By Jason Crane
At the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform, the majority of the City Council voted eight to five against a gas station at the northwest corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Molitor Road.
The motion needed a super majority of nine votes, including mayor Richard Irvin’s vote for the land to be rezoned.
It was after approximately two hours of discussion and the vote being postponed for several weeks due to several demonstrations and contact from residents near the proposed site.
Earlier in the meeting was a vote to postpone the vote again for 30 days. That was rejected eight to four to hold until the May 25 City Council meeting.
A presentation by the developers for the City Council included project elements added in response to meeting input.
The four additions are: Demolish the existing building and canopy after the new site is opened, additional liner to underground fuel storage tank area, improve stormwater quality treatment and clay liner in basin, and add a six-foot privacy fence around improvements.
Public comments were given by 13 speakers who all essentially asked the City Council to vote no on a proposed resolution to redevelop the vacant land at 1340 Molitor Road to build a new gas station.
Concerns included the potential for runoff and damage to well water used by homes behind the lot and property values decreasing.
Thirteen speakers included Kane County Board members Mavis Bates and Monica Silva. Bates serves as chair of Sierra Club, Valley of the Fox. All of the speakers were opposed to the proposed plan.
• Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin proclaimed the month of April as Sikh awareness and appreciation month.
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the World.
Amnol Singh, an eighth grader from Granger Middle School led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sarwan Singh from the Sikh Religious Society led with an invocation.
• Aurora Health-care Hero of the Week was Dr. Baljinder Singh, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine United States Army and Randall Road Animal Hospital.
• Alderman-at-large Robert (Bob) O’Connor and 10th Ward alderman Judd Lofchie received honors for their public service to the city of Aurora and its citizens in their last meeting as aldermen An Aurora city government resolution states the following:
Robert J. O’Connor was first elected to serve as alderman-at-large in 1985, and is the city of Aurora’s longest serving alderman.
After the early retirement of Mayor Thomas J. Weisner, alderman O’Connor was unanimously nominated by his colleagues on the Aurora City Council to serve as mayor of Aurora from October 2016 to May 2017.
He served as chairman of the Finance Committee and member of the Building, Zoning and Economic Development (BZE) Committee.
Alderman O’Connor has served under five mayors, including himself, and the late mayor Tom Weisner who said, “Bob O’Connor is one of those people who has served selflessly with dedication and dignity”.
He consistently supported organizations that advocate for youth, seniors, and underprivileged in Aurora as well as the arts and sciences.
O’Connor has faithfully served the residents of the city of Aurora for nine terms and plans to spend his free time with family in Illinois, Texas, and Washington.
A special presentation for alderman O’Connor is set to be May 7 at 5 p.m. outside of the Alderman’s Office next to City Hall.
An Aurora city government resolution states the following about alderman Judd Lofchie:
Judd Lofchie was first elected to serve as alderman of the 10th Ward in April of 2017.
He found time to be a presence in the community by sponsoring community and neighborhood events, neighborhood clean-ups, and assisting in the improvements to the character of the 10th Ward.
Alderman Lofchie has supported the mission of the following local organizations: Baseball of Aurora, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, Living Daylight Organization, Hesed House, At Risk Mentoring, Teen Night, Inc., Aurora Sunrise Rotary Club, The Light of the Heart Art Jam, Fox Valley United Way, Aurora Fire Museum, Fox Valley Music Consortium, The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance, Aurora Regular Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Prairie State Legal Services, Wayside Cross Ministries, Quad County Urban League, Gigi’s Playhouse, Aurora Rotary Foundation, Kiwanis Club – Coats for Kids, Aurora East Educational Foundation, Aurora Historical Society, Northern Illinois Food Bank, SciTech Hands on Museum, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Talented Tenth Social Services.
He served on the Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee (PHST) and Infrastructure and Technology Committee (I&T).
Judd founded “StreetWise” newspaper for the homeless in 1992 in Chicago which has helped 11,000 homeless people and he currently serves an emeritus board member.
Alderman Lofchie brought insight, good perspective and thoughtful questions about how to best serve the citizens of the 10th Ward.
He has faithfully served the residents of the 10th Ward.
• An update was given on Aurora’s Civilian Review Board which is part of the C.H.A.N.G.E. (Community Helping Aurora’s Necessary Growth & Empowerment) Reform Initiative.
The nine-member Board is set to meet for four, four-hour sessions for a total of 16 hours in May for training on topics including laws, procedures, Office of Professional Standards process, use of force, training, scenarios, and governance.
The City Council approved the following agenda items:
• Approved were several ordinances and resolutions to construct subdivisions with a total of 713 units with 162 of those traditional detached single-family residential homes and 550 of those age-restricted detached single-family residential homes within a gated community in three phases and an amenity center.
The proposed subdivisions are Lincoln Prairie by Del Webb and Lincoln Crossing.
The petitioner, Pulte Home Company, is requesting the approval of an amendment to the annexation agreement, commonly known as the Lincoln Prairie Planned Development District, east of U.S. Route 30, south of Wolf’s Crossing, north of 111th Street and west of Canadian National Rail Line.
