Aurora City Council & COW - 9/22/25

Aurora, Ohio, City Council and Committee of the Whole
​September 22, 2025

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chairman John Kudley with Council members present: Reva Barner, Brad Duguay, Peter French, Sarah Grdina Gilmore, George Horvat, Dennis Kovach and John Seitz. Scott Wolf was absent. There were 9 City Officials and Employees present. There were 7 citizens present.

Minutes from September 9, 2025 were adopted.

Finance Director’s Report: Timothy Clymer said “we are exactly where we want to be” with 2/3 of the way through the year. The 2024 Financial audit has been certified by the Auditor of State’s Office, with an unmodified (“clean”) opinion. “Many thanks to our Finance Department employees (Leah, Jenny, Marcy, and Halli) along with all city employees and officials for their instrumental work in helping us achieve this result!”. Fund balances remain in a healthy position with $49,155,210 unencumbered in all funds and $20,151,803 unencumbered in the General Fund.

 There were 5 Ordinances proposed for action that evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance amending Employees Generally to reflect changes in compensation for 3 promotions in Parks and Rec and 1 part time sports monitor. 
  
• An Ordinance rejecting all bids received for the Turf Landscape Maintenance program as the two bids received exceeded the engineering estimate by more than 20% which were due to inflation costs.
  
• An Ordinance adopting the city’s cybersecurity program, as required by Ohio House Bill 96, which requires adoption prior to September 30, 2025. This new mandate is from Columbus and requires notifying the state of any attacks, having Council’s approval of any payments and will be incorporated into the city’s already robust plan.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Sun Life Financial  as the best quote  for the city’s medical stop loss coverage for City employees for the time period January 1, 2026 thru December 31, 2026. The maximum amount of $3,706,759.00 is based upon self insurance in the amount of $85,000.00 per covered individual with a total expected annual cost of $3,103,759.00.
  
• An Ordinance to retain the legal services of McDonald Hopkins LLC. As bond counsel to assist the city in financing the development of the Aurora Park at Geauga Lake property. 6 law firms were considered and this company was chosen based on past associations and pricing was in the middle to low end of the 3 finalists.
  

There was 1, Resolution proposed for 1st Reading:

• A Resolution accepting the written recommendations of the Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) regarding the tax abatements currently in effect for the City of Aurora.
  

Meeting adjourned at 6:16 pm

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City Council (CC):   Council President George Horvat called the meeting to order at 6:20 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America. Council members were present and absent as noted in the COW report. There were 9 City Officials and Employees present and 7 people in the gallery.

September 9, 2025 Meeting Minutes were adopted.

Executive Session: There was an 8 minute Executive session to discuss the Acquisition of Real Property.

Mayor’s Report: City News highlighted:

• Aurora Trail Challenge now through October 31.
  
• Early Turkey Trot pricing now through October 31.
  
• Scarecrow Contest: Drop off Wednesday October 1, 3-5:00 pm at Sunny Lake Park with voting October 4-12 and winner announced October 13.
  
• Fall Festival and Business Showcase Saturday October 4, noon-4 pm at Sunny Lake Park.
  

     The Classic Car Show had about 140 registrants with several winners.
   The Mayor focused on Economic Development calling attention to 22 new retail and commercial businesses opening in the last 5 years. A priority has been to attract retail and restaurants to the new Aurora Park district as well as Aurora’s central business district in the heart of our community. In the last 5 years, 6 new businesses opened in the Industrial area, bringing investments of over $25 million and 74 new employees. Most of the growth in the Industrial Park is through expansion of existing companies. At present almost 4,000 people work in The Industrial Park. The Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Trunk or Treat for Aurora families at Trelleborg on Lena Drive in the Industrial Park. It will help educate Aurora residents about the Industrial Park. The city advertises on regional publications to market the city. In October there will be an ad promoting Aurora as a destination location in Cleveland Magazine’s “Best of Cleveland”.
   The Mayor continued to have budget meetings with staff members and Council. She spoke at the Patriot Day program on September 11 at Sunny Lake, did her Community Focus television taping and is working with the Portage Foundation regarding Moore Grants Committee recommendations for upcoming grants. She also attended the Vitalan Health ribbon cutting and worked the High School football concessions stand with city staff as well as attending the Aurora Historical Society’s picnic.

