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EDC Minutes 2000 10-17-00 a r ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2000 Attendees: Rich Sticka Rose Spears Art Prochaska Tom Sowinski Valerie Burd Jim Nanninga Dave Dockstader PC 2000 -23 Harry Linden, petitioner reauesting to annex into the United Citv of Yorkville. Current zoning is Kendall Countv A -1 Agricultural, and re- zoning to A -1 Agricultural in the United Citv of Yorkville. The uroperty is located at 9155 Kennedv Road in unincorporated Kendall Countv. Chairman Sticka stated that the annexation agreement should include the easements. He also runs a business from this location, actually it appears seems it is used for the storage of equipment. Trucks do not see to go in and out all day. This item should go to COW and we hope to have an agreement for water and sewer easements, as well as something to address the non - conforming use. Neither of the adjoining property owners came to the public hearing. Notices of the public hearing on this were sent to those required. If Blackberry Estates is contiguous and we were to annex them what services would the City have to provide. Mr. Nanninga stated water and sewer. i Mayor Prochaska stated they would have to pay to run sewer and water to them. Regarding Mr. Linden, we will accept the recommendation of Plan Commission with easements and the non - conforming use until the zoning changes, then it would not be allowed. Due to having to get an agreement negotiated and prepared, this should probably go to the COW on November 2, 00. DOWNTOWN PARKING UPDATE Mr. Nanninga stated we are waiting for Ameritech to come in and sign the agreement, it is ready and waiting for them and Public Works is ready to start work, but J.T. wants engineering to do the grades for them so we don't end up with something that collects water. He wants to be sure since this is pretty flat, but they hope to start work next week. Chairman Sticka asked if closing the asphalt plants is a concern. Mr. Nanninga stated that actually they just want to get the concrete curb in and gravel, they plan to do the paving next spring. Chairman Sticka asked if we have had any word from IDOT regarding Muellner's building. Mr. Nanninga stated he hadn't heard anything, but would call Greg Mounts at IDOT tomorrow. 1 Alderman Sowinski asked if we had had any suggestions from the downtown regarding parking suggestions. Mayor Prochaksa stated he wondered if the state has made any decisions since he had not talked to them in a while. There has been a discussion about angle parking on the south side of Van Emmon, west of Bridge Street. The City could move the wall back which would allow for angle parking which would add more parking. We need to find out what it would take and how many parking spaces we would gain. It would have to stop near Dallas Ingumunson's little white building to allow for two lanes of traffic as Van Emmon reaches Bridge Street. This would allow parking along Van Emmon, from the vacant lot behind the old jail, the house to it's east, & the Ingumunson building. IDOT will work with the City, but will not want any obstacles at the intersection. IDOT will reconfigure this after widening. Everyone should be thinking about ideas and suggestions. ERDMANN CONTRACT - POSSIBLE JOB DESCRIPTION Mr. Nanninga stated he put together a proposed job description, as he though there was value in keeping her on. Mayor Prochaska asked if this was keeping Bobbi on, or Erdmannn Advertising. Ms. Erdmann stated Erdmann Advertising Chairman Sticka asked what the reason was for this, since it had been decided months ago to pay $45,000 for an Economic Development person. We shouldn't have two people for the same thing. Mr. Nanninga stated she has taken a course in Grant Writing and has been approaching property owners regarding annexations of certain property that the City would like to annex. Mayor Prochaska stated these things are not a goal of the Economic Development Co -op. Other neighboring communities have other positions, a City employee to act on behalf of the City. Alderwoman Burd stated the Economic Development Co -op could give direction to Ms. Dubajic, that we might not like. Mayor Prochaska stated that is true, but they have balance representation. They have the School Board, the Shopping Center Representative and the host for the Industrial Park, and both Banks. Some groups don't want to talk to anyone and don't want anyone to know what they are planning, until they talk to land owners. Then it is all over. Chairman Sticka asked if the EDC Co -op did do something harmful, how does this position prevent this from happening. Alderman Sowinski stated the elimination of Bobbi Erdmann's position was part of coming up with the $45,000. 