Citizens' Community Enhancement Commission
Regular MeetingDeKalb, IL · July 16, 2018
Minutes
MINUTES
MEETING OF THE
CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION
CITY OF DEKALB
July 16, 2018
The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) of the City of DeKalb,
Illinois held a regular meeting on Monday, July 16, 2018 in the Haish Conference Room
of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois.
The meeting was called to order at 4:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Roll was recorded by Economic Development Planner, Jason Michnick, and the
following members of the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission present
were: Chair Brad Hoey, Deborah Booth, Sue Johnson, and Ellingsworth Webb. Melissa
Beck, Brad Pietens, and Jeanine Holcomb were absent.
Also present at the meeting was Mayor Jerry Smith.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Chair Hoey asked for someone to make a motion to approve the agenda, which was
made by Ms. Johnson. The motion was seconded by Mr. Webb and was carried on a
voice vote.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION
Chair Hoey requested a motion for approval of the June 18, 2018 minutes. Ms. Booth
moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Webb seconded the motion. Motion carried on a
voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Introductions of New Commission Members and Discussion of Commission
Goals
Prior to the July meeting, three new commissioners were appointed to the CCEC. Two
of the three new commissioners were not able to attend the July meeting due to prior
Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission
July 16, 2018
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commitments. The remaining commissioners and staff introduced themselves and
provided a background of what made them interested in getting involved with the
CCEC. The commission also discussed some of the major projects and initiatives that
the CCEC has been involved with since its creation, with an emphasis on current efforts
to promote the Paint-A-Plug program.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Update on Public Art Program
Ms. Booth informed the commission that she had met with Jo Burke from NIU’s College
of Visual and Performing Arts to discuss the history of the Annie Glidden mural, which is
a model example of the community and NIU working together on a piece of public art.
The project took a year to develop, had a total cost of approximately $40,000, and
included 100 volunteers. The volunteers that participated were guided by head
muralists. Artists used projectors at night to project images onto the wall as a template.
Other murals throughout the downtown were also commissioned pieces, with several
being painted by an English artists. Mainstreet DeKalb and ReNew DeKalb were the
leaders on commissioning the murals on Eduardo’s and the Nehring Building. The
commission discussed a need for those murals to be touched up, as the paint had faded
substantially. If the commission is to recommend a mural program going forward,
maintenance would need to be a major component, as well as the right type of paint
being used. Ms. Booth informed the commission that a specific type of paint was used
on the Annie Glidden mural, which is why it had not faded like the others.
The commission also questioned the approval process at the time the other murals
were painted. No one was aware of what took place to provide approval, but individuals
from ReNew DeKalb were still active in the community and could be contacted.
2. Discussion on Attracting New Special Events
The commission discussed some of the newer events in the community, especially the
success of the Music at the Mansion events. More than 350 attendees were at the last
concert. The commission requested that staff reach out to Michael Embry to attend a
future meeting to discuss his efforts and ideas.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION
One of the commissioners needed to leave due to another commitment, which would
result in a loss of quorum. Chair Hoey requested a motion for adjournment. Ms.
Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Webb. Motion carried on a
voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
________________________________
Respectfully Submitted by
Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner
Agenda
DeKalb Municipal Building
PLEASE NOTE LOCATION
Haish Conference Room, Second Floor
200 South Fourth Street
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
AGENDA
Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission
July 16, 2018
4:00 p.m.
A. Roll Call
B. Approval of Agenda – Additions / Deletions
C. Approval of Minutes – June 18, 2018 Regular Meeting
D. Public Participation
E. New Business
1. Introductions of New Commission Members and Discussion of Commission Goals
F. Old Business
1. Update on Public Art Programs
2. Discussion on Attracting New Special/Community Events to DeKalb
G. Adjournment
Our mission statement: We will listen to the community to identify, develop and test initiatives to improve
the quality of life. We will develop public/private partnerships to implement sustainable initiatives.