   
Law Director’s Report: Mr. DePiero’s  report was included with the agenda. 

Citizens Comments on legislation– A representative from Accanto Health/The Emily Program, who are requesting a Conditional zoning certificate to locate at 700 Walden Place for an in-patient residential medical facility, responded to concerns about straining Aurora ambulance services saying they would contract with a private ambulance service. 
 Council Remarks on legislation– None


Legislation:
Ordinances on 3rd Reading:

• An Ordinance from Planning Commission approving the final plat for Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake located on Treat Road was adopted.
  
• A Resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor was adopted.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a development agreement with Pulte Homes of Ohio LLC for the Renaissance Park at Geauga Lake-Phase 2/3- East was adopted with “no” votes from R. Barner and D. Kovach.
  

Ordinances and Resolution on 2nd Reading:

• A Resolution to adopt the Solid Waste Management Plan for the Portage County Solid Waste Management District was Adopted with Rules Suspended.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Income Tax Rebate Incentive Agreement with Rotek/thyssenkrupp in the amount of 30% for 3 years was Adopted with Rules Suspended.
  
• An Ordinance selecting the bid of and awarding a one year contract to Aero-Mark Company, LLC for the Citywide Pavement Marking Program in an amount not to exceed $160,210.07 and having the option to renew the contract for the 2nd and/or 3rd year at the prices set forth in the bid documents went to 3rd Reading.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of bulk road salt from Cargill, Inc aat the price of $62.89 per ton (basic salt) and $78.06 per ton (clearlane) in an amount not to exceed $400,000.00 for the 2025-2026 snow season went to 3rd Reading.
  
• An Ordinance selecting the bid of and awarding a 1 year contract to Perrin Asphalt for the 2026 Concrete Rehabilitation Program went to 3rd Reading.
  

Ordinances on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance from Planning Commission granting a conditional zoning certificate for multi-family to New Leaf Development for a condominium development located on the southwest corner of SR43 and Aurora Lake Rd in the PD Planned Development District went to 2nd Reading after some comments from Council. J. Kudley listened to the meeting and commended Mr. French on his research on this company. His concern is not with density but wanting to make sure that sidewalks will be required along SR 43 as an amendment to the CZC. Past administrations had not always required them. Mr. French visited one of their developments and said it was very well put together- just as they had proposed. The Mayor said her administration has always enforced the requirement of sidewalks for all developments.
  
• An Ordinance from Planning Commission approving the revised development plan for Hawthorn of Aurora LLC located Southwest of Aurora Lake Road and North Aurora Road, in a PD Planned Development District went to 2nd Reading.
  
• An Ordinance from Planning Commission granting a conditional zoning certificate for a comparable use to Accanto Health/The Emily Program for an in-patient residential medical facility, located at 700 Walden lace, in the PD Planned Development District went to 2nd Reading.
  

• The 5 Ordinances from COW proposed for adoption on 1st Reading were adopted with Rules Suspended. See COW for details.
  
• The Resolution accepting the written recommendations of the Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) regarding the tax abatements currently in effect for the City of Aurora went to 2nd Reading.
  

Ordinances from the Executive Session:

• An Ordinance for the purchase of 3 vacant lots on Fairview Ave, right next to Aurora Park, in the amount of $35,000 plus closing costs less than $5,000.00. Money will be transferred from the General Fund to City Operations Fund as it was not in the budget. This was adopted with Rules Suspended.
  
• An Ordinance for a purchase agreement for a lot with a house on it on Fairview Ave. for $190,000.00 plus closing costs less than $20,000.00. This will be for September 1, 2026 so the city can budget for it next year. It was adopted with Rules Suspended.
  

Citizens Comments: None
Council Members Remarks: None

Meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.​