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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: The Mayor's Office
The Law Department
DATE: May 29, 2025
SUBJECT:
The City residency requirement for department heads.
PURPOSE:
To revise the City Code's requirement that the heads of the City's departments must reside in the City.
BACKGROUND:
In August 2017, during the City Council's deliberations on proposed restructuring of the City's departments and divisions, aldermen began to discuss the concept of prospectively requiring department heads to become residents of the City within one year of their appointment. Because the Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee did not yet exist, deliberations on this concept occurred directly at City Council and led to the adoption of a residency requirement for all department heads appointed after September 12, 2017.
While a majority of the Council believed that requiring residency was important to ensure that senior City staff maintained a strong connection to the City and participated in the community, other members expressed concern that a requirement might it difficult to recruit and retain qualified personnel.
DISCUSSION:
Since the adoption of Ordinance O17-063, the Council has granted extensions to department heads who required additional time to establish residency in the City and considered broadening the requirement to other classes of employees.
In the 8 years since the residency requirement was enacted, the housing market has become significantly tighter, increasing both the costs and the difficulty of relocation. Moreover, while Aurora's salaries are competitive with those offered by other communities as well as those in the private sector, the residency requirement potentially makes our positions less attractive. This can be particularly problematic when a qualified candidate may have children enrolled in schools or a spouse or partner whose own employment may be adversely impacted by relocation.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Revision of the residency requirement should have a positive impact on the City's ability to recruit and retain qualified professionals to fill positions of significant responsibility in the City. Prior to 2017, no such residency requirement existed, but most department heads chose to reside in and near Aurora. We would expect this to remain the case even if residency was not obligatory in all situations.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council amend Sec. 2-277(c) of the Code of Ordinance to revise the residency requirement for the City's department heads.
cc: Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance amending Sec. 2-277(c) of the Code of Ordinances pertaining to the qualifications of the department heads of the City.
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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, in September 2017, the City Council required all department heads appointed after September 12, 2017, become and remain residents of the City within twelve months of such department head's appointment and confirmation by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the circumstances that informed its decision to require residency in 2017 have changed and that it is necessary to revise that requirement by amending Sec. 2-277(c) of the Code of Ordinances as set forth in Exhibit A;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that Section 2-277(c) of the Code of Ordinances shall be and hereby is amended as set forth in Exhibit A.