League of Women Voters

League of Women Voters Observers Report

Board meeting attended: Downers Grove Village Council

Date and Location of meeting: May 9, 2017Council Chambers, 801 Burlington Ave.

Meeting started: 7 p.m. Meeting adjourned: about 9:30 p.m.

League Observer(s): Emily Teising

Board Members/Trustees present (P) not present (NP) tardy (T):

Mayor Martin Tully P Bob Barnett P Margaret Earl P Greg Hose P Nicole Walus P William Waldack P Bill White P

Estimated Number Attending (excluding Board and Staff): 30

Meetings are Streamed and Archived at: http://www.downers.us/govt/mayor-council/council-meetings-amp-workshops

Agenda can be found at: http://www.downers.us/public/docs/agendas/2017/05-09-17/AGENDA_DOCUMENT.pdf

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Rich Kulovany: shared a few thoughts from a seminar he attended on “walkable communities,” and the idea that people now are willing to abandon at least one of their cars. Marvin Schaar: Thanked the mayor and council for responsiveness to his (and his neighbors) communications and concerns about the proposed animal boarding facility in their neighborhood.

REPORTS (board members, staff, administrators)

Mayor Tully: Groovin in the Grove 5 K race Saturday at Midwestern University. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-groovin-in-the-grove-5k-race-little-groovers- races-registration-30000699901 Wonderful Founders Day weekend was celebrated May 6-7 Reminder that May is Historic Preservation month in Downers Grove. Commissioner Earl: Thank you to Friends of the Edwards House for the informative talk on how to landmark your house on Founders Day Weekend.

Commissioner Waldack: Reminder, classic car show Fridays starts May 19. http://www.downtowndg.org/sites/www.downtowndg.org/files/assets/printablecarshow20 17flyer.pdf

Commissioner Walus: Noah’s Hope Cupcake Classic 5K race May 21. http://www.noahshope.com/cupcake/

Commissioner White: the Downers Grove Area FISH Food Pantry welcomes volunteers Saturday, May 13 to help unload food at the pantry – that day the postal service is collecting food for the pantry in Downers Grove. Dgfish.org or 630-964-7776

Manager’s Report: Long Range Plan: http://www.downers.us/public/docs/agendas/2017/05-09-17/INF%202017-7351%20- %20Long%20Range%20Planning%20Session%20-%205-9-2017_6192.pdf The TIF, which provides funding for public and private redevelopment, and the SSA, which provides funding for the Downtown Management Corporation, will expire in 2020. Council and mayor directed staff to continue engaging key stakeholders and rely on guidance from the Comprehensive Plan to create a plan for future downtown needs by Q3 2018.

Council members also resumed discussion of the Comprehensive Plan, discussing the Downtown Focus Area plan. http://www.downers.us/public/docs/agendas/2017/05-09-17/ORD%202017-7244%20- %202017%20Comprehensive%20Plan%20Update%20-%205-9-2017_6154.pdf

Council members and mayor generally agreed on promoting the idea of a walkable downtown with inviting businesses – especially eliminating old drive-thru areas and surface parking lots. They also discussed how zoning regulations will help create transition areas from the downtown portions to more residential parts of the village.

PRESENTATIONS

INFORMATION ITEMS

CONSENT AGENDA http://www.downers.us/public/docs/agendas/2017/05-09-17/AGENDA_DOCUMENT.pdf TRUSTEE DISCUSSION

Comments/Concerns:

The council voted to table the following Active Agenda item at the request of the petitioner:

 A. ORD 2017-7340 An ordinance authorizing a special use for 7221 Lemont Road to permit an animal boarding facility The item will likely be brought up again next week. Marvin Schaar, who spoke during public comment, and others who had come to speak about this issue, talked to the mayor before the meeting and seemed disappointed, but understanding of the situation.

General Features

Yes No Comments Did the meeting start on time? x

Were members attentive and x prepared? Were members courteous to each x other? Were members attentive to the x publics’ comments? Was the facility adequate? x Could the audience see and hear? x Were visual aids easily visible to the x audience Were the meeting facilities x handicapped accessible

FOIA (Complete once, unless information changes.

Illinois Open Meetings Act requirements Yes No Comments Was the agenda posted 48 hours x before the meeting? If yes, note where Did the agenda items clearly x describe what was to be discussed? Were background materials made x available to the public? Was there adequate discussion of x the issues? Was there a closed session x before, during or after the meeting? If there was a closed meeting, x was any action taken after the closed session? If so, what action?

Date Submitted: May 10, 2017

By: Emily Teising