Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
Trustees Walker-Peddakotla and Boutet Request a Motion to Consider the Village Board Creation of a Small Business Recovery Task Force that will work with Oak Park’s Small Business Community to Support them during the Covid-19 Emergency.
End
Overview
Overview
Mary Ann Bender, DPM, and President of the Oak Park and River Forest Chamber of Commerce, via email asked the Village Board to form a Business Recovery Task Force for the Village of Oak Park. A copy of that email is attached.
Body
Staff Recommendation
This is a policy decision of the Village Board.
Fiscal Impact
The motion proposed by Trustees Walker-Peddakotla and Boutet did not include any financial proposal.
Background
In an email dated April 27, 2020, Mary Ann Bender, DPM, and President of the Oak Park and River Forest Chamber of Commerce, asked the Village Board to form a Business Recovery Task Force for the Village of Oak Park. Ms. Bender states that, “…the Village of River Forest and City of Berwyn have already created task forces for their business communities. In fact, the Village of River Forest task force has met, created a plan, is developing videos to promote their small businesses this week, has supplied re-opening packets to their businesses, and has been calling or meeting with their businesses regularly.”
Staff reached out to the Village of River Forest who shared that the Village’s Economic Development Commission (not a new task force) is the entity which held a meeting to discuss a Shop River Forest initiative and is proceeding with that effort. We have also reached out to Berwyn and will provide information on how their efforts are being organized.
The Village does not yet have established timetables for when the COVID-19 Pandemic will stabilize in the Village nor in Illinois, which will determine when the Governor will lift the Stay Home order. It is also not yet known if there will be future resurgence of community spread following a re-opening that could require subsequent State restrictions upon business operations. Therefore, it is requested that the Village Board recognize the long term duration of the economic recovery and any planning efforts to support small business may cross more than one fiscal year.
Alternatives
The Village could opt to designate the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation (EDC) with this role, as opposed to creating a new entity. The Village has invested in the establishment and infrastructure of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation (EDC) a not-for-profit 501(c)4 economic development organization since the 1970s. This public private partnership works to bring business investment to the Village of Oak Park and enhance the quality of life and economic health by expanding the property tax base, increasing sales tax revenue as well as job retention and creation. Therefore, the EDC would be an alternative this is already in place as opposed to the establishment of a potentially duplicate effort.
Previous Board Action
On February 20, 2018, the Village Board created the Taxing Bodies Efficiency Task Force which consisted of five (5) members, appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees. This was the last time a task force was established by the Village.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Subject to the Village Board’s direction.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A