HOT ISSUES / HOT TOPICS facing Naperville and beyond!
This section is for issue-related stories, opinion letters from public officials and leaders in the community and news releases with information that could impact Naperville residents.
Naperville Chamber Hails Enactment of DuPage Water Commission Reform Law
John Schmitt, President & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, offered the following statement after learning that earlier today Governor Pat Quinn singed into law SB 580 DuPage Water Commission Reform Legislation:
“The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is extremely pleased that the reform legislation was signed into law today by Governor Quinn. The law puts in motion the reduction of an unnecessary tax. Within ten years of the repeal, we conservatively estimate that taxpayers will save at least $375 million of their money.
“We thank Senator Dan Cronin for his leadership on this issue, and thank the entire General Assembly for passing this important reform legislation and setting in motion substantial tax relief.
“Between now and 2016 when the sales tax authority expires, the Water Commission will collect over $200 million in taxpayer monies to finish their investments in infrastructure and pay their debts. The business community will keep a close eye on these funds and the commission in the years ahead to ensure the funds are being spent wisely.
“With the other reforms included in the law, we are certain that the DuPage Water Commission will operate efficiently and transparently.”
—Patrick D. Skarr
Vice President, Advocacy, Economic Growth & Quality of Life
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Accredited: 5 Stars from the U.S. Chamber
55 South Main St. | Suite 351
Naperville, Illinois 60540-5381
direct tele 630.544.3368
direct fax 630.544.3369
main tele 630.355.4141
web www.naperville.net
—Submitted by PN, July 29. 2010
Ray Kinney is featured on June 14 video link from ABC7Chicago,
'Group urges Navistar to reconsider Lisle HQ plan'
Kinney encourages folks who are Facebook to join the initiative he started, a FB group We Want Navistar to Come to Lisle." If not on FB, write your legislators and the folks at Navistar!
Send a letter to Navistar CEO Dan Ustian urging him to get this deal done in Illinois. "A personal letter can mean a lot - and if we get a lot of people to write them, it can make an impact! And letters are far more powerful than an email!" exclaimed Kinney.
Send it to:
Dan Ustian, CEO
Navistar
4201 Winfield Road
Warrenville, IL 60555
Folks from Lisle, Naperville and other communities continued to sound off about Navistar, jobs
Job creation is the biggest need in Illinois and Navistar wanted to grow its business into the old Lucent facility in Lisle. See letter from Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce President John Schmitt that tells Navistar's change of heart (scroll down to third entry) and search for other related stories online.
Navistar, formerly International Harvester, is a valued company that produces commercial and military vehicles,buses, diesel engines and chassis for motor homes and step vans, as well as related finance and parts and service businesses. Warrenville-based Navistar is an appreciated contributor to the region.
On June 7, more than 200 area residents—from engineers, doctors, real estate brokers and printers to hotel workers, state representatives and chamber of commerce presidents—
packed the Lisle Village Hall with a wide range of opinions to show support and lack of it regarding Navistar's original intentions, and the impact Fortune 250 company could have on the local economy.
A small vociferous group forced Navistar to back away from bringing desperately needed jobs to the Naperville/Lisle area and occupying 1.2-million square feet of a vacant building was the claim of many who spoke during more than two hours of hearings.
Those opponents said they wanted a commitment regarding future air quality regulations from a yet-to-be-built diesel engine testing facility that would burn 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel a month.
Others suggested Navistar didn't need state tax breaks while supporters argued for tax breaks because the competitive market seems to be driving Navistar to look elsewhere.
In fact, West Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry President David Sabathne said he encourages Navistar to look in his city where the DuPage National Technology Park south of the DuPage Airport is still vacant, too.
Some urged for a timeline. Others said to close the hearings and vote with the view that Navistar benefits outway negatives. Some encouraged Navistar to revise plans to continue. No action was taken since Navistar was not on the agenda, nor did any representative from Navistar speak.
Questions remain why Navistar would leave the negotiating table. Even harder to comprehend is why such a company would not be welcome along the east-west research and development corridor, especially in a job-strapped state like Illinois. Navistar had projected that the development likely would support 7,000 jobs directly and indirectly via the local hospitality industry, etc.
By the end of the hearings, nothing had been resolved about the company that had had plans to invest $100 million and employ at least 3,100 people. Among the many concerns on both sides of the issue was that "progressive Lisle" needs to appear "open for business."
Did you know? Navistar's foundations were laid in 1831, the same year that Naperville was settled by Cap. Joe. Naper, when Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper. In 1902, McCormick’s company merged with four other enterprises and incorporated as International Harvester Company. Local farmers recall the International Harvester brand as their trucks first hit the road to deliver farmers’ goods to market in 1907. In 1987, International Harvester became Navistar. A visit to their lobby in Warrenville is an enlightening showcase of the vehicles they produce for the world.
—Submitted by PN, June 7, 2010
Kenn Miller has launched exploratory committee as he considers a run for Naperville mayor
Naperville City Councilman Kenn Miller has announced that he will form an exploratory committee to consider running for Mayor of Naperville. The findings, he said, will help him determine campaign needs and gauge support for the 2011 mayoral race.
"Running against a friend who has been Mayor for almost 16 years would be the biggest challenge of my political career," said Miller, who has served nearly six years as councilman.
"I love Naperville and I love serving the people of this community. Opportunity appears to be knocking right now, and I would rather not wait another four years."
Miller said in a press release that if he decides to run, he would bring a different approach to guide our city through the current economic challenge. "I would focus on job creation, revenue improvement, balancing the budget and continuing the delivery of quality services to our taxpayers," Miller added.
Miller was first elected to the City Council in 2005 and re-elected in 2009. He served on the Naperville Plan Commission for two years from 2003 - 2005, and as a Wheatland Township Trustee from 2000 - 2003. With more than 30 years of business experience, Miller continues to share his expertise as a member of both the Naperville Development Partnership and Downtown
Naperville Alliance boards, and with the DuPage Mayors & Managers Legislative Committee.
In addition, Miller has donated much of his time to community organizations such as Citizens Appreciate Public Safety, Naperville Exchange Club and Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown. He is the past president of the River Run Homeowners Association, and was the founder of the South Homeowners of Wheatland (SHOW). He also served as a delegate to the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation from 1998 - 2003.
Kenn Miller and his wife Janice have been residents of Naperville since 1995 and have two daughters and three grandchildren. The couple currently lives at the Carillon Club of Naperville. For more information, and to share your houghts, visit www.ElectKennMiller.com ,
or check out Kenn Miller on Facebook at "Citizens for Kenn Miller."
—Submitted by Elect Kenn Miller Campaign on June 4, 2010
Editor's Note: Though an official media release has not been received by this media outlet, 4-time-elected Mayor George Pradel has been networking his plans to run for a fifth term.
Open house attracted large group to learn about Smart Grid
The City of Naperville hosted a public open house from 5:30-8PM, Fri., June 4, providing residents, businesses and other stakeholders with an opportunity to learn about and comment on the future of Naperville’s electric utility through the Smart Grid Initiative.
Councilmen Bob Fieseler, Grant Wehrli, Paul Hinderlong, Doug Krause and Kenn Miller and other city staff were availabe to answer questions one-on-one regarding the plan they approved earlier this year to provide utility customers with increased reliability and technology to control energy use, resulting in significant savings, they said.
Large displays and Information were available in an open house format in the Lower Level Meeting Rooms to help educate residents about the city’s electric utility, Naperville’s involvement in the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) and what the innovative Smart Grid Initiative entails.
The well-attended evening was definitely a high tech experience and sometimes contentious as a number of residents are concerned about the smart meters that will communicate information wirelessly back to the DPU-E for billing purposes.
Fieseler reminded residents that one of the city's largest assets is the Naperville Department of Public Utilities. When residents elect city council representatives, they elect people to help manage the $356 million asset, he explained.
Attendees learned how smart meters will work to identify usge patterns, what the benefits of the Smart Grid Initiative are, how the project is being funded and a more agressive timeline for the $22 million implementation over the next three years compared to the city's original plan.
During the event, city staff video taped the activities, interviewing a number of councilmen. All comments, questions and staff responses will be compiled and posted to the city’s website at www.naperville.il.us/smartgrid.aspx.
To receive notification when this document is posted, sign up to receive the Smart Grid e-Newsletter at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx. A pre-event survey is also available at www.naperville.il.us/smartgrid.aspx.
—Submitted & Posted by PN June 4, 2010
An Important Update On The Navistar Relocation Proposal
Since early March, your Chamber has taken an active leadership role in the ongoing debate about Navistar’s proposed corporate headquarters relocation to the vacant East Lucent campus in Lisle. Today news has broke that in Navistar’s opinion, the process has reached an untenable impasse and is ceasing to further proceed on their petition.
Obviously, we at the Chamber are disheartened that the process has broken down and that Navistar feels obligated to take this step. However, since the Chamber became involved with the issue we have personally witnessed the opposition’s attempt to malign, obfuscate and throw every procedural road block at Navistar. What’s happened in the past few months?
Navistar went back to the drawing board and offered a substantially revised plan after listening to the concerns of the community. The high-tech research and development center was revised and relocated to be as far away from impacted properties as possible. Experts were hired by the Forest Preserve and Village of Lisle to review the submitted Environmental Impact Statement and both affirmed the EIS’ finding.
Three hundred Lisle and Naperville Chamber members attended a breakfast with CEO Dan Ustian to be briefed on the revised plans. Businesses up and down the corridor voiced their support of the project. Giant Steps, the autistic school who had once had concerns with the plan, took a look at the revised plans in detail and endorsed the project. The local unions came out in favor of the proposal; stating that during times of 40% unemployment in their trades, this project represented hope. The three entities that had signed an intergovernmental agreement, renewed the agreement allowing discussion to proceed. The General Assembly unanimously passed a bill that modernized our Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program to be on par with other states.
The only thing that didn’t change was a group of resident objectors continuing opposition to the project. Through the public process and their counsel, entities that had gone on record supporting the project were subpoenaed to appear for the Planning and Zoning Commission. A lawsuit was filed against the Village of Lisle and the retired judge they hired to serve as the public hearing officer. Through the drawing out of the public hearing process and endless threats of continuing litigation, this process reached an untenable impasse.
However, our work as a Chamber and business community isn’t over. We can raise our hands up and say “how unfortunate,” or we can channel all of this positive energy to learn from these past few months. I choose, and ask you to support us, in the latter.
Today we have released simultaneous letters to numerous parties. Specifically, we are requesting that Governor Pat Quinn and his office personally intervene in this issue to work to find a reasonable solution for our regional business community.
The Chamber will immediately begin working with our elected officials Representatives Mike Connelly and Darlene Senger and Senators Kirk Dillard and Randy Hultgren, to debrief the issue and educate them on where Illinois’ statutes as written, fell short of providing clarity. Our goal is to ensure that Illinois does not receive a permanent black eye from this experience. Illinois is now ranked the 46th worst state for business, having lost 29 spots since 2005 by trade magazine, Chief Executive. We must do better.
Rest assured that your Chamber will do everything in our power to continue to promote our entire region as open and welcoming to business. Filling that campus with good private sector jobs is a mutual goal of business and civic leaders in our region. We will not rest in our attempt to secure economic prosperity for the thousands of businesses in our region.
Thank you to each of you who stepped up and joined our efforts. We will continue to keep you informed.
Sincerely,
John Schmitt
President& CEO
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
—Submitted May 26, 2010
Biggert announced ‘America Speaking Out' initiative to open a national dialogue on a new direction
U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today joined her Republican colleagues in the House to announce a new initiative titled America Speaking Out, which invites the public to take an active role in crafting a new agenda for Washington. Through a variety of communications tools, town halls, and a new interactive website -- www.americaspeakingout.com -- House Republicans aim to engage the American people and provide the public with a stronger voice in setting the nation’s policy priorities. Biggert issued the following statement:
“America Speaking Out is a way for American citizens to put their hands back on the steering wheel and point the government in a better direction. Every day, it seems like Washington leaders are increasingly unwilling to listen to the voices of the people who elected them. The government acts first and listens later, instead of the other way around. As a result, we have more government, higher job-killing taxes, and a struggling economy. It’s no wonder Americans are fed up.
“Today, we are inviting all Americans -- regardless of party affiliation -- to visit AmericaSpeakingOut.com and begin an open discussion about the issues they care about and solutions that work for the people. I will admit that my best legislative ideas have always come from the people back home – educators, doctors, and people of all walks of life -- who know what works on the ground and where government can help and where it cannot. America Speaking Out is about tapping into that wisdom all around the country, opening a national dialogue, and sending Washington an agenda that works.
