Watch the meeting

The meeting is streamed live and rebroadcast on DGTV. Check your local cable provider for channel.

Past meetings can be viewed on the Village's YouTube Channel.

(Click the link at the top right of the page.)

Provide public comment

Public comment received via the electronic rEmarks form opens at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before a Village Council meeting and closes at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Comments are forwarded to the Village Council prior to the meeting and published on the Village's website.

SUBMIT rEmarks

Supplemental Documents

• rEmarks received for this meeting.
• Council Questions for this meeting. No Council Questions were submitted for this week's meeting.
• Manager's Memo to Village Council for this meeting. No Manager's memo to the Village Council was submitted for this week's meeting.

Meeting AGENDA

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Roll Call

MOT 2024-10311 A. Motion for Electronic Participation for the April 2, 2024 Village Council Meeting

Minutes of Council Meetings

MIN 2024-10195 A. Minutes: Village Council Meeting Minutes - March 12, 2024

MIN 2024-10323 B. Minutes: Executive Session Meeting Minutes for Approval Only - March 12, 2024

Public Comments

Opportunity for public comments of a general nature, not related to an item on this meeting's agenda.

In order to allow as many speakers as possible and in the interest of adjourning the meeting by 9:00 p.m., please limit comments to 5 minutes in length, unless further time is granted by the Mayor.

Consent Agenda

COR 2024-10186 A. Claims Ordinance: No. 6545 and 6547, Payroll - March 08, 2024 and March 22, 2024

BIL 2024-10188 B. Bills Payable: No. 6790 and 6792 - March 19, 2024 and April 02, 2024

MIN 2024-10317 C. Minutes: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes

RES 2024-10324 D. Resolution: Approve a Two-Year Extension to the Agreement with Andres Medical Billing, Ltd.

RES 2024-10319 E. Resolution: Approve an Extension to the Agreement with WBK Engineering, LLC for Design Engineering Services

RES 2024-10320 F. Resolution: Approve an Amendment to the Agreement with HR Green, Inc., of McHenry, IL, for Construction Engineering Services Related to the Main Street Improvements Construction Project

MOT 2024-10318 G. Motion: Approve a Contract with Davis Construction Company of Monee, IL, for the 2024 ROW Accessibility Improvements

MOT 2024-10321 H. Motion: Approve a Building Permit Fee Waiver for Site Improvements at Herrick Middle School located at 4435 Middaugh Avenue

MOT 2024-10322 I. Motion: Approve a Building Permit Fee Waiver for Site Improvements at O'Neill Middle School Located at 635 59th Street

RES 2024-10327 J. Resolution: Authorize a Three-Year License Agreement Renewal with SADA Systems, Inc. of North Hollywood, CA, for the Use of Google Workspace

RES 2024-10328  K. Resolution: Approve an Agreement with Warehouse Direct Workplace Solutions for the Purchase of Copiers and Maintenance Costs Over Three-Years                                                         

RES 2024-10330 L. Resolution: Approval to Participate in the Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Program

Active Agenda

ORD 2024-10307 A. Ordinance: Authorizing an Extension of Special Use Ordinance 5477 for 1300-1400 Butterfield Road to Permit a Restaurant with Drive-Through and Parking Variation to September 7, 2024

First Reading

ORD 2024-10309 A. Ordinance: Authorizing a Special Use to Establish an Accessory Structure Before the Principal Structure is Established at 935 Maple Avenue. Presentation can be viewed here.

Attorney's Report

Pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Downers Grove Municipal Code, the following are presented for Village Council consideration:

1. An ordinance authorizing a special use to establish an accessory structure before the principal structure is established at 935 Maple Avenue.

