VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 15, 2012
CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 pm
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Chris Faber, Trustee Ryan Lambert, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Vince Mancini, Village Clerk Lori Murray.
Staff in attendance: Interim Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dave Summer, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Pete Iosue of Teska Associates, Jim Bibby of Rempe-Sharpe.
PRESENTATION
1. Chris Hamilton – Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Mr. Hamilton requested the Village sign the intergovernmental agreement with the other communities that are a part of the Aurora CVB. Hamilton said that the ACVB currently provides the Village with the CVB services. Hamilton said that tourism in Illinois is big business with an economic impact of $120 million in our area alone. The Tourism and Travel industry is supported by a lodging tax of 3% which is paid by visitors and not the citizens. That money is used to generate other taxes that go back to the Village for use in many areas. In the Aurora area, that amount was $2-1/2 million in 2010. The service area touches 5 counties, 2 of which are in the top 5 in domestic travel.
Hamilton said that advertising is the number one thing that the ACVB does.
A pilot program was put in place with information kiosks installed at the Aurora Transportation Center and the Route 59 station. The ACVB will plan on building a kiosk in each of its cities.
Trustee Curtis asked what is required from the Village in order to be involved in the ACVB. Hamilton said that the hotel(s) collect a lodging tax of 3% and it is passed onto the village. The village keeps 10% and sends 90% to the ACVB. Mayor Berman said that an intergovernmental agreement was started in 1987. It allows the Village to collect taxes from people who come to the community and those taxes will be used to advertise the community in order to bring people to the Village. The idea is to bring people to the community for overnight stays. Curtis asked if it is a net loss or gain for the village. Berman said that the idea is for economic development and the State of Illinois gives the Village appropriation based on population. Berman said this costs the Village nothing. Curtis asked if the Village has the cost from past years in terms of what the Village paid out. Hamilton said the ACVB Budget projected $27,000 this year.
Curtis questioned the Village foregoing 90% and suggested keeping the money and spending it to promote the Village.
Hamilton said that the Village gets more than possible for the money that the Village provides for the ACVB services. Hamilton mentioned that some ads cost $20,000. Trustee Faber said that the Village could not hire someone for $27,000 to do the job that the ACVB does.
Berman said that the Village is not only advertising for North Aurora, but for everything in the area in hopes of bringing people to the community.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Evelyn Westwood (Ed Kelley’s sister) – Ms. Westwood addressed the Board with the following information: Ed Kelley started his career with the North Aurora Police Department in 1968 and during his career became Sergeant, Lieutenant and then Police Chief in 1980. He was Chief of Police until 1995 when he retired. In 1988, Ed and his wife Joan donated the property on Willoway between Oak and John Streets to the Village to be used as a park and green space. The property was dedicated on July 11, 2004 as the Edward A. Kelley Memorial Gardens. However, there is no visible sign on the property informing anyone as to that fact. After Ed Kelley’s death in March of 2000, the family was asked by a member of the Beautification Committee what they would like to see on the property. The response from the family was a sign with his full name on it at the corner of Oak and Willoway. It has been over 12 years and the family has been told that the persons responsible for promising this sign had no authority to do so. Westwood said that while the Veterans Memorial is a beautiful addition to the property, the family and many others do not see why a Veterans Memorial cannot be in a memorial gardens. Westwood requested the sign be placed at the corner of Oak and Willoway.
Claude Wood, 197 Anna Street, North Aurora – Mr. Wood said he was in attendance due to the rezoning issue in his neighborhood. Wood said he thought this matter had been resolved at the last meeting.
Atty. Drendel noted that there is a process that a proposed rezoning has to go through which includes sending out the notices and having the public hearing which was held before the Plan Commission. The next step in the process is that it comes to the Village Board.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of Village Board Minutes dated 10/1/12; Approval of Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 10/1/12
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of the Sixth Amendment to the Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement (5-year term) for the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Trustee Curtis noted her concern with the Village giving away 90% of the tax and asked if that percentage would be negotiable. Mayor Berman said that it would not be negotiable from the standpoint of the ACVB and that this is money that the Village would never have received if the Village did not develop the ACVB. It was formed because the Village got together with four other communities. The tax money that the Village receives comes from people who visit the Village of North Aurora and not from its residents. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
2. Approval of an Ordinance Approving a Variance from the Sign Ordinance to allow a Full Color Electronic Message Sign Addition to the Existing Monument Sign for the Property Located at 541 Sullivan Road
Fairview Dental at 541 Sullivan Road has an existing free standing sign and has requested to add an electronic component to that sign. Pete Iosue noted that the sign ordinance does not allow for full color, which is what the petitioner has requested. Both the Development Committee and the Plan Commission recommended approval of the variance. Iosue said he had some initial concerns regarding the process but the Plan Commission has eased that concern since there have been a lot of changes in technology since the sign ordinance was amended 5 or 6 years ago. The Plan Commission also recommended the Village go back and review the sign ordinance in relation to electronic signs to determine if changes are warranted. Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Atty. Drendel said he noticed in Pete Iosue’s memo that Iosue highlighted the # 5 limitation in that section regarding frequency of change. Drendel asked if that was also a deviation the petitioner was requesting. Iosue said no. The only variance being requested is the full color. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – no, Trustee Mancini – no, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes. Motion approved (4-2). Mayor Berman agreed that the Board needs to modify the sign ordinance.
3. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing Reduction of Letter of Credit in the Autumn Ridge Subdivision
Memorandum from Jim Bibby stated that the public improvements have been completed and recommended a reduction in the amount of $176,010.95. Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lambert. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
4. Approval of the Budgeted Purchase of a Mid-mount Wing Plow in the Amount of $9,789.00 from Bonnell Industries
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
5. Approval of an Ordinance Approving the 1st Budget Amendment for FY2012-13 Finance Director Hannah summarized the items. The primary item for the amendment is the change to the public works department, specifically the tree service due to the number of trees that need to be removed and a number of trees that need to be replanted. Recommendation is an amendment of $60,000 to the tree service budget. The other two items are for the budgeting of some drug find seizure money to be spent by the police department and amendment to the police pension fund regarding portability transfer. Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
6. Approval of a Resolution to Approve a Lease of Space in the North Aurora Activity Center to Share and Care Learning Center, Inc.
Hannah discussed the amendments to the current lease. Share and Care will continue using an additional room at the Activity Center. Monthly lease amount will be an extra $500/mo until the end of the fiscal year in May when their lease expires. Motion for approval made by Trustee Lambert and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
7. Approval of a Resolution to Approve a Lease of Space in the North Aurora Activity Center to Caryn Schultz
Hannah discussed the six-month extension to Caryn Schultz, social worker, so that the lease coincides with the Village’s fiscal year, and incorporate the Village’s right to approve subletting. Motion for approval made by Trustee Mancini and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Mancini – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
8. Approval of Bill List dated 10/1/2012 in the amount of $73,603.70
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT REPORT
Mayor Berman reported on the following:
-Requested the appointment of Robyn Stecklein to the Police Pension Board to fill the vacant position left by Geri Vaughn’s resignation. Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Mancini – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
-A meeting will be scheduled sometime in the next ten (10) days for those interested in the snowmen project for the holidays.
-A new restaurant will be opening in North Aurora in January or February. It will be located at the old Uncle Pat’s location on Route 56 and will feature food similar to that of Portillo’s.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
-Continuing work on the website redesign.
-Next Generation has begun work at the Randall Highlands development.
-Work on details for the Zepelak Annexation continues.
-Community Development Director candidates have been narrowed to 7 with the help of Trustee Curtis and Trustee Lambert.
-Staff has had discussions of the phasing of Smoketree Lane.
ATTORNEYS REPORT – None
FIRE DISTRICT REPORT– None
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – none
2. Community Development – The Village offers a TIF grant for properties on Route
31, primarily for façade improvements and non conforming signage. Deadline for turning in applications was the end of September. There were 2 applications that were submitted.
3. Police – On October 3rd, Mutual Ground held a vigil at the police department in North Aurora. There were 50-75 people in attendance.
Service Anniversaries for September:
Officer John Kerlin – 12 years
Officer Mark Shillair- 7 years
Officer Kristen Lohrstorfer – 7 years
Officer Sean McCoy – 5 years.
Mayor Berman congratulated the officers for their years of service.
Mayor Berman noted that the Village made a donation to CASA for a block at their new facility in Geneva.
4. Public Works – Annual leaf pickup started today on the west side of the Village.
5. Water – Well 6 – Overall in good shape. The pump needed some of the bearings and wear rings replaced. When the camera was placed down the well, it was discovered that 23 feet had filled in the bottom of the well and some of the strapping and cable guard was lost. A few more steps need to be taken before putting the pump and motor back in the ground. Paul Young said he would bring more information to the next meeting.
Young noted that the Village is just under budget even with the additional costs.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
