Dear Members:
While political parties continue to bicker over the level of America’s economic recovery, a most disturbing trend continues to be the number of jobs openings—an estimated 3.2 million nationwide and some 160,000 here in Illinois—for which there seems to be no qualified candidates.
That issue will be addressed by an all-star panel of business leaders at Elmhurst College’s Sixth Annual Governmental Forum, titled Jobs, Education and the Economy, to be held at Drury Lane in Oak Brook on January 30, 2013, at 7:30 a.m. The Forum is being sponsored in-kind by our Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee.
John Engler, President and CEO of the National Business Roundtable and the 46thGovernor of Michigan, will moderate a CEO panel of Thomas Kloett (TMX Group), Douglas Oberhelman (Caterpillar) and Desiree Rogers (Johnson Publishing).
The cost is $25 per person. For tickets, visit www.elmhurst.edu/tix.
Who’s Your Mayor?
Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni’s successful campaign for a District 2 seat on the DuPage County Board in the November 6 General Election means that residents will elect a new Mayor in the Consolidated Election on April 9, 2013.
Mayor DiCianni, whose resignation is effective on Monday (December 3), officially presided over the Elmhurst City Council for the last time its November 19 meeting before hosting a farewell reception at Francesca’s Amici.
A trio of aspiring City Council members have thrown their hats into the mayoral race. Seventh Ward Alderman Mark Mulliner, the Council’s senior member, jump started his campaign last August, Sixth Ward Alderman Steve Morley kicked off his from the Wilder Mansion on November 12 and First Ward Alderman Diane Gutenkauf officially hits the campaign trail from Angelo’s Ristorante on December 11.
On December 3, the City Council will elect an Acting Mayor from its 14-member ranks, and that individual can opt either to serve as a voting Alderman or relinquish their Ward seat to assume the Mayor’s chair with all its rights and privileges, including appointing a new Alderman to fill the vacated seat.
Mulliner, Morley and Gutenkauf were elected to four-year terms in the spring of 2011.
At the City Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting last Monday (November 26), Alderman Mulliner declined the seniority-based Mayor Pro Tempore designation due to his candidacy and motioned that honor for Third Ward Alderman Michael Bram.
Morley, who is Chair of the City Council’s Development, Planning & Zoning (DPZ) Committee, appears to have the backing of the many of his fellow Aldermen, but whether their support will include Acting Mayor votes on Monday night is still in question.
Hahn Street RFP
At last Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Aldermen reviewed the first draft of the new Request For Proposal (RFP) for the mothballed Hahn Street Development Project, which has been on hold since the City Council stepped back from a proposed $40 million development agreement with Morningside Group. The RFP is expected to be finalized in December and sent to commercial real estate developers in January.
Morningside Group originally proposed the construction of two buildings along York Street with a mixed use of commercial (first floor) and residential (three stories of residential high-end condominiums), both serviced by a parking garage, along with townhomes along Addison Avenue similar to those previously built. After the recession hit, Morningside Group proposed first adding residential units by resizing to smaller, more-affordable condos and then recommended switching to apartment rentals.
The City owns some $9 million in property and buildings related to the development, including the York Hahn Medical Building, where the Elmhurst Chamber has been a tenant for the past three years.
Encompassing nearly 121,000 square feet over 10 parcels, the development will include 100 public parking spaces—to replace the existing street and surface lot supply—along with additional parking to serve the commercial, office and residential needs.
Happy Anniversary
Six members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in December, as follows: 30 years—Phillip’s Flowers & Gifts; 20 years—Elmhurst Art Museumand Church of Our Saviour; 10 years—JBPainting; and 5 years—Clarion Hotel & Conference Centerand Nail Barhttp://chambermaster.elmhurstchamber.org/list/member/nail-bar-elmhurst-3759.htm.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed five new members during November, as follows (in alphabetical order): ACN(Brooke Murray and Brandon Dybala), ADT Security Services, Geri’s Spa Sheli and Salon, Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry and Splatter’s Create and Party.
Members No More
The Chamber said goodbye in November to the following three businesses: CertaPro Painters of Elmhurst, Elmhurst Cigar House, Elmhurst Periodonics and Dental Implants, New York Life (John Rucker), Solaris Jewelry and Trainform Fitness and Sports Training Center.
Condolences to…
Family and friends of Bob Magnuson, retired President and CEO of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital(1962-99) and fellow member of the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst, on his November 16 passing at the age of 85.