2 II I Mayor Prochaska stated there are a few things that are unfinished that he would like her to finish. Like Halloween. Alderwoman Spears asked how we would know if the EDC Co -op was doing something. Mayor Prochaksa stated they do require quarterly reports. Alderwoman Burd asked if she gets to see how they spend the money we give them. Chairman Sticka stated that this should be part of the alderman packet since the City is the principal funding source. We should get something. Mayor Prochaska stated the City has already voted on their funding, but the others still have to do that.' I Alderwoman Spears asked what if they change their amount. Mayor Prochaska stated it would change their budget. WE volunteered to pay $45,000 last year but paid $35,000., so this year it is $55,000. We made a three year commitment. The extra dollars go to the EDC Co -op budget. Chairman Sticka asked if this was earmarked for a specific project, or whatever they need. I Mayor Prochaska stated that they are working now with Bobbie Erdmann to get everything transferred over. i Alderwoman Burd stated there is a lot to do, Bobbi could assist her. Our Grants should be generated from a City Employee. I Mayor Prochaska stated we may need to hire someone to write grants. Alderman Sowinski stated this is very technical work. Doesn't it require someone with experience to be able to do this. Alderwoman Burd stated she did one this year, and just copied it the one from last year. Mayor Prochaska stated that the applicants who had grant expedience were very high priced. y I I Alderwoman Burd stated that NIU had said someone with a Masters and 2 years experience would want the job. That $60,000 would get us 2 years experience. Mayor Prochaska stated that Rich Artman was going to contact them, but it was a problem getting call backs from him. The experienced EDC applicants went to two big EDC Associations. We posted this on the Web Site for 6 months through the American & Illinois EDC Associations. 3 Alderman Sowinski stated it came down to what we could afford. Alderwoman Burd stated that since Ms. Dubajic didn't have credentials, why wasn't she offered less money. Mayor Prochaska stated Ms. Dubajic had a well paying job. Other applicants were lost because it would have been a cut in pay. The EDC made a list of the experience we wanted. Alderwoman Spears asked if anyone had verified her salary. Chairman Sticka stated this was not the purpose of this meeting, this was not on the agenda, and why were we discussing this. And we sit here discussing the EDC salary. Alderwoman Burd stated she questioned if they were using the funding prudently. Mayor Prochaska stated that the point is we were trying to get someone to work with and for the good of the City. Alderwoman Burd stated it should have been someone independent. Better to hire someone not from here, and not familiar. Mayor Porchaska stated she has come to a lot of meetings and would have been here tonight except she had a prior commitment. Alderwoman Spears asked if the funding goes away, does it dissolve. Mayor Prochaska stated that actually if they don't have enough funds, it would dissolve, but Ms. Dubajic is working very well. i Alderman Sowinski stated Ms. Dubajic will work for the City. Mayor Prochaska stated the City is looking to bring property in. We have to look at how we are setup. WE need a special person for grant writing. Special Events is something different. Chairman Sticka stated special events has nothing to do with economic development. No one ever brought a business here because of a car show. Alderwoman Burd stated you never know what bring business here. Mayor Porchaska stated we used to have a public relations committee, but haven't since Mayor Johnson. WE have been using our hotel tax for this purpose. Until the new budget there are some unresolved issues. Alderman Sowinski stated this was discussed at the time the EDC Director was decided upon. Alderman Sowinski asked Ms. Erdmann what her understanding was. 4 Ms. Erdmann stated she understood her contract would be reviewed. She went on to state that she has a lot to keep her busy. She has Special Events Ideas, but has not had time to work on them. She has had some involvement in residential projects too, and has offered her services to small businesses worried about bigger businesses coming in. Ms. Erdmann stated she was told to bring up the issue of her being fired from Copley Hospital, and stated this was not fired. She left after 10 years. She read her press release for Menards, and stated she felt she had done a good job, but City Council will decide if she stays or goes. Mayor Prochaska stated to get back on the topic, he stated he thinks she has done a good job. Alderman Sowinski stated we voted for an EDC Co -op hire and now we are looking to spend more money, and asked what the reason for an additional 6 months was. Mayor Prochaska stated he didn't feel we needed the whole Erdmann Contract, but there is some carryover work to be completed. He stated he was not n favor of 6 months, just wanted everything moved over smoothly. Alderman Sowinski asked Ms Erdmann would consider an hourly basis, or only an extension of the contract. Ms. Erdmann stated she has ceased meeting with Ms. Dubajic on a regular basis. She has been working between 48 hours and 68 hours and not charging us for the extra time. Mayor Prochaska stated that he liked Ms. Erdmann, but we are contracting with a business. Mr. Dettmer is not an employee, and if we don't renew the contract it is business. But, there is a transition and that is why I asked first thing, if this was with Erdmann Advertising. Ms. Erdmann stated she was looking for the contract, with a regular number of hours, but however you want to look at it. I Alderman Dockstader stated that was understandable as she needs a schedule to work from for her business. Alderwoman Burd stated she could do public