City Council - Regular Meeting

W. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Thank you. with Miss Wy, you have uh three minutes beginning now.

Thank you. Hello, my name is Natalie and I'm with the Suburban Workers United for Justice Coalition. We are here today to ask the Aurora City Council to formally request that the Paramount Theater remove Jerry Seinfeld as the headliner for its upcoming benefit gala. People in Aurora care deeply about justice and many of us have spent years trying to build a community where everyone's dignity actually matters. This past year especially, our city has shown again and again that we refuse to look away from what is happening in Palestine. We have held vigils, rallies, and community meetings because people here understand the basic truth that our struggles are connected. The same systems that fund endless war abroad are the ones that leave our communities underresourced at home. Aurora is not neutral and neither are the people who live here. That's why, sorry, [clears throat] that's why the decision to host Jerry Seinfeld is not something we can brush aside. Seinfeld is not just a comedian with an opinion, but he has openly supported the Israeli military at a time when thousands of Palestinian civilian families, workers, students, and entire communities are being killed and displaced. Major human rights organizations have documented apartheid, collective punishment, and war crimes. Yet, he continues to defend and uplift the very institutions responsible for that violence. When someone with this level of influence speaks this way, it does real harm. We're asking you to take seriously what it means to give a platform to someone who stands behind that. Aurora would not handed stage to a performer who justified state violence against any other oppressed group of people. The same principle has to apply here. We have already seen the consequences of the dehumanization that Palestinians have incurred. Wadia alume, a six-year-old Palestinian child was murdered in Planefield because of his race. This is not abstract. This is

happening now. So, let us be clear. We believe the Paramount should find a new headliner for this event. A cultural institution in a diverse city like Aurora should not be normalizing or hosting someone who actively supports a military campaign that has taken so many civilian lives. You have a responsibility here and the community is paying attention. For years, community members have requested that the Paramount Theater diversify its programming to reflect the rich cultural fab fabric and ethical values of Aurora. When our community's needs and desires are met, the program thrives. Hosting this performer directly contradicts the deep-seated commitment to justice and dignity that Aurora residents have consistently demonstrated, proving that diversification must also mean upholding our collective values. We are asking you to make a decision that reflects the values that Aurora claims it stands for. solidarity, justice, and the simple belief that no people should be dehumanized or slaughtered while our stages pretend nothing is happening. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Madam clerk, do we have any other members of the public wish to offer public comment? We do not, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Next, I will uh ask the clerk when she's ready to read both consent agenda and direct to council consent agenda uh that we just ran through quickly.

All right. 25678, a resolution authorizing the purchase of computer equipment from inside public sector in an amount not to exceed $90,000. 25765, a resolution authorizing the execution of a joint funding agreement with the state of Illinois, the execution of a phase 3 construction engineering services agreement with Baxter and Woodman in the not to exceed amount of $29,731 and the appropriation of $352,731 of MFT funds for the Edgelon BNSF bike path crossing project. 2550766, a resolution authorizing the execution of a joint funding agreement with the state of Illinois, the execution of a phase three construction engineering services agreement with HR Green in the not to exceed amount of $361,489 and the appropriation of $1,85,000 of MFT funds for the Indian Trail Ohio to Pensbury Signal Modernization Project. [snorts] 25787, a resolution authorizing the execution of a labor agreement between the city of Aurora and Metropolitan Alliance of Police, Aurora Information Technology Chapter number 525 for the period of January 1st, 2024 to December 31st, 2027. 25834, a resolution authorizing the purchase of property, boiler machinery, fine arts, cyber and access, cyber liability, crime, special events liability, drone liability, general liability, law enforcement, auto liability, access liability, excess workers compensation, and liquor liability insurance policies for the period of December 31st, 2025 through December 31st, 2026. 25858, a resolution authorizing the approval of the year 2 TrueUp invoice under the three-year enterprise agreement for Microsoft Software purchased to the state of Illinois

