The Citizens’ Commission previously known as the Oak Forest Economic Development Commission (EDC) shall be dissolved effective with the passage of the ordinance codified in this subchapter, and replaced with an Economic Advisory Council (EAC), compact in size, but specifically charged with the following mission, agenda and/or duties:
(A) Promote and recommend programs and policies to improve the economic vitality of our community, while helping to mitigate any adverse physical and economic conditions affecting the social and economic growth of the City of Oak Forest, now and in the future;
(B) Working in conjunction with the Oak Forest Chamber of Commerce, to devise and implement an ongoing business outreach program, designed to assess the needs and identify those issues related to government policies and/or services which affect existing businesses in Oak Forest;
(C) Working in conjunction with the city’s community development staff, research and compile an overall economic development strategy and/or marketing plan, serving as a blueprint for the recruitment of new investment in Oak Forest’s commercial, industrial and service sectors;
(D) Recommend guidelines and structure objective criteria to better evaluate the use of development incentives as a means of business attraction and retention;
(E) Compile and conduct those surveys or other research instruments necessary to ascertain the status of the economic climate and circumstances affecting businesses operating within the corporate limits;
(F) Subject to the powers and limitations granted by the City Council to the EDC, the EAC shall be charged with the design, implementation and review of various economic development programs, including, but not limited to, the creation of economic development corporations, facade improvement, property tax incentives and specific incentives directed at certain redevelopment efforts, including the economic impact of the projects;
(G) Working in conjunction with the staff of various city departments, and upon approval of the program by the City Council, review applications and recommend to the City Council, worthy candidates for inclusion in the city’s various economic development programs; and
(H) Serve as economic development ambassadors for the city conducting various marketing and public relations activities related to the attraction of new business investment and the retention of existing business.
(2000 Code, § 2.72.010) (Ord. 2842, § 1, passed --2004)