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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - 4/13/2004 - Economic Development Commission (2) Economic Development Commission Special Meeting Tuesday,Apri113, 2004 McHenry Municipal Center �- 12:30 p.m. Present: Kay Bates, Kit Carstens, Daniel Curran, D. William Dodds, David Gelwicks, Kathleen Kunzer, Susan Low, Kathleen Marinangel, Doug Martin, Douglas Maxeiner, Joseph Napolitano, Ned Neumann, John Smith, Rich Wimmer.. Absent: William Bolger, Carol Chrisman, Donald Doherty, Phil Hintz, Janice Jones, Dick Pagealow, Karen Patel, John Swierk. Chairnian Gelwicks called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m. 2004 Goa1s and Obiectives Chairnian Gelwicks stated the purpose of today's Special Meeting if to have a round-table discussion in order to discern obtainable goals and objectives for 2004 for the EDC. He noted a survey was distributed to all members who were asked to prioritize the list of suggested goals and objectives. The results of the survey were as follows: A—Top Priority(3 PTS) B-Important but not priority(2 PTS) C-Not important at this rime(1 PT') Tall of surve results Points Goals and Ob'ectives ABCBCBACC-AAACAB: 31 1. Support reopening of McHenry Downtown Theatre 6A;4B;SC ABCCCC-CCC-CCCCCC: 18 2. Voice objection to Metra's possible Johnsburg railyard and station lA;1B; 13C AABCCC-CCGCCCCCB: 21 3. Promote siting Metra railyazd and/or station south of McHenry 2A;2B; 11C Co rate Center AAACABAAABAABBA: 39 4. Riverwalk—promote 2004 groundbreaking 10A;4B; 1C � BBBBBBBAAAAACAA: 36 5. Tourism—encourage City Council to pass Hotel Tax and cooperate 7A;7B; 1C with Coun EDC tourism committee CAACABCAABBCAAA: 34 6. Recognidon Awards— 8A;3B;4C o Im roved commercial corridors o Efforts of individuals and business owners o New arrivals in town AACCABBBAAABCAB: 34 7. Support statewide alternative school funding 7A;SB;3C o Relationship between Governor and State Board of Education is unhealth o Tax monies are sent to Springfield with little return to McHe Coun schools o Local communities will deteriorate if local funding is sole su rt of schools BACCABACGAACBAA: 32 8. Support improvement of city administrative infrastructure to court, 7A;3B; SC attract and entice u scale commercial entre reneurs CABABAABAABAAAA: 39 9. Identify commercial deficiencies(i.e.large home fixmiture store) 10A;4B; 1C and encoura e locatin of retailer in ci CACACBAAACAAACA: 34 10. Encourage diversification of retail offerings in city(too many banks, 9A;1B; SC a da advance,car title loans, izza arlors,etc) CACCBCACCCA-C-AAA: 28 11. Assist in developing administrative ann of city Staff and 6A;1B; 8C d artments which attract develo ment CACAABAABAAABBA: 37 12. Encourage development of vacant land next to Sullivan Foods 9A;4B;2C CAACABABAAAAAAB: 38 13. Encourage beautification of Route 31 between Lillian Street and � 10A;3B;2C John Street BAACA+AABBAAAAAA: 40 14. Transportation issues 11A;3B; 1C Page 2 EDC April 13,2004 CABAAABBBAAAAAA: 39 15. Business retention L. 10A;4B; iC C�ABBAAAAAA,�AA: 40 16. Downtown vitality 11A;3B; 1C CBBABBBBABACABA: 33 17. Vacant office space SA;8B;2C CABBACABBBBCABA: 32 18. Restaurant and retail development along Route 31 SA;7B; 3C Additional comments submitted were: If EDC makes items#2,#3,and#10 priority,this individual will submit resignation Items #2 and#3 are City Council decisions Utilization of space is market-driven. Metra service is a priority but city and Metra must work together Diversification of retail offerings is none of EDC business—this is a free market. Siting Metra south of town only worsens city traffic issues and provides no relief. Why would Metra siting in Johnsburg/north of McHenry be detrimental to McHenry economic development? �nal Results Listed Order of Prioritv • Transportation Issues • Downtown vitality • Promote Riverwalk ground-breaking � • Identify commercial deficiencies and encourage locating of large box retailer in city • Business retention • Beautification of Route 31 between Lillian Street and John Street • Development of vacant land next to Sullivan Foods • Tourism—Hotel Tax—and cooperation with County EDC Tourism Committee • Recognition awards • Support statew ide alternative school funding • Diversification of retail offerings in city • Vacant office space • Improvement city administrative infrastructure to encourage more commercial development • Restaurant and retail development along Route 31 • Reopening of Downtown Theater • Develop admirustrative dept of city in order to attract more development • Promote Metra siting south of McHenry Corporate Center • Object to Metra Johnsburg railyard and station Chairman Gelwicks st:ated a11 responses were subrnitted and compiled by the Recording Secretary and the listed results are being presented to the Commission for general discussion at this meeting. Chairman Gelwicks stated he hoped following discussion, the Commission would arrive at three or four attainable goals and/or objectives