Economic Development Commission

MINUTES MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CITY OF DEKALB October 5, 2018 The Economic Development Commission (EDC) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois held a regular meeting on Friday, October 5, 2018 in the Executive Conference Room of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 8:33 a.m. ROLL CALL Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the following members of the Economic Development Commission were present: Trixy O’Flaherty, Vernese Edghill-Walden, Jeff Richardson, and Mark Sawyer. Not present were Sam Walt and Mohammed Labadi. Also present were Alderman Pat Fagan, Mayor Jerry Smith, Management Analyst, Aaron Stevens, Executive Director of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Matt Duffy, and Executive Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, Paul Borek. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION Mr. Richardson made a motion to approve the agenda as posted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Edghill-Walden. The motion was approved by voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION The draft minutes were corrected to reflect Alderman Fagan not being in attendance at the previous meeting. Mr. Sawyer made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected from the September 7, 2018 meeting. Ms. Edghill-Walden seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None NEW BUSINESS 1. Review and Discussion on the Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan Draft and Recommendation to City Council for Adoption of the Plan. Planner Michnick introduced Management Analyst, Aaron Stevens, who served as the project management coordinator for the Annie Glidden North (AGN) Revitalization Plan process. Management Analyst Stevens provided an overview of the community engagement process, including a 30-person task force that was appointed by the Mayor. Over the past year, the AGN Task Force, City staff, and an urban planning firm engaged the community in developing a vision for the neighborhood referred to as AGN. The area includes the residential and commercial properties to the east and west of Annie Glidden Road from Lucinda Avenue to the County Health Department that is north of Dresser Road. The planning process started in August 2017, and is anticipated to be completed by the end of the current year. A full draft of the document is now available on the City’s website and the public is encouraged to read and provide comment. The Executive Summary of the AGN Plan describes the purpose of the plan, which his to improve the quality of life for residents in the neighborhood by developing a vision for the future and identifying projects and strategies that attack the root causes of many of the issues and challenges that are currently present. A total of 45 projects are identified in the plan, with 10 of those projects being called out as transformational in nature. These ten projects are considered to be the highest priority. Although the core transformational projects are listed as a top priority, it would not prohibit other projects and initiatives from being targeted, especially in the near-term. The commission discussed some of the core transformational projects in detail, including consideration of creating a community development corporation (CDC) as an implementing body. Implementation of the AGN Plan will take considerable resources, especially money, in order to realize the desired outcomes. The commission also reviewed potential funding sources for projects such as grants. Management Analyst Stevens and Planner Michnick both informed the commission about various grant opportunities that have been applied for since the planning process started, and the value that the AGN Plan will have when applying for future grants. The commission discussed the area being designated as an Opportunity Zone. Planner Michnick described the Opportunity Zone program to the commission and how it could be leveraged to achieve some of the goals in the AGN Plan. Opportunity Zones are designated census tracts that allow investors to realize reduces capital gains taxes if they invest in qualifying projects. The final regulations of the program are still pending, but City staff are working to identify potential projects that would benefit from the program. Projects that align with the Opportunity Zone must be profitable ventures, or the mechanism will not work. This means that the program will likely focus on real estate development and supporting new businesses. The commission discussed the need for a grocery store in the area, with surprise that it was not called out specifically as a project. Planner Michnick discussed the Community Food and Education Center as a possible alternative, and the challenges with recruiting a grocery store chain to the area. Other possible alternatives to grocery store development would be delivery services using existing grocery stores in the area. The commission stated that it is important to keep momentum behind the process and to target “low hanging fruit” in the near-term, as consideration is given to developing an organization structure to an implementing body, and identifying more substantial funding sources. The commission also recommended focusing a few things at once, and not spreading resources too thin across all initiatives at once. A motion was made by Mr. Richardson to recommend that City Council adopt the Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan. The motion was seconded by Ms. Edghill-Walden. The motion was approved unanimously. ADJOURNMENT MOTION Mr. Sayer made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Richardson. The motion carried on a voice vote and the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m. ________________________________ Respectfully Submitted by Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner