By Jason Crane
The Aurora City Council presented members of the community with the Donna J. Williams Award of Service, Tuesday, Jan. 11, for giving back to the Aurora community with the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Williams.
The late Donna J. Williams was an educator in West Aurora School District 129, a singer, and musician, at Main Baptist Church, and a founding member of the Aurora Actionaires, and mother of David Williams, a coach and educator.
Award recipients included Brisa Barraza, operations manager of the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, Natalie Bonner, CEO of Talented Tenth Social Services, Mary Fultz, president and founder of Community Advocacy Awareness Network, David Smith, president and founder of At Risk Mentoring.
In addition, the City Council honored members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Chi Sigma Omega Chapter for working with the city of Aurora to bring hundreds of wrapped Christmas gifts for residents of two shelters for women and children, Mutual Ground and Lifespring.
Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), the oldest Greek-letter organization established for African American women, was founded January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.. January 15 is the 114th founders day internationally.
Honorable Judge Sherri Hale, an associate judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in Will County is president of A.K.A., Chi Sigma Omega Chapter which was founded in 2004.
Aurora Communications director Clayton Muhammad said Aurora’s 37th Annual King Ceremony will be another virtual ceremony Monday, January 17 at 11 a.m. on the City’s Facebook page. The theme this year is Be The Voice.
• There weren’t any individuals seeking to use their voices for up to three minutes each.
The City Council unanimously approved the following agenda items:
• Approved was the appointment of Mavis Bates, Valencia Gidron, Kristina Murphy, and Caryl Riley to the Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board.
City government of Aurora documents show in June 2021, the City Council approved changes to Chapter 2, which included a sunset provision for all board/commission members. The sunset was included to bring the board/commission terms into compliance with the new dates provided in the ordinance, as well as survey members if they wished to continue to serve or step down.
The nomination brought forth represents four veteran candidates, from Wards 9, 4 and 1.
• Approved was the appointment of Arthur Cox to the Aurora Youth Council. Cox is a resident in Ward 10 representing Metea Valley High School.
• Approved was the appointment of Philip M. Pogue to the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Commission (GAR). Pogue is a resident in Ward 10.
• Approved was the appointment of Michael Nelson to manager of the Events Division within the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs Department.
He will serve as liaison for all city of Aurora sponsored events and as a liaison to downtown issues that are non-development.
Nelson started with the City as an intern more than five years ago and has served as the interim Events manager after Gina Moga, long-time Special Events manager, retired in July 2021.
• Approved was the appointment of Bill Donnell, Michael Nelson, Tony Martinez, and Vernon LaVia, to represent Aurora to the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board (AACVB).
City government of Aurora documents show the city of Aurora has one municipal representative and 10 at-large appointments on the Board. The nominees for the municipal representative and at-large candidates are as follows: Municipal representative, city of Aurora- alderman: Bill Donnell, at-large, city of Aurora-Community Affairs: Michael Nelson, at-large, city of Aurora-Communications employee Tony Martinez, at-large, Aurora-area business owner Vernon LaVia.
In 2013, the City of Aurora entered into a new intergovernmental agreement with the AACVB, which allowed for Aurora to appoint a total of 50 percent of the at-large members Board. Each participating municipality was appointed a representative. The mayor of Aurora submitted a letter nominating appointees for the at-large positions that represented various entities related to the tourism for a term of one year, municipal representatives were provided three year terms. The current municipal representative is alderman Donnell. His term will expire in 2021.
Following the revision in 2013, the AACVB and the City of Aurora re-authorized the agreement in 2015 and again in 2016. One of the terms of the revised agreement requested by the Aurora City Council was to formalize the appointment process by the mayor nominating and the Council voting to approve.
• Approved was a Resolution authorizing the execution of a lease agreement with Carver Aero, LLC for the former leasehold of Lumanair, Inc. at Aurora Municipal Airport.
City government of Aurora documents show consideration and approval of a proposed new lease for Fixed Based Operator (“FBO”) Carver Aero, LLC. (“Carver”), that has assumed the prior lease for premises at the Airport from Lumanair Aviation Services, Inc. (“Lumanair”).
