Rex Irby, Elmhurst Ward 7 Candidate

ELMHURST, IL — Rex Irby is one of two candidates for the Ward 7 seat on the Elmhurst City Council.

Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Rex Irby

Age:

61

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, University of Texas Austin; North American Board Certified Energy Professional (NABCEP – Solar PV)

Occupation:

Principal and vice president of Solar International Services, a solar energy firm focused on the design, engineering and construction of commercial solar projects. Before that I worked for over 30 years as an Information Technology Specialist owning my own practice.

Campaign website or social media page:

www.rexforward7.com - Facebook and Instagram handle: @rexforward7

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Purchasing water from the DuPage Water Commission is the number two expense on the city budget after police. It’s number one when water and sewer are combined. Of that purchased drinking water, 19-25% never makes it to our homes and businesses due primarily to water main leaks and unbilled water. High water bills have been the number one topic from visiting door to door, residents in my ward are feeling this impact. Over the last 12 years the total lost water billing is estimated at $42M that we paid for and never received. This can be remedied by tackling 6-7 miles of water main repairs per year of our 177 miles of pipes, to lower our water losses. The city has done a great job in buying new meters that are now realizing the true use of water versus historical lost revenues from under reporting old meters. Funds for water main replacement will come primarily from recovered lost water cost and impact fees on new homes.

What type of residential and commercial development would you like to see in Elmhurst?

The City of Elmhurst, Park District, School District and private land owners are all stewards of our open land that now only represents approximately 8% of Elmhurst. Open land use should not be left to the Park District alone; the city should refrain from selling or developing open land into housing or commercial use if it will negatively impact our stormwater capacity or put us below 7% remaining open land space. Any new commercial development on current open lands should be required to include 70% green space to get a conditional use permit.

Residential development should be cognizant and compliant of the State of Illinois law that requires reporting and strategies toward more affordable housing. With the Elmhurst median household income level at approximately $146,000, affordable housing equates to a maximum home value of $365,000. We need to do our best to make sure we have adequate housing stock that meets these goals so that our first time home buyers can become Elmhurst residents.

How would you like to see downtown develop? Do you support more condos and apartments?

Downtown development impacts our schools, utilities, goods and services, traffic and so much more. At our historical and current growth rate, Elmhurst could potentially add 5,000 new residents over the next 7-8 years. Since open land use is not a viable resource in Elmhurst, we have to look to multilevel buildings for housing. I’m in favor of downtown C4 heights above 6 stories and not exceeding 9 floors or 130 feet, and only with conditional use that complies with State law on affordable housing compliance of 20% of the units, similar to the Naperville’s new ordinance. I believe multi-unit housing in our outer core transition zones should be built no higher than 3 stories, so as not to negatively impact adjacent residential properties, values and aesthetics.

The city is facing a multimillion shortfall in stormwater debt for stormwater projects that have been completed. How should the city close it?

The recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenge everywhere. Through all the challenges, addressing storm water mitigation projects continued. All storm water projects to date have reached approximately $48M in total cost. The debt and its annual service cost have accumulated as well, resulting in a declared budget shortfall this year pertaining to the current portion of its 20 year debt service. Over development has caused more storm water issues, cost, and corresponding debt that have burdened our ability to pay back the extra cost of these large projects without getting the funds and proper fees to handle the current obligations.

Outside sales tax revenue was a key source to cover these current storm debt obligations and is now not able to cover this increased debt load. The city is now looking at options to liquidate city land assets to pay for current year storm water debt obligations. There are other viable choices going forward, like higher impact fees , that must be further examined so that property taxes do not become the historical easy answer. To mitigate this future risk of spending on projects that might fall outside our potential to pay for them, the council and city should perform thorough cash flow risk analysis based on a low, medium, and high revenue fund modeling.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate(s) seeking this post?

I will bring a new perspective to a seat that has been held for almost 24 years by the same individual. While experience should be valued, there is a benefit to looking at things in a different way. I see areas where our fiscal responsibility compared to our neighboring towns has been excessive and would like to look at ways we can control this.

I will be available and responsive to Ward 7 constituents, answer your questions and respond in a timely manner. I would like to have frequent communication and feedback, whether it’s with a newsletter or town halls, and get information circulated beyond storm water projects.

I will work with all of our local governmental entities to keep moving Elmhurst forward, building an even more welcoming community where we support all residents. I believe your local government should work for you and I want to serve you in Ward 7 and represent the neighborhood as the welcoming and thriving place that it is.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My time on the District 205 Finance Task Force offered great experience, where my research and information compilation was valuable to the group and the school district. The information was then discussed and collaboratively distilled and became a part of the group solution with projections, modeling and visually appealing graphs. Group discussions that invite open involvement of all parties, sharing of expertise, listening and patience resulted in “group buy-in” and comprehensive collaborative policy outcomes.

As a member of the city’s Sustainability Task Force, I am proud of the baseline report we were able to generate and that the city has started the process of changing all of our streetlights to LED bulbs. This is a great example of community groups and City Council working together.

From being on the Smart Grid Task Force for Illinois and my last 10 years of clean energy experience, I know action to be more proactive in achieving the state of Illinois’ goals on the path to 100% clean energy, phasing out carbon emissions from the energy and transportation sectors, is another area for exploration. As residents take advantage of incentives to purchase electric vehicles, we as a city also have state incentive programs to explore to increase charging stations, providing more access to residents while not increasing tax payer dollars.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

Having the seniors in the Elmhurst Citizens Survey saying they want to stay in Elmhurst. Having the younger aged population saying that they can afford to come and live in Elmhurst. Diversified age and inclusion balance will keep Elmhurst a desirable place to live. There’s a reason Elmhurst was named in the top 100 best cities with its great transportation options, great schools and library, and all around home charm and together we can maintain and further enhance all of Elmhurst’s attributes.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

None

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Rex be Humble.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have a passion for conservation of our natural resources, including water and land; and have always prioritized sustainability. Simple changes that make sense are what drove me to attend city council meetings and get involved in our great town. That is why I volunteered for the Sustainability Task Force and the District 205 Financial Task Force. Helping others has always given me joy and that desire to give back is what motivates me to be on city council. I love to meet, talk, and advocate for people. If you are a Seventh Ward resident or business owner, please visit my website or reach out to me directly. I would love to hear from you! rex@rexforward7.com