Department of Innovation and Technology joint purchasing contract with Dell Marketing in the amount of $33,842. 2550871, a resolution to award a contract for well maintenance services for well 22 lane Christensen Company in the not to exceed amount of $225,113. 25877, a resolution adopting unit price bids for the purchase of various water and sewer repair materials for the 2026 calendar year. 2550891, a resolution authorizing the execution of a phase 2 design engineering supplement with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly in the not to exceed amount of $239,431 and the appropriation of the same amount of rebuild Illinois bond funds for the Sullivan Road Reconstruction Project. 2500892, a resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Aurora and Fox Valley Park District for the construction of a shared use path crossing of the BNSF Railroad at Edgelon Drive. 25893, a resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Aurora and Aurora Township for a detour during the construction of a shared use path crossing of the BNSF railroad at Edgelon Drive. 25894, a resolution authorizing the execution of real estate contracts to purchase property in the amount of $11,000 and appropriating MFT funds for the Agelon BNSF bike path crossing project 25895, a resolution authorizing the city of Aurora to enter into a construction and maintenance agreement with BNSF Railroad Company for improvements at the crossing of the new Agelon Drive Bike Path and the BNSF Railroad. 25912, a resolution authorizing the execution of real estate contracts to purchase properties and appropriating MFT funds

required for the Indian Trail Road signal modernization and resurfacing Ohio to Pensbury project in the amount of $1,400. 25917, a resolution authorizing a two-year instrumentation service agreement with the Hawk company for $200,9340 for the water production division. 2500950, a resolution to award a contract for the East Well collector combination pressure reducing and pressure sustaining valve replacement project to the Pew Mechanical in the not to exceed amount of $128,592. 25953, a resolution authorizing Shannon Chrismore to provide employee assistance services for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. 25955, a resolution authorizing the city to accept a grant award from the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus of $22,000 to support energy efficiency, outreach, and education. 2550961, a resolution authorizing the city to accept a grant award of $75,540.81 81 cents from the fiscal year 26 Illinois Department of Transportation Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program 25967 an ordinance amending section 5-56 of the code of ordinances of the city of Aurora to increase the fuel flowage fee from 5 cents to 6 cents per gallon of fuel sold at the Aurora Municipal Airport. 25979, a resolution superseding all previous resolutions pertaining to and amending pay plans for employees in the non-exempt pay plan. 25980, a resolution superseding all previous resolutions pertaining to and amending pay plans for employees in the executive pay plan. 25981, a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to amend a design phase engineering agreement in the not to exceed amount of $6,000 and to amend a construction phase engineering agreement in the not to

exceed amount of $10,100 with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly for the rehabilitate airfield lighting vault and replace vault generator projects located at the Aurora Municipal Airport. Okay,

wait. I'm not done. There's more. There's a whole another page. 25985, a resolution to award a contract to Thomas Engineering Group for resident inspection and engineering services. 25993, a resolution authorizing a contract in IEP WSLP loan forgiveness agreement with brand excavating for the lead service replacement project contract 3 for the bid amount of $2,719,8.50 pending approval of an IEPA loan forgiveness loan. 2550994, a resolution to approve change order number one with builders paving in the amount of $60,000 for the 2025 citywide resurfacing east project. 2550995, a resolution establishing the maximum number of class B on-site consumption liquor licenses unofficially related to the application for Marulan Food Service at 155 115 Oak Avenue, W 2. 2550997 a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to amend a design phase engineering agreement in a not to exceed amount of $15,700 with Crawford Murphy and Tilly and to execute a non-competitive procurement contract with Helybright for the purchase of one rotating beacon and four wind cones and the not to exceed amount of $30,000 in association with project ARR 5201 replace airfield signage wind cones runway 15 and 27 runway end identifier lights and airport rotating beacon. Construct runway guard lights at runway 1533 at the Aurora Municipal Airport. 2550998, a resolution approving a professional services contract with Strra Stragit, sorry, I can't say it. Strategm Strategim Consulting Group for state and federal legislative consulting services. 2510001, a resolution to a approve the award of

cellular phone services to Cellco Partnership doing businesses Verizon Wireless using the most recent state of Illinois contract and a one-time retention credit and a oneyear term. 2510002, a resolution to enter into a three-year ATM space lease agreement with Old Second Bank. 2510006, a resolution authorizing the director of purchasing to enter into an agreement with L3 Harris of Mal Malbourne, Florida to purchase new radio computer consoles for $457,82148. 2510008, a resolution approving the appointment of Daniel Scaramelli as manager of data and analytics. 25 Nope, that's it.

So moved for the clerk. [laughter] Keep going. Is there a motion to approve both uh the direct council and consent agenda as read? Uh motion made by Alderman Franco, second by Alderman Seville. Uh are there any questions or discussions? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the role on both consent agendas? Barrero, yes. Garza, yes. Makos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. Larson, yes. White. Yes. 12. Yes. Zero. No.

A motion carries. This uh agenda item is approved. Uh next we'll move to unfinished business. Yep. Nope. Go to unfinished business. [laughter] Why don't we do uh 25923

forced um the unfinished business item where some alderman wanted to recuse themselves a resolution authorizing the execution of an engineering service agreement with H&R Green Inc. not to exceed the amount of $74,348 by encumbering $80,000 of award funds for phase one preliminary engineering support on the 2025 safe routes to school projects. A motion was made by Alderman Sil. Is there a second? Second by Alderman Franco. Uh questions or discussions on this agenda item. Okay. See how I read that and give you a chance to breathe. [laughter] Thank you. Appreciate that. Next, I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. Barrero. Yes.

Garza. [laughter] Whole point of that. All right. All right. Garza. Yes. Messi. Yes. Nunes. Abstain. Franco. Yes. Seville. Yes. Right now. Anyway, did you say yes? Yes. Thank you. I know. But some are going. Smith. Yes. Bug. Bug. Yes. Bait. Yes. Larson. Yes. White. Yes.

10. Yes. Two. Abstain. Uh motion carries. This agenda item is adopted. Uh next item under unfinished business. Uh we'll do 2550954. Uh this affects the uh special service area in Alderman Nunes is area ordinance levying certain special service area taxes for the fiscal year January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, special service area number 90. Uh this item was held at city council for uh Alderman Nunes and for our uh city legal council to uh discuss it and I'll I know that we've had conversations but I'll I'll uh let Alderman Nunes begin.

Yeah, I'd appreciate it. Uh thank you mayor. So, uh, Leo Council and I spoke, uh, this afternoon and technically this is a reimbursement of ward funds, but to alleviate this financial burden of my constituents, um, I'd actually like to make a motion that we move to reject the ordinance. Um, and if anyone has any questions regarding that, second. Is there a second? There's a second motion to reject, uh, the agenda item. A second by motion made by alderman Nunees, seconded by Alderman Barrero. Uh discussion question. Alderman Franco. I agree with all that. I just want to know how what what exactly that means.

I'm [clears throat] going to explain this. So So um a motion to to reject the ordinance means that a positive vote for the motion is a negative vote for the levy. Does that make sense? Alternatively, we can do it the other way and then you you know, but it's it's two sides of the same coin. So, so he's made a motion to essentially instead of a motion to approve, he's made a motion to disapprove or to reject the levy. Okay. Which will accomplish what he's looking at to accomplish what he's looking. So, to vote in favor of his motion means that the levy does not pass. Okay. Which is what you want. So you're asking the council to vote yes on this agenda item. Is that correct? That is what I'm asking.

Yes. Any other further discussion? Autumn. Just to be clear, so the levy is just for this award for project the one that occurred the SSA a few years ago. Several years ago. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I remember. Yeah. S Plum. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Alman Larson. Uh yeah, one other question I have. Um, is this going to come back next year or does this eliminate the rest of the balance?