This new lease requires Carver to perform significantly greater infrastructure improvements than required under the present lease. The City will benefit from gaining significant upgrades to this FBO facility, while attracting future additional development at the Airport.
The Council approved a consent to assign the former Lumanair lease to Carver July 27, 2021 via Resolution 21-0564. Since that time, outside counsel has been negotiating the terms of a new lease with Carver, as required by a term of the assignment. The parties have agreed on a total new infrastructure investment by Carver of $10,000,000, along with a specific timeline to make these improvements.
Carver’s investment in the Airport will include significant upgrades to the former Lumanair FBO site, including the construction of an above-ground fuel storage facility, updated hangar and lobby space and refreshed exterior appearances. Carver has committed to making these significant investments in its leasehold in exchange for the abatement of ground rent for the underlying property under its buildings. This arrangement is similar to the lease structure used to stimulate development at the Joliet Air Center (“JA”) leasehold. Carver is also required to pay additional rent and fuel flowage fees, as the City requires from JA.
The execution of a new lease for the Carver leasehold will aid in continuing Carver’s commitment to redevelop the former Lumanair facility with a more modern and attractive FBO facility at the Airport. This new lease will allow Carver to upgrade and modernize its leasehold, to the benefit of all that utilize the Airport.
• Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to enter into a four-year lease agreement at an annual cost of $28,548 with Club Car, LLC for GPS equipment for the golf carts at the Phillips Park Golf Course in Ward 3.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to enhance the golfing experience at the Phillips Park Golf Course (PPGC), the Visage system will be installed on the 61 Club Car golf carts leased to the PPGC by Nadler Golf, an authorized Club Car vendor. The Visage system will allow for graphical representation of the golf course and provide golfers with accurate distances to allow for a more enjoyable golfing experience.
This decision package was approved during the development of the 2022 budget. GPS equipment included as a feature is becoming more common and installing this equipment will allow the PPGC to be more competitive with the many other golfing options in the region. In addition to aiding golfers by providing accurate distances along the course, the Visage system provides a flyover of each hole, and has a “Start/Stop” feature which causes the cart to stop when it travels in areas that are restricted on the course (driving too close to the green, areas under repair, days when only driving on the cart paths is permitted, etc.). The system allows for the creation of a geo-fence, which renders the cart inoperable if it leaves the golf course. The Visage system also comes equipped with Bluetooth speakers that can be connected to a rider’s phone for music or other audio material; the speakers are directed inward to the cart to minimize distractions to other golfers.
In researching options for the addition of this equipment, it was determined that this was a sole source selection. Any installation of non-Club Car approved equipment could void any warranty or even potentially limit the items that could be addressed under the City’s current maintenance agreement with Nadler. Further, Visage is the only equipment that provides the “Start/Stop” feature compatible with gas powered Club Car golf carts used at Phillips Park.
It was budgeted in 2022 for $35,868 per year. This was a budget number identified during the budget cycle and is the standard price for the Visage system annual lease based on the number of carts at PPGC and the selected features. Recently, Club Car, LLC informed the City that a special was under way, reducing the price to $28,548 per year if the agreement was executed prior to the end of 2021. The City was able to obtain a two-week extension of the lower rate, which represents a savings of $7,320 annually, or $29,280 over the span of the four-year lease, essentially getting four years for the cost of three. Due to the time constraints of the provided two-week extension for the reduced price, staff members recommended that this item be brought directly to the Committee of the Whole as new business as the time constraints do not allow for discussion at the sub-committee level.
The Resolution was approved at C.O.W. on 1/4/22, and if it is approved at the City Council Meeting on 1/11, the City would be within the two week extension timeframe and would secure the lower pricing for the duration of the four-year lease. Any delays would result in a loss of the savings. This is a locked rate and will be the same for each year of the four-year lease (no annual escalation).
The 2022 budget includes $35,868 for this expenditure. As previously discussed, the actual rate of $29,548 is under budget due to the end of year promotion offered by Club Car.
