Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal

COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MEETING MINUTES April 21, 2014 Members in attendance: Executive Committee: Chuck Ostman – Executive Director Ross Klicker – Associate Executive Director (arrived at 4:20) Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Village Manager Steve Vinezeano (arrived at 4:22) Joe Bialko Mike Shields Alan Zielinski Mayor Andrew Przybylo – Ex-Officio Members absent: Executive Committee: Trustee Joe LoVerde – Ex-Officio Others in attendance: Bernie DiMeo – DiMeo Partners (branding consultant) Bruce Sylvester - Senior Planner Rich Wlodarski – Assistant Director Community Development I. Call to Order Chuck Ostman called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. in the Conference Room 218, Village of Niles Administration Building. II. Approval of Minutes Alan Zielinski made a motion, seconded by Joe Bialko, to approve the minutes of the March 24, 2014 meeting. On voice vote, all concurred. III. Review of Camiros Presentation from March 24, 2014 Bruce Sylvester stated that he would like for this committee to come to a consensus about what we want to communicate to Camiros in terms of helping them move forward with the planning and redevelopment of Milwaukee Avenue. Camiros has created a continuum of options for each approach: the least aggressive being the “smoke,” an incremental, slow-change-over-time, tweaking-things-at- the-edges approach; the “spark,” an intermediate approach; and the “fire,” the most aggressive approach. Camiros is prepared to start writing recommendations for each of these but would like to know what approach to use for the various categories: transportation, land use, design, finance and property acquisitions.  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal April 21, 2014 He reminded the committee that Camiros has also been hired to rewrite the zoning and subdivision ordinance. They are looking for direction from this committee and the Village on which of the three approaches to use for this project as well. Mike Shields stated that he felt there was no consensus of the stakeholders at the March 24 meeting for how Milwaukee Avenue should look. Bruce Sylvester responded that even without that consensus, the consultants are looking for direction to move forward. Chuck Ostman stated that the comments of the key stakeholders are very important and will be considered, but it is ultimately the Executive Committee who will give Camiros direction. Mike Shields stated that consensus is very important because there has to be some basis for decision. He has not seen any numbers supporting, for example, mixed-use on Milwaukee Avenue, and no company would make a big decision without some type of analysis behind it. Bruce Sylvester responded that regarding this project, Camiros cannot, for the money we’re paying them, provide us with an in-depth market analysis for the potential for mixed-use developments to be sustained on Milwaukee Avenue. What we are asking of Camiros is to help draft a vision for the future of Milwaukee Avenue. Mike Shields stated that he feels that if we are going to make a big, long-term, visionary decision like this for Niles, there should be more analysis presented. It will be difficult to come to a consensus and sell this to the Village without it. Ross Klicker responded that factual analysis will tell you that mixed-use environments are what make bus, rapid transit, and other transportation developments successful. Bruce Sylvester added that the role of creating a plan is not to provide hard and fast economic analysis but to provide a picture for the future – a vision. Then, when we write rules to encourage and allow for the vision, development becomes market-driven. Mike Shields continued that if we reinvent Milwaukee Avenue, let’s do it as factually, analytically and openly as we possibly can. Mayor Przybylo stated that in order to build value, traffic and the best possible gateway into Niles, we cannot be conservative and cautious. He suggested the following combination of approaches: 1) from Albion to Harts – very aggressive; 2) from Harts to Harlem – intermediate, until we swap some land with Chicago; 3) at the Lone Tree Inn area – a bit more aggressive; 4) north of Oakton – aggressive, noting that these properties have more value and fewer property owners. Mike Shields expressed the need for better communication with the business owners on Milwaukee Avenue to allay any concerns or fears they may have about this project and the impact it may have on their businesses. Alan Zielinski stated that without change there cannot be progress. He noted that Milwaukee Avenue is an angled street, which can make it difficult to work with, and that we do not have a train station. This committee must come up with a summary plan that accommodates these issues to get the project started and, at the same time, communicate thoroughly with the citizens. 2  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal April 21, 2014 Chuck Ostman agreed that we will communicate more. Staff is scheduled to meet with business owners at the beginning of next month. The consensus is to tell Camiros that we want a combination of “spark” and “fire.” It was noted that near Harts, where they have already begun, is incorrect. What exists now does not fit the “fire” plan. Camiros needs to adjust that. Staff will talk to Les Pollack of Camiros tomorrow. Ross Klicker made a motion, seconded by Joe Bialko, that this committee recommends that we will ask the consultants to proceed with providing more detailed recommendations for what they describe in the March 24, 2014 memo as the “spark” and the “fire” options for redevelopment along Milwaukee Avenue from Albion to Monroe. On roll call, all concurred. IV. Branding and Marketing RFP Review and Recommendation Ross Klicker reported that the Village issued an RFP for branding, logo and marketing. The RFP asked for development of a distinct brand