City Council

City Hall - 5th Floor City of Aurora Conference Room 44 East Downer Place Aurora, IL City Council Meeting Minutes - Final Tuesday December 12, 2023 6:00 PM Members of the public wishing to provide public comment for this meeting must be physically present at the meeting and registered to speak prior to the meeting being called to order. Please call the City Clerk's Office at (630) 256-3070 with questions. ROLL CALL Mayor Irvin called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. and the roll was called. A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderwoman Garza to allow Alderman Bugg and Alderman Llamas to participate in this meeting remotely. The motion carried by voice vote and Alderman Bugg and Alderman Llamas participated in this meeting remotely. Present: 13 - Alderman Emmanuel Llamas, Alderwoman Juany Garza, Alderman Ted Mesiacos, Alderman Bill Donnell, Alderman Carl Franco, Alderman Mike Saville, Alderman Brandon Tolliver, Alderwoman Patty Smith, Alderman Edward Bugg, Alderwoman Shweta Baid, Alderman John Laesch, Alderman Ron Woerman and Mayor Richard Irvin APPOINTMENT OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS A motion was made by Alderwoman Garza and seconded by Alderwoman Smith to appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms for this meeting. The motion carried by voice vote and Officer Sullivan served as Sergeant-at-Arms for this meeting. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by members of the City of Aurora Veterans Advisory Council. INVOCATION The Invocation was presented by Alderman Bugg. MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PRESENTATIONS The Aurora Veterans Advisory Council presented a donation of $14,000 to Rebuilding Together Aurora for four veteran's home builds in Aurora. City of Aurora Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS There were no Mayoral Appointments at this meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT The City Clerk read the Rules of Public Comment and the following individuals presented comments to the City Council: 1. Marjorie Logman spoke regarding the casino TIF 2. George Gutierrez spoke regarding events in Aurora 3. Brian Dahl spoke in support of the casino TIF 4. Pat Weiler spoke in opposition of the casino TIF 5. Sandi Schmitt spoke regarding the casino 6. Brian Hooker spoke in support of the casino 7. Steve Hendry spoke regarding the budget PUBLIC HEARINGS 23-0999 Public Hearing regarding the proposed first amendment to the existing West Farnsworth TIF District #7. Mayor Irvin called the Public Hearing to order and identified the legal requirements that were followed regarding this TIF Amendment. Trevor Dick, Assistant Director of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, spoke regarding this item. Charles Durham of Ryan & Co., City of Aurora TIF Consultant, presented regarding this item. There were no members of the public wishing to speak during public comment. There were no questions posed by City Council members regarding this item. Alderman Laesch asked if there were any members of City Council who might be seeking contracts with the Casino or have family members seeking contracts with the Casino who might need to recuse themselves. A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderman Franco to close the public hearing. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 12 - Alderman Llamas, Alderwoman Garza, Alderman Mesiacos, Alderman Donnell, Alderman Franco, Alderman Saville, Alderman Tolliver, Alderwoman Smith, Alderman Bugg, Alderwoman Baid, Alderman Laesch and Alderman Woerman City of Aurora Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 23-1000 Public Hearing regarding the proposed Farnsworth Bilter TIF District. Mayor Irvin called the Public Hearing to order. Charles Durham of Ryan & Co., City of Aurora TIF Consultant, presented regarding this item. Trevor Dick, Assistant Director of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, spoke briefly regarding the Joint Review Board meeting. The following members of the public spoke during the public comment portion of the Public Hearing: 1. Sandi Schmitt 2. Helen Ratzlow 3. Guatam Bhatia 4. Mary Lee Leu 5. Steve Hendry 6. Anonymous Aurora Resident 7. Rachel Wassink and Susan Bachmeier - World Relief Chicagoland 8. Emma Eschenfeldt - Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois 9. Bob Gorski - Association for Individual Development (AID) 10. Linda Young 11. Chris Lauzen 12. Lidia Sonthipanya - YWCA Metropolitan Chicago The following Aldermen and Alderwomen spoke regarding this item: 1. Alderwoman Patty Smith 2. Alderman John Laesch 3. Alderman Emmanuel Llamas No other Aldermen or Alderwomen wished to present comments regarding this item. Alex Alexandrou, Chief Management Officer - CIty of Aurora, responded to questions regarding this item. Aye: 11 - Alderman Llamas, Alderwoman Garza, Alderman Mesiacos, Alderman Donnell, Alderman Franco, Alderman Saville, Alderman Tolliver, Alderwoman Smith, Alderman Bugg, Alderwoman Baid and Alderman Woerman Nay: 1- Alderman Laesch UNFINISHED BUSINESS 23-0669 An Ordinance Levying Taxes For the City of Aurora, Illinois, For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderman Franco to approve this item. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Aurora Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 Aye: 11 - Alderman Llamas, Alderwoman Garza, Alderman Mesiacos, Alderman Donnell, Alderman Franco, Alderman Saville, Alderman Tolliver, Alderwoman Smith, Alderman Bugg, Alderwoman Baid and Alderman Woerman Abstain: 1- Alderman Laesch Enactment No: O23-089 CONSENT AGENDA The City Clerk read the Consent Agenda and the Direct to Council Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Alderman Franco and seconded by Alderwoman Garza to approve the Consent Agenda and Direct to Council Consent Agenda in full. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 12 - Alderman Llamas, Alderwoman Garza, Alderman Mesiacos, Alderman Donnell, Alderman Franco, Alderman Saville, Alderman Tolliver, Alderwoman Smith, Alderman Bugg, Alderwoman Baid, Alderman Laesch and Alderman Woerman 23-0668 An Ordinance Authorizing and Providing For The Abatement of General Obligation Bond Tax Levies. 2023 Tax Levy Extension. This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-090 23-0653 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023 (Special Service Area Number One). This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-091 23-0656 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Forty-Four) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-092 23-0657 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes for The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Three). This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-093 City of Aurora Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 23-0658 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes for The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Five) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-094 23-0659 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes for The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Six A) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-095 23-0660 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes for Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Six B). This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-096 23-0661 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes for The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Six C) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-097 23-0662 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes for Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Six D). This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-098 23-0663 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Sixty-Seven) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-099 City of Aurora Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 23-0664 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Eighty-Eight) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-100 23-0665 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Ninety) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-101 23-0666 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number One Hundred Forty-One) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-102 23-0667 An Ordinance Levying Certain Special Service Area Taxes For The Fiscal Year January 1, 2023 Through December 31, 2023. (Special Service Area Number Twenty- Four) This Ordinance was approved on the Consent Agenda. Enactment No: O23-103 DIRECT TO COUNCIL CONSENT AGENDA 23-1004 Approval of the Minutes of the Tuesday, December 5, 2023, Special City Council Meeting. The minutes were approved and filed as presented on the Direct to Council Consent Agenda. NEW BUSINESS There were no items of New Business. REPORT There were no Reports during this meeting. APPROVAL OF THE BILL SUMMARY AND LARGE BILL LIST City of Aurora Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 23-1017 Bill Summary and Large Bill List. A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderwoman Garza to approve and pay the bills. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 12 - Alderman Llamas, Alderwoman Garza, Alderman Mesiacos, Alderman Donnell, Alderman Franco, Alderman Saville, Alderman Tolliver, Alderwoman Smith, Alderman Bugg, Alderwoman Baid, Alderman Laesch and Alderman Woerman CLOSED SESSION There was no need for a Closed Session at this meeting. ADJOURN A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderwoman Garza to adjourn this meeting. The motion carried by voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Submitted by: ______________________________________ Jennifer Stallings, City Clerk Any individual with a disability requesting a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in a public meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. The City Clerk’s Office can be reached in person at 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora Illinois, via telephone at 630-256-3070, or via e-mail at cityclerk@aurora-il.org. Every effort will be made to allow for meeting participation. City of Aurora Page 7