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5.a — Construction-season business support priorities

The draft 2027 budget proposes $50,000 to support businesses during downtown infrastructure and streetscape construction. Staff seeks the Commission's input rather than approval of a finished program or expenditure. Options include City-contracted marketing services paid directly to providers, or one-time grants for documented construction impacts and eligible operating expenses such as rent, utilities, and payroll. No individual award, per-business maximum, procurement selection, or final program guidelines are supplied.

The Commission is asked whether to prioritize marketing, impact grants, or both; whether eligibility should cover all of downtown B-1 or only directly affected businesses; and whether staff should develop guidelines, funding limits, and implementation procedures. Direct-provider marketing avoids business upfront costs but requires procurement and oversight. Impact grants require applications and financial documentation. Existing Downtown Investment and Downtown Retail & Restaurant grant programs could complement assistance, but the same expense must not be funded twice. Glen Ellyn's construction-impact grant is a reference example, not an adopted West Chicago program.

Staff also anticipates coordinated promotions and temporary business-access/wayfinding signage, subject to safety, accessibility, and right-of-way requirements. Signage may be incorporated into the construction project or addressed separately from the proposed business-support allocation; its cost is not specified. Necessary budget, program, procurement, and City Council approvals remain future steps.

5.b — Fee relief and revenue implications

Annual renewal processing begins in November 2026, making preliminary direction time-sensitive. Waiving annual business registration fees is estimated to reduce revenue approximately $3,000; eligible specialty-license fees, including liquor, tobacco, and video gaming, approximately $26,000. The combined estimated $29,000 is forgone revenue, not a grant expenditure and not part of the proposed $50,000 support allocation.

Businesses would still complete required applications and satisfy licensing requirements. Potential benefits vary with licenses held rather than construction impact, raising equitable-distribution questions. Staff must establish geography, eligible fees and businesses, billing adjustments, and administration. The packet does not approve automatic fee relief or establish final eligibility. Commissioners are being asked whether staff should pursue the option for the 2027 renewal cycle.

6 — Q3 progress report, not new policy adoption

The five-page matrix reports progress under the Council-approved September 8 mid-year realignment. It describes West Washington Street RFQ negotiations, High Street development-agreement negotiations, downtown food-hall discussions, a proposed 2027 budget provision for exploring form-based code, digital-services contracts, infrastructure work, and a housing-strategy RFP. It records historical or ongoing matters rather than listing present award motions.

The summary reports 16 West Washington RFQ responses, 10 of 12 Mosaic Market dates occurring, and three business e-newsletters with a 42% average open rate. The matrix identifies the Granicus contract as approved September 8 and OpenGov as approved September 21. These are source-reported historical facts, not October 27 actions. No concrete new named-contractor award recommendation is presented for this meeting. The requested action remains information only.

7 — Proposed 2027 calendar

Staff requests approval of January 26, April 27, July 27, and October 26, 2027, at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall. The summary says special meetings may be called by the chairman or any three members with Illinois Open Meetings Act notice. The Commission's calendar approval is distinct from City Council program or budget action.