Mayor's Report

Council Member Reports

Manager's Report

INF 2024-10329 A. Information: Guiding DG Discussion - Bike and Pedestrian Plan

Adjournment

1. Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

2. Roll Call

Council Attendance (Present): Mayor Barnett, Commissioner Hosé, Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt, Commissioner Gilmartin, Commissioner Glover, Commissioner Tully, Commissioner Davenport

Council Attendance (Not Present): None 

Non-Voting: Village Manager Dave Fieldman, Village Attorney Enza Petrarca, and Village Clerk Rosa Berardi

3. Minutes of Council Meetings

MIN 2024-10195  —  A. Minutes: Village Council Meeting Minutes - March 12, 2024

MIN 2024-10323 —  B. Minutes: Executive Session Meeting Minutes for Approval Only - March 12, 2024 

MOTION: To adopt the Village Council Meeting Minutes and the Executive Session Meeting   Minutes of March 12, 2024. RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Hosé SECONDED BY: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt 

AYES: Commissioners Hosé, Sadowski-Fugitt, Davenport, Tully, Glover, Gilmartin, and Mayor Barnett NAYES: None

4. Public Comments

Robin Tryloff, a resident, requested the Council act on the Library Board’s resolution to remove one of the Library Board trustees from his position.

5. Consent Agenda

COR 2024-10186 —  A. Claims Ordinance: No. 6545 and 6547, Payroll - March 08, 2024 and March 22, 2024

BIL 2024-10188 —  B. Bills Payable: No. 6790 and 6792 - March 19, 2024 and April 02, 2024

MIN 2024-10317 —  C. Minutes: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes

Summary: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes: Board of Fire & Police Commissioners Minutes of August 02, 2023 and November 28, 2023; Police Pension Board Minutes of October 11, 2023; Liquor 

Commission Minutes of November 02, 2023, January 04, 2024 and February 01, 2024; Environmental Concerns Commission Minutes of December 14, 2023; Plan Commission Minutes of January 22, 2024.

RES 2024-10324 —  D. Resolution: Approve a Two-Year Extension to the Agreement with Andres Medical Billing, Ltd.

Summary: The resolution authorizes a two year extension to the contract between the Village and Andres Medical Billing, LTD, an EMS Management & Consultants, Inc., for an amount equal to 3.25% of the revenue collected by the Village.

RESOLUTION 2024-34

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE AND ANDRES MEDICAL BILLING, LTD.

RES 2024-10319 —  E. Resolution: Approve an Extension to the Agreement with WBK Engineering, LLC for Design Engineering Services

Summary: This resolution authorizes an amendment to a professional services contract with WBK Engineering, LLC of Chicago, IL, for design engineering services through December 31, 2024. The total not-to-exceed price for the extension is $65,951.00, bringing the total not-to-exceed agreement amount to $101,096.00.

RESOLUTION 2024-35

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN EXTENSION TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE AND WBK ENGINEERING, LLC

RES 2024-10320 —  F. Resolution: Approve an Amendment to the Agreement with HR Green, Inc., of McHenry, IL for Construction Engineering Services Related to the Main Street Improvements Construction Project

Summary: A resolution has been prepared authorizing an amendment to a professional services contract with HR Green, Inc. of McHenry, IL, for construction engineering services related to the Main Street Improvements construction project scheduled for summer 2024. The total not-to-exceed price for the extension is $189,787.00, bringing the total not-to-exceed agreement amount to $760,723.00.

RESOLUTION 2024-36

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE AND HR GREEN, INC.

MOT 2024-10318 —  G. Motion: Approve a Contract with Davis Construction Company of Monee, IL for the 2024 ROW Accessibility Improvements

Summary: This motion awards a contract for the 2024 ROW Accessibility Improvements to Davis Construction Co of Monee, Illinois in the amount of $231,044.65

MOT 2024-10321 —  H. Motion: Approve a Building Permit Fee Waiver for Site Improvements at Herrick Middle School located at 4435 Middaugh Avenue.

Summary: This motion approves a building permit fee waiver in the amount of $21,855.06 for site improvements at Herrick Middle School located at 4435 Middaugh Avenue.

