Committee of the Whole Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THURSDAY—JANUARY 23, 2020 IRWIN CENTER CALL TO ORDER: Village President Hofeld called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 6 p.m. ROLL CALL: Clerk Marilyn Thomas called the roll. Those present were Village President Richard Hofeld, Trustee Barbara Dawkins, Trustee Lisa Purcell, Trustee Karen Washington, Trustee Lauren Roman, and Trustee Larry Burnson. Trustee Jay Heiferman was absent. Staff Present: Village Manager Jim Marino, Village Attorney Chris Cummings, Fire Chief Bob Grabowski, Police Chief Bill Alcott, Finance Director Dennis Bubenik, Community and Economic Development Director Angela Mesaros, Marketing Director Jennifer Quirke, Director of Public Works John Schaefer, Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney. The board and department heads gathered for a second session of Strategic Planning. The effort was led by the Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies. Greg Kuhn and Jeanna Ballard from the center led the discussion. This session was meant to review short- and long-term goals, not a full list of goals for a strategic plan. That will follow after the Center for Governmental Studies prepares its report on the work done over the two meetings. The group reviewed work from the previous session focusing on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. As the group went through the discussion list, they were asked to determine which of the four categories the topic should be placed under. Topics included: Infrastructure; safety; interactions/lack of with state and government bodies; transit-oriented development; great ideas need to be presented through good communications; downtown development; green initiatives; performing arts center; attract and retain young families; the future of Calumet Country Club; casino outlook; pensions and other debt; Homewood’s image. The group consensus was Homewood has many positives, but it needs to and be better at communicating its image to the public. Some of the goals are complex, such as the Calumet Country Club issue. Others are ongoing issues, such as infrastructure, that require constant attention and money. A motion was made by Trustee Burnson and seconded by Trustee Washington to adjourn the Meeting of the Whole. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk