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TO: Mayor John Laesch and City Council
FROM: Tim Weidner, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: April 27, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 1 Preliminary Engineering Agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $225,406.00 and the appropriation of $225,406.00 for the Farnsworth & Ogden Intersection Improvement Project.
PURPOSE:
To approve the above referenced Engineering Services Agreement and to appropriate Capital Improvement funds.
BACKGROUND:
The project applied for federal funding in the December 2023 STP-L call for projects. The original application involved turn lane and signal improvements at the intersection of Farnsworth Ave & Ogden Ave (US 34) as well as roadway widening on Farnsworth Ave between Ogden and Hafenrichter. The roadway widening work has since been constructed by a developer. This project has been reduced in scope to only the intersection work. That work has now been awarded federal funding to cover up to 80% of Construction and Construction Engineering costs up to $1,260,000.
The project involves intersection improvements at the intersection of Farnsworth Ave and Ogden Ave (US 34). The design will include a new right turn lane for EB Ogden to SB Farnsworth traffic and an additional left turn lane for NB Farnsworth to WB Ogden traffic. Pedestrian facilities (crosswalks) will also be upgraded at the intersection.
DISCUSSION:
Due to the complex nature of the project, the City is required to hire a consultant for the Phase 1 Preliminary Engineering Services.
The City published a Qualification Based Selection (QBS) for Phase 1 Engineering Services on January 29, 2026. Five (5) firms submitted their qualifications. Staff reviewed the qualifications submitted and determined that Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. (GHA) was the most qualified with the top 3 firm's scores attached as Exhibit 'B'. Exhibit ‘B’ also has a breakdown of the selection criteria and weighting and the score breakdowns in each category. This will be the first time GHA has worked with the City on this type of project before. GHA has completed work on similar projects before for other municipalities in the region including Round Lake Beach, Barrington, and Deerfield. Staff contacted GHA's listed references who gave very positive reviews of GHA's prior work. The QBS includes a City option to continue with the selected consultant for Phase 2 Design Engineering.
The Phase 1 Engineering Agreement (BLR 05530) from GHA in the amount of $225,406.00 is attached as Exhibit 'A'. GHA's Letting of Good Standing is attached as Exhibit 'C'. A location map for the project is attached as Exhibit 'D'.
This followed the Request for Qualifications process and is not subject to the local preference policy.
The 2026 City Budget provides money for this item in Account 340-4020-418.76-39 (GC090, Farnsworth and Ogden Intersection Imprv). This is a multi-year project with any additional necessary money to be budgeted in future years (if needed).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Please forward this to the Infrastructure and Technology Committee for approval.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the execution of a Phase 1 Preliminary Engineering Agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of $225,406.00 and the appropriation of $225,406.00 for the Farnsworth & Ogden Intersection Improvement Project.
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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 seeks to improve the intersection of Farnsworth Avenue and Ogden Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the City published a Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) for the Phase 1 Engineering services on January 29, 2026, with an option to utilize the same firm for Phase 2 Engineering. Five (5) firms submitted their qualifications and experiences; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to execute and engineering services agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. 625 Forest Edge Drive, Vernon Hills, IL, 60061, to complete the Phase 1 Engineering services for a total cost not to exceed $225,406.00, a copy of which agreement is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 'A'; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to appropriate Capital Improvement funds for this agreement in the amount of $225,406.00; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 City Budget provides money for this item in Account 340-4020-418.76-39 (GC090, Farnsworth and Ogden Intersection Imprv) with any additional funds to be budgeted in future years, if needed).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Engineering Agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. attached to this Resolution as Exhibit 'A' in the not to exceed amount two hundred twenty-five thousand, four hundred six dollars ($225,406.00) shall be and hereby is approved; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and the Clerk respectively, shall be and hereby are directed to execute all the aforementioned documents on behalf of the City and any other documents required to carry the purposes of this resolution into execution.