“As Republicans, we stand for certain core values like limited, more accountable government, a strong national defense, and fiscal restraint. But good government takes more than ideology – it takes a willingness to listen and engage with the public. I encourage all Americans to join with us this summer, visit the website or participate in a town hall, and share with us their ideas, whether it’s through Twitter or via telephone. We stand ready to listen and set Washington on a smarter, more effective, and more responsive course for the future.”
—U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13)
Submitted May 25, 2010
204 e-News! Terms of tentative contract were presented to IPEA
The terms of a tentative two-year agreement were presented to the 2,170 members of the Indian Prairie Educational Association (IPEA) on Wednesday night. (May 19, 2010)
Superintendent Kathy Birkett said the agreement is a collaborative effort that takes into consideration the recent financial challenges created by the anticipated reduction in state funding next year. The tentative agreement provides a savings of $2.5 million in the first year of the contract. The savings come from salaries remaining unchanged next year and implementing a more efficient medical plan. Teachers will also not receive the annual "step"
increase provided for additional education or experience. In 2011-12, teachers will receive a 1.26 percent increase on their base salary beginning mid-year and "step" increases for education and experience will be allowed.
The fiscally responsible terms of the tentative contract also provide jobs for some teachers that were released for next year.
"Thanks to the hard work by all members of the negotiating team, the district is able to bring back 16 - 23 elementary teachers next year, which helps reduce class sizes while continuing to provide quality education," Birkett said.
Val Dranias, IPEA President, stated, "Our goals were to be fiscally responsible, do what was best for students and staff, bring back as many released teachers as possible, reduce class size and stay competitive with benchmark districts. We believe that this contract accomplishes those goals."
District officials and the IPEA began negotiations in February. The current contract expires at the end of August. The IPEA ratification vote takes place on May 27.
—School District 204, www.ipsd.org, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora, IL 60504
Open Letter to Friends of the Naperville Park District / April 26, 2010
After what felt like a long winter, summer is nearly here and it’s time to get outside and enjoy some activities. While you’re outside enjoying our parks, special events, camps and our other summertime programs, the Naperville Park District is busy focusing on improving some of its facilities. These improvements are identified through the District’s Open Space and Recreation Master Plan and funded through the annual capital budget. The benefits of completing these projects now include a current competitive bidding climate and lending support to our local economy. Additionally, these improvements are projected to cost much less now than if we were to wait a few years when construction and material costs are likely to increase.
In the Community Interest and Opinion Survey, which was conducted last year, we discovered that the majority of our respondents asked us to take care of the resources we have. We’ve listened to that feedback and have embarked upon several renovation projects throughout the community that are in various stages of completion. From late summer of last year through early spring of this year, the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center has undergone a transformation. That project began with the complete renovation of our Community Hall, and expanded to the upper level entryway and corridors. The work completed to date makes the facility much more inviting and contemporary, and we plan to continue making renovations to the facility throughout this year to improve its function and aesthetics.
In 2008, we began looking at renovations to Centennial Beach’s historic bathhouse. This initiative involved extensive community and patron input, review of several versions of architectural plans and a lengthy permitting process. Although patrons will not see any changes to the Beach this year, they can look forward to many significant ones that will coincide with the start of the 2011 season. Examples of improvements include new locker rooms, the addition of family changing rooms, a new concessions building and an improved drop-off/pick-up area and front entry. The project will maintain the historical integrity of the bathhouse while improving the overall operations and customer experience.
Nike Sports Complex, bounded by Mill Street and Diehl and Bauer Roads, is another location that is seeing some important changes. In 2007, the Park District acquired the land adjacent to the current sports complex with the intention of expanding our inventory of sports fields and courts while including other passive recreation amenities like trails and a playground. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer with completion planned in 2011.
A project that’s just getting started is one that’s taking a look at the Barn and Central Shop. Earlier this year, we asked residents to express their interest in participating on a community review team to look at the recreation space in addition to the adjacent maintenance facility, to determine what its best use will be for the future. We look forward to seeing how this initiative continues to develop and we’ll keep the community informed regarding our progress. Also, please watch for more of these opportunities to get involved with the Park District and help shape our future. We recognize the importance of input from our residents.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to discuss our golf courses. In 2008, both Springbrook and Naperbrook completed some significant renovations to the courses and clubhouses. However, 2008 also was a tough year with the golf department experiencing a loss. We recognize that several elements factored into this “perfect storm,” but it forced us to take an even closer look at our golf operations. Operating as an Enterprise Fund, both courses are self-supporting and neither course receives any tax support. In order to continue to maintain the courses at a level that our patrons expect, a price increase for the 2010 season is necessary. I recognize that with the economy it’s hardly the ideal time, but it’s also a matter of being able to fund golf course operations. I hope that our golfers will continue to support our courses, because we count on their patronage. Please visit our websites at napervilleparks.org, springbrookgolfcourse.org and naperbrookgolfcourse.org for more information on the reasons behind the price increase.
I hope you will take the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the summer season and all we have to offer the community. Take a jog through one of our parks, attend a playground opening, or head to one of our outdoor concerts. And, speaking of outdoor concerts, I want to express my thanks to Continental Motors of Naperville, (including Acura, Audi and Mazda), for their support of our annual Concerts in Your Park event.
Wishing you a safe and memorable summer season!
Sincerely,
Ray McGury
Executive Director
Naperville Park District | 320 W. Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 | 630.848.5000 | www.napervilleparks.org /
Submitted April 26, 2010
News From Judy Biggert Congresswoman ¨ 13th District ¨ Illinois
Biggert: Tax Day is a Grim Reminder / Thurs., April 15, 2010
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today issued the following statement regarding federal taxes, which are due today, April 15, 2010:
“After another year of record spending and rising deficits in Washington, tax day has arrived yet again, and millions of Americans are scrambling to send more of their hard earned paychecks to the IRS. Tax day is a grim reminder that every dollar of waste, every unnecessary expenditure, and every misspent penny comes out of the pocket of a working American.
“Taxpayers today are looking at their returns and wondering how much their family could benefit if only they could hold on to those dollars being siphoned away for bloated stimulus spending, massive new bailouts, and unsustainable health entitlements. And now they are being told that it’s only going to get worse as the Democrat majority pursues an agenda of taxes on energy, taxes on investments, taxes on health benefits, and even the quiet expiration of a few tax relief measures enjoyed today.
“Policymakers in Washington need to recommit themselves to overturning the culture of waste, and stop looking to government spending and over-regulation as the solution to every challenge the nation faces. House Republicans have already taken in important step in that direction by swearing off earmarks for the coming year; our House and Senate counterparts should do the same.