for this year. He anticipated creating ad hoc cornmittees to meet and discuss ways to accomplish the stated goals and objectives. Chairman Gelwicks invited open discussion regarding the listed items. Transportation: Several points were discussed including: � • City has a newly-created Transportation Committee which is in its infancy. • It is too early in the Transportation Study/Transportation Committee timeline to initiate a letter-writing campaign to elected federal and staxe officials. Page 3 EDC April 13, 2004 • The EDC could act as a liaison between the city and participating landowners to help secure needed right-of- `- way for roadway expansion, etc. • TF'IC is already in place to provide a united effort in securing grants and other funding for transportation improvements/expansion projects. • The EDC should wait for the city's transportation study to be completed prior to offering support as needed. Consensus: There is not much the EDC can do at this juncture to facilitate transportation issues. Suggestion was made to have Chairman Gelwicks draft a letter to the City Council stating the EDC is available to support in whaiever way possible Council's efforts to ussuage transportation issues in the city. Action Item: Chairman Gelwicks draft letter to City Council. Aowntown Vita.litY, It was noted Downtown Vitality is actually encompassed in severallisted priorities,namely: Riverwalk,commercial deficiencies, development of the vacant land next to Sullivan Foods, support of the dawntown theater. Following very lengthy discussion,the following points were noted: • Promote developers approaching city for potential Riverwalk and/or downtown redevelopment. � Infrequency of rail service is an impediment to downtown business recruitrnent. � Consider approaching Metra regarding increased rail service and promote siting station/railyard in Johnsburg. • Need assurance that downtown Metra staiion will not be abandoned. • City needs existing and expanded rail service. Lengthy discussion occurred regarding Metra service expansion. It was noted Metra will take the path of least resistance and utiiize available monies where there is no opposition to service expansion. `-- Consensus: It is important to let Metra know the EDC wholeheartedly supports the expansion of rail service to and for our community. Action Item: Dra.ft aggressive letter of support to Metra to be reviewed and signed by all members of the EDC Board. Action Item: Prepare resolution of support to be submitted to Metra. Further discussion occurred regarding what the EDC should focus its energies on during the caming year. Discussion included ways in which to become more aggressive in downtown redevelopmerrt recruitment It was agreed this item is a top priority. The Board agreed the best way to redevelop the downtown is to be proactive in recruitment. Action Item: Create Ad Hoc Downtown Redevelopment Recruitment Committee comprised of Chairman Gelwicks, Bates, Carstens and a member of city staff to be determined by the Mayor and City Administrator. Action Item: Ad Hoc Committee to meet prior to next regularly scheduled Board meeting to determine definitive recruitrhent plans. Other Issues: • It was also suggested a large furniture store should be recruited. • Tdarrtify developers for Riverwalk and/or downtown redevelopment and have a team of EDC Board members personally visit them • Investigate affordable housing for the downtown area `- • Mayor Low is talking with azea Mayors regarding statewide alternative school funding. She will keep the Board apprised of this group's efforts. � General concurrence there aze three principal areas the EDC should focus on this year: Page 4 EDC Apri113,2004 o Downtawn Redevelopment including Riverwalk development � o Business Retentian o Transportation including Metra service and expansion. Adjournment Motion by Neumann, seconded by Carstens,to adjourn at 2:02 p.m. All ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, , ._ , , � ��' � '.r� ` t�'�� c��-; ,? � Kathleen Kunzer, Recording Secr � � McHENRY ECflNOMiC DEVELOPMENT C�MMISSION 333 South Green Street,McHenry,illinois 60050 (815)363-2100 e-mail: kk�inzer�?ci.mckienr�r �l.�is faX: 815-363-2128 �... To: Members of the EDC Bo n, Fm: Chairman Gelwick �1 �. , Date: April 15, 2004 Subj: Special Meeting of April 13, 2004 The EDC Board at its Special Meeting held on April 13�'arrived at the consensus the following are three areas in which the EDC should focus during 2004: • Downtown Redevelopment including Riverwalk development • Business Retention • Transportation issues including Metra service and expansion. The Minutes of the Special Meeting are enclosed in an effort to inform all members of the results of the round-table discussion on the 13�'. This will obviously be an agenda item at our next regularly scheduled meeting on May 11, 2004. All members will be kept apprised of the status �' of the action items. /kmk enc � Executive Board: David(ielwicks,Donald Doherty,Janice Jones,Kit Carstens