Focusing on issues such as parking and taxes are two of the goals the Evanston Small Business Association discussed Tuesday night at its annual meeting. The group also elected a new executive board.
About 15 small business owners and other members of the business community met at Prairie Moon restaurant, 1502 Sherman Ave., to talk about problems facing Evanston’s small businesses, including cooperation with other institutions and parking concerns.
The discussion centered on brainstorming issues that the association could work on in small committees. Rick Steinberg, outgoing treasurer and a founder of the group, said that in order to be successful, the group must target specific issues, such as parking and taxes, and become advocates.
“We need to find not just a mission but an issue,” Steinberg said.
One item discussed for possible committee work was parking. The group had been unable to take an official stance on Evanston City Council’s recent increase in parking meter hours because there was no group to vote on it, according to Troy Thiel, the group’s president and a member of Evanston’s parking committee.
An idea raised at the meeting was to improve advertising for the one hour of free parking available at city garages. Michael Bernard, a local realtor, suggested putting information on where to park legally on parking tickets.
“As (an association) that’s where we really can have an impact and we need to focus on it,” Bernard said.
Another concern was cooperation with other groups, including City Council. Several people expressed dissatisfaction with rising taxes that are hurting business.
“I’m on the borderline of not being able to afford too many more taxes,” said Dick Peach, general manager of Dempster Auto Rebuilders and president-elect of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.
In order to make a difference, business leaders need become involved, Peach said. At last winter’s budget committee meetings, Peach was the only business person there and that is a problem, he said.
Ald. Steven Bernstein (4th) said at Tuesday’s meeting that he hopes business leaders become more involved. He said they are knowledgeable and could contribute in areas where aldermen always are looking for more information.
“You can never get too much input,” Bernstein said.
Thiel said he intends to follow up on the agendas brought up at Tuesday’s meeting.
“The crux of tonight’s meeting was how to continue at what people are interested in,” Thiel said. “And I think we achieved that.”