“We need to lower taxes and ease the burden on private enterprise so that businesses can grow, economic recovery can take hold, and more Americans can find good paying jobs. Jobs must be our number one priority. More earners mean more revenues, and creating jobs is a far better way to fund our government than raising taxes.”
Open Letter to Local Residents and others in Illinois from Sherry Tatar: 'Caravan to the Capitol - Restore Illinois Education Funding' Details:
NOTE: Late Friday afternoon, PN was notified that a third bus has been added and the deadline has been extended to sign up until 8AM, Monday, April 12.
Bus Trip / Wednesday, April 14: We will depart from the Fox Valley Mall at 7:45AM. We can park in the upper level parking near Sears. (across from Denny's and Kohl's) They would prefer we park closer to the traffic lane as opposed to the mall. We have arranged bus transportation and there is no cost to ride the bus.
We anticipate being back in the area around 6PM. Some people are planning on pulling their students from school to attend.
If you are interested, you MUST email caravan2thecapitol@yahoo.com by Friday morning, April 9, before noon or RSVP on the Caravan to the Capitol - Restore Illinois Education Funding Facebook page . We have to give an accurate head count to the bus company early Friday afternoon. Please include how many adults will attend. If you are bringing school aged children, please indicate how many you are bringing as well.
Once at the Capitol, we will meet at 11:30AM in the Stratton Building in the Cafeteria. This is an area large enough to hold big groups of people. We are hoping to draw people in from other areas of the state and this is where we will gather to discuss our plans.
Meetings with Lawmakers... We are working on getting a meeting set up with key players on the education appropriations committee and have one meeting set up for 1PM with House Minority Leader Tom Cross. I am not sure that everyone who attends will be able to be at this meeting. We will also be able to call upon legislators to leave the session floor to meet with representatives from our group briefly throughout the afternoon. There will be a need for people to help distribute some flyers with our message on them R.E.F. (Restore Education Funding).
The "dress code" is black or white or black and white - going along with a REF theme to coordinate with the acronym for our cause.
The photo shoots that have been taking place for the video to Springfield have been GREAT!! There will be another one April 8 (Thursday) afternoon in the Still middle school library at 3:05. If you wish to allow your child to be photographed holding a sign that will be a part of that video - please have them there. If your student is still in grade school - let me know if you can make it there after pick-up and our photographer will wait for you until 4:30PM if
she knows you are coming. Once the video is put together, it will be sent to all the legislators. It will also be posted to YouTube.
This is important! If you have friends in any other part of the state - please email them the YouTube link once we have it created! We want the legislators to be able to see the comments that come from across the ENTIRE state so they know the citizens are upset with the proposed cuts to education. We are learning that what gets their attention in Springfield is not the volume of people - rather the volume of potential future votes! So check
out the link, add your comments and forward the link to everyone you know with children!
As a comparison: In a prison downstate, which holds only 250 of our worst felons, our state is spending $92,000 per inmate, per year. Yes, $92K! Yet, Illinois spends on average $10,000 per student per year. This is an apples to apples comparison in operating costs for a prison which holds 250 felons vs. operating costs for ALL Illinois students, K-12.
This is only one example of how Illinois lawmakers need to reprioritize spending.
If you agree, send this on to everyone you know in Illinois and encourage them to join parents on Wed., April 14 who care about our kids’ education and their future.
Thanks for your time - I hope you can join the Caravan to the Capitol!
---Sherry Tatar, statar.blogspot.com
NOTE: Late Friday afternoon, PN was notified that a third bus has been added and the deadline to indicate interest to ride the bus has been extended. If you are interested, e-mail caravan2thecapitol@yahoo.com before 8AM, Monday, April 12, 2010.
Submitted April 8, 2010 / Updated April 9, 2010
Scroll down to find these notes of interest submitted before April 7, 2010...
1. Mayor A. George Pradel Calls On State Legislators for Pension
Reform / City of Naperville Joins State Pension Reform Group
2. Reaction of U.S. Rep. Biggert to the White House Health Proposal
3. Chamber addresses City Finances
4. District 204 Finances (Updated March 11, 2010)
5. Education regarding placing Term Limits and Districts on the ballot
6. City Implements Reduction in Force
8. SECA Fund Overview
1. Mayor A. George Pradel Calls On State Legislators for Pension Reform / City of Naperville Joins State Pension Reform Group
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — At the March 2, 2010, City Council meeting, City of Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel and the City Council approved a resolution to join the Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities. According to the group’s Web site, they are “a coalition aimed at bringing fairness to the public safety pension system in order to relieve the burden of escalating public safety pension costs on local taxpayers and ensure sustainable retirement benefits for our public safety employees.”
Since 1999, the cost of funding public safety pensions has more than doubled, and many communities within the State of Illinois face a financial crisis. This crisis is the result of an unchecked pension system with a growth rate that is eclipsing many municipal budgets. Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities is lobbying for a more just public safety pension system in order to avoid reductions in public safety services, excessive increases in property taxes or other potential budget catastrophes in municipalities throughout the state.
In the resolution, the Mayor and Council acknowledge the strain that public safety pensions have placed both on the city and its residents and the fear that it could likely affect not just public safety services but other basic city-provided services as well. However, they also declare a commitment to working with all affected stakeholders in an attempt to implement long-term changes that will benefit both the recipients of these pensions and the constituents whose tax dollars fund them.
“As a member of this Coalition, I believe we can make changes to the pension systems that are fair to pensioners and employees as well as Illinois taxpayers,” Mayor A. George Pradel said. “I am in a unique position being the Mayor and also a Pensioner after 29 years as a Naperville Police Officer. I see both sides of this issue.”
The city became a Foundation Partner within the coalition, promising a $10,000 contribution that will be used to offset public relations costs, actuary analyses, polling and social media. Other coalition members include the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, the Will County Government League, Metro Counties of Illinois and the City of Lake Forest, among others.
For more information about Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities, visit www.pensionfairness.org. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.
2. Reaction of U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert to the White House Health Proposal / February 22, 2010
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today issued the following statement regarding this morning’s release of the White House’s latest government health proposal:
“The status quo is unacceptable, and Americans are demanding a fresh approach from Washington – one that lowers health costs and doesn’t impose a taxpayer-funded bureaucracy on Americans’ medical care. Unfortunately, the outline released by the White House only tinkers with the House and Senate bills that have been widely rejected by the American people.
