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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 11/10/2002 - Economic Development Commission Economic Development Commission Meeting Tuesday, September 10, 2002 � McHenry Municipal Center 12:00 Noon � Present: Pamela Althoff, William Bolger, Kit Carstens, Daniel Curran, Donald Doherty, Joseph Gausden, David Gelwicks, Debbie Harr, Phil Hintz, Janice Jones, Kathleen Kunzer, Kathy Marinangel, Doug Martin, Joe Napolitano, � Dick Pagealow, Scott Smith, John Swierk. Absent: Carol Chrisman, John Lobaito, Karen Patel, John Smith, Richard Wimmer. Chairman Bolger calle�d the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Annroval of Minutes Motion by Gausden, seconded by Marinangel, to approve the minutes of the July 9, 2002 Board Meeting as presented. All ayes. Motion canied. Treasurer's Report Secretary/Treasurer Jc�nes reported the balance in the EDC Treasury remains at $1610.69 with no new transactions. Motion by Doherty, seconded by Smith, to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented. All ayes. Motion canied. McHenr,�Countv Industrial Council Report Gelwicks reported the last meeting of the McHenry County Industrial Council was held at Sage Products new facility in Cary. Members of the Council were provided with a tour of the new state of the art facility and luncheon. Gelwicks noted Sage Product has moved their entire operation from Crystal Lake to Cary. Carstens commented that to date no business has moved out of McHenry due to lack of cooperation from the � municipality. This is a credit to our community. Motion by Carstens, seconded by Gausden, to approve the McHenry County Industrial Council Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Chamber Report Harr reported McHenry Chambers 10�' Annual Country Meadows Craft Fair is scheduled for Sunday, September 15�' from 10 a.m. until4 p.m. at Petersen Park. The event has grown so much that venders are now handling food services. It is a7ticipated that 5,000-7,000 will attend. Motion by Althoff, seconded by Marinangel,to approve the Chamber Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Ci Renort Director Napolitano reported on the following: • Buildin�activitv: August was extremely active with a record high 25 single family building permits issued. ■ New Develo�ment: ■ Fifth Third Bank is looking to locate south of Meijer Gas Station, north of Wa1Mart; ■ State of the Lakes Bank is opening a facility west of Culvers in Adams Commercial Park; ■ Wendy's are opening a second restaurant north of Chili's; ■ Metaimaster is constructing a new facility in Inland Business Park; ■ A Thai restaurant owner is looking at Dr. Marks building on Green Street; ■ There has been some interest in the Whale's Tail building; ■ There is also some interest in purchasing the F'vst Draft building on Elm Street. �'` Director Napolitano rr;ported the work is moving along on the renovation of the Metra Commuter Station on Main Street. When the work is completed the building's appearance will be greatly improved. Mayor Althoff reported Metra Page 2 EDC September 10,2002 has decided to move forward with the purchase of the Buss Ford Gazage on Main Street. This will afford the �' opportunity for a"kiss and ride"turnaround, as opposed to dropping offriders in the street. Motion by Gausden, seconded by Smith, to approve the City Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. District 15 Referendum Renort Supt. Dodds provided a video presentation in support of the upcoming District 15 Referendum Question to be placed on the November ballc�t. Following the video, a lengthy discussion occurred regarding the need for the educational fund referendum, the manner is which developer donations are permitted to be utilized, and the pending lawsuit regarding the legality of developer donations in the State of Illinois. The video is available for presentation to interested groups/partie� within the City. Discussion continued regarding the need to contact state legislators to facilitate the change in Illinois tax laws as they pertain to the schools' educational funding. It was the consensus of the Board the tax cap is detrimental to the education of the children of the State of Illinois. Mayor Althoff suggested the Board take action to pass a resolution in support of the educational referendum question. Supt. Hintz and Supt. Dodds will work with the Mayor to draft a resolution in support of the referendum question. The resolution will be faxed/mailed