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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Bill Wiet, Chief Development Services Officer
DATE: October 13, 2017
SUBJECT:
To provide a Tax Increment Financing grant in the amount of $40,000 to OnLight Aurora to extend fiber optic to the River Street Plaza commercial properties along South River Street south of Benton Street.
PURPOSE:
To allow for the further development and reuse of both vacant and occupied commercial spaces in River Street Plaza by providing benefits of utilizing the City's current fiber optic network.
BACKGROUND:
OnLight Aurora has in the past received grants to extend their service into areas that are not currently covered or in some cases bringing the City's network into a building. Last grant was for the connection of fiber to Aldi's Information Technical headquarters on Corporate Boulevard. That endeavor has proved successful and the desire is to get more fiber optic service available in the downtown.
DISCUSSION:
OnLight Aurora, the non-profit agency managing the City's fiber network, is proposing to build and implement fiber access connections to these properties that will provide a robust, highly available network and internet to advance economic development opportunities.
The cost estimate in included for review purposes. The $40,000 grant represents the estimated amount plus approximately 10% in contingency. Funds will be available pursuant to a budget amendment into Account Number 233-1830-465.32-99 (TIF 3 Professional Fees)
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This request will have a positive impact on the community by allowing commercial users to connect to the City's fiber network.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the TIF #3 Grant in the amount of $40,000 be approved.
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mesiacos
Alderman Bugg
Alderman Mervine, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution Approving a Tax Increment Financing Grant to OnLight Aurora to Provide for a Fiber Optic Extension along South River Street to the River Street Plaza Commercial Properties
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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, OnLight Aurora is the non-profit agency managing the City of Aurora's fiber network, and
WHEREAS, OnLight Aurora is desirous of extending the City's fiber optic network south of Benton Street to serve the commercial properties located along River Street Plaza, thereby providing a highly available network and internet to further advance economic development opportunities in the downtown, and
WHEREAS, it is therefore desirable that Aurora provide a TIF grant in the amount of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) to OnLight Aurora for the purpose of extending the fiber optic network to River Street Plaza, and
WHEREAS, funds are available by way of a budget amendment into Tax Increment Financing District Number 3 Account Number 233-1830-465.32-99 (Professional Fees))
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: That the TIF grant to OnLight Aurora is hereby approved in the amount of $40,000, and that The City's Chief Financial Officer be authorized to process payment to OnLight Aurora in the amount indicated above.