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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: The Law Department
The Mayor's Office
DATE: October 18, 2024
SUBJECT:
A proposed amendment to the 2020 agreement between the City of Aurora and Aurora Downtown.
PURPOSE:
The proposed resolution amends the agreed upon terms between the City of Aurora and Aurora Downtown.
BACKGROUND:
Ordinance No. 4579, adopted December 7, 1976, reestablished as Special Service Area Number 1-A by Ordinance No. 079-4853, adopted November 27, 1979, established Aurora Special Service Area Number One. Aurora Downtown is a duly organized Illinois general not-for-profit corporation established for the purpose of improving, redeveloping, aiding and assisting persons and business enterprises in an area described in the City of Aurora Redevelopment Ordinance Numbered 4471 adopted July 25, 1975, and thereafter amended from time to time, commonly known as Aurora Downtown.
Starting in 2019, the City of Aurora engaged Aurora Downtown to establish a set of formal roles and responsibilities for both the city and Aurora Downtown. That agreement was approved by the City Council on September 22, 2020 (R20-223, attached).
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this amendment is to create a path for Aurora Downtown to join the merged group of organizations including Invest Aurora, the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce. The current agreement lists and 365-day termination notice, the proposed amendment implements a 90-day notice. The Aurora Downtown Board vote to approve the amended terms on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Acceptance of this proposed amendment will have a positive impact on the ability to better support and serve the businesses and organizations in SSA-1.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff respectfully requests approval of this proposed amendment.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution amending the agreement between the City and Aurora Downtown for the provision of special services and the payment of the proceeds of special service area taxes collected in the area constituting Special Service Area One.
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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, the City has established a special service area, which it has designated SSA One, in accordance with the Special Service Area Tax Law for the purpose of providing special governmental services in such area in addition to the services provided generally throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has engaged Aurora Downtown, an Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporation, to render special services within the area constituting SSA One, with payment for such services to be paid from the proceeds of the taxes levied within SSA One for special services; and
WHEREAS, the City and Aurora Downtown most recently entered into an agreement ("
Agreement") with respect to their respective responsibilities to each other in September 2020; and
WHEREAS, the parties now seek to amend the Agreement by changing Paragraph 12 and adding Paragraph 22 as more fully set forth in Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, Aurora Downtown has voted in support of this amendment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, as the governing body of SSA One pursuant to Sec. 27-15 of the Property Tax Code, finds that the changes set forth in Exhibit A are in the best interests of the City as well as in the best interests of the real property subject to taxation in SSA One.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor shall be and hereby is authorized to execute on behalf of the City an amendment to the Agreement that substantially conforms to the changes set forth in Exhibit A.