Joint Review Board

Regular Meeting

DeKalb, IL · November 9, 2018

Minutes

MINUTES MEETING OF THE JOINT REVIEW BOARD CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA CITY OF DEKALB NOVEMBER 9, 2018 The Joint Review Board (JRB) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois convened on Tuesday, November 9, 2018 in the Council Chambers of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 9:03 a.m. ROLL CALL Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the following members of the JRB were present: • DeKalb Township, Jennifer Jeep Johnson • DeKalb Park District, Heather Collins • DeKalb Community School District 428, Cynthia Carpenter • City of DeKalb, Mayor Jerry Smith • Kishwaukee Community College, Bill Nicklas • DeKalb County, Peter Stephen (proxy for Gary Hanson) • Public Member, Tim Hayes Also present were City Attorney, Dean Frieders; Community Development Director, Jo Ellen Charlton; and Interim City Manager, Molly Talkington. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Draft minutes from the September 7, 2018 meeting of the Joint Review Board were provided prior to the meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Nicklas to approve the minutes, seconded by Ms. Carpenter. The motion was approved unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Glenn Goering addressed the Joint Review Board and stated that he has been a property owner in the downtown for the past 40 years. He has been following the TIF discussions for the last several months and talking to other throughout the community. Though there have been some questionable allocations of TIF funds over the past 20 years, the proposed distribution would have a negative impact on the success of the TIF program. Downtown is in desperate need of revitalization that is funded through TIF. If we do not move forward quickly, the momentum will be slowed or stifled. DISCUSSION, DELIBERATION, AND RECOMMENDATION Mayor Smith stated that the Joint Review Board had been continued from the September 7, 2018 meeting, at the request of Superintendent Jamie Craven. Since that meeting, a working group of representatives from the various taxing districts have worked together Joint Review Board Meeting Minutes November 9, 2018 Page 2 of 2 in good faith to develop a proposal for moving forward on an intergovernmental agreement and support of the creation of the Central Business District TIF. Mayor Smith thanked those that were part of the working group. Ms. Johnson made a motion that the Joint Review Board recommend that approval and adoption of the three ordinances that would result in the creation of the Central Business District TIF. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hays. Mr. Nicklas stated that his board had not yet had a chance to vote on the proposed intergovernmental agreement and therefore would be abstaining from the vote. Ms. Carpenter and Mr. Stephen also stated that they would be abstaining due to the same circumstances. Mayor Smith asked how the vote of the Joint Review Board would impact the City Council vote. City Attorney Frieders stated that although the Joint Review Board has taken longer than 30 days to make a recommendation, and per the TIF Act, a positive recommendation is the default, it would not be practical for the City Council to not take into consideration the vote of the Joint Review Board. It is recommended that a vote still take place and be recorded. Ms. Johnson stated that it was important for the Joint Review Board to show its work since the last meeting. The most relevant point in today’s discussion is the items around TIF 3 and the intergovernmental agreement. As it is contemplated, there will be a higher degree of transparency and reporting, as well as more frequent public discussion of TIF practices. Mr. Nicklas supported Ms. Johnson’s statement and requested that all financial data and quarterly spending reports be provided to the board two weeks in advance of the meeting. In addition to the greater transparency and reporting, a surplus distribution out of TIF 3 will begin in year four at 30% of annual property tax increment and increase to 50% in year eight. Mayor Smith stated that the City heard the message loud and clear and if more meetings are required, the City will do so. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-0-3. (Aye: Johnson, Collins, Smith, Hayes; Abstentions: Carpenter, Nicklas, Stephen). ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m. Respectfully Submitted: Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner Approved by the Joint Review Board: February 1, 2019.

Agenda

DeKalb Municipal Building PLEASE NOTE LOCATION Council Chamber, Second Floor 200 South Fourth Street DeKalb, Illinois 60115 AGENDA Meeting of the Joint Review Board of the City of DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois Central Business District Redevelopment Project Area November 9, 2018 9:00 a.m. A. Call the Meeting to Order B. Roll Call: City of DeKalb – Jerry Smith DeKalb County – Gary Hanson DeKalb Township – Jennifer Jeep Johnson DeKalb Community School District #428 – Cynthia Carpenter DeKalb Park District – Heather Collins Kishwaukee Community College #523 – Bill Nicklas Public Member – Tim Hayes C. Approval of Minutes from September 7, 2018 meeting D. Public Comment E. Discussion and Deliberation (Continued from September 7, 2018) F. Approval of Recommendation on the Central Business District Redevelopment Project Area and Plan G. Adjournment MINUTES MEETING OF THE JOINT REVIEW BOARD CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA CITY OF DEKALB September 7, 2018 The Joint Review Board (JRB) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois convened on Tuesday, September 7, 2018 in the Council Chambers of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the following members of the JRB were present: • Public Member, Tim Hays • DeKalb Township, Jennifer Jeep Johnson • DeKalb Park District, Heather Collins • City of DeKalb, Mayor Jerry Smith • Kishwaukee Community College, Bill Nicklas • DeKalb Community School District 428, Cynthia Carpenter • DeKalb County, Gary Hanson Also present were City Attorney, Dean Frieders; Community Development Director, Jo Ellen Charlton; Interim City Manager, Molly Talkington; and District 428 Attorney, Gino Galluzzo. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Draft minutes from the August 7, 2018 and September 4, 2018 meetings of the Joint Review Board were provided prior to the meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Hanson to approve the minutes, seconded by Mr. Nicklas. The motion was approved unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Jamie Craven, the Superintendent for DeKalb Community School District 428, respectfully requested that the Joint Review Board suspend the meeting until further notice so that the various taxing districts would be able to continue working in good faith to review the previous allocation of past TIF funds and develop a set of criteria to move forward. Although the Joint Review Board has met multiple times in the past month, he does not believe that the Joint Review Board is in a position to make a positive recommendation. Mr. Craven requested that at least 30 days pass before reconvening the Joint Review Board. Mr. Mark Charvat questioned the membership of Mr. Tim Hays as a public member of the Joint Review Board, and specifically where it states that a resident of the proposed district must serve as the public member. Planner Michnick addressed Mr. Charvat’s question and stated that it is included in the Illinois TIF Act. Mr. Charvat also stated that there has been considerable research that Tax Increment Financing does not benefit communities as a whole, and the residents of DeKalb are not concerned with downtown revitalization. Ms. Bessie Chronopoulos stated that many questions and concerns have been raised during the recent Joint Review Board meetings, and that the City staff has not adequately kept City Council or the Joint Review Board informed. Ms. Chronopoulos also stated that it is her belief that the Joint Review Board should meet more frequently. She also stated that the City has regularly charged between $500,000 and $800,000 annually for administrative fees to the TIF funds and questioned where that money went into the budget. She encouraged the Joint Review Board to hold fast on getting the information and investigate alternative economic development tools such as Enterprise Zones. DISCUSSION, DELIBERATION, AND RECOMMENDATION Mr. Nicklas made a motion to adjourn the meeting to a time and date to be certain. The motion was seconded by Ms. Carpenter. The Joint Review Board discussed the format and process for disseminating information and scheduling a future meeting. It was determined that City staff would reach out to Joint Review Board members to schedule future meetings and discussions. The motion was approved unanimously. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:28 PM. ________________________________ Respectfully Submitted by Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner