Aurora officials seek to enhance golf experience at Phillips Park

By Jason Crane

The Aurora City Council gave consent to purchasing an agreement designed to enhance the golf experience at Phillips Park Golf Course (PPGC), by providing staff members with improved control over golf management and decrease number of unutilized tee times at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Tuesday, June 6.

Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin was absent due to a death in his family. Ward 6 alderman, Mike Saville, was mayor pro-tem.

Consent was given to a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to enter into a 38-month agreement with five optional one-year renewals for golf course management software from GolfNow, LLC of Orlando, Fla., for a maximum exchange of three tee times per day.

City government of Aurora documents show City government staff members pursued qualified vendors who were capable to provide a web-based, tee time reservation system with remote access capabilities, remote sales capabilities, customer support, and training for Phillips Park Golf Course to drive revenue growth and enhance golfer experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the golf industry to incorporate remote administrative processes, including payment processing during online tee time reservation. The acquisition of a comprehensive golf course management software solution will ensure that Phillips Park Golf Course is prepared to mitigate any potential future disruptions in golf services.

Staff members desired to extend cashless payment options throughout the golf course property as well as improve the online tee time reservation process.

Decision Factors include:

• Robust Solution: The point of sale system provides a wide variety of services compared to other considered solutions. GolfNow One includes the ability to track inventory in real-time, generate detailed reports, and provides integrated high-speed credit card processing. Additionally, the G1 solution distinguishes itself with a 24-Hour reservation center, which came at a steep cost with alternative solutions.
• GolfNow Ecosystem: Acquiring this solution places Phillips Park within the GolfNow One ecosystem, an industry-leading solution installed at more than 1,100 golf courses. When golfers are looking for available tee times in the region through GolfNow, they will be presented with matching Phillips Park availability, even if they were not originally looking at that particular location. This helps golfers get a comprehensive availability picture in their area and will help bring new players to Phillips Park Golf Course.
• CentralSquare Integration: All lead solutions required some customization to feed data into Aurora’s CentralSquare NaviLine system. Per the opinion of IT project leaders, GolfNow does not require excess customization beyond what was necessary for runner-up foreUP Golf.

Unlike conventional software purchases, GolfNow One will manage the booking and payment ecosystem for Phillips Park and receive compensation through percentages of various purchase types.

Ongoing payment to Golf Now, LLC is completed through a unique barter system that allows Golf Now to collect greens fees for payment of up to three tee times per day according to the Trade Time schedule in the agreement. Golf Now will advertise PPGC via Internet search to allow players to reserve any tee time on the PPGC schedule.

In addition to reserving tee times online, golfers can download the free Golf Now mobile application to pay for tee times as well as food and merchandise once they arrive at PPGC. This SmartPlay function is denoted in the agreement. Convenience fees listed are paid by the golfer at the time of purchase. The PPGC staff members have full control over what food and merchandise is available for purchase under the SmartPlay function.

Credit card fees listed in the agreement are paid by the golfer at time of purchase.

A video of the meeting can be viewed on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page by clicking here.

The City Council gave consent to the following mayoral appointments:

• Consent was given to a Resolution approving the appointment of Michael Nelson as director of Aurora’s Community Events Department.

Start date: On or about June 14, 2023, or as determined by the Department of Human Resources.

• Consent was given to a Resolution approving the appointment of Denise Zartmann to the City’s Advisory Commission for Disabilities.

Denise Zartmann is a Transition Specialist at East Aurora High School.

If the appointment is approved, there will be no remaining vacancy on the commission.

The City Council gave consent to the following agenda items likely to be placed on the Tuesday, June 13 full City Council agenda:

• Consent was given to a Resolution approving the final plat for Associated Bank Subdivision, and an Ordinance vacating a portion of dedicated public right-of-way for an alley, on the Property at 301 West Galena Boulevard.

The Petitioner, First Midwest Group, is requesting approval of a Final Plat for Associated Bank Subdivision, at 301 West Galena Boulevard, which consists of one new lot to be dedicated with a cross access easement and City easements.

City government of Aurora documents show the Property is zoned B-1, Business District – Local Retail. The existing two-story building, which used to be a bank, is approximately twenty thousand, five hundred (20,500) square feet. There are approximately 72 striped parking spaces on the property. The property has frontages on the following streets: W. New York St., Oak Avenue, and W. Galena Blvd. The Comprehensive Plan designates the adjacent blocks of Oak Avenue and W. Galena Blvd. as Arterial Streets, while the adjacent block of W. New York St. is designated as a Local Street. The property also maintains one access to W. Galena Blvd., W. New York St., and Oak Ave., in addition to the existing alley, which is public right-of-way, and runs east and west through the property from N. Locust St. to Oak Ave. The comprehensive plan designates the property’s land use as office.

