By Jason Crane
At the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform, City Council members viewed a proposal of phase 1 of the Fox Valley Mall redevelopment plan.
Centennial Real Estate Company in Dallas, Texas, owners of the Fox Valley Mall propose to demolish the former Sears building at the campus and build three, three-story apartment buildings.
Phase 1 of the Fox Valley Mall redevelopment plan includes 305 apartments on approximately 11 acres in three story buildings.
The apartments available would be efficiency, 570 square feet; one bedroom, 700 square feet, and two bedroom, 1,000 square feet, with an average of 1.5 parking spaces per unit.
Jon Meshel, senior vice president of Development at Centennial Real Estate said, “As we embark on this modernization process, the process of adding new and modern retail, and other uses that will revitalize the campus in ways that are consistent with the Route 59 Corridor Plan, we plan to start by demolishing the former Sears building.
“The demolition of this obsolete building paves the way for the specific project that we will describe this afternoon and for future projects.
“Over the last year, our team, and the City’s amazing staff have collaborated to produce a vision for the property that we are extremely excited about.”
Meshel introduced project partners Atlantic Residential, a private commercial real estate firm based in Atlanta with regional offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, and Focus Development, a Chicago-based developer and general contractor.
Architectural plans the Council viewed are by Torti Gallas + Partners with offices in Silver Spring, Md., Los Angeles, Calif., Tampa, Fla., Philadelphia, Pa., and Istanbul, Turkey.
The plan is to start demolition of the former Sears building in early 2021 and open the first apartment building, June 2022.
Some concerns included the complex having enough parking. The planned ratio is each unit will have one covered space and half-a-space for guest parking.
Consent was given to the ordinance which would establish a special use planned development, approving the Fox Valley SP, LLC plan description and amending ordinance number 3100, being the Aurora zoning ordinance, to an underlying zoning of R-5A Midrise Multiple Family Dwelling District for the property on the East Side of the Fox Valley Mall, west of Route 59, and south of New York Street.
City of Aurora government documents show Centennial Real Estate Company purchased the Fox Valley Mall in 2015. In 2018, a partnership, controlled by Centennial, purchased the Sears’ and Carson sites after they fell into bankruptcy.
Since then, Centennial has been making substantial investments essential to the Mall’s revitalization including the remodeling of the Mall center. As part of these efforts, they are in for permits to demolish the Sears building to make way for a future retail and residential development.
• The City Council members were given an update of the Citizen Police Review Board by Alex Alexandrou, chief administrative services officer for the city government of Aurora. He said, “The draft ordinance is proposing a 9 member CRB (Citizen Review Board).
“The various tasks and highlights of their responsibilities would be as follows:
They would review, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning APD (Aurora Police Department) activities and efforts related to officer recruitment and training;
• The overall relationship with the public;
• Outside perspective to the evaluation of civilian complaints;
• Review and evaluate the administration and consistency with respect to civilian complaints;
• Make recommendations to the chief as to the proposed discipline prior to imposition, and
• Provide a systematic means to achieve continuous improvements in the interactions between the public and the APD.
Alexandrou added, “In my close to 30 years of being in local government, I think this is really one of the most significant achievements that we’ve pulled together in a very short time because we didn’t want to drag this out, and we wanted to establish an outstanding template here.
“We took the best from what we found in our research, but we’ve also customized it and made it unique to Aurora.”
Consent was given to the nine member CRB.
• Placed on Unfinished Business as a request by Ward 1 alderman Emmanuel Llamas, was a resolution to authorize agreements with CY LLC dba 180 Engineering, Gov Temps USA, LLC, Stivers Services, LLC and Nexus Employment Solution Plus Inc. to provide staffing for temporary and contracted positions.
Due to the pandemic and to contain personnel cost, the City has initiated a hiring freeze with the exception of public safety vacancies and other operationally essential positions. In order to allow the City to move forward with projects, alleviate the strain on current personnel working understaffed and provide the required level of service deserving to constituents, the City has determined that contracting certain current and future vacancies will most effectively and efficiently address these concerns.
• Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin read a letter he received from Carol Williams, a nurse at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora who shared her heartbreaking experiences providing medical care to COVID patients. Click here to see it.