to all Board members seeking their approval. When approved, the signed resolution will be provided to District I S Board of Education. Further discussion followed regarding the Developer ponation Impact Suit currently in the courts. The McHenry County Home Builders Association is attempting to have all Developer ponation ordinances repealed. It was noted there is no state law regarding developer donations. �.. Motion by Smith, seconded by Althoff, to authorize the creation of a Resolution in Support of District 15 Educational Fund Referendum Question to be submitted to all Board members via falc/mail for approval; and that a signed Resol�tion be presented to District 15 Board of Education. All ayes. Motion carried. Facade Imnrovement Grant Committee Report Director Napolitano reported the next step is for the Committee to meet with the six area banks who have indicated an interest in participating in the Fa�ade Improvement Grant Program. Program application and procedures will then be developed. Motion by Harr, seconded by Gelwicks, to approve the Fa�ade Improvement Grant Committee Report as presented. All ayes. Motion canied. Transportation Gausden noted the utility poles are cunently being relocated further back from the curbside of Route 120 in preparation for the beginning of the Route 120 Improvement Project. The bid letting for the Project is this month. Mayor Althoff stated the City has made application for grant funding through the McHenry County Council of Mayors for the McCullom Lake Road Improvements. When completed, McCullom Lake Road will be three-lanes from Ringwood Road east to Riverside Drive. Mayor Althoff also reported the engineers for the West McHenry Bypass are meeting with the McHenry County Transportation Department. TAC (Technical Advisory Committee) will meet in the near future to discuss the Bypass options. �.vlotion by Smith, seconded by Gelwicks, to approve the Transportation Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Page 3 EDC September 10,2002 Snecial Projects Report•Riverwalk �" Carstens reported the Riverwalk Committee will be meeting jointly with the McHenry City Council on Monday, September 30`�at 7:30 p.m. It is his intention that all EDC Board Members be invited to attend the joint meeting. The Agenda will include information assembled from the Committee's San Antonio visit, as well as an aerial overview of the McHenry Riverwalk site. Carstens noted Environmental and Topographical Due Diligence is ongoing. Chairman Bolger noted he received an additional contribution towards the Riverwalk. After the holidays a publicity blitz will be provided for the newspapers. A major fundraising drive will begin. Motion by Gelwicks, seconded by Curran, to approve the Special Projects Report as presented. All Ayes. Motion carried. Welcomin�Committee Report Mayor Althoff stated welcoming letters continue to be sent to new and/or expanding businesses in the community. Motion by Gausden, seconded by Curran, to accept the Welcoming Committee Report as presented. All ayes. Motion canied. McHenry Countv EDC Report Planner Martin reported the County EDC is in the process of creating a county-wide general land use map. All like zoning areas will be uniformly color coded (i.e. industrial—purple; residential—red, etc.)The map would be used as a marketing tool. Ultimately, links to local web sites will be included. Planner Martin requested the EDC consider drafting a resolution in support of the County EDC county-wide general land use map. It was the consensus of the Board this matter be placed on the next EDC Agenda for formal action. � McHenry Countv Tourism Renort Carstens stated the McHenry County EDC is in the process of researching the implementation of a county-wide hotel tax. �e noted the importance of the county-wide partnership as opposed to each municipality creating and collecting their own hotel tax. The partnership would assure that various tourist draws such as the Raue Center, The Riverwalk, the Opera House, etc. are connected through publicity, funding, and marketing. Motion by Althoff, seconded by Cunan, to accept the McHenry County Tourism Report as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. New Business Mayor Althoffanneunced a September 11�'Memorial Ceremony at 9 a.m. Veterans Memorial Park. All are invited and welcome to attend. Adjournment Motion by Gelwicks, sec onded by Smith, to adjourn at 1:05 p.m. All ayes. Motion canied. Respectfully submitted, �. ` Kathleen Kunzer, Recording Secr ary �