By Jason Crane
Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence Tuesday, May 23, at the Aurora City Council meeting to many individuals and organizations for their efforts in honor of National Preservation Month.
Honored were owners of nine houses and three large redeveloped properties.
The redevelopment groups awarded are:
- Urban Equity Properties for redevelopment of the Terminal Building, opening it again after decades of being vacant.
- JH Real Estate Partners for the Hobbs building, known for its the onion dome, and 6 – 12 N. River Street building next door. The upper stories of the Hobbs were vacant for more than 70 years. Now 31 market rate apartments are above ground level.
- Fox Valley Developers for the historic former Copley Hospital campus, vacant for 25 years. Now the Bloomhaven Development. The 330,000 square-foot property was adapted and reused in a mixed used development for $129 Million.
Aurora’s National Public Works employees were thanked for their work in honor of National Public Works Week.
Mayor Richard Irvin read a proclamation for National Safe Boating Week May 20 through May 26 to members of the United States Coast Guard Auxillary.
A video of the presentations can be viewed after the 7 minute mark on the city government of Aurora’s YouTube page by clicking here.
The City Council gave consent to the following mayoral appointment:
- Approved was a Resolution approving the appointment of Ward 9 resident, Kathryn Gozum, to the Mayor’s Sustainable Aurora Advisory Board.
The City Council unanimously approved the following agenda items:
- Approved was a Resolution authorizing F.H. Paschen to repair and restore the monument and pool liner of the Phillips Park waterfall.
The Phillip’s Park Waterfall is south of the intersection of S. Smith Boulevard and Wyeth Drive. The waterfall was originally built in 1959 and over the course of the years the stone, brick, and concrete surrounding the monument have deteriorated and require repairs.
City government of Aurora documents show the interior plumbing and mechanical components of the waterfall were repaired and replaced in 2022. In order to restore, repair, and enhance the exterior of the monument, repairs are needed for the exterior of the monument as well as the pool liner.
A decision package to provide funds for the repairs was approved in the 2023 City budget.
Using the Job Order Contracting program (R20-221) F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates, LLC submitted the proposal to perform the repairs in the amount of $89,400.07.
A 10% contingency of $8,940.00 is requested for this project.
Funds for this project are budgeted in 2023 and allocated in account 340-4440-451.38-05.
F.H. Paschen is not indebted to the City.
Timeline and duration of repairs specifically to the pool liner could take the waterfall out of service temporarily to allow for both repairs and proper curing of materials to take place.
Denial of the repairs, will allow the waterfall monument to fall into a further state of disrepair.
- Approved was an Ordinance establishing a conditional use planned development and approving the Village Bible Church plan description, Resolution, and revision to the final plan for the property at 1401 West Galena Boulevard.
City government of Aurora documents show the Property is zoned R-2(C) one family dwelling district with a conditional use for a religious institution. In 2020 the conditional use was granted to codify the existing nonconforming church use. Additionally, a final plat and a final plan were approved at the time. The work proposed in the final plan was never constructed. A basketball court and a soccer field were constructed after the City Council process, with the work not being shown on the approved final plan. This has triggered the requirement of a conditional use planned development as well as a revision to the final plan.
The Petitioner requested the establishment of a conditional use planned development. The plan description is being done to codify the existing site layout of the Church, as well as allowing up to two recreational uses (one basketball court and one soccer field) as shown on the final plan.
Concurrently with this proposal, the Petitioner is requesting approval of a final plan revision for a religious institutions use. The final plan revision shows the location of the existing basketball court and the soccer field. This plan proposes new landscaping along the western property line, between the parking lot/basketball court and the neighbors. Thirty-six arborvitaes (fast growing trees and shrubs) are proposed to help ease the noise and light pollution from the basketball playing.
Staff members reviewed the conditional use planned development ordinance petition and have sent comments back to the petitioner on those submittals. The petitioner has made the requested revisions to these documents.
Staff members are recommending conditions, as listed in the staff member recommendation, to mitigate the impact that the recreational uses will have on the surrounding residential properties, including noise and light pollution.
City officials have received public inquiries requesting additional information on this petition and raising concerns regarding the noise levels created by the basketball-court users. Public comments also cited lack of supervision and late times played but added that if staff members are on site and times were restricted, they would have no issues.
Policies and guidelines:
The staff members’ evaluation and recommendation are based on the following physical development policies:
10.0 To provide for the orderly, balanced and efficient growth and redevelopment of the City through the positive integration of land use patterns, functions, and circulation systems. To protect and enhance those assets and values that establishes the desirable quality and general livability of the City. To promote the City’s position as a regional center.