A video of the meeting can be viewed on the City’s YouTube page:
The City Council gave consent to the following agenda items:
• Consent was given to an ordinance Establishing a Special Use Planned Development at 311 S. Evanslawn Avenue to be incorporated under the existing 2018 Aurora University Plan description. They want to purchase the property to use as an office.
• Consent was given to an ordinance granting a special use permit for a social service agencies, charitable organizations, health related facilities, and similar uses when not operated for pecuniary profit. The petitioner Aurora Christian Healthcare on behalf of the owner Iglesia Jesucristo es la Verdad is requesting approval of a special use for a social service agencies, charitable organizations, health related facilities, and similar uses when not operated for pecuniary profit use on the property at 545, 551 and 557 S. 4th Street which includes allowing a portion of the building to be used for office space for health practitioners.
The subject property is currently a church with R-3 One Family Dwelling District zoning.
The details of the request include renovating two rooms in the basement of the church into office space for free health-care for the uninsured in the greater Aurora community provided by professional volunteers. Aurora Christian Health-care is continuing the services provided by Mission Possible that was located on Broadway and has recently closed. From the experience at Mission Possible, Aurora Christian Health-care envisions that the majority of their services will be for dental care. Other services will include medical, vision, orthopedics, counseling and spiritual care.
The organization plans on being open three nights a week from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Based on previous experience, they believe the offices will average 10-15 patients a day with 3-4 patients an hour with three volunteers on site. The time frames will not conflict with any church usage.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing the amendment of the contract with Microsoft, Inc. awarded in 2018 through the State of Illinois Central Management Services’ bid awarded to CDW, Inc in 2015, to allow for the purchase of Microsoft Enterprise M365 security and mobility licenses through Dell, Inc. 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78664, in the amount of $20,511.84 (also through the State of Illinois Central Management Services bid awarded in 2020).
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for snow removal operations in 2021, in an amount up to $1,320,000.00.
• Consent was given to a resolution renewing all fees pertaining to Chapter 46 of the City of Aurora Code of Ordinances Entitled “Towing Services”.
Towing companies which have been selected and designated to provide services for the Aurora Police Department are required to apply and meet specific requirements in order to work with the City. The City in turn is responsible for setting and maintaining the fees firms are allowed to charge for services.
Proposed tow rates and storage fees will remain the same as 2019.
Tow charges from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. are $140; from 5 p.m. – 7 a.m. $175. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays are $175. After business hours release fee is $50.
Storage fees begin at the 25th hour and are $50 for inside and $45 for outside.
The renewal fee structure is set to be reviewed in two years.
• Consent was given to a resolution allowing the director of Purchasing to approve change order 1 for $100,000 to the contract of $802,630.00 with Geneva Construction Co., P.O. Box 998, Aurora, for the 2020 citywide pavement patching for water and sewer maintenance project.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2020-#3 to modify Project CDBG-2020-10 – 605 District to convert the activity from an economic development activity to a public service activity focusing on youth education in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. City of Aurora government staff members request authorization of Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2020-#3 to modify Project CDBG-2020-10 – 605 Innovation to convert the activity from an economic development activity in the amount of $100,000 for a public service activity focusing on youth education in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
• Consent was given to a resolution establishing the maximum number of Class A: Package sales full liquor licenses unofficially related to the application from Prisco’s Fine Foods, Inc. d/b/a Prisco’s Family Market located at 1108 Prairie Street, Aurora.
• Consent was given to a resolution to award a contract to HR Green, Inc. in the amount of $39,750.00 to revise the regulatory floodplain map for the area surrounding Mastodon Lake.
To remove the mandatory flood insurance requirement for approximately 100 residences and businesses that were inaccurately mapped by FEMA within the Mastodon Lake floodplain.
HR Green, Inc. completed a Stormwater Master Plan for Mastodon Lake in early 2020. The scope of work for that project involved developing a hydraulic model of the Lake, which indicates the floodplain boundary for Mastodon Lake shown on FEMA’s regulatory flood maps is larger than it should be.
By revising the regulatory floodplain map for the area surrounding Mastodon Lake, the mandatory flood insurance requirement could be removed for approximately 100 residences and businesses. For building owners that choose to maintain their flood insurance policy, the premium will be drastically reduced.