MOT 2024-10322 —  I. Motion: Approve a Building Permit Fee Waiver for Site Improvements at O'Neill Middle School Located at 635 59th Street

Summary: This motions approves a building permit fee waiver in the amount of $18,960.95 for site improvements at O'Neill Middle School located at 635 59th Street.

RES 2024-10327 —  J. Resolution: Authorize a Three-Year License Agreement Renewal with SADA Systems, Inc. of North Hollywood, CA, for the Use of Google Workspace

Summary: This resolution authorizes the execution of a 36-month license agreement renewal with SADA Systems, Inc. of North Hollywood, CA, for use of Google Workspace in the amount of $170,838.00 over three years.

RESOLUTION 2024-37

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE AND SADA SYSTEMS, LLC

RES 2024-10328 —  K. Resolution: Approve an Agreement with Warehouse Direct Workplace Solutions for the Purchase of Copiers and Maintenance Costs Over Three-Years

Summary: This motion authorizes the purchase of ten (10) Kyocera copiers/MFPs (multifunction printers) from Warehouse Direct of Des Plaines, Illinois in an amount of $55,056.28 along with an estimated maintenance cost of $75,000 over three years for a total amount of $130,056.28.

RESOLUTION 2024-38

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE AND WAREHOUSE DIRECT WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS

RES 2024-10330 —  L. Resolution: Approval to Participate in the Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Program

Summary: This resolution allows the Village to participate in the Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) Program.

RESOLUTION 2024-39

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM (TIPS) PROGRAM

MOTION: To adopt the Consent Agenda of the April 02, 2024, as presented.  

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Hosé SECONDED BY: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt 

AYES: Commissioners Hosé, Sadowski-Fugitt, Davenport, Tully, Glover, Gilmartin, and Mayor Barnett NAYES: None

6. Active Agenda

ORD 2024-10307 — A. Ordinance: Authorizing an Extension of Special Use Ordinance 5477 for 1300-1400 Butterfield Road to Permit a Restaurant with Drive-Through and Parking Variation to September 7, 2024

Summary: This ordinance grants a six-month extension to Special Use Ordinance No. 5477 which authorized a restaurant with a drive-through and parking variation for the Butterfield Road Plaza.

MOTION: To adopt AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION OF SPECIAL USE ORDINANCE 5477 FOR 1300-1418 BUTTERFIELD ROAD TO PERMIT A RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-THROUGH AND PARKING VARIATION TO SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 as presented. ORDINANCE 6041

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Hosé SECONDED BY: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt

AYES: Commissioners Hosé, Sadowski-Fugitt, Davenport, Tully, Glover, Gilmartin, and Mayor Barnett NAYES: None

7. First Reading

ORD 2024-10309 — A. Ordinance: Authorizing a Special Use to Establish an Accessory Structure Before the Principal Structure is Established at 935 Maple Avenue

Community Development Director Stan Popovich presented via PowerPoint. He shared that this special use was requested by the Park District for 935 Maple Avenue, Constitution Park. He explained that the request is for an area along Webster Street to implement a picnic pavilion. Mr. Popovich further explained that an accessory structure on a lot of record without a principal use requires a special use, and this involves two lots of record that need to be 

administratively consolidated after the approval of the special use.

Village Council Comments/Questions

Commissioner Hose thanked the Park District and their staff for bringing this forward and shared that he supports this.

Commissioner Tully said this project meets the standards per the Municipal Code. He further explained that the proposed use, in the propose location, is necessary and desirable to provide a facility that is in the interest of the general public and will continue to contribute to the general welfare of the neighborhood. The Commissioner said he thinks this will be a major enhancement to the neighborhood.

Mayor Barnett asked if there was a plan in place to do a full consolidation of all of the parcels. He said there were other examples that could be found in the agenda packet materials for anyone interested. The Mayor noted that this situation tends to be common and usually results in special uses.

Mr. Popvich said that he would check with the Park District to see what their plan was with regard to consolidating all of the parcels. 

Public Comment

Mark Cronin, a resident, asked if this project is related to a sign that union workers placed near the Park District Recreation Center, with regard to union issues.

