By Jason Crane
At the city government of Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conferencing platform, the City Council approved an ordinance to grant additional time for compliance of the Special Use for a Cannabis Dispensing Facility at 1415 Corporate Boulevard near the entrance of the outlet mall off of Farnsworth Avenue which was granted January 28. The vote was 10-1 with alderman-at-large Robert O’Connor voting no and 10th Ward alderman Judd Lofchie recusing himself because of his real estate business.
O’Connor said he will “continue to vote no because the State gave to the cities, the ability to govern this once it got into the issue of zoning.
“I don’t think they meet all of the circumstances that we need here in regard to issuance of special use permit. I’m still concerned about the traffic flow, about the walk ways, the manner of getting in and out of this facility. I just don’t think it’s the best. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
• Delayed for two weeks was an ordinance establishing a special sign district for a mural (see page 10) on the property at 5 S. Lake Street near the intersection of Galena Boulevard and Lake Street.
Nicole Mullins, Board president of L.I.F.T. Aurora A.K.A. Culture Stock shared her thoughts about the City’s need for racial, social, and cultural equity in the arts.
“I’m here this evening to speak to you about the City’s need for racial, social, and cultural equity in the arts. Specifically as it pertains to policies, processes, ordinances, and committees within the City, the Public Art Commission, and Aurora Downtown.
There is a specific mural that is on today’s consent agenda and to summarize, this is a mural that was initiated and funded by Aurora Downtown.
“Since learning of this mural yesterday evening I had the opportunity to speak with Marissa Amoni of Aurora Downtown and it’s my understanding that the artist and mural were chosen by a sub-committee of Aurora Downtown.
“I’m just sharing for context, I’m not interested in spending my time speaking on specific people and this specific issue, but rather on the underlying issue that has manifested itself with this specific agenda item and that is inequity in the arts.
“I want to just summarize briefly what this means so we are all on the same page of how I’m defining equity in the arts in the community. Basically that marginalized groups have a seat at the table, that they are considered in policy and in process.
“There’s a strong feeling from black and Latino artists that they do not have equity through entities like the City of Aurora, the Aurora Public Art Commission, and Aurora Downtown. There’s a consensus that mural and sign ordinances were created to prevent hip hop and street art murals from being permitted.
“We’ve come a long way since 20, 15, 10 years ago even, but we still have a long way to go. I’ve heard from people within the City and outside of the City that the three phases of mural design approval, mostly we are at the mercy of an older white demographic within these boards who will not approve cultural and social justice pieces, so we play it safe with the designs that we submit.
“That’s problematic. We cannot continue to use diversity as a buzz word of positivity when it suites us and then continue to allow policies, ordinances, and non-diverse boards to dictate what diversity means in avenues like public art.
“I would like to challenge all of us listening today, and specifically our aldermen. I have heard it would be best if we would table this specific consent item.”
The City Council approved the following agenda items:
• A resolution authorizing and approving an amendment to the existing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City government of Aurora and the Village of Montgomery.
• A resolution approving a lease agreement with Lumanair, Inc. for certain real property at the Aurora Municipal Airport.
• A resolution authorizing the installation and integration of card access and controls for the City Hall stairwells by e.Norman Security Systems Inc. for $65,515.49 plus a five percent contingency of $3,275.77.
• A resolution authorizing the execution of a redevelopment agreement between the City government of Aurora and the owner of the property at 1128 East New York Street in Ward 7.
• An ordinance amending the documents relating to the special facility revenue bond series 2010 (Marmion Project) (the “Bond”) of the City government of Aurora, Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall Counties; authorizing the execution and delivery of an amended bond, a first amendment to loan agreement and related documents in connection therewith; and related matters.
• A resolution authorizing the director of purchasing to purchase two MET thermal cameras for a not to exceed amount of $30,100.
Acceptance of the 2019 annual financial reports for the City, TIF funds, and single audit reporting requirements.
• A resolution establishing the maximum number of Class D – Specialty by area (Fox Valley Mall Entertainment District) City government of Aurora liquor licenses (unofficially related to application from: The Comedy Shrine Theater, LLC, 195 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora).
• An ordinance approving an intergovernmental agreement with the County of DuPage for the reimbursement of eligible COVID-19 expenses.
• An ordinance resetting the dates 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 government of Aurora (Lincoln and Weston Tax Increment Financing District).
• Approved 11-1 was a resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Fox Valley Music Foundation for the calendar year of 2020. Ward one alderman Emmanuel Llamas voted no.
Mayoral appointments:
• Unanimously approved was a resolution reappointing Aurora Fire Chief Gary Krienitz to the Aurora Firefighters’ Pension Board.
• Unanimously approved was a resolution reappointing Albert ‘Al’ Signorelli and Michael Walker to the Aurora Preservation Commission.
• Unanimously approved was a resolution appointing Rafael Blanco, Marc Straits, Curtis Spivey, and Michael Mancuso and reappointing Jane Regnier and Julie Gervais to the Aurora Public Art Commission.