Riverwalk Commission — Naperville, IL
Date: 2023-12-13

400 S. Eagle Street
 City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540



 Meeting Agenda

 Riverwalk Commission

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 7:30 AM Municipal Center NEU




A. CALL TO ORDER:

B. ROLL CALL:

C. PUBLIC FORUM:

D. PROJECT UPDATES:

 1. Riverwalk Master Plan - Pat Kennedy

 2. Update on Eagle Street Gateway Design - Bill Novack

 3. Update on South Gateway Preliminary Design - Bill Novack


E. OLD BUSINESS:

F. NEW BUSINESS:

 1. Prairie Nature Garden - John Cuff


G. REPORTS:

 1. Approval of Minutes - Pat Kennedy

 23-1457 Approve minutes from the November 8, 2023 Riverwalk
 Commission meeting

 2. Chairman - Pat Kennedy

 3. Finance - Bill Novack

 4. Park District - Tiffani Picco

 23-1458 Receive the monthly Park District report




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Riverwalk Commission Meeting Agenda December 13, 2023



 5. Riverwalk Foundation - John Cuff

 6. Riverwalk Bicentennial Fund - John Joseph

 7. Donor Recognition - Rebecca DeLarme

 8. Planning, Design, and Construction - Jeff Friant

 23-1465 Receive the December 5, 2023 Riverwalk Planning, Design and
 Construction Committee draft meeting minutes

H. MEETING SCHEDULE:
 Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, January 2, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

 Riverwalk Commission, January 10, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

 Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, February 6, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

 Riverwalk Commission, February 14, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL


I. ADJOURNMENT:
 Any individual with a disability requesting a reasonable accommodation in order to
 participate in a public meeting should contact the Communications Department at least
 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. The Communications Department can
 be reached in person at 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL., via telephone at
 630-420-6707 or 630-305-5205 (TDD) or via e-mail at info@naperville.il.us. Every
 effort will be made to allow for meeting participation.




City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 12/8/2023

400 S. Eagle Street
 City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540



 Meeting Minutes

 Riverwalk Commission


Wednesday, December 13, 2023 7:30 AM Municipal Center NEU


A. CALL TO ORDER:

 Chairman Kennedy called the December 13, 2023 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; John Cuff; Jan Erickson; Mary Gibson; Ian
 Holzhauer (until 8:12 a.m.); Pat Kennedy, Chairman; John Joseph; Bill
 Novack; Tiffani Picco; Sennah Rashidian; Johnna Shields; Mike Sullivan;
 and Carl Wohlt

 Absent: Jeff Friant; and Ryan Mohammadian

 Also Present: Jesus Cortez, NCTV; Rebecca DeLarme, City staff; Brian
 Dusak, ERA; Rick Hitchcock, former Riverwalk Commission Chairman;
 Peggy Motta, Naperville Park District; Stephanie Penick, Naperville
 Riverwalk Foundation; and Eric Shutes, Naperville Park District

 Kennedy welcomed Riverwalk Commissioner Shields. Commissioners
 and members not present at last week’s Planning, Design and
 Construction (PDC) Committee meeting introduced themselves at this
 time.

C. PUBLIC FORUM:

 There were no public comments.

D. PROJECT UPDATES:

 1. Riverwalk Master Plan - Pat Kennedy

 Kennedy reported that the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan has been updated
 and will continue to be reviewed annually as a living document.
 2. Update on Eagle Street Gateway Design - Bill Novack

 Novack reported that they continue to communicate regarding the federal

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Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes December 13, 2023

 grant agreement. The project is expected to go out for bid this winter with
 construction beginning next spring.
 3. Update on South Gateway Preliminary Design - Bill Novack

 Novack reported on the productive discussions from last week’s PDC
 Committee meeting, noting that the group reviewed the plans and
 discussed alignment of the pathway, slopes, tree removal, and different
 impacts and placement of items. Work will continue with ERA and GRWA
 on final design and permitting in 2024.