It does. So, we can levy next year if that's so so so this only affects 20. This only affects So, so this only affects the upcoming year. Next December is a is a separate item. Is that okay? Yes. Sorry. Any other questions or discussion? Alderman Bug. All right. So, we're voting to reject that levy and we are going to take up the second half of that or no? What do you mean by the second half of that? It for Alderman Nunes to use his funds

to whether to use his funds to reimburse the city. Is that what you're the the general fund account where this money because you need so procedural

permission to do that over a certain amount. So, so my my understanding is that that transfer already occurred so that this levy money and I I don't know if Stacy's still here, but this levy money goes directly into his fund at this point because the money to um do the curb and gutter improvements that were done uh a while ago came directly out of his word fund. So when the tax dollars come in, they go to his word fund. Stacey to clarify our CFO.

Um Stacy Peterson, chief financial officer. Yes. Um this is actually um the levy goes directly into um the ward fund um as a revenue. So, so it was already paid for by ward funds and then the levy would be repaying those ward funds and what Alderman Nunes is saying is he doesn't need that. Um, and that go moving forward. We're fine. We don't you don't want to see your ward funds replenished by taxpayer money in um by the levy increase. That is correct.

So, does that answer your question that it's already been paid for by Ward funds and that the levy would have been going to repay the Ward funds? Yeah, it's been paid for indefinitely or the one time it was front funded by ward funds. Um, as the attorney just mentioned, this alleviates for 2026. It'll come up for discussion again next year as we look into 2027. So to so to answer your question, there's no need to address the ward fund part of that uh because it was already paid for by ward funds. Okay. Alderwoman Bade

question will it be considered as a donation on a sponsorship or a grant from wad funds I think it's a capital it's part of a capital uh expenditure [clears throat] I can give some background on this Alderman Seville has some history let's hear it

yes okay the the fourth word alderman met with his constituents on plum with the idea of embarking upon a special service area um to have these public improvements street, curb, gutter, sidewalk that they didn't have in those days. It was unimproved street and the neighbors agreed to it and we adopted the special service area. The ward front fronted the whole project with the idea the residents would be paying back over a period of time the other half. It was a 50-50 project. And so Alderman Nunes is choosing to not accept that payback anymore essentially and not requiring the residents to pay back any more money with with what was originally agreed upon and approved by city council.

Any further discussions? We should just had you present from the beginning. Okay. Uh no. Was that under the Carter administration or the Reagan administration? Wow. The Lincoln one. [laughter] Alderman Barero. I'm ready to vote. Okay. If there's no further questions, uh, will the clerk please call the role? Thank you, Stacy. Guerrero, yes. Garza, yes. Makos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 12, yes. zero. No.

Uh, this motion carries and the amendment proposed by Alderman Nunes is adopted. Okay. There's one more agenda item on the unfinished business. Um, I I guess I'll ask if the council wants any presentation because I'm happy to hand the gavl over to uh Alderman Seville. I know that um our our director of online is here. if people wanted to at least introduce him that was brought up in several of the meetings that we had in our two and two meetings. That would be a good idea. So if you want to recuse yourself and Alderman Larson if you want to recuse yourself.

So corporate council is asking that uh both Alderman Larson and myself recuse ourselves from this agenda item. I'll ask the mayor promil to uh take the gavvel and address agenda item 2500954. 2559 09. Wait. 2550975. A resolution authorizing the execution of a services agreement between the city and online Aurora to provide internet services to the Habitat Green Freedom Subdivision. Staff going to be giving a presentation. Can and if

can I ask that we don't have a presentation only because we all got a presentation at one point in time. I think I I think that this is just I I don't think that um this is the full presentation because I think we had one recently but um I do know that Austin Fitz Corbett from Onlight is here and so if you have any you can take either Yeah, both mics are hot. So um if you have any questions specifically for Mr. Fitz Corbett um concerning the contract um we wanted to give you an opportunity to meet him and um you know go from there. So um

you want to introduce Sure. Yep. Hello. My name is uh Austin Fitz Corbin. I'm the volunteer director at online Aurora. I'm Jeff Anderson, deputy CIO. Okay. Thank you. And does anybody want to give a brief Sure.

