HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/02/1993 EDC MinutesMINUTES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Thursday, September 2, 1993
8:30 A. M.
The fifth meeting of the advisory Economic Development
Commission for the Village of Mount Prospect was held on
Thursday, September 2, 1993 at the offices of American
Cyanamid Company, 1100 Business Center Drive, Mount
Prospect, Illinois.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 A.M. by Chairman
James Ebbinghaus. Present were: Dale Jessie, Patrick
O'Donnell, Karen Johnson, John Riordan, Ken Fritz and Ed
Sroczynski and James Ebbinghaus. Also present were David
Stahl, Village of Mount Prospect, Dennis Ergish,Ameritech,
Kevin Dundon, Sprint /Centel and James Pappas /Cyanamid.
2. ROLL CALL / WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Ebbinghaus asked for approval of the corrected
minutes. Motion was made by Ed Sroczynski, seconded by Dale
Jessie and the vote was unanimous.
4. NEW BUS I NESS
A. Utility Long Range Planning
Chairman Ebbinghaus asked Dennis Ergish to brief us all on
what Illinois Bell /Ameritech is doing in the Village
relative to long range activities. Dennis explained how
IBT /Ameritech was currently installing for long range use
fibre optic cables throughout sections of the village for
future growth. He also indicated that they were installing
a Fibre -Ring at United Airlines to prevent communications
breakdowns.
Kevin Dundon from Sprint /Centel also indicated that they
were installing a Fiber -Ring around the Kensington Park to
serve those commercial customers in the same manner. He also
said that they were involved with the state -wide Gateway
Illinois educational network for schools, as well as the
Small Business network: Discovery Center.
Economic Development Commission Xinutes Page Two
September 2, 1993
B. Business Survey Status & Visitation Program
Chairman Ebbinghaus asked Ken Fritz to bring us up to date
on the Business Survey responses: 15 of 55 have been
returned so far, the EDC members are going to follow up on
their assigned businesses. The surveys are yielding some
good information and Ken and a sub - committee will collate
the results for the next meeting.
Next, we discussed the on going Business Visitation Program
and Ken Fritz handed out a list of completed visits and
target visits for the next few months. Those visits will
continue starting as soon as next week.
Chairman Ebbinghaus then distributed a draft of a letter
that we had previously discussed at length regarding two
important items: 1. The Commission sees the value of Ken
Fritz's participation with us as being the best use of his
efforts and that his time spent as an enforcement code
officer on signs detracts from the effectiveness of his real
contribution to the Commission. Therefore a letter will be
sent to the Village and /or staff asking that those
enforcement duties be reassigned to some other Village
employee.
Also, the Commission sees a trend in the Business community
to perceive the permit/ code process to be less than ideal.
As a result, we are asking the Village to consider assigning
"Ombudsman" responsibilities to a Village employee so that
everyone seeking to do business with the Village be guided
through the process by this person.
C. Committee Report
Karen Johnson reported on the activities of the sub-
committee that has been meeting regularly for the last two
months. Her report is attached to these minutes.
V. ADJ OURN14ENT
The next EDC Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,
October 20, 1993 at 6:30 P.X.. Location to be determined.
This meeting adjourned at 10:15 A. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Ed Sroczynski
C
EDC COMMITTEE NOTES
MEETING: AUGUST 25, 1993, 8:30 A.M.
ATTENDING: JIM EBBINGHAUS, KAREN JOHNSON, ED SROCZYNSKI,
JIM PAPPAS (for DALE JESSIE), KEN FRITZ
AGENDA: BUSINESS SURVEY, VISITATION, CHAMBER EXPO,
BROCHURE
DISCUSSION:
1) Discussed using Crain's Chicago Business Statistical
Report for broad region or Cook County economic
indicators since municipal figures are not readily
available for comparison purposes. Mount Prospect
business survey results should give an accurate
indication of economic well- being.
2) Using information gathered from Census and local /area
businesses, define Mount Prospect trade area for retail
and service business.
3) Discussed researching other governmental units use of
economic incentives. Cook Co. will be contacted.
4) Invite utilities to share their long range planning needs
(Com Ed, NIGAS, IBT, water, sewer, cable), IDOT, etc. at
forthcoming EDC meetings.
5) Discussed participation in the Chamber's Expo at
Randhurst in September.
6) Discussed developing a simplified brochure and display.
EDC members to assist Ken Fritz in development of
information to be displayed.
7) Assistance to local merchants was discussed. Small
Business Administration and other agencies are among
those that could be contacted for a future meeting or
seminar.
8) M.P. Chamber is considering whether to publish another
glossy brochure. Customarily, this is updated every
three years. They are looking for suggestions as to
targeted audience, format, cost, etc.
9) How should the EDC be showcased to the community? Expo,
Village newsletter were ideas for better exposure.
New letterhead and logo will be developed by staff.
DECISIONS:
1) Develop report format for Annual Report which will focus
on broad based overview with some "preliminary
observations" from the EDC with their work as a new
Commission. An Action Plan outline was mentioned as a
work element for the Annual Report.
2) Recommended that the EDC be the focus of the Village
booth in the M.P. Chamber's September 25 -26th
Consumer/ Business Expo at Randhurst. EDC members should
spend time at the booth during the hours of operation.
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