Economic Development Commission

Regular Meeting

DeKalb, IL · March 6, 2020

Minutes

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 6, 2020 The Economic Development Commission (EDC) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois held a regular meeting on March 6, 2020 in the Executive Conference Room of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. A. ROLL CALL Executive Assistant Ruth Scott called the roll and the following EDC members were present at roll call: Chair Jeff Richardson, Members Grant Goltz, Mark Sawyer, and Brian Scholle, and Ex- Officio members Paul Borek (DCEDC) and Matt Duffy (DeKalb Chamber of Commerce). EDC Member Vernese Edghill-Walden arrived at 8:32 a.m. EDC Member Sam Walt was absent. Others present included City Manager Bill Nicklas, Transit Manager Marcus Cox, and Executive Assistant Ruth Scott. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Goltz. VOTE Motion carried by a voice vote of the majority of members present. C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. February 7, 2020. MOTION Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the minutes; seconded by Mr. Scholle. VOTE Motion carried by a voice vote of the majority of members present. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Mike Embrey noted he invited Will Heinisch of the DeKalb Area Rental Association (DARA) as a small business interest. Economic Development Commission Minutes March 6, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Mr. Heinisch stated that community sentiment towards the City of DeKalb has become very positive. Brief discussion followed regarding locations for electric charge stations within the city. E. REPORTS 1. City Manager Report. City Manager Nicklas provided an update on the Ferrara Candy Company project, as well as the ongoing Ventus Tech Services, LLC project. Mr. Nicklas stated the predevelopment agreement with Ventus would be going before Council on March 9 and encouraged members of the EDC to attend in a show of support. Discussion ensued regarding a letter of support for the Ventus project from the EDC. Those members present were in agreement that the letter should e written. Brief discussion ensued regarding housing and transportation. 2. DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Report. Mr. Duffy reported on upcoming events sponsored by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce including workforce training. He also noted that In the Loop videos are still ongoing. Future videos will feature the Census, the Egyptian Theatre, and signage changes, and minimum wage changes. Mr. Duffy asked the EDC to contact him if they had any topics they would like to see addressed with an In the Loop video. Mr. Duffy also reported on the upcoming Community Expo on April 4 at the DeKalb High School fieldhouse, nothing a home show component has been added this year. 3. DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation Report. Mr. Borek reported that the DCEDC has been working with the City regarding Ventus and other projects. Mr. Borek also provided each EDC member with a questionnaire, which will be used to prepare a branding and messaging plan to attract businesses and families to DeKalb County, nothing the plan will be rolled out in the middle of the year. He asked each member to complete the questionnaire and return it to him at their earliest convenience. F. OLD BUSINESS 1. Business Retention Program Business Update. Mr. Borek stated that he and Mr. Sawyer met with Wehrli Custom Fabrication as part of the EDC’s business retention program and provided each EDC member with a copy of the questions and answers. Brief discussion ensued regarding the responses on the questionnaire. Economic Development Commission Minutes March 6, 2020 Page 3 of 3 Brief discussion also ensued regarding upcoming changes to the City’s signage code and setbacks. 2. AGN Resource Guide. Transit Manager Cox provided an update on the resource guide based on thoughts and ideas provided at the last EDC meeting, which included the question and answer section, text readability, adding routes to Kishwaukee College and Elburn on the map, and route icons to places of interest and employment. He noted that the “must have” information was edited for trip planning and bus tracking capabilities and a QR code will be added. Discussion ensued regarding the number of copies to be made, in English and in Spanish, of the resource guide, as well as how to get the information out to the public. Brief discussion ensued regarding fares, the possibility of a monthly transit pass, a prepaid pass, and branding of the buses. G. NEW BUSINESS 1. Economic Development Commission Mission Statement. It was decided that this item will be returned for discussion at the next EDC meeting. H. NEXT MEETING: APRIL 3, 2020. There was no discussion regarding this item. I. ADJOURNMENT MOTION Mr. Goltz moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Scholle. VOTE Motioned carried by a voice vote of the majority of members present. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________________ RUTH A. SCOTT, Executive Assistant Approved by the Economic Development Commission: July 10, 2020.