presentation? Alderman, mayor promville, think they're right. So the uh the two previous resolutions that come before council regarding this subdivision and and the city took fiber basically to the intersection of Jericho and I I can't remember the name of the street that's coming off for this Habitat humanity uh community, 17 homes there. Um this now is is completing the the the agreement we've made with Nyore to provide internet service to those 17 homes uh so that Nyore can complete their study. Right. So the part part of all of this is one it's a Habitat for Humanity community. They're also doing first of its kind um uh smart homes trying again trying to show that smart homes can be built uh inexpensively or uh you know not not expensively it's late. Sorry. Um and and so what what they've done is they've combined uh solar, gas, and electric at at these locations and and and everything is smart enough to use to use apps and let let the homeowners learn how to use the applications to determine which which uh vehicles to heat or cool their house with on that given day. There's there's the the model is unit is open. If you've not been out there, I challenge you to go see it. Um, so this then is allowed to allow Nycore to study not only how effective the equipment is there, but how the residents use the equipment and and how they can teach them going forward and use this uh throughout the country. This is the first time they built a community like this this far north. Um, so we're we're unique in that standpoint. So uh what the city had agreed to do was provide internet connectivity to these 17 homes for a period of two years after the last home is completed. So you'll see in the contract that it is that the end is a little a little uh vague as based upon when the last home is completed. There is also um an out in in the in the agreement that if you know uh online changes the structure of online changes

or whatever the city would work with Nyore to provide to to get another internet provider there. So there is an out for the city as well. I'll stop and take questions. I have a question. Alderoman Smith. Has anybody seen the movie Smart Home? anybody. It's a Yeah, reminds me of the movie. Let's hope the outcome is better than the movie [laughter] Nunes. So, regarding this project, Nyore approached the city of Aurora or did the city of Aurora approach Nyore?

Nyore approached the city. Right. So they were they were working with Habitat for Humanity and you know there there were all kinds of other people before the IT folks got involved here about permitting and all of that kind of stuff but it's a Nyore le project with Habitat as their partner. Okay. Okay. Right. So they're they're leading the way of taking the fiber from Jericho to the rest of the subdivision. So we we've made arrangements with the fiber provider to pro to take those to each of the homes to the outside of the homes if you will the demark to the homes at no additional cost to the city. So the city's taken it right there and then Mr. Visor could talk about what happens inside the home there if you'd like to know that. Yeah.

So Alderman Nunes, you're wondering what happens in inside the home. Is that a question?

So um I I got to go to the show home um in November um and uh work with a couple of our our our subcontractors at Onlighted Subcontracting and TI and Scientel. Um we've set up um Cambium Equipment, another Illinois company. We've um set up some some new equipment there for fiber to home um on the outside and I was able to personally set up the inh home networking equipment. Um I wrote a did a white paper that I worked through with the Nyore smart home folks to um ensure that the technology that we were choosing met their needs and will meet their needs in the foreseeable future. So um happy to talk more about any specific details of that equipment or um the rates if that doesn't answer your question. It it does. Um, so just uh again and I apologize if you have to repeat yourselves. So regarding installation, permitting, digging lines, NTI, Scientell are the ones doing all that work or who's who's doing this work.

So permits are all are all completed, right? That's all done. So now now it's just installation of equipment as each house is completed. Okay. Right. Who's installing that equipment again? So on to the outside of the house is is NTI and they're doing that at no additional cost to the city, right? We brought fiber to the the intersection there, right? And then then online will work with their subcontractors to get the equipment inside the home. So think think of like the old way you would deal with a telephone company, right? Right. AT&T would bring it to the outside of your house or whoever your carrier was and then you were responsible for the equipment inside. That's that's the carrier here. So does that make sense?

If I can make one one small correction, Mr. Anderson. So the um NTI has laid the fiber loop in the neighborhood. Um so they've they've laid um two strands of fiber around the the street. Um they've done that at no cost. However, there is a cost laid out in the in this agreement here for deployment of of the lateral from the street to the home that NTI is doing. Um the equipment that is the powered equipment um that will go on the outside of the home um is being provided and installed by Scientel. Thank you both. Any further discussion? Anything more to present? Jim, no. Nothing here.