“The White House plan contains many of the same massive tax increases, Medicare cuts, and government controls that have been broadly criticized for their failure to curb costs or preserve our quality of care. I am pleased the President seems willing to consider at least one idea I’ve advocated to combat waste and fraud in Medicare, but this blueprint is still disturbingly silent on key issues like medical malpractice reform and association health plans for small businesses.
“This week, the President has an opportunity to lead us in a better direction on health care, but he needs to stop using the same flawed roadmap as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. I encourage the President to set aside old ideas, and focus on crafting a bill that can garner mainstream support by making health care more affordable and accessible without driving away the high-quality health care options that many Americans enjoy today. To make lasting health care reform a success, we must be able to work together, and that process can’t get moving until Democrat leaders actually open this process to better ideas – not just to TV cameras.
“Overall, I am disappointed that instead of starting with ideas on which many on both sides of the aisle can agree, we’re starting with the basic Pelosi-Reid model that Americans do not want.”
---News From Judy Biggert
Congresswoman ¨ 13th District ¨ Illinois
Submitted February 22, 2010
3. An Open Letter on the City of Naperville's Finances from the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Dear Members,
The Chamber’s tagline is, “the Business Voice,” and we work on a daily basis with issues that influence the business climate. The City of Naperville is facing a several million dollar budget deficit for its upcoming fiscal year. The Legislative Committee has received considerable feedback and undertaken significant analysis to identify the key factors affecting you, our Members, during this fiscal crisis. We are encouraged that the City is considering deep budget cuts in City operations, in addition to raising revenue.
However, I am writing to inform you of the Chamber’s strong objection to the imposition of a home rule sales tax proposal, which we believe threatens the economic recovery of our region, hurting businesses and consumers at a time when they can least afford it.
At the same time, we believe, as business leaders, we have an obligation to advance options and forge solutions with the City. We cannot just say “no,” without suggesting meaningful proposals of our own.
We are offering recommendations today that are designed to continue to move the discussion towards solving the shortfall, yet do not hamper the continued vibrancy of our business community. It is important that you know what guiding principles we used to come to our current recommendations. They are as follows:
Balancing the budget should not hamper economic recovery. The Cook County Board after multiple attempts and vetoes recently rolled back the scorned “Stroger sales tax,” after vociferous objections by businesses and consumers. Naperville currently does not levy a home rule sales tax. This is a competitive advantage that will attract more customers to our community’s businesses and businesses to our community. Naperville has fared better than average during the recession and ignoring this competitive advantage threatens our ability to recover faster.
Programs that do not support the core operations of municipal government need to be scaled back during economic turmoil. While there are worthy causes and initiatives that have been previously funded before the economy deteriorated, the Chamber believes that government spending must be prioritized on essential city services like public safety, snow removal and the maintaining of municipal assets such as our roads.
The deficit is a result of a severe decline in economic activity that will not continue forever. Three taxes that account for approximately 40% of the City’s annual corporate revenue are highly correlated with the health of the economy. Long range planning is necessary when evaluating current revenue proposals.
Where possible, revenues should be raised to support specific expenses. The City has historically relied on a “user fee” model to support particular obligations and we believe there are opportunities within City operations to implement reasonable fees.
A reserve is established to help governments, a business, or families deal with temporary revenue shortfalls. The City is currently experiencing a temporary decline in revenue. We believe there has not been sufficient discussion of the limited use of reserve funds.
This is a critical time for our City and the business community. We will work with City leadership to develop solutions. In so doing we will advocate for proposals which foster business growth for you, our Members.
We will keep you apprised and we welcome your participation at our Legislative Committee meetings – the next meeting is 11:30 a.m. on Monday, December 7.
Thank you for your membership and support.
Sincerely,
John Schmitt
President& CEO
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
December 9, 2009
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Main Street Promenade ▪ 55 South Main Street, Suite 351 ▪ Naperville, IL 60540-5381
p: (630) 355-4141 ▪ f: (630) 355-8335 ▪ www.naperville.net
4. Open Letter to the Community from School District 204 Superintendent issued via e-mail on March 11, 2010
Dear District 204 Community,
As the financial news from Springfield continues to be uncertain for education, our administrators have worked on a proposal to cut an additional $12.2 million from next year's budget. This is on top of the $9.2 million we cut in December in order to achieve a balanced budget for next year.
We have prioritized instruction and have tried to examine all areas against the criteria of minimal impact to students. However, budget cuts of this magnitude are difficult. When you are forced to trim $21.4 million from your budget in a single year, it becomes impossible to not have an impact on our students.
We began looking for cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. This includes a plan to reduce 14.4 percent of our central office staff and 6 percent of our building level administrators. We are also proposing a pay freeze for all administrators next year and cutting all administrators' budgets.
Following the recommendation of our Citizens Financial Advisory Committee, we are conducting a dependent eligibility insurance audit and claims audit, which should provide a savings of $1 million. We are also looking at savings through energy management and will implement a 4-day work week for this summer.
Two areas that will see a delay in new projects are building maintenance and technology. Thankfully our schools are relatively young and we are not facing major structural needs, but work to maintain the structural integrity of our schools cannot be delayed indefinitely.
We are also planning to delay some technology projects that would place new equipment in our schools. Delaying the technology refresh cycle limits student learning as they will be using older equipment and software.
Parents will notice some changes in the areas of fees. We are proposing a small increase in registration and technology fees. We are also looking at adding or increasing extra-curricular fees to save some programs that would otherwise need to be eliminated.
With eighty percent of our budget in staffing expenses, budget cuts will impact our teaching staff. Although difficult to think about in this economy, we must reduce staff. In order to achieve a savings, we must look at class sizes across the district. By proposing an increase in class size we will release 145, or 6.5 percent, of our teaching positions. At the elementary level, the proposal calls for increasing the maximum class size in second through fifth grades by two from
29 to 31. At the secondary level, the average class size will increase by two.
As we finalize our proposal to include clerical and program reductions, please know that we prioritize instructional opportunities for our students. We will continue to communicate with you as information becomes available. The next budget update will be presented at the March 22 board of education meeting and will be available on our website. We have created a section of our website
devoted to this budget issue so our community can stay informed. You can find the information at http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Budget
Sincerely,
Kathy Birkett, Superintendent
School District 204 http://www.ipsd.org
780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora, IL 60504
Open Letter to the Community from School District 204 Superintendent issued via e-mail on Feb. 11, 2010
(Editor's Note: Similar info was presented briefly at the Feb. 8 Chamber Legislative Committee Meeting by representatives of both Naperville school districts. State Reps. Mike Connelly and Darlene Senger were in attendance at the meeting.)
