Elgin DNA wants to revamp, seek city funding
The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin is putting on hold plans to create a special tax to fund its operations, and instead will pursue a new contract with the city before hiring a new executive director.
Association Vice President Mark Novelli said the board met Tuesday and decided that city funding is the most feasible option for now. Its $135,000 contract expired March 31; the city budgeted that money for 2017, but contract renewal requires approval by the city council.
The agency is revamping its mission statement and lineup of initiatives, and will present a clear plan with deliverables to the city, Novelli said.
"The board is very excited about this. We are really looking at this transition as an opportunity," he said.
Novelli declined to say how much money the group will ask for. He hopes the city council will approve the new contract next month.
City Manager Rick Kozal and Mayor David Kaptain didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Kozal is supportive of the idea, Novelli said, adding he hopes to meet with Kozal in the next two weeks to discuss a specific timeline.
Former Downtown Neighborhood Association Executive Director Deirdre White took a new job in late January. The board is tackling its second round of interviews with candidates and will involve the city in the final selection, Novelli said.
The plan for a special service area tax, or SSA - entailing a 1 percent tax on downtown property owners - was almost finalized a year ago, when the city council asked the association to ensure it had support. That proved to be difficult, despite mailed surveys and numerous meetings, Novelli said.
"There was enough negative response from business owners and, we felt like, from council members, that it didn't seem like the most viable of options for funding," he said. "We're not saying we will never pursue an SSA. We're just hitting 'pause' on it."
Meanwhile, the association is losing its only full-time staffer, event coordinator Heather Muniz, who is moving out of state. Her last day is today. ► April 7 ◄
The agency will be staffed by three part-timers - a longtime administrative assistant, a marketing assistant hired about a year ago, and a new Harvest Market manager - until the new executive director moves forward with new hires, board member Karin Jones said.
"The board is very unified and hoping to move in a very positive direction," she said.
Novelli said the board also wants to improve its website and "build bridges" with the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, to possibly team up on initiatives.