VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, September 20, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Board meeting was conducted live remotely
via telecommunications.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Todd Niedzwiedz, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Village Engineer Brandon Tonarelli, Police Chief Dave Fisher.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS –
Gabriele Sheppard of 58 White Oak Dr. IL 60542. Ms. Sheppard spoke about the residence next to her and the rental of the home as an Air BNB. Mrs. Sheppard stated that her neighbor, who continues to live within the residence, rents out the basement space through Air BNB. The basement entrance is in the rear of the house, the renters have to pass through the property adjacent to Mrs. Sheppard’s home causing noise and other disturbances to the Sheppards.
Administrator Bosco explained that the Village does not have any rules that would prevent homeowners from renting their homes.
Attorney Drendel stated that a community’s Home Owners Association could create their own rules about home rentals. The Village is a non-home rule municipality, any rules for rentals through Air BNB and the like could possibly be done through zoning; however existing rentals would then be grandfathered.
There was discussion amongst the Board as to what, if anything, the Board can do to prevent situations such as this and what role the subdivision Home Owners Association has in providing a solution.
The Board concluded that they would like staff to look in to possible zoning solutions to remedy the situation and regulate future rentals and similar situations.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Gerald Genesis Incentive Agreement
Administrator Bosco stated that the agreement that has been drafted is a straightforward agreement.
Director Hannah reminded the Board that August 16, 2021, Gerald Auto Group addressed the Board about renovations they would like to make to their 204 Hansen Boulevard building to accommodate a Genesis luxury dealership. The cost of the renovation is $4,000,000 and have asked the Village to assist in financing that with an Economic Incentive Agreement of a rebate to be paid over a 15-year period based upon the retailers’ occupation tax at 50% with a threshold of a $2,000,000.
Trustee Curtis asked what the benefit for the Village would be. Director Hannah explained that the tax revenue generated by the dealership would be split 50/50, once the cap of $2,000,000 is reached, which may be sooner than fifteen years, the village would then receive the whole of the tax revenue.
2. Public Works Facility Project Architect Presentation
Administrator Bosco explained that a committee of six staff members narrowed down the selection of architectural/engineering firms to Williams Architects, whom the committee felt to be the most qualified firm for the project.
Mark Bushhouse and Marc Rohde spoke representing Williams Architects, they spoke about their firm and their contributions to other municipalities. They also spoke about how the relationship with the Village will work in developing the Public Works Facility Expansion Project.
3. Green Infrastructure Policy
Director Laskowski explained that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requires that the Village maintains standards in line with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System IL40 Permit. A May 2021 audit indicated that the Village would need to bolster our Green Infrastructure strategies to come into compliance with the permit requirements. Director Laskowski explained that this would mean that the Village would need to improve water quality by strategically implementing Green Infrastructure principles into infrastructure projects such as rain gardens and brick pavers to help filter water before it is absorbed in to the ground or runs off into the sewer system.
Director Laskowski stated that the Village would evaluate any new infrastructure plans and implement green principles wherever practical and cost effective.
4. 2021 Pavement Assessment and Proposed 2022 Road Program
Administrator Bosco explained that the Village recently underwent an assessment, done by MDS Technologies, of the pavement condition of all the Village maintained streets. The consultant visually evaluated all of the pavement based on the Pavement Condition Index.
Village Engineer Brandon Tonarelli further described how the Pavement Assessment Study had been conducted; road conditions were collected on video and analyzed by the consulting firm, this was used to identify pavement distresses such at rutting, potholes, cracks, flushing, polishing and more. Tonarelli stated that compared to data collected in 2017, the Village’s Average Network Pavement Condition Index has gone up.
Engineer Tonarelli explained what the Village does with this information and how they develop a strategy to improve road conditions.
Finance Director Hannah spoke about the funding available for upcoming road programs. He stated that the fiscal year 2021 Capital Projects Fund year ending Fund Balance increased $3.7M to $7.4M. He also stated that the entire 2021 Road Program, at a cost of $1,440,000, was 100% MFT funded.
Engineer Tonarelli offered to two Road Program Options to the Village Board for consideration. The first would address the bulk of the work in 2022 with an estimated cost of $3 million and finishing in 2023 with $1.7 million. The second option has the repairs more evenly split between 2022 ($2.3 million) and 2023 ($2.4 million).
There was discussion amongst the Board and Staff offering praise for Finance Director Bill Hannah’s efforts in the Village’s money management.
The Board preferred the first option, to have the bulk of the repairs done the first year.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Guethle. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
