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, August 6, 2024 7:30 AM NEU A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Friant called the August 6, 2024 Naperville Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) Committee meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. The meeting was held in the Naperville Employee University (NEU) at the Municipal Center, located at 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL. B. ROLL CALL: Present: Pam Bartlett; Grant Cowen; John Cuff; Jan Erickson (until 9:01 a.m.); Jeff Friant, Chairman; Pat Kennedy; Bill Novack; Tiffani Picco; Johnna Shields; Mike Sullivan; and Carl Wohlt Absent: Mary Gibson; and Ian Holzhauer Also Present: Tim Ball, Gary R. Weber and Associates, Inc. (GRWA); Jesus Cortez, NCTV; Rebecca DeLarme, City staff; Mike DiCristina, Naperville Park District; Brian Dusak, Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. (ERA); Rick Hitchcock, former Riverwalk Commission Chairman; Sharon Martina, resident; Peggy Motta, Naperville Park District; Stephanie Penick, Naperville Riverwalk Foundation; Carl Peterson, GRWA; Marilyn Schweitzer, resident; and Tom Stibbe, former Riverwalk Commissioner C. PUBLIC FORUM: There were no public comments at this time. D. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Approval of Minutes - Jeff Friant Approve minutes from the July 2, 2024 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting Attachments: 24PDCMinutes0702 A motion to approve the July 2, 2024 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting minutes was made by Erickson and seconded by City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 10/1/2024 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Construction Committee Bartlett. MOTION CARRIED with Cuff, Friant, Shields and Wohlt abstaining 2. Park District Report - Tiffani Picco Picco reported that staff continues with weeding and watering as part of their general maintenance tasks. She discussed a few enhancement projects being planned for fall to include upgrading the area and possible removal of an unhealthy elm tree near Main Street by the Horse Trough Fountain in Section 5; updating the landscaping next to the stairway on the east side of the Dandelion Fountain in Section 5; and redoing the slope on either side of the stairway on the northeast corner of the covered bridge by the Park District Administration Building in Section 3. 3. Existing Plaques and Statues in Fredenhagen Park - John Cuff and Bill Novack Discuss and provide direction regarding the statues of the Fredenhagens and the Prince Castle monument at Fredenhagen Park Attachments: Fredenhagen Park Photos Cuff discussed the Fredenhagen statues and Prince Castle monument, providing a brief history regarding their location within Fredenhagen Park. Recent photos of the area were included with the agenda packet. Plans to restore the area after the bridge completion and the development of the 430 South Washington Street project create an opportunity for improvements and possible reorientation of these assets. He explained that Rotary Plaza and the Fredenhagen “Two in a Million” Century Walk sculpture are located in Fredenhagen Park because Walter Fredenhagen was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Naperville in 1941 and also the service club’s second president. His daughter, Rita Harvard, was the first woman member and president of the Naperville Rotary. Rotary Plaza was dedicated on October 11, 1997 and was the first finished project for the extension from Washington Street to Hillside Road in the Riverwalk 2000 fundraising campaign, which ran from 1996 to 2000. The Rotary Club donated $40,000 to name the plaza. After the next fundraising campaign, Fredenhagen Park was dedicated in May 2003. Schweitzer provided comments and aerial photos for the PDC Committee that are attached to these minutes. She thanked Cuff for addressing this issue and believes the area is in need of rehabilitation. She suggested the Prince Castle monument remain near the clock tower since it is near where the building was originally located and suggested the possibility of relocating the Fredenhagen sculpture near the clock tower circle, facing toward the fountain, or being placed in another area City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 10/1/2024 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Construction Committee where the view is not obstructed. Novack stated that the area has not been maintained because it is currently within the work zone for the Washington Street Bridge project. It was noted that any decision to reposition the sculpture would need to be coordinated with Century Walk. Discussion followed on the current construction staging and the position of the roadway, railing, sidewalk and the traffic signal mast arm that will be moved. The Riverwalk consultants will prepare an exhibit of all the improvements in the area to assist the PDC Committee in finding a new location that is not blocked. This will be reviewed at an upcoming PDC Committee meeting to discuss the overall visualization and experience of the entire area. 4. South Gateway Design Update - Bill Novack Review plans and provide input relative to the design of the South Extension of the Riverwalk Attachments: Riverwalk South Extension Plans (50% complete) Dusak provided a status update on the plans for the South Extension project which were included with the agenda packet. The alignment of the path is set and they continue to work on grading issues, the plaza area on the east side of Washington Street at Martin Avenue, and mirroring the northwest corner based on information received on the 10 W Martin Avenue development. Dusak noted that the staircase areas adjacent to the bridge at Hillside Road were modified and moved further away from the bridge for safety reasons. Ball and Peterson discussed the Riverwalk elements that include pavers, walls, lights, benches and banners. Further consideration needs to be given to placement of these items, restoring and maintaining the landscape, removal and addition of trees, and screening for neighboring residents. Sullivan noted the importance of directing the lighting toward Washington Street in the area near the bridge. Dusak advised they are reviewing the orientation of the lighting and possibly retrofitting poles with shields to minimize glare. Stibbe discussed the lights that were replaced at the Frontier Park softball fields that are low-profile and directional. Discussion followed on high water events and the possibility of incorporating some type of sign or chain that could easily be used to rope off temporarily flooded areas in place of yellow tape. The possibility of relocating the Park District’s community sign and using street print in the crosswalk at Martin Avenue to help slow traffic was also discussed. This item will be included on the October 1, 2024 PDC Committee City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 10/1/2024 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Construction Committee meeting agenda for further review and discussion. E. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Proposed Haiku Path for Naperville Riverwalk - Bill Novack Discuss and provide direction regarding the proposed haiku path(s) for the Naperville Riverwalk Attachments: Haiku Path Information and Proposal Schweitzer spoke of her appreciation of haiku and poetry but noted she was not particularly in favor of this project being focused on the Riverwalk. She suggested opening the concept up to life experiences in Naperville and encouraging year-round submissions pertinent to seasons or local events. Other suggestions included seasonal readings at libraries and postings online or at public meetings. Martina distributed additional information on her proposal and a copy is attached to these minutes. She expressed appreciation for Schweitzer’s comments and noted that her proposal was a work in progress. She is seeking input from the Riverwalk Commission to determine if this is an appropriate project to consider doing along the Riverwalk and it if will enhance the user’s experience. She also noted that locations for placement would have to be determined after the haiku was received. Discussion and suggestions from the group included this being a community-wide project, engaging local school districts, including different age groups, seasonal postings on temporary signs, and the possibility of having the project coincide with the annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair. Haiku workshops with both the Park District and local businesses were also discussed. The level of the Riverwalk Commission’s involvement with this project and Riverwalk branding was discussed. The consensus from the group was that this should be a community-wide project, engaging local school districts. Martina was encouraged to bring this back before the Commission once the program is developed if she seeks placement of the haiku poems on the Riverwalk. She plans to reach out to the local school districts in September and October. Friant thanked Martina for her presentation. 2. September PDC Committee Meeting - Bill Novack Novack stated that we currently do not have any material to cover at the September PDC meeting. An e mail will be sent out the week before either noting that the meeting is cancelled or containing an agenda if City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 10/1/2024 Riverwalk Planning, Design and Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Construction Committee something that needs to be discussed comes up. F. MEETING SCHEDULE: 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 Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, October 1, 2024, 7:30 a.m. Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL G. ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kennedy and seconded by Shields. The meeting adjourned at 9:04 a.m. MOTION CARRIED Respectfully submitted by Rebecca DeLarme, City Staff City of Naperville Page 5 Printed on 10/1/2024