Economic Development Minutes 2015 10-06-15Page 1 of 4
APPROVED 11/3/15
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 6, 2015, 6:00pm
Yorkville City Hall, Conference Room
800 Game Farm Road
In Attendance:
Committee Members:
Chairman Ken Koch
Alderman Diane Teeling
Alderman Chris Funkhouser
Absent: Alderman Carlo Colosimo
Other City Officials:
City Administrator Bart Olson
Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble
City Planner Chris Heinen
Code Official Pete Ratos
Other Guests:
Lynn Dubajic Daryl Wiese, Hampton Inn
Cort Carlson, Executive Director, AACVB Nitin Patel, Super 8 & Hampton Inn
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ken Koch at 6:10pm.
Citizen Comments: None
Previous Meeting Minutes: September 1, 2015
The minutes were approved as read on a voice vote.
New Business:
1. EDC 2015-38 Building Permit Report for August 2015
There were 51 permits in August and 3 of those were for the BUILD program. One was a single
family detached home. Mr. Ratos said the Pulte homes now have more square footage as builders
modify their existing plans.
2. EDC 2015-39 Building Inspection Report for August 2015
Mr. Ratos said August was a busy month with 152 BUILD inspections and 214 total inspections. Most
were new construction with some miscellaneous.
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3. EDC 2015-40 Property Maintenance Report for August 2015
There were 7 cases adjudicated--most were rubbish issues from the Blackberry Lane area. A property
at 202 S. Bridge had a roof repaired without a building permit and the owner contested the citations.
Next month's report will include the downtown scan again. Other cases included weed and grass issues
which were in compliance at the time of the hearing.
4. PC 2015-41 Economic Development Committee Meeting Dates for 2016
The committee members were in agreement that the meetings will continue to be on the first Tuesday
of the month at 6pm.
(moved forward on agenda)
7. ADM 2014-89 Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB)
Alderman Funkhouser said he had previously made the recommendation to stay with the AACVB since
a new Director was in place, progress has been made with Executive Board changes and no other plan
was in place for the City. He said he is now Chairman of the Strategic Committee and is on the
Executive Board. He recommended staying in for a year, but to plan for the possible withdrawal from
the organization. He said the Bureau does provide a service and it's not in the City's best interest to
withdraw at this time.
Mr. Wiese agreed there were benefits to staying in the Bureau. He said the Hampton Inn is committing
over $50,000 to the AACVB this year and the hotel is benefitting. Mr. Patel also desired to stay with
AACVB at this time. Mr. Wiese commented that Oswego's tourism has suffered since they withdrew.
Chairman Koch asked about staff looking at an alternative plan for the following year. Mr. Olson said
if tourism initiatives are a high priority during the goal-setting sessions, staff will focus on them. He
expressed doubt that the same value would be realized if the City pulled out of AACVB since LCTB
grant funds would not be available and he encouraged remaining in the Bureau.
Cort Carlson handed out the new AACVB Visitor's Guide. He discussed the current budget and said
about $500,000 in revenue is expected from all the member towns. The current State budget woes have
kept the State funds from being distributed at this time, but they are expected minus a $173,000 cut.
He discussed the cost of running the CVB including cost of advertising, printing and distribution costs
of the Visitor's Guide, cost of being in tollway kiosks and other distribution points. Digital copies are
also available. He said group sales efforts are very important to bring business back to Yorkville in the
form of conventions, sporting events and motorcoach tours. He discussed the cost of the website and
how many visitors it attracts.
Mr. Wiese added that the CVB website has a direct link to the Hampton Inn for reservations which is a
big benefit. He said the International Crown will be a big event in the future and connections were
made more easily due to the CVB and will provide weeklong stays at the hotels. The Hampton Inn is
already seeing reservations for next year's tournaments.
Chairman Koch said the Oswego ad in the Visitor's Guide was not well-received by many of the
Aldermen. The Board has established a policy to prevent such an occurrence in the future. Mr.