The property is approximately 534 acres of vacant land that was annexed into the City of Aurora in December 2002.
The annexation agreement included a variety of future land uses including residential, commercial, and primarily manufacturing.
At that time, the city government was interested in having an industrial area to relocate existing industrial uses that were in operation throughout the City in incompatible residential neighborhoods. However, that industrial vision never came to fruition and this property sat undeveloped.
In February 2021, the City Council approved the Wolf’s Crossing Subarea Plan which redesignated the future land uses for this area to be primarily low-density residential uses and some commercial at key nodes.
The proposed agreement includes a provision to allow golf carts on private streets, pedestrian paths, and the pedestrian bridge so the residents of the age-restricted community can utilize the commercial uses without the need to drive their private vehicles to shop, thereby lowering vehicle trips, and creating an additional amenity for residents.
When commercial property is developed, a plan should be created and implemented to support golf-cart access and circulation. It may be handled with a golf cart-only parking area that keeps the golf carts separate from vehicles.
The proposed amenity center will be constructed on approximately 11 acres in the center of the age-restricted development. The center will include, but is not limited to a pool, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, and pickle ball courts. Included are several parks which are interspersed throughout the subdivision.
These parks will feature various amenities such as a community garden, pavilions, picnic tables, grills, and a dog park.
• Approved was a second extension to have additional time to meet compliance for a proposed cannabis dispensing facility at 35 N. Broadway.
The amendment is to grant additional time for compliance of the special use (conditional use) of a cannabis dispensing facility at 35 N. Broadway that was granted October 27, 2020.
Due to the shutdowns caused by COVID-19, the State has delayed the deadline for issuing the cannabis dispensing licenses.
City government of Aurora documents show the City granted Bloom Holdings I, LLC, a special use (conditional use) permit for the cannabis dispensing facility April 28, 2020, that contained conditions.
The special use (conditional use) then amended October 27, 2020 granted additional time for compliance of the special use (conditional use). Specifically, it granted an additional six months to obtain conditional registration license for cannabis dispensing facility by the State, to April 28, 2021, and granted an additional year to commence its use as a cannabis dispensing facility, to October 27, 2021.
The State has delayed awarding licenses again to give applicants a second chance at qualifying following complaints about the scoring process. Governor JB Pritzker has declined to give a date on when the license will be awarded and issued.
The petitioner is requesting a second extension for additional time for compliance to extend to October 28, 2021.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing approval of the restoration and cleaning of the G.A.R. murals contract to Third Coast Conservation L. Liparini Studio from Chicago, in the amount of $41,134.50.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing approval to accept a bid from McKay Lodge Fine Arts Conservation Laboratory, Inc. from Oberlin, Ohio in the amount of $109,889.00 for the restoration and replication of the G.A.R. sentry statue.
City government of Aurora documents state: On July 4, 1878, the G.A.R. Hall opened to the public for the first time. Overlooking the city of Aurora, the G.A.R. sentry, a cast zinc statue, stood guard.
The statue is most likely a model from J.W. Fiske & Company, the most prominent American manufacturer of decorative cast iron and zinc statues. Although this piece of history required minor repairs over the years, it continued to stand guard until it was taken down in 2008. At this time, the statue was transported to a facility for repair, but fell into approximately 45 parts. The statue was returned to Aurora in 2019 and stored off-site until funds were available to complete the repairs. Later in 2019, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) notified the city government of Aurora that a grant frozen in 2015 for a total of $750,000 would be accessible once more. The project will be entirely funded from this grant.
• Approved was a resolution approving a revision to the final plan for the construction of an office within the parking deck north of Prairie Street, east of South Evanslawn Avenue, and south of Southlawn Place.
City government of Aurora documents show the petitioner, Aurora University, is requesting approval of final plan revision for the construction of an office to house a campus safety facility within the parking deck at 1405 Prairie Street.
• Approved was a resolution appointing Linda Read as the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund authorized agent for the city of Aurora.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the city of Aurora to purchase the Apex Officer virtual simulator for the Training Division of the Aurora Police Department (APD) for an amount not to exceed $62,500.00.
City government of Aurora documents show the Apex Officer training system is a comprehensive solution that is designed to allow Aurora Police trainers the ability to give presentation and classes, conduct interactive testing and assessment and provide immersive hands-on, scenario-based, exercises with detailed debriefing and after action review. The Apex Officer system is designed to increase a police officer’s knowledge, skills, and confidence in a safe, challenging environment that is highly interactive and engaging. The system allows the trainers to interact with the trainee and allow their verbal skills to de-escalate the situation or address any threats presented to them. This allows for a real-life interactions where verbal and command skills can be honed.
The Apex Officer system utilizes a state-of-the-art virtual reality mounted display to create the world’s most realistic and immersive judgmental training simulator.
The purchase of Apex Officer virtual simulator would be used to enhance APD’s current training possibilities. The system could be used in mandatory training, as well as during an officer’s uncommitted patrol time. This would replace the outdated and inoperable Milo system, which is 12 years old and not currently functioning. It is a two-dimensional screen with limitations on areas of movement and scenario options.
