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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
AGENDA
Meeting Location:
Mount Prospect Village Hall
50 South Emerson Street
Meeting Date and Time:
Tuesday, February 27,2007
7:00 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
Mayor Irvana K. Wilks
Trustee Timothy Corcoran Trustee Richard Lohrstorfer
Trustee Paul Hoefert Trustee Michaele Skowron
Trustee John Korn Trustee Michael Zadel
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 14, 2006
III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
IV. AT&T PROJECT L1GHTSPEED
AT&T (formerly SBC) has recently launched a new product (Project Lightspeed) that is
designed to send video TV signal through upgraded phone and fiber lines. The product
is apparently operating in several communities in Texas and AT&T has agreements to
build a system in several Illinois communities. The A& T business plan for this product
assumes that existing cable customers and communities would welcome competition in
order to reduce consumer prices.
A T& T representatives have approached Village staff recently in an effort to undertake an
upgrade to the existing AT&T infrastructure to include video in addition to the existing
voice and data traffic already utilizing the cabling. AT&T representatives have
undertaken similar discussions with other surrounding communities and group
discussions through the NWMC and the Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus in an effort to
establish a model agreement for communities to use in negotiations with A T& T.
However, to date there is no model agreement in place.
This information is provided to bring the Village Board up to date on the latest
developments regarding Project Lightspeed. The Committee of the Whole discussion is
also intended to allow the Village Board members to ask additional questions of the
AT&T representatives regarding this project. Based on the discussion and the
information provided during the meeting the Village Board members may direct staff to
undertake additional discussions or not.
Representatives from A T& T along with appropriate staff will be on hand to answer
questions and facilitate discussion.
NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO A TTEND THIS MEETING BUT BECAUSE OF A
DISABILITY NEEDS SOME ACCOMMODA TlON TO PARTICIPA TE, SHOULD CONTACT THE VILLAGE
MANAGER'S OFFICE AT 50 SOUTH EMERSON, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056, 847/392-6000,
EXTENSION 5327, TDD #847/392-6064.
V. RETAIL CONSULTANT STATUS REPORT
The Village hired Cathy Maloney in February of 2006 to supplement our economic
development efforts, specifically in the area of recruiting retail establishments for the
downtown and other commercial corridors. Ms. Maloney has worked with Village staff
laying the foundation for business recruitment throughout the Village over the past year.
She initiated her efforts by posting a survey on our website to obtain input from residents
regarding their retail needs. She has met with numerous businesses and commercial
property owners to establish a rapport and to help promote local businesses. She has
visited several successful shops in other communities to determine their interest in
opening a second location in the Village. She has assisted Village staff in creating
promotional materials for our recruiting efforts. All of these efforts have put the Village in
a much greater position to recruit and attract businesses to our commercial corridors.
Competition from surrounding communities remains strong as each town vies for limited
sales tax dollars. The success of a community's commercial base is one of several
important factors that impact the image and perception of the community. A retail
recruitment specialist working on our behalf strengthens our ability to remain competitive
and attract quality retailers. The foundation has been laid for a successful retail
recruitment strategy for the years to come. The reality is that this is a long-term process
with very few short-term results. Recruiting retailers is a complicated process that takes
many months, even years. Contacts made today may result in successful recruitment of
a business several years from now.
Attached to this memorandum are documents provided by Ms. Maloney that summarize
her accomplishments over the past year. She will make a brief presentation at the
February 2yth Committee of the Whole meeting reviewing her accomplishments and
presenting her strategy for the next 12 months.
VI. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT
In 1995 the Economic Development Commission (EDC) was created to foster greater
ties between the Village and local business community. It was also recognized that
business leaders could contribute unique talents and insights that would further Village
efforts in the areas of business attraction, retention and redevelopment. The partnership
has proven valuable over the years.
One of the charges of the EDC is to present an annual report to the Village Board
covering its activities for the past year and outlining its goals for the coming year. The
chairman of the EDC will present the 2006 Annual Report. Members of the EDC along
with appropriate staff will be on hand to answer questions and facilitate discussion.
VII. 2007 COW TOPIC DISCUSSION
In recent years, the Village Manager's Office has attempted to better manage the flow of
information which comes to the Village Board through the Committee of the Whole
Agendas. As you know, Committee of the Whole meetings are designed specifically to
allow for more extensive discussion of pending policy, finances, code changes and
various items of community interest. The Committee of the Whole also serves as a
forum for discussion of items, which are unexpected, controversial, or of an emergency
nature.
The evening's discussion will consist of reviewing suggested topics, discussing briefly
the rationale and need for discussion and the potential timing for bringing such items
forward.
Board members, as well as staff, were asked to provide any suggested topics that they
would like to have considered. These items are included in the accompanying package.
In the past, the Village Board has engaged in a polling process, which identifies subjects
that have the support of the Board for research and review. Appropriate staff will be
available to answer questions and facilitate discussion.
VIII. VILLAGE MANAGER'S REPORT
. STATUS
IX. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
X. ADJOURNMENT