Economic Matters Committee Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Economic Matters Committee convened on January 7, 2026, to approve the agenda, elect Alderman Chandelmeyer as Chair, and review two primary business items. The meeting featured an economic development update from Manager Adam Stroud regarding recent business permitting data and expansion figures, followed by a detailed report from City Doc management regarding the planned construction fencing on Dock Street and strategies to maintain business viability during the project.

Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the meeting agenda.

Election of Chair

• Alderman Chandelmeyer was nominated and elected as the Chair of the Economic Matters Committee without opposition.

Economic Development Update

• Speaker: Adam Stroud, Economic Development Manager.
• Topic: Updated breakdown of city businesses based on permitting data from 2023 to 2025.
• Key Data Points:
  • In December, the city reported 2 new businesses and 7 business relocations/expansions/changes of ownership, resulting in 26 new full-time and 16 new part-time employees.
  • A specific employer (Black Market Bakers) expanded operations, adding 40 new full-time employees, noted as the second largest growth event of the year.
  • An anomaly in September showed 200 part-time employees added due to a change in ownership of a large employer, which Stroud clarified was not actual new employment.
  • Ward Six recorded only one permitted entity (a Head Start program) over the three-year period.
  • Ward One has the largest total permitting square footage, while Ward Three has the largest average square footage per entity.
  • 80% of permitted entities in the last three years fall within the service sector, aligning with broader U.S. economic trends.
• Positions and Concerns Raised:
  • Alderman Savage: Expressed interest in the "midnight madness" event and asked if the office conducts interviews with businesses that close to understand reasons for attrition. Stroud noted the city lacks a real-time mechanism to know when a business closes and typically learns of closures after the fact, especially for corporate entities.
  • Alderman Savage: Requested clarification on the office's role as an advocate for businesses facing permit delays. Stroud confirmed the office acts as an internal liaison to facilitate complex permitting processes but emphasized that delays often stem from code complexities rather than staff inaction.
  • Alderman Johnson: Concerned that special exception processes and arbitrary guidelines favored large out-of-town entities (citing the Atlas Restaurant Group) over local "mom and pop" shops. Johnson expressed a position that current processes may harm small local business owners who lack the resources of larger chains.
  • Alderman Johnson: Expressed confusion over the rapid closure of businesses, citing anecdotal experiences of shops closing overnight.
  • Stroud's Response: Stated that business closures are usually multi-faceted, often stemming from cash flow issues, debt, or mismanagement. He emphasized the office's commitment to a "clinician's approach" for small businesses, offering individualized support to prevent attrition before it happens.

City Dock Construction Update

• Speaker: Representative from the Office of the City Manager/City Dock.
• Topic: Update on construction fencing expansion for the City Dock project.
• Key Facts:
  • Construction fencing will expand from Craig Street down Dock Street by approximately 50 parking spaces, creating a materials laydown area.
  • Dock Street will effectively become a one-way street (westbound) for the duration of Phase One, scheduled to end in Summer 2027.
  • Approximately 12 to 14 parking spaces will remain accessible.
  • The initial fence expansion was originally scheduled for January 4th but has been extended by two weeks to allow for communication planning.
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • In-person meetings were held with Dock Street businesses to document concerns, primarily regarding foot traffic loss and parking availability.
  • A dedicated messaging campaign is being deployed starting January 19th, including sandwich boards at Randall and Dock Street, QR codes on construction fences linking to project details, and wayfinding signage directing visitors to the Hillman Garage.
  • Public Works is committed to restriping parking for head-in parking and restricting parallel parking to align with the new one-way flow.
• Discussion and Positions:
  • Alderman Savage: Proposed a position to pedestrianize both Dock and Craig Streets to create outdoor dining and gathering spaces, arguing that most businesses are restaurants that may not need the parking and that the garage was built to offload this traffic. Savage suggested the long construction timeline (until Summer 2027) offers an opportunity to experiment with this concept.
  • City Dock Representative: Responded that feedback from businesses was universal regarding the loss of parking, with many believing they needed the spots for customers and employees. The representative noted that while the proposal was interesting, the current construction plan is in motion and the immediate priority is mitigating the current disruption.
  • Committee Consensus: Alderman Savage indicated he would discuss the pedestrianization proposal with the City Manager and Ward One colleague to gauge feasibility.

Good of the Order

• Maritime Apprenticeship: Committee members confirmed that the maritime apprenticeship program has already selected an apprentice who is currently moving through the program.
• Adjournment: Alderman Chandelmeyer moved to adjourn, and the motion was passed unanimously with all members agreeing to continue the committee's work from the previous term.