Meeting Minutes Regular Meeting Economic Development Committee - City of Countryside
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CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE
803 Joliet Road
Countryside, IL 60525
www.countryside-il.org
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Economic Development Committee
Monday, January 25, 2021
5:30 PM
City Hall
Board Members
Chairman, John Von Drasek
Aldermen Mark Benson
Alderman John FinnEDC Meeting Meeting Minutes January 25, 2021
The virtual telephonic ZOOM meeting was called to Order by Chairman John Von Drasek at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call: City Administrator Paul called the Roll of Members physically present as follows:
PRESENT: Chairman John Von Drasek, Alderman Mark Benson, Alderman John Finn
Also Present: Mayor McDermott, City Administrator Paul, Deputy Clerk Peterson
Electronically Omar Farooq, Nadine Beals, Fran Prokop
Present:
Public Comment – there was no public comment
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
The minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 9, 2020 were previously distributed to the Board
Members. Chairman Von Drasek asked if there were any corrections to be made to said minutes. There
being no corrections or additions, motion made to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of
December 9, 2020 as presented.
A motion was made by Alderman Finn, seconded by Alderman Benson, that this matter
be APPROVED, as presented. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 Chairman Von Drasek, Alderman Benson, Alderman Finn
Nay: 0
COMMITTEE BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
Consideration of two Proposals to promote the City’s Business Community
City Administrator Ms. Paul stated that in the past the City has advertised on White Sox Radio. The
previous contract was with WGN Radio. They presented a revised proposal; their original proposal mirrors
the ESPN proposal – they are doing White Sox Radio this year.
WGN Radio cannot offer advertising during the White Sox games as in the past. They provided three
options for City consideration: 1) to advertise for the Chicago Blackhawks; 2) not seek to do general
advertising on WGN Radio; and 3) digital advertising. The WGN Radio audience is estimated at 575,000
adults 18 and over in their broadcast market for Blackhawk radio. If the City chooses to switch between
White Sox and Blackhawks, they breakdown the audience by household demographics.
They offer a 60-minute commercial -- pre-game, in-game and post-game -- for all 56 Blackhawk games,
for a total of 168 commercials. The commercials themselves would mention 2 or 3 dealerships in
Countryside. The cost of that investment of $70,000; they are willing to increase/decrease the amount
per feedback received from tonight’s meeting.
The City could go to regular WGN Radio; they will provide 390 – 60-second commercials during three
different time blocks for a total of 1,170 commercials; those commercials could be divided among
dealerships with each receiving 100 – and divide it with the Chamber – something like that.
The last option is digital advertising; anyone doing a vehicle search or golf course search within a 10-mile
radius of Countryside would then receive a digital advertisement for car dealerships and/or the golf course
or other businesses in town. The options for all those commercials cost $70,000 with WGN Radio.
CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE Page 2 of 5EDC Meeting Meeting Minutes January 25, 2021 The ESPN Proposal now includes White Sox Radio. The White Sox are hot now, ranked 4th to win the World Series and 2nd to take the Division Title. Team expectations are very high this year and they decided to switch over to a Sports Channel. Len Casper, Cubs’ announcer for many years, has switched over to the South Side and will join Darren Jackson in the broadcast booth. ESPN asks for a two-year commitment to lock in prices at this cost because if they do win the World Series, prices will escalate next year. The City used to have “WGN Keys to the Game” – playing off the City’s logo “The Western Gateway”. Now they’re doing “Gateway to the Booth.” During the pre-game show they will announce that the City of Countryside, or the Countryside car dealers – is providing your “Gateway to the Booth”. They will ask for questions from listeners re: the team via special email address and then during the game they will select one of those questions to answer live on air stating “It’s now time for Gateway to the Booth” – presented by Countryside car dealerships or City of Countryside. The City would get pre-game and in-game recognition – for all 172 games. They will provide additional commercials to run outside of the pre-game; those could be specific for the car dealerships. They will also provide 30-second spots for all 172 games and for Spring Training. They request a post-season commitment, depending on how far the Team goes, to pay for additional commercials beyond the regular season. They will provide tickets for the City to use for raffles or entertainment purposes -- included in the package. The investment summary is $81,000; post season is $14,500 – if they go all the way through the World Series. The breakdown is – if they’re a Wild Card - $600; Division Series for five games - $3,250. The cost really depends on their progress. If the season is postponed for any reason, they will work with the City to find a reasonable and fair solution to the investment. We could move to another platform, digital perhaps, or having it roll into next year with a credit; that needs to be further discussed. It’s up to the Committee; we’ve had success with the White Sox Radio in the past. All car dealerships participated last year and signed on again for this year because the City paid the full fee last year due to the pandemic. Alderman Benson asked for the total amount of last year’s investment – that was $80K. Was