In December, I wrote to tell you about the impact of our state's economic crisis. The January 21 issue of Forbes magazine ranked Illinois at the bottom in the nation for its financial troubles. With state funding being our second largest revenue source, the state's financial crisis strongly impacts our budget. Simply put, if schools are not funded, education will not be delivered in the way we have become accustomed to in our district.
According to the Illinois Constitution, "the state has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education." Not only has the state failed to fulfill its responsibility, it has shifted the education funding burden to our local taxpayers. For perspective, in 2010 the state is estimated to fund only 9 percent of our budget compared to 25.6 percent in state funding received in 2000.
We have addressed a projected $9.2 million deficit for next year, but continued uncertainties in Springfield have us working on a plan to cut deeper if needed. In January, the State Board of Education recommended to legislators that education funding remain the same for next year. While we support this recommendation, it will be challenging for the state to provide the same dollars to school districts.
The state's $13 billion debt is so substantial that it may be forced to reduce financial support for school districts. That means our district is facing possibly $14 to $20 million in additional budget cuts, and some of those cuts will be very difficult. Until now, we have prioritized cuts that stay away from the classroom, but as deeper cuts are needed, that will be impossible.
Compounding the problem is the fact that the state is currently $7,834,215 behind in this year's funding to the district, with no news from local legislators as to when, and even if, that funding will ever be provided.
We must take a realistic look at what we will be forced to do if state funding decreases in the way many are predicting. One thing we are already planning to do is a non-renewal of non-tenured teachers. Per Illinois School Code, we have to notify these teachers in March that they will be released from employment for the following year. We are working to determine the number of teachers this release will include. We will need to make additional reductions beyond staffing in order to make up for the state's shortfall.
These uncertain financial times are difficult for all of us. I'm asking for your help in contacting officials in Springfield to let them know they need to meet their commitment to our students' education. They also need to know the devastating impact that decreased state funding will have on education. A list of officials and their contact information is available at Springfield Contact Information
If you would like to view the budget presentation from December, it is online at Budget Presentation SLIDES and Budget Presentation VIDEO.
Sincerely,
Kathy Birkett
Superintendent
February 11, 2010
At Monday night's board of education meeting (Dec. 6, 2009) we discussed the current economy's impact on our district. The $13 billion deficit in Illinois ranks our state third in the nation, behind California and Michigan, in financial troubles. Decreased state funds, combined with the slow down in local tax revenue, created a projected $9.2 million deficit for our district for 2011.
With the goal of achieving a balanced budget for 2011, we asked for input on ways to reduce our deficit. We asked building administrators and also looked to our community. Our Citizens Financial Advisory Committee reviewed nearly 200 suggestions from the community and also made its own recommendations.
Over the past few months, we spent a great deal of time reviewing all suggestions with a priority of minimizing the impact to academic programs. The recommendation presented to the board focused on six areas: revenue enhancements, delayed expenditures, operational efficiencies, staffing efficiencies, health benefit efficiencies, and program efficiencies.
Our list of budget recommendations contains 30 items such as consolidating high school courses with lower enrollments, reducing operations and maintenance outlay, slowing down the technology refresh cycle, reviewing health benefit claims, increasing building rental fees, and eliminating six central office staff positions. You can see the complete budget presentation on the district's website at http://www.ipsd.org/Uploads/news_26655_1.pdf
While this is our first recommendation, we have more work to do. Over the coming months we need to work on developing implementation plans for the items the board approves. We will continue to communicate with you as we move forward with the budget.
If you would like to see the video of the budget presentation from the board meeting, it will be available on Tuesday, December 8, at http://www.ipsd.org.
---Kathy Birkett
Superintendent
Indian Prairie Unit School District 204
December 7, 2009
5. 'Naperville Voter Education League' seeks to inform residents about putting term limits and district representation on Nov. 2010 ballot
To follow through on a campaign promise and a recurring interest that finds itself debated during Naperville's consolidated elections, last June Councilman Jim Boyajian called a meeting for interested parties to learn how to make changes in the way the Mayor and City Council members are elected.
Leading the meeting as a private citizen, Boyajian’s goal was to give approximately 35 residents attracted to the informational discussion group a chance to organize and develop an action plan.
During his introduction, Boyajian told the group that the council could authorize a referendum to change the city to districts and/or impose term limits on councilmen and the mayor.
Boyajian added that when he had raised the question of districts or wards and term limits at a council meeting in the fall of 2008, the council voted 8-1 against him.
Instead, the council seemed to support the opinion that a grassroots initiative from the voters would be necessary to prompt the council to change its mind.
Boyajian also noted that the questions could be raised by a referendum put in action by petition from the voters.
Six months later, a group of Naperville residents is organized. They meet regularly. They call themselves the Naperville Voter Education League. Their mission is to educate local voters regarding the pros and cons of dividing Naperville into districts and/or if councilmen should be subject to term limits.
The group comprised of representatives from various backgrounds and geographic areas of the city is circulating petitions to get the two topics on the ballot for the General Election in November 2010.
According to Bill Eagan, one of a large group of hopefuls who ran for city council last spring and now leading the charge, the initiative is educational.
Every time there is a local election, Eagan said, the topic of term limits and districts comes up during candidate debates.
In fact, as best Eagan can tell, the question has continually come up for more than 20 years.
Naperville Voter Education League is not taking positions on either of the issues. Not all members of the group agree on both issues. But the group does agree that the community should have an open discussion, become educated and have a chance to put the vote on the ballot.
The Naperville Voter Education League is currently circulating petitions---they collected about 100 signatures during the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning 2009.
The ballot question would ask residents if they want a district system that would divide the council into five district seats and three at-large seats plus the mayor. In the past, residents in favor have said districts would give residents a representative who is familiar with their issues. Opponents argue residents would be limited with one person to serve or hear their needs instead of nine.
The league's term-limit referendum question would ask voters if they want to restrict councilmen to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. Eagan noted that term limits would allow for mayor/councilmen to serve two terms as a councilman, then another two as mayor, followed by two more terms as a councilman. Or they simply could take a break between terms.
One argument in favor of term limits is that if two terms are good enough for President of the United States, two consecutive terms should be good enough for City Council. Challengers also cite the high cost of unseating incumbents with name recognition and the fact that in a city of Naperville’s size, many residents would like to serve.
Opponents argue that term limits already exist during the regular election cycle when voters go to the polls. History and experience also are cited as valuable assets that come with a councilman who has served three or four terms.
