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TO: Mayor John Laesch and City Council
FROM: Tim Weidner, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: June 25, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of real estate contracts to purchase properties and appropriating MFT Funds required for the 2022 Safe Routes to School Project in the amount of $8,150.00.
PURPOSE:
To authorize the purchase of right-of-way for the 2022 Safe Routes to School Project and to appropriate Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds as required by the Illinois Highway Code for MFT Section 22-00349-00-SW.
BACKGROUND:
Safe Routes To School (SRTS) is a federal grant funding program to improve conditions for students walking/biking to school. The grant program is a reimbursable program and serves three main goals:
1. To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school;
2. To make biking and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age;
3.To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety while reducing traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (within 2 miles) of elementary and middle schools (grades K-8).
Previously, Council approved a resolution (R21-270) on September 28, 2021 to let City staff to apply for SRTS grant and two separate resolutions (R22-348 and R25-129) for HR Green to perform Phase 1 and Phase 2 engineering services, respectively.
The City received SRTS grants for 3 projects for the School Districts 129 (an amount of $249,928.00), 131 ($249,656.00) & 204 ($244,704.00). A collective total amount of $744,288.00.
The work includes filling sidewalk gaps, constructing curb bumpouts, improving ADA sidewalk ramps, and installing radar speed feedback signs in the vicinity of schools.
DISCUSSION:
This resolution will provide authorization to proceed with the acquisition of temporary easement. The Corporation Counsel, City Engineer and respective designees shall represent the City in the acquisition of these parcels.
The City has received acceptances on all 9 of 9 parcels to the offers made by the City. The said properties have been executed or are in the process of being executed by said owners. The price of each easement ranges between $300 and $1,500; the total acquisition cost for all 9 parcels is $8,150.00. The plat of highway is included as Exhibit 'B'.
IDOT requires a Resolution to Appropriate the MFT Funds prior to their expenditure for approved projects. The Resolution for Improvement - BLR 09110 (Exhibit ‘A’) appropriating MFT Funds in the amount of $8,150.00 is attached.
The 2026 City Budget provides for sufficient funds in Account 203-4060-431.79-99 (GB138, Safe Routes to School Projects).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Construction on this project is scheduled to begin in fall 2026 or spring 2027. It is anticipated that most work will occur in 2027 with some work delayed until summer 2027 to coincide with the schools' summer breaks.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Please forward this to Finance Committee for Approval.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the execution of real estate contracts to purchase properties and appropriating MFT Funds required for the 2022 Safe Routes to School Project in the amount of $8,150.00.
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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 construct various improvements in the vicinity of schools as part of the 2021 Safe Routes to School Project. The project has a State Job Number: C-91-127-23, Federal Project Number: GAP7(108) and MFT Section Number: 22-00349-00-SW; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora through the Public Works Department has identified nine (9) separate parcels that will need to be acquired for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City has obtained separate waiver valuations for each identified parcel to be acquired; and
WHEREAS, offers to purchase have been made to the nine (9) owners of all nine (9) impacted parcels to acquire the parcels required for the Project at the valuation value; and
WHEREAS, the City has received acceptances from all 9 owners to the offers made by the City and Contracts to Purchase said properties have been executed or are in the process of being executed by said owners; and
WHEREAS, in order to acquire said parcel and negotiate and enter into a contract with the owner thereof, the City Council deems that it is in the best of the City that the City acquire said parcel pursuant to the terms of this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to appropriate Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds in the amount of $8,150.00, a copy of which resolution is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 'A'; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 City Budget provides for sufficient funds in Account 203-4060-431.79-99 (GB138, Safe Routes to School Projects).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees are hereby authorized and directed to make the appropriate offer to acquire property described in Exhibit 'B' Plat of Highways, which is made a part hereof; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees shall represent the City in the acquisition of the parcels required for the Project and that they may enter into a contract and acquire said parcels in an amount not to exceed $8,150.00; and further.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees may act for and on behalf of the City of Aurora to do all things necessary to acquire said parcel within the cost as provided herein; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that eight thousand one hundred fifty ($8,150.00) of available MFT Funds, Section Number 22-00349-00-SW shall be and hereby is appropriated for the purposes set forth in this resolution; 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, including, but not limited to the document entitled “Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code, Form (BLR 09110)” attached to this Resolution as Exhibit 'A.