The Petitioner is requesting approval of a Final Plat for Associated Bank subdivision. The details of the request include the establishment of the one lot Associated Bank subdivision, as well as the dedication of a cross access easement through the property that runs from the western alley to W. New York St. on the north, and newly dedicated City easements at the corners where Oak Avenue meets W. Galena Blvd. and W. New York Street.

Concurrently with this proposal, the Petitioner is requesting approval of a Major Variance for setbacks. Details of the request include reducing the minimum setback requirements along the Oak Ave. and W. New York St. frontages to allow for the parking lot to be expanded. The Major Variance request to reduce the minimum setback requirements for the existing building on the W. Galena Blvd. and the western property line where it is adjacent to a residentially zoned property. The Petitioner’s intent is to remodel the existing building and to enclose the existing drive-through for an office use, and to also expand the parking lot.

The major variance request for setbacks on the property is as follows: To reduce the minimum setback on the Oak Avenue frontage from 30 feet to eight feet, five inches; to reduce the minimum setback on the West Galena Boulevard frontage from 30 feet to 13 feet, four inches; to reduce the minimum setback on the western property line, where the property abuts a residentially zoned district, from 20 feet to nine feet, six inches; and, to reduce the minimum setback on the West New York Street frontage from 20 feet to zero feet.

Concurrently with this proposal, the Petitioner is requesting approval of a Plat of Vacation. Details of the request include vacating the public right-of-way which extends through the middle of the property, from the alley to the west to the Oak Ave. right-of-way to the east.

Staff members reviewed the Final Plat 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 exceptions of the items reflected in the conditions listed in the staff member recommendation below.

Policies and guidelines:

The staff member evaluation and recommendation are based on the following physical development policies:

14.1 (2): To promote the preservation and revitalization of older residential neighborhoods and commercial areas within the City of Aurora.

41.1 (1): To attract and encourage industrial, office and office-research development to planned sites where requisite public facilities are either present or proposed.

61.1 (1): To develop and maintain a street hierarchy system, consisting of expressway, arterials, and collectors, that provides a safe and efficient traffic flow.

Recommendations:

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended conditional approval of the resolution approving the Final Plat for Associated Bank Subdivision, at 301 West Galena Boulevard, with the following conditions:

1) That, prior to final occupancy being issued, the Cross Access Easement language on the Final Plat be finalized with the Engineering Department.

• Consent was given to a Resolution authorizing a five-year renewal of software products from CentralSquare Technologies, LLC, for a total award of $2,038,298.52.

City government of Aurora documents show the renewal of these cloud-based services provide the environment for the City’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system (Naviline) and the City’s Community Development solution, TRAKiT.

CentralSquare Technologies, LLC (formerly Superion, LLC and Sungard Public Sector) has been the City’s ERP solution for over 20 years. The ERP system is the software that provides access to all City core services including, but not limited to, financials, utility billing, planning, credit card processing. In 2017, the City moved these services from on premises on IBM equipment to a service managed by CentralSquare in their “private cloud” service. Resolution R18-040 added the TRAKiT module to the list of software purchased from CentralSquare, LLC. TRAKiT services include permitting and code enforcement.

This current agreement makes the end dates coterminous for all the software provided by CentralSquare.

Access fees for each year of the agreement are listed below.

3/1/2023 to 2/29/2024 – $392,909.97

3/1/2024 to 2/28/2025 – $395,219.80

3/1/2025 to 2/28/2026 – $403,124.20

3/1/2026 to 2/28/2027 – $415,217.92

3/1/2027 to 2/29/2028 – $431,826.63

This five-year term saves the City government $231,704.51 over single year, annual renewals.

Access fees for the previous two years are below:

3/1/2022-2/28/2023 – $372,619.81

3/1/2021-2/28/2022 – $363,506.00

As the City begins to look for alternatives to the CentralSquare solutions, City staff members negotiated a clause in this agreement that allows for termination for convenience with ninety (90) days written notice.

These expenses have been budgeted in account 101-1280-419.38-11.

Impact statement:

These solutions are needed to support the financial and community development functions of the City.

