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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 4/14/2009 - Economic Development Commission McHenry Economic Development Commission Annual Meeting Tuesday,April 14, 2009 Members Present: Chairman Wimmer, Mayor Low, K. Carstens, D. Gelwicks, K. Marinangel, D. Maxeiner, J. Minero, N. Neumann, D. Paegelow, D. Martin. Members Absent: K. Bates, B. Bolger, K. Kunzer Chairman Wimmer convened the meeting at 12:30 PM in the Aldermen's Conference Room in the McHenry Municipal Center. Cit r�Report. Doug Martin stated that city staff, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, Medela, and McHenry County Economic Development Commission recently hosted a business retention breakfast for businesses located in the corporate center. Martin also provided an update on the city's efforts at attracting retailers to McHenry and provided an overview of his planned trip to the Shopping Center Convention in Las Vegas. Mr. Martin stated that the city's booth has proven useful in providing an opportunity to discuss what McHenry has to offer prospective retailers. City staff also recently traveled to a smaller convention in Chicago. K. Marinangel asked if the information being distributed is comprehensive and includes information about the McHenry Savings Bank property. Mr. Martin assured her that it does. Mazinangel also asked if there axe TIF developers at the convention as well. Martin responded that TIF developers do attend the conventions and explained his strategies for attracting potential TIF developments. N. Neumann suggested showing the virtual tour of the Riverwalk in these efforts. Marinangel explained that the McHenry Savings Bank site downtown is now available and suggested that Martin should market the property in Las Vegas. Various members of the Commission asked about Walmart and the reports that they are moving to Johnsburg. Maxeiner explained that the city is still in the running to keep Walmart and suggested that the members of the Commission should not believe everything printed in the Northwest Herald. Gelwicks suggested that the city may have to offer incentives to keep Walmart. City staff responded that they were fully aware of that. Marinangel stated that her bank—McHenry Savings Bank—has a contract to provide the bank within the Walmart. Martin also provided an update about his marketing ef�orts for the Dominick's site and also spoke about potential restaurants that have shown interest in the area. Mayor Low commented about a recent meeting with Olive Garden management and shared that the McHenry opening was the most successful they had seen in the entire country. Neumann commented that he had recently spoken with the banquet hall owner that had shown some interest in McHenry and stated that it does not appear that the banquet hall will happen. Neumann provided an update on his project with Cunat at the former City Hall location. Marinangel asked about the status of the four way intersection project which would add a fourth leg to the intersection of Richmond Road and Elm Steet. She stated that the project was critical to the successful sale of their property. Chairman Wimmer provided an update on the Curtis project (Riverwalk Center). Other Business Chairman Wimmer asked the members about the future of the EDC and opined that it is perhaps time to decommission the group. He suggested that between the efforts of city staff and the MCEDC, there is really no legitimate function for the commission moving Forward. Neumann suggested that new members may be needed to re-invigorate the commission. Gelwicks stated that he wanted to see the EDC remain and meet more than once a year. He stated that McHenry is one of the few communities in the county that does not have an active EDC. Marinangel stated that the unemployment rate is so high and questioned if there was not something the EDC could pursue through the federal stimulus package. Neumann suggested keeping the entity alive until such time that a new generation could bring new energy to the comrnission. Mayor Low expressed the opinion that new blood is essential to keeping the EDC going. She stated that the City has designated a high level position for economic development purposes. However, she stated that she felt the EDC is too reliant on the City. Business retention efforts are good things but the current efforts were initiated by the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce and the City. The EDC played no role in these efforts. Low opined that if the EDC is going to be vital it needs to step forward with a plan of action. Responding to a question about federal stimulus funds and the potential role of the EDC in pursuing federal dollars, Maxeiner provided an explanation of the limited extent of federal funds that actually reached McHenry County through the stimulus package. He explained that for transportation purposes, the federal stimulus package, also known as the American Recovery and Restoration Act (ARRA), provided approximately $4.7 million to be distributed between all municipalities in McHenry County. For the City of McHenry, it is expected that approximately $130,000 will be the e�ent ofthe stimulus funds reaching our community. K. Carstens stated that he has tried to look at the county from a global perspective. It is his opinion that the commission has transformed from a worker mentality to that of dignitaries. He continued by saying that the role of the EDC will not change until we get to a point where the EDC has to accomplish something for the good of the business community and the members of the EDC actually have to get to work again. Nuemann agreed that the EDC has become cliquish and territorial. Mayor Low stated that before the EDC sets a goal of solving unemployment, people willing to work to attain the goals of the EDC need to step forward. Otherwise, nothing will ever get done by this group. Neumann suggested that a11 members should come to the next meeting with a list of people to contact to work on the EDC. He restated that he hopes the EDC dQes not dissolve but expressed his desire to let it lay dormant until new members are identified to energize the commission. Marinangel asked about the role of the MCEDC and how well coordinated its actions are with the various local EDCs in the county. She stated that it is her belief we should have an EDC that could be called to action when needed. A brief discussion ensued about incentives to attract businesses to the community. � Mayar Low reiterated that if no one takes hold of an idea and leads the chaxge, it will fail. She opined that when the EDC was formed, it was out of need. She suggested that the success of the EDC put itself out of business. Chairman Wimmer stated that he does not think the economy has hit bottom yet and suggested that we do not get rid of the(EDC) charter. He did ask however, where the EDC is going? D. Paegelow suggested that the people that have participated in the EDC all had self-interest in mind. He suggested that the EDC has outgrown that since the city is now doing what was considered the original purpose of the EDC. Prospective developments interested in locating in McHenry now go to the City to discuss their plans. He suggested that the City should ask the EDC for help when and if it is needed. Chairman Wimmer suggested holding off on another meeting until next March. Much discussion ensued until it was agreed that the target date for the next meeting should be in October 2009. Neumann provided a motion to adjourn which was seconded by Gelwicks. The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 PM. Respectfully submitted, Douglas K Maxeiner