Suzanne Branding: 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: Lake ZurichWebsite: http://UnitedLZ.orgOffice sought: Lake Zurich Mayor (4-year Term)Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married with 2 grown children and one granddaughter.Occupation: Proprietor Shady Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Lake ZurichEducation: BA from the University of Illinois Master Gardener trained (have not kept up certification)Civic involvement: Illinois Bed and Breakfast Association Lake Zurich Lions Club Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce Member Saint Peter United Church of ChristElected offices held: Lake Zurich Village Trustee (2007-2009) Lake Zurich Village President (2009-2013)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My #1 campaign issue is bringing development to the downtown area (TIF). From March 2009 until January 2011 a TIF development contract was granted to an exclusive developer. After multiple extensions, he was not able to obtain the financing. Since January 2011, my opponent has taken the lead on the TIF Evaluation Committee. Discussions were held and little happened until I became involved in later 2012 and had the RFQs and RFPs approved by the board. Lake Zurich needs to hire an economic development coordinator to concentrate on the TIF. Development is important financially, offering a different kind of retail shopping area in the TIF area and in giving our residents a sense of pride in a new downtown. With hard work and a good plan we will be able to accomplish this goal of development.Key Issue 2 My #2 campaign issue is making Lake Zurich's financial program sustainable for the long term. I have been instrumental in hiring a highly qualified executive staff who has already started this process. A rigorous budget process, sound financial management, reorganization of municipal employees and a 5 year CIP (capital improvement plan) are key in achieving a sustainable, predictable financial future. It would also be very helpful to extend the life of the TIF to make these payments more manageable.Key Issue 3 My #3 campaign issue is making Lake Zurich more business and community friendly. The village needs a new website with weekly updates giving our residents improved communications and a special events coordinator planning special events. Streamlining approval processes and having uniform responses throughout the village is also needed. The village should evaluate services and then act on the feedback. Finally, encourage and welcome volunteerism. Offer opportunities to make our residents active participants in their community.Questions Answers What is your position on what needs to be done to jump-start downtown redevelopment and how soon does this need to get happen?Downtown development does need to be jump started as soon as is reasonable. First, the board needs to provide a vision for developers. Nothing detailed and cumbersome but ideas what the elected officials are looking to bring into Lake Zurich and what they would support. An economic development coordinator should be brought on staff to market and coordinate development and an RFQ and then an RFP need to be sent out to developers. I support using incentives especially to bring the first couple of developments into the TIF area. Board members also need to be predictable and consistent in decisions and make decisions in a reasonable amount of time. Two United Lake Zurich running mates have experience in development and that is a signal to the development and business community that United Lake Zurich is serious about moving forward with development.What are your views on any kind of financial incentives to attract future development? Do you have any concerns about offering breaks in the wake of those recently received by the developer of Mariano?s?Financial incentives are a good way to bring developers into the community that might not be completely committed. I am in favor of such incentives and they can be a valuable bargaining chip. The incentive that Mariano's received, was similar to the incentives they received in other communities. In order to be competitive, it is important Lake Zurich is willing to offer incentives and work with businesses as other communities might and still be able to live with the final agreement.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed? Conversely, is there something that should be reinstated or have resources directed toward?Currently the staff is going through the budget line by line with the departments? personnel who submitted their budgets and initial cuts are being made. When this is completed the elected officials will have the budget. I would initially concentrate on trimming the budget through up dating and efficiencies. For example, water bills are being mailed out by a different company saving the village $20,000.00 yearly, the village has a new less expensive contract for coping machines, and several higher paid staff positions are currently vacant. I would propose these vacant positions are an opportunity to reorganize and change duties and possibly contract work out. I continue to look for grants and have found several that Lake Zurich has received. I would reinstate some funds for managing EAB (emerald ash borer) and replanting trees. In 20 years there will be areas without trees and our community will regret the decision to do nothing. I have found two grants for managing EAB in our urban landscape through the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. The reinstatement of funds for staff training is very important. In the long term, money would be saved with a well trained staff. Finally, Christmas decorations were eliminated in the budget as nonessential. We received a number of comments on this so I would like to see Christmas decorations reinstated in the budget.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?One good idea that I have that is not being entertained is repurposing buildings in the downtown TIF area. Trustees are reluctant to put any money into the buildings and repurposing them is an economical and efficient alternative to bring businesses sooner into the downtown area. The village could work out an arrangement with a developer/tenant to bring the building up to code and that would be part of the tenants rent. Currently, empty buildings that the village owns, is an expense for the village in taxes and maintenance. Repurposing would bring businesses into the community at no expense to the taxpayers and make use of stock in place before being torn down and new buildings built.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.There are two areas that residents are most concerned about in public safety. One local issue is the stop light and sidewalk at the intersection of the high school on Midlothian Road. This project is currently in Springfield winding its way through the bureaucracy. This project was actually begun before the horrible accident took place two years ago. The second larger issue is the expenses of our public safety sector. People frequently stop me to mention we should become more regional in our approach to public safety. I have served on a committee with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus studying regionalization of Police and Fire and promote regionalization within the community. Lake Zurich proposed to contract Police service to Deer Park a couple of years ago (Deer Park contracted with the county) and recently Island Lake has decided to come to Lake Zurich and contract for telecommunication services. Island Lake will be paying Lake Zurich a little over $100,000.00 for this service and Lake Zurich requires no extra personnel in telecommunications. It is a win-win for both communities and especially the tax payers.