The purchase would cost a total of $117,868 but Aurora Police Department will receive a $55,368.00 discount for being the first agency in Illinois to have this technology. With the discount it would cost a total of $62,500 which will be purchased with the use of asset forfeiture funds. Apex Officer offers a 12-month warranty, includes an instructor/ operator course covering hardware setup, all software updates, and trouble shooting.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the city of Aurora to purchase 100 ballistic shields with asset forfeiture and general funds.
City government of Aurora documents show the Aurora Police Department presently has ballistic shields in most police cars, and they have been instrumental in providing officer safety over the years but the manufacturer’s warranty on them is five years from the date of production; APD shields have reached their end of life.
The warranty is for five years from the date of manufacture, due to the breakdown of the material that provides the protection. The present shields have passed that threshold and are eight years old. Being a larger police agency, United Shield contacted APD and related that a custom order from a large agency was unable to be completed through to delivery and they now had excess inventory. Keeping shields in the warehouse is not ideal as the date of manufacture is clearly listed, and each month the shields sit in their facility they are degrading and losing their appeal to prospective customers. Additionally, selling approximately 100 shields outside of a custom order is a difficult task. United Shield then began reaching out to those agencies that could possibly purchase a bulk order.
As a comparison, if these shields were ordered at full price, with freight, it would be $254,200. This offer is a savings of $155,800.
• Approved was a resolution ratifying payment in the amount of $92,680.00 and approving additional payments of $158,880.00 to Richland Community College, Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for police recruit training, lodging and meals in 2021.
• Approved was a resolution approving a transfer and use and occupancy agreement between the City of Aurora and the non-profit organization Taking Back Our Community.
City government of Aurora documents show the purpose of the transfer and use agreement would assist Taking Back Our Community (TBOC) to continue to provide much needed programs for the community. The agreement provides a vehicle for the city to provide much needed support to keep and maintain the building at 1226 Grand Boulevard open. In exchange the city would be the owner of record of the property and have the ability to use the building for programs as well.
TBOC has been active as a Neighborhood Group since 1995 making it one of the five oldest neighborhood groups in the Aurora. The TBOC Neighborhood overlaps with Pattersonville which is a long-time African American neighborhood. The TBOC neighborhood is between Ohio Street, East New York Street, Farnsworth Avenue, and East Galena Boulevard. In 2010, TBOC incorporated as a non-profit in order to secure funding to run much needed programs. During this time TBOC became the owner of the Grand Boulevard Center, previously owned by the YWCA.
The funds to assist with the real estate taxes and fees would come from The Fox Valley United Way (FVUW). The FVUW has been a fiscal agent for the Aurora Cares Fund which was set up to fund programs geared toward reducing crime. With the disbanding of the Aurora Cares Corporation, the city stopped transferring funds to this account and has been working to close the account. The funds needed as part of this agreement would help close out the account.
• Approved was a resolution establishing the maximum number of Class A: Package Sales (Beer & Wine Only/Gas Station) liquor licenses, (unofficially related to the application from 7-Eleven, Inc. D/B/A 7-Eleven #38509J at 2626 Ogden Ave., Aurora) – Ward 8.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of a phase 3 construction engineering agreement with HR Green, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $119,131.00 for the 2021 city wide resurfacing projects.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing the execution of permits with the state of Illinois for maintenance and construction on State highways.
• Approved was an ordinance annexing property at 39 W. 579 Prairie Street to the city of Aurora.
• Approved was a resolution authorizing Aurora city government chief financial officer/city treasurer Martin (Marty) Lyons to disburse payments to the businesses recommended for award in the second grouping as part of the City’s Small Business Financial Relief Program to address business losses as a result of the COVID 19 Pandemic or other such major business interruption events.
The impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic continues to be felt by Aurora small businesses. Federal relief programs have not addressed all of the needs of our local businesses and in some cases such program have placed a reporting burden that has reduced the level of application for many businesses. The relief program created by the City of Aurora utilizes local financial and business data and practices to determine qualifications and is not subject to Federal regulations that have impacted the outreach of prior programs.
This program is designed to prevent the closure of businesses. The cost per business to actually open or re-open a business is substantially higher on a per business basis as evidenced by many of our more recent downtown development agreements.
Last month, City Council approved the creation of three different and distinct financial relief programs for our local businesses. The three programs are:
1) Direct Cash to Business Relief
2) No Liquor License Renewals for 2021.
3) Food and Beverage Tax Holiday for 90 days (in 2021).
A fourth program, the Residential Relief Program will come at a later date.
The purpose for the Direct Cash to Business Relief program is to allow the City to offer grants to reimburse a portion of business losses suffered as a direct result of the public health crisis, and assist as they adjust to the resulting business demands.
The total available funding for the Direct Cash to Business Relief Fund is $1,200,000. Funding comes from the City’s General Fund at a recommended amount of $1.2 million, $200,000 of which is already provided in the 2021 Adopted Budget. At the last City Council meeting on March 5, 2021, Council approved a resolution to authorize the Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer to disburse payments to the businesses recommended for award in the first grouping as part of the City’s Small Business Financial Relief Program.