In order for the referendum questions to be on the Nov. 2, 2010 ballot, petitions with the required number of signatures must be ready 78 days before that date or by mid-August.
In the meantime, the Naperville Voter Education League must get the signatures of 10 percent of the total votes cast in the last mayoral election and that means 1,900 signatures, according to Eagan.
A referendum for term limits will require signatures from 10 percent of registered voters, or just under 8,700 signatures, he added.
Need a speaker? The Naperville Voter Education League is interested in presenting its Power Point Presentation to community groups to inform voters about the initiative and to enlist help securing signatures. Residents are welcome to attend their meetings that will resume in January 2010.
Signing a petition does not mean the signer is pro or con for one or both initiatives. It simply means the signers support a community-wide discussion and debate of the issue, followed by a vote on Nov. 2, 2010.
This referendum vote would apply only to City Council, though members of the committee said during their December meeting that petition-signing residents have inquired about other government bodies. "What about school board and park district? What about state and federal?"
For more information, contact Bill Eagan at billeagan@aol.com or (847) 708-1885.
Daily Herald columnist Stephanie Penick wrote "Keys to February primary: pay attention, vote smart."
If the link doesn't work, go to www.dailyherald.com and do a search in the upper right for "Stephanie Penick."
6. City Implements Reduction in Force
NAPERVILLE, IL —The City of Naperville has implemented a reduction in force as part of the upcoming fiscal year’s budget process. This week, the city eliminated 22 positions currently filled as well as 27 vacant positions, for a total of 49 positions. The reductions will result in $3.6 million of savings annually.
When combined with the 43 positions eliminated last January, the current reduction provides the city with an annual savings of almost $7 million and a 10 percent reduction to the city’s work force.
“Despite the significant reduction of 10 percent of the workforce, we are confident that the restructuring will add efficiencies and place the city government in position to continue to deliver high quality city services to our residents and businesses,” said City Manager Douglas A. Krieger.
Over the past four months, city staff has been working with the City Council to reach a solution to the Fiscal Year 2011 budget deficit. In determining appropriate personnel cuts, the primary objective was to minimize the impact on service to the residents. More significant reductions were implemented in administrative departments with less of an impact on the public safety and frontline departments of Police, Fire and Public Works.
“The economic climate continues to work against us, with no expectation of short-term relief,” Krieger continued. “These reductions, though difficult, were necessary under the circumstances. As we move forward, I want to express my appreciation and thanks for the dedication of our workforce. We will continue to examine new and different methods to deliver services in the most cost effective manner.”
---Press Release (Unedited) from the City of Naperville with contact information for
City Manager Douglas A. Krieger / January 8, 2010
7. 2010 General Election Candidates / Vote Tues., Nov. 2
8. SECA Fund overview...
Council allocated SECA Fund, sustained by food & beverage tax
On a recent weekend in March, members of the Special Events and Cultural Amenities Commission met both Saturday and Sunday to review applications for SECA Fund grants. Working with $2.9 million this next fiscal year, the commissioners selected their choices with written recommendations. Then on March 22, the Naperville City Council discussed the SECA allocations during a workshop held at the Naperville Municipal Center. A small number of representatives from organizations making 106 requests totaling $3.85 million were in attendance.
The workshop packet to view in Adobe Acrobat PDF format is online at www.naperville.il.us/emplibrary/Boards_and_Commissions/cc20100322p-workshop.pdf. The packet includes recommendations with rationale from the commission for the grants, funded from a citywide 1 percent food and beverage tax. FYI: Funds from SECA also cover $146,535 in city administrative costs.
By the end of the four-hour workshop, slightly more than $2 million in allocation grants had been preliminarily approved by Mayor George Pradel and seven City Council members. Councilman Grant Wehrli was absent, but his preferences were posted on the worksheet and referenced from time to time..
The council was dealing with less money for the SECA Fund after recently approving to reallocate 25 percent of the food and beverage tax revenue for its general fund next fiscal year that begins May 1.
OK. Though it may appear that this story jumps around a bit, the above info set the stage as councilmen reached consensus on using fund balances from previous years to pay off a $1.2 million loan the city had taken out to complete Moser Tower. City Manager Doug Krieger noted the city still has a $1.8 million line of credit on the carillon tower due in 2011.
Councilmen discussed a future that would encourage organizers of big events to find ways to reduce costs by using volunteers for site clean up and maintenance as well as traffic control, life safety and some levels of security.
The smallest grant, $200, was awarded to the Finish Line Solar Car Days, a one-time special event in June hosted by American Solar Challenge. American Solar Challenge also received a grant for $1,500 for another aspect of its event. By contrast, the DuPage Children's Museum received the largest grant for $250,000 to help cover operations.
After much discussion about the financial success and growth in size of Ribfest, the council will give $165,000 to Exchange Club of Naperville to help cover city services for its 4th of July weekend fundraiser that benefits groups that fight child abuse and domestic violence.
Councilmen also approved $150,000 for Century Walk Corp., far less than the $473,000 request for maintenance and plans for four other art projects, including at the Naper Blvd. Library a third Dr. Seuss sculpture. While councilmen appreciated the "outstanding" artwork, they opted to put plans for more on hold.
The Naperville Jaycees' Last Fling received $138,681 and the Naperville Development Partnership will get $115,000.
Meeting existing agreements, Riverwalk maintenance received $110,791 and the Naperville Municipal Band was granted $123,601.
At the end of the workshop, $146,485 remained available and untouched. Mayor Pradel asked for applause to show appreciation to the commission's volunteers who put dollar amounts on the applications. Indeed, it was a time-consuming and thoughtful exercise.
Editor's view since April 4, 2004, from a seat in the audience and at local restaurants regarding the SECA Fund: Just as artists, musicians, performers and event organizers, most members of Naperville's hospitality and restaurant industry are passionate about their craft in culinary arts. Our restaurants often are showcased during local fundraising events where they continually and generously give back to our community.
Since July 1, 2004, restaurants have collected the food and beverage taxes that become Naperville's Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) Fund. Anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant knows it's tough work and a very satisfying industry for those with stamina to serve. Our local restaurants' chefs, managers, servers, bartenders, bussers, bar-backs, cooks, bakers and all experienced employees are the reason this fund is plentiful and available for local nonprofit groups.
Thank you for dining out in Naperville where you will often hear the front of the house and back of the house staff say, "It's a pleasure to serve you."
One of the challenges sure to face the SECA Fund is that some of the applicants/recipients of the fund appear to take it for granted. They almost act as though their nonprofit business or event is entitled to receive funding year after year. Others submit multiple requests. We've overheard applicants wonder had they asked for more, would their event have received more?
