Riverwalk Commission

400 S. Eagle Street City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540 Meeting Minutes Riverwalk Commission Wednesday, July 10, 2024 7:30 AM NEU A. CALL TO ORDER: Riverwalk Commission Chairman Kennedy called the July 10, 2024 Naperville Riverwalk Commission meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. The meeting was held in the Naperville Employee University (NEU) at the Naperville Municipal Center located at 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL. B. ROLL CALL: Present: Pam Bartlett; Grant Cowen; John Cuff; Jan Erickson; Jeff Friant; Mary Gibson; Ian Holzhauer; Pat Kennedy, Chairman; Bill Novack; Tiffani Picco; Johnna Shields; Mike Sullivan; and Carl Wohlt Absent: None Also Present: Tim Ball, GRWA; Jesus Cortez, NCTV; Rebecca DeLarme, City staff; Brian Dusak, ERA; John Joseph, Riverwalk 2031 Fund; Sharon Martina, resident; and Stephanie Penick, Naperville Riverwalk Foundation C. PUBLIC FORUM: Sharon Martina, Naperville resident and former educator with Naperville District 203, presented her request for a Haiku Path at the Naperville Riverwalk and distributed information to the Commission which is included with these minutes. She discussed haiku’s connection to nature and the Riverwalk, how she was introduced to haiku in high school, and how reading and writing haiku was very cathartic after dealing with loss. She suggested a contest to include local, national and international poets, as well as involvement with local school districts to promote and support the project. Kennedy thanked Martina for her detailed and thoughtful proposal and explained that a broader discussion would be appropriate at an upcoming Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) Committee meeting. Erickson inquired about funding and discussed the Commission’s procedures for submitting proposed Riverwalk assets, noting the funding and maintenance costs involved with adding amenities to the Riverwalk. Penick passed a copy of the procedures to the group. City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 8/14/2024 Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 Discussion followed on possible funding ideas. Shields noted various volunteer groups at local high schools that could possibly help with signs; Gibson expressed interest to include in Naperville parks; and Holzhauer inquired about considering a broader poetry concept, noting the Artists’ Overlook project from the Master Plan. Novack encouraged the group to think of the area(s) where this could be placed and also the means of transmitting the haiku (e.g., pavers, signs, etc.). This will be included on the August 6th PDC Committee meeting agenda for further review and discussion. D. PROJECT UPDATES: There were no project updates. E. OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business to discuss. F. NEW BUSINESS: 1. 2025 Capital Improvement Projects - Bill Novack Review and provide feedback regarding the Riverwalk’s 2025 Capital Improvement submittal Attachments: 2025 Riverwalk CIP Novack discussed the proposed 2025 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) submittal and reviewed the spreadsheet included in the agenda packet. He noted that the submittal would show the proposed projects for 2025 through 2029 for City Council’s review of the next five years. He included the Riverwalk projects through 2031 on the spreadsheet for the Riverwalk Commission to line up with the projects from the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan. He advised that Commission recommendations are taken into consideration when City staff prepares and enters the capital improvement requests for the Naperville Riverwalk and that all budget information for 2025 needed to be entered by August 2nd. Novack reviewed some of the items that would be included in the submittal: 1) Annual Riverwalk Rehabilitation; 2) 430 S. Washington Street Park; 3) West Parking Lot BMP Improvements; 4) South Extension: Hillside to Martin; 5) Hillside Road Gateway; 6) Eagle Street Gateway; 7) Riverbank Ecological Restoration; and 8) Grand Pavilion Improvements. Kennedy pointed out that the Asset Management Plan and the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan feed into the CIP planning. City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 8/14/2024 Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 Sullivan noted the funding that may be available for permeable pavers from DuPage County for the West Parking Lot BMP improvements. This was previously discussed at last week’s PDC Committee meeting and the criteria and funding levels are being taken into consideration. Novack explained that soil borings are currently being conducted and reminded the group that consideration would also need to be given to the timeline of the Grand Pavilion improvements. Novack discussed the Aurora Avenue Retaining Wall that was also included in the CIP per discussions at last week’s PDC Committee meeting and explained that a permanent solution needs to be addressed as the wall continues to move. Discussion followed on this being a Riverwalk expense with Novack advising that the wall