City of Batavia Committee of the Whole Met May 11.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Chair Wolff called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
1. Roll Call
Members Present: Chair Wolff; Ald. Beck (online), Knopp (online), Solfa, Baerren, Lehman (online), Ayazi, Uher, Cerone (online), Malay (online-joined at 7:05pm) and Vogelsinger (online)
Members Absent: Ald. Miller, Russotto, Chanzit
Also Present: Mayor Schielke; Laura Newman, City Administrator; Scott Buening, Director of Community Development (online); Anthony Isom, Assistant to the City Administrator (online); and Jennifer Austin Smith, Recording Secretary (online)
Batavia Park Board (all online): Allison Niemela, Josh Wyant, Debbie Gentry, Kevin Riley, Joyce Jezeer, Pat Callahan, Brittany Meyer, John Tilmon, Kim Hanson, Tara Grey, Lacey Lawrence, Molly Connolley
2. Discussion: Batavia River Corridor Master Plan Update – Hitchcock Design Group Lacey Lawrence, Hitchcock Design Group, stated that also joining tonight is John Witte from WBK Engineering. Lawrence stated that the reason we are all here today is to review the Analyze and Connect Phase Outcomes for the Batavia Fox River Corridor Master Plan. Lawrence presented a PowerPoint presentation utilizing the shared screen feature of Zoom. The presentation included the following information:
• Batavia River Corridor
• Project Purpose
• Envision Phase
o June 15th meeting to present the framework plans
• Process
o Analyze
o Connect
• Schedule
• Analyze
• History
• History/Character
• Resources
• 2020 Demographics
• Land use
• Public Land
• TIF Districts
• Historic District
• National Register
• Transportation
• 2021 CIP
• Public Parking
• Trails/Access
• Floodplan Floodway
• Wetlands and Natural Features
• Planning Documents
• Local Planning
• City of Batavia Comprehensive Plan
• City of Batavia Bicycle Plan
• City of Batavia Strategic Plan
• Batavia Police Department Comprehensive Master Plan
• Batavia Police Department Capital Development Plan
• Kane County Forest Preserve Master Plan
• CMAP On to 2050
• Management Plan for the Fox River Watershed
John Witte, WBK Engineering, discussed the Upper Batavia Dam Alternative Evaluation Report portion of the presentation. The report included the following information:
• Previously Considered Concepts
o Concepts A-D
• Alternatives 1-4
• Alternative 4 Diagram
o Pros and Cons
• Alternative 4A River/Pool Restoration with Depot Pond Diagram
o Pros and Cons
• Jurisdictional Constraints
Lawrence continued the presentation with the following information:
• Funding Opportunities
• Active River Trends
• Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2021
• Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities 2020 Top Line Report
• 2020 Outdoor Participation Report
• Project Profiles
• Similar Objectives
• Target Market
• Active River Cities
o Chicago IL
o Aurora IL
o Naperville IL
o Elgin IL
o Waukeshaw WI
o Indianapolis IN
o Dayton OH
o Greenville SC
o Salida CO
o Bend OR
• Analyze Summary
o Online Survey
▪ 2% survey response rate
o Survey Trends
o Stakeholder Interviews
▪ Two days with groups of three to five attendees.
o Interview Trends
o Board/Council Workshop
o Workshop Trends
o Connect Summary
Molly Connolley asked about the 2% response rate. Lawrence answered that 2% is a fairly good response rate for some of our communities. Five hundred to six hundred is a good turn out. Lawrence noted this will not be the only community engagement through the process so they are hoping through social media and the workshops and a possible other survey during the envision phase would garner more feedback. Beck suggested polling for a more representative sample.
The Batavia Park Board had a Board Meeting to attend and Pat Callahan asked for a motion to adjourn. John Tilmon made the motion to adjourn and Tara Gray seconded. The Batavia Park Board adjourned at 6:58pm.
Chair Wolff opened the floor for public comment. Marilyn Wier, resident, asked if there are any grants or funding available to businesses to retrofit any of the properties along the river. Chair Wolff answered that the only funding the City would have would be what is available in the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts. She asked if Hitchcock had any information on other funding options. Lawrence stated that they would explore options for that.
The Committee discussed vetting the options with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for dam removal partially or fully, the need for public education on the project and past referendums.
Dave Wier, resident, shared Yorkville has the water maintained very nicely with a step dam as well an area of rapids to one side. It keeps with the history of how the dam has been with a piece that holds the water level that might maintain the pond. Our residents and neighborhood have been talking about this quite a bit and they are going to have a series of more caucuses with our neighbors about this. We have concerns with what may happen with the Depot Pond, dredging, cost factors, and taxation. He hears about the 2% who have been interviewed by he also wonders about the number of older people who may not have been aware of this going on. When this has been discussed in his neighborhood many don’t know anything of it. More needs to be done and he is concerned that we put the cart before the horse to have all this come up and how it is going to be done without more feedback from the community. He stressed the importance of what the older people want in the downtown because this is where they live. We have senior housing downtown. What could those people walk to right in downtown, are there chess tables, picnic tables, food carts, services, is the park field houses even used or staffed? When he was a kid he was able to get stuff from the park field house (e.g. Badminton sets). He wonders why more isn’t being done already because it is there.
Chair Wolff stated that this is at the infancy of the planning stage and we are only in step one. Communication is key because everything that has ever gone to referendum in town without great communication fails.
Alderman Malay entered the meeting at 7:05pm
3. Adjournment
There being no other business to discuss, Chair Wolff asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:07pm; Made by Knopp; Seconded by Uher. Motion carried.
http://www.cityofbatavia.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05252021-1733
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