VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, June 19, 2023
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 Jason Christiansen, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Todd Niedzwiedz, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Jason Paprocki, Community Development Director Nathan Darga, Village Planner David Hansen, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director Brian Richter, Police Chief Joe DeLeo.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – Trustee Guethle stated he had been approached by state and county officials in regard to the road diet adjustments that were going to be made to Route 31 through Batavia, inquiring if the Village of North Aurora would be following suit. Administrator Bosco stated that Batavia’s Route 31 road diet would run until Mooseheart. He also stated that there had been previous discussions about whether the portion of Route 31 that runs through the Village was within the traffic threshold that would allow for a road diet program. Bosco said that the topic would be brought up during strategic planning for the Village in upcoming months.
Bosco added that the Village has had requests for pedestrian crossing lights along Route 31, however with Route 31 being a four lane street, which poses safety concerns about all lanes of traffic stopping for pedestrians and the false sense of security that the lights may give pedestrians.
DISCUSSION
1. Taco Madre Liquor License
Administrator Bosco stated that Taco Madre was seeking a Class B Liquor License. Bosco added that Taco Madre had an existing license a few years ago that they chose not to renew at the time. Bosco reminded that Board that all new liquor license requests are brought before the Committee of the Whole and then to the Village Board for approval. Businesses requesting liquor licenses are required to indicate whether or not they will be seeking video gaming as part of their license, Taco Madre was not. They were, however, seeking an outdoor supplemental liquor license.
The Board offered unanimous approval.
2. Site Plan Approval #23-02; Riverfront Ram Truck Dealership
Administrator Bosco stated that River Front was petitioning for site plan approval for a new Ram Truck dealership to be located on Orchard Gateway. He stated that the plan had gone before the Plan Commission with unanimous recommendation for approval.
Village Planner David Hansen added that the Plan Commission had one condition regarding signage to ensure that it would meet the Village Code. Hansen said that there were five additional conditions that will be reviewed during engineering review and building permit review should the project move forward.
Hansen stated that staff was seeking feedback from the Village Board regarding the request.
Riverfront Ram representative Corey Spooner stated that the proposed dealership would sit just east of the Sherwin-Williams on Orchard Gateway. Spooner spoke about the building’s layout and elevation. He provided a layout of the dealership stating that it would span from the Sherwin-Williams property up to the Target entrance across the street. Spooner provided sales and service projections for the proposed dealership. He stated that the new building would help them increase sales and create 25 new jobs.
Trustee Lowery asked if they currently sold Ram Trucks, to which Spooner replied that they were. Spooner explained that the new building would help them with the ability to work on the vehicles that they sell. The current building was not equipped to service some of the larger trucks the dealership sells, the new building would have that equipment as well as larger bay doors to accommodate larger vehicles.
There was discussion regarding the amount of inventory they would be able to have with the expansion of space.
The Board was in unanimous approval of the Site Plan.
3. Water Works System Master Plan Study
Administrator Bosco stated that normally studies are taken directly to the Board for approval, however, this was a large study with the cost of about just under $275,000. Bosco stated that with the enormity of the study, he believed it to be a good idea to bring it before the Board for discussion. He explained the study to be a major water study that would cover several facets of the water system including the Village’s future potential source water locations.
Steve Dennison Engineering Enterprise Inc. began by introducing EEI to the Board and what they have done in surrounding communities. He then explained that water master plans are studies of an entity’s existing assets and infrastructure, the supply treatment distribution storage and the capability to handle growth and development. The study also looks at the depreciation of those assets, how long they can continue to work and what improvements may need to happen to meet the needs of the town’s water system from a capacity standpoint as well as the condition of the assets. The study also looks into water rates and whether or not changes need to be made.
Dennison spoke about how the Lead Service Line Replacement Plan worked in to the study as well.
Administrator Bosco added that the Village had just begun implementing a water rate increase plan and at the end of that plan, the Village will still have some of the lowest water rates in the area. The infrastructure of the water system is aging and maintenance to provide longevity will be costly. Bosco stated that the study will help staff put a plan in place for the water budget.
Bosco also stated that the study will help the Village to determine whether the current source water is sustainable or if other sources need to be sought.
There was further discussion on the topic of source water.
Trustee Guethle expressed approval for the Master Plan and working in conjunction with EEI.
Trustee Niedzwiedz asked what the timeframe for the study was. Dennison stated that he expected completion of the Master Plan to be in October of 2024.
Mayor Gaffino asked whether or not that the Master Plan would include looking at shallow wells, Dennison said that yes that would be part of it.
Trustee Salazar asked if the cost presented to the Board included all needed studies, Dennison stated that there would be subsequent studies needed and the cost presented did not reflect those costs, however those costs would be minimal comparted to the current agreement. There was further discussion regarding how the Lead Service Line Project will factor in to the future costs.
The Board approved of the Water Works System Master Plan.
4. Special Event Code
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board of their discussion at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting regarding the Special Event Code. The discussion led to taking Special Events and dividing it into two, a process for the Village Board and a process for the staff. The change was in an effort to help facilitate last minutes requests that meet the standards that fall within Administrator approval. Staff created the provisions that would fall under the Administrator’s approval.
Village Board was in agreement with the changes, Mayor Gaffino commented that they seemed efficient.
5. Mobile Food Vendor Code
Administrator Bosco reviewed the Village’s history with regulating food truck vendors. Currently, the parameters set by the Village for food truck vendors are:
o Need a permit to operate
o Cannot operate on busy (specified) roads
o Cannot operate on a property for more than two hours a week
o There cannot be more than one food truck operating on a property, otherwise a special event permit must be sought
The Board was asked to discuss whether or not a permit should be necessary. Currently, the permit process did not include any kind of background check and all food vendors are required to go through the Kane County Health Department who requires them to be registered with Kane County and get inspected. The Village has no control over health requirements, the County handles that.
The Board was also asked to discuss the Route 31 exemption within the food vendor guidelines that allow for food trucks to be utilized on a continual basis along Route 31 under certain restrictions.
Another topic for discussion was, according to Bosco, a complicated one. Should the time restrictions be adjusted and what constitutes an appropriate amount of time for a food truck to operate at a location?
The Village Board discussed the topics presented. They discussed different hypotheticals and the difference between hosting food trucks at a residence versus a business.
The Village Board decided to eliminate the need for a food truck to seek a permit to operate.
The Village Board determined that mobile food vendors shall not be the primary source of food preparation for a brick and mortar business, therefore they decided to eliminate the Route 31 exemption. Trustee Lowery expressed that he had had concern about food truck vendors permanently parked outside of a business, this spawned a conversation about food truck parking while operating versus while being stored and the regulations regarding both of those situations.
The Village Board then discussed the length of time a food truck can operate on a property. The discussion led to the decision to restrict food trucks to operating at a location for up to eight hours in a day, not to exceed two consecutive days in a week.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