11.0 To guide the growth of the City in an orderly and structured manner.
22.1(1) To achieve appropriate zoning protection for residential areas designated in the land use plan.
The establishment, maintenance or operation of the conditional use will not be unreasonably detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort, or general welfare. With the restrictions being put in place, the public health and comfort of the neighbors will be maintained and improved.
The conditional use planned development will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted or substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood; factors including but not limited to lighting, signage and outdoor amplification, hours of operation, refuse disposal areas and architectural compatibility and building orientation. Restrictions are being put in place to limit the hours and usage of the proposed accessory uses to not diminish the property values for the area.
The establishment of the conditional use planned development will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for uses permitted in the district. The church has operated at this location for many years and the proposed accessory uses are being planned in a way to not impede normal development of the surrounding area.
Will the proposal provide for adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, and/or other necessary facilities as part of the conditional use. No changes to utilities, access roads, or drainage are proposed from what has been historically present on the site.
The proposal takes adequate measures to provide ingress and egress so designed to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets? No changes to ingress and egress are proposed from what has historically been present on the site.
The conditional use planned development in all other respects conforms to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located, except as such regulations may in each instance be modified by the city council pursuant to the recommendations of the commission. All recommendations from staff members and restrictions present in the plan description intend to conform to the regulations of the R-2 One Family Dwelling District.
Recommendations:
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended conditional approval of the Ordinance establishing a conditional use planned development and approving the Village Bible Church plan description for the property at 1401 West Galena Boulevard, with the following conditions:
1.) That the hours of operation of the recreational uses be allowed only from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. by the general public.
2.) That the hours of operation be extended by one hour to 9 P.M. for use by church patrons and church sponsored groups.
3.) That the basketball hoops be locked each night after hours to ensure compliance.
4.) That the Petitioner prevent or respond directly to any disorderly conduct that may take place during or after hours of operation.
5.) That the City will take action to revoke the conditional use for the recreational uses if the Petitioner is in violation of the above conditions.
- Approved was an Ordinance prohibiting the use of groundwater as a potable water supply by the installation or use of potable water supply wells or by any other method.
City government of Aurora documents show the City is seeking a prohibition on the use of groundwater as a potable water supply, in a specific geographic area, as part of the remediation process overseen by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies (IEPA) for the properties between the Fox River and Route 25, south of RiverEdge Park extending to the City of Aurora parking lot north of New York Street.
Due to the previous commercial/industrial use of the property certain chemical constituents in the groundwater in the vicinity may exceed Class 1 groundwater quality standards for potable water as set forth by the IEPA. This type of potable water restriction has been implemented in the past for other remediation projects such as for RiverEdge Park, and the Shodeen Eastbank Development.
The proposed limit on the ability to place wells or otherwise use the groundwater in this specific location for potable use will serve to help protect the health and welfare of the citizens of Aurora. Additionally, these types of restrictions on relatively small geographical areas will not impede the City’s ability to produce sufficient safe drinking water for the citizens of Aurora.
The staff members would anticipate that this project will increase the City’s overall tax base and viability by facilitating investment and development.
Passing the Ordinance will prohibit the drilling of wells by anyone, including the City, in that specific geographical area, to ensure the safety, health and welfare of the citizens of the City of Aurora.
- Approved was a Resolution ratifying payment to E J Equipment Inc., for sewer machine repair services rendered, in the amount of $56,232.25.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to pay for required repairs to fleet unit 63-160.
The City’s Water and Sewer Maintenance Division employs VAC-CON combination sewer trucks to maintain Aurora’s underground sewer system. During sewer cleaning operations, one of the sewer trucks, unit 63-160, lost all auxiliary hydraulic function and workers were unable to retract the suction boom. Technicians were dispatched to the scene and determined that the hydraulic pump had failed and were able to manually retract the boom for transport.
E J Equipment Inc., of Manteno, Ill., is an authorized dealer and service center for VAC-CON sewer maintenance equipment. Given the equipment necessity and scope of the auxiliary hydraulic pump replacement, E J Equipment Inc. was contracted to perform the hydraulic pump replacement. Following replacement and during testing of the new hydraulic pump, the E J Equipment technician noticed that the vacuum compressor fan was vibrating and determined the cause to be a failing vacuum compressor, which was also replaced.