Mayor Barnett said that the Council and staff will look into this and find out. 

Village Council Comments/Questions

Commissioner Gilmartin asked if this involved a separate lot, independent from the rest (of what was shown on the map shared earlier).

Mr. Popovich shared the map of the parcels and explained that many of the parcels are zoned residential. He further explained that the Park District could put together an institutional master plan, but at this time they have chosen to request the special use for this parcel and the accessory structure.

Commissioner Gilmartin said if this is approved, it does not change that this is still a separate parcel. He shared that he is concerned about this.

Village Manager Dave Fieldman said he has had conversations with the Park District’s Executive Director Bill Macadam and that the Village intends to continue to work with the Park District on a longer term approach that includes zoning, further consolidation, etc., but at this time it is quicker to take this route for the community.  

Commissioner Davenport said that taking a look at the zoning makes sense, because the entire property is split between two zoning districts. He said he thinks there are things that can be done moving forward, but this is the best way to take care of things expediently for now. 

Mayor Barnett said this facilitates the construction to begin now.

Commissioner Hose said, in response to Mr. Cronin’s public comment, that this is only for zoning purposes and anything related to the union issue should be addressed directly with the Park District.

8. Attorney’s Report

Pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Downers Grove Municipal Code, Village Attorney Enza Petrarca presented the following for Village Council consideration:

1. An ordinance authorizing a special use to establish an accessory structure, before the principal structure is established, at 935 Maple Avenue.

9. Mayor’s Report

Mayor Barnett explained that the Council is taking the issue with the Trustee on the Library Board seriously, and they will continue to work diligently through it until it is sorted out.

10. Council Member Reports 

Commissioner Gilmartin shared that the Guiding DG kick-off is Thursday, April 4th at 5:30 p.m and welcomed all to join. He said this event will include information regarding the Comprehensive Plan and the sub-plans and that public feedback is welcome. He welcomed all to visit the website, Guidingdg.com, and to take the online survey.  

Commissioner Davenport also spoke about the Guiding DG kick-off and asked all to spread the word. He spoke of a couple of the items that were approved on the Consent Agenda at the meeting and thanked other partner organizations, such as District 58, for working with the Village to save taxpayers’ money. He also wished all of the High School juniors taking the ACT and SAT during this time the best of luck.

Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt shared that Passport Dining will take place on Thursday, April 18th and that tickets are being sold at Anderson’s Book Store.

The Mayor called for a five minute break. He said the meeting would reconvene in the Committee Room for the Manager’s Report, which would include a discussion on the Bike and Pedestrian Plan. He invited all in attendance to join.  

11. Manager’s Report

INF 2024-10329 — A. Information: Guiding DG Discussion - Bike and Pedestrian Plan

The meeting reconvened at 7:26 p.m. Mr. Popovich shared that he is excited about the April 4th Guiding DG kick-off event and asked everyone to spread the word. He introduced Aaron Tuley, a planner with Baxter and Woodman, to discuss Guiding DG and the Bike and Ped Plan.  

Mr. Tuley introduced himself and shared that Baxter and Woodman would be facilitating the development of the Bike and Pedestrian master plan update. He explained that there would be an update to the 2013 Master Plan and opined that though it was a good plan, it lacked some implementation ability.  

He said he would be meeting with stakeholders over the next couple of weeks and he would also be at the April 4th Open House event. Mr. Tuley said his team would complete a thorough gap analysis to see where the disconnects are currently within the Village and to make sure that ultimately there is an active and safe system in place. He shared that the team is looking at the interface between active transportation and vehicular transportation. He expressed that it will be a challenging task, but he is confident that it can be done. Mr. Tuley concluded by stating that it will be an equitable system for multiple age groups and different modes of transportation. He then explained that he was looking for some clarification from the Council with regard to what the term “pedestrian first” meant to them. He explained his team’s objectives included complete streets and bike friendly programs. He shared that there could be many tradeoffs and ramifications with becoming a “pedestrian first” community.

