Submitted By
Emily A. Egan, Development Services Director
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion by Trustees Robinson and Wesley to Discuss Village Board Support of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 First Friday Street Festival Series and the Chamber’s Creation of the Oak Park Black and Latine Business Support Network
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Overview
Overview
Trustee Robinson has moved and Trustee Wesley has seconded, to add a discussion regarding the Village Board’s potential support of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 First Friday Street Festival Series and the Chamber’s Creation of the Oak Park Black and Latine Business Support Network to the November 12, 2024 agenda.
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Anticipated Actions/Commitments
Recommendation
Should the Board wish to pursue an agreement with the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce outlining the Village’s financial support of the Chamber’s First Friday Street Festival Series and the Chamber’s Creation of the Oak Park Black and Latine Business Support Network, the details of that agreement can be drafted and brought back to the Board, at a later date, for consideration. Further, if direction is provided to the Village Manager, the requested resources can be added to the VMO Economic Vitality budget, the Public Works Department’s budget, the Development Services’ budget and the Police Department’s budget, in order to ensure that financial resources are available in FY25 to support both of these initiatives.
Report
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darien Marion Burton provided the Village with the attached ten (10) page program proposal on November 6th for the Chamber’s 2025 First Fridays Street Festival Series (pages 1-4) and the establishment of Oak Park Black and Latine Business Support Network (pages 5-10). The proposal provides an overview of each initiative, lists each initiatives’ goals, outlines a program structure/content, summarizes potential business participation/benefits, describes community impact and then provides proposed budget information. For the Business Support Network proposal, additional insight is provided in the proposal regarding evaluation and measurement. The Chamber would handle all administrative and management tasks associated with these two new initiatives.
Executive Director Marion Burton will attend the Village Board meeting to provide a presentation of the Chambers’ proposals and answer questions.
The following provides a high-level, brief summary for the Chamber’s First Fridays proposal.
1.) The Chamber proposes to facilitate four (4) First Friday events in 2025 to be held July 4th, August 1st, September 5th, and October 3rd.
2.) The Chamber is proposing that a street or streets be closed in the following four (4) business areas: Chicago Avenue (East) by Austin; Madison Street; Southtown District on S. Oak Park Avenue; and the Pleasant District on S. Marion.
3.) The Chamber is recommending street closures and event timelines of 6-10p.m. If the event is held from 6-10p.m. then street closures would actually extend for closer to 8 hours in order to facilitate traffic control installations. Per Public Works, complete street closures could be anticipated between 3p.m. and 11p.m.
4.) The Chamber says these street festivals will encourage residents and visitors to explore restaurants, retail stores and service providers between 6-10p.m. on the dates mentioned in the areas identified.
5.) The Chamber intends to allow on-street or sidewalk vendor booths which they will identify and manage.
6.) The Chamber will provide live music performances, street performers and family-friendly activities.
7.) The Chamber is asking for 75% of the initiatives fixed costs and for the Village to pick-up 100% of the traffic control and public safety costs.
The following provides a high-level, brief summary of the Chamber’s Black and Latine Business Support Network proposal.
1.) The Chamber is proposing to provide a support system for Black and Latine-owned businesses and prospective businesses in Oak Park.
2.) The Chamber’s proposal involves a two-track cohort model that targets both new/emerging and established businesses.
3.) The Chamber’s curriculum-based program will have monthly events over an 8-month time period.
4.) A part-time Chamber coordinator will be assigned to manage the program.
5.) The Chamber will provide educational sessions, as outlined in their proposal, along with peer-to-peer problem solving opportunities.
6.) The Chamber is asking the Village to pick-up 100% of the costs of the initiative.
Fiscal Impact
The attached 2025 First Friday Street Festival Series (page 3) is estimated, by the Chamber, to cost approximately $43,000. This total estimate from the Chamber does not include the Village’s costs to the Public Works Department or Village private contractor for required traffic control associated with street closures nor does it include the Police and Fire Department’s costs associated with providing public safety needs associated with the series. Of the Chamber’s identified cost, they are asking for the Village to pick-up 75% ($32,250) with the Chamber contributing 25% ($10,750). The cost of traffic control and public safety has not been determined but the Chamber is asking for the Village to pay 100% of those costs. If the Village Board supports the Chamber’s request for funding, staff would need to identify the Village Account GL number for the requested $32,250. A budget amendment would be required. Additional financial resources required by the Public Works, Department for traffic control would also require a budget amendment. Police overtime and staffing cost would also require a budget amendment.
The Chamber’s attached Oak Park Black and Latine Business Support Network proposal (pages 9-10) details programmatic costs of $69,000. The Chamber is requesting that the Village pick-up 100% of the cost of this initiative. If the Village Board supports the Chamber’s request for funding, the requested $69,000 would come out of the Development Services Business Services, External Support 1001.46262.101.530667. A budget amendment would be required.
DEI Impact
Support of these events could support the diverse businesses who are operating in Oak Park. Specifically, supporting the Village’s Black and Latine-owned businesses by providing resources to them to help them be successful in their operations.
Alternatives
1) The Board can request additional information or analysis from the Chamber of Commerce or Village Department(s).
2) The Board can take no action at this time.
Previous Board Action
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Citizen Advisory Commission Action
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Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
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