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Council Minutes 02-10-2024MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS HELD IN THE ELEANOR ROHRBACH MEMORIAL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, DES PLAINES CIVIC CENTER, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Des Plaines, Illinois, was called to order by Mayor Goczkowski at 6:02 p.m. in the Eleanor Rohrbach Memorial Council Chambers, Des Plaines Civic Center on Monday, February 10, 2024. ROLL CALL Roll call indicated the following Aldermen present: Lysakowski, Moylan, Oskerka, Sayad, Brookman, Walsten, Smith, Charewicz. A quorum was present. Also present were: City Manager Wisniewski, Director of Finance Podbial, Director of Public Works and Engineering Oakley, Director of Community and Economic Development Rogers, Deputy Fire Chief Foster, Police Chief Anderson, and General Counsel Weiss. PUBLIC COMMENT None DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP CONSULTANT PRESENTATION INTRODUCTION Mayor Goczkowski gave an introduction to the Downtown Economic Development Strategic Plan Workshop. Director of Community and Economic Development Rogers gave a summary of the program. INSTRODUCTION & Scott Goldstein, a representative from Teska Associates representative presented an RECAP introduction and a recap from the first Downtown Economic Development Strategic Plan Workshop. Christen Hayes, a representative from the Goodman Williams Group spoke on the goals and actions. She gave a presentation on the Residential Market and the Retail Market. Scott Goldstein proceeded to discuss the feedback they received from the initial Downtown Economic Development Strategic Plan Workshop and mostly from the public survey responses they received. GOALS & ACTIONS Terri Haymaker, a representative from The Planera Group, spoke on the goals and actions. The goals she discussed were: expand destination and dining experiences, energize and modernize downtown, create a sense of place, provide additional housing, and enhance downtown experience. Scott Goldstein spoke on various basic enhancement opportunities, downtown greening opportunities, gathering space network, and parking. INCENTIVES Terri Haymaker spoke on the incentives, existing programs, and recommended incentives. OPPORTUNITY Scott Goldstein discussed the recent and ongoing development. He broke down the recently SITES completed, approved/in-progress, and opportunity sites within the downtown area. Five sites were specifically addressed by the presenters: • Scott Goldstein addressed the Leela Arts Building with two scenarios. Terri Haymaker addressed 1484-1490 Miner Street with two site scenarios. Christen Hayes addressed the 1500 Block of Miner with one site scenario. Scott Goldstein addressed 680-720 Block of Lee with short-term and long-term site scenarios. Page 2 of 4 2/10/25 • Terri Haymaker addressed 1577-1585 Ellinwood Street with two site scenarios. Scott Goldstein gave questions to consider regarding input, the scenarios, and priorities. FACILITATED Alderman Brookman addressed rainwater hazards with downtown developments. She also DISCUSSION & addressed the building materials required by the City and the allowable building heights. COMMENTS FROM MAYOR & Alderman Walsten mentioned there is legislation that a municipality would not be liable if ALDERMEN OF someone is injured due to the sidewalk. THE CITY COUNCIL Mayor Goczkowski addressed the key points of the presentation, and stated the presentation captured the criteria of expectations for the downtown area. Alderman Charewicz stated he would like to increase parking scattered throughout the downtown area rather than just large parking areas. Alderman Smith stated even the simplest things such as awnings, facades, and signage will also be important to the whole picture. She also addressed the importance of events in Metropolitan Square. Alderman Sayad addressed that is it a given that restaurants are wanted, but he does not see the need for more buildings. He stated there needs to be a focus on convenience with the current buildings, and with easy access parking. He addressed that while the City is trying to figure out a formula for the downtown area, other municipalities are already implementing actions. Alderman Oskerka stated it was important to him to see the smaller projects which can be implemented quickly as an equal balance to the larger projects. Alderman Moylan stated the City Council has been attempting to make strategic investments, and he believes in making large investment in the City. Mayor Goczkowski stated the data is important to make informed and strategic decisions. Alderman Brookman stated she believes the City must start somewhere, and believes the City is a stable financial position to make investment in the downtown area. Alderman Sayad stated he wants to bring in a vender to do something; he stated there has to be a professional company consulted to bring in these venders. PUBLIC COMMENT A resident asked about the population of Des Plaines versus the low amount of surveys received. She stated her concern is the look of Miner Street, the lack of signage for Metropolitan Square, and is hoping for more of a variety of restaurants. Mayor Goczkowski and the resident had back and forth commentary with the resident regarding marketing of the City. Louis Capozzoli stated that he owns the majority of the buildings on Miner Street, and he stated he was never consulted regarding this study or the development of downtown. He expressed various ideas to advance the downtown area. He stated he wants the study to be transparent and to include the history of the City. Mayor