Replacement of the auxiliary hydraulic pump and vacuum compressor totaled $56,232.25.
Funding to satisfy the cost of repairs to unit 63-160 is budgeted in account 120-4431-418.38-01.
E J Equipment Inc. is not indebted to the City.
- Approved was a Resolution authorizing the execution of Local Public Agency Amendment #2 for Federal Participation with the State of Illinois, and the execution of a Phase 3 Construction Engineering Supplement #1 with Civiltech Engineering, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $123,903.00 for the Farnsworth Avenue Bridge Project.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to approve the Phase 3 Construction Engineering Services Agreement Supplement #1 with Civiltech Engineering, Inc. and to execute the Local Public Agency Amendment #2 there by reserving additional federal funds for the project.
Farnsworth Avenue crosses Indian Creek just north of Indian Trail. The structure was constructed in 1970 and consists of three 8’ diameter Corrugated Metal Pipes that are badly deteriorated. The City has been moving forward various stages of the project and the bids were opened at the IDOT State Letting on Friday January 21, 2022. The project has been under construction since last year.
The funding agreement with IDOT and the original Civiltech Engineering, Inc. agreement in the amount of $299,073.00 was approved in November 2021 by City Council (R21-305). There was also another funding agreement with IDOT (R22-030) to receive additional federal funding for construction.
The Phase 3 Construction Engineering Agreement Supplement #1 with Civiltech Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $123,903.00. The bridge project has encountered a number of delays and challenges since the beginning of construction. Civiltech’s staff members have been an extension of City government staff members, but they require additional funds to complete the project. Justification for the additional costs are as follows:
The contractor’s production was slower due to the utility delays at the beginning of the project.
The original project / contract completion planned for October of 2022. The contractor is now scheduled to complete the project in August of 2023.
The contractor was working through the winter months of 2022 / 2023 and into the summer of 2023, which was past theirs and the consultant’s originally anticipated finish.
The contractor’s production was slower while working over the unplanned winter months.
Additional electrical work was added to the project requiring additional coordination and inspection.
Additional time is now required to fully inspect the work as the utility conflicts are resolved and the contractor crews are back up to their planned production rates. Through conservative staff member planning, the consultant was able to stretch the original engineering hours. The requested amount of time is for only 5 months rather than the 11 months over.All participatory construction costs and construction engineering for this project has been covered with 80% federal funds. Staff members have already received approval from IDOT staff members to obtain additional STP-Bridge Funds to cover 80% of this supplement. Therefore, the City share of this supplement will be $24,780.60. Local Public Agency Amendment #2 provides for the additional federal funding.
Both drafts are under review by IDOT. If the forms are amended by IDOT, the mayor and city clerk will execute the most current forms.
Even with an increase in construction engineering with Supplement #1, the City’s local share is estimated to be under the previously approved amount by the City Council. A surplus of additional Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds was already appropriated for the project before IDOT approved the last funding increase. Additionally, the City received a grant of $400,000 from the 2019 State Capital Bill that was never factored into any previous budgeting or Council action. Since the last Council action, City government officials have been contacted by DCEO and have been working with them on administering the Grant Management Program (DCEO Grant #20-203261). Therefore, there is no supplemental IDOT resolution needed to appropriate any additional Rebuild Illinois Bond Funds for this project.
Bridge construction is anticipated to be completed in August 2023. Construction will take place under traffic, no detour will be required. Traffic in each direction will be reduced to one lane, with the southbound left turn lane open during all stages. Intermittent lane closures may occur during certain work activities.
- Approved was a Resolution authorizing the appropriation of $48,103.30 of MFT Funds for the Galena Boulevard from Locust Street to Ohio Street Interconnect Project.
City government of Aurora documents show this is a Resolution to provide additional Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds as required by the Illinois Highway Code for Section 08-00270-00-TL.
This is an older project that provided for signal interconnection on Galena Boulevard from Locust Street to Ohio Street. Construction was completed circa 2011 utilizing CMAQ federal funds, MFT, and other local sources. During the City’s recent MFT audit (now known as a documentation/compliance review), it was noted that not enough MFT funds had been appropriated to the project.
City Council originally approved $98,500.00 to be spent on GC61 (Locust Street to Ohio signal interconnect) out of the MFT account. The final share out of MFT was $146,603.30. Therefore, the difference ($48,103.30) needs to be officially appropriated. The project has been completed and money spent out of the MFT account, this is a paperwork exercise with IDOT.