The four-year lease will align with the City’s current Club Car lease with Nadler Golf, which covers 2022, 2023 and has additional renewal options for 2024 and 2025. Staff members researched the advantages of leasing versus purchasing directly and due to the continual maintenance and software upgrades that are included in the lease, it is not financial or practical to own the equipment.
Leasing these units will enhance the golf experience at PPGC, improve pace of play, provide PPGC staff members with improved control over golf cart management, reduce the potential for theft and improve competitiveness for PPGC amongst other courses in the region. No adverse impacts are anticipated.
• Approved was an Ordinance establishing the Innovation and Technology Advisory Board under Chapter 2, Article VI of the Code of Ordinances.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to create an innovation and technology advisory board of diverse knowledgeable members with experience in various technological specialties for the purpose of researching and assessing the benefits and risks associated with emerging technologies.
The City embraces the use of innovative ideas and technology for the purpose of advancing its internal operations, as well as its expanding and promoting its relationships and services with and for other community partners and residents.
There is a constant flow and growth of new and emerging technology that will have an impact on the city and its residents or has the potential to benefit the city. Such technology can have an impact on all areas of life, including but not limited to healthcare, education, quality of life, climate, safety and economic development and various other factors that are important to city operations and planning. In order to prepare for, respond to, and potentially utilize all the various forms of emerging technology, extensive research and a vast array of expertise is needed to gather, review and analyze such technology.
The commission shall consist of nine voting members and five ex-officio non-voting members. A maximum of two voting members may be city employees: one from the innovation department and one from the information and technology department.
Members appointed should include a diverse panel of representatives with relevant expertise in different specialties including but not limited to: Innovation and Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Bioscience and Healthcare, d. Advanced Business Services, Aerospace and Defense, Film and Digital Media, Energy and Cleantech, Agribusiness and Food Processing, Transportation and Logistics, Wholesale and Retail, Finance and Insurance, Legal, Government, Other Services.
Members cannot be associated with any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the city. Members should disclose and consider recusing themselves from taking any position with relation to a form of technology which they have an association or relationship with a benefitting party.
The vice-chair of the commission shall be selected by the chairman.
Duties. The commission shall:
(1) Collect and asses the challenges, risks, benefits and detriments of emerging technological opportunities.
(2) Gather well-informed, timely, diverse, and meaningful input from residents and other community stakeholders, and include in its reports and recommendations on such decisions, the disclose of the substance of the input and manner it was sought and obtained;
(3) Provide city decision makers with well-informed advice on significant emerging technology decisions involving city uses of emerging technology, city regulation of new technology uses by private entities and by public-private partnerships, consistent with the core principle set forth above; and
(4) Regularly engage community stakeholders to help form such advice.
An innovation and technology advisory board could serve in a capacity to collect and assess challenges, risks, benefits and detriments of emerging technological opportunities.
• Approved was a Resolution to accept the public improvements and maintenance security for the completed Aurora University – Student Success Center, 1433 Prairie St in Aurora, Ward 4.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to accept the public improvements installed by the developer of this project and to approve the establishment of the required, one year, 20% maintenance security for these improvements.
This is a development that constructed a building on Aurora University Campus in Aurora which included public improvements. In accordance with Section 43-55(a)(3) of Aurora’s Municipal Code, the developer of the Project posted a security to ensure completion of these proposed public improvements including, sidewalks, drive approach, curb & gutter, and pavement patches for the site.
This development has now completed all installations, inspections and submissions that make it eligible to be recommended by the Engineering Division for final acceptance of these improvements and for the developer to establish the required one year maintenance security. As required by Section 43-103(c) of the Municipal Code, the Engineering Division has reviewed, approved and filed as-constructed record plans of the development which depict these public improvements and has completed and approved a final site inspection of said improvements via our onsite consultant. Based on our review and approved site inspection, it is recommend by the Engineering Division, that City Council accept the public improvements, as well as; require as a condition of this acceptance that the developer submit the required one year maintenance security at a value of 20% of the original developments security.
This action adds or replaces public infrastructure – utilities to various divisions for maintenance, including the Street Maintenance Division; all of which have been apprised of these new or replaced utilities.