Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission

MINUTES MEETING OF THE CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION CITY OF DEKALB September 19, 2016 The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois held a regular meeting on Monday, September 19, 2016 in the Haish Conference Room of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the following members of the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission members present were: Susan Johnson, Chair, Cohen Barnes, Brad Hoey, Mike Mooney, Brad Pietens. Members absent were Deborah Booth, Bob Boey, Lisa Small and Camyle Tate. Also present was Alex Nerad. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION Chair Johnson asked if any changes to the agenda needed to be made. Mr. Barnes made a motion that discussion take place in regards to the City’s logo on the City website, a temporary Proudly DeKalb sign on the vacant land on West Lincoln Highway, and incorporating Clinton-Rosette Middle School students into the public art projects. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hoey and carried on a voice vote. Chair Johnson asked for someone to make a motion to approve the amended agenda, which was made by Mr. Barnes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mooney and was carried on a voice vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION Chair Johnson requested a motion for approval of the minutes. Mr. Pietens moved to approve minutes. Mr. Mooney seconded the motion. Motion carried on voice vote. BUSINESS 1. Window Clings Follow-up Planner Michnick updated the commission on the window clings that were able to be put up in time for Corn Fest. The final design featured the logos from the High School, City, Proudly DeKalb, and Northern Illinois University. Mr. Barnes informed the group that the invoice to Kelmscott had been paid, and there were remaining committed funds that could go towards future projects. The next project would feature the original concept that was discussed in regards to highlighting historic elements and current investments in the City. Chair Johnson and Mr. Hoey both expressed interest in the City expending some funds for the next project. The investment from the City could be towards more permanent and reusable window coverings to be placed in vacant windows in the downtown. The commission asked if a vacant window policy could be brought forward to council in the near future. Planner Michnick committed to having a draft written and being brought to the October regular meeting for the CCEC. When asked what elements the commission would like to see in the ordinance, members of the commission were in agreement that it should discuss an increased allowable coverage and if possible, incorporate public art that would be reusable or cheaper than window clings. 2. Budget Request and Ordinance Change Planner Michnick informed the commission that their request for $10,000 in the FY17 budget would be granted, but could not confirm which fund it would be from. It may depend on the projects that the commission identifies as the highest priority that would determine where the funding would come from. Additionally, the changes to the ordinance that were requested, including the removal of the community survey from the duties of the commission, as well as the reduction in size of the commission, would be brought to the first City Council meeting in October. 3. Distinction Awards Mr. Pietens asked what the process would be to get stories and content on to the City’s website. Planner Michnick asked Mr. Barnes if the #ProudlyDeKalb could host and maintain the content, and allow it to be pulled directly from that website to the City’s website and social media channels. Mr. Barnes stated that the marketing group from Proudly DeKalb recently met to discuss the process of content creation and management, and that content could be shared by the City. This would reduce the amount of time that City staff and commissioners would need to devote to that project. With the increase in content and awards that could possibly be given out, the commission could have a reoccurring agenda item that would look through the various stories and choose individuals to be awarded at Council meetings. Discussion took place on whether award winners would be required to be DeKalb residents, and it was decided that for specific awards, it would not be a requirement. This was due to the potential of not including NIU students into the community, which was an important consideration. Additionally, the funding that the commission requested could be spent to have photos of distinction printed and shared on a wall in a public building. 4. Open Door Event Mr. Nerad shared with the commission an “open door” event concept. He referenced several cities that have a similar event, such as Chicago and Milwaukee. This type of event would be a general open house throughout the community, which would allow citizens to venture into buildings that they may never have an opportunity to normally go into. The commission agreed that it would be a good event to create a positive atmosphere of transparency in the City, however, the CCEC may not be the best group to organize and manage the event. Suggestions were made, including the Chamber of Commerce, DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Proudly DeKalb. Mr. Hoey made the suggestion that the event could piggyback onto another existing event, such as ArtiGras. This past year, ArtiGras saw a drop in numbers of participants and the event could benefit from additional programming. Mr. Mooney discussed the investment that took place in the Central Business District, especially the process of burying the utilities on Locust Street, with the vision it would become a festival corridor. The commission discussed the potential of moving the midway of Corn Fest to Locust, but was unsure if it would be feasible. It would require some rearranging of venues to allow that to happen. Planner Michnick asked if anyone on the commission knew anyone who served on the Corn Fest Committee, and could inquire about this possibility. Multiple members of the commission said they were acquaintances with individuals on the Corn Fest Committee and if they ran into them, they would report back next month on the discussion. 5. Clinton-Rosette Middle School (CRMS) Art Students Mr. Barnes informed the group that his daughter, who is currently a student at CRMS, was very interested in being engaged in the public art process. When she shared what the CCEC was doing to help facilitate more public art, several other students expressed a desire to contribute art. Mr. Barnes asked if there would be a possibility to have students contribute by painting vacant store front windows. Planner Michnick stated that he would structure the vacant window ordinance to allow different types of coverings. Chair Johnson and Mr. Barnes also asked if a fire hydrant painting program would be possible. Planner Michnick committed to investigating with other City staff and reporting back. 6. City Logo on City Website Planner Michnick reported back to the commission based on a prior meetings request in regards to the City’s website landing page not featuring the City’s logo. The response that was received from the City Manager’s Office (CMO) was that the reason the existing graphic was chosen was because the City wanted to distinguish itself as being DeKalb, Illinois. There are a number of other DeKalb’s in the country. The commission agreed unanimously that the response was an inadequate justification for not using the City’s logo. The commission asked that their response be brought back to the CMO. Planner Michnick stated he would forward their request, but it may be beneficial for the commission to write a letter directly to the City Manager. 7. Proudly DeKalb Sign on West Lincoln Highway Mr. Barnes and Mr. Pietens stated that the vacant land on West Lincoln Highway, which is currently owned by Shodeen, would be an excellent place to have a large Proudly DeKalb sign, similar to the silhouette sign in Hollywood. This would help with the visual barrier connecting the downtown to campus. Planner Michnick stated that he would discuss the concept with a Shodeen representative the next time they meet. 8. DeKalb Monument Sign Planner Michnick informed the commission that the City would be receiving a grant for the improvement to the intersection of Fairview and Annie Glidden. The City would like to use a portion of this grant to construct a “Welcome to DeKalb” monument sign, as it is the main entrance to Northern Illinois Univeristy from I-88. The City Manager asked that the CCEC be involved in the design process of the sign. It is still early in the process and Planner Michnick will report back to the commission when more information is available. ADJOURNMENT MOTION Chair Johnson requested a motion for adjournment. Mr. Pietens moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Mooney. Motion carried on voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m. _____________________________________ Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner Minutes were approved by the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission on October 17, 2016.