Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal

COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MEETING MINUTES January 7, 2015 Members in attendance: Executive Committee: Chuck Ostman – Executive Director Ross Klicker – Associate Executive Director Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Village Manager Steve Vinezeano Joe Bialko Mike Shields Alan Zielinski Mayor Andrew Przybylo – Ex-Officio (arrived at 4:30) Members absent: Executive Committee: Trustee Joe LoVerde – Ex-Officio I. Call to Order Ross Klicker called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. in the Conference Room 218, Village of Niles Administration Building. II. Update of Branding and Marketing Work Pertaining to Village Logo and Tagline Our consulting firm LS+Team is working to design the new Village logo and tagline. After interviewing residents and businesses to find out who and what Niles is, they came up with a brand personality based on certain words that were continually used to describe Niles: safe, progressive, comfortable, family-oriented, approachable, peaceful, a good value, diverse. Based on these personality traits, they developed a Brand Positioning Statement: The Village of Niles is proudly built upon friendly, multi-cultural neighborhoods with best-in-class services, low taxes and efficient multi- modal transportation for all of its residents, driven professionals, young families and senior citizens alike. Bordering Chicago, Niles is safe, clean and conveniently located with good schools and a community which embraces ethnic diversity and comes together to enjoy events, festivals and cultures. Niles is truly easy to do business with and is home to several major corporations and signature businesses. Based on this statement, staff has been working with LS+Team to develop taglines and logos. It was noted that the importance of doing a new logo and brand at this time is to indicate to the development  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal January 7, 2015 world, the business community and potential residents that we are going to be a strong, successful community, and we will help you be successful. Staff hopes to meet with LS+Team in the next two weeks to finalize the three logos that will be advanced for consideration of the full EDNR Commission. The Stakeholders can provide feedback and indicate which they feel makes the strongest statement. Ultimately, the Village Board will make the final decision. III. Update on Milwaukee Avenue Corridor Plan/Zoning After reviewing comments from staff and the EDNR Commission regarding the Milwaukee Avenue Corridor Plan, Camiros Consultants has submitted the second draft of the Plan. This second draft, along with the first draft of the Zoning Code, is being reviewed by staff. It appears that all of the concerns and comments from the Commission, which were mostly about building heights, density and mixed-uses, have been addressed. As requested, Camiros focused their attention on the “spark,” an intermediate approach to change (as opposed to the “smoke,” a slow-moving approach and the “fire,” the most aggressive approach.) It was noted that the new Zoning Code will be in place to facilitate implementation of the Plan. Chuck Ostman stated that the property owners are in control of redevelopment, not the Village of Niles. For example, condo building is “out” right now for Niles, as the market is not supporting the prices that builders need to get to construct condos. While we encourage the property owners when they meet with developers as to what the Village is willing to accept, the property owners are in control. The Plan and the new Zoning Code will not only provide direction but flexibility as well, and will tell the development world that we are serious about redevelopment. It was noted that Milwaukee Avenue will not be a growth driver for Niles revenue and a big retail market as Touhy Avenue and Golf Mill Mall will be. It is the gateway from Chicago into the suburbs, and the main focus will be to sustain it, beautify it, improve it and make it different. The Stakeholders should be made aware of this distinction. Staff continues to review the Plan and the Zoning Code rewrite. Steven Lenet, a planning consultant from lctdesign, will be brought in to “review the reviewers,” to offer input as to whether or not we have missed anything, gone too far or not gone far enough. This review should be completed by March. The goal is to have both the Milwaukee Avenue Corridor Plan and the Zoning Code rewrite completed by September 2015. IV. Commission Goals and Objectives Discussion for 2015 a. Economic Development Goals – Programs and Marketing With the creation of a new brand and logo comes the goal of marketing them. Targeted marketing includes national publications and trade shows that would present us to the development and real estate worlds. At the next EDNR meeting, we could present the Stakeholders with five specific marketing ideas and ask for feedback. It was noted that a Metra station on Touhy could be very beneficial to our growth and development. Metra has agreed to study, in the next ten years, the possibility of a station at that location. 2  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal January 7, 2015 b. Neighborhood Renewal Goals – Programs and Events Specific goals could include: increased street lighting, community/neighborhood identification, encouraged new neighbor outreach, Village-supported block parties, Niles Days-like events (4th of July parade, Bike Niles, Holly Jolly Christmas Market and Tree Lighting, and an Italian Fest near Golf Mill Park). Mayor Przybylo stressed the importance of neighborhood identification that would make people feel that they’re a part of something. Such labeling could create a sense of place from which can come, for example, a garden club to give people pride in their community. Ross Klicker will work with the Village’s GIS Department and create a map with suggested neighborhood names and borders. The map can then be presented to the full commission for feedback. V. Open Discussion As part of the Cleveland Street sewer project, a bricked bike path is being designed to cross Caldwell at Cleveland Street, connecting with the Forest Preserve bike path. The entire project will take two years. This path will tie in with the Multi-Modal Plan. The Multi-Modal Plan also includes plans for a bike path from Emerson School at Cumberland and Oakton, through town, eventually connecting to the trail. Mayor Przybylo stated that there is still a possibility to create a river walk/bike path near the river at Harts Road that would work in conjunction with the Forest Preserve, going from the Leaning Tower west to Harts Road and then around the river to Chicago. VI. Agenda Items for Next Meeting Agenda items for the next meeting will be the branding presentation, the Milwaukee Avenue Corridor Plan and the presentation of the neighborhood identification map. The proposed logos and taglines will first be sent to all executive committee members for their review and input by February 1. VII. Next Meeting Date The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 18; the exact date and time will be determined. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, Ross Klicker made a motion, seconded by Mike Shields, to adjourn the meeting. On voice vote, all concurred. The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. 3  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal January 7, 2015 2014-2015 Ad Hoc Commission for Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal Executive Committee Members Administrative Officers Members Chuck Ostman – Executive Director Steven Vinezeano – Village Manager Ross Klicker – Assoc Executive Director Joe Bialko – resident Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Mike Shields – resident Alan Zielinski - resident Ex Officio Members Mayor Andrew Przybylo Trustee Joe LoVerde 4