Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee

City of Joliet 150 West Jefferson Street Joliet, IL 60432 Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, July 2, 2025 10:00 AM City Hall, Council Chambers Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Committee Members: Mayor Terry D'Arcy Councilman Cesar Cardenas Elaine Bottomley Warren Dorris Nora Gruenberg Jen Howard Wendell Martin Hugh O'Hara Christopher Parker Doug Pryor Steve Randich Juan Rico Jim Roolf Dr. Theresa Rouse Diana Viveros Boise Walker Damon Zdunich Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final July 2, 2025 Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Present Terry D'Arcy, Cesar Cardenas, Elaine Bottomley, Warren Dorris, Nora Gruenberg, Jen Howard, Hugh O'Hara, Doug Pryor, Steven Randich, Juan Rico, Jim Roolf, Theresa Rouse, Diana Viveros and Damon Zdunich Absent Wendell Martin, Christopher Parker and Boise Walker ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Beth Beatty, City Clerk Lauren O’Hara, Planning Director Jayne Bernhard, Economic Development Director Paulina Martinez, Interim Corporation Counsel Todd Lenzie, Jennifer Garcia-Plascencia, Planner Raymond Heitner, CDBG Program Manager Jackie Lozada, Legal Assistant Katy Fyksen, and Community Development Administrative Assistant Lauren Helland Boise Walker arrived at approximately 10:07 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes TMP-8762 5-07-25 Attachments: CPAC Meeting Minutes 5-07-25.pdf A motion was made by Steven Randich, seconded by Elaine Bottomley, to approve Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 5-07-25. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: D'Arcy, Cardenas, Bottomley, Dorris, Gruenberg, Howard, O'Hara, Pryor, Randich, Rico, Roolf, Rouse, Viveros and Zdunich Absent: Martin, Parker and Walker CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS Jack Payton, area resident, spoke about housing. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Existing Conditions Report - City of Joliet TMP-8761 Attachments: 20250623_CityofJoliet_Existing ConditionsReport_High Res.pdf Page 1 of 3 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final July 2, 2025 Planning Director Jayne Bernhard introduced Lamar Johnson Collaborative consultants Lesley Roth and Prayag Bagde. Ms. Bernhard provided an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee members. Ms. Roth provided an overview of the Comprehensive Plan’s five phases and explained the Existing Conditions Report (ECR) was the culminating document of Phase 1. Ms. Roth explained the ECR was organized by topic areas and chapters to provide a framework of available data as the City moves forward with the Comprehensive Plan recommendations. Ms. Roth described the Comprehensive Plan’s project goals and encouraged committee members to share ideas with the consultants. A robust discussion was held about the duration of focus groups, ongoing participation opportunities for focus group stakeholders, compensation, and the overall process of focus groups, topic area working groups, and September 17 workshop. Ms. Roth provided an overview of each ECR chapter, including, Community Profile, Past and Ongoing Plans, Demographics and Socio Economic Analysis, Market Analysis and Economic Development, Multi-Modal Mobility, Land Use and Development, Open Space and Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Utilities, and Appendix. Committee members made comments and provided feedback to Lamar Johnson Collaborative consultants regarding the overall ECR and its contents. Ms. Roth explained the Comprehensive Plan’s next steps included the July 9 focus groups, public survey, September 17 workshop, and Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee meeting to focus on vision and goals. Ms. Roth thanked the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee for their commitment to the process, comments, and ideas. STAFF REPORTS Ms. Bernhard explained Lamar Johnson Collaborative consultants and City staff met with City Council members in May to discuss the Comprehensive Plan project. Ms. Bernhard explained focus groups would occur the week of July 7, the Existing Conditions Report (ECR) was available at www.joliet.gov/comprehensiveplan or www.joliet.gov/compplan and the project’s public launch would occur at the July 15 City Council meeting. Ms. Bernhard explained the Comprehensive Plan open house would occur on September 17 with the location to be determined. Ms. Bernhard explained the Downtown Joliet Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan would proceed to City Council for adoption consideration on July 15 with a Plan Commission recommendation for approval. Page 2 of 3 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final July 2, 2025 Ms. Bernhard highlighted the I-80 Desplaines River Bridge Community Plan community meeting that would occur on July 22. MEMBER COMMENTS Warren Dorris addressed the lead time of bridge replacement parts. Jim Roolf encouraged the Committee to keep a future focused vision and thanked Lamar Johnson Collaborative for the presentation. Boise Walker commented on Joliet’s growth in relation to its ranking as the 4th largest Illinois city. Ms. Walker also highlighted a Chicago LISC event that focused on affordable housing and addressing housing gaps. Mayor Terry D’Arcy highlighted the water infrastructure project as a long-term investment in Joliet’s future growth. PUBLIC COMMENT None ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Nora Gruenberg, seconded by Warren Dorris, to approve adjournment. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: D'Arcy, Cardenas, Bottomley, Dorris, Gruenberg, Howard, O'Hara, Pryor, Randich, Rico, Roolf, Rouse, Viveros, Walker and Zdunich Absent: Martin and Parker This meeting will be held in an accessible location. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact The City Clerk Office, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 at (815) 724-3780. Page 3 of 3