Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal

COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL MEETING MINUTES August 20, 2015 Persons in attendance: Executive Committee: Charles Ostman – Executive Director Ross Klicker – Associate Executive Director Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Mike Shields Alan Zielinski Stakeholders: Kyle Brown Alberto DeCicco Iwona Filipiak Steve Greif Carol Harczak Brandon Leavitt Rich Mangold Joe Marcheschi Denise McCreery Judy McNulty Katie Schneider Lynda Stoops Jason Trunco Rich Wlodarski Persons absent: Executive Committee: Joe Bialko Village Manager Steve Vinezeano Mayor Andrew Przybylo – Ex-Officio Trustee Joe LoVerde – Ex-Officio Stakeholders: Stephen Costa Jacob Ehrensaft Julie Genualdi Michael Kim Sunghae Kim Paul Kolpak Barry Mueller Vicki Peake Thomas Poszdol John Thomas I. Call to Order Charles Ostman called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Village of Niles Administration Building. II. Approval of Minutes Alan Zielinski made a motion, seconded by Mike Shields, to approve the minutes of the June 25, 2015 meeting. On voice vote, all concurred.  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal August 20, 2015 III. Façade Grant Application for 8135 N. Milwaukee Ross Klicker stated that Jeff Curry, owner of the property at 8135 N. Milwaukee, has submitted a façade grant application for this property where he has made extensive façade improvements. While improvements are typically made after an application is approved, Mr. Curry made the improvements prior to approval in order to take advantage of the fact that the streetscape improvements were being done on that section of Milwaukee Avenue. He has spent more than $10,000 and has requested the $5,000 maximum eligible grant for the façade improvement. He has also requested the architectural assistance of $1,000. Ross Klicker made a motion, seconded by Mike Shields, to approve the $5,000 façade grant application to Jeff Curry at 8135 N. Milwaukee Avenue. On roll call, all concurred. Charles Ostman made a motion, seconded by Alan Zielinski, to approve the $1,000 architectural assistance to Jeff Curry at 8135 N. Milwaukee Avenue. On roll call, all concurred. ***** The Commission members discussed the formation of a merchants association on Milwaukee Avenue from Oakton to Monroe to act collaboratively as a mall and facilitate general maintenance for the businesses, an idea that was not previously well-received by the business owners. Now that the streetscape is completed, we will try again. It was noted that we must be careful when forming a merchants association so as not to be in direct conflict with the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is a valuable resource and is willing to organize such a group so as to prevent conflicting groups. ***** Mayor Przybylo would like to keep the group dynamic. Any residents and business owners who would like to join the Commission as a Stakeholder do not have to be officially appointed by the Mayor. Let Cathy Spadoni know you would like to join and she will add you to the list. Information will go out to all members, active or not, unless they resign. Currently, there are seven Executive Committee members. Mayor Przybylo would like to increase that number. Please let Cathy Spadoni know if you would like to serve on the Executive Committee. Starting with the next meeting, the Executive Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. to take care of issues that need to be voted on. The Stakeholders meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. It was noted that because non-resident stakeholders might not enjoy the later start-time of 6:30 p.m., we might want to have meeting times of 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively. It was suggested that we ask those who consistently do not attend the meetings if they still want to be on the commission. 2  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal August 20, 2015 IV. Job Creation Opportunities Ross Klicker pointed out that there are many opportunities for people to get quality jobs without obtaining a four-year college degree and the debt that goes with it. The Maine Township program, Career Pathways, is working with Oakton Community College and large employers in the area to offer young people internships and employment opportunities outside of the college arena. It is important to excite parents as well as kids to the possibilities of working in the manufacturing field. Trustee Denise McCreery stated that there are great programs in existence to create a skilled work force from non-college bound people and, once they are working, to further their education at the company’s expense. She suggested that instead of conducting a typical job fair, we have a job resource fair that focuses on educating the employee on how to utilize available resources, such as providing help with resumes (improving or translating them); improving soft skills; teaching work force etiquette (dress codes, communication in the workplace, etc.); providing help to seniors, etc. Perhaps the typical job fair could follow, bringing in some of Niles’ high level corporations. A resource job fair could also focus on encouraging trade apprenticeships, teaching computer skills, and using Linked-In as a training tool. It was suggested that we go to businesses first to see what their workforce needs are. It was also suggested that partnerships should be established with businesses as opposed to educational facilities because a non-college-bound person might be more likely to go directly to a business than a school for a job opportunity. This commission can lend its support to programs such as Career Pathways and partner with the Chamber of Commerce, Oakton Community College and area high schools. Trustee McCreery will make partnership phone calls and report at the next meeting. At that time she will ask for assistance from commission members. V. Garage Sale Signage The Building and Zoning Committee is drafting new language to strengthen the rules on garage sales. They recommended going to the EDNR Commission to discuss charging for garage sale permits. The $5 fee would include (1) reusable, double-sided sign with the Niles logo pre- printed on it in color. Additional signs would cost $4 each. Residents would be restricted to using no more than (5) Village-issued signs. The signs are wire-framed for staking in the ground and cannot be posted on street signs or telephone poles. Signs would need to be removed by Monday morning. Garage sales can be held