Skip to content

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

North Aurora Days Committee Meeting Minutes

NORTH AURORA DAYS
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, November 8, 2021
Call to Order
Mark Gaffino called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Attendance
Mark Gaffino, Holly O’Brien, Jessi Watkins, Doug Botkin, Robyn Stecklein, Steve Bosco, Bill Hannah, and David Hansen
Approval of Minutes
Jessi Watkins made a motion to approve the October 11, 2021 meeting minutes, which were seconded by Robyn Stecklein.
Motion to Approve: All in Favor
Discussion
1. Discussion of Bands
Administrator Steve Bosco mentioned the Village Board supported the Committee’s request of moving the entire North Aurora Days event down to North Aurora Riverfront Park and having the event return to the first full weekend in August. North Aurora Days Chairman Mark Gaffino asked the Committee how many bands should perform and when the festival hours should run from. After discussion, the Committee thought Friday 5-11pm and Saturday 3-11pm may be the best hours for the festival, with a minimum of four bands (two each night). Some genres the Committee asked staff to look into included Country, 80s, 90s, Motown, and Todays Hits. Staff was directed by the Committee to put together a PowerPoint with links, cost and availability for each band for the December meeting so the Committee can review and start to select bands for 2022.

2. Discussion of North Aurora Days 2022
Gaffino asked the committee what type of events they would like to bring back for 2022 and if there were any new activities they would like to try out. Jessi Watkins mentioned Run for the Riverfront at Mooseheart would be nice to bring back since a lot of people enjoy it, but was unsure who would manage the event. Robyn Stecklein mentioned Safety Day and Touch-A-Truck were also highly attended and may be worth bringing back. The Committee discussed other various ideas, which included a laser show to music instead of fireworks, moving the fishing derby down by the river to Island Park, and a duck race fundraiser in the spillway ran by a local organization. Some other ideas included a softball tournament, a bags tournament, and a car show. The Committee also discussed possible kid activities, which included having an extra balloon and facepainter to speed up the lines and a few inflatables/bounce houses at minimum.
Finance Director Bill Hannah asked if the Committee wanted to pursue sponsorships for 2022. The Committee was open to having sponsorships, but understood it may be difficult for sponsors to have booths down by the River given parking, visibility and space limitations. The Committee discussed sponsors and realized there was limited space at the park, and it was noted that the sponsors would likely want to be placed at North Aurora Riverfront Park rather than across the street. Hannah said they could limit which sponsorship levels received tables and suggested setting them up behind the gazebo.
Bosco asked the committee if they would like staff to start reaching out to food vendors or if a local organization would want to sell burgers and hotdogs for 2022. Doug Botkin mentioned the Lions Club probably would not have enough helpers to man the beer tent and cook/sell burgers and hotdogs all day. Holly O’Brien mentioned the Boy Scouts may be available to cook and serve burgers and hotdogs to raise money for their troops. Gaffino asked if a Kane County food license would be needed. Bosco said yes since most likely they would need to follow the same process as a food vendor license from the County since food is being served. The Committee also thought it was a good idea to still have 3 to 5 food vendors so residents could have a good selection of food options. Some food vendors the Committee asked staff to reach out to included: Juquilita Tacos, Mario’s Pizza, R&S Concessions, Suzie’s Fun Foods, and Small Cakes.
The Committee agreed to discuss bands at the December meeting and hoped to have a better idea how the burgers and hotdogs would be served in addition to what food vendors would be interested/available for the event.
Mark Gaffino made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 pm, which was seconded by Jessi Watkins.
Motion to Adjourn: All in Favor
Respectfully submitted,
David Hansen

 

← Back
Village of North Aurora

Install Village of North Aurora

Install this application on your home screen for quick and easy access when you’re on the go.

Just tap then “Add to Home Screen”

Accessibility Toolbar