Agenda

DeKalb Municipal Building Executive Conference Room Second Floor 200 South Fourth Street DeKalb, Illinois 60115 AGENDA Economic Development Commission Meeting March 6, 2020 8:30 a.m. A. Roll Call B. Approval of the Agenda C. Approval of Minutes 1. February 7, 2020. D. Public Participation E. Reports 1. City Manager Report. 2. DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Report. 3. DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation Report. F. Old Business 1. Business Retention Program Business Update. 2. AGN Resource Guide. G. New Business 1. Economic Development Commission Mission Statement. H. Next Meeting: April 3, 2020. I. Adjournment MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 7, 2020 The Economic Development Commission (EDC) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois held a regular meeting on February 7, 2020 in the Executive Conference Room of the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. A. ROLL CALL Executive Assistant Ruth Scott called the roll and the following EDC members were present: Chair Jeff Richardson, Members Grant Goltz, Mark Sawyer, Brian Scholle and Sam Walt, and Ex-Officio Members Matt Duffy (DeKalb Chamber of Commerce) and Paul Borek (DCEDC). Member Vernese Edghill-Walden arrived at 8:34 a.m. Others present included: Mayor Jerry Smith, Alderman Carolyn Morris, City Manager Bill Nicklas, Transit Manager Marcus Cox, Executive Assistant Ruth Scott. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION Mr. Sawyer moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Walt. VOTE Motion carried by a voice vote of the majority of members present. C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. January 3, 2020. MOTION Mr. Goltz moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Sawyer. VOTE Motion carried by a voice vote of the majority of members present. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was none. Economic Development Commission Minutes February 7, 2020 Page 2 of 4 E. REPORTS 1. City Manager Report. City Manager Nicklas reported that Raising Canes Chicken Fingers has expressed interested in old Applebee’s site. The current building will be demolished, and a new building constructed, with a drive through. He also provided a brief report on the Ferrara Candy Company project, noting site construction is moving along, as well as the Ventus project. Brief discussion ensued regarding Gurler Road impact due to the new construction in that area. City Manager Nicklas noted that engineering studies are almost complete. Brief discussion ensued regarding the Ferrara Candy Company. City Manager Nicklas noted that part of the reason why Ferrara chose DeKalb was because of its power access, the city’s water system, access to the tollway, the willingness of our state representatives and senators, city responsiveness, and two institutions of higher learning – Northern Illinois University and Kishwaukee Community College. He also noted that the data center (Ventus) is pleased and mindful of Northern Illinois University being in town. Discussion ensued regarding the timeline of building permits. City Manager Nicklas noted that he made some changes to the process in early 2019. He continues to work with the building division in order to streamline the process, such as revising the city’s municipal code and inspection process. 2. DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Report. Mr. Duffy reported on upcoming events that included an afterhours gathering at the chamber’s new location and the Community Expo on April 4, 2020. He also stated that new “In the Loop” videos are in the works, one of which covers the 2020 census. There was brief discussion regarding the former O’Leary’s building and the potential new owners. 3. DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) Report. Mr. Borek reported that obtaining the Ferrara project was a collaborative effort between local governments. He also reported that the DCEDC is working on a strategic branding initiative for DeKalb County. There is a list of questions he’d like to share with the EDC for their comments. He will forward those to Executive Assistant Scott who will then provide them to the EDC members. Brief discussion ensued regarding bringing the possibility of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district on the southside of DeKalb. City Manager Nicklas stated that Economic Development Commission Minutes February 7, 2020 Page 3 of 4 a study completed in 2017-2018 indicated there wasn’t enough to break even. He noted the study could be commissioned again perhaps once Ferrara is in place and we know more about the Ventus project. F. OLD BUSINESS 1. Business Retention Program Business List and Questions – 2020. Discussion regarding this item included a brief look at the revised list of visits and questions. Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Borek stated they would make the time to visit with Jeff Wagner of Wagner Excavating and Don Jones of the Forge Resources Group before the next EDC meeting in March. A follow up of the meetings will be provided to Executive Assistant Scott and she will forward that information to the other EDC members. Mr. Goltz noted that he would schedule time to visit with Curran Contracting and Pappas Development. Mr. Scholle expressed interest in meeting with them as well. 2. AGN Resource Guide. Mr. Cox provided a draft of the resource guide and an update on the information provided, including routes and services, must have information, Q&A, and the route map. Discussion ensued. Ms. Edgehill-Walden suggested that educational services should be added to the route map. Further discussion included adding a section that would show the user which route to take to get to a specific place, i.e., Park 88 or Pleasant Street. There was also brief discussion regarding future signage on the buses. G. NEW BUSINESS 1. Economic Development Commission Mission Statement. It was decided that this item would return on the next meeting’s agenda for further discussion. H. NEXT MEETING: MARCH 6, 2020. There was no discussion regarding this item. Economic Development Commission Minutes February 7, 2020 Page 4 of 4 I. ADJOURNMENT MOTION Mr. Scholle moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Ms. Edghill-Walden. VOTE Motioned carried by a voice vote of the majority of members present. The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 a.m. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________________ RUTH A. SCOTT, Executive Assistant