Mayor Barnett said that process, after the discussions amongst the Council, would include the Transportation and Parking Commission. He explained that after review by the TAP Commission, the Council would revisit the topic. The Mayor opened the conversation to the Council. 

Commissioner Davenport said safety came to mind when thinking of the meaning of “pedestrian first”. He said with the Complete Streets idea, the focus was on cars and how to get them around efficiently. He further explained that decades have been spent on vehicles and not on pedestrians, except for sidewalks. The Commissioner spoke of the comment made by Mr. Tuley about the 2013 Plan lacing implementation and asked him to expand. 

Mr. Tuley said the main focus of the 2013 Plan was on heavily traffic roads, such as Maple and Ogden. He explained that “pedestrian first” does not have to fit every corridor and could be determined on a case by case basis. He further stated that another issue with the 2013 Plan was that there were a lot of other recommendations that could have been implemented and were not.  

Manager Fieldman said some of the recommendations in the Plan did not recognize jurisdictions as well as they could have. 

Mr. Tuley questioned what the Council thought would constitute a bike route designation and asked if the current routes were truly connected together to create something more coherent. 

Commissioner Davenport said that if multipurpose trails or pathways were desired, per Mr. Tuley comments, they should be physically separated from vehicular traffic. He asked if making them a priority meant that trees would need to be cut down. He said he does not think it is the right thing to do and that there are other options.  

Commissioner Hosé said that this is something that the Council has faced in the past. He said recently, the Council voted against putting sidewalks in neighborhoods that would involve removing trees.  

Mr. Tuley said he mentioned cutting down trees as an example of some of the trade-offs that would need to be faced.  

Commissioner Gilmartin said that safety and access for anyone using non-motorized transportation came to mind when thinking of the meaning of “pedestrian first”. He shared that he also thinks of connectivity. He said this should not mean pedestrian only, further expanding that as changes are made and connectivity and safety is being implemented, he does not only want pedestrians to be considered. The Commissioner said decisions should be made based on all things related to the Village, like whether or not to remove trees. 

Commissioner Hosé said safety was the number one think that came to find when thinking of “pedestrian first” and further explained his thought that it is important to avoid things like carriage walks by making sure there is physical separation between someone who is walking and someone who is driving. To him, pedestrian first does not mean Complete Streets. The Commissioner explained that there is a sidewalk on one side of nearly every street in the Village, thanks to the Village’s Total Community Development Projects, and that should help with projects like this. He said the character of the existing neighborhoods needs to be considered while working on this, as each neighborhood is unique.  Commission Hosé said the Council has seen situations where the neighborhoods have taken the opposing side of decisions made by the Council in the past. He shared that he wants to create a network, but would like the team be cognizant of where trails and pathways are put, and further stated that he does not think they have to be included on every street. 

Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt said her meaning of “pedestrian first” is safe access to main routes with vehicular traffic. She said even with the sidewalk system throughout the Village, things are not safe and examples of areas where safety can be improved. She said to her an important piece of this is having accessibility to get to the main parts of town. The Commissioner opined that in the downtown, between the hardscape and outdoor dining, she does not think it is safe for pedestrian traffic.  

Commissioner Tully said “pedestrian first” can mean whatever the Council wants it to mean. He said to him, it is about connectivity, accessibility, safety, sustainability and balancing competing interests like trees, infrastructure, etc. He said it is important for infrastructure that is put into place to be sustainable, otherwise it may go into disrepair or be misused. He said making it sustainable means minimizing maintenance and encouraging use. He suggested identifying opportunities to make pedestrian connections as they come up. The Commissioner shared that he wants a pragmatic and feasible plan.

Commissioner Glover concurred with all in terms of safety, accessibility, and connectivity, but also said it is important that it is appealing. He shared that he wants something people will want to use. He further shared that lighting is also important to him to extend the hours of available use. The Commissioner expressed that regarding tradeoffs, he wants to consider each neighborhood separately. 