Funkhouser added that the decision to include that ad had not been approved by the Board of Directors.
The ad does not appear on the digital guide.
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Chairman Koch expressed concern that the Raging Waves was far back in the Guide. He also said
there was an ad for a restaurant now out of business, even though the City was asked to review the list
of businesses before printing. Ms. Dubajic said the food photos need to be more representative of
specific businesses in Yorkville. It was noted that Blackberry Golf Course was not included with the
golf courses, however, it's technically not in the City limits.
This item moves to the City Council meeting on October 13th. Chairman Koch commented that most
Aldermen were in favor of membership for one more year. Ms. Dubajic said to also consider input
from the hotels as being very important since they generate most of the revenue.
5. EDC 2015-42 Economic Development Contract
This matter concerns the City hiring Ms. Dubajic as a consultant after the YEDC disbands and also to
consider long-term strategy for the City after she stops working. Mr. Olson said the contract would be
for three years with a one month termination clause. The contract is for 15 hours per week at $145
per hour. Ms. Dubajic would perform the same functions as she does now and would be responsible
to the City Administrator. She would also be subject to FOIA laws. Ms. Dubajic said she will be able
to remain at the same office space in Prairie Point. Alderman asked her to attend all EDC meetings and
provide a report. This request will be added to her contract.
In the past, the City contributed $50,000 to the YEDC and Alderman Funkhouser noted that the
contract cost would be $113,000. Anything over 15 hours per week will be paid on a quarterly basis
with no cap. Ms. Dubajic suggested she could make up any hours missed in an effort to “true up” the
monthly hours. There was also discussion about paying for or holding over extra hours worked—Mr.
Olson will check on this. Out of state travel will be approved by the Mayor or City Administrator and
reimbursed while local travel will be Ms. Dubajic's resposibility. Ms. Dubajic said a budget of $2,400
per year for travel would be sufficient.
An update of the Kendall Marketplace was given by Ms. Dubajic and she said the new owners are
studying options. The SSA options are also being looked at with a possible trigger in 2017. The
owners are also trying to generate interest in the outlots with various incentives.
Chairman Koch asked that all Aldermen review the contract after revision. It will be brought to the
October 13th Council meeting and voted on at the following meeting.
6. EDC 2015-43 BUILD Program
Chairman Koch asked to have this item on the agenda to discuss the future of the program prior to
December. Mr. Ratos said builders have told him they make money on volume of houses sold. Profit
is higher in other towns where the selling price is greater, however, there is not much activity there,
while building does continues in Yorkville. Some builders refer customers to Yorkville due to the
BUILD program.
Alderman Funkhouser commented that stalled developments are being built and tax revenue is
generated. He agreed that some impact fees are being given away, but rooftops are being increased.
Even more important than rooftops, Ms. Dubajic said retailers are looking for movement and energy in
a community. Ms. Noble said the Comp Plan states that 100 building permits per year are needed to fill
the current inventory of homesites. The City now has about 70-80 per year and if there is less progress,
the tax base will not increase. She said the BUILD program is useful and will be mentioned as a useful
tool in the Comp Plan.
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Alderman Koch said the dilemma is raising other fees to compensate for less impact fees. Ms. Teeling
added that new residents are also paying other fees. There was a time when user fees did not exist, said
Alderman Funkhouser. Chairman Koch asked if Public Works fees and building permit fees could be
raised, however, there are locks on some of the fees preventing any change.
A new name such as “BUILD 2.0” would generate fresh press, said Ms. Dubajic. If townhomes
increase, different incentives could be offered for them. Alderman Funkhouser suggested a tiered
program dependent on the home value. A check would be given at time of occupancy when the actual
value is known.
In summary, an update will be done each month and the discussion will be moved to the Council
meeting since December 31st is the program termination date. The last Council meeting date is
December 10th and reassurance needs to be given to the builders.
Old Business: None
Additional Business: None
There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 7:38pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by
Marlys Young