• Consent was given to a Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 2 design engineering agreement with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $412,745.00, and the appropriation of $430,000.00 of Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds for the Sullivan Road – Edgelawn Drive to Golden Oaks Pkwy Project.

City government of Aurora documents show this is a Resolution to approve the above referenced engineering services agreement and to appropriate Rebuild Illinois Bond funds by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Resolution.

The City applied for federal funding in the March 2020 Kane-Kendall Council of Mayors (KKCOM) Call for Projects for 11 different projects. Nine (9) of the City’s 11 submitted projects were selected to be in KKCOM’s 5-year program. This project was not selected to be in the original KKCOM 5-year program and was placed in the Contingency Program. Since that time the project has received funding and has moved into the program, but the full funding amount requested has not yet been received. The funding ratio for these projects is 75/25 (75% federal / 25% local) for Construction and Construction Engineering, up to a maximum amount of $2,500,000. At the moment this project has secured a little over $1,000,000. The City applied for additional funds through CMAP in early 2023 (results pending) and could obtain additional funds from KKCOM if other projects do not move forward in the program.

The project will include widening Sullivan Road from Edgelawn Drive to West of Randall Road from two to three lanes and enclosing the drainage system. Also included will be intersection improvements at Randall Road with signal modernization, and other resurfacing along Sullivan Road. The project will also fill in sidewalk gaps with additional connections and add a shared use path.

The Phase 1 study has been in process since mid-2021 and should be completed this summer. Additional information on the study and project scope can be found at the following website: https://www.aurora-il.org/2414/Sullivan-Rd-From-Edgelawn-Dr-To-Randall-. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025 at the earliest, subject to design engineering, land acquisition and funding. Depending on the results of the newer funding applications, the City may elect to stage construction and/or delay the project until more funding is available. Phase 2 engineering and land acquisition should begin at this time in order to continue to move the project forward. If the project ends up being delayed due to funding, the plans will be close to shelf-ready.

The City published a qualifications based selection (QBS) for the Phase 1 Engineering services on April 1, 2021, with the option to utilize the same firm for Phase 2 Engineering. Nineteen firms submitted their qualifications and experiences. Staff members reviewed the qualifications and determined that Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. of Aurora, Ill. was the most qualified with the top 3 firm’s scores. Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. has been completing the Phase 1 study and City officials are recommending that they move forward with the Phase 2 design.

This followed the Request for Qualifications process and is not subject to the local preference policy. The funding source, Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds, is not subject to the local preference policy.

The Rebuild Illinois Bond Fund is a grant program using proceeds from general obligation (transportation, series A) bonds authorized in the Rebuild Illinois capital program to provide Local Agencies with the funds for transportation improvement projects. The City received $13,042,322.82 in total over a 3 year period. The funds can only be used on bridge and major highway projects that provide an average useful life of greater than or equal to 13 years.

The total cost of the Local Public Agency Engineering Services Agreement is an amount not to exceed $412,745.00 The engineering agreement includes all tasks to design the project for IDOT’s letting, and also includes land acquisition.

IDOT requires a Resolution to appropriate the Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds prior to their expenditure for approved projects. The Resolution for Improvement – BLR 09110 appropriating Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds in the amount of $430,000.00. This amount includes a small contingency for other expenses that may be incurred using Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds.

The 2023 City Budget provides $430,000 for this item in Account 202-4060-431.79-99 (GB052, Sullivan Road – Edgelawn Drive to Golden Oaks Pkwy. Project). As this is a multi-year project, any additional funds will be budgeted in future years.

• Consent was given to a Resolution approving the purchase of bulk rock salt in the amount of $78.31 per ton from Compass Minerals America Inc. Overland Park, KS, for the Division of Street Maintenance under the DuPage County Joint Purchasing Agreement Bid for the 2023-2024 winter season.

City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to obtain City Council approval for the purchase of bulk rock salt in the amount of $78.31 per ton from Compass Minerals America Inc. for the Division of Street Maintenance under the DuPage County Joint Purchasing Agreement Bid for the 2023-2024 winter season.

The bulk rock salt is used to melt snow and ice from City streets, making them safer for vehicular traffic. The City government will be dividing road salt purchase again this year between DuPage County Department of Transportation and the State of Illinois Joint Purchasing Agreement. By dividing road salt orders between two government agencies soliciting bids, City officials hope to have two different suppliers. This will provide alternate source of salt deliveries should one of the two providers be unable to make timely deliveries.

