Committee of the Whole

City Hall - Second Floor City of Aurora Council Chambers 44 East Downer Place Aurora, IL Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final Tuesday July 15, 2025 5:00 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. Call the City Clerk's Office at (630) 256-3070 with questions. Please refer to the last page of this agenda for information regarding translation & reasonable accommodation requests. ROLL CALL Mayor Laesch called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. and the roll was called. Alderman Franco and Alderman Bugg were present at the meeting until approximately 6:30 p.m. Present 13 - Alderman Daniel Barreiro, Alderwoman Juany Garza, Alderman Ted Mesiacos, Alderman Jonathan Núñez, Alderman Carl Franco, Alderman Mike Saville, Alderman Javier Bañuelos, Alderwoman Patty Smith, Alderman Edward J. Bugg, Alderwoman Shweta Baid, Alderman-At-Large Keith Larson, Alderman-At-Large Will White, and Mayor John Laesch MINUTES OF THE TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025, COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING 25-0550 Approval of the Minutes of the Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting. A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderwoman Garza to approve the minutes. The motion carried by voice vote. City of Aurora Page 1 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Laesch presented a Mayoral Proclamation to Steve Kulesza, Superintendent of Parks & Recreation - City of Aurora proclaiming July as National Parks & Recreation Month in the City of Aurora. Wednesdays at the Plaza events will continue throughout the Summer in Aurora. The Summer Food Truck Festival is this Friday, July 18, 2025. Jason Bauer, Director of Public Works - City of Aurora, presented and responded to questions regarding the change in City of Aurora lead testing standards in 2025 and explained the significance of the results of this new standard testing. PUBLIC COMMENT The City Clerk read the Rules of Public Comment and the following people presented comments to the Committee of the Whole: 1. Senayit Aukamichael spoke regarding Juneteenth. 2. Adam Pauley spoke regarding the 988 Campaign. 3. Rick Lawrence spoke regarding the grocery tax. REPORT OF THE BUILDING, ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE The Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee Met On July 9, 2025 and Reviewed the Following Items: 25-0513 A Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a not-to-exceed agreement for Design Phase Engineering and Planning Special Services with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. in the amount of $99,900 for the "Replace Airfield Signage, Wind Cones, Runway 15 and 27 REILs & Airport Rotating Beacon; Construct Guard Lights at Runway 15/33" Project (ARR-5201) at the Aurora Municipal Airport. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) City of Aurora Page 2 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE The Finance Committee Met On July 10, 2025 and Reviewed the Following Items: 25-0485 A Resolution Authorizing Execution of Labor Agreement between the City of Aurora and the Aurora Supervisors Association (ASA) from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) 25-0519 An Ordinance Enacting a Municipal Grocery Retailers' Occupation Tax and Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax. Stacey Peterson, Director of Financial Operations - City of Aurora presented. Chris Minick, Chief Financial Officer - City of Aurora responded to questions. Shannon Cameron, Chief of Staff - City of Aurora responded to questions. (PLACED ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS) 25-0543 An Ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of Adjustable Rate Demand Economic Development Revenue Bonds, Aurora University, in one or more series, of the City of Aurora, Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall Counties, Illinois, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $16,000,000, and confirming the sale thereof; authorizing the execution and delivery of a Loan Agreement, Trust Indenture, Bond Purchase Agreement and related documents; authorizing the distribution of an Official Statement; approving the delivery of a Letter of Credit, a Reimbursement Agreement and a Remarketing Agreement; and authorizing certain related matters. Chris Minick, Chief Financial Officer - City of Aurora, presented and responded to questions. Sharon Maxwell, Senior Vice Presidence for Business & Finance - Aurora University, presented and responded to questions. Nancy Burke, Bond Counsel - Chapman and Cutler, presented and responded to questions. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) 25-0552 An Ordinance amending Article 44 Section 191 of the Municipal Code, "Hotel Occupancy Tax." Chris Minick, Chief Financial Officer - City of Aurora, presented and responded to questions. (PLACED ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS) 25-0554 An Ordinance Amending the Ward 6 Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) City of Aurora Page 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 25-0564 A Resolution authorizing the purchase of Cornerstone's OnDemand Public Sector eLearning Subscription in the amount of $106,658.60 from August 15, 2025, to August 15, 2028. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) REPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE The Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee Meeting Scheduled for July 8, 2025 was Cancelled. REPORT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE The Infrastructure & Technology Committee Met On July 7, 2025 and Reviewed the Following Items: 25-0499 A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 3 Construction Engineering Agreement with HR Green, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $199,731.00 for the 2025 City Wide Resurfacing Projects. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) 25-0502 A Resolution authorizing the use of funds not to exceed $455,000 for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) for new fire stations 9 and 13. Jolene Coulter, Director of Purchasing - City of Aurora, responded to questions. (PLACED ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS) 25-0524 A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to award contracts for the Citywide Mowing Bid 25-013 lists A,B,C,E-2, F, I, and J to vendors Groundworks Land Design (Plainfield, IL), Beary Landscaping (Lockport, IL), and Apex Landscaping (Hawthorne, IL). (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) 25-0538 Letter of intent to remain a part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's (USACE) study regarding the removal of dams on the Fox River. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) City of Aurora Page 4 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 REPORT OF THE RULES, ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE The Rules, Administration and Procedure Committee Met On July 1, 2025 and Reviewed the Following Items: Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee Resolutions 25-0535 A Resolution authorizing the 2025 Ward 2 Scholarship Program. (INFORMATION ONLY) Enactment Number: RAP25-004 HELD 25-0516 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 and Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to the organization of the departments and divisions of the City. Nicholas Richard-Thompson, Deputy Chief of Staff - City of Aurora, presented and responded to questions. Shannon Cameron, Chief of Staff - City of Aurora, responded to questions. Yordana Wysocki, Corporation Counsel - City of Aurora, responded to questions. (PLACED ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS) NEW BUSINESS 25-0568 A Resolution approving the appointment of Stacey Peterson as Chief Financial Officer / City Treasurer. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) 25-0569 A Resolution approving the appointment of Jason Bauer as Director of Public Works / City Engineer. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) 25-0570 A Resolution approving the appointment of Henry Thompson as Superintendent of Facilities Maintenance. (PLACED ON CONSENT AGENDA) ALDERMAN'S CORNER Alderman Saville presented an update on Ward 6 happenings. City of Aurora Page 5 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 CLOSED SESSION A Closed Session was required pursuant to Sections 2(c)(1), (11) and (21) of the Open Meetings Act to discuss: 1) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline or dismissal of specific employees of the public body 2) pending litigation and 3) closed session minutes. A motion was made by Alderwoman Smith and seconded by Alderman Saville to enter into Closed Session and thereafter adjourn the City Council meeting with no further final action or public business to take place for purposes of the Committee of the Whole. The motion carried by the following vote and the Open Session of the meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 7:10 p.m. The Closed Session meeting convened at 7:22 p.m. and adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Aye: 10 - Alderman Barreiro, Alderwoman Garza, Alderman Mesiacos, Alderman Núñez, Alderman Saville, Alderman Bañuelos, Alderwoman Smith, Alderwoman Baid, Alderman-At-Large Larson and Alderman-At-Large White ADJOURN Submitted by: ________________________________________ Jennifer Stallings, City Clerk THIS MEETING AGENDA SHALL ALSO SERVE AS NOTICE THAT A MAJORITY OF A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS MAY ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMITTEE MEETING. NO OFFICIAL ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL OCCUR AT THIS COMMITTEE MEETING. MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING SHALL CONSTITUTE THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING AND ANY MEETING OF THE MAJORITY OF THE QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME AND LOCATION. City of Aurora Page 6 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 Any individual requiring language translation and/or 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.us. Every effort will be made to allow for meeting participation. Cualquier persona que requiera traducción de idiomas y/o tenga una discapacidad y solicite una adaptación razonable para poder participar en una junta pública, debe comunicarse con la Oficina de la Secretaría Municipal al menos 48 horas antes de la junta programada. Puede comunicarse con la Oficina de la Secretaría Municipal en persona en 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora Illinois, por teléfono al 630-256-3070 o por correo electrónico a CityClerk@aurora.il.us. Se hará todo lo posible para permitir la participación en la junta. City of Aurora Page 7