Promos. Before I get to my question, one thing we probably fell short on on designing this D is not getting a podium tall enough or big long enough. You got to lean over. So, there is a sign right there says don't touch the microphone. I do it every [laughter] time. All right. Um, real quick, the data data we collect, uh, I know I've had this question in the background, um, offline. Can you tell us how often do we collect data and, uh, what's what's the what are we going to do with it once we

So, so that'll be Nyore's data, right? I'm sure there there's the discussions we can have with them about what we can see and what what what they'd like to keep proprietary, right? but they are using it to um work with the homeowners to deter you know to help them learn how to more effectively use whether it's an app on a phone or on their computer or whatever. And so that's the intent behind the data is is to is to let Nyore see how effective their equipment is as well as how effective the homeowner is using it. So I'm sure at some point there's some data they would they would possibly share with us, but we haven't gotten to that point of a discussion. From a from a city standpoint, it'd be interesting to see right what we what we could get at that point. We're in the age of AI, so I would figure

we'd want to have that data too to look at it as well. And maybe it's something that can be worked out, especially with some of the initiatives already uh set in place if they're going to continue with uh with online light. Yeah. And I think it's a good question we can we can take forward. Absolutely. We just you know what? It's not one we've we've asked at this point. You know, it's been it's been Nyore is going to pick it up and work with the residents at this point, but we can definitely ask. I'll take that as a to-do. Appreciate it. Nunes,

one last question. Why would Nyore approach online and not with a more stable provider like a AT&T or an Exfinity, Verizon, even MetroNet. I mean, the list goes on and on. So, when when Nyore first approached the city, you know, they were looking for for a partner for this, right? and looking for a community-based fiber solution out of the gate knowing that we that we we had that. Right. [clears throat] So that's how we that's how we got started and you know we um one of the resolutions to this gez passed in 23. Right. Okay. Okay.

If I can make one one addition there Mr. Anderson, if that's okay, is that I know there were questions asked during the finance committee meeting about other internet providers and the future of those. And um if if you look at the some of the permitting that has gone in the neighborhood, you can see that um both Comcast and AT&T do have conduit that they are providing in the neighborhood as well. Um so it is not just the city and on light that is um providing utilities for fiber internet in this neighborhood. Okay. Any further discussion? Second the motion. Who made the first? Alderwoman Smith. Alderwoman Smith made the first uh uh motion for approval. Alderman Frank Franco seconded. Any further discussion? Please call the role. Barrero,

yes. Garza, yes. Miss Echos, yes. Nes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. White, yes. 11, yes. Zero, no. The resolution is adopted. We need to bring in the mayor. Thank you. Don't want to take his job away from me. [laughter] You want to bring in the mayor? Yeah. Please. Thank you. Yeah. He keeps trying to take my job. Keeps reading the items. Really? Yes. Slap his hands. I I know. I see you.

[laughter] I thank uh Mayor Prom uh Seville uh for that lively discussion. We'll see what happened when I watch the video. Uh last item on the agenda is uh bills. Uh is there a motion to approve and pay the bills as presented? Motion was made by Alderman Franco, seconded by Alderwoman Garza. Are there any questions or discussions on the bills? [clears throat] Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Brero, yes. Garza, yes. Messiacos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 12, yes. Zero, no.

This motion is adopted. There being no further business to come before the city council. Is there a motion to adjourn this meeting? Mayor, just real quick, happy holidays everyone. I want to say merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, happy Quanza to one and all. Okay. Thank you alderman Messiaakos. Uh, anybody else want to extend holiday wishes before we entertain a f a motion and a second? Okay. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. Motion by Alderman Seville, second by Alderman Messiaakos. All in favor? I. All opposed? Motion carries by voice vote. This meeting is adjourned at 8:59 p.m.