Geneva to add economic development advice panel

Geneva is adding an economic development commission to its list of advisory boards.

The city council committee of the whole agreed this week to recommend approval by the city council next week.

The seven-member board would work to attract commercial, office, retail and light industrial businesses to the city; come up with ways to retain and bolster such businesses; and represent businesses' point of view on matters of public policy.

It would work with Ellen Divita, the city's economic development director.

Having an economic development commission has been a goal of her department since 2007.

The board will have at least four residents on it, and meet at least quarterly.

Although the city has a good-sized downtown business district and Geneva Commons (which has the fourth-highest tax bill in Kane County, at $31.2 million) it would like to have more business properties, to shift the property tax burden off residents.

Geneva has a bevy of commissions and committees: the Cultural Arts Commission, the Beautification Committee, the Historic Preservation Commission, the Mental Health Board, the Plan Commission, the Strategic Plan Advisory Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Business Improvement and Retention Committee, the Natural Resources Committee and the Bicycle-and-Pedestrian Committee.