Advisory Commission on Disabilities

400 S. Eagle Street City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540 http://www.naperville.il.us/ Meeting Minutes - Final Advisory Commission on Disabilities Thursday, November 6, 2025 6:30 PM Meeting Rooms A&B PUBLIC COMMENT: A. CALL TO ORDER: B. ROLL CALL: Present 6- Wendy Pligge, Lisa Cesal, Suhel Siddiqui, David Halleck, Ghousia Wajid, and Supna Jain Absent 1- Donielle Deering 1. Welcome the new members to the Advisory Commission on Disabilities Councilwoman Jain and the two Student Representatives Pragnya Guptha and Sophia Pandya were welcomed and introduced themselves to the Commission. Also present: Dawn Portner, City Clerk Commissioner Cesal entered the meeting a 6:40 p.m.. C. PUBLIC FORUM: D. REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Receive an update from the Naperville Police Department Police Clinician Ali Weringa provided an overview of the Police Department's Blue Envelope Program. The Blue Envelope Program is designed to help communication and foster safer, more positive interactions between police officers and individuals on the autism spectrum by helping provide awareness of the citizen’s support needs during a law enforcement encounter. The program provides a blue envelope for individuals on the autism spectrum to present upon contact with a Naperville police officer. The envelope is a way for the participant to quickly and easily provide identification as well as a clear visual cue to officers about their specific communication methods and support needs to help reduce misunderstandings and anxiety during an encounter. City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 2/6/2026 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2025 The blue envelope can be used to store copies of the individual’s identification, contact information or important vehicle operating documents such as the vehicle registration and proof of insurance. The program provides officers with tools and guidance for respectful, effective communication and offers reminders for the participant on how to interact with a Naperville police officer. 2. Receive an update from the Accessible Community Task Force Mary Hamill, Chair of the Accessible Community Task Force (ACTF) updated the Commission on the following ACTF initiatives: 1) At the July and August ACTF meetings they continued discussion regarding the ADA Transition Plan for public sidewalks in Naperville. Their search of the City’s website shows a Plan from February 2016 with a goal update in 2018. At the October 7th, 2025 City Council meeting, the City’s TED presented the 2026 and 2027 Sidewalk Program. The Naperville Park District updated its ADA Transition Plan and it can be reviewed at: https://napervilleparks.org/ada Members of the ACTF will be joining in the upcoming November 5th Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Meeting with representatives of the City’s consultant company Epstein. 2) Since the last ACD meeting, two housing developers have incorporated visitability into their new housing developments. With advocacy from Planning and Zoning Commissioner Allison Longenbaugh, M/I Homes’ Everly Trace will have five visitable homes, Lincoln Property Company’s The Residences at Naper and Plank will have thirty-four visitable homes. Representatives from the ACTF presented a visitability update at the August 20th City Building Review Board Meeting. (handout attached) They answered questions about the feasibility and benefits of a visitability code update. As a follow-up to this meeting, City staff convened a Visitability Meeting on October 23rd with members of the ACTF, local developers, contractors, designers and representatives from the Accessibility Policy Institute. The outcome from the meeting is that City staff will recommend visitability design elements related to washroom/powder room design and door and hallway design to be incorporated into the new Municipal Code of Naperville. However, the design elements related to a step free entrance and first floor washroom/powder room requirement will not be incorporated in the new Municipal Code of Naperville. 3) On September 24th, members of the ACTF and community members participated in North Central College Occupational Therapy Students’ Community Mobility and Access Assessments. Locations included the Naperville Riverwalk, Nichols Library, the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, a Jewel/Osco grocery store, a Chili’s restaurant, and the Naperville Illinois Secretary of State DMV location. The students will be presenting their findings on November 10th, 2025. 4) During this past summer’s Riverwalk Commission’s Riverwalk Asset Management Plan Walk, the Naperville Park District representatives pointed out that the Riverwalk Sindt Woods Trail is not “reasonably accessible.” At the August 28th and September 11th meetings Naperville Park District Board approved the funding to stabilize the trail in compliance with ADA standards. City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 2/6/2026 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2025 5) Per an ACTF member’s request, the City removed the term Asperger’s from https://www.naperville.il.us/services/naperville-police-department/programs-and -services/caring-hands/ and replaced it with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 6) The ACTF has shared information about the Naperville Police Department’s Blue Envelope Program with organizations in Naperville and through social media https://www.naperville.il.us/services/naperville-police-department/programs-and -services/blue-envelope-program/ The Autism Hero Project organization that partnered with the NPD to bring this program also has partnered with the Elgin Police Department to create the Safe Together Police Academy and Simulated Traffic Stop Training for Officers and Autistic Drivers. 7) The Eagle Street Gateway Project construction is complete! The ACTF is grateful to all those involved to make the Naperville Riverwalk fully accessible now and looks forward to the November 14th Grand Opening Ceremony. 8) The ACTF assists with updates to the City’s Services and Resources for Persons with Disabilities webpage, https://www.naperville.il.us/services/accessibility-resources/ They reviewed the websites of the Townships that encompass Naperville and found that many do not include information for persons with disabilities. (report attached) 3. Receive an update on Naperville becoming an Autism Friendly Community Portner provided a brief history on how the city became involved in discussing the idea of becoming an Autism Friendly Community, the goals of the program, what progress has been made to date and the next steps in reaching this designation from Little Friends and Turning Pointe Autism. 4. Review the 2025 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Annual Report As part of the City’s effort to continually review Boards/Commissions, each group has been asked to develop and submit a brief one-page report by January 31, 2026. Topics include accomplishments, challenges and upcoming work for 2026. Several items were discussed by the Commission in order to complete the report. Portner will compile the Commissioners comments and the draft of the report will be sent to the Commission for review and comment via email. The report will be approved at the February 2026 Commission meeting. E. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Approve the minutes from the August 7, 2025, Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting A motion was made by Commissioner Wajid, seconded by Commissioner Hallack, to approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting minutes of August 7, 2025. The motion carried by a voice vote. 2. Discuss the City’s protocols for sidewalk repairs City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 2/6/2026 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2025 The Commission discussed and asked questions about the City's sidewalk repairs program. Portner stated she reached out to the City’s TED Department, which oversees this program. Sidewalk issues are addressed in two ways: systematic maintenance and reported issues. When a crew is assigned to an area for sidewalk repairs, staff reviews not only the specific location identified, but also both sides of the street to ensure all affected areas are addressed. Portner also noted that the cost-sharing program is scheduled to be eliminated when the 2026 budget is approved by the Council. F: NEW BUSINESS 1. Approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities 2026 Meeting Calendar A motion was made by Commissioner Wajid, seconded by Commissioner Pligge to approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities 2026 Meeting Calendar. The motion carried by a voice vote. G. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Commissioner Hallack, seconded by Commissioner Pligge, to adjourn the November 6, 2025 Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting at 8:04 p.m.. The motion carried by a voice vote. /s/ Dawn Portner Dawn Portner City Clerk City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 2/6/2026