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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - 3/9/2004 - Economic Development Commission (2) Economic Development Commission Meeting Tuesday, March 9,2004 McHenry Municipal Center 12:30 p.m. � Present: Kay Bates, William Bolger, Kit Carstens, D. William Dodds, Donald Doherty, David Gelwicks, Phil Hintz, Janice Jones (arrived at 12:55 p.m.)Kathleen Kunzer, Susan Low, �Bill Marinangel, Doug Martin, Joseph Napolitano, Ned Neumann. Absent: Caxol Chrisman, Daniel Curran, Doug M�einer, Dick Pagealow, Karen Patel, John Smith, John Swierk, Richard Wimmer. Also in attendance representing District 15 efforts to inform the community about the impending referendum on the March 16�'primary ballot. Chairman Gelwicks called the meeting to order at 12:32 p.m. Approval of Minutes Motion by Bolger, seconded by Neumann, to approve the minutes of the November January 13, 2004 Board Meeting as presented. All ayc;s. Motion carried. Treasurer's Report Chairnian Gelwicks noted the balance in the EDC Treasury remains at$1110.69 as there was no activity in the account during the past two months. A request for payment of the McHenry County Industrial Council Annual Dues in the amount of$100 was received and required Board authorization to pay. Motion by Carstens, seconded by Bolger,to authorize the payment of$100 to the McHenry County Industrial Council for Annual Dues in the amount of$100, and to approve the February 2004 Treasurer's Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried McHe , Countv Industrial Council Renort Representaxive Gelwicks stated there was no meeting since the last EDC Board meeting and there was no MCIC � report. Chamber Report Bates reported the 2004 Fiesta Days ha.s been scheduled for July 16`�thru the 25`h. Entertainment is being lined up. It was suggested the Fiesta Days Guide be utilized as a summertime guide (advertising such events as the Kiwanis Soap box Derby, 4�'of July Fireworks, etc.)and not strictly for Fiesta Days Events. The McHenry Downtown Merchants organiza.tion met within the past month and several members are considering joining the Chamber in order to coordinate downtown revitalization efforts. Bates reported there is great interest in establishing a cruise night in the community. Bates acknowledged the Welcome to McHenry sign is in need of replacement. The sign is located on Dr. Hult's property who is being consulted regarding locating a replacement sign on his premises. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Low,to approve the Chamber Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Cit�eport Director of Community Development Napolitano reported building activity continues to flourish in the city. He also reported on the status of the following projects: • Budreck Property anne�tion and development • Gilger Property anne�tion and development • Koehn Property anne�,tion and development • First Midwest Property redevelopment of the Carey Building. � Director Napolitano and Planner Martin recently attended a Shopping Center Alliance Conference in Chicago where networking was initiated with potential retail and restaurant entities. Page 2 EDC January 13,2004 Route 120 roadway improvements are continuing with completion anticipated by late summer. The city will meet with `- IDOT officials regarding IDOT's request to entirely close the Crystal La.ke Road/Route 120 intersection and Front and Elm Streets intersection for improvements. Work will begin on the McCullom Lake Road and Route 31 intersection in August. In response to an inquiry, Director Napolitano stated PRDC is progressing with the purchase and build out of Windsor's Village Green Project. PRDC is also moving forward with the senior citizen residential development along Bull Valley Road north of Church of Holy Apostles. City Staff is working with the County to coordinate Bull Valley Road access and signalization to assist the PRDC development, the Gilger Property development, and the Church of Holy Apostles. In response to board inquiries, Director Napolitano reported: � China Light is awaiting delivery of specialized kitchen equipment; • Pea Pod Restaurant is slowly moving forward toward opening-they have experienced construction delays; • No Way Jose-no current status on the viability of the restaurant is known; • Wahl Property redevelopment-no cunent viable projects at this time. Motion by Doherty, seconded by Dodds,to approve the City Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Transportation Re�ort Doherty suggested city Staff provide the board updates to transportaxion issues as they are more informed regarding current transporta.tion concerns and projects. Special Projects Re�ort Carstens reported the Riverwalk Liaison Committee will meet Wednesday, March 10`� at 3 p.m. The committee will � work on finalizing the design development plan prior to its presentation to Council in the near future. It is hoped the final design will be approved within the ne�ct sitrty da,ys. If this occurs, Riverwalk groundbreaking could potentially occur this spring or summer pending the city's securing a second strong developer for the project. Some discussion occurred regarding the Eby Brown property, the Ponarelli Property, the Green Street Medical Arts building and the Wahl Property. Bolger indicated no further fundraising efforts would occur until the final development design plan has been approved. Motion by Napolitano, seconded by Neumann, to approve the Special Project Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Welcominp Committee Report There was no Welcoming Committee Report. McHenry County EDC Tourism Committee Report Carstens reported the Tourism Committee is planning a Tourism Roundup in April. Brainstorming and determining the needs of tourism-associated business and industry will be accomplished. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Doherty, to approve the McHenry County EDC Tourism Committee Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. McHenry Elementar3� School District 15 Presentation In attendance were Dorothy Wolf and Geri Condon, residents and parents of School District 15 students. Ms. Wolf reminded the Board School District 15 has placed a referendum question on the March 16"' primary ballot. The �. request is for a $.30 increase in the district's rate. Ms. Wolf cited the large class sizes, old te�rt books, and removal of sports and activities as reasons the community should support the upcoming referendum. The school board has pazed back and done what the community has requested following previous referendum request failures. School administrator salaries have been frozen. Efforts have been made at communicating the status and position of the Page 3 EDC January 13,2004 board's request. The community-at-large has been surveyed. The results of the survey are indicated on the district's � website. Dr. Dodds noted an article and table indicating how the referendum would impact homeowners was published in Sunday's Northwest Herald. Ms. Condon affirmed the pledge to reduce class sizes, replace the outdated text books and reduce the need to further remove curriculum and activities from the schools. The proposed $.30 tax rate increase can work. Ms. Condon stated a community is known by the schools it keeps. The McHenry community must do all in its power to support the school system. The community needs a solid school base in order to attract quality development to the area. For further information the public may visit the website: Some discussion followed regarding ways the EDC can support the efforts of the referendum committee. It was suggested the EDC be listed as a co-sponsor of an advertising campaign which will be implemented on March 12"' through the 15�'. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Carstens, that the EDC endorse the McHenry Elementary School District 15 referendum question on the March 16, 2004 Primary Ba11ot, a.nd that the EDC be a co-sponsor of the pro-referendum ad campaign to ta.ke place this weekend. All ayes. Motion camed. New Business There was no New Business. 2004 Goals and Objectives Chairman Gelwicks suggested the Board scheduled a special meeting to discuss the 2004 Goals and Objectives. It was � the consensus of the Board to schedule a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. at the McHenry Municipal Center Council Chambers. Ea.ch member was asked to rate the list of obtaina.ble goals: A Top priority B. Important but not priority C. Not important at this time. Each member is asked to submit their list of rated goals to the recording secretary so that a complete list of rated priorities can be set prior to the meeting on April 13`�. Adjournment Motion by Doherty, seconded by Dodds,to adjourn at 1:55 p.m. All ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, , .''"�j,t'�l`.l,cr� �� "''l `��G�� {� Kathleen Kunzer, Recording Secr �