Milwaukee Avenue Corridor Committee

MILWAUKEE AVENUE CORRIDOR COMMITTEE AUGUST 15, 2013 MEETING SUMMARY CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8:03 a.m. ATTENDANCE The following people were in attendance:  Danette Matyas, Village Trustee  John Jekot, Village Trustee  Bruce Sylvester, Senior Village Planner  Ross Klicker, Economic Development Coordinator  Moses Nazzal, Superintendent of Engineering  Bob Pilat, Admin. Asst. to Director of Public Services  Akram Chaudhry, HR Green  Jeff Strzalka, HR Green MILWAUKEE AVENUE STREETSCAPE PHASE II & III UPDATE Background information regarding the Milwaukee Avenue Streetscape program was provided to all committee members. Since the initial application in 2005, the Village has received a total of $2,862,840 in Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) funds. Additionally we received $444,600 in Transportation, Community and System Preservation Program (TCSP) funding. All of this funding was earmarked for streetscape enhancements along Milwaukee Avenue. Grant General Location Application Amount ITEP I Milwaukee ‐ Albion to Neva 2005 $820,000 ITEP II Oakton and Milwaukee Area 2008 $520,000 ITEP III Howard/Harlem and Milwaukee Area 2010 $775,000 ITEP IV Milwaukee ‐ Oakton to Monroe 2012 $747,840 TCSP Oakton and Milwaukee Area 2008 $444,600 TOTAL $3,307,440 Page 1 of 2 MILWAUKEE AVENUE STREETSCAPE PHASE IV UPDATE An update on the current status of Phase IV of the streetscape project was also provided. This project covers the section of Milwaukee between Oakton and Monroe. An update about the traffic signal improvement along Milwaukee Avenue being completed by the Illinois Department of Transportation was provided as it impacts completion of the Phase II and III streetscape project. Meade Electric is performing the work and indicated they hoped to have all the street crossings completed by the end of next week, which will allow them to concentrate on the remaining foundations. Provided they don’t run into any issues, they hope to be completing the curb and ADA work after the Labor Day weekend with new poles to be set shortly thereafter at the Howard & Milwaukee, Harlem & Milwaukee, Oakton & Milwaukee and Howard & Harlem intersection. For the streetscape project, while the original design called for sidewalks along Milwaukee Ave, the plan has since been revised. Instead of the sidewalk being at the back of the curb, this area will now be a landscape area, and include sod, trees and planter boxes with perennial plantings. There is also a decorative brick border running along Milwaukee Avenue. The sidewalk currently in front of a business would be used by pedestrians and motorists going to a business. There was additional discussion regarding the plan including the “bump‐out” areas on the east side of 8000 block of Milwaukee, and regarding changes to the front and the north entrance to Booby’s Restaurant off of Milwaukee Avenue. HR Green will prepare a plan showing the impact eliminating the north Milwaukee Avenue entrance to Booby’s would have on their parking lot so Ross Klicker can present it to Booby’s for review and comment. Pre‐final plans must be submitted to IDOT in October to make the March, 2014 state bid letting. Because of the changes to the plan it was agreed to bring the revised plans to the Village Board so they would have the chance to review them. It is anticipated this project will go to bid in early spring of next year, and construction will occur in the summer and fall. NEW BUSINESS Under new business it was mentioned the Chamber of Commerce will be requesting a meeting in the near future to discuss the banner program along Milwaukee Avenue. It was discussed whether future meetings would be held at a set day of the month or as needed. It was decided meetings would be scheduled when needed as of this time, and would be held on Thursdays. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. Page 2 of 2