NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, August 16, 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.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Todd Niedzwiedz, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher.
PUBLIC HEARING-Fourth Amendment to the Pre-Annexation Agreement between the Village of North Aurora, Orchard Commons, LLC and Mettel Investment Partnership for a development to be known as Orchard Commons.
No comments, public hearing closed.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – none
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 08/02/2021 and Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 08/02/2021
2. Bills List Dated FY2021 08/16/2021 in the amount of $49,050.75
3. Bills List Dated FY2022 08/16/2021 in the amount of $197,679.92
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance Approving the 2nd Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2020-21
Director Hannah explained that at the March 15, 2021 Village Board meeting, staff discussed how revenues received during the year for various reasons exceeded the modified budget projections originally established as the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning in May 2020 and the economic impact was unknown at that time. A budget amendment was passed which increased transfers to various funds.
Sales Tax Accruals for activity in March, April and May had recently been received by the Village, this included 1% sales tax and 3% cannabis tax combined for a total of $1,873,009, which was $712,410 more than the same three month period of March through May of 2020.
Staff was recommending that an additional budget amendment which would transfer up to $750,000 additional funds from the General Fund to the Capital Projects Fund in the prior fiscal year ending May 31, 2021.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
2. Approval of an Ordinance Approving the Fourth Amendment to the Pre-Annexation Agreement Between the Village of North Aurora, Orchard Commons, LLC and Mettel Investment Partnership for a Development to be known as Orchard Commons
Director Toth explained that agenda items two and three were related to the Orchard Commons project, located at the northwest corner of Oak Street and Orchard Road. The petitioner was proposing to subdivide Lots 1 and 2 in order to create four individual lots and develop each lot with either a restaurant or retail shop. A public hearing was conducted before the Plan Commission at the July 6, 2021 meeting with a favorable recommendation. The project had gone before the Village Board on July, 19 2021 with the Board suggesting enhancements to the facades and once again before the Board on August 2, 2021 with updated exteriors.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
3. Approval of an Ordinance Amending a Special Use as B-2 General Commercial Planned Unit Development for 16.18 Acres of Property Known as 840 Ice Cream Drive in the Village of North Aurora
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
4. Approval of Ordinance Approving a Special Use as an I-2 General Industrial Planned Development for 16.18 Acres of Property Known as 840 Ice Cream Drive in the Village of North Aurora
Director Toth explained that item four was in regard to the industrial planned unit development consisting of three warehouse buildings adjacent to Ice Cream Drive and Randall Road. A public hearing was conducted before the Plan Commission at their July 6, 2021 meeting with unanimous approval and before the Committee of the Whole on July 19, 2021.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
5. Approval of Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Title 5 Section 5.08.340 to Create the Classification of “P-Park District” Liquor License
Administrator Bosco stated that Ordinance had been discussed at the August 2, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting at which questions had been raised in regard to the parameter of the license involving third party vendors. The Ordinance had been updated to include that third parties will be held to all special event and special use requirements.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
6. Approval of Ordinance Approving Outdoor Dining as a Temporary Special Event for Businesses that Have Opted for Outdoor Dining for Relief from COVID-19 Restrictions
Administrator Bosco explained that the Ordinance would take the two existing executive orders and ends them by superseding them with the Ordinance that treats outdoor dining as a Temporary Special Event for establishments looking to conduct outdoor dining and requires them to follow conditions similar to those in the Village’s current Executive Orders pertaining to outdoor dining.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
7. Approval to Award 2021 Tree Replacement Program Bid to Acres Group in the Amount of $30,225.00
Director Laskowski explained that the project had been advertised on July 26, 2021 and the Village had directly contacted 11 contractors however only one bid was received. Village Staff believed this bid to be very competitive, also the bid was twenty dollars higher than the previous year’s cost.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Administrator Bosco was hoping to honor a Plan Commission member, however she was not present.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – Director Toth stated that the Village received a permit submittal for building four of the Orchard Commons development.
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – Director Laskowski stated that the Village had received twelve statements of qualifications for the Public Works facility project.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Carroll. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