Mayor Barnett said in terms of tradeoffs, whatever non-implementation happened in the past is because of everything that everyone is talking about. He said the Council is tasked to create a course that would set things up for 10-15 years from now. He expressed that if the Council does not create a path to make things to happen, he does not think things will change. The Mayor shared that to him safety needs to be different than what is usually thought of. For example, he believes safety means the trails/pathways should be well-lit, separated, and attractive. He said if having each neighborhood behind the concepts is a must, he does not think things will change. Mayor Barnett said he thinks this should be deliberate and routes should be set. 

Commissioner Tully said it will be part of the Guiding DG conversation and the community will have their input.  

Mayor Barnett stated the community has said they want safety, accessibility, and wish they had more then they do, until things change in their neighborhood to make those things happen.  

Commissioner Tully questioned if pushing for something to happen sooner, or waiting for people to come around, was a better thing. He gave an example of the sidewalk matrix and how there were differing opinions. He explained that the program was successful because the Village made accommodations, like placing sidewalks around the trees, instead of tearing trees down. The Commissioner said he thinks polite advocacy and persuasion is the best route, because it provides a balance and allows the community to go along with it. 

Mayor Barnett said the community often does often come along, but with the sidewalk program there were some that did not, and that left some neighborhoods without sidewalks. He questioned if that program was successful because there are sidewalks on at least one side of most streets, compared to no sidewalks at all. He said 35 years later, there are still parts of town with no sidewalk accessibility. The Mayor said this should not be the case with Village’s location being only 20 minutes outside of the Loop.

Commissioner Hosé said moving with a lack of intent can take 25 years to get a project done, but if there is a plan set with what neighborhoods to start with, and which neighborhoods to work though, he thinks with the right metrics the community will come along. 

Commissioner Gilmartin shared that he thinks there needs to be a commitment for the Village to do what they say they will do. He said he is aware of issues that have come up with neighborhoods over the last couple of years, but he does not think there is a clear picture of what is even possible. He said he understands the grid system includes narrow streets with trees, but he feels there is a perception of picking a specific road and figuring out how to clear trees to get a path there. The Commissioner gave examples of changes he thinks may have to be made to make this happen, but shared that he still needs some clarity. He expressed a desire for a plan to make the objectives bigger when it comes to connectivity. He said he does not have a clear picture of what things need to look like, but if the Council is committed to this it can be done. He thinks if the benefits are mapped out, this will be successful. Commissioner Gilmartin requested an existing conditions assessment of where the Village stands. He expressed that he thinks this is too critical to not move forward. 

Commissioner Davenport shared his thought that the Village needs a strategic implementation plan. He said it would be best to start with the easiest areas first, as it could create support from other neighborhoods. He explained that another piece to this is economic development. The Commissioner expanded by stating that this could provide connections between places like the Fairview area and the downtown. He said he thinks this will show people how easy it is to get through the community without a car. Commissioner Davenport shared that there are different apps, like Garmin and Strava, that demonstrate how people are getting around and he thinks that data should be reviewed. 

Mayor Barnett clarified that his goal is for this to be a plan that includes safety (most importantly), separation, aesthetics, and lighting. He stressed those are values that the Council should see for this to be successful.

Commissioner Gilmartin said aesthetics are important because this could improve most neighborhoods.  

Mr. Tuley said it is an issue of building a pedestrian/bike culture first, for both people that would use it and even for those people that are not as active. 

Mayor Barnett said regarding aesthetics, there are some communities where there is some branding to it, a design or color; for example, sidewalks that look the same throughout community. 

Mr. Tuley said this is conversation has been helpful. He said if a pedestrian/bike culture can be developed, it will last all year round. He asked about implications when it comes to snow removal, i.e. removing snow, with pedestrians and cyclists in mind. 

Commissioner Tully shared that even now, the Council gets complaints about clearing snow.

Mr. Tuley said there is also an issue with bike lanes, because if the Village does not have a street sweeper, the bike lanes would become a place for gravel, broken glass, etc. He shared that from a safety standpoint, his GIS Department is looking to get a breaking analysis, so that areas where people slam on their breaks can be identified. He said his team has an awareness that there is an issue with crosswalks, in certain areas of the Village, with respect to topography. He shared that his team is hoping to mine the breaking data to help them understand where crosswalks could be strategically located. 

Mayor Barnett spoke about Pacer AI software that the Economic Development Corporation uses. He said it can be helpful in identifying where people visit and where they are coming from by using cellular data. The Mayor suggested that overlaying the breaking data with some of the Pacer AI data could be useful.

Commissioner Gilmartin said, with regard to Complete Streets, he thinks the 2013 Plan was less implemented than it could have been because it was just “a plan” and was not actually put into place.  He gave examples of aspiring to make the Village’s Complete Street program something like the one in Niles, IL. He explained the process that was used by Niles to construct their policy. The Commissioner expressed it was interesting to him how much their policy focused on safety. He said having the policy in place took the ambiguity out of it. Commissioner Gilmartin opined that policy is something the Council should strive for. 

Commissioner Tully said that there would be benchmarks and metrics for any plan that the Village puts into place. He said that he reviewed the Niles Plan and there were metrics built into it. 

Mr. Tuley said he thinks the points made are important and from a policy standpoint, having a complete streets and bike friendly community is a predecessor to achieving a successful Pedestrian First program. He said with the policies put into place, the indicators and metrics would drive the whole program going forward.  With regard to the Streetscape Program, Mr. Tuley asked what the Council thought the community needed to feel safe navigating through the downtown and when parking and locking up their bikes.  

Commissioner Gilmartin said the Niles policy allays the fear of a one-size fits all. He said it is a great system, even if there are only 30,000 people versus our 50,000, it is a good comparison and model for the Village. He spoke about the possibility of having a bicycle friendly accreditation and how that could involve access to grants. He shared the example of the Village having contention for some grants as a part of its participation in the GRC program. The Commissioner shared that he does not want to overlook these points and he thinks this will enhance the brand of Downers Grove. 

Commissioner Tully spoke of Village collaboration with the Park District and schools. He suggested that adding pathways through parks and near schools could lead to dropping bus routes and promote walking. He said that adding shelter areas with bike racks could promote an ease for people to get to where they want to be.

Mayor Barnett shared that he finds micro mobility appealing and thinks it provides access for a lot of people who would not otherwise have it. 

Commissioner Glover said he is not interested in bike sharing, but he is interested in hearing more about the topic. 

Mr. Tuley said some cities may have electric scooters lying all over their community, but there are other communities that have administered the program well.  

Mayor Barnett said it is a tradeoff thing. He said there are things like making the bikes and/or scooters stop working or slow down in certain areas. He shared that in 10 years’ time he would like to see a lot more people have the ability to get around town without a car. 

Commissioner Davenport expressed that he wants to come up with a plan that will work and he would like to explore the idea. 

Commissioner Hose agreed with exploring this, but with the right limitations and restrictions.  

Commissioner Gilmartin said he thinks that micro mobility scooters allow for more connectivity throughout town, but also agrees there could be concerns. He shared he thinks it would add vibrancy and asked what the rate of use and t trends of use are. The Commissioner said he likes the concept of creating a pedestrian culture versus building it and expecting people to come. He shared that he wants to learn more about towns that have been aggressive with this.

Commissioner Davenport said his guess is that the community is already behind this. He mentioned he is a runner and leaves the Village to do it safely. He said he is looking forward to the getting the community’s feedback and asked those in attendance and watching this meeting to spread the word. 

Mr. Tuley said when it comes to micro mobility, you need to think in terms of first and last mile. He said that scooters and e-bikes enable people. 

Commissioner Gilmartin concurred and noted this opinion that this could be a success in a community like Downers Grove with 3 train stations. 

