VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, February 21, 2022
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, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Village Police Deputy Chief Joe DeLeo.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – See below
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Ma Maw’s Kitchen & Concessions Supplemental Video Gaming License
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board of previous discussions and changes to the Village’s Liquor Code, creating a Supplemental Video Gaming License in which a business applying for a first time gaming license will have their application reviewed by the Village Board. Some requirements include that the business must be able to show at minimum dining space which allows 50 patrons based on 15 square feet per person and the business must have a dedicated person to prepare food in a kitchen. MaMaw’s is the first applicant for the Supplemental Video Gaming License, they have a Class B liquor license and have supplied all of the necessary supporting documentation. Meighan Cole of MaMaw’s Kitchen was in attendance and addressed the Board.
Meighan spoke about the floor plan for the establishment and answered Trustee questions.
The Village Board expressed approval of the application.
2. Recreational Vehicles
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board of previous discussions about changes to the Village code in regard to Recreational Vehicles and the length of time they are allowed to be parked at a residence. He stated that previous discussions had prompted proposals of a small change from the currently allowed “Friday noon to Monday noon” to “Thursday 6pm to Monday noon”. This proposal was brought before the Plan Commission.
Director Toth stated that the idea was before the Plan Commission on February 1, 2022. Their discussion resulted in a list of considerations for the Village Board. This list included to allow a 24 to 72 hour reciprocity period for RVs, to regulate motor homes separately, to move around the two week exception windows in April and October, to allow certain holiday exemptions and to move the recreational vehicle allowance to Monday at 6pm or to Tuesday.
Staff submitted proposed changes to the code which included changing the allowed time a recreational vehicle may be parked outside a residence from “Friday noon to Monday noon” to “Thursday 6pm through Monday noon”.
Toth stated that the Plan Commission recommended approval of the revised draft submitted to the Village Board members.
The Board discussed the ideas proposed by the Plan Commission including separating camping trailers and motorhomes from the current category of recreational vehicle of which many types of vehicles currently fall under that heading. It was discussed that a change like that would potentially complicate the code and make it more challenging for residents to understand.
Trustees Salazar and Niedzwiedz expressed a desire to make no changes to the length of time RVs are allowed to park outside of a residence. Trustees Guethle, Curtis and Lowery were in favor of allowing the change to be made from “Friday noon to Monday noon” to “Thursday 6pm through Monday noon”.
All Trustees were in favor of changing the code to reflect “April 15 to April 30 and October 1 to October 15” to “April 1 through April 15 and November 15 through November 30”.
3. Authorization to Expend Water Funds to Replace Lead Water Service Lines
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board of previous discussions of replacing lead service lines and using the American Rescue Plan Act to fund the replacements.
Director Laskowski informed the Board that on January 1, 2022 the State of Illinois adopted the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act which requires owners and operators of community water supplies to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive water service line material inventory and comprehensive lead service line replacement plan. Per the Act, if it is discovered that a service line is lead during a maintenance activity or emergency repairs, the Village has 30 days to replace the lead service line. Laskowski explained that the item was to seek approval to allow the Administrator to expend water funds exceeding his $15,000 spending limit if a situation were to arise and the Village needed to replace lead service lines within 30 days to comply with the LSLR Act.
The Board engaged in discussion and ultimately were in agreement to grant the Administrator authority to expend funds to replace lead service lines to remain in compliance with the LSLR Act.
4. Curbside Leaf Collection Overview
Administrator Bosco stated that Director Laskowski was going to provide the Board with an overview of the Curbside Leaf Collection Program and solicit feedback.
Director Laskowski explained that Village residents have four options to dispose of the leaves that fall on their property in the fall. They can take advantage of the Village’s Leaf Collection Program, the Village’s waste hauler company Groot offers a bagged leaf program between October and November where no stickers are required to dispose of bagged leaves. Residents can mulch or compost their leaves or pay for an outside landscape company.
The Curbside Leaf Collection Program started in 2009, it is expected to grow in volume each year with the maturation of existing trees as well as new plantings. The program runs 6 weeks, from October to thanksgiving week with three collections east and west of the Fox River. The first week is alternated from east and west side each year.
The Village owns three leaf machines, the durability of the machines is volatile and often a machine is in need of repair. During the peak of program, the Village is running two crews, a total of 6 people utilized during peak operations. There are a total of eight Public Works employees, other duties such as JULIE locates, vehicle maintenance, street maintenance, holiday/park decorations are also responsibilities of the Public Works crew, it is sometimes challenging to staff the Curbside Leaf Collection Program.
Operational expectations of the program are that east and west side gets equal number of weeks on collection schedule. If crews finish early on one side they may go to the other side early to keep pace, crews restart on the appropriate side each week to ensure everyone gets three collections. The program ends the week of thanksgiving or continues as long as needed to finish unless weather conditions or equipment breakdowns cause early program end.
There are operational challenges that exist with the program. The weather can be a challenge. Rain can make it hard to vacuum leaves, snow can make it hard or impossible to vacuum leaves. There are equipment breakdowns, the machines breakdown consistently despite preventative maintenance. Staffing can be a challenge, typically six of eight PW streets employees are utilized during peak of program. The end date of the program can pose a challenge as time is needed to remove the leaf machines and prepare trucks for snow plowing. The volume of leaves continues to grow along with the Village population.
There are possible ways to improve efficiency, a new leaf machine can be purchased. A third crew can be added by imposing mandatory overtime during the program. Residents could be provided with education on mulching benefits. The Village could outsource the program as well.
Director Laskowski told the Board that they may see a request in the upcoming month to purchase an addition leaf collecting machine. The Board agreed to the purchase of the machine due to the popularity of the program and believe that outsourcing would not be an avenue they would be interested in.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – Land Acquisition
ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. All in favor. Motion approved.
CALL TO ORDER-RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION
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, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski.
ADJOURNMENT-
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Salazar. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