The City government anticipates purchasing from Compass Minerals America Inc. Approximately 7,500 tons (50% of the City’s annual order) of bulk rock salt for the 2023-2024 winter season.

Local preference does not apply since City officials are participating in a Joint Bid through DuPage County.

$650,000.00 has been budgeted for this expense in the 2023 using account 203-4060-431.65-32 and the department does not anticipate going over budget with this approval.

• Consent was given to an Ordinance calling for a public hearing and a Joint Review Board meeting to consider the designation of a redevelopment project area and the approval of a redevelopment plan and project for the City of Aurora Cross Street Tax Increment Financing District.

The Ordinance would start the process of creating a TIF District for the Cross Street area that includes a future rehabilitation of the building at 110 Cross Street. The Ordinance sets dates for a Joint Review Board meeting and a public hearing and calls for the notices to be given in connection with the meeting and public hearing.

The subject parcels are immediately adjacent to the City’s Downtown Fringe, generally bordered on the south by a property fronting Gale Street, on the east by River Street, on the north by a Cross Street, and on the west by Middle Avenue. The proposed TIF District is within the City’s existing TIF # 3. The area location described above has been underutilized and blighted for decades.

On March 4, 2023, a redevelopment agreement was approved between the developer, JH Real Estate Partners LLC, and the City of Aurora (resolution R2023-076, Legistar #23-0190). Per the RDA the city would establish a 23-year TIF with 70% of the benefit going to the developer.

To establish a TIF district (“Redevelopment Project Area” or “RPA), Illinois municipalities must adopt several documents including a Redevelopment Plan and an Eligibility Report.

The creation of a TIF district requires several steps. The City’s Corporation Counsel has engaged Klein Thorpe and Jenkins to serve as the City’s Special Counsel to support this TIF formation process. The Redevelopment Agreement calls for the City to provide financial incentives to the redevelopment project paid out of the creation of a new TIF District. It is anticipated that the TIF District will be created in late summer 2023.

Making this announcement will begin the formation process of the proposed Cross Street TIF District. Failure to make this announcement will mean that this TIF District will not be created and needed financing for future development of the renovation of 110 Cross Street per an approved RDA between the City of Aurora and the developer will not be created.

Recommendations:

Staff members recommend approval of the Ordinance calling for a public hearing and a joint review board meeting to consider the designation of a redevelopment project area and the approval of a redevelopment plan and project for the City of Aurora Cross Street Tax Increment Financing District.

• Consent was given to an Ordinance amending ordinance No. 023-017 calling for a public hearing and a Joint Review Board meeting to consider the designation of a redevelopment project area and the approval of a Redevelopment Plan and Project for the City of Aurora River Vine Tax Increment Financing District to reschedule the public hearing date.

City government of Aurora documents show the Ordinance is needed to reschedule the public hearing for the creation of the proposed River Vine TIF District. The City Council designates the date of Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Aurora City Hall, 5th Floor Conference Room, 44 East Downer Place, Aurora, Ill., for the purpose of conducting a public hearing to hear from any interested persons, taxpayers, or affected taxing districts regarding the Redevelopment Project Area and the TIF Plan for the proposed River Vine TIF District.

On March 14, 2023, the City Council of the City of Aurora adopted Ordnance No. 023-017, titled “An Ordinance Calling for a Public Hearing and a Joint Review Board Meeting to Consider the Designation of a Redevelopment Project Area and the Approval of a Redevelopment Plan and Project for the City of Aurora River Vine Tax Increment Financing District” (“Procedures Ordinance”). However, because of scheduling issues this ordinance is to reschedule the date of the public hearing in the Procedures Ordinance for the River Vine Tax Increment Financing District, and to have notices of the new public hearing date given in accordance with the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-1, et seq. (“TIF Act”).

The creation of the proposed River Vine TIF district requires several steps. The City’s Corporation Counsel has engaged Elrod Friedman to serve as the City’s Special Counsel to support this TIF formation process. The Redevelopment Agreement calls for the City to provide financial incentives to the redevelopment project paid out of the creation of a new TIF District. It is anticipated that the TIF District will be created in late summer 2023.

Impact statement:

Failure to make this announcement will mean that this TIF District will not be created and needed financing for future development of the renovation of the “Westbank” an approved RDA between the City of Aurora and the developer will not be created.

• Consent was given to a Resolution establishing the maximum number of Class B: On-Site Consumption liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant, LLC d/b/a Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant at 518 S. Lake Street in Ward 4.

