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An Attentive Municipal Organization that Connects with Community, Commerce, and Nature.

Committee of the Whole Minutes

VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, October 18, 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 Mark Carroll, 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, Police Chief Dave Fisher.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS – See below
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None

DISCUSSION

1. 2021 Property Tax Levy Estimate and Police Pension Actuarial Valuation
Director Hannah explained the Tax Levy Calendar, the current discussion is an initial discussion of the underlying calculations to come up with a property tax levy estimate, November 1, 2021 the tax levy estimate will go before the Village Board for approval and on December 6th, all regular and special service area tax levies will go before the Board for approval.
Hannah stated that property taxes represent about 18% of all General Fund revenues. The Village, a non-home rule municipality, is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), limiting the increase in the total amount of property taxes that can be extended to the annual change in the applicable Consumer Price Index (1.4%) or 5%, whichever is less. One caveat is that the Village is allowed to “capture” the increase in the equalized assessed valuation (EAV) of the Village that is attributable to new construction. Hannah spoke more in detail about how the CPI and EAV will affect estimates.
Director Hannah talked about the Police Pension Valuation and stated that there were no assumption or method changes for the valuation as of June 1, 2021. He spoke more in detail about the Police Pension Valuation.
Hannah stated that Staff believed that a recommended levy of $2,659,934 would capture CPI, new construction and recovered EAC.
Trustee Curtis asked Director Hannah why the recommended levy was higher than the possible extension amount. Director Hannah explained that there is always a .5%-1% buffer. Trustee Curtis than asked if it was possible to assess a levy to only new construction. Director Hannah explained that the levy is not allocated separately. Trustee Curtis expressed concern about burdening homeowners with higher taxes.
2. North Aurora Days 2022
Administrator Bosco reminded that Board that North Aurora Days 2021 had been reimagined due to restrictions and limitations imposed by Covid-19. The event was held on September 18, 2021 at Riverfront Park from 11am until 10pm.
Bosco stated that the North Aurora Days Committee met on October 11, 2021 and discussed the future of the North Aurora Days event. The Committee agreed that they enjoyed the Riverfront Park location and would like to move the event there going forward.
The Committee also discussed the timing of the event, with the suggestion of maintaining the first Friday in August dates.
Mayor Gaffino pointed out the pros and cons of both the former Clocktower location and the Riverfront Park location.
The Trustees discussed how they felt the event on September 18th event went and what the event may look like in the future at the Riverfront Park location.
The Board was in agreement with holding North Aurora Days at Riverfront Park beginning on the first Friday in August.
3. Liquor Code Video Gaming Provisions
Administrator Bosco opened the discussion stating that Mayor Gaffino, who also acts as Liquor Commissioner for the Village, had conveyed that he would like the feedback from the Village Board in regard to the Village’s current video gaming policies, regulated within the Village’s liquor code.
Currently, video gaming is allowed in large restaurants, small restaurants, limited restaurants, brewpub and tavern establishments; it is not allowed in craft breweries or microbreweries.
In the past, the Village Board had indicated they were not in favor of video gaming parlors, as Administrator Bosco describes them, establishments where video gaming appears to be the primary focus of the business, with liquor and food being ancillary.
Administrator Bosco explained some of the specific requirements the Village has for each class of license in regard to video gaming and explained that each municipality differs in their regulations.
Administrator Bosco posed the following questions to the Village Board for discussion.
• Does the Village want to allow video gaming parlors?
• Should the Village change the definition of a restaurant?
• Should the Village continue to have a seating requirement to allow video gaming?
• Should the Village continue having a minimum years in business requirement for small restaurants, breweries and taverns to allow video gaming?

After discussion, the Board decided to maintain the current video gaming regulations within the liquor code, with the addition of defining video gaming parlors.

4. Mobile Food Vendors
Administrator Bosco explained that in 2016 the Village Board approved regulations officially allowing mobile food vendors to operate within the Village. The regulations were then amended in 2020, one change regulated the length of time a food truck could operate in a location, with a two hour limit, unless part of a special event approved by the Village Board or catering a private event.
Administrator Bosco stated that staff was looking for feedback on a proposed amendment that would allow mobile food vendors to be utilized on a continual basis as part of a business model, with some restrictions, along the Route 31 corridor. Mobile food vendors would be allowed to operate in the Route 31 corridor as long as they own or lease on the property where they are operating.
After discussion, the Board decided to move forward with the amendment with the addition of restrictions on hours of operations as well as the location of the vendor’s food truck/trailer in relation to the building.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn to Executive Session made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Salazar. All in favor. Motion approved.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – Collective Bargaining

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gaffino called the meeting to order.

ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mark Carroll, 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, Police Chief Dave Fisher.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk

 

 

 

 

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