- Approved was a Resolution ratifying payments in the amount of $8,644 to the College of DuPage and approving estimated payments in the amount of $119,142 to Richland Community College for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2023.
City government of Aurora documents show approval of payments is required to send police recruits through the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, a partnership with the College of DuPage and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, and to the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center, a partnership with Richland Community College and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. This includes wearables (uniforms/PT sets), OC spray training, classroom/online training, lodging, and meals.
Prior to 2020, the state of Illinois reimbursed police officers’ basic academy training from State funds directly to the academy. In January 2020, the State informed municipalities across Illinois that they would be required to pay for basic police officer training, with the possibility of future reimbursement by the State. Depending on State funds, this reimbursement could be in full or partial payment. Before this announcement, the City typically paid $330 per recruit, which covered wearables and OC spray training, while the State covered the remaining balance.
In 2023, the current cost per recruit, including room and board, wearables, and OC spray training, are approximately $6,619 for those recruits attending the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center.
In 2023 the Aurora Police Department hired two police officers already employed by another municipality and attending their basic police training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, where room and board are not part of academy costs. The Aurora Police Department was required to pay academy costs to the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at $4,696 per recruit for a total of $8,644.
The primary purpose of the police academy is to prepare new officers for a career in law enforcement. The academy provides basic training for recruits to become certified Illinois Law Enforcement Officers. This certification requires that recruits successfully complete a 560-hour (14-week) comprehensive training course. The Police Department has used the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for approximately three years. Other academies have either been unable to meet APD standards or have been unable to grant the number of slots needed to train recruits annually.
In 2023, two recruits hired by another municipality were already enrolled in the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy. Restarting their training at the preferred academy was neither practical nor efficient, so police officials elected to allow these two recruits to complete their basic training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy. This is a common practice for agencies that hire police recruits already in training.
Aurora police officials request ratification for the two Suburban Law Enforcement Academy recruits for $8,644. These two police recruits attended the academy from January 9, 2023, to April 28, 2023.
Approval is requested for the remainder of 2023, for which the Police Department anticipates sending eighteen more recruits to the Macon County Law Enforcement Center basic academy, with nine beginning May 7, 2023, through August 25, 2023, and nine more starting September 9th, 2023, through December 22nd, 2023.
The total amount to send these 18 additional recruits to the Macon County Law Enforcement Center academy is approximately $119,142.00. The total anticipated police academy costs will be $127,786.00. The 2023 budget provides $242,000.00 in account 101-3536-421.42-48 to pay for basic academy training.
- Approved was a Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 3 Construction Engineering agreement with Ardmore Roderick in the not to exceed amount of $224,451.00 for the 2023 City-wide resurfacing projects.
City government of Aurora documents show the City plans to resurface 43.4 lane miles of streets for more than $9.4 million. City staff members take the lead on construction observation and administering the project during construction. In order to oversee construction, including inspections, work layout and fully document work, the City will require an experienced resident engineer to assist City staff members with this project. Material testing is required to document work in accordance with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) standards.
The City published a qualifications based selection (QBS) for the resident engineer services March 10, 2023. Nine firms submitted their statement of qualifications (SOQ). Staff members reviewed the SOQs and determined that Ardmore Roderick of Downers Grove, Ill. was the most qualified.
This followed the request for qualifications process and is not subject to the local preference policy.
The engineering services agreement from Ardmore Roderick provides an experienced full time resident engineer for up to 1,200 hours and additional fees for a sub-consultant to provide material testing. Ardmore Roderick will assist the Engineering Department with construction supervision on the 2023 City-wide resurfacing projects as detailed in the scope of services in an amount not to exceed $224,451.00. This agreement includes some additional hours to potentially cover inspections and material testing on other City-wide projects including Contract 2.
The 2023 City Budget has budgeted $224,451.00 in CIP GB097 / Account No. 340-4060-431.73-91 (Capital Improvements Fund) for these services.
- Approved was a Resolution authorizing the director of the Purchasing Department to purchase a VAC-CON Combination Sewer Cleaning machine from EJ Equipment 6949 N. 3000 E. Rd. Manteno, Ill. in the amount of $563,662.00.
The purpose is to replace a 2004 combination sewer cleaning machine with a VAC-CON Model V312HE/1300 LA combination sewer cleaning machine.
City government of Aurora documents show the purchase of a new combination sewer cleaning machine is needed in order to help ensure that the city of Aurora meets its Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (EPA NPDES) permit requirements and to minimize sewage basement backups and street flooding.