MINUTES
MEETING OF THE
CITIZENS’ COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT COMMISSION
CITY OF DEKALB
June 18, 2018
The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) of the City of DeKalb,
Illinois held a regular meeting on Monday, June 18, 2018 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 present
were: Chair Sue Johnson, Cohen Barnes, Deborah Booth, Michael Mooney, Brad Hoey,
and Brad Pietens. Bob Boey was absent.
Also present at the meeting were Melissa Beck, Kate Cardella, Alex Nerad, Jeanine
Holcomb, and Christine Wang.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Chair Johnson asked for someone to make a motion to approve the agenda, which was
made by Mr. Barnes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mooney and was carried on a
voice vote.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Ms. Beck and Ms. Cardella introduced themselves to the commission and discussed
their interest in getting engaged with the mission and initiatives that the commission is
currently working on. The members of the commission also introduced themselves and
provided a background of what the commission has worked on over the past several
years.
Mr. Nerad and Ms. Holcomb spoke on behalf of the Egyptian Theatre and shared with
the commission their plans to approach the City with a request for Tax Increment
Financing funds to install air conditioning at the historic theatre. The City and
Preservation of the Egyptian Theatre (P.E.T.) have been engaged in conversations
about installing air conditioning for a number of years. A previous engineering study
estimated the project to cost in excess of $2 million. P.E.T. is planning to request up to
$2.5 million. In addition to the installation of air conditioning, there is also a planned
expansion to the south side of the theatre that will include larger bathrooms and
concessions areas. The mechanical equipment would then be installed on top of the
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May 21, 2018
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newly constructed addition. Mr. Nerad shared a website link
(www.itstimefor12months.org) with the commission where more details can be found.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION
Chair Johnson requested a motion for approval of the May 21, 2018 minutes. Mr.
Mooney moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Pietens seconded the motion. Motion
carried on a voice vote.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Review of Paint-A-Plug submissions
The committee reviewed three new submissions that were sent in during the previous
month. One of the three was approved. The commission requested that Planner
Michnick reach out to the other two applicants and request further details on their
concepts. Should those applicants provide the requested detail, Planner Michnick is
instructed to approve them.
2. Discussion on Public Art Policy
Ms. Wang provided an overview of the research she has conducted as it relates to
public art policies. The commission discussed several components of the policies and
identified the following questions to be discussed in greater detail:
• How is public art defined?
• Should a permit be issued for public art? If so, what kind and how does the artist
apply?
• Who commissions the artwork (i.e. owner of building, City, private donors, etc.)?
• Are there different rules for different kinds of artwork (e.g. temporary, rotating,
permanent, etc.)?
• How will maintenance be handled?
The commission also commented that many of the example programs that were
highlighted were through independent arts councils and not through municipalities. One
specific example of a city program was through Portland, Oregon. The program was
specifically for murals on private buildings.
The commission discussed a strategy of breaking up the “Public Art Policy” into
individual programs, rather than trying to create a comprehensive policy that covers all
components of potential public art. The commission had already started this type of
program with Paint-A-Plug, so there is a format to be followed. Planner Michnick asked
the commission what type of program they would like to see next. The commission
agreed that a mural program was the most desirable to create next.
3. Downtown Cigarette Receptacles
Planner Michnick provided an update to the commission and informed them that he had
spoken with Alfredo’s Ironworks in Cortland. They would be capable and willing to
design and fabricate anything that the commission desired, but need to have a general
idea of the desired design to get started. The commission discussed different concepts,
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May 21, 2018
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including modifying the existing downtown garbage bins and trying to fit in with the
existing downtown streetscape designs.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion on Attracting New Special Events to DeKalb
The commission briefly discussed special events and determined that there were
several groups in the community that have ideas, but do not know how to go about
putting on a special event. The commission recommended that the City investigate
creating an easy to navigate application and approval process for special events.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION
Chair Johnson requested a motion for adjournment. Mr. Pietens moved to adjourn the
meeting, seconded by Mr. Hoey. Motion carried on a voice vote. The meeting
adjourned at 5:24 p.m.
________________________________
Respectfully Submitted by
Jason Michnick, Economic Development Planner