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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Yordana Wysocki, Corporation Counsel
DATE: April 27, 2026
SUBJECT:
Resolution requesting approval of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora and Phillips Park Foundation, as requested by Ald. Ted Mesiacos (3rd Ward).
PURPOSE:
The Phillips Park Foundation has recently been formed as a new Phillips Park not for profit entity to raise money to promote and enhance the park. Ald. Mesiacos wishes to provide the new Foundation with seed money from the 3rd Ward Fund (313-1350-419.50-50) and a $10,000 one-time payment from 101-1002-413.50-50.
BACKGROUND:
Phillips Park in Aurora, Illinois is an almost 400-acre park named after Travis Phillips, Mayor of Aurora in 1881, and is owned and maintained by the City for public use and enjoyment of the public and includes Phillips Park Zoo, Phillips Park Golf Course, a playground, gardens, picnic areas, sporting and other recreational areas.
DISCUSSION:
The Phillips Park Foundation is a new nonprofit entity which seeks to generate renewed interest in Phillips Park, establish various funds to promote and enhance the park, and to further the historic status of Phillips Park. Ald. Mesiacos wishes to support the Foundation during its inception and recommends the City enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Phillips Park Foundation to clarify the scope, rights, and duties of this support.
The MOU provides that the City will make a one-time payment to the Foundation in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from account 101-1002-413.50-50 and a second one-time payment of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from the Third Ward Aldermen’s Funds from account 313-1350-419.50-50 within thirty (30) days after the Foundation provides proof that it filed its Articles of Incorporation with the Illinois Secretary of State and has opened a bank account or established a deposit account or fund with the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley in accordance with its rules.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Phillips Park is owned and maintained by the City for public enjoyment. This Foundation will assist in enhancing the park.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Finance Committee and Committee of the Whole should recommend approval of this Resolution to the City Council.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora and the Phillips Park Foundation.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Phillips Park in the Aurora, Illinois is an almost 400-acre park owned and maintained by the City of Aurora for public use and enjoyment and includes Phillips Park Zoo, Phillips Park Golf Course, a playground, gardens, picnic areas, sporting and other recreational areas (collectively, “Phillips Park”); and
WHEREAS, the Phillips Park Foundation is a nonprofit entity which seeks to generate renewed interest in Phillips Park, establish various funds to promote and enhance the park, and to further the historic status of Phillips Park; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora wishes to support the Foundation during its inception; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora and the Phillips Park Foundation wish to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference, to clarify the scope, rights, and duties of this support and their relationship moving forward; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Aurora is authorized to enter into agreements pursuant to Section 2-17 of the Aurora City Code and 65 ILCS 5/2-2-12.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION ONE: Exhibit A, the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aurora and the Phillips Park Foundation is hereby approved.
SECTION TWO: A one-time payment to the Phillips Park Foundation in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from fund account 101-1002-413.50-50, pursuant to the terms of Exhibit A, is hereby authorized.
SECTION THREE: A one-time payment to the Phillips Park Foundation in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from the Third Ward Aldermen's Funds from fund account 313-1350-419.50-50 pursuant to the terms of Exhibit A, is hereby authorized.
SECTION FOUR: SEVERABILITY. The various provisions of this Resolution are to be considered severable, and if any part or portion of this Resolution shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Resolution.
SECTION FIVE: REPEAL OF PRIOR ORDINANCES. All prior Ordinances and Resolutions in conflict or inconsistent herewith are hereby expressly repealed only to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency.
SECTION SIX: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law.