City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to maintain the number of Class B: On-Site Consumption liquor licenses. The restaurant at 518 S Lake Street, Taqueria Muniz, is undergoing a 100% change in ownership. The business is being purchased by Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant LLC, d/b/a Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant. The new LLC has submitted a liquor license application for your review.

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.

Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant LLC d/b/a Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant has submitted a liquor license application to offer alcohol for sale for on-site consumption. The current owners, Taqueria Muniz Mexican Food, Inc., have held a City of Aurora liquor license since November of 2019. Upon the final transfer of ownership of the business, if approved, this liquor license will allow the restaurant to continue to sell alcohol during business hours. Taqueria Muniz & Restaurant serves a full menu.

If approved, this resolution will maintain 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 future 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 to further the City of Aurora’s economic development and to bring additional business and people to the City of Aurora.

• Consent was given to a Resolution establishing the maximum number of Class B: On-Site Consumption liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from Paulie’s Pub & Grille, LLC at 444 N Eola Road in Ward 7.

City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to maintain the number of Class B: On-Site Consumption liquor licenses. Paulie’s Pub & Grille, LLC at 444 N Eola Rd., is undergoing a 100% change in ownership and has submitted a liquor license application for your review.

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.

Paulie’s Pub & Grille, LLC has submitted a liquor license application to offer alcohol for sale for on-site consumption. The current owners have held a City of Aurora liquor license for many years. Upon the final transfer of ownership of the business, if approved, this liquor license will allow the business to continue to sell alcohol during business hours. Paulie’s Pub & Grille serves a full food menu.

If approved, this resolution will maintain 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 future 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 to further the City of Aurora’s economic development and to bring additional business and people to the City of Aurora.

• Consent was given to a Resolution establishing the maximum number of Class B: On-Site Consumption liquor licenses (unofficially related to the application from J&C Tutti Frutti, Inc. d/b/a Sushi Plus at 4302 E New York St #124). [Ward 10]

City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to maintain the number of Class B: On-Site Consumption liquor licenses. J&C Tutti Frutti, Inc. d/b/a Sushi Plus, is moving their business location and has submitted a liquor license application for your review.

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.

J&C Tutti Frutti, Inc. d/b/a Sushi Plus has submitted a liquor license application to offer alcohol for sale for on-site consumption at a new location. Sushi Plus is operating at 4430 Fox Valley Center Drive and is moving the business to Pacifica Square at 4302 E New York St #124. The business has been licensed at the current location at 4430 Fox Valley Center Drive since 2013. Pursuant to Sec. 6-19 of the Code of Ordinances, liquor licenses are not transferrable between business locations. When a liquor licensee wishes to relocate the licensed business, the licensee must submit a new liquor license application and fee for review by the City Council and issuance by the Local Liquor Commissioner.

If approved, this resolution will maintain the number of allowable liquor licenses to allow for the issuance of the license at the new business location by the Liquor Commissioner. City staff members have been working with the future 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 to further the City of Aurora’s economic development and to bring additional business and people to the City of Aurora.

• Consent was given to a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to execute a contract with Duke’s Root Control, Inc., Elgin, Ill. in the amount of $96,000.00 for sanitary sewer smoke testing in Wards 2, 3 and 4.

City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to smoke test 128,000 feet of sanitary and combined sewers in the area tributary to the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) #4 at Hazel Avenue.

Smoke testing identifies locations in the sanitary sewer where stormwater enters the sanitary sewer system though storm inlets, roof drains, sanitary services, sewer defects and manhole defects. The smoke escaping to the surface is an indication of locations of stormwater inflow and infiltration (I&I) that can enter the sanitary sewer system and overwhelm the sewer system during rain events. Reducing I&I will reduce the likelihood of the combined sewer system overflowing at CSO #4 on the Fox River.

As part of the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency created the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System which resulted in several permits for the City of Aurora. As part of one of these permits, the City was required to create a Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) to reduce pollutants entering the Fox River and Indian Creek from their combined sewer systems. Smoke testing can help identify the scope of sewer separation projects required in the LTCP created by the City to satisfy the permit it holds with the IEPA.

Blowers are placed on two sanitary manholes while liquid smoke is blown into the sanitary manholes. The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic, non-staining, does not create a fire hazard and will dissipate in a few minutes.

An RFP was advertised on April 21, 2023 and was opened on May 5, 2023. A review team of three individuals analyzed the four submittals and selected Duke’s Root Control, Inc. (Duke’s) as the highest ranking proposal. The City has used Duke’s for other services in the past and has been satisfied with the services they provided.

