Aurora City Council members listened to compliments about the Aurora Police Department at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting Tuesday.
Indian Prairie School District 204 superintendent, Karen Sullivan, said, “My purpose tonight is to publically thank you as a City, and to thank Chief (Kristen) Ziman and your police department.
“As you know on March 14th there was an organized national school walk-out, as a response to the Parkland Florida school shootings. All of our middle schools and high schools had students who participated. We estimated we had about 5,500 students who participated on that day.
“As the superintendent of a school district that has just over 28,000 students, it’s a pretty heavy burden these days, being responsible for the safety for all of those students in these challenging times, let alone when there’s an event like an organized walk-out.
“My burden was really significantly lightened with the great partnership we have with your police department. As soon as we became aware it was going to be a large response to that walk-out, I contacted Chief Ziman. She and her team were really extroardinary in how responsive they were,” Sullivan said.
• Consent was given to Mandeep Sidhu, petitioner Mega Fun Park LLC for the approval of a special use permit for a special purpose recreational institution use for the former Hobby Lobby property at 1971 W. Galena Boulevard.
The petitioner has a similar facility in Crystal Lake called Mega Trampoline Fun Zone.
According to city of Aurora documents, the project will be divided into three phases. The first phase will be the development of approximately 35,000 square feet of the current vacant store with a trampoline park, bowling alley, dodge ball, basketball, inflatable children’s area, climbing wall, indoor go carts, and other similar activities.
This phase includes the development of a restaurant and bar. The applicant will be pursuing a Class S recreational facility liquor license. The second phase would be the creation of an indoor go-kart racing area in the remaining approximately 34,000 square feet of the vacant store. The third phase is envisioned as an indoor sky-diving area that would occupy the approximately 29,000 square feet of the area that currently houses Big Lots. The third phase is a future project if the Big Lots is no longer in the space and would involve major renovations to the building.
• Consent was given to a revision to the Final Plan on Lot 1, Lot 14, Lot 15, and Lot 16 for Phase Two of Fermi Corporate Park Subdivision at 2801 Beverly Drive for a business and professional office and warehouse, distribution and storage services use.
The subject property is utilized by the petitioner, Vermeer Midwest, for machinery rental, storage, and maintenance facilities. There is existing space on site for office usage.
• Consent was given to Ward 10 Residential Grant Program.
The Ward committee comprised of 10th Ward residents and their alderman shall receive, review and approve application for grants with a minimum threshold of $1,000.00 up to a 50/50% cost sharing reimbursement with a maximum of $7,500.00 for community enhancements and/or improvements.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and funds will be distributed based on availability of annual budgeted funds at the discretion of the 10th Ward Committee and its alderman. The grant period is based on calendar year and funds will not be carried over from year to year.