Goczkowski had back and worth commentary with Louis Capozzoli regarding with their disagreements with the development of downtown. Page 3 of 4 2/10/25 Alderman Brookman addressed the issues with Metropolitan Square. Janet Studley asked what specifically can be done in order to draw in restaurants rather than only stating the City needs restaurants. She also stated the downtown needs to be prettier. Mayor Goczkowski mentioned the City's grant programs. Scott Glover stated traffic needs to be an important part of the strategy to make this development work. He also recommended talking to the businesses that failed to see what went wrong. He would also like to know which area is considered the best for development. AJ Fallico stated there needs to be an investment in infrastructure to make downtown better and to bring in people. He also stated parking is ample, but there does need to be more signage. Janet Studley stated she would like a fountain in Metropolitan Square. Scott Glover would like to see Metropolitan Square closed off from traffic. Alderman Smith addressed Louis Capozzoli, and stated the buildings of the shoe store and jeweler are kept up nicely. Ahmed Cader stated there needs to be criteria for ROI when deciding on some of these projects. He also stated the City needs to stop following Mount Prospect and must find what works for Des Plaines. He mentioned that he believes apartment buildings will help the density to develop downtown, and that the City should be more aggressive. Don stated that the City should be aggressive with the ROI requirements. He stated the setup of the streets and parking of downtown are weird. He also said successful places are accessible where people can relax and walk around. He also questioned the long-term plan. Matt Grisko asked the City to question why other cities seem nicer to walk around. He stated one aspect is the downtown is really loud, and asked how traffic noise can be reduced. Kostas Giannikoulis, co-owner of Miner Street Tavern owner, stated there should be complimentary businesses added rather than less options. He also asked about the specifics of the grant programs. Director of CED Rogers gave a description of the parameters for the City grant programs. Kostas Giannikoulis proceeded to ask if local real estate agents can be brought in to help promote the empty city owned buildings, and asked the population of the downtown area. Director of CED Rogers addressed the promotion and progression of downtown, and stated the population of the downtown area is approximately 16,000 individuals. Marian Cosmides agreed with the previous comment about the streets bringing people through downtown rather than to downtown. She stated the historical buildings are what organically grow a community and draw people in, and stated the City cannot afford to make more bad architecture discisions. She stated Des Plaines is prime for the National Trust for Historical Preservation Main Street Program, and there also needs to be more green space. David Vasquez stated Des Plaines is land locked for green space, and he mentioned he sees families playing in the rocky empty lot at Graceland Avenue and Prairie Avenue. He stated there needs to be a family recreation area. Page 4 of 4 2/10/25 Tom Lovestrand stated he appreciated the earlier comment about ROI. He further asked anyone who seeks more residential buildings to get other businesses in the area to please cite a study of a community similar to Des Plaines where this progression has been successful. Dominik Bronakowski stated there is a lot of open land south of the library and that area should be carefully considered for future projects to build green space, parks, and restaurants. Sean Donnelly mentioned Des Plaines is a great place to live even though we may have our problems. George Petroff stated the study missed one of the main entrances to the downtown area near Algonquin Road and Lee Street going north to Thacker Street. FACILITATED Alderman Oskerka stated more green space, walking paths and bike paths need to be created DISCUSSION & connecting to the forest preserve. COMMENTS FROM MAYOR & Alderman Sayad thanked everyone for there comments and believes together we can work ALDERMEN OF together to improve the way of living in Des Plaines. He stated the study shows how we can THE CITY improve the buildings, but it does not tell the City how to bring in people. He also mentioned COUNCIL it has to be considered that things take time. Alderman Brookman thanked the public comments. She also stated the City holds developers to standards, but some developers, such as the Mylo development, that are not living up to the standards the City should expect. Alderman Walsten thanked everyone in the audience for being here tonight and engaging in the community. Alderman Smith thanked the residents for coming and stated she thinks this really goes the long way. She stated she wants the residents to be happy with the outcome. Alderman Charewicz thanked everyone who came out and who spoke. He said the residents should reach out to the aldermen if they have any further ideas. He also said the city does consider ROI in the plans. Mayor Goczkowski stated even through it seems like other communities are more advanced, this is step one. He also encouraged anyone who wants to complete the survey to do it through the QR code or the website that is posted on the exit doors and in the hallways. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Brookman, seconded by Oskerka to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Mastalski, CITY CLERK APPROVED BY ME THIS 17th DAY OF March , 2025 Andrew Goczkowski, MAYOR