Advisory Commission on Disabilities — Naperville, IL
Date: 2025-11-06

400 S. Eagle Street
 City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540
 http://www.naperville.il.us/

 Meeting Agenda

 Advisory Commission on Disabilities

Thursday, November 6, 2025 6:30 PM Meeting Rooms A&B




PUBLIC COMMENT:
 TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE MEETING: To address the
 Commission in person during the meeting, members of the public should sign up in
 person at the meeting location on the day of the meeting. Signup is available for 30
 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.

 TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS OR A POSITION OF SUPPORT OR
 OPPOSITION:
 You may submit written comments and position statements to the commission at
 www.naperville.il.us/bc-comment in advance of the meeting. Comments will be received
 from the time the agenda is published until 24 hours before the meeting start time.
 Comments and position statements received during this timeframe will be shared with the
 commission and posted in the Meeting Details section on the City’s meeting
 management system in the day of the meeting. Comments received outside this time
 frame will not be transmitted or posted. Written comments will not be read aloud during
 the meeting.

 PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES: The citizen participation guidelines are outlined in:
 2-1-16 - CITIZEN PARTICIPATION of the Naperville Municipal Code.

 ALL VIEWPOINTS AND OPINIONS WELCOME: All viewpoints are welcome, positive
 comments and constructive criticism are encouraged. Speakers must refrain from
 harassing or directing threats or personal attacks at Commission members, staff, other
 speakers or members of the public. Comments made to intentionally disrupt the meeting
 may be managed as necessary to maintain appropriate decorum and allow for city
 business to be accomplished.

 IF YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK: The Chairman will call your name at the appropriate time
 during the Commission meeting. Once your name is called you may identify yourself for
 the public record. Speak clearly and try to limit remarks directly to the matter under
 discussion. Speakers are limited to three minutes and are called in the order they sign
 up.


A. CALL TO ORDER:

B. ROLL CALL:
1. 25-1422 Welcome the new members to the Advisory Commission on Disabilities


C. PUBLIC FORUM:



City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 11/3/2025
Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Agenda November 6, 2025



D. REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. 25-1418 Receive an update from the Naperville Police Department

2. 25-1419 Receive an update from the Accessible Community Task Force

3. 25-1420 Receive an update on Naperville becoming an Autism Friendly Community

4. 25-1423 Review the 2025 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Annual Report


E. OLD BUSINESS:
1. 25-1424 Approve the minutes from the August 7, 2025, Advisory Commission on
 Disabilities meeting

2. 25-1429 Discuss the City’s protocols for sidewalk repairs


F: NEW BUSINESS
1. 25-1425 Approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities 2026 Meeting Calendar


G. ADJOURNMENT:
 Any individual with a disability requesting a reasonable accommodation in order to
 participate in a public meeting should contact the Community Services Department at
 least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. The Community Services
 Department can be reached in person at 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL., via
 telephone at 630-305-5300 or via e-mail at napervilleclerks@naperville.il.us. Every effort
 will be made to allow for meeting participation.




City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 11/3/2025

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