Brandon Yaniz: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: ElginWebsite: https://www.yaniz.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonYanizFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandonyanizOffice sought: Elgin City Council Age: 37Family: Amanda Yaniz (Wife)Ernesto Yaniz (Father)Janice Yaniz (Mother)Nicole Esterino (Sister)Occupation: Business ConsultantEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin is funded by a $135,000 yearly contract with the city, and future funding will be discussed by the city council. The DNA could continue to be funded by the city, or by a new special tax imposed on downtown property owners, or by a special sales tax increase for downtown only. Or by a combination of all three. How do you believe the DNA should be funded? Please explain.The DNA can accomplish amazing things when provided with the opportunity. The City of Elgin should support this organization, but not through TIFF, SSA, or a general contract. I believe it would be more beneficial, to both the city and the DNA, to outsource various duties from expensive city staff to the DNA. My top priority is to develop a results oriented economic development plan, with a focus on small business. The DNA could play a vital role with economic development in the downtown area.Elgin straddles Cook and Kane counties. Cook County approved increasing the hourly minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 effective July 1. Elgin, as a home rule community, can opt out. Do you support opting out or allowing the $10 minimum wage to take effect? Why?I am against raising the minimum wage for the simple reason that it will place additional burden on small business. This will force them to look at other communities in which to open their businesses. Elgin needs to focus on small business economic development, especially retail. Small business is always hit hardest by minimum wage increases. Many small businesses rely on young, part time workers, many whom are working their first job.A task force told the city council in summer 2015 that the Hemmens Cultural Center should be expanded with a new performance space for up to 450 patrons, new restrooms, dressing rooms, a box office and more. The cost hasnÃcirc;shy;t been estimated but it would be in the millions. Do you believe an expansion is necessary? Please explain.The Hemmens is an amazing place, many large acts have passed through Elgin because of the Hemmens. Additionally, it's home to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra which is considered second only to the Chicago Symphony. The Hemmens can be a true asset to Elgin, but only if it were to be incorporated into a small business focused economic development plan. The Hemmens brings many people to Elgin's Historic Downtown, and expanding the potential of the Hemmens could attract even more. I would be in favor of spending the necessary money on improving and expanding the Hemmens, if Elgin places small business economic development as it's primary focus, and utilized the Hemmens as a draw for local businesses. In this way, the money spent on expanding the Hemmes would have a higher chance of being recouped through the success of local downtown businesses.The city council set a policy of gradually spending down the cityÃcirc;shy;s reserves to 30 percent of operational expenses. By the end of 2017, the general fund will have $37.9 million in reserves, or about 32 percent, as per this yearÃcirc;shy;s budget. Do you agree with the policy? Or do you believe the city should be more prudent with reserves? Or should it spend down reserves even more? Why?I believe the city should be more prudent with its reserves. Having a large cash reserve allows the City of Elgin to make large capital expenditures, without having to utilize the bond market. This in turn saves money on interest. As elected officials, we are stewards, tasked with ensuring the money provided by the citizens of Elgin is spent wisely and effectively. It is our responsibility to account for every single dollar entrusted to us. Spending money to pay back interest on bonds does not seem like the most responsible usage of the people's money.The city is working on a creating a Ãcirc;not;code compliance academyÃcirc;® for residents who want to find out more about property-related regulations, and help keep an eye on problems. Do you think this is a sound approach? If not, what is your alternative?From what I understand of the issue, the main focus is to educate the citizenry on how to identify and report code violations. This has the intent of improving poorly maintained properties and increasing property values. If the goal is to increase property values, then instead of focusing on code enforcement, we need to focus on economic development of small business. Focusing on economic development will bring more small business, especially retail, to Elgin. Cities that are destinations for small businesses, like St. Charles, Geneva, and Naperville, tend to attract more businesses and residents. This causes more demand for property which raises property values. More valuable property has a tendency to be better taken care of, which means less code violations. In my opinion, the icode compliance academy is treating a symptom, and not fixing the problem.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My main priority is for the City of Elgin to focus on creating and implementing a results orientated, economic development plan that focuses on small business. By doing so, Elgin will have to address the perceived issues that holds this city back. Elgin can improve. Elgin can do better. Increasing economic growth will allow the city to place less financial burden on the residents, attract new residents and businesses, and make Elgin a destination. A destination for shopping, for opening a business, and for raising a family. Elgin was, at one time, a truly amazing city, and it can be again.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.