and logo for the Village of Niles and to begin the branding process and the marketing of the community based on that. The committee – consisting of Ross Klicker, Bernie DiMeo of DiMeo Partners and Hayley Garard, Niles’ Communications and Multimedia Coordinator – reviewed the five RFPs that were submitted and narrowed the choice to LS+Team. LS+Team best understood the RFP and had a slightly different approach from the others in the way they would handle the process. They videotape interviews with stakeholders and create a 10-minute presentation video that will help the community understand the process and that can also be used as part of their marketing materials when the process is done. Their proposal is $61,000 and includes 5 Phases. The last element of Phase 5 is a $15,000 Image Campaign, which is the development of billboards and print advertisements and was not part of the original scope of the RFP. This item can be removed from the proposal, bringing the total to $46,000, slightly over the budgeted amount of $45,000. We can go forward with the Image Campaign option in the future if we so choose. It was also noted that LS+Team is local. They have knowledge of the area but are not biased. If this committee concurs with this recommendation, it will go to the Village Board for their approval. Mike Shields stated that we have to 1) educate those who are new to Niles about Niles while at the same time let people outside know about Niles; 2) determine if we want to target people or place; and 3) bridge the gap between the fact that, per the 2030 Plan, what businesses like most about Niles is location and what residents like most is service. Ross Klicker added that we must come up with a motto and logo that best represents Niles and that can mean something to the residents, businesses and outsiders alike. LS+Team best understood that task. Bernie DiMeo stated that the Village will work with LS+Team to help them meet this challenge. He added that LS+Team has the best, all-around capabilities and possesses comprehensive skills the other companies did not. 3  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal April 21, 2014 Mike Shields believes that to market and brand Niles properly, there should be one word that people associate with Niles. He suggested the word “opportunity” – an opportunity to open your own business in Niles, an opportunity to buy a house in Niles, an opportunity to have your kid play baseball in Niles, an opportunity to shop in Niles, an opportunity to enjoy the Park District. The rough draft of the product will go before the Stakeholders for their feedback. The goal for completion of this project is 4 to 5 months from the date of Village Board approval. We’re looking for a recommendation from this committee to either send this forward as is - $61,000 and ask the Village Board for a budget amendment – or stay within budget constraints and ask LS+Team to remove from their proposal the $15,000 Image Campaign item. Ross Klicker made a motion, seconded by Chuck Ostman, to recommend to the Village Board that we work with LS+Team for branding, logo and marketing services for the Village of Niles, using their proposal minus the Image Campaign for a maximum of $46,000. On roll call, all concurred. V. Façade Grant Application Review and Updates Ross Klicker reported that the Village received a Façade Improvement Grant Application from Stephen Costa of Ambassador Real Estate Group at 7332 N. Milwaukee Avenue for landscaping improvements and wall façade repair and treatment – specifically cleaning and tuck-pointing the south wall of the building. After reviewing the application, Community Development decided that cleaning and tuck-pointing is not appropriate for the façade grant because it is maintenance, but the landscaping is appropriate because it will enhance the streetscape. Steve Vinezeano asked if such landscaping plans are reviewed to make sure that perennials are planted rather than annuals. Chuck Ostman said he would ask Ives Ryan (the Village’s landscaping consultant) to review these plans and suggest guidelines. Steve Vinezeano made a motion, seconded by Alan Zielinski, to approve the Façade Grant Application from Stephen Costa at 7332 N. Milwaukee Avenue for the maximum amount of $2,167.40 which will cover 50% of the cost of landscaping. On roll call, all concurred. Ross Klicker noted that the Façade Grant program is specifically for business-zoned addresses on Milwaukee Avenue. We have been approached by a couple of industrial buildings that have a wholesale or retail outlet that could benefit from improvements. This brings up the question: Do we modify the program to include these businesses? VI. Open Discussion It was noted that stakeholder attendance at the last meeting was low. In order to facilitate the participation of the stakeholders who work and increase meeting attendance in general, it was suggested that the meeting times change from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. VII. Agenda Items for Next Meeting 4  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal April 21, 2014 VIII. Next Meeting Date The date of the next meeting will be determined. In order to make it easier for stakeholders to attend, light refreshments will be served at 4:30/5:00 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. IX. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, Alan Zielinski made a motion, seconded by Ross Klicker, to adjourn the meeting. On voice vote, all concurred. The meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m. 2013-2014 Ad Hoc Commission for Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal Executive Committee Members Administrative Officers Members Chuck Ostman – Executive Director Steven Vinezeano – Village Manager Ross Klicker – Assoc Executive Director Joe Bialko – resident Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Mike Shields – resident Alan Zielinski - resident Ex Officio Members Mayor Andrew Przybylo Trustee Joe LoVerde 5