Mr. Tuley asked what outcomes the Council wanted to see to make the Bike and Pedestrian Plan successful. 

Commissioner Davenport said to make it a plan that could be implemented, like Niles. He said he wants to be strategic and does not think anything was fundamentally wrong with the 2013 Plan. The Commissioner shared his thought that there was neither a policy nor a road map in place with that Plan. He said that something logical and proven should be put into place. 

Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt said community buy in is important, as well as having real initiatives. She gave the example of having good community and public health impacts that the community could recognize.  

Manager Fieldman said one of the things that is done better now, than in 2013, is the conversations that happen amongst the Council. He said the direction given by the Council now is what was lacked in 2013. This was the direction sought early in this process. 

Mayor Barnett said having metrics in place is a big part of this. 

Commissioner Gilmartin said making a plan that is actionable is important. He spoke of road diets and getting to the point of making sure that the plan applies to the Village specifically. He expressed this would include having a vision of what the Village can do, with concepts and ideas included. The Commissioner shared that he is looking for creative ways to leverage what the Village already has in place, in order to achieve connectivity. He expressed that he wants to be as specific as possible in this plan. He asked Mr. Tuley for clarification of what he said earlier, about the policy coming before the plan.

Mr. Tuley clarified that he and his team would like to cultivate some community buy in around key guiding principles, so they can shape how certain issues are looked at and the policies would follow.

Mayor Barnett shared he has read a lot about Complete Streets in other communities and thinks that Downers Grove needs to do things differently. He said if done right, this will hold value to Downers Grove residents because it will change their world if they are able to get to and from areas of town easier than they could before.  

Mr. Tuley said the input he received during this meeting is helpful. He added that he would like additional meetings like this in the future. 

Manager Fieldman explained the process moving forward. 

Commissioner Gilmartin asked Manager Fieldman if the Transportation and Parking Commission would be provided with the information discussed at this meeting.  

Manager Fieldman confirmed that was correct.

Mr.Tuley said this is not a linear project and he plans on coming back for further conversations.  

Manager Fieldman explained to the Council that there would be a very similar conversation about the Sustainability Plan in the next several weeks. 

Public Comment 

Scott Richards, resident, said he thinks getting more people on bikes will relieve the congestion of cars in the area, and also added that he thinks that biking in this area is more recreational. He spoke of how the public needs to be educated and asked the Village to provide the public with the Rules of the Road books.  

A member of the public thanked the Council for having this conversation. 

A member of the public spoke of experiencing a successful bike culture when she lived in Amsterdam. She explained she is a cyclist, but only rides her bike in the early am to avoid vehicular traffic within the Village.

Janet Whittingham, resident, expressed disappointment in the conversation of the evening. She shared that she is upset that parking will be removed and is concerned that safety will not improve. She said she is interested in seeing how the rest of the community reacts to this. She shared that she agrees more with the Complete Streets plan for those people that drive. 

A member of the public asked the Council to consider people that are handicapped, or that cannot walk far, as they pursue possibilities. 

Jim Kelly, resident, shared that he is impressed with the awareness of the Council and commented on the bike station at the Train Station. He further stated that word of it needs to be spread and that it should be regularly maintained. He complimented the Council on their work.  

12. Adjournment

Mayor Barnett asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting into Executive Session.

MOTION: To move to convene into closed session pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Illinois Open Meetings  Act to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of  specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or  educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body. To move to convene into closed session pursuant to section 2 (c)(3) of the Illinois Open Meeting Act to  consider the selection of a person to fill a public office, as defined in this Act, including a vacancy in a  public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline,  performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove  the occupant under law or ordinance.

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by roll call. 

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Hosé SECONDED BY: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt

AYES: Commissioners Hosé, Sadowski-Fugitt, Gilmartin, Davenport, Tully, Glover, and Mayor Barnett NAYES: None

Mayor Barnett declared the motion carried by roll call and the meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 

9:01 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted, 

Rosa Berardi Village Clerk