relations. Mayor Prochaska stated you can't do that from the hip. We need to look at that separately. Alderman Sowinski stated he goes to the Park Board and it is all he hears. We are short handed. Mayor Prochaska stated we are short at Public Works, and at Parks, and office staff too. We do need additional staff. We need to look at what people are doing. Several different jobs are being done by one person. I I �I 5 Alderman Dockstader stated that budgeting this is very important. Re- organization might be needed. Look at positions and see where we need to add people and what the jobs are and if they are capable of doing it. Chairman Sticka stated if the City wants to hire a private contractor aren't we required to get bids. Mayor Prochaska stated he thought if we had a current contract perhaps not. Chairman Sticka asked if this would be the same position, and since he wasn't here when Ms. Erdmann was contracted for, what was the situation then. Ms. Erdmann stated there was one other applicant who was not qualified. Mayor Prochaska stated he would get this from Attorney Kramer. Ms. Erdmann stated what she liked about Yorkville and read again from the Menards press release. Alderman Dockstader stated it is about handling growth as it comes. Keeping current long time residents happy, not trying to attract people, but handling them as they come. Mayor Prochaska stated we are not looking for a position for a specify c person, but a job that need to be done. Maybe Ms. Baker is doing many of these jobs and there is just a little left over. Mayor Prochaska asked that Mr. Nanninga speak to Mr. Bonebreak to see what their person does in this position. WE are looking at next years budget anyway. There are still some unfinished things that need to be done. Not annexations. Ms. Erdmann stated she has not held back, but has given everything to Ms. Dubajic. Alderwoman Spears stated at the IML Conference they had sat in on DCCA seminar on grant writing and 100% grants takes a lot of research. Alderman Dockstader asked about how much money the City could pick -up from this. Mr. Nanninga stated it could be a couple hundred thousand, and he didn't think Ms. Dubajic should be doing this. Mayor Prochaska stated that Ms. Dubajic did go out and get one, and brought it to Mr. Nanninga. At some point she needs to turn to the City. Much of this is in the name of the City, and she will be looking for some of this, but when it is turned over who does it go to. Alderman Sowinski stated it was his understanding that it was what Ms. Dubajic was hired for. Mayor Prochaska stated the details have to come from the City. 6 I Ms. Erdmann stated she had taken a grant course and paid for it herself. Alderman Dockstader asked if she took the course because of the grants we were looking at, stating grant writing doesn't sound exciting, but we could see results on a grant writer. Alderwoman Spears stated people here in the office can't be given more work. Alderman Dockstader asked if Ms. Erdmann reports to the mayor or Mr. Nanninga. Mayor Prochaska stated it was to Mr. Nanninga. Alderman Dockstader stated he was torn because he remembers when the City Council voted to hired the EDC Co -op person fro $45,000. Mayor Prochaska stated there is still some co- ordination that needs to be done. Alderman Sowinski stated he favored month to month. Mayor Prochaska stated he was not in favor or considering a job description. We may hire Ms. Erdmann at a later date, and put it out for bid at that time. Alderwoman Burd stated she favored a 3 month extension and having Ms. Erdmann move into grant writing. Alderman Sowinski stated he would rather see month to month. Alderman Dockstader stated month to month can go on and on. It is better to have a deadline. Mayor Prochaska stated a deadline is a good idea. Everyone knows what the deadline is. Menards isn't here yet, and she has worked with them. In 3 months Menards will be ready. I feel better with a deadline. Alderman Sowinski stated we should take this to COW and see what the Council wants. Alderwoman Spears asked if we were going to expect 10 grants. Alderman Dockstader stated that this is a position the City needs to fill, not a position to fit Ms. Erdmann. Chairman Sticka stated this should go to COW. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS Mayor Prochaska stated he has played around with the City Logo trying to add the River and Dam to it, and maybe it needs the River to be a little livelier. 7 �I I I Alderwoman Burd stated she had graphics and would like to work on it a little. Mayor Prochaska stated she should feel free to have a try at it. Alderman Sowinski stated he would like York Meadows to either get going or get rid of the trailer. Mr. Nanninga stated he told them they could do a lot of work, but they can't put in any sewer work until they get their permit from the EPA. Alderman Sowinski stated that if they aren't going to get started, then get the trailer out of there. He hates to see that sitting there all winter. Mayor Prochaska stated we need to find out if Attorney Kramer sent the letter. Mayor Prochaska stated Shell is having a bit of an identity crisis, but hope to be open by November 1st. Mr. Nanninga stated they may be able to hit the target date. With no further business, Chairman Sticka adjourned the meeting at 9:00 PM Minutes by Sandy Marker 8