We also have concerns that the fund sometimes appears to be piddled away under the veil of "fairness to all" who apply. Why can't more of the fund be saved instead of seeming to promote an attitude of "use it because it's there"? Is this good public policy?
Special events such as the Memorial Day Parade, Municipal Band Concerts, Naperville Woman's Club Fine Art Fair, Last Fling, Last Fling Parade, Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, St. Patrick's Parade and Ribfest are proven cultural traditions that have long united the spirit of volunteerism and service in our community. They require city services, most of which are set by the City. We think these proven successes as cultural attractions--- as long as they continue to be successful and comply with the application process to receive city services---- deserve support of the SECA Fund, re-evaluated annually, as they were traditions (and recipients of city funding for public safety servcies and more) in place long before the fund was established in 2004.
We hope all grant applicants/recipients support the local restaurant community with their patronage, appreciation and appropriate tips.
It would be music to our ears to hear someone pay tribute to the hospitality industry in Naperville and to all patrons for providing this valued source of revenue to the city. Thank you for reading. And thanks for dining out in Naperville. Thanks for supporting the arts! Think dinner and the show.
Update to grants: During the April 7, 2010, City Council Meeting, the council voted to fund Ribfest for its full request.
City Council found ways to help balance Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Budget
New sources include residential trash collection fee, increased local gas tax, reallocation of a portion of SECA Funds and its reserve fund
The daily newspapers, editorial pages and interested residents have been following budget workshops since last fall. During that period the City Council sharpened its pencils to attack the budget line by line and find new revenue streams in attempts to balance its budget.
If you attended or watched on TV the March 15 City Council meeting, you saw the majority of members of the City Council approve a series of new revenue sources to help balance the city’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget, which begins on May 1, 2010.
For one, a 2-cent increase in the city’s local motor fuel tax was approved 7-1. Doug Krause voted "no" and Grant Wehrli recused himself because his brother is the attorney representing local gas station owners who did not want to see an increase. Also, council members voted 6-3 to implement a $2 per month residential refuse fee with Krause, Wehrli and Paul Hinterlong voting against it. The council also voted 7-2 to transfer of one-quarter of the Food and Beverage Tax (Special Events Cultural Amenities Fund) income to the General Fund. Mayor Pradel and Krause did not support it. In addition, the City Council voted to use a portion of the reserve fund cash to assist in closing the budget shortfall.
Krause denIed all three revenue options, saying that he preferred to use more of the reserve fund (taxpayer money) or raise property taxes, which are tax-deductable.
According to a press release received late Tuesday afternoon, "the City Council has worked diligently throughout the past five months to close a $14.1 million gap in the coming fiscal year’s budget. Council directed city staff to first implement internal cost saving measures. Following this action, a $5.5 million deficit remained. These new revenue sources will generate $3.1 million in additional funds and will be supplemented by $1.39 million from the city’s cash reserves, resulting in a total of $4.5 million. City staff will continue to examine ways to close the remaining $1 million.
“'These decisions were not taken lightly by the City Council,' City Manager Doug Krieger said. 'The Council has been judiciously considering all possible solutions to balance the city’s budget since last September. With a variety of recurring funding sources, Council was able to alleviate the need to increase property taxes and retail sales taxes. Naperville will remain competitive with surrounding communities.'"
The new fees begin May 1, 2010, and will be re-evaluated in two years to assess continued need. The 2-cent increase in the local motor fuel tax is in addition to an existing 2-cent local motor fuel tax, and income generated will be designated only for city roadway maintenance. The $2 per month residential refuse fee will be added to households’ monthly utility bills starting in May.
The transfer of one-quarter of the Food and Beverage Tax collected citywide will divert this money from the Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund to the General Fund and will be re-examined by the Council in 2011.
For more information, visit www.naperville.il.us.
Public opportunities to
meet and greet candidates prior to the General Election on Nov. 2
The following candidates seek participants to meet them behind Naperville North High School to march with fellow fans in the West Suburban Irish St. Patrick's Parade. The parade steps off at 10AM, Sat., March 13.
State Rep. Mike Connelly / Hope you can join me this Saturday in Naperville for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Our grew will gather at the Naperville North Parking Lot at 9:15ish. Donuts, juice, coffee, puppies and a ton of green shirts. Should be a lot of fun. Slainte!
State Rep. Darlene Senger / Please come march with me in the 17th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade!
The Parade is staged at Naperville North High School, in the parking lots on the south side of the school. Entrance will only be from Ogden Avenue, heading east only.
*** We are number 20 in the parade, and will be meeting at around 9:00 am. Parade will begin at 10 am ***
Parking at the High School is limited. The West Parking Lot at the school is reserved that day for the high school sports teams. There is a new parking are northeast of the school building, and you will be asked to park there.
DuPage County Board Member John Zediker / Walk with us in the St. Patrick's Day Parade!!! We will assemble just south of Naperville North High School (SW Corner of Ogden and Mill) We are number 22. Please line up between 9 and 9:30 at
Naperville North and then join us afterward for a "Tailgate" after the parade on Water Street (where the parade ends). Parade kicks off at 10 and takes about an
hour. Thanks for participating.
March with Gubenitorial Candidate Sen. Bill Brady:
St. Patrick's Day Parades / Saturday, March 13
Naperville: Meet at 9:30AM in the Naperville North High School parking lot, 899 North Mill Street. Position 17.
Elmhurst: Meet at 11:30AM at 759 Spring Road.
(Posted March 10, 2010)
Bill Brady Chicagoland Kick Off Rally
1:30PM, Sunday, March 14
Alta Villa Banquets, Addison, Illinois
430 North Addison Road
(Posted March 10, 2010)
Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates Series
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce “Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates Series" is a chance to meet and exchange ideas with the candidates who hope to serve Illinois.
FYI: During the Primary both of the Gubernatorial Candidates Senator Bill Brady (R) and Governor Pat Quinn (D) participated in the series. Please check back here for future dates.
League of Women Voters will host candidate Meet and Greets for candidates running to serve DuPage County and Will County
Meet candidates running to serve Naperville residents in DuPage and Will counties in an informal situation hosted by the Naperville League of Women Voters. Tabletop stations will allow the voter to approach the candidates in attendance and ask questions directly to them on any topic you seek information and have candidate’s positions stated for you.
As soon as dates/places are scheduled, you'll see them here.
Naperville News Blog
