The Aurora City Council recently renewed contracts for its two lobbying firms in Springfield.

Aldermen approved a 3.5% increase in compensation for Vision M.A.I., owned by Bukola Bello, and Roger C. Marquardt & Co., represented by Scott Marquardt and Chip Humes.

Both lobbying firms will go from $6,150 a month to $6,365.25 a month, beginning Jan. 1.

Vision M.A.I. has been representing Aurora since mid-2020, when Bello began representing the city on legislative issues involving both the unrest of that summer, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marquardt has worked for the city since March 2022.

Alex Voigt, deputy chief of staff in the mayor’s office, said city officials have been happy with both firms representation of the city, and were very happy with the 2023 legislative session, which Voigt said was “fruitful” for the city of Aurora.

The lobbying team helped pass four pieces of legislation initiated by Aurora, including the Drones as First Responders Act and a bill that allowed the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to approve the city’s plan for dealing with limestone residue from its drinking water treatment plant.

Voigt also said the team represented the state before the Department of Public Health for plumber agreements, scheduled and attended meetings with state agencies, represented the city as needed during hearings and connected staff members to legislators.

Voigt added that the team arranged meetings and communication with both the DuPage and Kane county boards on Aurora-specific items and sent weekly reports on Springfield happenings to the City Council and staff.

slord@tribpub.com