NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, October 3, 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.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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 Jason Paprocki, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Deputy Police Chief Joe Gorski.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
PRESENTATION– Fox Valley Park District
Executive Director of the Fox Valley Park District Jim Pilmer was on hand to update the Board on happenings within the park district property located in North Aurora along the riverfront.
Pilmer offered a timeline of events that included the annexation of the Fox Valley Park District’s Lippold Park into the Village of North Aurora in 2019. Pilmer stated that during the pandemic, in July of 2020 the Park District Board of Commissioners voted to approve the goal to reimagine what the Red Oak Nature Center and Lippold Park corridor would look like. In 2020 the Park District also pursued acquiring the Sperry property, directly to the north of Village Hall and has the right of first refusal for the Smith property, directly north of the Sperry property. The Park District engages with the Conservation Foundation to assist in land acquisitions. In 2021 the Park District contracted with Wight and Company to perform a feasibility study to examine potential improvements at Lippold Park and Red Oak Nature Center, then in January of 2022 broke ground on the construction of the Lippold Park 3-season shelter and events facility. Also in January of 2022, the Park District closed on the purchase of the Sperry Property. In April of 2022, the Governor signed the State of Illinois Capital Bill which provided $5.7 million in grant funding for the Red Oak Nature Center and Lippold Park corridor. In August of 2022, the Park District was in its fourth week of construction of the 4,000 square foot Lippold Park education and events facility.
Pilmer went on to break down the costs of each project. He stated that the $1.9 million in construction costs for the Red Oak Nature Center/Lippold Park 3-season shelter and restrooms will be funded by the Fox Valley Park District. He said that the Park District has been given an appropriation by the State for a pedestrian bridge linking the east and west sides over the Fox River. The Red Oak Nature Center is undergoing an $85,000 renovation funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Pilmer spoke about the plans for the acquired five acre Sperry property, stating that the FVPD plans on making it a passive area with lookouts and benches. He also stated that the Park District purchased a small property along the riverfront from a family that had reached out to the Park District.
Pilmer recognized the sponsors for the 2023 State of Illinois Capital Bill; Senator Linda Holmes, Senator Villa, Representative Hernandez, Representative Herschauer and Representative Kifowit. In addition to the $4.7 million for capital improvements at Lippold Park, there is an additional $1 million for infrastructure improvements. The Park District currently has a request pending for $4 million to be used for bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the Fox River, from the 2022 U.S. Community Funding Program sponsored by Congressmen Foster. The Park District received a ComEd Green Region Grant for $255,500 for the five acre Sperry property acquisition. Pilmer recognized the land/cash disbursements from North Aurora developers as an important source of support.
Pilmer mentioned that the Interim Fire Chief of the Fire Protection District was recently able to change the addresses of Red Oak and Lippold Parks to North Aurora addresses from Batavia addresses.
Pilmer presented renderings of the current and upcoming projects. He spoke about offering affordable options for field trips for schools. He also spoke about the bicycle/pedestrian bridge, currently in the engineering phase, to be located just north of Lippold Park.
Trustee Guethle expressed positive feedback for the upcoming Park District Projects. Pilmer and Guethle spoke about the origination of the concept and what the bicycle/pedestrian bridge would accomplish connecting the two sides of the Fox River.
Trustee Curtis questioned the $4.7 million cost associated with the bicycle/pedestrian bridge. They spoke about the cost versus necessity of a bridge. Pilmer referred to a recent Park District survey that found that connectivity of the bike trails was a highly prioritized issue.
Trustee Salazar expressed positive feedback for the Park District projects.
Mayor Gaffino stated that the projects would help to put North Aurora on the map. Pilmer discussed how the projects would help to create a cohesive area.
Trustee Carroll asked about the possibility of connecting the bike path across Route 25, providing connectivity to the east side of North Aurora. Pilmer said that the issue of safe passage across Route 25 had been and continues to be a topic of conversation, however no solutions have been determined as of yet.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 09/19/2022; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 09/19/2022
2. Bills List Dated 10/03/2022 in the Amount of $258,635.32
3. Approval of North Aurora Emergency Management Agency Policy Manual
4. Approval of Special Event Permit for Share and Care Learning Center Halloween Parade
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Special Event Permit for the Rustic Fox Holiday Market Event
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board of previous events held by Rustic Fox and stated that they would like to hold a similar event on November 5th and 6th, 2022 from 10am until 6pm. He stated that the one concern Village staff had was the lack of ADA parking which had been addressed by Rustic Fox staff.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
2. Approval of Special Event Permit for the North Aurora Fire Protection District Turkey Raffle
Administrator Bosco stated that the North Aurora Fire Protection District was seeking to hold their Turkey Raffle which they haven’t held in two year.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
3. Approval of an Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 to Decrease the Number of Class A Liquor Licenses Authorized in the Village of North Aurora
Administrator Bosco explained that the Blue Agave Cantina and Grill has permanently closed, therefore reducing the number of Class A Liquor Licenses.
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 Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
4. Approval of an Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 to Decrease the Number of Class B Liquor Licenses Authorized in the Village of North Aurora
Administrator Bosco explained that Tecalitlan had closed and the business had changed ownership which would be addressed during the Committee of the Whole meeting. This item would decrease the Class B Liquor Licenses due to the closure.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
5. Approval of Resolution Adopting the Village of North Aurora Police Comfort Dog Program
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board that they had previously discussed this item with no issues at a Committee of the Whole meeting. The comfort dog would be used to support victims, people in high stress situations and with mental health concerns as well as appearances at community events to promote good will in the Police Department. The initial costs would be $12,000 the first year and nominal costs beyond that with an estimate of under $2,000 per year.
Mayor Gaffino praised the program and Officer Parr who would be housing the comfort dog and adjusting his schedule to make the dog available.
Trustee Salazar stated that Officer Parr’s involvement and to know that the dog would live in a home environment was important to her.
Administrator Bosco said that a different scenario was discussed but having the dog with one handler was a more sensible approach.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
6. Approval to Award Repair Work for 2008 Sewer/Vactor Truck to Standard Equipment Company in the Amount of $42,152.22
Director Laskowski spoke about the repairs needed to the truck to get it into effective working condition. He explained that a rodder pump needed replacement at an estimated $23,000. He estimated the original truck cost to be $185,000 to $200,000 and a new truck to be approximately $300,000 or more. He stated that this is the first major repair needed in 14 years. He would like to have the repairs done and get the truck back in to use in excavating for water main repairs.
Trustee Salazar asked how many years Laskowski would expect from the truck after repairs. He anticipated the repair adding another 7-10 years to the truck’s lifespan.
Administrator Bosco stated that the Village budgets these types of specialized equipment for a fifteen year lifespan but end up keeping them for 17-18 years.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Bosco spoke about the history and change of address for Lippold Park and Red Oak Nature Center from Batavia to North Aurora.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Salazar. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