 Dusak provided a schedule of the next steps after receiving comments
 from the PDC Committee. Novack provided an update on the Washington
 Street Bridge Construction project, noting that while the project is behind
 schedule, the goal is still for the project to be completed by the end of
 2024. GRWA will prepare exhibits and visuals in preparation for the next
 meeting with the hospital to continue dialogue about material selection for
 the intersections. Dusak stated they anticipate starting final engineering in
 2024, bidding in winter, and beginning construction in 2025.

 Kennedy requested a budget update when preliminary engineering is
 finalized.

E. OLD BUSINESS:

 There was no old business to discuss.

F. NEW BUSINESS:

 1. Prairie Nature Garden - John Cuff

 Cuff noted the concept plan for the Prairie Nature Garden project of the
 Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan submitted by Park District staff at the October
 31, 2023 PDC Committee meeting. He advised that the Naperville
 Riverwalk Foundation would like to fund this project, not to exceed
 $45,000. Cuff has met with Picco and Novack and would like to proceed in
 2024. Kennedy thanked the Foundation for their support and long-term
 commitment, and also thanked the Park District for advancing the design.
 The concept will need to be finalized at the January 2nd PDC Committee
 meeting.

G. REPORTS:

 1. Approval of Minutes - Pat Kennedy


 Approve minutes from the November 8, 2023 Riverwalk Commission meeting
 Attachments: 23RWCMinutes1108


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Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes December 13, 2023

 A motion to approve the November 8, 2023 Riverwalk Commission
 meeting minutes was made by Joseph and seconded by Sullivan.
 MOTION CARRIED with Gibson, Kennedy and Shields abstaining
 2. Chairman - Pat Kennedy

 There was no Chairman’s Report.

 3. Finance - Bill Novack

 Novack reported that City Council concluded their budget workshops with
 no changes to the Riverwalk CIP. Discussion followed on the expiration of
 the state grant for the 430 South Washington Street project with Novack
 advising that they petitioned for a two-year extension with an expiration
 date of August 2026. For next year’s Capital program, the plans will be
 updated so the park project will be ready to bid as the bridge construction
 project wraps up. The 2024 budget will include Eagle Street Gateway
 construction and the Fredenhagen Park and Horse Trough fountain repair.
 Construction for the South Gateway and 430 South Washington is planned
 for 2025.
 4. Park District - Tiffani Picco


 Receive the monthly Park District report
 Attachments: 23ParkDistrictMemo1213

 Picco reviewed highlights from the Park District report included in the
 agenda packet. Work was completed west of the Visitors Center to
 remove overgrown vegetation and open up the area to prepare for future
 improvements as this is included as a project in the Riverwalk 2031 Master
 Plan.

 Invasive plants have been removed in Sections 3 and 8, and a contractor
 has helped reset over 25 remembrance plaques in Section 2. They would
 like to continue this next year.

 Novack read the following email that was sent to the Riverwalk, Mayor,
 Council and the Park District:

 Dear City Leaders, Planners, and Riverwalk Stakeholders
 Many of us regular Riverwalk users are very concerned about all the mature
 trees being cut down by a third-party contractor on both the north and south
 side of the Riverwalk from Eagle to Jefferson.

 The mature trees seem to be healthy and non-invasive. We have noticed it
 all summer, but the cutting accelerated in the last few weeks-and especially
 the last couple days. What is more surprising, is that they are being

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Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes December 13, 2023

 chopped down in critical areas that would prevent steep bank
 erosion-especially adjacent to Centennial Beach-those mature tree roots
 are the best way to prevent erosion literally inches from the Riverwalk in
 that step bank section-why would one ever cut those trees down?

 We often have visitors come in from out of town and we take them to the
 Riverwalk. They are most impressed with the mature trees that line the
 banks. We have noticed some newly planted trees (some tiny oaks
 adjacent to the Paddleboat Quarry and a handful of bald cypress near the
 Jaycee (sic) Playground), but the cutting seems to be far outpacing the
 planting. This year, the Riverwalk is noticeably barer.

 And even if trees were planted at the same pace, why cut down the mature
 trees? They are what makes the riverwalk The Riverwalk.

