Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee

400 S. Eagle Street City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540 Meeting Minutes Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee Tuesday, September 5, 2023 7:30 AM Municipal Center Lunchroom A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Friant called the September 5, 2023 Naperville Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) Committee meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. The meeting was held in the Municipal Center Lunchroom located at 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL. B. ROLL CALL: Present: John Cuff; Jan Erickson; Jeff Friant, PDC Chairman; Pat Kennedy; Bill Novack; Tiffani Picco; Tom Stibbe; Mike Sullivan; and Carl Wohlt Absent: Pam Bartlett; Mary Gibson; Ian Holzhauer; and John Joseph Also Present: Kath Biagioli, resident; Rebecca DeLarme, City Staff; Rick Hitchcock, former Riverwalk Commission Chairman; Peggy Motta, Naperville Park District; Stephanie Penick, Naperville Riverwalk Foundation; Carl Peterson, GRWA; Marilyn Schweitzer, resident; Eric Shutes, Naperville Park District; Amy Phillips, The Conservation Foundation; and Mary Lou Wehrli, resident C. PUBLIC FORUM: There were no public comments. D. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Approval of Minutes - Jeff Friant Approve minutes from the August 1, 2023 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting Attachments: 23PDCMinutes0801 A motion to approve the August 1, 2023 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting minutes was made by Sullivan and seconded by Kennedy. MOTION CARRIED with Erickson abstaining 2. Park District - Tiffani Picco and Tom Stibbe City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 10/31/2023 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes September 5, 2023 Construction Committee Stibbe reported on the Last Fling event, noting an issue with the new fencing that surrounded the event and caused pedestrian traffic through some of the Riverwalk beds. He has discussed this with Picco and DiCristina as it will need to be addressed. Clearing occurred in Section 1 by Jefferson Avenue and the river is now visible from the path. Bank restoration was also done in the area. Centennial Beach is closed for the season. Stibbe stated he would like to have the temporary path at Rotary Hill removed. He believes this should occur this fall so there could be established growth in the area by next season. He noted positive feedback regarding the path during past events but that it was intended as a temporary path. There were no objections regarding the removal from the PDC Committee. 3. Fredenhagen Park Fountain - Bill Novack Novack is proceeding with the option one recommendation to fix the fountain and is working with the Riverwalk consultants to get plan documents prepared. This is anticipated to go out to bid this fall with the majority of work being completed next spring. 4. Riverwalk Master Plan - Pat Kennedy a. Discussion with Park District Planning Staff regarding Prairie Nature Garden Discussion with Park District Planning Staff regarding Prairie Nature Garden Attachments: RiverwalkPrairieNatureGardenConceptPlan20230825 Kennedy discussed the Prairie Nature Garden Concept Plan that was put together by Motta and Shutes and included in the agenda packet, noting he would like to get concurrence from the group and advance the details and design for this Master Plan project. Shutes reviewed the design with the group adding that one of the main goals listed in the Master Plan was to maintain the sand volleyball court and the ice/hockey rink. Recent challenges with maintaining the ice rink for a period of time was discussed. Motta noted the boardwalk mentioned in the Master Plan would not be possible due to the floodway for the DuPage River. They noted suggested areas for benches and interpretive signs, and the possibility of including information from potential donors on both. Shutes added that the Park District is working with DuPage County on shoreline restoration from Jefferson Avenue in Section 1 to the Jaycees Accessible Playground and has hired a consultant to work on permitting. They plan to have more information to share by the end of the year. Schweitzer suggested including the existing Riverwalk paths, adding a City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 10/31/2023 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes September 5, 2023 Construction Committee bench on the south side, and possibly adding additional benches and a shade tree in the area. She inquired how the area would be managed with the ice rink. Shutes noted the Park District’s future plan to conduct a Site Master Plan in 2025 for portions of Centennial Park. One option to be proposed for community consideration is the possible seasonal relocation of the ice skating area from the basin to the existing parking lot to the north during the winter season to allow for better maintenance and an extended season. Hitchcock noted a past study done by ERA and GRWA on the area around the Studio One building in Centennial Park. Wehrli inquired if a separate garden was necessary, noting the south side of the area between Centennial Beach and the Jaycees Playground could include prairie and wetland plants in context with the river. Motta noted the opportunity of using this area to educate the public on Park Meadow projects of converting detention sites and turf grass to meadow. Stibbe noted that a lot of these areas could be wet or dry and that there is stewardship with these projects until they are established which makes maintenance easier for the staff. Novack shared the following written comment that was received from resident Bill Simon regarding the Prairie Nature Garden: Dear Riverwalk Planning, Design, and Construction Committee: I heard about the discussion of the Prairie Nature Garden next to the volleyball area by the Riverwalk. Using native plants will have many benefits: Native plants are beautiful. Many people get native plants and weeds confused. Just look at the native plants that the Park District has planted around the Fort Hill Activity Center, and you'll agree. Flowering native plants attract butterflies and birds. Who doesn't love that? Native plants will reduce the need to mow under-utilized turf areas. The proposed location next to the Riverwalk is a perfect place to showcase native plants, so that people can see native plants and visualize them in beds in their own yards. Include signage so that the public knows that these are native plants, and how they can be used in landscaping! I support the plan for the prairie nature garden! b. Review of Riverwalk Master Plan draft revisions Review of Riverwalk Master Plan draft revisions Attachments: RiverwalkMasterPlanDraftRevisions20230831 Peterson reviewed the draft revisions to the Master Plan that was included in the agenda packet. The group suggested revisions that included leaving “2031” in place of “Bicentennial”, updating the attractions to include the Illinois Big Tree Champion and Sindt Woods, including donor information in the actual projects, and including the Riverwalk Bicentennial Fund. Wehrli City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 10/31/2023 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes September 5, 2023 Construction Committee will submit her suggestions via email to be shared with the PDC Committee. Peterson will update the draft revisions based on feedback from the group to review next month. 5. Riverwalk Bicentennial Fund (RWBF) - Pat Kennedy Kennedy noted that the marketing video was completed and will be shared with the Riverwalk Commission at next week’s meeting. The RWBF Board continues to meet and layout plans for their fundraising strategy. 6. Eagle Street Gateway Design Update - Bill Novack Novack reported they are nearing completion of the environmental assessment public comment period. The project should be bid and awarded this fall, with construction beginning early next year and completion by end of summer. 7. South Extension Preliminary Design - Bill Novack Novack advised that ERA and GRWA continue to work on the alignment based upon the most recent input and are moving forward with the design. E. NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business to discuss. F. MEETING SCHEDULE: Riverwalk Commission, September 13, 2023, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, October 3, 2023, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL Riverwalk Commission, October 11, 2023, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL **Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, October 31, 2023, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL G. ADJOURNMENT: Sullivan discussed the level of review occurring at both the PDC Committee meetings and the Riverwalk Commission meetings. Attendance at the PDC meetings is not required for Riverwalk Commissioners but encouraged for more detailed discussions on certain topics related to planning, design, and construction. It was noted that the group should be more disciplined about the depth of discussions that occur at the Riverwalk Commission meetings. City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 10/31/2023 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes September 5, 2023 Construction Committee A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Cuff and seconded by Novack. The meeting adjourned at 9:07 a.m. MOTION CARRIED Respectfully submitted by Rebecca DeLarme, City Staff City of Naperville Page 5 Printed on 10/31/2023