any credit given? They guarantee that the 120 tickets to White Sox games were rolled into this year. They will provide those 120 plus more for this year – 230 tickets for this year, if we went with the $70K package. WGN was the provider the last two years; prior to that it was WLS; at that time the City was with Cumulus. This year, no matter what option picked for WGN, whether Blackhawks or digital ads or WGN Radio, they would give us 230 tickets to White Sox games. With ESPN they will provide 150 tickets. Ms. Paul stated if the City doesn’t go forward with WGN, they will still get the 120 tickets from last year. They can’t honor the contract now because they don’t have White Sox Radio; but since games could not be attended last year, we will get them this year. So combined that would be 270 tickets. Where is the Chamber of Commerce on this? They have been very quiet during the pandemic. Ms. Paul will reach out to them. The city does provide funding for advertising, which covers their portion. As of today it is included in the Hotel/Motel budget that will be presented to the Finance committee. Alderman Finn stated that we didn’t get what was promised from the WGN deal last year. Ms. Paul stated they still did the advertising for the amount of games played, but no one could attend games. Ms. Paul will double check; the original contract was $80K but it may have been reduced to $70K because of that – a $10K credit and rolled the tickets into next year. Chair Von Drasek stated that with ESPN the City gets the benefit of the tickets from last year plus the new deal. Ms. Paul stated that we also get the benefit of the radio advertisement. The Sox are supposed to be hot this year. People are anxious to get to sporting events. Alderman Finn asked about the total bill – CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE Page 3 of 5
EDC Meeting Meeting Minutes January 25, 2021
Ms. Paul stated there is a formula; the City pays half the bill; the Chamber pays 25% and the car dealers
pay the rest; they are invoiced monthly. Alderman Benson stated if the Sox go into post-season and make
it to the World Series, the total cost would be $95K – approximately. That is correct. Currently $80K is
budgeted; if the City decides to move forward, the Hotel/Motel budget would be increased. Ms. Paul
stated they would like a two-year commitment with the second year increasing approximately $5-6K. Ms.
Paul could try to negotiate a one-year contract with the ability to renew at the same rate.
Alderman Benson likes the ESPN model. Alderman Finn believes it’s a lot of money – how many games
were played last year; nowhere near 162 – he believes the City is due a refund. Ms. Paul stated that WGN
offered the car dealerships time to run regular ads as additional incentive for the agreement – but not on
White Sox Radio.
Chair Von Drasek is leaning towards ESPN; he believes the car dealerships will benefit as well. Alderman
Finn believes the City got burned last year; this should be negotiated further. They are assuming 172
games for this year; we know they will probably not play 172 games. He desires clearer language so that
the City is not left holding the bag again. He doesn’t believe we got anywhere near the value that was
paid for last year. He believes there will be issues and games will be cancelled; he is leery of paying $80K
and having games cancelled and no real value received.
Ms. Paul will renegotiate those matters with ESPN. WGN and the Blackhawks were pushing the deal and
they needed an answer; we still have time for White Sox Radio. If we can resolve some of those issues,
what is the consensus – to go with ESPN? Alderman Finn stated that Blackhawks already played six games;
plus WGN doesn’t mention anything about last year – something that should be addressed; we didn’t get
the value paid for. We all agree the White Sox will be an exciting team this year; he seeks protection in
case 10% of the games are lost. Ms. Paul will renegotiate.
Alderman Benson agrees and believes that another EDC meeting is needed. Ms. Paul will bring the matter
back before the Committee at the next meeting. Chair Von Drasek thinks we should come up with a per-
game price or something similar to better understand the value. The City’s contribution for this year was
$40K and probably the same for last year. The Chamber has $20K budgeted for advertising that they put
towards this amount. Last year the City paid the entire amount due to the pandemic. Alderman Benson
believes that helped them out considerably. Alderman Benson proposed to have staff renegotiate the
numbers and language with ESPN and return at a later date, agreed by Alderman Finn.
OTHER COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Ms. Paul stated the two developers interested in the old City Hall property made presentations to the EDC
Committee; both developers are still interested. One Developer brought out “City Fresh” – an ethnic
market and bakery. They toured the old City Hall site today; she anticipates their return with revised site
plans within the next 3-4 weeks. Then the developers will present their revised proposals including site
plans to the PC/ZBA. The City engineer is working on a Plat of Resubdivision; some property must be
retained by the City for the water garage entrance and water main through the west end between the
City property and Helping Hand. The City will need to keep an easement there.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Alderman Benson, seconded by Alderman Finn, to ADJOURN the
meeting. The motion carried by the following vote:
CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE Page 4 of 5EDC Meeting Meeting Minutes January 25, 2021
Aye: 3 Chairman Von Drasek, Alderman Benson, Alderman Finn
Nay: 0
Chairman Von Drasek declared the meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.
APPROVED:
Respectfully Submitted,
/fp JOHN VON DRASEK, CHAIRMAN
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