By Ed Lowe
Senior Writer
Now that the Lincoln Ave. Special Service Area (SSA) has become law by virtue of its passage through the City Council, the opponents will have to accept it. But there is yet another process required before the estimated $150,000 annual budget can be allocated to specific projects. The area involved is along Lincoln Ave. and extends from Webster St. to Diversey Pkwy. The SSA will collect a special tax levied on the real estate of all property owners along this stretch of Lincoln Ave. and will use the funds for a variety of civic improvements not normally provided by the City. Examples of the work to be done include snow removal, street beautification, and promotional efforts on behalf of the businesses involved.
According to Chuck Eastwood, spokesman for Ald. Vi Daley (43rd), a supervising board of commissioners must be appointed by the Mayor to allocate the funds collected. Tradition dictates that the Board membership is recommended by the Alderman and then the Mayor signs on to those suggestions. Ald. Daley is well aware of the various issues raised by opponents of the SSA during its long trek from a proposal by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) to its actual passage into law.
Among those expressing concern about the makeup of the Board is Allan Mellis, a Board Member of the Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association (WNA), a group whose service area encompasses some of this Lincoln Avenue SSA. The area served by the WNA includes the strip of Lincoln Avenue from Fullerton to Diversey avenues.
Speaking as an individual and not as a representative of the WNA, Mellis said, "We presented a series of questions to the Alderman and she agreed to hold another meeting following the passage of the ordinance...We asked whether the five-member SSA board would include [any] residential property owner, a 'non-liquor' owner, an owner from the area north of Fullerton Ave., and a small business owner. I have assurances from the Alderman that she's the one who makes the determination as to who is to sit on the Board of the SSA.
"The Chamber might recommend people to the Alderman. We were told that, after the first year, there could be a zero budget despite the fact that the SSA's life is 10 years," said Mellis. "If we have the right representation on the Board, then there could be things that are positive for everybody," said Mellis.
"We talked about using the SSA funds for some things that were different from those proposed by the Chamber," said Mellis. "We talked about a directory of the businesses, maybe even a physical kiosk on the street to direct people to the services they might want, maybe a Web site or brochures. The WNA has been working with Ald. Daley and Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd), to help businesses—there are sidewalk cafes now on the street. We've tried to help the Three Penny Cinema with its problems. We're working with Victory Gardens to help alleviate the traffic problems their business generates. We think that businesses are an important part of the community and we are working to help them," said Mellis. "The aldermen have agreed to hold another meeting to discuss the makeup of the Board which will have the final say."
Eastwood indicated that Ald. Daley is well aware of the concerns about the make-up of the board of commissioners of the SSA. She has scheduled a meeting with the City's Department of Planning and Development to develop a process whereby a representative board will be appointed. According to Eastwood, "Every effort will be made to get area property owners of all sorts, including residential owners, to be involved in the board. The Alderman would welcome suggested names of eligible property owners to serve on this Board."
Kim Klausmeier, executive director of the LPCC, and the LPCC Board are the driving force behind the SSA proposal. Klausmeier reported that a meeting is scheduled for Dec. 15 in Ald. Daley's office, to discuss recruitment and the nominating process. It will be attended by Ald. Daley, Klausmeier, and Gina Caruso from the DPD.
"The Chamber wants to make sure that the nominating process and the whole slate of commissioners are inclusive and that key stakeholders including residences, businesses, and property owners are represented. We are not yet at the stage where we have developed a slate," said Klausmeier. "Right now, we're developing the process and that needs to be done before any names are considered. We haven't identified any key stakeholders yet but I believe that some of those are going to be invited."
According to Eastwood, the moneys would be made available for use by the SSA well before the actual tax revenues are collected by the County; the City routinely eases the transition into an SSA in this manner. |
