VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
MARCH 4, 2013
CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 p.m.
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, Village Clerk Lori Murray. Not in attendance: Trustee Vince Mancini
Staff in attendance: Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Interim Village Administrator and Police Chief Dave Summer, Community and Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Water Superintendent Paul Young.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Bill Slaker of North Aurora addressed the Board regarding providing more incentives to developers interested in building in our community. Slaker said it would be a good idea and that the Village should look at providing more of an incentive. Slaker also suggested the Village be competitive with the surrounding communities.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of Village Board Minutes dated February 4, 2013
2. Approval of an Interim Bill List dated 2/6/13 in the amount of $22,603.45; Approval of Interim Bill List dated 2/13/13 in the amount of $36,000.38
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. Motion approved (5-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of an Ordinance Annexing the Mango Creek Deerpath, LLC. Located
East of Orchard Road, West of Jewel Middle School and North of Oak Street, to the Village of North Aurora
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle –yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
2. Approval of an Ordinance Reducing Development Fees in the Village of North
Aurora to Stimulate New Single Family Home Construction
Trustee Guethle said that the issue of reducing development fees in the Village was discussed at the last Development Committee meeting and all committee members were in favor of providing temporary relief for the home builders in the community.
Trustee Curtis said that the presentation at the Development Committee meeting was one sided and that after she had done some research of her own, decided she was no longer in agreement with reducing development fees in the Village. Curtis suggested Village Staff provide their information on this matter to the Village Board.
Motion made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino for approval of the Ordinance.
Trustee Curtis said that comparable communities mentioned in the presentation at the Development Committee meeting included towns that have more land to build out compared to the Village of North Aurora which does not. Curtis said that housing has been on the rise in the last 12 months and did not feel that a reduction in development fees was necessary. Trustee Guethle said that the Village competes with Aurora in terms of housing and that although housing is picking up, the reduction in development fees will help the market further. Curtis said she wanted to see Staff do their due diligence and provide information to the Board.
Mayor Berman said that the Village reduced development fees in the past and since the current committee was in favor of reducing development fees, it was decided to bring this before the Board for a vote. Trustee Faber asked why there was an urgency to pass the ordinance. Mayor Berman said the sooner the Village could act, the quicker the builders could get the information into their marketing. Faber said that in the past there were several meetings and Staff provided a lot of documentation before a decision was made. Mayor Berman said that the issue would be tabled and then directed Staff to provide information to the Village Board. Motion to table made by Trustee Faber and seconded by Trustee Lambert. All in favor. Motion approved (5-0).
Adam Dontz of Gladstone Builders addressed the Board. Dontz requested clear direction from the Village Board to the Village Staff to work with him regarding the ordinance. Dontz said he called the assessors office and received a printout showing that the EAV in the Village has gone down $36 million dollars. Dontz said that he has information that directly answers some of the question by the Board, Dontz added that there are real issues that need to be discussed and he would like that opportunity at the next Village Board meeting.
Interim Village Administrator Dave Summer noted that Staff did what they were directed to do. Staff drafted the ordinance and suggested it go to a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.
Trustee Guethle asked that Dontz provide a copy of the information on the 20 communities in order to be discussed at the next meeting.
3. Approval of an Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Municipal Code
pertaining to LED Signs in the Village of North Aurora.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lambert. Trustee Faber questioned the reason for amending the code. Community Development and Economic Director Mike Toth said there had been a recommendation to amend the ordinance to allow a more flexibility for LED signs. Toth noted that there is more demand in the technology.
Trustee Gaffino said that Toth did a good job on the amended ordinance. Gaffino said that businesses are looking to improve revenue and that he was in favor of helping businesses for the Village. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Faber – no, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (4-1).
4. Approval of a Resolution to Approve a North Aurora Community Parade on
State Street (Illinois Route 56) on June 2, 2012 at 2:00 pm
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 Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
5. Approval of the Professional Services Agreement Renewal with Layne
Christensen Company
Motion for approval made b y Trustee Lambert and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
6. Approval of a Bid for the 2013 Water Main Project from Scorpio Construction
Corp. in the amount of $306,894.00
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lambert and seconded by Trustee Faber. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
7. Approval of the 2013 Fee Structure of Drendel & Jansons Law Group for Legal
Services
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. Motion approved (5-0).
8. Approval of Pay Request No. 4, Partial in the amount of $10,425.52 to Geneva
Construction Company for the 2012 Street Improvements
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Faber. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
9. Approval of Pay Request No. 4, Final in the amount of $7,548.03 to Geneva
Construction Company for the 2012 Street Improvements – Poplar Place
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lambert and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
10. Approval of an Ordinance for the Disposal of Surplus Property
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. Motion approved (5-0).
11. Approval of a Bill List dated 3/4/13 in the amount of $402,134.63
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lambert – yes, Trustee Faber – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
OLD BUSINESS – None
VILLAGE PRESIDENT REPORT – None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Trustee Guethle said that the Development Committee had met to discuss Development Fees in the Village.
TRUSTEES’ COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Dave Summer noted that statewide tornado drill for tomorrow has been cancelled due to the winter storm and will be conducted on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
FIRE DISTRICT REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
a. Finance – Finance Director Bill Hannah said his department has been busy with budget development over the last month. Work has begun on the audit for next year. The new water billing pay module started last month and so far there are 88 people who have signed up.
b. Community Development – The Plan Commission meeting scheduled for tomorrow will involve the planned unit development on Orchard/Gateway. The petitioner is requesting additional industrial uses. The Board will see the Annexation Agreement on the 18th and it is scheduled for final approval on April 1st.
c. Police – None
d. Public Works – Crews are getting ready for tomorrow’s expected snow.
e. Water – Scheduled watermain project will begin April 1st for Hill Ave & Lilac.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lambert. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
