, and/or other necessary facilities as part of the conditional use?
Staff members feel that, because the infrastructure surrounding the Property is already built out, the proposal adequately incorporates the existing, necessary facilities.
5) Does the proposal take adequate measures, or will they be taken to provide ingress and egress so designed to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets?
Staff members feel the proposal takes adequate measures to provide ingress and egress so designed to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets. While the minimum stacking requirement for a drive-through window is five vehicles, the Petitioner is showing a drive-through lane that can adequately stack more vehicles than the minimum requirement. The Petitioner is also shown to reduce the previous number of access points from four to two, which staff members feel will also reduce traffic congestion on the adjacent roads.
6) Does the conditional use in all other respects conform to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located, except as such regulations may in each instance be modified by the city council pursuant to the recommendations of the commission?
Staff members believe the conditional use does, in all other respects, conforms with the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located.
Policies and guidelines:
The staff members’ evaluation and recommendation are based on the following Physical Development Policies:
11.1 (5): To guide and promote development to areas where public utilities, public roads, and municipal services are either available or planned.
14.1 (1): To foster future growth in the City that does not contribute to deterioration in either existing developments of a reduction in the City’s ability to provide adequate services.
31.1 (3): To promote the development of commercial facilities in existing or planned commercial areas.
Recommendations:
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the ordinance establishing a Conditional Use Planned Development and approving the Fazal Plan Description for the property at 1125 Aurora Avenue.