 Concerned and hoping it stops!
 --Todd & Patsy Mertz and Family and Regular Riverwalk Users

 Picco noted some of the declining tree removals and replacements that
 have taken place near Eagle Street, removal of overgrown vegetation and
 declining trees by the Visitors Center, and also removal of dead and
 hazardous trees by Centennial Beach. Each tree is assessed by Park
 District staff and their tree contractor before being removed. They are in a
 transition period now of having to remove the trees before they are
 replaced, and it could also appear bare due to the recent falling leaves.
 There is a plan to replant additional trees, some are being planted today,
 and they are looking at more deep-rooted species that will help stabilize
 the riverbanks better than some of the shallow-rooted trees that are being
 removed. Motta noted trees do not stop erosion and that more native
 vegetation is needed with fibrous roots. Erickson suggested including
 informational signage in the area so the public understands this work is
 being done thoughtfully, with Kennedy noting the importance of providing
 information regarding water quality and shoreline restoration. Motta
 advised that the Park District currently uses signage with QR codes that
 directs visitors to their website and explains some of the invasive species’
 removals. They will include additional content to address the tree
 removals.

 Hitchcock suggested taking a more active role in public relations, possibly
 reporting on a monthly basis. Rashidian discussed her school’s monthly
 newsletter and suggested using that format. Novack noted that we can
 work with the City’s Communications Department, the Park District and
 possibly even NCTV on communications. Erickson suggested adding and
 updating information on the City’s website.



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Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes December 13, 2023

 Novack noted that the shingles being replaced on the Grand Pavilion roof
 that were two different colors will be replaced at the manufacturer’s cost
 within the next couple of months.
 5. Riverwalk Foundation - John Cuff

 There was no report.

 6. Riverwalk Bicentennial Fund - John Joseph

 Joseph reported that the Riverwalk Bicentennial Fund has received a
 commitment of $1.6M this year from the State of Illinois, Endeavor Health,
 the Naperville Riverwalk Foundation and private donations. They are
 putting together a council of advisors and are close to finalizing their
 website.

 Kennedy reiterated that the Riverwalk Bicentennial Fund’s focus is on
 fundraising and communication for the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan, and
 the Riverwalk Foundation’s focus is on education, preservation, and
 making sure we maintain the presents of all previous donors in the history
 of the Riverwalk. They also periodically support projects in the Master
 Plan.
 7. Donor Recognition - Rebecca DeLarme

 DeLarme reported that the Spring ’24 Legacy Gift Order deadline is March
 15, 2024 and currently consists of three 4” x 8” commemorative brick and
 three 8” x 8” commemorative bricks. She thanked Picco and her staff for
 their efforts in coordinating a recent donor bench brick installation.
 8. Planning, Design, and Construction - Bill Novack for Jeff Friant


 Receive the December 5, 2023 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction
 Committee draft meeting minutes
 Attachments: 23PDCMinutes1205Draft

 Novack reported that all pertinent information from the PDC Committee
 meeting was already addressed in this meeting.

 Novack noted the collaboration between cities and counties to reduce salt
 use. The Conservation Foundation is working to track the chloride levels in
 the river. The Conservation Foundation has a group of volunteers sampling
 the water from the river during the fall, winter and spring months. The City
 recently granted access permission to one of the volunteers who will be
 obtaining samples near the covered bridge at Webster Street.

H. MEETING SCHEDULE:

 Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, January 2, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
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Riverwalk Commission Meeting Minutes December 13, 2023

 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

 Riverwalk Commission, January 10, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

 Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, February 6, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

 Riverwalk Commission, February 14, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
 Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

I. ADJOURNMENT:

 Kennedy spoke of the great year for the Naperville Riverwalk and thanked
 the Commissioners and members for all of their efforts. He wished
 everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

 A motion to adjourn was made by Erickson and seconded by Sullivan. The
 meeting was adjourned at 8:24 a.m. MOTION CARRIED

 Respectfully submitted by
 Rebecca DeLarme, City Staff




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