This project will be carried out during the summer and fall of 2023. The total project amount of $96,000.00 is budgeted for in 2023 within account 281-1856-512-73-09 (B031, $2,550,000.00 LTCP sewer separation).

The Fire Department and Police Department will be notified of the smoke testing. Door hangers will be placed in advanced of the work. Smoke testing signs will be placed during the testing. Motorists may be stopped intermittently while the crews are working, and some lane closures are to be anticipated.

• Consent was given to a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to execute a contract with MBE Fence, Warrenville, Ill. in the amount of $257,700 to install new fencing at RiverEdge Park in Ward 1.

City government of Aurora documents show the 2023 budget includes various upgrades and modifications to RiverEdge Park, a premiere outdoor music and event venue on Illinois Route 25 in Ward 1. One of the budgeted items for the park this year is to install new fencing and replace some sections of existing fence.

RiverEdge Park, which is owned by the city of Aurora and managed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) is home to numerous events throughout the year. To ensure that it continues to be a premiere destination for performances and other events, the City has continually been working with ACCA to identify and implement upgrades and improvements to the park. One of the identified improvements is to install new fencing in some areas, while removing and replacing existing sections of shorter existing fence. To properly secure the park, temporary fencing is rented for use throughout the year. The costs associated with that rental fencing will no longer be incurred once this new fencing is in place. Not only will this be more aesthetically pleasing than the rental fencing but will also allow for improved access control and improved emergency access due to the strategic placement of the new gates.

This purchase will enhance safety for the many patrons that attend RiverEdge Park each year. Funds for this budgeted purchase are included in account 354-4440-451-73-43 (A062).

The project was advertised publicly, and sealed bids were received, opened and read aloud at 10 a.m. May 18, 2023. Three bids were received. City government officials recommend awarding the contract to MBE Fence in the amount of $257,700. Which includes the low bid of $224,180.00 for the original bid, plus additional funds to allow for 200 LF of additional fence and one additional sliding gate.

This resolution will have minimal impacts to other departments or the motoring public.

• No vote was necessary for a Resolution approving a final plan revision on Lot 108 of Butterfield, Phase II, Unit 1-C, for a Business and Professional, Office (2400) Use and a Warehouse, Distribution and Storage Services (3300) Use.

City government of Aurora documents show the Petitioner, Distribution Realty Group, is requesting approval of a Final Plan Revision for the property at the northeast corner of N. Eola Road and Ferry Road, for an approximately one hundred, thirty-four thousand (134,000) square foot building for a warehouse and office use.

The Property is zoned PDD, Planned Development District. The Property is an approximately 10 acre vacant lot that is in the Butterfield development district. The comprehensive plan designates the property as office / research / light industrial. The existing Final Plan, PDFNL21-020, was approved on September 21, 2021, also for a warehouse and office use.

The Petitioner, Distribution Realty Group, is requesting approval of a Final Plan Revision for the property at the northeast corner of N. Eola Road and Ferry Road. The details of the request include construction of a new warehouse and office building that will be approximately one hundred, thirty-four thousand (134,000) square feet. The Final Plan Revision shows a parking lot on the north side of the property from Prospect Ct. with one access point, which will be used trailer parking and loading, and an additional 52 future parking passenger vehicle parking spaces. The final plan revision also shows a parking lot on the south side of the property, which includes a primary access from Prospect Ct. and an emergency access to N. Eola Rd., along with 98 passenger vehicle parking spaces. The Property’s total passenger vehicle parking count is 151 spaces. The proposed building is approximately 37 feet tall and consists of a predominantly painted pre-cast concrete panels.

Staff members reviewed the final plan resolution 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.

Policies and guidelines:

13.1 (5): To develop major retail, office and industrial uses that rely on efficient access to expressways in the vicinity of expressway interchanges.

41.1 (1): To attract and encourage industrial, office and office-research development to planned sites where requisite public facilities are either present or proposed.

41.1 (6): To promote attractive, well-maintained industrial and office-research areas through landscaping and site design.

Recommendations:

Staff members recommend approval of the resolution approving a final plan revision on Lot 108 of Butterfield, Phase II, Unit 1-C, for a Business and Professional, Office (2400) Use and a Warehouse, Distribution and Storage Services (3300) Use.

• Final approval for items on the consent agenda are set to be made at the June 13 Aurora City Council meeting.