EDIT: This post was moved from another thread, so if Doug's comments make no sense, please blame us, not Doug. The original thread is here if you'd like to put these comments into context:
http://www.riversideinfo.org/forum/topic.php?id=16
Chris, I believe that we are on the same page. Part of the problem with this type of communication is that it is sometimes difficult to assess the tone of someone's posting. I always re-read my postings after the fact and often think, "I hope that is not interpreted differently from what I intended." I have to admit that my opening remarks in the last posting, upon re-reading it again, may have come across as somewhat condescending. That was not intended and I apologize to all.
Here is my most immediate concern now: All of the above comments confirm my original opinion that we need to revisit downtown planning. I just received an email regarding a petition to ask the Village to place an advisory referendum on the ballot asking something to the affect of: "Should Riverside use TIF or not." If we revisit the downtown plan (i.e. create a new plan), we may find that a limited TIF is appropriate. The proposed referendum would tie our hands. Without a TIF, we have very little means to implement any recommendations from a downtown plan. ONce again, the limited TIF as I have previously defined it, would essentially be taking only the incremental tax dollars from larger taxing districts (Cook Co, MWRD, etc) and re-investing them into downtown Riverside. With committments not to use eminent domain, not to sell bonds, and to reimburse our schools, why not TIF?
I realize that this string is about creating a new downtown plan and not about TIF. But if we do not have the option of a limited TIF, a new downtown plan may become one of those proverbial city planning documents that sits on a shelf and collects dust.
Please, let's hold off on any petitions that broadly reject TIF as a tool for our Village. Let's see what we can do to convince the Board to revisit downtown planning, and then we can consider the appropriateness of a limited TIF. How about a petition asking the Village Board to create a new downtown planning process? If the Board rejects that recommendation, then let's move forward with a petition against TIF.