did not exist before the Riverwalk but that outside funding opportunities could be looked at in the future to determine if this may be placed as a roadway project. Cuff inquired if repairs to Fredenhagen Park were included with Novack advising that money was budgeted. Discussion followed on the Fredenhagen building that is not being utilized due to not meeting ADA standards. It was suggested that this should be analyzed more in depth next year. 2. Riverwalk Standard Paving Bricks - Bill Novack Report regarding the Naperville Riverwalk standard paving brick Novack discussed the report included in the agenda packet regarding the Naperville Riverwalk standard pavers. Discussion at last week’s PDC Committee meeting focused on the possibility of selecting a new standard paver as the mold for the Stockholm red brick made by Unilock was no longer available. Our consultant with GRWA inquired about the mold and was later informed that the mold is still capable of producing pavers and that Unilock would be happy to continue to produce the Stockholm paver for us as part of special orders with a minimum of 3,000 square feet. The consensus and recommendation from the PDC Committee was to maintain the existing Stockholm style paver in the Riverwalk pathways with an alternate for another exact sized 4” x 8” paver consistent with the Il Campo style located at other areas of the Riverwalk. G. REPORTS: 1. Approval of Minutes - Pat Kennedy Approve minutes from the June 12, 2024 Riverwalk Commission meeting Attachments: 24RWCMinutes0612 City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 8/14/2024 Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 A motion to approve the June 12, 2024 Riverwalk Commission meeting minutes was made by Erickson and seconded by Sullivan. MOTION CARRIED with Kennedy abstaining 2. Chairman - Pat Kennedy Kennedy reported that his and Friant’s terms as Riverwalk Commissioners would be expiring in November. He requested that the group encourage potential candidates to apply through the City’s website at https://www.naperville.il.us/government/board-and-commissions/riverwalk-c ommission/. The Mayor reviews the applications and discusses potential appointments with the department directors/staff liaisons. City Council has final approval of all Board and Commission appointments. 3. Finance - Bill Novack There was no Finance report. 4. Park District - Tiffani Picco Receive the monthly Park District report Attachments: 24ParkDistrictMemo0710 Picco reported on the following highlights from the monthly Park District report that was included in the agenda packet. She encouraged the group to visit the Prairie Nature Garden and reported that staff continues to focus on weed control and watering. The Rothermel Family Skate Facility renovations are complete and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for July 16th. The Naperville Salute event happened this past weekend on Rotary Hill. 5. Riverwalk Foundation - John Cuff Cuff reminded the group of the three year time commitment for establishing the Prairie Nature Garden and that Picco will be sharing the maintenance plan information annually. Kennedy noted that completion of construction should be acknowledged once the sign is received. 6. Riverwalk 2031 Fund - Grant Cowen Cowen stated they continue to work toward funding and receipt of the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan. 7. Donor Recognition - Rebecca DeLarme Receive the monthly Donor Recognition report City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 8/14/2024 Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 DeLarme reviewed the Riverwalk Commission Donor Recognition report included in the agenda packet. The Fall 2024 Legacy Gift Order deadline is September 1st and consists of nineteen 4” x 8” and one 8” x 8” commemorative bricks. 8. Planning, Design, and Construction - Pat Kennedy for Jeff Friant Receive the July 2, 2024 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee draft meeting minutes Attachments: 24PDCMinutes0702Draft Kennedy noted that most pertinent business from the meeting was already discussed. Novack reported on the request to restore the Riverwalk Millennium Labyrinth. He advised that the consensus from the PDC Committee was to restore the labyrinth and that funds from PA022 could be used. Novack is obtaining information on the stain materials and application method and noted that Park District staff could perform power washing and sealing. H. MEETING SCHEDULE: Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, August 6, 2024, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL Riverwalk Commission, August 14, 2024, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, September 3, 2024, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL Riverwalk Commission, September 11, 2024, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL I. ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Holzhauer and seconded by Shields. The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 a.m. MOTION CARRIED Respectfully submitted by Rebecca DeLarme, City Staff City of Naperville Page 5 Printed on 8/14/2024