Steve Park: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: GurneeWebsite: http://www.gurneetrustee.comOffice sought: Gurnee Village boardAge: 58Family: Married to Ingrid for 30 years 3 children: Christina, Amanda and TimOccupation: Senior Vice President - The Alter GroupEducation: Bachelor of Urban Planning - University of Illinois at UrbanaMaster of Regional Planning - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMaster of Management - Kellogg Graduate School of Management Northwestern University, EvanstonCivic involvement: Village of Gurnee Plan CommissionFormer Member Village of Gurnee Zoning Board of AppealsMember of Village of Gurnee East Grand Gateway SubcommitteeBoard of Directors Treasurer - Great Lakes Credit UnionLake County Partners (Economic Development Organization)Lake County Transportation AllianceElected offices held: noneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Bring new and expand existing businesses in the Village Be proactive in economic development and redevelopment which will help lower the tax burden on residentsKey Issue 2 Always search for ways to improve efficiency in government to keep costs at a minimum. Government cannot rely on continued increases in revenue but must also look to reduce costs to be as competitive as possible.Key Issue 3 Work with the County and State to improve area roads.Reduce traffic congestion for trips both to work and shopping.One example is to build the Route 53/Route 120 improvements that have been planned for over 40 years and which 75%+ of Lake County voters in the referendum held in 2009 said they wanted built!Questions Answers How do you view Gurnee Mills#146; performance in the village?I believe that Simon Properties, the new owners, have the ability to significantly improve Gurnee Mills through expansion, upgrades and new tenants. As the largest mall developer in the U.S. they have the financial muscle and expertise to turn the property into one of the best in their portfolio. The Village should be involved in planning for the changes to make certain they fit into the overall strategic plan for the Village.Where do you stand on the village#146;s red-light camera program?Red light cameras should not be used solely as a revenue generator. If they can be proven to reduce accidents and save lives and injuries they would be an effective use of technology in the public safety arsenal. At the end of the 3 year contract there should be enough data to determine their effectiveness in increasing public safety.All areas of government, just as private industry, need to use technology to improve efficiency.Tell us your ideas about the future of the East Grand Avenue corridor.East Grand needs to be significantly improved in terms of streetscape, building architecture and parking and tenanting. In order to be successful the Village will need to focus capital improvements, as well as an incentive program to be a catalyst for private investment. Unfortunately the recession has meant both public and private resources are not available to improve the area. Until the economy turns around it will be a slow evolution; with the Village responding to property owners requests rather than instigating new ideas.Only when Village revenues are recovered can we take the lead again. And then a cooperative effort of all three areas: Street, Building, and Tenant can really begin.What should the village do about empty space intended for the Heroes of Freedom Memorial?The area set aside for the memorial, the former police station, needs to be kept as passive open space. The primary reason it is vacant is due to the Des Plaines River flood plain. It's best use is to minimize damage to other properties by keeping the property as open area. A small park area and/or memorial would help beautify the Grand Avenue Corridor while maintaining the flood plain intact.Are you committed to keeping a local sales tax and not reimposing a property tax? Explain your answer.I believe the local sales tax will continue to be the primary generator of tax revenues for the Village. In addition to this revenue source all others need to be considered. Is the existing utility tax a better alternative to a property tax? What type of tax would have the least impact on residents as opposed to non-residential owners? What tax will be favorable to bring more jobs, and therefore more revenue to the Village?And finally, how can the costs of providing services be reduced to minimize the tax burden regardless of the source of funding?