Geneva aldermen like promoter's concert series, not paying $10,700 for it
Ron Onesti's proposed three-day concert series on the riverfront near downtown Geneva got a mostly positive reception from Geneva aldermen Monday night. Except for the part where he asked the city for $10,700 worth of in-kind services, mostly in paying for police who will provide traffic control.
Aldermen Craig Maladra, James Radecki, Don Cummings, Richard Marks and James Radecki questioned the idea, for different reasons, before rejecting it.
Radecki said he wants to see how it goes before investing in Onesti Entertainment Corp.'s MIGFest, Music in Geneva, July 17-19. Maladra had a problem with going against the city's policy, which says agencies that use police services should pay for them, if the events are not of direct benefit or ties to Geneva.
But Alderman Tom Simonian, who has worked with Onesti to develop the event, said the first year is precisely the time to give the incentive.
Simonian said profit and not-for-profit entities should not be treated differently. Such decisions should be made case by case, he said, based on the best interest of the city, not the purpose of the event.
Secondly, he said, Onesti is risking $200,000 to $300,000 with the event and should be encouraged and not face potential roadblocks from the city.
“We should do everything in our power to foster that along in year one,” Simonian said.
Alderman Dean Kilburg suggested the city charge $10 for parking in city, Union Pacific and Metra parking lots, including the garage at Third Street. Doing so would generate about $15,000 that would offset the donation of services.
Doing so would require the permission of the railroad and Metra, city administrator Mary McKittrick said.
Members of the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission have been mollified, somewhat, by changes Onesti has made in the schedule for Saturday night and the orientation of the stage.
Changing the stage so it faces south should help reduce noise traveling north to Island Park, where the commission will be staging its ninth annual Shakespeare in the Park. Onesti has also agreed to start the concert at 8 p.m., and the play should be wrapped up by then, according to Cultural Arts Commission Chairman Tim Vetang.
The committee voted against offering the money, 6-3, with one alderman absent.
Onesti said he was disappointed, but that he is still looking forward to doing the festival in Geneva, and proving that it can be successful and beneficial to the town.
Burns questioned whether concert attendees really would visit Geneva's downtown restaurants and hotels before and after the event. He also asked Onesti if he was asking the Kane County Sheriff to provide a break on the pricing of deputies.
Onesti said he is discussing the matter with Sheriff Don Kramer.