• Consent was given to a resolution to award a contract to HR Green, Inc. in the amount of $176,350.00 for final engineering and construction observation for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration project.
To improve water quality in Mastodon Lake, improve shoreline aesthetics, and make the shoreline less susceptible to erosion.
Mastodon Lake was excavated in the 1930s during the construction of Phillips Park. Over the years, sediment and decaying organic matter have accumulated at the bottom of the Lake to an average depth of nearly 2 feet. The average water depth throughout the Lake is now only 2.5 feet. Such a shallow aquatic system is susceptible to warming, excessive nutrients, and becoming overrun with algae and other aquatic vegetation. These conditions are unsightly and limit recreational opportunities, such as boating and fishing.
• Consent was given to a resolution approving ATALIAN Midwest, LLC, Eco-Clean Maintenance, Inc., International Cleaning Services, Inc., Smith Maintenance Co., and total facilities maintenance, Inc. as the lowest responsive responsible bidders for contracted janitorial services at various City of Aurora facilities effective January 1, 2021, in an amount not to exceed $114,161.59.
• Consent was given to a resolution to approve Petroleum Traders Inc. and Blu Petroleum LLC as the vendors for the purchase of unleaded and diesel motor fuel for the City of Aurora fleet and backup generators for an additional one year, in an amount not to exceed $1,153,500.00.
• Consent was given to a resolution accepting the underground public improvements and maintenance security for Butterfield Phase II, Unit 4B – Lot 401 – 2350 Frieder Ln.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing the lease of City-owned property with Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, Inc, for the continuation of their community garden.
This lease will allow the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry to continue their community garden project which allows members to apply for their own plot where they can grow fresh fruits and vegetables for local consumption.
In 2014, alderman Mike Saville initiated the original lease of previously vacant lots with the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry. That lease has resulted in a successful community gardening program over the past six years. The 2014 lease expires this year, and the City and the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry are both seeking a new lease which expands the lease area for gardening.
• Consent was given to an ordinance creating a civilian review board to review matters involving the police department.
The purpose of this draft document is to provide the Council the opportunity to review and discuss the proposed language that would create and govern the CRB.
The proposal to create a CRB was a component of the Community Helping Aurora’s Necessary Growth and Empowerment (CHANGE) Reform Initiative. The multi-phased process has included the following:
i. Review police Use of Force Policy (Completed July 2020)
ii. Review police Training Policy (Completed July 2020)
iii. Conduct an audit for body cameras (R20-189)
iv. Explore the implementation of a Civilian Review Board (R20-0232; October of 2020)
v. Introduce Ordinance establishing the CRB (November of 2020)
On October 13, 2020 the City Council approved R20-0232 “A resolution directing the preparation of an ordinance establishing a Civilian Review Board to review matters involving the Police Department” (attached). On Tuesday, Oct. 27, City staff members presented an update on the proposed complaint process to the Public Health, Safety and Transportation (PHST) Committee in order to receive feedback (infographic attached). The direction received during both of these review processes have been incorporated into this draft ordinance.
The draft ordinance represents extensive work from city staff, outside legal counsel, aldermanic representation (alderman Emmanuel Llamas and alderman Sherman Jenkins), the Aurora Police Department (APD) command staff and a moderator from the CHANGE Reform Initiative Sessions, Judge Kim Bright. The draft up for review also represents feedback from the City Council from both the approval process of R20-0232 and the recent PHST presentation.
The proposed ordinance contemplates the creation of a CRB, which establishes an additional process for civilians to submit complaints in addition to the current process of individuals having to go directly to the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) at the APD. The ordinance proposes a nine member board, made up of Aurora residents that will work in tandem with the APD’s existing complaint process. The CRB will provide a non-law enforcement voice to the disciplinary process, providing an additional accountability measure in the chain of command.
The CRB will also provide feedback on training processes and policy decisions, review and evaluate the disciplinary process for consistency and provide reports to the public through a CRB webpage on topics relevant to the community, to name a few. The CRB will serve as a conduit from the community to the police department, creating a formal body to ensure positive community relations continue.
Final approval is set to be made at the November 24 Aurora City Council meeting.