Aurora reviews 2025 public facilities capital projects, customer service remodel and valet garage purchase

Jim Burchall, chief building facilities officer, and other public facilities leaders presented the proposed 2025 public facilities capital projects at the Oct. 23 Aurora Finance Committee meeting. The package covered City Hall improvements, a customer service/3‑1‑1 center remodel, multiple roof and HVAC replacements, parking and garage work tied to an anticipated acquisition, APD facility upgrades, and a range of deferred‑maintenance items across city properties.

Burchall said the customer service remodel budget is approximately $750,000. The work will reconfigure the front office, improve wayfinding and conference rooms, add an electronic front sign and create a foyer entrance tied to the city’s new 3‑1‑1 center. “It’s a smaller remodel. We’re gonna do the conference room, make it modern… and then redefine the counter,” Burchall said.

Alex Alexander, the city’s chief management officer, said the remodel is being planned to support a March 11 launch of the new customer service/3‑1‑1 operations and that part of the renovated area will function as a “city hall annex” to provide staff services two days a week on the city’s far east side. “We are also looking…to space there as what I’ll call a city hall annex,” Alexander said, adding that a payment kiosk and improved conference space for HOA and commission meetings are part of the plan.

Burchall described multiple building projects proposed in 2025: roof replacements (including 77 Broadway and City Hall Fifth Floor), replacement of RTUs and HVAC units at APD and animal control, remodels of restrooms to meet updated code (including adding floor drains), a remodeled APD courtroom/administrative hearing room with soundproofing and video, and replacement of worn exterior doors and front walkway stairs. He said the city would seek a 25‑year warranty on at least one roof project and expects to undertake one to two roof replacements per year as part of a multiyear deferred‑maintenance program.

The committee also discussed the city’s planned acquisition of a valet parking deck currently owned by ACA related to the casino. Alexander said the city is preparing to close on the purchase and that maintenance on the valet deck will be part of a multiyear capital program starting in 2025 and continuing through 2028. He said the casino will continue to occupy parking until it moves; the city anticipates revenue streams once the purchase closes. “We were very pleasantly surprised with the additional information they brought yesterday… the list is pretty manageable,” Alexander said about the garage condition and the transition planning.

Other projects and items noted in the presentation included: creation of an additional west‑side parking lot with future electric vehicle charging capability; improvements to the MBPS parking decks and wayfinding; upgrades and maintenance to the transit station including replacing an aging air handler and platform repairs; and smaller investments such as replacement of a 10‑ton package unit at 5 East Downer and new custodial capacity in central services.

Committee members asked about timing and access. Burchall said the customer service rooms will remain accessible until construction begins; the city is finalizing drawings with the architect and hopes to bring the project for approval in December. Alderwoman Bade asked whether parking and the deck work would start before the casino departs; Alexander said acquisition and maintenance would be coordinated with the casino’s timeline and that the city expects a short closing window to take ownership.

The presentation included references to associated technology and service changes: the city will align the remodel with Granicus website updates and a 3‑1‑1 module; staff said Minnick’s team is evaluating payment kiosk options for the front entrance. Burchall and Alexander said many projects will be multiyear efforts tied to deferred‑maintenance planning and that some items will proceed after further scoping and bids.

No formal votes on capital projects were recorded during this meeting; the package was presented for committee review as part of the 2025 budget process. The committee adjourned by motion after the presentations.