City Council: August 2008 Archives

A new plan has emerged to save the historic Hammerschmidt mansion off Chicago Avenue. Matthew Rasche is proposing that a civic charity be established to raise $2 million necessary to buy and restore the property. Investors could buy in, up to 800 shares at $2,500 apiece.

Does this sound like something you'd buy into? Would you be willing to invest $2,500 of your money into saving this historic property from the wrecking ball? Do you think enough people will get on board, enough to raise the $2 million needed?

UPDATE 8/29: The Historic Sites Commission Thursday night recommended the mansion be designated a landmark. The recommendation now goes to the City Council, which has final say.

City Council members Bob Fieseler (who comments on the Potluck forum as Councilman Bob) and Grant Wehrli want Naperville to partner with Argonne National Laboratory and Packer Engineering to develop alternative energy technologies such as hydrogen in citywide departments.

The initiative could also involve partnerships with public and private organizations to invite auto makers of hydrogen-powered cars to work in Naperville because of its technical talent base and the city's emphasis on clean energy sources.

We're talking not only the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles by, for example, the public works department, but possibly a hydrogen plant that would generate electricity.

Should Naperville pursue consideration of these ideas? How well is the city embracing alternative energy solutions--far more than other communities, well enough, so-so, or not nearly well enough? What level of taxpayer-funded commitment do you think the city of Naperville should make to renewable energy solutions?

A two-part series beginning in Sunday's Sun explores pensions for public-sector employees. Part I delves into city pensions: how pensions for police officers, firefighters, public works employees and others are funded. A typical 30-year veteran of a municipality these days can expect to collect about $72,000 a year for the rest of his life. And often that person will be in his 50s when he retires.

Part II explains how the burden for funding teacher pensions falls mainly on the state. Still, the income and sales taxes you pay are expected to pay for these comfortable retirement plans.

These days, it's hard to find comparable benefits packages in the private sector, where 401(k) and similar programs designed to help individuals supplement expected Social Security incomes are the norm. Employers often make a modest match, but nothing like the 9 or 10 percent matches that municipalities and school districts kick in.

Given the state's financial situation, it's clear that pension reform is needed. Match amounts are determined by state law. Yet lawmakers seem to lack the political will to even consider reform, what with the clout wielded by unions.

How do we fix this problem? How do we even start? Or, do you even agree that there is a problem? Maybe you think the current pension systems are fair and sustainable, that it will always be the responsibility of taxpayers to fund these programs. It seems unlikely that any proposal to reduce pensions would ever pass--it would be political suicide for any politician to support that.

OK, then, here's a thought: If state law forces local taxpayers to pay for these generous $6,000-a-month retirement plans, what about getting the state or federal government to increase income taxes on those who collect public-sector pensions? Then the recipients at least would have to kick back enough until a fair balance is reached.

What other thoughts or ideas about public-sector pensions do you want to share?

Members of the Omnia group proposing a big multi-use residential, retail and performing arts space around the downtown train station recently presented details of the plan to The Sun. A detailed account of the presentation is reported in Friday's Sun.

They addressed issues such as parking, traffic, building heights, density and funding. What it comes down to is this: Omnia -- which owns none of the 52 acres in the proposed area -- wants the city to create a TIF district that would generate revenue to pay for improvements. The project would proceed in phases, and if it wasn't sustainable, it wouldn't proceed.

Omnia representatives have this going for them: the area around the train station is ripe for redevelopment, and the city doesn't have a plan envisioned for the area. Omnia's is one proposal -- at the moment, it's the only proposal. So at least we're getting the ball rolling about what should or could be done with that prime real estate. And, arguably, a big performing arts center could succeed in Naperville.

On the negative side, Omnia does not yet have the support of residents in the area, who would undoubtedly be impacted by such a large-scale project. Nor is it clear whether Omnia has the support of any council members, who tend to heed the concerns of the voting electorate. And the project might appear more viable if Omnia had a developer on board putting up a significant amount of seed money for the investment.

That's what we think. Tell us what you think about the project. What questions do you have about it? Should the council support the concept? How should the council react to the plan?

The Park District sent a letter June 23 to the about 600 people who take care of the community garden plots at 811 S. West St. Word had gotten out about concept drawings for the 212-acre Caroline Martin Mitchell estate that include moving some garden plots to increase recreation space. Park District and city officials assure people that no plans are final and no decisions will be made without a public discussion process.

Those who garden there enjoy the camaraderie and the therapeutic value in working with the soil. Although, they realize that land in Naperville is prime real estate.

How high a priority should the garden plots be on the city's agenda when figuring out what to do with the 212-acre Caroline Martin Mitchell estate? What does gardening mean to you?