The U. S. and Illinois EPA expect municipalities like the city of Aurora to proactively maintain their sewer systems in order to avoid sanitary sewer overflows (SSO’s) and minimize pollutants in storm water runoff . SSO’s result in raw sewage discharges into the Fox River and other streams as well as basement sewage backups. SSO’s are often caused by blockages in publicly owned sewers that could be avoided through regular sewer cleaning.
The city of Aurora’s Water and Sewer Maintenance Division is responsible for cleaning approximately 1,200 miles of sanitary, combined and storm sewers as well as approximately 16,000 manholes and over 30,000 catch basins. Catch basins are storm inlets designed to protect sewer pipes by trapping debris in sumps. For catch basins to perform properly and avoid street flooding they need to be cleaned on a regular basis. The existing 2004 sewer cleaning machine is inoperable and beyond its useful life span.
Water and Sewer Maintenance is recommending that the city of Aurora purchase the VAC-CON sewer cleaning machine from EJ Equipment using the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement contract number 101221-VAC in the amount of $563,662.00 after the trade in of an existing 2004 VAC-CON in the amount of $20,000. Funding for this purchase includes $457,500.00 in account number 510-4063-511.75-10 within the 2023 Water and Sewer Fund budget and a budget transfer is in progress to utilize $106,162.00 from account number 280-1852-512.75-10 Drainage Fund.
The purchase of this sewer cleaning machine will help the City comply with state and federal permit requirements and reduce basement sewer backups and street flooding.
- Approved was a Resolution authorizing payment to the Fox River Study Group to conduct water quality studies of the Fox River and implement a plan for improving water quality.
The purpose is to adopt a resolution authorizing payment to the Fox River Study Group from the 2023 through and including the 2026 budget.
City government of Aurora documents show starting in 1998, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has included the Fox River on Illinois’ 303(d) list of impaired waterways. Federal law requires that a total maximum daily load (TMDL) study be conducted for waterways that are listed on the State’s 303(d) list. In 2001, the Fox River Study Group was formed to plan and conduct a TMDL Study of the Fox River. The Fox River Study Group is a diverse coalition of stakeholders and is supported by financial contributions from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, Sierra Club, Aurora, Algonquin, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Yorkville, Elgin, Fox River Water Reclamation District, Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District, Crystal Lake, Illinois State Water Survey, and Kane County.
The Study Group has recently updated the FRIP (Fox River Implementation Plan) and is focused on future water quality. This update was delivered to the IEPA in December 2022. One key part of this update was predictive modeling of actions to eliminate nuisance algae blooms and correct dissolved oxygen problems seen along specific sections of the river. The model evaluated different nutrient reduction strategies from agriculture and municipalities as well as removal of dams for cost and effectiveness in meeting water quality goals.
The Fox River Study Group’s commitment to science for public policy guidance is key to creating environmental and economic success. Maintaining strong community-wide support will help assure the continued restoration and recovery of this invaluable regional resource.
Each year the city of Aurora has been contributing $0.50 per capita times the Aurora census population. The 2023 City Budget provides $100,000 for this item in account 510-4063-511.32-18 (Water and Sewer Fund). Payment for this contribution was previously authorized by resolutions R11-040 and R15-108 and R18-263.
The work of the Fox River Study Group is vital to maintaining compliance with the federal Clean Water Act.
- Approved was an Ordinance amending Chapter 36, Sec. 36-26 of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to the rank of Commander at the Aurora Police Department.
City government of Aurora documents show this Ordinance is a request for an update to the language contained in Sec 36-26 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances from the rank of “Captain” to “Commander”.
The current language in Sec 36-26 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances describes actions related to the promotion and demotion of police department personnel with regard to the rank of “Captain”. This title is no longer in use and should be replaced with the word “Commander”. This update will provide clarity and will align the language of the Aurora City Code with the current rank structure at the police department. Further, current language of the Ordinance provides guidance for police officers promoted “after January 1, 1990,” This language is obsolete and should be removed.
While conducting an administrative review of police policy and the Aurora Code of Ordinances, it was discovered that the change in title from “Captain” to “Commander” had not been made, and the leadership of the police department would like to see this language updated.
Further research revealed that prior to this change in wording, “Captain” was a position subject to the Civil Service process, and a decision was made by City leaders to alter this to the appointed position of “Commander”. The language change from Captain to Commander was made at the same time as this change was made from a Civil Service position to an appointed one.
An update to the language contained in Sec 36-26 will ensure continuity between the Code of Ordinances and current police management practices.