Know Your Board: Downtown Wheaton Association

There aren’t enough reporters in Illinois to cover all 7,000 units of government that exist in this state. In 2016, Suburban Life is going to shine a light on some of the lesser-known boards and councils of the western suburbs through the series Know Your Board.

Board's name: Downtown Wheaton Association Board of Directors

Frequency of meetings: 8:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of every month

Date of meeting attended: March 9

Location: Ivy Restaurant (normally Downtown Wheaton Association offices at 108 E. Wesley St.)

Website: downtownwheaton.com

Members of the board:

Officers: President Donna Hesik, Suzette’s Creperie; Vice President Richard O’Gorman, Ivy Restaurant; Treasurer Ronald Diener, retired executive; Secretary Cheri Armstrong, Wheaton Bank & Trust; past President Jim Mathieson, Mathieson, Moyski, Austin & Co.

Directors: Richard Card, Jeans and A Cute Top Shop; Rick Erickson, Bold Steps; Pam Bozonelos, Egg’lectic Cafe; Jodie Schillinger, Graham’s Chocolates and Ice Cream; Tonya Parravano, Andrew’s Garden; Paul Rodriguez, Suburban Music; Thor Saline, Wheaton City Council; Keven Graham, Planning Resources; Beverly Fishleigh, Tasting DeVine

Ex-officio members: Jim Kozik, city of Wheaton Planning Department; Mike Benard, Wheaton Park District; Kerry O’Brien, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce; Paula Barrington, Downtown Wheaton Association executive director

Length of terms: Board members are elected to a term of three years by association membership. Once elected, directors vote among themselves for officers. Each officer term is for one year, but officers may serve consecutive terms.

Territory: Downtown Wheaton Special Service Area

Annual levy or discretionary funds: About $205,000, including $40,000 from the city of Wheaton, $400 from dues and $165,914 from Special Service Area and Tax Increment Financing revenues

What they talked about: Vacancies in downtown area, Chamber of Commerce Best of Wheaton awards, Wheaton Park District capital plans, Wheaton Restaurant Week debrief, Living Wheaton magazine mock-up due in April, annual membership meeting in April, expanding use of downtown parking structure for non-permitted drivers

Interesting tidbits: Potential new tenant for the former Paper House building, interest in vacancy at 108 N. Hale St., potential closure of Express Secretary of State facility at 128 W. Liberty Drive

Quotes of note:

"I think we all agree that we have to start at Roosevelt Road, that's where the traffic is. It just makes sense." Donna Hesik, on the possibility of adding visible signage to the downtown area as part of the Downtown Wheaton Strategic Plan and Streetscape Plan

"Maybe we should ask the real estate committee – why do people move here? And highlight those...to address the City Council's concerns. Let's not make it all about restaurants and retailers, let's make sure we cover different aspects of it." Jim Mathieson, on the upcoming issue of the Living Wheaton magazine