By Jason Crane
The Aurora City Council viewed a presentation from members of the Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board on its goals and initiatives at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora is an advisory board that recommends to the City Council and the Mayor’s Office programs, or actions, contained in the City Sustainability Plan among other activities and recommendations, and provides knowledge on sustainability issues.
The presentation can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page after the 32 minute mark by clicking here.
Since the approval of the City Sustainability Plan in 2019, uncontrollable circumstances have determined a gap in the Board’s regular operation.
New members have been appointed and the Aurora’s sustainability goals persist.
Recently, the Board lost one of its pillars, member Caryl Riley, who died last year.
Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is the relationship between the environment, economy, and equity.
The City has been working on sustainability initiatives for several years.
In 2009 the City’s Green Team, comprised of representatives from all City departments, helped draft the framework of the existing plan by surveying what sustainable practices the City already had experienced and brainstormed new ideas.
In 2015, the City endorsed and signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The City aims to have 50% renewable energy by 2030.
In 2018, the City passed a resolution to accept the Cool DuPage initiative and goals, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% from 2007 levels by 2030. The 2009 Comprehensive Plan included a chapter on Sustainability. There was a 2009 Sustainability Plan as well as an updated 2019 plan.
The Board’s focus is on implementing the 2019 Sustainability Plan, which is segmented by the following topics: Climate change; community development and land use; education and engagement; energy efficiency, conservation, and management; environmental justice; community resilience; transportation and infrastructure; waste minimization, reuse, and recycling; and water quality and conservation.
The Board is set to continue working with City government staff members on updating the Green Initiatives page of the City’s website to showcase the sustainable actions taken by City operations.
As part of the education mission, the residents and businesses will be informed through the dedicated pages on how to reduce their environmental impacts and access funding incentives.
The Board will cooperate with other boards that share similar goals. For example, the Bike, Pedestrian and Transit board promotes bike trails as an alternative mode of transportation.
Federal and State governments have set emissions reduction goals and have recently passed legislation such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Each bill provides millions of dollars in funding opportunities for the City and its residents and businesses to accomplish these goals, such as installing electric vehicle chargers, purchasing electric school buses, installing solar panels, replacing homes appliances that use electricity rather than gas, and retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient.
As noted in the 2019 Sustainability Plan, local government, residents, and businesses must all collaborate to implement sustainability initiatives.
Sustainable actions may reduce long-term operational costs and reduces Aurora’s footprint on the environment.
From time to time, a public comment or memo with details on a relevant topic, including funding opportunities available to the City may be provided.
The Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora will help foster ecological sustainability, intellectual renewal, equity, resiliency, and will enhance greater opportunities to present to future generations.
The impact on the City may be minimal and will be outweighed by the positive benefits to be achieved by pursuing sustainability strategies and goals:
Some time from staff members will be required to assist the Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board promoting sustainability goals, applying to grant opportunities for projects that meet sustainability goals, and to gather data that the advisory group will publish in an annual Sustainability Report.
- Two individuals used their voices for various reasons up to three minutes each: Comments can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page after the 8 minute mark by clicking here.
The City Council gave consent to the following agenda items likely to be placed on the Tuesday, Oct. 24 full City Council agenda:
- Consent was given to a Resolution approving the appointment of Oscar Ramirez, Jr. to the Aurora Veteran’s Advisory Board.
City government of Aurora documents show the nomination brought forth represents one new candidate. Ramirez, Jr. is the owner of Tribe Staffing and a retired Marine after serving 21 years.
- Consent was given to a Resolution approving the appointment of Anderson Lee to the Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission.
City government of Aurora documents show the nomination brought forth represents one new candidate.
Anderson Lee is a resident of Ward 7 and a senior manager of Intelligence Engagement at CompTIA.
- Consent was given to a Resolution establishing the maximum number of Class D: Downtown Core On-Site Consumption liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from Amore Mio J&G Corp. at 31-33 W. New York Street in Ward 6).
The purpose is to increase the number of Class D: Downtown Core On-Site Consumption liquor licenses. A new business, Amore Mio J&G Corp., at 31-33 W. New York Street would like to offer alcohol for on-site consumption on their menu. Amore Mio has submitted a liquor license application for review.
Representatives from the restaurant said it is tentatively scheduled to open October 26.
City government of Aurora documents show 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.
Amore Mio has submitted a liquor license application to offer alcohol for sale for on-site consumption in their new restaurant. If approved, this liquor license will allow the sale of alcohol during business hours. Amore Mio plans to offer a full menu of Italian food.
The owners of Amore Mio are the same owners of Altiro Latin Fusion – Aurora, at 1 S. Stolp Avenue, who have a liquor license for on-site consumption since 2020.
If approved, this resolution will increase the number of allowable liquor licenses A to allow for the issuance of the license by the liquor commissioner. City staff members have been working closely with the business to ensure that all requirements for a liquor license, as set forth in Chapter 6 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, are met.
Final approval for items on the Committee of the Whole consent agenda are set to be made at the October 24 Aurora City Council meeting.