only on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with only two permits issued per address per year. The new rules will be explained as permits are issued, on the Village website and in the Village newsletter. The intent in providing the pre-printed signs is that they would promote the Village logo and would give a uniform, consistent appearance. These signs can be used for garage sales, yard sales and non-professional estate sales. The Village plans to order 1,000 signs at a cost of $3 each - 75% printed with Garage Sale, 25% with Yard Sale. 3  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal August 20, 2015 There is a map on the Village website that shows where the garage sales are and, in some cases, what is being sold. There are just over 400 garage sales in Niles each year. The following suggestions were put forth: a “community garage sale weekend” where all residents are encouraged to have their sales on the same weekend; a “Spring cleaning” sale weekend in May and an “end of Summer” sale weekend in September; an arrangement with the trash collection company that, after such a weekend, there be no limit on how much can be put out as trash on the next trash collection day; teaming with charitable organizations to come through on the Monday after the sale to pick up items that can be donated; and a “neighborhood garage sale weekend,” using the neighborhood designations currently under consideration. The stakeholders review the suggested sign designs and selected one with a hollow arrow and hollow box. VI. Open Exchange of Ideas  The developer of the vacant property on Milwaukee Avenue just north of Harts Road is waiting for final IDOT approvals for curb cuts. Once received, the Village will issue permits to begin construction.  The property on Milwaukee Avenue just south of Harlem has been tied up with legal issues. When those issues are resolved, the Village will be involved to get the property redeveloped as quickly as possible.  The condition of many spots on Milwaukee Avenue is embarrassing. The Village should discuss what to do about the vacancies.  Businesses are supposed to park their trucks in the back, but many park them in the front. Inspectors will be asked to look into this infraction.  Fresh Farms on Golf is scheduled to open shortly after Labor Day.  Wildwood Tavern at Caldwell and Touhy is opening tomorrow, August 21.  Dunkin Donuts will open in the former Celli’s Beef on Milwaukee.  A gas station/mini-mart will open at Milwaukee and Main.  A swim school is proposed at the site of the former Aldi on Waukegan Road.  A new Panera Bread with a drive-through is planned for Golf Mill Mall.  A billiards hall is proposed on Waukegan Road across from Village Hall.  Paving on Milwaukee Avenue is expected to be completed by the end of August. Landscaping on Milwaukee from Oakton to Monroe will be completed in the next few weeks.  Any damage to cars caused by the Milwaukee Avenue paving project will be addressed by IDOT.  The Niles 2030 Plan provides a great summary of all the good things Niles is doing. A copy of the plan will be distributed at the next meeting. 4  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal August 20, 2015 VII. Discussion Regarding How to Incorporate the Business Community into the Neighborhood Plan Ross Klicker presented some initial thoughts on how to get businesses involved with the neighborhoods: “neighborhood discount days,” encouraging people to act as a community by supporting local businesses; certain days or weeks that a particular neighborhood can get a 10% discount at a particular establishment; “small business days” in October; coupon books; and “neighborhood 401K night” where a financial advisor can give a presentation at a local eatery. These and other ideas will be discussed in more detail at a future meeting. VIII. Review of RFP Submittals for the Comprehensive Entrance and Roadway Signage Plan Ross Klicker reported that three firms responded to the RFP: KMA, The Lakota Group and Planning Resources. The RFP subcommittee eliminated KMA because a) they are from out-of- state (Pennsylvania and Florida) and cannot give Niles the attention it needs for this important project, and b) their pricing does not include travel expenses. The Lakota Group, a planning firm based in Chicago, has done multiple planning and streetscape projects throughout Chicago and the Midwest and is also the firm currently working on the Touhy Corridor Master Plan. Planning Resources is a landscape firm who has teamed with Western Remac, a sign manufacturer. Both of these firms submitted plans for determining the location of the signage and the types of signage needed and will give us a design guideline book which will provide the phasing plan, cost estimates and sign specifications. Both firms have been interviewed. Lakota’s proposal is twice as much as Planning Resources’ proposal. Further research is needed to determine if they can deliver on what they promise and to see if the specifications are comparable. References must be checked. The RFP subcommittee will meet again in two weeks to finalize the recommendation to the Village Board. It will go before the Board for approval at their September meeting. It was noted that this project is not about signs; it is about branding Niles. We are in competition with every other suburb. We have to know who we are, what we want to communicate and get that message out to people who want to do business here and live here. This must be done right. This will identify the community and create a sense of place. IX. Open Discussion None. X. Agenda Items for Next Meeting  Job creation opportunities  Neighborhood concepts  Two façade grant applications 5  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal August 20, 2015 XI. Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be held on September 24, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.; the Executive Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. The public at large will be invited to attend this meeting to comment on the proposed neighborhood map and to volunteer to work with the EDNR on its initiatives. XII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, Alan Zielinski made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Charles Ostman. On voice vote, all concurred. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m. 2015-2016 Ad Hoc Commission for Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal Executive Committee Members Administrative Officers Members Charles 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 6